Mt. Everest, Nepal

I made my final destination as epic as I could, and what's more epic than climbing Mount Everest? I spent a few days in Kathmandu with my guides in preparation for the climb. On the day we were to begin I was so excited I could hardly think straight. We departed at dawn and, about ten days later, we reached the peak. I was on top of the world and it felt amazing. When I got back down I ate my fill on rice, dumplings, soup, and other traditional foods from Nepal. It was a great way to cap off my journey, climbing to the top of the world.

Mumbai, India

Mumbai, India was a unique place for many reasons, one being the fact it is so densely populated. Whenever I went out, the streets were crowded with not only cars, but people, carts, and shops as well. The city was so packed together I could hardly believe my eyes. Most parts of the city were drowned in the sound of constant car horns. I thought everyone in India was an aggressive driver, but it turns out they actually use the series' of honks to communicate with other drivers. I quickly caught on to some of the patterns and what they mean. I guess Americans could take a page from India and use their horns for communication rather than anger.

Beijing, China

Beijing, China was the next destination on my tour of the world. I saw some of the most iconic sights the city had to offer. I went to the Forbidden City, which houses the palace used by the emperors of China from 1420 to 1912. It was a feat of human ingenuity and architecture. In fact, most of the city's architecture amazed me. The China Central Television Headquarters even seemed to defy gravity, looming over the streets. The traditional Chinese food was to die for. I had my fair share of suckling pig, Peking duck, and moo shu pork while staying in Beijing. Finally, I visited the Great Wall of China. It was humbling to see it stretch out as far as the eye could see. The only bad part of Beijing was the copious amount of smog in the air. In all, I enjoyed Beijing.

Hong Kong

East Asia was probably the region I was most excited to visit. I wanted to visit every city, but I only had time enough for two. I decided to travel to Hong Kong, one of the largest cities in East Asia. Not only was it large, but it was extravagant! Every corner I turned I saw lights and street vendors.  The tall trucks seemed to just barely fit underneath the signs hanging over the street. I went to "The Peak" my first morning. The view of the skyline from above the city made the entire trip worth it. I also went full tourist when I visited Hong Kong's Disneyland and Ocean Park. The rides were amazing and the sights were breathtaking. I also ate at some of Hong Kong's finest restaurants. I enjoyed the local seafood, like baked crab and drunken shrimp. I also went to the Cityplaza shopping center to truly experience Hong Kong. I had fun on their indoor ice rink with my new skates I had just bought. Hong Kong was like nothing I had ever experienced before.

Dushanbe, Tajikistan

On my way through central Asia, I decided to take in the sights of Dushanbe, Tajikistan. At first glace, the city doesn't look like much, but do some exploring and you'll find some diamonds in the rough. Aside from being the largest city in Tajikistan, Dushanbe is also a sister city of Boulder, Colorado. I stopped by the Dushanbe Zoo and relaxed for a while. I also saw the second tallest free standing flagpole in the world, it was pretty neat. The Gurminj Museum of Musical Instruments was also a very cool spot for a music nerd like me. I finished my visit to Tajikistan with a hike through the mountains on the outskirts of the city, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Dushanbe.

Astana, Kazakhstan

As I made my way through central Asia, I made a quick stop in Astana, Kazakhstan. It was a beautiful city, and was also hailed as one of the weirdest capital cities by CNN. Astana's modern design was a stark contrast to the steppes surrounding it, in fact, there are very few people for hundreds of miles.

The first place I visited in Astana was the Khan Shatyr shopping mall which doubles as the world's largest tent. I also visited the Central Concert Hall, which looked a lot like the White House, to take in some of the culture Astana had to offer. Finally, I visited Astana Arena to watch an Astana FC soccer match. I was Impressed by how Modernized Astana was and hope to return to this beautiful city one day.

St. Petersburg, Russia

My second destination in Russia was St. Petersburg. Through the years, St. Petersburg has gone by many names like Leningrad and Petrograd. There were some amazing sights to see in the city. First, I went to the winter palace, where Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks led their October Revolution. In fact, the city was home to three notorious revolutions, The February, October, and the Revolution of 1905. The winter palace was beautiful, it reminded me of the palace of Versailles. The summer palace was also a work of art. Just when I thought the buildings couldn't get any better, I visited St. Isaac's Cathedral. The architecture's beauty on the outside was only rivaled by the immaculate paintings on the inner walls. St. Petersburg has beauty around nearly every corner, it was a truly remarkable city.

Moscow, Russia

When visiting Russia, there is no better destination than the nation's capital, Moscow. Overshadowed by the city of the same name, Moscow, Russia is almost as famous as its cousin Moscow, Idaho. While in the city, I visited some of the most popular tourist destinations like the Red Square, and the Kremlin. While visiting the Kremlin, I actually saw Vladimir Putin walking out of the building. I chatted with him for a bit and talked about the disaster that was the United States Election. He told me I had a place in Russia when I wanted to leave the U.S. and I might just take him up on that offer.

Rome, Italy

From one of Europe's most historic cities to another; the next stop on my trip was Rome, Italy. Rome had so many historical locations, I had to get sightseeing right away. I saw the Flavian Amphitheatre (the coliseum) first. It was a lot larger in person than I had expected. The mazelike tunnels running underneath it were works of art in their own respect. After I reluctantly left the coliseum, I headed for Vatican city, which is a country with about half a square mile of land, making it the only country with two popes per square mile. I saw St. Peter's Basilica and Michelangelo's fresco. I spent so much time in those two locations, I didn't have time to go any place else.  

