Nomadic Matt's Travels

SITE HAS MOVED

2008-06-12T17:46:00.000-07:00

THIS VERSION OF NOMADIC MATT'S WEBSITE IS NO LONGER ACTIVE!!!!!!!!!!

THE DATA IS STILL HERE BUT IT IS NOT UPDATED!!! EVER!!!!

THE NEW WEBSITE IS STILL NOMADICMATT.COM

HOWEVER, IT IS NOW PROPERLY DONE. THE BLOG IS THERE NOW. GO! CONTINUE TO READ!!!

PLEASE CHANGE ALL RELEVANT LINKS TO HTTP://WWW.NOMADICMATT.COM

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Nomadic Matt's Birthday

2008-06-12T05:20:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday. I am going to be redesigning the website. You probably noticed some changes already. It will all be done by the end of the day. Sorry I have been slack on replying to comments and visiting sites but this has been taking up some time.

As of tomorrow, Nomadic Matt will be goign through its third and final reiteration. Third time's the charm right?

So come visit tomorrow and see the brave new world.

Want to help me out on my birthday? check out my google ads

Nomadic Matt's Weekly Photo

2008-06-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.

Related Posts
Getting Lost in Costa Rica

Good Group Travel

2008-06-10T02:04:00.000-07:00

Blissful Travel began our blog series on the merits of solo and group travel by discussing her opinion on which was better. More often than not, the question is not should I go alone or with friends but should I go alone or on a tour. Today, the discussion continues with looking at organized travel.

As an independent traveler, people often think that I have a predisposed hatred towards organized tours. It's no secret that I'm a big supporter of traveling alone. There are a lot of benefits to solo travel and I always try to cultivate the vagabond in everyone. So it may surprise you when I come out in support of organized tours.

My first holiday was on a tour group to Costa Rica through Gap Adventures. They tend to focus on independent tours. I spent 14 days exploring the country, getting lost in the jungle, and making new friends. Most of the people on the tour were also alone and in their late 20s. The trip infused me with the travel bug and also introduced me to great people.

Most people think of tour groups as filled the Bermuda shorts wearing, camera toting, never leave the hotel package tourists. It's true that many tours are like this. You've seen them in the double decker bus driving through countries- in a country but never really experiencing it. These plush package tours promise to show you a country without you ever having to leave the resort. I hate these tours and the tourists that come with them. They come all the way to a new country but never leave their Marriott. All they are really only after photos and all the benefits of their travel go to big multinationals. For all their trouble, they could have just stayed home and photo shopped themselves into some pictures. I do not advocate those tours!

However, not all organized tours are like that. There are some organizations that specialize in eco-tourism: tourism that not only leaves a small environmental footprint but also supports local businesses and operators. Many of the companies design their tours so you aren't shuttled around like cattle but are allowed to wander and spend time getting to know each location. Most simply take the hassle out of the booking process. Companies like Gap Adventures and Intrepid Travel are two of the bigger ones that offer "independent, eco tours." (You'll find small, local companies where ever you go! Sustainable travel is the new black.)

A tour can be appropriate for a lot of people. Tours offer a lot, especially for new travelers. They can:

Provide comfort.

Reduce Stress.

Give you people to hang out with.

Provide a local expert.

Reduce planning.

Convenience.

Not everyone is comfortable with just picking up and going to an unknown place so tours can reduce the stress and anxiety that comes with your first trip and make people more willing to travel. Many people are anxious about meeting people and find it hard to just chat people up. Tours give people a chance to get comfortable and make that leap. After that, that second step could be travel alone. For the anxious, tours can be a great way to ease you into the unknown world of travel. Traveling alone requires a lot of skills and some people just aren't ready to dive head first.

An organized tour isn't the bad word travelers make it out to be. Sometimes, places and journeys require organized trips. You can't just show up at Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, Halong Bay, or the Galapagos Islands. These sites are designed to be done in tour groups- doing it on your own is often more expensive, more inconvenient, and sometimes illegal. In fact, most anti-tour travelers take tours without even realizing it. You'll find them on hill tribe treks in Asia, trips to Fraser Island or Kakadu, or the Inca Trail.

Moreover, not all tours feature bad tour guides. My guide in Costa Rica got out of our way. My Aboriginal guide in Kakadu national park helped make for an amazing experience. He knew a lot about the land. I've had bad guides too- the guide Belize needed to silence himself, the guide in Thailand needed to be pushed off the boat, and the guide in Vietnam was one of the rudest humans I've met in my life. However, many of the tours you want to go on- local, friendly, informative- hire goes who enhance your travel experience. (Cool Travel Guide recently became a believer!)

Tours can be a helpful way for people to ease into the vagabond lifestyle. If you're a first time traveler and nervous about heading out on your own, considering starting off with an organized tour. You may get the bug and anything that gets people out of their homes and on the road in a constructive way, is something I support.

Here's some good companies and resources on sustainable travel:

Gap Adventures
Context Travel
Viator
Intrepid Travel
Go Green, Travel Green
Defining Eco Tourism
Eco-India
Eco Kenya
Official Site of the Ecotourism Society

Teaching English Abroad, Part 4

2008-06-09T00:28:00.000-07:00

Continuing our series on teaching English overseas, we're going to discuss teaching English in different areas of the world. In Part One, we talked about the various jobs you can get. In Part Two, we discussed what you need, and in Part Three, we discussed teaching in Asia.

Since Asia tends to be the primary focus for ESL teachers, I devoted more attention to it than other regions in the world. However, teachers are needed all over the world. Here's a run down on the other major regions of the world.

Europe
Finding a job in Europe can be difficult, especially for those with little experience. Stiff EU visa rules keep many people out and countries typically try to hire EU natives (i.e. UK citizens) first. That being said it's not impossible to do so, as Gypsy Princess(Germany) and Monna (Spain) show us. They're both non-Europeans who found work in Europe.

Salaries in Europe tend to be lower than Asia. Though actual real money value might be higher, your earning power is a lot less. Not only is Europe more expensive but taxes are also very high. Teacher salaries vary a lot from country to country but, on average, you can earn around $2500 USD a month in Western Europe. In the East, salaries are lower but so is the cost of living. Salaries are usually about $1000 USD a month in Eastern Europe.

Demand for teachers varies from country to country as some countries put a lot more emphasis on learning English than others. Countries like France and Germany don't make it a high priority while Holland, Scandinavian countries, and Eastern Europe place more emphasize on learning the language.

Though salaries are nothing to write home about, the standard of living in Europe is very high. You'll love comfortably and let's face it- you're in Europe. That's why you're teaching there. You'll eek out a middle class lifestyle and be comfortable but you're not going to get rich! However, the reward is you get to be in Europe and another culture is a simple RyanAir flight away.

The Middle East
With the rapid growth in the Middle East right now, there is a huge demand for English teachers, especially in places like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. They are all in desperate need of teachers and a trip to any ESL site will show a lot of listings.

Salaries in the Middle East tend to be very high. Teachers can earn $30,000 dollars or more (sometimes as high as $60,000) per year and it's all tax free. All the benefits you normally see in Asia are also included. A year teaching in the Middle East can leave you very well off.

