Museums

Starting a list of museums that sound interesting

Museo Atlantico, easternmost Canary Island.  Link to article about it

Israel

Israel appeals to me; John not so much. Today's task: complete enough research so John can weigh in on whether Israel should land in the Top 20.

Fun (and serious) facts

• Population is 8.27 million; 80% Jews; 20% Arabs; median age is 29.3
• Long, warm dry summers (April-October) and mild winters (November-March); drier and cooler in Jerusalem and other hilly regions
• Security: pay attention to travel advisories, but most are for Gaza, West Bank etc; not Israel; Israel has among the tightest security systems in the world in place (e.g., security checkpoints at most public places; unaccompanied bags are destroyed immediately; armed guards on tours ...). Some caution against using public transportation ...
• There are more museums per capita in Israel than any other country
• Cities (with descriptions from goisrael.com)
• Jerusalem: city of overwhelming emotions
• Tel Aviv-Yafo: economic and cultural center; modern dining and cafe culture
• Eilat: ultimate resort city
• Nazareth: city of religion and faith, spirituality and holiness, but also archeology, modern culture and Middle Eastern charm
• Haifa: 3rd largest city and one of its prettiest; country's largest port
• Tiberias: lively tourist center on the shores of Lake Kineret; 200 m below sea level
• Recommended things to do
• Lonely Planet: Dome of the Rock, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mahane Yehuda Market (all in Jerusalem); Manger Square and Old City (Bethlehem)
• NYTimes-36 Hours in Tel Aviv: White City; Flea Market in Jaffa; 3-mile promenade along shoreline; Suzanne Dellal Center (houses several dance companies)
• IGoogledIsrael (2009): float in the dead sea; the old city of Jerusalem; Carmel Market, Tel Aviv; Red Sea (lowest point on earth), Eilat; Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum), Jerusalem; Ramon Crater (world's largest), hour south of Beersheeva; Masada, Baha'i Gardens, Haifa
• Haaretz: Must-do's after the expected stuff: Kishle prison excavations addition to Tower of David Museum, Jerusalem; Mahane Yehuda at night, Jerusalem; Israeli Museum at the Rabin Center, Tel Aviv; Jaffa flea market after dark; Appolonia National Park, site of many archaeological treasures; Nazareth sans Jesus, foodie city; Wester Negev; Kerem Shalom, a tiny kibbutz at the tip bordering Gaza and Egypt; Jisr al-Zarqa, Israel's poorest city and home to untouched beaches; Nahal Taninim Nature Reserve, the last of Israel's clean coastal streams; Kibbutz Lotan Center for Creative Ecology; Kibbutz Yotvata (famous ice cream); 

Sites visited
Go Israel
Lonely Planet
IGoogledIsrael
Haaretz
Jerusalem Insiders Guide

Berlin

We'd said we would postpone research for the European leg of our journey since it's already familiar and "easier." However, Atlas Obscura recently posted a piece on "hidden attractions and unusual things to do in Berlin" so I've decided to capture it now. We've already decided to put Berlin in the Top 20, so this post will focus more on what we might want to do and how long we would want to stay there.

Here's the list, briefly annotated, from Atlas Obscura 

Spreepark -- Abandoned amusement park outside of Berlin
Monster Kabinett -- Part art gallery, part haunted house, this robotic art display is a terrifying experience
Design Panoptikum -- A surreal museum of extraordinary industrial objects
Hall of Mirrors in Clarchens Ballhaus (deutsch only) or here-- This classic restaurant features a gorgeous mirror-clad room
AquaDom at Radisson Blu Berlin -- The largest free-standing aquarium in the world
Tajikistan Tearoom
Pergamon Museum -- The most visited, and probably the most controversial, museum in Berlin
Buchstabenmusem / Museum of Letters, Characters and Typefaces
Arthouse Tacheles -- An old department store turned Nazi prison turned artist commune
Berlin Botanical Garden -- Second largest botanical garden in the world
The Bierpinsel -- interesting architectural tower in the Steglitz neighborhood
Teufelsberg -- an abandoned NSA listening post on Berlin's "Devil Mountain"
The Return of the Cows -- whimsical public art installation
Schwerbelastungskorper -- Nazi architectural experiment
Medizinhistorisches Museum -- 10,000 medical specimens
Stasi Museum -- research and memorial center for secret police in east germany
Museum fur Naturkunde -- natural history museum houses the world's largest mounted dinosaur
Liquidrom -- futuristic spa
Ramones Museum
Vestiges of the Berlin Wall
Propeller Island City Lodge -- hotel/art installation mash up
Badeschiff -- floating swimming pool within a moored vessel
Hohenschonhausen Memorial Prison -- former Stasi secret prison turned museum
Abandoned Iraqi Embassy --
The Bebelplatz -- site of the Nazi book burning campaign of 1933
Tempelhof Airport -- the old airport
Berlin Television Tower (Fernsehturm  de Berlin) -- with restaurant and observation deck
Puppentheater-Museum Berlin -- More than 300 puppets
Théâtre anatomique de l'École vétérinaire -- built in 1790; oldest academic building in berlin

