10 extraordinary islands

in my 27 years on this planet (the 28th starts on march 21st), i have been blessed to live in some pretty amazing places. Grand Cayman Island, Karnataka, India, sunny Southern California...i've definitely been able to enjoy living in the best spots that the world has to offer. coupling in my travels to Costa Rica, Clearwater, Florida, Miami beach and more, and i have quite a bit to be thankful for.

today's post is on 10 islands that i have not yet had the pleasure of visiting, but that are definitely on the list.

10 Extraordinary Islands

please let me know your thoughts on the islands and on tropical travel in the comments below

- TM

the Hajj: a journey to Mecca

Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that all followers of Islam must complete once in their life. Every year Hajj takes place in the last month of the Muslim calendar, and lasts several days. Muslims from all over the world descend on Mecca, to the Ka'ba, to worship Allah. The Hajj is an amazing journey, transcending nationality, age and much more, and today's blog post is on the pilgrimage.


Below is a photographic essay from Time Magazine, as well as a letter from Hajj. Pretty amazing stuff.

http://www.time.com/time/asia/photoessays/mecca_hajj/1.html

http://www.time.com/time/asia/photoessays/mecca_hajj/letter_hajj.html

travel picture mondays #2

the last few mondays have been crazy, but i'm gonna make sure that from now on i don't miss another. below are two photos taken in my travels. the first is from a recent trip to Kansas City, Missouri. the second was actually taken while on vacation in beautiful Guanacaste, Costa Rica at the Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort. Pura Vida!

vancity

tonight marks the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. with the games in town, Vancouver (aka vancity) is looking for an economic boom with the tourists, athletes and media that will be attending.

i have long been told that vancity is one of the most amazing cities in the world. though i have not had a chance to head up to check it out, i am planning to in the next 12 months.

while reading up on the city, i found this great website on ideas for a 48 hour getaway. check it out and let me know your thoughts!


Vancouver Weekend Guide

traveling cheaper in 2010

today's post is just a quick one. Senior Travel Editor for Travelocity Genevieve Brown gives us all tips today on how to save money in our travels in 2010. It's a great video, very informative. I couldn't believe how in just the 3rd quarter airlines made $700 million on baggage fees alone! Also the tips on flying Tues/Wed to get cheaper flights was excellent.


http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/saving-money-on-travel-in-2010-17803167

world's most beautiful bridges

I love photography, especially landscape photography. When I am on vacation, I always have a camera (or two) on me at all times and if I see something unique or beautiful I can't help but to snap away. One of my favorite types of landscapes to shoot is definitely bridges. Whether full of traffic or empty, these engineering marvels are each amazing in their own unique way. Here is one of my favorite shots that I have taken, from a cruise around Manhattan:



Below is a fantastic photo gallery of various bridges throughout the world. Some seem to be things pulled out of a science fiction novel, but all are beautiful. Enjoy, and post your thoughts in the comments section below!

World's Bridges: A Picture Gallery

World's Most Outrageous Guest Requests

To a traveler there is no greater friend that the hotel concierge. Whether you need tickets to a special event, want to know the best restaurant in the area, or just want directions to the local pub, a good concierge will bend over backwards to take care of all the guests of their hotel.



Today's posting shows the dark side of being a concierge. Below is a link for the most outrageous requests that concierges all over the world have had to put up with for their guests. After reading these, I will never feel bad again for asking the hotel's concierge to arrange a walking tour or make some reservations for a dinner. Enjoy, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!

Outrageous Concierge Requests!

interactive italy

A certain special someone in my life recently told me how much she loves Italy. Having had the chance to visit in years passed, she explained in detail the peninsula's charm, from the famous gondoliers of Venice to the architecture of Vatican City.

I have had the opportunity over the years to visit many countries throughout Europe, but Italy has not been one of them. Looking into what the country has to offer, I stumbled upon this gem of a site:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/04/20/travel/20080420_ROME_GRAPHIC.html

Over the next few months I will look into the country in detail, so that when the time comes, I'm ready for all that it has to offer. I'll be sure to share the information, and I hope that you enjoy all that I find.

- TM

travel picture mondays #1

at the beginning of every work week from now on, I will be posting 2 photos from my travels around the world to help all my readers (as well as myself) get through the most dreaded of days, Monday.
Here in installment #1, you will see two great American cities, and two great photos. enjoy, and please let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Charleston, West Virginia
State Capitol Building

Times Square - New York City!

THE road trip

From Roadtrip to Animal House to National Lampoon's Vacation, the road trip is a uniquely American ritual that is so ingrained in our culture that even it's satire has the potential to generate large amounts of income.

In the next few months I am planning a road trip. THE road trip, as it will be known from now on. I have always wanted to see everything that our beautiful country has to offer, and though I have traveled all over the world, there are several places that I have been dying to explore that I have not been able to yet. Today I took the first step to planning it out by jumping on google maps to see how many miles it would cover and to finalize the cities that I want to see.