Though teaching jobs are abundant, don't expect to walk right into one right out of university. Countries here prefer older, licensed, and experienced teachers. They aren't looking to hire young backpackers looking to make a few bucks but legit mate people with experience. Because of that, teachers here tend to be older (30s), more settled, and more family oriented. You won't find the crazy, young, ex-pat teacher scene here like you would in Asia. (Note: Dubai does have a world famous night life though.)

Living in these countries is very expensive. Dubai is not cheap. Doha is not cheap. You'll need a car, and since most everything is imported, your food and goods will be pricey. Oil money and a new found consumerism mean that everyone knows they can charge a lot here and people will still pay. However, you can save a lot of money here if you are frugal. This part of the world tends to be better suited for those looking for a more older crowd, a couple, or someone more settled down in life.

Central Asia
Jobs in Central Asia tend to pay about the same or less than Eastern Europe. In some cases salaries can be high but it's unusual. Living conditions in Central Asia tend to be pretty low and the standard of living isn't great. There's problems with transportation, roads, technology, etc. While many of the cities have plenty of modern amenities, much of central Asia lives an agrarian lifestyle and you will probably long for many of the comforts of home.

However, you aren't going here to be rich and live in luxury but to immerse yourself in a different culture. These countries are culturally very rich and teaching here offers an amazing chance to sort of step back to a more simpler time. People here are very friendly and usually happy to show you their part of the world. Moreover, the landscape here is beautiful and pristine. You'll avoid the tourists, the crowds, and the chaos in what is a fast growing part of the world.

Latin America
Teaching in Latin America is a cultural rich but momentarily poor experience. Salaries in Central America rarely tend to be high than about $700 US dollars a month, with South America not much better The upside is that cost of living is ridiculously low across Central and South America.

Some of the schools here prefer someone with a TEFL degree or experience but, typically, as long as you speak English, you'll be hired. The international or private schools here pay the most. Public schools pay nothing all across the board. Many of the rich families will hire you to tutor on the side and that's where the real money is.

When working with the younger kids it helps to know a little bit of Spanish but classes are all taught in English for older students. Working conditions tend to be pretty good and, while problems can occur, employers are pretty good about honoring contracts.

But the culture of Latin America is very vibrant and "fiery." Great food, great people, dancing, and excitement- Latin America has it all. No matter where you go from Brazil to Costa Rica to Honduras to Argentina, culturally you are in for an amazing time. You just won't leave with much savings.

Related Posts
Teaching English Abroad, pt. 1
Teaching English Abroad, pt. 2
Teaching English Abroad, pt. 3

Nomadic Matt's Blog Update

2008-06-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

Normally, I don't like taking away from the travel posts but there's been a lot going on lately and I thought I'd use this Sunday to discuss.

New Links Page
I finally finished a new links page. I added a second links page with a list of all the blogs I subscribe too. If I missed your blog, I apologize. I added a lot! I still have more to add. If I missed you, remind me, and I'll go add your site! I'm going to continue to add and tweak the layout of the links page.

If you like, feel free to link back to me. (Though not required.)

New Site Layout
I changed the layout of the site. I'm still tweaking a few things but overall, this is how the website will be. So go ahead, visit the other pages!

New Ask Me!
I added some more Ask Me questions.

Guest Blogs
Over the next month, I'll be writing some guest blogs and having some guest bloggers. If you are interested in joining the fun, send me an e-mail. I'd be more than happy to have someone guest blog on this site.

Feedback
I'm always looking for feedback, so if you have any ideas on how I might better optimize my site, lay it on me!

Tomorrow, I'll continue with my next overdue installment of my teaching overseas series.

The Saturday City Rome

2008-06-07T06:31:00.000-07:00

Ahhh Rome. The cradle of the west. The center of power for centuries. Birthplace of Caesar. Home to Catholic Church. A city steeped in three thousand years of history. All around the world, everyone knows Rome. Saying the name conjures up images of the old, the new, religion, food, romance, and Tom Hanks trying to crack the Da Vinci code.

I was excited to go to Rome. My visit was supposed to be three days but turned into a solid week. I feel in love with Rome. It was easy to see why everyone loves the city. Despite all the tourists and tour groups that roam the city, the ungodly crowds, and the congestion, nothing could take away from the beauty of Rome. Rome is Rome...it doesn't need to be anything else. The name alone conveys everything.

Nothing I could write about Rome could do it justice. It's beauty and elegance has been described by far better writers and poets than I ever could. So rather than talk about the beauty of Rome, I'm going to show it to you.

A Walking Tour of Rome

I started downtown where most of the ruins were located. There you can explore the ancient ruins built by Julius and Augustus Caesar as they expanded the Roman empire..

Cross the street and wander through the ancient Roman Forum, the seat of Roman power. There are a ton of ruins there and sitting down amongst them was a humbling experience. Someone thousands of years ago sat in this exact spot watching Senators and Caesars go past.

and then head to Palatine hill, where the kings, caesars, and aristocrats of Rome lived...

Then cross the street and gaze at the Colosseum. It was an unbelievable site to behold. Massive and beautiful.

Head west, through the Circus Maximus, and across the river. There you can wander through Trastevere, a local area that sees few tourists. It was my favorite section of the city, small cobble lined streets, tiny squares, great restaurants, and few tourists.

From there head north to the Vatican, the center of the Catholic Church. There you can check out the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and the tomb of the popes.

From there head back east, across the river, for more exploration.

Walk through the Piazza Navarro and to the Spanish steps, for some good relaxation and people watching...

Continue south, past the Parthenon, to Trevi Fountain. Make your way through the crowds and follow tradition by turning around and throwing a coin in for good luck.

Then finish at this monument, built in the Roman style, to honor Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of a united Italy. It's big and gaudy but it's still beautiful.

Rome is an amazing city. It wasn't built in a day and there's more to do there than my little blog post can handle (Heck, they have whole guidebooks on the city!). There's more to do there than you can fit in during your trip. It would take years to see the whole city...but I'm to the challenge, are you?

Related Posts:
Matt's Italy photos

Carnival of Travel Blogs #2

2008-06-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

My little carnival of travel blogs will be a semi-regular series. I think it's important to recognize many of the other blogs I read. You can find a lot of these on my links page.

This week's carnival:

The Flying Critic- Get all the information you'll ever need on the airline industry, with reviews, news, analysis, and photos.

Backpakker- A travel blog from a woman in India, who explores her home as well as other parts of Asia. She'll have you dreaming of curry and the Taj in no time.

Blissful Travel- A regularly updated site with travel news and stories. Good for those interested in finding different events around the world.

Travel Rants- A popular British site about the travel industry.

India Travel Blog- Another Indian travel blog that will have you on the next flight to Delhi.

Teacher Meets World- The life of a Canadian teacher living in Barcelona, Spain

(If you like to me and you don't see your site, don't worry! I'm creating a new links page with all the blogs that I feed or link to me. It's taking longer than I thought but will be done soon)

Related Posts:

Carnival of Travel #1

Starting a Revolution

2008-06-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

"Sit down!" I said.

