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This month we're featuring lots talented travel writers on GoNOMAD for the first time:
Victoria Cho writes about teaching at an orphanage in Cambodia, Daniel Reynolds Riveiro visits Transnistria, a country which does not technically exist but still produces the best cognac in the world, and Toccoa Switzer writes about the Caribbean island of Bonaire
Monks in Luang Prabang, Laos - photo by
Paige Stringer |
Paige Stringer contributes a lovely piece about tranquility and happiness in Luang Prabang, Laos, Nellie Huang writes about her experience volunteering in the village of Bomang’ombe in Tanzania, Rebecca Gados bikes from Tibet to Nepal down the longest descent in the world, and Jim Prevet takes us on a photo safari in South Africa
But we've published a lot of great stories by our regular contributors, too:
Mridula Dwivedi takes us camping high in the Himalayas above McLeod Ghanj and then goes in search of tigers in Kanha National Park, Richard Frisbie enjoys the sun, scenery and fusion cuisine on Brazil's Emerald Coast, David Rich wraps up his series on the 'Stans with a visit to the 'tinhorn tyranny' of Turkmenistan, Habeeb Salloum explores the Yope pyramids in Tehuacalco, Mexico, and Tim Leffel finds tons of family fun in Huntsville, Alabama.
Cassie Silva takes an airplane ride to view the mystery of the Nazca Lines in Peru, Alexandra Regan takes a family vacation in Portovenere, Italy, Esha Samajpati writes about architecture, culture and cuisine in New Haven, Connecticut, and Stepanie Green explores the ancient graveyard in Phourni, Crete.
All in all it's just another month of top-notch travel writing on GoNOMAD.com!
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New stories recently published on GoNOMAD:
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Turkmenistan: Tinhorn Tyranny
I suggest money not be wasted going to Turkmenistan, though the country is an admitted hoot. Turkmenistan remains the only country on earth that requires a personal guide to accompany all those entering on a tourist visa, guide hovering at the elbow during the tourist’s every moment in the country, reluctantly settling for adjoining hotel rooms. But the reluctance is tempered by the fact that all tourist rooms are bugged... |
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Luang Prabang, Laos: A Slice of Heaven?
Luang Prabang is a small, ancient city tucked away in northern Laos at the junction of the picturesque Mekong and Nam Khan rivers where nature and community converge in an unassuming way. Longboats run the rivers, rice fields line the banks, mountains paint the distant landscape, and the slow pace of life will envelop even the most harried traveler. This is the perfect place to while away the hours relaxing on the quay with a good book or simply get lost exploring the town... |
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Transnistria: The Country That Doesn't Exist
The mini-bus, packed with passengers, slowed and then stopped. Ahead, barely visible through the dirty windshield and the February mist, was something that shouldn't have been there: a border crossing. There shouldn’t have been a border crossing because there shouldn’t have been a border.
As far as mapmakers and world governments were concerned, we were still in Moldova, an Eastern European country wedged between Romania and Ukraine.... |
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New Haven: Center of Culture and Cuisine in Connecticut
When we think of New Haven, the first thing that comes to our mind is Yale University. Rightfully called “the most beautiful urban campus in America,” the architectural style of its courtyards, arches and towers range from New England Colonial to High Victorian Gothic, from Moorish Revival to Contemporary. Walking by the majestic buildings I felt close to its glorious past and its present-day quest for knowledge. Guiding generations of bright young minds, the buildings of this university stand tall and proud... |
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Tanzania: Adventures of a Volunteer in Bomang'ombe
We had entered into the simple lives of the villagers in Bomang’ombe, and the hearts of children hopeful about their bright future. Within the few months of teaching in Bomani Primary School, I bonded closely with Naomi, a fellow teacher and a real friend whom I could confide in and be myself. Her husband Deo showed us many sides of Tanzania, even a thing or two about drinking beer in Tanzania (he sure could drink!). We shared travel tales with them, while they told us about their childhood and families... |
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Kapama Lodge, South Africa: Predators and Prey
Some days blend into one another, but the five days we spent on safari in South Africa remain vivid and indelible. When we came to Africa, we lived at the Kapama Lodge, within the private game preserve that borders Kruger National Park. The wake-up call came every morning at 5:00 AM, and we arose in the dark. By 5:30, we were being served coffee on the veranda, looking across the lagoon at first light on the horizon. As we climbed into the Land Cruiser for our morning safari, the sun was just coming up... |
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| Experience Maine by spending five days sampling some of the best restaurants and enjoying the most scenic towns -- Portland, Freeport, Brunswick and Rockland. You'll enjoy a variety of dining experiences from the casual Lobster Shack, to Fore Street Restaurant (A Gourmet Magazine's Top 50 Restaurant in 2002) and Marcel's, recipient of the Wine Spectator "Award of Excellence" and the AAA Four Diamond award. Throughout your trip a private car and driver will ensure you have a seamless experience and you'll enjoy the beautiful hotels and Inns that you will stay at each night. |
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India: Trekking from McLeod Ganj to Triund and Beyond