Ballhaus Riviera - ballroom in "haunting disrepair"

Pfaueninsel -- island that is home to free-roaming peacocks

Gruselkabinett -- WW II bunker
hatch Sticker museum --
Museum der Dinge -- 20th century design
Georg-von-Rauch-Haus -- graffiti-covered "squat" stronghold of leftist activism
Mengenlehreuhr - "set theory clock"
Berlin-Friedrichstrasse Railway Station - cold war icon and onetime "hole" in the iron curtain
Fuhrerbunker Parking Lot -- site of Hitler's last headquarters and suicide
East Side Gallery -- "dazzling stretch of the former Berlin Wall"
Hansa Studios -- recording studio since 1974
Bahnhof Berlin Zoologischer Garten --
Frame Collector's Museum -- 2400 antique frames
Burgermeister -- burger joint in what used to be a public restroom
Fliegeberg -- cononical hill in Lilienthal park
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe -- completed in 2004
Kcymaerxthaere -- The fate of Bravenleavanne; the site of good faith and good nature

Fernsehturm Muggelberge -- TV tower that once secretly housed GDR intelligence

Useful sites
Berlin.de
Abandoned Berlin

Cambodia

The subject of a newsletter received today from Savoteur is Cambodia and since Cambodia is already in our Top 20, I think I'll do a deeper dive into where we might want to go while there.

This research is in progress

Itineraries

• Rough Guide - you’ll need at least a month to really see everything Cambodia has to offer; roads have improved, but the country is best taken at leisurely pace
• 
  

Angkor Wat
We already know Angkor Wat is on the list. Savateur recommends a two day pass to "catch the temples at different times and from different angles." Other tips for experiencing Angkor Wat (collected from various sites; not bookmarked or linked to):

• Angkor opens at 5:30 a.m., the best time to start exploring. Temples are peaceful until 9 a.m. Many temples are empty between noon and 2:30. 
• A flashlight is useful for windowless rooms
• Have a basic understanding of Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism
• Hire a driver and/or private guide. Drivers are cheap ($10/day) and have insider's tips and suggestions. Private guides bring history to life.
• Passes are available from 1 to 7 days. 3 days is plenty
• Avoid "temple fatigue" by pacing yourself, taking breaks, visiting smaller, less busy temples
• Don't forget water.

Siem Reap

• Angkor National Museum -- purely curated but "worth an hour with a good guide"

Phonm Penh 

• National Palace Museum -- best to visit after visiting the temples

Kratie

Ecuador

If we decide against the Quito to Guayaquil train (see post in February), is Ecuador still a draw (especially since the Galapagos aren't on our list)? That's the subject of today's research. Why Ecuador?

Fun facts about Ecuador

• The equator runs through the country
• Four geographical regions: coastal lowlands, mountain highlands, eastern jungle lowlands, Galapagos
• Largest cities are Guayaquil (pop 3.6M), Quito (2.6M), and Portoviejo (1.4M) 
• Quito is the world's highest capital city (9, 350 ft)
• According to one site, Quito is the "best preserved historic center in all of Latin America"
• Currency is US Dollar (take small bills!), but English speakers are less common
• In 2008, Ecuador declared that nature has constitutional rights

Language schools

• There are 58 language schools in Ecuador! When we started thinking about this trip months ago, we thought a homestay with a focus on learning Spanish would be useful. But that's before we decided to go to Mexico City first.
• It will take some time to research this.

