Archive for the ‘Africa’ Category

My 7 Links: A Look Back At A Pair of Panties & Boxers

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

I’ve watched and read many bloggers in the travel community highlight their 7 links these past few days. It was a game of tag I was eager but uninvited to play…until now! Thanks to my fellow New Yorker, Connie Hum, from Connvoyage and Kathryne & Dan from Two Go RTW, I’ve been selected to participate.

So here are my 7 links:

My Most Beautiful Post: Jaw Dropping Sunrises Around The World

My Most Popular Post: 15 Ways To Volunteer In Africa

My Most Controversial Post: Tainted Travel Bloggers

My Most Helpful Post: Nine Rule To Follow When Traveling The World

A post whose success surprised me: Photo Collection: Faces of the Future

A post I felt didn’t get the attention it deserved: Climbing Out Of Poverty

And now, with my magic wand I’d like to nominate the following travel bloggers to participate and share their 7 links as well.

Katie Tibbetts from Breakawaykatie
Audrey Bergner from That Backpacker
Sam Lovell from Any Road
Kelly McCusker from Travelightly
Jerry & Adrienne from Shenventure

Tags: Africa, Asia, China, Travel Tips
Posted in Africa, Asia, China, Europe | 3 Comments »

Do You Want To Volunteer Abroad In Tanzania?

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

The first time I volunteered abroad was when I was in Shanghai. I was studying at Fudan University and participated in the Foreign Students Volunteer Program. I taught English at a migrant school in and it turned out to be the most rewarding experience at Fudan.

I might be biased because of my experience but I always encourage everyone I meet to either study or volunteer abroad. If I could, I’d be volunteering abroad right now but I’m keeping these dollar bills as close to me as possible. Grad school tuition is guaranteed to drain my life savings.

I’m currently volunteering for Support For International Change (SIC), an organization that is dedicated to limiting the impact of HIV/AIDS in undeserved communities. We are looking for students and recent alumni who are interested in volunteering with us in Tanzania.

Our programs provide volunteers with an opportunity to live with a host family in Tanzania and directly impact rural communities by working alongside local Tanzanians. Each program begins with an intensive expert-led orientation where volunteers are educated about HIV, our organization and global health before beginning their field experience running an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.

We currently have space available for our summer program starting July 20 – September 14 and our fall program starting September 22 – December 15. Click here if you’re interested in participating in this volunteer program and if you know of anyone who might be interested in working in Tanzania, please share this with them.

Tags: Africa, Tanzania, Volunteer abroad
Posted in Africa | 2 Comments »

Visiting Mauritius? Here Are 5 Places To Explore!

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Guest post by Tim Walker

Mauritius was created first, and then heaven. This is what Mark Twain wrote in his book. Indeed Mauritius is a very beautiful island that will surely delight even the most difficult of traveler. Once there you will have a hard time choosing among the different activities and places of interest that are available on the island. In this article I will be providing information on 5 places that you should not miss when visiting Mauritius and I hope that it will be useful when it comes to planning your travel.

Some rights reserved by rebis12

Central Market

The central market is located in Port Louis, the capital and is place that you should not miss. Not only will you find some local crafts- both from the main island Mauritius but also from Rodrigues. However you should be careful of local sellers as they might try to sell some items at some really high price with tourists. Try to look around first in order to see if you could find the same item at some cheaper prices.

Quatre Bornes Market

This is a place that is really recommended for people that are looking for some cheap items in Mauritius. Again you should make sure that you shop around to find the best deals if you do not want to pay a too high price. It is also advised that you keep your belongings safely if you do not want to become easy prey for some pickpockets.

Some rights reserved by eutrophication&hypoxia

Caudan Waterfront

The Caudan Waterfront is a shopping complex that is located in the capital Port Louis. There you will find shops, restaurants and cinemas in order to provide you with some entertainment opportunities. Indeed this is the sole place where you can experience some nightlife activities in Port Louis. For those that are more into gambling and playing, there is also a casino available at the Caudan Waterfront.

Some rights reserved by carrotmadman6

Black River Gorges

This is a place that will really suit those that are more into hiking. There are different tracks that will suit people with different abilities. Some tracks may demand that you have a guide while some other tracks are clearly marked and should not be difficult to attempt on your own. Be sure that you take precautions though especially against mosquitoes if you do not want to be tattooed?

