Located on the seventh peak of the Tirumala hill- Venkatachala, the temple of Tirupati is a magnificent and prodigious structure, a beautiful example of ancient sculpture and carvings. It is also a very popular Hindu temple. Tirupati Tirumala devasthanam is visited by about 50,000 people everyday and about a million in festive season. The temple is believed to be the home of Lord Venkateshwara and has achieved sanctity in Hindu religion. The antiquity of the temple is that it has ample number of stories attached to it and dates back to 5th century A.D.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam is currently the board that is handling and managing all the activities related to the temple. It has enabled TTD online booking, TTD accommodation, TTD Darshan, E-seva, etc in Tirumala Tirupati. It efficiently looks after all the work regarding Tirupati temple.
TTD Devasthanam online bookingis one of the services that the TTD board provides in Tirupati. This is a very helpful service under which the devotees can book their TTD Darshan tickets online using the internet. The devotees can book for various Darshans such as:-

• Archanananthara Darshanam
• Suprabhatam Darshan
• Nijapada Darshanam
• Thomala Seva Darshan
• Archana Darshan
• Visesha Pooja Darshan
• Astadala Pada Padmaradhanamu Darshan
• Sahasra Kalasabhishekam Darshan
• TiruppavadaiDarshan
• Kalyanotsavam Darshan

By using the TTD Darshan online bookingfacility, devotees can book tickets for all the above mentioned Darshans. Before booking tickets for the Darshans they can check the availability of the Darshan, select number of tickets and date. Anyone can book tickets in advance for a minimum of 3 days and maximum 90 days by using TTD advance bookingfacility. TTD online Darshan tickets are very easy to book and it is always advisable for the devotees to book these tickets prior to their visit to Tirupati as it is always so crowded that without tickets it is very difficult to get the sacred Darshan of lord Venkateshwara.
TTD online booking also includes e- accommodation, e-seva, e-hundi, e-donation and e-sales. Under e accommodation the devotees can book their rooms of the hotel online only using the internet. This helps them to find accommodation facility in Tirupati. e-seva facilitates all the services provided by TTD by internet. E hundi is the facility by which the devotees can donate in fulfillment of their vows.
Thus, TTD is a divine place where people come, have Darshan of their lord, offer vows to the lord and donate money and expensive gold items in the feet of the lord.

Life is very busy these days, we hardly get the time to sit in tranquility and peep deep in to our souls. Not only physically but also mentally we all grow tired. In this maddening crowd all you look is for inner peace and serenity. If this is what you feel then it is about time that you take a break from your mundane life and explore your inner spirituality. One of the best places in the world is India when it comes to spirituality, Tour in India and find the inner peace that you have been looking for a long time. India is a country which has unity in diversity and diverse religions co-exist peacefully. Throughout India there are various important religious places. Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Islam all live peacefully in the same country. Places like Konark, Puri, Vaishno Devi, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Mathura, Vrindavan, Varanasi and more are places for Hinduism pilgrimage. If you are a follower of Islam then you can visit Ajmer Sharif, Fatehpur Sikri, Haji Ali and Jama Masjid. If you want to witness the beliefs and faith of Sikhism then you should visit places like The Golden Temple, Damdama Sahib, Manikaran, Poanta Sahib and more. Travel to India to experience the divinity and spirituality to feel inner peace. There are many such places that you can visit and have a very calm vacation. The best way to explore these places is to avail for India tour packages as the Indian travel agents have both the knowledge and expertise to take you around the best spots. There are various combinations of tour packages that you can avail for according to your preferences and budget. These pilgrimage spots also have many resorts, expensive and budget hotels as well which you can choose according to your budget. The India tour packages will be absolutely customized based on your preferences. India is a vast country with thousands of important religious places and as a tourist you might not have the know-how of all such places and more importantly many religions have certain code of conducts which you might not be aware of so it is important that you travel with a India travel agent who can update you about these codes. Travel to India and feel the tranquility that all the spiritual places provide you with. You can make such trips with your family, friends or all by yourself. It is never too late to get in touch with your inner self. And by coming to such pilgrimage places you realize how peaceful and meaningful life can be.

