From riding sand dunes in the desert, to stepping inside one of the world’s largest mosques in nearby Abu Dhabi, to having drinks at the world’s only seven-star hotel, Dubai is a cosmopolitan city that everyone should experience.

If you’re a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy and want a chance to experience Mordor for yourself, check out the Tongariro Crossing — considered New Zealand’s best day walk — or continue on to do the Northern Circuit over four to five days.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes it’s hard to commit to being fit. Between finding energy to stay conscious all day, making and eating healthy meals, and juggling life commitments in the process, losing those last few pounds is anything but easy.

All stories have a beginning. For this one, that could be the moment I decided to pack my bags and get on a one-way flight to New Zealand. It could be when I succumbed to the inevitable and bought The Yellow Submarine, my neon-yellow campervan and home for the next seven months. But, for this story, there is only one climax, one zenith.

If you’re traveling to northern China, you probably want to check out the Great Wall — you, along with hordes of other tourists. From Beijing most tourists head to Badaling, the most accessible (and crowded) section of the wall, which has also been extensively renovated. If you’re looking for authentic charm, this isn’t it.

I ventured off to my first yoga class: a pranayama breathing class. In Sanskrit, pranayama means life (prana) and breath (ayama) and is considered one of the five principles of yoga. The purpose of the class was to learn how to measure and control your breathing, drawing maximum breath into the body to optimize one’s yoga practice.

The resurgence of yoga is one of the biggest marketing success stories of the past 15 years. For decades it was considered outside of the mainstream, practiced mainly by granola-loving hippies still hanging onto their 1960’s lifestyle.

The London Olympics may be grabbing the spotlight, but the rest of Europe is gearing up for a gold-medal summer. Whether it’s sports, music or culture you’re after, check out the top 10 must-see events taking place across The Pond over the next couple of months, courtesy of Expedia.ca. London may not be calling, but Europe certainly is.

Years ago when I first visited Ton Sai Beach in Thailand’s Krabi province, it was considered off the radar. But the tsunami that swept away beach bungalows at nearby Railay Beach in 2004 has led to the development of sprawling high-end resorts. Fortunately, Ton Sai Beach has retained much of its budget backpacker charm.

Giant prehistoric reptiles do not monopolize the danger around here. There are spiders, snakes, scorpions, jellyfish, sharks, extreme weather conditions, perilous terrain and endless activities to put you in intimate contact with each and every one of these.

I find myself in Broome, Western Australia after a series of characteristically hasty, rash decisions and a quick trip to Indonesia to get myself a work and holiday visa. After 11 months of traveling, what I need is a job. What I don’t need is, you know, just a job.

In preparation for going into Rocinha, I give it a lot more consideration than I would for a regular day of sightseeing. For one thing, there’s the wardrobe aspect of it; while I jokingly say to my travel buddy Sarah, “What does one wear to a favela?” I am deliberately careful about picking out subdued clothing.