Tiger Petting Zoo?!?!?!

The Tiger Temple or Wat Pha Luang At Bua is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Thailand and has been a sanctuary for many endangered animals including several tigers that walk around freely once a day and can be petted by tourists. The temple received several tiger cubs where the mothers had been killed by poachers. As of 2007, over 21 cubs have been born at the temple and the total number of tigers is about 12 adult tigers and 4 cubs.

The tigers are tamed by being fed with cooked meat to avoid giving them a taste for blood. The staff keep the tigers under control and the abbot will intervene if the tiger gets agitated. They are treated as family members in the temple and visitors are asked to give a donation if they want to take photos with the tigers.

This looks like a great adventure. You always see or hear about people swimming with dolphins & I have swam with the sting Rays before and recently I put up a post about swimming with 1000's of jelly fish but would you rub the belly of a jungle tiger. I think I would but not with Siegfried and Roy.

Travel Pic of the Week

Earlier this year, Michelangelo's famous David Statue took a United States of America Tour for 12 weeks. Perhaps he should have stayed in Europe or even better went down Under to Austrailia. According to the World Health Organization, the following countries are considered the top 10 healthiest: Japan, Australia, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Monaco, & Andorra. The UK barely made the top 15 and the USA just eeked into the top 25. So when you are travelling, perhaps follow the old standard of doing as the Romans do.

A Fat Traveller!

There is nothing worse than being overweight and out of shape. However, you get used to it and find comfort zones in your own world. This all ends and can humble you when you travel. Sweating in hot locations, sitting uncomfortable in a "small" airplane seat, or struggling to participate in some great outdoor adventure cause you are too fat, is all the challenges of being a FAT TRAVELLER! Unfortunately, I have become a FAT TRAVELLER!
Therefore, I, Eric Gamble, the Travel Beggar am on a mission this summer to not only have great travel experiences, but also get in shape so that I can better enjoy my vacations, outdoor activities, and adventures. I am inspired. I have joined a new program at my gym. You can check it out online by CLICKING HERE. Erik Frank & his partner Rebby Riche are teaching essentially a training boot camp and they aren't letting me out of this program until I have become a lean, mean, healthy MACHINE!!! I want to be able to do great adventures without wondering if I can breath.
Here,you will see my before pictures taken on May 14th! You can see them closer, if you can stomach it, by clicking on any individual magazine
Therefore, I am starting Eric's 25 for Angel's Place . As many of you know, I also have promoted charity to children's charity. Often, I see and help others who are taking pledges or donations to walk/run or do something for Cancer Research, AIDS Research, Education Against Violence, etc. So I am taking donations to lose weight on behalf on Angel's Place.
Right now I weigh 224.5 lbs. My Personal goal is to get to 199 lbs. The program is a 14 week program that will essentially end on August 20th. I am asking for a $25 donation or $1 a pound. You can donate via paypal right now. If you donate now, I will note the amount donated & if by some horrible chance that I dont make the 25lbs, I will refund you a dollar per pound I missed. (ie: if I only lose 20lbs by August 20th then, the Angel's Place will receive your generous $25 donation & I will refund you $5 from my own money...not the Angel's Place. Please consider helping me on my mission to become a healthy Travel Beggar as well as a way to help these great children.

Travel Pic of the Week

Make sure if you ever go visit the Great Wall of China, you go to the bathroom before you go. Otherwise, you better be a very fast runner!!

Travel for a Great Cause - Friends of Orphans: Nicaragua

Often people take trips to see new worlds, seek adventure, search for relief from stress, or just to get away. To do this, they often visit countries that are poor, devasted, or suffering. Yet where they "vacation", they avoid that situation either on purpose or most likely without any knowledge at all that those situations even exist.
Well to remedy that, I the travel beggar, will do my best to promote travels that provide an alternative adventure - the chance to do something good adventure. Now these "adventures", while supporting a good cause, often don't lack fun, new experiences, or times to relax.
For the Travel Beggar's first "Travel for a Great Cause", we are strongly recommending you look into the Friends of the Orphans: Nicaragua trip. They are embarking to Nicaragua: August 18 - 23, 2008. Nicaragua is an exciting place with interesting politics, friendly & outgoing people, and an interesting terrain with mountains, volcanoes, Lake Nicaragua & open fields. So what will you do with the Friends of the Orphans? The trip will include:
• Tour Casa Asis on the shore of Lake Nicaragua & Casa Santiago on Ometepe Island.
• See the property on the mainland where construction has begun on the new permanent home.
• Spend time with the children & meet NPH staff & volunteers.
• Sightsee & shop in Rivas, one of the most popular beach towns of Nicaragua.
• Relax & enjoy the accommodations at a lovely hotel.
There will be an interest meeting on Monday, June 2, 2008. The time & location are to be announced. If you are interested, please contact the trip coordinator for reservations & more information:Alina Fleury at (703) 848-2072. Tell her that Eric the Travel Beggar sent you!
Learn more about the Friends of the Orphans by clicking on their name or CLICKING HERE!

