Amelia Earhart
“Excited for the trip @FredNoonan better bring my soy curls! #Electra #aviatrix #YOLO”

    Amelia Earhart’s disappearance is still a mystery to this day, with many believing that survived on a small Pacific island for many years after disappearing near Howland Island. While no one knows exactly what happened, despite a wonderful dramatic interpretation by Hilary Swank, her life before her transglobal trip was nothing to scoff at. She was the first woman to fly solo over the Atlantic and the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross proving that even without the absurd phrase “YOLO” Amelia lived a very adventurous life.

Percy Fawcett
Practicing map skills with @JackFawcett! #Father/SonAdventure #LostCityZ #YOLO

    While exploring uncharted parts of the Brazilian rain forest, searching for what is more popularly known as El Dorado, Percy Fawcett and his eldest son Jack Fawcett were lost, never to be seen again. His fate has been dissolved into rumors: he was murdered by natives (likely), he was killed by the 100,00 ways there are to die in the tropical rainforest (CRAZY likely), he was taken in by a tribe of cannibals and made their chief (less likely).

Ferdinand Magellan
Off to convert the natives, with God’s help nothing could go wrong LOL #LapuLapu #Let’sgetthisSTRAIT #YOLO

    Unfortunately for Magellan, everything went wrong. After setting forth towards the small Filipino island, Lapu-Lapu, in order to convert their people to Christianity, Magellan was killed via bamboo spear, and thus never finished his voyage to the Pacific Ocean. Homeboys though didn’t leave him hanging and the strait that was used to pass from the Atlantic to the Pacific was coined, “The Strait of Magellan”.

David Douglas
Sun, beach, and beautiful botany #DouglasFir #HawaiinDreamVACA #Lovin’Bio #YOLO

    While exploring Hawaii’s big island in search of new plant species, Scottish botanist, David Douglas (of which the Douglas Fir is named) fell into a pit trap and was gored to death by a wild cow gifted to King Kamehameha by George Vancouver. Bummer.

Peng Jiamu
Getting my biology on #LopNor #Bringthelotion #YOLO

    Peng Jiamu is our most recent example of explorers that “YOLOed” (can you even say YOLOed?). One of China’s most beloved adventurers, Peng Jiamu was leading a team of biologists, geologists, and archaeologists to Lop Nor, one of the driest places in the world. Peng Jiamu disappeared after leaving camp to go find water and despite exhaustive efforts by the Chinese government, his remains have never been recovered.

James Cook
UGH! More Repairs to the Resolution #Shipproblems #FML #HawaiianDrama #YOLO

    Proving that small misunderstandings can become large when you don’t understand culture or language, James Cook met his untimely fate while awaiting repairs on his ship the Resolution in Hawaii. After a seemingly small misunderstanding about giving gifts to the natives, Captain Cook was eventually killed, along with several of his men, while attempting to retrieve stolen goods from the Hawaiin natives. To add to the level of cultural misunderstanding, Cook was then (as was tradition for great men), disemboweled, baked, and then boiled and returned back to the British. Does Lonely Planet have a guidebook for that?

When planning a trip, no matter how big or small, there are always decisions to be made. Where do I go? What do I do? How much money do I bring? Should I take my favorite shirt or will it get ruined? While these are all great questions, there is one that can change the outcome of all other questions.

Who will be my travel buddy? This important individual will eat, sleep, and travel with you 24/7; changing the entire experience – one conversation at a time. The happiness or miserable sadness of your TB (travel buddy) will directly affect your own emotions. The TB’s problems become your problems. So, basically you want a TB that doesn’t have any problems. Usually travel throws some crazy curveballs; make sure your TB can at least swing at them. Here are some of the TBs you need to avoid in order to have a nice trip.

The Complainer
This person is never going to be any fun. They whine to you instead of anyone who can actually do anything about it. This makes for really annoying bus rides that will make you wish you stayed home.

Internet addict
This chap thinks EVERYTHING needs to be tweeted, facebooked, and/or blogged. This will really cut into your actual travel time. A good TB will save the digital memories and photo souvenir stuff for when they return home.

Money crazed
This TB can slide one of two ways. They could either be the type that buys a cup of noodles night after night or maybe they have the wallet to fund four star meals. Either way, you’ll end up living in an uncomfortable status bracket, or you’ll just end up eating meals alone.

Druggie
This character will drag out the nights just long enough so that you will miss your bus going on that epic adventure of a lifetime. They’ll always ask the hostel reception what the deals are on drinks, which is fine, but then they’ll drink until they start asking the locals about drug hookups. Local police in your face can make any trip go sour real fast.

