You’ll Never Run Out of Things to Do in New Mexico

White Sands by a full moon is a sight you’ll never forget!

New Mexico has something for everyone – nature lovers, history lovers, and even fans of the paranormal can find something to interest them.

If you love nature but aren’t into skiing or hiking, visit White Sands instead. It’s miles and miles of sandy, pure white hills to roll or sled down. Take off your shoes and feel the warm sand in between your toes. Come at night – the full moon, the purplish sky, and the white sand make a breathtaking scene you’ll never forget.

History buffs have many choices when visiting New Mexico. Not far from White Sands is the Trinity Site, where the first nuclear bomb was tested. You can also visit Los Alamos, where scientists developed the bomb. Or go even further back in time and visit Lincoln County, where Billy the Kid once roamed. Many don’t know that several Civil War battles were fought as far out as New Mexico; you can visit these sites today.

If nature and history aren’t your “thing” but you do enjoy a good legend, head down to Roswell, site of the famous (supposed) UFO crash of the late 1940s. The town celebrates the event each year with festivities, and there is a UFO Museum that is open year round.

Whether you believe that aliens landed in Roswell or not, you will enjoy a visit to the UFO Museum.

If you don’t like any of these things but you do like TV, Albuquerque may be the New Mexico destination for you. The city was home to Walter White and his cohorts of Breaking Bad fame, and the show is still a part of the town even though Walter is long gone. Sign up for a Breaking Bad tour, which will take you around to locations seen on the show (in an RV, of course). Stop by the Dog House for a hot dog, visit The Grove Café for some hot tea (the sugar packets are safe, they promise!) or get your car spiffed up at Walter’s old car wash.

Working While Wandering: Jobs for the Insatiable Traveler

When it comes to discussions about the best jobs for people who like being on the road, people expect me to say that travel writing is the best. I won't lie; it's a fun, but sometimes stressful job. But it's not the only opportunity around for those who want to earn money while moving across the map. Thanks to the many people I met all over, I've gained some insight about some of the most ideal careers for travelers.

Truck driving: For those who find the call of the open road impossible to resist, driving a big rig on America's highways may be a dream come true. Long-haul trips to deliver goods across states means you can earn some money while driving through some of the country's most scenic views.

Image source: wikimedia.org

English teacher: If you have a good grasp of the intricacies of the English language, your skills may be in demand in countries like Japan, China, and South Korea, to name a few, where locals like to take supplementary English classes to prepare them for international education or business.

Foreign aid worker: People who prefer to combine their travels with philanthropic activities may find fulfillment with international aid groups such as USAID, Oxfam, World Vision, and more. These organizations send humanitarian workers all over the world to bring relief to less-fortunate communities.

Go freelance!: Not being tied down to a 9-to-5 job is one way to have more time to travel. To support this dream, however, it helps to have a skill you can take with you so you can make bank. Some examples are Web programming, writing, or graphic design, all of which just require a laptop and a decent Internet connection, teaching yoga or dance, or fitness training, which can be done in the client's home or in a local gym, or instructing for sports like surfing, tennis, or golf – activities which can take you to some of the most amazing locations all over the world!

Image source: wikimedia.org

If you think about it, there's a wealth of job options out there for those who want to travel as long as you keep an open mind and learn to be flexible. You can probably even find a job in your dream locale. That said, while working abroad or in different cities is an adventure, always make sure you're getting paid fairly and being treated fairly!

Hello there. I'm Louis Habash, a freelance writer with an incurable case of wanderlust. Follow me on Twitter for 140-character accounts of my globe-trotting adventures.

Salar De Uyuni: a Peek Into The World’s Largest Natural Mirror

Image source: boredpanda.com

Last summer, I traveled to Bolivia to see the world’s largest natural mirror. I thought it was all just hype, so my expectations weren’t that high. Little did I know that I’d be for a major treat. Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, spanning thousands of square miles in southwestern Bolivia. Not your typical sandy desert, the Salar de Uyuni features vast expanses of shimmering white salt.

