What is your biggest dream?
I have always responded, "to travel the world". As time continues to speed by, this goal may not lose importance in our lives but start to seem less and less possible.
Travel is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. But, this dream will be unlikely until we take the initiative to make it come true.
Off the coast of Italy and Marseille lies the beautiful island of Corsica. I was lucky enough to visit Corsica when I was younger and I will not forget it. Although Corsica is still part of France, it was given limited autonomy in 2001.
When I researched this island that is known for its diverse sights and landscape, there was not much that I could find. That was until I found out that it is gaining recognition as the murder capital of Europe. I then tried to dig a little deeper about this and I found this opinion article that is worth reading. Also, click on the links because they really give great background information!
Today, it seems like Russia often catches the world's eye for some reason. The latest story is that Russian Vladimir Putin tightened the government's grip on the country a little more. Without much notice, Putin had the power to cripple a news agency that was more independent than I guess he liked. But on a larger scale, Ukraine has been split in half. Masses upon masses of Ukrainian citizens have been protesting their President Victor Yanukovich and his decision to reject discussions of joining the European Union. This anger has been bubbling since the Orange Revolution in 2004, where Ukrainians protested the rigged presidential election, which Yanukovich won. Yanukovich has leaned toward sticking with the powerful and influential Russia. Although this article (the Ukraine link) is more opinionated, I think it was interesting how it theorized that "Russia, on the other hand, has used the dire need of Ukraine for immediate cash injections to promote its own integrationist project, the Eurasian Union."
Because of all of these governmental changes, travel is not necessarily impacted negatively. With a population of 143 million and the actual country being huge, there should still be doubts to shooting down all ideas of traveling to Russia because of politics. But, travelers are advised to go to Russia with caution and only visit certain areas.
Something that I have not discussed very much is travel for educational purposes. Particularly, traveling to a country to learn a language is such a great idea. Students today are more and more being encouraged to immerse themselves in the language and culture of another country. Spanish, the second most native language in the world actually beats english and follows english.
Spain has a population of approximately 40 million people and its currency is the Euro. What I never knew was that the country has the 7th largest economy in the world and its coastline has had many problems with drug trafficking. But, there are many different regions of Spain that each have different characteristics.
Although there are many regions of Spain many people choose to visit its capital and largest city, Madrid. But, this website discusses the hidden gems of the rest of the country.
In terms of politics, I had never known that the different regions are quite autonomous and there is not a huge emphasis on federal power. Yet, at the same time the democracy of Spain overall has been questioned by its citizens overall since its increase in austerity. (This was a very interesting article!) Further, Spain happens to be the largest entryway for drug trafficking into Europe.
UPDATE: The world and his home country truly remembered just how much Nelson Mandela contributed to the world.
Here is a fantastic summary of Nelson Mandela's life:
The New York Times great recap of his speeches, life, and major contributions:
At the age of ninety five, the revered and sage Nelson Mandela passed away. I know that this is a travel blog, but the country of South Africa would be very different if it were not for the actions and inspiration of Mr. Mandela. His obituary can attest to his leadership in the antiapartheid movement, peace, and equality. Regarding his Nelson Mandela's death, the author of his autobiography writes, "Nelson Mandela was always uncomfortable talking about his own death. But not because he was afraid or in doubt. He was uncomfortable because he understood that people wanted him to offer homilies about death and he had none to give. He was an utterly unsentimental man. I once asked him about his mortality while we were out walking one morning in the Transkei, the remote area of South Africa where he was born. He looked around at the green and tranquil landscape and said something about how he would be joining his "ancestors". "Men come and men go," he later said. "I have come and I will go when my time comes." And he seemed satisfied by that. I never once heard him mention God or heaven or any kind of afterlife. Nelson Mandela believed in justice in this lifetime."
Because it is the most populous and the third largest state in the United States, California could be considered an American gem. With fifty eight counties, it seems like it would be hard to not find something enjoyable to do. Some of the events that tourists travel to see are the Palm Springs Film Festival, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival, and much more.
Economically, California has been one of America's biggest concerns, particularly in regard to state debt. An article (updated seven months ago) argues that California's growing population partly due to incoming young innovators has caused a boost in the economy. But, the downside is that these youthful individuals will one day become older and want to settle down. Because of the ease of the government's gridlock that has been noticeable, I think that this article has a lot to say for how the economy has been doing with recent government changes. Although the author's left-sided opinion does have an influence, it is interesting how the raise in taxes of the wealthy has not caused a catastrophe for the state overall.