Person with a partner back home
This is maybe the worst TB of all. Plan on having more of that unexpected alone time as your TB lives on Skype. Worst (maybe best) case scenario, they end up not being able to take the separation from their lover and they leave you all together.

Mt. Jebel Hafeet
One of the first things you’ll notice, unless you’re visiting from Iowa, is that the Emirates is really flat. From Dubai to Al Ain you’ll be lucky to find more than one hill, let alone mountains, other than the sand dunes that are more often than not fenced off. Then on road e22 to Al Ain you’ll see something in the distance. Is that a mirage? No, what you’re seeing is the 1,240 m high Mt. Jebel Hafeet, also spelled Jabal, Jabel and Jebal. Not only will this mammoth rising in the middle of the desert give you an amazing view of the surrounding Emirates, there is a great opportunity for the history buffs out there. The founding Sheikh of the UAE – Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – would cross this mountain several times a year while working on the establishing of the Emirates on foot. Speaking of on foot, you can climb the mountain if you already have a grasp of desert climbing and hiking. If you’re more of a fan of air conditioned cars, the mountain road is more of a race track for this that like sharp curves and wicked views.

Fort Al Jahili
While there are some 50 forts to see in the area of Al Ain, Al Jahili is arguably one of the more picturesque. The original portion of the fort with some renovation stands within the enlarged part of the fort. On one side of the fort there is a permanent exhibition featuring the art of Sir Wilfred Thesiger, who the locals endearingly call Mubarak Bin London which translates to the Blessed one from London. He spent years wandering around the Emirates of old as well as a few years in the Empty Quarter, which he didn’t actually have permission to be in. He would often say that those times in the Empty Quarter were his favorite from his travels. On the other side of the fort there is an area with exhibitions change from time to time as well as a sitting room where you will be served dates (the fruit) and a cup of Arabian coffee.

A Cafeteria
Wait, seriously? A cafeteria? Yup. There are now over 100 KFCs in the Emirates, and a bunch of the other usual suspects, but if you want some good local eats you’ll have to go semi off the beaten path. Cafeterias are all over the place, and even though the food isn’t usually labeled you wont find much that doesn’t taste great. Be adventurous and ask for the house soup if you really want to give your taste buds a challenge.

Dubai
Where can you find the tallest building in the world, a four story shopping mall with an aquarium inside and a beach side not far from the main city? No other place than the explosion of art, architecture and business – Dubai. If you love heights then consider taking a ride to the top of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at almost 830 meters. After, wander over to the Dubai Mall. With hundreds of shops, places to eat, and a mini souq this place is always bustling with energy and opportunities for those who have the Dirhams.

Camel Racing
See it. Honestly, what more is there to say?

Al Ain Zoo
Or any of the safaris around the Emirates. The mission of this zoo is “to become pioneers in harmonious living with wildlife and nature.” They do this by researching how to better preserve the wild desert that they still have. If you’re not as interested in the environmental work that they are doing, you’ll still enjoy seeing the 184 species of animals that they have housed in the zoo right now.

By James Kennedy

Golden Buddha Beach Resort | Thailand
Experience the luxury of nature, in your private Thai beach house. Each of the 25 beach huts are individually designed, so not two huts are alike to create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Get Zen-ed out in your canopied lodge, which overlooks the Andaman Sea or with a chakra head or Ayurvedic massage. When not chillaxing in your lodge, visitors find themselves participating in beach yoga, scuba diving, kayaking or trekking the Koh Phra Thong jungle.

Algarve Surf & Yoga Retreat | Portugal 
Explore life in a luxurious hardwood floor tipi, at Algarve Surf & Yoga Retreat. The tipis are constructed from 12 meter eucalyptus poles and visitors sleep to the sweet sound of nature and ocean waves through the natural cotton canvas. Kick back in the Moroccan lounge, or hit the beach with surf lessons, beach yoga, horseback riding or mountain biking.

Oman Dive Centre Resort | Muscat, Oman
Novice and experienced divers, snorkelers and kayakers flock to this dive center for fun in the sun in this Persian Gulf resort. These straw topped bungalows overlook the water and the dry desert-like mountains. The resort features 30 barasti huts, and wreck diving located a short boat ride from the shoreline.

Tiki Hutte | France 

Live the unique life in Pampelonne beach at St. Tropez in southern France. Budget-needy travelers can stay in the sand floor huts, but for those who require fancy amenities can find luxurious huts, which feature kitchens, satellite television and air conditioning. Front row beach huts cost more than the back rows, but not for those looking to penny pinch, do so, as the beach is just footsteps from the front door.