Talking about perfect winter holiday and corporate trips the first thing that strikes our mind is India which is considered as the most desired tourist destination of Asia. India is best suited for tourists who have keen desire to enjoy a lot of tourism options in a single country. In other words, it is a place that has got something or the other for every section with numerous flavors.
Whichever part you go to, East India, West India, North India, Central India or South India, you will see an amazingly balanced blend of unity, love, rich cultural heritage and wonderful holiday spots which surely will be a unique and pleasant experience especially for winters and corporate trips. Visiting India will be a memorable experience.
Winter holidays in India
The winter holiday can be a great opportunity for tourists to experience the joy of the season. Winter holidays are altogether different as compared with other seasons.
Dark days of winter sing the song of setting the sun early and wind blowing, this gives us the idea to spend winter holidays in open house which is an outstanding and unique fun in itself. Some people also plan their wedding in winters so why not make it a holiday based on winter theme.
Depending on when you are getting married you have lot of romantic getaways that India has to offer the young birds tying their knot worldwide. Winter can also be best time for family vacation or honeymoon tours.
Winter holidays of India offer many tourist spots and has become one of the most sought after winter holidays destinations of the world. Winter holidays of India give all kinds of winter tourism like snow skiing, skiing travel, mountaineering and ice climbing, river rafting, Snowboarding.

Festival Tours in India
India is the land of the exuberant celebrations. The country has its unique festivities interspersed throughout the year, the Indian calendar is a long precession of festivals The harvest festivals of the south, the immersion of Ganesh in Bombay, the car Festival of Puri, boat races in Kerala, every region, every religion has something to celebrate. Almost every festival has its own flavor with a meaningful identity there are animal fairs, religious fairs and mark the changing seasons. Indian festivals denote color, vivacity, ebullience, appetizing food and a variety of prayers and rituals.
Popular festival tours
-Pushkar festival
-Desert festival
-Lord Jagannath Rathyatra
-Pongal festival
-Boat race
-Goa carnival
-Khajuraho dance festival
-Holi Festival
-Navratri
-Diwali
-Kumbh Mela
Corporate trips
Corporate trips across various cities and states are becoming dire need for business and corporate houses. If this becomes frequent then business traveling can make professionals travel-phobic, which can eventually take shape of a real nightmare. However, planning a proper and well scheduled trip which has a tinge of fun and frolic along with the serious corporate discussion, can offer employees a great deal of enthusiasm and satisfaction.
Company tour not only rewards hardworking staff with an unforgettable vacation and at the same time to bond them into an efficient, productive team. Corporate vacation can be planned in any month; however tours in India during winter or festival time fun filled and memorable experience.

North Cyprus has turned into a very open region with regards to religion and mixed race neighbor relations. It is the cosmopolitan region of the Mediterranean sea and is one of it’s 3 largest islands, being in very close contact to some really “must see” countries like Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel and Greece. It won’t take you long to work out just why North Cyprus is such a paradise island.

It was only 4 decades ago that the island of Cyprus was divided in two, due to differences between the Greek and Turkish populations. This left the Greeks living in the south and the Turks in the North until recently, although things are now back to normal, but with the backing of the EU. The North though has had the most significant impact on the property investment market in recent times and has been converted into a real property investment paradise island.

Through the ages Cyprus had taken on a changing face to it’s appearance, but has been converted into a beautiful island filled with Capes and Gulfs and is becoming one of the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean sea.

The tourism industry really has got into gear with such natural surroundings. A “must see” list would be the Korucam Cape, the Zafer Cape, the Guzelyurt Gulf and the Famagusta Gulf, which will just knock you out cold with the sheer beauty that Cyprus offers. The tourist season lasts all year round in Cyprus so there is plenty of time to organize a memorable trip around this paradise island and check out the excellent Cyprus villa rental offers.

You will also find the very interesting Kyrenia mountain range also called the Five Finger Mountains, which are found running parallel to the coast line. The total mountain ranges 130km in length but due to it being so narrow, the total range measures just 260 sq Km. The composition of the range is mainly limestone, marble and dolomite and you will be able to pick up a few of them as souvenirs. One thing that will knock you for six though are the most incredible views which are best seen from some of the really cheap rental villa accommodation found in North Cyprus.

