the land of ice

I'm BAAAACKKK. Did you sugar plums miss me? Were you bawling over your computer, highly anticipating this post? Tears trinkling down your face as you sob, "Leexyyyyy, whereeee arttt thouuuu"?

No, you say. No? NO?! NOOOO?! *Dramatic cries. Thunderous screaming. Maybe some hyperventilation for good measure. Like a storm. Then I calm down. Like the calm... after the storm? (Okay, I know it's all about the "calm before the storm." But I think the "calm after the storm" is equally sufficient and realistic and anyways, that's besides the point.)*

Oh, right. Silly me. You probably forgot I was gone. You probably didn't even realize. Why? Because I still posted! Because I planned it all out! Because I CARE! Don't you say that I don't take CARE of you! (That's my dad's favourite line. He utilizes it whenever he performs godly tasks for me. Most recently? He smuggled three chocolate chip cookies from his conference in a napkin and stuffed it in his pocket and gave 'em to me for the plane ride. He's a saint. I love him.)

Anyways. I thought I'd divulge a handful of the, um, 1200+ photos I took over the past week. Iceland was a really beautiful place. Different from what I expected. (No, I didn't picture it as, well, a land of ice. NO, NOT AT ALL, DON'T BE LUDICROUS.) (Okay, FINE. But my sister and I bonded over this likeliness in thinking. I AM NOT A WACKO. Or maybe, we both are. You know. Genes and things.) It was a really beautiful place - very vast. There's something like 3 people for every 1 square kilometer. There's something about the vastness and beauty and just... THEREness (?) of nature that just screams, "dude. you're just an insignificant human being on this gigantic planet." I don't mean that in a bitter way. In fact, quite the contrary. I almost like this feeling. Yes, it makes me feel small and worthless and hey-you'll-die-one-day-but-nature-will-still-be-there (or so I freaking hope. hear that people? love the earth!). But there's also something about this feeling of insignificance that ignites thoughts of, "DUDE. You are so insignificant! Your actions don't have a huge impact on the world! Therefore, DO WHAT YOU WANT." It's a little marvelous.

Right now, I'm kind of in a limbo of anticipation. I have no idea what the next year will bring. But I guess a lot of moments of this trip sparked thoughts of, "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE."

I swear, kids, my head is always up in the clouds.

Where do you see yourself one year from now?

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Oh, and here are some of the many, many, many pictures from Iceland. We got to go do a lot of fun and crazy and memorable and beautiful things. My mom books a lot of tours when we travel (i.e. every possible time slot). She is anal like that. I hope you enjoy. I was going to commentate these photos, but I realize that I'll probably start sharing stories about how I tried to smuggle pretty poisonous sea urchins home with a six-year-old girl or how I secretly attempted to send my horse off the path for a wilder ride... so I think I won't. If you have inquiries and things, send them this way. There were many marvelous "this is like a postcard" moments. xxx merry days and stuff.








Click here for more photos! Oooh...

crazee dayzeez

Things that are currently crazy:

1) I am in KATHMANDU, NEPAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and have been(unless I am, uh, not. This is a scheduled post. I am incredibly frightened of flying. I hope my fears do not prove to be rational. This could get awkward, folks)
2) Since starting my blog (June '09, babay), I have traveled to: Peru, Hong Kong/ Singapore/ Thailand, Guatemala, New York City, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. Uh.... (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Now, I know that I don't usually blog about my travels. This is simply because I, uh, want to you know, maintain that reputation of mine. Yeah, you know. THAT reputation. When you all come on here and you just can't help but think, "AW MAN. Lexy! She's a cool cat! And she seems so mysterious! Ooooh." (Sirens will play, paralleling to my air of mystery.) So yeah. Sorry, kids. (Also, I'm extremely lazy and traveling and internet just don't coincide. So, hey! It's justified.) (Those seven words formed a beautiful rhyme scheme. Dream. Beam. I want ice cream.)

But, honestly. I am really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really lucky to have been able to travel as much as I do. It's such an incredible gift. Traveling is absolutely a passion of mine: I relish is discovery and exploring and the WORLD is the perfect backdrop for fueling this. I can't even describe my gratitude. (HIMUM&DAD.)(YOU DON'T READ MY BLOG) (*YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT A 'BLOG IS') (SORRY I'M SHOUTING AT YOU.ISH.) (YEAH. I WILL STOP.)

Through all my travels, I've undoubtedly picked up little things here and there. But, to my surprise, I have never had an "OH MY WERD MY LIFE HAS CHANGED" immediately after returning into my home moment. This isn't a bad thing. Because traveling has changed me, just over an extended period of time. It's a part of me. As I think about it, traveling and seeing the world has formed a really big part of the core of my essence and view on life. I love life. I LOVE LIFE. For me, every day is just a marvelous gift. I'm so, so, so, so, so, so lucky. Just to be alive. To be free. To have opportunities.

Traveling has given me perspective. It's made me realize the insignificance of my problems. And about our global roles. And how lucky we are. It's also made me a dreamer. The world is so full of possibilities. When I'm trapped in my little bubble of life, sometimes I forget that this isn't all. I forget what's out there. THERE'S SO MUCH. I want to see it all, absorb it all. Life is about exploration and evolution and, for me, traveling is perfect for this.

In my life, I know that I definitely want to see the world. Not only see it, but LIVE IN IT. The travels that have resonated with me the most are Peru and Guatemala because they were not tour-based (hi, my mom is anal and we happen to rawkkkk the jam-packed tour-ing skillz) but volunteered based. At a school and at an orphanage. It's shocking how significant these trips were, even today. I have these kids faces and smiles permanently implemented in the back of my mind and it really makes me want to cry. It's heartbreaking. There's this sense of accomplishment, of helping others. But really? Did we help others? I come back to Canada and become swept into the complaints of high school and the addiction to the internet and the whines and cries and gahhhhh. The nature of traveling also gives me shivers: as much as I relish in them, it's like BAMGONE (the integration of two words in one emphasize the bamgone-ness. yup.) We return to society and we return to old traits. I guess that's also the nature of life: swept into society.

