Summer is fast approaching and we’ve got some great news to help you plan your exciting holiday ideas.

Expedia has launched the largest summer sale in the company’s history and to help you choose between the 12,000 participating hotels worldwide, they’ve developed two tools to help you out; Geotargeted hotel deals and the Blogger Bucket List App.

Dave and I are excited to tell you about the Travel Blogger Bucket List as we are one of the Adventure Travel contributors.

The Blogger Bucket List App

As a way to help travelers book the perfect summer trip, Expedia has partnered with some of the world’s most influential travel bloggers and we are thrilled to be a part of it. To participate, consumers can download the Blogger Bucket List App via Expedia’s Facebook page  to take a quiz to determine your Beach Travel profile.

What type of beachgoer are you? 

This fun and interactive quiz will determine if you are an Adventure lovin’ adrenaline seeking beachgoer, an international foodie expert, a good old fashioned beach bum or a History and Culture Buff. There are all sorts of travel types out there, find out where you belong!

Take the Quiz Now

How the App Works

Fifteen influential bloggers have selected destinations that correspond with each of the Beach Travel profiles. So a traveler whose profile is “Foodie” would be presented with blogger recommendations to visit cities such as Tokyo, or Bangkok, or New York City. “Adventure” travelers would see blogger recommendations to visit Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to hunt with eagles, or Reykjavic, Iceland, to experience dog sledding. “Party” people will be encouraged to enjoy Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, or Ibiza, Spain, among numerous other destinations. “Exotic” travelers would be advised to visit Pohnpei, Micronesia, or the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Travelers who fit each profile will be presented with a broad number of prospective travel destinations. And travelers can retake the quiz at will, to examine travel recommendations for any of the categories such as.

• Adventure Travel
• Budget Travel
• Family Travel
• Beach Bum
• Exotic Travel
• Zen
• Luxury and Fashion
• Foodie
• History/Culture Buff
• Party

We tried the app and found out that we’re a Rowin’ Paddlin’ Singaporean Dude. Just like Johnny Jett!

See All Blogger Profiles here! 

Big Sale!

Starting today and running all the way through August 31, participating customers can save 10% on a single night’s stay in more than 12,000 hotels worldwide! We all know you want to stay more than one night, so add a second and receive 20% of per night or 30% off per night for a three-night-stay.

There is so much more. 

Did you know that 41% of the American population has driven across the US and a huge percentage have always wanted to? Expedia is offering a $25 gas card for every $150 spent on a summer sale hotel. Spend more and save more. Spend up to $450 at a summer sale hotel and you will receive a $100 gas card. I think it’s time for a Road Trip!

Geotargeted Hotel Deals

When travelers visit the Summer Sale site, Expedia will present them with the very best hotel deals within their geographic vicinity, ideal for last-minute local getaways, or as deals to share with incoming friends and relatives.

Where are you heading this summer?

As I sit down to write this 2011 Adventure Travel Round up, I am in shock and awe that we really did all these things in a span of 365 days. The other day, Dave was telling his mom about our upcoming trip to Antarctica that we have in January and he said, “It’s going to be the trip of a lifetime” to which I replied “We’ve been having a lot of those lately” as I stopped to pinch myself. Is this really happening?

It is while putting it all down on words that I realized that we just lived a year of adventure travel that I never thought I would have the opportunity to ever do in my life. We left for Fiji last November knowing that we would be going to China afterwards but then, the plans were all up in the air. All we knew was that we were going to fly to Thailand to hang out for a bit because its a cheap place to visit.

It was then the Real Adventures Began.

2011 started off with us studying Muay Thai Kickboxing at Rawai Muay Thai in Phuket. We spent a month boxing, skipping, sparring, visiting an orphanage, learning the wai kru and making new friends.

Thailand

Muay Thai Training at Rawai Muay Thai

Malaysia

After a month in Thailand we had to do a visa run to Malaysia so we thought we’d stick around a bit to witness Thaipusam. This festival is an adventure unto itself. Imagine seeing people with spikes through their cheeks, hooks on their back and carrying heavy kavadis on their heads walk by you so close that you could reach out and touch them. It was our second time experiencing Thaipusam and no less thrilling.

Worshipper at Thaipusam, Malaysia

Thailand

We were then back in Thailand doing a great adventure with the Tourism Authority. They sent us on a two week custom itinerary showcasing the great adventures that Thailand has to offer. From rock climbing in Railay to paddling into sea caves of Phuket with high tide rushing in to add to the thrill. We then flew north to take a week long motorcycle journey to the Myanmar border through tea terraces, mountain passes and hill tribe villages. It all rounded off with a mountain bike adventure, elephant safari and longtail boat back to Chiang Rai.