The fertility of the island is guaranteed in North Cyprus and provide natural vegetation such as olive and carob trees leaving a sweet scent in the air throughout the day. Another great day trip out from your North Cyprus real estate villa would be to go and visit a natural spring found in the Five Finger mountain range. You could also try the Mesaoria plain, located in the middle of the island between the Kyrenia and the Troodos mountain ranges. Don’t forget that the best views to all of these sites are from North Cyprus Villas.

North Cyprus villas have a prime location around the North and East of the island which are ideal locations for getting the very best views over the crystal blue Mediterranean sea. This section of the coastline is just full of small coves and enticing bays for you to enjoy the day swimming and just sunbathing on the golden sands. Some people may get turned off by beaches so that’s why North Cyprus Villas is an excellent choice as they come with your own private swimming pool so nobody is left out.

It hasn’t taken us long to see the reasons behind Cyprus having become such a perfect holiday destination with the fabulous views, so many places to visit and of course don’t forget those really mild temperature 365 days a year. It isn’t surprising that so many people are now discovering North Cyprus real estate villas as the perfect location to enjoy the best side of Cyprus.

Considered as one of most prospective cities in the realm of Cyprus, notable island in the eastern Mediterranean, the fame of Larnaca is increasing by leaps and bounds. The city of Larnaca is located on the southern coast of Cyprus, the second largest commercial port in the realm of Cyprus, and happens to be an important tourist resort as well.
There are lots of attractions in Larnaca too. In accordance with historians, Cyprus happens to be one of the most religious countries in the realm of European Union and is, at the moment, under the aegis of both Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus and Turkish Cypriots, adherents of Sunni Islam, all at once. The historians are found to claim also that Larnaca has been one of the best witnesses of the struggle between these two commendable concepts. As a result, Larnaca must contain an assortment of edifices related to these two religions. Is it so? Let’s see!
Major attractions in Larnaca
* Without a doubt, the foremost attraction in Larnaca happens to be the ruins of Ancient Kitium. This is nothing else save for the earliest architectural remains and as indicated by historians, it does date back to the 13th century B.C. It must be stated that the area was rebuilt under the auspices of Achaean Greeks. You can still come across remains of the Cyclopean Walls, consisting of massive blocks along with the complex of five temples.
* Marble Bust of Zeno, standing at the crossings close to the American Academy, deserves special mentions. Zeno, if the history is taken into account, was born in Kition (ancient Larnaca) and it was in 334 BC. He was responsible for establishing the globally acclaimed Stoic school of philosophy.
* Never forget to make a visit to the underground chapel of Ayia Phaneromeni, located amongst monument of Zeno and Salt Lake on the right. The underground chapel is by and large a rock cavern with two chambers and probably dates back to Phoenician times. What is most striking, this place is known for a range of magical properties.
* Gear up to visit Hala Sultan Tekke containing tomb of Umm Haram, the foster mother of Prophet Mohammed. As per scores of Muslim historical accounts, Umm Haram cashed in her chips here in 647 A.D.

For those who have a knack for travelling, they want to experience the maximum that their budget would allow them. Travelling is something that broadens your horizons in reference to information and history. When you visit a new place, you most likely visit the museums and historical monuments ad well as the most famous places of that country/city. This way, you keep increasing your knowledge with every trip that you take and therefore, becoming a rich book of cultural knowledge.

If you have been to the UDA and not visited Harlem, which lies in the neighborhood of New York, you have not yet seen the land that is populated by true African Americans.  Keeping their culture alive even after all these years, the Christian teachings taught in the churches is the same as that of older times. A tour of Harlem is what you need to increase your knowledge more regarding the old and the new teachings of Christianity. Learning about their religion is also another factor that could interest those who are open-minded and patient to seek knowledge of all religions.

The more you want to learn about a place, the simpler you should get.Take a Harlem walking tour in order to learn the most about the historical monuments available on this land. This way, you will see that these people respect their ancestors and have kept the spiritual beauty of this land alive. Even though they have developed in the modern times, they have drawn a fair line to where this development should stop. You can learn about the rich culture if you tale a walk with the locals of this land so that they can teach you all about what they have learnt from their experiences here. The simple things that exist in this area are what are the most appealing to the tourists.

The churches today give you a Gospel tour in Harlem since they sing with the most beautiful voices that a music lover could ever get to hear. The churches play the gospel music every Sunday, it speaks of the history, and spirituality of the land and is often known to be soothing to one’s soul. Therefore, there is something for the music lovers to look forward to as well since African Americans are specifically known to have magic in their voice.