McLeod Ganj near Dharamshala is a popular tourist spot as it is the seat of the Dalai Lama in exile from Tibet. In a restaurant we overheard a tourist asking a waiter how she could get an audience with the Dalai Lama. We had other ideas. We were there to trek from McLeod Ganj through Indrahar Pass and wanted to exit in another town, Chamba. But the weather had other ideas about our trek. We went in a very roundabout way to McLeod Ganj as we had some work in Chandigarh... |
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A Family Fun Blast-off in Huntsville, Alabama
What is lying just down the road from where you live? What unexplored places are just a few gallons of gas away but you’ve never set foot in them? For me the main one has been Huntsville, Alabama, a nearby enigma on my personal map. It’s my daughter’s spring break, though, and I’ve got the itch to explore. The three of us pack up the car with only vague ideas of what we’ll be doing there, but we have four days to figure it out... |
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Portovenere, Italy: A Great Place to Vacation with Kids
“I love Italy!” announced our nine-year old son on our first full day in Portovenere. Although he was the first to say it, we were all charmed by this seaside village on the Ligurian Coast. It had been rainy off and on all morning, but the weather hadn’t prevented us from exploring the city. My son and husband had already played giant outdoor chess in a choice spot on the waterfront while my daughter and I enjoyed fresh grapefruit juice in a café looking out on the stunning port... |
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Siem Reap, Cambodia: The Children in the Temples
Chres Village School and Orphanage had clean rooms, kind staff, and a patient, diligent director named Phat Fiphon. The orphanage was started by his father and relies mostly on donations, volunteers, and sponsors. When we arrived, approximately 40 children lived at the orphanage with more coming from other homes to attend the free classes offered in English, Chinese, Khmer, science, and geography. After the tour, Nicole and I offered to teach English classes, which Phat (or “Fi”) enthusiastically accepted... |
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Kanha National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India: In Quest of the Tiger
The jungle is famous for its Sal and Bamboo trees. Alger showed me around with such enthusiasm that I am thinking of dragging my family to a national park in the future. I saw Gaurs (resembles a bison), cheetals (a type of deer), peacocks and even wild boars but there was no sign of the elusive tiger.
At one particular road Alger and the park ranger got quite excited as they saw the pug marks of a tiger and they tried to track it... |
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Forgotten Graves and Minoan Zombies: The Phourni Cemetery in Crete
Archaeologically-minded visitors to Crete flock to the famous palaces of Knossos, Phaistos and Kato Zakro, and why shouldn't they? Ancient palaces, mysterious bull-riding rites and bright frescoes fascinate even the most historically uninspired traveler. But Phourni – arguably the most important archaeological site on Crete – lies ignored. The Phourni cemetery remained in use for over 1000 years, from approximately 2400 BCE to 1200 BCE when the Minoan civilization had nearly died away... |
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Bonaire, Dutch West Indies: Well Worth Its Salt
Each year, tourists flock to Bonaire, fifty miles north of Venezuela, with snorkels and flippers in tow. Part of the Netherlands Antilles, it boasts one of the most environmentally renowned Marine Parks in the world, claiming over 300 species of tropical fish and over 120 different types of coral. As a certified scuba diver, I am downright giddy at the prospect of swimming among schools of yellow-striped goatfish, peacock flounder and blue-headed wrasse... |
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More Recently Posted Travel Articles
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Biking from Tibet to Nepal: The Longest Descent in the World
This is the last push to the edge of the Tibetan plateau. There is one more pass after this one, and after that, it's all downhill into Nepal. I am excited; our cycle map of Tibet labels it, "the longest descent in the world." But right now, my tired legs feel like bricks and refuse to pedal faster when ordered to. My fiancé, Jon, is far ahead of me, lost from view amidst the barren rocks and wind-swept yellow grasses of the high altitude plateau. Not far now, I tell myself. Keep pushing... |
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The Hummingbird Outside My Window: The Mystery of the Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are a series of large geoglyphs, or giant drawings on the ground, located in the Nazca desert in Peru. These geometric shapes of immense proportions are believed to have been created by an ancient civilization sometime between the 4th and 8th centuries BCE, though some believe they were created more recently. The lines seem to have been created through the removal of the reddish-brown desert rocks, which revealed the white Earth below.... |
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Tehuacalco, Mexico: Where Yope Giants Once Walked
About an hour after leaving Acapulco, Mexico’s number one resort, our van was parked in front of the Museum of the Tehuacalco Archaeological Zone - only recently opened to visitors. Located a short distance from the state of Guerrero’s capital city of Chilpancingo, Tehuacalco peaked between 650 and 1100 A.D. as the ceremonial center of the Yope and their surrounding region. It existed for more than two more centuries albeit in a declining cycle... |
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Brazil's Emerald Coast: The State of Rio de Janeiro
Paraty Bay, one of the most beautiful places on the Brazilian coastline, is often referred to as part of the "Green" coast, but "Emerald" Coast best describes the sparkling translucence of the bay reflecting the lush verdant jungle on the shore. Islands, one for every day of the year, dot the warm waters. The beaches on them are all public. Getting to them is easy, too. Boats are available for hire on the wharf at Paraty... |
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