The first post in this series was about Prague. Today’s post is by Kristin, a fellow travel blogger who got to know Thailand a whole lot better through choosing to get off the beaten path.

Thailand Off the Beaten Path

Over the years, the land of a thousand smiles has quickly become a top tourist destination.  With each passing season, more and more resorts spring up, enclaves of this beautiful country start to lose their authenticity, and it becomes harder to find off-the-beaten path adventures.  Luckily, if you look hard enough, there are still plenty of unique, spiritual, and beautiful things to see and do here.

After spending two months traveling around Thailand, these were my favorite escapes featuring natural beauty, a feeling of authenticity, and often a spiritual awakening.

Meditating in silence at a wat in Southern Thailand

While there are several options for those looking to participate in a silent meditation retreat, few offer the authenticity of Wat Suan Mokkh, a forest monastery in Southern Thailand.  Each meditation begins at the first of the month and goes for ten days.  This year, I chose to ring in 2013 while sitting cross-legged in silence in the open-air meditation hall as fireworks exploded in the distance of the neighboring city of Chaiya.

While there are several options for those looking to participate in a silent meditation retreat, few offer the authenticity of Wat Suan Mokkh, a forest monastery in Southern Thailand.  Each meditation begins at the first of the month and goes for ten days.  This year, I chose to ring in 2013 while sitting cross-legged in silence in the open-air meditation hall as fireworks exploded in the distance of the neighboring city of Chaiya.

The days are spent waking at 4am to the sound of a gong.  After a morning reading and meditation, we spent an hour doing yoga, performing sun salutations as the sun rose.  Each meal was a Burmese-style vegetarian delight (though mostly suitable for vegans as well), with hot chocolate served each evening.  Throughout the ten days, we learned how to deal with our thoughts – both positive and negative, became present, attempted meditation, and let go of unpleasant thoughts of the past and angst over the future.

For a donation of only USD$60 for ten days of meals, meditation instruction, and a dorm room (though it was just a concrete bed with a wooden pillow, be forewarned), it was well worth both the time and monetary commitment.  For more on how to prepare and what to expect read my write up.

Getting a Sak Yant tattoo from a Buddhist monk

Once again rising at quite an early hour, I headed to Wat Bang Phra just outside of Bangkok to be given a magic sak yant tattoo.

The unique thing about these tattoos is that you don’t get to choose which tattoo you get or where on the body it goes.  The monk decides what you need most and proceeds without any further discussion.  That said, most tattoos are placed on the upper back, and most first-timers will get one of three common sak yants.

I was blessed with the hah-thaew, or 5 lines, which bestow blessings of peace, success in life, protection from evil, and other charms of good luck.  The tattoo took about ten minutes at the cost of a $1.50 donation to the wat.

Learning to slack line walk in Tonsai

Tonsai is a beautiful beach near Krabi that is best known for slack-lining and rock climbing.  Many also come here to participate in yoga, learn how to fire dance, and to enjoy freshly-ground chai tea and coffee.

I spent several days here just reading and staring out at the beautiful ocean.  With the help of two men on either side (okay, I cheated), I also successfully walked a slack line rope.

In the distance, strung up between two rocks over the sea, sits another slack line that I often watched the more skilled and experienced slack liners attempt.  If they miss-stepped, they fell straight into the ocean.

Motorbiking around Pai

Pai is one of the most naturally beautiful places I have seen.  Nestled in the mountains in northern Thailand and home to waterfalls you can swim under and slide down, Pai is a vegetarian, yoga lovers’, tea drinkers’ dream.  I’ve never encountered a place quite like it.

Over the course of a day, you can have a custom macramé headdress made, have a chat with a Thai Captain Jack Sparrow look-alike, take a yoga class, learn to hula hoop, and ride a motorbike all around the countryside, with very few other cars to contend with on the roads.

Spiritual, beautiful, and off-beat, Pai is a dream.

There you have my top off-the-beaten path destinations in Thailand.  Do you know of a few? Comment below!

Be My Travel Muse is a website geared towards independent women travelers who like to head off the beaten path in Asia and Australia. She is a former investment banker and now travels and shares her budget plans around the world, exploring off-beat destinations.

A couple of months ago, I spent a few days in one of my favorite places, Pacific Grove, California. I was fortunate to stay in a different part of town than I had been in before, and the wonderful Asilomar State Beach was a 5-10-minute walk from our temporary home. I walked the dogs along this beach the first morning and loved the way the light and sky seemed to be constantly in flux as the winds came in from the ocean.

