Travel Passport Visa Center

I ran across a terrific website the other day and wanted to share it with all of you...

The Travel Passport Visa Center is an online service providing expedited passports, visas, passport amendments (change of name, address, etc), passport extensions, and more. So when you've just discovered that you need to be in Portugal this weekend, or that you desperately need another month in Beijing, these are the people you'll want to contact.

How do they work so fast? They're registered with and licensed by the US Department of State and work with registered agents who are able to take applications directly to passport agencies, by hand. They also have agreements and relationships with Embassies and Consulates. If you have more questions, they have an extensive FAQ page.

In addition to helping you get your regular travel documents in order quickly, they have lent help to the disasters in Haiti and Chile. The are currently helping to send relief workers to Japan by offering steep discounts on their expedited passport services, and helping to make sure each worker has all the necessary documentation before they leave. If you are someone headed to Japan and do not yet have your passport, call their Japan Expedited Travel Documents Hotline at 800-431-1141.

Another useful facet to this organization can be found on their facebook page, www.facebook.com/travelpassportvisacenter. Here you can find links to interesting news stories, and perhaps more importantly travel warnings and alerts issued by the US Department of State. Postings are up-to-date and made often.

So whether you are planning at trip outside of the United States or just want to read up on travel news around the world, be sure to check out both the website and facebook page of Travel Passport Visa Center.

Time for a Tropical Vacation

All I can think about lately is going somewhere tropical. Don't care where exactly, as long as it comes with plenty of sun, sand, and surf. Preferably soft white sand (or black sand, Hawaii anyone?), and warm water at least 3 shades of gorgeous blue, backing up to lush tropical vegetation full of brightly colored tropical blooms. Then, when I've had my fill of sun soaked days I want to take a hike into the rainforest to see its natural inhabitants; flora and fauna. Maybe even do a little ziplining through the canopy, or plop down in front of a plummeting waterfall. Finally, back to the water for some snorkeling and getting to know the local sea life.

Sorry, I lost myself in my daydream there for a moment. But I'm back now. If all of that sounds like a vacation right up your alley, then check out Yahoo's list of 10 Amazing Tropical Escapes - Link no longer available. They'll take you places were you can experience all of my dreams and much, much more.

Theaters...but not the movies.

I am a huge movie fan...but there is nothing quite like seeing a play at a theater. Or theatre if you prefer. The first thing to pop into your mind when you think theater is probably Broadway, and rightly so. I highly recommend seeing a play in New York if you have the time and money. (And keep in mind, tickets don't have to be expensive, and you can always take your chances with the cheaper "Day of" tickets at the TKTS discount booths located in Times Square, South Street Seaport, and Downtown Brooklyn.)

But the bright lights of Broadway isn't the only place to see a fantastic show. Every big city is going to have a theater, and some with quite over-the-top productions, New York style. Just last night I took in Broadway's "Young Frankenstein" at the Belk Theater in Charlotte. The Performing Arts Center of Charlotte has six theater spaces; seating 1,200 people to just 150. Events range from local music and educational programs to touring Broadway productions. Check out the schedule of events for the next year and into 2012. Personally, I think I'll make a trip to see Mama Mia, CATS, and the Addams Family. They sound too fun to miss.

If you aren't close to a large theater boasting Broadway shows, don't discount your local community theater. You'd be surprised how many talented actors live and perform in your area. Check this regional list for a theater near you.

Hilton Head Island by Numbers

Hilton Head Island is beautiful and serene. Live Oaks, spanish moss, sandy beaches. If you're looking for a relaxing weekend away from it all, this is the place to go. Here are some things you need to know, by the numbers...

1.5 - Dollars you will need to pay at the toll to get onto the Island. If you're just driving a car.

12 x 5 - Miles across and wide. The size of the Island.

7 - Public beaches on the Island. They are Alder Lane Beach Access, Beachfront at Coligny Circle, Driessen Beach Park,  Fish Haul Park, Burkes Beach Access, Islanders Beach Park, and Folly Beach Park. Plantations and hotels on the beach offer access to their guests. Much of the beach access is private.

We personally visited Coligny and it was beautiful. The beach is wonderfully maintained and the grounds are stunning. Before you even get to the beach you can rest in one of their many Adirondack chairs or porch swings, or play in the water spouts. When you're done at the beach you just have to cross the street for plentiful shopping and dinning. Or take a walk or a bike ride down some of their trails and see if you can spot an alligator. Parking and beach access were free. Restrooms and changing rooms were available.

