Travel Tips

Going on a long trip is like going on a journey, not so much to places that you can snap pictures of but to places in your own fragile existence. A weekend jaunt can have this power to change you but it is rare. No, it generally only comes about when you are taken out of your element for an extended time. What you leave behind becomes only a memory and finally you find yourself in not only new surroundings and doing things you have perhaps never thought of, but also feeling things more profoundly. The length of the trip does not guarantee this though it does encourage the abandonment of your past more readily. You need to do some work as well. Eschewing routines should be your first course of action and trying to avoid being herded like just one more sheep is another. Though influenced by your reading, it should ultimately be you that decides where you eat and what street you walk down. These choices and their resultant adventures are the things that journeys are made of. I am ready for a journey, are you?

The above photo was taken on a small island in Algonquin Provincial Park. You can only reach it by your own power and the traditional way is by canoe. The person dreamily pictured is of the love in my life, Doreen. Though we met just two years ago, we've already been on lots of adventures and a journey or two as well. This trip was an example of a journey that occurred in a matter of four days. They were pretty intense ones, fighting the elements and learning how to work as a team to survive in the wilderness. It was Doreen's first time in a canoe and I have to say I was really proud of how she did. I think she is too. My Algonquin Provincial Park page details how one can set up such a trip in Ontario's showcase canoeing area but you can figure such things out on your own. What might truly be helpful is to get a feeling of how it is to be out there. To do that, read my General Tips and see how eating pretzels and peanut M & M's in the pouring rain can lead to nirvana.

South America was not new to me as I had traveled around Chile and Argentina a few years earlier and tackled both countries top treks: the Torres del Paine and FitzRoy circuits respectively. But Peru and Bolivia presented different challenges and it was not only Doreen's first trip to the bustling continent but also her first stab at true backpacking. The Santa Cruz trek was an incredible five-day trek in the mighty Cordillera Blanca and she weathered the storm in flying colors, climbing over a 14000-foot pass carrying a full backpack. Check out my Caraz page under Peru for details on how to do the trip without a guide. As always, read General Tips first to get a true flavor of the hike and see how fellow travels can move you to tears of joy by applauding your efforts.

Machu Picchu is likely the dream destination of all South America as it encompasses not only magnificent mountain and jungle scenery but also offers a glimpse into one of the world's great ancient civilizations. Doreen had been fascinated with the Incas since receiving a book about them as a child and this coupled with my intense desire for hiking led to us tackling the famous Inca Trail. My Machu Picchu page gives up to date details on how to do the trek with small companies operating in Peru. The story under General Tips details not only the four-day trek but also some of the problems that arise when travelers from different cultures clash head-on when they undertake such endeavors.

Much like Peru, Bolivia gets a bad rap by the travel press. Reading about the dangers, it is no wonder that few people venture there and this is a shame for the friendly people of this startling country. But it is a blessing for those seeking to find a place that is not yet undulated with tourists seeking the holy travel grail. All I can say is we had no problems there and in fact, it felt like one of the safest countries we have traveled in. My other argument is to check out the photos in my Uyuni page for a surreal landscape that will never leave your memory once experienced. The page details how you can do a four-day four-wheel trip through this magnificent salt plain. General Tips provide an insight into how being on the road a bit too long can rattle the nerves of even the most experienced road warrior.

One thing you might notice about my pages is my love for food and beer but this devotion goes beyond the mere consumption of these commodities. One of the things I love most about traveling is trying the local foods. What I do not want to do is go to a touristy revue sort of set-up where girls dance in tribal dress, drummers drum and a bland version of the country's cuisine is served up on fine china at some extortionate price. I like to eat in small local places and I love a good dive as much as anyone does. Not only do you get more genuine versions of the food, but you also get to eat amongst locals and give some money back to their economy. And it is cheaper to boot too. Okay, you might get an occasional stomach problem but can you imagine the effect of McDonalds on a previously non-exposed tribal native? Generally speaking, you just have to ease your body into it and let it become accustomed to bacteria it is not used to. Even with my cast-iron stomach I have had my share of problems. Will it stop me from trying new things? Hell no. When it comes to beer, it might be suggested that I enjoy the hunt as much as actually drinking the stuff and this might be true. I find that my quest for new brews has brought me to many cities I might otherwise have never heard of and even to parts of famous cities that the tourist brochures don't tell you about. But that's just one thing I love about beer hunting. The other is the pairing of beer with food and this can range from the complexity of Belgian lambics with the countries rich sauces to the simpler though no less tasty combination of frothy German lagers with wurst and their incomparable dark breads. Check out my Bavaria page for an in depth view of not only some interesting and off the beaten path towns in the popular German state but also invaluable tips on where to find the country's best beers. I am heading back that way to spend my Christmas with Doreen and her family. My guess is I do a little more "research" while I'm there. ;=>

I have had the great fortune to get to know a few locals well from some of the countries I have visited repeatedly. This has given me a better appreciation of their customs as well as getting to eat lots of the local food, cooked right at home. I spent my first Christmas away from home last year when I visited Doreen and her family in Saxony, finding a warm and welcoming holiday spirit permeating from the whole area. When Americans think of a European Christmas, I think most have images of Germany in their minds, even if they don't fully realize it. I am happy to be going back again this year and even look forward to plucking the geese again. My Land Sachsen gives a good idea of all there is to see in this beautiful and generally overlooked part of Germany. In General Tips, I spin some tales of my interaction with local customs and of course, a bit about my beer hunting in the region.

Munich has fast become one of my favorite cities in the world. My virgin trip there was in 1978 where as a college sophomore, I must admit my only concern was exploring the world famous Oktoberfest. Ten years later, I had a spring visit and got to enjoy some of the museums and the city's hallmark beer gardens. This great institutions provides people from all walks of life a place to sit outside in the shade to escape the summer heat and enjoy either a self-made picnic or food served by wait staff. And of course, beer is a big part of the jovial atmosphere that Munich is well noted for. I have returned a few times in the last few years and have experienced it in all seasons now, and must say it is a great city in all of them. Check out my Munich page to get a glimpse of the beautiful architecture and cultural opportunities that abound. Of course, there are some great beer tips here too. If you want to see Oktoberfest, be sure to enjoy the travelogues. Doreen had lived in Munich before for five years and we plan to spend the month of March there seeing how it might fit for a place for us to settle down. Wish us luck!

My first trip to Asia was in 1993 when on an 11-month around the world trip, I flew into Singapore and made my way by bus up through Malaysia and Thailand. I will admit it was a bit startling coming from the quiet of Northern Australia into the hustle bustle of even clandestine Singapore. But before the six weeks were out, I fell in love with the sounds, smells and tastes of the whole area. I did not return until 1996 with a trip to do trekking in the Everest region of Nepal. It was an incredible trip that I have not done service to here at VT. It's one of my oldest pages and I promise to do it justice someday. Well, just as soon as I get a break from new trips! But there are still some useful tips and the photographs speak for themselves. Though I have to admit, I have never seen anyone not get great photos there. It just seems too beautiful. Doreen will make her first trip to Asia soon, when we embark on a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. We will fly into Bangkok on New Year's Eve and travel by local transport for seven weeks in this amazing and colorful region. I think I smell a journey coming up and that suits us just fine. (continued on next album under Butterfly Girl)