Two Sides to Travel

After adjusting to life in Rome, World Hum writer David Farley discovers that eating in the Italian city is almost always delicious, but sometimes, a little intimidating as well. His humorous encounters with a passionate chef who becomes a friend are described in his article The Pasta Nazi.

Travel comes from the Latin for travail, which comes from the word tripalium, an instrument of Roman torture. And, evidenced by the word’s etymology alone, it’s not easy. We can’t expect to really get to know a place after three weeks or three months of being there, but we can let the place challenge ourselves, our identities, and our worldview so that when we walk through our front door after a trip we’re different people. We’re stronger, more open minded, more tolerant. And maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ve acquired an additional set of parents along the way.

dining in Rome is different. Neither pretentious nor corporate, Roman restaurants boast an atmosphere that’s more haphazard than highfalutin: Tables are scattered throughout the room as if a blind person had arranged them, menus are often handwritten (as if a blind person had gotten a hold of a pen and paper), and wine is served in glass tumblers. If you feel like you’re eating in someone’s living room, there’s a good reason for it: The strong Italian attachment to family and the fact that the cuisine was more or less born in the home (as opposed to the wealthy royal courts, like in France), means the ideal meal for an average Roman is one he or she ate growing up. At home. “When Italians eat out, they expect food just like their mama made,” a Roman friend told me. “Elevating it, like French food, would ruin it.”

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Jane Rawson, a writer for lonelyplanet.com, takes readers on an adventure in Phnom Penh Cambodia, complete with a flooded restaurant, in her article; My First 24 Hours:Phnom Penh.

"I'd assumed Phnom Penh dining would be mostly roadside noodles and the odd karaoke bar. But this was probably the fanciest restaurant I've ever visited - plush, deep couches around a series of square marble ponds, a French wine list and at least 37 wait staff per table. A thunderstorm had hit just as we arrived, so we couldn't sit by the ponds. Instead we made our way up three flights of stairs to the top floor and settled in for a bang-up feed. As the entrees were arriving, 36 of the 37 wait staff began staring nervously at the floor. Water was trickling in under the door to the balcony. Someone had opened the door to the balcony. The trickle, predictably, became a flood, and the flood, as it hit the stairs, became a waterfall. We ate our main course and watched the impromptu floor show, as waiters, cooks, kitchen hands and management tried - first desperately and later amid hilarity - to dam the flow with buckets, mops and barricades of towels."

Meeting a Princess

Most people would be excited to meet a Princess,Theodosia Greene, a writer for GoNOMAD.com, is no exception. In her article; Rethinking Royalty: An Interview with a Bhutanese Princess, Theodosia vividly describes her meeting with Princess Khendum Dorje.

"Several days after flying into Bhutan, Maile, my traveling photographer friend, and I were driven to Thimphu, Bhutan's capital and the home of Ashi ("Princess") Khendum Dorje, who had been described to us as a fun-loving, active young woman in her thirties. It was arranged that the princess meet us at our hotel. It was a chilly, late afternoon in March and our room, decorated in deep burgundy tones was growing dark. Outside the window, a tall clock in "Times Square," a square-shaped hotel garden, clanged five o'clock.

In she walked. To my surprise, this Bhutanese princess was as beautiful and fair-skinned as any Irish movie star. Wearing a western style black dress and low-heeled black pumps, Ashi settled gracefully into the hotel room chair by the window and ordered a bottle of fine wine from a waiting attendant. Sitting across from someone so like myself made me forget that she was a member of the powerful Dorji family, second only in rank to the royal Wangchucks."

Reality Check Honduras

Travel can be a transforming experience, and perhaps at time is that more apparent than after volunteering abroad in the most poverty-stricken areas of the world. Building a community center in Honduras, changed BootsnAll writer Devin Foxall more than the village where the structure was erected. He describes the trip and the lingering questions his trip effected in his article What We Offer.

" Quick impressions ambush me in Santa Ines, a small village in the northwest of Honduras, the poorest country in our hemisphere after Haiti. First, and most oppressive, is the heat: an itchy blanket at the sun's birth and death, a cauldron at midday. Second, even before the sweep of poverty hits, is the extensive variety of smiles. Whether euphoric or tranquil, with modestly closed lips or toothy grins: there is always a happy face to welcome mine.

Last - and here is where I first have trouble imagining what I know to be true - comes the sight of a child lost amongst the others who resembles, more than anything, a skeleton.

But he's quickly absorbed into the crowd while I'm caught up in the rush of kids bringing me to my new home. They shout mas! a plea to carry more of our baggage, and how odd it is, I think, that they would ask for a greater burden.

Here's the nitty-gritty: we had two weeks to turn a dilapidated structure into a center fit for literacy classes, weddings, funerals, and town meetings. At first sight, it didn't seem possible. While the town had built the basic structure five years ago, they soon ran out of money and watched as nature took over. Between ourselves, we discussed what was possible. Slowly we realized that we were surrounded by dozens of kids. They wanted to help.

When people ask about Honduras, the story I tell goes something like this: Two worlds that couldn't quite believe in one another created something, so that when they parted they were a little more real to one another.

I tell them about leaving in a sputtering taxicab and passing the children lining the dusty main street. I watched them hold out their hands, with hope for more of what they believed my world offered.

What I never mention is that sometimes I question whether offering the kids a vision of a new world - one they would probably never again realize - wasn't, in some ways, a little cruel."

Traveling Post-Divorce

Ex in the City.com a new website for divorced women is a great way to learn the ropes of solo travel. GoNOMAD gives an overview about the content of the site in the article The Five Stages of Ex.

Divorce is a journey in its own unique way. According to Manning, “This journey is in fact one of a 'nomad' - a wanderer and traveler in completely unknown territory, searching for a sense of 'place' that is defined no more by family, wife, lover, mother - but being forged out of the experiences, the strengths that a woman knows deep inside define her - as an individual and not in the context of the role she has played for perhaps many years.”

