New Years Eve on the Tibetan Side of Mt. Everest Base Camp

by Matthew Allison | Dec 31, 2010 | Asia

December 2010: On a 8-day trip, my friends Tim, Eric and I traveled to Tibet-roof the world-a high mountain plateau that historically has been one of the most isolated and unknown places to the outside world. We traveled to Tibet to learn about its endangered culture,...

Camping Among the Lesser Known Nubian Pyramids in the Country of Sudan Where You Are More Likely to Encounter a Desert Nomad than another Tourist

by Matthew Allison | Nov 24, 2010 | Africa

Exploring Sudan’s Ancient Wonders Amidst Political Turmoil November 2010: At the time of my journey, and for many years prior, Sudan was frequently portrayed as a villain in international headlines. Sudanese President Omar Bashir had been publicly condemned by...

Visiting Libya Under Muammar Qaddafi, Climbing Mountains Haunted by Evil Genies, Traveling Across the Magical Saharan Desert and Having an Entire Ruined Roman City to Myself

by Matthew Allison | Nov 21, 2010 | Africa

November 2010: For years, I was obsessed with visiting Libya—a country ruled by the eccentric and notorious dictator, Mad Dog Muammar Qaddafi. For decades, he had controlled this oil-rich expanse of the Sahara Desert in North Africa, becoming an arch-nemesis of Ronald...

Visiting Hezbollah Mosques and Roman Ruins in the Baaka Valley While Being Shown Around this Amazing Country by the Lebanese Family of a Good Friend, Lebanon

by Matthew Allison | Nov 10, 2010 | Asia, Middle East

Exploring Lebanon Through the Eyes of Locals November 2010: As part of a longer two-week journey that included Libya—where I explored Roman ruins under Muammar Gaddafi’s rule—and Sudan, where I camped among the Nubian pyramids, I spent three unforgettable days in...

Day trip to the Roman Coliseum and Vatican Sistine Chapel

by Matthew Allison | Nov 7, 2010 | Europe

A Lightning Layover in Rome and Vatican City November 2010: Making Every Minute Count Planning a Mini Adventure During an 8-hour layover en route to Libya, I carefully mapped out a quick escape to visit two must-see landmarks: the Colosseum and the Sistine Chapel....

Bizarre Turkmenistan and Camping Next to the So-Called Doorway to Hell-Darvaza Gas Crater

by Matthew Allison | Sep 7, 2010 | Asia

Turkmenistan: A Journey into One of the World’s Most Isolated Countries In September 2010, I set out to visit one of the most unusual and secretive nations on Earth—Turkmenistan. Often called the North Korea of Central Asia, Turkmenistan remains politically and...

Traveling Across the High Andean Mountains to see the Uyuni Salt Flats, Geyser Fields, and Unique Incan Cultures, Bolivia

by Matthew Allison | Jun 11, 2010 | South America & Antarctica

June 2010: Visiting indigenous cultures has always been one of my top travel goals, and there is no better country in South America for this than Bolivia. Approximately 70 percent of Bolivia’s population is indigenous, primarily descendants of the Inca...

Trekking Through the Spiny Deserts, Savannahs and Rainforest of Madagascar to See the Most Amazing and Adorable Animals Found Anywhere on the Planet

by Matthew Allison | May 17, 2010 | Africa

Chasing Lemurs and Vanishing Forests May 2010 | Madagascar: A Dream Finally Realized For years, Madagascar sat high on my travel bucket list—an island of bizarre creatures, surreal landscapes, and hauntingly beautiful forests. As someone whose travel decisions are...

Backpacking the Oso Peninsula and Corcovado National Park-Simply One of the Best Places to Spot Wildlife in a Rainforest, Costa Rica

by Matthew Allison | Mar 27, 2010 | Default

March 2010: Costa Rica was a country I put off visiting for a long time. Why? Because it’s the most touristy country in Central America, with a large number of American expats who, in some ways, have altered its identity. I preferred destinations lacking tourist...

Arizona-Wild West Scenery of Canyons and Huge Cactus Filled Deserts

by Matthew Allison | Jan 12, 2010 | North America, Default

Arizona – Heart of the Wild West Ghost Towns, Borderlands, and Timeless Desert Beauty Arizona embodies the spirit of the American Wild West—a land of ghost towns, long, lonely stretches of borderland, and some of the most dramatic desert landscapes on Earth. From the...