Category Archives: Guest Blogs
Holland Offers More Than Just Amsterdam
If by some chance, you find yourself in Holland amidst the endless stream of bicyclists, multi-ethnic food, canals, and cobblestones, I hope you venture outside of Amsterdam to see what else there is to offer. With a landmass of 41,543 square kilometers and an insanely efficient public transportation system, Holland is easy to move around in. I spent five months …
Why on Earth Would I Volunteer at a Shrimp Farm in Ecuador?
Several years ago, I made the decision like many others, to leave my well guided path of working my way up the ranks in a stable career, to venture off on a new journey traveling around the world and looking for alternative possibilities for earning my way in life. I had no solid idea of where exactly I wanted to …
Volunteering in Spain – 12 times and counting
I discovered this concept of “volunteering holiday” quite by accident. My former flatmate had booked one a couple of years before, and I had signed up for the newsletter fully intending to go someday. At the time, however I was working three jobs and studying for a Masters degree so was unable to leave. When I finally finished my degree …
Why I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (Part 2)
Continued from Part 1… The flight to Tanzania was long. It began on June 19th and I finally arrived the afternoon of June 21st. Katyann picked me up at the airport, then we got Alexa and Kelly, before heading to Moshi. We spent the day walking around Moshi, meeting up with some other climbers, and had a fabulous meal at …
Why I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (Part 1)
For years I had the desire to travel abroad and volunteer, but it wasn’t until 2010 I took the leap and finally did it. I chose to volunteer through a non-profit organization called Cross-Cultural Solutions (CCS), and I chose Morocco as my first volunteer country. Morocco was great, and working in the children’s hospital was such a great experience. Upon returning, …
Kilimanjaro and the Maasai
On June 24th, I will begin a 6 day climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. The purpose of my climb is to raise money for the O’Brien School for the Maasai, and a women’s group that operates out of a room in the school. The O’Brien School for the Maasai is a non-profit organization that gives …
Honeymooning at the top of the world (part 2)
Continued from part 1… We start our second day crossing the Dudh Kosi (Milk River) on a steel suspension bridge about 50 metres (165ft) above the river – it’s a thrilling feeling with mountains on each side and the roaring river below. As we cross, the wind pushes us to one side and you feel slightly unbalanced and we both …
Honeymooning at the top of the world (part 1)
First I would like to kindly thank Sucheta for letting me write a guest entry on her blog! I recently met Sucheta in Nepal where I was re-visiting VIN (Volunteers Initiative Nepal) whom I worked for last year. This year I set up a partner foundation called Friends of VIN (visit our newly launched website Friends of VIN) and I was …
Heart of lightness
I own it. I’m a shallow traveler. When choosing a destination my top criteria are visual drama and cultural civility. In other words, a beautiful place with a relative absence of war, crime, despots, or other forms of antisocial behavior. Delicious cuisine and interesting culture or wildlife are also high on the list. So when I had the opportunity to …
Gluten-free travels
The best thing to do when you or a travel companion are gluten-free is to plan ahead. While you have a free internet connection at home, research gluten-free restaurants, write down their addresses, and keep them in your purse. That way, you can look forward to dining out, instead of sticking to basic foods, like grilled chicken and grilled vegetables. …