http://www.unrealtravels.com/ en-us kraabel@visi.com Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:10:19 -0600 http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2007/10/the-long-way-to.php I've always dreamed of being on The Amazing Race -- the American television show that sends 12 couples racing around the world, completing challenges along the way to a million dollar cash prize. The surprising thing about the show is that they often cast couples that have never been out of the country or someone who has just recently received their passport. Well, I think I can do them all one better. And I think I could do some pretty nice things with a million dollars. http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2006/12/life-and-death.php Traveling the roads in Bolivia is like playing Russian roulette with your life and sanity. We calmly pack ourselves in the back of overcrowded busses, taxis, micro-busses and jeeps, trying... http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2006/11/the-road-most-t.php read more ...]]> http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2006/05/the-friends-we.php My travels have taken me far from home; across oceans, continents, mountain ranges and to distant lands. I am the outsider in these voyages. I leave my friends, family and love interests behind in my quest to find something inspirational, the precious diamond and experience that as a child I could only read about. I come from a generation of fortunate youth that have had access to an open world -- without limits on movement or aspirations. http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2005/11/guatemalan-bask.php After my strange night in Guatemala City I realized how much I hate large cities and the chaos that controls them. I got on a Chicken Bus (it’s pretty much what the name is) and took a 4 hour ride out to Panajachel to see Lake Atitlan. I didn’t have much time out there, but it was nice to see the country go by. Especially in an area that had recently suffered deadly mudslides. Most of the roads had been cleared off, but there were still some areas where they had been completely washed off the side of the mountain. http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2005/11/drinking-drivin.php It has been an interesting few days down here in Guatemala. I suppose after an attempted mugging/killing in the Antigua hills by banditos, I’ve learned to re-think my expectations of what might happen each day. I haven’t figured out if it is the country or just my stupid quest for something different that puts me in these situations. I have never been opposed to finding a bit of adventure from time-to-time, but I just want to make sure I live through them. This, it appears, is rather difficult in this country. http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2005/11/the-friends-and.php I’ve spent the last few days locked in a holding pattern – somewhere between relaxing and a total chilled-out state. I sleep in a quiet courtyard room at a guesthouse where I believe I am the only paying guest. The only drawback being the hot shower that has two settings: cold and colder. My bed is made every day and I have fresh towels when I return from wandering around the town, markets and nearby towns. http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2005/11/antigua-guatema.php It only took about 22 hours to book my airplane ticket, research some guesthouses, have a last minute drink with a dear friend and pack my bag before I was off to Guatemala. That’s a new record for me. I’m pretty proud of it, even if there is a footnote that I had made up my mind in the previous 48 hours. ]]> http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2005/11/guatemala-bound.php In an unofficial poll taken last week, the majority of people voted that I should go to Morocco or Cuba. Which means I'll be going to Guatemala. I know ... I can't take directions very well. But there are some very good reasons why I chose Guatemala for this trip and saved the others for later. http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2005/06/upcoming-featur.php I've been so busy with work lately that I haven't had much time for travel. I've been working on a variety of projects, including possibly producing a short film based on my experience at the Atlanta Hotel in Bangkok. Which, I still have to write about for the site. In the meantime, I think I'm going to post a few articles with tips and tricks to surviving budget and long-term travel. Feel free to submit ideas and/or share some stories of your own. Possible story ideas: http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2005/02/publishing-a-bo.php Over the past few days I have been sorting, re-sorting and then sorting again. I've been going over nearly 10,000 photos taken over the past 3 years of travels. When you take that many photos you get some really great shots, but you also end up with some puzzlers that have you scratching your head. http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2004/12/a-strange-sense.php Over the weekend I celebrated my 30th birthday, safe in the comforts of my own home. I had originally planned on relaxing in southern Thailand this year, a place that I easily consider my second home. Through a series of events (some good and some bad), my travel plans were modified and I headed to Thailand in November instead. Had any number of minor details in my life changed I might not be here today.]]> http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2004/12/tsunamis-kill-t.php An area that I've visited many times was struck by an epic tsunami today, on my 30th birthday. Had I not accepted my current job, I would have been on the very island (Phi Phi) that was completely wiped about by the 10 meter waves. I know of people currently traveling and living in the area at the moment. My heart goes out to them in their time of need. http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2004/11/the-neardeath-r.php I have dreamed of riding the rail ever since I was a young child. I collected pieces of model railroad sets -- setting them up in my small room -- imagining myself one of the passengers. I would lie on the floor with my ear to the ground, watching the toy engine make its circular path around the small track. Only the slight hiss of the electric motor and the scraping of metal tracks could be heard as it whizzed around in endless circles. http://www.unrealtravels.com/archives/2004/11/lpolitically-in.php As my plane started to make its final approach, I could see the rice paddies come into focus from beneath the clouds. Far different was this view from the one I had experienced leaving Bangkok just over an hour earlier. From a city filled with millions of people, snarled traffic, towering skyscrapers and pollution to rival all cities in the world, this was a view to be cherished. I had finally landed in Myanmar.