Traveling puts so many things into perspective.
We are now able to "shrink" the world and stand in the footprints of history.
I have firmly believed that travel should
be mandatory for school children at the elementary or jr. high school level.
The difference in not just studying sites and events purely from a book,
but with the addition of personal experience, would greatly enrich a students
understanding and development.
Otherwise the concept of great civilizations
and cultures are reduced to images of world hunger commercials. The
rest is just printed fairy tales.
If you have traveled early, you know what
I mean. If not, well it's never too late.
When I prepare to travel it is wise to
buy stock in Guinness Corp. And to sell just before my return. Trust me
on this.
This is Matt. He is an internet viral.
Check out where he's been.
TRAVEL TIPS
I am a firm believer in traveling "on the
cheap." The frugal traveler. This is evident in photos of some
of the dumps I have stayed at. You will never enrich yourselves culturally
in these places by staying at a Sheraton.
You won't pick up on the customs or local
culture in these exorbant priced American hotels. You will be treated
as the grotesque, self-righteous, indignant American that you are.
My travel suggestions are as follows. Pick
up a Harvard Press copy of their "Let's Go" series as your travel bible.
This publication is not an paid endorsement book for 3 and 4 star hotels
and restaurants that the other well known ones are.
"Let's Go" books start each country or
city out with a map of the region, a map of the train and transportation
system. A guide to use the phones, emergency numbers, embassy addresses,
AmEx offices, exchange rates.
Their lodging listings range from hostels
and B&B's to a few of the big name hotels. As it is written by
students who travel, it is chock full of personal observations that are
very helpful, as well as the personal tidbits such as the hotel owner dog's
name. These student reporters are not paid for their contributions
so they speak the truth.
"Let's Go" series gives you more than the
usual museums and abbeys and sites we are all familiar with. It includes
a small history of the region, off-beat cool sites and attractions and
cultural knowledge to help you not offend your host country.
I also recommend traveling with a suitable
partner or partners. It makes all the difference.
Get a piece of luggage (one) that not only
rolls on wheels but can be backpacked as well.
Get a holster or neck strapped wallet-like
container to hold your passport and local currency.
Email yourself any AmEx Travelers Check
serial numbers in case lost or stolen, along with your passport number
and railway pass serial numbers.
And for God sakes please support Guinness
every two hours, every single day you travel. It's good for life.
