Short Trips with Cats
First of all, do not consider a long trip with a cat. That being said, let me repeat: no long trips with cats! I love cats, God bless them. They are my comfort and joy, my inspiration. They have been my companions for many years, but they have never been good travel companions.
Dogs seem to be made for travel. They love sticking their heads out of car windows - especially from the driver’s side. I know they’d stick their snouts out of airplane windows if they were able.
A Taste of Victory
Our trip started off quite uneventful. After a few days in Kyeng Toing, our schedule eventually took up something of a pattern. We would wake up early, meet in the small reception desk/cafeteria, get breakfast, venture forth to the mountains, visit small, native villages, and return back in time for dinner at one of a half dozen or so restaurants. Our presence there just about doubled the population of the town and made us part of the less than a dozen or so tourists in the region. (The Burmese are masters of the military checkpoint.)
We had been told many times that it was the middle of the monsoon season, and it immediately made its presence known. The first days light drizzle quickly turned into an all out downpour, as walls of rain descended upon us. Every square inch of Gor-tex and waterproof materials proved totally useless, and any effort to stay dry was quickly abandoned as the rain pounded us mercilessly.
I’ve Been Everywhere, Man
Johnny Cash ~ I’ve Been Everywhere
With the advent of the iPod, traveling has taken on new dimensions. Available at film kiosks and souvenir shacks at the base of many mountains, the shore of many lakes, and the gate of many castles are downloadable MP3 walking tours. Audio travel tips and visitor suggestions can be found online, or at libraries, or from city information centres.
The Civilian, Zo and a Jaunt Through the Mountains
Burma is a land of mystery. It is the tarnished, uncut diamond of the modern world. Burma, now Myanmar, has faced extraordinary difficulties that have only even recently been noticed by the word at large. It is a magical, but broken, place that is about as far away as one can get from the Western world. Travel to Burma, too, is a difficult and highly political event. Some see the gross human rights violations there as grounds to never set foot in the place, vowing to not support a diabolical regime with their tourist dollars.
It’s a shame, really. Anyone who goes there, and spends their money carefully and wisely, will be blown away by the charm and warmth that pervades there. Then maybe people will sit up and take notice, will go out and try to change the systems in place there, instead of glossing over it in the lofty pages of the New York Times or on the BBC.
Walmart Jamaican Style Mon
Jamaica was one of the best vacations I have ever taken. It was a journey filled with contrasts, letting my hair down in the cool evening breeze on the beach to traipsing in the sweltering heat to duty free shops in search of that perfect, affordable designer something, actually anything.
Vain, but frugal me. I said my goodbyes to the friendly staff who refused to take a dime in tips. You see, I was staying at an all-inclusive place. They refuse to accept small change and I don’t have to carry it in my purse. It’s a win-win situation.
The Other Side of Traveling
We own a large house in Vancouver, BC, and share it most of the year. During the school year, it serves as a home-away-from home to college kids. Our downstairs suite accommodates two students quite well, and three in a pinch.
Open to experimentation, and relatively naive in landlording matters, we allowed three students to share the suite last year. While there proved to be ample physical room for the three, other aspects arose to cause us concern.
The Epitome of Travel
I can’t say exactly what it is that draws the traveler to their travels. Perhaps it’s the draw of the unknown or the quests for the known. The truly monumental experiences one has while traveling can’t really be articulated, though. They can only be felt.
It’s strange to see the Taj Mahal for the first time and have your first thought be, at least in my case, ‘I though it would be bigger.’ On the flip-side, it’s astounding to sit in front of the pyramids at Giza during sunrise and be absolutely mesmerized– dumbstruck, quite literally– thinking, and the ability to do so, only a distant memory.
Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida
Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, has some stunning attractions. The Africa-themed park is full of rides, eateries, live entertainment, and nature nature nature!
Our Travel Picks of the Week 09/14/07
Here are our favorite links we’ve come across over the week.
Tired of staying in insipid, cookie cutter hostels in Europe? Here are some suggestions for unusual hostels nestled in castles and railway cars.
Mailing a Package from Kathmandu, Part 2 of 2
I go back to Mr. Smiley and assure him that the package now fits his stringent requirements. Proof is the re-taping and a tuft of plastic bag peeking out from a corner of the somewhat bloated package. He now advises me to go to the line in front of his colleague.
I encounter another smiling man. I am starting to understand why these guys are always smiling at us. We may be “rich,” but we are so stupid… and that offers them a source of constant amusement.
