It's an OK mall. Great stores arranged in a very confusing way with multi-levels. I'm always on the wrong level, see where I want go, but can't get there! Be prepared to pay for parking. You can get it validated though. Disagree with the "short walk to the beach" statement. This mall is downtown and yes it is near the water, but not the beach. Don't pack a swimsuit for this visit, just good walking shoes. 

Kiss a whale! See the Gray Whales up-close and personal in their natural habitat. You won't be disappointed by a visit to San Ignacito during the birth and mating of the Pacific Gray Whales.

February is a prime month to go. You can stay in little huts or tents and go out on the water twice a day and interact with the whales. They come up to the boat and you can rub them and even give them a smooth. The boat drivers are courteous to the whales and let the whales come to them. At no time did I feel the whales were being harmed, chased down, or endangered. When you are not out on the water, you can explore the local tidepools. Great for kids! Camp is dog friendly too.

To save money, drive to the lagoon. However, the only dangerous part of the trip is the drive down. The roads get pretty rough towards the end, so you may want to have a 4x4 vehicle or what we did was rent a car in San Diego and buy Mexican Insurance. I suggest flying!

Be sure to book in advance. 3-4 days is plenty of time and don't forget all meals, beverages, snacks and beer are included with Baja Ecotours.

Check out some video we took:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAsc2-bjqFM

Bring an empty suitcase! The shopping here is the BEST for selection and prices.

An excellent, if not weird, experience is a day trip from Cartagena to El Totumo, Columbia's mud volcano. Enjoy a soak as you float atop mud in the center of a volcano. Locals will get in with you and provide massages. Don't wear any jewelry as it quickly slips off. The density of the mud is so thick you will not sink. You can even stand straight up within the muck. Really unique feeling. Afterwards enjoy a wash in the local waters which is warmed by the volcano. Watch the local ladies, as they will try to wash you down and quicky remove your swim suit in the process!

A great backpackers place with pleasant dormitories. Great tourist information and a helpful, friendly staff. HOT SHOWERS was the highlight of my visit. Real washing machines available too. Frequently by overland companies. Close to main shopping area via taxi ride. Secure entry.

This is such an unusual place you just have to see it to believe it. There is a special teapot menu with all sorts of flavored drinks that are presented in white teapots with shot glasses. Although you are not supposed to drinks straight from the teapots, some can't resist! Not sure what I ordered, but it was the color of toilet cleanser blue, but thankfully tasted much better. Stop by for the experience and bizarre decor!

Enjoy this pub's cozy environment. It is casual and fun, a place where you’re made to feel welcome, where you can enjoy a yarn with your mates, have a laugh over a beer, the way Kiwis did back in the good old days! Make new friends or meet up with old ones, the Bealey’s Speight’s Ale House is home to real Southern Hospitality. Note: The hotel is used by Contiki tours, so the crowd can be young and lively.

Very friendly staff with check you in and help you with anything you might need. The rooms were typical (2008), the twin room was quite spacious with a patio door leading out onto a lawn. Nothing too amazing. SKY TV was available with a few channels to select from. The onsite restaurant and Ale house was great fun and very welcoming. An easy walk into town and a handy gas station for any last minute travel needs across the street.

Excellent food with a new menu every day featuring fresh seafood and beautiful steaks. Do start with the Grilled Artichoke. It's not always on the menu, but you can ask for it and they will make it for you. DELISH! They have great happy hour specials. Try to get a seat by the patio area, overlooking the ocean. It's great for people watching and the environment is very easy-going. Avoid prime times and holidays when the beach is packed, or you may be disappointed by the wait and the crowd. A perfect date place or visit with family and friends. Daily Hours 7:00AM-11:00PM. Enjoy!

It's a mighty trek down to the Havasupai Indian Reservation, but once there you are rewarded with crystal blue waters (though cold) and beautiful waterfalls. Horses are available for packs or riders if you need it. But do try and hike down, it is a great workout. Take day hikes along the river which lead all the way to the Grand Canyon. If you don't want to hike back out (and up!) be sure to check if and when the helicopters will be running. It is only a 5 minute ride, but well worth the cost. My dog even got to fly for free! Do not bring alcohol onto the Reservation. Always check their website before heading out, as floods do occur there and can be very dangerous.

Went on my own with another female and had a blast. Took horses in and out of the Park. Makes for a cheap and quick journey through the hot jungle to the cool beautiful beach. Hammocks are available. DON'T FORGET your Yellow Fever card. They check it at the entrance. Also check out The Lost City Trek nearby.

Best in the month of late July or August when the bergs have cleared for the boats to maneuver. Lost my camera lens on the shore, so if you see it please pick it up for me. Thanks! If you are lucky you may also see a polar bear or the locals hunting seals.

Enjoy a fun day out in Costa Rica as you float down Class III rapids on the Sarapiqui River. We only lost a few, but all survived!

Queenstown is home to every adrenaline rush possible and this one is a doozy. Mad Dog River Boarding will test your mental limits and faith in survival, but you will have a grand wet time. Afterward throwing yourself down the Kawarau Gorge in a boogie board, enjoy Rock jumping, Jetski Rescue Sledge, Rope Swing, and a fast Water Slide. Very exhausting. Word of caution: Don't eat a Fergburger before you go!

