travel advice
All the travel how-tos, where-tos, must-dos, packing suggestions and more.
Stay Safe with Defenselessness
As so many people and/or nations gear up for battle, denounce “others” as the enemy, and contract with fear, we need to take a deep breath and reflect on our situations from a very different, and much more helpful, point of view. We cannot hear too many times that defensiveness does not make us safe; quite the contrary. Many disciplines remind us that only when we are open and accepting, rather than closed and suspicious, are we truly safe. Long ago my husband and I had an opportunity to put this philosophy to the test, one I will never forget. We were touring several South American countries, including Ecuador. As we had planned our trip (pre-internet), I remembered reading in National Geographic about a tribe of indians that lived only in a small area of Ecuador and nowhere else in the world. Dubbed the Colorado Indians, they were so named because they painted themselves up with red berry juice (Colorado in common usage means “colored red” in Spanish), and since we were from Colorado, it seemed like a great idea to find these name-sake Colorado indians and have a look for ourselves.
By Carol Howe9 years ago in Wander
Best Babymoon Vacation Destinations
One of the newest trends that involves celebrating growing families is the invention of the babymoon vacation. A babymoon is a lot like a honeymoon in many senses; it's a vacation taken together by couples to celebrate their romance and love of one another. They are both romantic vacations that involve a nice respite from the world - however, with babymoons, the couple is expecting a new baby within a matter of months.
By Mackenzie Z. Kennedy9 years ago in Wander
Paint Your Face and Be Part of an Ancient Pagan Festival In England
The time of year now designated as the beginning of May has long been an occasion for the celebration of seasonal change in northern Europe. The end of the winter and the beginning of the warmer weather that would lead to summer.
By Gareth Johnson9 years ago in Wander
Walking In the Footsteps of the Ancient Romans
I have always been a bit fascinated with the Romans. I won’t bore you with the detailed distinctions between Ancient Rome, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire, but suffice to say that the centuries defined by the power of Rome was an incredibly exciting period of history that really shaped the world as we know it today.
By Gareth Johnson9 years ago in Wander
Best Vacation Spots In Ireland
When planning a vacation to Ireland, you might know where the best vacation spots in Ireland are. Much of the Irish population is centered in a few select cities, leaving much of the country wide-open territory – a frontier of locations to visit and take in that most people never see.
By Miranda O'Conner9 years ago in Wander
Six Places to Travel by Train In Europe
With the advent of discount flights, the default way of travelling around Europe seems to have become flying. Trying to cram everything into a small carry-on suitcase, having to limit your liquids to small bottles that won’t trigger any security alerts, getting to the airport at least an hour before you leave, standing in endless queues, and trying to stay upbeat and positive when everyone around you is become increasingly irritable and grumpy. There’s not much to love about flying.
By Gareth Johnson9 years ago in Wander
Six Great UK Coastal Destinations
An island nation, it’s not surprising that the United Kingdom is blessed with some fantastic coastal locations to explore and experience. While the weather may not always lend itself to lying on the beach, sipping cocktails, and working on your tan, nevertheless there is plenty of interest around the coast of Great Britain.
By Gareth Johnson9 years ago in Wander
An Expat Guide to South Korea
I moved to South Korea to pursue my Doctoral Degree last February 2015. I did minor research before coming in, since Philippines and South Korea are both Asian countries, I didn't expect there would be a need for huge adjustment. But in South Korea, prepare to be surprised! Here are some of the things I wish someone had briefed me about.
By Cil Borlaza9 years ago in Wander
How to Live Like a Local In London
When you’re visiting a new or unfamiliar city, it can sometimes feel a little difficult to really get to grips with the place within a relatively short period of time. As a visitor, it's hard to get under the skin of a city – you inevitably feel like an outsider, like you're somehow skating across the surface and missing out on some of the real gems that only the locals seem to understand.
By Gareth Johnson9 years ago in Wander
Live Like a Local In Paris
On my first few visits to Paris I only ever stayed in hotels — usually in the Opera district, and then amidst the nightlife of Le Marais. Whatever your budget, a good hotel in a great location is the perfect introduction to this vibrant and beautiful city – enabling you to see the sights, test your language skills, and get a feel for how everything works.
By Gareth Johnson9 years ago in Wander
