links of the week: travelling the world

Eli here. Sorry Zab and I have been MIA, but she is currently planning her sister's wedding and I am interning at Yale University Press, so we're currently 1000 miles apart and super busy. Doesn't stop us from our daily habit of surfing the web for news updates, popular culture, and completely random StumbleUpon-esque discoveries. I thought we might start a recurring chain of posts where we just share the particularly fascinating morsels we come across in our WiFi travels... The theme word of the week is EXOTIC...

Did you know there is a Buddhist temple in Thailand where monks live peacefully with ten wild Bengal tigers?? Check out this documentary on Vimeo.

This National Geographic article about tribal Europe is so unbelievably weird. Photographer Charles Fréger travelled through 19 European countries and chronicled the strange costumes that symbolize mythical monsters and beasts that have graced the festivals and stories of these societies for hundreds of years. Even in contemporary Europe, tradition is kept alive through these eerie manifestations of nightmarish beings. You can skip straight to the photo gallery here.

Apparently you can spend the night underwater at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island hotel, where the restaurant Ithaa sits in a glass-domed room beneath the Indian Ocean. Typically restaurant space, the hotel apparently will convert it into a suite for honeymoon bookings.

While we're discussing exotic getaways, check out the incredible Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort. I'd totally go here for my honeymoon. You can stay in gorgeously-designed tents that are pure luxury, and right outside your door elephants just wander the grounds freely. I'm assuming it costs a fortune, but you can go elephant-riding and learn the skills of the mahout (elephant-riders). How cool is that?

Speaking of Thailand, I learned recently that there is a place in the world where they recreate the lantern scene from Tangled every year. In the Lanna region of northern Thailand, they're called "floating lanterns" (โคมลอย, khom loi) and are released on one special festival, called Lanna Yi Peng. There are a lot of cool pics and more info here.

One more link of the week: I found this really awesome travel article in the NYTimes about a girl who took a 2890-mile roadtrip from Seattle, Washington, all the way to the Arctic Circle! It's really incredible, and you can read it here.

summer reads: eli's picks

Reading outside is best done in the summer months, and there's nothing so refreshing as lying in the shade of a tree with an engrossing paperback. As the school year winds down (or comes to a complete end, as is the case for most college seniors like us), it's finally time to kick back on a lazy hot day with that book you've been eyeing longingly for the past school year.

1. With My Body by Nikki Gemmell. Beginning with the dreary daily existence of a suffocating British housewife, the majority of this novel is composed of this woman's memories of her youth in Australia, particularly the summer of her sexual awakening. Her brief but exhilarating love affair with an English writer in an isolated old house is hauntingly beautiful, and the lessons about love and relationships that this novel offers make it a piece of astounding emotional weight.

2. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller. Heller's premier novel will whisk you off to the wilderness of Colorado, where protagonist Hig tries to maintain a sense of normalcy in a post-apocalyptic world where government no longer exists and most of the population has been wiped out by flu. While running regular surveillance flights with his dog Jasper in a 1956 Cessna, he hears a faint radio broadcast that sends him on a journey past his fuel point of no return.

3. The Ramayana by Valmiki. One of the most epic love stories, this sacred epic of India charts the love story of god Rama and Sita, who is kidnapped by the demon Ravana. Rama's epic quest to rescue his beloved with the help of Hanuman the monkey-god and others is a timeless classic and transports you to the beauty of India through its imagery and Hindu iconography.

4. Chéri by Colette. A charming classic from Belle Époque France, this short novel charts the affair of retired courtesan Léa de Lonval and young Fred Peloux, who is engaged to another, the young beauty Edmée. If you like the book you should see the film also, starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

5. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. We actually recommend the entire Gemma Doyle Trilogy, but this first book in the series is incredible. Set in Victorian England, four misfit girls meet at the eerie Spence Academy for Young Ladies. One of them, Gemma Doyle, has a secret: she has visions of another world which she alone can open the door to. A darkly magical, absolutely addictive book - you won't be able to put it down!

6. That Was Then, This is Now by S. E. Hinton. All of S. E. Hinton's books were my personal favorites as a young teen, but in my opinion this one is even better than The Outsiders. It's a coming-of-age story of Mark and Bryon, whose small-town lives provide some inspiring lessons about life, family, and friendship.

7. Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen. One of the best books ever written on what it's like to be a teenager. A treatise on young love and friendship.

8. The Queen's Lover by Francine du Plessix-Gray. While I'm not a huge history buff, this biography of Marie Antoinette told through the eyes of her lover, the Swedish Count Axel von Fersen, is absolutely incredible. It sucks you into the decadence and gossip of the late 1700s, and provides a startling intimate look at the Queen during the darkest parts of the Revolution.

9. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This book will break your heart. Whether or not you liked the movie, the book is better. Set in the Chicago area, it chronicles the unusual love story of a normal woman and a man who has strange epileptic attacks where he travels backwards or forwards in the timeline of his own life.

10. The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje. This is the one book in this list which I haven't yet finished - it's my summer 2013 reading. This story spans lifetimes and years of wars, slowly weaving together the lives of its brilliant characters.

Feel free to submit your own recommendations for summer reading! We'd love to know!

exclusive reader offer: residence hall linens

Hello, dearest readers! As summer gets rolling, we have a special offer for college students who read Zabelieth: $25 off at Residence Hall Linens!

Feel like changing the look of your dorm room next year? Decorations and furniture are everything, from bordering the ceiling in small Christmas lights to covering the walls with your favorite posters and photos. If you're allowed to put in shelves, those are also a great way to break up a bare ugly cinderblock wall and give the room some character. Getting a rug or adding curtains also immediately disguises a dorm room and makes it more homey.

When it comes to bedding and towels, RHL has a thorough assortment of all your college linens. You can get everything in the form of their Value Packs, which include bedding and bath linens in the color scheme of your choice (we're a fan of "Deep Pink Paris"). Residence Hall Linens also sells storage and organization items such as trunks and hanging garment organizers. They also offer a selection of wall decals, rugs, and other decorations.

To get the exclusive discount provided through the Her Campus Blogger Network, just use this discount code: "MAYSAVE25RHL" which takes $25 off Value Packs ONLY.

7 reasons grad school in Europe is a good idea

Hey, everyone! Sorry we didn't post last week - Zab and I have been so busy with finals! This was my last semester at William & Mary, so I have also been dealing with graduation! This fall I'm moving on to grad school with an MA program in Peace and Conflict Studies at Uppsala University in Sweden. Can't wait! Also, Zab is trying out the UK with a summer program at London School of Economics! We are both so excited to be travelling to Europe for the first time and exploring these prestigious universities. We have done a lot of research on grad school in Europe at this point, and have realized time and time again that it's a pretty sweet deal...

1. You don't have to take the GRE. Instead, applications are heavily made up of your undergraduate research, which European schools place a lot more emphasis on. This is something I really give European universities a lot of credit for: taking the time to closely examine the research and work you've already done as an undergraduate. In sharp contrast, American schools tend to focus on your resume/CV, transcript, and GRE scores. With the exception of personal statements, applicants to American colleges aren't really given a chance to showcase their material academic achievements and illustrate where their passions lie. The European applications seem more concerned with the scholar as individual, than with standardized assessments such as GRE scores.

2. European universities have been around a lot longer. Uppsala is the oldest university in northern Europe - founded in 1477. Cambridge was founded in 1209, and Oxford is so old that it's year of inception is unknown - definitely 1096 or earlier, making it the second-oldest surviving university in the world. All over Europe, universities are preserved in beautiful buildings which have been standing for hundreds of years. The presence of so much history, so many previous scholars and students... these are academic institutions which have withstood and born witness to countless eras!

3. MA programs are only one year. This isn't the case with all of them, but a lot of MA programs in Europe are only one year (check out the list of King's College MAs for loads of examples), whereas in the States the typical length is 2. The degrees are the same, but the time (and money!) you put in are less. Some universities even allow you to choose between a 1- or 2-year version of each masters program.

4. Tuition is cheaper, or even free. Grad school is so much cheaper in Europe (you just have to figure in living expenses, of course). In some countries (particularly Scandinavia) education is heavily or completely subsidized by the government, which means tuition is unbelievably low by US standards. In Norway, which is not part of the EU, the government COMPLETELY subsidizes education. This means that if you wanted to get your MA at the University of Oslo, even as an international graduate student, it won't cost you anything (except living expenses in Norway).

