Mexcio: Where there's more to do than just party

Many younger people, when they think about Mexico, envision a place that is one giant beach resort that they can go crazy at during spring break. Now although this is true for parts of the country (Cancun and Acapulco for example) it is not the case for the entire place. In reality this vision of Mexico only takes up a small part of what is available in this vast country. Mexico holds some of the greatest archeological sites that one can visit. From the Aztec pyramids of the Sun and Moon outside Mexico City to the Mayan ruins in the southern part of the country. Mexico holds a myriad amount of things to see and do other than sitting on a beach. Another thing that makes Mexico such a great destination for American tourists is that one can almost always find discounted air fare.

Other things to do in Mexico include visiting the rural towns that dot the landscape. Many of these can be found in the state of Oaxaca, which besides having great ruins all over, also has a vibrant amount of art and crafts to both view and purchase. With numerous indigenous villages and a beautiful state capital (also named Oaxaca). This is one area of Mexico that is not to be missed.

A little more on Bangkok

I knew there was something more I wanted to add to my last post, when in Bangkok you should definitely go visit the Imperial Palace. Also take a ride on the new metro system. Although it doesn’t go everywhere it is still pretty nice and you get a good view of the parts of the city that it does go to. Also no trip to Bangkok is complete (in my opinion) with out a trip to the Jim Thompson store. For those of us who do wear ties to work (when in the office). This is a great store because you can get really good quality silk ties and other items too, at a very reasonable price. And if you’re lucky enough to get a cheap fare on your ticket you can spend a little more here.

A good safe meal

On a recent expedition to Bangkok, Thailand I had a great meal at one of the more unlikely of places. The restaurant in particular is Cabbages and Condoms. The Cabbages and Condoms Restaurants offer a pleasant dining experience in several locations around Thailand. Not only do the restaurants offer excellent food, but they also promote the health and safety aspects of condom use in a fun and amusing manner. All proceeds from the restaurants are used to fund the social development programs of PDA (The Population and Community Development Association of Thailand). C&C stands by it’s motto that it has good Thai food that is guaranteed not to get you pregnant. Also, connected to the restaurant is a nice craft shop that sells crafts from local villages as well as C&C related merchandise. And all of the profits that the store makes from the local crafts are given back to the villages to help the craftsmen.

Another thing that made this trip so great was that I was able to get a really low fare on my ticket so I had extra spending money when I was on the ground (not that Thailand is very expensive to begin with).

Memories of Ireland (continued)

Continuing on from my previous post,
Dublin in fact has many cool places to check out besides Trinity College. For those who want to find out more about one of Ireland’s greatest exports, The Guinness Storehouse and Museum is definitely a site to see. And, although on a smaller scale than the Guinness Brewery, The Jameson Distillery is quite nice as well. Another place of interest was St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is a rather impressive structure.
Oh another thing that I should point out is that although the country may not be as cheap as it once was (thanks to the Euro). It is still possible to find cheap international airfares. Especially from the states.
Lastly, one should make sure to take in a bit of the nightlife in Dublin. Dubliners tend to be very friendly and open up even more after a nice pint. Everyone has a favorite spot to go to, and they were always very helpful with directions. For the more touristy places, one could stay around the Temple Bar, however if you wanted to share a Pint or two with some locals you could always venture down and off of Grafton street. Also, for those who like a bit of history with their drink I recommend taking the Literary Pub Crawl. The Dublin Literary Pub Crawl goes to quite a few pubs in and around central Dublin and at each stop before, during and after a drink we were given a nice bit of history on the location and the literary figures who both used to and still did frequent the establishment.
Hmm… now I feel like having a nice pint,
Well until next time.

Memories of Ireland

Looking back now I once had an amazing trip to Ireland. Granted I was there before the Euro went into affect, however many of my best experiences were from visiting and seeing things that have certainly not changed. One of my first memories was of how easy it was to get to the city center from the airport. Just by taking the Airlink shuttle whose fare is now a mere EUR5 (or USD6.05) I was able to reach the main bus station within about 30 minutes. From there the walk to my hotel was only about 20 minutes. At the time I decided to start my trip in one of the many Hostels that can be found in the city. I ended up at the Temple Bar Hostel, which is located right in the Temple Bar area of Dublin. Temple Bar is considered the equivalent (although much smaller) of Greenwich Village in New York City. The Hostel itself is actually rather nice and its location is even better.
After settling in I decided to wander around downtown Dublin and take in some of the sights. The first place I went to was Trinity College to view the Book of Kells. The book of Kells dates back to the 9th century and is considered one of the great masterpieces of the medieval world. The reason the book (or now books since it was rebound into four texts) is considered a masterpiece is because of the detail of the lettering. If one only has a short period of time to visit Dublin this is one piece of art that is not to be missed.

Moby Joe and the Temple of Doom

Moby Joe and the Temple of Doom…. No just kidding, I am however thinking about going to India and visiting some of the areas that were supposedly in the Indiana Jones Movie (although the movie was filmed in a studio). The only problem that I’ve been encountering is that ticket prices are really high. Of course that could have something to do with the time of year that I want to go. Ideally I’d want to travel in the summer. However this as many of you probably know is when rates are at their highest. Airlines will tend to lower there rates during the Fall and Spring months. However there are also consolidators who offer great discounts even during the summer.
Anyway I’ve been thinking that maybe for this trip I’d take business class over coach because it’s nice to have extra legroom when flying across the pacific. Also, I think I’m going to break up the flight coming back so I don’t have to be on a plane for so long. A great place to do this I have always found is Hawaii. Nothing like kicking back on the beach and stretching the legs for a day or two before getting back onto a plan to fly home.

One thing that I, like everyone else that I know, hate the most is to get shots from the doctor. But, for an adventure of any form, especially when traveling to less developed regions of the world, it is very important to play it safe. The best way to do this is to consult one of the many travel oriented health websites and see if the country you are traveling to has any health advisories.

Well we will see what happens
Until next time,
Moby Joe signing off

MY MEMORIES OF ANGKOR - The Lost City

It's not difficult to imagine how Angelina...oh yeah...that gorgeous babe with the blue penetrating eyes (on second thought...is it blue or hazel or green?)has fallen in love with her mohawk-haired kiddo, Maddox, and his birthplace of Cambodia. I know I have...not with Maddox...but with the Lost City of Angkor. Well, you can now officially certify me as your Unofficial Ambassador to this underrated archaelogical dig, down in the far-flung corner of Asia.

I have first laid my eyes in the majestic Hindu Temple of Angkor Wat. What a sight to behold...think Tomb Raiders...and you would be inspired to travel to this remote but mystical city of Angkor Thom. It's sad though that a place as rich as it was, has been looted and neglected. Perhaps, its days of candor could once again be captured.