But, before visiting you may want to contemplate where exactly you would like to visit. Every Californian knows there is a huge cultural difference between northern California and southern California.
Before discussing another destination, I found this fantastic collection by the New York Times. It covers so many places worth traveling to in an incredibly organized fashion and includes pictures, maps, etc. The first on the New York Times' list, is Rio de Janeiro. But, you may not know that Rio de Janerio is not Brazil's capital.
For anyone who finds BuzzFeed to be fun to read, the website makes an entertaining and convincing argument to travel to Brazil. But, there are resources for readers that would like a more substantive discussion of the advantages of Brazil. This website highlights some interesting facts about Brazil, including that it hosts part of the Amazon Rainforest.
Speaking of the Amazon Rainforest, did you know that "around 80% of the food we eat originally came from rain forests"? Even worse, the rain forests are "being destroyed by 1.5 acres every second". The facts are staggering!
Speaking of Brazil's economics, it is important to remember that the Olympics are being held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The economic gap between the lower and upper classes is quite prominent, but doesn't that sound familiar? America might benefit by noticing the demonstrations held by Brazilians to protest the economic inequality. For some more background information on the efforts occurring in Brazil, check out the New York Times contributed this!
For more on the 2016 Summer Olympics, did you know that technically there are being hosted in four locations? (One of which are Rio de Janeiro.)
You may not know this, but Canada is one of the world's biggest countries. Canada is also big in the sense that it has so much to offer. Here is a map to get better acquainted with where Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, and other major areas are:
If you had never known, the capital of Canada is Ottawa.
For a Canadian perspective, one Canadian believes that these are the country's hidden gems. On the other hand, there are various American perspectives on what the differences are between America and Canada. But then again, it might not be worth it to compare the two countries. For some lighter reading, the Canadians do have reasons to be proud of their country.
Because China is still under Communist reign, I decided to look into the country. It is a HUGE country and contains so many spectacles like the Great Wall! I found it interesting how the United States portrays its relations with China and the country overall. But as I tried to avoid articles from Chinese sources (to get outsider traveler perspective), it is obvious that the country has been experiencing changes.
When I tried to dig for more information, so much I "didn't know about China" came up. Of course it is hard to be unbiased, so I am just trying to find all of the perspectives on China overall. Plus, there is a blog that discusses and claims some more unknown things about China.
More specifically, travel to China can seem a bit overwhelming. But, there are so many websites at our fingertips that are so helpful. Make sure that you also glance at the tabs on the side of this website!
Check out this link for some travel tips that you would only think of if you were pretty familiar with the culture!
When I think of a dream destination I think of Fiji. But it is hard to know if a tiny but far speck of beauty is worth all of the expenses. Make sure you read this first to get yourself better acquainted with some preliminary information about Fiji.
After becoming independent from Britain in 1970, it became a republic in 1987. In terms of politics, these are very recent occurrences. Fiji celebrates its history and independence on Fiji Day, which is very important to the Fijians. This year Fiji had its forty third anniversary of being independent from Britain.
"Fiji's 333 islands... are home to approximately 883,00 people, three quarters of whom live on the main island of Viti Levu". The same website explains that "Fiji is home to over 4,000 square miles of coral reef, including the Great Astrolabe Reef. " Also, "Fiji's waters are home to over 1,500 species of sea life". If you look at the map above, all of the red and white flags mark the major scuba diving sites. Fiji is known to have one of the best diving sites in the world.
On a more political note, I found it interesting how much I had not known. After reading about the military coup that took power in 2006, here is some more interesting knowledge to gain. I will look for some more recent articles on this topic, since both of these links are from 2012!
Known for its beauty and welcoming citizens, New Zealand truly is a travel destination that should be on all of our lists. But how to get there? It is pretty far from most places on the globe!
Check this out! It might motivate you...
If you don't mind some grammatically unsound blogging, this blog does a great and entertaining job of writing about the life and culture of New Zealand... and what it is really like to be there! As the New Zealand Herald writes, the Kiwis are pretty happy to be in New Zealand.
If you do end up making it to New Zealand, beware of the jet lag that you might encounter!
So if Costa Rica was referred to as the "Switzerland of Central America" (see last blog post), what is it about Switzerland that is so fantastic. I just finished reading something the New York Times published today, about how the Swiss government might start giving its citizens an allowance. If you don't believe why the Swiss overall seemingly have a good quality of life, check out more reasons why Switzerland treats its citizens so well. I found a great website that covers everything that has to do with Switzerland, even down to the history of the Swiss flag. I never knew that the Swiss flag is the only national flag that is a square and not a rectangle.