It was April, and I was on my way to Aspen Highlands to witness a little bit of what Closing Week means in one of Colorado’s more celebrated spring destinations.

With one of heck of a late winter, Colorado was getting dumped on. I urged the car forward a bit faster, itching to strap a board to my feet. The speedometer ticked up to 30. Eyes peeled to the blinding whiteness I followed tire tracks through the blizzard and dreamed of bottomless powder.

I checked my rearview to see my editor Yoon’s rental car vaguely outlined in the blizzard. I smiled to myself as I imagined him alone behind the wheel, both praising and cursing the snow.

The Arkansas boy was proving to be a solid mountain driver.

He had called just a week ago and told me he was making a late season dash to Aspen Highlands to check out the “closing week scene.”

His pitch had all the signs of a high-end press junket: swanky destination, fine accommodations and a vague story idea that would be difficult to craft into a compelling tale.

After much debate and mental anguish, I shuffled my schedule to clear two days to be filled with driving and as much snowboarding as possible.

I crossed my fingers, checked the forecast and got ready to make my girlfriend jealous. I was going to Aspen.

But first the Snow Gods demanded a sacrifice and that was the drive. If you’ve never driven through the Rocky Mountains in a balls-to-the-wall, full on snowstorm, you’re missing one of life’s sublime little miseries. The snowstorm torments the driver, who simultaneously wishing for it to let up and dump harder. With each change in the weather, the safe driver in you is at odds with the snow lover.

So by the time we got there, flakes the size of teaspoons tumbling out of the sky, I was thoroughly stoked to not have any more existential battles to fight for a while. Let it dump!

I smiled at Yoon and we jabbered like school kids seconds before recess as fresh flakes covered us on the lift to the top of Loge Peak.We looked below at empty runs of powder.

Aspen Highlands was a new mountain for me, and I was about to see it for the first time under buoyant two-foot blanket of pow.

Every athlete knows The Moment when a season, a career or a lifetime of competition, training and enjoyment crystalizes into perfect bliss. Situation is ideal, the challenge very distinct and the body is just barely able – and does – pull it off.

That was my first run that powder filled spring day, all floating and dropping and never turning. Deeply buried moguls had turned into shelves of four-foot drops cushioned like trampolines.

There was nothing hard to land on, just avoid the trees and fall down the mountain.

The long, slow drive had eaten most of our day, but the two hours we played on Aspen Highlands sit high on my list of best Moments in my sporting life.

We got a good night sleep in Aspen and were up for first chair the next morning. Even though snow fell into the early evening and there was plenty of fresh powder, the next day just couldn’t compare with those few amazing turns during two hours at Aspen Highlands.

We climbed Highlands Peak for a final run of the trip and experienced a full range of spring conditions – from powder to full on slush – on our way to the base.

We had a beer before departing and watched a full on snowball fight take over the base-area patio.

The snowball was moving fast, hurled with force by an athletic looking lift operator about 60 yards away. I snatched up my beer at the last second as the snowball splattered on the table nearly upsetting my cobb salad.

The party that is closing week was back, only temporarily paused for the amazing snow day we’d experienced.

It was time for me to hit the road.

By Sean McCoy

Not many know much about the pearl of the Indian Ocean, let alone have been or even thought about going, but lo and behold, beauty, adventure and cultural extravagance is tucked into every corner of this tiny island. Years of civil war and disaster from tsunamis have kept tourism at bay, but guess what- the terror of war is over, the clouds are clearing, and only now are travelers beginning to discover and spread the word of this secret paradise. Here are 7 reasons why you should book your trip now.

History
Sri Lanka has centuries upon centuries of ancient history, boasting eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites under its belt. Explore magnificent temples and ruins crafted by religious artisans, and check out the sacred city of Anuradhapura, where a cutting from the Buddha’s fig tree was planted in the 3^rd century B.C. by Sanghamitta, one of the founders of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Wildlife
Elephants, crocodiles, birds, leopards, water buffalo…the list goes on. Experience it all on a safari trip that is all seriousness, as wild animals are highly respected and protected. Animals are everywhere, from the monkeys that jump from roof top to roof top in the city to clusters of giant bats that hang sleepily in the tree tops- get ready to make some new, exotic friends!

Outdoors Activities
There is so much to do, adventures off the beaten path are not difficult to find in this wild land. From amazing, year long surf on the East and west coast, to rain forests and sprawling mountains- there is much to see and do, whether hiking, white water rafting, or sightseeing.