After going through phases of anger and solitude, divorced women will eventually want to take deep breaths and discover new places. While women may travel through all five stages of the divorce, the explore stage is where the greatest emphasis is placed on travel. Manning believes, “This is a time of re-emergence, discovery, and a quest for truth. It’s time to start a new career, get educated, take a trip round the world or a walk alone to the local park. Small steps and victories are the key.”

To express yourself in Johannesburg, Petro Koze suggests that you “Flaunt your sexuality wrapped in silver and chiffon, at the Jewels of the Nile belly-dancing school in Johannesburg. After jiggling and strutting your stuff for hours at a time, annihilate that last bit of pent up anger at The Big Time Taverna. At this Greek restaurant you will not only be wined and dined, but allowed to vent your anger on the crockery.”

Shark Attacks Increasing

In recent years shark attacks have been increasing, especially in America. Brian Handwerk, a writer for National Geographic News, explores the reasons behind the increase of attacks in his article; Shark Attacks Down in 2005 but Up Over Long Term.

" Most shark specialists agree that the big-picture rise in attack numbers has more to do with humans than with sharks—namely the steadily increasing numbers of people living near and frolicking in the world's coastal waters.

Through the years one thing that has stood out clearly in terms of trends is that increasing human populations have put more people in the water."

ISAF's Burgess agrees that human behavior is perhaps the key factor.

The decrease in attacks could be due to fewer people in the water last year. Beachgoers are influenced by many variables that limit the number of beach days in a given season.

Tropical storms hammered Florida and other southeastern U.S. states in 2004 and 2005, reducing the number of people in the surf. Economic conditions may have also played a role, not to mention a drop in tourism in the post-9/11 era."

Ring of Fire

It might sound dangerous, but it is also what makes vacations fun. Hiking around the Ring of Fire in Nicaragua might just be the most exciting trip you ever take. Moon.com offers a sample itinerary and information about this fiery locale in their Travel Planner: Discover Nicaragua: Hiking the Ring of Fire.

Volcano hopping, anyone? Pack some sturdy boots and hike one or all of the more than a dozen ascents detailed in this book. Nicaragua's Maribio and Dirian mountain ranges contain both dormant and active cones, each one completely unique in scenery, difficulty, vegetation, and length. A few of these hikes have established, well-blazed trails (Mombacho and Masaya Parks are notable exceptions), many don't.

In undeveloped-for-tourism areas, hiking means turning off the pavement, taking a poor dirt road to an even poorer one, and then entering the country's vast network of mule- and footpaths that have connected rural communities for centuries. You'll share the road with horses, cattle, and families walking to and from their fields. You'll discover small adobe chapels, hidden shrines to the Virgin Mary, and cool watering holes, all on your way to or from another crater. Of course, you should always, when possible, hire a local guide, as a way to both support the community and to not get lost, both respectable goals.

Following is a quickie week-long jaunt up a couple of favorites, but after seeing the long chain of gas-streaming peaks stretching off into the horizon, you'll realize that this is only the beginning.

Top Travel Spots

Wonder where everyone else is traveling to? AOL Travel has found the top ten locations internet searches look for on their website.

LAS VEGAS - Famous for its neon-lit Strip, wild weddings, and flashy entertainment, Las Vegas is the only place in America where you can gamble in Paris, Venice, New York, and ancient Egypt--all in one day.

MEXICO - There's always a fiesta taking place amid Mexico's ancient Mayan ruins, bougainvillea-draped shores, white-sand beaches, and toe-stomping mariachi bands.

HAWAII - Lush rainforests sing with colorful birds, rainbows arch over waterfall-fed cliffs, and volcanoes create the Earth's newest land on the illustrious Hawaiian Islands.

CARIBBEAN - Pillaging pirates long gone, the Caribbean is an expanse of colorful corals, emerald islands, and white sands, where calypso music blends with the sounds of tree frogs and waves.

SAN FRANCISCO - With its funky neighborhoods, clanking cable cars, and steep hills that rise towards breathtaking views of the Golden Gate, San Francisco's got an adventure for everyone.

ORLANDO, NEW YORK, MIAMI, ATLANTA and DENVER make up six through ten on the top ten list of AOL travel vacation destinations.

Exquisite Wine Tasting Locations

Great wine tasting locations can be difficult to find unless one is a true master of the art of wine tasting; for the rest of us, lists that experienced wine connoisseurs have made come in quite handy when searching for the best place to taste wine. Marlonkobacher, a blogger for lonelyplanet.com, recommends his favorite wine tasting spots throuhgout the world in his list; World's Best Wine Tasting Spots-Top 6.

"1. Mendoza (Argentina)
As less than 10% of Argentinean wines are exported, much of the world never tastes them. This is exactly why you need to go. Pack your Spanish & your Pesos – compliment the wine, offer to buy, and their best bottles will magically appear.

2. Franschhoek (Western Cape, South Africa)
Surrounded by mountains, boasting French guesthouses, award-winning restaurants, antique stores and art galleries lies Franschhoek, or ‘French corner’ of Dutch-speaking Africa. Think that’s a culture cocktail? Try the amazing wine blends.

3. Santa Ynez Valley (Southern California)
The film ‘Sideways’ exposed Santa Ynez’s highly underrated wineries. Quaint boutiques are neatly tucked away in scenic rolling vineyards, owned often by ex-celebrities. Careful bringing up ‘Sideways’ though – not everyone loves Pinot Noir."

The Taste, Touch and Smell of Philly

Many American schoolchildren travel to Philadelphia to visit the old liberty bell. They get off their buses, take a quick tour, and head back to their hometowns without ever getting a chance to experience true Philly. GoNOMAD writer Jennifer Kim offers an insider's tips to the city including the best cheesesteaks, and some of the best places to enjoy the nightlife. Here are some of her recommendations for taste, touch and smell. For sights, sounds, and more on the first three senses, check out her article Experiencing Philly With All Five Senses.

