Articles (3564)
Rafting the Amazon: Whirlpools
Whirlpools Steering the raft At sunrise we got up and continued the journey. I was tired and my lips were swollen and numb from mosquito bites. Pali’s legs were covered with bites from the day before. We had no idea how far we had gone but we hoped that we were near our destination.
Rafting the Amazon: The Final Stretch
The Final Stretch In the morning I returned the mosquito net to the villager, we said our good byes and pushed off. A majority of the locals were still sleeping when we left. I guess I assumed that rural people always wake up at the crack of dawn. In the morning we drifted well.
Rafting the Amazon: The End of the Journey
The End of the Journey Last view of the raft That morning we woke early to the sound of the market next to us. We began to sell our supplies including the machete, water container, plastic tarp and other items. The local children took what was left, including the oars and cooking pot.
Rafting the Amazon: Pucallpa
Pucallpa I’d been traveling for about a month since I finished my service with the Peace Corps in Paraguay. I was with my Chilean girlfriend, Pali, and our hope was to reach Venezuela by land. We had already explored Paraguay’s Chaco region, Bolivia and Central Peru.
Rafting the Amazon: Indigenous Village
Indigenous Village The good sleep renewed my energy and I was more optimistic about finishing the journey. We said our good-byes and thank you’s to the villagers and pushed off. The first hour or so on the water was perfect. There was no wind, the water was smooth and the current strong.
Rafting the Amazon: Getting Permission
Getting Permission The seaworthy vessel In the morning we took a bus to the port Captain’s office. I was told that we had to get a permit to make the river journey to Iquitos.
Rafting the Amazon: Building the Raft
Building the Raft I woke early and met George at his house. We had breakfast and than took a long walk to a saw mill on the outskirts of town. We went to the mill to find scraps of wood that could be used to refurbish the raft.
The Prairie Provinces, Canada – July 2001
Exploring a Proud Heritage The Prairie Provinces are home to a strong and proud aboriginal heritage, and provide perhaps the best opportunity in North America for travelers to come into contact with First Nations peoples in both a traditional and modern context. There are a number of places and events in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Traveling the Philippines Under Terrorist Threat
Karlo Nilo Buhay Samson is not going to let a terr
There And Back Again…Maybe #1
Well. Just 26 hours to go – 21 if you count the trip to the airport – and I haven’t packed yet. Oops! The Kiwi prepares to take on Oz once again Don’t get me wrong: I know exactly what I’m taking, it’s just that some of it’s in the washing machine and other parts
The Big Trip #6
Week 11: Ahhh…Andulacia Route: Tarifa – Vejer – Arcos – Sevilla – Tavira, Portugal 443 kilometers Since returning to Europe from Morocco, the pace of our trip slowed down quite a bit. Instead of setting the alarm for the morning, we got up when the sun made our tent too hot for sleeping. Avoiding the
So, You Wanna Be A Flight Attendant?
“Coffee, tea, or me?” Hours of unpaid training later, Lisa Tossey has mastered the art of pouring coffee at 35,000 feet. Let us be the first to warn you: the glamour is gone. We were flight attendants – safety professionals ready to take on heart attacks, lavatory fires, cabin decompressions, and water landings. One of
Manila to Hong Kong on $1 (1 of 2)
Putting the “budget” in budget travel, Nick O’Neil
It Doesn’t Matter Which Road You Take #13
Episode Thirteen: The French Riviera Stinky Cheese, Dr. Scholls and Unfriendly ATM’s We are not really lost, just thinking that we most likely will not make our train to Nice on time. We take the train into Basil, but arrive five minutes after the overnight train to Nice has left. The punctuality of the European
Manila to Hong Kong on $1 (2 of 2)
After many hours of restlessly shifting around on my row of 4 plastic chairs and watching plane after plane load up and people leave, things began to quiet down. Night had fallen, and everyone seemed to accept that nothing was going to happen for a while.
Finger On The Trigger – Costa Rica
It was a cool morning in April 2000 in San Jose, C
Trans-Atlantic Travelogue #11
The Friendliest Campground in Europe Olivet, France June 13, 2001 Scoreboard: 12,175 miles; 6 Countries, 20 states I’m hardly a scientist, but I don’t like dealing in absolutes. Of course, the pinnacle of my formal education was law school where you are taught (if you listen well), “There is no law or truth, only judges.”
The Big Trip #5
The Big Trip Morocco Week 9: Cycling the Route des Kasbahs Route: Ouarzazate – Gorge du Dades – Gorge due Todra – Goulmima – Merzouga 345 kilometers From Ouarzazate, we headed out into the desert, a vast, empty, rocky landscape. In the distance, we could see the hazy outline of the High Atlas mountains. We
Hear No Evil – Costa Rica
I was sitting in my room in San Pedro minding my own business when a buddy of mine calls me to tell me that there has been ANOTHER American girl found dead in Costa Rica. I held my tongue about the first two, but now I have to say something. First, the death of any
It Doesn’t Matter Which Road You Take #12
Episode Twelve: Bavaria Revisited Guns, Gummy Bears and Huge Pretzels We arrive at the Termond’s house four hours later than planned. We found out that it is possible to catch a train from Kempten to Waltenhofen, but it only leaves once a day. We are on it and have been deposited about a half-mile from
Trans-Atlantic Travelogue #9
We’re Saved by a Jehovah’s Witness Lourdes, France June 1, 2001 Scoreboard: 11,615 miles; 6 Countries, 20 states I’m sitting under the shade of a tree by a dark green French river Le Gave, in the shadow of the spectacular Basilique du Rosaire Crypte (cathedral), with a strong wind blowing leaves and tourists around. Lourdes
Trans-Atlantic Travelogue #10
We Blow Our Second Engine of the Tour, and Try to Drive to England Anyway La Fert Saint Aubain, France June 5, 2001 Scoreboard: 12,125 miles; 6 Countries, 20 states I’ve got to say this: We’re not having a great deal of luck in vehicle-related matters. Sweet Pea (the VW bus) blew most of her
The Big Trip #4
Week 7: Welcome to Morocco! Route: Tangier – Chefchaouene – Ouezzane – Meknes 180 kilometers We arrived in Tangier and spent a couple hours cycling in circles through the middle of the city, searching for an ATM that would take our debit cards. I quickly realized I would need to give Bob a few lessons
Sun Of The Desert (2 of 2)
Day Five I woke up and I was buzzing. I was on such a high that when I heard today was going to be the toughest day’s hiking I was delighted. I was really looking forward to it. Today as well we were joined by Joyce from Dublin Simon, which was great except for the