Tanzania

What first sparked my interest about this place was when a family from my church came back from a mission trip located in Tanzania, working at a clinic there. They came back and started talking about what they did, where they lived, how people acted, etc....

 They also talked about the culture, which in my opinion was the most interesting part. I also found out that Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world, not really a place you'd want to spend your vacation. Here's a look at a village there.
                 
                         

It's pretty run down, doesn't look like there would be any Internet there, would there? Of course there are cities and places that are more modern, but most of the villages are still stuck in the past. If you look closer you can see that they are still wearing traditional clothing, brightly colored dresses and handmade, threadbare clothes. There are modern cities that you can stay in, like the one below, but this is pretty much Tanzania.

                        

People here are more human I believe. They have barely anything, so they are happy with anything. There are photos of kids seeing themselves for the first time in pictures and the looks on their faces is amazing. They find entertainment in anything, and are happy.

       

Kids there have never seen an electronic, yet they smile and that way they are less selfish and greedy. How can you want something that you don't know exists. That's how they were born, and they are much more grateful for the things they have. If you travel here, I recommend that you go on a mission trip or something that gives back.

How to plan a vacation Step by Step

Everyone is stressed when planning a vacation, whether it be in-state or out.So I'm here to help with a step-by-step detailed list!

Step One: Choose a Destination

This is probably one of the most important parts. If you scream to your kids "We are going to Disneyland!" The reaction would probably be....

If you scream to your kids, "We are going on a road trip to see historical landmarks!" The reaction would be more like this..........

If you are going with anyone, my suggestion would be for everyone going on the trip to list their top 5 locations. That way everyone gets a say. Decide what you want to get out of the vacation, if you want relaxation, then go for more of a all-inclusive resort or somewhere you can relax and unwind. If you want your kids to remember this vacation for the rest of their lives, go more for something like Disneyland, or somewhere with amazing features, like Yosemite or Greece. 

Next you have to talk with everyone and actually agree on a destination according to your wants and budget. You have to research travel costs and see if you can afford it. 

Step Two: Arrange your Traveling

If you are going far away, consider flying and compare flight prices. It is also good to see if there are rental cars available. Find the greatest deal and book the seats you need. If you have small children though, the best option may be to drive. It's less expensive and easier with little children. Plan ahead and have your hotel or vehicle waiting when you get there. If you are driving then take your car to the shop and make sure that it is ready to go. 

Step Three: Find Accommodations

Compare prices of different hotels to find the best deals. Decide what is best in a hotel, whether it be free breakfast and free Wi-Fi, or an amazing view from your room and a pool. If you are going out a lot and sightseeing, you won't be spending much time in the hotel. If that's so, then you should get a hotel that is not very fancy and expensive, more as a place to sleep than a place to relax. If you are planning on relaxing more, then a fancy all-inclusive resort may be better. You don't even have to stay in a hotel, you could rent a house for longer stays or stay with relatives. If you have little children then camping may be a fun option.

Step Four: Plan Activities 

For everyone to have fun on the vacation you have to pick activities that everyone can do. For example, mountain biking may be fun for you, but not for your grandmother. If you have kids then plan a few activities that are kid-friendly. If you want to go to a popular attraction, then make sure to book spots ahead of time. It's also nice to plan a surprise, maybe dinner or a fireworks show. And don't plan everything moment to moment. You need some time to jut sit around and relax or take a spontaneous adventure. Make sure to plan to go sightseeing!

Step Five: Packing and Preparing
Something really important to do is to save money. You should look ahead to see how much money you will need approximately, don't forget to add in travel expenses. One helpful thing to do is to have a checklist of things you need to pack and give that to the rest of the group. Think especially about things you use on a regular, or weekly basis. Also, if you have pets arrange for them to be taken care of while you are gone or arrange for them to come with you.

Follow these steps and you are sure to have a fun, safe vacation! Have fun planning your next vacation!

And so it began...

I have always been interested in different places, so when I got the assignment to make a blog in my English class, it seemed like the perfect chance to explore many places more in-depth. What this blog will be about is different travel destinations all over the world, and talking about them and what they are famous or interesting for. I first got really interested in different locations and countries last school year, when I joined a club by the name of Model United Nations, or MUN for short. This club was an elementary version of Youth and Government, a high school club that I am currently involved in. 

In MUN you choose a country, and my group got a country called the Maldives, which I had never heard about before,

and we spent the next meetings learning about it. I found out about a beautiful country, just like Hawai'i, islands that have been clumped into a country, and they are currently sinking. I had never heard about this place, and it amazed me. Then we went to a giant conference and I learned about countries I had never even heard about before. I got to share my knowledge of different countries and obtain knowledge too. I also made new friends, and strengthened my bond with other older friends. So over the course of the school year I will be talking about different travel destinations, or even little countries that no one knows about, countries like Rwanda, which is in the middle of Africa,

Or France, which is one of the most popular and romantic places in the world. 

Or I could even talk about our state, California, or North Carolina, or anywhere really. I believe that there is always something good about a place, whether it be the culture, the community, or even the food. Some of the food on the East Coast is AMAZING by the way, just in case you were wondering. There is always a bright spot in a place, and I am determined to find one in every place I pick. But, no matter what country I will be talking about, it will receive the same amount of attention and effort, and I hope when you finish reading my bog you will have a better understanding of the world that we live in.