Some rights reserved by llee_wu

Trou aux Cerfz

This is actually the crater of an ancient volcano that offers some really great scenery. This is a place that you should not miss if you are really fond of nature and nice landscapes. Located in the center of the island, in the town of Curepipe, this is definitely a place that you should not miss if you are going to visit the central part of the island.

There are more places that you could visit on the island but the ones shown are rarely shown in tourist brochure and should be really interesting to consider if you want to try something new when visiting the island.

Tim Walker

Tim is a contributor for the site Kefalonia where you can get more information on holidays and also Skala hotels.

Tags: Africa, Mauritius
Posted in Africa | 8 Comments »

Seeking Brave Female Travelers For The 1 Peak 1 Week Kilimanjaro Challenge

Monday, April 11th, 2011

Who: Fearless female mountain conquerers. (Acrophobics need not apply.)
What: Scale the highest free standing moutain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Where: Tanzania, Africa
When: August 12-21, 2011
Why: To support Tanzanian women living with HIV/AIDS

Support For International Change has teamed up with The Peaks Foundation, an organization that organizes global mountain challenges for women who seek adventure and a sense of personal acheivement. Their work has directly impacted communities in Nepal, India, Tanzania, Congo, Kenya and South America.

The 1 Peak 1 Week Kilimanjaro Challenge aims to assist Support for International Change and their effort across northern Tanzania to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS by providing education, economic and social support.

If the 1 Peak 1 Week Kilimanjaro Challenge fails to recruit at least 5 climbers in the next two weeks, this challenge will be pulled. Support for International Change will not be able to provide much needed resources for Tanzanian women living with HIV/AIDS.

Here is a brief one week itinerary on your climb up to Mount Kilimanjaro:

Day 1: Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport – transfer to Arusha
Day 2: Half day with local organization, Game drive
Day 3: Day with local organization
Day 4-8: Kilimanjaro climb
Day 9: Kilimanjaro decent, celebration dinner
Day 10: Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport

Please pass on this post to friends, family, adventurers, mountain climbers and anyone who would be interested in scaling Mount Kilimanjaro. RTs and Stumbles is also much appreciated in helping to spread the word. It would be even more awesome if you can share this with your readers.

The more people who know about it, the more likely this challenge will be able to succeed and the more likely Tanzanian women living HIV/AIDS will have the resources they desperately need.

Now that we’ve got all the basics down, who amongst my fellow wanderlusters is brave enough to take on this challenge?

Tags: Africa, Causes, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Posted in Africa | 8 Comments »

What To See On A Kenya Safari

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Sponsored post written by Elliot Majere from Responsible Travel

Kenya safaris are an experience of a life time. There are many different Kenya safaris holidays to enjoy, so making sure you choose the one that is right for you is so important. A Maasai Mara Safari offers a magnificent game reserve where the annual migration of the majestic wildebeest, gazelles and zebras can be observed. It also has the “big five”, elephants, buffalo, rhinoceros, lions and leopards, in addition to the cheetahs and hyenas.

There is a fantastic giraffe centre where the children can feed the animals. On the Kenya safari you will be fascinated by the gigantic size of the crocodiles and the large hippo pools and wonder as you watch these amazing animals graze on the savannah.

Whilst safari-ing in Kenya you can visit Lake Nakuru where the pink flamingo annually visit to feed on the pink shrimp living in the lake. You can also see the great rhinoceros grazing at dawn. It is also home to the Rothschild giraffe and other endangered species. At Ndere Island National Park you will see crocodiles lying in wait, hippos wallowing in the cool waters, monitor lizards, a variety of birds and the famous water antelopes. Amboseli National Park has beautiful landscapes where elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes and buffalo can be seen grazing and is a truly amazing Kenya safari.

Kenya Safaris in the Tsavo East and West National Parks is a popular tourist haven. This exotic landscape holds the secrets of many wild birds as they come and drink at the watering holes. Samburu National Reserve in the north of Kenya has a more rugged landscape and a diverse number of animals. There are a number of swamps and grazing areas where the animals can be found, but there are also a number of muddy rivers where the crocodiles hide and the deep pools and where the hippos conceal themselves. It also has Somali ostrich, oryx and Grevy zebra to be discovered, along with the birds such as sunbirds, Kingfishers and bee-eaters.

