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Vienna Philharmonic on the Baltic Sea Elizabeth Schotten Merklinger I have just returned from an incredible musical experience, a 10-day music cruise on the Baltic Sea with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Riga: The past meets the Future Ieva Lakute For 15 years it was my home. I have lived in England for over four years now and my image of Latvia has been put into a perspective. Sahara Safari Alison Reed ‘Sahara’ is the Arabic word for desert and in Tunisia there are three different parts: sand, stones and salt    Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind   Site search Web search The Irish Sea time-warp Quentin Bates The accent’s not easy to place, floating somewhere between Liverpool and Irish. But this place isn’t Ireland, and neither is it Scotland or England. It’s a subtle blend of them all, with unmistakeable Norse undertones. Klein, aber fein A German Excursion Amanda Quinlan Travelling across Europe often evokes visions of backpackers hitchhiking through Southern France, holding cardboard signs announcing their destination. My Fabulous Expatriate Life Amanda Callendrier Oooooh, you're an expatriate. That must be so exciting! Going Walkabout in Iceland William Carne How do you react when a dream begins to materialize? When it leaves the comfort of the mind and becomes merciless reality? Me? I sleep like a baby. The Island of Ariadne Lily Iona MacKenzie It’s a relief to leave Karditsa in Thessaly, central Greece, a dry, inland area, and head for Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclades. Camels to Cows - Algeria Overland Tom Coote While drifting around a bend – on the wrong side of the road – he suddenly swerved to avoid a dozing cow The Man with Bullets in his Socks Tom Coote A man grabbed my arm, flashing his ID as he pulled me into an alley. St Gallen - Switzerland Loraine Balita I took a deep breath, couldn’t decide where to finally rest my amazed eyes Being Russian Pt 2- Moscow David Russell Visiting Moscow, where we lived with our oldest daughter, who was then working for CARE Backpackers in Paris Jason Phelps We had devised a brilliant plan. We would fly into France and take a late night bus into Paris, even though we didn’t have a place to stay. A Prayer for Mariame Kari Masson Six-year old Mariame and two of her brothers would soon leave their mud brick home to walk the dusty road to my house. Our lives crossed 20 years ago in the West African country of Côte d’Ivoire Hakuna Matata - Marianne de Nazareth As the plane banked into Nairobi I wondered if  I was imagining it. The skies seemed bluer and the cloud formation breathtakingly dramatic. Prague Spring John M. Edwards Bohemian Rhapsody or Bozo Nightmare? Alchemy and Apparatchik Chic in Prague Pisa. Pizza. Piazza Natalya Popova 8am-ish on a Sunday morning (a brave, if not heroic) start, we stepped out on a route of exploration of Pisa, Italia. The Moabites Michaela Abrera in Berlin Complacency tends to sneak up on you. What was once a place of awe and wonder becomes a banal aspect of your everyday life. Welcome to Kalymnos Julia Reynolds Kalymnos, a Greek island situated close to Turkey’s west coast about 300km southeast of Athens Poland - A Country of Doubts - David Russell "Why are we here? Why, with a world of travel alternatives, had we picked Poland?" Winter in Warsaw Marianne de Nazareth If you come from a warm country, Poland is hardly inviting in the depths of winter A Trace of Thrace John Edwards In Plovdiv, Bulgaria, John M. Edwards snitches on the mystery-shrouded Balkans’ best-kept secret: an ancient (and enduring) heresy Breathlessly beautiful Bath Marianne de Nazareth There was one last wish, one last desire to fulfill before I came home to Bangalore forever. I had to visit Bath, in Somerset, Beautiful Bonn Marianne de Nazareth My invitation to the UNFCCC conference on Climate Change in Bonn in early April had me scuttling around for my visa at the last minute. Bonn the beautiful Marianne de Nazareth This was my second trip to Bonn and this time round, the UNFCCC outdid itself by housing us in the fabulous heritage Hotel Loreley, on the banks of the river Rhine Fish Eye Was More Than Just A Lens David Russell We were a three person Hollywood group plus a technical crew from Munich, coming down from the Austrian Alps Check-in@CheckpointCharlie John M. Edwards Separated from his tour group in East Berlin, a