Taste
Cheesesteaks are an original Philly creation, dating back to the 1930s. The clanking of the metal spatula against the grill, the clouds of steam rising from the sizzling grilled meat, and the procedure for ordering your cheesesteak all contribute to the Philly cheesesteak experience.

Touch
Sylvester Stallone’s famous performance as Rocky Balboa in the film Rocky is an unforgettable underdog tale of a club fighter facing his opponent, the reigning heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Every morning, his intense workout regimen goes through the streets of South Philly, ending with the 72 steps of The Philadelphia Museum of Art. In an act of triumph, he ritually throws his arms in the air after his last step of the entranceway to the art museum is climbed.

Smell
Spurts of Italy are strewn all over the block. My nose has guided me into the very heart of the Old World -- the 9th Street Italian Market. With over thirty authentic shops and more than forty produce stands lining the streets of South Philadelphia, the eclectic aromas of the market are whirling in the air. More than a hundred years worth of immigrants linger in the community as seen by the antique shops handed from generation to generation.

A Second Home in Spain

David Hampshire, writer for Escape From America magazine, has some excellent tips for Buying a Home in Spain. This sunny country might be the perfect place to retire abroad or vacation annually in a home you own. While the process isn't easy, it might just be the best purchase you ever make.

"Can you really afford to buy a home in Spain? What of the future? Is your income secure and protected against inflation and currency fluctuations? In the ’80s, many foreigners purchased holiday homes in Spain by taking out second mortgages on their family homes abroad and stretching their financial resources to the limits.

Not surprisingly, when the recession struck in the early ’90s many people had their homes repossessed or were forced to sell at a huge loss when they were unable to maintain the mortgage payments. Buying a home abroad can be a good, long-term investment, although it’s possible to get your fingers burnt in the occasional volatile property market in many countries, including Spain.

Get Familiar with the Area
Unless you know exactly what you’re looking for and where, it’s advisable to rent a property for a period until you’re more familiar with an area. As when making all major financial decisions, it’s never advisable to be too hasty. Many people make expensive (even catastrophic) errors when buying homes in Spain, usually because they do insufficient research and are in too much of a hurry, often setting themselves ridiculous deadlines such as buying a home during a long weekend break or a week’s holiday. Not surprisingly, most people wouldn’t dream of acting so rashly when buying a property in their home country! It isn’t uncommon for buyers to regret their decision after some time and wish they had purchased a different property in a different region.

Do your Research
Before deciding to buy a home in Spain, it’s advisable to do extensive research on buying. Two good resources are, Buying a Home in Spain and Living and Working in Spain, both written by the author of this article and published by Survival Books. It also helps to study specialist property magazines and to visit overseas property exhibitions. Bear in mind that the cost of investing in a few books or magazines is tiny compared to the expense of making a big mistake."

Skiing through Montana

Aside from its beautiful scenery, Montana is known for its skiing. Sony Stark, a writer for GoNOMAD.com, visits ski destinations throughout Montana in her article; Montana's Wildest Winter Resorts.

"Our high-speed six-seater lift dumps us at the top of Moonlight Basin -- too soon for my liking -- and then I'm told to pick my poison.

I opt for a blue intermediate and push off. I'm scraping for air but this is an otherworldly snow, a light dry powder that keeps my spirits high and fears suppressed. In minutes my worries dissipate and I'm carving up trails and hurdling between vertical drops and rugged bowls. What was I afraid of?

My first run down a Montana mountain lasts over 15 minutes; that's 14 minutes longer than back home in the Northeast. Of course Pat and Terry are keeping me safe from the true feats that other journalists attempt without me.

f your first impression of the landscape Out West doesn't take your breath away, Montana's specialty beers and exotic wild haute cuisine surely will. In a few days I'll be biting into bison ribs and sharing bar shots with a wooly local. After a day of surviving unspoiled habitat it's fitting to treat yourself to Montana's best culinary delights."

Eco-Touring through Jordan

The massive desert and subtropical jungles in Jordan affords Rough Guides travel writer Matthew Teller the opportunity to check out nature reserves of all sorts. He describes canyoning, and safaris in his guide Jordan's Nature Reserves.

"The RSCN runs Dana and six other nature reserves. Jordan is largely desert – around 85 percent of the land area is classified as arid – and yet it also includes some startingly diverse and fertile terrain, from the rolling hills and meadows of Ajloun to the humid, subtropical jungles flanking the River Jordan.

And although its primary purpose is conserving the nation’s natural heritage, the RSCN is at the forefront of Jordan’s burgeoning eco-tourism industry. The opportunities to explore are immense. I went on an oryx safari in the Shaumari Wildlife Reserve east of Amman, bumping through the tussocky desert grasses by jeep in search of the Arabian oryx protected here. These beautiful white antelope had not been seen in Jordan since 1921, and, until a few were saved from hunters in Oman in 1973, were on the way to extinction.

Canyoning in the Wadi Mujib Reserve – one of several gorge systems that cut through the highland plateau overlooking the Dead Sea shore – is another possibility, along with the chance of sighting the Nubian ibex that roam the rocky slopes here. At the Azraq Wetlands – a lush desert oasis of reed marshes and pools – I retreated for an afternoon in a hide to watch for water buffalo.

But in Jordan, eco-tourism isn’t all about big game and vast landscapes. The hilly Ajloun Woodland Reserve, north of Amman, protects a swathe of Mediterranean woodland – mainly evergreen oak, along with pistachio, olive, carob and wild strawberry trees – which is home to some very European characters, including badgers, foxes, roe deer and wild boar. The neighbouring Dibbeen Forest Reserve remains one of the most beautiful and remote getaways in all of Jordan. All seven reserves are visitable for walks and nature-focused adventure activities and most have accommodation in lodges or campsites."

