Maybe it’s something in the water, but when Ute Junker heads overseas her clothes seem to fall away with her inhibitions.

We tell ourselves a lot of fibs about why we travel. We say we want to explore new countries. We want to see the sights, to meet the people, to eat the food. Really, though, the reason most of us like to travel is because when we’re abroad, we’re more adventurous, more experimental, more fun. We become the people we’d really like to be.

For most of us, daily life is about routine. We don’t just catch the same bus every morning: we walk the same route to the bus stop. Every day. We don’t just grab a coffee at 10am: we order a decaf double soy latte with one sugar. Every day. There’s not a lot of room for spontaneity or for experimentation.

 

Take us out of our comfort zone, however, and we break free from the rigid routines we’ve built up. The woman who orders a BLT for lunch every day (“no butter, bacon on the side”) will gamely grab something unidentifiable from a street vendor to see what it tastes like. The man who never exchanges a word with anyone on his daily train trip starts trying to have a conversation with the African woman sitting at the bus stop holding a goat.

Personally, I find it’s not just my inhibitions I shed when I’m abroad: it’s also my clothes. Somehow, my getting-friendly-with-the-locals routine often seems to involve some degree of nakedness.

I’m not what you’d call an exhibitionist. At home, I expose about as much flesh as the next person. In the gym changing room, I don’t struggle into my underwear while trying to keep a towel secured around myself, but nor do I parade around buck-naked (unlike some people).

When I was working in magazines, I was once accosted in the gym changing room at lunch by a woman wearing only a towel (around her head), who greeted me enthusiastically. It took me a moment to recognise her: she turned out to be an advertiser who, last time I’d seen her, was in a boardroom wearing a three-piece suit. Awkwardly, I blurted out, “Sorry, didn’t recognise you without your clothes on.”

Take me to a different country, however, and I’ll happily get naked with anyone. I could blame the Finns for it. (Much can be blamed on the Finns, particularly if you try to keep up with them when they’re drinking.) On my first trip to Helsinki, I made some great Finnish friends who introduced me to a range of local customs, including the mixed sauna as a social activity – something you do on a Friday night instead of going to the cinema, say.

At home, I might think twice before getting naked in front of 20 of my closest friends. When you’re away, however, it’s easier to go with the flow. And when a naked Finnish man sits down next to you and starts flirting with you, well, you just flirt right back.

It was also the Finns who, on another trip, took me to St Petersburg, where we decided to explore the Russian sauna experience. We went to a sauna in a rundown suburb of St Petersburg, where the only other people soaking up the steam were red-faced, broad-backed babushkas who looked as if they should be out working the potato field.

I was sitting in the sauna, squeezed between three of these bulky, sweating women, when suddenly I felt a great whack across my back. I looked around, startled, to see one of the grandmas grinning at me, a hefty selection of birch twigs firmly gripped in her meaty fist. Apparently this is part of the Russian spa experience. Now, I can’t imagine any circumstance at home in which I’d get into mild S&M with someone’s naked grandma: but hey, this was Russia. Smiling my acquiescence, I let her beat me – then offered to do the same for her. It seemed only polite.

 

In Korea, I also ended up in one of the country’s famous bathhouses with a new acquaintance, a petite local (five-foot-nothing to my six-foot). As we sat together, naked, side by side in a steaming bath, she proceeded to itemise the differences in our body shapes – a catalogue that went something like this:

“Look at feet – yours so big, mine so small,” pointing at our feet. “Look at legs – yours so long, mine so small,” stroking my thigh. “Look at your backside – yours so big, mine so small …”

It was about this time my jaw hit the floor – until she ran her hand up and down my back, and I realised she was talking about the back side of my body – that is, my back.

Some people might dismiss this serial nudity as the chameleon effect: it’s easy to lose your inhibitions when everyone else is doing it. But I’d argue it’s something more than that.

When you’re travelling, there’s no one to judge you, so you can play by your own rules. You relax enough to become the person you’d like to be, not the person circumstances have made you. You shed the baggage you usually lug around with you – and as any frequent traveller knows, travelling light makes any journey much more enjoyable.

- Sunday Life

 

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The second longest highway in America, Interstate 80 serves as America’s equator. Splitting the country in half as it travels east to west, beginning in San Francisco and ending in Teaneck, New Jersey, I-80 spans 2,909 miles. Built in 1956, this road mimics the path of the Lincoln Highway, which was the first road across America. Not surprisingly, there is an obvious shortage of former Confederate states along the Lincoln Highway.

