Here are some amazing images from countries starting with the letter M:
Hopefully this will inspire you to see the world. Think you have what it takes to visit them all?
If you are in Barcelona, you will probably visit the legendary Sagrada Familia temple. Don’t just take pictures of the outside, for God’s sake go inside and see it in all its glory.
The world-famous temple was the masterpiece of one of Spain’s most famous architects, Antoni Gaudi. Started in the 19th century, Sagrada Familia is still unfinished to this day. Gaudi worked for over forty years on the temple, until his death in 1926.
His work is carried on by architects and artists, and should be completed around 2026. If you would like to learn more about the history and architecture of Sagrada Familia please visit sagradafamilia.org.
I’m not saying that the the outside of this structure isn’t amazing, but I am saying you should spend some time inside as well. In fact, the video below is a 3d rendering of what the temple will look like once it’s finished.
This video illustrates the unfinished design stages of the temple in a very Game of Thrones kind of way.
While the outside of the temple features amazing relief sculptures and biblical scenes that could keep you occupied for hours, the inside is in stark contrast with perfect geometric forms and amazing displays of structural engineering. Being inside La Sagrada Familia gives you a sense of how meticulous Gaudi was in his architectural planning. Each column is beautifully designed and structurally sound.
See the difference below.
Outside
Inside – photo courtesy of sagradafamilia.org
So, if you are in Barcelona, make sure you give yourself some extra time to see the inside of La Sagrada Familia. It’s worth the extra time. Buy tickets and schedule your visit early to avoid the large tourist crowds because there is a lot to see. ‘
On October 6th, Bhumika Shrestha became the first transgender to travel internationally with a passport marked ‘other’ in the gender section:
Bhumika Shrestha is a citizen of Nepal, and is one of three citizens who are officially recognized as belonging to a third gender after a Supreme Court ruling in December of 2007. Anya is the official term used in Nepal, which is translated as third gender. Anya describes any biological male who identifies or expresses as a female, or any biological female who identifies or expresses as a male.
The decision to recognize a third gender was a victory for Bhumika and The Blue Diamond Society, an organization that supports awareness, equality, and dignity for the LGBT community and other gender minorities in Nepal. The ruling was further evidence of Nepal’s progressive stance on these issues. Nepal joins Australia, New Zealand, India, and Pakistan to offer passports with ‘X’ or ‘other’ as an option next to (M) for male and (F) for female.
Photo courtesy of: www.outandaround.com
On top of being an activist, counselor, member of The Blue Diamond Society, a pageant winner, and an elected official member of Nepal’s congress, Bhumika is also a world traveler. Bhumika travels to attend conferences and speak on behalf of transgender people all over the world. Just accessing health care, buying a house, or getting a job in your home country can be difficult when you are transgender. Imagine the difficulties a transgender person would face trying to travel internationally with security checks and customs. Bhumika explains how being transgender affects her everyday life in an interview with Out & Around:
While Western countries such as the UK are still debating the subject, Asian countries seem to be leading the charge to define and recognize ‘other’ gender categories. About 2-5 million individuals in India alone identify themselves as hijras, and are officially recognized by the Indian government, which means they will receive health care, education, and other rights given to males and females.
As more countries begin to officially recognize other genders, they will have to rethink the way laws are written to accommodate more than two defined genders. The health care industry will have to determine what changes they need to make as well; especially, for those people seeking international medical insurance when they travel abroad. Often, gender is the determining factor in deciding the type and price of medical coverage offered to an individual. How will insurance underwriters handle travelers who claim to be neither male nor female?
Some of the issues to watch for in the insurance industry are:
As this topic continues to grow, insurers will have to discover plan options that cover individuals from countries that recognize third genders. We here at TravelersAlly are dedicated to helping EVERYONE travel safely. We are currently raising this issue with several large insurance providers, and awaiting more information. In the meantime, please contact us for questions regarding coverage options.
Due to great feedback from our viewers and new opinions from some of our expert travel bloggers, we have decided to update our list of must have travel gadgets. Please be sure to check these out before embarking on your next trip, as you will certainly be glad you did!