Mountain Biking in Northern Thailand

New Zealand

Just when we were trying to figure out what to do next, we received an email from our good friend Melvin on Travel Dudes. “Do you guys want to go to New Zealand?”" I can’t do it so I recommended the Adventure Couple!” Do we!

Sadly, the earthquake hit 2 days before we arrived in Christchurch and we witnessed the devastation that an angry planet can reap on civilization. But the Kiwis are resilient and they pushed forward.

The Devastation in Christchurch, New Zealand

We shared their story with our readers telling people to not forget New Zealand. It’s still open for business and outside the city of Christchurch it was business as usual. Even though the country was mourning the loss of life, they were doing their best to rebuild and move forward.

And move Forward we did!

How can I sum up 6 weeks of the greatest adventure of our lives…Do I dare put photos in of the 30+ adventures we did day in day out?

Ok, that will be another post but for now, imagine every thrill you can think of that happens in the World’s Adventure Capital, add some more and that is what we did.

Adventures in New Zealand

Skydiving, bungy jumping, paragliding, flying a stunt plane, white water rafting class 5 rapids, swimming with dolphins, paddling through glow worm caves, riding a jet boat, 4X4ing through old gold mines, sand boarding, glacier hiking, sailing, cruising, paddling, eating, camping, hiking, you name it, we did it!

Mexico

While we were in New Zealand we received an email from Jordan to come and sample their adventures but first we had commitments at Rancho La Puerta in Mexico where we spent 1 week working out and detoxing in such classes as cardio drumming, African Dance, walking the Labyrinth and spinning the Hoola Hoop just to name a few!

Walking the Labyrinth after a Workout at Rancho La Puerta

Jordan

Directly from Mexico we then flew to Jordan where besides witnessing the beauty of Petra, the classic landscape of the Arabian Desert in Wadi Rum, the medicinal elements of the Dead Sea and the gorgeous views from the Dana River Reserve, we also had the chance to go Canyoning in Wadi Majub. We’ve always wanted to rappel over a waterfall and this was our chance. We slid down rocky dams, waded through rushing rivers and yes, we jumped over a cliff and lowered ourselves into the spray of the mighty waterfall!

Canyonning in Wadi Mujib, Jordan

There was no rest after Jordan, our greatest journey of 2011 had yet to begin.

The Mongol Rally

In July, we met our teammates Sherry Ott and Rick Griffin to take part in the Mongol Rally. A 10,000 mile drive in an inappropriate car from England to Mongolia through 13 countries. We drove through the Ukraine and Kazakhstan and Siberia! Yes, Siberia! We then dodged camels, yaks, serious potholes and herds of horses through the Gobi Desert. All while nursing a broken exhaust, tender tires that were constantly being punctured, a busted shock and most importantly a dead horn. No honking at the wildlife or just for the heck of it. It was just us and our duct taped gear shift keeping us company.

Mongol Rally River Crossings

Canada

It was late September when we were finally back in Canada.

It was wonderful to be around family and friends and it was here that we had the opportunity to do an adventure in our own back yard with Samba Days. We took a flight over our home city of Toronto and it was spectacular. It was nearly as thrilling as the Stunt Plane in New Zealand.

At The Toronto Island Airport Awaiting Take-Off

It was then off to Mexico. While we didn’t do adventures there, we did go to the Adventure Travel World Summit where we learned that in the tourism industry, 16% of all travellers are adventure travellers. That is awesome!

Jamaica

We rounded up the year with a soft adventure tour in Jamaica where we went Jamaican Bobsledding! We then spent the next 5 days sampling the islands other adventure activities such as ATVing, catamaran sailing, snorkelling, ziplining, hiking and mountain biking and finally eating spicy Jamaican Jerk Chicken at Scotchies.

Jamaican Bobsledding

We are heading to Seattle this weekend to watch a Seahawks game and then we’re jetting off to Cairo next week to speak at the ioeti Conference.  While it is not going to be a physical adventure, speaking to the Middle East Market about the future of Travel Blogging is definitely going to be an exciting moment in our lives and we can’t wait to end our year with this wonderful opportunity. Plus, we’re really looking forward to seeing Alexandria, we missed it during our last trip to Egypt.

I don’t know how we are going to top this year, but 2012 is starting off with a bang to Antarctica. More on that next week!

Father’s Day can be one of the most difficult holidays to buy a gift for.

Dad’s are normally really laid back and easy going when it comes to receiving gifts, so how can a person be unique when trying to buy them a Father’s Day gift.

Well, if you have a dad that loves adventure, these products below will definitely be appreciated.

Jim Corbeil at the triathalon finish line!

While we are the world travelers and adventure seekers, he is the dedicated athlete.  There are many  travel related items that you can buy your father for this Fathers Day, but these items can also be used for the active Dad that loves to get outdoors and live life.

