The Global Basecamps Blog

If you empathize at all with my new must-get-to-Turkey-now plan, you’ll have no problem understanding what drew me to Anil of FoXnoMad.com (He’s traveled there extensively). Even if you aren’t, the fact that he is sponsoring a contest that could get you 6 nights stay and airfare to almost anywhere of your choosing, is enough reason to read on. Beyond that, Anil earns the proud distinction of “Best in Travel Blogs” because he’s serious about blogging and it shows. Not to mention, that fact that he is a formally educated anthropologist and self proclaimed former computer hacker (the good kind) gives a nifty twist to his travel insights.

Global Basecamps: When and how did you get hooked on travel?

FoXnoMad: I’ve been traveling my entire life and suppose my curiosity to do so is strongly influenced by my parents, both of whom are journalists.

Global Basecamps: You are running an amazing “Live the Backpacker Life” contest. Can you tell us a bit more about it?

FoXnoMad: I want to give the opportunity for one of my readers to take a backpacking trip to most anywhere they want in the world. It’s a bit of a role-reversal. [Before October 5th] create a 3-5 minute travel video guide about a specific aspect of a given city and be the one traveling.

Why not make your own soul searching experience a sustainable one?

During your journey to travel enlightenment, what better way to increase your good karma then by contributing to the local communities and preserving the environment. This goal can be accomplished through many unique, educational, and not to mention, tasty activities. Indulge in 5 course meals organically produced from local farms, escape inside a tree house surrounded by lush tropical jungle, or spend a day exploring the pristine natural habitats at a national park.

Over the next few weeks, we shall follow in Gilbert’s (and, insert infectious belly laugh here, Julie's) footsteps and emulate her journey, while adding our own sustainable twist. We will shed light on the expansive value sustainability has to offer the community, the environment, and also most importantly, you!

Some days, I think the world has too many travel blogs. Other days, I get so excited about a gem of a blog I find and can’t get enough of! Well, the couple that created UncorneredMarket.com, Audrey Scott and Daniel Noll, had me at “You might find us on a grimy, overnight chicken bus in rural India one day and sharing the story with an ambassador the next.” Now, that’s the kind of adventure I love to read about!

Blending wit, passion and loads of travel experience, the folks at Uncornered Market bring a vibrant voice to the travel blog arena. Audrey first got hooked on travel when her parents took her to live in India at 5 weeks old and Daniel caught the travel bug at a young age as well, pondering a ratty reinforced paper globe in an old World Book encyclopedia. (Ahh, pre-Internet memories, how lovely!) Read on for more travel insight and adventure in my interview with the creators of Uncornered Market.

Do the words beach and jungle fill your travel fantasies? Does the idea of eco-friendly luxury make you smile? Throw in the fact that this can all be yours for an affordable price, and you can see why Central America has become the premier destination for eco-travelers. Costa Rica and Nicaragua have particularly outdone themselves in the sumptuous eco-lodge arena, so we’ve chosen to highlight two of our favorite Central American basecamps today for your reading (and travel-fantasizing) pleasure.

Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Oso Peninsula, Costa Rica

Remote, secluded, pristine. These words describe the amazing, off-the-beaten path destination of Osa Peninsula (Corcovado), Costa Rica. Set in a private nature reserve of over 1,000 acres of lush tropical rainforest, Lapa Rios Ecolodge overlooks the pristine point where the Gulfo Dulce meets the Pacific Ocean.

Lapa Rios was built in harmony with the surrounding forest and beach and has won worldwide awards for social and environmental excellence along with Costa Rica’s highest sustainable tourism certification. No luxury was spared in their quest for eco-friendliness, however.

While enjoying your time in a private thatch bungalow overlooking the amazing ocean vistas, don’t forget to call in for room service from the gourmet international-cuisine restaurant. And of course you can get a massage, do some yoga, participate in a plethora of hiking and water sport activities, or just sip a tropical cocktail as you watch the monkeys stroll by from the comfort of your heavenly hammock.

Are you ready to travel solo? I really wish I was, but like many, the idea of setting off for a big trip alone doesn’t give me the same warm fuzzy feeling that going on a journey with a like-minded, travel enthusiast friend does. (Shout out to my favorite travel partner, you know who you are!)

Unfortunately, as we grow out of the backpacking phase and the long summer vacations of our college days, lifestyles change, careers take over and scheduling travel with your besties becomes quite the logistical nightmare. And as much as I admire all the solo travelers out there, Janice from SoloTravelerBlog.com and Elizabeth Gilbert of “Eat, Pray, Love” fame to name a few, I am just not sure that’s me. Well, this week I found a very cool website that aims to keep people traveling on their terms, and not alone. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

Globetrooper.com is a “a tool for adventurous travelers to create trips and invite people from all over the world to join them.” First off, the site is beautiful (I am unabashed snob when it comes to this; If the colors make me cringe and graphics make me laugh, I’m gone). The fact that I was prompted to divulge my global travel “bucket list” when setting up my profile made me smile (if you’re interested, a long private yacht cruise to a private island in an uncharted sea tops my list). They also have a highly informative blog with great “How-to” articles, my favorite being “How to Get the Government to Pay for Your Next Round-the-World Trip.” Also useful, when scanning adventures other wanderlusts have potentially invited you to join, they rate the trip in terms of difficulty, culture shock, remoteness, and risk--important factors when vetting a potential travel partner. So, who’s up for a medium-difficulty, semi-remote, low risk, big culture shock trip? Egypt , India and Turkey are next on my list!