Category Archives: Travel Thoughts

My Idea of Travel Shopping

January 14, 2012 Drew Meyers Leave a comment

We all know tourists shop — excessively. They buy all kinds of trinkets, knick knacks, tank tops, shoes, sunglasses, paintings, dresses, etc.

Well, as a travel addict, none of that is even remotely interesting to me. After all, I’m going to have to lug around every last item that I purchase on my back for months on end.

My definition of travel shopping?

Going to Expedia, Kayak, Cheapoair.com, etc and looking for awesome, cheap plane tickets..

Drew Meyers

Drew Meyers is the co-founder of Horizon & Oh Hey World. He worked for Zillow from September of 2005 to January of 2010 on the marketing team managing Zillow’s API program and various online partnerships. Founder of Geek Estate Blog, a multi-author blog focused on real estate technology for real estate professionals, and myKRO.org, a blog devoted to exploring the world of microfinance. As passionate as you get about travel.

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Take Your Car With You On Your Voyages

January 13, 2012 Dominic Leave a comment

Car unloading from a ship It isn’t uncommon to hear a person refer to his or her car using a pet name or some term of endearment, so it shouldn’t be surprising that a large number of travelers ship their cars abroad when they plan on being out of the country for an extended period of time. Transporting a car overseas is much like sending a person abroad. It requires the right paperwork and can cost a fairly large amount of money. Nevertheless, it isn’t impossible and can be painless process if done properly.

When looking for a car transport service, the best way to approach this often overwhelming task is to contact an auto shipper who specializes in oversea car transportation. Authorized auto shippers will be well versed in the the proper procedures and paperwork, which makes it significantly less difficult for the traveler.

Most auto shippers will leave from locations such as San Francisco, New York, Miami, Baltimore and other popular ports. Travelers can expect to pay a pretty hefty sum, normally calculated on a per mile basis, if the auto shipper has to take the car to the port. The price to ship a car overseas varies and is usually dependent on the distance it needs to be shipped as well as the weight, size and type of car. An individual can expect to pay anywhere between $750 and $4000.

Taking personal vehicles on a voyage means have to fill out a decent amount of paperwork, which the auto shipper will normally provide. While some auto shippers provide minimal insurance coverage, travelers should contact their insurance company to ensure their policy covers international transport. If it doesn’t, it is highly recommended that shipping insurance be purchased to cover any damages that may occur during the voyage. Have the car cleaned and inspected thoroughly before it is picked up or leaves port. Take pictures to document each angle of the car. When the car finally makes it to its destination, have it expected again to ensure no damage occurred while it was being transported. The pictures taken prior to departure will help to prove the any new dents and scratches weren’t there at the beginning of the journey. Most auto shippers will have you fill out a bill of lading that states the vehicles condition prior to it being sent abroad. Look over the bill of lading to be sure it accurately describes your vehicles condition. Before committing to a particular auto shipper, be sure that it is a reputable company and is in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.

Dominic

Travel Thoughts

Adventures to Experience in Australia

December 5, 2011 Dominic Leave a comment

If you are looking for a great vacation full of fun and adventure, look no further than fabulous Australia! With a diverse ecosystem that ranges from the arid outback to the subtropical climate of the Gondwana Rainforests, Australia has an action-filled excursion for everyone. So make your plans, pack your bags, call your travel agent and do not forget your travel insurance cover! It is time to head out for an adventure!

One of Australia’s best known features is the remote areas of dry desert known as the outback. While it is sparsely populated, there are still many places to visit there. Alice Springs in the Northern Territory is a well-known destination in outback. With a population just under 30,000, the town is big enough to provide comforts for a traveler yet still small enough to retain its outback charm.

Another attraction in Australia is the Great Barrier Reef, the largest reef system in the world. The reef is composed of more than 900 islands and almost 3000 individual reefs located off the northeastern coast of Australia. Scuba divers love visiting the area where an array of sea life can be observed in the clear blue water, but boat trips are available for those who wish to stay on the ocean’s surface. The Great Barrier Reef is definitely a must for anyone who appreciates natural beauty.

Some people are surprised to learn that Australia, so well-known for the outback, also is home to the world’s largest area of subtropical rainforest known as the Gondwana Rainforests. Just as the outback and the Great Barrier Reef have completely different ecosystems, the rainforest is a vibrant area full of wildlife and plant life. With beautiful waterfalls, scenic vistas and more trees than you can imagine, the rainforest is another destination waiting to provide you with a vacation adventure.

Of course, any discussion of vacation spots in Australia has to mention the thousands of miles of beaches that line the continent’s coast. From the beaches of Western Australia’s wine country where surfing is a popular pastime to the more than 70 beaches of Sydney that range from secluded bays to strips of golden sand popular with tourists, you can find the perfect beach for any activity.