young college student from New York gets seriously lost and says, "Ich bin ein Berliner!" (I am a doughnut!) Hitch-hiking without a map Robert Cottingham To make things worse, I don’t have any euros, and what’s left of my Czech money I need to last till Friday. So any form of public transport is out of the question. That leaves me with just one option - hitch hiking London to Ladakh Rebecca Stonehill The barman is staring at me. The intensity of his gaze is unnerving and I look away. ‘I know you,’ he says. Samos on 25 Ouzos a day John M. Edwards "Guard your life!" the olive-skinned Greek hotel owner implored me with evident passion. He was not talking about my "crazy" plan to take a boat over to Kusadasi, Turkey Denmark -Aarhus getaway Natalya Popova when looking to get far away from busy cities but not into a deep country, to get exposed to extreme culture & art while being close to nature – it was Denmark that ticked all the boxes. A Step Back in Time Anne Armand The Azores, Portugal consists of nine major islands. They are actually the tops of some of the tallest mountains on the planet. Located in the Atlantic 1500 Km from Lisbon, this area is also known as the Autonomous Region of the Azores Another Travel Guide Riga - Una Meistere, Daiga Rudzate, & Kirils Kirasirov an insiders’ look at unknown, mysterious or romantic places in and around Riga Arriving in Budapest Olivia Holcombe The apartment itself smelled like old pickles upon first entering - tantalizing, I know In Search of the Craic Daniel Cann New Year's Eve Dublin Madness in the Medina: a week in Marrakech Lisa Cordaro If you want to get a decent night’s sleep, don’t visit a city with 500 mosques. Danish Daydreams Fredric Hamber When I think of the Danish I think of mathematicians—and mermaids: twin strains of rationality and romanticism Bulgaria: Wine, Women, Song and snacks Lyn Fuchs I found little there except succulent food, tasty wine, soulful music, and attractive women Broken Car in Kreti Melina Lake  I can’t help but be pleased when Jorgos’ attempt to drive my rented Fiat onto his tow truck platform fails miserably, as it proves the problem is with the car and not me.    Ski Chalet Winter Zoe Saker-Norrish I couldn’t ski, I couldn’t bake, and I most certainly couldn’t cook- so when my partner Dave and I were hired to run a chalet in the French Alps for the winter season, I was more than a tad apprehensive. Salt Shaker Museum Derek Workman The next time you knock over a salt cellar and throw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder to ward off bad luck, bear in mind that those few white grains would at one time have formed part of someone’s wages. Meeting David Marianne de Nazareth Firenze, or as we know it as Florence, was the city where Michaelangelo the famous Italian artist, sculptor was born. She and I Nicole Fabian I dreamt of my mother every night I was in Italy.  It had been two months since she died, and no, I wasn’t there to “find myself,” I was there for my honeymoon. Travels with a Couchsurfer Robert Cottingham goes to Europe I took one book with me, ‘The Worst Journey in the World' Touring Spain Marwan Asmar The holiday started at the Madrid International Airport. The two came from Amman and Rome with their planes touching down a couple of hours from each other Birds I Have Loved Brendan Harding From the black and white cranes of Estonia to the endangered lammergeyers of northern Spain birds have always held a fascination for travel writer Brendan Harding Five Easy Pizzas John M Edwards Ever since I saw Jack Nicholson in a film, Five Easy Pieces, where he goes ballistic in a diner because the waitress won’t make changes on their set sandwich orders, I’ve been a stickler on having my food done right. In search of Big Goose Leah Eades Xi’an, China, is best known for being the epicentre from which one visits the famous Terracotta Army... but in fact it’s so much more than that An 18th century watch in Jaipur Sumeet Lakhotia “Tu toh Hrithik Roshan dikhe hai” (You look like Hrithik Roshan). In India you always know which hero is ruling the roost based on beggars, especially hijras (transgenders) likening you to him Morocco Bound Kalie Schumacher-Smith No other city of Morocco can compare to that of Fes The Alternative Trans-Siberian Railway Steven Tizzard The lesser known  Baikalo-Amurskaya Magistral (Baikal-Amur Mainline or BAM) runs for 3400 km through beautifully bleak Siberian landscape. Wenceslas Square-Off John M. Edwards John and his ex friend Sue went to communist Central Europe to czech it out, and find out the hard way that private nightclubs mean much more than dancing

