Blog Catalog Blog Directory

The Pergamon Museum: Amazing Artifacts with an Ethical Dilemma

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:52:43 -0600

The Great Altar: an example of the Museum's amazing - but displaced - ancient art. If you’re headed to Berlin, you can’t miss the Pergamon Museum. The Pergamon Museum is located on Berlin’s Museum Island, a UNESCO World

The Streets of Rome – A sight in and of themselves

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:00:45 -0600

I never did find out what this magnificent building was...but it certainly wasn't on the tourist map! Rome has so many tourist attractions it seems impossible to ever see them all. Those spending only a few days in the great city seem to

On the Southern Italian Coast

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:09:59 -0600

We arrived in Bari, on Italy’s southern coast, early in the morning and decided to just walk around the city and absorb as much as possible on foot. It was Sunday, so the town seemed deserted with the exception of the churches. We walked around the

Mercenary for the Man

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:33:18 -0600

About 16 years ago, I used to work for a large Electronics company in both the US and Canada, I had moved up through various positions, and into quite a decent income at the age of twenty two. For the last two years with this company, they asked me t

The man on the beach – Sri Lanka

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:00:08 -0600

One day about fifteen years ago I was siting on an inter island flight in the Philippines next to a cool looking Rhasta guy from Sri Lanka. He had dreadlocks and all the baggy clothing etc. He was busy backpacking around with his American girlfriend

Hanoi, Halong Bay and Tet New Year – Part Two

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:57:15 -0600

Note: This is the second part of a complete three part article that completes our time in Vietnam. We continue with our trip into Halong Bay The trip cost us $85, and we were lucky, others on our boat later told us what they had paid anything from

Scenes from this fall....

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:54:30 -0600

Soaking in Venice

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:06:10 -0600

Not at all impressed with Euro-rail as it was the most expensive train, without private cabins, and the lights remained on all night, the fog slowly lifted in the early morning to reveal our slow roll towards the Venetian Islands. As we stepped off

Why Chasing Carrots ?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:00:42 -0600

The phrase Chasing Carrots was running around in my head for more than a decade, I had spoken it on several occasions to people around me. I went to register the .com for it sometime last year, it was available, two weeks later I finally decided to b

Video didn’t killed the Backpacker star

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:36:35 -0600

Anyone else notice the improved quality of video at Backpacker’s Web site this year? I have to say – and not because much of my journalistic work involves the magazine – that Backpacker has stepped it up in terms of quality and cont

Sardinia: Italy’s Forgotten Gem

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:59:49 -0600

I felt like an explorer flying into Alghero. The tiny airport has only two gates; you have to walk across the tarmac to enter the airport. All around me were palm trees and fields. No one spoke English. I looked around until I figured out how

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:16:09 -0600

Our travel plans to Chiang Mai did not go quite to plan. After forgetting to get money from an ATM we arrived at the border with no money to buy our overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We foolishly thought we could buy a ticket that evening b

Slovenia and the Creepiest Castle

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:11:20 -0600

We arrived in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, three hours after departing Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The train was a lovely design with six seats to a cabin with a sliding glass door. We had an extremely friendly Croatian lady in our cabin who

Free Basic Mountaineering Seminar at ROX

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:29:47 -0600

To promote the Philippines as an ideal ecotourism destination, Recreational Outdoor eXchange (ROX) will host a FREE Basic Mountaineering course on December 14, 2009 (Monday). The 3-hour seminar will start at 7pm and will be held at ROX CORE, Bldg 1 B

Our favorite videos all week

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:37:08 -0600

Hey Pointers! Thanks for coming back for another week at Compass Points. I’m busying myself in the makeshift home studio preparing the second season of Compass Points TV, which will debut in 2010. I’m stoked about the productions so far,

simple tips to camping with our family

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:34:54 -0600

camping is a great activity to spent quality time with all your family, camping resort or camping ground or green hill can be great destination for and affordable vacation with your family. but, before you decide take a camping vacation with your fa

Thoughts on Cambodia

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:03:25 -0600

Cambodia was a real surprise to us. Through all it’s historical turmoil it’s a very misunderstood country. It’s capital is a thriving centre for business and tourism. It’s rural surroundings are almost medieval if it wasn̵

The Best Greek Temples… Are in Italy!

