What is in your cup?

[The Terminator]

Another fruit smoothie, I've taken to drinking them for breakfast (When I have breakfast, 2 out of 7 days I won't because I either forget about it or I just don't feel like eating)

Healthier (I would think) that toast

[VydorScope]

Chocolate Milkshake from Mister Goodies!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by maianhvk

Really? I thought traveling together is the best way to improve a relationship... Can you be more specific? What pressure does it possibly give? Does it only apply to the relationship between couples? Or is it true with friendship and other relationship also?

(Because I traveled several times with a friend, and once with my brother-in-law, everything was fine. Wonder if this "true test" only applies to love relationship.)

I wouldn't want to travel with somebody who has a completely different view on relaxation. At home, when I want to relax, I either play a computer game, or I read a book. My husbands goes and sit in front of the TV.

However, whenever we're on holiday, camping, hotel or apartment, we both think the same: reading!

It's also always very important to assign tasks. That way you don't hinder each other and the jobs that must be done go faster.

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Very! And afternoon and evening too. There is nothing quite like a good cup of tea when camping. For that matter, there is nothing quite like a good cup of tea anytime!

But I may be prejudiced.


Stitchawl

Well, the afternoon was usually without tea. Considering we were on the road the entire day and the cooking gear was somewhere in the trunk, underneath the tent, sleeping mats, and sleeping bag. And in the evening it was either a cup of tea, or a cup of hot choco.

Originally Posted by maianhvk

One question for those who are married: Are you wearing the wedding ring?

I feel naked without out...

Originally Posted by astra

Always.
24/7/365

Except when I'm swimming. I'll put it on my necklace then (so it's still close to me). I'm too afraid I might lose it because my fingers will shrink a bit while swimming...

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I tend to fall into that model of travel. I like going to a river house for 4-5 days but I get bored. I really like traveling over seas and seeing new things. I can travel with just about everyone but I do know that I need a solo day on most trips because of who I am. (shrugs)

That's why we drove 2700km the first 9 days of our trip.... I don't like to be stuck at one place for more than a few days... The only exception is when skiing.

Originally Posted by beppe

Once, a climbing nail got caught in my ring. It is by my never ending good luck that nothing happened except a bruise and a sore finger.

I do not wear wedding rings since that episode. I also do not climb anymore, but went on for a while. At a certain point my actual and me swore eternal love to each other and got 2 of those Tuareg chevaliers. I lost mine in the driveway. A moment I had it, and the moment after it was not on my sweaty finger anymore. it reappered months later behind a couch in the living room. No rings. No chains, no bracelets, no jewels. No tattoos. Just me. I have similar problems with keys.

When we designed our wedding bands, we took care that there are absolutely no things sticking out. I hate those huge "diamond-on-a-ring" kind of rings. The only jewelry I wear are my wedding ring, earrings (simple knobs) and a necklace (short).



I forgot to make my smoothie on tuesday...

[Iridal]

I've only travelled with family and friends so far, never with a boyfriend. I'm very easygoing and I like both lying on the beach relaxing, visiting things and more sporty activities (hiking, some sports, ...). When I travelled with my family we always had a good combination of relaxation and activity, and anyone who wasn't interested in that day's excursion was allowed to go to the beach or do something else. Nr. 2 (I really have to find a different name for him, maybe after tonight I'll start calling him boyfriend ) told me he likes active holidays, so I'm sure we're going to able to put together a program that suits the both of us. We're already making plans for a weekend in London and a weekend in Paris

About the wedding rings. Obviously I'm not married and I don't really feel the need to get married. But if I ever do marry, I'd wear my ring all the time. Although I'm really not the kind of girl who likes wearing rings. I have chubby fingers

In my cup: double cappuccino. Looking forward to tonight

[Stitchawl]

I found a new tea this afternoon! I went into Osaka to a good import shop that has a nice selection of teas and found an Ahmad tea that they hadn't been carrying before. It's called "Hampton Breakfast" tea, and I bought a tin to bring home. It's a blend of Indian (I'm assuming Assam,) Kenyan, and Ceylon.

I've just brewed it up and am about to give it a taste....

Hmmm... very nice. Not an overpowering drink... I guess that Kenyan is an Uva... Nice balance of flavors... Certainly is made with Assam...

Overall, a pleasant tea, a bit on the weak side. I'll give it a try as my breakfast tea tomorrow and see if my palate is different in the early morning.


Stitchawl

[aceflor]

Travelling is the best way to get to know a person really well. I met my husband while travelling in south east asia. I did not speak german, he did not speak french, we just saw each other and we were done. Afterwards, we traveled extensively throughout the US, Mexico, Canada, the indian ocean and Asia, and while I am the extrovert reaching out to know new people, discuss with them, learn about countries and ways of life, he is the adventurer that can climb endlessly on a path seen only by him in La Reunion because he can "feel there is a waterfall", and there was.
We don't camp, he likes it, I hate it, but we don't stay in big resorts either (we both hate it). There is not one trip in 21 years together that I regret doing with him. I can say that after our first trip together, the year after we met, I had the feeling I really knew him well, and I did.

Pineapple Shake. Selfmade with fresh pineapple and soymilk.

[astra]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

If you ever have the opportunity to be a tour guide over a several day trip, you will really understand this problem. I've run into many people who simply 'refuse' to use an Asian 'squat toilet.' Refuse. For a while...

