My Secret Diary

When I was little, my mom would threaten me by telling me that she would throw my diary into the collection box at the library if I misbehaved. Oh boy, did that work! I was on my best behavior for twenty straight years.

Now, as I read my diary from my 10-year old self, I can't help but burst out laughing at the major life dilemmas I faced as 3rd grader: Kathy didn't share her scissors with me during art class. I'm not talking to her anymore! Tomek is cute, but he won't ever walk with me, even though we walk home the same way. My mom is making me clean my room again. Life is so unfair!

I still write a lot to this day. I keep a journal (not a diary! those are for kids). I have lots of random notebooks of reflections, feelings and ideas. Actually, it's so nice to see how much my grammar and sentence structure has improved thorughout the years. Phew!

I wonder if ten year from now, when I read what I write now, I will be laughing at myself too?

I guess that is just part of growing up.

Grade school: Olena & Kathy (and Kathy's little sister).

My sleeping arrangements at age 10.

Following In The Dinosaurs' Footsteps

Just imagine, voracious raptors scouring the land over a million years ago at this very same spot that I am standing on today. It seems surreal to imagine how different the land was back then, as compared to what it looks like today. Nevertheless, its history is preserved in the hard rocks of the Arizona landscape.

You can be an archaeologist for the day as you rummage through the rocky arid land in northern Arizona. In a dessert of 7,000 feet elevation, you can explore the Earth's history through its numerous fossils that have been preserved in this very dry landscape.

This Dinosaur Outpost (a few miles west of Tuba City, also about an hour east of the Grand Canyon) offers a tons of rocks in which you can find footprints and other interesting imprints from a million years ago.

Standing next to the dinosaur tracks in Arizona.

The Dinosaur Outpost is free and right along side the main highway (map below). There are guides available, usually local Native Americans, that offer guided tours around the area for tips. There are also merchant booths set up that sell beautiful handmade Indian jewelry and artisan-work.

I always like to ask a lot of questions and learn about the Native American culture. One thing that I learned from a Navajo woman is that in their culture long hair is a symbol of wisdom. That is why it is traditional to keep hair long for both men and women.

Native American jewelry for sale

Do You Dare Wander into the Valley of Fire? [PHOTOBLOG]

In a magical land far, far away from Vegas (about an hour drive north) is the Valley of Fire. Entering this National Park feels like you just arrived on Mars, with deep orange and red rocky landscape all around. Especially during sunset, the colors are magnified to which it seems the land is about to burst on fire.

Hardcore explorer

This really exotic landscape was featured in several movies, including Star Trek Generations, Transformers and Need for Speed.

The Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest state park. The park derives its name from red sandstone formations that were formed from the shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs.

Check out these photos from my trip:

^ grandma driver

Entrance to the State Park

The Beehives

American Capitalism At It's Best (Las Vegas Strip)

You don't have to travel the world, just come to Vegas to blow all your money. Vegas has everything you could ever want and everything you don't need, just as long as you have the Benjamins to pay for it.

Honestly, before I arrived, I thought Vegas would be overrated. And if it wasn't for my work that brought me to the American Southwest, Vegas was not on the top of my list of places I wanted to visit.  But to my surprise, Vegas exceeded all my expectations! (But maybe I'm also just a sucker for shiny things).

I thought the Strip was just a section of a street with big hotels and casinos. Oh no no no! Honey let me tell you: the Strip is a maze of castles and  movie scenes; its a fantasy land that combines the past and the future into one; its a magical playground that entices you to give in to all temptations. Welcome to Sin City.


The world's most famous spots are all under one roof—the Pyramids of Egypt, the Eiffel Tower of France, the gondolas of Venice, Times Square in New York and more. And by roof I mean one super-lit, flashy, sexy boulevard in the middle of a desert.

 Las Vegas Boulevard

You cannot just walk here. The bridges, escalators, sky-walks and malls will have you lost in seconds so that you literally cannot make your way out of this place until your wallet is empty.  There are advertisements in every direction and everyone here is trying to sell you something. On every corner, there are people handing out stripper flyers. They will even take you in the limo to the strip club, but you will have to find your own way back. Good luck with that.

Blinded by the lights—no joke, your eyes start to hurt if you spend too much time on the Strip. There are huge LED digital screens in every direction your eyeballs may wander. Normal street lights? Pffft, not in this fabulous city. Vegas has lasers, lightshows, strobe lights, neon signs, and radiating tv screens. You just stare in awe as you take in the grandeur of American commercialism.  


Sin City is know for its strip clubs, sex shops, casinos, bars, clubs and shows. Millionaires from all over the world come here to blow their money. No doubt in my mind that this city has more slot machines and poker tables per capita than any other city. Even when you arrive in the Las Vegas airport, you are immediately greeted by the slot machines that are oh-so-conveniently placed for your enjoyment.

Casino life

When not gambling, Vegas is shopping galore. Every luxury boutique has a shop on the Strip. There were even some stores that wouldn't even let me step foot into them. Sorry, I'm not interested in your $1000 dollar undergarments anyway.

No money? No problem. Put on your sexiest clothes and go find yourself a sugar-daddy billionaire. Afterall, this is Vegas, baby.

Where did I find this charming and handsome dark chocolate candy bar who can seduce you in 3 different languages? Argentina. But he's already taken. Go figure! (Thanks again Scott for being such an awesome host. Love ya!) 

The Bellagio Fountains. Absolutely Amazing! I could spend all night watching the fountains dance to the music. This is my favorite spot on the Strip.

The Unofficial Bacardi Girl (Puerto Rico)

Piña Colada? Cuba Libre? Mojito? 

Si, señorrr, I'll take all of the above.

I am the unofficial Bacardi girl. Earlier this year, my dance partner and I won the 10th Annual Bacardi Summer Salsa Competition in Chicago. The grand prize: round trip tickets to Puerrrrrrto Ricoooo! My bags were literally packed the next day.

While visiting the tropical island, I went to the Bacardi Rum Factory. I had my heart set on meeting Mr. President and thanking him personally for sponsoring my trip. Although I adamantly requested to see Mr. Bacardi to several tour guides, I had no luck. They all probably thought I was crazy and gave me polite vague answers telling me that the President was "not able to see me at the moment." Ha!

Hey, it was worth a shot...

Not to despair, I spent my time with my partner in crime, Chiarra, at the bar "sampling" all the Bacardi products. Although technically you are only given two sample tickets, we had no problem sweet-talking all the bartenders in letting us taste the entire variety of the Bacardi products (for research purposes, of course). I know, I know, it's a rough job but somebody has gotta do it.

Hanging out with Chiarra at the bar.

Drinking a Cuba Libre on a boat in the Caribbean.