When safari-ing in Kenya in the Aberdare mountain range, the eastern area of the park is known as the salient and was once the migration route for the elephants. At lower levels around Nyeri there are vegetable smallholdings, along with tea and coffee plantations also ample supply of bamboo to be viewed. Alpine vegetation can be found at the highest point of the mountain such as Heather and St John’s Wort. It is also home to Queens Cave waterfalls.

A different type of Kenya safari holidays is at Mombasa and the south coast marine parks, here the magnificent coral reefs can be seen in the bay, along with the colourful scenery there is the beautiful marine life, such as damselfish, angelfish, butterfly fish and ribbon eels. Sharks and Turtles can also be seen swimming around the shore and dolphins play nearby.

Whichever Kenya safari holidays you choose the experience will be a magical adventure and one you will never forget.

Photo credit: Maulik Eye

Tags: Africa, Guest Blogger
Posted in Africa | 10 Comments »

15 Ways To Volunteer In Africa

Guest post by @BorderJumping

Our Journey began in October 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — when we left to visit nearly every country in Africa. At every stop we are meeting with farmers, community organizers, labor activists/leaders, unions, non-governmental organization (NGOs), the funding and donor communities, and local press. Read more

One Week Itinerary For Honduras

It’s two months away but I still have the urge to take out my backpack and starting packing. I’m eager to leave, eager to see and eager to live. I can’t wait till I get on that plane to Honduras. I booked it for only $280! I’ve got my plate full working 50 hours a week, volunteering, studying for GMAT, researching grad schools and running random errands I don’t have time to do during the work week.

I haven’t had a chance to do much planning for Honduras. Although, experiences have taught me that things never…Read more

Temples From Europe To Asia

Temples. Temples. Temples. What can I say about temples?

Let’s just look at pretty pictures of temples instead.

Here is a collection of images submitted by travel writers around the world of temples from places like Uluwatu, Madrid, Greece, Cambodia, Italy, Cambodia, China, India, Nepal, Japan and Indonesia. Read more

I’ll be calling for photo submissions in the future for an upcoming photo collection post. If you’d like to contribute, please feel free to email me at monica@apairofpantiesandboxers.com.

7 Essential Items For Light Travelers

Sometimes I forget to eat when I travel. I get full off of life and everything else around me. That is until my stomach starts growling like a dinosaur and I realize that I’m half way up the mountain already.

Afterward, I started packing crackers. It was cheap and it was good enough to hold me down for the time being. Then I realized that granola bars, although slightly more expensive, are much better and healthier alternative.

Jaw-Dropping Sunrises Around The World

Today’s Photo Friday Special is inspired by my previous blog post, Sunsets From Around The World. It was such a big hit that I decided to feature sunrises in this edition. I thought I’d be receiving a lot less sunrise submissions than sunset editions. I mean, unless you’re jet-lagged or an insomniac, who gets up at the crack of down to catch the sun rise?

Traveling Latin America Safely – It’s the little things

Guest blog post by @Brendanvanson.

I remember the first time I left home on my own to travel the Central America I was 20 years old. Everyone around me warned of the thousands of dangers – real and make believe – that would exist in this strange part of the world of which I knew little about. I remember clearly my mom telling a friend of hers that I was going to Central America, where “the favourite pastime of people is kidnapping foreigners.” The truth of the matter is that the media always has a way of accentuating the negative aspects about different parts of the world. Read more

新年快乐！ Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year is on Valentine’s Day this year. It’s different every year because the holiday is based on the lunar calendar. Learning about my own traditions has always been a hands-on, and sometimes painful, experience. When I was 5, I stuck my chopsticks upright in my bowl of white rice and got whacked. I later learned you only do that when making offerings to the deceased. Oops!

Chinese New Year celebrations began with the legend of a wild beast called Nian. “Nian” in Chinese means year. Read more

Hangzhou, China: A Stunning Sunset On The West Lake

The travel bug bit somewhere between Wuzhen and Suzhou. We returned from Suzhou Saturday night. But by Sunday morning, JC and I already had our bags packed and a one-way ticket in our hand. We took the next departing train fr0m Shanghai to Hangzhou. It was an hour and a half of smooth sailing.