5. It opens up job opportunities abroad. Going to university in Europe gives you a fantastic leg up if you ever plan on living and/or working in Europe. Often after getting a degree in any foreign country there are additional perks, such as the ability to get a work visa more easily.

6. You interact with a truly "international" student body. In the European Union there's so much international connectivity and the universities really embrace this. Many European universities (Uppsala is no exception) have very large international student percentages to their student bodies, facilitating that constant cross-cultural discourse that is vital in today's world. So if you go to grad school in Italy, you won't just be hanging out with Italians. You won't even just be hanging out with Europeans! European universities are fantastic global microcosms, and your peers will truly come from all over the world.

7. Programs are often offered in English. Because of this emphasis on creating a multinational student body, universities in countries with languages that are not widely spoken (such as all the Nordic countries) offer programs in English. Of course, it's always a good idea to try to learn as much of the local language as possible when living in a foreign country, and building language skills is a vital CV-builder in today's world.

spoil yourself with these easy breakfast recipes

Photo: 101Cookbooks

They're all quick and easy enough to squeeze into any morning routine.

Taste of Home's Cherry-Brandy Baked Brie makes a truly mouth-watering spread for your morning croissant or baguette. You simply mix together 1/2-cup each of dried cherries and dried walnuts with 1/4-cup each of brown sugar and brandy, then spoon this mixture over a round of Brie cheese in a pie dish. Bake it at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is softened.

101Cookbooks' Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa recipe is so healthy, and so delicious! Here are the necessary ingredients:

1 cup organic 1% low fat milk
1 cup water
1 cup organic quinoa, (hs note: rinse quinoa)
2 cups fresh blackberries, organic preferred
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted*
4 teaspoons organic agave nectar, such as Madhava brand

Combine milk, water and quinoa in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer 15 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Turn off heat; let stand covered 5 minutes. While the quinoa cooks, roast the pecans in a 350F degree toaster oven for 5 to 6 minutes or in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Stir in blackberries and cinnamon; transfer to four bowls and top with pecans. Drizzle 1 teaspoon agave nectar over each serving.

The next three recipes are courtesy of Women's Health Magazine. They're incredibly easy and incredibly delicious! For a Banana-Nut Waffle Sundae, first slice half a banana. Toast 2 whole-grain frozen waffles. Top with 1/4 cup of nonfat Greek yogurt, banana slices, and 2 tablespoons of toasted walnuts.

To make an Egg In a Nest, in a pan over medium-low heat, warm 1 tablespoon of oil. Place a slice of bread with a circle cut from the center in the pan. Crack 1 egg into the hole and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the egg is firm; add the cut-out bread circle to toast for the last 1 to 2 minutes (it'll be yummy when you remove it and eat it). Transfer everything to a plate and serve with avocado and tomato slices.

For Sweet and Spicy Quinoa Hash, in a skillet over medium heat, warm 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes and 1/2 cup cubed sweet potato, then saute for about 5 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup of chopped kale, 1 clove of minced garlic, and a pinch of salt. Saute until kale has wilted, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup cooked quinoa (you'll have to do this beforehand or separately) and heat through.

HitBliss: better than hulu and netflix?

Online TV without commercials and without subscription fees?

There's a new competitor in the midst of Hulu/HuluPlus and Netflix: HitBliss!

Check it out/sign up here. It will download the application, which you install on your computer, then allow you to either create an account or simply log in with Facebook.

The best part - it doesn't have to cost you a dime if you take advantage of their system of earning money by watching commercials. Basically you can either pay to watch your shows commercial-free online, which in itself is a new privilege and a step up from Hulu and most other online streaming platforms... or you can use the HitBliss Earn feature to watch all the commercials you've been getting out of for a few minutes to earn cash you can redeem on your TV episodes and movies. In less than five minutes I'd made $5 just by watching a bunch of fun commercials for Dr. Pepper, Aflac, etc. You can decide which commercials you want to watch/skip and select brands you want to see advertised. HitBliss builds off of your suggestions and input. When you're not up for going through this, HitBliss also offers a lot of free show episodes as well!