Travel Pic of the Week

Although this maybe a bit more crass than I may want to see on the side of the interstate....the Sentiment is often soooooo true! Do you Think that government should ban cell phones while driving?

What Kind of Traveller are You?

There is this really cool blog site where they offer quizes and random mutterings called Blogthings. Anyways, I came accross one of their quizes that asked me what my Travel Personality is. Well after taking the quiz my results are:

Your Travel Personality Is: The Adventurer

For you, travel is how you learn about the world. And you like to learn the stuff that's not in guidebooks. You truly have wanderlust. When you're not traveling, you're dreaming about where you'll go next. And your travels are truly legendary - they leave you with stories you'll be telling for the rest of your life!

Click here to see What's Your Travel Personality?

I found it a bit eerie cause the results are right on for this Travel Beggar. So what Kind of Traveller are you? Take the quiz and come back and leave a comment of what type of traveller you are.

Would You Swim with Thousands of JellyFish?

Everyday, people embark on a steep hike up and over a rocky limestone path to JellyFish Lake in the Beaufitul Republic of Palau. Apparently this was brought to the limelight when it was featured in the Survivor Palau season.

The Palau Visitor's Authority claims that its an attraction most can only dream of doing. This daring and unusual phenomena, Jellyfish Lake, departs radically from convention; for it is an enclosed body of water wherein - over the course of a millennia - resident jellyfish have completely lost their sting because they have not had to fight off predators. Instead, they spend their days in privileged leisure, pulsating gently from one side of the lake to the other while catching the sun's rays and farming their own food supply of algae.

Now when I researched it, I figured that people were wearing tough wetsuits. But NOOOOO, they were snorkeling around in their normal swimsuits, like it was nothing. This is too cool & definately a great adventure that I have added to my list. I thought it was the greatest thing ever when I went to the Cayman Islands & swam with the sting rays, so I can't imagine how awesome this will be.

Now the Republic of Palau is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, some 500 miles (800 km) east of the Philippines and 2000 miles (3200 km) south of Tokyo. The 16 state Island Nation enjoys a tropical climate all year round with an annual mean temperature of 82 °F (27 °C). Rainfall can occur throughout the year, averaging a total of 150 inches (3,800 mm). The average humidity over the course of the year is 82%, and although rain falls more frequently between July and October, there is still much sunshine. Typhoons are rare, as Palau is outside the main typhoon zone. Palau was ranked and listed by CEDAM International as the ranking Number 1 Underwater Wonder of the World out of the seven underwater wonders. By looking at the photo below, its obvious why.

Bomb Scare at Armstrong International Airport

Airport determined safe after Northwest flight searched
by The Times-Picayune
Monday May 12, 2008, 7:55 AM
Activity at the Armstrong International Airport has returned back to normal after an early morning bomb scare that caused passengers to be pulled off a Northwest flight.
Airport spokeswoman Michelle Wilcut said the airport received the bomb threat by telephone at 6 a.m.After searching the plane and the terminal, security officers determined the area was safe, she said.
Passengers were rescreened, then boarded once again and the airplane departed around 8 a.m. for Memphis, Wilcut said.
The delay initially caused long lines in the screening area at Concourse A, but everything was back to normal by 8:20 a.m., she said.

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So with this news, my family discussed how bat it is being trapped on the plane on the runway for several hours, if this happens. One person said that she puts her trust in the airlines. "If the airlines think that I am safer sitting on the plane several hours while they figure out the problem...find the bomb....deal with a situation....or whatever, then I am content with sitting on the airplane for several hours. She assumed that she would be compensated & at least she was safe. I told her that I don't think that she would be compesated at all.

After some research, I found that most airlines don't ever let you off even after 5 HOURS!!! In fact, this Imprisonment has been so bad recently, that Congress has gotten involved. Senators Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, and Olympia Snowe, Republican of Maine, have introduced a bill that would require that passengers be provided with adequate food and water and sanitary bathrooms while delayed on the ground and be allowed to leave the plane after three hours. Representative Mike Thompson, also a California Democrat, will introduce a bill that would also require airlines to update passengers frequently on the cause and timing of delays. Both proposals would be strengthened if they required the Transportation Department to impose suitable fines or passenger compensation should an airline fail to comply.