Diverse Dublin

Corned beef and cabbage, leprechauns, and green are all things synonymous with Ireland to those living outside the country, but New York Times Travel writer Brian Lavery discovers the heart of Dublin is much more diverse in his article "Near a Main Artery in Dublin, a New City."

"Historically and geographically, O'Connell Street is the heart of Dublin. The boulevard, which runs south about five blocks to the River Liffey, has emerged from several decades of seediness, thanks to a continuing refurbishment that aims to create a Hibernian version of the Champs-Élysées, centered around a 394-foot-tall steel needle, the Spire of Dublin.

But step off O'Connell Street in almost any direction, and you glimpse a different Dublin, a parallel city that is neither homogenous nor traditionally Irish. In a tiny enclave within two blocks of the main artery there are a nascent Chinatown, a budding Little Odessa and even touches of West Africa, all catering to a recent influx of immigrants drawn to the country's economic prosperity.

The hub is Moore Street, a gritty three-block-long row just west of the main drag. For generations, weathered Dublin women have hawked fruit, flowers and fish here, creating a bustling street market. Now they share sidewalk space with Asian grocery stores where shoppers weave through sacks of spices and rice piled waist-high, and African beauty parlors where hair extensions hang from ceilings like sausage links.

At night, much of the action takes place along Parnell Street, a rundown corridor that crosses the north end of O'Connell Street. The Ice Bar, opened by Chinese immigrants, draws a young, mixed crowd of sharply dressed Chinese and bohemian-chic Irish. The pub is decorated with calligraphy scrolls, has an outdoor patio for smokers and is the site of occasional gigs by techno D.J.'s."

Find discount flights to Dublin

Yamoussoukro; An African Ghost Town

Join John M. Edwards, a writer for bootsnall.com, as he traverses the almost empty African city, Yamoussoukro, in his article; Capital of Ghosts Cote d'Ivoire.

"We arrived in Yamoussoukro basted and broiled by the crowded bush taxi, feeling like extras from "Apocalypse Now." When we tried to check into a hotel, the concierge first told us it was full, then ran after us, yelling, "Messieurs!" Of course there were rooms – the town was a veritable morgue; we'd simply broken Ivorian protocol by neglecting to dash him with a little baksheesh. We later met the other guest, a Frenchman who read old copies of Le Monde every day in the lobby.

We walked to a nearby village, where very poor, very friendly people lounged in the shade by a malarial pond to escape the heat. A village elder pointed to the basilica, rising over the landscape like Ayers Rock, and smiled ironically, as if to say the country's recent economic misfortunes were somehow linked to it."

Glaciers and Tango in Argentina

The diverse South American country of Argentina offers bustling cities, massive ranches, jade-blue glaciers and much more. Kelly Westhoff, a GoNOMAD blogger and winner of the second GoNOMAD grant award, and her husband, Quang Nystrom, set out on a seven-month around-the-world trip in October 2005. They spent the first three months of their trip in Latin America. Their experiences in Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, and Chile can be read about in the article Kelly and Quang visit Latin America. The pictures are gorgeous. You can also follow their travels in their blog, Global Roam.

"The streets of Buenos Aires are as busy as ever. The center’s pedestrian walkways, Calle Florida and Calle Lavalle, stream with well-dressed businessmen and women on a Monday afternoon. Cafes serving little other than strong espresso spill to the curb. Tango dancers and fire-eaters perform for change, and all the while subway trains rumble deep below, taxis honk and a fleet of diesel busses jockey for space.

After soaking up the energy of Buenos Aires, we headed south. We flew to Ushuaia, the southern-most city in the world. Ushuaia sits on the bottom edge of the island of Tierra del Fuego. While the city faces the Beagle Channel, behind it, the last of the Andes Mountains race to the sea. We took a day trip out of Ushuaia to Estancia Haberton, a massive, family-owned ranch. The ranch is isolated and truly feels like the end of the world. There we visited a penguin colony and caught sight of the ranch’s wind-swept trees.

We left Ushuaia behind and went to see the Perito Moreno Glacier. Perito Moreno is just one of five glaciers in Argentina’s Glacier National Park. It slides out of the Andes and into a huge lake where chunks break off and float into the distance. The lake, filled with mineral-rich glacial run-off, glows an almost surreal shade of jade-like blue. We paid extra for the chance to hike on the glacier itself. A safe distance from the dangerous glacial wall, we spent an afternoon trekking across Perito Moreno’s melting crevices and jagged peaks."

The Path of Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great conquered much of the known world over 2,000 years ago, all before he died at age 33. Peter Sommer, writer for travellibrary.com followed the path of the ancient leader from Greece to Istanbul to Troy and beyond. His trip is described in his article In the footsteps of Alexander the Great.

“It took Alexander and his 40,000 soldiers eighteen months to reach Issus. I would refrain from fighting battles, besieging towns, and the occasional spot of pillaging, and so hoped to complete the route in some twenty weeks, covering about fifteen miles a day.

Turkey is a veritable treasure trove for those enthralled by Alexander. First stop should be Istanbul’s magnificent archaeological museum. There, pride of place, stands the Alexander sarcophagus. This was not Alexander’s personal coffin, the whereabouts of which has been hotly debated. Instead this tomb was excavated at Sidon and probably belonged to Abdalonymus, a mere gardener who was appointed as the local ruler by Alexander. In death as in life he wanted to show his continuing respect for his overlord, and so had Alexander depicted on his tomb.