But the student still got up.

"Sit down. You're disrupting the class." I repeated.

The student looked over at his friend, said something in Thai, and continued drawing on the board. I moved over from the other side of the room, and again told him to sit down. He looked at me and moved closer. A gasp went through the room. I looked at him and told him to get out of my classroom. He looked at me and contemplated his next move.

It had been brewing for weeks. The student always pushed my buttons and my efforts to reign him and his followers in had met with defeat. I'd heard stories about the respect of Thai students so I never expected this situation. But my students talked constantly, slept in class, played video games, or texted on their mobile phone. I had brought the issues up with the school but nothing had been done.

Now, I was watching them leave my room, pumping their fists in the air. Thais are communal so once a few students started leaving, more followed until, finally, the good kids looked at me with the "sorry but we have to follow the crowd" face and got up too.

In Asia, the concept of "saving face" is extremely important. Everyone has to "save face "or lose face, especially to an outsider. Make someone lose enough face and you better watch out- they'll come for you! Thai's are an extraordinarily nice people but they have no middle ground. Bring enough shame to a Thai and soon you will find yourself in a world of bodily harm. They don't get mad- they get even. I had made this kid lose enough face that he had to get even- and the only way he could was by ruining my class.

There were meetings. Apologies. In the end, many of these problems were institutional and there was nothing I could do. I had let go. The administration laid the blame on me and told me to just "have fun" with my students. The teachers came out in support. "It's always like this." "Those students have been like that for years." "Just help the ones that want to learn." I was morally defeated. It seemed I was the only one who wanted to teach.

So I went back in. My students looked at me. They knew they had won. I could do nothing. They smiled in victory. And I let them do what they wanted. Those who worked did fine. I failed the rest.

After this, I began to rethink my teaching strategy. Maybe I was overly strict with my students. Not only did this cause problems in the classroom but also caused me undue stress. I decided I'd become more lax and accommodating to the Thai culture. It would keep the classes going but reduce my stress. I've become more relaxed with all my students. Letting go sometimes isn't so bad. It makes everything a little easier and a little more fun. And when learning is fun, kids are more focused.

The Chinese have the same symbol for crisis and opportunity. This incident was both and opened up a world of insight not only about Thai culture but also about me. They may seem aggravating at the time but crises on the road can provide us with nothing but increased insights into other cultures as well as ourselves. Cherish them greatly.

The Weekly Photo

2008-06-03T06:15:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be highlighting a place I've been each week. There's too much text on the blog and, with our Internet ADD, we don't want to read a long post everyday. In order to make my blog more reader friendly, I will begin to include more photos. It's not enough to read about travel, we need to see these places too. It's another way to keep us focused on escaping the cubicle.
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Ko Ravi, Southern Thailand, December 2006

Related Posts:
My Favorite Country
Destination: Asia!
The Trip That Started It All!

Things I learned Traveling Across America

2008-06-02T09:26:00.000-07:00

As a kid, my family went on the obligatory roadtrips to various states but we never went far off the east coast of America. Prior to my solo roadtrip, I had only been west of Mississippi to go to LA for a layover. This would be my first real trip around my nation. I didn't know what to expect when I left. I was going to areas only had preconceived notions about- the redneck south, the boring Midwest, the beautiful West, and the barren, fire prone southwest. Yet driving around shattered many conceived notions and instead made new notions of each of these little areas nations. I learnt a lot over these past two months on the road.

I learnt that you never realize how big the country is until you plan a trip across it. You see its size on the map but you can't imagine it until you hop in your car and drive 700 miles to your next destination and are still in the same state. The size of America itself is amazing!

I learnt that the South isn't so bad. I learned that it has some good cities, good food, and good people. I called it the backwater of our nation and that was unfair. Sure, there are still aspects of it I don't like but overall, I was surprised that by the time I left, I knew I'd like to go back.

I learnt that Colorado is my favorite state. I loved that state- the nature, the cities, and the people. Out of all the places I've been too, this is the one place I'd consider moving to. It had everything might heart desired (as long as I can migrate to warmer weather in the winter!)

I learnt that the southwest isn't so barren. (There's forests there!) If you have never been to Arizona or New Mexico, I suggest you go there. It's beautiful. The Grand Canyon, Sedona, Santa Fe, Carlsbad, the landscape- all of it (except Phoenix) is quite amazing. While I wouldn't want to live there (maybe retire), going there turned this area into my favorite section of the country. I can't wait to explore its forests, deserts, and canyons again. There is much more out there than retirement communities and golf.

I learnt that I can get over my fears, hike 50 miles, and travel alone. I learned that I could learn. I survived two months on the road by myself. I met people, I navigated cities, and I made friends all over the country. I learned that if I can do it here, I can do it overseas.

I learnt random things like New Orleans, Savannah, and Charleston are the best cities in the US. That Carl's Jr. has the best fast food. Waffle House hash browns are a gift from God. You can fake a Tazmanian accent because Americans never travel. Southern sweet tea isn't all its cracked up to be but southern cooking is. New Orleans has amazing music. International visitors think the US has some of the friendliest people in the world and I would have to agree. And always read your map- otherwise you could miss your exit and end up in the wrong state!

Most importantly though, I learnt that, in the famous words of Le Monde, we are all Americans. I have a new appreciation for my countrymen and a new empathy for them. I may not like them all or agree with their opinions, but at the end of the day, I know we're the same- there is no great difference between us. America is a diverse nation yet the one thing I noticed about this country, despite our political and cultural differences, we are the same. Day to day, we live the same lives, share the same hopes, dreams, fears, and stresses. We all want the economy to do well, our children to have good education, and our politicians to lead. All the debate about politics, religion, and the world are trivial when viewed from our common being.

Yet at the same time, it is easy to notice all the differences when you travel. There are glaring cultural differences from area to area, state to state, and city to city- from the slowness of the south, to the fast pace of the east coast, to the cowboys of the west, and to the small towns of the cornbelt. This great dichotomy between sameness and diversity is really what makes this country great and what really made a lasting impression on me. To borrow a phrase from South Asia, Americans are all "same same but different."

Finding A Cheap Airplane Ticket

2008-06-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

The problem for anyone is not finding a place to go but how to get there cheap. Sometimes half the cost of a trip is in the travel. Finding a cheap flight is as important as finding the right location, the right tour, the right backpack, or the right hotel. Yet with travel on the rise and oil prices, airlines are raising ticket prices to cover rising costs. That makes knowing how to find a cheap price even more important. Here are a few tips that can help you find a cheap flight:

Be flexible with your travel dates.
If you're rigid with your dates you won't be able to capture any of the pricing variations airlines use. Tickets prices always fluctuate depending on day and time of the week. Its always cheaper to fly mid week than on a weekend. Its cheaper to fly out after major holidays than before. That week after Christmas? No one ever flies and prices drop. For some odd reason, flight prices drop a bit on Tuesday nights. When searching for flights, be flexible- you will catch better deals. Allow yourself some wiggle room going there and coming back- the difference of a day can be the difference of a few hundred dollars.