The best Harlem tours are presented to those who are sensible travelers and start planning before time. This way, you get the most amazing tourist packages since you book before time and the most reliable method of booking is going to travel agencies. You can book yourself a package that suits your budget and be the one to enjoy what the place has to offer and learn from it as well.

One of the major attractions of USA, Harlem place is amongst those lands, which tend to leave a mark in your memory. With the rich culture this land has and the respect that it gives to its past, you can make memorable visits to various areas and learn what these people and this place has to offer.

Until recently, global temperatures were more than a degree Fahrenheit warmer when compared to the overall 20th Century mean. From August of 2007 through February of 2008, the Earth’s mean reading dropped to near the 200-year average temperature of 57 degrees.

We, Cliff Harris and Randy Mann, believe that the warming and even the cooling of global temperatures are the result of long-term climatic cycles, solar activity, sea-surface temperature patterns and more. However, Mankind’s activities of the burning of fossil fuels, massive deforestations, the replacing of grassy surfaces with asphalt and concrete, the ‘Urban Heat Island Effect,’ are making conditions ‘worse’ and this will ultimately enhance the Earth’s warming process down the meteorological roadway in the next several decades.

From the late 1940s through the early 1970s, a climate research organization called the Weather Science Foundation of Crystal Lake, Illinois, determined that the planet’s warm, cold, wet and dry periods were the result of alternating short-term and long-term climatic cycles. These researchers and scientists also concluded that the Earth’s ever-changing climate likewise has influenced global and regional economies, human and animal migrations, science, religion and the arts as well as shifting forms of government and strength of leadership.

Much of this data was based upon thousands of hours of research done by Dr. Raymond H. Wheeler and his associates during the 1930s and 1940s at Kansas State University. Dr. Wheeler was well-known for his discovery of various climate cycles, including his highly-regarded ‘510-Year Drought Clock’ that he detailed at the end of the ‘Dust Bowl’ era in the late 1930s.

During the early 1970s, our planet was in the midst of a colder and drier weather cycle. Inflationary recessions and oil shortages led to rationing and long gas lines at service stations worldwide. The situation at that time was far worse than it is now, at least for the time being.

The Weather Science Foundation also predicted, based on these various climate cycles, that our planet would turn much warmer and wetter by the early 2000s, resulting in general global prosperity. They also said that we would be seeing at this time widespread weather ‘extremes.’ There’s little doubt that most of their early predictions came true.

Our recent decline in the Earth’s temperature may be a combination of both long-term and short-term climate cycles, decreased solar activity and the development of a strong long-lasting La Nina, the current cooler than normal sea-surface temperature event in the south-central Pacific Ocean. Sunspot activity in the past 18 months has decreased the lowest levels since ‘The Little Ice Age’ ended in the mid-to late 1800s. This “cool spell,” though, may only be a brief interruption to the Earth’s overall warming trend. Only time will tell.

Based on these predictions, it appears that much warmer readings may be expected for Planet Earth, especially by the 2030s, that will eventually top 1998’s global highest reading of 58.3 degrees. It’s quite possible we could see an average temperature in the low 60s. Until then, this ‘cooling period’ may last from just a few months to as long as several years, especially if sunspot activity remains very low.

We at Harris-Mann Climatology, www.LongRangeWeather.com, believe that our prolonged cycle of wide weather ‘extremes,’ the worst in at least 1,000 years, will continue and perhaps become even more severe, especially by the mid 2010s. We should see more powerful storms, including major hurricanes and increasing deadly tornadoes. There will likewise be widespread flooding, crop-destroying droughts and freezes and violent weather of all types including ice storms, large-sized hail and torrential downpours.

We are already seeing on virtually every continent an almost Biblical weather scenario of increasing droughts and floods. In both the southwestern and southeastern corners of the U.S, there are severe water shortage problems associated with chronic long-term dryness. In some cases, the water deficits are the worst in at least 400 years.

Dr. Wheeler also discovered that approximately every 102 years, a much warmer and drier climatic cycle affects our planet. The last such ‘warm and dry’ peak occurred in 1936, at the end of the infamous ‘Dust Bowl’ period. During that time, extreme heat and dryness, combined with a multitude of problems during the ‘Great Depression,’ made living conditions practically intolerable.

