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51). Bird Watching Binoculars – Critical Bird Watching Equipment Avid bird watching enthusiasts often look like pack mules hiking to a gold rush in the west. Bird watching binoculars are one of the critical pieces of equipment they carry. Binoculars There are a lot of issues when it comes to choosing binoculars for bird watching. Optics and personal preference seem to be the foremost, ... 52). Costa Rica – San Jose and Tamarindo Over the last ten years, the reputation of Costa Rica as a travel destination has grown leaps and bounds. Good places to visit include San Jose and Tamarindo. Costa Rica Located in Central America, Costa Rica is a country with a lot to offer. The country is unique because the costal areas present some of the nicest beache... 53). Isla Mujeres, Mexico – The Island of Women Isla Mujeres in Mexico is a great way to escape the tourist crush in Cancun. Roughly 9 miles offshore, the island contains the Mexican beach culture of a bygone era. Oh, and the name translates to “The Island of Women.” Isla Mujeres First things first, the Island of Women is not populated with more, different or any other ... 54). Playing Chess in Russia – The Agony of Victory Russians have a thing for chess and, frankly, are very good at it. Being from San Diego, I thought chess was something you put photo albums in. Playing Chess Playing chess requires thinking ten or twelve steps ahead. If I wanted to understand the Russian mind, I had to learn to play chess. If nothing else, it would be a g... 55). Loincloths and Tenderizing at a Budapest Spa The Gellert Hotel Spa is renowned as the ultimate spa destination in Hungary. Here’s a first hand account of the Gellert experience. Gellert Hotel Spa While in Budapest, everyone kept saying I hadn’t experience Hungary until I had a spa. According to my newfound friends, “a spa” meant the Gellert Hotel Spa. Be... 56). Writing and Walking – Beating Writer’s Block Writing and walking are a seemingly odd mix of topics for an article, but they go well together. Particularly if you write during breaks in your walk. Writing Journals Whether you are writing articles or the great American novel, you will inevitably suffer from writer’s block. A good way to defeat the block is to go for a... 57). Fly Fishing Gifts for Christmas Christmas is a wonderful time of the year unless you’re having problems coming up with gift ideas. Here are a few fly fishing gift ideas. Okay, I’ll be the first one to admit publicly that buying gifts for the holidays can be a pain in derriere. When it comes right down to it, how well do you know someone and how do you know what he o... 58). Cambodia – The Blind Masseuses Cambodia has seen far more than its fair share of tragedy and misery. The blind masseuses offer a glimpse of the true Cambodian heart and will to carry on. Seeing Hands Massage With the onset of the genocidal rule of the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia took a serious turn for the worse from the late 1970s through the early eighties... 59). Fly Fishing – Catch and Release Yourself When fly fishing, many anglers prefer to catch and release their fly fishing prizes. Still, what should you do when you’re the prize? That’s Gotta Hurt If you become a fly fishing fanatic, you will inevitably hook yourself one day. Of course, this has never happened to me, but my “friends” have done it repeatedly. Being a ... 60). Costa Rica – VW Vans and Crawling Things For better or worse, man has tamed Mother Nature in many countries. My general impression is this isn’t the case in Costa Rica. San Jose to Carrillo Roughly ten of us had decided to head to Costa Rica for a week to stay at a friend’s place just outside the beach town of Carrillo on the west coast. We flew into San Jose an... 61). Cambodia Taxi Chaos – a Leaf, a Radiator and a MacGyver Moment The roads in Cambodia are vicious, angry slabs of asphalt filled with potholes that would qualify as valleys in some countries. Fortunately, I had it made traveling from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh. Or so I thought. Cambodian Taxis Having spent two weeks in the relaxing beach town of Sihanoukville, I was getting bored and ... 62). Fly Fishing Heaven In Montana You can find good spots for fly fishing in most states, but some are more epic than others. Allow me to introduce you to heaven on earth for anglers. Fly Fishing Heaven In Montana Montana is an incredibly beautiful state. It is located on the Canadian border between Wyoming and the Dakotas. It is the fourth largest state ... 