What has been your greatest discovery while traveling?

This question makes me envision Harrison Ford picking up the holy grail right after some guy's face melts off. Yummy. But besides all you treasure hunters out there, this question should be considered much more broad. In all the places you have visited is there a single treasure you hold dear? It does not need to be an object, it could be a feeling, a place, a personal awakening.

When traveling with a girlfriend, she told me one of the best discoveries was in the vastness of the world itself. I agree completely and believe that travel in itself a form of discovery. Each new location I am introduced to, I find something to relish. However, if I am forced to chose 1 paramount discovery, it has be human kindness. Whether it is the Frenchman taking an extra moment in broken english to explain the metro system; the the Spanish woman who took a picture for me even though she had never used a camera before; or the Australian woman who gave me a ride in Tasmania because I sat next to her on the plane. I will never forget any of these encounters and with each trip I always seem to find myself in new situations where human kindness overwhelms me.

Share some of your stories. What is your greatest discovery while traveling? Read more...

Where's off limits?

Okay happy campers, today I have a question for you: Where's off limits?

We all have trips planned. However plausible, each one of us have one, two, five or ten places in mind that we'd like to see next (as an aside in case any of you are interested, mine go: Kili, Cappadocia, Gonder, Bagan, Great Barrier Reef, Copan, Maccu Piccu). The real question though is this: Where are the places that you want to go, but don't think you can? Maybe you think it's too dangerous. Maybe too far. Maybe you can't get in. Whatever the reason, what is it?

I'll let you in on mine. Actually, there are two: Babylon, Iraq and the Persepolis/Bam/Kharanak sites in Iran.

I'm a huge archaeology buff and the idea that the world hasn't discovered Iran and Iraq blows my mind. Most of the well-known ancient empires that are popular tourist destinations are the Meditteranean civilizations - Greek, Roman and Egyptian. The next in line seem to be the Mayan, Incan, Aztec empires of the south. The up-and-comers of late have really been the empires in SE Asia and India. The Babylonian/Persian empire was bigger than them all.

I've spent many an afternoon in the Oriental Institute in Chicago admiring their collection, and imagining what must be left to be found in Iraq and Iran. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers and Mesopotamian geography, gave rise to the most powerful ancient civilization ever, and for the most part no one knows anything about them. There are thought to be more ruins in number in Iraq and Iran than even the Egyptians. For obvious reasons, Iraq is off-limits right now because of the ongoing war. Iran though, contrary to popular belief, is quite safe. If it weren't for the Visa restrictions, I'd be there in a second.

So here's the question for you: Where are your off-limits places you'd love to explore, but for whatever reason cannot? Read more...

v-day and mini-vacations

I will be honest.....I do not really care all that much about valentines day. Forget the chocolate, forget the fancy dinner and please do not give me an oversized plush bear of any kind. On the other hand, if my sweetie suggested a mini-trip, I would be all over it! A little quick trip to re-light the romance and enjoy a weekend with just the two of you. In the spirit of too many bad v-days, I thought I would give you my perspective on what I think a great romantic getaway entails.

1. Make it close, no need to drive for hours. Find a sweet little B & B far enough to make it special, close enough that you don't kill each other on the road-trip.

2. Don't skimp on the room. Its valentines day, which means more time should be spent in the room. So stay away from anywhere with the word motel in it. If possible, find a smaller place with a fireplace, fuzzy robes and room service.

3. Get active! Do something fun together, like a tandem bike ride or a hike and picnic. Concierge's are usually great about telling you where to go in the area.

4. Bring the camera and a goofy sense of humor. Some of my favorite pictures of my bf and I are when we were truly laughing, not just dutifully smiling for the camera. Do not be shy, ask people to take picture of the two of you in this fun mini-vacation! Read more...