abroadtravelingabroad

I Did Not Come to Queenstown to Behave: Skippers Gorge & Running Off a Mountain

1 Comment / Blogging, Natural Wonders, Oceania, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel, Videos / Pamelahawthorne

There are trips. And then there’s Queenstown — where the mountains look like they’ve been airbrushed by God and the town politely suggests you fling yourself off one of them. Equipped by one of the thrill providers on every corner! Skippers Gorge: Where the Road Is Basically a Suggestion Let’s discuss Skippers Gorge. First of […]

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Into the Shire: Ten Secrets of New Zealand’s Most Enchanting Movie Set

Leave a Comment / Blogging, Oceania, Sights to See, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Tolkien fans, or not…you think you know what Hobbiton is. You’ve seen the movies. Read the books. You expect a tourist trap with pointy doors. And then you step into actual magic. Here are 10 little-known things about visiting Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand that might surprise you. 1. It’s on a Real Working Sheep Farm

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Sip, Stroll, Repeat: A Slightly Reckless Day on Waiheke Island

Leave a Comment / Blogging, Food and Wine, Oceania, Sights to See, Travel, Uncategorized / Pamelahawthorne

Start your adventure with the ferry from Auckland — the 40-minute ride across crystal waters sets the tone perfectly: you’re leaving the everyday behind and stepping into pure Kiwi laid-back luxury. Waiheke is often nicknamed “Wine Island” for good reason: it’s home to dozens of world-class vineyards, each with its own vibe, views, and wines

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Blue on Blue on Blue: Amazing Fethiye and Its Islands

1 Comment / Asia, Blogging, Natural Wonders, Sights to See, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

If there is a corner of Turkey that blends ancient history, turquoise seas, forested mountains, and island-dotted horizons, it’s Fethiye. Tucked along the southwestern part of the country on the famed Turquoise Coast, Fethiye is serene and adventurous, a place for paddling across crystal coves, walking through Lycian ruins and, (one of my favorites) browsing

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Ankara: A Fifty Year Lookback and Now

1 Comment / Asia, Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Ankara: Then and Now, Through My Eyes It’s hard to believe fifty years have passed since I first walked the streets of Ankara, a college student on break with waist length hair and a backpack stuffed with 6 weeks of “essentials”. The city was simple, yet magnetic and foreign. My traveling companion, a multi-lingual American

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Whirling Spirits, Silent Stones: From Mevlana to Sagalassos

Leave a Comment / Asia, Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Turkey’s spirit is one of contrasts — the living mysticism of Konya and the haunting silent ruins of Sagalassos. One hypnotizes with the spinning, haunting prayer and poetry of Sufism; the other stands in solid, still testimony to the genius of Greek and Roman empires. Click on images below to enlarge. Sagalassos –

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Captivating Khiva: An Astonishing Life Inside the City Walls

Leave a Comment / Asia, Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Khiva’s roots stretch back over 2,500 years, but its golden age began in the 16th century when it became the capital of the Khanate of Khiva. As a major oasis along the Silk Road, it prospered from trade — and infamously, from a large slave market that once operated within its walls. The real magic

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The Quiet Magic of The Turkmen: Nomads of the Steppe

Leave a Comment / Asia, Blogging, Sights to See, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

Nestled in Uzbekistan’s remote northwest, Urgench might not be the first name that jumps out on a Silk Road itinerary — but you don’t want to miss this gateway to one of Central Asia’s most fascinating cultural crossroads. From the grand courtyard houses of Ulli Khovli to the enduring traditions of the Turkmen people, this

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Tashkent: A Vibrant Clash of Exotic Culture and Commerce!

Leave a Comment / Asia, Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel / Pamelahawthorne

The term “Silk Road” evokes images of camel caravans crossing deserts, laden with silk, spices, precious metals, and exotic goods, and was the intrigue for my 8,650 mile journey to Central Asia. That along with stuff of legend; the conquests of Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan and Tamerlane. For over a thousand years, the Silk

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Visit the Most Beautiful Bookstore in the World

Leave a Comment / Blogging, Sights to See, Solo Travel, South America, Travel / Pamelahawthorne

It’s called El Ateneo, Spanish for “The Athenaeum”, a place associated with learning, the arts and intellectual pursuits. A hundred years ago, it was one of the most elegant theatres in all of Argentina, now it is considered the most beautiful bookstore in the world. Shelves of books replace rows of seating…celebrating a different type

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