Travel

Day 5: On the Road in Lake Eyasi

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There are 216 different tribes in Tanzania, all speaking different languages.  We spent the day with a small tribe that lives around Lake Eyasi. Like most tribes, the men and women have separate roles. Generally, the men are responsible for the hunting and providing.  They hunt everything from birds to baboons to antelopes. The women, on the other hand, stay home and take care of the children and make jewerlry to sell at the market.

Here, the men are roasting an antelope  over the fire. We were invited to taste the meat, which tasted like smoked venison. As honored guests, I even got to wear the crown made from the head of a baboon.

Day 4: On the Road in Ngorongoro

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We visited the original Maasai tribe that still lives in the Ngorongoro conservation area.  While visiting the tribe, we learned about their culture and their way of life.  We were given a tour of their home, the market area and saw their famous jumping contests.  It’s interesting to learn about these people who live their life so completely cut off from modern civilization.

Day 2-3: On the Road in Serengeti

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The endless plain of Serengeti is filled with wildlife.  After spending a few days camping in the national park, we saw everything from gazelles to cheetah.  One of my personal favorites was witnessing a pride of lions tearing into their kill.  We were about 10 feet away from the scene, where the lioness were fighting over the last piece of the zebra, leaving nothing behind but the rib cage.  Nothing is more primal than watching one animal tear into another.

Day 1: On the Road in Tarangire

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Today is the first day of our African safari and we already saw so many animals!  One of the first animals we saw on the drive through Tarangire national park were a herd of zebras, they were just casually hanging out by the side of the road and completely oblivious to all the gawking passerby.  These zebras are even more beautiful in person.  Did you know that the pattern on each zebra is as unique as our finger prints?

Planning Tanzania

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When we thought about going to Africa, we reached out to a few friends who had already been there to ask for their recommendations and advice. That’s the great thing about having a network of friends who also love to travel, they did not disappoint with their wealth of information. They recommended Across Tanzania Expeditions, a tour company with a great track record.  We reached out to Hezron, the owner of the company and he was very responsive in answering our questions as we planned our trip, helping us figure out the best vacation that maximize our time and budget. We decided on a 6 day safari that includes few nights accommodation in a luxury tent right in the middle of the Serengeti.  I was told this would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you can hear the wild animals wandering around your tent at night – if you’re into that kind of thing. Continue reading →

Trip Report: Australia

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Australia is a country synonymous with endless sunshine, a laid-back lifestyle, and iconic scenery.  Its natural splendor captivates visitors with promises of grand adventures and its multicultural cities are bursting with a vibrant, youthful energy.  From the Outback to the Great Barrier Reef to the man-made Sydney Opera house, there was lots to do and see. It’s no wonder this country is one of the most popular travel destinations. Here is the cost breakdown of our trip to Australia: Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Brooklyn Bridge

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IMG_4442Brooklyn, New York

As much as I love to travel, I also love spending time in New York City, especially when the weather is nice.  One of the best ways to get to know the city is by walking, and you can walk across this iconic bridge spanning from lower Manhattan to downtown Brooklyn. The Brooklyn bridge is one of the oldest bridges in the United States. 

There are designated walkways and bike lanes on the bridge so you’ll never have to worry about oncoming traffic, but make sure you walk off to the side to avoid the bikes that come whipping by. Once you get to the half-way point, stop at the lookout points where you can check out the Manhattan skyline. 

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Cheap Flight Alert: Newark to Ho Chi Minh City

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United is having a huge sale for flights going from most East coast cities to Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam.  For about $600 including taxes and fees, you’ll get a round trip ticket to Asia, that’s a pretty unbeatable deal!  The dates are mostly for late summer to early fall, which is when you’d want to be in Southeast Asia anyways – to skip out on the sweltering heat.

Ho Chi Minh is my hometown and I grew up there, so I always welcome an opportunity to go back.  Plus the food is amazing, so that’s a bonus.  When I saw these prices, I was very excited, so if you’re looking to visit Asia this fall, reserve your tickets now before they are all gone. Just a reminder – United does allow you to cancel within 24 hours without any penalties. When you put in the date of your flight, make sure you select the ‘flexible date’ option to give you a better chance of finding the cheaper tickets.  Book your ticket and look forward to a steaming bowl of pho on the other side of the world.

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Photo of the Week: Thorny Climbers

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IMG_1967Essaouira, Morocco

On our way to Essaouira, a coastal city in western Morocco, we saw these tree grazing goats.  They were sitting in the thorny argan tree chilling out, so we had to stop on the side of the road to take a few pictures.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.