Matador - Off the beaten path

Getting Underground in Australia

lissie — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:09:24 -0500

I couldn't sleep that night. It was quiet, too quiet. And warm. We weren't used to it being quiet and warm - after all we had been camping in the Australian desert for weeks, and the desert was neither warm nor quiet. Temperatures overnight in July were too close to zero for comfort,...

Neglected Kakolat water fall attracting tourists

harry668 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:06:32 -0500

Historical and mythological our eminent Kakolat is situated on a very sweetly beautiful hill named Kakolat hill. Although every inch of kakolat is panoramic view as the gift of goddess nature but sweet spring of Kakolat is the supreme bliss. It is a waterfall in Govindpur police station, about...

Settling In

novoarte — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:18:45 -0500

After we crossed the swollen Rio Magdalena in a boat that was surely past its legal limit of passengers (and short a few life jackets), and after a good night's sleep, a shower, and the return to normal blood pressure for Francisco, I could finally settle into Mompox yesterday and remember why I love...

Visiting Amman, Jordan

LadyGhaith — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:22:24 -0500

So, well, where should I start?

Should I say that it was my first trip to the Middle East? Or, better, that it was the trip, which fulfilled and overcame all my expectations. It was so thrilling that until now my body starts shivering whenever I remember any moment spent in Amman, Jordan. The place...

THE OTHER LOS ANGELES: Tour Operator Celebrates A Quarter-Century of Pack and Passport

calnative — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:48:21 -0500

The California Native, a tour operator specializing in international adventure travel, celebrates 25 years of leading trips off the beaten path. Launched in June 1983, the company remains based in the community of Westchester near Los Angeles World Airport. This silver anniversary comes...

Tino's Camping and Mykonos

Tess Cameron — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:03:55 -0500

The excitement of leaving the mainland and arriving on the Islands of the Cyclades, sent my heart a-twitter. This part of our journey is what I have been looking forward to for the entirity of the trip. The island of Tinos smells like fresh flowers in bloom and there is a...

I am no mountain goat (but I may be a lichen)

Lauren Lim — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:19:44 -0500

I have a blister the size of Texas on the sole of my right foot; in trying to avoid walking on it I have created another blister (the size of California) on the side of the same foot. I am limping up the side of an orange mountain in the midday sun, two kilometers behind Yogi, and asking...

A Cave in the Rough

halamen — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:46:14 -0500

I was understandably disappointed when I pulled up to the parking booth at Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy. “The big cave is closed until further notice,” the attendant informed me apprehensively. “The tour just goes to the sinkholes.”

She was surprised when I said it didn’t matter,...

Two Weeks in Thai Mueang

Turner — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:54:07 -0500

Originally posted on Thai Mueang Volunteers:

Whether you think you are or not, you’re still running the gauntlet. I’m exaggerating of course, but any first-time teacher who says he isn’t terrified that moment when 20 sets of eyes fall on him, and the only way to break the silence is well-planned...

XiAn - What an Adventure!?!

Ashleigh.Goes.East — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:42:28 -0500

This was the best way I could possibly imagine to spend my 21st Birthday! I decided prior to coming to China that XiAn was one place that I had to go, especially after learning about the Terra Cotta Soldiers in my History of China course.

So, being the way I am, I had everything planned out! I figured...

Back to Belize - Part 2

Michele in Playa — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:39:25 -0500

Back to Belize - Part 2

We awoke to pleasant rays of much needed sunshine, bid a hasty "adieu" to Turtle Inn and carted ourselves back toward town to Captain Jaks, a modest but charming property recommended to us by a friend in Playa. We were immediately greeted by Tamalyn...

Hong Kong

laurakarot — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:47:26 -0500

Hong Kong

Wanderings in the wild tiger country

pateluday — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 10:00:40 -0500

Some times I think of myself as lucky to be initiated to India's amazing wilderness and its inhabitants so early in life. But when I sit down and ponder, I regret that I have not been able to turn it into a swashbuckling career as many naturalist have done in this country.

Before you start thinging...

Thailand: stealing candy from a baby!

CJ — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:44:14 -0500

Stealing candy from a baby!

Not sure what part of my $7/hour massage I liked best-- her heels in my groin or the punching of my biceps. It was a full hour of pure torture, my body did things I never knew it could do (and I was a gymnast) but hey, it was only $7/hour, that is...

Amazing South Africa

CJ — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:36:53 -0500

Take every preconceived notion (that I probably put) in your head about South Africa and throw it out the window. Cape Town is 360 degrees of AWESOMENESS!! From "TableMountain" with the clouds pouring over the sides, to...