Excellent time even if quick (sent in groups for a limited about of time for obvious reasons). Very unusual and a great way to start the evening in Queenstown. Yummy drinks too!

Excellent burger joint. Can be packed with tourists, so try not to hit it at prime lunch time. A great place to go after a good night out or even if you are just passing through. Be sure to have a VERY empty belly as it will quickly be filled with glorious Fergburger love.

Had an absolute wonderful time here. Beautiful views, very helpful staff. Was able to book all excursions including side trip to Chile from Front Desk with pick-up in front of Hostel. An easy walk into town for shopping and yummy street side cafes. Internet, kitchen and breakfast available. Have fun!

After a long day of exploring Sighisoara with its beautiful citadel, enjoy a nice dinner in Casa Vlad Dracul Restaurant. Said to be the very place where Dracula was born, you will find pictures of him along the walls. Don't forget to try the Apricot Brandy! Delish!

Came in freezing from the mountain air and they gladly took me in and feed me glorious hot pasta in their amble dining area. Also provided a secure place to park the rental car. Very nice people, little English spoken.

Soooooo super spooky! It's a long climb up some 1480 steps, but well worth it especially on a cold and cloudy day. Once at the top, I found no one there to take my money. Walked around the ruins with the thought of spending the night. There are no roofs left as most of the structure fell down the side of the mountain in the 1800's. Found a little nook and hung out for a few hours. Very scary and eventually I got so scared I had to leave. NO ONE was around. Just the old walls, cold mountain air and chilling wind. This castle was built for prince Vlad Tepes, AKA Dracula, to guard the entrance from Transylvania into the Arges Valley. According to the story, when the Turks besieged the Poienari Citadel, his wife threw herself off the highest little tower and plummeted to her death believing they were doomed. If you stand at the edge of the ruins, you will feel the wind and stare deep into the valley below.

Need a Hostel in Bucharest? Try Hostel Gabriela (Pensiunea Gabriela). Very nice and easy to access.

Hostel Gabriela is a quaint place just off the main drag. An easy drive from the airport, or you can take bus #783 from Bucharest Airport towards Ploiesti. Owner didn't speak much English, but understood the International sign language for "I need a card machine" and walked me to the nearest ATM.

Ever since spotting a fellow traveler wearing his "Sandboarding Namibia" T-Shirt, I have wanted to do this. After meeting with Beth, the owner of Alter Action, I was sold on the idea of throwing myself down a mountain of sand. There is no chair lift, so be prepared for some good climbing. Transportation and lunch is included for around $40. After you get to sandboard on a snowboard and even try the jump, you can join the others in a 80km/hr dash to the bottom, belly down on a flat board. And yes, I now have my very own "Sandboarding Namibia" T-Shirt!

Perfect place to sit back and relax! Borrow a kayak, horseback ride, or watch the sunset whilst enjoying conversations with new friends with only $7 a day. Family-run establishment located in the state of Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The Inn is situated in a scenic area with the Beach House built right at the edge of Kinarut seashore facing the South China Sea and some beautiful islands. There are only 25 rooms, some right on the water. The pool is well-maintained and was a pleasure after a hard trek up Mt. Kinabalu. Food was good (be patient!) and the drinks never ran out. Ice cream was also available in abundance.

Guadalupe Canyon is 55 miles west of Mexicali off a remote washboard road into the desert. Guadalupe Canyon has a campground where each campsite has its own natural hot-springs. Water is funneled from the hot-springs and into a rock pool constructed at each campsite. When you arrive at your campsite you fill up your rock pool and when you leave you drain it. The campsite also has a palapa with a basic kitchen and a fireplace.

The Temple of the Divine Madman (Chimi Lhakhang) was built in 1499. You can reach it by walking a half-hour from the main road in the Punakha valley. This is a must-see for women who are infertile, or for those just needing a good giggle. Although you should NEVER giggle on front of the main resident monk... you have been warned! Pay an offering and the ceremony begins. A monk made me bow to four corners and kneel before a giant covered phallus. I then had to drink three different liquids, one being an odd yellow water. I was given a small red book and told to pick a thread thus discovering my lucky number: 11. Another book showed the name of the baby girl I would bare within a year: Chimi Wongmo. And finally... I was whacked in the head with the Divine Madman's wooden phallus. Never fear guys, you'll get whacked too. A run around the temple with two more phallic symbols and the ceremony was complete. I was fertile!

The Divine Madman is known as a local folk hero in Bhutan. Born in 1455 in Tibet, he traveled around and did some pretty outrageous things with his well-endowed um... yeah.

Should you trek to Laya, one of Bhutan's highest cities, you will walk past many Bhutanese homes with the Divine Madman's phallus painted near the entrance, some even with ascots! They are used to ward off evil spirits. Stone versions can also be found in the fields to promote a healthy crop. If you are lucky enough, a local might even carve you a lifelike wooden phallus.