World 2-3: The One with the Beach (Part 2)

World 2-3: The One with the Beach (Part 2)

In this episode, we have a beach day in the South Pacific Ocean! And it is FREEZING!

Heather Holmes vs. The World

One Year. One World. Let’s Do This!

My Ever, Evolving Passion Project

So,  of course, I am evolving my Musical Passion Project...instead of posting individual songs every week (because, let's face it, I am unable to commit to posting one song per week), I am creating a playlist of songs for each country visited on this RTW trip that:

1. Remind me of that country;
2. I listened to (possibly, somewhat, obsessively) in that country; AND/OR
3. I heard, at some point, play in that country.
4. (Also, sometimes, I will include artists that are originally FROM that country.)

I will probably comment on most of the songs on each playlist, to explain why I have selected that song - these comments will be both meaningful and, I'm sure, irrelevant, depending on the song. :)

World 2-3: The One with the Beach House (Part 1)

World 2-3: The One with the Beach House (Part 1)

In this episode, you learn the origin story of our house in Las Cruces, Chile,  and discover the secrets behind South American housing defenses.

Heather Holmes vs. The World

One Year. One World. Let’s Do This!

World 2-2: The One with the B&B...I think?

Song #4: Otherwise known as "the Time when I became obsessed with Sia...again"

(Remember this Passion Project?)

So, I'm still going to do this, LOL. I meant to post this song before leaving Brasil, but then I got caught up in packing and last minute preparation, and promptly forgot.

In South Africa, we didn't really have wifi. So, as jazzed as I was about this project initially, it kind of fizzled out when I wasn't able to blog about it.

However, I'm going to resurrect it. Because I have a lot of songs and artists that I want to share and this is the best way to do it.

"Chandelier" by Sia

Right before leaving Brasil, the Grammy's were on TV. Now, I don't normally watch the Grammy's, and I definitely didn't watch them in Brasil, but I DID see Sia's performance of this song, on the Internet, the day after the Grammy's aired.

Why did it strike such a chord with me? I was super intrigued by the fact that Kristen Wiig performed this song...let's back up. Kristen Wigg, a comedian, DANCED to this song, along with Maddie Ziegler (who apparently was/is on Dance Moms? That's a show, I guess? Regardless, this young lady can DANCE). So many things about this peaked my interest, but one of them was the fact that this was performance art at its finest. Yes, one could argue that MOST live performances are in their own right, a type of art form, but this was so much more and - I'm going to let you in on a secret about me - I'm kind of in love with dancing. I am fascinated by body movement and how people manipulate their bodies to evoke emotion and tell a story. And, it was SIA, an artist that I've liked since 2004, but have only really heard a few things from her throughout the years. Needless to say, an internet search was in store.

By the end of that search, I had listened to this song about 12 times in a row and had purchased the entire album from iTunes...

Here is the official music video for "Chandelier." Enjoy!

Here are some runners-up, also by Sia:

• I'm In Here
• Breathe Me

World 2-1: The One with Almost No Footage

Machu Picchu, Peru Pictures!

Here is a link to my FB album of Machu Picchu!

Follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1072154086133147.1073741840.100000156972247&type=1&l=2cefeca9dc

World 1-3: The One with Machu Picchu

World 1-2: The One with the Tunnel

Ollantaytambo, Peru Photos!

Another FB album! This one is of the Ollantaytambo Ruins! These actually correspond with my vlog! :)

Go to https://www.facebook.com/heather.holmes.1694/media_set?set=a.1050688168279739.1073741834.100000156972247&type=3

Chinchero, Peru Photos!

I'm finally putting some of my photos up!!!

Go to my FB @ https://www.facebook.com/heather.holmes.1694/media_set?set=a.1050659628282593.1073741833.100000156972247&type=3

World 4: The One with the Warp Zone

A blog post about vlogging: A love/hate relationship

In order to efficiently produce more vlogs, I've decided to skip ahead in my vlog timeline. A decision that was hard to make, because you all know how much I appreciate continuity and integrity. The thinking behind this is as follows:

• As the trip progressed, I learned how to better vlog "in the moment," which enables me to not spend SO MUCH TIME recording videos after the fact and then piecing them together with earlier footage - which, in turn, helps make editing 1000 times faster.
• Don't worry, I am still working on the older vlogs, but those take FAR longer to edit than the more recent footage.
• I just want to update more frequently...which is easier to do when I'm not having to interview myself about something that happened 5 months ago. :)

So, there you have it! Hopefully this will mean more vlogs! :crosses my fingers that this is true:

Happy Galentine's Day!!!