To marvel properly at one of the finest pieces of craftmanship from the ancient world you really do have to drop to your knees. Carved in lustrous white marble, the sides are adorned with reliefs of battles and hunts charged with energy and grace. If one looks carefully, it’s possible to see the remnants of painted colours that highlighted the figures all the more, and the tiny holes where once tiny spears and swords were carefully positioned. One side shows Alexander at the hunt, a popular pastime amongst the Macedonian nobility and one of Alexander’s favourite pleasures. On another is Alexander at war, astride his trusty steed Bucephalas, rearing up on muscular legs above a fallen Persian horseman. The king himself, his head encased in a lion helmet, symbol of Hercules, stretches his right arm back over his shoulder with spear at the ready.”

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest offers many attractions including: spas, castles, and the Holy Trinity Square. Rick Chapo, writer for escapeartist.com, gives the highlights of Budapest in his article; Budapest-A Tale of Three Cities.

"In a bit of trivia, Budapest was historically considered three cities. The three cities were Pest, Obuda and Buda. Although grouped together, the cities were naturally divided by the Danube River which forks in the middle of the city. In 1873, the three cities were combined into one and given the Budapest name.

The Gellert Spa Hotel is located in the center of Budapest on the eastern shore of the Danube River. From the front, the hotel looks like a classic renaissance building you would find in Paris or Vienna. The entrance to the hotel opens onto an indoor pool that looks like something out of ancient Rome. The square pool is surrounded by baroque columns and covered by a glass roof two stories above the water. Palms, plants and relaxing Hungarians are everywhere. It is staggeringly impressive.

Situated in the Buda section of Budapest, the Castle District sits on the eastern side of the Danube. Positioned a couple hundred feet above the Danube, the entire city of Budapest can be seen from the numerous vantage points. The view is so amazing, the Italians coined a saying, “Europe has three gems – Venice on the water, Florence in the plains and Buda in the hills.” The Italians definitely got it right. "

Oman

Oman is a safe, beautiful country to travel to in. Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey, a writer for GoNOMAD.com, ventures to Oman in her article; Oman: Storybook Enchantment and Modern Amenities.

" Whereas many places in the Middle East, such as Dubai, have succumbed to commercialism, leaving a lot of their culture and traditions behind, Oman has successfully combined its centuries-old history and heritage with steady progress.

The country offers all modern amenities, but it also still has the storybook enchantment that makes Arabia so attractive: friendly people who live by their hospitality ethics; traditional souks (markets) where you can buy frankincense, silver and pottery; more than 500 historical sand-castle forts dotted across the mountain tops, and a sea teaming with dolphins and whales. One of only two Sultanates in the world – the other being Brunei, Oman is pure Middle Eastern magic straight out of The Arabian Nights."

The Lower East Side

The Lower East Side in N.Y.C. was the first settling point for immigrants. Many cultures melded together over the years in the Lower East Side to form a funky blend of young and old, traditional and modern. Explore The Lower East Side with Imogen Hall, a writer for lonelyplanet.com, in her article; Lower East Side.

"Take the Lower East Side. Bordering the East Village and Alphabet City to the north, Chinatown to the south and Little Italy to the west, this jostling downtown neighbourhood epitomises the best things about NYC. Here a bubbling and fragrant melting pot of cultures and nationalities live side by side, working hard at their small thriving businesses, be it a bustling Chinese restaurant or an off-beat Eastern European cafe. The Lower East Side is steeped in New York history, being the first settling point for many immigrants.

Today, however, it's a neighbourhood in conflict. The old and soulful is being nudged and prodded by the glossy and new. Slick bars are springing up alongside old-time family-run hotels; frosty boutiques are replacing local convenience stores. And a particularly 'revolutionary' hotel is changing the skyline for ever."

Utah's National Parks

Reid Bramblett and his friends plan an ambitious trip to visit five national parks in four days. Their trip across Utah is detailed in his article Road Trip: Southern Utah for Budget Travel Online. Here is a description of just part of Day One.

"Day 1: Grand Junction to Moab

Less than 90 minutes after landing in Grand Junction, Colo., we made it to Moab, Utah, a laid-back city wedged between Arches and Canyonlands. We checked into Center Street Hotel, a little inn with communal bathrooms and themed rooms. Ours was the Miner's Shack; one wall was sculpted into a fake rock face with pickaxes and miners' helmets mounted on it.

We had booked a mountain-bike ride north of Moab leading to a panorama of the desert from the northern end of Arches National Park. We'd have to grind 700 vertical feet up slickrock, a bald sandstone which, despite the name, is remarkably grippy.

Our guide, from Rim Tours, was a lean young dude called Goose. Nine years ago, he left his home in Ohio, as well as his full name (Mike Gostlin), to guide rafting and biking trips in Colorado and Utah. Goose rode a one-gear with no shocks. Stew and I were on state-of-the-art mountain bikes with fast shifting and full suspension. Not that it helped. Five minutes into the ride, I was gasping for air, pushing my jelly legs to propel myself up a four-mile-long rock ridge.

All I could think was, Thank God for dinosaur prints. The three-toed impressions appeared every 50 yards, and each was surrounded by a circle of stones to keep people away. I disembarked to examine every single one. After the ninth footprint, Goose saw through my sudden interest in paleontology. The ride down was much easier."

Interning in Germany

Germnay loves to host American interns, yet not many interns go to Germany. Johanna Lee, a writer for bootsnall.com, shares tips about interning in Germnay in her article; Tips for Interning in Germany.

"My senior year in college, I thought an internship in Germany was impossible. After five quarters of German, my grammar still made my sentences incomprehensible to my classmates and I assumed that was the most basic requirement to landing an internship in Germany. Therefore, I put aside my application to CDS International and went to London instead. One year later, I dug out the CDS application and contacted the office. Timing and luck was on my side and I landed an internship by German standards in a matter of days, but wasn't actually confirmed till two months later. The usual time frame takes about five to six months. My German skills none the better since my senior year, I was flying to Cologne as the new American intern for a one year internship with an exchange organization that facilitated the administration necessary, ironically enough, for other Americans interning in Germany. The position enabled me to get a good overview of the German internship market for Americans from which the following tips were learned.