Sights & Sounds of Singapore Sumeet Lakhotia Singapore has much to offer to its visitors. Sports, nature, nightlife, art and culture, food, adventure, are some of the options that one can explore Turkmenbashi’s Land of Fairy Tales Tom Coote I got lost on my way to the land of fairy tales. I had confidently followed the road to the Promised Land, only to find that it led to ruins. Visiting Uncle Ho David Calleja Hanoi at 7am is buzzing. The narrow streets near Hoan Kiem Lake are alive with the sound of civilian life revving at full throttle. Visayan Adventure: Island Hopping in the Philippines John M. Edwards With over 7,000 islands, it would take at least twenty years to visit them all. Short on time, he picks out some stunners from the Visayas. Dreaming Sri Lanka Marwan Asmar The country is enigmatic, almost like driving through a painting. Discovering Macau Gisele Ribeiro The City of Dreams, with its grandiosity and high ceiling buildings recalling great palaces, has received over 6 million visitors since the beginning of this year. The Rann of Kutch Anirudh Choaji The more we explored this parched land, the more we were greeted with surprises. The Mongol Rally Adam Smith On the 18th July I and my teammate Freya Liiv left Goodwood in a bid to drive nearly 10,000 miles to the capital of Mongolia. Kamakura Alicia Hunt in Japan When the doors open brace yourself... Phang Nga Bay Sea Safari Simon Ramsden We clamber onto the traditional longtail boat and head for a turquoise-blue waterway, en route to one of Thailand’s tranquil islands, Koh Yao Noi Kodai Hill Country Resort Marianne de Nazareth With an audible plop a large yellow leaf fell off the African Tulip tree just outside our balcony window, while I sat sipping my coffee. Solar Flare Tracey Doxey in China It is 4.30am, total solar eclipse day Huangshan - China- The residents of the Bei Hai hotel have been shouting and moving outside for over an hour to jostle with each other to find a good spot to see the sun rise. A Lesson Within the City Walls - Beth A. Prazenica "Friends, my friends, you are welcome. Acceptance, support. That is all I understand," our tour guide declares Boom Town Charlie Graham Phnom Phen is hard to imagine. It is a lawless, hectic, smoggy, people-hole and it is not the place for the fainthearted Best Laid Plans in Laos Christina Hoag When I travel, I make a point of doing what the locals do as much as possible, you know, be a traveler not a tourist. But sometimes you’re better off just being a tourist. Ticket Please Paul Haire The huge New Delhi train station towers ahead of me but before I reach that I have to cross the ocean of bright yellow auto rickshaws that form a fat snake on the road in front of me Night Fishing: Chasing Tail in the Tropics John M. Edwards Well, the problem was, I thought I saw a real live mermaid. The genuine article. This was a fantastical phantasm (or orgasm) that was hard to shake. Roughing it in Japan Paul Haire I checked my guidebook to see if there was anything I could do in Kyoto for free. It soon became apparent, no. Boracay Jon W Wick I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I know the source of those tourist ad campaigns where a sweeping shot of the most beautiful beach imaginable is shown Chungking Mansions Tracey Doxey ChungKing Mansions nestles in prime location on Nathan Road and it is exactly as the guide books and hostel pre arrival email warned Rainwater Ceremony Song David Calleja Today is a very important day in the history of Tropangs Dok village, for the concept of rain and its decision to grace its presence over the village will be honoured with a song Charlie Don’t Surf Arya Kazemi The small coastal town of Baler in the Filipino province of Aurora; is something of a novelty, a fairly well-kept secret gem of a place to visit. A Ganges Experience Morgan Helme Slowly and deliberately, she lowered her face to her hands as they dropped scoops of water over her head. Coonoor & Ooty relics of the Raj - Marianne de Nazareth After a hiatus of five years, we decided to hit the road and ‘do’ Ooty (Ootacamund) and Coonoor for three days. Our Native Village Marianne de Nazareth We wanted a break desperately from the pollution and the stress of living in the heart of