Moonwalking on the Shore
We got into the island from Karabi, which was a little longer of a trek out than expected. We were picked up by a breezy truck from the bungalows that picked up travelers together headed out to the...
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New Years or Paper and Heads on Fire
And what a New Year’s it was. We walked down to the beach, which I thought was called Ao Nang. Turns out it goes by much longer name, which I can only remember as starting with an N. Luckily,...
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Compassion for Cambodia
Before I went on my mission trip with Teen Mania http://www.globalexpeditions.com, a friend told me that I needed more compassion in my life. She encouraged...
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Ni Hao
In the summer of 2009 my fellow orchestra dorks and I went on an adventure to the exotic world of China. We resided there for two weeks without air conditioning or a westernized toilet in sight. ...
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Jaunt to South Korea
In February of 2008, I hopped across the pond, from my temporary home in Japan, to South Korea, to visit my friend Emma who...
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Medicine, Philanthropy, Perseverance, and Beauty
Traveling is exciting, regardless of where you're destined. And doing it solo is even better. Lost in the clouds, disconnected from the mayhem on the ground,...
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Southbound Train Leaving Beijing
48 hours in a sleeper car is a very. long. time.I’m on a two-day long train ride headed south from Beijing to Yunnan Province. It’s a huge trip, two weeks in Southern China...
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Chinese (updated)
A shy junior boy silently slips into room 206, staring at the floor, avoiding others’ gazes as he does. He is immediately taken aback by the state of the room. As if occupied by feuding siblings,...
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The Other Face of Japan
When many people think about Japan, what is usually the first thing to cross your mind? Robots, school girls in sailor outfits, sushi, et cetera. For the longest time, those images crossed my...
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What is Too Much Poverty?
Last summer I saw something that completely shocked me. I witnessed a man attempting to unclog a flooded street in Dhaka, Bangladesh. That doesn’t sound too shocking, but given the circumstances,...
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From the Great Wall to the Berlin Wall
My friend and I had been living in China for two years when we decided to take the long way back to the States. Instead of flying from China back to the United States, we decided to do what we would...
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Authentic Chai With You
I have found nothing quite like the richness of the gravy-air in the land of spices. You could blindfold me and put me on an India-bound airplane without telling me where on earth I was going, and once...
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China 2010
Hello, my name is Ramdat Singh and I am currently a 11th grader. I was very grateful for the opportunity to travel to China alongside Angel Acosta, Ashley Williams, Bonnie Maldonado, Kevin Montalvo,...
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Polio Eradication in Photos
These photos try to capture the essence of my short excursion to India this year to learn more about the polio effort and lend a helping hand by vaccinating children, consulting with the local health...
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Iterations of Equality
Parvati stood out from all the other women in her village. She could read and write. She was confident and charismatic. She looked men in the eyes when she spoke to them. She spoke to them. And when...
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Thailand Adventure
Traveling outside the country for the first time by ones self is an eye opening experience. When I was a senior in high school, there was a Thai exchange student in my physics...
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Vietnam: My Other Home
Vietnam is known for it's delicacy of dog and cat meat. Did I eat any? No; I was raised in America where these creatures serve as cute, loveable housepets. That's a bummer. Isn't eating exotic dishes...
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The Wisdom of Coconuts
“So, you want to learn black magic,” the kindly guru said, bald pate and sea-blue eyes shining with wise amusement. “Well, uh, I was more hoping to study the role...
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Who Downloads “The Beach” in Thailand?
I don’t recommend taking a 14-hour bus ride to anywhere in your life. Sure, it sounds awful enough, but I cannot explain the uniquely agonizing delirium that came on after hour 12 or so. We took...
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This Backpack is A Lot Heavier Than I Thought
I'm currently sweating in a dingy hotel called Smile Inn. As welcoming as it sounds, the name is entirely ironic. The rooms are cramped, a little dirty, and the reception desk is exceptionally unfriendly....
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If I went to the Yellow River…
The historic Yellow River, considered by many to be the center of Chinese civilization and spiritual life has been the object of countless poets, writers, painters, and song writers for hundreds of...
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My Years at Zhu Wu Elementary School in My Hometown Shenyang, China, Before I Came to the US
First day of elementary school in my hometown, Shenyang, China, my class started out with 51 students sitting in a classroom in a relatively well-reputed elementary school. Sitting at an one meter by...
