Ember Travels

“Help! There’s a wallaby in the backyard” effectively sums up my introduction to Australian culture. I had been preparing myself for the descent into Aussie land by watching YouTube videos of the ridiculously cute local marsupials, thumbing through Outback picture books at the doctor’s office and browsing hilarious Melbourne help wanted ads on Craigslist. And now, here I was, a blockade obstructing the only opening between an angry wallaby and his freedom. My introduction to the culture seemed to be going well. Sam picked me up from my 17-hour flight with a packed travel agenda! We were headed to Warrnambool, a town along the South Coast where I would experience small-town Australia life and gain a proper education in the workings of a mysterious creature called the bogan. January 26th was Australia Day-comparable to our Independence Day, except Australia is technically still under the queen’s rule (there was a proposal to make it into an independent republic with an elected president ...

In the past months I’ve spent more nights sleeping on airplanes than my own bed, hostelbookers dot-com has become my instant online go to and meeting people on trams, trains, planes and sidewalks has become the norm. Yes, I am beginning to realize that this travel thing is deep in my blood and my adventure addiction is not going to be cured any time soon. As you might guess, I’m headed to the airport yet again. This time for the 15 hour, 50 minute journey through 17 time zones and half a hemisphere to the land of koalas, kangaroos and noahs. As I slowly rack up airline miles and bragging rights for some of the longest flights in the world, I’ve been pondering this travel bug lifestyle and what it means. As you know, I recently visited the Dominican Republic with my family. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort-a little off beat from my typical travel jam, but nonetheless something you’ve got to experience at least once. I’ve always been lured to developing countries. The grunge, instabi...

After over three months traveling half way around the globe, one of my most frequently received questions is about my favorite place. I've covered a lot of mileage, met heaps of great people and had even crazier adventures that it is hard to pick just one place. The past 14 weeks seem like a million small journeys wrapped into one; some similar and some unlike any adventure I could ever dream of. So, you want to know how it all stacks up? Well here are a few of my favorites along with the stories to go with them (click on the name of each place for the link to the blog post). Country I most want to return to:  Croatia Favorite city:  Budapest  (with Amsterdam as a close second) Most unexpected and craziest country to travel in:  Morocco Favorite place to chill with the locals:  Israel Best hitchhiking adventure:  Portugal Country I would like to live in:  Spain With that being said, they journey is cont...