Mongolia is the most sparsely populated country in the world with less than three million people inhabiting a vast expanse of 1,564,116 square kilometers. Paying tribute to its conquering horsemen past, the ratio of horses to humans is 13 to 1!

This summer, my boyfriend came to Ethiopia with me to meet my parents, who do developmental work there. After spending a while in Addis Ababa and exploring some small towns in the western region of the country, he and I decided to take a trip by ourselves to Bahir Dar, in the northern area of the country.

We arrived at the airport for our flight to Bahir Dar about an hour before it was supposed to depart, checked in, went through security, and then waited... and waited... and waited. We spent a total of 6 hours waiting in the gate, entertaining ourselves with books, the TV (despite all the programs being in Amharic), and each other's company.


Finally it was time to board. We got on the plane to realize that there were no assigned seats, and it was essentially a free-for-all. After we finally found two seats next to each other, the plane took off, and after a bumpy hour or so, we reached the town of Bahir Dar.


We had read about a beautiful lake there, Lake Tana, which the natives claim is where the Blue Nile begins. We took a taxi to our hotel, unpacked, had dinner, and marveled at the huge lake right outside our window. After dinner we went outside, had a few drinks, and planned our next couple of days.


Lake Tana is famous for not only its claims of being one of the main sources of the Nile, but also for the Blue Nile Falls, a large waterfall some 45 minutes from our hotel. Moreover, the lake is scattered with tiny islands, upon which lie traditional Ethiopian monasteries and small villages. We decided that the next day, we would go on a boat tour to the various islands and to the supposed origin of the Nile. We made reservations with a man at the
hotel who offers such tours, and then retired to our bedroom.

The next morning we woke up, showered, had a great Ethiopian breakfast, and then walked along the path hugging the lake to a dock, where we boarded a small boat and began our tour of the huge lake. We stopped at two islands, where we were greeted by small children begging for money, and suspicious glances from elderly women.


The monasteries were circular structures, covered with beautiful paintings of Biblical scenes with an Ethiopian twist. We met a priest who showed us a very old version of the Bible, printed on goat skin, and toured the small buildings and the villages.


After returning to our boat a final time, after hours of exploring these monasteries and islands, we asked our tour guide to take us to the Nile outlet. We boated across the huge lake, and arrived at a fairly unspectacular area, where we could see a tiny river leaving the main part of the lake, weaving through reeds and small mounds of land.


"That", said our guide, "is the Nile River, my dear friends." His pride was easy to read with his full smile and gleeful voice. Slightly disappointed by the plainness of this sight, we took a few pictures, thanked him, and returned to the hotel.


Having enjoyed the walk to and from the docks, Jim suggested we take an evening walk around part of the lake, so after an early dinner of traditional Ethiopian injera, we packed our cameras and went for a stroll along the cobblestone path. The sun was setting over the lake, monkeys were calling from the treetops over our heads, and
birds were flying over the water in search for their dinner. It was absolutely beautiful.


The next morning we woke up and explored the town - a busy and dense place full of three-wheeled vehicles and rickshaws. We walked through the muddy market, and saw a few parks and churches, and then took a tuk-tuk back to the hotel. Then we met our guide and set off for the Blue Nile Falls. Our drive led us out of the city, into beautiful country, and finally to a small town where children on the streets pointed at our car and chased after us, singing and laughing. We got out, paid our tiny entrance fee, and began the muddy, clumsy hike to the viewing point of the waterfall.


On our walk, we met many children, donkeys, and falls into what we did not want to admit was a mix of donkey crap and mud. Over time, the sound of rushing water filled the air, and after a sharp bend in the path, I stopped in my tracks. We could see the waterfall - one of the most wild, natural, and beautiful sights I'd ever seen. The guide told us that there'd be better places to take pictures if we walked further, so we continued through the mud and found ourselves at a small clearing with a large rock, right in front of the spectacular waterfall.


After reveling in amazement for a while and taking tons of photos, we left the falls, returned to our car, and tried to scrape the mud off of our shoes. We drove back to the hotel in absolute silence besides the rain falling on our car. Jim and I had dinner and went back to our room, exhausted from the long hike, and slept until it was time to go back to the airport the next day.

I've never slept better. The nights in Laos are deep, quiet and black. I've never been able to see so many stars as I saw there, no pollution, lights out when the sun sets. Sometimes it rained and the taps on the tin roof of my homestay followed me into sleep, my blue mosquito net waving above my mattress. The air was cool, and sometimes I would miss home as I lay there in the dark, it not mattering if my eyes were open or closed. When I'm sleepy, I think of Laos. 