I don't know.

Nepal is of this similar v0lunteer-based nature. In addition to trekking lots and lots (so if mishaps regarding the plane doesn't occur, you can assure that I will fall off the mountain) (AH I AM KIDDING NO NO NO I AM NOT RAVEN THIS WILL NOT OCCUR), we will be volunteering at schools in rural villages. I've been looking forward to this trip since I was a young 'un and barely into the double digits in terms of age. So I will channel my inner 9-year-old and let out an EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKK! (who am I kidding? This "eeeek-ing" is a normal occurrence of mine...)

Seriously. I am so sleep-deprived right now, but I could talk about traveling for eons and eons. Could. But won't. Because, yeah, I should probably sleep. But I should summarize this massive post that no one really read (except for -- oh hai stalker luvvvv ya xxxx) (this was the point where I was hoping the stalker would magically pop into my life and seductively say, "luvvvvvvvvv ya 2 babezzzz. here's chocolate."). But yesss. Traveling is incredible. I am so fucking lucky. We all are, actually. Being alive. Being able to type words an the screen and not being compensated. Being able to have a screen. Being able to have a home or a bed. A life.

For the day my parents' discover my blog (or what the word "blog" means, for the matter), I will be all cutsey and dedicate this blog post to them. Oh, so sentimental. (This counts for all your forgotten past birthday gifts. And all future ones. I'm such an angel daughter. Planning ahead, you know.)

So let's raise a virtual cheer? I hope you're all lifting your virtual glasses of bubbly. And by "bubbly" I mean sparkling apple juice, mmm.
To my mom and dad for not sending me to summer camps or buying expensive cottages by the muskoka! long plane rides prevail in incredible-ness. I am truly lucky and grateful.

FINALLY IN CONCLUSION, I will see all you munchkins in April! (WOOOOAH APRIL.) I hope you're all marvelous.

What are some of your traveling dreams or experiences or tell me a story or maybe we can just, like, chat?

i wish i had a witty title. blame it on the jet lag.

I've secretly always wanted to be asked to be photographed for a street style blog. I'm pretty sure my ego would explode to a level of unhealthiness (potential side effects would be uncontrollable prancing around the house whilst singing "I'm a SURVIVOR" in an imaginary microphone). Unfortunately (or fortunately?) that has yet to occur. Consequently, I'm trying to pretend I'm cool with street style-esque photos. So DON'T BURST MY BUBBLE.

And in case you were thinking "Oh, hey. Your streets have gotten unlame?" (Not that I've posted many pictures of my streets. Yeah, they're lame.)... Then here's the catch, I'M NOT HOME. I'm in Vancouver! Boo yeah!

Plane outfit. Yeah. A dress. Never again. (Never say never! (Oh shut up! I blame you, Ms. Frizzle from the Magic School Bus. YOUR STUPID CATCHPHRASE RESONATES IN MY HEAD TO THIS DAY.)



(Blazer - Value Village/ Thrifted $7, Dress - Thrifted $1, Hat - Value Village/ Thrifted $3, Shoes - Value Village/ Thrifted $7, Necklace - Aldo, Jewlery - Assorted, Bag - Peru)

Vancouver's DEFINITELY one of my favourite - if not my favourite - cities in Canada. We're here to visit the extended famjam (I'm exhausted. One word: CHILDREN. If I had a second word, it would be: JETLAG (I know that that's two words, but saying "if I had a second word" sounds better than "if I had a second word and another word" so BAM)). But apparently we're not the only ones. By "we," I'm referring to the fact that "we" are a tourist. I'm trying to transition this topic onto the fact that there is approximately 01293801389 tourists here this weekend. Long Weekend, Fireworks, Gay Pride, TALK ABOUT GREAT TIMING. (In my opinion. My mother, on the other hand, loathes large crowds/ noise/ parties. Oh the joys of being an old person.)

The fireworks were beautiful. Sadly, Pink Digital cameras lack the, um, *insert digital term to describe why these pictures suck.* According to the taxi driver, 400 000 people watch them fireworks along the bay. UM THAT IS FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF MY TOWN. Also, I witnessed like THREE people get arrested. Hand cuffs and all! I felt like I was watching Police Women on TLC! Minus the fact that they weren't women! But still! A real arrest! With a police car! And everything! It was exciting! I'm obviously from a small town! Poop!

I have more muses and mumbles, mostly about how I wish I grew up in Vancouver or any big city. Because there's actually things to do. But the good thing about living in a small town where I'm cooped indoors is that I'm forced to find random jazz to do. Generally in a creative outlet. (Mostly because the other outlet that comes to mind - athletic - is pretty much out of the picture. I have too many athletic talents and I simply don't watch to embarrass other children who are passionate about fitness and sports. That's all.) Therefore, small town = boredom = creativity = drawing, sewing, creating, playing Hakuna Matata on the piano, singing Amazing Grace. I don't sing Amazing Grace.

How has your town type influenced you in any way?
And any Vancouver readers out there (THIS IS YOUR MOMENT TO SHINE), please tell me places/ shops I should check out!?* I'm only here for a few days.

*Here's what my uncle said to me. "Hey, there's some pretty good shops around here that you might like! We passed this vintage shop on the way here. And there's another one, I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but it's called, ummm, oh yes, Value Village! I think you might like it." I laughed. I only warship the damn store...