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Around the World 40Lonely Planet Bloggers with Intro Can you feel it? This ebook represents the love and passion for travel that bind together Lonely Planet’s amazing travel community. From an experiment born of our Innovation team, the Lonely Planet Blogger program has grown to encompass some of the most experienced travel writers around the globe. The original concept was simple: get the best travel bloggers out there to share their thoughts and ideas with as large an audience as possible. Lonely Planet had the audience and some stunning content, but by inviting in great bloggers we broadened our content offering while exposing these writers and photographers to a new audience. Our mission was to shine a light on the best travel writing and images on the planet. Although conceived as a concept for the Lonely Planet website, this project has left its confines. Our blogging community has taken the concept of the best in travel blogging and run with it, producing an impressive piece of work. It’s been written, designed and distributed by the bloggers themselves. We have been genuinely inspired by their drive, ambition and spirit. We’ve loved seeing this book take shape, and we’re excited to be part of a community that is so united and passionate. We hope you enjoy the ride. The Lonely Planet Editorial Team 2 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Acknowledgements There are so many people to thank for this project, including Lonely Planet and the Bloggers themselves. However, a few deserve to be recognized by name. Thank you to Todd Wassel of Todd’s Wanderings for project managing, editing, and not sleeping much. Managing 40 bloggers perpetually travelling in and out of jungles, cafes, monuments and ruins, and internet free zones (gasp!) could not have been easy. Also, a special thanks to the editors who took time out of their busy travel schedules: Jennifer Hattam of The Turkish Life Katya Marinova of Great Places in Bulgaria Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil of The Planet D Jason Malinowski of Alpaca Suitcase Gail Walter of Uncommon Travel Sash Milne of Barefoot Inked Erin Zeynep Güler-Tuck of Time Out Istanbul in English Cover Photo: Ragne Kabanova of Destination Anywhere Publisher: Lonely Planet Design and layout: Indie Travel Media Ltd Head Designer: Angela Lees | indietravelmedia.com All rights reserved by each author. Unauthorized use or distribution for commercial gain is prohibited. “Managing 40 bloggers perpetually travelling in and out of jungles, cafes, monuments and ruins, and internet free zones (gasp!) could not have been easy.” by Isabel Romano of Diario de a bordo 3 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Gal Vihara, Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka Crafted in the 12th Century by unknown artists, the four massive Gal Vihara Buddhas rest peacefully in Sri Lanka’s ancient capital of Polonnaruwa. Enchanting rock veins sweep easily across their smooth faces and bodies, allowing the statues to at once stand out and remain a part of the surrounding cliff. Todd’s Wanderings www.toddswanderings.com 4 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Blogname www.AWESOMETRAVEL.com Above Ascetic performing water purification, misogi, at the Temple of the Blue Dragon on the Island of Shikoku in Japan. The temple is #36 in the 88 temple Shikoku Pilgrimage. By subjecting oneself to increasing hardships and remaining focused and relaxed, it is believed one can become detached from the bonds that prevent enlightenment. Above Basilica Cistern hidden under Istanbul, Turkey. Todd Wassel American by origin, Global by nature I’m a traveller, writer, and conflict management specialist. My work and travel addiction (over 10 years abroad and counting) takes me all over the world, both on and off the beaten path. Break free from society’s conventions and join me on my travels and adventures. Along the way, we’ll help leave the world a better place, learn to cook amazing foods, and offer advice on how to live a life of purpose and freedom. I’m in love with Japan and consider it my second home. Keep your eyes open as I’m currently writing my first book on walking the 1400 kilometre, 88 Buddhist Temple, Shikoku Pilgrimage in Japan. Above Hindu Gods at Koneswaram Temple in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. Below The amazing power of children, Dili, Timor-Leste. Follow Todd on Twitter @toddwassel Facebook Todd’s Wanderings www.toddswanderings.com 5 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Blogname www.AWESOMETRAVEL.com Above Sunset over Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Top (L to R) Cultural dancer in Chiang Mai, Thailand; Dancer at festival in central India; Couple performs the Danzon in Veracruz, Mexico; Indian server places treats on banana leaves at feast; Hill tribe girl with infant at temple in Thailand. Cultural Travel with Hole In the Donut www.holeinthedonut.com 6 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Blogname www.AWESOMETRAVEL.com Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Top left Maasai warriors at Ngorongoro, Tanzania; Bottom left Pura Ulun Danau Bratan temple, Bali; Bottom right Vernazza Harbour, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera. Barbara Ann Weibel Perpetual World Traveller After years of working at jobs that paid the bills but brought no joy, I walked away from corporate life in 2007 to pursue the only things I’d ever wanted to do: writing, photography, and travel. At age 54, I backpacked around the world solo for six months. Since returning, I have continued to travel extensively and write about my experiences on my blog and for other online and traditional publications. For me, travel is about more than just visiting famous sights. I have always believed that the better we know one another, the less likely we are to want to kill one another. Because I remain convinced that international travel will be the vehicle through which we achieve world peace, I always try to immerse myself in the cultures of the countries I visit. Hole In The Donut www.holeinthedonut.com Facebook Follow Barbara Weibel on @holeinthedonut Twitter 7 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Ottsworld www.ottsworld.com An early morning stroll on Leblon beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil provided a unique scene - pure calm. Rio beaches have the most active and energetic culture around the world; rarely do you find beaches empty. This beach ball vendor sat and waited patiently for customers to show up, enjoying his one moment of peace and quiet. 8 Sherry Ott American wandering the world A place is defined by its people, and this is the reason why I like to photograph them. I study world cultures by capturing people in their everyday, colourful, unique environments. I prefer to travel in countries off the beaten path in order to really experience the country and its culture. Last year my home base was in Saigon, Vietnam. Top left Laos boat racing team practicing for their village competitions. Top right Nomadic life and responsibilities start at a young age in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert. Bottom right Colourful worshipers in Rajasthan, India sing to me as I enter the temple. Bottom left Motorbike culture in Vietnam’s rainy season. Centre left Tokyo vending machines - quick nourishment for a society on the go. Ottsworld Travel and Life Experiences www.ottsworld.com Twitter @ottsworld Follow Sherry on 9 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers AlpacaSuitcase www.alpaca-suitcase.blogspot.com Cusco, Peru According to Catholic legend, San Cristobal carried a solitary baby across a raging river using a long staff for balance. The baby, who had gotten heavier with each step, identified himself as Jesus Christ when they reached the other side and San Cristobal planted his staff into the shore where it grew into a palm tree. The Corpus Christi celebration is a grafting of Pre-Columbian and Catholic cultures. Prior to the conquest the Andean people paraded mummies of the Incas (rulers) around the crowded Plaza de Armas at harvest time. Catholic priests instituted the Corpus Christi celebration and replaced the mummies (which were burnt) with Catholic saints. (read more about Corpus Christi). Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Subscribe to AlpacaSuitcase Above Island of Rhodes, Greece: What happens when your 13-year-old daughter’s quixotic quest to see the 7 ancient wonders of the world threatens to derail the family’s sabbatical? Viewed through the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Rhodes city walls, the tip of Kandraki Harbour is the most probable site for one of those wonders: The Colossus of Rhodes, a 110-foot tall bronze statue of the sun god Helios. (read more about the 7 wonders) Above right Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia: Two miles high in the Bolivian altiplano, from inside a petrified coral cave, cactus plants sprout over the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest and highest salt flat. (read more about the Salar de Uyuni) Right Masai Mara, Kenya: Sometimes chance – in this case a flat tire on our Land Rover in the Masai Mara game park – can throw two cultures together. Our son demonstrates Nintendo DS techniques to Masai tribesmen. (read more about our flat tire) Jason Malinowski & Family AlpacaSuitcase is about a California family that escapes suburbia to volunteer, travel and home school their kids for a year: six months in South America and six months in the Mediterranean. Two decades ago, Mom and Dad separately quit their corporate jobs and backpacked around the world for a few years. Twenty years later, they’re married with two careers, two kids in middle school, one huge mortgage and a bit of mid-life ennui. To further complicate things, they’re mixing in a desire to volunteer, a yen for a “sense of community” in a foreign locale and Mom’s never-ending quest for the kids to be bilingual. Hometown: San Anselmo, California, USA AlpacaSuitcase www.alpaca-suitcase.blogspot.com 11 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Istanbul, Turkey The Boğaziçi köprüsü crosses the Bosphorus in Istanbul and links the European and Asian continents. PocketCultures Topics of the World www.pocketcultures.com 12 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Lucy Chatburn (Co-founder) Raised in the UK, currently in Turkey PocketCultures exists to build bridges between cultures. Our blog unites contributors from all over the world who are passionate about sharing their countries and cultures. For me, travel is about experiencing new cultures. I enjoy soaking up the atmosphere as much as seeing the sites. PocketCultures Topics of the World www.pocketcultures.com Follow PocketCultures on @pocketcultures Twitter Below I visited Bukhara, Uzbekistan at the end of October. The streets were deserted after 8pm, as clear, sunny days turned into extremely cold nights. Below Fish on sale in the Tsukiji wholesale market in Tokyo. This busy market is active almost 24 hours a day. It has experienced problems due to increasing numbers of tourists; you can help by being careful and unobtrusive when you visit. 13 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Are We There Yet? www.globetrottingmamita.blogspot.com Sosúa Beach, Dominican Republic My six-year-old daughter Raymi and my nine-year-old daughter Soraya having fun in the waves. Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers 14 Tanya Golash-Boza Tales from a mother who travels the world with her children From May 2009 to August 2010 I travelled to Jamaica, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil with my husband and three daughters: nine-year-old twins and a six-year-old. My blog chronicles these 14 months. Follow Tanya on @tanyagolashboza Twitter Top left Fort Clarence Beach, Kingston, Jamaica. Bottom left “Faricoccos.” Holy Week Procession in Goiás, Brazil. Top centre On a catamaran, headed to Isla Saona, Dominican Republic. Top right Semuc Champeuy, Guatemala. Centre right Lago Atitlán, The Jewel of Guatemala. Bottom right Paraiso Falls, Guatemala, a hot spring waterfall. Are We There Yet? www.globetrottingmamita.blogspot.com 15 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers La Isla del Sol sits placidly in Lake Titicaca, a short boat trip from the Bolivian town of Copacabana. It is a place where the silence hums, and if you manage a well-timed duck away from your fellow boat passengers, you’ll be able to make the 9km trek along the spine of the island, past pre-Hispanic ruins and heart-pounding vistas of lake and snow-capped peaks, perfectly, blissfully, alone. The Brink of Something Else www.brinkofsomethingelse.com 16 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Camden Luxford A continually restless Australian, currently based in Peru “That life-quickening atmosphere of a busy railway station, where everything is something trembling on the brink of something else.” I’ve never been able to express in words what I love about travel, until I read that Nabokov quote. It’s the sense of continual discovery, of something unknown and unexpected waiting around the next corner. It’s the thrusting chaos of a foreign city where nobody knows me. That ‘something else’ for me right now is getting comfortable in Cusco; I’m opening a hostel, writing and exploring every corner of my adopted home, Peru. Hometowns: Brisbane, Australia; Cusco, Peru The Brink of Something Else www.brinkofsomethingelse.com Left The Andean festival of Qoyllur Rit’i, celebrated in late May, sees community groups, musicians and dancers making a pilgrimage to 4,700 m above sea level, to pay homage to Christ and the Andean mountain deities, Apus, in a curious blend of traditions. Below If you plan to attend the celebrations of the Laotian New Year, be ready to get wet. I celebrated with a local family and development worker – eating, drinking and pouring water over friends, acquaintances and unwary passers-by. @camdenluxford Twitter Follow Cam on Right I’m obsessed with food. All food, from all over the world; the tastes, smells and textures of each country. The street stalls of Mexico were an unforgettable highlight of that trip. 17 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers There are no touts selling tacky souvenirs or pushing you to take an island-hopping tour on this beach. In fact, if you come at the right time, there’s nobody on the entire stretch of sand except you and the caretaker’s family. This little slice of heaven can be found on Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte, Philippines. Just Wandering www.justwandering.org 18 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Nina Fuentes Manila, Philippines Nina has always been interested in travelling, but it was only in 2006 that she started travelling in earnest. Working as a virtual assistant, she takes weekend breaks to explore various places in the Philippines, and longer trips to discover the rest of Asia and Australia. Just Wandering www.justwandering.org Top left A lone fisherman out in the seas surrounding Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos, Pangasinan, Philippines. Below Whether you’re in Singapore or Malaysia, try this local and tourist favorite, Hainanese chicken rice. Above Unmistakably Bangkok: an elaborate Buddhist temple and a candy-pink taxi. @ninawanders Twitter Follow Nina on 19 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Photito A travel journalist’s confessions photito.wordpress.com A red thread... If there is anything such as a red thread going through our travelling, it is a passion for photography. Our eyes are on a constant search for those images that tell a story... From top left Gibraltar has a big Hindu community. • Palma de Mallorca is dotted with real AND graffiti palm trees. • A merry-go-round in the Campo San Polo (Venice). • Whirlwind dance in Istanbul. • Hot gossip in Merzouga (Morocco). • Samba rhythms and ripped tights. • Late-night coffee is a treat in Istanbul. • Costa Vicentina (Portugal) is a surfer’s wet dream. • Costa Vicentina sunset. • Street sign in Chueca, Madrid. • Portuguese post boxes are cuter than most. • Unusual street signs always tell an interesting story – on our way to the Sahara. • Cuban car and communist nostalgia. 20 Spencer & Vibeke Montero We have two children, aged 5 and 8, who take an active part in our travelling. We have British and Norwegian passports, are based in Spain, and are travel journalists for leading Norwegian publications. Photito is a place where we share our surplus material from commissioned work trips. We are passionate about family travel and can’t seem to help ourselves from revealing our secret hideouts from our corner of Spain. Passion for islands, beaches, people with stories, coconuts, Paris, and the Sahara Dislikes mosquitoes, Cuban food, stray dogs, and travel agents stripped of wanderlust Life’s a beach! Andalucian outposts Tarifa and Cabo de Gata are our regular beaches where we indulge in the soft, golden sands, emerald waters, and wide open spaces that make these places unique. We ♥ Punta Paloma in Tarifa (left and left-center) and Playa del Playazo in the Cabo de Gata Nature Reserve (right and right-center). Above Where we go, the kids go: Photos from our journeys through Morocco and Vietnam. Photito A travel journalist’s confessions photito.wordpress.com “One’s destination is never a place but rather a new way of looking at things.” Henry Miller said it (and we agree) 21 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Fishermen in a dug-out canoe gently paddle through the early morning mist on the River Nile, near Jinja. Kampala Days: diary of a muzungu muzungubloguganda.com 22 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Charlotte Beauvoisin Uganda One year in Africa and it’s everything I wanted it to be and more. Good days, bad days; days full of novelty and smiles; days that are one frustration after another, my job as a VSO volunteer with the Uganda Conservation Foundation www.ugandacf.org is my dream job – on paper at least! My blog follows my personal journey, the reality of working in a developing country, Uganda – a country of wonderfully welcoming people. Kampala Days: diary of a muzungu muzungubloguganda.com @CharlieBeau Twitter Follow Charlie on Above It was an honour to meet Theresa and her daughters, subsistence farmers on the boundary of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The 10km trench stops elephants from destroying their crops, and helps promote an understanding for wildlife conservation. Above Sunrise over the clear waters of the River Nile as we wait for the Paraa ferry into Murchison Falls National Park, home to giraffes, elephants and enormous crocodiles. The Falls are awe-inspiring; their power terrified me. Left Pothole in Kampala’s Industrial Area: the ‘small car waiting to cross’ is actually a Toyota Landcruiser, one of the world’s biggest 4 x4 vehicles. Left “You looking at me?” A one-year-old Mountain Gorilla dangles from a branch above us in Bwindi Forest Impenetrable Park. He loved the attention. Uganda is one of the most biodiverse countries on earth. 