Blog Assignment #3

Blog Assignment #3

Here is your blog assignment for week 4 (3/2—3/6) of class:

1) Listen carefully to your classmates presentations today. From all the destinations/adventures you hear about, choose 3 which are the most interesting for you. (They cannot be from your own list.)
2) In your blog entry, list the 3 top choices you have and briefly explain why you would also like to have this experience.
3) Your blog entry, as usual, should be at least 200 words. (200 words in total, not 200 words for each idea.)
4) Please title your blog entry “Top 3 Destinations.”
5) As usual, you also have to comment on TWO of your classmates’ blogs from the previous week.

Instructions for Making a New Blog!!!

Some people are having trouble making their own blog. Here are the steps to follow:

1) Go to www.blogger.com and sign-in with your user name and password.
2) Click on the title of your blog.
3) Click on the box which says "Create a New Post."
4) Write your blog and click on "Publish Post."
5) Don't forget to title your blog correctly.
6) If you have any trouble, email John at johnloveshanshin@yahoo.com

Looking forward to your blog entries. Good luck!

John

My Dream Trip...

While I was thinking of this topic, I became kind of depressed to realize that I have now been to the five countries that were probably at the top of my list of "places to go." Although it's very satisfying to have now been to all of those places, it also kind of takes away some of the excitement of travel. My top 5 were probably Poland, Peru, New Zealand, Nepal, and Greece. I had long been attracted to Poland because it is the land of my ancestors, and I was lucky to spend 3 weeks there in 1997. Peru was on my list, of course, because of the spiritual draw of majestic Macchu Pichu. I was able to see this wonder of the world last year. After making Kiwi friends in Japan, I had longed to visit the Land of the Long White Cloud to see where all of these friendly people came from, and I was fortunate to have the chance to spend 2 years in "Godzone." ("Godzone" is a nickname for NZ, because the locals said it was so beautiful and unique that it was "God's own" land...) NZ certainly lived up to this nickname, as the breathtaking and diverse scenery is the closest you can come to heaven on earth. Finally, I crossed both Greece and Nepal off mylist this year. I had dreamed of going to Greece since I was a child, as I was fascinated with Greek mythology growing up and wanted to see the Acropolis and Mt. Olympus, which I had in my imagination for so many years. Finally, since I am an avid hiker, I was drawn to Nepal by Mt. Everest and the mighty Himalayas.

Anyway, since I have been to all five of my favorite destinations, what's next? That is my question. I have been thinking a lot about it, and I think I have a unique "dream trip." It's not really a specific destination, but rather a specific WAY of traveling. I have been thinking on my recent trips that I am getting sick of relying so much on guidebooks. Guidebooks tend to sabotage our travels. Although I tell myself again and again that I will rely on them next, when I am in a new city and tired and hungry, I inevitably turn to the guidebook to check out the "places to eat." Why do this? Although the suggestions are usually good, isn't it more exciting to just go out aimlessly and find where the locals really eat? Who wants to eat in a place that's full of westerners and other tourists and not locals? Well, if the food is good, of course I want to eat there, but it kind of defeats the purpose of travel.

So, it is just a crazy thought for now, but I would love the journey of traveling to several countries on one trip without using guidebooks of any kind, but just relying on local information. I tried a mini-experiment during my latest trip to Southeast Asia. My main trip was to Cambodia, but I also decided to spend three days in Thailand on the way back to Japan. I didn't want to shell out on a big guidebook just for three days, so I just wrote down some hotel phone numbers and went from there. It was a little intimidating, as I took a local bus to a national park in central Thailand and found myself stranded there with no transportation back. If I had consulted a guidebook, I would have been more prepared. Just as I was getting really angry with myself, some friendly Thais drove by in a truck and gave me a free ride one hour back into town! If I had relied on a guidebook, I never would have met those nice and generous locals. So, maybe in the future I will try a longer adventure...

I don't want to put stupid ideas in anyone's head. You should always be prepared when you travel and learn as much as you can about your destination. But travel needs an element of adventure as well...As one famous travel writer so eloquently put it, "It's not a real journey until at least one time during my trip I say to myself, 'What the hell am I doing here???'" Smart words. I just hope I can live up to them...

Machu Picchu: crossed off the list! 

llama or alpaca? don't ask me... 

My friend Pepe 

Peruvian dance party: can you spot me? 

Peru: Trip of a Lifetime!

When I tell people of my passion for travel or that I have been to about 20 different countries now, of course people inevitably ask, "What's the most interesting country you have been to?" Although it is impossible to choose just one, my trip to Peru last year was definitely one of the most incredible trips of my life. Here is a summary of what made Peru so special:

1) MOUNATAIN LOVER'S PARADISE

As an avid hiker, my favorite countries tend to be those with big and beautiful mountains. Therefore, Peru was obviously a suitable country for me. Although I had seen my share of beautiful mountains, it was amazing to see the majestic Andes. Everywhere I went, I was surrounded by 5,000 meter peaks, which made for a fantastic landscape.

2) DIVERSITY OF THE LANDSCAPE

In addition to the awesome mountains, the fascinating thing about Peru was the geographical diversity. Within a 3-week stay in the country, I was able to climb mountains, hike deep into a canyon--Colca Canyon-- that dwarfs the Grand Canyon, visit the highest navigable lake in the world (Lake Titicaca), and visit the jungle. One week I was freezing in my tent on the Inca Trail and the next week I was sweating hard trekking through the jungle. Again, Peru had amazing diversity, but the one thing all the geographical features had in common was that they were equally breathtaking.

3) CROSS ONE OFF THE LIST

Since I first saw a picture of the mysterious Machu Picchu, it has been high on my list of "things to see" in life. Visiting Peru finally gave me the chance to cross it off my list. Additionally, hiking the 4-day Inca Trail to get to Machu Picchu made it even more rewarding. A lot of famous sites are a complete letdown when you finally see them, but Machu Picchu did not disappoint. I wanted to just lie in the grass all day and admire one of the most awe-inspiring sights on the planet.

4) NO PAIN, NO GAIN

Maybe Peru was such a wonderful and rewarding trip because I went through so much pain to appreciate it. My first problem was with altitude sickness. I made the mistake of taking the bus straight from Lima down to Arequipa and then into Colca Canyon. To get to Colca Canyon involved taking a bus up to over 4,500 meters, which left me with a pounding headache and hardly any energy as I tried to carry my 10-kg backpack for 3 days. Then, after finally arriving at the highlight of my trip--the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu--I was stricken with a horrible stomach virus from some bad food I ate on my trip. I spent the second and third days of the hike clutching my stomach in pain. These problems, again, made the trip more rewarding. It made every amazing sight just seem all that more beautiful. On the flight home, I was completely drained. But it was a good feeling of exhaustion, knowing that I had had an unforgettable adventure.


Although I have never visited a country which I did not enjoy and appreciate, Peru was definitely one of the best trips of my life. It is also one of those rare places that when I was flying out of the country, I said to myself, "I will be back..."