The next ‘warm and dry’ climatic phase is scheduled to arrive in the early 2030s, probably peaking around 2038. It is expected to produce even hotter and drier weather patterns than we saw during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

But, we should remember, that the Earth’s coldest periods have usually followed excessive warmth. Such was the case when our planet moved from the Medieval Warm Period between 900 and 1300 A.D. to the sudden ‘Little Ice Age,’ which peaked in the 17th Century.

By the end of this 21st Century, a big cool down may occur that could ultimately lead to expanding glaciers worldwide, even in the mid-latitudes. We could possibly see even a new Great Ice Age. Based on long-term climatic data, these major ice ages have recurred about every 11,500 years. Well, you guessed it. The last extensive ice age was approximately 11,500 years ago, so we may be due. Again, only time will tell.

Transportation

Various airports are found in many cities of Spain such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao, Murcia, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca. Madrid and Bilbao boast of their modern and stunning airports designed by prominent architects. If you are a little tight with your budget you can try some of their low cost carriers such as ClickAir, easyJet, Blue Air, Sterling Airlines, Vueling and RyanAir.

The RENFE, Spain’s official rail carrier, and FEVE are rail systems connecting major cities of the country. They are considered to be the some of Europe’s finest because of its modern design and amenities, reliability and punctuality.

Buses, boats and car renting are also common for most people traveling and touring Spain. They are highly recommended if you want to avoid the volume of people using the train systems. You can also enjoy more the view and sceneries of the cities when riding in one these transport vehicles.

Lodging

There are various types of accommodations you can choose from when traveling Spain. Small villages located near the coasts are popular because of the warm welcome and friendly environment they give to tourists. Casa Rural or the counterpart of B&Bs in other countries is also a recommended option since it is strictly regulated by authorities, plus quality and price varies greatly. The Parador, a prominent state-owned hotel chain in Spain, can make your stay a unique since its locations are mostly found in historical places such as Moorish castles, convents, and haciendas.

Food and Dining

Spaniards are known for their exquisite taste in food and wine. They usually eat light with a lot of vegetables with a mixture of meat and fish. Lunchtime normally starts between 1:30pm to 2pm and ends before 9pm. Dinner is served at 8:30pm or 9pm. Between these times, nearly all restaurants and cafes are closed except for big cities that serve until midnight. To make your travel a memorable one, you could try one theses Spanish dishes: Mariscos (popular shellfish in Pontevedra); Pesca?to frito (mouth-watering fried fish served in southern Spain); Paella (rice dish that can be served with seafood, chicken, or rabbit); and Tortilla de patatas (egg omelet mized with fried potato).

Festivities

Since more than 75% of Spain’s populations are Catholics it is no surprise that many of its local and national festivals are celebrated in Catholicism to the religion such as the Holy Week, Fiesta de San Isidro (May 15 in Madrid), and Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos (parade for the 3 Kings, celebrated in the 5th of January). Other local celebrations you should watch out for are the Festival de Patios (2-week event when some locals open their houses to visitors to show their old Patios), Fallas (held in March in Valencia), Seville’s April Fair (consist of flamenco dancing, drinking of sherry and bullfighting), and the world-famous La Tomatina (a massive tomato fight in Bu?ol.

Shopping

For people who love shopping while traveling, you can find designer brands such Zara, Mango, Camper and Bershka in major cities and it could save you some cash. Popular department and specialty stores in Spain include the El Corte Ingles, Casas, Camper and For. The Kukuxumusu t-shirt is a favorite souvenir for many tourists that have funny designs and various subjects about Spain.

Hong Kong is a key destination for many travelers. It has a population of more than seven million, scattered all throughout its more than 200 islands.

It is located in Eastern Asia, near China and the South China Sea. Formerly, leased to Great Britain, Hong Kong was officially returned to China in 1997.  Hong Kong offers diversity in: culture, religion, and lifestyles.

Aurora Lillo Editor of the “Best Hotel Deals” website — http://www.BestHotelDeals.biz — pointed out;

“…Chinese, (Cantonese) and English are both the official language here. So foreigners, who are planning to visit, should not have any problems exploring, and experiencing the culture of this vibrant place; since English is widely spoken here…”

Hong Kong dollar is the currency in use here. One American dollar roughly equals around 7 Hong Kong dollars.

