Favorite Sights

In the past 18 months I have journeyed through 13 countries. I've seen many sights and had some amazing experiences. Here are a few of my favorite sights over these last few months.

Angkor, Cambodia-These ancient ruins covers a large area and involve several temple complexes. These religious sights have been the backdrop to movies such as Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones. The architecture of these temples is influenced by the southern Hindu style and date back to the 12th century.
***Advice***Stay at Golden Mango Inn when in Siem Reap. It is a little far from Pub Street, but the lovely inn provides complimentary breakfast, wi-fi, tuk-tuk rides to Pub Street, and bikes for guest use.

Phuket, Thailand-This getaway beside the Andaman Seas has recovered from the horrific Boxing Day tsunami and still effuses beauty and simplicity. If one wanders away from the seediness of Patong Beach, one can find clear blue waters to snorkel, sheer limestone cliffs to scale, and shimmering white sand beaches to relax on. Add in sublime cuisine infused with local spices and European flair to make a vacation in Phuket truly amazing.
***Advice***Stay for a night on the island of Phi-Phi and face your fears. Go on a shark finding tour. The tour includes the boat ride to sea and scuba gear. Then the guide will lead the group through the waters in search of sharks. Before you get too scared, the sharks are only 3ft-3.5 ft long.

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica-One of the most stunning beaches on earth is located in this small Central American country. It is located in the Limon province where the ancestry of half the population is Jamaican, not Spanish. This beach town has embraced the Jamaican way of life of relaxation and tranquility. One feels like life’s problems have simply evaporated into air when he or she walks the dirt roads through the souvenir shops and lies in a hammock along the beach. One of my favorite memories is sitting on the beach looking up at the endless stars and thinking I’d never seen so many in my life.
***Advice***Puerto Viejo is located near Cahuita National Park. Make time in your schedule to take it the palm tree lined beach with it its pristine sand and mischievous monkeys.

Wanderlust

Someone once told me that I had wanderlust, and I heartily agree. Indeed, I have an insatiable desire to visit new places, learn new languages, experience different cultures, and explore the world around me. This passion was ignited when I was just 15 years old when I took a trip to Costa Rica. Little did I know that my two-week foray into Central America would spark a life-long love affair.

Some people play video games, and others knit to pass time. Me? I daydream. I daydream about new countries I want to visit. I have been lucky over the last 10 years to indulge my lust for wandering. I have had the privilege to visit 20 countries on 3 continents. One might think such travels would sate my voracious appetite, but instead it just makes me want more. The world is like a piece of dark chocolate in which I have only had a taste.

My advice to others who suffer from wanderlust is this. Go! It doesn’t have to be abroad, but start in your hometown. Visit the museums, national parks, and local landmarks. Many times we pass the familiar without ever truly seeing them.

The Internet is a great resource to utilize. If you have an interest and want to explore it with people in your area, check out http://www.meetup.com. They have branches in different cities all over the world. There are groups for mountain hiking to salsa dancing. Starting now, I encourage you to start wandering.

Stop and Explore

No matter what stage in life you are in, there is a lesson we continually need to learn. The lesson is this: stop and explore. In an age of speed, we can get wrapped up in fast cars, instant rebates, and quick tax refunds. The idea of stopping is one that is necessary in this day and age.

Next time you are driving down the road and see a sign for a state park or landmark, stop. Get out of your car and explore. I know people are busy with responsibilities and have a schedule to keep, but there is something inherently exciting about stopping to explore, even if it is something small.

I learned this lesson while driving back and forth from college to my hometown. I would take the same route every time. I could almost drive the 5-hours with my eyes closed. That is, until I started to truly look around me. I decided to deviate from the shortest, most direct route home. I took side streets and investigated those little brown signs that designate historical sights and parks.

Here are a few gems I found along my trip home. One of my first discoveries was of the largest waterfall in Indiana called Cataract Falls. It is just a few minutes off of I-70 near Cloverdale. The waterfall’s highest fall is 30m tall and set next to an old covered bridge. When approaching it, one can hear it before one can see it as the water rushes over its lofty edge.

