Bar Agricole

Another item on my 31 list is to try 8 bars on the sf top 100 list that I haven't been to. No, I'm not a lush just eager to try some cool new places away from the spots I always go. Within a month I attended two birthday parties at Butter, located around Folsom and 11th, an area very outside of my normal stomping grounds. For those who haven't been to Butter it's one of those places you won't forget. The outside is bright yellow and as soon as you walk in you are greeted by a Winnebago, deep fried twinkies, Jell-O shots and cocktails with names like Tangtini (remember tang tea?) and Shotgun Wedding served in mason jars. If beer is your style don't worry you can get a tall boy or better yet a 40 in a brown bag. Yes, this place is klassy, but despite being a hot spot for birthday parties this is not on the top 100 list.

What is on the list is Bar Agricole; Butter's across the street neighbor. Bar Agricole is on both the top 100 list for restaurants and also bars. Prior to one of the birthday parties a friend suggested we grab a drink at Agricole and what a wonderful suggestion and absolute contrast to Butter. Walking up to the restaurant you take a long ramp past a beautiful wooden fence with seating below and enter an open and chic restaurant. We sat at the bar where we were reunited with the art of cocktail making. The "bartenders" would never refer to themselves as this as creating a cocktail to your liking is a science and art for them, they are mixologists. They have a menu but prefer to ask about the type of cocktails you like and favors of liquor so they can craft a specialty drink. The bar is lined with a number of jars of bitters and such along with different types and shapes of ice depending in your drink. After 5-10 minutes of watching a science experiment in front of our eyes, our well crafted and artistically served. They were delicious and sophisticated and even this non-liquor loving girl throughly enjoyed each sip.

I look forward to returning to Bar Agricole and trying their locally sourced food, and checking another item off my 31 list.

So much to be thankful for...

The line you always hear on Thanksgiving is what are you thankful for? What a loaded question. Sure it's a good question but why is it that so many of us only think about what it is one time of year? Shouldn't we be thankful every day that compared to others we have so many opportunities, running water, electricity, etc. Yes, those basic items that we take for granted we all are thankful for. With that said I have way too many things to be thankful for particularly this year. Of course I'm thankful for my family and the close relationship I have with them and the many opportunities and support they've given me. This year I'm thankful for the sense of independence and adventure and the opportunity to travel to learn more about those around me. It is during these trips both out of the country and throughout the United States that truly make me thankful for all that I have and my hard work to have this luxury. Travel and adventure not only opens my eyes and educates me on communities, history, and other cultures but about myself. When I step outside of my routine and comfort zone I learn about my insecurities and through this I become a stronger more confident individual.

A Thanksgiving blog wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention my thanks for an amazing set of guys. These talented men are full of heart, perseverance, and commodore and with all of them coming together as one, I can once again say I'm proud to be a fan of the World Series champions.

Our Right to Vote

One of the items on my list was to research before an election to know what I believed and why I was voting for candidates or propositions. If I'm turning 31 I need to be responsible and know what issues are important to me and why, and not just going along with my parents, family, or friends or what's on tv. Everyone is welcome to their own opinions, and I prefer to keep politics private which is why I'm not going to be all political in this open setting.

 

I'll admit I didn't spend as much time as I thought I would to get all the facts, but I did read quite a bit on the different propositions and the presidents. I should probably care more about the locally elected officials since they are the ones more likely to influence my daily life, but in all honesty I didn't spend the time learning about them. I guess there will be more elections for that.

For the first time in my life I took a step back and asked myself what issues are most important to me. Is it the environment, right for all to marry, tax levels, how businesses are regulated, social services, healthcare, foreign policy, etc. I took these issues and assigned an importance which I used to guide me to my decisions on voting.

Of course whoever has been elected has always played a role in my life with decisions they have or haven't made. With that said I feel like just now as I became more of an independent women with more responsibilities do I realize the importance and seeing decisions come to play in my life. Maybe it's closing in on 30 that makes me realize I'm actually getting old and need to be more responsible with how I want to live my life. Voting is an amazing right that we are all given and that I'm finally taking advantage of.