Fly to secondary airports with low-cost carriers.
Most major cities have a smaller, secondary airport. This is the airport most low-cost carriers (LCC) fly into because its cheaper and it helps keep cost down, which helps keep prices down. Check out what airlines fly into these airport. For example, you can take Jetblue to Long beach, an airport equally close to LA, instead of LAX and save some money on a flight. Flying the LCCs is a good alternative whenever possible. You get less "perks" but you can save a bundle in ticket costs. This is especially true in Europe where competition is stiff.

Try alternative paths.
Not only does it help to be flexible with dates but try being flexible with the route you take. Sometimes its cheaper to fly to London, take a LCC to Amsterdam than flying direct to Amsterdam. There are so many low cost airlines around that if you can take advantage of a great deal to a different city then catch a LCC to your destination. This is especially true in Europe where you get flights for 1 Euro plus tax! Buy working various airlines and special offers, you can help save yourself money. It is a little more work but it can give you more to spend at your destination.

Know what you want to pay for a flight.
People always try to get the lowest price online, wait too long, and then pay too much. We all know airline prices always bounce up and down yet in our quest to hold out just a little longer, most of the time miss the lowest price. Therefore it's important to know what you want to pay not what you hope to pay. What's the lowest price for YOU? Is 150 roundtrip from NY to Miami what you want? Don't want to pay more than 900 to go from LA to Tokyo? Then don't. Don't wait for the perfect price- wait for your price. Then you will never have buyers remorse. Prices always fluctuate but to catch the best price, try booking 6-8 weeks prior to your departure. Also, try sites like Farecast that can help you catch a price dip.

Remember not all search sites are equal.
Whenever I start my internet flight searches, I tend to go right to Expedia. It is really out of habit more than anything else but I don't just search Expedia. I'll see what prices one site offers and then check out all the other travel sites, like Priceline, Travelocity and Orbitz. Not all sites are created equal and you will find varying prices on each one of those sites. It's also useful after you find a flight to check out the carriers own website. Sometimes the flight is cheaper (or the same) on the carriers website and you avoid the fees the search engines charge. (Check out the links page for search sites.)

Search the airline carrier's international websites.
On that same thought- don't forget to search the international websites of all major airlines. You might think that prices will be same across the board but remember all sites and prices are not the same. I have found New Zealand tickets from Tokyo to LA hundreds of dollars cheaper when searching the NZ version of the website instead of the US. I found tickets to and from Europe cheaper by searching the Canadian version of the British Airways website. Many times these tickets are also priced in foreign denominations which can also make the prices slightly cheaper depending on your currency. Don't think you can't book the flight if your not in that country either because you can! (Note: The recent fall of the US dollar has made this hard to work for Americans but easier for people on the Euro, Pound, or Yen!)

Take advantage of student discounts.
If you are a student, there are discounts available for you. Check out STA travel and their search engine. You can find flexible student tickets on their website and agency stores. I used them for a 400 dollar ticket from Athens to Bangkok. You can't get much cheaper than that!

Travel Off Peak
Traveling off peak times reduces cost all around, especially on airlines. It's double to go to Europe in the summer or Australia in the winter.

Sign up for newsletters.
Sign up for airline news letters and fare updates. It will keep you in the loop for when prices drop so you can snatch up the cheap deals right away and not miss out.

It may be getting harder to find great airline deals but they are still out there. You just need to find them!

The Saturday City: Caye Caulker

2008-05-31T05:35:00.000-07:00

OK, so it's more of an island than a city but it's still worth talking about. It's a hammock lovers paradise. Set off the coast of Belize, Caye Caulker is paradise. It's small, it's beautiful, it's youthful. Everyone here is friendly and no one moves quickly. There's no cars only little golf carts and the island's motto is "Go Slow." The tempo willl have you running on island time before you know it.

Years ago, the island was a lot bigger but a hurricane ripped through it, splitting it in two, and destroying a lot of the dock area. The island has rebuilt itself and is still one of the major destinations for travelers to Belize.

However, the disaster created the island's best feature- The Split. The Split is a deep trench that provides excellent snorkeling right off the island. You can jump right in and see stingrays, sharks, and a huge variety of fish. It's better than any tour you'll pay for.

The Split is also where all the action his. Though the island has a great eastward facing beach, everyone walks down to the split. There's a small beach there and the old dock provides an excellent place to sprawl your towel out. The young and the pale come out here to sun and snorkel all day, with a bar serving ice cold drinks and music.

The main street is lined with fabulous seafood restaurants ranging from budget to very posh. A few of the houses around the island turn themselves into little barbeque's, with Wish Willy's the most famous. Set out right in front of his house (though I think he has since moved), this place is a Caye Caulker landmark serving amazing food delivered by a cool Rasta chef. There's no menu- they serve whatever they have that day but you can't go wrong with whatever you get and a free drink is included. For a more expensive meal, head to Don Corleone's for some pretty good Italian food.

This is a young spirited island and a good portion of the tourists are young, party minded folk. You'll see them all night long partying at the local bars and the incredibly sketchy but amazingly fun after hours club. Usually the locals out number the tourists but it's a great chance to interact them and they are all pretty friendly.

With great beaches, atmosphere, a kicking nightlife, great seafood, and The Split, no trip to Belize is complete without a visit there. A lot of people head to the more upscale Ambergris Caye but Caye Caulker is the better pick of the two. Despite having traveled to dozens of islands, this place remains one of my favorite destinations.

You can see my photos from Belize here:
Matt's Belize photos.

The Best Travel Movies

2008-05-30T05:01:00.000-07:00

Travel are the best movies for those with a nomadic heart. They inspire us to get out on the road, stay on the road, or visit a particular place. They get us excited for new cultures and whet our appetite for that upcoming trip. Essentially, they rock our world. Here's the my list of best of the best:

The Beach.
Alex Garland's story about young backpackers who set out to find paradise but ended up destroying it had me drooling over visiting Thailand. Those beaches, those parties, those people. Backpackers in Asia are always reading this book and the movie places in all the guesthouses. It says something about our hopes on the road. It keeps us hopeful that our own idyllic, romantic paradise. The one we all think won't be destroyed. Sadly, I'm still searching.

Seven Years in Tibet.
This movie about a German mountaineer spending time with the Dalai Lama will make you want to head off to the Himalayas and find enlightenment. Set right before the Chinese invasion of Tibet, the movie offers a great look at Tibetan culture.

Eurotrip.
A silly movie about backpacking Europe, this movie will nonetheless have you wanting to see all those places they filmed. The movie takes you across Europe in a whirlwind of stereotypes but, its pretty funny and anyone who has roamed Europe can probably relate to a few of the situations.

The Motorcycle Diaries.
Set in South America, this movie follows the life of Che Guevara from doctor to revolutionary. It's a poignant tale features amazing images of South America from the desert to rain forest. Beautifully cast and directed this movie will make you want to jump on a motorcycle and explore the continent.