63). Fly Fishing in Russia A few years back, I spent a year living in Siberia and had a chance to head out to a town called Tinda. Much to my surprise, a couple of the locals had fly fishing on the menu. The Siberian Surprise Mention the word “Siberia” and most people think of bleak, frozen tundra stretching for hundreds of miles. Well, this is mor... 64). Delhi, India – A Mix of Old and New Like many cities in India, Delhi is packed to the gills with people. Delhi is unique, however, because it mixes the old with the new. New Delhi If you fly into Delhi, you will inevitably end up in New Delhi. This section of the city is very modern in relation to the rest of the country. Roads are wide and organized with s... 65). Budapest – Health Resort Spas Budapest is an amazing city with so many attractions that it is hard to know where to start. The health resort spas seem as good a place as any. Budapest Spas Budapest sits on a tectonic plate fault line in Eastern Europe. While earthquakes seem inevitable, one advantage to the location is the proliferation of mineral wate... 66). Bird Watching Competitions – I Spy With My Little Eye Bird watching typically conjures up images of people pursuing a relaxing day of staring into the sky with binoculars. Ah, but then there is the competitive side of birding. Flying Emus…err, Elbows For many people, something is only worth undertaking if there is an element of competitiveness. With bird watching, no such el... 67). San Diego Beach Hikes – Cardiff to Carlsbad San Diego offers a bevy of interesting hikes. With the average home price being around $500,000, they better be interesting! To unwind, I typically stop on my way home from work to hike from Cardiff to Carlsbad on the beach. For picturesque sunsets and “tasty waves”, the beach between Cardiff to Carlsbad can’t be beat. Car... 68). The Basics of Rafting The River Rapids Rafting the river rapids is a major adrenaline rush. If you are going to hit the rapids, you need to know some of the basic language thrown around in the sport. The Basics of Rafting The River Rapids As with any sport, it helps to have a basic understanding of the tools of the trade, techniques and such. Not only does this... 69). Siberia, Russia, Part 8 – The Slow Train After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway. The Horror As my new Russian friend walked down the hall, I reflected on the information he had provided me with ... 70). National Parks – Get Out of Your Car! The national park system in the United States is full of beauty and surprises. Still, you’ll be wondering if they’re worth it when you run into the crowds of other visitors. Road Side Viewing Sure, millions of people visit our national parks each year, miles of cars creep through at a painfully slow pace, parking lots are... 71). Halloween Fly Fishing - The Ultimate Bite Halloween and fly fishing may seem like an odd mix, but not for true anglers. Yep, I’m talking about the ultimate test of your abilities and nerve. Dracula’s River Okay, everyone knows the story of Count Dracula. The book is huge and has been turned into more than a few scary movies. The one the frightened me the most was... 72). Only in Russia – Tinda While living in Siberia for a year, I agreed to speak at a human rights conference. Only in Russia will you find a place like Tinda, a city we stopped in on our way. Trans-Siberian Railway When living in Siberia, the only way to get around is car, helicopter or the Trans-Siberian Railway. Since I had neither a car nor hel... 73). Christmas Gifts for Her – A Unique Approach The holidays are quickly approaching and that means you need to come up with Christmas gifts for her. Instead of stressing out, consider the following approach. Christmas Gifts for Her – Gift Ideas As the holidays approach, we are all subjected to a frustrating phenomenon. What the heck should I get for my wife, sister, m... 74). Peter the Great’s Summer Palace – St. Petersburg, Russia During the communist reign in Russia, architectural styles could best be described as bland. Fortunately, the summer palace of Peter the Great wasn’t affected. Peterhof Known as Peterhof, the summer palace of Peter the Great is a very impressive area. The palace is arranged with a central rectangle format over roughly two... 75). Lost in Lagos, Portugal Lagos is a small town in Portugal built on a large hill overlooking the Mediterranean Ocean. While its old world charm is evident during the day, it can be a real pain at night. Upon arriving by train in Lagos, I quickly booked a bed in a private home with a local family. I was loaded in a car and driven to the home that was just over... 76). Mountain, Ice and Rock Climbing Gift Ideas Some people just have the urge to climb up and up. If you’re giving gifts to a climber, here are a few mountain, ice and rock climbing gift ideas. Climbing Gifts You can usually identify a climber at an early age. You come home from work and the energetic two year old is hanging from the top shelf of the bookcase. By the ... 