Top 10 Finalist Video
Show the judges a local spot that you think they should visit should they ever make it to your hometown.
2010 WTI Video Application
Natalie's Blog Posts
Visiting the Turkish Baths
There’s a Turkish man by the tub. And he is ready to thoroughly scrub down any and everyone who comes his way.
Hamams, also known as the Turkish baths, are not your average bath time. I don’t know what I was expecting but definitely nowhere near the full body, full contact exfoliation I received.
With visions of [...]
Under the Sea
Down where it’s wetter, that’s where it’s better… Take it from Sebastian, the charming crab in the The Little Mermaid. That guy really knew what he was talking about.
Clearly Sebastian must have snorkeled through the infamous Koh Tao waters like we did because this island’s remarkable sea scapes were better than any I have seen!
While [...]
Many Moons of Koh
What do these Thai islands have in common besides the first name Koh? Turquoise water, beachside masseuses, and islanders who love celebrating the many stages of the moon.
As Kathryn and I hopped through the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao, we realized why so many people flock to these places. They are [...]
Japan, How Do I Love Thee?
Japan, how do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.
1) I love how a strong nod or bow will get you far in this country.
2) I love that the Japanese are all about some lucky numbers. Especially the number 5. And lucky animals: owls and turtles.
3) I love how some characters in the Japanese alphabet [...]
The Golden Temple
Step aside Willy Wonka. I found the Golden Temple, and I hate to break it to you, but it’s way cooler than your golden tickets.
I forcefully blink my eyes open and glance at my watch- 7:29 am. A minute early and right on time for Japan. To my delight, the fabulous Tokyo Prince Hotel was [...]
Bathroom Humor
Bathrooms. Toilets. Water closets. The Loo. Porcelain thrones.
No matter what you call it, this space is universal. Everybody’s gotta use it, and the Japanese are forerunners for creating state-of-the-art restroom settings that have exceeded my highest expectations of the perfect toilet.
After landing in Tokyo at 6:30 am and breaking the code of the train tables [...]
To Tasmanian Devils and Beyond
I learned a lot from Looney Tunes as a kid. For instance, if you accidentally fall off a cliff, you will just turn into a cloud at the bottom and then magically reappear in a few minutes. Or if you are a Tasmanian devil, you are about 6 ft. 3 and will violently spin around [...]
March of the Penguins
In fifth grade, I wanted to be a marine biologist more than anything in the whole world. In sixth grade, I wanted to be a singer like Britney Spears, so it’s funny how goals evolve.
However, our time in the Tasmanian wilderness took me back to those fifth grade days of old, and I became enamored [...]
Puff, the Melbourne Dragon
Apparently fire-breathing dragons still do exist. And we found 5 of them in downtown Melbourne.
Casey and I managed to snag a behind-the-scenes tour of this city in Oz thanks to the amazing hospitality of the STA Australia staff. These guys are incredible. If you are ever in Melbourne, call them up because they know their [...]
Miracle on Bondi Beach
What do you get when you mix an American Southerner with 13 degree Celsius surfing weather? Total fear.
I thought I was fearless, but today I realized how much of an enemy I have in cold weather as I bundled up with my hat, scarf and gloves on the way to our surfing lesson. You tell [...]