What's Galentine's Day?

What Galentine's Day Means to Me

I've been making Galentine's mixes for a few years now. Most of the time, it's just a chance for me to share songs that I enjoyed from the previous year. I never, really, have a theme in mind.

This year, I thought that I would switch it up a bit. What does Galentine's mean to me? Galentine's Day is an opportunity to celebrate lady friendships. It's a chance to really reflect on the importance of friends. The songs that I chose for my mix this year vary greatly; some songs celebrate the carefree fun of friendship and lady empowerment, while others represent the love and support that friends have for one another.

I asked some of you to help me create this list of songs, because, like any good relationship, it is a collaborative effort. It was very interesting to see the diversity of songs given to me, as well as the fact that some songs were suggested multiple times. I would like to say that I was surprised by some of the combination of artists on this list, but, quite frankly, it's not my most eccentric mix to date. :)

I hope you enjoy it! Think of this Galentine's Day mix as a long-distance hug, a "thank you," and a reminder that I love you always!

Galentine's 2015 Mix

click here to listen

Playlist

1. "Thank You for being a Friend" (Golden Girls theme song) - Cynthia Fee
2. "You’re My Best Friend" - Queen
3. "Where You Lead I Will Follow" (Gilmore Girls theme song) -  Carole King & Louise Goffin
4. "I’ll Stand by You" - The Pretenders
5. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" - Cyndi Lauper
6. "I’ll Be There For You" (FRIENDS theme song) - The Rembrandts
7. "Wannabe" - Spice Girls
8. "Run the World (Girls)" - Beyonce
9. "Bo$$" - Fifth Harmony
10. "Bad Girls" - M.I.A.
11. "With a Little Help from my Friends" - Joe Cocker
12. "Umbrella" (acoustic) - Marie Digby
13. "Lean on Me" - Bill Withers
14. "That’s What Friends are for" - Dionne Warwick w/ Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, & Elton John
15. "You’ve Got a Friend" - Carole King
16. "Girl on Fire" - Alicia Keys
17. "Salute" - Little Mix
18. "Can’t Hold Us Down" - Christina Aguilera ft. Lil Kim
19. "Independent Women" - Destiny's Child
20. "My Best Friend" - Weezer
21. "Kind and Generous" - Natalie Merchant
22. "Wind Beneath My Wings" - Bette Midler 
23. "Thank You" - Dido
24. "Dancing Queen" - ABBA

Song #3: Oh oooh, and They Come Unstuck

Lady, runnin' down to the riptide

On average, I’d say we go to the beach once a day in Brasil. Sometimes it’s just morning walks along the boardwalk/shore, while other times it’s spending hours, midday, riding the waves. Often, it’s both. Regardless, beach culture is a HUGE part of life in Brasil.

There is a saying in Portuguese that states, “Vamos to mar um banho de mar,” which means “Let’s take a sea bath.” The ocean in Natal is warm…like, really, really warm. When you step into the water, waves lapping at your toes, there is no shock to the system due to temperature change. It is, essentially, like stepping into bathwater. It’s glorious. I cannot express to you my surprise at discovering this the first time I ventured into the water. We had recently been to Chile where the ocean was, well, cold. And from my experience in Seattle…aren’t oceans supposed to be freezing? Not the case in Brasil, my friends.

And I love you when you're singing that song

Despite going to the beach almost every single day, I have yet to tire of it. However, every.single.time I’m in the water, “Riptide” by Vance Joy plays in my head. Sometimes it bounces around for hours, while I bodysurf the waves and try not to lose my bikini. (It’s a true test to see which part you'll save: either the top or the bottom. My go-to is the top…it’s much easier to grab your chest and secure your top while corkscrewing, underwater, in the current, but that’s just my opinion.) Other times, only a snippet of the song plays in my head - one go around and it’s done. But, just like clockwork, this song always makes an appearance.

I got a lump in my throat 'cause

I don’t have much to say about this song, other than the more I listen to it, the better it gets. (I have a feeling that, yes, at some point, I will get sick of it, but that has yet to happen, so…there ya go.)