Originally Posted by maianhvk

About the "squat toilet"... I read somewhere that the bone structure and/or muscular system of a Westerner differs a bit from those of an Easterner, so people from Europe/the US have difficulties squatting, while we don't

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I think it's more about habit. It's not all that difficult to learn to be comfortable with that position, it just takes practice. But I see here in Japan that it's being replaced with western style toilets everywhere, and my wife tells me that it's now something that teachers are instructing elementary students in its use as a 'cultural and historical' part of the curriculum!

Apparently, our bone structure is different.
I learned about it a few months ago. I had to do a bone densitometry test. Before the test I filled in a form where they asked me my ethnic identity.... I absolutely hate this type of questions. When I saw it I went WTF?!?
Anyway, as usual, I ticked "other white"
The nurse read through the form and asked me why I ticked "other white"? The question earned raised eyebrows on my part. She said that I didn’t look like that...and explained that it was very important because after they get scan results they apply different bone density coefficient tied to the ethnical background. She said it is different for white, black, asian etc. I explained that I have been Jewish from day one and was born in Ukraine and that my relatives lived in Ukraine, Russia in the last 200 years and before that in Western Europe. Maybe if we go back 2000 years then I could probably tick a different box. My looks? What could I do? Blue blood. Unmixed.

Re: squat toilet
That was the norm in the xUSSR. In all 15 Soviet Socialist Republics. One also had to possess a good body balance and navigating skills to wade to an empty “hole”. Lack of sense of smell helped.
However, accordingly to the latest researches this type of a toilet is the best for our health (besides the obvious hygiene benefits). Apparently it is the natural position for the long toilet. You can now buy special contraptions in the UK, that you can fit over standard toilet in order to use it like a “squat toilet”.

Originally Posted by The Terminator

Another fruit smoothie, I've taken to drinking them for breakfast (When I have breakfast, 2 out of 7 days I won't because I either forget about it or I just don't feel like eating)

Healthier (I would think) that toast

When I was in Mexico, we had a buffet style restaurant with literally hundreds of types of food for breakfast. Guess at what “station” was the longest queue??!?! Toaster. Americans and Canadians were queuing to make loads of white bread toasts every morning. For the life of me I cannot understand it. Why travel somewhere and stick to the only food (an unhealthy one) you know? I mean, you might not like something. But not even trying?

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I feel naked without out...

Fantastic explanation.

This is exactly how I feel.

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Except when I'm swimming. I'll put it on my necklace then (so it's still close to me). I'm too afraid I might lose it because my fingers will shrink a bit while swimming...

One year ago I went to a jeweller and asked him to downsize my ring after I lost it when working in a front garden. Cannot describe how dismal and shuttered I felt. 3 hours later I went and dug through all the piles of soil and stones I created and found it!!!

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I found a new tea this afternoon! I went into Osaka to a good import shop that has a nice selection of teas and found an Ahmad tea that they hadn't been carrying before. It's called "Hampton Breakfast" tea, and I bought a tin to bring home. It's a blend of Indian (I'm assuming Assam,) Kenyan, and Ceylon.

I've just brewed it up and am about to give it a taste....

Hmmm... very nice. Not an overpowering drink... I guess that Kenyan is an Uva... Nice balance of flavors... Certainly is made with Assam...

Overall, a pleasant tea, a bit on the weak side. I'll give it a try as my breakfast tea tomorrow and see if my palate is different in the early morning.

Is not it Ahmad Hampton Breakfast tea that I am finishing the second tin right now? I am drinking a cup of it as I am typing.
If it is the same then Not an overpowering drink...& on the weak side would be my description of it. It is not even close to Ahmad English Breakfast.


This post is outdated.
Many hours went by...Cooked Pu-Erh in da cup.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by The Terminator

Another fruit smoothie, I've taken to drinking them for breakfast (When I have breakfast, 2 out of 7 days I won't because I either forget about it or I just don't feel like eating)

Healthier (I would think) that toast

I go through phases where I drink smoothies regularly but I buy a yogurt smoothie as the grocery store.

Pot one of Rooibos Ginger.

[astra]

A mug of Lapacho

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by astra

I explained that I have been Jewish from day one and was born in Ukraine and that my relatives lived in Ukraine, Russia in the last 200 years and before that in Western Europe. Maybe if we go back 2000 years then I could probably tick a different box. My looks? What could I do? Blue blood. Unmixed.

That we share. From Kiev, then they moved to St Petersbourg, then they luckily managed to get out (1917). They landed through different countries finally in France, which they thought was safe. Wanted to write "jewish princess" instead of "eternal expat", but I am not sure people would get my sense of humor, so it is eternal princess for now, since I do not apply as expat anymore.

I suggested to my husband wearing his ring on a chain, he smirked.

Agua con gas, with lots of ice cube and a lemon zest in it.

[ProfCrash]

My Grandfather was a Russian Jew who left in 1908 and came to the US. He died when he was 40 so I never met him. My Dad was one so he knows little to nothing about them.

[pdurrant]

Coke Zero #3 in my cup.

[VydorScope]

I know this will shock you all... but on #4 cup of Dunkin Turbo....

[beppe]

A small beer. It evaporated before getting to the bottom. So what to do? Drink more? Nah.
A nice cup of tea! yeahhhh. Green. I saw some in a cupboard. I am not at home, but in holidays. The cupboard is full of remains by previous occupants.

[ProfCrash]

Pot 2 of Rooibos Ginger.

I miss vacation...