1. TomTom XL Portable GPS Navigator We used this handy GPS all through our travels in Europe.  Whether you are trying to navigate the crazy highways of Italy, the back roads of France or the vast city of Toronto, Canada, the TomTom will be a welcome gift for your dad.  No more maps or stopping to ask for directions. You Father will be relaxing and enjoying the views from now on.

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2. Apple iPod nano 8 GB : Dad may not be into electronics and todays music, but the iPod nano is perfect to entertain while out running, cycling or even in the speakers while camping.  Get your father an Ipod Nano and fill it with his favorite music of his time.  My dad loved Johnny Cash.  It is an excellent way to blend the old school with todays technology.

The iPod nano even has a video camera to capture those moments in races, out in the wild or during a trip of a life time. It’s everything you need in one little piece of machinery.
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3. Leatherman Multitool: While traveling a Leatherman is a very valuable tool.  It is lightweight, and loaded with features from pocket knives, screw drivers and pliers.  We find ourselves reaching for our Leatherman on a regular basis.  And dad will find this to be the perfect gift to have in the garage or to keep handy in his tool shed. Whether he is a handyman or avid cyclist the Leatherman can be used for a variety of quick fixes.

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4. Solio Universal Hybrid Charger: We have found our solar charger to be a savior on several occasions. An adventurer can’t always be near electricity and the Solio Universal Charger can charge your batteries for a variety of electronics.  From your iPod to your digital camera and your cell phone.  Even if you are going into the back country, you can still stay connected with your family and capture those awe inspiring shots that only an adventurous person can reach.

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5. Black Diamond Infinity 50 Backpack: There is no better way to travel than with a comfortable backpack. An active guy doesn’t need suitcases to lug around in the great outdoors.  Load a properly fit backpack onto the back and you won’t even feel that carrying your weight is a burden. Not only does it feature an ergoACTIV hip belt, the 50-liter hauler also has shoulder straps that slide laterally to keep the load centered as you swing side to side. Use it for a great adventure around the world or for packing up for a weekend getaway to a national park or canoe trip with the guys.

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6. Timex® T5K253 Men’s IRONMAN® 150-Lap TAP Screen Sleek Watch: Any runner, cyclist or adventurous father will thank you for the versatile Ironman watch.  We have used these watches during many of our travels and they always last through the elements.  Us them for your training or simply as an alarm clock to wake you up early for that sunrise trek up a mountain.

The Ironman has everything you need.  Set your laps, stop watch, swim with it and use the unique tap screen oversized face.  You will have no problem checking the time in the middle of a pitch black night with the indiglo technology.

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7: Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 12MP Digital Camera: Dad not into carrying a heavy SLR digital camera?  Instead, get him  this tough guy durable point and shoot camera for Fathers day.  It is waterproof, shock and dust resistant and compact.  This camera has a movie funtion also and has Panasonic says, “Not only can you haul it through a Gobi sandstorm, you’ll have pretty good movies to show for it.”

Forget about dad, we want this one!

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8: Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Poly Loop Cap: My dad takes this wherever he goes.  Reusable and reliable, the single-walled bottle saves hundreds of plastic bottles from hitting the landfill each year. Taste-free and safe, the food-grade stainless steel won’t leach taste or chemicals into your liquids.  The adventure lover and traveler will enjoy the versatility of the Klean Kanteen, use it to heat your soup over a campfire or burner.

This fathers day, give your dad a gift he can use daily while saving the environment one bottle at a time.

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9. SealLine See Dry Bag: Paddlers, cyclists, travelers, hikers…the list goes on and on.  Dry bags have become more lightweight over the years and are a great way to store your electronics and food while heading outdoors.

It’s not just white water rafters that need dry bags anymore.  Pack your important items into the SealLine Dry Bag and be worry free of rain or bad weather.  Adventurous dads will love to build their collection of dry bags to keep clothing dry and cameras performing in tip top shape.

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10. Marmot Super Mica Jacket – Men’s: Marmot was all the rage in Nepal and we loved the product so much that we bought a Marmot vest.  While your father may not need a down vest, every dad needs a waterproof breathable Jacket.  This strong shell protects you from wet weather and practically floats around your body thanks to lightweight MemBrain fabric.

Tell your father to throw away his old heavy raincoat, the Marmot Super Mica Jacket is made of their new MemBrain® Strata™ fabric and weighs only 9 ounces

Dad will love this one while he works outside on the car, takes a fishing trip through a rain storm or goes for a trail run in bad weather.

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We feel that these items are the perfect choice for the adventurous dad for Fathers Day.  Having used all or similar items to the products listed above we also feel confident recommending these products to make your dad one happy guy this Fathers Day.

