What's in this issue?
RTW TRAVELER PROFILE - Stephani Otte
This summer Stephani Otte, a neuropharacologist from Chicago, will give up her yuppie lifestyle and embark on a 6 to 12 month trip around the world, attempting to reconnect with the important things in life. She plans to start in Finland and travel east to Turkey, then off to Kenya and Tanzania before she travels to India, Nepal, UAE, SE Asia and then up to China. It's going to be a long trip, but Stephani thinks that it's time to reprioritize her life and she hopes it will lead to a change of perspective and empathy.
Read more about Stephani's RTW plans
If you're planning your own RTW trip, you'll find plenty of answers to your travel questions, and can read tips and profiles from other round the world travelers.
The Round the World Travel Guide »
NEW HOSTELS
We've added almost 300 new properties this month and you can find more hostels and new city and country pages in these locations:
Global hostels and online reservations »
THE BOOTBLOG - SEND US YOUR POSTCARDS
The Oregon-based BootsnAll office is about to undergo a major remodel. With the additions of Court and Donovan to the BootsnAll office, Sean is adding extra space to make way for Chris, who is hopefully moving here from Australia this summer.
Since the BnA office doesn't have many decorations, except Sean's homage to the Chicago Bulls and Cubs, we are asking BootsnAll members to start sending us postcards from wherever you are in the world. We plan to use them as decorations and to show other travelers visiting our office. Send us postcards while you're traveling, from remote destinations, tourist attractions or even your hometown. It doesn't matter where!
The first person who sends us a postcard from perhaps the most untouched, remote destination in the world, Zamunda, will win a free Bali Blog hat, already on collectors must-have lists.
BootsnAll Crew
3505 NE 13th Avenue
Portland, OR 97212-2254
USA
Check out the BootBlog »
BOOTSNALL IN BALI
With more than 20,000 temples on Bali, Nick decided to take a new journey and visit another temple that was well off-the-beaten tourist path. Known as Pura Luhur Batukau in Tabanan, or the Garden Temple, it's 40 kilometers northwest of Denpasar. Before entering the sacred site, it's important that visitors understand the ancient code and regulations. Nick decided that he wasn't a "mad gentleman" and and began to discover why this was one of the most important temples on Bali and why many Balinese people make a pilgrimage there.
Read more about Pura Luhur Batukau and see if you qualify under the "mad gentleman or ladies" regulations.
"Dude, I caught a wicked tube when I dropped into that sweet wave." Yes, this sounds like southern California slang but, in reality, you can find it in Bali, too. With consistent, "gnarly" waves and warm weather, loads of backpackers, and cheap food and accommodations, Bali attracts surfers from around the world.
Take a lesson from Nick on the lingua franca of surfer culture in Bali. BootsnAll has a new partnership with Aussie surfer Palu Waskiw who will rent you a surfboard on Kuta Beach or make you one via the internet for when you arrive.
Check out the Bali Blog »
BOOTSNALL TRAVELBLOGS
Follow your fellow BootsnAllers as they travel. Check out our top picks from the travelblogs this month, and add your comments!
Check out some of our newest blogs, too!
Don't forget, if you're about to head off on an extended trip and you've just got to have one of your own, talk to us about getting your own Travel Blog. All you need to do is make sure you're a BootsnAll member and we'll take care of the rest.
Sign up for BootsnAll membership here »
Check out the BootsnAll TravelBlogs »
LATEST BOOTSNALL ARTICLES
There are more than 30 new articles from the past 2 weeks with some great photos and new authors!
Some highlights include:
- Mark Thiel manages to sing karaoke, get arrested and recite haikus in Japan (Read)
- Katie Krueger sought tranquility while looking for one of the largest Baobab trees in Senegal (Read)
- Jonathan Felix finds bliss while cycling across Japan, despite rain, pain, and constant setbacks (Read)
- Joshua Hartshorne journeys to Siberia to help build trails around the world's deepest and oldest lake (Read)
- Christopher Matcham assimilates to the nuances of Mexican life, while dreaming of a solid stool (Read)
And other articles and stories on Australia, Siberia, Maui, South Africa and heaps more:
Go to the articles »
FEATURED MESSAGE BOARD THREADS
The BootsnAll Travel Forums continue to cultivate fresh, raw, coveted travel information on those vital subjects that you can't find in a guidebook. Don't miss these latest threads!
Best Festivals of The World
Marti Gras in New Orleans, Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, Oktoberfest in Germany, and the Love Parade in Berlin - all of these festivals are well-known around the world. Our BootsnAll members sound off on some of the best festivals, parties, events around the world. Have you even heard of, or been to, the Onion Festival in Switzerland or the Ganesh Chaturti in India?
A Cautionary Tale
Budget airlines are the latest craze in Europe. Travelers are ranting and raving about the £1 airline tickets from London to Italy. However, local BootsnAll stud, Philip Blazdell, sends out a cautionary tale about his experience with budget airlines.
Sleep Sheet vs. Sleeping Bag?
It's one of those age-old questions while traveling around Europe. Should you bring a sleeping bag, a sleep sheet or nothing at all? LiveNomadic, one of the most hardcore, bad-ass Bootsnall members, stirs up some debate as he prepares for his 4 month eastern Europe expedition.
Road Tunes
Jared listened to Bob Marley across Tanzania and Thailand. Nick likes The Doors for road trips in United States and Australia, and Dan W enjoys drum and bass on long train rides? What type of music, band, MP3 or special CD accompanies you on all your travels? More than 40 people responded to this great thread!
Adventure Travel
Bootsnall's newest addition to the travel forums - Adventure Travel (Formerly the bicycling and motorcycling forum). With the growing popularity of adventure travel and sports, this forum is is dedicated to anything that constitutes a little adventure while traveling, whether it's exploring a dangerous city, climbing a peak, kayaking an exotic river, hiking a difficult trail. Visit the new Adventure Travel forum and help BootsnAll begin some new threads.
TRAVELERS TALK ABOUT...
When you're deciding things about your trip, be it where you stay or whether or not to buy insurance, it can be hard to make a decision. One of the best sources to turn to for help is other travelers. We've been asking travelers a lot of questions lately, and you can check out what they have to say about their own experiences with...
Would you like to put in your 2 cents on any of the above? Email Chris (chris at BootsnAll dot com), and he'll set you up.
BOOTSNALL INTERN
The BootsnAll Internship Program is back! We're looking for two journalism interns for the summer of 2004. Interns will have the opportunity to learn more about BnA and will produce content for the site. College students from around the world are encouraged to apply. For more info, go to the BnA Internship Section.
Click here to apply.
DAILY TRAVEL NEWS
One of BootsnAll's well-spoken, opinionated members, Chey, has decided to collect daily travel news for the Bootsnall Members Forum. If you need a daily travel news fix, make sure to read Chey's real-time travel news on her daily thread.
TELL A FRIEND and give back to your community
If you feel that BootsnAll.com is a valuable resource, why not
tell your friends about us and/or give back to the BootsnAll Community in one way or another.
If you have comments both positive and constructive, we would love
to hear them. Tell us what we have done well and how we can improve.
We would appreciate it greatly.