24 - Golf courses on the Island. Hilton Head was ranked number 10 on Golf Digest's list of the world's best golf resorts. But if you do visit Hilton Head to hit a few balls, watch out for the alligators! No joke. And only a handful of mini-golf courses. You will not find a giant octopus spewing toilet-blue water here.

7,256 - People riding bikes at any given moment. At least that's my estimate. The entire island is criss-crossed with walking and bicycle paths, plus you can ride out onto the 12 miles of beach. Bicycle rental companies are very numerous, and the average rental cost per week is around $25.

20 - Public Parks on the Island. All beautiful, without a doubt.

5 - Dollars to enter Sea Pines Resort. This area covers a third of the Island and is divided into four neighborhoods, including Harbour Town and its lighthouse. You don't have to be staying anywhere on the Resort to visit and with the lighthouse, numerous water tours and activites, and plentiful shopping and dining you will want to visit. I personally recommend stopping by Lawton Stables, a beautiful place offering rides and a small animal farm. The farm is free and food is available to feed the critters.

4 - Restaurants where you can experience the lengend of Jake, the Salty Dog. There's the original Salty Dog Cafe, The Wreck of the Salty Dog, Lands End Tavern, and Jake's Pizza. All restaurants are located within Sea Pines. The Wreck and Jake's Pizza are only open seasonally.

View from The Salty Dog Cafe

3 - Places to get your Salty Dog gear. Jake's Cargo and The Salty Dog T-Shirt Factory are located within Sea Pines, or you can visit the T-Shirt Factory on Arrow Rd. And of course, you can always shop online.

4 - Traffic circles we drove 'round and 'round. I don't know how many are on the island, but they're popular.

10 - At least the number of thrift/antique/second hand stores on the Island. From furniture, to clothes, to designer hand bags you'll find something you have to have. An entire day can easily be spent hopping from one store to another.

3 - Feet. The average height of any roadside sign. City ordinances require signs to be under a certain height, and to be colored in unobtrusive, earth tone colors. So keep a sharp eye out as you drive around looking for somewhere to shop or eat. Buildings themselves are often blocked by trees and signs are easy to miss. It's part of what keeps the Island so beautiful, but you'll need a passanger or two to help you find places.

2 - Alligators we saw. Without even trying. They like to come up out of the water during the day and soak up the sun. Don't approach them, and don't feed them though. Seems obvious, but judging by the number of warning signs posted...it isn't that obvious to some.

Tragedy in Japan & How You Can Help

It is heartbreaking to read stories and see pictures of the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan over the weekend. One natural disaster to strike a country is more than enough, and within hours this country was hit with two.

Thousands of people are dead, with bodies literally washing up onshore. Crematoriums cannot keep up with the flow of cremations and funerals. Millions are without food, water, and heating for the fourth day and hundreds of thousands more are living in emergency shelters. Then add in the scares over the nuclear reactors in the area that have lost their cooling abilities, specifically the plant at Fukushima Dai-ichi. Should these reactors have a meltdown, radioactive material could be released into the air. It is astounding what has been thrown at this nation.

On a side scientific note, Japan was pushed a full 13 feet closer to the United States and two feet downward by this quake The earth has actually shifted 6.5 inches on its axis and the day has been shortened by 1.6 microseconds. I doubt we'll notice that. And not to worry, this isn't the first time the earth has shifted or the day has shortened. See, told you you wouldn't notice.

There are so many ways and hundreds of places to donate to help those in need in Japan. Following are just a few links to donation sites and other ways you can help.

Yahoo's List of Orgs - link no longer available

American Red Cross - link no longer available

Salvation Army - link no longer available

iTunes: Open the iTunes store, look for the "Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief” button, and use your iTunes account to donate.

Texting: Text "Japan" or "Quake" to 80888 to make a $10 donation through Salvation Army.

As always, be careful where you are sending your money. There are many people who will try and scam you and e-mails are already circulating. Your best bet is to visit the website or local office of a charity that you would like to donate through. Read this article on donation scamming to keep yourself safe.

Wanna get high?

Come on people, it's a travel blog!

But if you want to visit some of the highest places in the world, Yahoo! hooks you up in this brief video about some of the tallest things and places in the world.

Highest Places

A "Typical" Person

We are not all the same.

Obviously.

So then how did National Geographic come up with a description, and even a photo, of the most typical person on the planet? A lot of statistics. And I imagine some pretty expensive computer imaging programs. It's good to be National Geographic.

Check out this video about the most "typical" person in the world, and some major differences between us and our neighbors across the globe.

How does this relate to travel? Well, if you're a man from Holland who travels to Peru, you're going to have to watch your head!