While travelling in a third world country, I picked up some important tips that I would like to share for others that are going to other third world countries. I won't mention the basics about passports and visas, because information and tips about keeping those are reiterated everywhere. They aren't in any order of importance and I may come back to edit and add more later, if people show interest.

- Don't be intimidated by stares. It's harmless, and though it can be quite unsettling and irritating, imagine yourself in their shoes and how surprised you'd be seeing someone who looks different.
- Be familiar with the currency and what the locals pay for groceries, transportation, clothes, and clean water, before going to the country.
- Make sure you understand the customs and culture beforehand as well. (For example, in India, shaking your head, like we do in the US to mean "no," actually means "yes")
- Don't accept invitations to people's houses for dinner, unless you know them well enough that you can put your life in their hands. Though I promote a better understanding of culture and society by experiencing it directly, there are cases, albeit extremely rare, in which someone is kidnapped by the person who offered to share the table with.
- Make sure you always have a liter of clean water. This is important even in major cities because tap water is, very often, undrinkable.
- Have a few energy bars or snacks on you. Because even though you might think you have a lot of options for food, there are moments when travel wears you out and hunger strikes.
- I recommend not bringing an ipod or mp3 player. I travelled without one, and although it was excruciatingly boring on long train rides, I'm glad I listened to the roar of the train, the voices of Indian passengers bored and talking and singing, and just the clangor of everyday life I would have missed having it drowned out by harsh, Western music. If you still want to bring one, put it in a safe place and listen to it at night or when you need to relax.
- Always keep a separate stash of money and a copy of your passport (I know I said I wouldn't mention anything passport related, but this is important) in an obscure part of your luggage. You never know when someone might abscond with your personal bag of crucial and necessary travel items and you'll be left with nothing. Be calm and get in contact with your embassy.

In the end, there isn't too much that could go wrong and if something does happen, it's time to test your personal problem solving skills. The world is so connected today, sometimes it's hard to get lost.

I'm presenting my experiences in India for the International Symposium on November 12, 2008. The following is the abstract I submitted and I would very much like some feedback about your interest level from the abstract, how you think I will present it and how you want to see it presented, what specific topics seems the most or least salient, and/ or how comfortable you are about talking about or listening to talk about race, gender and ethnicity. Or a "good," "bad," or "whatever" could do.

 

The Oddity of My Presence in India

"Cello! Cello!" means "Let's go!" in Hindi, and it summarizes my impulsiveness and the abandon that went into my deciding to go to Chennai, India for a journalism internship this past summer. I learned much more than I ever expected in a country that challenged the identity I had constructed for myself every day. In physical appearance, I appear to most as a young, light-skinned Asian, even though I thought of myself as a strong and independent American woman. Even as I recognized the negative connotations associated with being American, it was still a central part of me. In India, however, being American mostly meant being white. I was not prepared for how many times I would be the subject of racism and sexism in India. Being culturally or physically isolated during my two and a half month stay, I spent much time reflecting upon both the Indian culture and the perception of women and Americans and took pictures of inspiring sites as well as ordinary people. Because of my experiences and observations in India, I had unknowingly started on a course toward developing a stronger and clearer sense of self and becoming a more globally conscious person.

 

• Dress modestly - observe the traditional dress-code throughout the country.
  
  
  
• Do not point with your finger. It is considered rude. Instead, use your thumb to point, with the other 4 fingers folded into your palm.
  
  
  
• When visiting a mosque, shoes must be removed, women's hair should be covered, knees should not be visible, and one should not skip in line or touch the Koran.
  
  
  
• Gifts should only be given using the right hand.
  
  
  
• Try to avoid eating in front of people fasting for Ramadan. It is considered rude.
  
  
  
• Alcohol is not sold in Brunei, though non-Muslims can bring a certain amount into the country, as long as they consume it discreetly.
  

If you're ever in Kathmandu, Nepal, make sure to check out Rum Doodle Bar and Restaurant in Thamel, near the King's Palace (except the king is gone now - woot!). Enjoy a great steak and a wide selection of beers, live music, and of course, the wooden feet all around you. You can purchase a large, flat, wooden foot at Rum Doodle and write anything you want on it, then the waiters will put it up somewhere in the restaurant. It's more fun than it sounds, and the feet offer the perfect chance to waste time by browsing through countless tourists' signatures, stories, and inside jokes. Who knows, maybe you'll find the foot of someone you know!