"Switzerland has a great deal to offer: cultural diversity, multilingualism, stunning scenery and, of course, its people."
This was definitely something worth reading, because it really has some interesting facts! Putting the Swiss chocolate aside for a moment, here is something that gives an idea of the raw beauty of the country. On the right of the destinations is a map that can be used to search and find locations. The Guardian has some great pictures for winter in Switzerland, and winter is practically around the corner!
When I traveled to Costa Rica it was paradise. The people are so welcoming and friendly (especially if you speak Spanish to them), the landscape is so beautiful, and the country has so much to offer. From the volcanoes and mountains to the oceanside to the canals to the tropical rain forests, there is something to see for everyone! In this interesting synopsis, Costa Rica is referred to as the Switzerland of Central America. The same website from the link above gives a great comment: "To put things in perspective, consider the fact that prior to 1950, half of the country struggled with grinding poverty, and living beyond the age of 50 was an achievement in itself. Today, less than one in five Ticos (Costa Ricans) lives below the poverty line, and life expectancy is on par with the USA."
I found a great travel blogger! The creator of "Nomadic Matt" quit his job to travel the world and gives tips, places to see, and afantastic and non-overwhleming summary of travel to Costa Rica! This interactive map may seem too dense to look at, but it is broken down into different regions of the country. After breaking down the regions, you can explore the different sights and even the creatures that inhabit Costa Rica... When I was in Costa Rica I went on a crocodile expedition!
Whenever I talk to friends about the places that have really stuck with them ever since they visited, I always hear the answer "Prague". Now where exactly is Prague? From praguewelcome.cz, I found it interesting that the population of Prague (the capital of the Czech Republic) is 1,262,000. In 2010, an interesting article was written about Prague twenty years after communism and the lively gay communities blossoming. Reading all recent articles on Prague, it seems that this culture of youth and "NeoPrague" is rippling throughout the capital. Prague is proof that a beautiful historical past and its architecture can be integrated with new lively culture. When looking into Prague, I found out that Hitler was such a fan of the beautiful city that he "wanted to save it for himself". Take a look at why believe believe that fairytales could happen in Prague.
So I was thinking and the country of Ireland came to mind. But because the previous link is very vast, here is a more condensed list of places inside Dublin and outside of the city. Further, the well known Frommer's website is great to peak at when trying to decide when to travel to Ireland, especially if we are factoring in the holidays.
Take a look at this interactive map and be sure to click on the points!
This might seem a little cheesy, but here is a great travel list that gives another perspective of what it might be like to travel there.
One of the most isolated islands in the world, this Pacifiic island is also known as Rapa Nui. Although Easter Island is part of Chile, it is only 63 square miles big. Interestingly, this island has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
When people usually think of Easter Island, the massive stone head statues pop into their minds. Check out this website to see exactly what I am talking about and virtually navigate all of Easter Island! Make sure to check out the sounds and panoramic photographs of Easter Island! Also, this website gave a great explanation as to what these archeologists believe the giant head statues are:
"Archeologist Jo Anne Van Tilburg, who has studied the moai for many years, believes the statues may have been created in the image of various paramount chiefs. They were not individualized portrait sculptures, but standardized representations of powerful individuals. The mali may also hold a sacred role in the life of the Rapa Nui, acting as ceremonial conduits for communication with the Gods. According to Van Tilburg, their physical position between Earth and sky puts them on both secular and sacred ground; secular in their representation of chief and their ability to physically prop up the sky, and sacred in their proximity to the heavenly gods."
In terms of traveling to Easter Island: Although it is isolated and very overpopulated, there still are reasons to visit Easter Island. Because the island has been inhabited for such a long time, the native peoples have various languages. I found it very interesting that Papa Nui is considered to be very fragile. In terms of packing, it is recommended to pack lightly but efficiently. It rains there year round, but can get pretty hot.
This Saturday morning, I came upon some news in Singapore. Then, I started to think about why Singapore has become a place of travel for some. To my surprise, I easily found a report that was released recently about traveling to Singapore. Take a look at this! Also, I came upon a really intriguing article that reveals one of Singapore's secrets!
Finally, to start off your weekend with something inspiring, please look at this!