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Why do people put their lives at risk and pack into over crowded ferries in Bangladesh?  Why do businessmen fly on airlines with the worst safety records on the planet? Why do mothers and children ride through terrifying mountainous journeys on buses barely fit to stay on the road?

The Lunatic Express explores how the poorest people in the world are forced to make these dangerous journeys every day.  The world is growing at a rapid pace.  People need to get from one place to another and in developing nations the citizens are traveling in uncomfortable conditions and risking their lives regularly just to get from point A to point B.

Carl Hoffman has always had a curiosity about the world.

He has been paid to travel to some of the most remote destinations on earth. As a contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler, Wired and Popular Mechanics, Carl Hoffman has reached the pinnacle of adventure travel.  He has explored every corner of the earth writing for magazines like Outside, National Geographic Adventure and Men’s Journal.

The Lunatic Express is his second novel.

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His life has been one  big adventure and the adventure became addictive.  As he puts it “home became ever more strange to return to.”  How can a person be in a war zone in the Sudan one minute and be shopping at the Safeway the next?

While I haven’t been in the middle of a war zone, I have been in some mind blowing situations and I can relate to his predicament. It is impossible to blend the two worlds together. Eventually one life has to give way to the other.  But when you have a wife and three children waiting for you at home like Carl does, how can you give up your stable relationships and family?

It was time to do something drastic, something to satisfy his craving to see the world and jar him back to his life at home.  A long journey seemed like the only way to finally satisfy his wanderlust.

This wasn’t going to be your average trip to explore exotic destinations or a break on a beach.  This was a journey where he was going to put his life in jeopardy every day.   He was going to circumnavigate the globe riding the most dangerous trains, planes, boats and buses of the world.

A suicide mission you ask?

His friends thought so, but the Lunatic Express is far more than a shock value book telling the tales of dangerous situations. It is a triumph of the human spirit, a love letter to the people you meet on the road and a testament to the resilience of people in the world that are not given a choice. These people welcome a stranger into their life. They treat him as a friend for the brief time that they spend together taking part in the simple act of moving from one place to another.

Hoffman puts a face to the statistics. There is a quiet dignity in people that carefully wrap their belongings in cardboard boxes and hang their hammocks on an overcrowded deck.  There is surprising strength in men that can share a drink at the end of a 14 hour day of driving and hustling for fares and there is a zest for life in people flirting, laughing and dancing with one another during a long and arduous journey.

A moving moment in The Lunatic Express comes when Carl interviews one of the few survivors of the second worst maritime disaster in history.  The MV La Joola. A Senengalese Ferry that sank 6 years earlier off the coast of Gambia killing over 1800 people.  Pierre Colly was a young student at the time and he survived by being swept out the window and into the sea.  Clinging to a floating fish trap he was eventually rescued by a fisherman.  He survived but lost his brother and continues to live in despair and with the guilt of being labeled a survivor.

These people are forced to travel on dangerous modes of transportation.   They don’t have the choice of taking a flight, traveling in a higher class or exploring other options.  The over crowding, the filth and stifling heat are the only choice available to them and millions of people face these obstacles every day.

Carl Hoffman brings this to light in The Lunatic Express. People wouldn’t travel this way if they had a choice.

Why Carl chose to put his life at risk and leave his children without a father I cannot explain. Luckily, he came out unscathed and ready to face his life with fresh eyes.

The Lunatic Express is a journey worth taking not only for the adventure but to read along with Carl as he discovers the value of deep human connections taking place in some of the most harrowing of situations.

To read more about Carl Hoffman visit his website TheLunaticExpress.com

Follow him on twitter at lunaticcarl

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As we prepare to leave India we thought it only fitting to show you the many faces of this country. Many people were proud to pose for a portrait. We hope you enjoy the Faces of India.

There are common traits between adventure travelers, luxury travelers, green travelers and budget travelers except when it comes to holiday gift ideas.
While the world is slowly coming out of a recession, it’s really the thought that counts when giving travel-related gifts this year.
In order to help you find a great gift, we’ve worked with popular travel websites, based on their niche and expertise, to put together a holiday travel gift guide.
We encourage you to visit the other participating travel blogs for even more gift ideas – you’re sure to find a few ideas that will be perfect for the traveler on your gift list!

Please check out these other great blogs that are running their targeted holiday gift campaigns:

Some blogs have their gifts scheduled and may not be up and running yet, but come on back and check them out later once they are published.