Cuisine
Get ready to stuff your face with some of the most delectable dishes filled with so many rich flavors your taste buds wont know what hit them.  The fish and vegetable curry is a must, with fresh prawns, fish and other seafood caught right off shore. Indulge in meals you won’t find anywhere else- string hoppers, lamprais (curries and rice wrapped in a hot banana leaf) or kiribath (rice cooked in coconut milk). Juicy tropical fruits are abundant and lets not forget what this country is known for- wonderful, fragrant teas.

Festivals & Holidays
Holidays are an important part of Sri Lankan culture with celebrations stemming from Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. Take in a vibrant procession on Esala Perahera in Knady with elephants decorated in splendid colors, followed by a myriad of drummers and dancers. Every month the full moon day is known as “Poya Day” where Buddha is celebrated. There are more public holidays in Sri Lanka than anywhere else in the world!

Beaches
Many of Sri Lanka’s beaches were closed off due to war violence, leaving them hidden and untouched for years. Now, they are open for all to enjoy with everything you could ever dream of for the perfect trip in paradise. Whether you want to surf, snorkel gorgeous coral reefs or lay under the shade of a palm tree, Sri Lanka has got it all to quench your tropical thirst.

Health
Ayurveda is a powerful holistic medicine centering on the principles of earth, water, fire, air and ether. Practiced in Sri Lanka for over 3000 years, forget western medicine and experience the ancient secrets to health and well being! Treatments include oil massages, steam baths, special organic supplements, yoga and meditation.

As you probably know, we’re big advocates of ecotourism and what Nyungwe National Park is doing through the Nyungwe Nziza Project.

The Nziza Project is aimed at transforming the Park and surrounding communities into a viable ecotourism destination, capable of generating employment and equitable income for the local communities. The goal is to create a thriving economy in NNP with a private sector that realizes they can benefit economically by protecting and leveraging the unique environment in which they live and work.

Ecotourism without tourists, however, is not sustainable. So the Project is cooperating closely with the Rwanda Development Board to market and promote the experiences of the Park – from chimp tracking to orchid ogling to visiting East Africa’s only Canopy Walk. In April 2013, the Project brought six veteran globetrotting travel journalists from North America to Rwanda to experience Nyungwe firsthand.

When we heard about the project, we couldn’t help but want to show our support and what better way to do that than help them protect their stuff? So that’s where we start – by sending their staff a bunch of bags.

Thanks to the staff at Nyungwe National Park for this awesome video and can’t wait to see what the project holds for this ecotourism community in Rwanda!

Dress to Impress
Leave the tube top sundress and hot pants at home, unless you want to be the main attraction on the street. Instead, opt for garments that cover your shoulders, back and front along with shorts or skirts that fall below the knee. Scarves are a nice touch too, not for religious reasons, but to keep you locks lush in the hot, dusty desert.

Stay Cheap
Items to leave at home- toiletries. You can find everything you need in the city at super cheap prices. Not only is the price right, but that means less hassle with liquids at the airport and more room in your bag for goodies. One thing to bring- tampons. Pads are easy to find, but tampons are a little bit tricky and they do tend to be more expensive.

Just For Women
Indulge yourself with age old middle eastern pampering at a local beauty center. Manicures, pedicures, facials are available for prices that won’t break the bank, and facilities are known for cleanliness. Touch up those furry eyebrows with gentle Halawa wax made of water, sugar and lemon. This sweet, all natural concoction will peel hair away with little pain and redness. Threading is a popular alternative to waxing. where cotton threads are used to remove unwanted hair quickly and efficiently.

Walking Around
Relax! Don’t scurry around like a lost little puppy. Like any other place in the world, you’r not going to hang out in a dark alleyway at 3AM by yourself, right? Use common sense. Egyptian people are extremely friendly, very hospitable and will bend over backwards to help you. It’s handy to know a few basic Arabic words, which will generate more goodwill, and help in not getting ripped off when hailing a taxi or buying merchandise. Also, be careful when lighting up a cigarette. Smoking in the street is frowned upon for women, so wait till you are in the next café or restaurant.

The Souq
The Egyptian marketplace is such a unique cultural experience, filled with people bustling up and down narrow roadways with tents and stands clustered in every nook and cranny.  Shopkeepers sell everything from gorgeous silk scarves and colorful clothes to house decor spices and authentic art. Ladies, expect  some verbal harassment- especially if you are blonde. Just ignore and continue on your way- it’s quite harmless. Also, make sure to barter your little heart out! Don’t be afraid to walk away from a stubborn shopkeeper, chances are, they will chase you down and agree to the price you want.