Top Attractions (Kate's Google Map)

• Quito
• Otavalo Market  (wikipedia)
• Banos for adventure -- probably not for us (small town in the Andes on the hill of Ecuador's most active volcano, Tungurahua)
• Cotapaxi Mountain
• Rainforest tour -- half of Ecuador is covered in rainforest
• overview to Ecuadorian Amazon (wikitravel)
• Ten best jungle lodges in the Amazon (Rough Guides, 2012)
• Top 5 Ecuadorian jungle lodges (Lonely Planet, 2011)
• Google doc comparing lodge packages
• The Devil's Nose train ... "the most difficult train ride in the world" not for the acrophobic (see Quito to Guayaquil post in February)
• Ingapirca -- premier Inca site with Temple of the Sun 
• Cuenca -- Ecuador's intellectual capital ... the "Athens of the Andes"
• Two-week itineraries from travel sites
•  Lonely Planet
• Frommer's
• Fodor's user forum
• TravelNation (UK)

Itinerary Scratch Pad

This is intended as a "live" post. We'll add destinations and an estimated duration as we make more or less firm decisions about our itinerary. We'll order them after the entire list is complete.

Number of weeks currently estimated: 16

• Start trip in Mexico City - 2-3 weeks or 2 weeks, plus a week in Oaxaca (or elsewhere)
• St. Petersburg - 2-3 weeks (see also the post Trans-Siberian Railway - March 2016)
• Vietnam - Cambodia - 2 weeks, plus one week Mekong River cruise
• End trip in Europe - 2 months

Mexico City

It's feeling increasingly likely that Mexico City will be our first stop. Today's research: get a sense of how long we should spend there.

Initial thought: 2 weeks, plus a week at a culinary school in Oaxaca or elsewhere, OR 3 weeks, with one or two half-day or so cooking classes in Mexico City

Art and Culture

• The Spanish Cultural Center
• Museo del Juguete Antiguo Mexico
• Museo Nacional de Antropologia
• Palacio de Bellas Artes
• Museo Frida Kahlo
• Museo Casa de Leon Trotsky
• Luis Barragan House and Studio (preeminent Mexican architect)
• Biblioteca de Mexico Jose Vasconcelos 

Food and Music

• Plaza Garibaldi - mariachi every night
• Salon Tenampa
• Mercado de Medellín
• Folkloric Ballet
• National Music Conservatory

Outdoors

• Zocalo (main plaza) -- flag raising and lowering each evening
• Paseo de la Reforma on Sundays by foot or bike (EcoBici--1 day $90)
• Parque Mexico/Parque Espana
• Castillo de Chaputepec (free on Sundays)
• Monumento a la Revolucion
• Bazar del Sabado (arts and crafts market on Saturdays)
• Plaza de la Angel (antique market)
• Plaza la Ciudadela (dancing) / La Ciudadela Mercado de Artesanias  

Short Trips and Tours

• Iztaccihuatl Volcano Hiking Tour (12 hours, including travel) ($48) 
• Market Tour: La Merced, Sonora, San Juan Markets (Viator, from $21) 
• Teotihuacan Pyramids (Viator self-guided tour, from $26) 
• Xochimilco (flower market)

Sites visited
36 hours in Mexico City (NY Times, 2014)
Lonely Planet
AirBnB (cool filter for choosing a neighborhood)
AFAR (a "multi-platform travel media brand" US-based)

Money-saving Travel Tips from Thrillest

Ways to Save Money When You Travel (a Thrillest list)
Full post (with explanations and links) here

The full list has 100 tips, but I've not included the tips that are exclusive to the US

