New dark tourism sites open all over the world

by Jessica Festa on

For those who are unfamiliar with the term, “dark tourism” refers to visiting sites associated with grief, tragedy, or death. While some people may debate the ethics of visiting these types of sites, they often provide educational, enlightening, and even life-changing experiences for those who do. When I was in Munich, Germany, I took a day trip to see Dachau Concentration Camp (shown right) and learned a lot about the site and the Holocaust in general that I had not known before. While it wasn’t an easy experience, I did see the value of visiting such a site for the awareness factor as well as to stop these past tragedies from happening again.

Although dark tourism first gained prominence between the 18th and 19th centuries, the interest in these types of sites is still growing. Here are some new dark tourism sites open all over the world, as well as some that have garnered an integral status throughout the years.

New

Napoleonland
France

Napoleonland, which will be created to honor military leader and politician Napoleon Bonaparte, is expected to be completed by 2017. It will be a theme park that will include shops, museums, hotels, and restaurants. While this may sound fun, the site of the attraction will reside on the very spot where Napoleon’s troops fought and defeated the Austrian army about 200 years ago. A water show resembling the Battle of Trafalgar, a ski run containing the frozen bodies of dead soldiers, a re-creation of Louis XVI literally losing his head on the guillotine, and other war-related and morbid interactive exhibits will all be featured.Singapore Bomb Shelter
Singapore

The Singapore Bomb Shelter, believed to be the last of island-country’s bomb shelters, opened at the end of 2011 to visitors. To help commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Singapore as well as raise awareness about Singapore’s war history, the National Heritage Board is leading tours of the shelter. During WWII air raids, this 1,500 square meter space was used as protection for about 100 people. Until now it has been hidden from the public, and for the most part is still in its original condition.

National September 11 Memorial and Museum
New York

As a reminder of the worst terrorist attack ever to hit United States’ soil, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum opened to the public in September, 2011. The memorial and museum resides at the site of the former World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan and honors the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on that tragic day in 2001. The memorial section contains two acre-sized reflecting pools that sit where the Twin Towers once stood, as well as the biggest man-made waterfall on the continent. Moreover, bronze panels list the names of all those who lost their lives in the 1993 and 2001 World Trade Center attacks. While the museum section is not open yet, it will include exhibitions such as a look at the events leading up to the disaster, portraits of those who lost their lives, the architectural history of the buildings, and more.

Integral

Robben Island
South Africa

Robben Island is a museum and World Heritage Site that opened to the public in 1997. Now South Africa’s most popular tourist attraction, it was once an apartheid-era maximum security prison that held some of history’s most well-known political leaders, like Nelson Mandela, who spent twenty years on the island, and current deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe. Visitors can experience tours of the facilities, precinct attractions like a Muslin Shrine and a museum shop, watch educational videos, and speak with a former political prisoner.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Japan

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a memorial to those who lost their lives during the U.S. nuclear bomb attack in 1945. While more than 140,000 died when the bomb hit the city, thousands more were killed in the aftermath, including 80,000 lost lives three days later in the Nagasaki atomic attack. The park was opened in 1954 on a field that was created from the bomb explosion. Dozens of monuments and tombs are erected throughout, some of which include the Peace Clock Tower (shown right), which chimes daily at 8:15 to remember the time when the world saw its first atomic bomb, the Peace Bell, a symbol of “spiritual and cultural movement”, and the Flame of Peace, which “expresses condolence for victims unable to satisfy their thirst for water, as well as the desire for nuclear abolition and enduring world peace”.

Choeng Ek Killing Fields & Security Office 21
Cambodia

The Choeng Ek Killing Fields and Security Office 21 (S-21) were once areas of extreme tragedy during the Khmer Rouge reign of terror. Once a peaceful village, Choeng Ek was transformed into violent killing fields. Moreover, S-21 was actually a high school that was converted into a center for interrogation, torture, and murder, with only seven of the 14,000 who entered surviving. During this time the Khmer Rouge actually took careful notes and took almost 6,000 photographs, which can be seen during a visit to the site.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is home to one of the most iconic battlefields in the United States as well as a rich but tragic history. The Battle of Gettysburg was the Civil War’s bloodiest battle, with over 51,000 lives lost. It was also the motivator of President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, as well as a turning point in the war that stopped General E. Lee’s aggressive northern invasion. In November, 1863, President Lincoln officially dedicated Soldiers’ National Cemetery and, with more than 1.5 million annual visitors to Gettysburg Military Park, the city is an extremely popular tourist destination.