– We all know packing is one of the hardest things to do when traveling. Inflatable hangers allow you to bring extra hangers without taking up any extra space in your luggage. (Details & Reviews)
– The perfect way to secretly capture an event. This discreet camera allows a traveler to quickly and stealthily photograph or record any event with ease. (Details & Reviews)
– Never miss a minute on your trip with the Go Pro! This popular camera allows you to record everything you are seeing while carrying it in a compact fashion. Don’t write this one off, as it is a must have! (Details & Reviews)
– Not only is a water bottle a must have for international travel, and I recommend that you keep it full, this particular one combines it with your daily pill regimen so no matter where you are, you will always be able to stay on schedule with your medication! (Details & Reviews)
– Traveling can take us to interesting places far and wide, and we can’t always count on there to be a pharmacy nearby. This Red Cross approved first aid kit can be your compact lifeline should a minor injury occur! (Details & Reviews)
– This travel size bug spray kills all bugs on contact and is certainly a must have for your international adventures. (Details & Reviews)
– Many cities around the world offer free water fountains as an alternative to expensive bottled water. These collapsible cups allow you to travel light and take full advantage of such fountains, but as always, make sure it’s safe to drink. (Details & Reviews)
– This inexpensive device easily attaches to a water bottle and will quickly make great improvements to the air quality of your accommodations. At this price, this accessory is an absolute must. (Details & Reviews)
– We all know that long trips can be boring, but why not pass the time with a 5 in 1 handheld poker game. Complete with a multiplayer option, this just may be the key to keeping yourself and your family entertained. (Details & Reviews)
– On long trips abroad, laundry can be on eof the biggest burdens. Disposible socks not only allow you to keep your feet sanitary when trying on different types of footware, but they can help minimize your laundry load. (Details & Reviews)
– This “hoboroll” compression sack allows you to fit incredible amounts of clothing and other travel essentials into it and compress it down to an easy to carry bundle. This is a must for all long trips. (Details & Reviews)
– This tool allows you to track up to 6 of your valuables through your phone or smart device at the same time. Simply tag your bag and turn on your phone and you will receive a notification if it moves. This is a great way to keep your belongings secure while checking them with different travel services and hotels. (Details & Reviews)
– These slippers are compact, lightweight and comfortable. Order these slippers and never have to walk barefoot around an airplane or hotel room again. (Details & Reviews)
– If you love golf but have trouble transporting your clubs then this may just change your life. This portable club set will fit in the overhead bin on an airplane and is able to be taken anywhere your game takes you! (Details & Reviews)
Image: http://expertvagabond.com/gopro-accessories/
Traveling is one of the most exciting things that we can do in today’s world. There are, however, many things that can add stress to your trip planning and travel process. Here are fourteen must have gadgets to put the ease back in traveling.
Amazon is celebrating its 20th anniversary with special PRIME deals on all sorts of products. Submit your favorite travel picture and gadget from around the globe and you might win their $10,000 prize.
This tool can be a great way to not only capture everything you do while traveling, but to do it secretly as well! (Details & Reviews)
The perfect way to insure that if a bag is lost, it can be traced back and returned to you. These smart tags are waterproof and weatherproof and can be scanned by any smart phone. This affordable accessory is a must! (Details & Reviews)
Although we can’t say we recommend this product, we can say this is definitly one of the craziest gadgets that we have ever come across and is certainly worth looking at for the price! (Details & Reviews)
Although international travel is frequently equated with luxury, you never know when you will find yourself on a bumpy aircraft or uncomfortable train. This plush pillow was the British invention of the year in 2013. (Details & Reviews)
What many travelers forget when they are embarking on their first international trip is that even the simplest of things are not all created equal. In fact the outlets throughout the world can vary by country or by region. This outlet converter works in over 150 countries, including the US, Canada, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Japan. (Details & Reviews)
These days, a traveler’s worst nightmare can be getting caught with a dead phone. Just plug this battery backup into your phone, and it charges back up when an outlet is nowhere in sight. (Details & Reviews)
With airline policies forbidding travelers from bringing beverages on the plane, a wine skin allows you to be sure that fine bottle of wine stays safe in your checked luggage for the duration of the trip. (Details & Reviews)
One of the best ways to save money while traveling is to eliminate unnecessary expenses, and one of the most common for international travelers is the additional fines for heavy baggage. This lightweight, portable scale can help you pack accordingly and avoid those unwanted fees. (Details & Reviews
You never know what the wireless internet and cellular reception will be like, but with this portable gadget your worries will be gone. Connect to the internet from anywhere regardless of reception with thisportable Wifi hotspot. (Details & Reviews)
As technology improves, crime grows. These card holders are the perfect way to protect personal information stored in your passport and credit cards from RFID enables thieves. (Details & Reviews)
When traveling with kids, it is no secret that keeping them entertained on long trips can be a challenged. This iPad hanger can turn almost any seatback into a miniature movie theater and entertain the kids for hours! (Details & Reviews)
Wherever you find yourself traveling, this speaker allows you to take fantastic sound quality with you. Through water, wind, ice or snow, this portable speaker is ready to brave it all with you. (Details & Reviews)
This TSA approved lock for your luggage can take a lot of worry out of traveling. Depending on your method of travel, bags can be left unattended for long periods of time, however a lock can deter thieves of all kinds from trying to run off with your valuables. (Details & Reviews
Every traveler needs a good backpack to keep with them for those long flights and train rides. Why not have one that happens to be solar powered and can also charge all of your electronics? (Details & Reviews)
Let us know what your favorite travel gadget is! Post a link to it in the comments section below.