Any Indiana Jones.
Indy made everyone an archaeologist and an adventure seeker. From Egypt to India, Indy showed us the world and the mythology of ancient cultures. The movie brought out the adventurer in me and helped foster a love for history. It also did wonders for Petra, Jordan. Who didn't want to see the city after watching the Last Crusade!?

Thelma and Louise.
A tragic story of two woman driving across the American Southwest, escaping the law, and finding friendship, it will nonetheless make you want to get in your car and see country...unless gas prices keep rising, then we'll just have to settle for this movie.

Lawrence of Arabia.
This Peter O'Toole classic is set during World War One and follows a British soldier's interaction with nomadic tribes. With stunning images of the desert, you'll soon be wanting to lead your own expedition through the desert.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
A movie about Australian drag queens that take a road trip across the desert. It's funny, it's heartwarming, it won a bunch of awards. Most importantly it highlights two of the best things in Australia: the outback and awesome accents.

A Good Year.
Though I'm not usually a fan of Russell Crowe movies, I wanted to open up my own vineyard after seeing this movie. Set in France, the movie follows a man who returns to his uncle's vineyard after his death. (Under The Tuscan Sun is another movie that makes me want to go open my own vineyard and be the next Mondavi.)

No Map Ahead

2008-05-29T04:04:00.000-07:00

With a month left to go, I'm beginning to finalize my plans. In June, I'm off to NYC to take in the sights and see some from friends. I haven't been to New York since I left in 2006 and it's a city that is worth seeing at least every few years. There's a lot of people to visit and this will probably be one of my last chances to see them all in one location.

Then D-day arrives on July 1st and I storm the tarmac of Logan International to head to Europe. With my job in China still up in the air, I can't really say how long I will be there or what I will see. However, I did plan a route. I had to work around some vacations and trips since I'll be staying with friends my whole way around the continent. Here's how I'm going:

Sweden (Stockholm, Sundsvall)
Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Da Hague, the Frisland)
Belgium (Brussels, and Bruges)
France (Paris, Normandy, and possibly Bordeaux). I'd like to spend more time in France but with the weak dollar and my weak bank account, it's not in the cards.
England (I'm there for a month so I'm going to most of the country!)

After that, I have no idea where I will be. My plan was to go teach in Beijing but I have yet to find anything I want and with D-Day approaching, I think I might not have enough time to get a visa. If that's the case, I may go back to Thailand and teach there. But I'm not sure.

My overall plan was to teach in Asia, backpack Asia, head to Australia, and then head to New Zealand but with teaching in Asia up in the air, I may reverse myself and move to New Zealand or Australia. I don't think I will even begin to know until about June 30th. Such is the life of this nomad!

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With time winding down in Boston, I decided it's time to be a tourist. There's so much of Boston I've really never seen that I think it's time to see it. One of the ways to beat the back home blues is to explore your home. I don't have the back home blues anymore but it is definitely time to explore the neighborhoods of Boston. I walk past the sites but never really see them. Time to open my eyes. Throughout the month of June, I'll be posting regularly about various parts of Boston. No Lonely Planet needed.

The Grandest Canyon

2008-05-28T05:18:00.000-07:00

During the expansion of America, there was an old adage. If people wanted to find their riches, they were told to "go west." Though a little late, I followed the adage and went out west and, if you haven't gone west, you've been missing out. The American west is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and, within it, one of the world's greatest wonders- the Grand Canyon.

Of the park's 5 million annual visitors, 99% go to the Grand Canyon for less than 4 hrs and only spend 20 minutes at the actual canyon, 1% actually walk down some distance, and about half of that percent hike down to the bottom. I'm in a small, small minority of adventurers who have gone to its base. Hiking down the Grand Canyon (and back up) is a lot harder than it seemed but more visually rewarding than just looking over the rim.

Arriving at the Canyon, my first thought was "Holy $%%^! Look at this!" I was in utter shock. I've seen the pictures and heard the stories but nothing could prepare me for just how big and grand it was. In front of me, stretching far and wide, were peaks and valleys colored with red and orange hues jutting and falling into the ground. I took in the view, trapped by its magnificence, before I broke free and began the hike down.

Hiking down, you see all the desert animals, the intricacies of the ridges, the mountains, the streams, the creeks, the cliffs that are noticeable from above. You see the color changes in the rocks up close, touching them, and enjoying the peacefulness of this place away from the crowds. I immediately knew this was somewhere I wanted to see again and regretted only spending one night there. If you ever visit the Grand Canyon, hike down- even if it is for just a few hours. You will get experience the Canyon up close and it gives the area more meaning and perspective- more so than just looking out over the rim and going "oooohhh" and "ahhhh."

So I hiked down to the bottom and saw up close the Colorado River. The river majestically cuts its way through the canyon, flowing fast and furiously as it continues to sketch one of nature's greatest paintings. The river itself is cold and rapid. If you get caught in the current, I think you're pretty guaranteed to end up dead. From the bottom, the canyon takes on a totally new shape. The vast canyon disappears and all you can see is this little valley the river has cut. I spent the night at the camp down there, hiking around the river, talking to hikers, listening to a ranger talk, and trying to avoid the scorpions.

Hiking up was a lot tougher than hiking down, even when taking the flatter Bright Angel trail. In the morning, I awoke, my legs already sore. Yet I was still in for another 9.6 mile hike back up the canyon through hot, steep terrain. My companion and I moved slowly as to take advantage of the shade, off-trail waterfalls others pointed us too, and to talk with other hikers. All other things you can't enjoy from the stop. The hardest part for me was the steep ascent back up- the high altitude and steep rock faces made for an adjustment. After 6 hours of hiking, we made it out. A wave of emotions set over me. Hiking the Grand Canyon was one of the major life goals and I'd done it. Once over the top, all the pain in my legs, the tiredness, and the heat disappeared to give way to sheer joy. I had mastered the canyon. I had done what few do. I was satisfied. I felt like Rocky after he climbed those stairs.

I finished such a wondrous act by watching the sunset over the canyon. There were heaps of people taking pictures but I mostly just sat back and enjoyed the light show reflecting off the canyon walls as the sun made one final burst on the day. A wonderful end to a remarkable two days.

Guest Blog: Solo vs Group Travel

2008-05-27T05:15:00.001-07:00

Today, we have a guest blogger, Erica from Blissful Travel. She will be kicking off the start of a series on the merits of solo travel, group travel, and organized tours.

Both solo travel or group travel have advantages and disadvantages. You need to decide what choice best fits your preferences. For example, would you prefer the freedom of making all decisions yourself and going where your whim takes you? Or rather let others decide once in a while? Independent travel brings a lot of flexibility- you can do what you want, when you want. However, in group travel, you need to watch the needs of others too. You might all have different interests, travel budgets and expectations. Traveling with people who feel like partying all night and sleeping until noon while you prefer to rise early and explore the city obviously won't work. To avoid disappointments and make sure you are all on the same page, discuss with everyone before leaving what you want out of the trip.