23 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Starting young: This toddler in Guangzhou, China, learns the concept of independence as she ventures on her own, leaving her mother behind. Being a newbie in a foreign land is like being a kid taking her first baby steps again. But who says you’ll be left on your own? With the advent of technology, you can get assistance from travel bloggers all over the world. The Lonely Planet Blogsherpas are here to guide you on your quest toward world travel. First-Time Travels firsttimetravel.wordpress.com 24 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Claire Marie Algarme Philippines Every seasoned traveler started on the road of exploration as a neophyte. The memory of setting foot in a place for the first time is always special. The feeling of uncertainty adds thrill and spice to the experience. I have travelled all over Asia, crossed the Pacific to the United States, and hope to visit Europe in the near future. First-Time Travels firsttimetravel.wordpress.com @firsttimetravel Twitter Follow Claire on Above A tourist looks out at the magnificent view of Coron Bay in Palawan, Philippines. Top right Trying local food is part of the travel experience. A young girl with her mother buys fruit from a local vendor at the popular landmark Angkor Wat, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Right Religion plays an important role in understanding the local culture of a place. An old man prays at the Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong. Left Explore a new place through various means. A boat ride along the rivers of Singapore shows the sights from a different perspective. 25 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Diario de a bordo www.diariodeabordoblog.com Travelling means learning every day about ancient civilizations and old and brand new habits from other realities, within and outside the conventional circuits. Although it is one of the most interesting places in Luxor, the Tombs of the Nobles is always left out on one-week guided tours. The tombs are a good example of the comforts enjoyed by the Egyptian upper classes in the past. Nowadays, visitors to the tombs are enthralled by the reliefs of the tomb of Ramose, the governor of Thebes and vizier during the reigns of Amenophis III and Akenaton. 26 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Isabel Romano Barcelona, Spain I am a traveller, tourist, writer, and program department assistant at a radio station. I travel whenever I can get some vacation days. For me, travelling is living, comprehending and learning from other realities of our world. I would define my travelling style by saying that I am more comfortable in a cabin in the middle of a tropical forest than at a fancy beach resort. My dream is to travel around the world with no hurry and without a finishing date. Kyoto and Rome are my favorite destinations, but I always come back to my hometown: Barcelona. There is nothing like it! Diario de a bordo www.diariodeabordoblog.com Left Landscapes can never fit in a single picture. Sunrise in White Desert National Park, Egypt, came after spending the whole night counting stars. It does not matter if you are surrounded by the tallest skyscrapers, in the middle of a jungle, or seeing a stunning sunset on the shore of a tiny isle. They just take your breath away. Bottom left The little details are the ones that make the difference. You can see them all around Kyoto. The cutest lucky charm I have ever seen is the Maneki Neko. Left Food. What would life be without it? It is another way to get to know a new country. However, there is a downside. After eating a huge amount of peppers at every meal during a four-day trip to Budapest, now I cannot stand the taste of them! @Diariodeabordo Twitter Facebook Follow Isabel on 27 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Big City Blog www.funnekotter.blogspot.com Amsterdam’s Vondelpark on a sunny November morning. Despite its party image, Amsterdam has all kinds of quiet spots to steal some moments alone or with a partner. A great time is early morning on a weekend, before the weather and the city have had a chance to wake up. 28 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Jeff Funnekotter Amsterdam, Paris, London, New York, etc. Love the energy and variety that big cities have to offer - culture, food, neighbourhoods, every kind of person. Plus all the little hidden spots to claim your own place in the sun. Other favourite places (so far): Malaga, Barcelona, Montreal, Auckland An early morning run along Malaga’s Malagueta Beach. This part of southern Spain is perfect for many reasons - beautiful, sunny, friendly, and cheaper than most of Europe. Above Paris’ Jardin du Luxembourg. Any time of year, this place is a traveller’s dream, for pictures, for inspiration, for chilling. Left London’s Kensington Gardens in mid-December. A perfect bit of tranquility in the middle of the bustling city. Far left Sunset as seen from the Galata Bridge in Istanbul. A great spot to unwind with the chaos of the city just a few steps away. Big City Blog www.funnekotter.blogspot.com 29 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Barefoot Inked www.barefootink.wordpress.com Malaysian Borneo is a playground for nature lovers. In the butterfly farm at Pouring Hot Springs, you can sit amongst the most incredible rainforest whilst enormous butterflies flutter around your head and brush gently against your skin. A clear blue sky and the sound of silence, nature at its most magical. 30 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Sash Milne Australian To travel is to be free… I am young. I eat, I write, I travel and I am humbled every day by what I see. I currently live in a small Muslim fishing village in Indonesia, taking every day as it comes, learning and loving every breath of fresh air and every moment I have here because like everything else in life, nothing lasts forever. Leaving home is easy, it’s the staying once you’ve got there that takes real courage. To truly travel is to find a way to know another place, another culture, and then to have the courage to allow yourself to be truly transformed by it. Be brave, there is a wild world out there waiting for you! Barefoot Inked. From the beaches of Borneo to the dusty streets of Northern India to the lush jungles of Indonesia to the glaciers in Canada, barefoot I’ve walked. With incredible animals, amazing people, rich webs of culture and religion - the world holds surprises for me at every corner. Above Pulau Tiga, Borneo. Right McLeod Ganj, India. Far right Canggur, Indonesia. Barefoot Inked www.barefootink.wordpress.com Come play with me! www.barefootink.wordpress.com 31 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers My favourite time at the Musée du Louvre is at night. Peering out the windows of the Egyptian Wing I snapped this shot of the museum, lit up for the evening. MuseumChick www.museumchick.com Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers 32 Danee Gilmartin NYC/Paris An American MuseumChick has been hatched in Paris. Being an American expat in Paris for a year of adventure has changed me in many ways, one - I was inspired to start my blog, “MuseumChick”. Another way Paris has changed me is 10 extra lbs. on my rump, but that would be an “I love French cheese” blog. Along with being an expat, I’m a recent MA Museum Studies grad so it seemed like a perfect fit to start a museum and culture oriented blog. When I travel, I always look for local art and make it a goal to visit museums. Museums are important to stimulate local economies and promote multiculturalism and I find that to get into a community’s soul it is important to engage yourself in its art. Left The Eiffel Tower at sunset from my apartment Right The Musée du Louvre at sunset The sunsets in Paris are vibrant and always inspire me to take a picture, especially when the sun is setting over the majestic buildings. @MuseumChick Twitter Follow MuseumChick on MuseumChick www.museumchick.com 33 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Trans-Americas Journey www.trans-americas.com The tent zipper was frozen when we woke up in Denali National Park and Preserve on one of the last mornings of the season, but the sky was cloudless so we drove down dirt roads outside the park until we found this view of Mount McKinley, aka Denali. No matter what you call the highest mountain in North America, it rarely shows its summit so clearly and completely. We shared our photo spot with an Alaskan who’d called in sick and driven from Anchorage for the rare chance to see the usually cloud-shrouded peak of one of the most iconic mountains in the world. Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers 34 Karen Catchpole & Eric Mohl Welcome to the Mother of All Road Trips! Our five-year 200,000+ mile working road trip through North, Central and South America is our way of redefining the way we work as freelance travel journalists (Eric is a photographer and Karen is a writer) and a way to discover our own backyard—The Americas. We’re driving, writing, photographing, eating, talking and blogging our way from North of the Arctic Circle in Alaska down to Tierra del Feugo (and everything in between). We’re taking our time and taking it in. We believe plan is a four letter word but slow isn’t and we invite anyone who agrees to follow along. The Trans-Americas Journey isn’t a trip. It isn’t even a journey. It’s a way of life on wheels. Trans-Americas Journey www.trans-americas.com @TransAmericas Twitter Follow the Trans-Americas Journey on Right Don Jesus, in the background, is a ranching legend and the owner of Hacienda La Labor in Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico. During lunch in his formal dining room he sits proudly at the head of the table as one of his sons serenades us and a grandson asks his advice about roping. A girl celebrates sunset in Sayulita—just an hour away from Puerto Vallarta but a world away, this town is one of our favourite beach hangouts in Mexico. Above Cowboys scramble into the arena to compete for the big bucks at the annual Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada—part country fair, part daredevil convention. 35 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers This is Elmina Castle on Ghana’s coast, the oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa. The Portuguese laid the foundations in 1482 and Elmina became the centre of trade for 400 hundred years. An estimated 7 million slaves passed through this fort under the Portuguese, Dutch and British. The arched doorway below is the entry to the male dungeons. The “door of no return,” from which slaves stepped from Africa forever, is on the far side of that wall. Ghana Guide and Blog gisforghana.blogspot.com 36 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Gayle Pescud Ghana, Africa While fluent in Japanese, Gayle can haggle and declare true love in Fanti, French, Twi, Frafra, Hausa, and Korean. She has survived countless bouts of malaria, rabies, and a taxi robbery fiasco alone in Ghana during which she not-so-calmly persuaded the three male assailants to return all her stolen possessions! @gaylepescud Twitter Follow Gayle Pescud on Above “How you doin?” That incorrigible, million dollar attitude from one of the least privileged children in Ghana. Even afternoon walks, as this was, can bring wonders. Left A young craftswoman from Bolgatanga, near the Burkina Faso border, weaves baskets from recycled plastic rubbish and cloth in an innovative, income- generating project. Left top Two boys from opposing parties perform for “peaceful elections” in Cape Coast, Ghana. Left bottom Two cheeky children ask me to “snap” them on the streets of Cape Coast during elections. Ghana Guide and Blog gisforghana.blogspot.com 37 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers ginger beirut www.gingerbeirut.com This jaunty beach-side vendor strides across the sand with what looks like all his worldly possessions: a bundle of candyfloss. Just up the coast well-to-do city types pour into private beach resorts, their four-wheel drives, packed with trappings to be ferried back and forth by domestic help. 38 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Georgia Paterson Dargham Beirut, Lebanon As an outside observer in this indecently inspirational city, my interest is in the engrossing mores and manners of local society and my aim is to get under the skin of the Lebanese. This tiny country is a land of optimism against the odds, of undying promise and constant renewal. It is a land of faith and hedonism, of exhibitionists and traditionalists. In my writing and photos I try to make sense of these many contradictory faces and the interaction between them. Above In Beirut, where first world meets third world, war is a constant threat which locals must live with, but also learn to ignore, as the nose of this luxury car indicates. Right A local woman spring- cleans a Maronite shrine in the dark as her maid watches on. Most middle-class Lebanese families have live-in maids do all their cleaning. Here for once the roles are altered. Perhaps the maid is deemed unfit to wash the feet of the Virgin or perhaps the mistress is doing penance. Below In the port of Tripoli a young man renews the hot coals on his water pipe. The ritual of an afternoon break in public space on plastic chairs is a testimony to the cultural importance of communal relaxation. ginger beirut www.gingerbeirut.com 39 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers The Silent I glenniacampbell.typepad.com We marveled at the enormous icebergs in the bay near Illulisat, Greenland, floating mountains of ice from a nearby glacier cast out to sea. My son wanted to touch a piece of a glacier, so he ventured down the rocky shoreline to the water’s edge. He was delighted to find chunks of ice that had washed onto the shore, and brought a piece to show me. “Look, Mom!” he exclaimed. “I can hold a glacier in my hand!” 40 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Glennia Campbell Korean-American living in California As a family travel writer, I want people to know that your wanderlust doesn’t have to end when you give birth. Children add a rich dimension to your experience of a place, opening a whole world of kindness from strangers that you might not otherwise experience. Children open your eyes to the nuances of how life differs in a new place, and how many similarities we share with people around the world. The love we have for our children is a universal emotion, one that transcends culture and place. Each of the 25 countries we’ve visited as a family presented new joys and challenges. Our travels became a part of who we are as individuals and as a family. We hope our son grows up understanding there are wonderful people and places to discover in every corner of the world. Hometowns: Palo Alto, California; Austin, Texas; Germantown, Ohio; Seoul, Korea. glenniacampbell.typepad.com The Silent I @glennia Twitter Follow Glennia on Top Leptis Magna, near Tripoli, Libya. We roamed among the ancient Roman ruins, through endless marble statuary, pillars, and stones that were thousands of years old. Bottom The Tapati Festival in Easter Island, Chile is an annual event in which family groups help young women compete for the title of Island Princess. The competitions range from singing traditional Rapa Nui songs to horseback riding to arts & crafts. At the horse race, the local chief took a shine to our boy, age 3 �. Above Running through a sheep meadow, down a narrow pathway through verdant fields of Scotland, a tiny child’s vision of paradise. Right Approaching the Forbidden City in Beijing, China on a cold, wet November day. The misty fog gave the city a mysterious air, but the people could not have been more warm and hospitable. 41 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Great Places in Bulgaria www.truebulgaria.wordpress.com Nestinari dance barefoot over smoldering embers. The ritual is a unique mixture of Eastern Orthodox beliefs and ancient pagan traditions. It is performed on the day of Sts. Constantine and Helen. The right to perform the dance is hereditary and the head nestinar may only be succeeded by his or her son or daughter. The dance is accompanied by the beat of the sacred drum and the sound of a bagpipe. It is believed that the dancers reach a religious state of trance, which explains why their feet don’t burn and they don’t feel pain. The authentic ritual is still performed in the villages in the Strandzha Mountains of Bulgaria. 