Hong Kong is known for: its unique energetic vibe, its wonderful food, and beautiful skylines. It’s best to always bring a camera when roaming around in the city, so travelers can capture the essence of this place, and will always have a memento of their visit.

Hong Kong offers many great upscale shopping districts that rival the high end streets of: Shanghai, London and Paris. But the best places to shop here are the unique shops, and street markets that exhibit the charm and uniqueness of the locality.

It is wise to look around at the various stores to compare prices before buying anything. The best part of all is that sales tax is exempted on everything in Hong Kong.

The best way to get around Hong Kong is to purchase an Octopus payment card. This card takes you everywhere. It can also be used on any public transportation system, except taxis. It can even be used in vending machines, restaurants, and convenient stores, fast food places, etc.

Some of the key places in Hong Kong are:

• Hong Kong Island is the most urbanized district. It’s the heart and soul of the city.

• Kowloon is one of, if not, the most populated cities in the world. It also offers the best view of the skyline.

• Disney Land Hong Kong which is located in Lantau Island. This is only the third International sight for a main Disney them park.  It is best to make reservations ahead of time for lodging. It tends to be packed, especially during the holidays.

“…Hong Kong also has a great natural landscape that can be seen by riding a train that goes all the way up to the higher part of Hong Kong Island. With so many things to do and sights to be seen Hong Kong is truly a must see for any traveler…” added A. Lillo.

Further information about the cheapest rates on hotels all around the world by visiting; http://www.BestHotelRates.me

Traveling as a couple can be difficult. Many people will say that it can make or break a relationship. Dave and I have traveled for months at a time together on several occasions, and we have always found that we bond even more while we are on the road. We influence and inspire each other to try new things. We share in unique experiences and talk about them together for years to come. We find that traveling as a couple has turned us into more well-rounded human beings than traveling alone. By keeping our minds open to each others suggestions, we end up exploring things that we never would have tried in the first place. And we end up liking things that we never thought possible.

That is not to say that being together 24/7 is easy, but we have found that if we follow a few of these simple rules, we can survive and thrive when we travel together as a couple.

1) Compromise – This is our number one recommendation. We have found that a lot of couples are not willing to do this on a short vacation or in their every day lives even. How will they survive and get along traveling for months at a time without compromise? It may sound stereotypical, but I have found that most couples are pretty much the same when it comes to what men like and women like. Men will normally go for the high adventure and sports related activities while women enjoy exploring culture, hitting the spa or shopping. Well guess what, even Dave and I are the same way. I enjoy a good massage and great deals on clothes and hand bags and Dave loves jumping off of cliffs and catching waves. Over the years however, we have both learned to enjoy both activities. We plan and discuss what each person wants to do, and then we compromise. I will do this if you will do that. We will go off and climb a mountain together and bond over the incredible experience. Our relationship is so much stronger because we have just survived something extraordinary together. Once we have done the crazy extreme adrenaline filled activity we celebrate by splurging on a nice hotel and massage to really relax and enjoy the moment. When we first started traveling, I didn’t want to spend all of my time trekking through the jungle and Dave didn’t want to spend all of his time looking at local art. Now after several years of being on the road together, we both love it all. I can’t wait to climb my next volcano, and Dave loves bartering with the toughest salesmen for the perfect deal.

2) Communication – This really is the key to a surviving in a relationship at anytime. I think that the success of our relationship is how well we communicate. We never play mind games and we talk about everything. People always point out how difficult it is for men to understand women and vice versa, but I can never understand why they think that. Dave and I know exactly when the other one is angry or upset. It is pretty easy to read each other. Sure, we could play dumb and ignore the signs, but really, we are all open books if you pay attention. Lets face it, we all react differently to situations and while one of you may be completely enjoying an experience, the other may be hating every minute of it. The key is to not ignore how the other person is feeling. If you are at a festival or religious ceremony that is maybe uncomfortable or upsetting to your spouse, make sure to be aware of that persons feelings even if you are completely fascinated by it. If you talk about it, you will understand where they are coming from and be more sympathetic, while you can persuade them to enjoy the moment and accept that it is something different. No matter what, that person will feel better because you took the time to listen, and like everything in life, by talking about things, they probably won’t be so uncomfortable or upset anymore.