Slave Castles of Cape Coast, Ghana
Africa

In Cape Coast, Ghana, there are two well-known slave castles that bring visitors back to the time of the Atlantic Slave Trade, Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle. Guided tours offer visitors the chance to learn about and see the dungeons where slaves were kept in inhumane conditions as well as the Door of No Return (Cape Coast Castle), which was the gateway to a life of slavery in the west.

The two worlds of Waiheke, New Zealand’s paradise island

by Kyle Ellison on

Sipping a succulent syrah inside of the beachfront tasting room at Man O’ War winery, a quick glance of the room is all it takes to confirm I’m out of my element.

To my left, a middle-aged man sporting crocodile shoes and hair of a dubious authenticity casually flashes a credit card for $500 of the vineyard’s finest vintage. To my right, a suntanned yachtie with a bushy white mustache gesticulates to an acquaintance about the strength of the new varnish recently applied to his helm station.

Then, sandwiched between the two socialites, is me, a wandering travel writer who temporarily lives in a van which was shipped to the island on a 45-minute ferry. Meekly performing a free wine tasting just trying to learn a little about Waiheke wines, the contrast is pretty black and white.

Luckily for all parties involved, however, Waiheke Island is more multi-dimensional than simply being a playground for the uber-rich. Sure, there are expensive rave-parties at vineyards, hidden beachfront mansions, and trendy, high-priced boutiques lining the island’s main thoroughfare, but there is an entire other side to Waiheke which can’t be invested in, can’t be corrupted, and definitely can’t be bought.

I am here to explore that side of Waiheke.”It’s paradise island!” claims my friend Barlow, a couldn’t-be-happier Waiheke Island resident.

“It’s like living in the 1970’s! Come stay for a year!”

A recent transplant to the island from Australia, Barlow is one of the few workers swimming upstream against the river of Kiwis “jumping the ditch” to Australia for a share of the booming mining business, an industry where average salaries hover around $124,000 U.S. dollars per year. Don’t believe me? Check out this chart.

Barlow, however, wants no part if it. Instead, he’s enamored with the antiquity of Waiheke and the pervasive sense of island calm. There are no malls on Waiheke, and there are no freeways. With a population of only 8,000 residents, Waiheke is the third most populated island in New Zealand, yet still retains a small town feel. He instructs me to park my van on the grass just off the side of the road.

“You can leave it there for a month” he claims. “And no need to lock it.”

Later in the afternoon we take a hike along a coastal trail accessible only at low-tide. Although the island is only 36 square miles and crawling in private boats over from Auckland, there are still a surprising amount of hidden coves with nary a person on them.

Confirming the notion there are still places to escape the “see-and-be-seen” areas of Waiheke, the first person we encounter on the two mile amble along the coast is a woman opting to sunbathe in the total nude. A turquoise t-shirt placed ever so delicately over her face, we decide to scamper further down the trail and allow her to erase her tan lines in peace.

Meandering around a few more empty points, we find a lone fisherman seated calmly on a rocky outcropping, a faded straw hat protecting his sun-shriveled neck. Though I notice no fishtails poking out of his white plastic bucket, he exudes the feeling he hasn’t a care in the world.

“Nice spot for fishing you’ve found out here” I acknowledge upon approach.

“Ah, the fish are just a bonus mate. I come out here to find myself. Have some time for my thoughts. Might dive for some kina when the tide backs out a bit.”

A local seafood delicacy, kina is a a type of sea urchin endemic to New Zealand waters where the bitter tasting roe can reach prices of $25/pound. Climbing a densely forested pathway away from the pensive fisherman, I reason that kina can, in a way, speak to the dichotomy of Waiheke. Some people on Waiheke prefer to buy their kina; others would rather dive for their own.

Treating myself to a glass of Te Whau syrah at the end of the hike, followed by a pint of Onetangi dark ale from Waiheke Island Brewery (what? I’m on vacation), I eventually find myself wandering Oneroa Beach beneath a sky painted pink by the setting Kiwi sun.

There on the beach is when it hits me.

This, I realize, does not cost any money. This soft white sand beneath my feet, the smell of salt wafting off the tranquil Hauraki Gulf, the easygoing atmosphere of the locals strolling the beach alongside me, this is all part of the Waiheke charm that doesn’t have a price tag dangling off the end.

So although Waiheke Island may boast a glitzy reputation, travelers to New Zealand should remember that Waiheke is still just an island, and as is often the case, the best parts of island life always comes free.

Vagabond Tales: Why you might not be allowed into Canada

by Kyle Ellison on

The border between Canada and the United States is the longest undefended border in the world, yet, of the 60 countries I have wandered through, it’s the one in which I have had the hardest time gaining entry.

At 5,525 miles long, there are over 120 official places where a traveler can cross the Canada border in a manner which is consistent with that of virtually any other border crossing in the world: Speak with a customs or immigration agent, display passport, visa, and proper documentation for onward travel or proof of funds, answer some background questions, and more likely than not you’re on your way.

For some, however, it isn’t always that easy.

In looking at the fine print, Canada has a trump card in their back pocket when it comes to admitting people into the country, and it all has to do with a condition of entry officially known as criminal inadmissibility. Go ahead. Look it up. It really isn’t that strange. The United States has one too.

According to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website, “If you have committed or been convicted of a criminal offence, you may not be allowed to enter Canada.” Such offenses listed include examples such as manslaughter, assault, theft, human rights violations, involvement in organized crime, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Ok, fair enough. If you’re a convicted criminal we won’t allow you into the country. I can agree with that. Murder, manslaughter, trafficking. I wouldn’t want that in my country either.

If you read more closely, however, according to the Wikipedia entry regarding American entry into Canada, “a single criminal conviction, no matter how minor or long ago, is grounds for exclusion from Canada.”

I mention this because it’s this fine print which provides the background for a rather curious sequence of events which took place in the spruce forests of the Yukon Territory.When driving from the Alaska into the Yukon there are only two main border crossings for the traveler to choose from. Neither of them, as you might imagine, are remotely close to anything at all. As far as the eye can see the border territory is a sea of spruce trees and uninhabited woodland, a scene which is unsurprising considering the Yukon is the size of Sweden and has a population of only 34,000 people.

Seeing as this comprises a measly .1% of the entire Canadian population, you would figure that crossing the border into Canada via the Yukon would be easy.

Wrong.

The first indication that something was amiss was when I encountered a forlorn man on a bicycle, his rig completely laden with saddlebags and long-distance gear, with the heaviest piece of equipment being the sense of despair worn across his face.

“Good luck in there”, he caustically growled. “That border guard’s having a bad day.”

“Did he not let you through or something?” I sincerely questioned.

“Nope. Making me turn around. Fifteen years ago I got in a fight. He’s calling it assault. It’s the only thing I’ve had on my record ever.”

This, you see, was problematic to the biker for a number of reasons: The nearest building, much less town, was nearly an hour away. By car. He was on a bike, and was already 800 miles into a two-year bike ride from the Bering Sea to Patagonia at the bottom of Argentina.

“I can’t believe he actually made you turn around, on a bicycle, out here in the middle of nowhere, while you’re fulfilling a life dream of biking to Argentina.”

“Tell me about it.”

“So what are you going to do now?” I wondered aloud.

“I don’t know. Maybe skip that whole Canada section.” With an exasperated wave of his hand he pedaled a lonely road back into the spruce forest.

Given this curious interaction I was hesitant to approach the border, even knowing that I was clean. Still, the process didn’t exactly go swimmingly.

“Good morning”, I nervously offered the border patrol agent, shocks of brown hair poking from beneath the gray beanie covering my head.

“You got anything in the car I should know about?”, countered the visibly perturbed officer.

“Um, no sir. I’m pretty sure we’re all good.”

Meanwhile, our passports had been run into the office for scanning, thereby leaving us at the officer’s whim until their eventual return.

He looked at my gray beanie. He looked at my haggard green truck I’d been camping in for the past 3 months. He looked at the bed in the back, the curtain on the campertop window, and my youthful, twenty-something appearance.

“So I’m not going to find any marijuana in here?” he pulled out of left-field.

“Nope” I replied with a smile, a little taken aback but confident in my response seeing as I’ve never touched a drug in my life.

“So no pipes, no papers, no bongs, no residue, no plastic baggies?”

This was starting to get weird.

“Ugh…no, you won’t” I matter-of-factly replied, slightly irked at the obvious profiling.

“You mind if I have a look?”

“Not at all”

Which is how I ended up waiting on wooden bench in the Yukon for nearly 30 minutes as a border patrol officer searched completely through my vehicle for some sort of illegal substance. This man didn’t just expect to something, it was almost as if he wanted to find something.

I came to find out later that when the officer inside ran my passport an alert was raised that I had previously been involved in a “drug-related arrest”, a charge I vehemently denied and later tracked to a disturbing computer error that nearly cost me entry into the country. Regardless, this error had never shown itself at the 30 or 40 border crossings previous to it, so why here in the middle of nowhere?

After an hour long saga amongst the spruce trees, the agent finally relinquished our vehicle amongst an uncomfortable feeling he was disappointed he couldn’t find anything on us.

Shaken, my wife and I crawled back into our forest green Toyota and made an unsettling drive to our campground in the Kluane National Park.

So what’s the lesson here?

If you’re considering traveling to Canada, think long and hard about if there’s anything which may preclude you from entering the country. DUI, fighting, that “stupid mistake you made in college.” Anything.

Why?

Because one day you might want to ride a bike to Argentina and find yourself pedaling backwards.

Want more stories? Read the rest of the Vagabond Tales here.

Video of the Day: Splitscreen: A Love Story

by Jessica Marati on

Whether you love or hate Valentine’s Day, there’s no escaping the amorous feelings in the air today. We might as well make a contribution with today’s Video of the Day. This short film, released last summer, celebrates transcontinental love: two sets of eyes, one in New York and one in Paris, passing days with similar experiences until the moment the eyes unite (reunite?) on London‘s Golden Jubilee Bridge. Cue single tear. The video will undoubtedly tug on the heartstrings of anyone who has ever attempted a long distance relationship… or at the very least make you want to visit the three cities.

Splitscreen earned the top spot in last year’s Nokia Shorts 2011 competition, which armed a select group of filmmakers with the Nokia N8 phone and a $5,000 budget. The film was shot entirely on the N8 by a team led by filmmaker James W. Griffiths, beating out seven competitors for the top prize. They do say that love conquers all.

Valentine’s Day inspiration from travel blogging couples

by Jessica Festa on

Ryan & Laura of Round We Go
As told by Ryan

We’re both from St. Louis, but met on a beach in Destin, Florida. I went to study abroad in Ireland and Laura came over to visit and we traveled through Ireland and Scotland. Laura studied in Spain the following year and I went over to visit her. When Laura finished college, we decided to attack a different continent and booked a one-way ticket to South America, traveling Brazil for six weeks, setting up shop in Buenos Aires for five months, moving to Santiago, Chile, and traveling through Bolivia, Peru and Patagonia before returning home to the U.S. We moved to Chicago, worked, saved, and left again, this time on a 14-month trip around the world. We estimate we’ve spent more time together as a couple than our parents’ combined 70 years of marriage.

Funny travel moment: It was one of our first nights in Buenos Aires. Laura had been trying to teach me Spanish words and phrases, although I had no real desire to learn. We were still learning our way around the city when we were heading out one night. Switching subway lines, I stepped onto the train with Laura a step back. The doors closed quickly behind me with Laura still on the other side of them. Looking baffled at each other through the subway doors, I mouthed, “What should we do?” Lucky for us, the Argentine woman next to Laura had understood what I had said, “la proxima parada”, in Spanish. Laura got on the following train and greeted me at “the next stop” with a cross between a grin and a scowl. I still have no idea why her Spanish lesson had popped into my head at that moment, but we still laugh about it.

Couples’ travel tip: Communication is very important. We are often forced to push ourselves when traveling in ways we don’t living comfortably at home. By listening to one another, we’ve been able to work through problems more quickly and have avoided falling into the same traps, or fights, that couples do.

This Valentine’s Day: We’ll be at home in Chicago brainstorming a more interesting way to spend Valentine’s Day next year!
Yohan & Dolina of Yohan and Dolina’s Walkabout
As told by Dolina

We met at the University of Texas at Austin in 1993. It was clear from the beginning of our relationship that we both liked to travel. Our first spring break together we found some “cheap” tickets to Rome and went for it. From then on, we traveled as much as school then work allowed. Over the years, we talked about taking a longer trip and in the fall of 2007 we left for a yearlong round-the-world adventure. We returned to the US in the fall of 2008 and our daughter was born in July, 2009. I have no doubt we will travel again and that our daughter will be richer for the experience. Meanwhile, we are experiencing travel from the perspective of the host. While it pales next to the afternoon of tea and apples in Hama, we are hosting fellow travelers from around the world on Airbnb.com.

Funny travel moment: For our anniversary we were in Cuzco, Peru, a place the Incans believed to be the bellybutton of the universe. We booked a lovely hotel in this beautiful colonial city anticipating a romantic celebration. Instead we were stricken with Salmonella and Giardia. Romantic indeed!

Couples’ travel tip: If you’re planning a long-term adventure, downsize to a much smaller place a few months before you leave. It will help ease the transition of being together 24/7 on the road.

This Valentine’s Day: Having a quiet dinner at our home in Austin, Texas.

Nathan & Sofia of As We Travel
As told by Sofia

We met in Sweden while Nathan was there from New Zealand studying for a master’s degree at University; I wanted to travel the world, and Nathan didn’t enjoy his course anymore so he dropped out and we decided to travel the world together in 2008. Today we are still busy traveling the world and have visited over 44 countries together.

Funny travel moment: We arrived late one evening in a small New Zealand town with no accommodation pre-booked, so we just picked the cheapest hostel on the map and started walking. After walking for more than 3 hours in the dark, and finding ourselves in the middle of no-where, we realized the hostel must be further away than we thought. So we simply gave up and decided to sleep on the side of the road, found a bush to sleep under, grabbed our sleeping bags, and went to sleep. The next morning we looked up and saw the same hostel we couldn’t find the night before right in front of us!

Couples’ travel tip: Learn how to compromise, be flexible, and don’t take your fights too seriously. Often arguments pop up simply because you’re both out there traveling the world, getting exposed to so many new environments and cultures which can lead to extra stress, tiredness, and worry.

This Valentine’s Day: We are currently in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a small, cute ski resort in southern Germany, so we will be spending Valentine’s Day there enjoying a great day skiing and then maybe have a few glasses of wine and indulge in some traditional German desserts.

Kyle & Bessie of On Our Own Path
As told by Kyle

We met in a dive bar at a “white trash” themed party where everyone was wearing those corny mesh trucker hats. So, it wasn’t exactly one of the cultural pinnacles of our lives, but I guess the event can be forgiven since we met each other there. In any case, we were both a bit drunk and I invited her to go on a trip to Puerto Rico with me in a couple of months. She probably thought I was odd, but we got along really well and she came on the trip, where we ended up drinking moonshine rum while playing Dominoes on Christmas Eve. At some point in the next year, we decided to start squirreling away some money for a big trip. We saved for a year and a half, planning for a one year trip. More than 4 years later, we still haven’t returned home.

Funny travel moment: Every day in Myanmar is amusing in some way now, whether it be lowering our garbage down on a string to the garbage collection lady or trying to corral the heaps of paperwork necessary to live downtown. Besides, most of our “funny” stories have
to do with bowel movements at inopportune times (that’s the price for eating adventurously, I suppose).

Couples’ travel tip: Work out all of those issues before traveling together. As romantic as it sounds, spending 24 hours with someone for a long period of time can sometimes not be a good thing if there are some issues bubbling below the surface.

This Valentine’s Day: We’ll definitely be in Yangon and don’t have definite plans, yet, but we’ll probably go out to dinner. We’ve been thinking of eating at a restaurant called “House of Memories” which is an old colonial house were the country’s icon, Bogyoke Aung San, used to study.

Adam & Melanie of Travels With Two
As told by Melanie

Almost 18 years ago, my husband, Adam, and I worked together at NBC Television in the Los Angeles area; one of his daily duties was to hand-deliver a single piece of paper downstairs to my department, affording us an opportunity to flirt and get to know each other. We started traveling together almost immediately, and after a few Southern California driving jaunts we found we loved simply wandering off by ourselves. Eventually, amidst starting and growing businesses, buying a house, getting married and adopting pets, we’d fall in love with three Hawaiian islands, swoon over two Mexican coasts, become addicted to Europe (There’s more, but you get the idea). Without traveling together, we’d never have learned how to get hopelessly lost in other languages, avoid being trampled by an elephant, or depend on one another in times of sudden transit strikes.

Funny travel moment: Having time to connect isn’t always a positive. Years ago, awaiting a
connecting flight home from a trip, we got to reminiscing about our very first impressions of one another. Turns out he hadn’t learned my name for weeks; I couldn’t wait to do away with his vest collection. We became so immersed in our conversation that we missed our flight.

Couples’ travel tip: Instead of booking travel the weekend before Valentine’s Day, aim to get
away a weekend or two after the holiday, when hotel and flight prices tend to drop by 25% or more.

This Valentine’s Day: We make time for Valentine’s Day. Sure, it’s a greeting-card holiday, but I like greeting cards. And Champagne. And work days that end a little early. And a man I’ve known for half my life making dinner for me.

Wayne & Pat of Unhook Now
As told by Wayne

We met at a Make-A-Wish dance wanting to make a wish come true for others and it came true for us. I was talking to someone about international travel and Pat’s wish list included meeting someone who wanted to travel. Falling in love, our first trip together was to New York and then the Tahitian Islands. We are now members of the Travelers’ Century Club (100 counties).

Funny travel moment: During one of our first trips to Europe we were taking the train from Paris to Venice. The train slowed down for a stop and the conductor yelled, “All passengers for Pisa please prepare to depart.” Pat asked me, “Pisa? Is this the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa?” I answered yes and she said, “We have to get off the train!” As a child growing up in New York, Pat’s family had tomato sauce jars with a picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa on them. When she told her family she was going there someday they would make fun of her thinking it was just a dream. With her feet barely touching the ground, Pat visited her ‘Leaning Tower of Pisa’ that day.

Couples’ travel tip: We love traveling together and our passion starts with gratitude. We express our wishes to each other and work together to get both of our travel wishes satisfied.

This Valentine’s Day: We now yearn more for good friends, memories and less for stuff. We’re fortunate to spend this Valentine’s Day with some of our best friends involved with their gourmet foodie/movie group.

Caz & Craig of y Travel Blog
As told by Caz

Craig and I are from the same home town and grew up with mutual friends. On the night before I left for my overseas journey I remember spending some time talking to him at the club and was impressed with his humor. I put that behind me, though, as I had other adventures to attend to. When I returned home three years later, we saw each other around all the time. I had just been in Thailand and Craig was about to go so we had a lot to talk about. We kept seeing each other out and connected over our love of travel. It wasn’t long before we began going out and planning to travel together. Two years later we married and three days after the wedding took off for what turned out to be a five year honeymoon. Ten years later, we haven’t stopped living our love of travel, sharing it with our two beautiful daughters.

Funny travel moment: When we first moved to Bangkok to teach English I had a big welcoming assembly at my school on the first day and was told I would have to give a speech. I was really nervous as it was 500 high school boys who could barely speak any English. Craig thought it funny and teased me mercilessly, so relieved was not him having to get up to speak. His teasing did not stop even right up to when they handed me the microphone and with knees knocking I walked up to the stage to speak. I got through it and, when it was finished, handed the microphone back to my mentoring teacher, Gai, and smiled with relief to Craig. My smile turned into a laugh once I heard Gai announce, “And now we have Caroline’s husband, Craig, who would like to say a few words.” His face fell to the ground.

Couples’ travel tip: Always view yourself as a team. This will help you to use each other’s strengths to work through challenges together, as well as celebrating your wins.

This Valentine’s Day: This Valentine’s Day will see Craig and I on separate sides of the country on press trips. He will be in Western Australia and I will be in Sydney.

Skott & Shawna of Get Up and Globe
As told by Shawna

“Our story” begins at a radio station. Skott was one of the head advertising consultants, and I was the fresh, new talent. We fell for each other almost instantly, and were married just two years later. For our honeymoon, we asked our guests to vote and help us choose our destination. This voting process took place over 7 months leading up to our big day. However, in the end, we decided we wanted to go everywhere! So we quit our jobs, rented out our house, and hit the road!

Funny travel moment: We were visiting a Spanish tapas bar and Skott was choosing a few snacks from a glass display. He spotted something interesting and asked the waitress what it was. She responded “Pulpo”. Skott understood this to mean “pulled pork”. When his plate arrived, I asked him to name each of the items he had chosen. When he pointed at his “pulled pork”, I started to giggle as I noticed it had a peculiar purple hew and some suspect looking tentacles. It turns out that “pulpo” means octopus, something these two prairie folks never eat! Skott was unwilling to admit an error and ate the octopus on a cracker. He never ordered it again!

Couples’ travel tip: Always communicate how you’re feeling and pay the extra couple bucks to have your own private room. Bunk bed dorms are a downer!

This Valentine’s Day: It looks like Valentine’s Day will be celebrated here in Vietnam. Skott’s parent’s have come to join us for the month so we’ll be able to do a double date. Perhaps a cooking class in Hoi An, a quaint little city on the coast of the South China Sea.

Simon & Erin of Never Ending Voyage
As told by Erin

Simon and I met at school and finally got together when we were 18. We started traveling during our first winter together when Simon took me snowboarding in the Alps and a few months later treated me to a weekend in Paris for my birthday. When we finished university we spent a year travelling around the world. After an amazing year it was impossible to settle back into normal life so we decided to sell everything, start a web design business, and travel permanently as digital nomads. We’ve been going since March 2010 and love travelling and working together.

Funny travel moment: On an overnight bus in Boliva, I was knocked out by Dramamine. Simon suffered through 12 hours of bumpy roads on a decrepit bus with locals sleeping on his shoulder as we plunged through fog on treacherous mountain roads. Thankfully, we survived to tell the tale.

Couples’ travel tip: When you are together 24/7 and often in stressful travel situations communication is vital. Be honest about your feelings and tell your partner if you are stressed or if they are doing something to annoy you. Deal with it before it builds up and becomes a much bigger problem.

This Valentine’s Day: We’ll be in Chiang Mai, Thailand. To be honest though we don’t usually celebrate Valentine’s Day so I doubt we’ll be doing anything special. Then again, any day in Thailand is special!

Ant & Elise of Positive World Travel
As told by Ant

Elise and I met whilst we were working in the same restaurant 6 years ago. We decided to pack up everything and leave our old lives behind to travel the world inside of going into further debt and buy a house. Traveling together for 24-hours a day teaches you patience and you build new skills on how to keep the spark alive when you are spending so much time together. When traveling we would always have “date night” once a week where we would get dressed up and treat ourselves to an expensive meal and pretend for a moment that we had just met. This allows up to freshen up our relationship and is also an opportunity to talk about other things than just what tourist sites we had seen in the past week.

Funny travel moment: We were traveling through Vietnam by motorbike riding to all the local temples and, as usual, Elise was reading the map and we were lost. I had a look at the map and realized the road we needed get on, however, the only way to get across to the connecting road was along a muddy path in between two rice patties. There was a stretch of this path that had been entirely covered by water except for one edge that was the width of our tires. We cautiously balanced our way across this shady embankment but our back wheel slid out and, before we knew it, we were head first in mud. We were 20 kms out of town so we continued to visit tourist sites in our muddy clothes with unusual looks from locals.

Couples’ travel tip: We believe that communication is the key to our successful travelling relationship. It is easy to bottle your feelings and emotions up inside, so it is important that you give each other a chance to be heard and to voice your opinions.

This Valentine’s Day: This Valentines Day we will be in Sydney, Australia, camping and spending a few days away in a secluded beachside place in Northern NSW. We believe that Valentine’s Day is about spending time with each other and celebrating our love.