Recommended Reading

Saving for that once in a lifetime trip – CNNMoney.com received a question from a reader who wanted to find out the best way to save for a backpacking trip around the world. Good question! The commentator’s response was straight forward – put the money in low risk, short term CD’s and/or money market accounts. For additional suggestions, check out my series on Saving For A Trip Around the World.

Travel: the new tobacco – This article was recently published in The Observer, a British newspaper. It takes a tough look at the damage being done to the planet’s climate due to ever-growing tourism and air travel. The founder of Rough Guides shares some hardcore beliefs about what needs to happen if we’re to save the Earth. Frankly, I thought his views are extreme. Still, I had this article on my mind when I added a green twist to my upcoming trip, buying carbon offsets to make up for my transportation emissions.

Bear Grylls’ Blog – I discovered Bear’s new blog at work this week (shhh!). He hasn’t had a chance to write much as he just arrived in Nepal late last week in a first attempt to fly powered paragliders over the summit of Everest. You’ve got to be kidding me! This guy rules. I was also excited to see him write his first few blog entries using informal conversational language, talking about his family and the custom survival knife he helped design (nice dichotomy). For those in America, there is a second season of his survival show, Man vs. Wild, set to air this June (awesome).

My Week in Review

The day after watching The Killing Fields, I walked over to Barnes and Noble and spent some time reading through a guide book on Cambodia, which only reinforced my excitement about visiting. I also read through a little of Lonely Planet’s Columbia, which sounded rather reassuring, a sentiment which matches first hand accounts I’ve gotten from other travelers who’ve recently enjoyed the country. Apparently the ongoing war between the government and FARC rebels is in the rural areas, away from the touristy cities and Caribbean coast.

I finally caved in and ordered a VHS / DVD Recorder combo unit. I had been scouring Craig’s List for a used one, however they were few and far between, with prices equal to the cost of a new one. I settled on a refurbished Panasonic with fairly good reviews on CNET, which I purchased over Ebay for $150. I bought the thing for two reasons. First, I have to get my NBC interview from last Fall off my DVR before I downgrade my cable in a few weeks. Yes, you will soon see me in my first TV interview, the result of my trip planning last year. Second, I have a few VHS tapes worth of college movies which me and my friends made between 1994-1998. I think it’s time to post them up on YouTube for the world to see.

Stay tuned!