     The name of this town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu is not recognized by my word processor, which is the case for many villages and small cities in India. Tiruvanamali is about a four hour bus ride from Chennai. I had just met the two people involved in my internship, and they were also planning on going. Our destination was the most magical and distressful introduction that I could have received.
In the daze of the heat, I only brought a small bag with anti-malaria pills, a pen, a notebook, Candide, insect repellant, and a half-pint water bottle. The fact that this trip was going to be an overnight trip didn't strike me until I started to sweat profusely; I didn't have clean clothes to change into. We were on a series of buses. I remember one from our flat in Chennai to the main bus terminal, then to Vellore, and finally to Tiruvanamali. There may have been a few more bus changes, but I don't remember much else.
      Once arriving, I was coerced to bike around a mountain well known by devout Hindu followers. They believed that if they walked around the mountain barefoot when the moon was full, their god, Shiva, would bless them. I may have opted out of biking, but there was no other place to go. I should have tried to find someplace to wait as the others in my travel group biked because the midday sun was extraordinarily harsh. I hadn't been on a bike since third grade when I first learned how, and I was wearing a skirt. When we all rented the bike for nine rupees, everyone else rode off with ease, and I fell behind since I could barely get the bike moving and couldn't control it once I did.
      So, you never forget how to ride a bike? Bullshit. I forgot.
The bike route involved going through chaotic and cramped Indian streets, a long time of empty, country roads, and then back into the typical city streets prefaced by an uphill rides. Surprisingly, I didn't get hurt, nor did I fall, although I did wobble, and I once had to stop the bike and jump off before almost falling with crowds of Indian observers pointing and laughing at me, a pale girl who struggled with something almost all of them knew how to easily do. I ran over some grains that farmers were gathering in the middle of the country road.  I got too close to roaring buses and the other bikers (all because I didn't know how to maneuver); I almost crashed into a woman and definitely crashed into an auto rickshaw, whose driver turned out to be quite irate.
      Although this experience wasn't anything that I anticipated, it was challenging and worthwhile. I encourage others to push their boundaries, and even though the journey may start off with others pointing and laughing, at least keep going until you crash into an auto.

   Just be aware of the fact that Hungarian pickles called savanyúság will most likely come with the meal. If you're like me and you hate pickles, make a point to stay away from Hungary or simply request to not have one or offer it to one of those silly people who do like them.

 

Host families that are involved in exchange programs clearly deserve gratitude, as they provide meals, hospitality, and an informative and exciting atmosphere.  If you are coming from the US, what should you get them?  Here are some tips about how to give your host family a gift that they will appreciate and that you will feel good about giving.

 

1.      Have your gift reflect your personal surroundings.  It is much more intriguing to receive a gift from a specific location rather than the massive area that encompasses it.  That said, try not to bring US-related gifts.  Instead, bring a hat from Texas, or some maple sugar from Vermont.  It might be useful to exchange a few letters beforehand as a way of obtaining information about the individuals in your family.  For example, if the mother likes photography, buy a book of photographs from your area.

2.      Gifts that give insight into your personal life are typically well received, such as a painting that you worked hard on, or your dad's famous peanut butter fudge.  It is also a good idea to bring photo albums as a way of both starting conversations and bridging the gap between strangers.  Magazines, books, and newspapers are also a lot of fun for families to look at.

3.      Don't spend a lot of money on your gift!  In most cases, host families will send you off with something from them, so you don't want to raise the bar and make them feel obligated to match an expensive gift.  Not to mention, you must keep in mind luggage restrictions when purchasing presents.

4.      Make sure that your gift is not going to be offensive.  Research the culture and the religions that might be practiced in your family's house as a precaution.

 

Your visit will be great as long as you come with an open mind and a willingness to try new things!  Remember to be gracious and polite towards your hosts, and think of yourself as a type of ambassador of your country - you are representing your home, so be respectful!

Cabbages and Condoms, located in Bangkok, Thailand, is probably the only restaurant in the world dedicated to birth control. The restaurant was founded by Mechai Viravaidya, a former Thai Minister of Health and founder of the NGO Population and Community Development Association (PDA). Known as "Mr. Condom," Viravaidya brought family planning, birth control and AIDS awareness into the mainstream in Thailand.  He is a philanthropist who supports community development and aid to the poor.

 

With food "guaranteed not to cause pregnancy," Cabbages and Condoms is a creative and delicious solution to funding sex education. Featuring a beautiful outdoor garden adorned with life-size figures made from condoms, such as Santa Claus and several superheroes, the restaurant manages to appear classy and fun at the same time. The food is fantastic and top-rate. The curries are especially rich and full of vegetables and expertly cooked chicken, beef, or tofu.

 

The condom theme runs throughout the restaurant with informative and humorous posters, bouquets made of condoms, and after-dinner condoms instead of mints. None of this blemishes the professionalism of the restaurant, with its carefully folded napkins, attentive waiters, and fancy serving dishes.

 

In addition to a fine restaurant, Cabbages and Condoms also features an attached gift shop with novelty condom shirts and postcards, as well as diverse handicrafts from Thai co-ops. Profits from the restaurant go toward PDA projects, and with its high-class and fun atmosphere, you can treat yourself to a delicious dinner while helping out worthy causes. It's hedonism at its best!