Holiday Gifts for the Guy Traveler
Holiday Gifts for Women Travelers
Holiday Gifts for the Sports Traveler
Holiday Gifts for the Budget Traveler
Holiday Gifts for the Green Traveler
Holiday Gifts for the Travel Writer

Holiday Gifts for Adventure Travelers

The Holiday’s are fast approaching and it is time look for some gifts for those adventure travelers and adventurers at heart.  Wondering what to get for those friends and family members on your list that always tend do push the envelope a little more than others?  Check out this list below.  These holiday gift items will be sure to satisfy travelers and adventurers alike.

Adventure Travel Stocking Stuffers Under $25

Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottle Shoulder Sling (40-Ounce Bottles)

$6.50

When going on a trek or any adventure, you don’t want to have to carry your water bottle in your hand. Sling it over your shoulder freeing up your hands, but having it readily available rather than stuffed in your pack. Perfect for the Inca Trail to climbing Kilimanjaro.

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Belkin BZ103050vTVL Mini Surge Protector/Dual USB Charger

$16.99

Even the most adventurous of travelers carry computers and iphones with them into the wilderness.  We have many electronics today. Protect from surges as you charge your computer, camera, and ipod all at the same time! Any traveler would thank you for this gift!

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Lightload Towels Beach Towel (36″ x 60″)

$9.50
Light weight and fast drying, this is the towel we use.  This towel doesn’t take up a lot of space and doesn’t add a lot of weight to your packs. You will never bring a regular towel with you abroad again.

Travel Laundry Clothesline – Flexoline

$10.00
No need to carry clothes pegs or worry about tying rope. This elastic line is easy to hang and holds all of your clothes. When hiking or trekking on long expeditions, you may need to rinse or wash your clothing. Clothes pegs can be lost easily. You won’t need to worry about that with this flexoline.

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Adventure Travel Gifts Under $200

Pacsafe PacSafe 55 (Wire)

$59-$93

Worried about having your pack stolen on a train? What about unsecured hostels and guesthouses?  Put your pack inside the pacsafe wire protector and lock it to a bedpost and feel at ease leaving your belongings behind or rest easy on the overnight train. Don’t let your adventure be ruined by having everything stolen.

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Petzl Tikka Plus 2 Headlamp

$34.95 – $36.95
You will be amazed how much you need this gift idea. Having your hands free is important. LED gives better light with longer battery life and this headlamp allows you to focus your light. The long lasting bulbs keep your packs light by having to carry less batteries.

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Motorola Talkabout Em1000r Rechargeable Radio

$69.99

These radios are perfect for snowboarding in the Alps or any back country adventures.  They will help you keep in touch to plan your lunch rendevous or save your life in an emergency situation.  An excellent gift idea for your extreme adventure friends.

These radios have a range of 20 km.

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CamelBak Mini-M.U.L.E. 50-Ounce Hydration Pack

$27.99-$49.99

This pack is a perfect holiday gift for the adventure traveler. Whether you are a cyclist, mountain biker, hiker or mounaineer, you will use this pack regularly.  Drink your water hands free and carry several litres comfortably as it contours to your body.

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Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite

$49.95-$69.95

Needing to sleep outside or camp?  The Therma-a-Rest Trail Lite is essential.  It compresses down, taking up very little space and is light weight.  Easy to inflate with a few breaths, it instantly becomes a comfortable mattress for the adventure traveler.

Adventure Travel Splurge Gifts Under $500

Lowepro DryZone 200 Camera Backpack (Yellow)

$235.00

For any adventure traveler that finds themselves in a wet or damp situation, the dry zone is a must to protect your camera gear and electronics. It well laid out like any lowepro bag and easy to organize with its velcro compartments.  You won’t have to worry if your dump your kayak or are caught in a torrential downpour. Everything will stay dry and safe.

Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator

$277

If you are planning on cycling or trekking through a country and want to track your route this is the GPS for you.  Want to know your maximum altitude? How far you traveled or just where you are and where you came from? This GPS will tell you all the details that you need.  It is a dream gift for us.

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The North Face Roadrunner 33 Tent – 2009 Model

$214.95

We swear by the North Face Tent. The Roadrunner 2 survived our most extreme adventure to date. 120 days in Africa through the most gruelling conditions that you can imagine. Blowing sands, monsoon rains, mud and wind. We never had a problem.  Durability is not even a factor. The North Face Roadrunner 33 is larger and that is why we recommend it.

Brunton 26 Watt Foldable Solar Array

$286.50

If you are caught on a trek for several days at a time, you will be away from  outlets and civilization. There is nothing worse than having the batteries of your camera run out before you reach the summit or the pinnacle of your trek.  A solar charger will make sure that your electronics are charged and ready to go.  It will ensure that those important moments are not lost forever.

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These are our top holiday gift recommendations for adventure travel.

We  have used everyone of of the products listed above for one or more of our adventures around the world and find them invaluable.  So give the gift of adventure this holiday season, you may just kick start a whole new life for one of your loved ones.