I had a similar experience a couple of days later, on a very windy afternoon, when I could have just stayed in and avoided the slightly unpleasant coastal weather. I took my dogs to the beach again, wondering all the while if it would be worth it to walk when it seemed like a storm would come at any moment. The waves were noisy, a result of the strong winds brewing in the Pacific. However, the moodiness of the weather made a more beautiful setting.

I walked in the other direction, away from my previous morning stroll, and found tide pools and seals and sand dunes and an array of birds flying overhead.

Seals taking an early evening nap

The sand dunes of the Asilomar Conference Grounds provide easy walking just across from the beach

Where are some of your favorite walks in nature?

1) Explore all of Italy

Italy has always been my favorite country to travel in, partly because I studied its history and art in depth as an art history major. I was fascinated by it all, from the ancient Etruscans and Romans to Medieval Italy and especially the Renaissance. I am also in love with Italy’s food, wine, style, movies, artisanry, and so much more. Plus, it has the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites of any country. If I could travel to only one country for the rest of my days, this would be the one.

First, I need to return to Rome, Venice, Perugia, Siena, Naples, and all the other places I visited in 1989, 1995, 1996, and 1997, because those places are world-famous for a very good reason. However, I also desperately want to get to know just about every corner of the rest of Italy, especially the rolling hills of Umbria, the breathtaking landscapes of Puglia, the art and architectural treasures of Ravenna, the university ambiance of Bologna, and the authenticity of Le Marche.

The stunning setting of Polignano, Puglia. Photo credit: Tarantino Vicenzo on Flickr.

The very first talk I attended at Florens2012 in Florence was called “Culture and Development: The choice to save Italy.” One of the presenters spoke of the negative effects of mass tourism on Italy’s main cities and sights, namely Venice and the Sistine Chapel, and announced that Florence doesn’t need more tourists; instead, Italy needs to attract more tourists to less known places. He even mentioned himself as an example, saying that even though he travels a lot, he still discovers new places in Italy.

Urbino in Le Marche. Photo from wikipedia.

Promoting sustainable solutions to tourism is exactly my kind of thing, so my heart goes pitter-patter just thinking about such a tour through Italy. I don’t know how long it would take, but if I could start with a few weeks in Italy, I would be very, very happy.

2) Portugal

My husband is Brazilian, which means that he feels a connection to Portugal through the language, food, and culture; he told me that he wanted to go there a few years ago, and since then I’ve been finding more and more reasons to agree with him. I would like to spend at least a month there traveling slowly with our kids. Of course, we would start in Lisbon, a city that many people say is their favorite in all of Europe.

Lisbon. Photo credit: Trent Strohm on Flickr.

Besides exploring more of Portugal’s stunning coastline, I would visit the Douro Valley because I love the rolling hills of wine country.

The patterns of the vineyards on steep hills in Douro Valley, Portugal. Photo credit: Rosino on Flickr.

3) Scotland

I was fortunate to spend a good deal of time in England, and really, I loved it. But I think that I will love Scotland even more. Its rich history and mythical landscapes seem like the perfect combination for a traveler like me. Even traveler extraordinaire Kirsten Alana chose Scotland as one of her three favorite places in the world.

Photo from wikimedia

4) India

I have a confession to make–I don’t often choose to travel to places that I know will really challenge me. There are a few reasons for that that I won’t go into here, but India is one of those places that I have put on the back burner. However, after lots of India in my art history courses as well as a deep interest in yoga, Ayurveda, and related disciplines from India, I am very interested in the country’s culture, history, and architecture. I would also like to connect with women there after having had some great experiences with my female Indian students and knowing the challenges that many women there face. Even though I haven’t been in a hurry to go to India, it is one place that I definitely want to experience in my lifetime.

Women at the Red Fort in Jaipur. Photo credit: Rafallg on Flickr.

5) Road-trip through California and the American Southwest

I live in Northern California and am constantly amazed by the abundance of beautiful, unique places in this state. My husband and I have sworn that we will take the kids on an epic road trip through California, to the many places we still haven’t visited in our home state, and to Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. I haven’t been to the Grand Canyon, and neither of us has been to New Mexico or to the national parks of Southern Utah. It sounds like so much fun, but my 2-year-old needs to grow up a bit first!

