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Hello,
What are you looking forward to the most this summer (or winter depending on where you live)? Please reply and let me know as I'm curious what the next few months might bring for those who love travel! As for my recent travels, Aruba was great. It probably helped that there were no cruise ships there so the island was quite empty. The incredible white sand beaches were empty. The wild and stunning Arikok National Park was empty. Downtown Oranjestad (the capital) was empty and so on. We rented bikes, rented a car and drove around the entire island, went for long walks along the coast, ate some excellent food and enjoyed Aruba's famously consistent, and beautiful, weather. It was the only island in the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) that I had not been to before and I can say that it absolutely makes for an excellent getaway. The island is so small that with even 5 days you can easily explore it all at a relaxed pace, with plenty of time to chill at the beach as well. After Aruba, it was time to return to Florida, hang out with my family and plan the next trip. That trip started yesterday. I'm now in Las Vegas (that blog post is about why I'm a fan of this crazy city!) The key with all these trips at the moment is finding the destinations and time periods that are the most affordable. For example, flying from Florida to Las Vegas cost only $100 yesterday. Staying in a nice hotel from Monday to Friday costs only $50 per night as opposed to $250 per night on the weekend. So the plan is to spend the week in Las Vegas, then head out to the Grand Canyon for the weekend. After that, I have no idea! It's time to use your travel knowledge and research skills! Previous photo
The guesses came raining in for this one that I posted last time. And the most common guesses were Bhutan and a handful of locations in Nepal. However, nobody guessed the specific location, which is...
...the village of KALPA, INDIA, located in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh! Congratulations to Stephanie though, for at least guessing Himachal Pradesh :) Kalpa is one of my favorite spots in India, located in one of my favorite regions of the country. There is a route that goes from the mountain town of Shimla, through the magical Kinnaur, Spiti and Lahaul valleys, and back around to the town of Manali. The trip can be rough, on a narrow road dug out of the rocky mountains and cliffs, with 1 mile dropoffs only inches from your vehicle. But the villages are beautiful, the people welcoming and the culture very different than other parts of India given its Buddhist history. You'll find no shortage of ancient Tibetan temples, impressive monasteries and remote communities (part of the loop is only 5 km from the Tibetan border). And that's not to mention the endless, towering Himalayan mountain peaks right in your face the entire time! This week's photo The Rules
1. Try to figure out where the below photo was taken. 2. Reply to this email with your guess.
3. The more specific the guess, the better!
4. The location will be revealed in next week's newsletter.
So, here we go :) Where in the world is this?
Travel-related (usually) tidbits that appeared in my inboxesThe Human LibraryI love this. It's a library where, instead of books, you borrow and learn from another human being. The goal is to have conversations we would not normally have access to, with people we otherwise would never have met. The organization hosts events all over the world. Most Livable CitiesThe latest rankings of the world's most livable cities came into my inbox and it should be no surprise that Australian cities lead the way! Live Anywhere for FreeAirbnb is launching a "Live Anywhere on Airbnb" program where 12 people will be able to work and live for 1 year at Airbnb properties around the world...all for free. You can apply here. |
Malaysia's Most Colorful State
How one man's random encounter on a train in India led to a rewarding travel experience through the diverse and colorful state of Johor, Malaysia.
A Tiny Ethnic Group
With only 200 people remaining, Europe's smallest ethnic group, the Livonians, is in a battle to preserve its culture, language and traditions.
The Natural World
The winners of Big Picture's Natural World Photography competition have been announced, with eye-opening images from around the globe.
All the Croatian Food
One Croatian blogger decided to create the most extensive list of Croatian dishes that you'll probably find anywhere, complete with descriptions and photos. It's worth checking out, especially if you're a foodie. Many dishes sound quite tasty while others....not so much!
Eagle Creek Shutting Down
The outdoor travel gear company, Eagle Creek, is sadly shutting down for good next month. They've been a major travel brand the entire 21 years I've been on the road and I have several friends who only use Eagle Creek backpacks when they travel. It's definitely a big loss.
World's Coolest Streets
Timeout published their list of the coolest streets in the world, ranging from Witte de Withstraat in Rotterdam to Cat Street in Tokyo to Calle Jose Galvez in Lima...and plenty more that you'll definitely want to explore. Good News to Share
Despite the challenges of the past year, these 20 inspiring stories highlight the major progress that the world made as well. The pandemic might have kept them out of the headlines, but that doesn't diminish the good news they bring! Thanks for reading!
Regards,
Derek (my middle name is Earl) *If you received this email from someone else and want to sign up to A Life of Travel, simply click the button below: |
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