Subscribe via RSS FeedOct|14|2007
More Couch Surfing Stories…
Posted by Benj as Asia
The first Couchsurfing post drew a bit of reaction and calls for a follow-up so here it is. 
Ok, guys, be prepared, I’m about to expose my top secret location! I’m from The Philippines - the unofficial doormat of Asia whether you’re an American traveler or a typhoon. Our guest was a twenty-something guy who was looking forward to four months in Asia in hopes of experiencing what the land and culture could offer. He’s from Southern California and he’s very interested in extreme sports and the great outdoors. Since he’s already seen a good deal of what the capital city could offer, we thought it was time to take him up North - the cooler and more mountainous part …
Sep|29|2007
Couchsurfer, Ahoy!
Posted by Benj as Tips
Signing up for couchsurfing is one thing, but hosting a guest is totally another. Thanks to this revolutionary website, travelers with less than the usual travel budget could still go to their dream destinations by simply opting to stay in a fellow couchsurfer’s couch or bed.
This morning, a friend of mine fetched a couchsurfer from the airport. He was a seasoned traveler himself, but it was his first time in Asia. In hopes of introducing the whole idea of local cuisine and culture to him, we decided to treat him to a restaurant that offered traditional food. Unlike the usual setup where in a traveler is thrown into a strange new environment, locals can now soften the transition …
Sep|23|2007
California Dreamin’: Yosemite
Posted by Benj as Eco-Friendly, Americas
California has a lot to offer. From the sprawling cities of the Pacific coast, to the cool and serene atmosphere of the Bay area, it’s clear that the Golden State has all the bases covered. Aside from man-made wonders, California also pulls its weight when it comes to national wonders.
Yosemite National Park is a vast expanse of more than 750,000 acres of breath-taking rock formations, lush greenery, water falls and other inspiring sights. It is found largely Mariposa and Tuolumne counties - a perfect detour for people passing through Fresno or Sacramento. The elevation is highly variable throughout the entire park. In some areas, the ground is 2,000 feet above see level. In other places, the number soars to …
Aug|25|2007
Killing Time During Long Travels
Posted by Benj as Travelogger
When traveling to new and more interesting locales, it’s inevitable that it would entail a long period of time that would be spent in transit. Whether its spent on a plane, train, bus or car, it’s generally time that goes to waste due to the sheer boredom of it all. Unfortunately, these sort of delays and hang-ups eat into the already limited time that a family can spoil a well-planned vacation. In these types of situations, Mommy and Daddy better be prepared to have the tools to ensure that things don’t go sour.
Enjoy the scenery! As corny as it sounds, sometimes looking at rolling hills, clouds, mountain ranges and even the desert could prove to be enjoyable and interesting. Familiarizing …
Aug|22|2007
Want It Cheap and Quick? Try It In Groups!
Posted by Benj as Tips
If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park or just about any famous tourist spot in any corner of the globe, you’ve probably seen people in huge tour buses parked near the sites. Actually, odds are, you’ve been on a group tours package of some sort. Though some people still prefer doing car rentals to drive to various places of interests, the touring industry has always had a strong following due to the convenience of just sitting pretty inside a bus without the problem of navigation, driving and risking getting lost in an unfamiliar territory.
Touring companies often offer day trips to various tourist spots with several stops along the way. This ensures that you get to see many …
Aug|20|2007
Seven Wonders Series: Chichen Itza
Posted by Benj as Americas
Chichen Itza was one of the three Latin American sites that were included in the new list of Wonders. The complex is a more-than-a-millennium old complex of buildings and temples dating back from 600 AD. The structures are believed to have been made by the people of the Mayan Civilization. It was hard to imagine how a sprawling community could be supported by the arid area of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Fortunately for the ancient people of the Maya, cenotes or natural sinkholes that provided the much needed water supply for the big city of Chichen Itza.
Aside from the obvious allure of Cancun and other places in the Yucatan that allow tourists access to the inviting waters of the …
Aug|12|2007
Seven Wonders Series: Macchu Pichu
Posted by Benj as Americas
Last August, the list of the seven new wonders of the world was unveiled for all the world to see. Though people greeted it with mixed reactions, the inclusion of Peru’s Macchu Pichu complex was definitely responded to with unanimous approval. The vast and majestic structures of the ancient Inca Empire. It’s about 200 kilometers away from the Peru’s capital and largest city Lima and is accessible through the domestic airport in Cusco. The parcel of land where the buildings are located is as mind-blowing as the structures themselves. The complex stands on an elevated mesa surrounded by other imposing peaks. The mesa clears the Urumbaba river by 600m and the Macchu Pichu is about …
Aug|05|2007
The Seven New Wonders: Traveling To Petra!
Posted by Benj as Asia
The City of Petra in the Middle Eastern nation of Jordan was one of the seven sites that gained the distinction of being the new seven wonders of the world. The accolade was awarded July 7 of this year in Portugal. Though the name Petra doesn’t exactly ring a bell, pictures of the site would probably be familiar to a lot of older people - especially those with a pulse of pop culture.
The structure itself is a complex of buildings carved into the side of a rock mountain. And no, they are not mere dwellings and unadorned edifices, the extravagance of the old settlers of the “Red Rock” is palpable with their construction of monasteries …
Jul|31|2007
The New Seven Wonders Countdown: The Pyramids Of Giza
Posted by Benj as Africa
The Pyramids of Giza were officially pulled out of the ‘competition’ for the list of the ‘new’ seven wonders of the world, but the great monuments to Egyptian architecture and engineering was awarded a special citation for being the only remaining ancient wonder. Though the structures have been around for more than four millennia, the pyramids still continue to draw oohs and ahhs from modern day nomads just like the way it did back at the time when Greek tourists fell in awe of their majestic allure.
It would come as a surprise to a lot of people that the Giza is only a few minutes away from the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Weirdly enough a Pizza Hut restaurant can be …
Jul|30|2007
Cruising With The Family
Posted by Benj as Family
After totally reinventing the concept of theme parks, Disney is set to make a name for itself in another industry that is now slowly becoming a strong draw for children and parents alike. Mickey and the gang are not just being mobbed in parks in Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo, Paris and Hong Kong! Now kids and the kids at heart could meet and greet the ageless Disney characters while at sea thanks to the nouvelle idea of Disney Cruise Lines.
But this clearly isn’t Disneyland on steroids. The two Disney Cruise Lines ships aptly called ‘Magic’ and ‘Wonder’ aren’t screaming monuments to Disney. Instead, the company decided to go with the art deco interior reminiscent of subtle representations of past Disney characters. …
