Sharing Travel Experiences

Inspiring Travel Monthly Roundup – March Edition

by Andy Hayes

Hello and welcome to the inaugural edition to the Inspiring Travel Monthly Round! This roundup is all about exploring the world for interesting and unique experiences – places that will inspire even the most un-intrepid armchair traveller to get out and see what is on offer. As most of you also know, I am an avid blog reader, so this is a great way for me (and thus you too!) to catch up on some of the new, interesting, and niche blogs out there.

As my first roundup, I was surprised to see the amount of interest generated, in both good and bad ways. Do the slimy internet marketers really think I’m going to post their latest get rich quick scheme on the roundup? Don’t worry, Mr. Marketer, I didn’t bother clicking on your links to check that perhaps you’d posted the wrong description.

I was also shocked with people who submitted multiple entries. Like, every blog post they’ve written in the past two months, travel related or not. What’s up with that? Give me the good stuff – the stuff that INSPIRES people. I don’t mind if a couple of posts go together in a series, but I don’t need your life history.

Ok, now I’ll get off my soapbox and start sharing the goods. We’ve got stuff from nearly all continents (a shame, Antarctica is not represented, but maybe next month – hint!) and all sorts of experiences.

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The folks at Admirable India sent us a great post about sunset at Muttom Beach. It looks like a nice sidetrip if you’re in the area, and it is certainly nice to hear about something else other than Taj Mahal trip reports!

Keeping with the India theme, the India Travel blog takes us to the lost empire of Hampi. A UNESCO World Heritage site, there are tons of ruins here that could keep an informed traveller quite busy. I can really appreciate sites like this, having just returned from a trip to see Ankgor Wat in Cambodia (post forthcoming). Deeptha also posted a nice pictorial summary of her trip:

Lindsay over at Cruises 101 poses the question Is Cruising only for the Wealthy?. Obviously the answer is no, and Lindsay points out a couple of tips and tricks for getting a deal. She also reminds you to consider several factors in the cost of a cruise: how much will it cost to get to the boat itself, and what is included once on board. As with any holiday, it sounds like some research is required before booking a cruise.

I was delighted to hear from my fellow blogger Amanda Kendle from her Aussie-based travel blog Not A Ballerina. If you’ve not read it, check it out. Amanda writes about a lot of great places, and I couldn’t agree with her more on her recommendation that Berlin could be her favourite city. With the amazing juxtaposition of new and old, the deep history, and a nightlife scene not replicated anywhere on earth, I stand by her decision. The best memory of Berlin I have is arriving at the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtnichtskirche and seeing the stark image of the church steeple, which was destroyed in WWII, jutting into the sky, like it was ripped off just moments before, and the modern buildings in the distance around us both ignoring and respecting it. What an amazing sight – European history doesn’t get better than that.

Chris gives us some interesting (if not humourous) insight into moving to Goa. The tasty Indian food sounds great, but glycerine in the beer? Yikes. Even if you’re not planning on living in Goa, Chris’s advance warning on the herds of holy cows is probably a good one.

John Andersen is full of tips for travellers headed to Costa Rica. In his post about vacation rental homes, he covers not only accommodation recommendations, but also a few food tips too. Even if you decide not to go for the rental home in your Costa Rica tip, the tips on locations are priceless. I’ve not been to Costa Rica, but have written about it a lot lately, and keep hearing about it, so it is obviously an up-and-coming destination.

Wide Awake in Wonderland, a very interesting blog by Vanessa Wolf who writes about her trials and tribulations. And boy does she have plenty of them! Her post how can I be sore there? is an in depth review of the caves near Budapest, Hungary. Funnily enough, it reminded me of the caving expedition I did while in New Zealand – it’s amazing what you narrow crevices you can squeeze through with a little effort (and some pointers from your guide!). If you haven’t went caving, I highly recommend it.

Axel shares with us some very vivid personal emotions in his post Traveling and Personal Growth. I’ve not been to this part of the world yet, but his experiences in South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe reflect other opinions I’ve seen.

Travelogged wrote in to send us the Keys to Key West. I loved Key West – driving from Miami down to the very tip of America, just a short boat ride from Cuba, was a great experience, and all the good food and fun times that can be had on all of these small islands. Best fishcakes of anywhere in the Americas!

Did you think that the Australian outback was a desolate place full of dust and poisonous insects? I’d urge you to reconsider, and the fashionable and friendly folk over at the Mr. and Mrs. Smith Blog have the proof. While doing reconnaissance for the trendy boutique hotels they are known for, they managed to nab several amazing outback photos which truly do reflect how amazing this part of Australia really is.

If you like to read like I do, then why not do a bookstore tour? That’s exactly what the Bookstore Guide blog is doing, as seen in their latest report from Barcelona. Needless to say there’s more than tapas going on in Spain!

As if the bookstores weren’t enough, we were also reminded by Sigrid about the cheap food available in Spain. His suggestion is the Menu del dia which typically offers a full course menu at very good value.

San Francisco is one of America’s most amazing cities and Kathryn’s rundown on the Top Ten Neighborhoods to Visit is an excellent read. They include my faves, such as the Castro, with its old iconic theatre and unique vibe that you just can’t find anywhere else.

Byteful Travel sends us a reminder to visit the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. It is indeed a great stop, but the highlight of the visit is the view of the Chicago skyline from here – from here you get the best view in town, both by day and night.

Cruise photo by Sister72, Costa Rica photo by joiseyshowaa, Chicago skyline by meironke. All other photos courtesy of their respective blog poster.

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The deadline for the April edition of the Inspiring Travel Monthly Roundup is 31st March 2009. Submissions should be sent here. Please, only one submission per blog, and none of the spammy stuff please.

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