42 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Katya Marinova Photographs by Kiril Kaloyanov I am a Bulgarian who has lived and traveled abroad. I now live in Bulgaria and keep a blog about alternative tourism, featuring the most beautiful places in Bulgaria that you won’t find in brochures or tourist guides. Kiril Kaloyanov is a young photographer who strives with his work to represent Bulgaria with its gorgeous scenery and its culture rich in old traditions kept alive by the people. Great Places in Bulgaria www.truebulgaria.wordpress.com Above An old man leads goats out onto the grass at the very northwest end of Bulgaria, close to the town of Kula. Right During Kukeri – a curious Bulgarian ritual that takes place around the New Year and before Lent – young men dress in hairy, beast-like costumes, put bells around their waists, and dance through the village (usually before sunrise) to scare evil spirits away and to call for a good harvest, health, and happiness. This beautiful tradition has been gaining more and more popularity in recent years. Above The Eye and the Kidney: Two of the famous Seven Rila Lakes, high mountain lakes located on Rila Mountain, Bulgaria, between 2,100 and 2,500 metres above sea level. The beautiful legend of the Sleeping Giant tells the story of how the lakes came to be: They were formed from the tears of a heartbroken female giant who lost her young husband when he died in battle with evil forces. 43 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers HELLO, PINEAPPLE? www.tuckjoetuck.blogspot.com EZ and I watch the sunset in The Western Desert, Egypt. So much of travelling is saying ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ to new people, places and experiences everyday. One day bleeds into the next and rarely does the traveller even know the date. The sunrises and sunsets are the only phenomena that tie the trekker’s extended trip together. I thought I would share some of my favourite dusks and dawns. (Pictures below were taken by EZ and I on our Canon G9). 44 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Joe Tuck Canadian citizen, living in Istanbul I am a storyteller. I have written and produced award- winning feature-length and short films and also enjoy sharing my non-fiction stories of time spent abroad. My wife and I are constantly dreaming up, planning out and embarking on new adventures. We love to meet and share life with people from every continent. We strive to find truth in, what is at times, a world full of mixed messages and confusion. While remaining positive, supporting each other and maintaining our collective sense of humour, we look forward to the next big adventure. My favourite countries (so Far): Turkey, Vietnam, Scotland, Tanzania, CANADA… Above The sunset behind Aya Sofia and the Blue Mosque, taken from the Asian side of Istanbul at the Kadikoy Pier. The day was smoggier than usual, tinting the sky a sandy shade of brown. Left The sunset from the banks of the Mekong River, Luang Prabang, Laos. Below Centre Taken from the Mont Blanc Bridge, the sunrise behind Geneva, Switzerland. Below Right Paris. Sunset. Montmartre. ‘Nuff said. HELLO, PINEAPPLE? www.tuckjoetuck.blogspot.com 45 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers The Hussainity Defense www.hussainitydefense.com Named by sailors as their first view of home, the Picos de Europa, Spain, has so little tree cover, the sunlight gives the landscape a Technicolor glow, distracting travellers from the actual severity of the hikes. And for the non-outdoorsmen, its free-range grazers are what make Asturian dairy and charcuterie products so famous and tasty. 46 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Benita Hussain Brooklyn, New York, USA As a former child actress-turned lawyer, I seized the chance to travel for 7 months and revisit my long-neglected hobbies: writing, photography, and surfing. The result was a collection of stories about the type of encounters and outdoor adventures I could never have had without letting go of the fear that can paralyze us all. I realized that life can be extraordinary and you can be the person you always wanted to be if you allow it and keep a good sense of humour along the way. Best places ever: Skagen (Denmark), Porto & Lisbon (Portugal), off-season Ibiza (Spain), Basque Region (Spain/France), Okavango Delta (Botswana), Berlin (Germany), Long Beach Island (New Jersey, USA). My 2 months with friend & big-wave surfer Edwin Salem in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica, was my most physically-taxing but spiritually-rewarding experience. @hussainity Twitter Follow Benita on Above So remote is my ancestral village in Noakhali, Bangladesh, curious children seemed to appear out of nowhere, trying to catch a glimpse of a rare visitor. Made of the largest migratory dunes in North Europe, the landscape of Rabjerg Mile, near Skagen, Denmark, is a strange juxtaposition of sand against evergreens against the blue tumult of the North Sea. The Hussainity Defense www.hussainitydefense.com 47 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers I Moved to Africa imovedtoafrica.blogspot.com Gabon is in Equatorial Africa, part of the Congo Basin. It is covered with rainforest, sparsely populated, and home to a plethora of flora and fauna. The coastline features beautiful, untamed beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. 48 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Bret Itskowitch Gabon, Africa Faced with difficulties during the recession, I packed it up and moved to Gabon, on the west coast of Africa. I spent the last year travelling, volunteering, making friends, and experiencing expat life. Visit my blog to find out more. Hometown: New York City I Moved to Africa imovedtoafrica.blogspot.com Above and Right The boys at Arc en Ceil, a local orphanage in Libreville, Gabon, that combats human trafficking. Bottom It wouldn’t be Africa without elephants, which are abundant in Gabon. Above Roads don’t always exist; lush rainforests are separated by savannahs. Right, top A local entrepreneur. 49 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Inside the Travel Lab www.insidethetravellab.com Venice creates striking masks, like this one, for its traditional Carnevale each spring. Inside the Travel Lab looks behind the mask. 50 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Abigail King Exploring the art and science of unusual journeys I’m a journalist with a passion for travel and a background in neuroscience and emergency medicine. Inside the Travel Lab is about seeing the world through new eyes. It brings you fresh global stories to inject some curiosity about the rest of the world and invites you to experiment and expand your horizons. Inside the Travel Lab www.insidethetravellab.com Left An underground tango hall in Buenos Aires, home to this tough, passionate dance. Below left The abundance of dolphins and whales off the coast of the Canary Islands has saved fishermen’s livelihoods. Below centre With only 4,000 tigers left in the world, the conflict between conservation and poaching continues in India’s Ranthambore National Park. Below right A monkey explores the steaming water of an onsen in Japan. @insidetravellab Twitter Follow Abi on 51 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers A L A D Y I N L O N D O N www.aladyinlondon.com 52 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Julie The adventures of a 20-something Californian living in London and travelling around the world. Location: London Travel Philosophy: Never check a bag. Favourite Places: Bagan, Myanmar; San Sebastian, Spain; Cartagena, Colombia @aladyinlondon Twitter Follow A Lady in London A L A D Y I N L O N D O N www.aladyinlondon.com Clockwise from top left London’s South Bank, Pirogue in Bamako, Great Wall of China, Parisian market. Previous page Paternoster Square, London 53 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers La Tortuga Viajera www.latortugaviajera.com Nothing excites me like immersing myself in the diverse cultures of Spain and beyond. One recent weekend, I dedicated myself to becoming a shepherd for a day in the countryside of Soria. Above, a dense herd of sheep grazing the vast rolling hills of northern Spain (shortly followed by me being caught in a near-stampede!). 54 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Facebook Follow La Tortuga Viajera on Left A grandpa and grandson peacefully watercolor the famous walls of Ávila. Above One of the many storks’ nests awkwardly perched in strange places. This one, in Jarandilla de la Vera, takes the prize. A shepherd slowly makes his way across a Madrid valley with his herd, trusted canines, and one lone black sheep. Erin Ridley Spain and beyond Getting to know each nook and cranny of any given culture is what sustains me. I’ve spent the last three years navigating every corner of Spain with my reliable tour guide – my Spanish fiancé. Along the way, I have chronicled my journey through the country and its top spots, best- kept secrets, culture, and cuisine. Hometown: San Francisco La Tortuga Viajera www.latortugaviajera.com These young boys seem to capture the essence of coastal life in Cascais, Portugal… and it doesn’t appear to be too rough. 55 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Travel to South Korea Travel with LeX Paradise lexparadise.blogspot.com Busan Sea Festival! The most crowded beach that I’ve ever been to! You can see there are a lot of people and umbrellas all along the beach right? This is quite amazing! Unbelievable! When you walk down there, you can see many sexy girls and guys lying under the umbrellas, running around and playing in the sea; even at noon in very hot weather! 