Please feel free to contact me. I will read everything you send but I cannot promise to respond to everything, as I will be traveling a good deal of the time and will be limited by access to Internet connections. Email me by clicking HERE or use the address barbara (at) holeinthedonut (dot) com.
Thank you,
Barbara Weibel
Publisher, Hole in the Donut Cultural Travel
Hi, Barb! I have a suggestion for you involving travel and trains and pics I missed.
The train ride from Chihuahua to Los Mochis and Topolobampo on the Sea of Cortez, the Chepe RR train, crosses 410 bridges and passes thru 99 tunnels on its way up and over the Sierra Madre Del Norte. One of those tunnels, on the Western Slope, is a curved, or perhaps spiral, tunnel. I leaned out the half-door in the vestibule and observed the tail end of our train entering the tunnel as we exited. Unfortunately, I was out of exposures and unprepared, so I missed documenting that unique sight. I would give my left eyetooth for that picture. I hope you can take it for me and publish it in The Hole in The Wall Travel Series.
Hi Bill: In 2010 I spent four months in Mexico. Part of that trip was extensive travels through and in Copper Canyon. I took El Chepe twice. The first leg (first class) was from El Fuerte (a short bus ride from Los Mochis and a much better place to begin the train ride, not only because you get to sleep an hour later but because it is a lovely colonial town) to Bahuichivo, where I got off and took a bus down into Urique Canyon for a 10 day stay at a local hostel. From there I took buses around the canyon and back up to Creel, where I rode El Chepe (second class) back to Bahuachivo for Semana Santa celebrations. It was a fabulous trip and I have tons of photos of the train ride but am not sure which bridge you are referring to. There is a large spiral bridge that I have photos of, but it is far below in the valley we are approaching from the mountains above and of course, there is no train on it. I have lots of others of my train coming out of tunnels or going in, or crossing bridges. Happy to post one of them, but don’t know if it would be the shot you’re looking for.
Hello, I am not very computer friendly and a friend sent me your link. I have a rather urgent problem and I am desperate for help or ideas, but it isnt something I can post on here and I dont want anyone to feel obligated to help me. The bottom line is I have to get from Dallas Texas to Washigton DC before the 24th of January 2012. my email is [email protected]. thank you so much!
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Hi Barbara ,
My Name is JIM , I was interested to read your article ref the orphange , volunteer organisations such as POD ,, I took a trip with POD 3 years ago and paid them some £550 for a 10 weeks stay , I ended up in in the Annurpuna school in Pokhara taking over teaching the children from a qualified teacher from London who was also there after he gave ME some lessons …
I agree whole heartedly that most of the money paid across NEVER finds its way to any of these projects and these NGOs and CHARITYs with the people involved in running them seeming to be very well off ,,,,,,
Having said that I am going back to Pokhara again in January to do some more work in the school purely funding my travel and expenses myself and using funds donated by friends and family to do some improvements to the school ,, I have found this little school to be genuinly in need of help and this is the reason I keep returning , ( this is my third visit ) and will be there for 9 weeks or so …
As for the orhpanage thing I also agree this is what happens to volunteer money , I know of the Rainbow and Namaste and though they do do good work there is an obvious element of the owners / managers having a very good life style compared to others in the area ….
I still enjoy going to Nepal and always keep in mind that whatever I acheive while I am there be it large or small is better than nothing ,,, and whatever it is I do is always gratefully accepted from those who GENUINLY need it !!!!!
Hope these comments are usefull . Its a minefield out there for young first time volunteers so we should give them all the advise and help we can ,,,,,,,,
Regards JIM D
Hi Jim: Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. I believe the way you are approaching your upcoming visit is the very best way – to go directly to the organization and offer help and funds, rather than through some volunteer organization that only lines its own pockets. That way, you are sure that the money reaches those who really need it. And I agree with you that the Annapurna School is definitely in need of help. The very best of luck to you.
I love your photographs. They are marvelous. I found them when I was looking up Chinatown in Saigon for an upcoming trip. We are also going to Nha Trang which I didn’t think offered much until I saw your pictures.