 

 

Considered the forgotten backyard of Thailand, Issan is the northeast region of the country. Issan is the poorest and least developed part of Thailand, and the least visited. Sharing more in common with neighboring Lao than Thais, the people of Issan speak a language very similar to Lao and have a similar culture as well. In between Thailand and Laos, many of the people of Issan consider themselves to be Thai, and consider their language distinct from Lao.

With extensive forests, growing eco-tourism projects, and a unique identity, Issan offers a different experience than the rest of Thailand. Its lack of tourist development also gives a bigger impression of the elusive idea of authenticity that sometimes feels lacking in many parts of Thailand. Get away from the foreigners, go-go bars and neon lights, and experience some real Thai culture!

 

 

 

   For high school students who want to study abroad, your options are limited. Unless your school provides programs for exchange, many study abroad websites requires a minimum age of 18 or to have been in college for a year. The option of studying abroad during the summer before college or even taking a longer break between high school and college to study abroad is viable. In the UK, it is common for many incoming freshmen to have taken "gap years," a year or so in which a student will pursue travels abroad before entering college. Usually students who take gap years or have studied abroad before college enter as mature and globally conscious citizens. However, without many sources of financial aid or a steady flow of income, students who study abroad between high school and college should be prepared for the hefty price tags, typically having to rely on the openness of their parents' wallets. I recommend planning for a lengthy trip to take place a year before a proposed departure date, and also apply to colleges during the regular dates for college applications and defer matriculation for however long you plan on studying abroad. Don't graduate from high school and plan on studying abroad without a college to go to once you return, unless you are self-directed and have a clear life plan, or your grades in high school didn't meet your expectations and you plan on reapplying with the study abroad experience to boost your application.

 

            Traveling abroad may be one of the last things on your mind during this economic recession. It's too expensive, right? Not quite. Here are some creative ways to get abroad for cheap, free, or maybe even for profit.

 

1. Teach English

            Teaching English as a second language (ESL) is a popular way to go abroad. While opportunities vary widely, teaching ESL is probably one of the easiest ways to live in a foreign country without having to break into your savings (you may even increase them). You can teach ESL almost anywhere in the world, although some countries promote it much more actively, and qualifications can vary. Japan, China and Korea are common choices because of the relatively high pay and benefits. In these countries it is easy to find a package that includes room and board, a generous living stipend, and airfare. In other countries you will have to shop around more, and work for private schools (probably with some kind of certification) or as a private tutor.

 

Two popular ESL hubs are www.eslcafe.com and www.eslworldwide.com. For Korea and Japan check out the U.S. Department of State website on teaching English in Korea, http://travel.state.gov/travel/living/teaching/teaching_1240.html, and the JET Program, http://www.jetprogramme.org.

 

2. Short-term internships

            Another way to get abroad, is to find a short work opportunity. By far the easiest option is World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) http://www.wwoof.org/.  In exchange for volunteer service on farms you are given free room and board, commonly in a home-stay. There is a fee, and you will have to buy your own plane ticket, but overall it's an amazing opportunity to experience another country. Other opportunities can be found at international job sites, such as: www.transitionsabroad.com and www.jobsabroad.com.

 

3. Work Abroad

            Working abroad is the dream of many, and there really are ways to enter into this market. One option is to search online for individual opportunities on websites, such as www.craigslist.org. Another is to find a service that will help you settle in a country. Most of these can be found on the aforementioned Transitions Abroad and Jobs Abroad websites. The Peace Corps, which includes two-year service with paid expenses, loan deferment, and a nice severance package is another option. Unfortunately, the government has cut the number of paid volunteers recently. http://www.peacecorps.gov/

            If you are considering long-term careers, consider your government's Foreign Service options. In the United States one can work abroad with the State Department or the CIA. http://www.state.gov/www/careers/index.html

https://www.cia.gov/careers/index.html

 

Non-profits are another popular choice, with OXFAM being a good place to start. www.oxfam.org.

 

4. Study Abroad

            "What? How I afford to pay for school and living expenses in another country?!" you might ask. Answer: scholarships. Scholarships that fund grad school include the Fulbright, Marshall and Rotary International scholarships. These are competitive and you will have to make a strong case, but why not try? Another more specific option is to contend for a Critical Language Scholarship, sponsored by the United States government (there are also smaller ones funded by foundations). https://clscholarship.org/home.php. The Critical Language fully funds an intensive summer study of languages that are deemed to be in need, such as Arabic, Turkish, Chinese, and even Azerbaijani.