Although America takes pride in being the best at everything, our neighbors to the north simply have more real estate than we do, which is why parts of the Trans-Canada Highway dwarf our interstates. Built in 1962, this highway connects Victoria, British Columbia, to North Sydney, Nova Scotia (and then, after a 110-mile ferry ride, to St. John’s, Newfoundland). Translation for the Canadian Geographically-challenged: just shy of 5,000 miles of open road connecting east to west. Not bad, eh?

Spanning the width of Russia, the Trans-Siberian Highway connects the edges of the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Beginning in St. Petersburg and ending in Vladivostok, the 6,800 miles of road comprise Russia’s main highway system. This massive amount of road proves that America and Russia have much in common, despite the fact that they may not see eye to eye on everything (for more information, see Rocky IV).

A racetrack on steroids, Australia’s Highway 1 puts the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to shame. This 9,000 mile highway circles the outer edge of the entire continent, and intersects every state capital in Australia. Traveled by an average of one million motorists per day, this main highway of Australia keeps the continent connected, for those who like to take the long way around.

Although this road lacks an official sponsor, as it spans several countries and continents, it is widely considered to be the longest motorable road in the world. The term “motorable” is an important qualifier, as there is a 54 mile gap where traditional automobiles cannot pass. Nevertheless, from its northernmost point in Alaska to its southernmost point in South America, this road is the longest road you’ll never want to drive. Though mileage measurements vary widely from source to source (16,000-29,800), 27,197 miles is our official count, based on go-panamerican.com.

Although the Tarim Desert Highway comes in at a meek 343 miles long, it may well be the “longest” road in terms of your perception of the length, as 80% of it cuts through an uninhabitable desert in Central Asia. Motorists on this road enjoy the sights of the Taklamakan Desert, including sand, sun, and… more sand. While this road may not be the longest on the map, it certainly feels like it.

Although those traveling coast to coast or country to country are usually far better served booking a flight, many adventure seekers rejoice knowing that where there’s a will, a car, and one heck of a roadside protection package, there’s almost always a road that will get them to where they are going.    

Taking that long awaited vacation to Mexico does not need to cost you every last dime you have. Plan ahead and give yourself a daily budget and you can get by spending a little and having a lot of fun.

When you purchase your vacation plan, look for one that includes meals, with the hotel and airfare. The main meal you will be interested in is Breakfast. You will want to be out and about during most of the day, so midday meals should not be a problem. You should watch for small “mom and pop” type eating establishments. Look for the ones that have a lot of locals eating at them.They know the food and they don’t spend a lot of money when the eat out. In Bucerias, where I live while in Mexico, The tiny restaurants put tables and chairs in the street after 6 p.m. and you just find a table and enjoy the food. In most cases, it is being cooked only a few feet from you and you can watch the whole thing.

If the vacation plan includes all meals, you will want to have dinner at the hotel and not at a fancy restaurant in town. keep in mind that the fancy restaurants that accept major credit cards, do that because they have major prices to match them.

While it might be tempting to have a few drinks at the Bars along the beach front, it is a wise move to limit it to one or two. Beer can run from $4.00 to $8.00 and Tequila can cost a whole lot more. It can add up very fast. When you are going to be at the Hotel for a few days, purchase a bottle and some mix and enjoy a couple of cocktails before going to dinner. Then it will be easy to limit how many you purchase during the evening.

If you like to try your luck in casinos, Mexico is starting to add them in the major cities. It can be a nights entertainment with out being too costly. They bet in paso’s so a $20 dollar bill can go a long way. They do charge for drinks but they run specials where the beer is $2.00 and that is a good price.

As for the souvenirs being sold almost everywhere. Buy yourself something nice, but keep in mind, that large Mexican sombrero may look stunning after only a couple of Margaritas, and only cost you about $20 American dollars or so, but will you get $2.00 for it at next years garage sale. Something smaller, might be a better idea.

One other thing to think about. You will see Wal-Mart, Sams and Costco stores in all the major cities, they are a comfortable place to shop, but they also can be a little more costly that the local markets. I do shop there for items like American fruits and wines, but I go local whenever I want to stretch my dollars.

Plan ahead, have a good time but try to work within your budget so that you are not still paying for your vacation long after it is over.