Bangalore, - we decided to take off to Our Native Village. The Beypore Lighthouse Lakshmi Nair Our mission was to discover the Beypore lighthouse. So we set out on a nice bright day our hearts singing with joy and overflowing with enthusiasm Karaoke Girls Shakil Rabbi I have always been interested in Cambodia and so was excited at the chance of seeing it, in going on an adventure From Saigon to Angkor by bike - Jeff Fitzgibbon It’s hot, it’s flat and it’s straight as a rail, but for all that, cycling in Cambodia is an exhilarating multi-dimensional experience if just for a moment, the piglets stopped their squealing. Strike a bargain in Bangkok! Marianne de Nazareth "You must be ready to walk as that’s the best way to see Bangkok." Nicaragua: A view from both sides of the wire- Jeannine M. Pitas "You don’t know anything about my life," my friend Enrique tells me. We’re sitting on the floor in the Huembes bus station, watching the tortilla vendors and shoe shiners amble by. I think about Enrique’s words. The fact is, he’s right. Cartamma and Mutamma Nate Bell It was with Cartamma and Mutamma that I felt connected to the "real" India. Working side by side and laughing with me Even in Africa, Mother Knows Best David Russell "We’ll stop here", whispered our driver, Meiza. Here, being the side of a dirt road late one afternoon while returning to camp from an afternoon game drive on the Serengeti. Riding Elephants in Nepal David Russell At Chitwan National Park in Bharatpur, Nepal on Lumbini Airlines our planned highlight was to take jungle photos of Leopards or Tigers from up high on the haunch of an elephant. Learning Vietnamese Antonio Graceffo Loan Words in a unique language Beautiful Bali Marianne de Nazareth goes shopping for bargains in lush green landscapes Forgotten Philippines Tom Coote As darkness fell, we walked out into the water on concrete jetties covered in small, scuttling crabs Running Marathons in Thailand Jules Kay Think you are tough? Try the Pattaya Marathon in the heat. More Tea, Mullah? Steven Tizzard in Shiraz, Iran Visitors soon realise that the only fanatical thing in Iran is the hospitality. The only thing you have to fear is repaying this hospitality one day. The Gateway to the Himalaya Chandan Located in the foot hills of the Himalaya, this holy city was internationally made famous by The Beatles back in late sixties. The Serai Hotel and Spa Marianne de Nazareth We decided to take a drive down to Chikmagalur, to The Serai Hotel and Spa. Coconuts, Coffee and Close Calls on the Mekong Delta David Calleja Dinh promised me that I would get a taste of the real Vietnam, en route to the floating market in Can Tho Navigating Fort Kochi Matthew Crawford The tranquility of the train station in Ernakulam, the largest sub-city of Kochi, signals yet another new version of India: this time an India in repose. Turtle Bay Marianne de Nazareth It’s summertime and the living is easy, it’s time to head out of town. So we decided to head to Turtle Bay in Kundapura, which is on the coast of Karnataka in India. Hill Country Lovedale Marianne de Nazareth Founded by the British in 1812. It is still comparatively unspoilt and a veritable Shangri-la Bird of Paradise(HomeStay) Marianne de Nazareth Sitting on the banks of the slumbering Cauvery river, slapping off the mosquitoes on my bare legs, I was at peace with the world. The Other Side of Shanghai Habeeb Salloum We began our journey in Shanghai’s Old Town, whose history goes back for at least one thousand years. Mysore Maharajas Marianne de Nazareth It was a spur of the moment decision to take a break in Ooty, in the newly refurbished summer palace of the Maharaja of Mysore – his highness Srikanta Datta Narasimha Raja Wadiyar Bahadur the 26th Maharaja of Mysore in South-India. In Search of the Nomads of the Jade Sea - Chris Clarke “You are mad!” Ken, my Kenyan housemate, concurred. “Why do you want to go there? Turkana is nothing but desert and bandits. Nobody goes there!” Fraser Island Outrage Tom Coote Life on the bus and other stories