The landscape is unbelievably flat. It was created when a prehistoric lake dried up and left a salty crust behind. Located at the Altiplano (high plateau) where there are no drainage outlets, the area forms vast but shallow lakes when it rains and then disappear once the skies get clearer. With the presence of these lakes, the salty crust becomes a giant mirror ... and a giant mirror means giant, double sunsets! The scenery is so surreal it almost seems like CGI in a fantasy film. I thought the glassy Pacific featured in the film “Life of Pi” won’t translate into reality. I was wrong.

Image source: huffingtonpost.com

The best and most popular way to fully experience Salar de Uyuni is by taking a 4x4 tour across the salt flats. Shared tours usually accommodate for up to six tourists, and thus, for a more comfortable experience, a private tour might more preferable.

My name is Louis Habash. I’m a freelance travel writer based in Los Angeles, California. For more of my adventures, follow me on Twitter.

Travel: Not a Waste on the Young

People should travel. It not only represents the chance to see the world. It makes people open to cultural and emotional change and growth. It is an option that is open to anyone; though many travel enthusiasts recommend starting early and for three very important reasons:

Image Source: Flurt Magazine

Learning while it still means something: There is a saying that "you can’t teach an old dog new tricks." This has scientifically proven to be untrue, but only if the person places much diligence and patience in acquiring new experiences. Younger people have more malleable minds, which pick up concepts faster and more easily. Furthermore, traveling encourages tolerance for other cultures. This shapes worldviews and personal biases. Again, this is not to say traveling has no effect on older people, but younger people exposed to different views have more potential to be effective leaders and tolerant human beings.

Becoming more independent: Studies show that traveling increases independence among individuals in that it encourages people to fend for themselves. Young adults who start traveling early know how to handle themselves in more challenging situations and are less likely to panic during emergencies.

Priceless adventures: Traveling while young fulfills the wanderlust most people feel. Those who travel young end up growing with a rich array of priceless memories which shape the way they become adults.

Image Source: dumblittleman.wordpress.com

It must be emphasized that traveling should not be limited to any age. The world is such a spectacular place and each place visited is a paradise discovered for everyone.

As a travel writer, I, Louis Habash go where my feet take me. The experiences I’ve collected have convinced me of the wonders of travel and of Earth’s beauty. Learn more about my travels by liking my Facebook page.

Playa del Carmen: The Caribbean Diamond of Mexico

When people talk about visiting Mexico, most listening expect to hear common city names like Tijuana, Acapulco, or Los Cabos. Cancun, always a hot-spot destination for tourists, has its fair share of sandy beaches, nightlife entertainment, and popular visiting areas. But drive just an hour south of the city you will find one of the trendiest and most-up-and coming diamonds in all of east Mexico: Playa del Carmen.

Image source: Riu.com

Situated between the hustle and bustle of Cancun and just off the world famous scuba diving island waters of Cozumel, Playa del Carmen was originally a small fishing town, quickly developing over recent years into a prominent spot for travelers the world over. Playa offers pristine sandy beaches, designer boutiques, archeological wonders, luxury hotels, jungle exploration, and a true cultural juxtaposition where modernism meets history dating back thousands of years.

You can settle into the laid-back Caribbean lifestyle by staying at one of the all-inclusive posh resorts lining the coast, or get adventurous with tours that are not only exciting, but unlike anything you will find anywhere else.

Chichen Itza stands as the most famous archaeological ruin in Mexico, and is one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. The site is a city of temples deep in the Yucatán jungle estimated to have been built between the 6th and the 10th century A.D. These mysterious Mayan ruins give one a glimpse into one of the most progressive civilizations of its time. Each year thousands of people flock to the site during the equinox to witness the serpent descending the steps, a true shadow phenomenon that will take your breath away.