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In the spirit of early compliance with the new FTC rules concerning disclosure by bloggers of content that is in any way remunerated, the above links do earn a small amount of money if you click on them and make a purchase. Not much, maybe enough for a cup of coffee or a beer, but every little bit helps keep this site going and helps us continue to provide you with great information, so we deeply appreciate your support!
~Deb and Dave

Do you have some suggestions for adventure travel gift ideas for the holidays? Share your thoughts!

The Planetd is finally at that point where we are no longer spending half of our time working on code or figuring out the layout. It has become a more relaxing place where we only really have to worry about posting each day.

While we are not traveling for another 2 months, we have found the past 5 months to be very rewarding learning the ins and outs of running a travel blog and we are feeling confident that things are going to be very exciting once we start to travel.

We have read that to make money, you must have more than one site. We originally wanted to have 3 on the go before we left, but we soon realized that we needed to concentrate on making one blog informative and interesting before we could even think about launching other sites.  We wanted to make sure that we had quality content and we wanted to establish ourselves as authorities in travel before we spread ourselves too thin.  This has worked for us.

We feel that we would have let the content at ThePlanetD suffer had we tried to build too much too soon.

But it is definitely going to be our goal during our world travels however to launch more sites.

Dave is going to concentrate on his photography website writing about his insider tips that he learns out there and I am going to be working on another site that we started a couple of months ago, but is not nearly ready for a a launch.  We have already linked Dave’s site as our photo gallery, but it is definitely not ready to be used as a full blown photography site. This may have been a mistake to have our photos linked to another site but we wanted to start Dave’s photography blog and we found the gallery to be much nicer than what we could do with this template.

The good news is that we are now understanding the importance of having subscribers, the use of affiliates and the importance of the community.  We stumbled around for the first couple of months here at this website, but in time we built a bit of a niche market and made some very good friends.

It has been difficult to focus on Adventure Travel while we were living and working here in Canada, but once we start traveling, it is going to be one big Around the World Adventure and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Now on to business.

We are thrilled to have a guest post at TheTravelTart it is certainly a very fun website filled with excellent information and humour.  When he put out the call for guest posts, we jumped on the chance to be a part of it and are so happy to have been humorous enough to make the cut. So check it out and see what you think.

We have found that having guest posts ourselves has been a very rewarding experience. We have started the series Giving Back, Travel the World and Make a difference.  We have been touched and inspired by the stories that we have recieved from VelvetEscape, TheTravelExperta and ALittleAdrift. This series is happening every Tuesday for the next little while and stay tuned for tomorrow’s installment.

We are still looking for guest contributors, so if you have any experiences volunteering, teaching English, raising money or awareness for a cause, have you visited any projects, wildlife sanctuary’s or even written articles about a community in need, we would love to hear from you. We are looking for all of the different ways that travelers can help change the world.   Drop us an email if you have some ideas  at theplanetd@gmail.com

The past few weeks we have decided to organize the website a little. Not traveling means that we must come up with interesting content every week.  This is where we have sort of come up with theme days.

• Tuesdays are our guest contributors series,
• Wednesdays are our World Wildlife articles
• Fridays we have come up with a bit of an advice day
• Mondays have become our week in Review.
• We fill out the other days with destination pieces or we take the day off.

We don’t want to bore our readers with content just for the sake of having content, so if I can’t come up with an article that doesn’t excite me or interest me on a certain day, than I would rather not post.

Plus at this point, since we are leaving soon…we are trying to enjoy our weekends with family and friends so I have to admit we have been neglecting the internet on these days a little bit:)

So that is our week in review for ThePlanetD on this last Day of August. We have given our 60 days notice at our apartment, we have decided that we will be flying into Kerala India in November and then the adventure will begin!

You may be wondering about the Vantastic Adventure. Well, we have given up thinking that we have any chance whatsoever. There are some great videos on the site and although we haven’t lost all hope, we have to start making our plans. We are going to hold off buying our tickets and getting our Visa’s until this legs winner is announced at the end of the week, but to actually win a contest is pretty slim so we are focusing on our upcoming travels instead.

Thanks to all of the people that joined the group and voted for us your support means a great deal to us!

We love Thailand. It was our first real travel adventure and has a special place in our hearts. Sure we had taken vacations before, but Thailand was a step out of our comfort zone. It was our first travel that lasted over a month and it was the first time that we really experienced another culture and way of life.

I fondly remember landing at the airport in Bangkok and having no idea what to do next. A friend of ours had told us to go to Khao San Road, so we hopped in a taxi, paid way too much and were let off somewhere nearby. We ended up getting lost and walking for a couple of hours in the middle of the night downtown. We were nervous and very new to travel, but we were excited at the same time. We eventually ended up finding our way and it was the start of 10 years of glorious adventure travel around the world.