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:20:23 -0600

My first impression of Paestum was hardly one of archaeological grandeur. The train stopped at a tiny station in the middle of nowhere. There were fields on either side of me and the road began at the station door and led in one direction. I

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:15:57 -0600

The temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia is widely considered one of the wonders of the world. Few realise just how many temples and palaces were build in this region. The iconic towers of Angkor Wat adorn most postcards and historical books but there

Croatia for Breakfast

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:08:07 -0600

Lauren really wanted to go ahead with our plan of 6 capitals in 6 days. Therefore, after our few enjoyable days in Sarajevo, we booked a night-train to leave that same evening. The train station was located right next to the Holiday Inn where journ

Fiesta de Gracia – 4 examples of the crazy streets

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:56:47 -0600

The Mouth of Hell The decorations at Fiesta de Gracia are ever changing and certainly the basis of the uniqueness of this traditional festival in the Gracia district of Barcelona. Students in Europe, backpackers in Europe, Vacationers in Eu

the taste of sunday

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:08:46 -0600

Finally posting the best breakfast I had, ever… Ever woke up to the smell of coffee being brewed, bacon slowly being crisped, eggs sunny-side-upped, and fresh croissant bread being baked? You can almost taste the air. That must be what Sundays

South Island - New Zealand [ Reviews on Hostels - Winter '09 Break ]

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:44:21 -0600

South Island - New Zealand YHA Mount Cook[You can also book thru HI-hostels.com] Address: Cnr Bowen & Kitchener Drives, Mt CookContact: +64 3 435 1820 Fax: +64 3 435 1821 Email: yha.mtcook@yha.co.nz&am

The curtains close on the Asian chapter of my gap year…

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:47:39 -0600

Well it has been quite an adventure, seen some incredible sights and met some amazing people, but it’s on to the next step of my journey. Australia! Before I leave just wanted to give you a little present. Asia really is incredible and here is

Finger Puppets and Silent Discos in Florence

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:45:42 -0600

What a show it was! Sometimes while you are backpacking around Europe you just can’t find a good party. Whether it is because you are trying to save money by not going out, because you are in a small town on the wrong night, because you are

Stuck for Hours with No Way Out! – The downside of budget accommodation

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:39:15 -0600

Released after hours inside! While traveling through Barcelona on my backpacking tour of Europe I was happy to have a part in ending what must have been a very stressful time for a group of fellow travelers. These poor guys were stuck in the

Winter creeps in

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:18:19 -0600

Winter’s creeping in. Up in New England, he’s already there, and here in central Pennsylvania, he’s putting a freeze on the wind. Forgive me if that gets me excited. I love hiking all seasons (‘cept mud season), and winter ba

Backpacking & Camping Tips : How to Adjust a Hiking Backpack

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:02:39 -0600

Adjusting a hiking backpack is important for the proper fit and distribution of the weight. Learn how to properly fit a pack to avoid discomfort and back injury with helpful information from a backpacking and hiking guide in this free vid

Hanoi, Halong Bay & Tet New Year: Part One

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:36:50 -0600

The travel blogging is back! Note: This is the first part of a final three part article that completes our time in Vietnam. The next part will be auto posted in 4 days and the third part 4 days after that. This was the last stop on our tour of Vietna

Grecia, backpacking Salonicco

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:30:41 -0600

Backpacking: dall’inglese backpack, zaino. Indica un modo di viaggiare indipendente e non organizzato. Fu così che mosso da un atavico impulso d’avventura mi’ncamminai alla scoperta dell’antica Tessalonica. foto successiva »