56 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Tan Yih Liang (LeX) Travel through South Korea with Lex Paradise A Malaysian University student who became world travel addicted after being in South Korea for some time. “LeX, the student traveller.” He travels almost every week to festivals, cultural villages, concerts, industry visits, hiking, beaches and more. LeX Paradise blog was established to share the latest events and amazing travel experiences happening in South Korea. LeX is looking forward to travelling to other regions of the world in the near future. LeX Paradise lexparadise.blogspot.com Boryeong Mud Festival! (left) When you think of the word MUD, first impression is dirty. However, mud can be very good for your skin! Why not treat your skin with mud. Be sure to visit the Mud Festival, the best festival in South Korea! Ceramic Village! (right) Want to make a souvenir for yourself before you go home? Why not make your own pottery? There will be an instructor to guide you to make your own personal keepsake! Daecheon Beach Gyeryeongsan Ginseng Wine in Geumsan Insam Festival! Searching for Ginseng products? This is the best festival for you to visit! You will learn about the various uses of ginseng! Chungcheongnam-do@LeXParadise Twitter Facebook Follow Lex on 57 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Malaysia Asia malaysia-asia.my Rawa Island or locally known as Pulau Rawa which sits off the coast of eastern Johor state in Peninsular Malaysia. This is truly one of the few hidden gems of Malaysia where everything is picture postcard perfect. Only two accommodations are available: one a high-end resort and the other a backpacker lodge. They are happily married to each other and share an amazing, white-sand beach. 58 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers @MalaysiaAsia Twitter Facebook Follow David on David Hogan Jr Malaysian travel writer I’ve been travelling since I left school in 1987 where my first-ever travel destination was Bangkok, Thailand. Ever since then, I have visited almost every corner of the world in the last 23 years of casual traveling. My fascination with travel writing started back in 2003 with the once popular Virtual Tourist site and it was only in 2009 that I took my writings to the next level. In the last few years, I have been focusing my travels and writings around Malaysia and Southeast Asia hence Malaysia Asia. Malaysia Asia malaysia-asia.my Above An Orang Ulu master craftsman poses with his handmade Sape, (a guitar like instrument) in front of a traditional Orang Ulu mural painting on the longhouse. This was taken at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong, Kuching. Right An elderly man cycles past the Lake Gardens of Taiping in Perak, Malaysia. Taiping is also known as the City of Everlasting Peace. Left Stunning sunset taken from the top of the Tempurung Lodge at Kuala Penyu in Sabah Borneo which is two hours drive from Kota Kinabalu. A place to visit if you like solitude and natural beauty. 59 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Matthew’s Travel Blog My thoughts on everything matthewted.blogspot.com Squid boat, Koh Samui. This was taken on Choeng Mon beach, on the northeastern tip of Koh Samui. This is a very popular island with plenty to do for a family trip. 60 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Matthew Tedstone UK and Thailand These days I’m a family traveller, with a wife and two kids. I believe that travel is an essential part of a child’s upbringing. Exposure to different cultures prepares you for the big wide world. Above all though, kids want to have fun! Top left My favourite beach in Thailand, White Sands Beach on Koh Samet. This place has it all for me, close to Bangkok, quiet during the week, good choice of restaurants, beautiful sand and clear waters. This is another wonderful place for kids and adults alike. Beautiful sunset at Rayong (Bottom left) This is one of my favourite getaways in Thailand. Although it’s a busy port, it is little visited as a holiday destination. The result is great facilities, plenty to do but all without the crowds Palm trees on Kamala Beach, Phuket (right) Phuket has a mixed reputation, totally underserved in my opinion. Sure there is the sleaze of Patong, but that’s just Patong. It’s a big island and as you can see here, stunningly beautiful. There’s so much to do here, there are busy, built up beaches and quieter beaches (like Kamala). You’re never too far from some action and Phuket, being an international destination has international standard facilities. Don’t believe the rumours, give Phuket a try I think you’ll love it! Matthew’s Travel Blog My thoughts on everything matthewted.blogspot.com 61 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers No Hurry Curry nohurrycurry.wordpress.com Several tiny members of our group prepare for a day trekking the Big Ice of Perito Moreno glacier near El Calafate, Argentina. A seemingly infinite number of crevasses, ponds and waterfalls make up this endless mass of ice, which moves outward at a pace of up to seven feet each day. 62 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Kevin Curry and Zhou Zhang Hometown: Virginia, USA We are two young Americans who quit our jobs, got married and embarked on a honeymoon around the world, carrying just our two small backpacks. Ten months, six continents and 28 countries later, we have returned home. We can now say that this past year was the most unique, awe-inspiring and educational year of our lives. Some of our favourite experiences not pictured include tracking mountain gorillas in Uganda, petting baby pandas outside of Xi’an, China, and spending a week on beautiful Easter Island. Far left Sitting perilously in the Devil’s Pool on the edge of Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia. Centre left Testing the viewer’s depth perception: Zhou stands on four miniature Travel Scrabble tiles in Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. Above Jumping out of a plane 12,000 feet above Taupo, New Zealand. No Hurry Curry nohurrycurry.wordpress.com Below Standing proudly at Thorong La Pass, the 5,416-metre high climax of the 16-day Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal. 63 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Destination Anywhere www.sshiksa.blogspot.com The Longsheng Rice Terraces in China are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountain top, the highest part being 880m in elevation. Superb view is opening to you from the top and it’s well worth the climb. 64 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Ragne Kabanova Estonia I’m a friend, wife, traveller, backpacker, couchsurfer, but most of all a photography aficionado. Travelling is my passion and travel photography an ultimate high Down left Delicious Caprese salad with mozzarella and fresh basil, Toscana, Italy Up left Man enjoying a smoke in the Fes medina (old town), Morocco Top Ruins of an ancient Mayan city of Palenque, Mexico Up right Close-up to an old vintage Chevrolet on the streets of Havana, Cuba Down right Go-go girls waiting for clients in a typical night bar in Pattaya, Thailand Destination Anywhere www.sshiksa.blogspot.com 65 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Sophie’s World www.sophiesworld.net One of my favourite crazy places is Portmeirion, a beautiful seaside village in Wales conceived by eccentric architect and conservationist Sir Clough Willliams-Ellis. In Portmeirion, there’ s magic around every corner; golden statues on tall pedestals, fountains, pools, secret grottos, gargoyles, a Gothic pavilion, a gazebo, a bandstand, a giant golden Buddha in a temple, trees and flowers in vibrant, lush colours. 66 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers @SophieR Twitter Follow Anne-Sophie on Anne-Sophie Redisch Based in Drammen, Norway I’m a traveller, writer, dreamer, negotiator and mum wandering the world, mostly with my kids, sometimes solo. There’s nothing quite like hopping off a train in a new city. My youngest daughter was born in Fujian, so China is naturally a cherished country. Other fave areas of the world include the Middle East and the Polar regions. I’m drawn to far-off islands and dream of visiting St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Jan Mayen, South Georgia.... In a dream, I travel up the Nile in a dahabiya. It’s 1880; no air conditioner, no mobile phones buzzing; just birds chirping. The occasional croc dips below the water in the midday heat... Just 10 minutes from home is Kjøsterudjuvet, a ravine formed during the last Ice Age. It’s an excellent hike through ancient vegetation and steep walls... Above Norfolk Island: once Britain’s worst penal colony, now home of the descendants of the Bounty mutineers. This lovely little island could be the most haunted place in the Pacific. Left On Elephantine Island, I met this beautiful Nubian shop girl. Sophie’s World www.sophiesworld.net 67 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers The Turkish Life theturkishlife.blogspot.com CLIMB ON WHATEVER YOU CAN. “Safety first” is an unknown concept in Turkey, where “Allah korusun” (Let Allah protect) is the main rule of the road. This can be a bit scary at times, but take advantage of the freedom of a non- lawsuit-happy culture to sit by the open door on a hot bus, party at a precarious Istanbul rooftop bar, or clamber over crumbling old ruins that would surely be roped off elsewhere. Istanbul’s little visited Yedikule fortress, shown here, is a good bet for the latter. 