The last week or so has seen a number of blog posts written about being away from home for the holidays. In fact I recently saw the movie ‘Four Christmases’, about a couple that takes off every year to a new exotic locale for the holidays because they don’t want to be around their dysfunctional relatives.

I take the tack that being away one year or even multiple years is great.

Because you come back and appreciate your family and friends when you get back.

Take me for example. This time last year, I was on the other side of the planet…

Tokyo for Election Night 2008

On a plane to Hong Kong on Thanksgiving

In Macau for my birthday

Ethiopia for Christmas

London for New Year’s and

Paris for the Obama inauguration

Were there times I got lonely on the trip? I can’t say I did. I was too engrossed with the trip and experiencing everything that I didn’t notice that I wasn’t with my relatives. But I still had ways to be connected with others on these special days.

I remember heading to the phone shacks of Addis Ababa to call my parents on Christmas.

I was with my aunt, uncle and cousins in London. In Paris I connected with ex-pats watching the inauguration. Same during Election Night ’08 in Tokyo. Spending huge bucks in Macau was fun when I had cool people to hang out with. So you find a way to enjoy yourself, just like you would/should ANY OTHER DAY when traveling.

Being home this year, I take more joy in being with my family since I wasn’t with them last year. Mom’s sweet potato pie tastes better. Watching football on Thanksgiving – priceless. You remember what you had before and glad to be home to experience it again.

Best Gift You Can Give – Is To Not Be There?!?! is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

One of NoDebtWorldTravel.com’s loyal readers, TJ, took off on a trip to Europe in the last few weeks. Using some of the information he found here, he had a great time.

Here is his field report from London and Paris.

Where did you go and how did you decide to go there?

Me and a friend took a week and went to London and Paris. Our planned trip to Egypt was called off due to the kidnapping of several tourists there. We started kicking around ideas and decided on London and Paris. Neither of us had ever been to Europe and we figured those two cities would be a great place to start our European adventures.

Prior to this trip, the only time I left the country was to go to the Caribbean or Mexico. Oh I did journey to Kiribati once, but that’s another story.

How long was your trip?

8 days and 7 nights

Did you use hostels? What were your criteria for choosing the ones you stayed at?

We chose to stay in semi- budget hotels instead of hostels. Melody made it clear she had to have at least three star accommodations. We compromised. I chose a two star Holiday Inn Express in London, and a supposed three star regular Holiday Inn in Paris. We established a lodging budget and pretty much met it.

What are two MUST see sights that everyone reading this should visit?

The MUST see sights of the trip were the Eiffel Tower, a Seine River Cruise and standing in the middle of the Champs Elysee looking towards the Arc de Triomphe. A West End theatre experience and the free museums of London should not be missed.

Any funny, interesting people you met along the way? In the airport, on the streets, cab drivers, at the museums, etc?

We met an Australian backpacker named Kylie in Paris. She was traveling Europe for a year before going home to work and save money for her next sojourn. While backpacking she had managed to drop almost eighty pounds!! For her next trip she plans on backpacking all the way to Alaska.

We also met a crepe vendor on the street. He loved Obama and actually talked us to death about politics and anything else he could.

There was a hotel clerk who demanded we speak French. So I spoke English with a French accent to him.

I wanted to speak with a runner who “hit the wall” during the London marathon. He was in distress and I didn’t think it would be in proper taste to ask him what happened.

Anything people should be wary of, warned about, stay away from?

London appeared to be very clean and safe. We chose the tube or bus for all transportation. I felt safe the whole time.

The Wimbledon tour and museum were nice but should have been a lot better. It’s a private club, so gift shop prices are high and access to the club is very limited. Unless you are a tennis fan (I am) it can be skipped.

In Paris just beware. We again chose the subway for all our transportation needs. I never felt threatened. However, a cab driver wanted to charge us 80 Euro to go from Gare du Nord to Gare de L’est. It was less than a mile and only one stop on the subway for 1,60 Euro.

Beware of the Gypsy woman. If she asks do you speak English, just keep walking. If you say yes, she starts begging for money. If you say no, she starts begging for money.

Beware of the friendship bracelet. If someone offers to tie some string around your wrist because you are a friend……u really are a friend because they will demand money. Actually, this scam is interesting and I should have tried to speak with one of the purveyors.

Final words of advice?

If you have a desire to travel, plan your trip and just do it. The internet is marvelous for planning. Don’t let your excuses overtake you. It is true where there is a will, there is a way. The world doesn’t begin and end in the US. It begins and ends in NYC. LOL….just playing.