In a group, conflicts and arguments on what to see and do, when to move on, and where to go, might occur. However, at the same time, you always have company and won't feel lonely. You get to share great experiences and moments of awe with people you love, not a brief acquaintance who will head off somewhere else the next day. (Although don't forget, people you meet on the road can also turn into excellent travel companions - even friends for life.)

How your trip ends up depends a lot on your mind-set. With a positive and outgoing attitude you will easily make new friends and improve your foreign language skills through talking with locals. People also tend to approach single travelers more often. When you travel solo, locals might even invite you to stay in their homes - especially in a region where there are fewer tourists. This probably wouldn't have happened if you went with a group.

When you travel with friends there's a risk you won't break out of your group instead of making a real effort to get to know your surroundings. As a single traveler you will experience things differently and learn a great deal about yourself along the way. For some, solo travel means boredom. But traveling alone doesn't mean you will feel lonely. You can stay at hostels to meet other travelers, or join a homestay program to meet locals and learn about their culture. On the road, you will encounter so many new people and places, boredom will be the least of your worries.

Apart from the fun aspect of traveling with friends, many people choose group travel because it gives them a greater sense of security. You know you have trustworthy people around you in case you need help with something or want to share ideas. Before booking your trip, ask yourself, "Would I feel comfortable taking all decisions by myself?", "Can I strike up conversations with strangers?", "Enjoy my own company for hours, days, weeks in row?", "Move from one point to another by reading maps and ask for directions?", "Trust my gut feeling if a situation doesn't seem right?"

If you feel comfortable traveling on your own, I would say go for it. Otherwise, travel with friends the first time before taking that four-month solo trip overseas

Erica Johansson is a freelance writer and photographer from Sweden. For up-to-date travel news, tips and information, visit her travel blog at Blissful travel

A History of Memorial Day

2008-05-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

Today is Memorial Day in America. Memorial Day is a day in which we honor our fallen soldier. It falls on the last Monday in May. In honor of day, here's a history of holiday.

History
Following the end of the American Civil War, many places set aside a day to honor the soldiers who died in the war. These observances eventually coalesced around Decoration Day, honoring the Union dead, and several Confederate Memorial Days.

Supposedly, the first memorial day was observed in 1865 by liberated slaves at the historic race track in Charleston. The site was a former Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who died in captivity. The freed slaves reinterred the dead Union soldiers from the mass grave to individual graves, fenced in the graveyard & built an entry arch declaring it a Union graveyard. On May 30, 1887, slaves returned to the graveyard with flowers, thus creating the 1st Decoration Day. A parade with thousands of freed blacks and Union soldiers was followed by patriotic singing and a picnic.

However, the official birthplace of Memorial Day is Waterloo, New York. The village is credited as starting the holiday because it observed the day on May 5,1866 and continued the tradition every year whereas celebrations were sporadic in other parts of the country.

Waterloo resident General Logan had been impressed by the way the South honored their dead and decided the Union needed a similar day. Logan had been a speaker at a memorial observation on April 29, 1866 in Carbondale, Illinois, an event that gave him the idea to make it a national holiday. On May 5,1868, as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans' organization, Logan issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" be observed nationwide. It was observed for the first time on May 30 that year. The date was chosen because no battle had occurred on that day.

Many of the states of the U.S. South refused to celebrate Decoration Day, due to lingering hostility towards the Union Army and also because there were very few veterans of the Union Army who lived in the South.

The alternative name of "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, but only become more common until after World War II. It was declared the official name by Federal law in 1967 . On June 28, 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved three holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend. The change moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. Memorial Day has endured as one holiday during which most businesses stay closed because it marks the beginning of the "summer vacation season."

Celebration
Most American families celebrate this day with a BBQ or a picnic. There are numerous sporting events that occur, the most famous being the Indianapolis 500. If the weather is nice, a lot of people go to the beach. Since it is a three day weekend, many families also go away. This usually means they will go visit relatives, head to park and camp, or visit a beach.

Towns usually sponsor parades honoring those who have served in battle. (My town had one yesterday.) The President holds a ceremony at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. and a national moment of remembrance occurs at 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

Moreover, Memorial day is the start of the summer holiday season with the college school year over, secondary school wrapping up, and the nice weather returning to most of the country.

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On a side note, I'm having problems with comments. They are recorded and are counted but fail to show up unless I open the comment screen. BUT don't worry, I do get all your comments, if you don't see them!

Destination: Asia!

2008-05-25T04:51:00.000-07:00

In Southeast Asia, all roads lead to Bangkok, and for most backpackers, Bangkok means Khao San Road. Khao San is the first stop on the Southeast Asian tourist trail, which loops through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

You could follow the tourist trail to Chang Mai, float down the river to Luang Prabang, cross over the mountains to Vietnam, dip into Cambodia, and finally head back to Bangkok, hitting all the major tourist stops along the way.

Or maybe you could follow the trail south to Krabi or Ko Phi Phi, rock out under the Full Moon on Ko Phan Ngan and go diving in Ko Tao. Maybe you'll even drop into Malaysia. Maybe not.

But why stick to the major sights? Sure, places like Angkor Wat and Luang Prabang are famous for a reason, but unique and memorable experiences await if you take the initiative to explore a bit further than the average backpacker. Here are some suggestions for those who want to get off the trail:

Bike the Mekong River. Many tour operators offer cycling trips throughout the delta. This is a more adventurous way to see the area than the typical bus/boat pakage tour option. Bike tours take you off roads and into rice paddies and give a face to face experience with the delta. You feel less like a tourist being shuffled from attraction to attraction and more like a traveler. I found http://www.deltaadventuretours.com/ to be a good company. But if you are an experienced biker, why not do it yourself? You can set your own place and see your own sights. Even if you aren't an experienced cyclist, the tour companies set a pace everyone can follow.

Visit a national park in Vietnam. Most people travel to Vietnam and do the typical nature tours of Halong Bay, Sapa, and the Mekong Delta. But Vietnam has a plethora of national parks that allow each traveler to see what I think is the best part of Vietnam- its natural beauty. Most of the parks go unvisited by tourists who stick to the more major destinations but for those who want a better chance to glimpse the rare gibbon, head to the national parks. They offer rewarding scenery, excellent trails, hidden gems, and a little bit of solitude from the masses.
Explore Lopburi, Thailand. Those seeking historical ruins in Thailand tend to focus on the two main sights: Ayuthaya and Sukkothai. While Lobpuri doesn't compare to these places in terms of grandeur, there are some really nice temples here that make the city worth a visit. Most people come as a day tour from Bangkok but those who stay longer can experience a typical, rural Thai town. Enjoy the great night market by the train, watch the school children socialize in the town center, and meander through the town and watch small town, rural Thai life. But watch out for the hyperactive troop of monkeys that roam the city. They are known to grab things right from your hand!

Chill out Kep, Cambodia. This quiet French colonial town is a nice alternative to Sinhoukville, the fast paced, party capital of Cambodia's beach scene. Kep's beaches are equally as nice and you won't find as many people here. You can get to Kep by detouring in Kampot instead of going right to Sinhoukville. This quite town sees less tourists and is generally more Cambodian than Sinhoukville.