1. Don't use US-based search engines exclusively to book flights
2. Don't book your flight too early
3. Use our step-by-step guide to hack cheap airfares using foreign websites and currency
4. Use hidden-route ticketing when booking your flight
5. Clear browser cookies to avoid dynamic pricing
6. Fly budget airlines
7. Join OneGo, an all-you-can-fly airline service
8. Use our step-by-step guide to finding deals on Google Flights
9. Visit one of these 10 countries where it's cheap to visit (<$25/day) or these 12 (<$50/day)
10. Visit one of Europe's 10 cheapest countries or cheaper alternatives to more popular European vacation spots
11. Use BlaBlaCar and other ride-sharing websites
12. Take public transportation, walk, or bike and avoid cabs
13. Use these Uber hacks (link is broken today, so maybe it's been removed?)
14. WWOOFING or HelpX
15. Don't book hotels online, always call the non-800 number instead
16. Stay in a hostel; here's a list of upscale hostels
17. Eleven 5-star hotels for <$100
18. Use WhatsApp or Viber for everything communication. Use Google+ and Skype for phone calls.
19. Use local SIM cards
20. Tell your mobile provider you're going abroad
21. Turn off data roaming and roaming assist
22. Six tips for hacking into free Wi-Fi at the airport (another link that's not working today; maybe removed)
23. Learn how to spot a tourist-trap restaurant
24. Eat street food and visit the local markets
25. Avoid paying bank fees
26. Take out larger sums to avoid fees and avoid getting pickpocketed
27. Don't exchange money at the airport
28. Get one of the best travel rewards cards
29. Pay with credit card whenever possible to get the best exchange rate
30. Download/take free walking tours
31. Get the city tourism card
32. Visit the local tourism office
33. Ask  hostel staff for advice
34. Take advantage of museum free days
35. Tap into meetup.com groups
36. Book cruises or tours within the last few days of departure or really far in advance. Cruise booking tips.
37. Travel during the low season; use AARP discount
38. Look at local newspapers for coupons
39. Ask people on Twitter where the deals are
40. Budget travel apps
41. Use a travel agent (can get deals that aren't online)
42. In Europe, Eurail or buy train tickets in advance
43. In New Zealand, that the Naked Bus
44. In Japan, buy a Japan Rail Pass

Trans-Siberian Railway

Could it be fun to cross Russia by train? The research begins ...

Slightly more readable version of this map

• The main trans-Siberian line runs from Moscow to Vladivostok; according to Seat61.com, most westerners travel on either the Trans-Mongolian line or Trans-Manchurian line. Demand usually exceeds supply. 
• Trans-Mongolian line leaves Beijing for Moscow every Wednesday night. The trip is 4735 miles and takes 6 nights. $1130 for 1st class 2-berth (2x prices of 4-berth). Slight price increase for stopovers along the way.
• Trans-Manchurian line leaves Beijing every Saturday night. 
• Can be fully booked in summer, so have to book through an agency, like Real Russia. Some agencies mark price up according to market demands. Shop around for quotes.
• As a general rule, quality trains have low numbers; slower, low-quality trains have 3-digit train numbers.
• Most hassle-free way to arrange the trip is through a western travel agency, who can arrange visa, hotel, train reservations, stop-overs and tours, connecting trains to China or a ship to Japan. After 20 minutes of reading about this, THIS OPTION APPEALS!

Sites visited

Seat 61 -- the map is from this site and it is filled with useful information.

St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg -- "The Venice of the North" -- is another destination that we think will likely be in our Top 20, so today's research is to validate that assumption and estimate how much time we'd want to spend there.

Fast Facts

• Population 5.2 million
• Average temperature graph; descriptions of each season
• September - October best time to visit because it's cooler, less humid and tourists are gone, though rain is common
• Money and costs
• Visa is required from USA. See Procedures for US citizens (wikitravel); cost is $160 + processing fee

Culture

• 221 museums
• The Mariinsky is closed in August and most of the ballet troupes are out of the country
• 2000 libraries
• 80 theaters 
• 100 concert organizations
• 45 galleries and exhibition halls
• 80 other cultural establishments

Tourist Tips

• Best time to visit is June during White Nights (end of May through mid-July); can be tough to get accommodations during the last 10 days of June
• Cheaper to fly to Estonia and take the Eurolines bus (8 hours)
• Last Sunday of July is a NAVI day -- modern NAVI ships of Baltic fleet are open for visitors

Sites visited:
Wikipedia
The Telegraph article (reader's tips and travel advice) (2012)
The Guardian article (The insider's cultural guide to St. Petersburg (March, 2015)
Wikitravel
Lonely Planet
Local travel company

"Voluntourism"

The neologism is a bit off-putting, but volunteering appeals, especially opportunities that pair the volunteer with a host family.

