Hello Friends: Greetings from Kegalle, Sri Lanka.  Jon and I have been working, playing, and relaxing here at the Millennium Elephant Foundation’s (MEF) elephant bath and eco-farm for about three weeks now.  Time is flying by, and we will be leaving sometime at the end of next week.  Before we came here our expectations were relatively low because of some things a former volunteer we had spoken to told us.  Fortunately for us that particular volunteer was a complete joke, and this place has turned out to be pretty great.  Continue story...

See us at the New York Adventure Expo Travel Show January 14-16
Booth 428 --- for fun, giveaways and information.

Delta Leads the way in Dismantling Annoying Big Carrier Fare Rules
With the Cincinnati "SimpliFares" program, which was rolled out in August, Delta Airlines reduced the number of fares per flight to two in first class and six in economy. It also slashed the highest fares. For example, the airline reduced the old full walk-up fare to Los Angeles to $499 from $1,202. It also eliminated the Saturday night-stay requirement on flights out of Cincinnati. Now the airline has cut ticket-change fees from $100 to $50, it was reported in Time magazine recently. The changes won't necessarily mean cheaper fares for everyone. Instead, the plan is to streamline fare prices so they won't fluctuate as much, the reports said. Continue story..


Set Sail on a Tall Ship from NZ to Easter Island
Tall ship sailing is the ideal synthesis of seaborne adventure, exotic exploration and timeless romance. On the Søren Larsen your active participation adds to the authenticity of the experience. There's a professional crew of 11, but you're invited to join in and take a turn at the helm or (if you feel up to it) climb the rigging to set the topsails and standing watch. Continue story...


GoNOMAD MINI GUIDE: Know Your Rights: Airline Passenger Rights
If it hasn't happened to you yet, it will. As the number of air travelers grows, so does the chance you may find yourself left behind. A delayed or canceled flight can wreak havoc on a planned excursion. But knowing your passenger rights can go along way to dealing with air travel pitfalls. Continue story


The Relief Riders First Ride Touches Many Lives in Rajasthan
Relief Riders International (RRI) has successfully completed its first relief ride to Rajasthan, India and is now making plans for its February 25, 2005 trip. RRI offers the unique combination of a breathtaking
horse-back adventure through the Thar Desert with a life-changing humanitarian mission.
The inaugural ride, created by founder and Executive Director Alexander Souri as a living memorial to his Indian father, accomplished more than anyone would have imagined. The 15-day journey began at the majestic Imperial Hotel with a bus ride to the historic Mukundgarh Fort. There the riders met their mounts; the famed Marwari horses, and began an extraordinary ride to several villages in Rajasthan. Continue story...



Adventures in Travel Expo Taps Into Hot Vacation Trend
Meet GoNOMAD's Staff at Booth #428, January 14-16, 2005

Which travel trend is on the rise, generates more than $115 billion annually in the US alone, and attracts singles, couples, families, and vacationers of every age group? Soft adventure travel – and it offers a robust and resounding answer to questions about how the economy and travel safety concerns will affect the future of the travel industry. Continue story.
GET FREE TICKETS TO THE SHOW! ENTER HERE!

The Ten Best Bare Beaches in the World
Below are 10 of the best beaches for baring all. All details are taken from Bare Beaches, which lists over 200 other popular spots for nude bathing around the world. Leucate Plage, France Mediterranean coast, north of Perpignan. This superb bare beach has 1 km of fine golden sand, the classic Mediterranean beach. The water is normally calm and the shore shelves gently into the sea making it popular with families. Three naturist resorts share the coastline but the beach is open to all and there’s plenty of space for first-time skinny-dippers and lifelong nudists alike. Continue story...