Today is the letter R for my Travel Blogging Challenge. Here are the R choices: Rwanda, Russia and Romania. Wow! Interesting choices. I think I would want to see Romania or Russia. I used to work at a nonprofit that worked with Russia. I know more about Russia and the Russian people than most Americans. I guess I would travel to Russia.
There are such beautiful buildings to see in Russia. The people are so very welcoming. In the south there are beautiful vacation spots at the Black Sea. I also want to take a ride on the Trans-siberian Railway. I want to see Lake Baikal, the Hermitage Museum, Moscow Kremlin, and Saint Basil's Cathedral.
Do you want to see Russian??
Until tomorrow...
Friday, August 21, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015
A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - Q
Today is the letter Q for my Travel Blogging Challenge. There is only one country that starts with the letter Q - Qatar.
To be honest, I don't even know where Qatar is. If I had to guess I would say the Middle East. I would say a small country with one ruler and with lots of oil. Okay, now I am going to Google it.
Sure enough, Qatar is a high income economy backed by the world's third largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves. It also has the highest per capita income in the world. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. Qatar is an absolute monarchy and its head of state is Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Bingo! I got it right.
This was an interesting fact: In 2013, Qatar's total population was 1.8 million: 278,000 Qatari citizens and 1.5 million expatriates.
Until I read this: According to the US State Department, expatriate workers from nations throughout Asia and parts of Africa are routinely subjected to forced labor and, in some instances, prostitution. Some of the more common labor rights violations include beatings, withholding of payment, charging workers for benefits which are nominally the responsibility of the amir, severe restrictions on freedom of movement (such as the confiscation of passports, travel documents, or exit permits), arbitrary detention, threats of legal action, and sexual assault. Lovely! What a place to visit.
The country has among the highest rates of obesity, diabetes and genetic disorders in the world. All that money and good living.
I know I have said this before but not a country high on my list of countries I wish to visit.
Until tomorrow...
To be honest, I don't even know where Qatar is. If I had to guess I would say the Middle East. I would say a small country with one ruler and with lots of oil. Okay, now I am going to Google it.
Sure enough, Qatar is a high income economy backed by the world's third largest natural gas reserves and oil reserves. It also has the highest per capita income in the world. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. Qatar is an absolute monarchy and its head of state is Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Bingo! I got it right.
This was an interesting fact: In 2013, Qatar's total population was 1.8 million: 278,000 Qatari citizens and 1.5 million expatriates.
Until I read this: According to the US State Department, expatriate workers from nations throughout Asia and parts of Africa are routinely subjected to forced labor and, in some instances, prostitution. Some of the more common labor rights violations include beatings, withholding of payment, charging workers for benefits which are nominally the responsibility of the amir, severe restrictions on freedom of movement (such as the confiscation of passports, travel documents, or exit permits), arbitrary detention, threats of legal action, and sexual assault. Lovely! What a place to visit.
The country has among the highest rates of obesity, diabetes and genetic disorders in the world. All that money and good living.
I know I have said this before but not a country high on my list of countries I wish to visit.
Until tomorrow...
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - P
Today is the letter P for my Travel Blogging Challenge. I have already visited one country with the letter P, Panama. Back in 1987 I traveled to Panama to visit a boyfriend. It was right before the coup of the government of General Manuel Antonio Noriega. It was very interesting to visit a country that was on the cusp of a military coup. My family didn't want me to visit Panama but I was a headstrong 20 something and I was going no matter what they said.
I remember there were military police with sub machine guns everywhere. I tried to take a photo of a bridge and almost got shot. After I left the country my boyfriend's car got run off the road (he worked for the State Department.) It made the visit more exciting to go at that time.
While I was there I had a great time. I visited the Panama Canal. Since my boyfriend worked during the day, I would go and sit at the canal and watch the boats go through the canal and read a book. We went to a night club. We drove through the rural areas from Panama to Colon. It was very interesting to drive outside the city through forests and on such small roads. Seeing people in their homes and in their yards. It was good to get out of the city. I bought a piece of jewelry at a market that I still have.