World Champs!- 25 men, 1 city, and 1 goal, WIN!

After missing a lot of games in 2010 due to a new job I made a point this time around to plan my work travel around as many games as possible. (It paid off as I only missed 1 postseason game at AT&T.) After leaving Game 2 against the Reds my father and I said our goodbyes to our sections usher and other season ticket holders. See you next year quickly became see you tomorrow, next week etc. as the Giants created a comeback that none of us will forget. We can all feel inspired and learn something from their never give up and team attitude. Lots has been talked about Hunter Pence's speech. Key points were play for the name on the front, not the name on the back. Play for each other, not yourself, win each moment, win each inning, it's all we have left.

No matter who you are and what you do I think everyone should take this message to heart. When we all work together and respect each other anything is possible. I challenge everyone to remember this message in their life, one day at a time.

What a season 2012 was... I'm already in baseball withdrawal and counting the days till Spring Training and first pitch. Go Giants and congrats on another World Series Championship!

Thank You Turkey

I write this as I sit at the airport preparing for my flight home. It's hard to believe that my 15 days of adventures in Turkey are actually over. It's been an absolutely incredible experience taking in the diversity in the landscape, sights and sounds. Like any trip this one has had it's challenges and learning experiences some which come with being in a group. Depending on how I feel I might blog more about my trip but for now I have a lot on my mind that I need to reflect on first before I put it out there.

For anyone looking for a vacation I highly recommend a trip to Turkey. I'll be posting highlight pictures on the blog upon my return.

For now it's time to plan the next adventure and in the meantime work on that 31 before 31 list.

Turkish Bath- Selcek

Before I left Turkey I wanted to be sure to experience a Hamam- Turkish bath. While in Selcek six of us along with our leader ventured into this experience and did we ever have some great laughs. Most hamams are completely nude and have separate rooms for males and females, we wore our bathing suits (for the most part) and had a joint experience. When you walk into the hamam they give you a towel (basically a sheet) and then you head into the hot stone room. The room has a dome ceiling with little circular holes for light. You poor a little water on the stone to create a steam and then lay on the stone for 20 minutes until the next step. The seven of us laying there relaxed for a bit and then all of a sudden we lost it laughing at everything and anything as we were dripping in sweat. All of a sudden we hear two big doors slam and in walks two husky-hairy middle aged Turks. I had no idea that only men participated in the wash down, and if that was the case it would have been nice to have a handsome lad instead. One by one the first guy takes us to lie on a different stone and does an extreme entire body exfoliating with a luffa and then splashes you with cold water. Next you move to the next man who has the strongest hands in the world. He washes you with soapy water and gives a slight massage. What I thought was the last stage was a rinse in a shower so I was surprised when I walked out of the hot stone room to find 3 peers sitting wrapped in fluffy towels. Soon it was my turn and i was wrapped so tight in the towel I couldn't move my arms and then a blue towel was wrapped and tied around my head. At this point I felt relaxed and was ready to head to dinner. What I didn't realize was that torture time was coming... the oil massage. I love massages but this was not a relaxing massage but practically a beating. The man with the hands of steel gave me my massage which was a mix of chiropractic type work and just jamming of hands into my body. Sure, I have a lot of knots but I'm still in pain and sore two days later. With that said it was a wonderful experience and I'm so glad I did it. I think the lesson learned is don't ask for a hard massage from someone you already know everyone is trying to avoid. 