If you ignore how each other feels however, you will both come out of it angry; One of you for feeling that the other person ruined the moment for you, and the other for thinking that you didn’t care about their feelings. Just save yourself the hassle and communicate. Then you can move on.

Which is a perfect segue to my next point.

3) Be willing to fight – As a couple, if you can’t fight with each other, you can’t survive traveling together. We have had some epic arguments on the road, but we get over them quickly. Travel can be frustrating, exhausting and overwhelming. You are stuck with each other for every single moment of it and when tensions run high, you only have each other to take it out on. Sometimes you can simply be angry because you have been traveling for 24 hours and you are exhausted. So you take out your frustrations on the nearest person, which just happens to be your husband. Of course you are going to fight. You will blame each other when things go wrong and you will get on each others nerves at times.

The biggest mistake you can make is holding it all in. It will make for a miserable experience. Have the fight and get it over with, but then move on. I remember once in Kanchanaburi, Thailand we couldn’t find the place that we wanted to stay at on the river. We walked forever with our packs in the heat, and we eventually ended up on a lonely road lost in the middle of nowhere. We were so mad at each other that we had to walk 100 metres apart. We couldn’t stand to be around each other, but we had to keep each other in sight because we were lost. So we kept our distance and wallowed in our anger silently. When we finally found our place and settled in, we said to each other, I don’t feel like fighting anymore do you? The answer was “No” of course and we went on with our day and had a great time.

Which brings us to…

4) Knowing each Others boundaries – It is good to know what is too much for one person. Base jumping out of a hot air balloon is a little too much for me, and even Dave will draw the line at a facial or a manicure. Don’t force something on each other when you know that there is no way the other is going to give in. Compromise is one thing, but pushing each other beyond their comfort zone is another. Over time, you will probably be able to get each other to try almost everything, but take baby steps at first.

When we first started traveling, it was difficult for Dave to get me into a budget hotel. Now I have camped my way through Africa, I have no qualms with squatting in a pretty awful public toilet and hey, if the bed doesn’t come with sheets, well never fear, I have brought my trusty sarong along for just that occasion. I was afraid of heights and freaked out doing my first abseil, but now I am an avid rock climber and have even summitted Kilimanjaro. Baby steps have eventually turned me into an extreme adventurer. And as for Dave, well when we first started traveling, he didn’t care if we ever left Canada. He was fine with the odd vacation to the Caribbean where he could go Para Sailing or scuba diving to get his adrenaline fix. He used to care about cars, gadgets and toys but now, he is a minimalist because you never know when you will be taking off again and stuffing everything into storage. He was a staple meat and potato man, but now he loves all exotic foods and the spicier, the better. Culture, museums and religion? No way. It was sports, bars and beer. But now he has been to over 30 countries and loves experiencing new festivals, checking out the hottest art gallery and loves observing religious festivals and exploring Pagoda’s, Churches and Stupas.

Now our last point for surviving your travels as a Couple…

5) Do Things Together – We love to do everything together. We don’t go our separate ways for the day to do what each individual likes. So often we will come across people in our travels that have gone off without their spouse to fulfill their lifelong dream. I find this hard to understand. They are experiencing the most amazing time of their lives, without the one that they love, because they weren’t willing to try something new. You will come back from an experience that has profoundly changed you, so how will you be able to relate to your spouse in the same way anymore? Dave and
I have a hard enough time relating to friends and family when we come back from months on the road, I couldn’t imagine trying to reconnect with him as well. For me, it would be an impossible situation.

It is by doing things together that has made us who we are today. I didn’t want to surf in Bali, it was Dave’s life long dream, not mine. I tend to be afraid of the water a little bit. But I did it with him and I am so glad that I did. I had a great time and the feeling of standing up on that board was like no other. Now I will surf again when the opportunity arises without question. I am sure that if those people that stayed at home while their spouse was away would have gone along for the ride, they would have loved the experience just as much. They just needed to open their mind in the first place.

Travel can profoundly change a person, and to have the chance to change and grow with your spouse, can only strengthen the relationship and create an unshakable bond that will last forever. If you follow these easy steps when traveling, your relationship will be able to survive any situation and you will come out of it as a happy and thriving couple that are the envy of all of your friends