Habitat Global Village Volunteer program

• In 40 countries abroad
• most trips seem to be between 8 and 12 days
• About half the program cost goes towards the project; the other half covers volunteer's expenses
• On-ground trip coordination seems to be included in most trips
• Engagement includes rest and cultural activities

Projects Abroad

• Active for over 20 years; worldwide office; hundreds of projects. Brochure
• Prices include food and lodging; airport pick up and drop off; necessary work-related transportation; travel and medical insurance (to age 65); support etc etc.
• Volunteer responsible for flights, visas etc.
• "Grown-up Special" projects for volunteers over 50. Currently in South Africa, Nepal and Jamaica. Two-weeks, with a group. Example pricing: South Africa = $3170; Nepal $2195

Global Volunteer Network

• Founded in New Zealand in 2000
• Projects in Africa, Asia and the Americas
• $250 application fee + $495/week for up to four weeks, then $200/week thereafter
• Includes accommodation, meals, coordination, supervision, training, airport pick up

Five tips from Shannon O'Donnell, who wrote a book on volunteer tourism, The Volunteer Traveler's Handbook.

• Understand development and aid -- to avoid projects with questionable ethics
• Choose a good fit; assess time commitment and personal volunteer motives
• independent volunteering - for long-term travelers with flexible itinerary; all self-arranged
• placement companies - for specific type of volunteering; medium level of facilitation
• voluntours - high level of facilitation; bulk of fee goes to the company
• social enterprises: skip the volunteering and donate to local communities as you travel
• Research organizations in your area of interest; links to many sites for researching included
• Ask the right questions; Full list of questions here, but the core issues are
• where's the money going
• how is the organization working with the community
• what is expected of volunteers
• Then take a break, take a deep breath, and start the detailed planning

Alternative Housing

To budget for the pricey adventures I've been researching, it is probably prudent to get educated about less expensive alternatives to AirBnB and hotels.

HelpX (Help Exchange) -- "HelpX is an online listing of host organic farms, non-organic farms, farmstays, homestays, ranches, lodges, B&Bs, backpackers hostels and even sailing boats who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation."

• launched in 2001 by a Brit
• must have a "helper" membership for each country (similar to WWOOFing); "premier" membership (which allows direct contact with hosts) is 20 Euros for 2-years
• work visa may be required
• expect to work (hard) 3-6 hours a day on average
• recommended to bring your own bedding -- this would be a deal-breaker
• travel insurance highly recommended

Trusted Housesitters --  "By offering your time and care for other's pets for free, you can enjoy staying for free in locations world-wide, whether you're looking for a weekend or a few months."

• Annual plan $99
• Pet care almost always a requirement
• houses in 80 countries (though it appears to be primarily in North America, Europe and Australia; 4 in South America and 11 in South Africa; none in Asia)

MindMyHouse -- "We're an established global matching service dedicated to bringing house sitters and home owners together online. By searching our database you may be able to find that perfect 'change of scene' you've been looking for. House sitting can be a free arrangement that benefits all parties."

• $20 annual membership
• Appears to be many more house owners than Trusted Housitters (e.g., 197 in Brazil; 76 in South Africa)

HouseCarers -- "HouseCarers has been securely matching Homeonwers with House Sitters since October 2000. We have researched the practice of house sitting and created acceptable guidelines to help our members make informed decisions. We use the power of the internet to connect our members across United States and around the world."

• Australian company
• $50 annual membership
• Appears to be primarily North America, Europe and Australia/New Zealand

Burma / Myanmar

I was talking with a woman yesterday who has traveled to over 100 countries. I asked her to pick 5 countries that are at the top of her list. Burma was one. Burma caught my attention since I also happen to be reading a book that's set there (Elephant Company -- quite good) and I wondered myself whether we should investigate it. We should!

So today's task is to decide whether we should seriously consider Burma as a destination.
Gleaned from the sites listed below:

• Country is embracing change since 11/2015 with the election of the "National League for Democracy"
• Travel between November and March
• Bagan is very touristy
• The window is fast closing for experiencing an "untouched" country (untouched by commercialism)
• Internet is more available than it once was, but bandwidth and electrical outages can make it extremely frustrating to use
• Public transportation is "immaculate and generally reliable"
• Cuisine derived from Thai, Indian and Chinese; great fruit
• Carry toilet paper and bug spray (lots of mosquitos)
• Crime rate is low; violent crime against foreigners rare
• Highly recommended: 3-day trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake ($12 pp/day)
• Many, many festivals. List of traditional festivals. Google images for Festival of Lights.