77). Tying Fly Fishing Flies – The Frankenstein Fly You can buy flies for fly fishing, but you’ll want to tie your own at some point. Undoubtedly, your first fly will be the Frankenstein Fly. Of Flies… There is a particular fly for every fish, location and situation. There are basic flies like the Woolly Bugger and millions of exotic ones. You can buy thousands of them, bu... 78). Rafting The River of No Return Whitewater rafting is simply a blast, pun intended. This brings us to the river of no return, an excellent challenge in Idaho. Rafting The River of No Return Idaho is an incredibly beautiful state, a place with no massive cities or the resulting urban sprawl that comes with them. It is a Rock Mountains state sitting on th... 79). Calcutta, India – More Than You’ve Heard Calcutta, India is a city known for having a serious poverty problem. While this is true, there is much more to the place. Calcutta Calcutta is a colonial city organized during the period of British rule, which means a great majority of it is only one to two hundred years old. Unfortunately, the upkeep in the city has bee... 80). The Secret To Keeping Kids Interested on Family Vacations Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do you keep kids interested and busy during the down times? Have them keep journals of the trips and their impressions. Writing Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent family vacation. Where there periods of time when you wished you kids wou... 81). Halloween Bird Watching – The Dark Side Bird watching is just about the most unobjectionable hobby in the world. With Halloween approaching, however, it is time to discuss the dark, dark, dark side of birding. Bird watching enthusiasts are always looking for good spots to whip out the binoculars and visually hunt for a new life bird. There are really only two potential down... 82). Birding Trails – Florida If you’re into birding, finding new trails is always an enjoyable task. Here’s a primer on birding trails in Florida. Birding Trails – Florida It goes without saying that Florida is a rather large state. The following birding trails represent a mere sample of what is out there, but are proven birding spots. With that bein... 83). Fly Fishing - In Search of the Chase With fly fishing, sometimes it is all about the chase. Here’s a day trip that looked unfruitful, but turned out alright in the end. Colorado Fly Fishing We put the raft in on a warm morning in Sept. without a cloud in sight. My expectations were not high, since a warm sunny day tends to put the fish down, at least on this ... 84). Ko Chang, Thailand – Water Festival of Loi Kathong Thailand is a land of enchanting and exotic tastes for foreign visitors as I was to learn when I experienced the Water Festival of Loi Kathong on the island of Ko Chang. Ko Chang In October 2003, the travel bug seriously bit me. The symptoms led me to sell my business, pack a small backpack with necessary items and roll i... 85). Bird Watching – Writing What You See No bird watcher is complete without his or her bird watching journals. When you go bird watching, you need to keep your life list. The Life List If you are or become an avid bird watching enthusiast, you’re going to need to keep records. The reason for this is you want to keep a running list of the various bird species yo... 86). Travel to Italy – Rome and Venice Where does one begin to start when discussing Italy. Well, if you intend to travel there, Rome and Venice are good places to start. Rome Perhaps you’ve heard of it? It goes without saying that Rome has a rather prominent past. Lets see, in Rome you will find…[deep breath]…the Vatican, Coliseum, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Ch... 87). Christmas Gifts for Him – It’s That Time Again With the holidays quickly approaching, it is time to start trying to think of creative gift ideas. If you are looking for Christmas gifts for him, here’s the right approach. Christmas Gifts – What to Get As the holidays approach, we are all subjected to a frustrating phenomenon. What the heck should I get for my brother, ... 88). Fly Fishing Accessories – Hanging Stuff Around Your Chest If you are going fly fishing, you need to have your critical gear with you while wading and casting. One of the critical pieces of equipment is your vest. Fly Fishing Accessories – Hanging Stuff Around Your Chest Construction workers have tool belts to hold everything they need while working. Fly fishing anglers have the ... 