Camping Information
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Camping Cookware Comparisons: Which Is Best For Camp Cooking?

What type of camping cookware is best for you? Camp cooking and clean-up can be easy or a hassle, it all starts with great camping equipment. Camping cookware, like any camping equipment, should be versatile and tough. A lot of campers have a set of cookware just for camping because they don't want to risk damaging their good kitchen set and/or it's easier to keep all your camping gear organize. . .

Camping Journals – Preserve Your Camping Experiences

Camping is a great way to escape the rat race and be one with nature. Alas, your camping experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a camping journal for your adventures. Camping Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent camping experience. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about the first time you ever went camping. Undoubtedly, y. . .

How To Have Better Camping Trips.

Tired of packing too much or not bringing critical camping gear for your camping trips? Camping trips can be a great way to relax and get away from it all. But with a little planning you could make them even better. Since different areas offer different challenges start off by making a camping list and/or hiking gear list you might need. This will also help get you started... Are there any wild. . .

Camping Food: Easy & Warm Camping Meals.

Dehydrated/freeze-dried camping food is great for hiking, backpacking, or camping meals because you don't have to keep it cold to avoid spoiling. While coolers/refrigerators can work well in some situations, ice or electricity isn't always available making dehydrated/freeze dried food very attractive. While removing the water helps preserve camping food it also has another benefit... Camping, b. . .

Camping Lanterns Guide: Backpacking And Camping Lantern Tips.

What kind of camping lanterns best fit your outdoor needs? Do you need light weight for backpacking, or is maximum light more important? Camping lanterns have been around for quite a while, especially fuel lanterns like kerosene and gas lanterns. LED lanterns, rechargeable lanterns or electric lanterns, butane lanterns, propane lanterns, battery lanterns and candle lanterns are newer to the sce. . .

How to Pick Warm Comfortable Sleeping Bags For Camping.

Should sleeping bags be made of down or synthetic? What sleeping bag is best for camping, hiking or backpacking? A guide to make your decision easier. First off it should at least be rated for the lowest possible temperature you'll encounter. You may want to even go a little lower just to be on the safe side. Obviously the main purpose is to hold your body heat in to insulate you from the coole. . .

Mountain Hiking Tips, Mountain Trekking Gear & Equipment Hints.

Mountain hiking demands great gear and more education than your typical trail hike. Why? Because as you ascend breathing becomes less efficient, passage grows rugged, and rescue becomes more challenging. So consider your mountain equipment to be your life support system. Where in day hiking you may be able to get away with wearing light-weight boots or shoes, in remote mountain hiking it's a go. . .

Khmer Rouge Prison 21 – The Chilling High School In Phnom Pehn, Cambodia

Most travel stories are of the happy-go-lucky variety. Every once in a while, however, one visits a place that evidences the vicious, dark side of mankind. Khmer Rouge Prison 21, known as Tuol Seng, is one such place. It is a stark reminder of the cruelties humanity can visit upon itself. Tuol Sleng In 1962, the high school of Ponhea Yat was opened in the center of Phnom Pehn. The school consis. . .

Colorado Fly Fishing – Bait Huckin' vs. Fly Fishin'

It was one of those fishing trips. You know, everyone catches fish but you, you loose six or eight of your most expensive streamers, it rains buckets, and you sink the boat. That’s right; I got skunked at Steamboat Lake over Memorial weekend. I was determined to show those meat huckers (worms and power bait) that a well chosen and strategically placed fly was as effective as anything a conventi. . .

San Diego Beach Hikes – Cardiff to Carlsbad

San Diego offers a bevy of interesting hikes. With the average home price being around $500,000, they better be interesting! To unwind, I typically stop on my way home from work to hike from Cardiff to Carlsbad on the beach. For picturesque sunsets and “tasty waves”, the beach between Cardiff to Carlsbad can’t be beat. Cardiff - Starting I typically start this hike by parking just south of rest. . .

Badlands National Park – South Dakota

Badlands National Park in South Dakota consists of 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires. Over 11,000 years of human history can be found within the sod layers while 30-65 million-year-old fossils erode out of the rocks. Known locally to the Lakota Sioux as "mako sica" the area was first called "badlands" by early French trappers due to the difficulty of travel and the la. . .

