Planes, Trains, and Cruise Ships

Saving Money With Awesome Adventures

When I was living in California, I so wanted to visit my brother in Hawaii.  I didn't want to just visit on Oahu however, I wanted to visit as many of the Hawaiian islands as possible.  Hawaii is not cheap, so I did some research on how to get to all the sights on my list.  Flights between the islands are in the range of $100, not a bad deal for a flight.  Hotels though can be exceedingly expensive.  

Enjoying the view at Haleakala National Park.

Jerusalem Dos and Don'ts

Making a Trip to the Old City a Little Smoother

I thoroughly enjoyed Jerusalem.  Although there were a few things I wish I had understood before traveling there.  These tips I outline here.    

Do Go to the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

A botanical garden with a biblical theme, the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens offer displays about plants important to Jewish and Christian Heritage.  Visitors can learn about the Seven Species of Israel, crops gifted to the Jews by God that ensured abundant food, including grapes, olives, wheat, barley, figs, dates, and pomegranates.  Alternatively, visitors can see plants species believed to have comprised the crown of thorns or burning bush.

Don't Go to the Botanical Gardens Burring a Shemitta Year

God told the Israelites to let the land rest every seven years by not growing new crops or expanding agricultural areas.  Only actions which maintain an already existing plant area allowed, like watering a tree.  The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens honor the shemitta year by not planting or watering.  There is a dearth of of flowers and color, while the ponds are either dry or more so resembling cesspools.

Adding my written promise of a good deed to an ornament in the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.  Good deeds are a requirement of the shemitta year.

Some Sickness Got You Down?

Traveling While Sick

As I write this post, I am fighting the third day of torture wrought by a cold.  The entire duration of this sickness will occur while I am abroad.  This is not my first, fifth, or last sickness I caught while traveling.  Thankfully I am recovering quickly due to a few self-imposed rules that I share here.

Rule # 1: Make Sleep a Priority

Traveling is tiresome and often (especially when traveling long distances) travelers can be left sleep deprived for days, lacking the ability to "catch up" on their sleep while on their trip.  Who wants to risk missing a day trip to some ancient ruins and checking out the local nightlife, when all you need to do is miss a few hours of shut eye.  Every time I have caught a cold while traveling the last few years I was sleep deprived.  Going on tours all day and staying up to party all night, even if I did not over do it on the alcohol, left me more vulnerable to whatever virus seemed to be hanging around at the time.  I still have to practice either prioritizing the excursions I want to do or shelling out the dough so I have plenty of time to see everything with a good night's rest every night.  

Once I get sick, sleep becomes an even bigger priority.  I know if I listen to my body and hit the hay every time it asks, I will recover days sooner and be able to enjoy the rest of my trip on a high note of health.

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