D) Destinations\u2013favorite, least favorite, and why?<\/b><\/p>\n
My favorite place is one I haven’t been to before!\u00a0 But if I must answer, I would say South Africa.\u00a0 I would use about any excuse to go back.<\/p>\n
E) Event you\u2019ve experienced abroad that made you say \u201cwow\u201d:<\/b><\/p>\n My first safari. \u00a0I don’t think I had any idea how close we would get to the wildlife. \u00a0To be that close, in the middle of the bush with animals in their natural environment was an incredible experience. \u00a0My hope would be that everyone would have the chance to go on safari.<\/p>\n F) Favorite mode of transportation:<\/b><\/p>\n Trains! \u00a0I used to work on one<\/a>. \u00a0There is something super relaxing about traveling the rails.<\/p>\n Not being at work… \u00a0Honestly, there’s something about discovering a new place and experiencing that with loved ones. \u00a0Yes, I can have an adventure all alone, but I love turning to Hubs and being with him.<\/p>\n H) Hottest place you\u2019ve ever traveled to:<\/b><\/p>\n I live in the United Arab Emirates, which routinely is in the running for the hottest place on earth. \u00a0To put it simply, we don’t have heaters in our buildings!<\/p>\n I) Incredible service you\u2019ve experienced and where?<\/b><\/p>\n The Oberoi<\/a> in Agra.\u00a0 Thus far, they’ve been the property to beat.<\/p>\n J) Journey that took the longest:<\/b><\/p>\n Getting to my parent’s house is usually around 20 hours all in.\u00a0 However, flying on the second longest flight in the world<\/a>\u00a0(AUH to LAX) this year was plenty enough for me (and not anything I want to repeat again soon – even in business class!).<\/p>\n K) Keepsake from your travels:<\/b><\/p>\n The Best Friends Gang.\u00a0 Hubs and I have a collection of tchotchke’s from around the world. \u00a0Below is an example from a few years ago. \u00a0Searching for the new ‘friends’ is always a fun part of the trip. I’m still not down with London. \u00a0I don’t know why. \u00a0For the one good trip I had there, I’ve had 3 mediocre ones. \u00a0Go figure.<\/p>\n M) Moment where you fell in love with traveling:<\/b><\/p>\n I think I’ve always liked it (thank you Mom and Dad for getting us out there early), but getting to a place in my life where I can choose where I want to go and stay had been liberating.\u00a0 To be fortunate to not have to consider if we’ll have to budget for a trip and just plan our next adventure is something I’ll never take for granted.<\/p>\n N) Nicest hotel you\u2019ve stayed in:<\/strong><\/p>\n Oooh! \u00a0Good question. \u00a0I’ve been fortunate to stay in a lot of nice hotels, but the one at the top is the Shangri-La Boracay<\/a>. Jumping. \u00a0If you know me personally, you know this is my thing. \u00a0I jump everywhere.<\/p>\n P) Passport stamps-how many and from where?<\/b><\/p>\n Oh… \u00a0At last count, I think I was at 30+. \u00a0This year I was able to add Iceland, Romania and Seychelles. \u00a0Hubs and I tend to average about 5-6 countries a year. \u00a0We were debating a new country for Christmas, but I think we’re going to save some money and stay at home.<\/p>\n Q) Quirkiest attraction you\u2019ve visited and where?<\/b>The Kattenkabinet Museum<\/a> in Amsterdam, a museum dedicated to cats in art.<\/p>\n R) Really Frightening: where\u2019s one place you\u2019ve visited where you felt unsafe or uneasy?<\/strong><\/p>\n We pretty much walked through an accidental almost riot when visiting Istanbul in 2013. \u00a0Seeing police in riot gear and having a group chanting in a language you don’t speak about an issue you know nothing about is a bit disconcerting. \u00a0On this same trip we also saw someone walking around with a horrible eye injury.Also, in 2001 when visiting Amsterdam on New Year’s Eve, I remember walking what felt through a lot of chaos (magnums of Heineken and fireworks going off everywhere).<\/p>\n S) Splurge-something you have no problem spending money on while traveling:<\/b><\/p>\n Nice meals<\/a>. \u00a0Hey – if you read this blog, you know the deal!<\/p>\n T) Touristy thing you\u2019ve done:<\/b><\/p>\n I think it’s great to visit museums and other well known sites when visiting cities, however, if you do enough research, there will always be a creative or private way to experience these places.<\/p>\n U) Unforgettable travel memory:<\/strong><\/p>\n I still put going on safari on the list. \u00a0In the span of three days, we were charged by an elephant, tracked three lionesses on the hunt and watched an entire herd of elephants come for a drink of water in the evening. \u00a0I think it’s the simple things – watching nature, the sunset or a beautiful landscape with friends and family that make for the most lasting memories.<\/p>\n V) Visas-how many and for where?<\/b><\/p>\n India and Russia. \u00a0Given my blue passport, I am incredibly fortunate to get a visa on arrival in nearly every country I visit. \u00a0Having friends from different countries I realize this is a major privilege and not something I take for granted.<\/p>\n W) Wine\u2013best glass while traveling:<\/strong><\/p>\n Franschhoek, Bread and Wine<\/a>. \u00a0Hubs and I stopped for a tasting, then a delicious lunch as we split a bottle of the local prossecco. Unfortunately, as we were living in Qatar at the time, we couldn’t bring a bottle back with us. \u00a0Maybe that’s what made the experience special.<\/p>\n X) Excellent view and from where?<\/b><\/p>\n![\"4759836583_e4e550fb3a_z\"](\"https:\/\/atozaatar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/4759836583_e4e550fb3a_z.jpg?w=300\")
<\/a>My least favorite…\u00a0 Hmm, I haven’t had a ‘bad’ trip recently, but the chaos of India\u00a0is probably something I’d would avoid in the future.<\/p>\n![\"1930560_66722705626_8512_n\"](\"https:\/\/atozaatar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/1930560_66722705626_8512_n.jpg?w=225\")
<\/a>![\"1910104_11411755626_4360_n\"](\"https:\/\/atozaatar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/1910104_11411755626_4360_n.jpg?w=300\")
<\/a>![\"1910104_11411750626_4041_n\"](\"https:\/\/atozaatar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/1910104_11411750626_4041_n.jpg?w=300\")
<\/a>G) Greatest feeling while traveling:<\/b><\/p>\n![\"10978661_10152752787969353_5642909827400815788_n\"](\"https:\/\/atozaatar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/10978661_10152752787969353_5642909827400815788_n.jpg?w=225\")
<\/a>![\"1914412_158598884352_1748851_n\"](\"https:\/\/atozaatar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/1914412_158598884352_1748851_n.jpg?w=300\")
<\/a>L) Let-down sight, where and why?<\/b><\/p>\n![\"10630569_10152465619989353_666552025451714138_o\"](\"https:\/\/atozaatar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/10630569_10152465619989353_666552025451714138_o.jpg?w=300\")
<\/a>O) Obsession\u2013what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?<\/b><\/p>\n![\"29963_10150195491105627_3993525_n\"](\"https:\/\/atozaatar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/29963_10150195491105627_3993525_n.jpg?w=300\")
<\/a>
![\"18357_433189620626_728588_n\"](\"https:\/\/atozaatar.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/10\/18357_433189620626_728588_n.jpg?w=300\")
<\/a>Y) Years spent traveling:<\/b><\/p>\n