Category Archives: travel

But you have to have it! Um…no, really, no

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Ciara Darren

Please be prepared, this might come off slightly in the realm of rant. Some of my friends and I, as well as several of my family members and I have been having an ongoing conversation about the acquirement of “stuff” since … Continue reading →

Posted in Daring, Identity, Life, People, Social Norms, travel | Tagged consumerism, downsizing, expat lifestyle, freedom, materialism, minimalism, owning things, peer pressure, people versus stuff, plastic, pollution, shopping for groceries with a bicycle, social pressure, unwanted advertising | 7 Comments

Killing Words

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Ciara Darren

The following is a short essay in the form of a story based on my travels. All the places mentioned here are place I have been. Everything, except the conversation, are taken from things that happened in life. I found … Continue reading →

Posted in Daring, history, Identity, Life, People, Social Norms, travel | Tagged beijiu, China, disappeared, Elephant Cave, Guangzhou, history, Li River, lies, Lijiang, river, searching woman, truth, words can't say | Leave a comment

Traveling like Rey

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Ciara Darren

Have you ever noticed how light some of fantasy characters travel? How little some of them exist on? It’s amazing. I was watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens recently, like many other people on planet Earth and was struck by … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, People, travel | Tagged Aragorn, backpack, characters, Fantasy, minimalism, only a carry-on, packing, packing for traveling, packing light, Rey, Strider | 3 Comments

10 Shrines of History, Politics, and Wonder – a.k.a. Museums

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Ciara Darren

Museums throw open the doors to the past, the future, and the facts and opinions we might never otherwise come in contact with. Recently, Knyght and I visit The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. We meant to stay just … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, history, Identity, People, travel | Tagged Asian Art Museum, China, Fort Ross, international politics, Japan, Japanese history, MET, Metropolitan Museum, museum, Russians in California, Sanxingdui, South Korea, The Field Museum, The Korean National History Museum, Yashukan museum, Yasukuni shrine | 1 Comment