Total Mileage = 9,999 miles (no kidding!)
Cities (in order)
- Los Angeles, CA
- Las Vegas, NV (for both a wedding AND a bachelor party - two different groups)
- San Fransisco, CA
- Portland, OR
- Seattle, Washington
- Billings, MT
- Denver, CO
- Lincoln, NE
- Minneapolis, MN
- Green Bay, WI
- Milwaukee, WI
- Chicago, IL
- Flint, MI
- Cleveland, OH
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Point Pleasant, WV
- Charlottesville, VA
- Washington, DC
- Charlotte, NC
- Charleston, SC
- Savannah, GA
- Atlanta, GA
- Tampa, FL
- Orlando, FL
- Cocoa Beach, FL (to see a space shuttle launch!)
- Jacksonville, FL
- New Orleans, LA
- Houston, TX
- Dallas, TX
- Austin, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Las Cruces, NM
- Tuscon, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
and back home to good old Los Angeles.

The tentative dates for this monster trip at 4/15-5/27! Can't wait to see what our country has out there!

Who's riding shotgun???

secret places - #2

In my second secret places post, I am going to introduce you all to one of the best kept secrets in the greater Los Angeles area - the restaurant called Casablanca (Though I know I am 2/2, I promise not EVERY secret place will be a restaurant).




Hidden away off of a busy street in the Venice Beach region, Casablanca was first introduced to me by my-then girlfriend back in 2002. She had raved about it repeatedly, as her mother (an executive with Robinsons-May), had taken her throughout the fall. At first glance from the outside, there really isn't much to look at. A simple restaurant on the corner of a busy intersection, Casablanca could be the local mexican eatery in any suburb in America. However, once you step inside you can begin to see what makes it special: the food. From seafood to tacos and everything in between, Casablanca has the best of Spanish food coupled with a full bar to celebrate the good times.

My recommendation for lunch or dinner is simple: carne asada with beans and rice, along with as many fresh tortillas as you can eat. These tortillas are THE reason to go to Casablanca. Hand made right in the middle of the restaurant by a delightful older woman, they are hands down the most amazing tortillas in the world. No hyperbole here, they are just unreal. Couple them with the great food and perhaps a margarita or an ice cold Dos Equis for one of the best meals in Southern California.

From the nods to the movie that is it's namesake, to the plethora of seating, to the delicious (and moderately priced) food and friendly staff, Casablanca is just one great restaurant, and one more secret place for all. Enjoy it and let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Casablanca Restaurant

220 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA 90291

Phone: (310) 392-5751 (Reservations accepted for groups of 5 or more)

the world's most amazing views

quick post today, but a good one. yahoo!travel has put out the 8 best views in the world.

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-31237028

some of these views are absolutely breathtaking, and I thought that I would share the link with all of you. please let me know some of your favorites in the comment section!

here's one view that is very special to me (and is one of my secret places)



- TM

this month's travel channel travel bug trip? PRAGUE!

The Travel Channel, of which I am secretly (well not so secretly now) addicted to, is offering one lucky winner and a guest a very special getaway in their monthly Travel Bug Sweepstakes with an all expenses paid trip to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic.

This month's prize is pretty darn amazing. Just look at all that they are including!

Prize package includes:
-round trip coach airfare for two (2) from major airport closest to winner's home to Prague (determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion)
- Private roundtrip airport transfers via private limo
- Five (5) nights' accommodations at Aria Hotel, Junior Suite, double occupancy, including taxes and service fees
- Full à la carte breakfast for entire stay
- Souvenir showplate from original collection of Josef Blecha's caricatures
- Private three (3) hour walking tour of Prague with English speaking guide for two (2) adults includes the renowned Wenceslas Square, Municipal House, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and Lesser Town highlights
- two (2) Hour Afternoon Prague River Cruise; 1/2 day excursion to the Bohemian Glass Factory
- Prague Pub Tour with Dinner
- Evening classical concert (approx. 1 1/2 hr performance) in a concert hall or church (location and musical selection contingent upon travel dates) such as St. Martin in the Wall Church, Municipal House or Spanish Synagogue
- Four (4) course tasting menu at Restaurant Bellevue for two (2) including tax and gratuities

i'm actually stunned at all they have to offer. it's like you're taking over the life of Anthony Bourdain or Samantha Brown for 5 solid nights!

Official rules in their entirety can be found here:
http://win.travelchannel.com/index.tbapp?page=rules

So enter now (you are allowed to enter the drawing once per day until the end of Jan!), and don't forget that PO Box addresses are not allowed, and neither are duplicate entries from the same name/address/email address!
http://win.travelchannel.com/index.tbapp?refcd=win_tc_com
if you get the question right, you are automatically entered twice!

oh and should any of my readers win, I have never actually been to Prague, and I'm a great travel companion ;)

- TM

a major inspiration for me

Awhile back (I can't really remember when), someone sent me the following video. It was made by a guy named Matt, who traveled all over the world and took little clips of himself dancing in different visually stunning places, from the villages of Rwanda to that one cave like area in Jordan that is in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Thanks to a sponsorship with Stride, Matt is able to go on his travels and share his adventures with us, one clip at a time. Check both out below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNF_P281Uu4&feature=channel
- this is the original, and i love the music. from the opening clip i knew it was gonna be something great. and it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY&feature=player_embedded
- this is the 2008 video, which is excellent as well

These videos are a big influence on my travel dreams. Many of these spots have made it onto my travel "to do" list. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

- TM