Some things that hold true for the American job market also translates into the German internship market. The easiest major to place into internships are engineers, whether they be civil, mechanical, electrical, aerospace, chemical, all are wanted and welcomed. If you majored in engineering another advantage is that your German skills can be almost non-existent, although it's recommended that you have some, but it's hardly an issue. If all this wasn't enough, you'll find yourself working for highly recognized German companies such as Siemens or BMW and you'll be getting paid twice as much as your friend in other fields. If you majored in business, social sciences or humanities, then speaking some form of German at some level will be more crucial to landing a good internship.

Emilia Romagna Italy

Explore Emilia Romagna and a few of it's quaint towns, such as Parma, with Jennifer Kim, a writer for GoNOMAD.com in her article; Emilia Romagna: The Heart and Soul of Italy.

"Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Prosciutto ham, and prestige are the three P’s that represent Parma. The aristocratic town of Parma is located in the upper Midwest region of Emilia Romagna.


Marie Louise Habsburg transformed the small town of Parma into one of esteem and elegance, the town we see today. The appointed duchess of Parma by the Congress of Vienna, Marie Louise Habsburg’s signature sophisticate-style is embellished throughout the town.

What do Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini have in common other than that they are the most lustfully sought after automobiles in the world? These legends were born and bred right in Modena or the “Motor Valley” as the town is now dubbed.

These beauties stroll down the streets of Modena in the Spring, where the citizens of the town can gawk in the splendor of the new models."

Tourists come to Cambodia

Cambodia has recently seen a tourism boom, but Tripsource writer Rob Eime has concerns about whether all of the money will go to the Cambodians. Nevertheless he enjoys the beautiful sites of the country in his article Holiday in Cambodia.

"The country's key attraction, the Angkor Wat complex near Siem Reap is driving the turnaround almost single-handedly. Rediscovered by French colonialists in the mid-1800s, the huge temples were soon cleared of hundreds of years of jungle growth and revealed in their entirety.Apart from the widely-known Angkor Wat, (it's on the flag) a dozen or more impressive temples come together to make up an enormous fortress city around the central complex of Angkor Thom.

This thriving, ornate city was the seat of power for some twenty-seven Khmer kings from 802 AD until around 1327 and finally abandoned to the jungle one hundred years later. For over four centuries Angkor lay dormant under its verdant shroud, and the damage to its intricate structures during this time was enormous. Huge Banyan trees, still evident at Lara Croft's temple (Ta Prohm), took root amongst the ruins, prising apart walls and foundations. Historians and archaeologists have been trying to put the heritage and the stonework back together for nearly one hundred years, their efforts continually thwarted by war, vandalism and looting.

Further supporting its significance, UNESCO listed Angkor as a World Heritage area in 1992, acknowledging the 400 square kilometre Angkor Archaeological Park as one of the most significant such sites in SE Asia. At the same time it was inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger."

Missing Sicily

As it has almost been a full year since my trip to Sicily, the time has come to blog about that beautiful Italian island. My friend and traveling companion, GoNOMAD writer Jenn Kim, describes the friendly Sicilians in her article Warm Welcome in Sicily.

"The narrow, cobblestone streets were spotted with charming tantalizing pasticcerie (pastry shops), gelaterie (gelato shops), and cafes. One will usually discover Sicilian homes and buildings accented with an acorn (over time it has turned into a pineapple) hanging from their doorway or near the entrance of their homes. The acorn symbolizes hospitality and is literally a sign of welcoming.

The antique and novel appearance of the stores and owners themselves gave off an aura of character and old world tradition. Now, take a moment and imagine forty-five anxious Americans shuffling about in these small towns like paparazzi and reporters, intrigued with every miniscule thing. Despite dire warnings from the guidebooks, our group experienced one magnificent gesture of hospitality after another during our eight-day stay."

Consider Moving to Italy

If you have ever wanted to live in Italy, or spend an extended vacation there, there is a lot you should learn about the culture. Ruth Halcomb a writer for Escape from America Magazine, explores living in Italy in her article; Italy-Beyond the Illusion.

"Italy has never ceased to captivate people from other countries, especially speakers of English. They begin to see their former homes as sunless and dull, their former lives as restricted and puritanical. They see themselves changing in expected ways, becoming perhaps more alive, even hedonistic or, in other instances, more scholarly or more deeply religious. For a few the changes are intimidating, but often the newcomer begins to see Italy as a new kind of home and looks for ways to stay longer or permanently.

Bureaucratic restrictions aside, Italy is easier for expats than some countries. Although Italians have much to be proud of, they are not snobs. They are gracious and forgiving of foreigners's errors and eccentricities. One of their outstanding virtues is that they understand what it means to be human.

One doesn't come to Italy to live cheaply, but it's not prohibitively expensive either. While utilities and gasoline are more costly than in the U.S., food costs can be quite reasonable. Some expats economize by not owning a car and living as locals do."

Wintering in the Hamptons

The Hamptons is the summer hotspot for those looking to get away from the city or for those who love to see and be seen. Stroll through the Hamptons with Rich Beattie, a writer for New York Times Travel, in his article; The Hamptons in Winter: Less Glamour, More Elbow Room.

"Yes, this is the Hamptons, the same collection of towns that from Memorial Day to Labor Day are packed with traffic, celebrities and attitude. But in late winter and early spring, when Manhattanites are still only dreaming about their summer shares, the Hamptons put on a different face. Beaches have a windswept, barren grandeur. Shopping at Saks comes with plenty of breathing room. Dinner at famous restaurants? Just walk in. The Hamptons Film Festival is out; a poetry reading by schoolchildren is in. And forget the famous Diddy White Party — anyone for a barn dance?