I'm Sexy and I know it- Pamukkale

I'm sexy and I know it.
No, I'm not talking about myself but rather the hoards of visitors to unique Pamukkale. As I sit to take a break from the heat in the shade all that I can see are people of all shapes and sizes wearing skimpy bathing attire and posing for the next issue of Playboy in the middle of this UNESCO Heritage Site. I'm glad people are confident with their body image but something about this just doesn't seem right and is appaling seeing skinny and overly obese girls and gentleman wearing suits that barely cover the goods in a national park. I can't begin to imagine people walking through Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, or Niagara Falls in this attire. Pamukkale, looks a bit like glaciers and the name translates to cotton castle. The terraces are formed when water from the hot springs loses carbon dioxide as it flows down the slopes leaving deposits of limestone. There are natural pools that have formed that are healing and one of the reasons people are in their swim suits but still... My group is fully clothed and we're still enjoying walking through the healing water and not posing provocatively. Pamukkale is beautiful and amazing with how it formed and the magnificent color but it challenges one to look past superficial beauty to find true natural beauty and enjoy what God has created. This is a lesson to take away and remember in every day life no matter where you are.

Meanwhile while writing this I've had my first true alone time in the past two weeks which has been refreshing. What I learned from my past Europe Adventure was that having time to myself each day is something that is necessary for my peace of mind. Sure, I might have a great spot but that doesn't mean people need to come sit so close to me that they are practically touching me when there are a ton more benches and seats that are wide open. I guess no matter how much I travel I'll always be reminded of the difference with personal space in different cultures.

Life of Leisure

After spending the past 6 days on the Mediterranean all I can say is I've gotten a slight glimpse and from here will imagine what the life of the rich and famous must be like. Over the past six days I've been in Antalya, Kas, and Kayakoy. We have had long hikes, taken boat trips, and walked a few blocks all to take a dip in the magnificent sea. The color of the Mediterranean is incredible with the crystal blueish green water that you can see through for miles. The temperature is the opposite from the Pacific Ocean where instead of freezing and running away after putting a toe in the water, it's hard not to jump straight into the warm bathtub water. Aside from the color and temperature one of the best parts about the Mediterranean is that you don't have to work. It's odd to jump into water and not instantly tread water but due to the salt content it's impossible not to just float without moving a limb. If you can't tell already the Mediterranean is extremely relaxing and during our boat trip we anchored in the middle of the sea 5 times and just jumped off the boat to enjoy the water. I'm sure I would get extremely bored sitting on a yacht for a long period of time but a week of my own yacht and anchoring at any time to go a swimming in the Mediterranean might not be all that bad. I guess we'll all just have to keep dreaming of the life of the rich and famous. Until I win the lottery I'll just keep relaxing when I can and enjoy the life of leisure while vacationing.

Not taking life so seriously

I truly believe that laughter is one of the best things in life. It makes you smile, can make your stomach hurt, make you cry and is good for the soul. I don't normally think of myself as a funny person. I enjoy to laugh but normally and am not quick enough to come up with anything funny to say until 10 mins later at which point it's too late. The people of Turkey have a great sense of humor. Each person that we've had interaction with from the restaurant owner to the hot air balloon pilot to the family that hosted us for dinner in their home, have been funny. A couple other examples of the humor in the culture is the safety video on the airplane I previously mentioned and their ice cream vendors.Turkish ice cream is spotted along the street and the vendor dresses in traditional garb. These aren't normal ice cream scoopers but rather clowns. They make you work for your ice cream and make fun of you along the way. As they put on their show they hit the bells above to remind you of the cow that your ice cream comes from. Even with language barriers the Turkish keep everything light and humorous. I believe this relaxed attitude is in the culture. Not to say we're not funny in the U.S. but you just don't see an entire country not taking themselves so seriously and enjoying life.

Swept off my feet in Cappadocia

The village of hobbits and fairy chimneys or maybe just phallic rocks is the unbelievable land of Cappadocia. Having landed at night in the dark it was an incredible experience waking up to this breathtaking landscape, part of me thought I was dreaming as it is unlike anything I've ever seen. My room here was a cave and I mean this 100%, as we didn't have a window to the outside and entering the rock room you duck (yes, even me) to get in. There is something magical and charming about the room and hotel even without hot water and my shower in the dark the first morning.