 

5. Little things that can make a difference.

            If none of these options seems appealing, here are two ways to cut down on expenses: couch surfing and travel writing. Couch surfing is a slang term for staying at another person's house or apartment for one night or longer without having to pay for accommodation. Couchsurfing.com is the premier site for finding a place to crash, with people hosting places to stay in every country. Ratings and reviews by previous couch-surfers add a strong element of safety and credibility to hosts. In the more expensive places, accommodation can easily be the largest expense, and Couch Surfing is a life-saver.

            By no means an easy career option, travel writing can help pay some of your expenses if you have some talent for writing. This is a much more viable option in countries with low costs of living, such as many of those in Asia and South America. Try to find an original angle or concept to write about and load it with juicy tales. Be warned: magazines are not looking for your personal memoir unless you're a truly fantastic writer. They are looking for new angles, new observations, places few people have been. You can also start you own blog, but like general travel writing, blogs are hard to make profitable.

 

Everyone has heard of at least one joke with New Jersey as the punch line. Spending much of my childhood and adolescence in New Jersey, I have developed a love-hate relationship with this place and I do find it slightly offensive when I hear the jokes, but other than my living there, I did not invest much time exploring it. I'm sorry to say that I am not much of an expert when it comes to places to go or things to do. All I know is the New Jersey Transit Lines fairly well and that the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is owned by New Jersey not New York (there was a huge battle over the ownership of the two landmarks when I was in elementary school). But you should explore a state that has been the butt of so many jokes, so that you can judge for yourself whether or not New Jersey deserves the title as America's Armpit or New York's Other Landfill.

 

http://www.state.nj.us/travel/

Stray dogs are a common and pervasive problem in Southeast Asia, and a snarling mutt can be intimidating. While in most cases, people have nothing to fear from stray dogs, some can be very agressive, and most are far from clean so it's a good idea not to get bitten. A bite can be especially problematic if you are in an area with inadequate medical facilities. Here are some tips to avoid an attack from man's best friend.

1) Keep your distance from dogs on the street, even harmless, fluffy looking ones. Some dogs can seem harmless at first, but will quickly turn on you if they feel threatened. It doesn't usually take much for this to happen, and with the large number of neurotic dogs, it's better to not take any risks.

 

2) If close distance with a dog is unavoidable, walk slowly and do not look the dog in the eye. If it starts to growl, continue walking and do not respond, while keeping an eye out for any sudden movements.

 

3) If a confrontation with a dog (or pack of dogs) is unavoidable, try first to scare the dog (s) with loud noise. Use an object like a stick, or preferably something metal. Clapping and yelling tend to not be very effective. If this fails, throw something at the dog. Sandals work wonders. If none of these methods work, stay calm, and back away slowly. Many confrontations with dogs are because of their territorial sense, and if you back down, they will probably claim victory and leave you alone.

 

Don't worry. Dog attacks in Asia are not very common, and most of the attacks that do occur are a result of harassment of the dog, or stupidity on the part of the person. Don't take any unnecessary risks, and you'll be just fine.

1.    New Zealand has 2.5 million cars for a population of 4 million (including children!), making New Zealand’s car ownership rate one of the highest in the world.
2.    Twenty-four percent of New Zealand families are single-parent households.
3.    The ratio of sheep to New Zealand residents is about 9 to 1. However this number has vastly declined over the past thirty years and continues to decline.
4.    Twenty-two percent of New Zealand’s residents were born overseas.
5.    The city of Dunedin in New Zealand is home to the country's oldest university, first newspaper, and first botanic garden.
6.    New Zealand is one of the top five dairy exporters in the world.
7.    In order to become a New Zealand citizen, one must swear an oath of loyalty to Queen Elizabeth.
8.    Tourism is responsible for approximately ten percent of New Zealand’s economy.
9.    Ninety-six percent of New Zealanders in jail are male.
10.  For New Zealand families who have children; 41% have one child, 36% have two children, 23% have more than two children

Mount Fuji, straddling the boundary between Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures, is a beautiful mountain, approximately 3776 meters high. Every year, the mountain attracts tons of foreigners and Japanese alike, who set out to climb the majestic peak. It is suggested that the best time to visit, especially for less experienced climbers, is during the beginning of the open season, in July. From the end of July to the beginning of August, the trails are extremely crowded, and some hikers have found they even had to wait in line to make it through some passages. From October to mid-June, people should generally avoid climbing Mount Fuji, unless they have a lot of experience. Sub-freezing temperatures and large amounts of ice and snow make it quite perilous. Make sure you have good shoes, a hat, sunglasses, a flashlight, and warm clothes, and you'll have a wonderful trip!

Why not tango until the edge of love in Argentina?