Sites visited:

Good Lonely Planet article: Myanmar Essentials

Five Reasons to Visit Myanmar in 2015 (US News and World Report)

A 2015 Travel Guide to Myanmar (Notes about a 3-week trip from an enthusiastic 20-something)
Myanmar travel site
Local travel company

Culinary Adventures

John and I would both like to take cooking classes or have some sort of culinary learning experience during our trip. We have agreed to the countries where we would like to do this: Mexico, either Vietnam or Thailand, and Italy. We need to prioritize cuisines in case budget makes us cut one (or two).

Epitourean.com (a Denver based company) is a "look, book, cook" site for searching for "edible destinations" of all sorts.

Mexico  (Map showing location of these options)
Hola Mexico. Tepoztlan, Morelos. This itinerary appeals to me: Prepare traditional and nouvelle Mexican dishes, visit villages in the state of Morelos and experience real Mexican life in a small town environment during your culinary vacation, all while staying on an expansive organic garden tucked into the majestic Tepozteco  7 nights, $1850 pp

Los Dos. Merida, Mexico. Classes only (no lodging). Cuisine of Yucatan only. 8-hour class. Selected by Travel+Leisure magazine as one of the world's best.

Sazon. San Miguel de Allende (4 hour drive NW of Mexico City) Shorter classes (1-2 hours). In the Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada. 15 rooms/22 suites.

Seasons of My Heart. Oaxaca. Offers shorter (i.e., half-day) classes, culinary immersion courses and culinary tours. The immersion and tours include lodging, meals, classes, transportation. Sample costs:

• Wednesday class with Etla market tour (full day $85 pp)
• Guelaguetza course (6 days, $1695 pp) -- this one sounds great!
• Mexico City - Tepoz - Oaxaca tour (10 days, $2695 pp)

A Taste of Puebla in Central Mexico. Tlaxcala. 7 days/6 nights, $1798 pp all-inclusive

Vietnam/Thailand

Hanoi Cooking Centre. Hanoi. classes and tours. From $60 pp

Green Bamboo Cooking School  Hoi An  8-3:30. From $40 pp

Exotic Thailand Culinary and Cultural Adventure. Bangkok. 8 days/7 nights. $2890 pp

Italy
Italy may be challenging since I've eliminated nightshades from my diet. But assuming nothing changes in four years, arthritis-wise, I'm probably willing to sacrifice temporary pain for a great experience.

Clothes (Kate)

Today I feel like doing something lightweight: clothes!

At this point, I'm thinking I'll buy mostly everything new. This seems reasonable since I'll be wearing the same small set of clothes for an entire year and I might as well invest in things that will hold up to the trip, the weather, and my attitude.

I am already aware of the basic criteria: weight (light); colors (neutral); washability (quick drying); comfort (breathable); and appropriateness (just this side of boring). But I am not aware of the latest in modern fabrics and styles.

Things to purchase (focusing just on me at the moment):
Tops --
Bottoms --
Shoes -- want to check out these foldable flats
Skirt/dress -- this skirt is basic and inexpensive, but should hold up for a year; it's the right fabric and weight and has UV protection; wish it had more than just an interior pocket. Will keep looking.
Wrap -- definitely smitten by these options
Outerwear -- I like this raincoat and this jacket

Packing and other tips:

• REI recommends using packing cubes (already have); using a dryer sheet to keep things smelling fresh (I generally don't like the smell of dryer sheets, so probably not); and folding pants and dresses at the knees to minimize wrinkling (may not be an issue depending on fabric).
• Rick Steves: “Don’t pack for the worst-case scenario. Pack for the best case-scenario and buy yourself out of any jams.”
• What Not to Pack: 21 Carry-on Travellers Share Their Packing Mistakes (2015)

Sites visited:
REI clothing posts
TravelSmith (women)
Merrell (women)
The travel wrap company

Mekong River Cruise

Today's task: research river cruises on the Mekong
Follow-up task: Since we know we want to do this, I need to research each cruise line and select at least our prefered line. Once that's done, we can add the info to the "Top 20" page.