Arches National Park in Utah. Photo from wikipedia.

6) Seeing beautiful animals in the wild in Botswana

I have heard nothing but great things about Botswana, and the fact that we could see the majestic animals of Africa in the wild there makes this a place I must visit someday. I’ve already told my older son that we will go to Africa to see the animals that we all love.

Chobe National Park in Botswana. Photo credit: Virtual Wayfarer on Flickr.

7) Elephant Nature Park

I love animals and have vowed to travel to volunteer with animals soon. At the bottom of this post, you can learn more about this wonderful organization that aims to not only give Asian elephants a safe and loving environment to live in, but also educate the public about the abusive treatment of elephants worldwide. This is an important cause, and the park provides an animal lover’s dream experience. Read about one traveler’s time at the park here.

Does it get any sweeter than this? A baby hanging out with its mama, the way elephants should be. Photo credit: Christian Haugen on Flickr.

8) Jordan and Turkey

I grouped these countries together because I couldn’t choose between them, and the reasons to visit them overlap for me. Ancient ruins, friendly people (I have Jordanian students and they are SO fun!), delicious food, hot weather, and stunning architecture make these countries a must-visit for me.

Ancient ruins in Jordan. Photo credit: t i g on Flickr.

9) Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina

My husband and I have talked many times about traveling in South America, and for me, Chile and Argentina would be the first places to go. I would like to fly into Buenos Aires from Brazil and then travel to Chile by car. The European-style architecture and culture of Buenos Aires really attract me.

The architecture of Buenos Aires. Photo credit: Chechi Pe on Flickr.

Chile’s wine and stunning landscapes make this country one I look forward to visiting.

The Miscanit Lagoon near San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. Photo from wikipedia.

10) Japan

I’ve actually been to Japan before, but our stay was way too brief as it was just a stopover on our way back to the U.S. from Bali. We LOVED what we saw of Japan and vowed to come back one day. Seeing much more of Kyoto is one of my priorities for our return trip.

Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto, Japan

Have you been to these places? What’s on your bucket list?

My top 10 bucket list post is a part of Save Elephant Foundation’s blog carnival to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Elephant Nature Park. Elephant Nature Park is celebrating 10 years of success protecting the Asian elephant, educating tourists and tour operators alike that there is another way for us to interact with these wonderful animals. Please take a moment to visit their website, visit their Facebook, and connect with them on Twitter.

Later that day a Facebook friend, who is moving back to the U.S., was denied health insurance because she’s pregnant, which is considered a preexisting condition. Ugh.

Then the explosions in Boston…

However, that same day, my mom shared a few quotes with me that were some of the most profound ones I had heard in a while. They reminded me that love, grace, and appreciation are at the heart of life…life which is always fleeting and unpredictable. Written by a woman who was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer just after graduating from college in her early 20s (from her blog My Big Girl Pants, which chronicled her struggle until shortly before her death):

And from her husband’s eulogy:

The joy of being alive…

During both good times and bad, I remind myself of the fleeting nature of life. As I wrote in my first newsletter recently, “the one constant visitor in any life is change.” That’s so hard because we get attached to people and situations that we love. We don’t want those things to change, and yet they will.

Reminding myself to live my life to the fullest every day is important. I also think about the following 4 lessons (with emphasis on the last one). They resonate with me. Maybe they will resonate with you, too.

Spread Love and Acceptance

This sounds like a no-brainer, but to do it consistently, even when those around you are being negative or judgmental, is not easy. I often think of one of my colleagues, Maureen, who shamelessly shares her love of people with others. When professors complain about their students (as we often do), she will counter with something like, “I decided to like my students. All of them.”

If we can consistently practice and preach love and acceptance, we help make the world a better place for us and others.

Service

I just finished teaching a unit on the relationship between money and happiness and had the pleasure of reporting research findings that show that giving to others brings happiness. What a pity it would be to not spend at least some time on a regular basis helping others, making that extra effort to lend a hand, and donating to reliable charities.

Nurture Relationships, Not Careers

My goal has always been to have a career that fits the following criteria: it is interesting to me, helps people, and gives me flexibility to have time for the rest of my life. I am very fortunate to have built such a career. I don’t make big bucks and have no ladder to climb. Instead, my career allows me to make a difference in my community and provides a stable source of income for me and my family. That’s more than enough.