So what are you waiting for? Adventure awaits in many varieties in Australia. It seems the only thing that is not there is you!

Dominic

Travel Thoughts

The World is a Book. Please READ

October 21, 2011 Drew Meyers 1 Comment

I’m guessing, since you are reading THIS travel blog, you agree with this. So, keep reading those pages 🙂

[via Amber Rae via Nick]

Drew Meyers

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Remember You Aren’t At Home

August 21, 2011 Amanda King 4 Comments

When people ask where I’ve traveled, I tell them geographically. I don’t count the places in the United States I’ve visited and I discount the Caribbean (because it’s too close, and many of the times I went I didn’t need a passport, only my birth certificate). It starts Canada, Mexico, Iceland…and then I’ll hop around Europe for a while. It ends with Japan (usually – sometimes I just get too tired and say ‘most of Asia’). I’ve lived in three different countries and have been places most people wouldn’t even think of going. Mongolia. Iceland. India. Vietnam.

I’m only 24.

The country I lived the longest in (outside of my home country of…you guessed it, the United States) was China. I taught English at a Chinese University to undergraduate, Masters and Doctorate students. I didn’t tell my ‘kids’ how old I was – most of them were older than me.

I would have to say the most interesting stories I have to tell are those after the point where I was comfortable speaking in Mandarin Chinese. There was always such a look of childlike delight on the faces of the people that I was speaking to, like they were thinking Holy crap, she knows how to communicate! She isn’t just some smelly tall foreigner!

And then I got bombarded with questions, and many times, even after I spoke to them in Chinese, they would respond in English – like they couldn’t quite comprehend that I could actually understand them…or they just wanted to practice their English.

As a foreigner in China, be prepared to be asked some very off-putting questions. The first three questions I usually was asked were:

How old are you?
How much do you make?
Are you married?

From a Western perspective, these are probably three of the most taboo questions you can ask someone upon first meeting, especially a woman. All of these questions, I later realized were driven out of that same delight and curiosity I saw when my conversation partners realized that I could speak the local tongue. The money question, also, was not just curiosity, but also a matter of culture – people weren’t so cagey about how much money they made as we are in the United States.

So please, if you go to China, and someone asks how old you are or how much money you make – be a good traveler and don’t be offended. Do your research and understand a bit of the culture of the place you’re going to – educate yourself and know what to (at least somewhat) expect from the locals. And if something happens where you would be offended if you were at home, remember this is why you traveled – you aren’t at home.

Amanda King

Amanda King is a writer and traveler at heart. She's already been to over 30 countries! If you take a shine to her stories, follow Amanda on Twitter or check out her other stories.

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The Travel Bubble

August 15, 2011 Drew Meyers Leave a comment

Caz has a well thought out article on the “travel bubble” so many try to stay inside. The travel bubble most certainly does exist, and it exists for a reason.

Why does it exist?

Well, it starts with this statement:

Real life is fraught with problems, stresses, arguments and unhappiness.

Unfortunately, that’s the truth even though we all wish it weren’t. The truth is most people are not happy. The truth is that where you are born dictates (to a large degree) the life that you will live. The truth is many people in America are spending their lives working at jobs they hate, married to people they don’t love. The truth is people stress way too over things that really don’t matter. Contrary to popular belief, money can’t buy you happiness. But people still go work their lives away — often doing jobs they hate. How and why they do it, I have no clue. Those are all horribly sad realities.

Like Caz, whenever I return home from traveling (for instance, like when I got home from Saint Thomas a week ago), I too see the unhappy everyday lives of self-centered Americans looking to make a buck regardless of what that means to their families and happiness. Traveling is addicting and wonderful; you’re experiencing new people, cultures, and sights on a daily basis –never staying long enough in one spot to break through to the reality underneath. The smiles and endless happiness last long enough to allow you to move to the next location to start the process all over.

But the travel bubble’s strength is also its weakness at the same time — the bubble is not entirely reflective of “reality”.

That said, if you can avoid the problems, stresses, and unhappiness of normal everyday life — I don’t see that as a bad thing like many do. If you can spend your time around happiness instead of sadness — why not do it?

As for me — I’m loving the nomadic lifestyle right now and living in the “travel bubble” if you want to call it that, however, I think I’m going to want to settle down somewhere in a few years. But, until then, I’ll keep floating around in my amazing bubble.

Drew Meyers

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Destination Details, Travel Thoughts

What’s My Favorite Place I’ve Visited?