Some year-rounders worry that winter may become the new summer. Jeff Cranmer, who works at the BookHampton chain in Southampton and has lived in the Hamptons for 12 years, has seen cold-weather traffic increase in the last couple of years. "Now there's actually a rush hour to and from Montauk," he said. "If it gets bad, I'll have to move to a cornfield in Iowa."

But for now, the off-season Hamptons arequiet and sleepy. Late at night, snowflakes started to fall, quietly collecting on the barren trees that lined the road. Car treads left an imprint on the dusted streets. And though it wouldn't last much longer, at that moment in the Hamptons, silence reigned."

Beautiful Bodrum

Freelance journalist Vivienne DuBourdieu found the best places to go in Bodrum, Turkey when you are a woman recovering from divorce. In fact, this trip sounds good for anyone interested in travel. Her Ex in the City, City Guide has tips for traveling alone, and finding a place to stay in the city.

"Start your journey in Bodrum, on the Aegean coast, a charming little port where shops, bars, and restaurants nestle together under the robust shadow of St. Peter Castle. This harks back to the medieval crusaders, and remains a worthy place from which to launch a new offensive. The castle itself deserves exploration. It contains the Museum of Underwater Archeology, and a flourishing inner garden, representing nearly every plant and tree of the Mediterranean region.

The present inhabitants of Bodrum number some 30,000, and earn their living by fishing, boat-building, agriculture, and weaving. You might visit the village Mumcular, which is famous for its carpets, kilims and other weavings. Bodrum is well known for its Turkish and foreign artists. At its heart is the thriving Cumhurriyet Caddesi (Republic Street), referred to as ‘bar street’ by tourists and locals alike.

Here, you can buy anything from traditional Aegean sandals to beautifully worked onyx, copper, and brassware, or Gold harem slippers. There are many small boutiques, and scores of cosmopolitan cafes and restaurants. When they drink (Turkey is a liberal Muslim country), the Turks often down a light, aniseed flavoured drink called Raki, similar to Greek Ouzo and French Pernod. Alternatively, drink the local wine. Doluca’s Antik Red or White provides pleasant quaffing at a reasonable cost."

Sunshine and Sheep in Iceland

Iceland is famous for the beautiful aurora borealis, but for World Hum writer Jason Wilson, the country brings up many memories of sheep. His nostalgic visit to Iceland is described in his article Whistling at the Northern Lights.

"Reykjavík is a wonderful place to lose one’s sense of time. You might be sitting in Kaffibarinn, watching a brilliant Arctic sunlight pour through the windows—then suddenly look at your watch to realize that it’s 4:30 a.m. The corrective, of course, comes when nights gradually start to reassert themselves in September. Early that September, Eeva-Liisa, Trine, and I decided we should leave Reykjavík for a little while. We really need to get out and see the country, we told each other as we sat around a smoky café table.

And so we rented a car and drove the countryside, with the intention of observing the annual, traditional sheep roundup, called the rettir. In Iceland, there are half a million sheep—nearly twice as many sheep as Icelanders—who roam freely throughout the summer, grazing. Rettir is a festive time, full of songs and drinking, as whole farming communities gather together to drive the sheep to a common pen, where they are all returned to their proper owners. It is quite a thing to see thousands of sheep driven across the vast empty spaces by men and women on Icelandic ponies, dressed in orange."

A Stroll Through the Cotswolds

The Cotswolds in England reminds one of the setting of a Jane Austen novel: muted green, moorish, and romantically quiet. Liz Kirchner, a writer for GoNOMAD.com, meanders through the Cotswolds hills in her article; South West England: A Valentine's Day Ramble in the Cotswolds.

"The Cotswolds are long low hills (wolds are hills) in the South West and a little in the Midlands regions They are formed by the 100-mile long Cotswold limestone escarpment, a sort of geologic ledge, the stone of which is a characteristic honey brown like old teeth or milky tea, paling to ivory as one goes south. The buildings throughout this region from byre to cottage to manse, the rolling stone walls, and the rubble piles that were once Roman villas or Iron Age forts are all made of this beautiful honey stone casting everything in a gentle sepia.

Both large and small paths wend through public and private land: fields, woods, meadows, even crops. They both at times merge together or use lanes and roads usually in order to lead you past something of historical or aesthetic interest like a valley view or a pretty village."

Manatees...or maybe Mermaids?

Caye Caulker, an island off the coast of Belize, is surrounded by waters filled with manatees. John Ryan, a writer for lonelyplanet.com, writes about a visit to Caye Caulker to experience the island and the manatees in his article; People You Meet-Chocolate and the Manatees.

"Spend even the shortest amount of time on Caye Caulker and you will get to know 'Capital-C' Chocolate. Wiry and impossibly-tanned, Lionel 'Chocolate' Heredia (the nickname comes from a boyhood job delivering chocolate bread) has lived and worked Belize's coastal fringe all his 76 years, and most might think he has earned the right to sit out the rest of his days outside his little gift shop, soaking up the sun and mellowing out. But he has another agenda.

On an uncharacteristically cloudy day, we set off with Chocolate and a collection of American tourists to see the manatees live and up-close. Before setting off, Chocolate talks to the group in his Caribbean-accented English, explaining that there were no guarantees that we'd see a manatee and that, unlike other tour operators, we certainly wouldn't be swimming with them ('I don't believe in that' he says simply)."

Freud's Home in England

When Freud fled Nazi Germany, he moved into a house in England. Eric Lehman, a writer for Bootsnall.com, visited Freud's home in England and shares his experience in his article;The Freud House.

"I would never have known about the Freud House if it hadn't been for a girl from California named Diana. One cold winter night she regaled me with a tale of her journey there, complete with her near-illegal photo opportunity on the famous couch, which Freud had taken to London with him while fleeing the Nazis. To be honest, I hadn't even known that Sigmund and his daughter had ever fled the continent, and certainly not to London, which I had visited before without any notion of the situation. I found out that the famous psychoanalyst moved to the foggiest of cities on September 27, 1938 and remained there until he died a year later.