Horatio Quiroga's San Ignacio: Marc d'Entremont San Ignacio probably would no longer exist if it were not for the ruins of the great Jesuit mission, San Ignacio Mini (1696-1768), a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracts thousands of tourists each year Cloak & dagger Cuba Ruby Weldon We wanted to see some Cuban countryside, so we decided to take a bus from Havana to Santa Clara, a trip of around 6 hours – give or take.  We'd been strongly advised to buy our tickets in advance.  Tiny, Perfect Louisville Gerald Levitch Regional American museums get no respect – or hardly any, at least from art lovers.  Nobody goes to Nashville, for example, to explore its art collections.  Mexican Zip-lining Tour Lauren Brunck As we zoom around the bend, kicking up dust from the dirt and gravel path, a tall edifice materializes through the foliage of the jungle. We slam on our breaks and dismount our bikes at the base of the tower Chilling in Chiloe Tim Robinson I was in Ancud on the island of Chiloe, the first sizable town encountered after crossing by ferry from mainland southern Chile. A Rocky Adventure Alison Reed “The Most Spectacular Train Trip in the World” as the Rocky Mountaineer Railway is billed, begins with a taxi ride through the deserted streets of Calgary at 5 o’clock in the morning. PEI Memories J E Biggar There was one place where I was allowed to be a child and that was during our annual vacations to Prince Edward Island.  Cuba Meets Classic Nick Constance We sailed 1,800 miles and made 7 ports-of-call, in total on the classy Sea Cloud II. Tayrona Park Andres Botero piece of paradise on earth rich in nature and archeology An Oxnard Thursday Ben Hill in California I came for Point Mugu State Park, the five-mile stretch of raw land between Malibu and Oxnard where Pacific Coast Highway runs free A Rare Wildflower Floyd Frank When I first came to the Northwest at the age of twenty I was introduced to lots of animals and plants that I had never seen. Marmots, mountain goats, skunk cabbage Contrasts in Canada Jane Anderson There were no cowboys at Calgary Airport. A small observation, but important to travellers like us, whose total experience of Canada was gleaned from books in which the Mountie always got his man. How to Build a Cemetery Eric D. Lehman We drove to Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, to see the graves of a few famous writers completely unprepared for what we found there. Catch a ride to Whistler Jane Cassie Whistler is definitely the place for making tracks -now you can get there on The Whistler Mountaineer Vermont Keith Perkins It was of Vermont in winter that the poet Robert Frost once mused: "The woods are lovely, dark and deep But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep..." BC's Sunshine Coast An Eco Adventure Jane Cassie This lush 180 kilometer strip of shoreline, sandwiched between Pacific waves and coastal peaks, receives around 2,400 hours of annual sun. A Personal View Of Whistler Jane Cassie Being a Vancouverite, I’ve always had a soft spot for North America’s favourite playground A Peak Experience Jane Cassie We’re standing with other skiers at the top of Sunburst Express. In spite of the chilly mountain breeze, both of my hands feel hot & clammy.This is clearly fear factor. Glancing Back from Guayaquil - Tyrel Nelson I vividly remembered walking to the baggage claim in Quito a year earlier, scared to death and wondering how I was ever going to get my feet under me, let alone teach English. Planning the Trip Sam Black in Alaska I believe in having goals. North to Alaska Pt 2 Sam Black Petoskey sits on Lake Michigan I suggest you visit it someday. North To Alaska - Part 3/4 Sam Black The state of North Dakota is rather boring until you get to Devils Lake North to Alaska - Parts 5/8 Sam Black We left Jasper National Park at 0600 hoping to find a bear early in the morning. North To Alaska - Part 9 Sam Black Headed toward Homer, Alaska, a 180 mile run. Pennsylvania Dutch Virginia Hobart There seem to be two guiding principles involved with possessions, namely: none that facilitate travel, and none that connect directly with the outside world Bears in the Woods Floyd Frank I saw a trail up Pompey Peak on a topographic map. It looked like it started at an elevation of 1000' just east of Randall Martha's Vineyard - Tranquility on the East Coast - Sabina Lohr Martha’s Vineyard, popularly known as an exclusive summer spot for the wealthy and well-known, is, in actuality, a vacation locale where thousands of visitors pour ashore each year. La Quebrada: Acapulco's Most Iconic Attraction - Habeeb Salloum Ask a half dozen people in Acapulco, what the most important attraction was in their city. Everyone without hesitation answered "the Cliff Divers at La Quebrada. You must see them" Expanded Horizons Maria Ausherman Lydia, my