First Stop: New Zealand

CJ — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:29:49 -0500

First Stop: New Zealand

Oh geez!! It seems as though someone forgot to tell Stephanie that my map reading skills stink!! But I guess we're even because somewhere between WashingtonDC...

cheap palm springs hotels

albanytrip — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:36:17 -0500

I went cheap palm springs hotels and enjoyed a lot. There I stayed in a hotel. There they provided the facilities which pampered me. Cleanliness was fabulous. Rooms were so beautifully decorated that pleased my eyes. All types of playing equipment were available there for the children. The moments...

cheap biloxi hotels

albanytrip — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:30:08 -0500

I went to Biloxi and stayed in cheap Biloxi hotels. These hotels I found from the website cheap hotels. These hotels were fabulous .I enjoyed a lot staying in these hotels. Services offered in these hotels is of world class and too good. Children can also enjoy a lot here. All types...

Summer is Here!

realsoulsurfin — Wed, 9 Jul 2008 22:21:49 -0500

Yes I know I am a bit slack when it comes to posting on this site, but that's what happens when you take on more than you can handle and still make it an absolute neccesity to surf every single day....what can I say, some people smoke ciggies, I surf!

Summer is Here, I have surfed in Boardies already...

The Quiet of the Dordogne

Maija — Wed, 9 Jul 2008 16:30:50 -0500

I have just returned from a place that is now one of my favorites in France. Many have heard of the Dordogne and recognize the towns of Les Ezies, Sarlat and Le Bugue - although worth every lovely thing written about that part of the region - I am talking about a quieter pocket to the North....

A Day in the Life

pd88 — Wed, 9 Jul 2008 11:13:11 -0500

Okay, well maybe two. I've been back in Xela now about a week-and-a-half, and am enjoying my time here again. I've got some great friends here, and really do enjoy where I live and what I do. Including what happened last weekend.

A Day in the Life

pd88 — Wed, 9 Jul 2008 11:04:15 -0500

Okay, well maybe two. I’ve been back in Xela now about a week-and-a-half, and am enjoying my time here again. I’ve got some great friends here, and really do enjoy where I live and what I do. Including what happened last weekend.

I just need another day...the trip begins

Iriedude — Tue, 8 Jul 2008 00:56:03 -0500

I guess I'm having what could be considered quitter's remorse. I left a very stable, well paying, government civil servant job and am now traveling Europe for about the next three months. The economy isn't the best, and I'm not planning on working for the next few months i.e., no income. ...

My Three Ladies or My Black Nose

Mal — Mon, 7 Jul 2008 21:09:50 -0500

I am walking by a department store in a mall at Wang Fujing, the ultramodern upscale shopping area in Beijing, when a pretty young Chinese woman pulls me to the beauty counter. She and three other young sales ladies sit me down at the counter and apply an eye mask to my face before I have a chance...

Bamboo Rainbow

lizardlee — Mon, 7 Jul 2008 17:36:49 -0500

This is perhaps my all time favorite travel story from my trip to Japan for 10 days in March. It happened on a beautiful spring day. My travel companion and best friend Vivian and I were headed towards the Meiji Shrine in the heart of Tokyo next to the Harajuku train station in that giant metropolis....

Food for Thought: What and Where to eat in China

Mal — Mon, 7 Jul 2008 17:10:15 -0500

I have heard it said that in China, the locals eat everything with four legs except a table. Though eating four legged creatures might seem a bit daunting, if you travel to China, at least try to avoid hotel dining rooms or American fast food, if you have other options. Eating in China is an...

Volunteering Abroad in Zambia, Lusaka Orphanages, schools, Daycare www.abroaderview.org

A Broader View Volunteers Corp — Sun, 6 Jul 2008 10:36:17 -0500

Volunteer Abroad in Zambia: Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Abroad in Zambia: The republic of Zambia is a landlocked country in south central Africa whose population exceeds 10 million. Due to its high elevation, Zambia has a mild tropical climate. The weather is so pleasant that is has been...

Settling In

noellejt — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 06:36:19 -0500

First things first: I've changed my tickets - delayed my return home for a week. I'll be back on July 27th (instead of the 18th) - it's only nine extra days, but it will give me a chance to do some exploring outside of Kathmandu without neglecting my work here.

Life has settled into a pleasant...

Costa del Bad Dollar

Globehopper — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 17:33:05 -0500

ALMERIA, Spain

– A fistful of dollars used to be a beautiful sight, but that big, weighty, lovely load of cash won’t spark any smiles here.
A trip to Spain after an absence of five years taught me my money...

From the Anchorage at Redondo Beach

Crazy Dane — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:39:35 -0500

My thanks to all ye faithful who check my blog regularly, I owe you an update at least, if not a full, proper short story. So much has happened, and I'm having major trouble keeping up. Here's a brief synopsis, however, with specific stories following in the next posts. I have indeed been writing in...