89). Packing Your Backpack for Europe Nothing beats backpacking in Europe if you get the opportunity. So, you probably want to know what to pack for Europe. Packing Your Backpack for Europe Millions of people head off to Europe on a backpacking trip each year. Having done it five times, I can tell you that it will be one of the best times of your life. That b... 90). Florence, Italy – Of David and Such Often consider “Rome Light”, Florence is the city of the Medici and art galore. Despite this, there is an odd modern influence in this hallowed city. Florence When it came to the Renaissance, Florence was definitely one of the places to be. The city is full of examples of the past whether from great artist, architecture o... 91). Khmer Rouge Prison 21 – The Chilling High School In Phnom Pehn, Cambodia Most travel stories are of the happy-go-lucky variety. Every once in a while, however, one visits a place that evidences the vicious, dark side of mankind. Khmer Rouge Prison 21, known as Tuol Seng, is one such place. It is a stark reminder of the cruelties humanity can visit upon itself. Tuol Sleng In 1962, the high schoo... 92). Unique Backpacking Christmas Gift Ideas for Backpackers Christmas gift ideas can be hard to come by. If you’re buying for a backpacker, here are a few unique backpacking gift ideas. Okay, I’ll be the first one to admit publicly that buying gifts for the holidays can be a pain in derriere. When it comes right down to it, who knows if a gift will be a hit or a dud. If you’re shopping for a b... 93). Hiking Trails – Preserve Your Experiences Hiking is a great way to escape the rat race, get out in nature and leave the stress of the world behind. Alas, your hiking experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a hiking journal. Hiking Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent hiking experience. What sticks ou... 94). Christmas Gift Ideas for Hikers Christmas gift ideas can be hard to come by. If you’re buying for a hiker, here are a few hiking gift ideas to consider. Okay, I’ll be the first one to admit publicly that buying gifts for the holidays can be a pain in derriere. When it comes right down to it, how well do you know someone and how do you know what he or she likes? Buyi... 95). Living In Siberia – Lenin's Revenge In 1999, I moved to Chita, a city in Siberia, Russia to teach for a year. After seven days of planes, trains and, well, more trains, I was ready to experience Chita in all its glory. Day 1 – Lenin’s Revenge Riding on a train for three plus days does weird things to your equilibrium. You tend to develop a natural compensati... 96). Thailand Rock Climbing Mention Thailand and images of beaches, elephants and Bangkok come to mind. Less known is the fact Thailand rock climbing is some of the best in the world. Thailand Rock Climbing Located in Southeast Asia, Thailand is bordered by Cambodia, Burma and Laos in the north and Malaysia in the south. The shape of the country is ... 97). Denmark – Copenhagen, Helsingor and Beverages Denmark is one of the hippest countries in Europe. Copenhagen is the center of activity with a lively evening scene, palaces and castles. If you’ve traveled to Denmark, you’ll understand when I immediately bring up the subject of bars. The Danish like to toss back a few when time permits. Time seems to permit a lot and a few beers oft... 98). Cancun, Mexico – A Little Something For Everyone A sleepy island area in the 1970s, Cancun has been transformed into a mega tourist destination. Located on the Caribbean side of Mexico, this resort area has something for everyone. Cancun Make no mistake, Cancun is a very tourist friendly destination. Located on the Yucatan peninsula, Cancun is populated with mega resorts... 99). Austria – Vienna, Salzburg, Halstatt and Sound of Music Austria simply can’t be beat when it comes to beauty. You’ve seen the country in the Sound of Music, but the cities of Vienna, Salzburg and the alpine town of Halstatt are just as nice. Vienna Vienna is a city with a ridiculous amount of history. The home of the waltz, Habsburg Palaces and an unrivaled musical past. Walk f... 100). Hungary Travel – Lake Balaton, Visegrad, and Szentendre When visiting Hungary, it is easy to fall in love with Budapest and never venture beyond the city. If this happens, you’ll rue the day you missed a chance to visit Lake Balaton, Visegrad and Szentendre. Lake Balaton Lake Balaton is located in the wine-growing region of Hungary. It just so happens the Lake is also populated... Browse Pages: [1] 2 [3] [4]