A four day trip was a tease to what a season here must be like.
The most amazing sort of school sponsored trip that actually was an educational experience...
Traveling internationally has the opportunity to open our eyes and minds to things we would have never seen or thought possible. Sometimes we only dream about these places and sometimes these places only seem like a dream. The Central Asian Republics of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan are the later. Filled with history, unique foods, and beautiful architecture and landscapes it is easy to image that science fiction writers have been coming here for decades, pillaging for crazy ideas, names, and stories.
My story is less sci fi and more simple story of being awed in a new place.
We all dream about going South for the summers. I jumped on a quick opportunity to go to New Zealand back in 2006 for the New Zealand Freeskiing Open. While the comp itself did not go quite as planned for me, it still wet my apatite to come back again for more.
A small English speaking nation in Central America complete with the best fresh fish and crazy boat drivers ever. And did we mention big spiders and manatees?
Being to Moscow and saying "I've been to Russia." Is like visiting Washington DC and saying you've visited America. Either way, visiting any nation's capitol is amazing and full of culture, museums, and probably bad food.
Rarely does fate give us so awesome of an opportunity, but at one glorious point in my life, when all I had done was drive to Mexico with the family, fate sent the whole family to three different continents in two months. I've tried to recall the 10 year old memories as best I can.
The land of Pura Vida. Where everyone's happy, little Spider monkey's throw mangos, and at 4 in the morning you wish you had a bb gun for those Howler monkeys. There's something about Costa Rica that somehow manages to resonate with every skibum. Perhaps its finding our perfect opposite in nature. Whatever it is, I just keep coming back (2009 was my third trip to the little Central American country).
Once closed off to our parents, Russia is now open for Westerners to visit. As a starting point, I recommend the Northern Capital, St. Petersburg for its amazing palaces, museums, and the classic "Russian shut-down."
In December 2004, a giant tsunami tore apart much of south Asia leaving death and destruction in its wake. Fortunately, I got to see the magnificence of Thailand just a few months before the devastating wave. Between paradisaical beaches, elephant riding, deep fried frogs, and "real redbull," it is safe to say that Thailand is a must see for any traveler venturing to south Asia.
Not quite Western Europe, not quite Eastern Europe, the post Soviet Republic of the Czech Republic captures the medieval imagination in all of us.
Kashmir is one of the most highly contested territories in the world. The Line of Control between India and Pakistan is violent and dangerous. But the people, even the soldiers, are so warm and open that you'd think you were at an Indian Ashram.... with 15,000-25,000 ft peaks and amazing, amazing, amazing skiing.