Author Archives: Karina's Extraordinary Life

Summary of Our Journey Across The USA – (World Nomads Scholarship Entry)

Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah, USA - Karina Noriega

The contest deadline has come and gone. Our submission is now being reviewed by the travel journalism experts at World Nomads. We are going up against hundreds (if not thousands) aspiring filmmakers from around the whole globe.

The pressure has now shifted to the judges and mentors who can select only a single submission for one of the best prizes out there: A chance to attend, film and share Mexico’s cultural mega-festival, Dia de los Muertos. More than a chance to travel, this is the learning opportunity of a lifetime. April and I are beyond eager to receive mentoring and feedback by seasoned travel journalists. Plus, I have not so secretly always wanted to experience this event.

So let’s make the decision a little easier for the World Nomads panel. Please show us your support by clicking like, leaving your comments and sharing the video (preferably through the blog -> https://karinasextraordinarylife.com/2014/09/22/world-nomads-film-scholarship-entry <- Use This Link)

Don’t forget to read up on why we believe we should win and what it means to us. (On the YouTube comments sections)

~ An Extraordinary Story by Karina Noriega ~

Continue reading →

Manifesting Magic – A Film

Manifesting Magic Stage, Ontario, Canada - Karina Noriega

It has been a crazy week for us. First, if you read the latest blog, we received an invitation to come to New York City to help film a movie! Coolio 😀 So we have a very tight deadline and one of the largest countries in the world to drive across. *Stress* Of course we do not simply want to drive all the time. We are trying to do and see as much as we can because this is a “Road Trip” not a 25,000km “Car Ride”.

Our lives as we now know them, are dependent on opportunity and the willingness to chase our dreams at all costs. So despite the rush, we have buried ourselves into our computers for the last week to create the MOST extraordinary film (about our road trip so far) to enter into the World Nomads Film Scholarship competition. Our week has consisted of 16 hours a day in a diner (and a LOT of coffee) in the little known town of Caldwell, Idaho (home to many of the kindest people on earth).

We don’t want to sabotage our chances by posting the film on the blog. Normally these things require ‘an exclusive look’. The submissions were done through YouTube so if you want the sneak peak, please go to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/KNExtraordinaryLife Please make sure you LIKE it and leave all your COMMENTS of support and encouragement below the video to show World Nomads that we got what it takes!

In the meantime, here’s a bonus film for this week:

Manifesting Magic 2013 was an inaugural music, art and healing festival held near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I was invited to give a workshop based on my first blog (www.thirteensquared13.blogspot.com). It was a massive personal challenge for me and truthfully an overwhelming success. In appreciation for the opportunity, April helped create a promotional video for future Manifesting Magic projects.

~An Extraordinary Story by Karina Noriega~

Show your support by sharing, liking, commenting and subscribing 🙂

An Extraordinary Announcement

Avenue of the Giants, Redwoods National Park, California, USA - Karina Noriega

Whenever I meet a travel dreamer who doesn’t think they can afford to go on their own journey, I tend to go on overly enthusiastic rants about the kinds of opportunities and unique experiences that travel can present. Sometimes it is simply about being in the right place at the right time. Mostly, I regard these opportunities as a reward for the complete openness with which I journey.

Muchas Gracias @ Casa Guatemala, Rio Dulce, Guatemala – Karina Noriega
Training to be an Elephant Mahout in Northern Thailand – Karina Noriega
Pinata 🙂 Casa Guatemala, Rio Dulce, Guatemala – Karina Noriega
April and kids, First visit to Casa Guatemala, Rio Dulce, Guatemala – Karina Noriega
Turtle habitat, Pangandaran, Java, Indonesia – Karina Noriega
Children spill out of a one room school to pose with this strange wanderer in the hills of Northern Laos – Karina Noriega

Continue reading →

Travel Seeks Travelers

Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, California - Karina Noriega

It has been exactly 123 days, 25 states and 14,486km (9000m) since I crossed the southern border for an extraordinary road trip across the United States of America. My travel partners April and Tank, (my Toyota 4runner) have been strong and steady by my side. Our little travel blog is getting some attention and even inspiring a few new friends and readers to see travel differently and hit the road.