HitBliss builds in even more benefits - for example, if you complete your account to provide more demographic info about yourself (gender, income level, education, etc.) you get extra points and get more rewards for watching fewer commercials. You gradually gain levels and unlock more and more benefits. A very cool new adaptation for internet TV and movie viewers!

summer reads: zab's picks

Freedom is near! The fresh, warm breezes of summer are starting to reawaken the world, and you can feel the sunshine energising your body and mind. Summer is a time for growth and relaxation and happiness, if you can afford it! Though many of us still have work, school or other obligations to occupy our summers, there is always some precious time to sit outside in the sun with some iced tea and a good book. Because this season has, since childhood, been the time for imagination and play, it is the perfect time for adult-you to relax and allow your mind to indulge in some good old stories.

In this post, I highlight my all-time favourite novels to enjoy during any season - but if you can, I highly encourage you to pick up one or all for summer reads! Just sneaking in a few minutes of reading here and there is an ENORMOUS stress reliever. Escaping into a fictional world has always been one of our favourite ways of dealing with the troubles of real life! These picks vary from timeless classics to modern French erotica (ooh la la!), so there will be plenty to spark your interest. Most of these novels are relatively light and passionate on the surface but reveal deep lessons about humankind underneath.They will supplant your summer with not only relaxation but learning. Enjoy!

My favourites (in no particular order because they are all equally fantastic):

1. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. I would say that Lolita is the most inappropriate influential novel ever written. Nabokov's novel tells the story of little Lolita, a tantalising, fascinating pre-teen dripping with sexual equivoque who draws in the helpless and much older Humbert Humbert. This book has become not only a classic but has defined an aspect of society that pretty much all others have deemed untouchable and not-understandable. I think that Lolita is the most intriguing character ever created, and Humbert Humbert's doomed obsession tells us a lot about humanity.

2. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. Truly a novel for summer, this lengthy but captivating work is filled with adventure, scandal, love, and grief. It is set in beautiful France and Mediterranean islands after the exile of Napoleon, and follows the life of Edmond Dantes, a young, sincere, and successful sailor whose life is plagued by jealousy and revenge. He is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires an incredible fortune, and sets about getting revenge for those who harmed him in the past. Dantes' life is full of astonishing twists, passion, danger, and sadness. This book is considered a classic and a masterpiece for a reason, and is surprisingly easy to read considering it was written in the 1840s.

3. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence. Initially forbidden in many countries when it was published in 1928, this is one of the most classic novels of feminine awakening and independence. An upper-class British woman shakes away the shackles of society and searches for wholeness, particularly the cohesion of her mind and body. She becomes involved in a sexual relationship with a lower-class man, with whom she experiences true emotion and self-awareness.

4. The Awakening by Kate Chopin. The perfect summer read, for women in particular. Like Lady Chatterly's Lover, this short novel explores the process of self-realization of a bored, wealthy housewife and was likewise banned for some time. This novel is set on a resort island just beyond New Orleans, and describes the luxuriant but empty lifestyle of a woman who should want nothing. She seeks fulfillment through society liaisons, charming young men, and music but only slowly makes her way towards feminine independence.

5. Monsieur by Emma Becker. This book was written only a few years ago by a young Parisian woman. It vividly details the relationship between the author and an older surgeon/family friend. I love this book because of its honest sexuality and emotion, and Ms. Becker's heart-wrenching, relatable obsession with an man she can never be with. You can read my complete review of this novel here.

6. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. If you have not already read this book, do so immediately. Set in the stark Prague Spring, this story explores the fragility and strength of love. Tomas, an intelligent, successful, and attractive womaniser sleeps with many women but loves only his wife, the reserved and beautiful photographer Tereza. The story follows the interactions and development between Tomas, Tereza, and Sabina, Tomas' free-spirited lover. It explores the 'lightness' of life, the idea that each person has only one life to live, and that time is irreplaceably precious.

7. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Truly a modern masterpiece. This is a very difficult and emotional book, but it is also a necessary read. This novel follows the intertwined lives of two women living in Afghanistan as they face incredible pain, hardship, and love. Hosseini's writing abilities and depiction of humankind blows me away.

8. Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Another perfect summer novel. This work of art describes the 227 days spent by a young Indian boy lost in the Pacific Ocean with only an adult tiger for company. Terrifying, exhilarating, and touching, this story is beautifully told and focuses on humankind's place in the animal kingdom, how we are similar to and different from the animals.