The first thing we did was go island hopping. In Xihu (West Lake), the most famous lake in Hangzhou, there are three smaller man-made islands. Nearby are three small pagodas erected from the water. Read more

Things I Can’t Stand When Traveling

I use to think that I was the most level-minded person on the face of this earth. I always heard two sides of the story before passing judgment and I’ve been told countless times before that I’m an extremely understanding person. I use to think I’d make the world’s coolest girlfriend. That was before I got a boyfriend and that was before I started traveling.

I guess certain things never use to bother me because I controlled everything. I planned for everything. I let no surprises hit me with a curve ball. That wasn’t always successful but most of the time it worked. But after I started traveling, I realized that I can’t stand it when…Read more

Make Your Bucket List Less Daunting With A F***-It List

Guest post by @Jetpacker

Bucket lists are cultishly popular right now. It seems like everyone is making a list full of life goals so lofty they make The Most Interesting Man In The World look like an incompetent jackass. Conquering fears. Gaining independence. Finding enlightenment. It all sounds so… overwhelming.

I needed something that would make my bucket list seem less daunting and more realistic. Read more

Which one is your favorite?

Tags: Africa, Asia, China, Do Good Thursday, Europe, Hangzhou, Honduras, Latin America, Travel Tips, Volunteer, Volunteer abroad
Posted in Africa, Asia, China, Do Good Thursday, Honduras, Latin America, Photo Collection, Travel Tips | 5 Comments »

Do Good Thursday: Volunteer Capital Center

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

Guest post by Zaby from Volunteer Capital Center

Volunteer Capital Center was formed to provide volunteer opportunities in third world countries. Volunteers are placed in nonprofit organizations, community based organizations, faith based organizations, and government agencies. We make the process of making volunteering in third world countries as safe and comfortable as possible. We want to give the opportunity for others to leave their finger print in the lives of others by changing it for the better. To our volunteers, we offer responsible volunteer travel experiences, exceptional training, career development opportunities, and facilitates the ability to make a real difference.

After the rigors of volunteering, you are given the chance to visit the attractive sites. During the weekends we organize safaris and tours to experience the full experience. A country endowed with breathtaking landscapes, changing terrain and exotic coastline, Kenya is the original safari country and the wildlife is simply magnificent. The Maasai Mara game reserve is home to the biggest animal spectacle on earth, the annual wildebeest migration. The climate, although varying from place to place, is very pleasant. For example it’s always summer in Kenya. This is an opportunity to meet other people, to learn other cultures and also to have fun after a hard day’s work.

The volunteer programs available are for English speaking individuals who are 18 years and older. There are no educational requirements but some programs require academic qualifications. We have flexible programs where you can pick how many hours you want to work in a day. Our program durations are between one week and three months. We also offer customized programs where you choose how you will work and the best times for you.

The programs that we offer include the following:

Teaching: Volunteers will teach public schools, orphanages and community schools. Schools are in demand for teachers and the students are willing to learn this gives you a chance to impact the life of a young child. The volunteer will be involved in teaching English, math, science social studies and physical education. The volunteers will partner with local teachers and other volunteers to provide proper education to the children. Volunteers are needed especially for the special needs students who require extra time and more effort for them to learn.

Health professionals: There are many clinics and volunteer organizations in such areas that offer medical help to the poor. In conjunction with the clinics and the health centers (dispensaries) the volunteer will work alongside them to provide medical services.

HIV/ AIDS program: As a volunteer you will be asked to help in the outreach programs to help educate the local and create awareness about the disease. Supporting the infected and affected will be done through provision of food and medical supplies. You will be counseling them, encourage and help empower them. Our partner organization will be carrying out outreach programs in schools, community centers and public occasions.

Caring for people with disabilities: As a volunteer you will be expected to help through capacity building. Empowering the disabled is important as they will be able to be independent from other people and can be self reliant. There is also a social aspect to the help given to the disabled. There is a wonderful effect felt caused by the special care and attention given to the disabled. The impact felt by the organization is tremendous. The disabled people’s lives are changed for good. You will be working with children, as well as adults.