Visit the Northeast of Thailand. Sometimes referred to as the Isaan (so named after the style of fiery (and I do mean fiery) food that comes from the area), this area is mostly rice paddies and dusty towns. The poorest region of Thailand is also the least touristed. Most people don't speak English here and there are few major attractions but the area holds a certain charm and gives you a unique view of rural Thai life. The roads are less paved, have fewer tourist services, and won't find as many posh hotels here but you will find Thai life at the local Thai price. Experience travel before all the grunt work was taken out if it. For those looking for real Thailand, this is it. Find a Random Thai Island. Ko Phi Phi, Samui, Phuket, Ko Chang, Ko Tao. You've heard the names. They are amazing islands but also some of the busiest in Thailand. Secluded beach life is hard to come by here. You may find it but only for a fleeting moment. If you really want peace and quiet, find a random island. Thailand has hundreds of islands and, sure, most have some form of tourism but find one that is not in the guidebook and hard to get too and you will find your paradise. Ko Chang has a large chain of islands around it. Most are private and used for dive trips but there are still many to go to that most people never knew existed. Beach paradise is out there, it just takes a little searching. But that's what getting off the path requires.

Meander through Southern Laos. Most people tend to skirt through Laos hitting the major destinations on their way to Vietnam or looping back into Thailand. They see Vien Vieng, Vientiane, Luang Prabang- the major sites. There isn't much to do in Loas and the road is pretty rough so most people skip over the really exciting part- the south. Laos is a rugged land but the south is even more rugged. Don't miss a chance to check out this area, especially the amazing Bay of Islands, a large river delta with over 4,000 islands to see. Who knows maybe you will see the famous pink dolphin before it goes extinct!

Trek in Sarawak/Sabah, Malaysia. Just north of Borneo, Sarawak is rugged Malaysia. Though not completely off the tourist trail (it does see its fair share of tourists), it is still remote. Most people follow the South Asian trail from Thailand to mainland Malaysia and onto Singapore. Many do come over to Sarawak yet not enough to make it on the beaten path. If the mainland is an interstate, this is a small side highway. Here you will find the beautiful Mt. Kinabalu and its surrounding jungles. For those who want to explore their inner Joseph Conrad, this is the place

The Saturday City: Chicago

2008-05-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Chicago was the last stop of my American road trip in 2006. I spent three days there before leaving to explore the rest of the world. I had always heard a lot about Chicago and was excited to finally see the Windy City (named because of the politicians that blow hot air, not for climate!). My friends, Mike and Dustin, had joined me for the weekend and, after some coaxing, agreed to drive my car back to Boston.

The windy city has a long place in American history. Incorporated in 1833, Chicago has played an important part of American history ever since. In 1840, Chicago was the ninety-second most populous city in the United States but it grew so rapidly that twenty years later, it was the ninth largest city in the country. By 1900, Chicago had 1.7 million people in it and was one of the largest in the country. Chicago was the rail link between the west and the east and it's meatpacking industry was the biggest in country. Beef from the plains and Texas and was then cut, packed, and shipped to the rest of the world. However, the notoriously unsanitary conditions of the industry led to the publication of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle and the founding of the FDA.

In 1871, most of the city burned down in the The Great Chicago Fire. Over 300 people died, 18,000 buildings were destroyed, and a 1/3rd of the residents were left homeless. One of the factors contributing to the fire's spread was the abundance of wood buildings and narrow streets. The fire led to strict fire-safety codes that included a strong preference for masonry construction and helped contribute to architectural tradition that has emerged in the city.

Chicago has a lot to offer and is very cosmopolitan. From food to parks to shopping, Chicago has it all. If you like to shop, there's the upscale shopping along the Magnificent Mile, where you can buy from all top designers. Bush wants us to stimulate the economy, right? Well, Chicago is surprisingly a good place to do that at! You'll find everything you need here (and everything you don't need) at prices sure to empty your wallet.

For architectural lovers, Chicago provides a plethora of buildings to see and examine. Chicago is filled with amazing turn of the century buildings mixed with modern architecture. There's the famous Sears Tower, the Chicago Building, The Tribune Tower, The Hancock Tower, and the old Water Tower, one of the few buildings to survive the great fire. The infamous Loop is also great way to see old buildings in the Chicago Style. Chicago's architecture is famous and they are currently continuing to lead the architectural world with developing environmental friendly LEED buildings. Mayor Daley embarked on a campaign to "green" the city a few years ago, starting foremost with their buildings.

For those looking for something more relaxing and entertaining, there's Navy Pier by Lake Michigan, which has shops, restaurants, museums, exhibition halls, and auditoriums and a Ferris wheel! It's one of the most visited landmarks in the Midwest. Also along Lake Michigan is Millennium Park. The huge park has a lot of green space, concert halls, and some serious chess players who will beat you for one dollar. (They beat me for $3!) The park includes the reflective Cloud Gate sculpture ("The Bean"). This was one of the coolest things I saw in Chicago. It reflects the Chicago skyline and makes for great photos! Millennium Park also has an outdoor restaurant, two tall glass sculptures make up the Crown fountain. The fountain's two towers display images of Chicagoans' faces with water spouting from their lips. The park is active year round and one of the highlights of my time in the city.

Finally, Chicago is also famous for it's pizza. Chicago developed the deep dish pizza as well as the stuff crust pizza and no trip is complete without having at least one. The pizza was invented by Pizzeria Uno, which is now a national restaurant chain. Since I can go to a Pizzeria Uno in Boston, my friends and I ate at the equally famous (but local) Gino's and it was very good. Worth all the hype. The pizza is filling meal and I couldn't finish it but it was hot and cheesy.

Chicago is a great city and in my third favorite city in all of America (#1 is Boston, #2 is NYC). A lot of flights route through Chicago O'Hare Airport as it is a major hub. If your flight does go through, I suggest setting some aside to explore the city. Or why not just stay for a few days! You'll enjoy it. Promise.

Carnival of Travel Blogs

2008-05-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

Discovering the blogosphere has been an interesting journey. As I said before, I've met lots of great people who have helped me tremendously. Bloggers like recognition. We like to know that somewhere, someone is reading our stuff. We want to know that our hard work, our labor, is entertaining at least one other person- that it's not in vain.

So today, on this Friday, I'd thought I'd highlight some of my favorite travel blogs and give them the recognition they deserve. I already spotlight a few in my links section, but here are a few more. (I'll be updating my links section to include more blogs in the next few days.)

These are great blogs for travel advice and heart warming stories. Leave comments, stumble them, or subscribe to their feeds. (This is also how you can support me! I'd love to see more people reading on the bench!)

Here's 10 of the many I read on a regular basis:

Almost Fearless- Christine is a fellow Bostonian who is giving up corporate consulting and moving to Barcelona to pursue her dream of writing.

Parisian Spring- An American graduate student exploring all that is French.

Mom says I'm running away- Explorers on a journey through South America, with amazing photos.

Killing Batteries- The blog of Lonely Planet author, Leif Pettersen.

