What's in this issue?
TRAVELER PROFILE - Kelly O'Laughlin
When you are on your deathbed, will you say, "I am glad I worked so much?" Some people will, many people won't. But for Kelly O'Laughlin and her boyfriend, they both agreed that taking a round the world trip would enrich their lives - and that was important to them.
At the beginning of this year, having done temp work, they traveled together around the world for five months, going to amazing destinations like Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands.
The philosophy for their RTW trip was simple. Kelly thought that short trips - like 1 week long - aren't worth it, especially if you're
spending a lot of money on airfare. It was either all or nothing!
When asked about her favorite piece of gear for the trip, Kelly agreed that REI zip-off travel pants were very useful. "They were nerdy looking, but they really worked great. And when I wore them for a week straight in Thailand, they still looked clean! And they dry quickly," she said.
Kelly thinks the biggest myth about long-term travel was that it was difficult and expensive - and navigating yourself gives you a sense of accomplishment!
Read more about Kelly O'Laughlin's adventure.
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 »
BOOTBLOG
The day has finally come. After years and years of planning, Chris Heidrich safely arrived back in Portland, Oregon where an entourage of loyal BootsnAll members came to welcome his arrival back to the United States. It was a great surprise party, full of old friends and new friends, travel stories and future adventures. Chris has been runnning BootsnAll's Australia office, but has now moved back to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to the company headquarters.
BOOTSNALL IN BALI
When most travelers head to Bali, a trip to Ubud is usually on the circuit. Ubud is a laid-back tranquil town, up in the lush green hills, just an hour outside of Kuta. It's the cultural capital of Bali and is a great way to take a break from the insanity of Kuta, and a great place to find quality art work at a very affordable prices. Nick and his brother Chris took a trip to Ubud to shop, check out some art shops, and have a conversation with a coconut salesman.
If you don't see yourself in Bali anytime soon, at the least you should check out some Nick's amazing pictures. With Bali's unique culture and landscapes, it's one of those places where you could spend a lifetime take pictures and never take the same one twice.
Check out this photo from summit of Gunung Agung Bali, the highest and most scared mountain.
This picture is the staircase to Pura Tanah Lot Bali, only accessible to Hindus, perhaps the most famous temple in Bali.
BOOTSNALL TRAVELBLOGS
Follow your fellow BootsnAllers as they travel. Check out our top picks from the travelblogs this month, and add your comments!
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 20 new articles from the past 2 weeks with some great photos and new authors!
Some highlights include:
- Francis Wilson takes the time to enjoy Hanoi's heat - and the beauty of air conditioning.(Read)
- David M Weber shares his experiences and tips to help future travelers to Oktoberfest survive, and even enjoy it. (Read)
- Laurel Miller says ditch the package tour and head for Kauai's incomparably beautiful, peaceful north shore. (Read)
- Slip has faced Russian mafia, scorpions, street food and raging bulls - how hard can climbing the Franz Josef glacier be? (Read)
- Justine Merrill offers some suggestions for making less of a fool of yourself while naked in a Turkish hamam.(Read)
And other articles and stories on the Maldives, Italy, Siberia and Bolivia.
Go to the articles »
FEATURED MESSAGE BOARD THREADS
The Great Shaver Debate
For men, shaving on the road can be a big pain in the arse. Dedicated BootsnAll member Leif Pettersen is a life-long electric
shaver man, but now he debates the benefits of electric razors for long term travel. Should he switch to disposable, use an open blade, or
stick to the big old clunk razor. You decide!
Which Planet Has the Greatest Possibility for Backpacking?
Now that public space travel is set to begin in 2007, forward thinking philosophers like Nick O'Neill are spurring debate on interplanetary backpacking. Will happen? Perhaps! What would you prefer - a luxury packaged trip to Mars, or hanging out on one of Saturn's moons
with all the budget backpackers? Check out this comical thread.
Travel Buddies
Looking for another person to travel with? Tired of backpacking with the same people? Tired of being alone?
Don't forget BootsnAll has a travel buddies forum, where other like-minded individuals meet up on the road. Whether it's a long trip through Southeast Asia or just a quick day of rock climbing in Moab, Utah, there is always someone looking for a mate to travel with.
TRIP OF THE MONTH
While Australia is known for surfing and sun, it's also known for its abundance of adventure trips. BootsnAll World Adventures has more than 21 small group trips to the land down under.
Trekking at Cradle Mountain in Tasmania is extremely popular and is rated one of the best trips in Australia. If you are interested in a trip, this year, next year, or even a few years from now, let's us know. We would love to hear from you! Former BootsnAll's intern Lynn Holmgren put together a guide on the overland track in Oz. Read Gunning Cradle Mountain if you are looking for inspiration.
Off the coast of Queensland lies Australia's largest island National Park, Hinchinbrook & the Coral Sea Islands. If you are into Sea-kayaking, it's a great way to experience the awesome coastline and the deep blue water.
Visit BootsnAll World Adventures for a complete list of our Australia trips.
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...
