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Interview: From heartbreak to Oz

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Englishman Nick Braund gave up the day job to travel the world, taking in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji amongst others...

Why did you decide to go travelling? I had worked in London for four years and was ready for a prolonged break after a family holiday to the West Coast of America that got my travel impulses racing! I also had recently broken up with a long-term girlfriend and was coming to the end of my flat lease. It was fairly impulsive in so much that I made the decision quickly and then that was it but it was thought through. When I had decided to go, I planned a lot to make sure I did everything I could and wanted to when I was away.

Did you go it alone? Was that daunting?I did go alone and that was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It allowed me the freedom to literally do anything that I wanted to from booking a new flight and changing my schedule at moment's notice to deciding what I wanted for dinner! It was daunting though. My first flight took me to Toronto and I had never travelled alone or even stayed in a hostel. Quickly you realise that you're never alone and there are hundreds of people out there like you who want to do some of the things you want to do and you just do them together.

Did you make friends?Yes and yes I think you have to or risk being isolated. The kitchens were always great places to get chatting and within minutes of arriving in a new place, or country for that matter, you've already made new friends. It's just about being able to say 'hi' to a stranger and being open to people doing the same to you. If you're introverted and don't put the effort it, I'm sure you could stay on your own for a long while...

Where did you travel?Canada, USA, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.

Why Australia, New Zealand and Fiji in particular?I was never really bothered about Australia to be honest but had heard so many great things that I wanted to go to New Zealand and thought it would be silly not to include Oz as I was so close! NZ was always described as a phenomenal place, with so much to see and do, and it really is. Oz is also very cool though and I'm really glad I decided to go there for two months. Travelling up the coast was amazing and led to be camping on Fraser Island, sailing around the Whitsundays and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef all once in a lifetime stuff. Fiji was obvious. I was flying home via LA so knew I would be travelling over Fiji so thought I'd finish my trip with a holiday from a holiday and island hop in paradise. Not exactly a tough decision to take!

And what were your trip highlights?Scuba diving with bull sharks in Fiji, learning to ski in Whistler, Canada, the Thai beach parties, sky diving, bungee jumping, and simply waking up in a completely new country with just a backpack and hopefully some money!

How did you travel?Every mode of transport going - Flights, cars, buses, boats, seaplanes, trains, and even tuk-tuk. You name it, I took it.

Did you research the trip before you left?Yeah I did quite a lot of research before I left the UK and if I took the trip again I wouldn't do so much because the best research you can do is chat to the people you meet in hostels. They will have pretty much done all the "touristy" things already or know someone who has.

What did that research consist of?Internet, chatting with friends and tips from my travel agent.

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Interview: From heartbreak to Oz

World’s Wackiest Marathons and Races

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North Korean travel agencies surprised athletes the world over recently when they announced that admission to the Pyongyang Marathon will be open to recreational runners this year.

Previously, The Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon, its formal title, was an elite-only event and has never included a U.S. athlete. Now the looser restrictions may lure some Americans to travel to the mysterious, long-forbidden country.

READ: Elderly Couple Ran a Marathon Every Day of 2013

But running in a socialist state is far from the most unusual thing one can do during a race. In fact, the world is full to brimming with curious quests. Here are some of the world's wackiest marathons and races:

The Neverending Marathon If you're the type who steps onto the course and feels like he could run forever, consider signing up for Morocco's Marathon des Sables, a 151-mile "ultra-run" across the Sahara Desert. That should quench your thirst for mileage, if not your actual thirst.

Run with the... Mules Animal lovers will get a kick (possibly literally) out of the Boom Days Pack Burro Race in Leadville, Colo., where runners are paired up with a burro or donkey to run alongside for 22 miles of mountainous terrain.

A Vision in White Fancy a jog in the southernmost area of the world? Enter the Antarctic Ice Marathon, a frigid 26.2 mile race with an average windchill temperature of -20C and an altitude of 700 meters.

READ More: Hospital 'Buzzing' Over Engagement of Boston Marathon Bombing Survivor to Nurse

Tropical Trot At the other end of the spectrum, the Kona Underpants Run in Kona, Hawaii, calls for stripping down to one's skivvies. Held a few days before the Hawaii Ironman World Championship, the event was designed to allow athletes to blow off some steam before the big competition but now it's become its own destination.

Dash in the Middle of the Night Choose from 3K, 5K and 10K options at the Midnight Run in Reykjavik, Iceland. Despite kicking off at 10 p.m., the race takes place in complete daylight as it occurs during the solstice. Afterward, participants rub elbows in geothermal hot tubs. Glugging glogg is entirely optional.

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World's Wackiest Marathons and Races

World Cup riots in Brazil trigger riots and arrests

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Social unrest ranks alongside shoddy infrastructure as leading concerns for teams and supporters planning to travel to Brazil for the tournament.

While the country has won the World Cup five times, many Brazilians resent the scale of spending poured into hosting the tournament. Banners carried in the business districts of Sao Paulo proclaimed No rights, No World Cup and Fifa go home.

Despite the popularity of the game, some demonstrators took aim at the earnings of players. Wake up Brazil, a teacher is worth more than [the footballer] Neymar was one slogan.