You're gonna sing the words wrong

I haven’t really listened to any other song by Vance Joy - which isn’t even his ACTUAL name. In fact, the only thing that I know about him is that he is Australian and he was born in 1987…and he has adorably curly hair. Yes, I googled him. But, “Riptide” is good and I enjoy the lyrics and I’m pretty sure that it will always make me think of riding the waves at Ponta Negra.

So, because it's winter for most of you (whhhaaaatttt?????), listen to this and think warm thoughts. :)

"Riptide"

World 1-1: The One with the Ruins

Song #2: Remember When You Used to be a Rascal?

The Backstory

Earlier this week, I had a dream. It went something like this:

Bella: "Heath! Thanks for sharing the new Arctic Monkeys' album with me! That band is totally A.C."

Me: "You're welcome! Ummm...what's A.C.?" (Because even in my dreams, I am not hip to youth culture...)

Bella: "Automatically Cool! I always have to remind my friends how cool this band is."

Me (seriously): "Bella, if you have to remind your friends how cool the Arctic Monkeys are, then you need to get better friends!"

:End dream:

So...obviously this week's song must be an Arctic Monkeys' song. And, yes, I subconsciously made up a new catch phrase (A.C.), which you better believe I will try to incorporate into my hip vocabulary from now on.

The Arctic Monkeys and Me: A Love Story

My love for Arctic Monkeys started sometime in the Summer of 2007. The band had been around for a few years, but it wasn't until I heard their song, "Fluorescent Adolescent" that I took notice. Their sound is reminiscent of familiar bands, such as The Strokes and even the Fratellis, with an Indie Rock vibe and English garage band undertones. Since 2007, their songs have dominated much of my iTunes and, if I've ever made you a mixed CD, there is a 90% chance I've included one of their songs. Needless to say, with such a broad cache of songs, it was difficult to choose just one song to share this week.

"Fluorescent Adolescent"

Of course, it had to be this song! Not only is this my favorite Arctic Monkeys' song, but it quickly became one of my favorite songs of all time. While the song's message is the exact opposite of how I feel (it's about getting older and finding out that life isn't as fun as it used to be), there's something about this song that just sticks with me. Maybe it's the drum and guitar riffs, perhaps it's the ballad-like structure...whatever it is, it's not a surprise that this song is one of this band's most popular songs. In other words, totally A.C. :)

A Warning: Do not watch the real music video for this song...even though it is directed by the brilliant Richard Ayoade, it features killer clowns. Enough said. The video above does not, so you are safe. You're welcome.

Runners-up: "The Bakery" ~ "Mardy Bum" ~ "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor"

World 1-1: Bonus Level - Traffic Jam!

Passion Project: Song #1

"Easy" by The Commodores

If you read my first blog post, you will know why this song HAD to be the first song. It was inevitable. This song was the first song that played, in the cab ride, after arriving at our first destination - Lima, Peru.

However, what you don't know, is that several songs were in the running for very first Passion Project song! But, this song won and here's why.

A Little History

Just like smell, listening to music can evoke very specific memories for me (as it can, I'm sure, for most people). Listening to Trans Siberian Orchestra will always remind me of my Dad, any song by Dave Matthews Band will instantly turn me into zen!Heather, and, from now on, "Baby Got Back" will make me think of wine tasting in Chile.

My first memory of Lionel Richie is from D-TV's Valentine's Special, which aired in February of 1986. (I had to look up the year because of course I did, I wasn't even 5 years old yet!) Abby and Melissa will remember this! They had it on VHS and we used to watch it ALL THE TIME when we were kids! It was a compilation of music videos, using hit songs and Disney animation. In a word - AMAZING! While the Richie song in D-TV wasn't "Easy" (it was "Hello"), I would never forget his smooth, rich (hehe) voice. (That pun was for you, Katie!)

I really have no memory of the first time that I heard "Easy," but I've always enjoyed it and the various bands that have covered it - I'm talking about you, Faith No More. Yes, it's a song about the aftermath of a breakup, but I think the message is a good one - Put all your concerns and anxieties and fears in a bubble, and blow it away. Relax, take it easy - metaphorically become a Sunday morning. This song makes me want to curl up on the couch on a rainy Sunday morning, with the sunlight barely peeking through the clouds in the distance, while reading a book and drinking my first cup of morning coffee. (It also makes me want to dance around my living room, but, let's face it, most songs make me want to do that, so...)

