…e for long road trips. Younger children can bring their favorite books and practice reading aloud. Select snacks low in sugar and high in fiber and protein for healthy stops along the way. Ensure that your car has been serviced and the tires are adequately inflated. Plan your departure such that you arrive in larger cities outside of rush hour. Depending on the length of travel, one option is to leave later at night when the traffic is lighter and…
…uesses at to the cost of a dorm bed here, with use of pool, gardens, wifi, free breakfast & drinking water and free salsa lessons? TRAVEL UPDATE MEXICO: Back in Merida, somehow I’d completely forgotten about the charming horse & cart ‘taxis’ in this colonial city. But I was quickly reminded on my first day here by several trotting horses passing by as I walked the streets. Beautiful aren’t they?! TRAVEL UPDATE MEXICO: Hey, hey…Here’s a sample of t…
…ch? Well… just about every day we spend 2-3 hours on gorgeous Tulum Beach, come rain or shine… We’ve been enjoying morning walks & suntanning, sunset strolls, cool dips in aquamarine water, visits with friends and stopping by our favorite open-air resorts & restaurants… Tulum beach runs for about 10 km, so we visit different areas of beach from day to day…some more wild & wind-swept, some rocky shorelines, some a tad more developed…but all with th…
…ATMs are just outside customs/baggage claim in the main arrivals area Duty Free Shop For the first time ever, Bali’s airport has a duty free shop! But don’t get your hopes up. In fact, run the other way! I don’t think they understand the concept of ‘Duty Free’, which is supposed to offer goods at cheaper prices and without import taxes applied. Bali’s so called Duty Free shop is, instead, clearly trying to make a massive profit by attempting to se…
…an extra element of adventure, a test of my fellow mankind and a sense of freedom and accomplishment. I also gained a great inner glow – a wonder about people helping me out just for the heck of it. I shared travel stories with other world travelers and local farmers. We marvelled together at the spectacular scenery we drover through. I heard locals’ perspectives on life and happenings in New Zealand. I felt fortunate and grateful for being helpe…
…eaches each coconut pile, people start grabbing coconuts and smashing them open dramatically on the street. Apparently, that symbolizes cracking open one’s skin to reveal one’s true inner self, in pure white. After each coconut smashing ‘party’ a clean-up crew quickly moves in with small bulldozers, street cleaners and brooms to whisk it all away before the chariot arrives. It’s all creates a big frenzy. Thaipusam- live music Traditional Indian mu…
…tended stay at one of the monasteries to study Buddhism and/or meditate. A common daily practice consists of walking around the lake three times, preferably three times per day. Each triple loop takes 30-45 minutes, which provides great exercise as well as spiritual merit. Tibetan and Indian cafes offer a delicious assortment of foods and several guest houses offer rooms to visitors. It’s a supremely serene, relaxing place to stay. SEE PHOTOS OF R…
…most significant of which was reading and applying Bethany Salvon’s photo guidebook Getting Out of Auto. Her book got me quickly and easily shooting in manual mode for the first time in my life. Wow, what a difference! Her book also taught me many other important photography basics, skills and tips. Thanks so much Beth! (check out Beth’s book or read my Review of Getting Out of Auto if you’re interested in improving your photography skills) Other…
…money to boot! It’s also a lot of fun watching everyone else hand out and open up their presents. In my family we take turns selecting and handing out gifts in rounds, watching everyone open their new batch of presents. Then repeat. We usually do the gifts after a hearty Christmas dinner followed by cookies and cocktails/wine/beer. Now that I’m writing about last year’s wonderful family Christmas in Florida, I might start wishing I was going back…
…a good smattering of Balinese mixed in. Several rural Sasak villages still practice traditional handicrafts: weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, dance and unique architecture. Beautiful mosques peak out of the lush flora. A few Balinese temples also make their home on Lombok. But, in my opinion, Lombok is most impressive for its stunning scenery. Please enjoy these views from my recent travels around Lombok. cheers, Lash SEE FULL GALLERY ————————————…
Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. Iām passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