 Image source: TopMexicoRealEstate.com

Few places offer more astonishing water activities than those found around this area. Between mid-May to mid-September of every year, whale sharks migrate to the islands off the coast of Cancun. Guided tours to these areas allow visitors to get right in the water and swim with the whale sharks. These gentle giants can range in size from 25 to 40 feet long, weighing an average of 20,000 pounds. They swim slowly and are agreeable to swimming with swimmers and snorkelers, allowing people to observe them up close. This once in a lifetime opportunity is one of the many remarkable experiences happening in and around Playa del Carmen.

If you are considering taking a holiday south of the border, do yourself a favor and check out Playa del Carmen. The colorful variety of activities, mixed with the culture, both from the past and that of today, are things you do not want to pass up.

Kutna Hora: The Bone Church

In a previous post, I sang the praises and pleasures of traveling to Prague, in the Czech Republic. If you want to get even more out of your trip to the Czech Republic, and you are fascinated with the bizarre or macabre, you simply must take a day trip to Kutna Hora.

Situated about 90 minutes outside of Prague, this town is famous for its Sedlec Ossuary, more commonly known by tourists as the Bone Church. Built in the 13^th century, this small Roman Catholic Church was not much different than many other churches that were established across Europe during the period. However, because the abbot of the Sedlec Monastery had sprinkled the grounds with soil from Palestine, this church was considered very holy ground and was a popular burial spot for Czech residents.

Image source: ArmchairTravelogue.Blogspot.com

 However, during the Thirty Years’ War in the 17^th century, the demand for burials in this sacred spot outstripped the available plots in which to bury the dead. In order to accommodate the desire to be buried in holy soil, they began digging up previous corpses and started to decorate the church with those skulls and bones.

As you walk into the little church today, you will be awestruck by the walls, chalices, and even a chandelier, that are decorated with the bones and skulls of previously departed souls. It feels cold upon entry, even on a hot summer day, and you will probably remain speechless as you walk around this rather spooky chapel.

Image source: OpenTheVox.Wordpress.com

While this is not the only tourist spot outside of Prague that is worth visiting, you can certainly say that it is the most unusual place to visit, perhaps in all of Europe. It is definitely worth the time to visit and explore. However, I would not recommend you spend the night inside it, unless you are an uncommonly brave adventurer! (Just kidding: it is only open during the daytime.)

Discover Prague

If you ever travel to Europe, one must-see spot is Prague in the Czech Republic. Besides its intrinsic beauty, Prague was one of the few major European cities to not be destroyed during World War II. This was because, during that tragic period of our world history, Prague (and all of Czechoslovakia, as it was then known) was occupied by Nazi Germany. The Allies viewed the Czechs as involuntarily occupied and consequently did not attack this country.


This fact means that Prague is one of the few ancient cities in Europe that still has all of their historical buildings and landmarks intact. Perhaps most famous is Prague Castle, which receives thousands of visitors each year. Built in the 9th century and currently operating as the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic, this is an unforgettable tourist spot. Many of the great and beloved royal families of old are still interred under the main chapel in the castle. Upon entering the chapel, one immediately senses that marvelous and deep history that properly stirs the pride of any native Czech.

Image source: Time.com

Another spot that offers more wonderful history and sites is Old Town Square, which is down the hill from Prague Castle and across the Vltava River. While thronging with crowds year round, visiting during the Easter or Christmas season is highly recommended. At those times, many small booths are set up with lots of wonderful local crafts and foods being offered as you meander through the square. During Easter, be sure to pick up one or two of their marvelously painted and delicate Easter Eggs. At Christmas time, enjoy the gigantic Christmas tree that is planted in front of Tyn Church.

Image source: Irongate.cz

Finally, be sure to enjoy the unusual and fantastic cuisine that the Czech Republic offers. Beer lovers from around the world never cease to enjoy the wide variety of local beers. Likewise, get some of the best schnitzel around and do not forget to sample their famous dumplings. You have the choice of bread, potato, or bacon dumplings, or if you are really hungry, order a plate that offers all three styles.


Trust me, if you want to see Europe as it was centuries ago, Prague is the place for you!