August 14, 2011 Drew Meyers 7 Comments

Being known as a traveler has its pluses and minuses. One of the minuses in my mind is that I have to answer the dreaded question everyone seems to ask. For those travel addicts like me, you know the one I’m talking about –“what’s your favorite place?” That’s like asking “what’s your favorite place you’ve worked” to someone that has had 25 different jobs over the course of their life — sure, there are some favorites that end up near the top of the list, but it’s not an easy numbered list that can be given without a lengthy explanation; it requires time to explain how they were different. Travel destinations are no different — they are vastly different cultural experiences that satisfy different needs. How do you possibly compare rural Ghana to New York City? The beaches of the Dominican Republic to the skyscrapers of Hong Kong? The rivers of Cambodia to Rome? You can’t.

It seems like I’ve answered this question hundreds of times already, but wanted to clarify so that the next time someone asks, I can send them a link to a blog post.

Santorini, Greece – Those of you that know me know I love Santorini. The summer of 2010 was the best summer I’ve ever had. The island has a way of sucking you in and making you never want to leave. Once you visit, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. It’s actually surprisingly affordable to backpack Santorini (and particularly if you rent an apartment long term).
Cinque Terre, Italy – unbelievably gorgeous and tranquil. Hiking all 5 cities in one day was quite the workout, but well worth it for those in a rush to get to Rome (if going south) or Monaco (if going North).
Interlaken, Switzerland – probably the most gorgeous city I’ve ever seen. Towering mountains surrounding the city, and an amazing backpacker destination right in the center of Switzerland.
Cambodia – The people there genuinely cared about me as an individual, whereas in Thailand and Vietnam, people were helpful and kind but seemed to just be after my money. An amazing rich cultural country with a war torn history that should be high on your list.
Kenya – I’ve posted my thoughts on Kenya already, so read those. In short, it’s just an amazing country with an unbelievably kind local population. My first real visit to Africa was an amazing experience.

My list has changed slightly since I wrote this post in July of 2010 — Barcelona and Hong Kong have been axed from my top five as a result of spending more time in Santorini and backpacking Kenya for a month.

What are your favorite destinations?

Drew Meyers

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Life is a Game, Football is Life – Trailer

August 1, 2011 Drew Meyers 1 Comment

Football, also known as soccer to us Americans, is a sport that transcends borders. Whether you are in Ghana, Greece, Kenya, Brazil, or anywhere in between — if there is a major English Premiere league game on (or certainly a World Cup game), you can bet you’ll find a group of locals watching the game somewhere nearby. You can also bet that you can find a group of kids kicking a ball around a ragged field on any given day somewhere nearby as well. You’ve probably heard the saying that “life is a game”, but football is life for many — and all you need is a ball.

Life is a Game, Football is Life (Trailer) from FLEX P. on Vimeo.

Football truly is “life” for many around the globe. I’m looking forward to seeing this film.

[via GoBackpacking]

Drew Meyers

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The Backstories of Two Travel Bloggers

July 19, 2011 Drew Meyers 3 Comments

I love where my feedreader (and Twitter) take me sometimes, and today was one of times. I started with one of the backpacking blogs I read regularly, Nomadic Matt, and came across his How I Became Nomadic Matt post . I’ve been reading Matt’s site for quite awhile (a year?), but never really had the backstory of how he got to where he is. Well, now I do — and I’ll likely be a more loyal reader as a result. From there, I read through the comments (and commented a couple times), and ended up clicking over to Toni White’s blog and seeing her “where my story began” post about halfway down the page. Both posts are fascinating stories. As I’ve said over and over, it’s the people and social components of the web that I enjoy — hence, the reason I enjoy reading personal stories like these and learning more about the actual individuals behind the blogs.

I’m a little over a year into my nomadic life, but I fully anticipate one of these posts is coming in my own future — might be awhile though. Those that really care can head to my personal blog and read away.

Drew Meyers

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What is the True Cost of Abundance?

July 5, 2011 Drew Meyers Leave a comment

One of my friends sent me a link to Contrast of Abundance written by Shelley Lewis on HuffPost Impact. I loved this paragraph:

As we consider how we educate children in this increasingly interconnected world, why don’t we start by basing our educational philosophies on the notion that the human relationship, the bonding and love which is shared in such a paradigm are just as important as any facts the teacher can impart to the child. Thereby, accomplishment can be measured by a sense of self and value for others not simply by what grades you receive. Schooling, housing, food and sanitation are all important but each human being needs the sustenance of the heart, a deep sense of emotional well being and strengthening of imagination to find meaning in one’s life. These qualities of spiritual enrichment are necessary to excel in the world of tomorrow, to dream beyond the norm and strive to fulfill a sustainable future.

Every time I read an article like this I think back to my time in the Dominican Republic, Kenya, and Ghana – and realize that traveling abroad for the first time in 2005 was the best thing I ever could have done for myself. If it weren’t for that initial trip, who knows, maybe I never would have made it to those other places and instead sat inside the friendly confines of the United States for my whole life (though I admit that’s doubtful given my group of friend’s travel habits).

Drew Meyers

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Exploring the Wild Blue Yonder