I’m not sure what I had in mind when I signed up to volunteer in Ghana. Okay, that’s a bit of a lie. Somewhere during the process, the image of me cuddling snuggly, serenely cherubic infants may have floated past in a daydream. The reality quickly quashed that fantasy.
Year: 2017
Floating Torii Gate Day Trip at Mount Misen on Miyajima
For most travelers, Hiroshima can be divided up into two main sites. Inside the town itself, the major destination is Peace Park, the restored site of the first nuclear bomb explosion during warfare, now dedicated to world peace and the abolishing of nuclear weapons.
The bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945, exploding at an altitude of about 1800 feet which virtually destroyed the city in an instant. The most notable feature within the park is the skeletal remains of a large building that survived the initial impact a few hundred feet away from ground zero.
The park itself is beautiful (and entirely wifi free), however the history behind it and corresponding museum puts a somber mood on the entire area. The second site requires a quick day trip outside of Hiroshima city to Miyajima island, and brings about a much higher spirit.
What You Need to Know Before Climbing Kilimanjaro
Second only to Antarctica, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro ate up a big chunk of my overall trip budget. At around $2,000+ USD for a seven-day climb, another $300 for gratuities and a further $100 for the Tanzanian visa, it’s not a cheap trip by any means.
When you compare your $300+ daily spending with what you actually get in return – squat potties, tents, and endless (and I do mean endless) walking – it’s hard to justify throwing away such a large chunk of money without having a good reason to back it up.
Did I have that good reason? No. I climbed a mountain simply to say I had climbed a mountain. I’m that person. But I did persevere and make it back to tell you all the need to know about this climb, so there is some sort of minor accomplishment in that at least.
The Perfect Christmas Dinner at La Ruta del Lechon
There’s something special about being in the right place at the right time. On our recent trip to Puerto Rico, we were serendipitously in the right place at the right time on La Ruta del Lechon, an area in rural, mountainous Guavate known for its roadside restaurants that roast whole pigs.
Although these restaurants are open on weekdays, we had heard that weekends are really where it’s at. On weekends the road is one giant street party with music and dancing, and it’s so crowded that it’s common for your car to get blocked in. Well, not only did we visit on a weekend, we visited on Christmas weekend.
Christmas day, specifically.
You see, eating lechon on Christmas is a Puerto Rican tradition and we were definitely in the right place at the right time.