It is not just the disparity of income between rich footballers and public sector employees that took the brunt of anger. By rights we mean the peoples right to decent public services, said Leonardo Pelegrini dos Santos, a university student. We are against the millions and millions of dollars being spent for the cup. It is money that should be invested in better health and education services and better transportation and housing.

Demonstrators staged a sit-in along a line of lavatory bowls set along Copacabana beach in Rio to highlight that 70 per cent of the citys sewage was untreated before it was dumped in the bay.

The Olympics are coming, the World Cup is coming, its a chance to draw attention and maybe the world can talk about whats happening here in Rio, said Leona Deckelbaum, an activist. To me it is unbelievable that theres not basic sanitation in a city like Rio.

Another pointed out the contrast between the images in tourist brochures and the consequences of lack of city services. Its really dirty. The sand, everything, said Ruth Ferreira.

Separately Brazil has been hit in recent weeks by generalised unrest targeting commercial areas.

Almost a dozen shopping centres in the country have been hit by rolezinhos mobs, composed primarily of young people from slum areas, going on the rampage in upmarket shopping malls in Rio and Sao Paulo.

Dilma Rousseff, the president, has seen her governments popularity hit even as she prepares to open her campaign for re-election in October.

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World Cup riots in Brazil trigger riots and arrests

JULIANA’S WORLD TRAVEL AND TOURS: Celebrity Millenium-Seopjikoji, Jeju, South Korea – Video

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JULIANA #39;S WORLD TRAVEL AND TOURS: Celebrity Millenium-Seopjikoji, Jeju, South Korea
Seopjikoji means #39;narrow cape #39; in Korean, and this was the filming location for the popular drama All In, hence its reputation as a popular tourist and local...

By: Nessa Hall

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JULIANA'S WORLD TRAVEL AND TOURS: Celebrity Millenium-Seopjikoji, Jeju, South Korea - Video

Montrose Travel to Host “Where in the World is Adventure Joe” Contest

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Montrose, CA (PRWEB) January 24, 2014

Throughout January and February, Montrose Travel encourages everyone to play Where in the World is Adventure Joe and enter for a chance to win a 7-Night Viking River Cruise Journey. Each week, Montrose Travels animated mascot Adventure Joe will guide travelers to a new featured destination via an online contest. Contestants may participate by visiting http://www.montrosetravel.com/contest.

Destinations from around the world will be highlighted along with special offers and promotions to start the New Year with great travel deals. From outstanding all-inclusive vacations to 2-for-1 cruise fares, there is a wide variety for all travelers.

Each week, Adventure Joe is shown in a photograph of a popular international destination. Contestants can give their best guess as to the particular landmark featured in the photo. If answered correctly, the contestant will receive five entries to win a 7-Night Viking River Cruise Journey. If answered incorrectly, the contestant still receives one entry just for submitting the vote. Fun facts and a description of Adventure Joes location accompany the entry submissions each week. The contest winner is drawn at random at the end of February.

Readers are invited to tune in each week to see where Adventure Joe appears next, and for a chance to win. For more information or to book this years vacation, contact Montrose Travel at 800-MONTROSE or http://www.MontroseTravel.com.

ABOUT MONTROSE TRAVEL

Celebrating 56 years in business, Montrose Travel, a family-owned travel management company, has grown from 14 employees in 1990 to more than 200 today and is now firmly established as a Top 50 Travel Management Company and a Top 5 Host Agency nationwide at $200+ million in sales. Montrose Travel strives to provide the highest quality services and most complete vacation, corporate travel, loyalty and group travel management solutions for its customers and home-based travel agents. Montrose Travel "will be here tomorrow to back up our promises of today!" Montrose Travel can be reached at 1-800-MONTROSE (666-8767) or by visiting http://www.montrosetravel.com. Visit Montrose Travel's Corporate Division at http://www.montrosecorporatetravel.com or call 1-800-766-4687. Home-based independent travel professionals may visit http://www.MTravel.com, email epeters (at) montrosetravel (dot) com, or call 1-800-870-5799. CST#1018299-10

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Montrose Travel to Host “Where in the World is Adventure Joe” Contest

World Travel at the Airport

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Welcome to World Travel at the Airport World Travel Int, Inc. is a full service agency located in the Williamsport, Pennsylvania regional airport.

Established in 1990, we have been providing quality service to the Montoursville/Williamsport area for over 15 years. We offer cruises, package tours, group trips, airline tickets, rail passes, car rentals, hotel reservations, honeymoons, destination weddings and condo rentals.

Contact one of our professional agents to assist you with your travel needs.

Julie Johnston-McManus has 25+ years experience in the travel agency industry.

Tara Smith has been with World Travel since 1997 and formerly worked for US Airways. Tara is our own in-house Disney certified vacation specialist.

Lori Griffin has 16+ years experience and formerly worked for Ball Travel. She joined World Travel in 1998.

Karen Pinsonneault is our outside travel consultant.

Carol Rice is the founder of Merrymakers Travel. see Carols' website for a complete up-to-date listing of her current tours

Laurie Butters Crane has recently joined our staff as administrative assistant.

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World Travel at the Airport


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