My Marrakesh- A family in Morocco deals with cultural differences and running their own guest house.

Not A Ballerina- Fellow Vagabondish writer and Perth resident, Amanda Kendle shares her travel experiences.

Asian Ramblings- Fellow writer Steve P. shares his stories from China.

Travel Philippines- All the information you'll ever need on the Philippines.

Globe Stompers- A couple gave up the rat race to tour the world for a year. They are currently in New Zealand.

The Wide Wide World- In July, this family is going to travel the whole world together. I can only imagine how great of an experience this would be, especially for their children.

I'll periodically highlight a number of travel blogs I like. This is just the first wave. Read and enjoy. Leave a comment. Subscribe. Show you are there. Show me you are here by doing the same.

Because, like them, I hope that somewhere out there, there's someone...just someone...is reading this.

Joining a Frequent Flier Club

2008-05-22T04:45:00.000-07:00

OK, I admit it. I'm not part of any frequent flier program (FFP). For someone who is such an avid traveler, it's probably a little shocking but I have good reasons. I've always been more concerned with price than brand loyalty so I switch networks and carriers all the time. The lowest price always wins. Moreover, I use a Citibank Premier Pass Credit Card which is a great travel card. I get tons of miles on every flight booked on the card (even if I don't fly it), free companion tickets, and bonus miles all the time. Since I got it in 2005, I've gotten a free flight to Europe and $500 dollars back. Not bad for not even using it in 2007. Already since I've been home, I've earned 26,000 miles.

But with my trip next journey beginning in five weeks, as well as realizing I'll be taking a lot of international flights next year, I decided it was time to bit the bullet and get attached to a program. Another reason I've never really done it before was because all my carriers are spread out over different alliances. Japan Airlines (JAL) is on the Oneworld network while Singapore is on Star Alliance. Malaysia Airlines is also good, Qantas isn't awful, and I'm partial to Air France/KLM. However, Emirates Airline is the carrier that makes me drool. Thinking about them makes me want to fly.

A Quick note on Alliances..
All airlines code share with each other. For example, American Airlines can't fly everywhere so they partner with other airlines to get places. So most companies are part of a network. There's two major networks: Oneworld and Star Alliance.

Oneworld members include: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines (JAL), LAN, Malev, Qantas, Royal Jordanian.

Star Alliance members include: Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, THAI Air, Turkish Airlines, United, US Airways.

Picking one
While sitting in Heathrow Airport last month and being totally annoyed by its inconvenience, I decided joining a FFP would bring one thing I've always wanted: an airline lounge. Airline lounges are often unreachable for the couch flier but, if you are in a rewards program, you can usually get in for free (top tier needed) or at a heavily discounted price. I decided that with my flying increasing, it only makes logical sense to join a FFP. Now, I have to pick which alliance I want to tether myself to so I can enjoy airport lounges as well as earn flier miles.

Star Alliance has a few pro's: Singapore Airlines, SAS, and Air New Zealand. Plus, Lufthansa isn't bad. But it has two major cons: United Airlines and Air Canada. Both Airlines are AWFUL. In fact, I recently flew Air Canada to England and it was one of the worst overseas experiences I've had.

Oneworld is a bit better. It has JAL, Britsh Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. It also has American and I refuse to fly them after a bad experience with them a few years ago and their recent problems with safety.

Emirates, my all time favorite, is part of no network but code shares JAL, a member of Oneworld. Now, I'm not airline expert so I may be wrong but I think this sort of gives me a back door way into the Oneworld network. I can switch miles to JAL and then use their code share agreements to get onto a different carrier. However, I'd like to hear someone who knows the airline rules better opinion on that.

After reviewing the code share arrangements thoroughly, I decided to partner in the Oneworld Alliance. It may have less carriers than Star Alliance but it has more of my favorite airlines. I'm going to join the JAL program because they have code share arrangements with Emirates, Oneworld partners as well as Air France. As for Emirates, I'd wish they would join an alliance so joining their FFP would yield more benefits but since they code share with JAL, I decided to join them too.

I'm still motivated by price in my ticket selection but, now I'll also be looking for miles, so if the price difference isn't more than $75 dollars, I'd go with one of my alliance members.

Another reason to love Traveling

2008-05-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

I recently opened up my inbox to find this:

"Hi Matt, I see you're planning a trip to England in July - if you like to come west to Bristol, do let me know - I'd be happy to host you for a couple of days, show you Bristol & point you in the right direction for the rest of the West Country."

This is another reason why I love traveling. The strangers who are willing to open up their world, and their homes, to you. As I recently wrote on Matador, travel is not only about the places you go but the people you meet along the way. Since starting this blog in March, I've met fascinating people. I've been wandering the blogosphere as much as I've been wandering the world and the people have been great. I've gotten tips on web design, writing, blogging, and site promotion, and have begun to publish some work.

Importantly, thought, I've meet people like the author of this e-mail. People who have no idea who I am but are willing to show me around or put me up in their corner of the globe. So as much as I travel for the places, and their locals, I travel for the travelers.

There's a spirit about them. They are open, they are friendly, they are accepting. They understand you and your vagabond lifestyle more than your office co-workers because they have been there. They know the highs, the lows, the joy, and the pain. They'll jump on a plane with you to fly to Honduras when you need someone to go with and they'll give you names of people in Auckland who will show you around. That's way travel blogs have devout reader communities, sites like Matador are flourishing, and Couchsurfing is booming. Travelers are all about the people.

Travelers want to meet people- any people. They aren't afraid of strangers. In fact, the fact you're a stranger makes it better. I've met two fellow Boston vagabond and, despite only knowing them via e-mail, we'll be heading out to dinner next week. Dinner with complete strangers. Sounds like an amazing time.

But why is this so? Because in order to go out into the world, you need to be open minded. It's the only way to get through the day. In order to make new friends, you need to be hyperactively happy and friendly. OK with finding a roommate on a bus or finding your best friend in a hostel. You look for the better angels in our nature. When I was on bus in Vietnam, I chatted with two Brits for minutes then ended up biking the Mekong Delta with them and seeing them all over. Now, I'll go visit them in England next month. All because I said "hello" when I sat down in my guesthouse. (They've also been really helpful with html code for the website!!)

One of the hardest adjustments I've had back home was the lack of openness in other people. I can see the look on people's faces - "why is he so friendly? what's his alterior motive?" Everyone is taken back by the fact that when I ask "How are you?" I really want more than just "fine," I want your life story. When I go out at night and struck up random conversations, people look for my alterior motive and are sometimes shocked when I have none. Yet those conversations never last long as people here seem to be on their guard. Always protecting themselves from a make believe enemy.

But on the road, once you've made friends, your bonds never seem to break. Facebook, Myspace, and e-mail let you stay in touch with people like never before. So despite not having seen some people in two years and having only meet them for a day, they are eagerly awaiting my arrival in Europe to pick up where we left off. Because that's, just who we are. We're travelers. We want to experience the world and everyone in it.

So travel for the places. Travel for the locals. But don't forget to travel for the travelers. You'll rarely find more opening and welcoming group of people.