In a matter of minutes, I went from having a large/lovely beach pretty much to myself to having lunch with a leftover hippy/beach dweller/Rasta-like guy and then, briefly, being part of a quirky party he was having under his private lean-to. How the heck did this happen? Well, Random Travel Moment #2 was no different…
I’d love to get to know you, my fellow travelers, better (and to see which of you I’m most similar to.) How? By playing a simple game called “Would you rather….?” using travel-related situations, some of them a (tiny) bit extreme. I highly recommend this for long bus journeys, by the way. To play, just…
Because I’m a low-budget traveler (a backpacker most of the time), I’ve found myself sleeping in a number of…um…unusual situations. Sometimes it was due to the unique circumstances I found myself in. At other times, it’s been by choice…I simply chose one option vs another less desirable one. Note: no alcohol was involved in any…
It’s that time of year once again–time, that is, to plan my summer trip. In about 2 months I’ll be off from work for the summer, which means I’ll have a nice chunk of time to travel.
Of course, and unfortunately, I don’t have a ton of money to do it, so the trip will probably be for 4 to 5 weeks. Also, I’ll have to plan this just right to make it work. I love the idea of Indonesia, but I’m not 100% sure at this point if that’s where I’m going or if the plan will come together. Here’s why:
1. I may not travel solo this time
I’m used to traveling on my own and do quite well with it (prefer it for the most part), but I may be going with a very good friend of mine who’s itching to take a trip with me. She like the types of adventures I tend to have and would love to have one, too; she’s not sure how to do it on her own. I’ve said a sort of conditional ‘yes’ (see #2).
Mysterious statues with prominent heads. A remote location in the middle of nowhere. A unique energy from the past.
Sounds like Easter Island, right? Well, it is. But it’s also Mt. Nemrut, Turkey. While these sites are from different historical eras and are on opposite sides of the planet, they do seem to be connected with a faint and sort of fascinating dotted line.
And while I have no doubt that Easter Island is a peak travel experience on many travelers’ bucket lists, I know that many don’t make it to that part of the world or simply can’t afford the trip. If you fall into that category and happen to be traveling to Turkey, then you might want to check out Mt. Nemrut. It’s an affordable alternative that’s not exactly shabby.
Before getting into the reasons for visiting Mt. Nemrut, here’s some information about the one and only Easter Island.
Too many empanadas? Too much white bread? How about Pringles, Oreos and other imported junk food that tastes best when you’re far from home?
It’s easy to pack on the pounds when traveling in Latin America (or anywhere for that matter). And if you’re not careful, those fancy hiking pants that double as shorts could suddenly get tight in the gut.
Not to worry, though. I have devised a solution that’s effortless yet highly effective, which is available to you during those long rides on a chicken bus, colectivo or other DCT (developing country transportation) such as trains or boats. It’s a complete workout: strength training with some cardio thrown in for good measure.
A Unique Exercise Program
Known as the Chicken Bus Workout, this one-of-a-kind exercise plan is my brainchild, which I’ve put together after many years of traveling.
Some travel destinations are made for hanging out—for relaxing and finding your own rhythm/groove. And of course, for being in the moment.
Hopkins Village, Belize, is one of those places.
I could tell you why it’s great, but I’d rather just show you.
Here’s a photo essay I created, which takes you on a groovy 1.5-minute tour of the town, its locals and the natural tropical beauty. You’ll hear the music of the Lebeha Drummers, meet the Garifuna locals and feel the warmth of the community. (Don’t miss Part 1 of this series, my story re: how the drumbeat took me into the heartbeat of the culture.)
After the video, check out my tips on how to “hang out in Hopkins” if you happen to visit this special little town.
My hands come down on the once-soft animal skin, now stretched tightly over a tree trunk, producing a deep bass tone that momentarily takes me to West Africa.
The rhythm is familiar to one I learned from a Guinean master drummer once—one that would call upon the spirits of the ancestors during certain types of celebrations.
Yet as I follow the lead of my teacher, master drummer Jabbar, I’m reminded of the fact that we’re on an entirely different continent, playing drums with Latin names. I’m laying down a bass line on a primero and he’s soloing on a primero, which has a higher sound.
As you read in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, within just a few days of arriving in Syria, I was pretty smitten with Damascus and then, torn between two…husbands.
I was also torn between staying with there and checking out his slightly conservative brother Aleppo and the rest of the country.
Moving On
I made the tough decision and moved on from the great city—as wonderful as he was—and began my date with Aleppo and all the other great places I could squeeze in.
I was told that he (Aleppo) was “wonderful,” but also “a bit conservative.” I didn’t care. If it didn’t work out, I could just….move on.
Sure I was a SWF in Syria, but I wasn’t there to meet men. In fact, that was the last thing on my mind.
So how’d I end up with with 2 husbands…in 1 day?
Well, it began quite innocently in Damascus, a city I fell for rather quickly.
I was lingering over breakfast in the hotel courtyard, enjoying the quiet and the cool morning air and reflecting on how much I loved the city and almost wanted to commit to him (it) and to stay longer, perhaps enrolling in Arabic course.
But I was feeling a bit torn….between him and his more conservative brother Aleppo (and the rest of the country).