Hi Roberta: Nha Trang is a pretty town, but if I were to do it over again, I’d skip it. There’s not a lot to see the the beach is nothing much to see, other than the rose-colored sand. And when I was there in 2007, I was warned not to walk alone at night with anything of value. It was the only place in Vietnam where I felt I had to watch my back, other than the crowded markets in Hanoi.
Hi Barbara, I read your 2010 blog about taking the ferry from Mazatlan to La Paz…I’m driving to Mexico with my van and 10 year old daughter. Have you heard…iin your opinion or experience is traveling in Baja “safe” these days?
Hi Pam: I will be returning to Mexico in January and I consider it safe to travel there, however if you are driving to Baja you will have to cross the border, which is where the majority of problems occur. Since I have never done this myself I can’t give you an opinion about the safest place to cross, however I can tell you that Cuidad Juarez and Matamoros should be avoided. You might try asking for advice from my friends Nancy and Paul Dardarian, who retired to Mazatlan and write the popular expat blog http://www.countdowntomexico.com. If anyone can suggest the safest route, I suspect it it them.
One more thing, you’re rather cute!
Ms. Weibel, I have been curious about work exchange programs. I have traveled around the world and always thought that working somewhere would be fun. I am a 58-year old former US Army Engineer officer and writer looking for something different to do. What are the possibilities? Thank You, John Brennan
Hi John: I probably can’t be much help to you. The only work exchange program I know of is Help Exchange. I wrote an article about it a while back – perhaps it will help: https://holeinthedonut.com/2009/07/07/help-exchange-authentic-travel. And thanks for the compliment.
Hi Barbara, a friend of mine sent me a link to your blog about South Africa. She was furious, and frankly i can see why. I found the piece opinionated and judging. I have lived in south africa my whole life and yes, i have encountered crime, but I am fairly certain that most people on earth have.I also know hundreds of people who walk around Cape Town at night ,safely. I find it shocking that your whole piece is about the crime in south africa when you are supposedly experiencing other cultures. I am sorry if you did not enjoy your time in South Africa but i found this piece incredibly offensive and a stark contrast to the mindset of someone embarking on a journey like yours.
Regards Michael Brown, Cape Town
Hey Barbara,
I’ve been volunteering here in Tucson for 12 years at the local church food pantry.
I’m getting older and want to move to some place cooler, maybe home to Nevada, Ely.
Would this site be what I’m looking for?? Thank you Jim Gray
James: Not sure what you are asking. You mean my blog? I cannot advise you on a life choice, if that is what you are asking, sorry.
Hi Barbara
I am going to Quebec from USA and plan to do a lot of walking. I normally use the gps on my iphone but know that would cost too much. Thanx. Zeldasue in Florida
hello there im looking to drive a car from buffalo new york to key west florida. do you have a prospect for one? i have references , numbers, and a clean driving record here is my email [email protected] or please call this number 305-393-7265 i was planning on leaving the 28 th of nov or close to that as im a musician and have gigs starting in dec thank you dave
JESUS IS LORD, and believe in your ? that GOD raised HIM from the dead, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.(Refer to THE HOLY BIBLE: ROMANS 10:9 and ACTS 16:31b)
Have you received THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY’S MOST BELOVED and ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, to be your personal Lord and Savior?
If not, say this prayer: “LORD GOD, please forgive me of my sins. Thank YOU for YOUR Faithfulness in always being with me and loving me so much to send me YOUR MOST BELOVED and ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, to die on the cross for me. I receive HIM now into my heart and life to be my Lord and Savior. I pray this in the name of GOD, THE FATHER; GOD, THE SON; and GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT. † Amen.”
“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that GOD has made this JESUS, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” ACTS 2:36
“For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.” MATTHEW 23:39
Visit and share this with family, friends, fans, and followers: http://www.BIBLEstudycd.com/Lessons.html May you be blessed abundantly!
Greetings from Berlin!
I just came across your blog and really appreciate your passion! I’ve been living in Berlin since 1998 and have
just started my own travel blog about the city.
My question : Can we exchange links ?
Once I hear back from you we will add your link to our blogroll
section at : http://www.berlincitytours.com/blog ( right column )
Our info is :
URL : http://www.berlincitytours.com/blog
Title : Berlin Travel Blog
Description : News, information and things to do in Berlin.