Paris, France

The first destination in Europe on my world tour was arguably my favorite destination, Paris, France.  I visited some of the most iconic destinations in the world. I went to the Eiffel Tower, the arc de triumph, and the louver. Each destination more amazing than the last. The last place I visited in Paris was the Palace of Versailles. It was truly beautiful, from the architecture down to the gardens. On my final night in Paris, I took to the streets and visited some world class restaurants. Paris had so much to offer, it is hard to pin down my favorite thing about it.

Cairo, Egypt

After visiting an ultra modern city like Dubai, I thought I'd visit a city where the old meshed with the new. Cairo is the perfect example of this. For example, you could be looking out the window of your five-star hotel room and see the Great Pyramid looming in the distance. I walked the same banks of the Nile that once gave rise to the greatest empires in ancient Egypt. Beyond the pyramids, in contrast to the bustling metropolitan area, there is nothing but the vast Sahara Desert. It was truly a magnificent sight, an ocean of sand rolling into the horizon. Cairo is a city of opposites, old and new, urban and desert. The whole city seems like a wonder of the world to me.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In my mind, no vacation around the world is complete without stopping in Dubai. The United Arab Emirates is renowned as one of the wealthiest countries in the world. If you were to look up "a billionaire's playground" in the dictionary, you'd find Dubai. The city boasts the third most skyscrapers in the world, as well as the tallest, the Burj Khalifa. The numerous resorts and man-made islands are also a perk of visiting Dubai. However, the luxury shopping Dubai has to offer is unmatched by any other city in the world. The downtown shopping district in Dubai is worth over 20 billion dollars. Dubai is truly the land of excess. 

Cape Town, South Africa

My second destination in Sub-Saharan Africa was Cape Town, South Africa. It is known mainly as a port town, but has so much more to offer. Table Mountain borders Cape Town to its north and offers spectacular sights of the city. Cable cars have been set up on the side of the mountain and are a very relaxing way to spend a few hours of down time. But, not every aspect of Cape Town is positive. One of the most notorious prisons in the country sits just off the coast on Robben Island. The prison is now a living museum because the prison was home to Nelson Mandela for 27 years. There is never a dull moment in South Africa's largest city, and one of its three capitals.

Nassau, Bahamas

The second stop in the Caribbean on my journey would have to be none other than Nassau, Bahamas. Not only is it one of the most beautiful vacation spots in the world, but it also has boatloads of history

 (pun intended). It served as a hotbed for pirate activity when Blackbeard and other salty seadogs roamed the seven seas. Nassau is also a popular cruise ship stop, making it a great place to meet new people and participate in fun activities while on vacation.  

Lagos, Nigeria

I thought it would be interesting to see the largest city in Sub-Saharan Africa, so the next stop on my journey was Lagos, Nigeria. It's not only one of the largest cities in Africa, but one of the fastest growing as well. I've seen and heard about Lagos from movies and shows, but I wanted to know first hand what Lagos was like first-hand. The climate in Lagos is warm year round, but has a wet and dry season. The wet season lasts from April to October, while the dry season spans from October Through March. One of the first things I noted when I arrived was how crowded the streets were. Not only were there vehicles on the roads, but people and vendors also roamed the roads. It was quite the culture-shock seeing this type of city.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

The next destination on my trip was to a place a little closer to home. I decided to travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico because it is not only gorgeous, but it also holds a great deal of history within its city limits. The most prominent of the historical cites being Castillo San Cristobal. It was the largest fort built by Spain in the Americas. It survived multiple sieges by the English, Dutch, and even the USA. There is also tons of beautiful Spanish style architecture. Puerto Rico's weather is also constantly around eighty degrees fahrenheit year-round. It was a tremendous and enjoyable experience taking in the culture. Being a part of the U.S. now as well as Spain previously, Puerto Rico has a culture unlike any other country in the world. This was the perfect Caribbean paradise for a history buff like me.

Medellin, Colombia

For the fourth destination of my adventure, I decided to stop by Shakira's home city of Medellin, Colombia. But it's more than just the birthplace of the greatest woman to ever sing, it is also one of the largest cities in Colombia. It not only has the beautiful Andes mountains outside of the city, but it also has some magnificent sights to see in the city. It is home to a metro transit system like no other. It has a cable car which takes you from one area of the city to another (which I took full advantage of).

Las Vegas, Nevada

The next stop on my journey took me back north to the good ole' U.S. of A. I decided to check out some casinos like the MGM Grand and Caesar's Palace. It was especially beautiful at night with all the signs lit up and the light shows on full display. I also wanted to check out the famous Gold and Silver pawn shop where the show Pawn Stars is filmed. But my favorite part of Las Vegas had to be meeting all sorts of crazy characters from american magicians to Chinese blackjack dealers and even some Swedish chefs.

Tortuguero, Costa Rica

The second destination on my journey would be the lovely village of Tortuguero, Costa Rica. I've actually been to Tortuguero in the past, but I would love to visit for a second time. It's location is perfectly placed between a river and the Atlantic Ocean. It is also in the center of Tortuguero National Park, one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I saw howler monkeys, dart frogs, and even some crocodiles. The locals were also very friendly and showed what the local saying pura vida really meant. It means they wish you a "pure life."

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The first stop on my adventure of the world was none other than Vancouver, Canada. There were so many things to do there with over 240 parks in the city, as well as 24 community centers and swimming pools. I also went to a Vancouver Canucks hockey game in Rogers Arena. The beautiful view of the mountains from my hotel was also one of the best parts of my trip. Vancouver, in my opinion, Vancouver is one of the best locations for skiing and snowboarding. As well as visiting the parks and community centers, I hit the slopes at Lauralee Bowie Ski Adventures. It was a magical and worthwhile stop on my trip.