Semester at Sea- Spring 2006

Bahamas: January 15-19
Staying at the Atlantis Resort w/ my parents on the same floor as all the other SAS people. I'm really excited about meeting everyone and having a great time in the Bahamas! What a great place to leave from-I'm so ready for it all to begin, finally!

Puerto Rico: January 23-25
I am going to try to do an indy trip to one of the two Puerto Rican islands, Culebra and Vieques. Culebra has a few sea turtle nesting areas on their northern beaches and a volunteer group that monitors them during nesting season (I've missed those night walks). Culebra also has great snorkeling and a lot to do on the island. Vieques is a little smaller and less touristy, but has the most bioluminescent bay in the world at Bahia Mosquito. I'll see if anyone wants to take a ferry to the islands with me :)
The last day I'm going on the SAS trip, El Yunque Rain Forest and Luquillo Beach because I love hiking threw rainforests and exploring.

Brazil: February 1-5
Finally figured out what I'm doing in Brazil- an indy Amazon tour thanks to the work of some fellow SASers. I had the hardest time since Brazil is huge and has so much to offer. I figured that I've wanted to see the Amazon since I first heard of it, and the way things look, with global warming and logging, it won't be the same by the time I would be able to come back to Brazil. Really looking forward to being immersed in the rainforest, again! Maybe there will be howler monkeys to wake up to every morning like in Costa Rica...

South Africa: February 14-20
Once again, so much to do in such a short time... The only thing I know right now is that I'm going on an indy Safari in Kruger National Park. We'll be camping at night and take game drives/hikes during the day. This is also something I've always wanted to do, so I can't wait!
With my other 3 days I want to go sandboarding, shark diving, and I want to visit Robben Island, the place where Nelson Mandela was held. I just hope I can fit it all in!

Mauritius: February 27- March 1
No clue really... I've heard it's an interesting place (an island off the East Coast of Africa inhabited by Indians-the kind from India). It has great snorkeling and many other cool things to do, I just have to explore and figure out what they are.

India: March 9-13
I'm really excited about India. I'm going to see the Taj Mahal in Agra and lots of other monuments around India, including sandstone palaces and the Gandhi Museum. After that SAS tour, I hope to do service work somewhere and maybe a homestay if I can. I love Indian food (at least the kind in America) and am looking forward to eating real Indian food (especially since it's all vegetarian- yah! I don't have to explain to everyone in another language that I don't eat meat).

Myanmar (Burma): March 16-21
I'd love to go see Inle Lake in the middle of the mountains, Mandalay, Bagan and with its many pagodas/temples/monasteries, and many other sites in Myanmar.

Vietnam: March 26-30
My parents are joining me in Vietnam for a trip up to Hanoi and Halong Bay in Northern Vietnam where it is supposed to be beautiful. Dad served in the war and this will be his first time back, so it should be pretty cool to hear how things have changed from his perspective. We will also be going to Mekong Delta to explore local river life, see island farming and try "exotic tropical fruit."
While we're there, I also want to see the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Hong Kong: April 3
For this day I want to check out the local markets and explore the city. I've heard of some great mountains to hike, too if I can find the time.

Beijing, China: April 4-7
I am going to Beijing while the ship sails from Hong Kong to Qindao. There is supposed to be a lot to do there even beyond seeing the Great Wall.

Qindao, China: April 8
Um? I've always wanted to try Tai Chi, so this would be a good place to do it. Otherwise, I'll just be exploring again and I'm sure I'll find lots of things to do with other people from the ship.

Japan: April 11-15
I really want to go see Hiroshima, where the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. If I can find a way, I'll be heading to Tokyo, Kyoto, or some other city. I also want to hike Rokko Mountain since local guides are free and they take you past many temples and shrines. There is also a Japanese forest, Arashiyama Park, that sounds pretty interesting.

San Diego: April 28- ?
It seems like this day will never come (and I kinda hope it doesnt'e so I can stay on the ship forever), but I excited it, too. I'm meeting my friend that I met in Costa Rica and we are going to road trip to Washington and check out some national parks. I can never get enough traveling!