Ski equipment nowadays is intimidating. You know this if you've been alpine skiing lately, witnessing even five-year-olds sporting flashy skis and metallic helmets, but what equipment is actually high-quality? What equipment is actually going to keep up with you while you're whizzing down the Alps? Here are some tips to help anyone buy the right gear for skiing abroad.

First tip: The first piece of equipment is, believe it or not, sunscreen. The sun is much stronger abroad, and the glare from the snow as you're riding up the chairlift will quickly deliver sunburns to your sensitive neck and face. Also, don't look at the sun directly! The sun's strength will damage your eyes, perhaps permanently.

Second tip: The Alps tend to be a sunnier ski experience, so you're going to want a jacket that can breathe. Regardless of the sun, skiing tends to work up a sweat, and if the vapor cannot escape through the outer shell, condensation will form, making you feel chilled, not to mention uncomfortable. Look for a jacket with many different layers of treated fabrics that have micro-pores to combat the problem of perspiration. Also, keep in mind that your body will want to feel free, so choose a jacket that is roomy, but not bulky.

Third tip: I, for one, find a good pair of goggles to be absolutely necessary. Without them, my eyes just cry continuously as I race down the slopes. They are also a protective measure from ice, branches, and the sun. I recommend Dragon sunglasses - they're stylish and prepared for the worst.

Fourth tip: Ski gloves can make or break a day on the slopes. Make sure, first of all, that they come equipped with loops to connect to your poles, ensuring that you don't lose them yard sale after yard sale. Also, be sure to evaluate what kind of covering will be best. Mittens are best for the cold weather, but gloves are good for maneuvering and can protect your hands from injury.

Fifth tip: Make sure you are wearing the right socks! Blisters are terrible when you're skiing!

Sixth tip: Fashion is surely not as important as comfort, but keep in mind that it's fun, even beneficial, to wear the clothes the natives are wearing. While I was in Austria, I noticed that a lot of people had what I thought were ridiculous looking hats, complete with weird, multi-colored things of fake hair on the tops. I decided to get one early on in the trip, and I noticed that once I started wearing it I was respected more, whether I was in the lines for the chairlifts or ordering food.

Have you tried to find a flight to a country in Africa and realized there weren't many or none at all?
Recently, I tried looking for flights to Ghana and Tanzania, but using popular travel flight searches, I came up with nothing. After some research, I discovered the best way to fly is to go to a European country first, but not just any one of them. Research the colonial history of the African country you want to go to (i.e. flights to Namibia most often arrive from Germany, flights to West Africa are likely to arrive from France, and flights to East and South Africa are likely to arrive from England) So I suggest, if your funds are somewhat expendable to buy a plane ticket to the most appropriate European country and stay there for a week or two before flying to the African country you originally planned on going to. From European countries you will have more options for flights.
Typically prices will range from $800 - $1000 for Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco and for most other places in Africa it will be $1200 - $1400. If you need a direct flight (which are more expensive and the few flights get booked quickly), try such airline companies as: Delta Airlines, which flies directly to South Africa and Accra (Ghana) from New York and Lagos (Nigeria) from Atlanta; South African Airways, which flies directly to South Africa from New York; EgyptAir, which flies directly to Cairo from New York; Royal Air Moroc; which flies directly to Casablanca from New York; Ethiopian Airlines, which flies to Addis Ababa from Washington D.C. four times a week (with a short stop in Rome only to refuel).

Sitting on a beach, no matter how gorgeous a place may be, gets old. There are new luxury resorts in Costa Rica that serve the adventurous heart and a willing wallet. Prices may be as high as $1000 a night, but for a rich environmentalist (a bit of an oxymoron, I realize that) there should be no boundaries for spending as much money and conserving as much resources as one can.
President Óscar Arias announced in June 2007 that Costa Rica will be a carbon-neutral country by 2021 and any eco-tourist will help make his word into reality.
Be aware of the rainy-season when prices are cheaper, but roads may be impassable (between May to mid-November) and the dry season from mid-November to April). Usually, the best time to get to Costa Rica is December or January, when the skies are clear, but the prices are high.

One of my biggest pre-trip preparation regrets is not bringing a pair of quality sandals from home. The weather in Asia is hot to say the least, and since much of your body heat leaves through your feet, regular shoes and socks can lead to sweaty feet and general discomfort. The breezy sandal was made for this weather, and their prevalence among the locals attests to this. Unfortunately, the sandals available in Asia tend to be low quality, uncomfortable, and practically useless on the trail. While you may watch your energetic guides effortlessly bound up raging waterfalls wearing flimsy flip-flops, trying to imitate them will only lead to chronic foot damage or worse. Instead, do some research and buy a pair of quality trekking sandals at home. Don't be afraid to cough up a little cash either, they're definitely worth it.

