“Museums are inextricably related to that phenomenon known as “tourism.” Both museums and tourism are relatively modern phenomena which were once exclusively the province of the rich and powerful and which developed, especially during the Victorian era, into institutions for the ordinary citizen. Both are “public” in that they are mass phenomena that take place away from the private home, and both involve the magic of a “trip,” an out-of-the-ordinary experience. As the crowds increase … Read more »

Hostels vary wildly in quality.  Some are total fleapits; others are so luxurious they rival hotels.  How can you find the quality hostels instantly?

The website Hostelworld.com announced the 2012 winners of the “Hoscars,” their awards for the best hostels in the world.  Users around the world voted for their favorite places to stay.  The establishments are clustered into an amazing variety of categories.  You can find hostels based … Read more »

Before you decide to get a tattoo from one of the many long haired, rasta-looking Thai men in the foreigner-inking business during a holiday in Thailand, think twice. There are enormous differences between the design you are going to get, and the rigid ink lines we can sometime spot etching a Thai person’s skin, spurting … Read more »

Earlier this week the Indie Travel Manifesto, which had twenty four declarations about independent travel, was posted.  One that stood out to me was Slow Down and Enjoy an Experience. After reading them, a particularly intriguing article got me thinking.

If we simply slow down a little, it is truly amazing what we could notice that goes on around us.

One example deemed a “social experiment” by The … Read more »

Heliana Trovato

Age: 30

Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Quote: “Don’t worry about anything. Never. Things work out for themselves. You just have to be awake, to see the way. It’s as simple as that.”

As I’ve made final preparations for my backpacking trip the past few months, I’ve come to realize there was one thing I completely underestimated: The act of telling people of my plans and dealing with their reactions is much more time-consuming and emotionally exhausting than expected.

Even more surprising was that this happened in different ways than I’d anticipated – the reactions I imagined actually never came true, and the reactions I never expected happened … Read more »

Three kids recently asked if they could sing a song for me outside of Phnom Penh’s National Museum. They were between five and ten years old, barefoot, and covered in dirt.

Baffled, I obliged. They sang an adorable (and broken) version of a Sean Kingston song before breaking out into a more original number, pleading in unison for money to spend on food and school. Their bursting giggles turned to murmurs of desperation and … Read more »

Many parents feel their adventurous days are over as soon as Junior enters their lives. Once you’re a parent, suddenly you’ve got to toe the line, live like everybody else, and do the responsible thing, right? Right?

Maybe not.

There are plenty of reasons why travel is good for kids. Whether you are traveling for a two-week vacation or heading out for a multi-year vagabonding lifestyle, travel is good.

Travel helps kids learn the world … Read more »