youngest daughter, has spent most of her life on the tiny island of Oahu. I arranged for Lydia and I to take a journey together to some unfamiliar territory where she could practice her Spanish. Discover Historic Quebec Habeeb Salloum We drove on the Côte de Beaupré following one of the oldest thoroughfares in North America on our way from Quebec City to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Tyrel Nelson Passing through the Perennial Garden, we analyzed another yard full of annuals before skirting an area flaunting peonies, lilies and daylilies. The Cemetery & Me Tyrel Nelson The dog days of summer were biting. I felt the humidity of this mid-August afternoon sinking its teeth into me; the air so thick I could almost gnaw it myself Moonlight ride in St. Maarten Cheryl Gregory Where was my Cowboy when I needed him? Las Vegas for Poor People Tom Coote Nobody tells you that visiting Las Vegas will make you fitter, but it does... you’re going to do a lot of walking. The Puertos of Patagonia Tim Robinson In shades of grey rather than clear black and white - that is how many people imagine dolphins to appear The Megalithic Civilization of San Agustin Andres Botero Anyone that visits the San Agustin Archeological Park in Colombia (South America) can experience an encounter with a strange energy suspended in the air for centuries. Dasht-e Kavir: Notes from the Great Salt Desert Steven Tizzard In Iran it is the year 1388, spring, a new year, the month of Farvardin. It is the celebration of Norouz, a Zoroastrian festival whose precise origins are lost, an unrecorded mix of myth and whisper from the time of the Prophet Zarathustra, from a time beyond. A Great Galloping Getaway Jane Cassie It’s been a few years since I’ve straddled a saddle. Do I still have enough core power to ride the range? Visit the Rose Farm of Eastern Quebec Habeeb Salloum Rose dechamps - learn the history of Roses here Highway Ceviche Mick Huerta Imagine, a road that runs from Alaska all the way down to Tierra del Fuego inspiring wanderlust along the way. The Pan-American Highway is just that A Walk Through New York City Erika Demberg Much to see - bring a camera Yellowstone Oscar Antonino A road-trip into the heart of the Western U.S.

Cicumnavigator John M Edwards Antonio Pigafetta, chronicler of Magellan’s voyage, was the first “literary” travel writer to circle the globe, recording mutiny and shipwreck, Patagonian giants and Filipino warriors. Jamaica - Once you go, you’ll know Jennifer J. Beaumont You are on the run, in the midst of guerilla warfare, centuries before granola bars and beef jerky, up in the heavily wooded mountains, pimiento groves mostly, and, the pigs are plentiful Exotic Omo – Tribal Encounters in Ethiopia’s Omo Valley Linda Barghoorn Ethiopia’s Omo Valley lies just 300 miles southwest of the frantic, pulsing capital of Addis Ababa, but it might just as well be on another planet.  Mad Dogs and English Skiers Jo Davies In the past I have rowed across oceans but on this occasion I decided to ski across the Greenland ice sheet Mauritius Getaway Charlotte Chorley The generous and hospitable people of Mauritius are only too happy to show you around their country Morocco: Europe meets Middle East M. Thomas A desert African nation with a distinctly Mediterranean feel Desert Search Tom Coote As we clattered through the Kyzylkum desert in the battered shared taxi, the driver reached across and offered me some pills.When I asked him what they were, he shrugged. An Afternoon in Antigua Tyrel Nelson Guatemalan delights and fevered brows Talibé Child Natalie MacDonald You can see us, in filthy dog-eared trousers or a bedraggled t-shirt which is three sizes too big and falls past our grotty knees Conch Sells Painted White MIA The Mother in Law House C Andrew Beck Dine with Ghosts in St Charles Vet Your Travel Agency Prof G M Prabhu Avoid getting ripped off on your way to India First Impressions of Senegal Natalie MacDonald Nothing could prepare in advance for my arrival to Leopold Serigne Senghor airport in Senegal, West Africa. You are a Rainbow J. D. Riso in Majuro Atoll Kwajalein. Ailinglaplap. Jaluit. Bikini. Their names dance across my mind like an ancient incantation. Horsin' Around in Jamaica Cheryl Gregory I felt the cool, salty water soaking my pant legs and the level was rising rapidly. Soon it would be up to my waist, and there was nothing I could do about it The Art & Craft of Being Helsinki