 

 

No matter whether you're taking a quick weekend trip to Cancun or preparing to embark on an eight month, five continent journey around the world, find a way to record your travels. Whether it be a hand-written journal, video, a blog, or a group email to friends and family, find a way to bolster your memory so that you don't forget your experiences. If you find your time limited, jog down simple notes and memory cues. It might seem like a pain to constantly update your travel biography, but you won't regret a minute of it once you're home and trying to piece together all that you've been through.

 

One time during the summer of 2007, me and some other OpenMind Projects volunteers decided to go to a nearbye restaurant for lunch. Unfortunately our supply of bicycles was low. Long story short, another male volunteer and I ended up with a pink Hello Kitty two-seater. We laughed and laughed as we rode to the restaurant, and suprisingly we made the entire trip unharassed, with not even a strange look. I can think of no where else where such a thing could happen. Bravo Thailand. Bravo.

Don't know where to go in Iceland? Consider these top 3 tourist attractions:

 

1. Blue Lagoon – The most popular tourist attraction in Iceland, this milky-blue spa contains heated seawater rich in minerals. Complete with rolling clouds of steam, hot pots, saunas, steam rooms, and even a waterfall that delivers a powerful hydraulic massage – it may be crowded and expensive, but it is a natural wonder unlike anything else. Proper spa treatments, such as massages, are also available, however services should be booked in advance.

 

2. Skaftafell National Park – Have you ever been to a glacier? With climate warming, you might not have the chance for too much longer. Skaftafell National Park offers the opportunity to see the Earth’s largest icecap outside the poles, Vatnajökull icecap, which weighs approximately 3,000 billion tons.

 

3. Geysir – The original spouting hot spring, which was discovered in the 14th century, and blasted a jet of water 262 feet into the air. By the 1950s, tourists clogged the jet with rocks and garbage, in an attempt to set it off. Instead, it ceased erupting for decades. Years later, after earthquakes in 2000, it has become reactive again, erupting two or three times a day. If you happen to miss one of those times, you can always head to the Strokkur, which is the world’s most reliable geyser that blasts a jet of water approximately 115 feet high every six minutes or so.

They may not be called the same thing in Russia, but with these drink recipes you can’t help but think of Mother Russia.

 

Black Russian:

Ingredients:

* 1 3/4 oz vodka

* 3/4 oz coffee liqueur

Pour into a small glass filled with ice and stir well.

 

White Russian:

Black Russian + 3/4 oz, of cream or milk

 

Enjoy!

I remember my tour guide telling me about a particular people who live in some of the hills in Burma. Apparently these people have a superstition/tradition pertaining to marriage. If a guy and a girl are together past midnight, then they have to get married (this only applies if the girl is from the village). The only way to get out of the situation is if you give the father of the girl a water buffalo, which is quite expensive. My tour guide told me that another tour guide had recently broken the rule, couldn't afford a buffalo, and had gotten married. What a way to go!

African archaeology is perhaps some of the most amazing, seeing as the continent is widely-believed to be the origin of humanity. I have always wanted to go to Eritrea to explore the achaeological ruins of Qohaito.

 

Thought to be remains of the ancient town of Koloe, the ruins are believed to be relics of the ancient Aksumite kingdom. An area of about 1.5 miles by 9 miles is covered with archaeological remains, and only 20% of these are believed to have been excavated so far.

Even so, exploring the site will take up to half a day, wandering through once inhabited houses and around fallen walls. I dream of exploring the Temple of Mariam Wakiro, believed to have once been an early Christian church. Moreover, near Qohaito are caves filled with rock-painting and beautiful views of the valley.

Israel has two official languages: Hebrew and Arabic.

Israeli bank notes have brail on them so the blind can identify them.

The lowest point on Earth is the Dead Sea in Israel, which, at its lowest point, lies 1,315 feet below sea level.

Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to its population in the world.

Israel has more museums per capita than any other country in the world.

The cell phone was developed in Israel by Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.

The glue on the back of Israeli stamps is kosher.

Israel has the highest percentage of home computers per capita in the world.

Israel has its own festival of love, called Tu B'Av.

Haim Saban, an Israeli, produced the highly popular children’s television show Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers.

If you want a really unique experience, don't just stick with guidebook attractions. Try jumping on a random bus and see where it takes you. You'll get to see different parts of cities than most tourists and will probably see a lot more day-to-day life. Having a bus route map on hand would be ideal, but even if you don't have one, take a chance and see something new.

Drinking is generally frowned upon in India. From what I recall being told, toddy, or coconut beer, is a traditional drink, and other forms of alcohol were popularized during the British colonization. Although India is the largest producer of alcohol for of South-East Asia, drinking usually take place in small groups or individually away from the public eye. Buying alcohol is easy enough. On most city streets there is at least one venue to buy alcohol called "Wine Shop" made up of a small room with its back walls lined with various shelves of liquor and one or two men working behind protective bars.