Please let me know if there is anything else you need from us or
if you have any questions.
Happy blogging and please look me up if you are ever in Berlin!
Hi Barbara, I’m a 25-year old tramp from Belgium who admires, like so many people, your blog. Most likely I will travel around the U.S.A. next summer, but… I’m looking for a (very) cheap way to travel by car. Except for navigation, I really don’t care about anything specific. I read some info about “Driveaways”, is there any chance the company will let me deliver a car from the East Coast (New York/New Jersey) to the West (Los Angeles/San Francisco) for a period of 3 months?
Greetings from Meeuwen,
Thomas Luyten
Hi Thomas:
So glad you enjoy my blog. It’s my passion and readers like you who are kind enough to write keep me going. Unfortunately, I can’t help you with the driveaway companies. A while back I wrote that article to let people know about the driveaway option and the article has absolutely taken on a life of it’s own. People started using it as a sort of bulletin board, posting about where they want to go, etc. I don’t know if anyone has ever connected via my site, but it can’t hurt to leave a comment on the original article and see what happens.
As for the driveway companies, I have some doubt they would work for you because they usually require that a vehicle be delivered directly from starting point to end point, with stops only for rest. Sounds like you want to keep the car for an extended time and stop to see all the sights. But I’d go ahead and contact the companies directly – you might just find someone who doesn’t mind you keeping the car for a little while. You can find links to the driveway companies in my original article. Best of luck. Barbara
Dear Barbara
your wonderful photos of your galapagos trip have made me even more determined to visit that amazing part of the world. but i don’t know how to choose from among the many cruises trips that are available. i will have to save for a while before i can go so i would really love any recommendations / advice you could give on so that i don’t get a bad deal when the time comes, which would be awful.
at this point in my life I can’t really afford to travel, but I enjoy your wonderful blog so much as it lets me share your amazing adventures..
by the way I loved the blue footed boobies!
thansk so much again
ruth in jerusalem
Hi Ruth:
As you may have noted at the bottom of my articles on the Galapagos, my trip was provided free by Ecoventura, as part of a press trip. While I do occasionally accept complimentary press trips, the companies that provide them know that I will always write the truth – if the trip is horrible, that’s what I say. So when I said that Ecoventura is a wondeerful company, I really meant it. They absolutely pampered us, and I’ve since talked to others who have crusied with Ecoventura and everyone has had the same experience. Three outings a day, three delicious meals a day, and gourmet snacks upon returning from very shore excursion. Amazing naturalists, an extremely well-outfitted yacht, and lots of attention to the ecology, all made me give Ecoventura a huge thumbs up. I really doubt you can do better. They do not have the lowest prices, but I venture to say that you can’t get a better value for your dollar anywhere else. Hope that helps.
I have only just stumbled upon your blog very recently but love it. I have nominated you for the versatile blogger award – thanks for sharing your travel, amazing pictures and stories.
http://traveldestinationbucketlist.com/2011/10/26/versatile-blogger-thanks-for-readiing/
AnitaMac
Hi Anita: Thank you so much for your comment, and for letting me know you love my blog. It means a lot to me, especially since it’s not an easy thing to keep it going while traveling perpetually. And I also appreciate your nomination but don’t think I can participate at this point because I am traveling in South America and have very little access to Internet at times, so the times when I do have it I must devote to uploading photos and writing for the blog. Hope you understand.
Are you going to visit Cuenca? Will you be here for Cuenca Independence Days celebrations the first of November? Please contact me upon arrival if you like. email [email protected]
regina, ken smith’s friend
Hi Regina: I am definitely coming to Cuenca, but I will not be there in time for Independence Day on November 1st. I do not have an exact schedule yet, but I will probably be there sometime between the 7-10th of November. Will let you know when I have an exact date and thanks so much!
Hi Barbara,
Have you been to VietNam? I am searching your archives and can’t find any entries about it. We LOVE Laos, parts of Thailand, and Cambodia and thought we would try VietNam this time. We were considering India, but it might be a bit intense for us.
If you could please steer me to anything that you’ve written about VietNam, that would be great. I really value your opinion.
Thanks.
