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Transports

Car-Free Carefree Cuba
When there's good public transportation, pleasant walking conditions and "bicicleta" friendly streets, cars are unnecessary and bothersome. My wife and I looked forward to a car-free, carefree Cuban experience. Though our short vacation seemed to preclude cycling, two wheeling remained very appealing. After the Soviet Union collapsed leaving Cuba without an oil source, Castro proclaimed the "era of the bicycle!" Fidel obsessively insisted bicycles would solve most of Cuba's energy, pollution and health problems. Bike ownership rose tenfold. Within three years 65% of Cubans became cyclists. General health improved. Traffic congestion was reduced. Oil consumption dramatically dropped. Continue story


Victoria, British Columbia's Capital of Cycling
Victoria, British Columbia, located on the southwestern tip of Vancouver Island, offers visitors many enticements and makes a perfect cycling destination. An inviting, vibrant British heritage resonates in its Tudor architecture, bag pipers, double-decker buses, pubs, prim gardens and proper afternoon teas. Though less known, a natural wilderness thrives in an extensive park system, beckoning Island hikers and bikers, as well as attracting adventure tourists. More than ten percent of Victorians gear up daily to commute into their beautiful city by bike. Many visitors now saddle up to pedal into Canada's Bicycle Capital.
Features

Burma's Buddhist Monuments
A land of ancient kingdoms, jewelled temples and devout monks, Burma is captivated by Buddhism.  Now known as Myanmar, Burma boasts Asia’s most astute Buddhist devotees, with almost ninety percent of the country’s 45 million inhabitants observing the philosophy. Tangible expressions of Burmese piety and generosity can be seen in the innumerable religious monuments that dot the landscape. And, as the country slowly opens up to the world after decades of self-imposed isolation, these sacred time-worn treasures can now be experienced by foreigners. Continue story

The Shaman of Siberut
People bed down early on Pulau Siberut, the largest of the Mentawai islands that lie 120km off the West Coast of Sumatra, and for good reason. Early morning wake up calls arrive, not by prior arrangement but automatically, courtesy of the pigs and chickens that spend their nights beneath the village huts. This open-air larder is the scene of a never-ending opera of squealing and crowing that reaches its crescendo in the early hours of the morning. Sleep does not come easy. Arising after one such performance I peer through the misty veil that drapes the village and surrounding forest. I can just make out the figures of already active villagers their slight but athletic frames moving swiftly between the shadows. Continue story

Lodgings

Don't Flush It All Away--Queens NY's best lodging value
The Flushing YMCA's website promised 'a home away from home', but my sister and I have seen plenty of dorm accommodations and couldn't help but envisioning a crappy room with military beds, and cold showers. What else could you expect for USD $35 a night, per person? We were in disbelief to find that our 'home' was mini hotel room, not a dorm, and we got daily room service, full access to a health and wellness centre (including Yoga, Belly Dancing, pools and steam and sauna rooms), a fridge and a TV! (New York flights ) Continue story

Alternatives

Living in Rome--How to Do It
My husband and I are not trust-fund babies, nor self-made millionaires, but like many GoNomad readers we dreamed of living outside the U. S. In August of 2001, after much discussion, research, and planning, we boarded the airplane from Houston, Texas with only the allowable two bags each. We arrived in Rome, Italy, the following day to begin what we refer to as "The 21-Month Plan."
When I first met my husband-to-be, I overheard him musing about quitting his job and living in a box on a beach in Mexico. I was immediately skeptical, but secretly intrigued. Over time, we discovered we had a common interest in living abroad and learning another language. Fast-forward two years and we are enjoying our honeymoon in Mexico. Don't be alarmed, he did spring for a hotel suite.(budget hotels in Rome) Continue story

GoNOMAD Network Member Specials

Save 50% off a Companion for Peggy's Tours Italy and Morocco. Watch and work with Moroccan chefs preparing cous cous, along with tagines of fish; meat or vegetable kefta; spicy meat balls; soups; beans; and the famous ras al hanout, containing 25 different spices. All are resplendent with cumin, chili, ginger, honey, turmeric and lemon. And, of course, dessert. Our excursions will give you time to get to know the city of Marrakesh, with a private guide and historian, through the Medina (old city). A visit to the Ourika Valley, an hour from Marrakesh toward the Atlas mountains, will take us to Nectarome, a garden for aromatic plants and essential oils, grown and operated by Dr. Jalil Bekamel. Another day's excursion will take us into the Atlas mountains for a feel of the high country and a tented picnic. Also enjoy our programs in Liguria, Tuscany or Sicily Continue story

Experience Vietnam's Folklore of the North with Myths and Mountains
“Folk Art of the North” is just one of many journeys offered by Myths and Mountains as you
travel inside Vietnam, one of the safest countries in the Pacific region. You’ll get to meet
the people and discover their art, you’ll visit the villages of artists and craftspeople, chat with them about their work and sip tea in their homes. Pottery, painting, water puppets, music, clothes, jewelry, it’s all part of the experience. Plus, you’ll wander the hills of Dien Bien Phu, the cobblestone streets of Hoi An, and tour the galleries of Hanoi. Trips run February 2 - 13, 2003 and November 2 - 13, 2003 in addition to custom dates to fit your travel schedule. www.mythsandmountains.com call 800/670-6984

travel desk

New Weekly International Travel Bargains.  We've teamed up with IndependentTraveler.com and now publish weekly airfare and lodgings specials for huge savings on international travel. Check out the latest here. And bookmark GoNOMAD to keep up to date with these ever changing special offers that we post evey week. Here are the latest offers posted 12/20/02.
Asia Winter Fares From $270 One-Way Ski the Alps, Get $200 Cash Back Manila Fares From $619 RT Save 5% Off Fares Worldwide Costa Rica Calls From $241 RT		IndependentTraveler.com is the comprehensive, online travel-planning guide featuring airfare, car rental and hotel bargains, travel resources, readers' reviews, travel news and travel tips. Come back next week for more of these limited time airfare and lodging specials.		Save on Flights to Mexico International Hotel Rates From $59/Night Germany & More From $361 RT 15% Off European Rentals Australia for the Holidays From $795 RT

You can ask us travel questions and we'll find you the answers you need..here are some of the most recent questions and answers, we get intriguing questions sent to us every day.

Can you tell me ways to avoid malaria while traveling?
We specialize in adventure and exotic travel and are not authorized to dispense medical advice or information. Your questions regarding Malaria and reactions to a vaccination would be best answered by a qualified physician. Below I have provided a few sites that might be helpful in obtaining proper information:

Government site for dependable sources regarding Malaria:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/malaria/default.htm

This site belongs to the American Medical Association. It contains information on every disease, a directory for finding physicians in your area, and contacts for questions.
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/3158.html


For a Phuket Elephant Lover
My sister has recently bought a house in (Phuket) Thailand and absolutely adores elephants. I am looking to adopt an elephant for her as a Christmas present but am finding it difficult to find one - can you help? It would preferably be close to where she lives but anywhere in Thailand will do. Please reply soonest so I can set the wheels in motion. Best Regards
Matthew Goodwin

Here's the information you requested on elephant adoption:

Information on elephant adoption. Look on the right hand side of the page for email address info:
http://www.gonomad.com/helps/0011/bassett_elephant.html

Helping to save the elephants of Thailand through adoption (receive a newsletter, certificate, and photograph). Adoption can be completed directly online: http://www.wildaid.org/elephants_thailand.html

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