We have been back to Thailand a few times and we always find something new and exciting to do. Thailand is one of our favorite countries to travel to and it if filled with great adventures for any travelers to do.

So we wanted to share some of the greatest adventures that we love to do in Thailand. After all it was the country that started it all for us.

Adventurous Things to do in Thailand

Rock Climbing in Railay – In the year 2000, we learned to climb in Railay and we became hooked on it. We took up indoor rock climbing when we returned to Canada and then became regulars at the crag on the Niagara Escarpment. We then returned to Thailand in 2003 and did our first multi-pitch climb. Both times that we climbed in Raleigh, we climbed with King Climbers. They are excellent, safe, friendly and reasonable.

Railay is changing rapidly and tourists are starting to flock there. When we first visited you could camp at Railay and it was cheap, cheap cheap. Now bungalows and swimming pools have popped up. But the beauty is still undeniable and climbing is fantastic.  It is time to get yourself to Thailand before it is changed forever.

Elephant Trek in Khao Sok – A beautiful National Park in Southern Thailand. We liked riding elephants here because we were on our own private trek with only one other pair of travelers. It was fantastic scenery, the elephants seemed to be treated fairly and looked healthy. I remember the mist coming up in the morning as an elephant walked by while I stood on the road, it was magical. I haven’t done an elephant trek in Chang Mai, but from what I have heard and seen in pamphlets, Khao Sok’s Elephant Trek seems like more of an adventure into the wild compared to the circus like feel that we have heard about in Chang Mai.

Meditation Course in Chang Mai – So, if you are in Chang Mai, why not try something different rather than trekking to see Hill Tribes or taking a cooking course. These treks can be quite touristy and taking a break from the beaten path can be an adventure unto itself. We took a multi-day meditation course together. We were the only two people in the course, We worked on several different types of meditations and tai chi. As we talked with our instructor, we cooked vegetarian food and really bonded with each other during that time. This may not seem like it, but learning to meditate can be one of the biggest adventures of our life. There are many courses all over the Chang Mai area.

Cave Kayaking in Krabi – Sea kayaking is very popular, but to go inland to kayak on the river system through a mangrove forest.  The day of paddling offers up beautiful scenery and entering caves is exhilarating.  Approaching a limestone cliff a dark sliver shows between the rock and the water and you would ask yourself, Are we going in there? Lying down to make it through at some points, you enter the cave paddling under stalactites and it is a thrill. Check out some hieroglyphics and then to come out in a lagoon surrounded by high cliffs. It is absolute heaven. We Kayaked with Sea Kayak Krabi and they were excellent. Our guide was informative and friendly. To explore the remote regions of a country is breathtaking.

Walking along the Bridge on the River Kwai – You wouldn’t think of it as being an adventure, but I felt a rush as I walked between railroad ties. One false move and you could fall into the river. The bridge is very high up and a fall could be deadly. We joked that if this were in Canada, there would be cages and wires to make sure everyone stayed safe. In Thailand, you just walked along the planks and make room for others as they pass. It doesn’t look very high in the photo, but trust me, it is a long drop into the water and the spaces between the planks is wide in sections.

To walk on such a famous piece of history was amazing. I had just watched the movie, Bridge on the River Kwai before leaving for my first trip to Thailand, so it was very fresh in my mind and I whistled the tune as I strolled along.

Taking a Tuk Tuk downtown Bangkok – No visit to Thailand would be complete without a ride in a Tuk Tuk. These 3 wheelin’ bikes zip in and out of traffic in a frenzy. Hold on and hope that you don’t tip. They are cheap and easy to get around in. But be prepared for a loud ride and to breathe in a lot of fumes. Negotiate hard though and don’ t fall for the scam of being taken to gem markets for the cheap price of 10 baht. Oh and enjoy the wildest ride through city traffic of your life.

Go to a waterfall. Thailand is full of them, but we loved the one in Kho Samui. Swimming in the pool below the falls and letting the water run over your head cools you off during a long hot day. Find your favorite waterfall in the country and spend the day suntanning on rocks and cooling off in the fresh water.

Thailand is full of interesting and adventurous things to do. We have only scratched the surface of all that there is to see, but we look forward to going back time and again to check more off of the list.

When most people think of a vacation together, they envision tropical islands and places for romance relaxing in paradise.  Tahiti, the Bahama’s, Hawaii that is where most sane couples go to rejuvenate and bring that spark back to their relationship.

Well, Dave and I aren’t most people and when we go away, we always seem to wind up doing trips that are the exact opposite of romance.  Sure, we have been to resorts and 5 star hotels, but it is always the suffering that stands out in our minds when we reminisce. When we truly test our relationship and survive the insane and ridiculous, that is when we know that we are meant to be together forever.