Orphanages: Many of the babies are orphaned because their parents have either abandoned them or died of HIV/ AIDS. Some kids are very young and they don’t understand why their lives are the way it is. They need special care and attention so that they don’t feel abandoned

Community Development: We work with organizations that provide a number of services to the local community. Our volunteers have the unique opportunity to become involved in a number of activities on a daily basis, including education, empowerment, construction, and vocational training.

The organizations provide sex education to the girls and the local community which you can assist with. It also involves empowering women through activities that make them financial independent. This is done through marketing their products, skills development and giving them access to information.

Tags: Africa, Do Good Thursday, Non profit
Posted in Africa, Do Good Thursday | 2 Comments »

Do Good Thursday: Support For International Change In Tanzania

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Guest post by Dana from @SIChange

Support for International Change (SIC) is dedicated to limiting the impact of HIV/AIDS in under-served communities and training future leaders in global health and development. SIC believes that the HIV/AIDS crisis creates both an imperative to act and an opportunity to learn. We envision a world where HIV/AIDS no longer limits length or quality of life or reduces the social or economic development of communities, and where young people learn the skills to address the health crises of future generations.

SIC offers structured 8 and 12 week volunteer programs open to students from a variety of universities in the US and the UK. Each year, student volunteers bring new energy and talents to our work in Tanzania.

Prior to landing in the middle of nowhere, East Africa, our volunteers receive extensive training from previous SIC volunteers (Program Coordinators) as well as guest lecturers (often professors) during a series of seminars we call Prefield. Prefield not only provides our volunteers with the necessary information and skills they will need to be effective HIV/AIDS educators, but it also prepares them for life and work in a developing country.

Upon arriving in Tanzania, each program begins with an intensive, expert-led orientation. A week into orientation, volunteers move into a homestay with a host Tanzanian family. Our programs focus on teaching community members and school children how to protect themselves from HIV and how to care for those who are already infected by AIDS as part of an awareness campaign within a partner community. In addition to these responsibilities, we urge volunteers to take the lead on other projects related to our work. Volunteers are also encouraged to see the effects of the AIDS epidemic first-hand, through regular visits to the home of an AIDS patient and trips to local orphanages.

“[My experience with SIC] gave me the confidence and the courage to keep traveling and living abroad.” – SIC Volunteer, 2005

“SIC gave me enough exposure to global health to know that I want to go abroad again in the future and I want to focus my research on issues that affect developing countries.” – SIC Volunteer, Summer 2004

“Working with an international group of students – including Tanzanians who, in addition to being some of the most talented people I’ve ever met, are so dedicated to help their country and people – was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” – SIC Volunteer, Fall 2008

“In the face of a devastating, insurmountable challenge of AIDS, SIC is always hopeful.” – SIC Volunteer, Summer 2006

If you have a strong desire to help others, a willingness to adapt to new challenges, and the ability to work hard with a team of like-minded people, we would love to hear from you: The deadline to apply to our Fall program 2010 has been extended to August 15th! Click Here to find out how to apply!

For more stories (and poems!) directly from our volunteers in the field, please click here, join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

Tags: Africa, Do Good Thursday, Guest Blogger, Tanzania
Posted in Africa, Do Good Thursday | 3 Comments »

Do Good Thursday: Kirsty’s Volunteer Abroad Experience In Rwanda

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Guest Post by @travoholic

I’ve been fascinated by Rwanda for years, devouring book after book about the 1994 genocide, mostly. Like most people, I’m sure, I find it impossible to fathom the events over 100 days in 1994 and I wanted to learn more about a place where such horrible things could happen.

I arrived in Kigali last month with plans to explore the city while catching up on some work (I’m a web developer and work online). Since my arrival I’ve been meeting all sorts of amazing people, both expats and local, working on some amazing projects to help Rwanda develop and escape its violent past. Many are volunteers and many more are here working for wages much lower than they could demand back at home. Speaking to these people and hearing about all of the great work they’re doing was inspiring and I’ve also come away from many of the conversations with lists of places who could use volunteers.

Teaching English and working with orphans were both obvious options and I would have happily helped and I’m sure had an amazing experience in either capacity but I was far more interested in doing something that used my skills as a web designer. I decided to take action and started to search for some way to help using my nerdy skills.

