Tag Archives: Couchsurfing

My Encounter With A Celebrity – Blue Ridge Parkway, USA

Falcor, the actor. Thanks to www.icanhascheezburger.com for reading my mind! This photo was too perfect to not share!

Falcor, the actor. Thanks to http://www.icanhascheezburger.com for reading my mind! This photo was too perfect to not share!

For those of us who were raised in the 80’s, the movie, “The NeverEnding Story” contains some iconic images that have been burned into our brains for life. For me, the heroine of this tale was Atreyu’s mighty Luck-Dragon, Falcor. I had countless dreams as a child where me and my white dragon-dog were soaring high in the clouds, fighting evil doers the world abound. Tell me he wouldn’t be the best pet ever?! Remember that scene at the end of the movie when he was chasing the bullies through an ally in New York? I can think of a few people I wouldn’t mind hunting down with a flying dragon. Can you?

I never really expected to find an actual live creature, who embodies all of my deep seated dragon fantasies, while road-trippin’ across the USA. I am happy to report that I had the pleasure of meeting a real Luck-Dragon in the flesh. As it turns out he doesn’t actually have the ability to fly and he is neither dog, nor dragon, but man, is he ever cute!

Entering the Blue Ridge Parkway: America's Favourite Drive. USA -- Karina Noriega

Entering the Blue Ridge Parkway: America’s Favourite Drive. USA — Karina Noriega

Karina and I were making our way through Virginia down the famous Blue-Ridge Parkway when we decided to follow a sign that lead us to a little alpaca farm called Peaceful Heart Alpacas. The owner Linda was kind enough to give us our own private tour of her property, and she even introduced us to a friend of hers who made my dreams come true. Continue reading →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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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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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The Blue Ridge Parkway – America’s Favourite Drive

Blue Ridge Parkway Overlook, Virginia, USA - Karina Noriega
Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia, USA - Karina Noriega

Entering the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia, USA – Karina Noriega

The Blue Ridge Parkway, voted ‘America’s Favourite Drive’, is a 469 mile track through the Appalachian Highlands connecting Shenandoah National Park (also known as the Skyline Drive) in Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia, USA - Karina Noriega

At my absolute favourite outlook point, somewhere on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia, USA – Karina Noriega

Continue reading →

New York City for Free – Weekends and Anytime Edition

Part II of New York City for Free – The Weekend and Anytime Edition

Before I delve into more free things to see and do, let us take a moment to acknowledge that not everything in New York can be free. That being said, if you are looking for a good place to spend your hard earned dollars, the list is endless so choose wisely.

My suggestions:

Continue reading →

New York City SightSeeing – A Film

Hands down, brand-new favourite film by April! Longer than previous videos but absolutely packed with high energy clips from our 2 weeks of adventuring and trouble-making (all for only dollars a day of course) throughout the boroughs of New York City. So many good moments: Top of the Rock, the NY Subway, Times Square, eating cheap Chinatown pork buns at Tiffany’s 😛 and so much more.

~ An Extraordinary Story by Karina Noriega ~

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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AprilandKarina

Tweet me @KarinaXLife

http://instagram.com/karinas_extraordinary_life/

https://www.youtube.com/user/KNExtraordinaryLife/videos

 

Read my guide to seeing it all for next-to-nothing at

Weekdays:

https://karinasextraordinarylife.com/2014/05/24/free-new-york-city-weekdays/

Weekends and Anytime: 

https://karinasextraordinarylife.com/2014/06/09/free-new-york-city-weekends-anytime/

 

WELCOME

Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah, USA - Karina Noriega

Welcome to Karina’s Extraordinary Life

I’m so, so, so excited to launch this blog in conjunction with my latest global adventure. It has been an unbelievable learning curve for me as I slowly developed the skills necessary to create what you see here on your screen. Don’t be surprised if you continue to see changes and improvements as I introduce myself into the travel blogging community as well as becoming a social media buff 🙂 (Please share with me if you have suggestion or have noticed anything within the site that is not working.)

So the long and short of it all starts today. I traded my job, home and a possibly successful career as a neuroscientist for the unknown, unstable, unexplored, unsung, uncertain and unpredictable. The last few months have complete evaporated. I swear I just made the decision to spend the first stage of this voyage living out of my truck while traveling across North America. Now the blast off date has come and gone.

Tank- Karina Noriega

My home for the next 4 months, the unstoppable Tank- Karina Noriega

Continue reading →