Metro Comfort
Ever consider the Cairo metro? Like any metro around the world, it’s crowded- but clean and quick. All that crowding can get a little uncomfortable though, but don’t stress! The Cairo metro has two “ladies only” coaches. When you step onto the platform just look for the “ladies” sign and wait for your train to arrive.

HAVE FUN
Relax! Cairo is as safe as can be, as long as you stay smart. It’s the age old “don’t go off with strangers” rule- be polite and firm. The stereotype that western women are “easy” still lingers, so don’t be surprised if some men are very forward- and don’t get offended. Remember that when it comes to stereotypes, westerners have their own regarding Arabs. This is a chance to put those stereotypes to rest!

They say different strokes for different folks, but it’d be very unlikely to here this while buckling oneself into a roller coaster: “Hey, you know what would be cool? If this roller coaster went about a quarter as fast… and if we pedaled our way to the peak!”
Despite the pretty observable lack of roller coaster thrill, Gunma Cycle Sports Center has certain lours that will keep the traveling enthusiast frothing at the mouth. With over half a dozen unique amusement ride, Gunma Cycle Sports Center seems perfectly capable of keeping any adventurer interested.  Because let’s be honest, if transportation was all about speed and thrills, we’d all just drive cars everywhere.

Check out this video and see if you too would trade your rent-a-bike for a curious speeding tricycle on stilts.

Written by Alec Ross

The heat from the Arabian sun is causing water droplets to form on my forehead as I walk in temperatures ranging from 90-110 degrees depending on the time of day. The United Arab Emirates is a beautiful land with lots of culture, but with that culture comes certain guidelines that one must follow. Take, for instance, the style of clothing that you should wear. In California you might see men and women walking around in shorts and tank-tops, and donning Speedos and bikinis to the beaches. If you tried to do that in some of the smaller Emirates, you might find yourself with a fat fine – or in prison. Here are five helpful tips for your time in the Emirates.

Figure out where you want to go before you leave
If you already have a good grasp of the different Emirates, then by all means just go on an adventure. If, however, you’re only here for a short time and have never been before, pick up a good GPS, recent edition of a map (the roads are pretty much in constant change), and maybe consider getting a guide for the parks. Mount Jebel Hafeet is one example where, if you don’t already know much about the mountain, you may very well get lost along the rocky trail or stumble into one of the many winding caverns. And seeing as how the mountain is over 1200 m high, you’ll need some good preparation. Don’t be afraid to go a little slower on the road so you don’t accidentally drive down a road that leads to a militarized area.

Don’t stare
While in America it is not uncommon for young men to “check out” the women of the town (even if it does turn from a brief compliment to creeper status in three seconds), if you get caught looking at the women of the Emirates, you could get into a lot of trouble. Yes, the cities of the Emirates are much more liberal than that of the neighboring Saudi Arabia, but the area as a whole is still more conservative than the States. The gorgeous eyes of the veiled beauties can be magnetizing for sure, just be careful!

Free water changed a people
It’s amazing what free water and a bit of oil can do for a culture. Rulers of the lands in the Middle East once had tight reign over the water supply, and they crushed the people living their for all that it was worth – till Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, gave all the people living there free water. Now there are bustling cities, a rich oil trade, and sky scrapers dotting the region. The first public school came in a few decades ago, and now graduates from that school are running the Emirates. All of this change happened in the past century, so when the people seem very happy and anxious to help you, know that they haven’t forgotten the hardships of the desert that is still close by to them.

It’s common to j-walk
You don’t normally see people out walking along the highways and byways of the United States very much, but in the Emirates it is a common every day sight. The overpasses usually have built in staircases just for them more often than not. Since this is the case, however, if you’re driving it’s a good idea to watch out for people hitting the streets to make it to the other side.

Don’t expect a party scene
If you know anything about pop-culture, then you’ll know that the Biebs is a big deal. Sadly, that happens to be no less true in the Arabian world. During his tour stop in Dubai, he managed to get thousands of young Emirate girls and ladies all riled up, the fathers and mothers questioning the meaning of life, and he managed to make everyone mad. In the end, a couple of editorial writers for The National (a paper from the National of the UAE) said something to the effect of, Justin Bieber is welcome here just as much as anybody else – but like them we expect him to obey the rules, honor our customs, and respect the people and the culture here. Sounds like common sense, but it doesn’t hurt to have a reminder. I only hope that the Rihanna tour that’s headed to Dubai will be better.

By James Kennedy