Tiger’s Nest Must-See
Tiger's Nest Must-See. I have traveled to Bhutan three times, approximately spending a month in the country. I have also worked with a local travel operator as a consultant for three years. If you need advice or help, planning a trip to Bhutan, please email me at Ric @ GlobalGaz.com. Paris has the Eifel Tower and NYC has the Statue of Liberty. Well, Bhutan has Paro Taktsang better known as Tiger’s Nest. Bhutan’s best known landmark is a Buddhist monastery carved onto the side of a mountain. This 17th century temple is located where a monk, Guru Rinpoche, mediated in the 8th century. Legend has it Guru Rinpoche arrived at this spot by flying on the back of a tigress, hence the name. Tiger’s Nest is definitively a must-see global landmark. It is an awe-inspiring sight. And it is a bit of a hike to get there as well. Tiger’s Nest is perched at a height of 3,120 meters (10,240 feet). And your hike begins at approximately 2,200 meters (7,217 feet). In other words, a vertical [...]
Magic Of Travel
The magic of travel. The simple joy of travel. I was riding my rental bike, sweating profusely, as I pushed the bike around the Burmese town of Mrauk U. For three hundred years plus Mrauk U served as the capital of Mrauk U Kingdom ending in the 18th century. Mrauk U is the lesser known brother to Bagan. Like Bagan, Mrauk U is populated with ancient and magnificent temples interspersed between rolling hills. I pushed the bike down a side road, perched uncomfortably on the older bike. I leaned the bike against a tree, wiped the sweat from my face and headed toward a long stair case that ended at the top of a hill. A monastery stood at the top of the hill, my destination. Three men sat next to the staircase, on a short wall. The first man was wearing traditional longyi, a pants-like wrap, and a white t-shirt. He clutched his phone, apparently texting away, his legs folded up and also propped up on the wall. Opposite this man, was an older teenage monk [...]
Ultimate Guide Bhutan
Ultimate Guide Bhutan. I have traveled to Bhutan three times, approximately spending a month in the country. I have also worked with a local travel operator as a consultant for three years. If you need advice or help, planning a trip to Bhutan, please email me at Ric @ GlobalGaz.com. “Koo zoo zong po la,” I stuttered and muttered a word from my Dzongkha vocabulary. In fact, saying hello represented 25% of my lexicon. The Bhutanese immigration official shared a slight smile and welcomed me to her country. She flicked through my thick passport with its two additional packets. “You like to travel,” she smiled again. “Do you mind if I stamp your passport in this corner?’ I smiled and nodded yes; surprised at the warm courtesy. The stereotype of a grump immigration official is often justly deserved and this woman was a pleasant outlier. She added the stamp to my passport and welcomed me to her country with a final smile. I had officially entered the Kingdom of Bhutan. History Bhutan is scrunched between China and [...]
James Asquith – 193 countries … and Guinness World Record Holder
[Download .mp3] James is the current world record holder as the youngest person to travel to every country in the world according to the Guinness World Records James has travel DNA. His grandfather regaled him with tales of spending time in Yemen. His mother lived in Hong Kong. His father was an airline captain who flew to international locales like Senegal and Ethiopia, James sometimes accompanying. James shares with us why people make such a big difference when visiting every country in the world. And he tells us what country has the friendliest people. James tells us where the most magical sunrise is in the world. James recounts visiting Ivory Coast during a civil war and traveling to Libya after the killing of Gaddafi. And what counts as visiting a country? James and I discuss the “broken finger rule”. James also has a lot of current travel initiatives currently. He recently published a book called Breaking Borders. He is also rolling out a new travel app named Holiday Swap that helps people travel the [...]
20 Best Photos 2017
20 Best Photos 2017. The year is not quite over, but my international travels are until the end of the year. And, I did tell a white lie, there are more than 20 photos in this post. Also, I have highlighted some items from Amazon with some images of cool travel products. If you click on any of those items and then shop at Amazon I will earn a fee (at no cost to you). You can check out more of my portfolio at SmugMug. Algeria I spent a fabulous two week exploring Algeria, a new country for me. It is an undiscovered gem. Bhutan I went back for my second visit to this unique and amazing country. Isolated with less than 700,000 people, it is a must-visit. Bolivia On my list to visit for quite some time, I finally made my first visit in 2017 to Bolivia. Highlights included Salar de Uyuni, La Paz, and Lake Titicaca. Burkina Faso Another new country, I visited Burkina Faso in a hot and sunny May. Highlights included the [...]
Pongtharin Tanthasindhu – 113 countries … and travelling on a Thai passport
[Download .mp3] Pongtharin Tanthasindhu - 113 countries ... and travelling on a Thai passport Pong, 28 years old, has traveled to 113 countries is hoping to complete his goal before he turns 35. Pong has travel in his blood. He started traveling to nearby Asian countries and Europe with his parents as a kid. Pong spent a year as a thirteen year old in Bangalore, India learning English at a strict boarding school. He continued his schooling in Canada as he went to high school and university. Instead of heading back to Thailand on summer break he ended up visiting his classmate in the middle of Russia in the Urals for two months, living like a local. During university, he took a year off, and began a backpacking trip to the Middle East which included Syria. Owning his own business has allowed Pong a lot of flexibility in his travels. Pong shares with us why he loves South Africa and why he is not fond of the Gulf States. He takes us to current conflict zones likes [...]