9. Island by Aldous Huxley. Quite different from his most famous novel, Brave New World, this is the story of a journalist who is shipwrecked on the Pacific island of Pala and finds a clandestine perfect society. The people there indulge in leisure and contemplation, and everyone belongs to each other in a seamless, happy society. This book was actually written as the utopian alternative to Brave New World and its themes of relaxation, self-understanding, and learning are perfect for summertime.

10. Lord of the Flies by William Golding. You might be sensing a common thread here: the ocean, shipwreck, and developing an understanding humanity. This very short novel is the ultimate combination of these elements. A group of English schoolboys are stranded on an uninhabited island with no adult supervision and must form their own self-government, with disastrous results. This story delves deeply into the human psyche, in particular the battle between solidarity and selfishness. These abandoned boys confirm Jean-Jacques Rousseau's theory that 'uncorrupted morals' will prevail when humans are in their natural, ungoverned state.

We highly recommend all of these novels - they include some of our very favourites. Pick out one, two, or all to fill the extra hours of your summer with some relaxation, contemplation, and adventure!

slim down with green smoothies or a juice fast

Let's just start by saying this: we don't condone juice fasts or diets that involve drinking all your meals. Not providing your body with solid food for an extended period of time is not healthy and overtime can result is all sorts of physiological and psychological side effects. However, a lot of recent research has touted the benefits of doing a short-term (we recommend 1-2 days for beginners) juice fast or green smoothie fast. We recommend reading this Livestrong article, which talks about the benefits of intermittent fasting for weight loss and lifelong health. For juice fasts you will need a juicer; for green smoothie-ing, a blender will be enough. Both juices and green smoothies are simply a convenient alternative to preparing a meal. They're quick and easy to make and can be taken on the go. They are satisfying, healthy, detoxifying, and can include whatever particular supplements your body craves.

The cheapest option is to blend/juice your own fruits and veggies. For beginners, we recommend that you start with simple blended smoothies. These are the fastest/easiest to make, and a blender is a lot cheaper than a good juicer. Also, because you're chopping up the entire fruit/vegetable, you're getting a solid dose of fiber. Your body will have a much easier time adjusting to a (short-term) liquid diet and will also feel fuller if you include this part of the plants.

You can start with Dr. Oz's 48-hour cleanse, which includes multiple juice recipes (some of which can be concocted sans juicer) supplemented with vegetables and healthy recipes (like quinoa with prunes). If you're willing to take on a bigger challenge, try a 3-day cleanse like Jason Vale's Super Juice Detox or this one by Freutcake.

If you want to buy pre-made and money is no option, you can get juice cleanse kits delivered to you! If you happen to live in California or NYC you have the option of simply picking up these cleanses, meaning you won't be shelling out $20-$50 for shipping. Always a plus.

• BluePrint has 2-day cleanses for $150.
• Pressed Juicery has a 12-juice package for $160.
• Juice Shop has a 2-day beginner cleanse that's $126 (you have to be in the San Francisco area).
• CoolerCleanse has a 3-day cleanse for $174.
• Red Carpet Cleanses cost $90 a day.
• LifeJuice is $60 a day.

When it comes to blending and juicing on your own, you have to make sure you have the proper equipment first. Blenders are the cheaper option by far: a decent blender will run you $20 to $60, whereas a truly decent juicer (one that extracts all the nutrients) falls in the $50 to $200 range. Check out Amazon.com for the best selection and prices. Once you've got the equipment, surf the web for recipes and stock up on fruits and veggies! Some easy beginner recipes can be found at Food Network or Eating Well.

We'd love to hear your favorite recipes - feel free to share them in the comments below!

our march/april in gifs

When Zab gets sick and can't figure out how to blow her nose:

Zab is spending the summer in London and Eli got into grad school in Sweden!!!!

When only we get the joke:

When someone we knew in high school runs into us and wants to exchange full life updates:



When Zab comes home to her new puppy Hades:



When we go to Art Cafe 26 to study and can't decide what to order:



The response we usually get when we go to each other for advice on whether or not we should do the right thing:



When we're dancing together at a party:

> How we think we look:



> How we actually look: