Travel Carnival 12: Potpourri

A potpourri of travel topics from how to ditch your travel companion to touring Paris to a (much-needed) rant on airport noise pollution and a top 10 list of tourism-competitive countries. Read on...!

Brilliant Insights

• K T Cat presents A Little Bit of Paradise in Chicago O’Hare posted at The Scratching Post. A well-written, much-needed rant on blaring televisions at airports.

Destinations and Experiences

• Sundance presents Dublin:The Luck of the Irish posted at Destination Station.
• Georgina Kelman presents Parisian Peregrinations posted at Georgina Kelman Works on Paper.
• Surfer Sam presents What Makes Japan Unique? Japanese Culture, All Things Japanese posted at Surfer Sam and Friends.
• Roderick Russell presents THOTH - The Power of Performance posted at NOUMENON :: Art, Ideas, Culture & Capricious Opinion.
• Natalie presents A visit to the Place des Vosges posted at My Paris Your Paris.
• Michelle presents Free things to do in Vegas! posted at Blogging In Vegas.
• Madeleine Begun Kane presents Surmounting Marriage posted at Mad Kane's Humor Blog.
• Denise Olesky presents Thought you'd never do a bus tour? Think again posted at Tired of working? Take a break!.

Travel Tips

• Henry Bagdasarian presents Travel Security Tips and Advice to Prevent Identity Theft During Your Trip posted at Free Identity Theft Prevention, Detection and Fraud Solutions.
• Trav Monkey presents How To Ditch Your Travel Mate and 8 Things You Should Know About Hostel Dorms posted at TravMonkey.
• Albert Klamt presents World Economic Forum scores Countries in Travel and Tourism posted at Zaadz: Connect. Grow. Inspire. Empower.
• Andrea presents Top 10 Travel Related Diseases posted at Travel Vaccinations.
• Brad presents Foreign Credit Card Transaction charges reimbursed? posted at Brad's Bits.
• KoffieVerkeerd presents Dutch Starbucks AKA The Coffee Company posted at DaarZijnWeWeer.

11th Carnival of Travel: Culinary Commentary

If you travel for food, read on. The 11th carnival of travel is filled with thoughtful (even mouth-watering at times) commentary on food for herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores alike. Each article is fresh and flavorful.

• Pam Mandel presents Recycled: Baked Insanity posted at Nerd's Eye View, saying, "In which I lose my mind over a baked good at a roadside restaurant...."
• EDJ presents Adventures in Eating posted at Planet Nomad. This is a hilarious account of a meal abroad.
• Melissa Petri presents Visit the Tapas King in San Sebastian and Gastronomic Experience in Beijing posted at Wandalust.
• Jennifer Miner presents Best Restaurants in Florence Italy and Best Brunch in Chicago posted at Travel Articles.
• Mr. Besilly presents A Starbucks Latte: With No Surprises Inside posted at Mr. Besilly - One Man's highway, saying, "Do you need that cup of Starbucks when tou travel. So do I! Here's my rant on that subject."
• R Waldhoff presents Food Lore: The Artichoke posted at Britannica Blog, saying, "Gregory McNamee provides a brief cross-cultural history of the artichoke."
• Tannaz Sassooni presents Ethnic Markets: Feel worldly for cheap posted at WiseBread Frugal.
• Gillian Polack presents Food History » Blog Archive » Melbourne Chinese food posted at Gillian Polack, saying, "I spent my holidays in Melbourne (Australia) and they were all about food and food history.
• Joanne presents Camping Food for Kids posted at Vacations with Kids, saying, "Picky eaters don't get any less picky just because you’re on vacation—just ask my youngest ones (Rachel is two and Jacob is six, and both of them want everything just so at mealtime)."
• ispf presents Breakfast in Germany, Lunch in Switzerland, Dinner in France. Total Cost: $0 posted at Personal Finance for Students and Fresh Grads.
• Toffler presents Restaurants in Shanghai posted at Toffler's Blog.

Thanks for tuning in. Hungry for travel yet? Plan a group trip on TripHub.

10th Carnival of Travel: Outdoor Adventures

This 10th carnival focuses on the wide range of outdoor adventures - family vacations, group trips, expats traveling abroad, volunteer vacations, solo treks. The list goes on. Enjoy!

• Expats Today Have It So Easy 
  Lynn Rodriguez, an expat, reflects on her expat days and compares them with the technology "insta-connection" (cheap phone calls, IM, internet, American products abroad) expat days of today. What has been lost in the technology advances is the ability to truly disconnect and immerse oneself in another culture. A nostalgic article that raises the pros and cons of being able to "check in" so easily from abroad.
• Walking In A Winter Wonderland For $1,300 
  The Silicon Valley Blogger, a finance writer, shared tips and stories from a recent group family trip to Yosemite. Comparing costs for a trip to the mountains to a Disney trip, he proves it's dollar wise and "priceless" to go au naturale.
• Maui - Best Island in the World
  Jennifer Miner writes of Maui: an island of turtles, dolphins, volcanos, lush hills and meadows, plus a drive to Hana, a cliff-hugging road with bridges and towns along the route that make the journey as luscious as the destination.
• Haciendas in the Yucatan 
  "Working Gringos" give an historical and personal account of traversing through the Yucatan to visit haciendas. An enlightening read that blends colonialism, tourism, anthropology, and architecture.
• Support Your Parks: Take the Kids and Visit 
  Sheila Scarborough writes about taking her family to a Texas CCC cabin that was built in the 1930s, reminding us that many parks still have these architectural relics, and their sturdy nature makes them a perfect way to add adventure to a trip without camping outside.
• Stay Cold, But Cozy, in Quebec's Ice Hotel 
  Mary Jo Manzanares says, "At the ice hotel, you can have your outdoor adventure indoors as well!" If you choose to stay, have a cocktail in an glass made of ice, go dog sledding, and dip your toe in a steamy hot tub to warm up before resting your head on a bed framed by ice. 
• Our Homer Odyssey 
  Michelle compares two trips to Alaska; one with her mom, and another with her husband and kids. She touches on how the essence of a trip, the inspiration and beauty, are unique - never to be recaptured again. Her post reminds us to keep searching for new adventures, even when we know how fleeting they can be.
• The Contents of a Good Camping Guide 
  Darlene Berkel offers tips for finding the best camping guide. It's a good hit list of things to consider: from survival tactics, to supplies, and so forth.

Dear Diary
Many posts had a diary-style essence, so I grouped them together here.

• Coconuter: Introduction / About
  David Poarch passes up an Ivy League education to become a nomad in the Phillipines and find himself, calling it "An epic adventure that surpasses just travel. It is also a search for life, freedom, purpose, happiness, and the meaning to it all." Here's to finding yourself!
• Motorcycling Leads to Serendipitous Discovery
  Lisa Grissom waxes poetic about "How a recent ride on my motorcycle helped me to discover why I ride."
• On Wearing a Bathing Suit
  Toe blogs about beach-going in diary style, saying, "An overweight prude contemplates on wearing a bathing suit in a paradise beach resort in Cambodia."
• Mt. Field National Park
  Dan also writes in diary format also about his visiting Tasmania's Mt. Field National Parks and its various waterfalls.
• If diaries consisted of photos, they'd be... scrapbooks. Soufulow offers two photojournal posts (e-scrapbooks), one on her family trip to China, and another trip to Japan. The photos are coupled with occasional commentary.
• The G Cam - Trek to Kodachadri, Karnataka
  Vinaya HS photographs the road less traveled, saying, "After a brief hiatus, the G Cam is back - this time bringing you mesmerizing photos from the Kodachadri Mountain Range in the evergreen Western Ghats of beautiful Karnataka." Ooh, la la. Stunning images, indeed.

That's all, folks. The 11th edition of the carnival of travel will be themed food or culinary travel (including beverages, etc.) and go live February 15th. Submit your blog post here.

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9th Carnival of Travel: Potpourri

'Tis the season to have as random of an assortment of travel subjects as appetizers you can cram on a holiday plate. The 9th carnival of travel is a mix of topics. Here goes!

Travel Companions: 3 amazing stories

• Rich Peluso presents You Eat What You Kill. I loved these words of wisdom from a father traveling to Rome with his family. His search for meaning in the everyday is poignant. A contemplative passage.
• Michelle presents Considering A Cruise?. It is hilarious to venture into the mind of a cruiser and hear her internal dialogue about the hypothetical lives of fellow passengers.
• Kelly Vaughan presents Fotoğraf Kıraathanesi saying, "Sometimes we have to seek out new companions, and through this, we see things we never would have seen." A camera. A will to meet others. And an unusual journey with a group of flickr photographers.

Travel as Inspiration: thought-provoking tales

• Ian MacKenzie presents 12 Personal Travel Websites That Will Make You Quit Your Day Job. Inspirational travel quotes from those taking the road less traveled and loving every step, pedal, and flight of it.
• Michelle presents Green Retreats For Scrooge. A wonderful compilation of green retreat vacation spots. Most of them can accommodate groups and all offer environmentally-friendly accommodations (alternative energy, recycling, gray water for watering plants, etc.).

Rants and Warnings: comic and tragic truths of travel

• Jen presents One Night in Bangkok, a chilling story of what can go wrong in a beautiful city.
• Ms. Q presents Airport Restroom Rant. This clever wine-infused rant is highly appropriate and should be heard around the world by toilet paper dispenser companies.
• Dan Harris presents China Air Travel: Everybody Knows The Trouble I've Seen about internal flight delays within China.

Travel Tips: miscellaneous nuggets of wisdom

• Jenin presents How to Enjoy St. Lucia On A Budget. If you think St. Lucia might be in your travel planning future, here are budget ideas.
• Alvaro presents Well-Deserved Break: Top 10 Brain Teasers saying, "How does one travel inside one's mind, and navigate through brain structures and assumptions? Well, here's one option: try these well-designed and explained brain teasers. Most of them good to print and do while traveling."

That's all for this edition. To read past editions, go to the carnival of travel index page. To submit an article for the next carnival, submit here. Theme for the upcoming January 15th edition is Outdoor Adventures.

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8th Carnival of Travel: Inspiration

With both winter weather woes and holiday cheer running rampant in December, the 8th carnival of travel is devoted to inspiration. Many of the posts below serve as ideas for group travel destinations or attractions and shining examples of why we travel.

Grab a cup of Chai, tea, or coffee and enjoy the latest travel carnival.

1. Joe Kissell presents The Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers: Interesting Thing of the Day, saying, "An 11th-century Parisian abbey later became the home of a fantastic museum of arts and trades, which is to say, mostly inventions. But the exhibits aren't the only interesting things about the building." This "holy grail for invention lovers" holds Foucault's Pendulum. Ooooh, I'm intrigued.
2. Tim Abbott presents Wild at Heart, illuminating "inspiration in wild places, large and small" whether trekking in the tracks of elephants or following children's feet. A reflective gem of an article.
3. Pam Mandel presents Wien, Wien, Nur Du Allein as an ode to falling in love with Vienna, imagined. Poetically crafted prose.
4. Kelly Vaughan presents To Know Is to Remember That You've Seen; to See Is to Know Without Remembering saying, "Kapadokya (Cappadocia), an enchanting kaleidescope of weird geology, Christian saints, stone houses, underground cities, clay pot kebaps, tumbling pigeons, snake-design carpets, temperamental hairdressers, hot air balloons, phallic symbols, fairytales, fireplaces, and tavla. It's hard to know where to begin." Beautiful photos accompany this inspiring Turkey travelogue.
5. Jennifer Miner presents St. John Eco-travel and Eco-tourism and shares the extent of environmental volunteer work being done to keep Caribbean island St. John green.
6. Joe Donnachie presents Paul's Bike Ride from Italy to London - Part One. This first part of a 650-mile epic ride through the Alps, the French countryside, and ultimately home to the UK is inspiring for athletes or adventurous travelers alike.
7. Maureen O'Brien presents Lake Tahoe Vacation, with numerous stunning photos from her family's recent homeschool educational trip. Nice to see a homeschool mom take the kids to areas around the country to sights they've studied.

Travel tip entries from other bloggers

• Mary Jo Manzanares offers two very different ways to approach winter vacation activities: at museums like the Seattle Veterans Museum or lying on a beach in Cancun.
• Karen Brown presents Sky Nannies, a concept every airline should consider for the wee ones who squeal too much on flights.
• Jake Danger presents The Charisma Man Syndrome: How You, Too, Can Be the Fonz about an emerging trend for western Chinese visitors.

That concludes the 8th edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition (theme: travel companions) of carnival of travel using the carnival submission form. Past posts can be found on the travel carnival index page.

Technorati tags: carnival of travel, blog carnival.

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Travel Carnival 7: Surprising Joy When Traveling

If happiness is where you find it, and traveling inevitably brings surprises, then you can likely expect surprising joy while you travel. The 7th carnival of travel brings many perspectives on travel and the element of surprise.

• Running in Edinburgh, Joe D. writes about whim and the provocative nature of mountains. Without a map and water, he is drawn toward Edinburgh's highest peak. 
• Why travel to France? PT Ford offers an illuminating historical, artistic, and anthropological reason to see the "Sistine Chapel of Pre-History," a discovery he (and others before him) made of The Lascaux Cave in Southwest France.
• Vineeta gives great reason to pilgrimage to the great Machu Picchu in his article Take a Deep Breath, You're in Peru. She says, "Nothing you know about Machu Picchu prepares you for the actual experience of being there."
• Joe K. presents the surprising joy found on Saturna Island, saying, "The least populous of British Columbia's southern Gulf Islands, Saturna is a quiet and scenic getaway. What it lacks in people and businesses, it makes up for in character." I'm so there... next year maybe? Seriously, on my two-week boat trip to the San Juans, we talked of heading to the Gulf Islands next year.
• Kelly at Öğretmen says, "I was in India with a friend this summer. The Indian railroad turned out to be wonderful experience...." Her journey shows how a railway ticket on the Nethravathi Express was her best (albeit silent) tour guide.
• Surfer Sam goes on a group trip with friends Hiking the Grand Canyon in Flagstaff, Arizona and discovers a "taste of Eden."
• Melissa tunes us in to the surprising pros of business travel as a Road Gladiator. 
• Although Renata dislikes the Parisian treatment of tourists (I wonder if she speaks any French?), she does fall for the quintessential attractions that make Paris famous. On her family trip to the "end of the world," Renata travels to Ushuaia, at South America's tip, and sees snow for the first time in her life. The photos are impressive.
• A Parenthesis: Vacation In Hawaii is Ming's version of finding her inner spirit and being one with her true self. An interesting perspective on reflections of how we perceive the world and how we experience it.

These don't fall into the surprising joy theme, but have value nonetheless:

• Jennifer at Luxury Resort Travel presents three articles about Thanksgiving with stress-reducing tips, how to get a great view of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan, and more Thanksgiving Day Parade travel tips.
• Aaron offers Asian travel tips for exploring Southeast Asian markets and tips to avoid paying ridiculous airfares during peak season.
• Uman Park Sofievka is a surprising tourist attraction in the Ukraine, an unusual suspect for tourism. Tatyana's blog highlights Ukraine's best attractions.
• Andy presents far east hotel ideas.

Thanks for participating and reading this edition of the carnival of travel. The next (8th) edition will be published on Monday, November 20th.

To submit an article, follow these easy directions on the submission form.

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Travel Carnival 6: Family Travel in All Its Glory

The 6th carnival of travel is family-themed, with a couple of posts at the end that are unrelated to family specifically; but if you stretch family a little and read between the lines (friends as family, medical advice for families) you'll see it's all related. After all, it takes a village.

• GPS for Family Road Trips
  In this article, Kelby Carr brings the 21st century to the time-trusted vacation tradition of road tripping. The next time your kids ask, "Are we there yet?" just reply, "We'll arrive in exactly 3 hours, 27 minutes and 8 seconds."
• A Trip Too Far? When Travel with Kids Isn't a Good Idea
  Sheila Scarborough travels over a lifetime with kids, exposing them to new cultures, languages, foods, and explores the philosophical question: is there an amount of travel for kids that's too taxing on their little bodies and minds?
• Business Trip with Your Child 
  Mixing business with pleasure, Melissa Petri offers a creative perspective on being a full-time mom and worker. By turning business trips of 3 nights or longer into mini vacations, she's able to travel with her husband and child, plus retain her job AND sanity!
• Melissa also gives anecdotes and tips for flying with infants and toddlers, especially over the holidays at: Travel with Kids This Season.
• Visiting Anchorage, Alaska for $32
  Henry Cate blogs about one of the cheapest ways families can familiarize themselves with another part of the world.
• Exchange Homes For Your Next Vacation
  Save money on your next family or group vacation and Free the Drones within. Here are tips for doing a home exchange over the Internet with a family who lives in the travel destination you are choosing. Downside? If you live in a less desirable area to travel, you may have trouble finding that idyllic vacation home swap. I can't imagine a New York City penthouse dweller swapping with a Branson, Missouri home owner. Maybe it's just my imagination.

Couples as family

• How To Plan A Trip (with Humor)
  Sometimes, vacation prep and going can be so stressful (or humorous - as they're often two sides of the same coin), you may just decide to rent movies and stay home. Madeleine Begun Kane offers a glimpse of what you hope to avoid on a romantic escape.
• St. Kilda Mangrove Boardwalk
  A boardwalk. A grove of trees. And a trip to a popular tourist attraction in South Australia, just north of Adelaide. Thanks to Trevor's Travels.
• Volcanoes
  If you've ever wondered whether or not hiking to the top of a volcano is worth the trek, just ask Jim Goss. In a very thorough account of his journey, Jim illuminates the pros and discovers taking the active road traveled beats the beach bum variety.

Non-family travel related carnival posts

• Travels with Kehaar: The Romanian Honor Roll 
  Silflay Hraka travels on an unusual journey through Romania, giving his equivalent of awards to the locals he met via this post. His travel snippets are endearing in an off-beat way. A great read!
• Yellow Poo
  Dr. Kavokin blogs about medical subjects that can be downright unpleasant to think about, such as yellow poo, but good to know about if you experience symptoms while traveling.

That's all, folks. Next edition (to be published on Halloween, Oct. 31) will have the theme of Surprising Joy While Traveling. To submit an article for the next carnival, go here. To see past carnival of travel editions, see the travel carnival index.

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Travel Carnival 5: Photos Worth 1,000 Words

Welcome to the 5th travel carnival, where photos speak volumes. A few entries include photos (applause, please) while others do not. Nonetheless, there's quite a potpourri of perspectives and journeys. Read on...

• Kelly Curtis presents Wish for You, with a trip to Mackinac Island solidifying the bond between mother and daughter. The last two photos in the slide show are priceless.
• Joe Kissell presents Neuschwanstein Castle saying, "Of the several castles built by the eccentric king Ludwig II of Bavaria, none is more recognizable than Neuschwanstein, which inspired Cinderella's Castle at the Disney theme parks."
• Kelly Vaughan presents Şile: a walk on the Beach, giving us a look at seascapes of a Turkish beach town. My interpretation? Cloudy days have unique beauty if you look at them in the right way.
• David presents Philanthropic Travel Worldwide, giving us a glimpse of why and how five-star travel in developing worlds can allow you to dip your toes in humanitarian work without seemingly wrinkling clothes or getting dirty. There are two contrasting photos: one of three smiling children living in a developing country, and another of two starchy, white adults hugging an elephant trunk. The photos are fascinating. My idea of a volunteer vacation is people getting a little grimy with their "up close" experiences. But who knows. Maybe the pampered approached would be my preference when I decide to book a volunteer vacation. There's also an interesting label for indigenous folk in this post: "bottom of the pyramid." Hmm. Thoughts, anyone?
• Maureen O'Brien presents Lake of the Ozarks, pitching her camping trailor for condo travel at the Ozarks in Missouri.

Carnival submissions sans photos:

• Madeleine Begun Kane brings husband-wife road trip, weekend getaway humor to life with her rendition of Taking A Vacation on the Contract Plan.
• Jennefer presents Travel to Russia: Moscow giving more recommendations (and links) to major and minor Moscow attractions, activities, and walkabouts than I think I've seen anywhere. From the Kremlin to Gorky Park to Lenin's Masouleum to the Bolshoi Ballet and beyond, she's done her research.
• Tracy Coenen presents A Tour of New Orleans and the Damage Left by Hurricane Katrina. A first-hand account of the realities of the hurricane aftermath. Seems like touring New Orleans is like touring Ground Zero - doing so is out of concern and curiosity. An insightful read.
• Zane HM presents Ol' Grand Fort Lily (1885) Betong and adds color to a bit of Asian history likely little known outside of Asia.
• Leslie Carbone presents Sunday Morning in Rehoboth, an ode to a Bentley.
• Stephen Harris presents One of Those Days, a kiwi's perspective on business travel to Brisbane, Australia and how hotel rooms can feel like home sweet home after "one of those days."

Thanks for reading and, contributing bloggers, thanks for sharing your perspectives and photos. Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of travel using the carnival submission form. Past posts and future travel carnival information/editions can be found on the blog carnival index page. Sixth edition theme: family travel (any way your slice it). Publish date: Monday, Oct. 16th.

Technorati tags: carnival of travel, blog carnival.

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Travel Carnival 4: Nature's Bounty

Welcome to the 4th travel carnival, where a flurry of travel articles have come in since the 3rd edition. Even during (or perhaps because of) end-of-summer vacations, travel bloggers took time to write or share their travelogues, tips, and musings. The theme this time was Nature's Bounty; however, many off-topic submissions came in and I've decided to include them. Enjoy!

Nature's Bounty

David Stanley presents Manitou Beach and Last Mountain, Saskatchewan saying, "In the heart of the Canadian prairies, 126 kilometers southeast of Joni Mitchell's hometown Saskatoon, is a lake with a natural salinity of 12 percent, which is 3.5 times saltier than the world's oceans and 50 percent saltier than the Dead Sea."

Joe Kissell presents The Perito Moreno Glacier / Breaking the ice rules saying, "This river of ice in Argentina is much like other glaciers, though on average, it's neither retreating nor advancing. But it's face divides a lake into two, and dramatic, periodic ruptures reconnect the two sections." Joe believes "size matters" and that "hiking on a glacier is like hiking on a giant snow cone."

Smita presents Igatpuri - Unchartered Territory where two trekkers go off the beaten path in India to verdant, hilly pastures for (what is clearly) an experience of a lifetime.

Trevor presents Travels in Nepal #16: The Climb to Namche Bazar with reflections of his trek in Nepal, reminding us all to stop and smell the proverbial roses (in his case, soak in the views) and set your own pace in life. Nice photos to boot!

Kelly Vaughan presents an article on Turkey through the eyes of a New York City teacher about one of her first weekends while living in Istanbul for a year. This piece details a weekend of exploration and paints a colorful image of what you can expect when traveling to Turkey. Ah, Turkey. A beautiful country with a fascinating history.

Mary Jo Manzanares presents Washington DC: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens saying, "So much natural beauty so close to our nation's capital. It's worth the time to take a short drive to see the aquatic gardens." The sexy stills of the flowers make me want to fly back east to visit this garden that's on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jennifer Miner presents GPS Devices and Geocaching noting, "Geocaching is like a worldwide scavenger hunt. Taking my handheld GPS with me on a trip to Maui forced me to do more than just lounge by the pool..." discovering ancient petroglyphs on the trek. Jennifer also presents Santa Monica Shangri-la, recommending this hotel for families who desire a 180-degree Pacific Ocean view.

Unrelated to Nature's Bounty ...but amusing nonetheless

• Sheila Scarborough presents My Top 10 Ideas for Travel Souvenirs with great ideas for family trinkets such as "Floatie Pens... from Jerusalem with floating bread and wine in front of the Last Supper. Classic." (Note: You may need to scroll to read her post after arriving at her site.)
• Georgina Kelman presents Three Days in the Desert, a story of a family road trip to Palm Springs in August. An aerial tram to hike the mountails and air-conditioned art and flight museums gave the family reunion a respite from the desert heat.
• Kelby Carr presents Road Trip Planner: Survive a Family Road Trip saying, "The family road trip is the ultimate family vacation. That doesn't mean it has to be all the cliches of whining kids and grumpy parents." She gives several practical tips for families. Kelby also presents Winter and Christmas Cruises highlighting family cruises for New Year's, Hannukah, or any other holiday getaway.
• Chaminda presents Souma Nomaoi - Horse Festival of Soma about an off-the-beaten-track Japanese festival that has taken place each July for 1033 years.
• Rick Sincere presents Visiting the Speaker's House, a journey to a Founding Father's dilapidated house (and future tourist attraction) along with a historic church along Main Street in Trappe, Pennsylvania. See where the first signer of the Bill of Rights lived.
• Destination Somewhere presents Travel Information Journal - The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Site with several helpful travel transportation safety requirements such as what to bring on planes, advice for persons with disabilities, and more.
• Madeleine Begun Kane presents A Traveler's Net Woes illustrating some of the absurd things we do while traveling.
• Chris Quimby presents Frequently Asked Questions - Whale Watching with his comic perspective of whale-watching tours.