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India, a Song
India is a song that calls back to me with bright colors in its voice. In a simple memory, I am there. In the scent of henna, or in a sip of chai tea, I am there. With my sight on a small creature crawling,...
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Exploring a new continent in exchange for helping some fragile infants and toddlers
In the summer of 2007 I was offered the opportunity to...
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Anthropology of Fiji for the Backpacker
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Gaijin Living in Japan
I had never ventured out of the United States before. Not even the occasional Mexico day trip. I craved a sabbatical. I wanted a break...
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Anganwadi’s of India
The older I became I found myself reclassifying things I do and participate in. A trip to a neighboring city...
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Exploring The Other Side Of The Great Wall Of China
Avoid the tourist hordes by climbing the Great Wall with this family and their private Chinese guide, for an insider's look at one of the 7 New Wonders of the World.When we first heard about...
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Unusual Blog “Beautiful Nepal” Generates Controversy Among Writers
Christine Anderson’s essay “Beautiful Nepal” was the Second Place Winner of FTF's 2009 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship, the...
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Eco-Friendly Family Vacations In Asia
From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, these green beach getaways throughout Asia give families a great way to give back to the environment while having fun.Going eco-friendly means more than just...
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My adventures in Angkor Wat
We woke up and drove out to the Angkor complex. First we went to Angkor Thom which was one of the biggest Khmer cities. We went to Bayon temple which was really cool. It had 54 towers with 4 huge faces...
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2009 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship Essay
So, how do you spell BLUEBERRY? Remember, spell it out! Let’s start with the first sound, BLUE—like the color! Can we spell BLUE? Yes, B-L…no,...
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Gandhi Quandary: Peace Leader’s Home Ignites Conflict
Last week, a number of news syndicates including BBC and UPI reported that Mahatma Gandhi’s home in Johannesburg, South Africa was sold to the French travel company, Voyageurs Du Monde. The house, which...
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Cebu, Philippines Is A Family Favorite
A local Cebuano shares tips on how to enjoy Cebu, the best island in the Philippines for families interested in city culture and great beaches.Cebu is just an hour's flight from the Philippine...
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Kid Suites At International Family Resorts
Some popular family hotels and resorts in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia boast large family suites whose decor and amenities have been designed with kids in mind. Between June and September 2009,...
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Hong Kong Hotels And Resorts
Hong Kong's colorful accommodations include skyscrapers and pagodas, hostels and former monasteries. Here's FTF's round-up for every budget. Hong Kong has a variety of accommodations...
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A Whole New World
I felt a gush of cool wind touch my bare and exhausted skin as I walked towards the baggage claim area with my father at Allama...
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Learning To Scuba Dive In Thailand
Follow along as this Canadian mom takes her teen to Phuket, Thailand, a dive mecca in Southeast Asia, to learn all about safe scuba diving and a new culture. Our son doesn't know how lucky he is....
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Sanya, Forever Tropical
Sanya City is located at the southern most tip of Hainan Island and to the east of Vietnam. Sanya City is the second largest city on Hainan Island covering an area of 1.919 sq.m with a population of...
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Pickpockets: Where To Find Them And How To Avoid Them
Thanks to the popular hotel review site, TripAdvisor, we have some fresh thoughts on how to avoid pickpockets, the bane of every traveler's existence. Well, some would say that airport security...
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Nepal: The Roof of the World
A Kathmandu resident helps families decide whether to "do" Nepal in winter, spring, summer or fall by exploring adventure options like trekking, river rafting, elephant safaris, and plain old sightseeing.I'm...
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Family Touring In Mongolia, China
Far away from Starbucks, shopping malls, and luxury resorts lies a vast land untouched by time, where nomads travel by camel and live in felt tents.Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “Kubla...
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Japan’s World Expo 2005: A Brave New World
The millennium's first World's Fair in the eco-conscious and technologically advanced country of Japan was dedicated to bettering our planet. For an instant blast to the future there...
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Japan’s History Trail
Following the Kansai government's new "Highway to History" road map brings the ancestry of central Nara, Kyoto, Osake and Kobe to life.In the travel trade, the recommended route to first-time...
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Manila, Philippines Family Guide
Discover what makes one of Asia's most teeming cities a fun and satisfying destination for all ages.Welcome to Manila - a sprawling Asian capital that will try your patience and captivate...
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The InterContinental Hotels’ Family Experience
At certain international properties, the upscale, business-oriented hotel chain has invested in noteworthy amenities for traveling families. The InterContinental Hotel Group has more than...
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