I discovered the Tubahumurize Association through a former volunteer’s blog and I immediately wanted to know how I could help. The Tubahumurize Association in Kigali was started by an inspiring woman called Jeanne after a good friend of hers was murdered by her abusive husband. Jeanne was driven to start a woman’s group where some of the most marginalized people in Rwandan society (genocide survivors, victims of rape, HIV sufferers) could meet together to share stories and console one another. Her group has since grown to include counseling, micro credit loans, human rights advocacy, training in practical skills (like sewing), a quilt and necklace making co-op, a meal program and all sorts of educational courses.

I noticed that they didn’t seem to have a website so I got in touch and asked Jeanne if she would like to meet up. She was so welcoming and over the moon when I told her I hoped to help build a website and then train her or a few people on how to update it. She explained some of the problems her organization was facing due to a lack of funding and I really feel like, while not a solution to fundraising problems, having a website is a step in the right direction. She has lots of ideas and I’m excited not only to be able to help but also to meet and work with such an amazing person.

So if you can’t find a volunteering opportunity that’s a good fit for you, make one! Be proactive. Contact groups to pitch your skills and ideas and I believe you’ll always find some takers. Here’s the tricky part though… you won’t have an in-country contact, you won’t have a support network back at home, you won’t get a t-shirt and you probably won’t get the coveted free food and accommodation deal that so many would-be volunteers are hunting for. But people like Jeanne and others who start their own initiatives don’t get free accommodation, either.

They spend their own time and money on helping others and for me, it’s these people who truly inspire. For someone to see an injustice and take action and do something about it is a huge step, especially when, like Jeanne, you end up with a lot of people depending on you. With this type of volunteering nobody will be holding your hand but you will also have the freedom to seek out an organization that really resonates with you and meet people who are getting important things done on a daily basis without the support of major international volunteer networks.

So with this in mind I encourage you to see what you can do to help. You know what you’re good at; now find people who need your skills. Start in your hometown and then try it out on your next trip, you might just become hooked!

Kirsty

Kirsty left Canada in 2001 and has been traveling, working, and volunteering abroad ever since. She has spent 11 months out of the past two years as a volunteer doing disaster relief work and is currently in Africa looking for interesting projects to help out with. She has written an ebook called The Underground Guide to International Volunteering that she hopes will inspire other travelers to give back as they travel. You can follow her travels on her blog, Nerdy Nomad.

Tags: Do Good Thursday, Rwanda
Posted in Africa, Do Good Thursday | 4 Comments »

Photo Collection: Faces Of The Future (Part 2)

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

This is for everyone who found joy in the first collection of Faces Of The Future and for those who wanted to contribute their photos. I hope these photos brings a smile to your face because I couldn’t get rid of my Kool-Aid smile while I was putting this post together.

I received a large number of submission for this photo collection and I am very sorry to say that I was not able to use every single photo that was submitted. Please don’t hate me. Look at the babies instead!

Misones, Argentina

Michael Tieso

Michael Tieso started Art Of Backpacking with a vision of sharing cultural knowledge to the world and inspire more people to travel. He left the cubicle life to travel the world in May 2009 and he still continues the journey to this day with no end to it. He loves adventure, food, and music. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @djskylab.

Guatemala

Photo by Halle Hughes, aged 10 traveling near Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. Halle was on her first trip overseas with her 2 sisters and parents and said the best part of going to Guatemala was doing Dog Meets World and meeting other kids.

Costa Rica

Photo by Kathryn Rouillard, a Peace Corps volunteer in Costa Rica took pictures in Playa Panama and said that practicing DMW was "one of the highest highs I have experienced thus far as a PCV in Costa Rica.

Dominica Republic

Tanzania

Haiti

Taken by Carolyn Lane, founder of DMW in Lacul, Haiti in a village along the sea. None of the children had ever had their photos to own!

Carolyn Lane

Carolyn Lane is the founder and president of Dog Meets World, nonprofit organization seeking to put a photo in the hand of every child in need in the world.