So, how long have you ever waited on a plane? If you have waited long, did you receive any compensation for your imprisonment? Do you feel like the girl who will wait patiently entrusting that the airline has her best intrest at heart? What do you think about congress' new introductions? Let me know!!!

World's Largest Pool!!!

If you like doing laps in the swimming pool, you might want to stock up on the energy drinks before diving in to this one. It is more than 1,000 yards long, covers 20 acres, had a 115ft deep end and holds 66 million gallons of water. Yesterday the Guinness Book of Records named the vast pool beside the sea in Chile as the biggest in the world. But if you fancy splashing out on one of your own - and you have the space to accommodate it - then beware: This one took five years to build, cost nearly £1billion and the annual maintenance bill will be £2million. The man-made saltwater lagoon has been attracting huge crowds to the San Alfonso del Mar resort at Algarrobo, on Chile 's southern coast, since it opened last month. Its turquoise waters are so crystal clear that you can see the bottom even in the deep end. It dwarfs the world's second biggest pool, the Orthlieb - nicknamed the Big Splash - in Morocco , which is a mere 150 yards long and 100 yards wide. An Olympic size pool measures some 50 yards by 25 yards. Chile 's monster pool uses a computer- controlled suction and filtration system to keep fresh seawater in permanent circulation, drawing it in from the ocean at one end and pumping it out at the other. The sun warms the water to 26c, nine degrees warmer than the adjoining sea. Chilean biochemist Fernando Fischmann, whose Crystal Lagoons Corporation designed the pool, said advanced engineering meant his company could build "an impressive artificial paradise" even in inhospitable areas."As long as we have access to unlimited seawater, we can make it work, and it causes no damage to the ocean."

A tourist in my own backyard - New Orleans, LA

On the weekend of March 7th-10th, I, the Travel Beggar and my beautiful girlfriend decided to have a anniversary vacation in my own backyard, New Orleans, LA. So often, people think vacations have to be this elaborate organization or adventure that they often overlook the wonderful things in their own city. Of course, living in New Orleans, LA makes it easier to recognize the blessings that I have. So my adventure goes as follows:

March 7th, 2008:

We arrived at the Harrah's Hotel New Orleans. It was truly a beautiful

hotel that I got for free by taking advantage of a casino promotion. I

really wasn't expecting much, however, the hotel definately exceeded

my expectations. The beauty of the harrah's hotel is only coupled by its convenient access to the Mississippi riverfront and french quarter. The room was a basic room but was extremely clean and the bathroom was extremely spacious with not only a shower but a large bathtub. From there we took advantage of the seafood buffett at the casino due to the fact that it was a friday in lent and we wanted to find an easy way to observe the lenten fast. Afterwards, we relaxed in the room and enjoyed the scenery of the rolling Mississippi River.

March 8th, 2008:

One of the greatest parts of a vacation in your own backyard is the lazy approach to the day that often gets lost at your own house. Saturday morning was definately a lazy morning. It had been a cold week and the weather was finally warming up but we wanted to relax in the room while mother nature slightly turned up the thermastat.

Then around noon we embarked on our French Quarter adventure. The French Quarter is definately a walking adventure so we put on some comfortable shoes and some warm clothes and headed out. We first ate at Cafe Maspero's on Decatur. Many people think that this is the famous slave quarters but that is in fact around the corner near the Napolean House. However, they do make a good shrimp sandwich thats quick and easy to eat. If you ever go there, please note that they only take CASH.

After a hearty lunch, we continued on our walk around Jackson Square. On any given day, you will see countless artists, musicians, mimes, and mystics looking to tell your fortune out there. It is interesting to think that you could be looking at the next Rodrigue painting or Louis Armstrong sitting about entertaining the masses. One cool fact about the artists around Jackson Square is that they have to portray original art. According to ordinances hanging about, there are no screened copies or computer replicas allowed to be sold. Although, the ideas maynot be original, the works are made by hand by the people selling them.

From Jackson Square, we went around the side of the St. Louis Cathedral, and made our way down Pirates' Alley. Here we came upon the Faulkner House which was built in 1840. William Faulkner wrote his first novel, Soldiers Pay, here in 1925. It is now a great bookstore run by members of the Faulkner Society. My girlfriend is a big fan & member of that society, so she was able to indulge in her obsession of the great southern author. Then we walked right next door the enjoy a cigar, and an absenthe based sazerac at the Pirates Alley Bar. It was a great way to end a perfect afternoon.