Vaya
Hi Vaya: Happy to help. Just FYI, the easiest way to read what I’ve read about a particular country is to use the “Destinations” category on the green menu bar at the top. In this case, you’d scroll down to SE Asia and select Vietnam from the fly-out menu. The page that’s returned includes a few articles that are not completely related to Vietnam (like the one at the top, in which I referred to trash in Vietnam, but I think you’ll find most of them to be very relevant. I’ve done just that, and here’s the link: https://holeinthedonut.com/tag/vietnam. I truly enjoyed Vietnam, even though it was my first destination when I put on the backpack for good and I was a bit skittish at the time, but looking back, it’s a totally safe and extremely interesting place that I’d go back to any time. Enjoy!
Barbara,
I am Regina, Ken Smith’s friend who lives in Cuenca, Ecuador. Would you please contact me before you travel to my fair city? I would be happy to try to offer you a place to stay or ideas on other accommodations here. More importantly, I’d love to meet you.
regina in cuenca
cel. 086-388641
p.s. when in Banos, try La Chiminea for a place to stay. I’ve stayed there a few times and feel like part of the family. They have the best “volcano pancakes” served in their rooftop breakfast community room.
I will definitely do that Regina, and thank you so much for the tips and offer of help. Looking forward to meeting you.
Seneca Daily is a news and feature online publication in Seneca Falls NY. We publish a “Pix of the Day” feature as often as we can (not always daily). We’d be interested in posting your canalside Mill picture with a credit and link to your blog. Please let us know if we can have your permission to do so. [email protected]
We are moving from the U.S. to Canada and need to unlock our IPhone 4s. Do you have a recommendation where we might find how to do this ourselves or someone we could contact to do this for us?
Thanks,
Claudia Bixler
Hi Claudia: Wish I could help you but I have put off upgrading to the iPhone 4 for exactly the same reason. I have been told by my iPhone repair guy that there is no longer a software unlock available for the iPhone, and with the 5 coming out soon, I decided to wait until it was available to see what happens with it. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Barbara, wanted to say I’m sorry I had so little time to get to know you on our ATL/MIA leg. This is Hale, the piano guy…how is Equador so far? Let me know your plans about Cuba. You have my contact info [email protected]. It was truly a pleasure meeting you as well as very inspirational for me. I feel we have a connection in many ways. Safe travels Barbara, hope to hear from you.
@msn:disqus
Hale Ryan
Hi Hale! So nice to get to you too. Really strange, but I usually don’t start conversations with seatmates on airplanes. Getting ready to hit the road for 6 months at a time is exhausting and by the time I board, I’m usually so exhausted that I fall right asleep. But I guess we were just meant to meet. Ecuador so far is great. I just happened to arrive during the 10 day Festival of the Independence of Guayaquil, which is the largest city in the country. Bands performing all day in parks, dancing on the Malecon, etc. Lots of fun. I’m off to the Galapagos tomorrow, so no Internet for a while. Trying to get all my stories written before I leave. Take care, and I’ll keep you posted about Cuba.
i plan to go to london june 2012 iwould like very much to have a single room for me clean non smoker non drinker in exchange for cleaning duthys thanks a lot margaret barry
We took your advice an traveled to Rosario beach on Fidalgo island to the glass beach you recommended. Not only is there NO glass on this beach we spoke to many locals who said there never has been any glass on that beach! In further research we found that there was never even a dump in that area. Please clear this up for your readers as it cost us slot of time for disapointment!
Hello SBerg: So sorry you had no luck finding sea glass on Rosario Beach on Fidalgo Island. The article you refer to is one I wrote for Uptake a couple of years ago. I have been collecting sea glass for years and had been to many of the places I included in the article, however I needed the top ten and did quite a lot of research to identify a few good places I had not visited. Fidalgo Island was one of these. One of the sites I used for research is
http://www.odysseyseaglass.com/sea-glass-videos.html. The video on this page shows a considerable amount of sea glass. However, in my experience, sea glass comes and goes. Places that had a lot sometimes are cleaned out; storms move pockets to other locations, etc. It is quite possible that conditions have changed since I wrote that article. Also, it is not necessary for there to have been a dump in the area for sea glass to occur. Many of the places I have picked sea glass were not dump sites.