Travel is part of seeking a better life at home

“The writer and commentator Viktor Yerofeyev said he had noticed that the more Russians traveled, the more they tended to lose some of the coarseness that at times characterized Soviet society. “Through all this travel, we are seeing a change in mentality at home,” Mr. Yerofeyev said. “People are now seeking pleasure, whether it is in the night clubs of Moscow or in restaurants. Travel is a continuation of that pleasure. Just to have pleasant … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (2)  | January 18, 2010
Category: Travel Quote of the Day

Has Google Earth found El Dorado?

AmazoniaThe legendary lost civilization of El Dorado, said to be in the Amazon jungle, has led many explorers to come up empty-handed for nearly 500 years. According to a report in the journal Antiquity, three scientists have found more than 200 earthworks (dating from A.D. 200 to 1283) in Brazil’s upper Amazon basin near Bolivia. Their studies were based on archaeological work in Brazil and … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (2)  | January 15, 2010
Category: Travel News

Asia welcomes 2010 photo contest

Got a great photo of New Year’s the last time you were in Asia? Well, dust it off and submit to the Asia Welcomes 2010 Photo Contest. It’s sponsored by the Asia Society, a nonprofit organization working to strengthen links between the United States and Asia.

The contest will accept any photos taken between 2000 and 2010, so the field is wide open to entries. The photo doesn’t have to be taken in … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (1)  | January 15, 2010
Category: General, Images from the road, Travel News

The cemetery: a worthwhile stopping place

Penang, Malaysia

Penang, Malaysia

Interesting people can be found in hostels, bus stations, and everywhere else where lungs pull in breath. Then there are the places where lungs have long fallen still: cemeteries. Interesting people are found here, too.

For example, behind an Anglican church in Macau in late 2004, I met a young woman … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (4)  | January 14, 2010
Category: General, Images from the road

An alternative to hotels – vacation rentals

When spending months abroad, it’s important to remain flexible in considering lodging options. While hostels are a fairly typical way to stay someplace cheaply, and get the advantage of meeting fellow travelers, sometimes it might be nice to have a place of your own.

One alternative to hotels are sites like HomeAway which are vacation rentals by owner. Many of them offer weekly or monthly rates. For example, … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (5)  | January 14, 2010
Category: Hospitality, Hostels/Hotels

Breaking the rules of trekking

As a child, you often rode a bus that crossed a bridge over a river. You would look out the window at the river meandering toward its source in the mountains, and you would wonder. You grew up, went to college, found work on another continent and forgot about the river — for a while.

You put the work on hold and returned to your home, once again riding your childhood bus across the bridge. … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (3)  | January 13, 2010
Category: Travel News, Vagabonding Advice

The traveler’s conundrum – moving or on going back?

icelandvOver at Flyover America, the old traveler’s conundrum was brought up. Do you go back to a place you know and love, or do you continue your exploration of the world? With limited time and money, it seems you have to make a choice. But when you find a place that affects you in a very powerful way, that choice becomes even harder.

It seems every … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (16)  | January 13, 2010
Category: Travel News

Why have fun today when you can put it off until tomorrow?

flyHow long have you been planning your extended trip around the world? Still waiting for airfare to drop a little? Or to get those last few reward points for a free trip? Or just waiting for… the perfect time?

We’re all familiar with procrastination when it comes to things we don’t want to do, but it turns out most of us are equally inclined … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (6)  | January 12, 2010
Category: General

Packing lists and moving tribulations

Since I am in the process of moving to Australia, I’m in a frenzy of figuring out what to bring, how to get it there, why i want it, and what the heck I’m doing.  Although I’ll be studying at a university in Perth for at least a year, shipping furniture cross-continentally is ultimately pointless; it’s expensive, slow, and I could probably buy the same kind of couch from Goodwill when I get there.

Instead, … Read more »

Posted by | Comments (8)  | January 12, 2010
Category: Notes from the collective travel mind