68 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers @ TheTurkishLife Twitter Follow Jennifer on Jennifer Hattam San Francisco girl living in Istanbul I’m a career journalist who loves sitting at makeshift roadside bus stops, poking through the obscure collections of dusty museums, photographing run-down buildings, having fumbling conversations in Turkish, and gazing out the window at everything and nothing. In addition to my two “hometowns,” I have particularly fond travel memories of Grenada, Spain; Guanajuato, Mexico; Berlin; New York; Wellington, New Zealand; and beach towns just about anywhere. CAMELS OVER OIL ANY DAY. While camel and oil wrestling are both well worth watching, the camels have by far the better outfits, and a much more entertaining scene on the sidelines. Next up, cirit! EMBRACE THE AEGEAN. The Mediterranean is Turkey’s tourism hotspot, but for a more relaxed pace and just as beautiful (if a bit colder) waters, my money’s on the North Aegean. “Summer” doesn’t start until July, so you can have gorgeous June in sweet little spots like Ayvalık, Bozcaada, and Assos (above) practically all to yourself. BUY INTO THE BASKET. If you ever find yourself living in Istanbul for a while, look for a street-facing apartment within shouting distance of a bakkal (corner store). Then you can shop the old-fashioned way: call out your order and have it delivered to a basket (right) you dangle out your window and drop down to the ground. DON’T FEAR DİYARBAKIR. Turkey’s Southeast gets a bad rap, but it’s one of the most rewarding places to travel. The Turkish Life theturkishlife.blogspot.com 69 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Canada’s Adventure Couple www.theplanetd.com BOW LAKE, BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA A chilly early morning at the bottom of the Bow Glacier in Banff National Park. The mist rises slowly and hangs just above the water. With the sun just hitting the peak it made for the perfect serene moment where you can forget everything and just be. 70 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers @theplanetd Twitter Facebook Follow The Planet D on Canadians Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil The World is one big adventure playground and we are out here experiencing everything it has to offer. We want to prove to other would-be travellers that you don’t have to be superhuman to be an adventurer. “Anyone Can Do it!” Top Left Himalayas, Nepal, Top Center Sand Dunes, Peru, Top Right Longtail Boats, Thailand, Right Poppy Fields, France, Above Goa Sunset, India Canada’s Adventure Couple www.theplanetd.com 71 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Tie Dye Travels www.tiedyetravels.com The working undertow wheel and grist mill at War Eagle, AR. The mill in its incarnations has been grinding grain on and off for 170 years. 72 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Facebook Follow Kat on Kat Robinson Arkansawyer full of wanderlust In 2007 I was a burned out overworked television producer. I left a certain future and the security that went with it to chuck it all and follow my childhood dream of becoming a full time writer. Outside the confines of a newsroom I discovered a whole world that the mainstream media never touches; a world full of strange places, interesting people and intriguing stories. Through my blog, I discovered I could share every experience from a neophyte’s point of view. Even now, three years later, I still fell the thrill and excitement of every moment in this stage of existence. Today entries on Tie Dye Travels appear as syndicated articles in several local and regional publications, and the food blog I’ve been blessed to write for the Arkansas Times (Eat Arkansas) is my state’s most popular food blog. Tie Dye Travels www.tiedyetravels.com Above A shed in the remains of Booger Hollow Trading Post. The tourist trap once visited by three live network crews in a day during the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign is now a rotting ruin along Arkansas Scenic Highway Seven. Centre right The hard working crew at The Box in Little Rock, slinging burgers to the lunchtime crowd. The restaurant closed and prepared to move in June 2010. Far right A regular enjoys his burger at Shreveport’s famed Strawn’s Eat Shop. The eatery is best known for incomparably delicious strawberry pie. 73 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Uncommon Travel A whiff, a fragment, a feeling… www.uncommontravelblog.com Vietnam, Halong Bay Life that floats on these timeless, turquoise waters 74 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers @uncommontravel Twitter Follow Gail Walter on Gail Walter I write about random, sometimes unravelled travel. What stays with me, more than any one detail, is an overall sense of a place. This is what I try to convey in Uncommon Travel, those moments when you think: “Ah, I am HERE!” I travel to Vietnam, China, Thailand, South Africa, Australia, Europe and the USA. I grew up in South Africa and am currently based in Boulder, a beautiful little college town in the foothills of the Rockies. Above Guangzhou, China: Business as usual down ancient alleys unchanged for centuries. Above Montreal, old but still shimmering with life. Below Wild Coast, South Africa. Miles of undulating, white sands, unspoiled wilderness. Uncommon Travel www.uncommontravelblog.com 75 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers UnpoppedCollar www.unpoppedcollar.com Sure, there’s a tram that will take you to the top of Ulriken in Bergen, Norway, but our decision to hike up instead rewarded us with beautiful scenes like this one. 76 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers @TheBudak Twitter Follow Alex Budak on Alex Budak Washington, D.C. From teaching kids in India to playing Ultimate Frisbee to surviving an overnight train in Russia, I travel to experience new places, cultures and traditions, all while focusing on my passion for social entrepreneurship. UnpoppedCollar www.unpoppedcollar.com Clockwise from top right: 1) The colours of India 2) A San Francisco evening 3) The Seine at twilight 4) Volunteering with children in India 77 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers vagabondcouple.com The Sun Still Shines Revellers in Buenos Aires celebrate Argentina’s first victory in the 2010 World Cup group matches. Heavy rain did nothing to hamper their spirits. DIARIES OF A VAGABONDING COUPLE 78 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Glenn & KF Hometown: Hong Kong Bankers gone backpackers. Our global financial careers allowed us to live and work in Asia, Europe and North America, but that wasn’t enough. In 2010, we left everything behind to chase our dreams of vagabonding the world and capturing it in photography. Our journey began in Latin America where we travel overland from Mexico to Brazil. As we edge closer to our final destination (Hong Kong) we traverse the lands of Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Siberia. Come join us and see the world through our lens! © vagabondcouple.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction prohibited. Top Volcano Licancabur and the dramatic backdrop of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile Above Rainbow mountains – the colours of Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina Left The blindingly white salt desert of Uyuni, Bolivia DIARIES OF A VAGABONDING COUPLE vagabondcouple.com 79 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Vagobond www.vagobond.com 80 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers @Vagobond Twitter Follow Vago Damitio on Vago Damitio Nationality: USA Location: Fez, Morocco but that could change at any moment. I believe that travel is a liminal state. We spend our lives regretting the past, looking forward to the future, and missing the present. Travel puts us as much in the now as we can be, especially rough travel on a limited budget. I am a writer, blogger, web consultant, English teacher, kayak guide, laborer, dish washer, philosopher, and hustler. I do what I have to, even having stooped so low to be a stock broker at one point in my life before I realized those chains were too heavy. Money has never been my number one priority. Hometowns: Bellingham, WA and Kailua, HI Favorite places: Abandoned houses, deserted beaches, desolate mountain peaks, and crowded cities where no one notices me. Previous page a young woman feels the winds of Islam changing at Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca while three older women watch her with disapproval and envy. On this page: Above My Moroccan wife and I had a traditional Berber wedding in the Sahara. Right: In Spain, Jesus seems to appear behind bars quite often. Lower Right What could be sexier than a Venus up-skirt at New York City’s Met? Below Tempers often flare at the sheep market before Eid al Khber in Morocco. Lower Left It’s not easy to get across Canada with just $4 Canadian, but it is certainly an adventure. Vagobond www.vagobond.com 81 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Velvet Escape www.velvetescape.com/blog Bali is one of my favourite holiday destinations. Hospitable people, a rich, multi-faceted culture, gorgeous beaches, stunning sunsets, a breathtaking hinterland, and delicious food make Bali a perfect place to unwind, indulge, and explore, all at your own pace. The photo below was taken at one of my favourite beach restaurants, the Beach House on Echo Beach in Canggu. Awesome grilled seafood and a magnificent sunset! 