I don’t climb up. I try to just keep going down the right path.

I don’t nurture my career. I don’t care about work achievements or titles. Instead, I care about the people I interact with at work and the time I have with loved ones outside of work. Even so, I do wish I had more time for my family and lots more time for my friends.

Get Out and Make Memories!

Travel! Take risks. Do something new. Live abroad. Take walks in the early morning and at dusk. Spend time in nature. Turn off the TV or computer.

In short, get out and live…make memories with yourself and those you love. Life is fleeting, but the love we give others is here to stay, both when we are here to experience that love and when we are gone and our loved ones remember it.

And you? What helps you deal with tough times? How can you get out and live more? 

For more, read “Channeling the Spirit of the Boston Marathon: Hope Going Forward” from Uncornered Market.

With thoughts to all those who are suffering as a result of the Boston attack, especially sweet Martin Richard and his family, who are not only grieving, but are also recovering from their own injuries.

I have been thinking a lot about “quality travel” and how we can get more from our experiences while also treading lightly on the places we visit. One of the most important components of creating such travel experiences is connecting with local people.

I first fell in love with travel while studying abroad in Italy in 1995, but it wasn’t until I first went to the Czech Republic in 1996 that I really fell in love with the people of a country. The hospitality shown by the locals was so powerfully positive that I felt like I never wanted to leave…so I moved there.

Sharing conversation and laughs with Czechs in a wine cellar

That warmth and hospitality didn’t end when my time in the Czech Republic ended because I have found it, in various forms, in every place I have traveled, including places where it was a bit unexpected. The wonderful hospitality that I was treated to in Germany helped make my stay in Munich one of my favorite travel experiences.

Connecting with locals changes an ordinary travel experience into one that creates lasting memories. It gives you a better understanding both of their culture and of the ways in which we all are the same.

The beautiful work of preparing flower arrangements every morning in Bali

Connecting with locals is also a gold mine of information. I found that on my latest trip to Italy, I learned so much more by asking questions. Often a question would turn into a long conversation, sometimes about the history and culture, other times about what life is like nowadays in Italy. All of it fascinated me, but none of it would have happened if I had not asked questions and listened with keen interest.

At the historic Santa Maria Novella pharmacy in Florence, I asked the woman questions, and I was rewarded with detailed stories and plenty of samples.

Locals also provide the best recommendations for where to eat, what to see, etc. I always ask local people for restaurant recommendations, and this especially paid off in Florence.

Sometimes we can make a little extra effort to seek out locals and thereby learn about the heritage of a place. When I was in Florence, I asked around for recommendations for artisans to interview. My initiative paid off with fascinating discussions with three artisans. I learned so much about the role of artisanship in Florentine culture and history and got to watch the process of making some beautiful products, too.

Making the famous marbled Florentine paper

Paulo Bruscoli, a fourth generation artisan in his workshop, telling me about the history of his family’s business

Sometimes learning about the local people can involve just watching them by going to a less-touristy area and observing. Markets, shopping districts, cafes, and town squares makes great places to observe local life. I still cherish this memory of what was really just a simple moment…a local woman walking her dog down a quiet street in the Oltrarno district of Florence one night.

Brazilians have been called the friendliest people on the planet. I wouldn’t disagree with that though I know that it’s impossible to compare the world’s peoples in this way. However, I love this line from New York Times writer Seth Kugel about meeting people in São Paulo: “I’ve often said I’d just as soon drink with five Brazilian strangers than five American friends.” They really are a lot of fun, and just being around them and feeling their friendly, laid-back manner makes me love them. (In fact, I will forever feel grateful to Brazil for the excellent care the doctors gave me when I had a medical emergency there.)

After asking this guy questions about the market, he came out from behind the counter and posed for photos. Looks proud, doesn’t he?

Brazilian strangers often seem like old friends: the friendly coconut and corn vendor on the beach in Guaruja, Brazil

But connecting with locals doesn’t only happen in a foreign country. I love to talk to local people when I travel in my own country, too. From the docents who volunteer their time to answer questions in state parks to the lovely tasting room managers in California’s wine country, local people are the best source of information about a place. Asking them questions and connecting through a conversation and smiles results in better travel experiences, understanding of the place, and, of course, memories.

What have been some of your favorite experiences connecting with local people while traveling?