Here is a list of some of our least romantic situations we have encountered during our travels of the world so far.

1. Slathering butt butter, Chamois Cream, Bag Balm…whatever you want to call it on our bums every morning for the first 2 months of cycling Africa. In our little 2 man North Face Tent, we would lay in the dark and cool mornings dressing and getting ready for a 100+ km day of riding. It wasn’t a good morning. There was never any romance or snuggling under the sleeping back. Instead we would get up, lather up and pack our tent and see each other in a few hours at the next camp.  How is that for romance?

Dave and Deb Camping in Africa

2. Relieving ourselves in tandem on both Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kinabalu.

I don’t know what it is, but Dave and I always seem to be in sync with our bowel movements when we are at altitude.  We both walk side by side for hours on end, and then we both have the need to go to the bathroom at the same time.  Thank God we always summit in the dark, I couldn’t imagine trying to squat on a sheer face in broad day light.  It’s not romantic, but it is definitely a bonding moment.

You try finding some privacy here at Mount Kinabalu Summit

3. Having roaches crawl all over us during a trek to the pinnacles.

We thought that we were staying in pretty good digs when we saw our vynal matts lined up along a raised wooden platform.  We settled in for the night with 7 other people and thought that we would be well rested for our climb the next day. That is until the creepy crawlies came out.  I didn’t turn on my flashlight to see what it was, I thought it better that I don’t know.  But in the morning everyone was talking about the cockroaches crawling all over.  I thought, well, it could have been worse, it could have been something poisonous.

3b Being eaten alive by bed bugs on more than one occasion.

4. Getting in a motorcycle accident together in Ko Samui and laying side by side in the hospital as they cleaned our wounds.  Dave’s was worse than mine and he had it scraped with a razor blade as he bit on a towel. I watched on as he bit down on the towel and could do nothing as the doctors scraped away his burnt and dead infected skin. Nice. We then spent what should have been a romantic ending tour our time in Thailand limping around paradise and getting our dressings changed daily.

motorcycle accident as a couple, so romantic

4. Sharing a single bed in a room with another couple that was in the other single bed. In Kuala Lumpur, we were too cheap and tired to find a place in our budget after returning from the Cameron Highlands.  We had to leave early for  Borneo the next morning anyway, so 4 of us crammed into a tiny room with 2 single beds and set our alarms for 5 am. We didn’t get a lot of sleep that night.

5. Anytime we stayed in a dorm room. As a couple, we don’t often stay in dorms or hostels. But every once in a while be it during a trek, a climb or an excursion, that is the only option that there is.  I snore by the way, luckily Dave sleeps like a log, I feel bad for anyone else that is stuck in a room with me.

There is a pattern here that always has to do with sleeping arrangements.

Sleeping on the deck of a ferry, how romantic

6. Staying in a bungalow in Kao Sok National Park. It was a pristine setting with and pretty little huts.  It should have been a quiet and romantic little getaway from our trekking in Asia. Unfortunately every night, just as we were about to turn in, the cock fights began and we had to listen to the screaming and wailing chickens all night long. My heart broke.

7. Rubbing the bottom raw during a horse back ride

It was 1997 and Dave and I were on our honeymoon. We decided to take an excursion on the beach in the Dominican Republic. We decided to ride horses on the beach in sweat pants might I add.  Dave did not have a good time, and for the next 2 days he could not sit down or get in the water to get relief from the warm Caribbean air. We should have known that this was the start of a couple that likes to travel and rough it rather than take romantic vacations. We have both since learned how to ride.

Riding horses on the beach of the dominican republic

8. Our time in Mui Ne Vietnam should have been the most romantic part of our trip.

A cabana on the beach, beautiful scenery and perfect weather.  Well, I had terrible ulcers in my mouth and throat from my Doxycylin (malaria medication) and Dave had enjoyed too many Vietnamese Iced Teas in Saigon. On our way out of the city, we saw a man dragging a giant blog of ice on a burlap sack down the road, and right then, we knew that Dave was going to be in trouble.  Sure enough, we was sick for 3 days. Neither of us could eat. Dave couldn’t keep anything down, and I was way too sore to swallow. So we layed in our bed under the ceiling fan and prayed for relief to finally come.

Waiting to go to the airport, not well-very romantic

10. Our Last 2 Days in Lima before flying out, we wanted to have a pamper me time after all our treks and adventures.  We splurged on a nice hotel and even ate at Tony Roma’s overlooking the water for lunch. After lunch I didn’t even make it back to the hotel before I started vomiting. Diarrhea followed and we missed our last day of sightseeing as I puked and crapped all day and night. I can’t even look at Tony Roma’s ever again.