I thought it was a wonderful place to visit. Not sure I would go back but it was an interesting place to visit once especially during the chaotic time I went.
Until tomorrow...
I remember there were military police with sub machine guns everywhere. I tried to take a photo of a bridge and almost got shot. After I left the country my boyfriend's car got run off the road (he worked for the State Department.) It made the visit more exciting to go at that time.
While I was there I had a great time. I visited the Panama Canal. Since my boyfriend worked during the day, I would go and sit at the canal and watch the boats go through the canal and read a book. We went to a night club. We drove through the rural areas from Panama to Colon. It was very interesting to drive outside the city through forests and on such small roads. Seeing people in their homes and in their yards. It was good to get out of the city. I bought a piece of jewelry at a market that I still have.
I thought it was a wonderful place to visit. Not sure I would go back but it was an interesting place to visit once especially during the chaotic time I went.
Until tomorrow...
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - O
Today is the letter O for my Travel Blogging Challenge. There is only one country with the letter O. Oman.
While I am sure Oman is a wonderful country full of wonderful people, I am not that interested in visiting a country that has such a horrible human rights record. A country that tortures citizens who criticize the government. A country that stones and tortures dogs to keep the population down. A country where women and children face legal discrimination in many areas and are excluded from certain state benefits, such as housing loans, and are refused equal rights under the personal status law. A country where women also experience restrictions on their self-determination in respect to health and reproductive rights.
Yeah, not my kind of vacation destination. I think I will find a country to visit in the P's. Sorry Oman. I am sure you are a beautiful country. When you wake up to the 21st century maybe I will visit!
Until tomorrow...
While I am sure Oman is a wonderful country full of wonderful people, I am not that interested in visiting a country that has such a horrible human rights record. A country that tortures citizens who criticize the government. A country that stones and tortures dogs to keep the population down. A country where women and children face legal discrimination in many areas and are excluded from certain state benefits, such as housing loans, and are refused equal rights under the personal status law. A country where women also experience restrictions on their self-determination in respect to health and reproductive rights.
Yeah, not my kind of vacation destination. I think I will find a country to visit in the P's. Sorry Oman. I am sure you are a beautiful country. When you wake up to the 21st century maybe I will visit!
Until tomorrow...
Monday, August 17, 2015
A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - N
N
Today is the letter N for my Travel Blogging Challenge. I have been waiting for the letter N. My friend lives in a country with the letter N and I have been waiting to visit her. She just got married and I am so happy for her. In fact I just received a letter from her. You remember letters? You take pen to paper and write. Then you put the letter in a an envelope, address it and stick a stamp on it and mail it. It is awesome to get a letter!
My super good friend lives in the Netherlands. She sends me photos and postcards from the Netherlands and it looks so beautiful. I have been to Amsterdam many, many moons ago. I took a train from Belgium to Amsterdam I am pretty sure. It may have been a train from Paris to Amsterdam. I really remember the miles and miles of tulips. It was during Spring Break when I was going to school in London. We took a week to visit Europe. The tulips were amazing to view.
It would be so exciting to visit my friend. The Netherlands so like a picture book.
I bought some lamps for my bedroom. I put them all together and took a photo. A friend saw the photo and asked me why the right lamp was leaning. Turns out the right lamp is broken slightly and I have to return both lamps. Ergh! That is a task for tomorrow. They looked so nice. The company is sending me a new set.
Until tomorrow...
Sunday, August 16, 2015
A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - M
Today is the letter M for my Travel Blogging Challenge. I want to visit Micronesia. Why you ask? My dog Happi is from Micronesia and I would like to see where she came from. Here is the story of Happi.
Happi was about 1 year old living in Palau, an island in Micronesia, when she was hit by a car. In Palau, the people don't bring the dogs in the house, they feed them on the porch and the dogs live outside on the street. Happi must have been running around and got hit. A visiting microbiologist did a surgery to save her life. My vet was in Micronesia doing a special trip where the Humane Society spays and neuters dogs and cats. They saw Happi and did the surgery again the right way (taking the whole shoulder so the dog can lie down) and spay her at the same time. Worried about leaving her in Palau (they still eat dog in Palau) my vet flew her to the USA. She was on a plane for three days. Because Palau has no rabies, Happi did not have to be quarantined.
While our vet was out of the country, our beloved Taiko passed away from cancer. When our vet came back she called to see if it was too soon for a new dog. Of course she said, just take Happi for a few hours. That is the hook. I was worried that Happi would have a problem with all our stairs but she had none. She was so excited to be in a house. She dove in the dog bed and didn't want to get out. It was all so exciting for her: toys, collar, leash.
I would love to see where she came from since I hear Micronesia is a beautiful group of islands in the Western Pacific Ocean. It is west of Hawaii and east of the Philippines.
There was even a Survivor season in Micronesia. It looks like a great place to hit the beach, snorkel, and see a waterfall. My kind of vacation!
Until tomorrow...
Happi was about 1 year old living in Palau, an island in Micronesia, when she was hit by a car. In Palau, the people don't bring the dogs in the house, they feed them on the porch and the dogs live outside on the street. Happi must have been running around and got hit. A visiting microbiologist did a surgery to save her life. My vet was in Micronesia doing a special trip where the Humane Society spays and neuters dogs and cats. They saw Happi and did the surgery again the right way (taking the whole shoulder so the dog can lie down) and spay her at the same time. Worried about leaving her in Palau (they still eat dog in Palau) my vet flew her to the USA. She was on a plane for three days. Because Palau has no rabies, Happi did not have to be quarantined.
While our vet was out of the country, our beloved Taiko passed away from cancer. When our vet came back she called to see if it was too soon for a new dog. Of course she said, just take Happi for a few hours. That is the hook. I was worried that Happi would have a problem with all our stairs but she had none. She was so excited to be in a house. She dove in the dog bed and didn't want to get out. It was all so exciting for her: toys, collar, leash.
I would love to see where she came from since I hear Micronesia is a beautiful group of islands in the Western Pacific Ocean. It is west of Hawaii and east of the Philippines.
There was even a Survivor season in Micronesia. It looks like a great place to hit the beach, snorkel, and see a waterfall. My kind of vacation!
Until tomorrow...
Friday, August 14, 2015
A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - L
Today is the letter L for my Travel Blogging Challenge. I went to the list of L countries to see which country I wanted to write about. There are nine countries and I have little desire to visit any of them. Many of them are former Eastern block countries and African countries. I think the countries I would want to see the most of this list is Laos. I have always been fascinated about that part of the world and it would be amazing to visit.
Laos a plethora of things to see and do. Laos has these amazing caves. Caves that are from the war that you can tour. Caves with Buddhas in them. Caves with stalactites.
The Boong Pa Gooang has a pod of rare Irrawaddy dolphins you can view. There is also the Hintang Archaeological Park where you can view a collection of standing stones is thought to be at least 1500 years old.
The country sounds very interesting. Especially with the history about the Vietnam Conflict. Not sure I will ever get to Laos but it would be fascinating if I did.
I also have a personal connection. My family helped sponsor a family from Laos back in the 70s. I was very connected to the family because the daughter was not that much younger than me physically but emotionally and mentally she was such a child.
Until tomorrow...
Laos a plethora of things to see and do. Laos has these amazing caves. Caves that are from the war that you can tour. Caves with Buddhas in them. Caves with stalactites.
The Boong Pa Gooang has a pod of rare Irrawaddy dolphins you can view. There is also the Hintang Archaeological Park where you can view a collection of standing stones is thought to be at least 1500 years old.
The country sounds very interesting. Especially with the history about the Vietnam Conflict. Not sure I will ever get to Laos but it would be fascinating if I did.
I also have a personal connection. My family helped sponsor a family from Laos back in the 70s. I was very connected to the family because the daughter was not that much younger than me physically but emotionally and mentally she was such a child.