Every year for the past umpteen years I have wanted to go to Europe. For the record I am the de facto travel agent for my friends. They are always calling me to book trips and find fares for them. However, I never would plan the trip I wanted to take to Europe. I always found a reason not to go. The exchange rate is bad. I have no travel companion. I don’t speak the language. I wouldn’t know what to do. I am scared. My momma is scared for me. My daddy said I was forbidden to go. Yeah he said it, and I am very grown!!!

Finally, this was the year I was going to make it happen. When Africa got canceled, I knew I was still going to take a trip and Las Vegas and another Caribbean cruise was not on my agenda this time.

I don’t know what is in store for a major trip next year. Some friends have asked me to plan a group trip to Hawaii. Melody wants to go to Rio and Bahia. Our African connection is planning two journeys to the continent. All of those are good and I may do one or more of them. If they don’t work out, they just don’t. I have a bucket list of places to visit and I will just pick one or two and travel there. If a friend comes along, cool. If not, so be it. London and Paris stoked the fire of desire for travel. I have no intention on letting that flame extinguish.

Paris and London Field Report from a Loyal Reader is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

This is the 100th blog post for nodebtworldtravel.com, and it has been my pleasure relaying the stories from this round the world trip. From the Big Island of Hawaii all the way to Athens, I hope you’ve been educated and entertained as much I have enjoyed doing it.

And so…my mystery traveler is Ayana, devoted and mega loyal reader (I think she deserves a bigger title than loyal reader) who has been dropping pearls of wisdom in emails to me since October.

Ayana, in a slowly disappearing telephone booth. Cell phone anyone?

Three weeks ago she booked the flight and she arrived yesterday at 6AM off the red eye out of JFK. And like a trooper she jumped right in and we walked the River Thames, window shopped at Harrod’s, had a full FREE 3 hour walking tour of London, went to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and had a great night with us in the West End Cuban nightclub Floridita’s.

She did and saw more of London in 18 hours than most Londoners do in a month! Impressive Ayana. You know what’s coming next…you’ll hear from her direct…even if I have to open the laptop and put her fingers on the keyboard.

Batman now has his Robin…ummm…Batgirl, at least for the next two weeks…

It’s the 100th Post…and the Mystery Traveler is Revealed is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

I hinted before at a get together in London…and we’ve finalized the details.

If you’re in London, England on Friday, February 6, 2009, come on down to

Floridita (between Shaftsebury Ave & Oxford St)
100 Wardour Street
London W1F 0TN

around 8PM. There you’ll meet me, Kay from the blog who has pretty much run with the idea for this gathering (Thanks Kay!), and a whole bevy of London’s hip students, hard working ex-pats and local Londoners for a good night of laughs, drinks and maybe a little food.

Please RSVP to me before showing up so we know how many to expect.

Even if you’re not sure, RSVP anyway so we can take that into account. Bring your friends, your business cards, manuscripts, business plans, plans to take over the world or anything else you want to share. You never know who you might meet…

If You’re in London on Feb 6, Come on Down is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

The next meeting in London was with loyal reader Chris, who heard my call for London folks to come out and meet me.

Chris is from the US, but has been in London for the past 15 years. He came out here on a lark, when he called up a friend asking around for a job. The friend called back 30 minutes later and asked him,

“Do you have a passport?”

We went to lunch at a great Thai place and then went to Starbucks, where he showed his great knowledge of London and the surrounding areas by suggesting some great day trips…and even telling me what train to take.

His suggestions:

Stonehenge
From Waterloo Station to Salisbury and then a bus from Salisbury

Windsor Castle
From Waterloo Station to Windsor

Eastbourne, Beachyhead
From Waterloo Station

Dover Castle
From Victoria Station

Greenwich Observatory, National Maritime Museum
If you look at a world map, this is where the GMT timezone run through in the United Kingdom
188 Bus
DLR to Cutty Sar

There is also suppose to be a foot tunnel under the River Thames. Didn’t check that out yet.

Chris you are an amazing resource. Please write that book you were thing about. I’m sure it will be extrememly insightful on whatever topic you pick. Thanks for lunch and the info.

Speaking of things to do in the London, the city has a wealth of museums and cultural attractions that are free.

British Museum
National Portrait Gallery
National Science Museum
Natural History Museum
Tate Modern Museum

Me at Tate Modern

Before you say just reading that list is making me sleepy, trust me, you will find at least one of these places interesting. And if it isn’t, you didn’t pay anything. When in London drop by.