The Caribbean

Taken at Grand Anse Beach, Grenada, Caribbean

Maharasthra, India

Taken in Ellora, Maharasthra, India

Cairo, Egypt

Taken at an engagement party held on the street, Cairo, Egypt

Connie Hum

Connie Hum Connie Hum is a bit of a loose canon. She gets an idea in her head and she just goes with it. After making the decision to live the life she’s always wanted, Connie left her amazing apartment in New York City and job at an international consulting firm in February 2009. Since that time, she’s lived in Istanbul, sailed in the Mediterranean, slept in a Bedouin cave in the mountains of Petra, bellydanced her way through Cairo, drank afternoon tea in London, danced with young Buddhist monks in Burma, learned the art of Vipassana meditation in an ashram in India, trekked the Himalayan mountain range in Nepal and sunbathed in the gorgeous beaches of Thailand. And this is only the beginning! You can follow her travel (mis)adventures on www.connvoyage.com or on Twitter at @connvoyage.

Sapa, Vietnam

Little Hmong girl carrying her baby brother. Click on the photo for the story.

Laos

Hmong girl from Laos

Another Hmong girl from Laos

Belaga, Borneo

Kayan mother and child

Theodora Sutcliffe

Theodora Sutcliffe is on a longterm round the world journey with her nine year old son. Since leaving London in January 2010 they’ve visited Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia: next stop Indonesia Visit www.travelswithanineyearold.com for more travel pics and stories.Theodora is a single parent from London, England traveling around the with her son Z. Follow her on Twitter @Mummy_T.

Bangkok, Thailand

From a train ride from Bangkok to the border of Cambodia. It was a 5 hour train ride on wooden benches and cost 50 cents so we were the only foreigners on the train and no one spoke English. Unlike in North America where we'd never give our children to strangers, we were greeted warmly by the people on the train who offered their baby to hold. Although we didn't speak a common language it was one of the most memorable events of my trip.

Baby on the train from Bangkok to Cambodia 2

Ayngelina Brogran

Ayngelina left her job, apartment, boyfriend and friends to travel solo. You can read about her adventures at Bacon is Magic, as she eats her way through Latin America and beyond.

Granada, Nicaragua

Guatemala

Mexico

Lainie

Miro and Lainie (mother 43 and 11 year old son) share their adventures from the road of life, discussing issues of humanity, global citizenship, slow travel and living in the moment as they backpack through the world.Stay up to date with them on their blog & podcast at RaisingMiro.com which chronicles their nomadic adventures, Raising Miro on the Road of Life.

Cambodia

She was just a cutey. She has a huge smile on her face in every, single picture we have of her.

A couple of the younger boys just thought it was hilarious to use me as their own personal jungle gym. It got quite tiring after a while, and of course everyone wanted to try when they saw these two, so the next thing you know, I had 15-year-olds not much shorter than I trying to hang on me.

This is my boy again. It started pouring rain, and they all wanted to go out and play. In typical SE Asia monsoon season weather, it just POURED down buckets of rain, and they all had a blast.

You obviously can't tell it from this picture, but this little guy was the most surly and mad looking for the first couple hours after we arrived. Once he warmed up to us, he was like he is in this picture. Adorable.

This was the youngest girl, Nita, who was about 2 years old and as you can see, simply beautiful. Everyone was her bigger brother or sister, and they all took care of her and watched over her.

Adam & Megan

Adam and Megan set off on a year-long RTW trip in October 2008, touching down in eleven countries and ninety cities over three continents. Now back home in St. Louis, Megan is back at her career as an attorney, and Adam is trying to bust into the travel writing business. You can check out Adam’s brand new site, still a work in progress with new content being added daily, at www.worldtravelforcouples.com, or you can follow Adam’s journey to become a travel writer at www.journeyofatravelwriter.com. Adam and Megan also kept a blog of their RTW trip, at thewanderyear.com. They are both on twitter, @aseper and @wanderyearmeg.

Tags: Argentina, Borneo, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Dominica Republic, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Photo Collection, Tanzania, Thailand, The Caribbean, Vietnam
Posted in Africa, Argentina, Asia, Europe, India, Latin America, Photo Collection | 11 Comments »

Travellwithdome: Dear Webmaster, We are looking for good link partners for our website. I was wondering if we can...
Genevieve: Love this list! I’m in London now and, even though I’ve done a lot of exploring, I definitely...
Queenstown Accommodation: We can’t really deny the beauty of NZ! Will add this place on my list.
Joan Florida: Great giveaway. i have learned so much about Novica!
Jen London: The kids are so cute and adorable. I really enjoyed reading your retrospective!