Articles By: Bob Riel
Riel World photo – Halong Bay, Vietnam
Halong Bay, Vietnam The stunning limestone islands of Halong Bay, off the northern coast of Vietnam, just before sunset.
The secret to being a permanent tourist
Impossible you say? You need income, you need a home? Actually, there are a surprising number of people who live without the anchor of homes or jobs. They’ve found a way to essentially live on the road. Yes, to be a permanent tourist. Christopher Elliott, in his MSNBC travel column, recently profiled some of these individuals and provided a [...]
Yes, botanical gardens in the desert
It’s difficult to shake the popular image of the desert as a barren, lifeless place, coated in sand and scorched by an unrelenting sun. Well, perhaps the part about the sun is true, at least during the summer months, but the desert of the American Southwest actually abounds with a surprising variety of plant life. [...]
10 Japanese customs to know about
So you’re planning a trip to Japan and nervous about what it is that you don’t know about the country. You know about the sights, the trains and the hotels, but what about the customs? Turner Wright just penned a piece for Matador Travel about 10 Japanese customs to know about before your trip. An excerpt: [...]
A suburb without cars. Can it work?
A planned town in Germany is doing just that. Going carless. All the streets, except for a few, belong solely to pedestrians and bicycles. People are not barred from owning a car, but none of the homes have garages or parking spaces, so homeowners must buy a parking spot in a town garage. The goal is [...]
National Geographic’s “Tours of a Lifetime”
I’ve always been more of a fan of independent travel. I’m not one for tour groups, except for the occasional day tour when you can get a lot out of being with a local guide. That said, a lot of people do enjoy traveling as part of a group and there are benefits to having the [...]
What would be your favorite time traveling destinations?
Now, here is a topic to get you thinking. We all have our list of dream travel destinations, of course. But those destinations all exist today, in the 21st century. What if you could time travel? That would open up a whole slew of other travel options, now wouldn’t it? Turner Wright came up with [...]
Dating cultures around the world
Romance is universal. But the road to romance? Well, that’s a different story. Terry Ward of World Hum took a look at the dating cultures of five other countries in a fun story called Around the World in Five Dates. A sampling: Japan: The Japanese place great importance on saving face. In the nebulous world [...]
Hispanics may agonize over cultural values and elder care decisions
As we talk about differences in cultures around the world, it’s easy to forget that there are also many cultures and worldviews residing all around us. Among the various racial and ethnic groups in the United States, there are of course different foods, music and traditions, but there are also different ways in which people perceive the world [...]
Time to visit Libya?
Every wanted to visit the North African nation of Libya? One author makes the case that now is a great time to be a traveler in Libya. Reasons include: The Sheer Number of Sights- Libya is home to the ruins of the prominent Roman city of Leptis Magna. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage [...]
Do the Chinese need authoritarianism?
That was the sentiment of some recent comments by movie star Jackie Chan, who suggested that the Chinese people weren’t ready to deal with too much freedom or liberty. His statement, predictably, ignited a firestorm of protest. “I’m gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled,” Mr. Chan said during the Boao [...]
Riel World photo – Siem Reap, Cambodia
Siem Reap, Cambodia Three Buddhist monks and their umbrellas, walking down the street in Cambodia.
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Bob Riel is a writer and a traveler. Go here to read more about Bob, his work and the Travels in the Riel World blog.
Great American Road Trips
Two Laps Around the World
My travel memoir - Two Laps Around the World: Tales and Insights from a Life Sabbatical - is about two round-the-world journeys with my wife.
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