All along our journey I have called out to anyone who would like to meet, host or join us. I have reached out to old travel friends I’ve met across continents as I carve across their states and hometowns. I have encouraged friends and family who we dearly miss to come visit us wherever we may be.

I’m so excited that both of these situations have finally come to fruition.

Part I

I reached out to my friend Eric while in the Southern USA. Facebook, (a powerful tool keeping my travel circle together) told me he was living in Salt Lake City, Utah; a state that would no doubt take us far into the wilds of colourful deserts, towering formations, unimaginable canyons and wilderness. Eric and I hadn’t seen each other at all since our fateful meeting in Malaysia a few years ago. I had just hopped out of a truck near a village in the Cameron Highlands. I was hitchhiking from the coastal city of Georgetown to see the famed tea plantations and rejoice in the cooler weather. I needed one more ride to reach my destination so as I walked towards the intersection, gathering the courage necessary to stick my thumb out to passing motorists, I made a joking remark to the two white guys on scooters.

“Room for one more?” Continue reading →

Christ of Ozarks – A Film

Passion Play, Christ of the Ozarks, Arkansas, USA - Karina Noriega

Another extraordinary film by April Beresford for www.karinasextraordinarylife.com

In small town in Northern Arkansas, we stumbled upon an entire religious theme park is dedicated to the life and death of Jesus Christ. The volunteers here not only took us in as we journeyed through, but they shared their time and passion with us.

This is an outsider’s look at the place and people of ‘Christ of the Ozarks’.

Music by Keith Symanowitz

Camping with Jesus, Christ of the Ozarks, Arkansas, USA - Karina Noriega

Camping with Jesus, Christ of the Ozarks, Arkansas, USA – Karina Noriega

~ An Extraordinary Story by Karina Noriega ~

Continue reading →

Modern Nomads – A Film

Cadillac Ranch, Texas, USA - Karina Noriega

Another extraordinary film by April Beresford for www.karinasextraordinarylife.com

Two weeks ago, April opened up a very personal page in her travel journey. As a ‘newbie’ traveler, she is discovering how different real travel is from taking a vacation. The hardships of life as a nomad are only just beginning on this journey and they will continue twist and reshape themselves with our environment and changing cultural landscape.

As a responsible journalist, she has followed up her article with a series of interviews with more experienced long-term travelers in search of answers. With every intention of creating a healthy and sustainable method of travel, April seeks out the secrets to maintaining balance between self and world.

Check out her original story: https://karinasextraordinarylife.com/2014/08/05/confessions-newbie-traveler-aprils-story/ Continue reading →

Monumental Moments – Monument Valley USA

Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah, USA - Karina Noriega
Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah, USA - Karina Noriega

Morning yoga at Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah, USA – Karina Noriega

The sun is barely carving slivers of orange and red into the early morning sky when I first peer up from my backseat pedestal. It’s not even 6 in the morning and the thought of crawling out of my stuffy warm sleeping bag into the desert chill is less than appetizing. I move slowly, contemplating how the rising sun would light up the towering spires and famously photographed Mitten Buttes of Monument Valley. Continue reading →

Confessions of a Newbie Traveler: April’s Story

~Intro by Karina Noriega~

For three months April and I have been desperately trying to balance the demands of our journey with our blogging ‘responsibilities’. While it is a labour of love, there is no doubt that creating our articles and films on the road is strenuous and exhausting. Often, finding a way (and a conducive environment) to stop our travels is much harder than continuously moving forward. Thankfully, we are able to share this responsibility as we commit to weekly updates. Thus far, April’s films have gained her numerous new fans and brought thousands more viewers to the site. Let’s face it, not everyone likes to read. 😛

This week, April is revealing a much more personal side of herself and how this journey has made an impact on her life. I am so excited and privileged to introduce her very first article.

I hope this new travelers’ confession shines a light on the truth and hardships of becoming a citizen of the World.

