If the Brits know anything about food, it’s how to serve up winter warmers. As a place that sees more than its fair share of wind, rain and gray skies, it’s hardly a surprise that this nation has developed a cuisine high in carbohydrates, thick with meats and invariably doused in rich gravy.

Whether you’re looking to fend off the cold or cheer yourself up after a lousy day, check out these 7 classic British comfort foods:

1) Toad in the Hole

There’s not a toad to be seen in this dish, promise. Instead, what you get is delicious sausages nestled and cooked into a batter (known as Yorkshire pudding batter) that bakes high above the sausages, creating the visual effect that the “toads” are peeking out from their holes.

This dish is usually served with vegetables and gravy that has been cooked with fried onions.

Not a toad in sight, just rich sausages in batter. Photo by Annie Mole.

2) Pea and Ham Soup

Vividly green, thick with comfort and crammed with baked ham that melts in your mouth, you should be warned against ordering this soup as an appetizer as it is often too much to manage even for an entrée.

Best served with warm crusty bread and for a real treat add a dollop of crème fraiche for extra yummy richness. An alternative, thinner soup is made with split peas, which look similar to lentils.

Vivid green and delicious pea and ham soup. Photo by theCSSdiv.

3) Stew and Dumplings

Typically made with beef and vegetables such as carrots, leeks and onions, the base ingredients are slow cooked in a pot with stock for hours allowing the meat to tenderize and the gravy to thicken.

The dumplings are made from suet, which provides a wonderful doughy way to soak up the stew juices and are added toward the end of the cooking. Beef can be substituted with lamb, chicken or just extra winter root vegetables for a different taste.

Dumplings are perfect for soaking up the gravy in this root vegetable stew. Photo by Girl Interrupted Eating.

4) Fish Pie

If you’re looking for winter comfort food but without the gravy, fish pie is the perfect alternative. Traditionally white fish such as cod or haddock was used but recipes have broadened to include other ingredients from the sea such as salmon and prawns.

The fish and seafood are cooked in a creamy white sauce and topped with a deep crust of mashed potato. Serve with vegetables to keep your nutrient intake up during the cold days and nights.

Want an alternative to the gravy dishes? Tuck into creamy fish pie. Photo by TummyRumble.

5) Pie and Mash

Something of a British institution, pie and mash has its origins in the East End of London where it was served during the Victorian Era to the working class.

Created using the glut of eels from the River Thames and wrapped in pastry to make it transportable, the pie was born. Mash was added as a cheap way to complete the meal.

Today, meat replaces the eels, though, in the East End green-colored eel gravy known as “liquor” (it’s nonalcoholic), which is still served as a tradition.

Otherwise, you can’t beat steak and ale pie served with a generous dollop of creamy mash and an endless supply of meat gravy.

Pie and mash—the London East End classic. Photo by Dani P.L.

6) Bangers and Mash

Named during a time when sausages had a high water content and tended to pop, bang and sizzle in the pan, bangers are a firm British favorite and make the perfect comfort food.

There are many varieties of sausage to choose from. They are typically made from pork or beef and flavored with many different combinations of seasoning ranging from sage to apple to chili.

The Cumberland sausage is a fun and tasty swirl of a sausage that will fill even the biggest appetite. Best served with onion gravy, consider a glass of British Ale to wash it all down.

Sizzling bangers and mash. Photo by gifrancis.

7) Cottage Pie

Just when you thought it wasn’t possible to serve yet another variation of meat and potatoes, you discover cottage pie.

Ground beef forms the base ingredient, which is cooked in gravy with vegetables such as carrots, onion and peas. A generous portion of mashed potato is placed on top, and when cooked, the pie comes out with a crisp crust and more gravy is often added for good measure.

An alternative version is shepherd’s pie, which uses lamb instead of beef.

The mash crust is the perfect topping for cottage pie. Photo by WordRidden.

Heavy on the potatoes and generous with the gravy, British winter warmers know how to offer the perfect culinary comfort from the cold.

Have you tried any of these dishes? What is your favorite winter comfort food? Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like: 8 Ways to Eat Your Way through the US South.

Main photo: The Brits really know how to serve up winter comfort foods by dichohecho.

Tsunamis, earthquakes, exploding volcanoes, hurricanes, it can sometimes feel like Mother Nature is throwing us one natural disaster after another. I was recently in Hawaii when we received a warning that a tsunami was expected to hit the islands after an earthquake off the coast of Canada.

This prompted a full-scale evacuation. Fortunately, the tsunami did not have the force that had been anticipated, but as those who have experienced Hurricane Sandy or other severe natural disasters will know, that isn’t always the case.

If you find yourself in the midst of a natural disaster, your own actions can play a huge part in your safety. Here are 7 things NOT to do:

1) Panic

The ocean didn’t injure anybody during the predicted Hawaiian tsunami, but there were fatal car accidents as people panicked to get to higher ground.

