As exotic as the name "Maui, Hawaii" may sound to most, for those of us who actually grew up in a small town in Hawaii it can sometimes feel just like that: A small town. But this week's Guest Blogger Michelle Bolosan, who was born and raised on the island of Maui, Hawaii, helps us to see that in-depth cultural experiences and international cuisine can be found in some of the most unlikely places, even in your own hometown.

Many people love to travel. I am one of those people. I've been blessed to have the opportunity to travel to various places. I've learned that when traveling to a foreign place, along with exploring the culture and the sights, experiencing the FOOD is a must! But what if you don't have the financial means and circumstances to explore the food beyond your own backyard BBQ and kitchen stove?

It happened in Taoyuan International Airport at 10:28 pm, while walking towards the Departure Gate area. I was focused on making the 12:30 red-eye out to Manila on Cebu Pacific Airlines, when I suddenly looked up to see a familiar name. Honolulu. Capital city of my native land: Hawai'i.

A distant yet familiar memory of soft sun-rays, warm golden sand and pounding surf flashed through my busy 'Asian' mind and I found myself stopped in my tracks, staring up at that familiar name. Honolulu. I read the three Chinese characters transcribed next to it: 檀香山, Tán Xiāng Shān, literally translated, Sandalwood Incense Mountain. Honolulu.

Here is the fourth chapter of a 5-part series chronicling our "Trek Through the Wilderness." This story is about three of us, average friends, all globe drifters with a love for life. We stepped out of our comfort zones and into the wilderness for a three and a half day hike through the rainforest of Corcovado, Costa Rica. It turned out to be a trek that took us from the edge of civilization and back.

Huh? I mean squirrel-monkeys. These little guys seem to be extremely social. They're no bigger than a cat, and their round heads are perfectly proportioned to their bodies.

For those who are drifters at heart, the word "expat" conjures up many vivid images of adventure and excitement. But what is the REALITY of living abroad? In this weeks post, we will discuss 2 of the reasons why you should consider becoming an expat, and 1 of the most difficult things that may stop you in doing this.

The first time I heard the word 'expat' I wasn't sure what it meant. I wasn't much of a seasoned traveler back then. I had only been to a few places, but it was nothing extensive or life changing. Someone I met while traveling introduced themselves to me as an expat, and although I found myself curious, I was too embarrassed to ask what it meant. It wasn't until I looked into it more on my own that I realized the word expat is short for expatriate, or someone who is living in a country not their own.  

BY ESTEFANÍA GARCÍA MENDOZA

I met this week's Guest Blogger, Estefanía García, while I was living in Altamira, Mexico a few years ago. Although she is a small town girl, Estefanía has traveled to several countries in Central America. Throughout her journeys she has compiled a diary of notes and pictures documenting her experiences. This week she takes some time out of her busy schedule to share with us an excerpt from her travel journal: A Personal "Survival Guide" to Riding a Bus in Nicaragua.

Visiting a third world country is always an experience. There is something about crowded places and cheap shopping in markets that appeal to us all. Interestingly, people always visit the most touristy and “pretty” places, which in most cases won’t allow them to REALLY know the culture and lifestyle of that country. For those of you who aren’t like that, but who enjoy getting into the heart of a place and its culture instead, here’s a little story about my visit to Nicaragua this past May and June.

Learning about a new place involves experiencing its animal life. In most parts of the world, the close relationship between humans and animals is maintained by keeping a delicate balance. But the many exotic animals that are kept as pets can sometimes be a far cry from the standard dog and cat fare in America. Here are some exotic pets from South America that I've come across during my travels.  

As a boy growing up in Kawaikapu, on the eastern end of Moloka'i, Hawai'i, I had the freedom to roam across acres and acres of overgrown land. We grew our own fruits and vegetables, and harvested fresh seafood from the sea. This abundance of land also meant that we were always surrounded by animals. We kept the standard farm animals: horses, pigs, dogs, cats, chickens, the occasional goat and rabbits.