William Chaney splits hit time between his home in Bucerias, Mexico and Racine, Wisconsin, A retired Chef and Wine Connoisseur he enjoys writing about Mexico. To read more of his view of Mexico, visit http://www.william-chaney.com and if you would like to sign up for his wine and food newsletter you can do so at http://www.WineLoversSecrets.com. When there is snow in Wisconsin, you can find him along the beaches in and around Puerto valllarta, Mexico. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_H_Chaney

Festivals. A place where people looking to have a great time can dance, listen to great music, celebrate, party, have fun, and relax. They happen all over the world for many different reasons. Some celebrate religion, some the new year, some art, some the harvest- whatever the reason, every month, somewhere in the world, you’ll find people descending on a location to celebrate and share a common experience. If you don’t like crowds, they probably aren’t for you. But if you feel like getting wet, dirty, staying up late, dancing, or just want to enjoy the energy of tens of thousands of people, check out some of these festivals:

 

 

Carnival (February)

Carnival is a giant party held right before the christian holiday of lent. Brazilian Carnival is the most famous and attracts the most numbers of people to it, with their dancing, parades, and floats, music, and drinking. Vegas may be sin city but this the sin holiday. Alternatively, if you can’t get down to Brazil, you can always head to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

Holi (March)

Holi is a Hindu holiday celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March and glorifies good harvest and fertility of the land. Moreover, Holi is also celebrates the triumph of good over evil, at least according to a legend involving the god Krishna. It can last up to 16 days, depending on where in the world you celebrate it. There is music, food, and, of course, throw paint on each other.

Songkran (Mid-April)

Thai new year is one of the most fun event’s I’ve even been to. This three day water fight that engulfs the whole country, you can’t walk two seconds out of your house without getting wet. No one is safe. The most fun I ever had was riding in a Tuk Tuk and having a mobile water fight with the people in the lane over.

Bay to Breakers (May)

The Bay to Breakers is an annual footrace which takes place in San Francisco, California on the third Sunday of May. The complete course is 7.46 miles long. The footrace is more of an excuse to drink and dress in weird costumes along the way. It’s a very large event and is more like a moving party than a footrace. Also expect to see a lot of people running in the nude.

Glastonbury (June)

Every summer in June, Pilton, England becomes the stage for one of the largest music festivals in the world. Glastonbury is best known for its contemporary music, but also features dance, comedy, theater, circus, cabaret and many other arts. About 175,000 people come to this area for a few days of music, mud, and mayhem. The fields turn into giant tent cities as everyone camps out looking to have some fun!

Swedish Midsummer (June)

During the summer solstice, Swedes come out and celebrate the start of the summer. It doesn’t get warm often this far north so when it does, people like to celebrate it. Local Swedes head out into nature, dance around a pole, eat lots of fish, drinks lots of beer, and stay up to enjoy the longest day of the year. After all, the sun doesn’t set until about midnight.

Running of the Bulls (July)

During July, Pamplona is filled with white clothed and red scarf wearing people who quench their thirst with sangria and the daring few try to out run some angry bulls. It’s usually a recipe for one or two people getting hurt and not something I’d ever consider doing but the atmosphere and celebrations are not to be missed. By the end of the day, your white shirt will soon be sangria red.

La Tomatina (August)

For one hour, 20,000 people engage in a tomato fight in Bunol, Spain during the last Wednesday of august. The whistle blows and the tomatoes fly. It’s fun, it’s dirty, it’s the food fight we all dreamed about as a child. After you have your fill of tomatoes, you go wash off in the river and then join the dance party in town where the sangria and food flow.

Burning Man (August)

At the end of August, tens of thousands of people head out in the Nevada desert for 6 days of alternative living. Burning Man brings out the arty, the alternative, and the eccentric. It’s 6 days of camping (bring lots of water!), art, and music. At the end, a giant wooden man being set on fire (hence the name).

Oktoberfest (September)

Though really in September this two week beer festival in Munich attracts people form all over the world with its beer halls, lederhosen, giant steins of beer, and huge pretzels. No one I know ever lasted the whole two weeks but 3 or 4 days you are there will be the haziest of your life. It’s the best place in the world to celebrate one of God’s greatest gifts- beer.

Day of the Dead (November)

With paper mache skeletons and candy skulls, Mexico’s carnavelesque day of the dead is one of the world’s most familiar festivals. Participants devote a day to cleaning their family graves, decorating them with candles and flowers, having picnics and dancing to mariachi bands. It’s an odd combination of remembrance and festivity.

All around the world and no matter what month of the year, you’ll find people celebrating. I’ve been to a large number of these festivals and my goal is to see them all. Not only are festivals fun they are also a great way to do something different than the normal sightseeing we do when we visit places. The next time you are looking for something wild, crazy, and festive, plan your trip around these celebrations of life.

By NomadicMatt |