Today marks our 6 week countdown until my wife and I set off on our South American adventure. In 38 days it will be my last day of work. In two days I will celebrate my 27th birthday. In 1 day it will be the deadline for our references to be completed on our Peace Corps recommendation forms. Holy crap! (more…)
Yes, I said that right – it’s topical travel not tropical travel. Although, tropical doesn’t sound all that bad either.
There are many places in the world I want to explore for one reason or another. However, there are some places I want to see based on one sole reason or topic. It is true, these aren’t the only perks of visiting a country but it is the number 1 reason for me. When I think of each one of these topics/features my mind wanders to a specific country and for good reason too.
Thailand – Food
Just check out Our Oyster’s Thai food list. I am a lover of spicy food and I dare say that I am an adventurous eater. I am a lover of street venders and enjoying food that the every day person can eat. While France may be know for its culinary cuisine, I have to go to a specialist chef to try some delicacy. Whereas in Thailand, the good food they have is shared and enjoyed by all. It is a delicious blend of everything that makes my mouth water. I’ve also heard that Thailand has some beautiful picturesque views, and a good meal with a great view is always a win. Plus, I liked the movie Muy Thai Giant, even though it was a bit hokey/cheesy, it still made me crave their food. I think that was the plot, eat Thai food, or something like that.
Belgium – Beer
Belgium is like the Holy Grail of beer, home of Trappist beer – beer made by monks. Better believe I’d go to church and be first in line for communion for that stuff. You may think I would have said Germany, which is pretty much synonymous with the word beer and culturally as beer drinkers you may be right. However, while Germany has Oktoberfest, Belgium holds the greatest variety of beer styles compared to any other country. Per capita, Belgium has been listed as having the most breweries. I would go to Germany for the best beer festival but for diversity and an overall beerience I choose Belgium.
New Zealand – The Landscape
I’m not a Lord of the Rings fanatic but the views from that movie made me want to view New Zealand even more. The beautiful landscape seems like a wonderful adventure to explore. Plus, and maybe this is an assumption because they are near by, but I figured there was an Aussie influence just without all the dangerous venomous animals that want to kill you. With all the beautiful land comes outdoor activities like camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, and much more. It seems to me, like a land that just calls you to be outside. Lastly, and while this isn’t specific to the land and outdoor exploration, the Māori people seem very interesting.
Egypt – History
I’m a history nerd and I know this, but you can’t crack open a history book without finding a chapter on Egypt. The thing is, while the things in person are probably some of the most fantastic things to see, in a textbook they are kind of bland – even for me. I want to go and explore the foundation of so much of humanities history. Now, I know that there are other great historical sites throughout the region stretching up through the Tigris–Euphrates river and all along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. However, there is something about Egypt and the massive iconic structures and stories about mummies that make me want to visit. Don’t get me wrong though, once I’m their I’m rolling down that river to check out all the other sites.
Are there any countries/places you wish to visit for a specific reason? Please share below in the comment section.
I’m a little bit greedy, I’ll admit. I not only expect to enjoy my upcoming adventure with my wife but I also expect to learn things from my adventures. I love learning, I’m a bit nerdy like that. (more…)
Passport_Stamps now with NOTES by Mondayne, on Flick January 18, 2009.
The US is pretty lucky when it comes to travel visa requirements for travel, according to Henley & Partners, the US is tied for fourth with 166 countries we can enter without a visa. Even though there are so many countries that do not require a visa, it doesn’t mean you can just hop on a plane anywhere in the world without any forethought and planning. You may find your self on a return flight home, at your expense, without even leaving the airport. That is if the airline even allows you to board the plane in the first place.
A good tool to utilize is ProjectVisa, to get you started on finding out when, where and how to get your visa (on arrival or before entry).
Today marks the 100 day count down till my ‘Round The World adventure begins. Seeing that I’ve been building up to this adventure for quite some time I wanted to share 100 tips to help you prepare for your own RTW adventure. Also, for some more great RTW tips check out Traveling Canucks list of 15 things not to Forget and Legal Nomad’s Resource List.