Another discovery was just south Bedford at Bluespring Caverns. I was driving past and saw their small sign. I drove past it initially, but the sign beckoned to my curious nature so I turned around to investigate. I am so glad I did because Bluespring Caverns is a system of caves that span over 20 miles. Knowledgeable tour guides give boat rides through a sub-terrain river which would be pitch black without the guide’s lamp. Visitors learn about the history of the caves as well as the marine life that lives in the caves.

These are just two gems that I unearthed while on a typical ride home. What are some gems that you are missing out on? Slow down, and look around you. Who knows what you are missing out on...

Couchsurfing

How would you like to travel all over the world, stay in nice accommodations in fantastic location, meet interesting people, and create lasting memories? Oh, yeah one more thing. It's free.

Couchsurfing is a networking website for travelers. According to their website, their mission is "to create Inspiring Experiences...[that] are fun, exciting and accessible experiences that stimulate people to learn and grow. Experiences of this nature encourage people to explore and connect with people and places that are different than what we're accustomed to."

I highly recommend checking this organization out. I have used it for lodging all across Europe and in Asia. While hostels are a great lodging choice for travelers, Couchsurfing has two unique advantages. First, you stay in the homes of the locals. This allows you to see how they live, what foods they eat, and gives the opportunity for relationships to be built. Second, it is an opportunity to learn about special sights or events that are off the beaten track and not listed in the handy Lonely Planet.

Some great memories I have of couchsurfing involves eating dinner with a handsome Hungarian while being serenaded by an accordion, having our lovely hosts walking us through Dracula's Castle in Romania, and getting a tour of Prague Castle by moonlight. Couchsurfing allows travelers to not just pass through countries, but a chance to truly experience the people that make each country special.


Make sure to check out http://www.couchsurfing.com

****For single travelers who may want to use this site, there is a great safety system set up. While staying with a stranger will always have a small degree of uncertainty attached to it, there is a great reference and voucher system in place that gives sufficient information for making an informed decision about who to stay with.

Going Alone

I once overheard a girl saying that she couldn't wait to be married so that she and her husband could go on exotic vacations together. While that is quite a sweet sentiment, for some reason it did not sit well with me. I wish I had known the girl so I could question her further. I would have loved to sit her down and ask her what she was waiting for. Did she think the oceans would be bluer if she had a significant other? Would the sunsets be more vivid if she was holding her lover's hand? That the sand between her toes would feel silkier if she was gazing into her man's eyes.

The answer is no.

So, she was waiting on someone else to take an adventure she was fully capable to starting on her own. Life is short. God has our days numbered and we don't know which will be our last. Never let something you want to do, depend on someone else. Don't be afraid to go it alone. There is something freeing in figuring out the bus system in Vietnam on your own or awe-inspiring to trek alone in temple ruins at sunset. Going alone gives opportunity for growth and self-examination that does not occur in any other setting. So, don't be afraid of doing by yourself. There is a wonderful and exciting world just waiting for you to explore.

Yes, Table for One

Some people cringe when they hear the phrase, 'Table for One' called out in a busy restaurant. Instantly they think back to when they were single. They associate being single with awkwardness, insecurities, and shyness. They instantly pity the poor soul that chooses to enter a busy establishment filled with families and couples to eat their meal. Tongues cluck and heads shake. But also, another phenomenon occurs. They are instantly curious as to who the person is. Will it be an overweight middle-aged women with a poor taste in fashion? Or a gauntly man with horn-rimmed glasses and a severe case of halitosis?

I'd like to interject at this point with saying that the single diner should not be pitied. Instead they should be envied. While families and couples may have to wait in line for a table, the solo eater can sidle up to the bar and order quickly. Or, while the families have to juggle high chairs, screaming kids, and food fights, the person eating alone can quietly sit in the corner and enjoy the ambiance of the restaurant in quiet solitude with a nice glass of merlot.

Advantages the solo eater has compared other paired-up patrons, is that the solo patron can eat what he or she wants. No worry of bad breathe for an end of the night kiss, so bring on the garlic sauce over Portobello mushrooms and black bean sauce for the frittata. Being alone is not something to be pitied or avoided, and has no reflection on the social skills of the individual. To eat alone is a choice, and one in which other single people should not be afraid to choose.