Until tomorrow...
Thursday, August 13, 2015
A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - K
Today is the letter K for my Travel Blogging Challenge. I am excited to visit Kenya.
Kenya is in the east part of Africa. It is known as one of the most famous tourist destinations.
Some of the things I would love to do in Kenya are:
It would be so exciting to visit a place with such rich history and culture. A place with such color and vibrancy. Visiting people who live a life so different from my life would be interesting to
Until tomorrow...
Some of the things I would love to do in Kenya are:
- Go to the Mara and see the Masai
- Go to Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserves and see many endangered animals (and not hunt them!)
- Go to Lake Naivasha and see animals in their natural habitat.
- Tsavo game park to go on a safari
- Lake Nakaru to see more animals and amazing scenery.
- See Mount Kenya but not climb it!
It would be so exciting to visit a place with such rich history and culture. A place with such color and vibrancy. Visiting people who live a life so different from my life would be interesting to
Until tomorrow...
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - J
Today is the letter J for my Travel Blogging Challenge. Today's country letter is easy! I have always wanted to visit Japan. Japan seems so interesting and has so many cultural sites.
Here is what I want to see:
Until tomorrow...
Here is what I want to see:
- Kyoto - temples, palaces and gardens
- The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri)
- Hiroshima - Peace Memorial Park and Museum
- Tokyo’s National Theatre or Shimbashi Embujo is where you can enjoy kabuki
- Stay at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn
- Visit a major sumo tournament
- Himeji-jo Castle
- Tokyo’s Kabukicho, the neon-soaked district of love hotels, host clubs and fuzoku (sex industry) businesses
- Stay overnight in Mount Koya temple
Until tomorrow...
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
A - Z TRAVEL BLOGGING CHALLENGE - I
Today is the letter I for my Travel Blogging Challenge. Today's letter is hard. I had no idea how many interesting countries start with the letter I. Here are the countries that start with the letter I:
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
I am fascinated withe Iceland. Just like Greeenland, I want to go to Iceland and see fjords, waterfalls, man-made geothermal baths, glaciers and volcanoes. The Arctic Circle in the northern latitudes, the midnight sun is invariably awe-inspiring as well as the northern lights. I want to go to one of those ice bars.
I also want to visit India. The hustle and bustle. The vibrant colors and food. The Taj Mahal, The Red Fort, the Lotus Temple. I could go on and on. So many things to see in India.
Indonesia is supposed to be beautiful. My neighbors went to Bali and loved it. I have to admit that Indonesia is not on my top tier of places to visit but I would not turn down a trip there. I see photos of Raja Ampat and it lures me there.
Iran and Iraq are not places I want to visit right now. I tend to stay away from places where there are wars or there have been wars recently. I also don't like to visit places where I have to cover myself. So Iran and Iraq are currently off the travel list.
Ireland is a place I want to visit. When I lived in England we were encouraged not to visit Ireland. It was during "the troubles". The IRA was in full swing and it was unsafe for young college students to visit Ireland especially Northern Ireland. Since I am part Irish, I would love to see my heritage.
Israel is one of the most historic places I want to visit. I am not drawn to religious sites but Israel is one place I would visit. I don't think I would put Israel on my top tier vacation list, it would be further down the travel list but I want to see it. I want to float in the Dead Sea, stick a note in the Western Wall, go to Jesus' burial place, and go to Yad Vashem (World Center for Holocaust Research). I also want to see the Kishle prison excavations and The Israeli Museum at the Yitzhak Rabin Center. So much history and culture in one place.
I have already been to Italy. I have seen Rome, Pisa, Florence, Firenze. I want to other area's of Italy. The Tuscany and Umbria regions seem beautiful. I want to walk the little streets and hills. Maybe a day in Venice just to see it. Naples for a day.
Now you understand my problem. I love the letter I. I want to see almost all the I countries. Do you have a favorite I country? Or do you have same problem I have?
Until tomorrow...
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