For any Americans in London next Tuesday the 20th, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in London is offering free admission if you can prove you are American. The reason: They are unveiling a wax sculpture of Barack Obama in a replication of the Oval Office on Inauguration Day. If you’re not in London, pass it on to any Americans you know that are here.

Another Loyal Reader Makes an Appearance is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

First up is Kim who has been reading the blog since I took off. In fact she liked it so much that she posted about me on her blog. She’s the owner of Bruised Reed, which I have a link to at the top of my blog.

When I got to London she invited me to a get together with her friends at a Brazilian spot called Guanabara near Covent Garden, London’s entertainment district.

The Kim and I

My cousin Angela and I had to leave early, but not before we had a great time talking and laughing with our group of new friends. We got this nice group shot. All fantastic folks!

from left to right: Tiago, Fiona, Brian, Kim, Arlete and Angela

Met Kim earlier this week for lunch. She has had her own round the world adventure, so we had alot to talk about.

You know when lunch is really good? When good conversation is had… and someone else pay for it. Thanks Kim!

Next is Kay, a fellow Ivy grad and recent export to London from the East Coast. We met at a Mexican place called Wahaca, also near Covent Garden in London.

I asked people when I was in Tokyo for any requests. Kay requested a Japanese fan from Kyoto. I was NOT going to Kyoto for a fan, but did manage to get her a few things from Thailand and Hong Kong.

This fan is not only a fan, but doubles as a hat!

Kay and I have already decided we are going to write a book together. And if you’re in London toward the end of the month stayed tuned to this blog for info on a potential get-together. Not confirmed, but we are working on it.

Good times and great laughs with Kay.

So what did we learn today:

That if I come through your town, we will meet and you will be on this blog. A very good thing.
That if you ask for me for something, you just might get it. A very good thing.
That I have met some of the most interesting and funny people on this trip. The best thing.

Meeting My Loyal London Readers – Kim and Kay is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

On the first day of the new year I’m in London Underground’s Bethnal Green Station waiting to catch a train to walk around Oxford Street.

And this is the announcement everyone hears over the public address system:

“Due to a person UNDER THE TRAIN, there are delays on the Central line.”

Just like that.

Now in New York we would say
“incident”
“police action”
“medical emergency”

Something to leave you wondering what exactly was going on.

Leave it to the Brits to be completely real about it…

A Bad Way to Start the New Year…Or Any Day for that Matter is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Oh Ethiopia…

Crazy, crazy fun.

Back online everyone and wishing you Happy New Year in advance.

Got so much to report on Ethiopia and currently in London for New Year’s with family.

Ethiopia’s Internet connections were slow to begin with. Then I heard that there was a fiber cut somewhere, knocking out service.

Taking me out of my regular blog schedule. But it was good to not have to blog because it gave me time to think about where to go and what to post up on the blog.

Pics coming soon!

London, I Am Here is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

Whenever we travel to a certain spot we have all kinds of reasons for going. For this round the world trip (RTW), I have got my own set of circumstances and experiences.

Hawaii
Pearl Harbor, luaus, volcanoes, spam (the kind you eat, not the kind in your inbox). But my best thought of Hawaii is from a famous cop who put a phrase into street vernacular.

Before there was Miami Vice, Law & Order or CSI, there was…

Book ‘em Dan-O…Murder One!

As an aside…weren’t the 70s and 80s the best for TV theme songs? Mission: Impossible, S.W.A.T, Baretta, Starsky and Hutch, The A-Team, Magnum P.I…but I digress…

Tokyo, Japan
The Land of the Rising Sun. Famous for sushi, ninjas, Playstations, and Godzilla. Big influence on from everything to anime to Nintendo. Had to get there.

Bangkok, Thailand
Talk about being influential – two words – Muy Thai. Jean-Claude Van Damme was there with AH-nold and Steven Seagall in terms of action movie stars. Kickboxer is arguably his best.

I promise, I will not be be doing any dancing like this in Bangkok or anywhere else.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Beautiful temples, temples, temples. And eating cobra hearts. Soon as I saw that, had to go.

Cape Town, South Africa
Nelson Mandela.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Met a woman in Ghana last year who implored me to come to Ethiopia for their millennium celebration. Ethiopia goes by a different calendar and their new century started last September. Her passion made me want to go and check.

London, United Kingdon
Have family I haven’t seen in a while. Excellent reason to go!

Why Go There? is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel