I love a good road trip. There is nothing quite as satisfying as cruising through a country’s winding back roads to really get to know the local landscape, people and discover spots that you would have missed arriving by air. Of course if you have even more time then riding a bike or walking can be even better ways to become intimate with your destinations. But a car provides a level of freedom and flexibility (motorbikes as well!) that allows you to explore extensively but also smell the air and fresh bread baking in the morning. When we set off on our 9 day Western Balkan road trip we didn’t know what to expect. All we had was a map, a tent, a rough idea of where to go and few hotel bookings that kept us grounded but not constrained. This was by choice as getting lost and having adventures Read full article…
Mountain shepherds, enormous Sharr Dogs, free roaming horses, pristine babbling streams and dramatic mountains are just a small taste of what awaits you in Dragash. Located in the southern end of Kosovo, Dragash is an oasis of untouched natural beauty and traditional villages sandwiched between the borders of Macedonia and Albania. Ignored by the Yugoslav government, the area never received development money for tourism despite its wealth of flora, fauna and cultural traditions. Luckily, this also spared the region the communist era concrete hotels and restaurants that mar similar regions in Kosovo. To help spur sustainable eco-tourism to the region and highlight an untouched wonder in the Balkans I’m helping to write a hiking guide to the Dragash Region funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The last hike was a steep climb from Brod to Mt. Cule. Easy Hike from Restelica to Brod (or the other way around) Read full article…
Update: Sorry for the delay and skipping a week but hey, even travel bloggers need an internet free vacation. I know the suspense is killing you so the winner is Jasmine with an amazing guess! The picture was taken near the harbor in Amsterdam, Netherlands. I have no idea who these wretched looking folks are, but it is hard to understand how they can be so unhappy in such a lovely city. Maybe a bit too much hash in the coffee bars Please go check out Jasmine’s site Jasmine Wanders, a fun blog about Jasmine’s travels around the world. Welcome to Travel Photo Contest Friday. If you’re a new friend, each week I post a beautiful picture (at least I think so) from my travels and you guess where it is. The first person to guess where this picture was taken (Country, and Place) will win a link back to their Read full article…
Update: The winner is Andy! The picture was taken in the Arab quarter in Singapore. While not technically Arab street I decided to give it to Andy anyway. The funky Haji Lane is just around the corner and is a must visit for those looking for independent clothing stores and cool cafes. I really loved the color, food and vibrancy of this area. It just goes to show you that Singapore can be interesting Please go check out Andy’s website Sharing Travel Experiences. Its a great resource for travelers as well as fun read for anyone spending a day on the couch. Welcome to Travel Photo Contest Friday. If you’re a new friend, each week I post a beautiful picture (at least I think so) from my travels and you guess where it is. The first person to guess where this picture was taken (Country, and Place) will win a link Read full article…
I know, it seems rather intuitive and obvious. On the surface it may be. After all why would we do things that don’t make us happy. But I meet a surprising number of people who aren’t happy. Some people think that travel is the answer to their happiness. Other people think settling down, having a steady job and a house will make them happy. Others think making an extra $1,000 USD a month will allow them breathing room to feel happy. If you are already happy with your life this post may not be for you. Then again you will be happy enough to continue reading as well Last week a collective atomic bomb was dropped on the travel blogging and lifestyle design community. I consider myself a part of both, and yes there really is a Lifetyle Design sector (although I use Lifestyle Strategies). The bomb was released by Gadling Read full article…
Update: Sigh, no winner this week. I really hate it when this happens, but don’t worry I’ll let you all know where it is anyway. This is a picture of Saint Blaise, the patron saint of Dubrovnik, Croatia. The statue of St. Blaise above is from the main entrance to the walled old city and greets visitors as they walk across the moat into the city. Dubrovnik is a beautiful medieval city on the southern coast of Croatia. We visited for the day while we were staying in Kotor, Montenegro. Let’s see who can guess next weeks location correctly. Welcome to Travel Photo Contest Friday. If you’re a new friend, each week I post a beautiful picture (at least I think so) from my travels and you guess where it is. The first person to guess where this picture was taken (Country, and good luck with the Place) will win a link back to their Read full article…
Called Serendib by Arab traders (the origin of the word “serendipity”), Sri Lanka has an amazing diversity for a small island and offers the possibility of experiencing vastly different climates, history, and cultures during a short vacation. In this Four Part Series I will share a glimpse of four different areas of Sri Lanka that can, and should, be a part of any itinerary to the island of providence. Part 1 explores the East Coast city of Trincomalee and the Hindu Koneswaram Temple and Part 2 brought us to the Ancient Buddha Rock Statues of Polonnaruwa. Part 3 visited the Hill Country and Hikes Through the Tea Trials. In this final article we stay closer to home, the city of Colombo. Sri Lanka’s largest city, and the starting point for travelers flying into this South Asian island nation, Colombo is often bypassed completely in favor of the southern beaches, majestic hill Read full article…
This post is by: Kay (my lovely wife and founder of K’s Kitchen!) In Japan and some parts of Europe, this summer has been extremely hot and harsh. In Kosovo, we had some rather cool weeks in July, but it’s finally become hot in the past 2 weeks. Having spent several years in the tropics, I actually prefer a hot and sticky summer to a cool one….I love licking ice cream while complaining about the temperature and the humidity….I know I’m odd (at least my husband claims so)! There are noodles under there, I promise! When it’s hot, we lose our appetite and don’t know what to cook. A-ha! Here is a great menu for you! Hiyashi-chuka, which literally means Cold Chinese (or Ryan-Ban-Mien in Chinese). This dish is very popular among Japanese in the summer because the cold taste stimulates their appetite. The standard Hiyashi-chuka is with a soy Read full article…
Update: The winner is Claire! You can connect with Claire and read all about her travels on her blog First-Time Travels. This picture is from the town docks in Jamestown, Rhode Island (yup, we are smaller than Hawaii!). What makes it so special (besides the incredible beauty of the area) is that this is my hometown. My parent’s house is just a 7 minute walk down the street. Jamestown is the town located on Conanicut Island in Narragansett bay. You may have heard of Newport, RI (our slightly bigger neighbor) which is famous for its colonial town feel, nice beaches and enormous mansions (think The Great Gatsby). Jamestown is a quieter version with a lot of charm and a bit more laid back. There are parks, farms, nice restaurants and as you can see, amazing views of the ocean. You may wonder why I would leave such a beautiful place. I’m Read full article…
Traveling, writing and blogging can be a lonely business. It can be as difficult to meet people on the road as it is knowing how many people read and enjoy what you write. Maybe this is why we as writers and travel bloggers are so obsessed with our site traffic numbers and the number of friends/fans we have on facebook (hey, please be my friend). We all go through rough patches while traveling where we miss home and family, just as we go through bouts of self-doubt wondering if what we write is worth anything to anyone. Like anything in life, when you face a period of depression, self-doubt, adversity, whatever, you have two choices: wallow in it all and remain in the same place, or continue walking and see what’s around the next corner. Every corner for me has always offered a solution to my problem now out of Read full article…








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