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado, USA

April’s Lookout, Great Sand Dunes, Colorado, USA

 

~April’s Story~

Achieving a sense of balance in this constantly changing environment feels like an impossible feat. Not for a second do I regret the choice I’ve made to pursue this nomadic lifestyle but there is no question, it is taking its toll on me emotionally. Continue reading →

Blanchard Springs Caverns … Where Mother Nature Met Father Time

Blanchard Springs Cavern, Arkansas - Karina Noriega

 

Cathedral Room, Blanchard Springs Cavern, Arkansas - Karina Noriega

Cathedral Room, Blanchard Springs Cavern, Arkansas – Karina Noriega

In the heart of the Ozarks in northern Arkansas, the secrets of the underground reveal themselves. The massive cavern system at Blanchard Springs is a living cave, constantly changing, carving and shaping itself. The delicate and enormous formations, some taking thousands or even millions of years, are created by the minerals deposited by the tiny raindrops and ancient rivers within the cave. Continue reading →

Georgia on my Mind – A Film

Another extraordinary film by April Beresford.

This time, we find ourselves in the Southern state of Georgia exploring two very different kinds of destinations: Driftwood Beach on the coastal park of Jekyll Island and the deep south swamp of Okefenokee. We highly recommend that you check out the detailed article about experience in the swamp, to view spectacular photos and gather important insight regarding this amazing environment which is not included in the film.
Article Link: https://karinasextraordinarylife.com/2014/06/24/okefenokee-national-wildlife-refuge/

Music by: Ray Charles

~ An Extraordinary Story by Karina Noriega ~

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God Of The Oaks – South Carolina’s Angel Oak

Angel Oak, St. John's, Charleston, South Carolina, USA - Karina Noriega
Angel Oak, St. John's, Charleston, South Carolina, USA - Karina Noriega

The intrepid road trippers at Angel Oak, St. John’s, Charleston, South Carolina, USA – Karina Noriega

It’s not often that a single tree warrants the creation of an entire park, but the Angel Oak is no regular vegetable. This venerable giant sprouted before Columbus arrived to this New World. The City of Charleston in South Carolina acquired the property in 1991 and has since been protecting it through it’s public park. Continue reading →

Paradise Unknown – A Film

Another extraordinary film by April Beresford for http://www.karinasextraordinarylife.com
A chance encounter brought us to one of the most unbelievable paradise locations we could have imagined. With a lot of help from our local couchsurfing host, opportunities to explore sugarland beaches, live music venues, local cuisine and Spring break styled drinking and boating adventures all came to life. It’s a mystery that this stunning landscape ever escaped a highlight reel,so we are sharing the secrets of this Florida panhandle town known as Destin.

Music: Vieux Farka Toure – Ana (Ditto Remix)

~ An Extraordinary Story by Karina Noriega ~

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Happy Canada Day – A Film by Jonas Bellmann

 

In celebration of Canada Day, I am proudly sharing this film by our buddy and former couchsurfer, Jonas Bellmann.

Check out this rat-pack of bikers celebrating Canada Day, 2013 at Port Dover in Ontario, Canada.

Thank you for letting us share your video Jonas 🙂

Continue reading →

Exploring Ithaca

Another extraordinary film by April Beresford for http://www.karinasextraordinarylife.com
Now 50 days on the road, couchsurfing throughout our entire journey, here is a short video about our very first adventure in the United States. The footage begins with an account of our initial brush with US customs officer at the Canada-US border, followed by shots of us exploring an abandoned home on our way to Ithaca, New York. After being welcomed by our hosts in Ithaca we are shown around the local community. Relaxing beneath a waterfall we learn of an amazing opportunity our host has arranged; we are invited to observe a local artist in his glassblowing studio. Check out this video to see molten glass form into beautiful artwork!

Music by: Wheatus

~ An Extraordinary Story by April Beresford ~

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Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is the “largest, intact, un-fragmented, freshwater and black water wilderness swamp in North America.”1

Native Americans refer to this place as the “The Land of the Trembling Earth”.

Once scheduled to be drained and exploited, the land is now protected to impressive sum of 402,000 acres (that’s nearly 700 square miles!) Within the refuge more than 400 different species reside, including the star attraction of the swamp – the American alligator. Continue reading →