82 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Keith Jenkins Amsterdam I’m a travel blogger who’s visited more than 60 countries across 6 continents. After 10 years in banking, I quit my job, travelled the world, and started the Velvet Escape blog, a move that has changed my life and me as a person. It’s an amazing journey and I’m cherishing every moment! To me, travel is about enjoying a different rhythm, exploring and experiencing new places and cultures, and engaging with the locals and fellow travellers. Travel is the ultimate source of inspiration. Go explore. Experience. And be inspired. Top left Mt. Otemanu, Bora Bora, French Polynesia. Bottom left Lago Grey, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. Bottom centre Bayon Temple, Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Bottom right Murals of Valparaiso, Chile. @velvetescape Twitter Follow Keith on Velvet Escape www.velvetescape.com/blog 83 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Todd Wassel | Todd’s Wanderings toddswanderings.com Travel, Adventure and Advice from over 10 years on the road…and counting. @toddwassel facebook.com/toddswanderings Barbara Ann Weibel Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel holeinthedonut.com Discovering the world, one culture at a time. @holeinthedonut facebook.com/holeinthedonut Sherry Ott | Ottsworld www.ottsworld.com Travel and Life Experiences of a Corporate American Runaway. @ottsworld leaott@yahoo.com Jason | AlpacaSuitcase alpaca-suitcase.blogspot.com California family abandons suburbia to volunteer, travel and homeschool their kids, in South America and the Mediterranean. RSS feed on Facebook Lucy Chatburn | PocketCultures pocketcultures.com The world in your pocket: world cultures explored by writers from all over the world. @pocketcultures facebook.com/pocketcultures Camden Luxford The Brink of Something Else brinkofsomethingelse.com A blog about travels, and the end of travels... building a life in Cusco, Peru facebook.com/BrinkOfSomethingElse Tanya Golash-Boza | Are we there yet? globetrottingmamita.blogspot.com Stories from a mother of three school-age kids who travels the world whenever she gets a chance. @tanyagolashboza tanyaboza@gmail.com Nina Fuentes | Just Wandering justwandering.org Wandering in the Philippines, Asia and Australia. @NinaWanders JustWandering on Facebook 84 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Vibeke Montero | Photito photito.wordpress.com A travel journalist’s confessions. vibeke@photito.com stumbleupon.com/stumbler/vibeke21/ Isabel Romano | Diario de a bordo www.diariodeabordoblog.com All the useful details and secrets of my travels exposed so that you can follow my steps easily. @Diariodeabordo DIARIO DE A BORDO on Facebook Danee Gilmartin | MuseumChick museumchick.com Visiting Museums, Discovering Art and Exploring Culture Around the World. @museumchick MuseumChick on Facebook Charlotte Beauvoisin Kampala Days – diary of a muzungu muzungubloguganda.com O the life of a volunteer ‘tra-la’ – random observations, travels into the Bush and the search for a man... RSS feed diaryofamuzungu@gmail.com Claire Marie Algarme | First-Time Travels firsttimetravel.wordpress.com The novelty of a first-time visit. @firsttimetravel facebook.com/firsttimetravel Jeff Funnekotter Big City Blog funnekotter.blogspot.com Sold it all and went to Europe. Big City Blog on Facebook Sash Milne | Barefoot Inked www.barefootinked.com The stories of a young Australian performer who took a jump in the deep end, head first into a fishing village in Indonesia, and changed the fabric of her life. barefootinked@hotmail.com Eric Mohl & Karen Catchpole Trans-Americas Journey trans-americas.com 5 year, 200,000 mile road trip through North, Central & South America @transamericas On Facebook 85 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Glennia Campbell | The Silent I glenniacampbell.typepad.com Family Travel Adventures, Foreign and Domestic @glennia facebook.com/glennia Joe Tuck | Hello, Pineapple? tuckjoetuck.blogspot.com My travels through Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Asia, told one day at a time, in no particular order. RSS feed Georgia Paterson Dargham ginger beirut www.gingerbeirut.com An outsider’s commentary on Lebanese mores and manners - rules not included. RSS: http://www.gingerbeirut.com/feed/ georgia@gingerbeirut.com Gayle Pescud | Ghana Guide and Blog GisForGhana.blogspot.com All about volunteering, travel and work in Ghana @gaylepescud gaylepescud@gmail.com Katya Marinova Great Places in Bulgaria truebulgaria.wordpress.com Great Places in Bulgaria truebulgaria@gmail.com Benita D. Hussain The Hussainity Defense www.hussainitydefense.com The humorous, scary and sad encounters of a former child actress/lawyer traveling around the world. @hussainity on Facebook Bret Itskowitch | I Moved to Africa imovedtoafrica.blogspot.com Read about my experiences and adventures from the U.S. Embassy compound in Libreville, Gabon in Equatorial Africa. Abigail King | Inside the Travel Lab insidethetravellab.com Exploring the art and science of unusual journeys – an independent guide to cultural travel & adventure. @insidetravellab on Facebook 86 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Matthew John Tedstone Matthew’s Travel Blog - My thoughts on everything matthewted.blogspot.com These days I travel with my wife & two kids. I believe travel is an essential part of a child’s upbringing. Matthew’s Travel Blog on Facebook Erin Ridley | La Tortuga Viajera latortugaviajera.com An American’s journey through Spain and its top spots, best-kept secrets, culture and cuisine. Facebook RSS feed Kevin Curry and Zhou Zhang No Hurry Curry nohurrycurry.wordpress.com Two young honeymooners slow life down and travel the world for a year. @nohurrycurry Anne-Sophie Redisch | Sophie’s World sophiesworld.net Wandering the world, mostly with kids, sometimes solo @SophieR Sophie’s World on Facebook Ragne Kabanova Destination Anywhere sshiksa.blogspot.com “ If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there” (Talmud) ragne@norvidia.com David Hogan Jr | Malaysia Asia blog.malaysia-asia.my Travel information on Malaysia and Southeast Asia. @MalaysiaAsia Malaysia Asia on Facebook Julie Falconer | A Lady in London aladyinlondon.com The adventures of a 20-something Californian living in London and traveling around the world. @aladyinlondon stumbleupon.com/stumbler/aladyinlondon Tan Yih Liang (LeX) | LeX Paradise lexparadise.blogspot.com LeX the student traveler is ready to share the latest events, tips and travelling experience in South Korea. @LeXParadise facebook.com/LeXLiang 87 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers Jennifer Hattam | The Turkish Life theturkishlife.blogspot.com The travels, linguistic misadventures, and observations of an American expat living in Turkey. @TheTurkishLife Kat Robinson | Tie Dye Travels www.tiedyetravels.com Follow me on my great adventure across the American South - searching out food, interesting places and incredible people. @eatarkansas on Facebook Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil ThePlanetD.com Canada’s Adventure Couple. @theplanetd The Planet Ds Round the World Adventures Gail Walter | Uncommon Travel www.uncommontravelblog.com A whiff, a fragment, a feeling… @Uncommontravel gail@uncommonwriting.com Alex Budak | UnpoppedCollar unpoppedcollar.com Travel, Technology and Social Entrepreneurship. @ABudak Alex@Alexbudak.com Vago C. Damitio | Vagobond Vagobond.com World Travel – World Life – Vagabond Travel Adventures – Tips, and Tricks for the Road @vagobond facebook.com/vagodamitio Keith Jenkins | Velvet Escape velvetescape.com Go explore. Experience. And be inspired. @velvetescape Velvet Escape on Facebook Glenn & KF Diaries of a Vagabond Couple vagabondcouple.com Traveling to capture the world in photography! facebook.com/vagabondcouple 88 Around the World with 40 Lonely Planet Bloggers