The highlight for many in Cappadocia is hot air ballooning over the landscape which gives a different vantage point. Without a doubt this likely is one of the best travel experiences I have ever had. The pictures dotting the websites of the region and in tourbooks and I'm sure the hundreds I've taken can't even begin to give it justice. 

Riding in a hot air balloon was one of the items on my 31 before 31 list so I'm pleased to check it off and especially in such a spectacular setting. Sure, I'd love to ride one again in Napa or another area but nothing will compare to the diverse views in Cappadocia. The bus picked us up in the dark at 4:45am and took us to a large meeting hall where we were joined by hundreds of chattering tourist all excited about the opportunity that laid ahead. Once driven to the departure site and loaded in the basket which held 20 of us we slowly floated up. Many were expecting the ride to be jerky but it was smooth as we floated away from the ground like a balloon a little kid lost at a fair. When it came time to landing we were instructed to get in our landing positions which consists of holding an "oh shit" handle and squatting into a seating position. All of this is to assist with a smoother landing and being safe if the basket tips and travels a few meters. Thankfully we had a smooth landing despite our pilot predicting some bumps due to the knots of the wind. With our feet back on earth we were treated to a champagne toast with local bubbly from the region. I was amazed by the amount of men that made up the crew folding the balloon back up. As I stood sipping my bubbly a young good looking Turk came and took my hand threw my backpack aside and within seconds had swooped me off my feet and threw me a few feet into the air and on top of the folded balloon to help get the air out. There were many other great parts of my stay here such as long hikes through the valleys and a trip to an underground city that is 8 stories deep. At the end of the day my experiences being swept off my feet by the balloon, young lads, and more than anything the unworldly view will remain a travel highlight.

Buckle Your Seatbelt

After our first full group day in Istanbul we took a flight to the region of Cappadocia. It would be awful to say that this flight was the highlight of my trip so far, but it by far was the best laugh I have had in a long time. I've been on a number of flights the past few years with different airlines but as I was drifting to sleep prior to takeoff I heard some squeaky voices and opened my eyes expecting to see an animated safety video. Instead I was surprised to see a bunch of kids around six dressed up as flight attendants, pilots, and older passengers on a plane giving the safety instructions on emergency landing, exit rows etc. It was all in Turkish but after having heard the routine hundreds of times I absolutely died hearing these little kids dressed up reciting it. It concluded with a little boy in the cockpit putting on his aviators and giving a thumbs up. The three of us in my row were laughing so hard we all had tears coming down our faces. We received a lot of looks from Turks on the plane, so I'm guessing our amusement wasn't appreciated and maybe disrespectful. I'm determined to find a YouTube video of it as soon as I get home and will post for all to see. In the meantime if you want to try to find it and have the best laugh you can search for safety video Pegasus Air. 

Istanbul- Lasting Impressions

Istanbul. My first twenty four hours in Istanbul were jammed pack with all sorts of sites. A colleague of my father's who lives in Istanbul was so generous and immediately upon checking in to my hotel picked me up to show me the beauty of Istanbul. Ahead of time she mentioned that Istanbul was best to be seen at night and I couldn't agree more. We headed Beyoglu and Istikal, a long pedestrian promenade that reminded me of many European cities with beautiful architectural buildings on either side and used as a gathering point for people of all ages. After finishing a delicious dinner of traditional Turkish treats we headed to the top of a building and entered a roof top restaurant with a massive view of the lights of Istanbul. The skyline wasn't lit up by all of the mosques but rather the bridge connecting Europe to Asia over the Bosphorus displaying a light show of all colors. Istanbul is the only city that sits on two continents. Day 2 was a whirlwind with loads of mosques, beautiful frescos, mosaics and tiles, dodging cars and carpet dealers, and delicious food. All of this was experienced while trying to stay cool from the un-normally hot 90 plus degree weather and humidity. A highlight for me was a visit to Basilica Cistern a cavernous cistern from the 6th century which was breathtaking imagining how in the world they constructed it. My first full day in Istanbul ended with a group dinner with my newly formed group and I happened to order the one dish that came with a fire under it. I guess that is how one leaves lasting impressions.