The other day when my Google search browser popped as my Internet home page, my eyes were drawn to the Google logo animation. Then I started to think... what made Google so inclined to make an animation to commemorate the 216th anniversary of the first parachute jump? The first parachute jump was by a Frenchman who had plenty of time to ponder the idea of parachuting while in a Hungarian prison. Well, what if this Frenchman (André-Jacques Garnerin) was never in Hungary to tackle the concept of parachuting a human body from great heights?
Besides parachuting, check out some of these crazy yet beautiful experiences:
Ever thought of a way to wrap an entire travel experience into one package? Maybe attending or being part of a festival is the answer! These days, festivals could include food, activities, learning experiences and so much more. But don't worry, there could possibly be a festival for everyone! The writer of "Fest300" from the above link gives photos and commentary from his own personal festival experiences and he is inspiringly impressive!
What I believe makes festivals a "must" on everyone's travel bucket list is that it is a way to meet new people. Even better, these people probably somehow have the beliefs and interests that correspond with your own! This website gives a more structured list of alluring festivals by place and the time of year they occur. I shouldn't have been surprised when I found that there is a Facebook page on festivals that are ongoing. This could be very helpful for those of us that are attached to social media and can access it on every electronic device that we own. But really, if you think festivals are just for extroverts, just for the young and ambitious, or just for older people think again!
The writer of "Fest300", Chip Conley, is a name that I have found over and over again when looking into festivals all over the world. If you were unable to explore his website from the first link, sign up for free to get emails from his extremely informative and compelling website.
Any guesses on what it is? If you guessed Sicily, you were right! Only knowing little about this Italian island, I tried to look into what makes Sicily's visitors never forget it. I finally was able to find a website that gives a really great summary of Sicily's historical prominence and why this writer believes it is unforgettable. Just read through the first two sections!
I personally have never thought of Sicily being that big, but I think what makes it seem even bigger is that it is a little tricky to get around. Here is a map that I found to get acquainted with where the island is and then zoom in to see the general layout of it! Once you are zoomed in, you can read the information ("Five Top Sights") below that describe the locations.
After all of this, I would check out this website to give your brain a fun way of learning more about Sicily while getting to look at pictures. I had never before heard of boutique wineries! Anyone who wants to quickly understand what they are, read this!
This is a lot of information to take in, but in terms of traveling to Sicily I will leave you all with this! I hope you learned something about this seemingly amazing Italian island!
This video may have some cheesy music, but it shows a lot of the sights that were on the map and the websites that we looked at!
Who doesn't have a food that they love? I found it interesting that the distinguished BBC News would be confident enough to write this article. I think that this should not necessarily sway one's travel decisions, but it may help persuade them!
Roughly three meals a day, seven days a week, four weeks per month, etc. and the food consumption seems endless. But, that constant seems like it is becoming more dangerous for the increasing rate of human obesity. When I have traveled, I have never thought to take a look at the topic of food until arriving at my destination. Maybe this will spark some interest when looking into travel.
Finally, to start off the weekend with something a little more creative, take a look!
Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new week. For some light reading on what I was trying to explain in the first blog post, I found an article that is very clarifying as to the significant impact of travel on all of us.
It is hard to believe that the US government is shut down. This of course has a huge impact on many things, including travel in the US. People may think that only the very tourist-oriented travel destinations are affected by this government crisis. But in reality, we should think of the historic destinations that are run by the government that are closed.
I hope this video will give us a reason to start the week off well. If you are working, that money could one day be used to travel!
The excuse to avoid looking into travel, "There are so many places, I don't know where to start" is not acceptable. Baby steps! I had the same frustration when trying to begin this blog, figure out what I want it to accomplish, and how to make that happen. Then I started to search the Internet and quickly my mood shifted when I came upon this. It may seem a little cheesy, but it definitely is reassuring when every person feels like a lost in a sea of possibilities.
My goals for this blog are to keep myself and whoever may read this blog on their toes. I hope to spark people's interest in travel with various different resources and keep it continually on their minds. Then, travel seems less foreign because the idea of it has resurfaced in individual's minds over and over again.
For instance, many people could be sitting on their bed and not move an inch. But, right now we could ponder the ethics behind current travel trends. For example, when does technology intervene with what we consider "vacation"? Is traveling no exception for when it comes to letting technology rule our lives? I found it very interesting how this hotel took advantage of how technology is ingrained in our lives, by incorporating social media into their guest accommodations. Is this more beneficial for the guests, the hotel, or both?
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