We then returned to the hotel room to get cleaned, showered, and then made our way to a nice Uptown restaurant called Lilettes' where we celebrated the fact that she was able to deal with the Travel Beggar for a whole entire year.

March 9th, 2008:

New Orleans has many a grand Sunday Brunches, however, they are often at the nicer restaurants and hotels. Also, one of the great staples of the French Quarter is Cafe Du Monde where you can get a wonderful plate of beingets and some coffee. However, we were in the mood for some regular eggs, so after getting some breakfast we continued on our walking tour of the French Quarter. There are so many shops, boutiques, and galleries that it is much like walking through free museums.

Now in New Orleans, you need to experience the history, the food, the people, the music, and of course the cocktails. New Orleans is the originator of the cocktail with the Sazerac & has perfected many drinks like the Hurricane, the Vieux Carre, the Brandy Milk Punch, the Monsoon, the Mint Julep, etc. So who am I not to partake in the "spirits" of the city. In Fact, its part of my 5 point guideline to travel. Therefore, we headed first over to Pat O'Briens and sat out in the Beautiful Patio Bar. If you are in New Orleans, and the weather is nice, then this is the place to be. We sat out and enjoyed the warming weather and cool breeze, watched the people come and go, listened to music over the outdoor speakers, sipped our Hurricanes, all while I smoked a good Rocky Patel Cigar. The day couldn't get any better or so we thought.

After Pat O's, we then decided spur of the moment to check out another famous bar, the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone. This was a great call. I had been here a couple of times before, but today was the first time that I have ever experienced the Carousel Bar. I owe this great experience to my girlfriend of course but also to perhaps the greatest bartender that I have ever met, Marvin Allen. Marvin, so say it so crudely, is the MAN! He has been a bartender there for many years and has helped with the invention of many new and unique drinks that are now mainstays of the Carousel Bar amoung other bars throughout the worlds. When we got there, we told him that we were locals in search of the famous Carousel Bar cocktail that was mentioned in the Obituary Cocktail Book. He quickly and yet gracefully made the Vieux Carre' and placed it before me. Now, in the past year, I have been totally and obsessively addicted to Sazeracs, however, after 2 sips of the Vieux Carre', I may have to only drink at this bar. Marvin, made our afternoon, even as people would come in, he would come check on us and ask us about our adventures in New Orleans this weekend. He also introduced us to the Creole Shrub & the New Orleans Sunset, a specialty of his that he created with the New Orleans Absolute Vodka. I strongly recommend that if you are in New Orleans, you need to visit Marvin at the Carousel Bar. He is there Thursday through Sundays from 11am to 6pm. Tell him that the Travel Beggar sent you and enjoy the show.

After several hours at the Carousel Bar, we made our way back to the Harrah's Hotel. We decided to relax and stay in for the rest of the evening. Perhaps, we were tired or maybe we couldn't imagine it getting any better. So were the 5 Guidelines of the Travel Beggar Met?

1)Adventure Activity/Sport: Walking...sometimes walking is more exercise then i get in weeks

2) Local Food/Spirits: Shrimp Poboys at Maspero's....Sazeracs at the Pirates alley Bar, Hurricanes at Pat O'Briens...and Vieux Carre's at the Carousel Bar

3) Nightlife: romantic dinner at Lilettes in Uptown

4) Cultural/Educational Experience: Exploring Faulkners' old haunts

5) Friends - New & Old: the Travel Beggar's girlfriend & Marvin at the Carousel Bar

What do you think about our adventures in New Orleans? Did I fullfill the 5 guidelines? Let me know by leaving a comment.

Travel Beggar's Travel Plans & Wish List for 2008

Well, it's almost my 32nd birthday, February 25th to be exact, and I haven't made my travel plans or wish list for this year yet. Therefore, I am setting up my Travel Plans & Wish List now. Now when it comes to my yearly travels, they are divided into several catagories: Work Related Trips (W), Family Trips(F), American Adventures(A), & International Adventures(I).