The photos we take on a small device like an iPhone tend to be different–more spontaneous–from the ones we take with a larger camera. Because I can pull out my iPhone from my pocket and snap a photo, these are often the shots I see as I’m walking…architectural details I notice as I pass by, shop windows, doors, etc.

I can’t wait to go back to Italy and take many more photos of the details of Rome and Venice and places I haven’t been, like Ravenna and Bologna. There is just so much in Italy, as I think you will see just in these details of Florence.

The interior courtyard at the Palazzo Vecchio…the details on the walls are impressive:

The Neptune Fountain in Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio in the background:

A window display of just panettone:

It seems like shops like this are all over Florence’s small streets…I wouldn’t mind stopping at one every day to pick up some fresh produce and a bottle of wine.

I took this photo for my husband because he loves horticulture. Florence’s old door knockers are a lot of fun.

Inside the trattoria that I ate at on my last night in Florence. Delicious, traditional Tuscan food served in a rustic setting.

The honor bar at the boutique hotel where I stayed for Florens2012, Hotel Cellai.

The view of the Arno River on the way to visit the Bruscoli workshop:

Old olive trees decorating the area around the medieval Baptistery to celebrate landscape heritage as part of Florens2012:

In my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in Florence: the Boboli Gardens:

My friend Alexandra pointed out to me that these scooters make walking down this stretch of the Lungarno (the road that follows the Arno River) a challenge, but the repetition of shape and color in their pattern appealed to me.

The Ponte Vecchio is really crowded and touristy, but it has a certain something that draws me to it every time, especially at dusk.

The view down the Arno River as the sun was starting to set:

I never tire of just strolling the streets and admiring the window displays. On my earlier visits more than a decade ago, one of my favorite places to window-shop was the area around the Palazzo Pitti, and I was glad to find many beautiful window displays again.

Florence is a city to be explored on foot. Right in the historic center there are many quiet, quaint streets like this one.

At my favorite of the restaurants we tried in Florence, La Cucina del Garga, where we heard stories of the owners, family, and customers through the restaurant’s eclectic artwork. I’m glad that his face turned out in focus since he was such a memorable part of our two meals there. (Read my AFAR.com highlight about Garga here).

I hope you enjoyed this look at Florence in photos. Which city is your favorite to photograph (or admire photos of)?

I’m going to turn 40 later this year. My 30s flew by. Actually, when I stop and think about it, A LOT happened in that decade, but I still can’t believe that it’s almost over.

One reason it seems so strange that my thirties could be ending is that I’m in the same place I was when I turned 30. You see, I moved my whole life, from one place to another, until I moved to Sacramento, California 11 years ago. I’m still here. Honestly, I can’t say that I’m excited by that, but I doubt I’ll be leaving any time soon. Why? Because I have a great job. But is it my “dream job”? No. And is this my dream homebase? No.

I face a dilemma that bothers me just about all the time. I have one life, and it’s already flying by, so why don’t I live the “life of my dreams”? Why am I living in so-so Sacramento when I could live in San Francisco, Amsterdam, Italy (gasp), or any of the other places where life is more, you know, amazing?

Sacramento really isn’t a bad place to live–there’s plenty of good food and world-class places to visit within 1-2 hours–but with the crime and very flat valley topography, I wonder if it is the one place I would choose to spend decades of my precious life.

The fresh fruit and great weather are two perks of living in Sacramento

I have the same wishy-washy feelings about my work. Let me tell you that I feel extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful job. I know teaching college-level ESL may not be for everyone, but it’s hard to beat this combination: supportive colleagues, creative freedom, four months of vacation a year (months, not weeks), great benefits including full health and dental coverage for my family and me, tenure (meaning I can’t lose my job), flexible scheduling, and a decent salary. I can change it up so that I don’t teach the same things over and over, and I get to teach a range of topics like culture, anthropology, art, fiction, and much more. Best of all, my students are (mostly) fun, interesting, diverse people who love learning.

So what’s the problem? I’ve been at this job for almost 11 years. No matter how rewarding and flexible my work is, as I’ve said before, it’s not really in my nature to do the same thing year after year. I am an inquisitive person who loves learning and doing new things. That creative energy is where this blog came from.

In the past several months, a deep desire to pursue other projects has been building, from taking this blog to the next level and writing more for Travel Mindset, to sending pitches to magazines in the hope of expanding my freelance work, writing those travel guides I planned, and getting my tours of Italy organized. However, I don’t have much time for any of that–I have a full-time job and two kids, and even when I’m on vacation, there are always other things to catch up on.