6 Things You Must Do If You Want To HaveThe Secret To Catching More Trout

It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming. ~John Steinbeck 1. How Fish Think When you hunt for deer, and any other animal for that matter, there are some set rules you have to follow if you are going to catch some very wary Brook and Brown trout. Will the rules for hunting somehow help with Trout Fishing. 2. Study. . .

Siberia, Russia – Chita At Last - Part 9

After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the last stage of the seven-day trip to get there. Siberia As Seen From A Train In preparing for my trip, I had actually done some preparation. As a common man, I know most of you female readers will find this hard to believe,. . .

Ecuador Travel – Quito, Volcanoes, Galapagos Island

Located in the Andeas, Ecuador is a land of intrigue for travelers. Travel to Ecuador and you can trek the Amazon, climb volcanoes, or loaf on beautiful beaches. Perhaps the biggest reason to travel to Ecuador is a visit to the famous Galapagos Islands. Regardless of your preference, the following attractions are all worth a look. Quito A hot bed of colonial architecture, Quito is the capital o. . .

Holland Travel – Amsterdam, Van Gogh, Anne Frank

Holland certainly has a reputation with travelers. Known for having a very liberal attitude on social issues such as prostitution and drugs, the reputation is not always deserved. Yes, marijuana and prostitution is legal, but there is so much more to the country. Many look at Amsterdam as Holland, but visitors know there is much more. If you desire to travel to Holland, also known as the Nether. . .

Loincloths and Tenderizing at a Budapest Spa

The Gellert Hotel Spa is renowned as the ultimate spa destination in Hungary. Here’s a first hand account of the Gellert experience. Gellert Hotel Spa While in Budapest, everyone kept saying I hadn’t experience Hungary until I had a spa. According to my newfound friends, “a spa” meant the Gellert Hotel Spa. Being a macho American male, I dragged an American girl I met on the train with me to th. . .

Budapest – Health Resort Spas

Budapest is an amazing city with so many attractions that it is hard to know where to start. The health resort spas seem as good a place as any. Budapest Spas Budapest sits on a tectonic plate fault line in Eastern Europe. While earthquakes seem inevitable, one advantage to the location is the proliferation of mineral water spas in the city. Here are a few highlights. The Gellert Spa Hotel is l. . .

Siberia, Russia – The Slow Train - Part 8

After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway. The Horror As my new Russian friend walked down the hall, I reflected on the information he had provided me with a grimace. The train ride from Khabarovsk to my destination, Chita, was g. . .

The City of Exiles - Russia

In 1999, I decided to live a year in the city of Chita, Russia. For those not in the know, Chita is a city in Siberia. History The City of Chita is a the administrative center of the Chita Oblast, which is similar to a state. It is located smack dab in the middle of Siberia and is about 500 miles east of Lake Baikal. From the 1930’s through the end of communism, Chita was a closed city. During . . .

The Secret To Keeping Kids Interested on Family Vacations

Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do you keep kids interested and busy during the down times? Have them keep journals of the trips and their impressions. Writing Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent family vacation. Where there periods of time when you wished you kids would pay more attention to what was going on? Its natural for kids attenti. . .

Backpacking Journals – Preserve Your Backpacking Experiences

Backpacking is a great way to escape the rat race and be one with nature. Alas, your backpacking experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a backpacking journal for your adventures. Backpacking Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent backpacking experience. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about the first time you ever went bac. . .

Big Bend National Park – Texas

Big Bend National Park is a land of borders. Situated on the boundary with Mexico along the Rio Grande, it is a place where countries and cultures meet. It is also a place that merges natural environments, from desert to mountains. It is a place where south meets north and east meets west, creating a great diversity of plants and animals. The park covers more than 801,000 acres of west Texas wh. . .

Antietam National Battlefield - Maryland

Antietam National Battlefield comprises 3,255 acres of forested and agricultural lands in north central Maryland and is the site of culmination of the first Confederate invasion of the Union on September 17, 1862. The landscape found on the fields of Antietam provides visitors with a view back into time, to see the land as it appeared, when two great armies fought here 142 years ago. Across th. . .

Siberia Travelogue - Part 3 – Communist Planes and Defining “Fluent”

In the first two parts of this series, we covered my decision to move from San Diego to Chita, Siberia to be a professor at Chita State Technical University. We pick up the story aboard the flight from Anchorage to Khabarovsk, Russia. Day 3 Technically, it’s day two and half. I think. Time began to blur as we flew over the international date line. Wait, do we add a day or lose a day? I was so c. . .

Travel Journals – Preserve Your Travel Experiences

Traveling is a great way to escape the rat race and experience new cultures and places. Alas, your experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a travel journal for your trips. Travel Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent trip. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about the first trip you ever took. Undoubtedly, you remember few thi. . .

Fly Fishing Journals – Keep Track of Your Trips

Fly fishing is addictive. Once you start, you'll never stop. Whether you are going to the local water hole or to Alaska, you should use a fly fishing journal to keep track of your sessions. Fly Fishing Journals Fly fishing is more than just fishing, it’s a peaceful, surreal activity. For many, there is almost a meditative quality to casting. For avid fly fisherman, fly fishing trips to locatio. . .

Bandelier National Monument – New Mexico

Located in north central New Mexico, Bandelier National Monument’s 32,737 acres encompasses a spectacular array of archeological, historic, and natural features. Today, 10,000 years after its first visitors appeared, Bandelier attracts more than 300,000 people each year. "It is the grandest thing I ever saw," proclaimed Adolph F. Bandelier as he stood at the rim of Frijoles (free-HOH-lace) Cany. . .

Siberia, Russia – The Trans-Siberian Railway - Part 7

After deciding to move to Siberia for a year to teach at the Chita State Technical University, I embarked on a travel odyssey unlike any other. In this entry, we pick up the trip leaving the train station in Khabarovsk. A Train To Nowhere? In deciding to travel to Chita, Siberia, I had originally estimated a travel time of three days. Okay, maybe three at the outside figuring time changes and . . .

Algarve Pousadas - A Touch of Luxury

Algarve pousadas might just be the region's best-kept secret. A pousada (poo-sar-der) is a state-subsidised hotel, usually in a particularly well-favoured spot. Portugal boasts more than 40, but the Algarve region has only 2, (with a third on the way). The idea behind the pousadas was to provide an option of luxury and service within a setting that would reflect and celebrate the culture of t. . .

Siberia Travelogue - Part 1 - Here I Come!

“You must really hate this job.” That’s what my boss said when I told him I was moving from San Diego to Siberia for a year. In reality, I was bored and looking for something that would be completely and utterly new. Whether it was sunstroke or a developing tolerance to margaritas, San Diego just wasn’t cutting it anymore. Heck, I hadn’t even gone to the beach in nine months and it was only a f. . .

Student Travel – Backpacking In Europe

For the fortunate few, life isn’t complete without a backpacking trip through Europe. This right of passage is believed to further the maturation process of college students, according to sociologists. Of course, others have opined that copious amounts of alcohol, sun and Amsterdam have something to do with it. Regardless of your purpose, you still have to figure out what to take. Backpack – Ge. . .

Cambodian Taxi Chaos – a Leaf, a Radiator and a MacGyver Moment

The roads in Cambodia are vicious, angry slabs of asphalt filled with potholes that would qualify as valleys in some countries. Fortunately, I had it made traveling from Sihanoukville to Phnom Penh. Or so I thought. Cambodian Taxis Having spent two weeks in the relaxing beach town of Sihanoukville, I was getting bored and so were the three chaps traveling with me. It was time to head to the sup. . .

Travel Cambodia – Phnom Penh, Angkor Wat, Sihanoukville

Cambodia is a land on the mend. From 1977 through 1980, the Khmer Rouge ruled the country, fanatics bent on genocide. Millions were killed and the period was put to film in the movie, “The Killing Fields.” Fortunately, those days are over and the country is becoming a tourist destination. Cambodia is a land of incredible contrast. Thick forest, mountains and pristine rivers compliment amazing. . .

Siberia Travelogue - Part 6 – When Stairs Attack

In this continuing series, we cover my move from San Diego to Chita, Siberia to be a professor at Chita State Technical University. We pick up the story going to the train station in Khabarovsk to catch the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Day 4! If you’ve been reading this series on NomadJournalTrips.com, you know my original travel estimate was 2 ½ days from San Diego to Chita, Russia. Well, day 4 ha. . .

Siberia Travelogue - Part 5 – Khabarovsk and a Little Russian

In this continuing series, we cover my move from San Diego to Chita, Siberia to be a professor at Chita State Technical University. We pick up the story outside the airport in Khabarovsk, Russia. Khabarovsk Khabarovsk is an amazing city. Museums with works from Picasso, Rembrandt and other masters. A bustling downtown area with cafes, a lively music scene and architectural triumphs. Then again,. . .

Argentina Travel - Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Iguazú Falls, Tierra del Fuego, and Patagonia

Argentina is on the way back from the economic crisis of the last few years. If you are looking for a travel destination, Argentina is amazing and cheap. Economic Woes While Argentina has unlimited beauty, it also has unlimited corruption. The massive corruption finally lead to an economic crisis at the turn of the century. With the currency devalued and jobs hard to find, Argentina was a d. . .

Cancun, Mexico – A Little Something For Everyone

A sleepy island area in the 1970s, Cancun has been transformed into a mega tourist destination. Located on the Caribbean side of Mexico, this resort area has something for everyone. Cancun Make no mistake, Cancun is a very tourist friendly destination. Located on the Yucatan peninsula, Cancun is populated with mega resorts and over 20,000 hotel rooms. The economy is based on tourism and the . . .

Xcaret, Mexico – Back To Nature or Maybe Not

Xcaret is located roughly 45 minutes south of Cancun, Mexico. The park is advertised as an ecological and archaeological Disneyland. While there is a definite back to nature feel to the place, it is expensive and crowded with more than a slight overtone of commercialism. Xcaret Pronounced “esh…car..it”, Xcaret is an extremely popular tourist resort, perhaps the biggest one in Mexico. At first. . .

Riviera Maya, Mexico – Paradise Defined

The Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast was a secret getaway to paradise for many years. No longer. Now it is considered one of the finest beach areas in the world. Riviera Maya Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo, the Riviera Maya is jaw dropping beautiful. Although the area was only known to a select few for years, the last 10 years has seen a boom in tourism and r. . .

Bird Watching Journals – Preserve Your Bird Watching Experiences

Bird Watching is a great way to escape the rat race and be one with nature. Alas, your bird watching experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a bird watching journal for your sightings and trips. Bird Watching Journals Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent bird watching experience. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about the first tim. . .

Buying a computer? Ask these 3 questions!

1. Why do you need a computer? Whether you are a new user or advanced one, whether this is your first computer or second (or even third), be clear as to why you want a computer before you even think of buying one. How will you use your computer? Are you only interested in browsing the Internet and checking e-mail? Do you plan to use your PC as a programming machine? Do desktop publishing or vi. . .

Siberia Travelogue - Part 2 - Where Are We and What Day Is It?

Standing in the airport in San Diego, I began to wonder exactly how long it was going to take to get to the city of Chita in Siberia. The combination of a vodka hangover, three flights, one train ride and a jump over the international date line didn’t help. At first glance, it looked like a total of two days, which wasn’t bad for going to the other side of the earth. I should have paid more att. . .

Isla Mujeres, Mexico – The Island of Women

Isla Mujeres in Mexico is a great way to escape the tourist crush in Cancun. Roughly 9 miles offshore, the island contains the Mexican beach culture of a bygone era. Oh, and the name translates to “The Island of Women.” Isla Mujeres First things first, the Island of Women is not populated with more, different or any other classification of women than you would normally find in Mexico. Okay, the. . .

Siberia Travelogue - Part 4 – Airport Follies and a Stern Lecture

In this continuing series, we cover my decision to move from San Diego to Chita, Siberia to be a professor at Chita State Technical University. We pick up the story aboard the flight from Anchorage to Khabarovsk, Russia. Day 3 [Still] As I lounged in my huge Aeroflot seat, the stewardess announced that we would be arriving in Khabarovsk in the next 30 minutes. Khabarovsk is located in the deep . . .