According to Cruise Critic:

• Itineraries are similar for all cruise lines
• Can be cruise-only or combined with land tours
• Most go between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
• Some sights are available with cruise extensions
• Cruise advisor suggests first deciding budget and sites to narrow the possibilities
• Best time is November through February (rainy season is July through October though rain falls only for about 30 minutes)
• River is highest in September
• River port highlights: Hanoi, Siem Reap, Kampong Cham, Phnom Penh, Tan Chau, Vinh Hoa, Sa Dec, Cai Be, Ho Chi Minh City
• Dress for heat, be a smart eater and don't pet the monkeys

Major cruise lines:

AmaWaterways, Avalon Waterways, Pandaw, Aqua Expeditions, Uniworld, Viking Cruises, CroisiEurope 

Here's a summary I put together comparing these cruise lines. 

Additional sites visited:
River  Cruise Basics
The Mekong river cruise guide (Telegraph UK, 2014)

Kibbutz

Today's task: research kibbutz -- completed

We haven't decided for certain to go to Israel (we haven't decided on any place for certain, for that matter), but Israel appeals to me for many reasons, from general curiosity about the country to rave reviews from friends who have travelled there. John is less enthusiastic, but can be persuaded.

The Kibbutz way of life is unique and seems to be a great way to "deep dive" into a culture.

So, right off the bat, I find this on the Israel tourism site:

An unforgettable opportunity to get acquainted with kibbutz life, to make life-long friends among the kibbutzniks and other people from around the world, and to see Israel at the same time is by volunteering on one of 30 or so kibbutzim for a minimum of two months and a maximum of six months.

Volunteering is appealing, but two months is longer than I want to spend in any one place.

Ah, and it also seems that we're too old: Kibbutz Volunteering is a tradition that thousands of adventurers from all over the world have undertaken from the founding of Israel until today. The program offers people ages 19-35 the chance to spend 2-6 months living and working on one of about 30 Kibbutzim all over Israel. Begin your program ANY TIME with just four weeks notice.

One site suggests the age restriction is in place to increase the likelihood that the volunteer is physically up to the work required and that if you're over 35 to try writing an enthusiastic letter extolling one's commitment and physical abilities. But that is more than I wish to undertake.

One possibility is kibbutz lodging. Should Israel be part of our itinerary, that is worth investigating.

Sites visited:
Israel tourism
NYT travel (2008)
Kibbutz Program Center
Kibbutz lodging

Quito <-> Guayaquil Train

Considering this excursion if budget allows. Might be nice later in the trip, when we're ready for a vacation. :-)

See also post on Ecuador (April).

Description:
Brochure
Ecuador Rail
Train Ecuador

Cost:
Tren Crucero (2016: 4 days/3 nights, with meals and other stuff  - $1393 ea)

Reviews:
LonelyPlanet (2013)
The Telegraph (2013)
Trip Advisor (2014)

WWOOF

Today's task: research WWOOF -- world wide opportunities on organic farms. completed - for now

WWOOF appeals to me because of my love of gardening and the chance to be "embedded" with a farm in another country. Right off the bat, I worry whether I'll be up to it physically. John grew up on a farm and has the strength of an (elderly) ox. I am in great shape with one exception: my knees.

But for today, my task is to research just enough to decide whether this idea is viable enough to keep in the mix.

Sites visited: wwoof international, wwoof italia, wwoof australia

What I learned:

• WWOOFing is in line with our values and seems like a potentially "highlight" experience.
• On the other hand, enjoyment may be dependent on the host farm/family, which may be hard to fully know before committing.
• Therefore, we should consider WWOOFing, but not count on it.
• We should consider WWOOFing in more expensive parts of the world for budget management.
• We should settle on a country for WWOOFing and join WWOOF for that country during our travel year.
• A two week visit seems maximum for us. More likely, one.

The Plan

John and I are planning a year of travel. We're aiming for 2020. A good vision, I think.

This page will eventually hold all the posts about the places we want to go and activities we want to do. From this list, we'll map out an itinerary and budget, revising as necessary.

Right now, we're just researching possibilities. Everything we're considering is currently in the Sandbox -- ideas we're playing with. From this giant set we'll extract the Top 20.

We welcome anyone's input. Just add a comment here or on any post.

We'll be packing before we know it.