As soon as I start thinking that way, I remind myself that a good number of people in the world would like to just have a job and can’t relate to analyzing their “dream job.” Many of my students feel that way–they have had to start over in the U.S. and put their dreams on the back burner for years in hopes of getting an education that will ensure them a job simply because they need to work. I feel like maybe a “dream job” is a luxury, one that would be based more on my own desires rather than the needs of those around me (even though I truly believe that having creative pursuits is good for the soul).

When my mind starts wandering to the places I wish I could be and things I wish I could be doing, I ask myself the following questions:

• What would be the pros and cons of the dream job/dream locale?
• How can I live the life of my dreams right where I am now?
• What is really important to me and to those whose lives I connect with every day?

I remind myself that I have built a life here that reflects what’s important to me: my little family, my community, and my workplace (which is inspiring to be a part of).

I remind myself to be thankful for what my work and hometown give me, including the wonderful weather, food, and vibe of Northern California. I know I would miss those things if I moved.

Finally, I know that through my work, I have a positive impact on many people’s lives…my real job helps people reach their dream jobs. The good news is that the stability of my work gives me a little space to pursue other interests and projects. I know that as my children get a little older and our lives stabilize over the next several months, I will have more opportunities to pursue these paths. In the meantime, I feel grateful for what I have and what I have done, and I accept where I am and what I am doing.

Are you living the “life of your dreams”? Why or why not? 

When I read that Point Lobos has been called “the greatest meeting of land and water in the world,” I knew I had to see it for myself. I finally got there this past January. Is it really the greatest meeting of land and water? Maybe, maybe not. There are so many beautiful places where land and sea meet all over the world, but Point Lobos really is special…

The area is a marine preserve, a sanctuary where fish and ocean life can actually thrive instead of disappear (as they do in the world’s oceans today). This is a place where you can see sea otters; in fact, these waters are the very place where a few sea otters survived after they were thought to be extinct due to hunting in the early 20th century.

There is also a huge kelp forest that you can explore if you like to dive. Seals are all over in the waters and sometimes on the beaches. The forests are home to deer, bobcats, and mountain lions. Migrating monarch butterflies stop here in winter on their way down to Mexico. The headlands are also home to “rare plant communities” and “endangered archaeological sites,” according to the Point Lobos Foundation.

Besides being an important sanctuary for animals and sea life, Point Lobos is also a headland with dramatic cliffs and enormous rocks that create pools of water that are so blue, or even shades of green and turquoise.

Besides the amazing views, there are plenty of fantastic hikes, both around the open paths and rocks and in the cypress groves.

The cypress trees on one side of the cypress grove hike are strangely shaped from the ocean’s winds and are covered in red lichen.

We didn’t see any sea otters on this day, but we did see whales spouting in the distance and a few seals playing in the waters right below us.

On the southernmost parts of Point Lobos are a couple of secluded beaches, a hiking trail out to Bird Island (above), and even this little cave. The water here was a striking shade of green.

Will I be back to Point Lobos? Absolutely. I am planning to bring a lunch and spend the day there with time to explore the whole park since it’s actually pretty small. (Point Lobos State Reserve is located just 3 miles south of Carmel on the beautiful Highway 1).

Have you been to the coast of Central California? Tell me: what’s the most beautiful meeting of land and water that you have seen?

What’s so special about AFAR.com? It’s a collaborative travel guide, constantly evolving with new travel highlights and “wanderlists” created by users every day. The website experience is controlled by the user (people like you!) through the creation of personalized wanderlists, tailored either to places you want to go or experiences you want to have. You can see one of mine, called Arsty Travels, a collection of artsy travel tips from around the world.

The website pulls me in not just because I can create these visual lists of travel daydreams and plans, but also because it is a community of contributors and users. Contributors can be people who just want to share their travel highlights with others, but they can also become AFAR “local experts” who give trusted travel advice for their place of residence. I personally love using the highlights by local experts in cities like San Francisco to get insider tips and plan future trips.

But wait! It gets even better! Every few months, AFAR teams up with travel companies of all sorts to offer fantastic prizes. The current contest is definitely no exception: AFAR is giving away 5 prizes of $2000 to use on the online travel agency Vayama and one grand-prize of round-trip airfare for 2 to Copenhangen and a 5-night stay at the Copenhagen Admiral Hotel. Amazing, right?! I haven’t been to Copenhagen but would love to find out why everyone loves this city!