Charlie Dickinson Obviously, we were in Finland, the tech-savvy, most-wired nation on the planet. Kathmandu, the ‘roof of the world’- Marianne de Nazareth When I was invited for the ‘Third Pole Project: Covering Climate Change in the Himalayas from August 28th to September 2nd, 2009, I jumped at the chance as it was a project close to my heart. Finding Joy in Sucre Mark Kennedy How a backpacker couple turned a local watering hole into a nationally known restaurant and tour company Vinestories Kab What is the truth in wine? From wine, we find friendship, happiness, and intimacy. But do we not also find sadness, heartbreak, and treachery? Fear of Flying - Bucket Shop Blues John M. Edwards Daring  to save deflationary dollars during a worldwide recession, John M. Edwards tries a risky “bucket shop” for cheapo airfare to Amsterdam, ending up on a white-knuckles chariot charter flight from hell. Cut Price Kilimanjaro Loree Westron Half way up Kilimanjaro I found myself abandoned, first by the fleet-footed porters, then by my guide, and finally by my own mother. The trek had begun several days before under highly questionable circumstances P.O.W. Daniel Cann We arrived late, tired and dishevelled at the Prince of Wales Backpackers in Bundaberg. Enquiries like ‘So how is it here?’ were met with muted derision and raised eyebrows Reflections of a Backpacker: Melbourne + Hoey Moey Dan Cann The overnight Greyhound bus arrived in the early hours at Melbourne, capital of the State of Victoria. Ben and I booked in at the grand looking 'Toad Hall Hotel.' The Heart of Cairo Chris Wright A journey into the largest city in Africa, without mention of the Pyramids Five Days in Tehran Brian H. Appleton Tehran is a very large and beautifully picturesque city with many hidden worlds within worlds to discover, which runs downhill from the foothills of the Alborz Mountains in the north all the way down to the edges of the Dasht Kavir desert in the south. Barcelona Diaries Rama Varma As we plunge through the cottony clouds, we get a breathtaking view of the snow-capped Pyrennees. Swimming with Whale Sharks in Djibouti Rachel Jones We headed to Arta Beach in an effort to see the world’s largest fish, the whale shark. And we were not only going to see whale sharks, we were going to swim with them. Al-Khazneh & the Grail Piotr Wesolowski The search continues for Christiany's holy relics Slingshots in Asia Alexander Hanke Vietnam language skills The Orphanage Aram Mclean in Uganda I smelled it in the air, a distant yet vaguely familiar scent that called to me as much as it repulsed me. The compound was full of children, orphans every one yet happy to be in school - to be given any small chance in life. Silk David Russell When Marco turned towards China, he could never anticipate that this decision was prelude to a journey which would take four years to complete The Teacher Ilana Levi in Belize Everyone but Martha put on their diving masks and snorkels. She had dreaded this moment Nivali - Mozambique Erik Kristensen History seen through a community The history of Africa is written in the faces of the people who live it through their daily struggle Stung by a Portuguese Man-o-War R.S. DeFrance I am struck, stung, I can feel my arm loose power, feels numb, and dumb. I don’t know what to do Golden Village: Richmond BC Habeeb Salloum Visit Richmond, a Vancouver suburbia city, and explore its Golden Village, a bit of Asia in Canada, housing the products of all these lands Beyond the Valley of the Hippies Andy Redwood Shuffling out of town along the coastal road, it occurred to me how easily the spell of civilization is broken, and how easily this void is filled. In Taghazoute a few yards walk suffice to carry you away, the hustle of a weekend market immediately fading to cactus strewn hills... Scenic Santa Fe An Enchanted City Any Time of Year - Jane Cassie The wipers clear the fresh cache of snow from our windshield. "What’s with this?" I say to my husband who’s sitting in the driver’s seat of our rented Chevy. "I thought we’d be escaping this white stuff." Maw, Paw and No Weans Judith Moore Of all the travelling I have done with my husband, January's Caribbean cruise must rank as one of the more bizarre experiences, bringing out the worst in me Isra-Eli David Russell Eli was one of a kind, his unbounded chutzpah took us places we’d never find on our own Share |

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