I’ve been excited about the idea of a Travel Blog Carnival ever since the idea was mentioned in November. When I was first asked to host, I had to turn it down due to time commitments, but I was happy to be able to step in today. As has been the case in the past, there are so many good choices. Here are this week’s top three:
My Experience in One of the World’s Most Dangerous Places from Hole in the Donut really struck a chord with me. As was the case in Tony Wheeler’s Bad Lands (and he’s contemplating a sequel!) the experience that the traveler gets, especially an open minded traveler, is often far removed from the dire warnings and classifications on lists such as the one Forbes published. While I’m not sure I have any interest in Zimbabwe, the photos are beautiful. The author hits the nail on the head when she speaks of the “real Zimbabwe” — the country you see with your eyes, not one you hear on a list.
So you’ve decided you’re going to Zimbabwe, or another country that strikes your fancy. How do you figure out how much this is all going to cost? How to Create a Simple Vacation Budget from foXnoMad provides some great information. It’s not impossible. Using some of the tools provided, it’s not even particularly hard. I’ve never been particularly good at setting budgets, or sticking to them when I have a rough idea, but it is a good idea. This site is also valuable if you’re one of those people forever trying to convince your friends that travel is possible and that it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.
So now you’ve set your budget, but you’ve realized you’re really not up for a visit to a place that’s been identified as Dangerous. Something more along the lines of a fairy tale is what you’re interested in. Then the Top 25 Most Beautiful Castles in the World from International Listings is a good place to start. It includes some very well known Castles: Windsor, Château de Versailles, Arg-é Bam Castle and Angkor Wat (although I never knew the latter was considered a castle) as well as some I was completely unfamiliar with. I was surprised not to see the Taj Mahal or Neuschwanstein Castle included. Either way, it’s got me itching for another trip!
It was a plesaure to host this week’s carnival and a real challenge to include just three. I encourage travel bloggers to read the rules for submission and participate in future weeks. It’s a great way to find new blogs you’re unfamiliar with and learn about new places, tips, etc.
As for this blog, I hope to get it back on track soon. I’ve been exceptionally busy with work, school and another project in the last few weeks but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Ute // Jan 26, 2008 at 13:55
I wouldn’t count the Taj Mahal as a castle. It’s a kind of a mausoleum, isn’t it?
And Neuschwanstein … well, it’s more an 19th image of a medieval castle. And maybe the author of the post thougth “Neuschwanstein – Disney – kitsch, no castle”.
2 Barbara // Jan 26, 2008 at 19:18
Thank you SO very much for including my Zimbabwe experience in your choice of favorite blogs for the week. Zimbabwe was such a special place for me that I love to talk about it whenever possible!
3 Cari // Jan 26, 2008 at 21:04
I wouldn’t have counted Taj Mahal as a castle either but some of the other items, i.e. Angkor Wat seemed odd as well.
and re: Neuschwanstein — for me that was a classic example of I can’t look it up to get the spelling if I can’t find it. I ended up searching on “Disney castle Germany” to get it to come up o:) I vaguely knew the name but had lost a syllable — had thought it was called Neuwanstein or something.
I stayed in a castle the night of my birthday — does that count?
I was glad Himeji made the list.
4 Travel Blog Carnival Posts: Week 4 - Holiday Planning & Travel Guide // Jan 27, 2008 at 06:08
[...] » Read Carianne’s reviews [...]
5 foxnomad // Jan 27, 2008 at 09:37
I’m glad that you found my budget ideas useful. It’s possible to budget for any vacation – so don’t let your friends us it as an excuse not to travel!
6 Cari // Jan 27, 2008 at 11:55
@ Barbara: I know what you mean about a special place, it’s funny how they get their claws into you, isn’t it? If you haven’t read Tony Wheeler’s Bad Lands, I highly recommend it.
@ foxnomad: My pleasure. I think it’s a very useful tool. I love to travel and don’t let a budget, or lack thereof stop me, but I definitely plan to use your post for others who see it as a reason. I also loved your air transport cost post, but since you linked back to it in the more general budget post, I figured readers would find it that way.
7 foXnoMad » Travel Blog Carnival Week 4 // Jan 30, 2008 at 02:00
[...] of the Travel Blog Carnival hosted by Travel Rants. Thanks to Blissful Travel, Travolution, and Traveling Cari for choosing it. I’ll continue to submit entires – if you have any post ideas you’d [...]