But how can we win? Start uploading highlights on AFAR.com now through April 11, 2013. It’s easy–simply sign up for an account and start posting highlights of places you’ve been and loved. The best highlights are those that have a great photo, a clear title, and enough meaningful information for other travel-lovers to know why and how they should go there. Setting up an account also allows you to start collecting highlights (yours and others’) to create your own wanderlists. Fun!

(Please note that the CATCH contest) is open only to U.S. residents. More information about can be found here.)

Let me know what you think of AFAR.com, and please let me know if you start posting highlights–I would love to see them!

If you’d like to get more out of your travel experiences while leaving a more positive impact on the destination, the following suggestions and resources are for you:

Support local shops and artisans

One of many small shops in Florence that sell exquisite products based on traditional designs

While it can be good to support local people through buying souvenirs at outdoor markets, it’s important to also support the local crafts and artisan traditions at the small shops. Handmade items that represent the traditions of the place you are visiting make both great gifts for family and souvenirs for yourself. To me, it’s worth it to splurge a little on something you will remember and use often, like ceramics or the handmade leather wallet I bought from an artisan in Florence.

Get off the beaten path

The walk to the Bardini Garden in Florence, Italy. I had this beautiful place to myself.

Most historic places have so much more to offer than just the usual top attractions. Balancing time visiting the “must-sees” with time exploring less-known places makes for a more rewarding travel experience. While you don’t want to miss out on visiting the famous places, which of course are famous for a reason, you do want to see the real city and explore where you might be the only tourist.

Stay tuned for upcoming guest posts about off-the-beaten-path ideas for popular destinations. I can’t wait to see what others recommend! For my suggestions for getting off the beaten path in Prague, click here.

Do some research so you can travel responsibly

A cruise ship in the lagoon of Venice (Photo from Wikimedia)

Try to find out what the issues are in the place you are going, including any negative effects of tourism. Some places, like Prague or Venice, are already well-known for the impact of crowds on the historic center. In that type of place, make an effort to support sights and shops away from the touristy areas.

In other places, animals may be exploited by local people as a way of making money from tourists. Researching places before traveling will help you make wise choices. For instance, find out why you shouldn’t ride elephants in Thailand or where you can ride horses that are given excellent care, instead of looking like they’re malnourished, in Mexico.

Volunteer

Volunteers helping out at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand

This is something that I have not done but am starting to think hard about. At Florens2012, one of the other TeamFlorens winners, Sucheta Rawal, inspired me with her stories of volunteering around the world. She began a non-profit, Go Eat Give, that takes people on volunteer vacations to places such as Bali, Spain, India, Russia, and Morocco. I look forward to learning more about Sucheta’s work in an upcoming interview with her on this site.

Discover the local history and heritage

An artisan making traditional Florentine paper in Florence, Italy

This is one suggestion that I feel especially strongly about. As the world becomes more globalized and resembles a “monoculture,” the need to recognize and support cultural heritage becomes increasingly important. Cultural and artistic traditions are being lost, so it’s time for us to see and support them before they’re gone.

Before traveling, research what traditional arts come from your destination. Look for artists and artisans whose work you can buy; ask where the handicraft markets and artisan workshops are. Once you find them, talk to them about their work and ask how it’s connected to local traditions. Buy some items, and offer a fair price. Buying several items usually results in a discount being offered, but I don’t try to bargain with an artist!

Seek out local festivities and food markets

An outdoor food market at night in Italy

By participating in local festivities and visiting food markets, you get a better view of local life and what the community values. One place I have enjoyed local festivities is in Napa; the city hosts outdoor festivals and food markets all summer, and the attendees are almost all locals. From the bar-be-ques and live jazz to the loads of area beer and wine being served, such an event gives me a taste of what the community is like, minus the touristy image Napa Valley can easily have.

A proud vendor at an indoor food market in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Food is one of the most important parts of life, and in many parts of the world, food symbolizes culture and community. Visiting a local food market allows you to learn more about the food from talking to vendors and seeing what people buy and how they interact with each other. One of my favorite places to learn about culture through food is Brazil–see my post about one of Brazil’s huge indoor food markets here.

What are your suggestions for quality travel? How can you have a richer travel experience while being mindful of the impact you leave on the destination?