Unpaved Roads http://unpavedroads.posterous.com Most recent posts at Unpaved Roads posterous.com Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:38:00 -0700 When Should I Take My Dream Vacation? http://unpavedroads.posterous.com/when-should-i-take-my-dream-vacation http://unpavedroads.posterous.com/when-should-i-take-my-dream-vacation

Tired of the daily grind? Ready to get away from it all with that vacation you've always wanted but never quite put into motion? The first step is deciding where, exactly, you'd like to travel. You can't make your escape until you know where you're going!

The Exotic Getaway

If your dreams are full of palm trees and white sand beaches, aim your compass at island areas like the Bahamas and the Philippines. It's here you'll find your picturesque paradise with miles and miles of coastline and the ocean in every direction. The Dominican Republic, for example, is famous for its clean, tranquil beaches, and you won't find livelier crowds than the ones at the bonfire parties of Brazil. And don't forget Hawaii, the motherland of everyone's imagination!

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The Jungle Adventure

If your tastes involve a little less sunbathing and a little more adrenaline, consider somewhere like Peru, Thailand or South Africa. These exciting locales offer everything from mountain climbing to deep-sea diving for all manners of extreme living in both land and air. 

A good trick for the adrenaline adventure is to decide what activity you're most interested in, then research the best places in the world for achieving it. For example, surfers will love the wild waves of Australia's Gold Coat, while hikers will probably prefer something dryer, like the ancient remains of Machu Picchu.


The Winter Wonderland

Maybe beaches and skydives aren't your thing. Maybe you'd prefer to travel somewhere with snow, skiing and cozy cottages that serve six different types of hot chocolate. If this sounds like your version of heaven, check out places like the Swiss Alps or the Hokkaido area of Japan. There are no shortage of resorts and hideaways where you can unplug from the rest of the world and enjoy a few stolen moments of mountaintop serenity.


The Trailblazer

What if these options still aren't enough? Or what if you want them all? If your feet are too itchy to settle on just one travel destination, consider a long, sprawling tour of Europe or South America. These are places without strict visa laws, so you'll be able to move somewhat freely between borders and cultures. You can linger where you like or leave as you see fit. You can travel by foot, wheel or wing, either backpacking or looking into charter jet companies to get you around. 

For the traveler who truly wants to get away, an extended vacation is the only way to go.

 

 

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Mon, 10 Sep 2012 23:25:00 -0700 Moving My Car from CA to MD http://unpavedroads.posterous.com/moving-my-car-from-ca-to-md http://unpavedroads.posterous.com/moving-my-car-from-ca-to-md

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Experts claim that moving is one of the most stressful experiences that a person can go through. When you move to a new city or a new state, you must familiarize yourself with the laws in that new area. Moving across the country requires proper moving of your vehicle. While many people drive their own vehicles across the country, others opt for a professional mover. 

Professional movers can drive your car from California to Maryland. You pay a set fee, which covers the gas and expenses accrued by the driver. Some companies charge a higher fee that includes an hourly wage for the driver. You can also hire a driver with a flatbed truck or another type of truck. The driver secures your vehicle on the truck, ensuring that it doesn’t suffer any damage during the long drive. 

Moving your car to Maryland requires a few things that you might not think about, including Gili's State Inspection. When you transfer your title or put your car up for sale, you need this inspection. The state also requires the inspection for those moving to the area. When you move to the state, you must transfer the title to your new home address. The inspection certificate states that your vehicle is safe to drive on the road.

You can only get your car inspected at one of the licensed centers in the state. The Maryland State Police have more than 1,600 centers across the state that provides inspections. No matter where you move in the state, you can find an inspection center. Most centers require an appointment, and you can make your appointment by calling the center directly. Your best bet involves contacting the center before you begin your move. You can schedule an appointment for the day that you arrive in your new home.

Most inspections take 90 minutes or less, and you need to stay there until the inspection is complete. Smaller vehicles and trailers take a shorter period of time, but you should plan to spend at least two hours there. If your car fails the Maryland state inspection, you will receive a notice that states the problems with the vehicle. You can fix the problems found and reapply for a new inspection in 30 days. The inspections are easy to pass, especially if your car is in good working condition and you didn’t have any problems passing an inspection in California.

 

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Thu, 06 Sep 2012 01:29:00 -0700 Why Can't I Take a Water Bottle on the Plane? A Look into TSA's Flight Policies http://unpavedroads.posterous.com/why-cant-i-take-a-water-bottle-on-the-plane-a http://unpavedroads.posterous.com/why-cant-i-take-a-water-bottle-on-the-plane-a

Anyone who is not using a jet charter company to travel is aware of the new and sometimes restrictive guidelines that have been instituted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). There have always been restrictions about what can and cannot be taken on an airplane during a flight. Some of these are very practical such as not allowing illegal drugs or large amounts alcohol that could make a person dangerous or unpredictable. Others traditional restrictions are more business oriented and are in place to promote in-flight purchases. Restrictions on the use of cell phones or electronic devices are just preventative. Many people are confused by the policies that surround restrictions on bottles of liquid.

 

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The TSA is charged with protecting passengers and airlines from potentially harmful actions and devices. Parts of the policies that have been enacted by the TSA were created because they made sense. This includes not allowing firearms on the plane in carry-on luggage. Other policies are in place because the TSA is reactive to events that have happened or that intelligence data has warned might happen. One example is the removal of shoes during a security check. This is a reactive policy that was put into place because someone previously attempted to disguise explosives inside of a shoe.

The issue over taking a bottle of water or any other liquids above a few ounces onto an airplane is also a reactive policy. The policy about liquids was put into place because of reports and some evidence that pointed to binary or otherwise deconstructed explosive that would be moved onto a plane and then reassembled while in flight. These explosives are made of basically harmless or common gels and liquids. When the liquids are separated they pose no risk and are not generally detectable. They become dangerous once the different liquids are combined after which the newly assembled gel or liquid explosive is able to be ignited in order to cause damage to the plane.

Water bottles and moderate amounts of liquids are banned by the TSA to stop malicious individuals from being able to get enough fluid onto a plane to construct an explosive. There have been some recent changes to the TSA policy specifically about water bottles. Passengers will soon be allowed to purchase water bottles or fill bottles at a fountain after passing through security. Whether this policy will stay in place is another issue.

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Wed, 05 Sep 2012 01:16:00 -0700 Walking down the path less traveled... http://unpavedroads.posterous.com/walking-down-the-path-less-traveled http://unpavedroads.posterous.com/walking-down-the-path-less-traveled

Welcome to my blog! I hope you are inspired by its content.

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