In honor of the Discovery Channel’s 2015 Shark Week (began on July 5, 2015), we are profiling the top seven (7) shark encounters for scuba divers around the globe that our clients, and staff, rank as the best up close and personal trips to see a shark in the wild.
As experts in the area of adventure travel, and with several staff PADI certified divers, we love the thrill of scuba diving with the chance to see the magnificent hunters of the sea. I became PADI certified in Indonesia in the mid-nineties, and have loved diving and shark diving ever since. Any great shark dive starts with the selection of the right dive company.
Top & Shark Encounters for Scuba Divers Around the Globe
(7) Grey & White
Tip Reef Sharks (Great Barrier Reef, Australia) – For the advanced adventure divers wanting to photograph sharks one of the greatest locations on the planet is the Coral Sea off the coast of Australia. Drift dive and wall dives are stunning and there is always an abundance of sharks. Check out Mike Ball Dive Expeditions for their Shark Shooter Expeditions (especially the North Horn / Osprey Reef dive departing out of Cairns).
(6) Whale Sharks (Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru) – For the luxury diver, few dive companies do it better than the ones with the Four Seasons in the Maldives. Between June and October is the best time to dive for whale sharks and mantas. Popular dive sites like the Baa Atoll, Thilas, and Lankan Manta Point on North Male Atoll are awe-inspiring. Check out the PADI certified divers at the Four Seasons and their Extraordinary Experiences. (Bonus experience – Try the “Manta Ray Scientist for a Day”)
(5) Bull Sharks (Playa del Carmen, Mexico) – For the experienced thrill-seeking diver, the operators at Phocea Mexico offer a great dive during season each year from November to March to get up close to bull sharks. The bull shark (or Zambezi shark) is a very curious shark and is about 12 feet in length at its biggest,making this shark dive pure excitement.
(4) Hammerhead Sharks (Cocos Island, Costa Rica) – Cocos Island is one of the great dive destinations around the world. With over a dozen great dive sites (check out Dirty Rock and Manuelita), this destination is known for hammerhead shark diving. It is not uncommon at Dirty Rock to see dozens, if not more hammerheads along with reef and tiger sharks. Check out the reviews of the dive masters at Undersea Hunter. They will help educate you on Proyecto Tiburon, the Costa Rican conservation project.
(3) Caribbean Reef Sharks (Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas) – Unexso is one of the longstanding dive centers in the Bahamas that has been offering shark dives to both experienced and new divers for over 20 years. Divers who visit Unexso’s Shark Junction will get a thrilling experience seeing experienced dive masters feed and interact with the Caribbean reef shark. Unexso is one of our favorite picks for all of the great work it does for conservation measures.
(2) Basking Sharks (Oban, Scotland) – The basking shark dives are some of the more adventuresome dives you can do 
off the coast of Scotland. This is definitely a dry suit dive for those divers wanting to spend the better part of the day in the water. Check in with the dive masters at Basking Shark Scotland, not only for their basking shark dives, but some of the great dives they do in Iceland in October.
(1) Great White Sharks (Gansbaai, South Africa) – Of course we couldn’t leave off the great white shark cage dive experience. From South Australia to South Africa, divers all over the world want to check off this bucket list dive. It is not inexpensive, but is surely a top dive memory for all those who dare jump into the cage with the legendary shark. From Shark Alley to Dyer Island, check out the dive masters at Marine Dynamics for an unforgettable experience.
TravelersAlly TIP – It goes without saying that shark diving is an extreme sport. Make sure that you are covered for Extreme Sports on your Travel Medical Policy before you jump in the water! Have a Jawsome summer during shark week!
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Send your favorite dive operator reviews & pictures of Shark Dives & you might make the next Travelers Ally Extreme Sports Blog!********************************************************************************