Of course it is difficult to keep an air of calm when doom is impending, but it is vital to ensure your safety. Although time will be of the essence, that doesn’t mean you should disband all precautions.

If you find yourself starting to freak out, ask someone to help you, whether it is with packing, driving or any other activity.

Whatever you do, try not to panic. Photo by nandadevieast.

2) Ignoring official advice

Officials advised us to pack essentials and drive to the evacuation center when the tsunami warning was given. However, driving to the grocery store and the gas station to engage in panic buying is what many people did.

With only a matter of hours to get to safety, there simply wasn’t time for activities beyond those advised, and people who ignored the advice caused road blocks, putting themselves and others in danger.

If the authorities think your most vital activity is refueling your car or stocking your fridge, they will tell you. Otherwise, do as they say.

Don’t ignore the official advice: if there is no time for shopping, there is no time for shopping. Photo by 8zil.

3) Not making a plan that ensures your safety

If you’re on vacation when a disaster warning strikes, there is a good chance you won’t have access to a car or the facilities you might at home. Even if you are at home, you may need to make arrangements for your safety.

Sharing cars with those who had rentals ensured we all got to the evacuation center. Before you set about any other activity, like packing, make sure you have a plan in place for ensuring your safety.

Make sure you have a plan in place. Photo by planetc1.

4) Packing non-essentials

I watched in surprise as a girl tried to pack all three of her suitcases complete with travel alarm clock, slippers, bikinis and beach towel. It was a time-consuming task and if someone hadn’t have stopped her, I’m sure she’d still be packing now.

Essential means exactly that—water, food, flashlight, warm clothes, medicine, all-weather shoes, blankets, smartphone and other items that will help if you find yourself without power and running water for days.

In other words, if you’d take the item camping, pack it. If you’d take it to the beach or a bar, leave it.

Pack essentials and essentials only. Photo by Ian Wilson.

5) Going incommunicado

My friends and family knew that I was in Hawaii, but they didn’t know the name of the island, the town nor my accommodations. After all of the packing had been done and I waited for my ride, I sent a quick email to my brother to let him know what was happening and exactly where I was.

That way I knew that my family would be able to follow the international news, gauge my safety and have the right information on hand if they needed to contact the Hawaiian authorities in the worst case scenario.

Don’t go incommunicado. Let someone know where you are. Photo by dok1.

6) Not bringing something to pass the time

After clawing together the recommended essentials, it turned out that there was some time to gather a few extra items, and that is what ended up saving us during the long wait for the warning to pass.

Packing my laptop and power cable meant that we were able to follow the local news; others packed playing cards or a book.

Instead of letting our nerves fray as we waited for news, we were able to keep ourselves up to date on the situation and occupy our minds with something else during the meantime.

7) Ignoring on-going official advice

After several hours waiting and realizing that the tsunami impact was nothing near what we had expected, people started to get restless. Hard plastic chairs and glaring strip lights of the evacuation center made people crave their beds.

However, the warning hadn’t been lifted, and for good reason. The high tide meant that the risk of the tsunami extended beyond the anticipated time of impact.

Once again the officials knew what was best, and you should follow their advice until the danger has passed.

Have you experienced a natural disaster? What did you do to keep safe? Did you make any mistakes that made the situation more dangerous? Let me know in the comments below.

If you liked this article, you might also like: Don’t Make These 7 Mistakes Traveling in Dangerous Areas.

Main photo: Want to increase your chances of surviving a disaster? Here’s what not to do by Lew57.

Israel has been a coveted land for millennia and the recent fighting with Gaza is the latest chapter in this enduring conflict. Yet, tourists seem undeterred.

In 2012, Israel’s visitor numbers were up an impressive 8 percent, and this October saw the country’s highest visitor numbers ever (Israel Ministry of Tourism).

The reality is that despite the disputes, there is so much to see—from historical and religious sights to the Red, Dead and Med Seas—that tourists can’t bring themselves to shun this fascinating part of the world.

Understandably, many travelers are nervous about visiting Israel, but with a little knowledge and some good planning, it’s possible to have a safe and rewarding stay in this tiny country.

Here are 10 essential tips for your visit:

1) Consider your passport stamp

Passport stamps are usually sought after, but if you’re planning further travel in the Middle East you may want to think twice before collecting an ink print from Israel. Many Arab countries either do not permit or make entry more difficult for visitors who have the Israeli stamp.

Ask politely to get your stamp on a separate piece of paper instead.

Get your passport stamp on a separate sheet of paper to keep future travel options open. Photo by koadmunkee.

2) Know before you go: history and politics

Visiting Israel is a great opportunity to brush up on your knowledge of the history and politics that surround the region as well as understanding the diverse blend of cultures.

With a little homework you can avoid that awkward moment where you ask an Israeli-passport holding taxi driver to take you to Bethlehem (it is not permitted).

