Year: 2017

The Best Long-Term Travel Itinerary in the World?

The answer to the teaser on our Facebook Page

Keeping our upcoming RTW trip a secret for the last 2 1/2 years has been one of the most difficult things that we have ever done.  There were many days where we just wanted to announce it to the world but kept it secret for this very moment.

Planning for it?  Well, that's the easy part! 

Since we couldn't talk about our itinerary until now we had to put our energy elsewhere, and researching the world's best destinations has been it.   But now that our intentions are out, lets get into the fun stuff.

After many hours of research into where we want to go and the logistical issues of making it happen, we have put together an amazing list of destinations we'd like to visit over the next year and a half.  We're not buying a RTW plane ticket or booking many guided tours as of yet, so our itinerary could be open for change at any time.  But what we do have in mind is a great target to start with!

So let us take you into our plan; the RTW itinerary to end all RTW itineraries!

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My Volunteer Experience in Africa

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.

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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.

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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.

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