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My travels


Places I want to Visit

By Darren - Posted on 24 August 2008

There are so many places in the world that I want to visit.  I hope that my choices in life afford me the time and money to visit them all. Here are some of the places I want to visit, in no particular order:

  • South America - From Mexico to Agentina, I want to see it all.  The lost empires, fjords, coldaras and relics of Inca and Maya traditions have fascinated me for years.  I'm hoping to ship a vehicle there and travel for a long time.
  • Tibet - A fascinating and inhospitable country.  Lhasa is the primary draw for me.  China's occupation upsets me, and I fear so much has already been lost.  My tase of the Tibetan people and their culture in Nepal makes me want to visit more.
  • Sri Lanka - This tropical island tempts me greatly.  I love India, and hope to find 'same, same, but different' in Sri Lanka.  I'll definately be visiting with a surfboard under one arm.
  • Taiwan - An island country, now independant of China, but with a shared strong cultural identity.  I believe it even has some surfing there.
  • China - A true giant of a country with string cultural heritage and endless exploring possiblities.  It doesn't appear easy to travel in though; English is not widely spoken and I believe one needs a guide to visit most of the country.  The occupation of Tibet is an issue I feel very strongly about, but I doubt I will see Tibet's return to indepedance in my lifetime.
  • USA - I do actually want to visit the USA.  I've not found myself there yet, but when I do I will buy a van and explore all of the parks, landscapes and beaches that I can.
  • My Favorite Place to Write Travel Blogs

    By Darren - Posted on 24 August 2008

    As I travel, and as I write, I discover new places that are good for either, and some times both. My daily travel blog is often just a summary of the days activites, with any thoughts I have had as a result of my experiences. 

    Often I write information pages about the place I am visiting.  For this I generally need somewhere quiet, peaceful and beautiful.  Here are my favorites, in a rough sort of order:

    1. Pokhara, Nepal - A town on the edge of a beautiful lake, backed by the Himalaya.  So many things I enjoy, that It would surely take me years to tire of the place.  From my moutain view hotel room I can wirte and wirte and write.
    2. Patnem Beach, Goa, India - A beautiful, little developed beach on the sun-drenched coast of Goa.  With swimming, walks and boat rides to keep me occupied.  I loved writing here, sitting in my beach hut looking out at the Indian Ocean.  With perhaps my favrotie food in the world, this is a cheap place to stay.
    3. Algarve, Portugal - I love camping with my camper van in the Algarve.  I can write between surfing, walks and bike rides, normally parked at the beach looking at the waves.

    My travel blogging setup

    By Darren - Posted on 16 October 2007

    I travel blog when I am home, and when I am traveling. By taking the right equipment with me when I am traveling I reduce my luggage, my work load and get my information online more quickly. Let me show you what I use and how I do it.Read More »

    How I travel

    By Darren - Posted on 15 October 2007

    I travel in various ways, each of them offering advantages and disadvantages. The type of traveling I do in an area of the world is determined by several factors:

    • Length of stay - having your own transport is great for a year in Australia, but not for 2 weeks in China.
    • Safety - living in a camper van in a dangerous part of the world brings extra risks. A home stay in a dangerous area is probably the safest option.
    • Cost - backpacking, or independent travel, is normally the cheapest way to see an area. But sometimes a package deal is cheaper when you factor in the flight (e.g. 2 weeks in Ibiza or Egypt).

    Backpacking

    I normally backpack, as this allows me to travel easily, quickly and cheaply. I can spend as much or as little time as I like in a particular area. I like meeting and talking to other travelers and locals when using public transport and local accommodation. I don't like the potential delays when using public transport though. It can often take a few days to travel a short distance.

    Camper vans

    In 2006/2007 I spent 9 months traveling around western Europe in the camper van that I converted myself. In 1998 I traveled right around Australia in a van that I bought in Sydney. I saw so much on these trips, much more than I would have seen by using public transport. The downside being I didn't meet quite as many travelers and locals as I would have by using public transport. My European camper van trip in 2006/2007 was probably the cheapest traveling experience I have had. My daily costs were as low as £3 ($5) per day, and that was living well. I was able to drive where I wanted, when I wanted.

    Package holidays

    I have only been on a couple of package holidays. I don't like taking short trips, or being limited with my accommodation. The few I have taken were great, but I don't intend on doing many in the future.

    Sporting holidays

    I spent a week snowboarding, which was great. For a short stay a packaged deal is the best value and most convenient option.

    A summary of my travels

    By Darren - Posted on 15 October 2007

    Here is a summary of my travels