• Hawaii (w)
• Cabo San Lucas, Baja Mexico (w)
• Panama City Beach, Florida (f)
• Fairfax, Virgina (f)
• Portland, Seattle, & Vancouver (a)
• Cuba (I)
• Pamplona, Spain & Portugal (I)
• Kiteboarding School

~~~~W: Now it may be hard to believe, but I, the Travel Beggar, actually have a real job in a medically related industry. This job has been a great blessing in that it offers me a great balance between time to spend with family, friends, and for travelling & a good career that offers me financial security. With this job, I have several perks that are travel related like travelling for company meetings or winning contests that the rewards are trips to fun places. This year, there are no away company meetings planned yet. However, I am in contention for 2 big contests. The 1st contest where I have the best chance of winning is for a week long trip to Hawaii and the 2nd trip where thus far I am in the lead is for a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Baja Mexico. I will find out the results of both contests around June 30th. So here is to hoping!!!
~~~~F: Every Year, I have at least one Family Trip with my parents, sister, and miscellaneous cousins. That trip is to Panama City Beach, FL during the last week of July & the first week of August. Now I know people think of this area as the Red Neck Riviera, but it's a great family trip where we have been going to the same hotel for nearly 20 years.
I am also trying to to make plans with my sister to travel to Northern Virginia, outside of D.C., to see my entire family and visit with my Grandparents. It has been way to long since I have been up there & travels to see family are some of life's greatest adventures.
~~~~A: I think that American's often overlook the great adventures in their own backyard. When you ask them where they would want to take a vacation, they immediately say Italy, or Europe, or the Caribbean. Perhaps, this is due to the perception that most of the country is exactly the same. This is a big misconception because there are plenty of great experiences in the United States. This year, I hope to take a trip to the Northwest Corner States and see cities like Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. It's the one major section of the continental USA that I have not seen yet & hopefully this year will be the Year to see it.
~~~~I: International trips are often the hardest trips to take. For whatever reason, the planning, budgeting, and executing of these trips eludes many travellers including myself. Well this year is the Year for at least 1, if not 2 trips. The ultimate trip on my wish list this year is to go to CUBA. This is particularly important to me cause my mother is full blooded cuban and fled the Castro takeover. Now, that is a very difficult trip for Americans to take due to embargos. However, in recent years, there has been relaxing of the travelling restrictions to Cuba. I have been researching Missionary Travel and Cuba cause I have a distant cousin whom I was told is a priest in Cuba rebuilding orphanages. If I can go there for a couple of weeks and see cuba caught in the time warp, experience the people, and do great Missionary work for the cuban children, I would have the greatest trip ever.
My 2nd International destination wish would be to go to Pamplona, Spain during the Running of the Bulls in early July and then tour Spain and Portugal. This Hemingway Adventure has been on my hit list for several years now, and perhaps this year is finally my year to go.
~~~~Miscellaneous Adventure: Finally, there is Kiteboarding School. I always wanted to learn how to kiteboard, and in 2006 I took a day long lesson and bought all kinds of gear from a great school in Ft. Walton Beach called XLKites. From there, I practiced and took my gear out all the time only to Never, Ever, get up and sail on the board. I then let it die, however, I have still wanted to re-attempt this adventure sport. Therefore I will be looking for a weeklong Kiteboarding school either in the states or in the Caribbean.
There is also the possibilty of taking a Caribbean cruise. I often find Cruises to be a great way to sample cultures of the Caribbean. If possible, I think I will research an eastern or southern Caribbean cruise.
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Travel Beggar's Guidelines to Great Travel

As I am getting older, I am trying to find new ways to see & experience the world. I am in constant pursuit of new adventures, new experiences, and plenty of friends to who will experience it all with me. Each of my travels or adventures usually contains the following 5 points:
1) Adventure Activity/Sport
2) Local Food/Spirits
3) Nightlife
4) Cultural/Educational Experience
5) Friends - New & Old

The reason for my 5 points is that I feel that too many people only "surface" travel. They tend to stick to the resorts, the basic amusements, or common sight seeing places. Now don't get me wrong, there is always a good reason for sipping cocktails in an all-inclusive beach resort. However, there are so many adventures that I wish I could experience. Thus, in all my future adventure, I hope to follow my Travel Beggar Guidelines!

What do you think of my 5 Guidelines? Let me know what you think. Send me a reply.

Did you take a really cool trip recently? Did you follow my 5 guidelines without even knowing it...let me know what you did, where you went, and what you thought.

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Welcome to The Travel Beggar's Blog

Welcome to my one stop spot for Travel Info On the Internet!
This site was created because I love to read about travel, research travel, and actually travel anywhere possible. It's not uncommon to see me, the Travel Beggar, sitting around a bookstore in their travel magazine section, reading and researching my next adventure. Many of my friends and family will often come to me searching for travel tips or info. Now I don't claim to know everything or even a lot, but I do think I can find the information if need be. There is only one problem; with the internet, magazines, guide books, and travel agents; I am often plagued with too much bad information.
Thus the creation of the Travel Beggar blog as an add on to my Travel Beggar Website (http://www.travelbeggar.homestead.com/) . I have a collection of websites that I often use, and through this site I will discuss and share them with anyone who wants to use them. I also hope to learn about new websites, magazines, and resources that can aid in all of our travels.