On our third day in London, Jeremiah, Subhash, and I took the underground tube north. After disembarking, we stopped at a local drugstore, where Jeremiah bought cigars. As we walked up the long street to the Freud House address, the three of us chuckled and planned how we would jump the rope and take pictures on the couch, as my friend Diana had failed to do so long ago. And then it appeared, an unremarkable, modern-looking house with no particular charm or class. Freud had only been at this address for a year, not nearly enough time to really saturate the house with ghosts. Nevertheless, as we entered, evidence of his interests abounded: the strange African fetishes, rows of dusty books, and the famous couch."

Vacationing With Pets

For those who can’t bear to leave pets at home or with strangers, there are numerous hotels that allow for beloved animals to join their owners. GoNOMAD writer Sarah Freddie describes three such hotels in her article Pet-Friendly Hotels on the East Coast.

The Marlowe: “goes out of its way to provide treats for its furry clientele. If your pet has stayed at the Marlowe five times, he will receive a lunch box full of treats! If your pet celebrates a birthday during your stay at the hotel, the hotel will order your pet a cake from the Polka Dog Bakery.”

The Helix: “Guests with pets are automatically provided with food and water bowls. The hotel offers a “doggie-style” package offered to guests that includes: food and water bowls, a dog robe with the Helix logo on it, a dog treat, and a dog manicure and pedicure at Doggie Style Bakery. The hotel also offers, for a small fee, a map showing great places to walk the dog, or even the cat. Along with the map, doggie scoop bags and a toy are included.”

The Inn by the Sea: “Bringing along a pet to the Inn is no concern; the Inn goes out of its way to provide a wonderful time for the pet as well as his owner. Dog-walking and dog-sitting services are offered to guests. If you let the Inn know in advance, for a small fee, gourmet pet menus and access to a dog grooming service are available.”

Best Festivals Around the World

Perhaps the best way to really get a feel for a place, is to take part in a tradtitional celebration. One Lonely Planet Bluelist user found five of the world's best festivals to recommend under the tip heading of Colourful Festivals of the World.

"Holi Festival of Colour (Kathmandu)
Ultimate in colour festivals! Held March 15th of every year (also held in India, Rishikesh on 14th)... The highlight? Throwing coloured water/paint on everyone else!!Warning: No one comes out without a full body of paint and firm abs from laughing!!

Cherry Blossom Season (Tokyo)
All over the land of the 'Rising Sun', a blanket of pink and white trees herald springtime calling for celebration.. The best spot? Tokyo’s Ueno Park or Aoyama Cemetery... 25 - 31 March every year!

Fes Sacred Music Festival (Morocco)
Exotic/ excentric/ sacred music and dance festival offering visual feast of Dervishes, Harlem Gospel, Sufi songs, Tibetan a capella, Japanese Noh Theatre, Armenian Chanting, Moroccan something (ha ha!)..World Music in an exotic location! Colourful!!

Inti Raymi at Cuzco (Peru)
An Incan festival packed with colouful dances & parades set on the plain in front of the magnificent Sacsuhuayman Fort, next to Cuzco. One of the treasurable towns on earth! Be there June 19-24 (final day a must!)doning your most 'secure' money belt.

Mt.Hagen & Goroka Festivals (Papua New Guinea)
Which planet am I on? A gathering of clans in Mt.Hagen-tribal dancing & feathers in wonderful places! Worth it as this wild land is an untamed frontier of this world. Goroka highlands offers a lifestyle change! Shell/ pig/ feather currency! Love it!"

Bart Nabrdalik advises travelers to delve into the depths of Eastern Poland in his article Bieszczady Mountains: Poland’s Hidden Corner for Escape from America Magazine. This area has natural beauty, historical sites, and best of all, few tourists.

"Sanok offers quite a lot to see for such a small town. On the medieval Rynek, or Market Square, stands the Franciscan Church and monastery, built in the seventeenth century. The prominent church tower dominates the town both spiritually and architecturally. In the Hotel Jagielonski, lying on the street bearing the same name is a very good restaurant where I tasted regional specialties such as pierogi ruskie, or dumplings stuffed with minced potato, onion and wild mushroom filling, or some of the mouth watering mountain trout, accompanied by the usual vegetable and potato additions. The hotel also offers the most comfortable night rest in the town, for a very reasonable price, so it is a good idea to book ahead - call (013) 463-1208.

The best view of the castle can be had from the riverside meadows. The castle is only partially preserved, the remaining buildings house Poland’s biggest collection of icons, somewhat irrelevantly mixed with the paintings of Zdzislaw Beksinski, a prominent local avant-garde painter. Nearby stands the orthodox cathedral of the Holy Trinity, built in 1784 originally for the Greek Catholic community. Inside are many monumental icons, mainly from the nineteenth century. Entering the church is like entering another century, the ambiance being so quiet and meditative."

Travel Medicine

One of the drawbacks in traveling to foreign countries is the possibility of getting sick, consequently, having a portion of your vacation ruined. Jaclyn C. Stevenson, a writer for GoNOMAD.com, discusses Dr.Stuart Rose's book, International Health Guide, in her article; Travel Doctor Offers Rx for a Safer World.

"Rose is internationally known in the world of travel medicine, the specialty of health and safety abroad.

He’s the creator, author and editor of the International Travel Health Guide, a comprehensive wellness resource for all types of travelers now in its 13th edition, and owner of a travel health company that specializes in products for all types of travelers, including those attracted to extreme and alternative trips.

Rose said his fascination with travel medicine began in medical school, during an elective course that centered on tropical diseases. He later interned at two African hospitals, in Ethiopia and Tanzania, where he w