Unknown Nerves

New beginnings and adventures. The first hour after landing in Turkey reminded me of the unknown feeling and nerves that comes with all of life's new experiences. Once landing and exiting the plane I had the joy of waiting in a 45 minute line to get my visa where all around me I heard multiple languages but no English. The family behind me had no custom of personal space and practically gave me flat tires with every step. There were two visa clerks who took constant cookie breaks despite the line of hundreds of people. It reminded me of the importance of patience, something I lack but so vital while traveling. I felt alone as I didn't have anybody to speak to and didn't understand what those around me were saying. Upon exiting customs I found my driver which happened to be two young guys in their mid twenties who stood on either side of me and rushed me out as we dodged cars walking to the parking lot. A large van with dance music blasting pulled up and they quickly whisked me off. As we sped off weaving through traffic, for a moment I wondered where in the world was I going and what did I get myself into. All new experiences begin with nerves because of the unknown, but that is the beauty and challenge in order to get the reward.

31 Before 31 List

So at last here is my 31 before 31 list. I have 1 1/2 years to complete these so you'll notice that between travels

this will become the focus of my blog going forward. Here is to a wonderful few years ahead full of adventures and new experiences. I'm off to Turkey on Saturday and hope to cross off some of the below activities. I'll be blogging throughout Turkey and hope that you'll follow.

xoxoxo LK

31 Before 31 Project

Hobbies/Fun

1.) Take a photography class 

2.) Make my own wine or brew my own beer

3.) Complete a DIY project

4.) Take a wine tasting class

Travel/San Francisco Places

5.) Try 8 new SF top 100 restaurants

6.) Try 8 new SF top 100 bars

7.) Visit 4 new states 

8.) Ride in a hot air balloon

Cooking/Recipes

9.) Master cooking a gourmet 5 course meal

10.) Learn to make beef stew

11.) Learn to bake a cake or other dessert that is extravagant but can be a go-to

12.) Create a signature cocktail

13.) Master a game day chili

14.) Learn to bake Aunt Carol's apple pie

15.) Learn to make a tomato bisque

16.) Learn to make fish or crab cakes

17.) Make lasagna from scratch

18.) Make a curry

19.) Learn to make meatloaf

20.) Learn to make bread from scratch

21.) Try two new recipes a month

Sports/Health

22.) Try to paddle board

23.) Try yoga

24.) Visit 3 new ballparks

25.) Learn to play golf- driving range once a month

26.) Complete a full moon hike

27.) Pick back up tennis

For Others

28.) Research prior to an election to make an educated decision and know why I am voting on a prop and elected officials.

29.) Give Christmas gifts to friends with mason jars I purchased 5 year ago!

30.) Mail a card to someone each month (birthday, anniversary, baby, just because)

31.) Find a charity I believe in and donate or give time

Worst Resolution Ever!

So it's pretty obvious that this was the worst New Year's resolution ever! I might as well have said that I was going to go to the gym or start flossing my teeth each night, and I would have been more successful. I struggled to start blogging again because I didn't know what to blog about and wasn't feeling inspired. With all of that said times are going to change...

I'm off to Turkey in a couple weeks so I'll be blogging about my adventures. I also will be turning 30 and got the idea to do a 30 before 30 list which would be a fun thing to blog about. Since I only have seven months that list will now be a 31 before 31 list. I'm working on finalizing my list and will share shortly.

In the meantime it's never too late to get inspired and back on your New Year's resolution.

New Years Resolution

Happy 2012 everyone! I have a feeling that this is going to be a great year and with that why not blog away on my experiences and exploring. I have missed blogging since the end of my world travels so I have made it my New Years resolution to pick it up again and we'll see if I can keep this resolution all year. I a not sure what this blog will become but I look forward to sharing my experiences and tips exploring San Francisco, cities I travel to for work, experiments in the kitchen, and who knows what else. Any suggestions are welcome.

More to come very soon!