Why This Song, Though?

Last week, we were sitting at a table, waiting to board the boat that would take us snorkeling, and music was playing in the background. Typical, touristy, covers of popular songs with a samba-like twist. I was thinking about my Passion Project, how it was going to evolve, and what songs to consider, when "Easy" came to mind. Not a minute later, a samba cover of "Easy" started playing and I knew that it had to be the first song on the list.

So, here you go!

Enjoy!

My Passion Project!

Before leaving for this RTW trip, I had grand intentions to do a Passion Project. My Passion Project was going to be about the music of every country we travelled through. I planned to research the popular and cultural types of music, seek out venues where I could listen to said music, and create a musical "album" for each country...quite the endeavor, I know.

Well, you know what they say about "best intentions"...

The Passion Project that I had imagined myself doing is not going to happen. Several factors contribute to the failure of this project:

1. Time: There's just not enough of it! After four months of travel, I can say with confidence and evidence, that there is just not enough time to research and experience the musical cultures of each city we visit. There have been times where we are only a few days in each city, so the time we spend there is very much designated for typical "tourist-y" things, most of which do not include visiting multiple venues and immersing myself in its musical culture.
2. Other projects: Ah, yes...if working on this Passion Project was the only thing that I was doing, I could probably make it work. However, over the past four months, most of my time has been spent creating content for my vlogs. What vlogs, you say? I know! I am working on them! LOL But this goes back to the "time" issue...

While working on my vlogs, I started realizing how much of my spare time I was spending on this project - recording, uploading, sorting, editing, transferring over to my external hard drive because my computer is being a jackass. Needless to say, my focus changed. It was already hard enough finding time to create blogs and vlogs, there was absolutely NO WAY I could add another project to my schedule. In a sense, my blog and vlogs became my Passion Project.

However, I didn't want to just throw away my Music Passion Project. Music is something that moves me. And, yes, that is super cheesy, but I don't care, that's how I feel. Because of this, I still wanted to do SOMETHING music related on this trip.

Thus, this Passion Project evolved.

Here's the plan:

• Each week, preferably on Friday (but with sometimes-limited Wifi, I will commit to hopefully sometime during Friday-Sunday), I will post one song on my blog. The objective is that the song will be relevant to the previous week, whether it is a song from the region that I am staying in or a song that I've been listening to almost non-stop all week. Whatever the case may be, I will write a little blurb about why I chose that song.
• This project is basically about music and feelings, let's be honest.

I'm really excited to get this music project started. I realize that it's adding one more thing to my list of things that I am already spectacularly behind on, but I'm hoping that it will spark my creativity and, in the process, expose you to music that you might not be familiar with.

So, stay tuned! Enjoy!

World 1-1: The One with the Coca Leaves

A New Video at LearnLiveTravel.com

Rodrigo just finished Episode 3!

Watch us as we travel to Peru, hike ancient ruins in Ollantaytambo, and get stuck in a massive traffic jam!

Check it out at http://www.learnlivetravel.com/#!video/cknn.

PS - I'm working on my next vlog, I promise. Some of my footage can be seen in this new episode, though. Enjoy!

New Blog Entry by Bella!

We have some new content over on our "family" website - learnlivetravel.com.

Go to http://www.learnlivetravel.com/#!blog/c1uxy and check out Bella's new blog entry about kayaking with sea lions in Puerto Piramides! It is hilarious!!!

Lima Pictures! (Finally!)

Having this blog has been a learning experience, that's for sure! I've just spent all morning trying to figure out the best way to post pictures, in an album - since, apparently Blogger.com does not have an "album" option that ISN'T google related and/or size-bound.

After "test-driving" several options, I've decided that Facebook albums is really the easiest and best option for me - who know? (FRIENDS: If you have a better option, tell me - I am open to suggestions, as the Internet is a vast, complex place and I am but a mere human.)

So, if you regularly check FB, this might be redundant, but here are my pictures from our first stop: Lima, Peru! Included are pictures from our Lima Bike Tour, the Choco Museum, various dinners, and other sights around the city. 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1000013343347222.1073741827.100000156972247&type=1&l=3472d279b0

PS - If this doesn't work for you, let me know! I think it will, but maybe it won't if we're not FB friends? Technology is weird and confusing...