Whew. That's a lotta travel blogging. But what insights. You can submit your travel blog article to the next edition of carnival of travel using the carnival submission form. Past posts can be found on the travel carnival index page.

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Travel Carnival: 3rd Edition

The 3rd carnival of travel brings a kaleidoscope of perspectives on family travel, adventures into lesser known territory, solo sojourns, traveling with friends, and travel tips. The carnival keeps rolling, and the writing stays fresh and engaging, making me want to get out and travel.

So, I think I will. For the next two weeks, I'll be on a boat trip in the San Juan Islands hiking, kayaking, and doing some serious relaxing. Next carnival of travel will be in mid September. Until then, enjoy this thoroughly eclectic assortment of travel articles.

Please Pass the Olives 
Food brings people together, even when they don't speak the same language. Pam brought me right back to being in Italy with one of the most enjoyable reads I've had it a while! I really must visit another Tuscan villa. It's time. 

Hidden Gems: Hell
Replete with puns, wit, gorgeous photos, and one helluva sense of adventure, this trip to Hell, "a small corner tucked away on Grand Cayman's northwest corner" on the dreaded 6/6/06 is quite a tale from Willy at Gadling.

Himalayas: Room With View, and Bath 
Basia's sense of humor and adventure took her all the way to the Himalayas, nearly to Everest, and on a brief detour to a hot, steamy experience of a lifetime. An unbelievable trek.

Paris Catacombs
Beneath the streets of Paris lies a vast network of catacombs, containing the bones of an estimated six million former residents. Joe's account of his journey to the catacombs of Paris is haunting and fascinating all at once. Perhaps an idea to see the dark side of the City of Lights? A thought-provoking post indeed.

River City Food and Wine
An anniversary trip culminates in Montreal, with reviews of lunch, dinner. If you've never been to this Canadian city, this post gives a snapshot (literally and figuratively) of what to expect. The Botanical Gardens and a glass of pear cognac are first on my list, if I ever go.

10 Tips to Help You Deal with Airport Security
Directly from a flight attendant, here are tips to maneuver through airport security, when the code keeps changing colors. While specific requirements will change depending on circumstances, the tips are still relevant.

Because You Can't Depend Solely on William Shatner's Word 
If you've ever used Priceline or been curious how much of a deal you'll really get, Mike at Pocket Change sheds some light on a site aimed at helping Priceline users make informed bids from other Priceline users. 

Hold the Mustard, Please
When a nine-year-old and her mother (Kelly) go out for crab in Maryland, they get more than they bargained for.

Trinity Prep School - Landing Inside Our Books 
Incorporating educational travel with homeschooling, Maureen blogs about a family trip where the kids experienced the wonders of discovering the Great Lakes and Louis and Clarke path through both the eyes of the authors and themselves.

A Journey of 13,000 Miles - By Jetski
Two men are going for the Guinness Book of World Records, attempting to jet ski from Alaska to Florida (13,500 miles) without a support team. They're currently just reaching Mexico's waters.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial 
Foo Chuan describes why you should visit the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, located in Taipei City, Republic of China. This memorial honors the late President Chiang Kai-shek.

My Forgettable Trip to Egypt - Part I 
Simonne returned from a trip to Egypt with a less than favorable impression. My take aways? Don't go to Cairo for a pleasant stroll in the big city; instead, learn how to walk like an Egyptian (and not get hit by cars). Also, there's no such thing as a free camel ride, especially by the pyramids.

Submit your blog article to the next edition of carnival of travel (to be published September 15) using the carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on the travel carnival category page.

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