However, finding actual wine is difficult, because it is usually imported, poor-quality, very expensive, or some combination of the three. Also it is important to note, the price of a large can of beer is slightly more than 180 ml of hard liquor. After buying the liquor from the "Wine Shop," however, men (in my time, I've only seen one woman buy liquor) take the alcohol and drink it elsewhere.

The bars and nightclubs that exist are overpriced and sparse. In cities, bars and nightclubs are located inside of extra-ritzy hotels. They charge exorbitant rates for sub-par drinks and entrance fees are added on top of that. The only night club that I went to had irritatingly rich and undeserving Indian youths smoking and pretending they were too cool to be there and a small handful of foreigners (though I was in Chennai during the off-season, so this may change in peak months). The music was loud and obnoxious and techno appeared to still be a popular theme to dance to. Bars, on the other hand, consist of poorly lit areas with seats of varying comfort levels and a television. In these bars, the only women were foreigners and the men were usually Indian businessmen. 
   

There are differences in cultural norms when traveling abroad. It's an obvious statement, but one that doesn't strike you until you're the only woman in a smoky bar and all the men stare at you entering as was the case for me.

Want to hear something scary? Cambodia is awash with weapons. Well maybe it's not scary when you're at home, but when you're there it's a fact that is definitely on your mind. Luckily, for all of those weapons, violent crime isn't too common. What is common? Gun ranges for tourists.

 

Enterprising Khmers have found that Westerns love to fire guns and blow things up. So in this country that is still recovering from the terror and destruction inflicted by the Khmer Rouge, there are now offers prolific opportunities for the tourist to blow the shit out of stuff. When I was in Phnom Phen, the city that houses one of the worst torture facilities in history, I saw plenty of signs for gun ranges on the walls of buildings and the sides of tuk-tuks. Not only can you fire just about any firearm imaginable, but its also not difficult at all to get your hand on grenades, or even a rocket launcher. Yeah, a fucking rocket launcher. Are stationary targets too boring? Lucky you! Live chickens and cows are available. In fact, you can fire a fucking rocket launcher at a fucking cow for $300.

 

Sorry for the expletives, but I see something wrong with selling violence in a country that is covered in violent scars and atrocities. Some of these firing ranges are located very close to the killing fields where thousands of Cambodians were brutally murdered and buried. Cambodia has a lot to offer, breathtaking ruins, rolling landscapes, and Angkor Beer, but please, stay away from this dumbest of industries.

You wake up cold, disappointed that the hot water bottle in your bed has lost much of its warmth throughout the night. The floor is cold when you put your feet on the ground, and all you want is to climb back into bed. Instead, you open the curtains, and suddenly it's all different. The sunrise in Nagarkot is one of the most spectacular sights I've ever seen - beautiful hues of red, pink, blue, purple, yellow, rising over the great Himalayas, spilling color on the snow, rock, grass. It takes my breath away every time. The silence only adds to the beauty - no car horns cutting through the still morning, no street vendors yelling, no dogs barking or children crying. Nagarkot is, in a word, perfect. Great for a day trip, or even for several days, the town has little more to offer than traditional houses, delicious food, and insurmountable beauty. Enjoy a hot breakfast while you watch the sun make its way over the tallest mountains in the world, with the tune of exotic birds serving as the only music. Make sure not to bring a cell phone, a CD player or iPod, or any other distractions. A camera, a book, and some good shoes are all you need to really enjoy this spectacular town. Only about an hour and a half away from Kathmandu, you can easily get to Nagarkot via taxi or bus, or if you prefer, you can sign up at a travel office to have your own car take you. The drive to the town is just as beautiful as the sight from the top - yellow fields of mustard plants swaying in slow winds, traditional Nepali houses popping up every now and again, hills making way to mountains, and mountains making way to crisp, blue skies. Nagarkot is the perfect place to get a feel of Nepal without going up into the mountains. Bring some warm clothes and prepare to get lost in the peaceful beauty.

The Short n' Sweet Bakery can be found in Hawi, a small, artsy town located on the Hilo side of Hawaii.  The bakery is small, and unassuming with only a few tables, and we discovered it completely by accident. But what a happy accident that was! Their sandwiches were amazing, and their desserts were even better. They also featured a selection of salads and daily specials in addition to excellent coffee. But no matter what you have you’re guaranteed to find it delicious! They’re wedding cakes have even been featured in Wedding Style. The staff was friendly and welcoming, the only downside is that they only accept cash, no credit cards! Luckily there’s an ATM nearby.

You can visit their website at http://www.creativepastries.fws1.com/