Use your visit as a chance to understand the country better. Photo by nagillum

3) Understand the safety levels

Israel can be visited without issue, but conflicts can arise and escalate quickly.

Follow the international news and check with your foreign office for travel restrictions before you leave home.

The areas that tend to see the most trouble are near the borders with Egypt in the south and Syria and Lebanon in the north.

Generally, the Gaza Strip is to be avoided, but trips into the Palestinian territories are usually trouble free.

Assess the safety situation before you go and while you’re there. Photo by Amir Farshad Ebrahimi.

4) Pay special attention to Fridays and Saturdays

The work week in Israel centers on the Jewish day of rest, Shabbat. Starting at sunset on Friday and ending at sunset on Saturday, many businesses close and services stop.

This means no buses and fewer, more expensive taxis while shops and restaurants shut for the entire period starting as early as 2 p.m.

Levels of observance differ between cities, with Jerusalem more observant than Tel Aviv. On the plus side, Shabbat can equal a feast in hotels.

Plan for Shabbat. Photo by yoavelad.

5) Get around easily: buses, sheruts and car hire

Israel has a cheap and efficient bus network that covers most of the country, while sheruts (shared minivans) offer a great alternatives for shorter trips, e.g. from Tel Aviv to the airport or traveling during Shabbat.

Car hire is almost essential if you want to visit the north, including the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights.

A car is advisable for visiting the Sea of Galilee. Photo by amira_a.

6) Pack clothes to cover up

It’s tempting in hot climates to wear those tiny shorts you wouldn’t brave at home, which will work on Tel Aviv’s beaches, but more decorum is needed at religious sites.

Women should cover their arms, chest and legs and in ultra-orthodox areas, pants should be worn, not skirts. Men at Jewish religious sites must wear a kippa (skull cap, supplied).

The Western Wall may be outside, but it is still considered a religious site, so dress appropriately.

Dress with decorum and follow the customs at religious sites. Photo by Laika slips the lead.

7) Eat local

There is no avoiding the fact that Israel is costly (I recall paying nearly $2 for a tomato), which provided the perfect excuse to find some cheap local eats.

Falafel and hummus are excellent, abundant and comparatively cheap while the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv has some of the freshest fruit, vegetables, olives, cured meats and cheeses you’ll find.

In addition, you’ll get an excellent glimpse into the local life.

Visit Carmel Market for a taste of local food and life. Photo by infliv.

8) Save on hotels—sleep communal

Staying in beachfront hotels can chew though a travel budget pretty fast. The good news is that Israel has a great choice of hostels available for a fraction of the cost.

Even if dorm-style communal sleeping isn’t for you, many of the hostels offer a number of private rooms. I stayed in one hostel that was a 200-year-old Arab mansion.

Hostels can be a budget-saving option. Photo by Nina J. G.

9) Plan for the Palestinian territories

Bethlehem can be seen from Jerusalem and is one of the most popular day trips from the city. However, it is administered by the Palestinian Authority and you must therefore pass a checkpoint to enter.

The security situation has improved in recent years making it much safer to cross, but check before you go. If you travel by taxi, you will need to find a driver with a non-Israeli passport or change cars at the border.

Prepare for your visit to the Palestinian territories. Photo by welshkaren.

10) Plan your next move

If you are hoping to hop from Israel to another country by land, you need to plan your route.

It is not possible to pass to or from Lebanon and Syria, and the border situation with Egypt is subject to change on short notice. Crossing into Jordan is usually, therefore, your best bet.

Make sure your exit strategy is planned out. Photo by kudumomo.

What were your impressions of Israel? Do you have any other tips for traveling through this fascinating country? Let me know in the comments below.

If you liked this article, you might also like: Photo Essay: Colors of Israel.

Main photo: Israel: It’s not a case of whether to visit, but when and how by David Holt London.

I couldn’t tell whether the dark matter oozing from my feet was mud or blood, but I took in a deep breath of crisp air and let out a laugh that came all the way from my stomach.

I was in Nicaragua, 4,500 feet up Maderas Volcano on Isla Ometepe, facing a six-hour descent barefoot. Somewhere between bad planning and bad footwear my shoes had broken as we approached the summit, leaving me with no option but to climb down using only the soles of my feet.

It hadn’t been my intention to find myself in this curious situation, but it wasn’t entirely a bad thing that my shoes broke. Here’s why:

1) It was a lesson in better planning

I spent the first hour of my barefoot hike cursing my stupidity. I’d sent my hiking shoes home after I trekked Machu Picchu and I had nothing more robust than trekking sandals.

They were not a good choice for the particular climb that lay ahead, which I would have known had I done any research beyond just showing up for the climb. Mud, no formal hiking trail and a late start got me off on the wrong foot (in every sense).

Now, before I do any kind of trek, sometimes including to a distant supermarket, I check out my route, know what terrain I’ll be covering and, vitally, make sure I have the right equipment for the job.

The trekking sandals that failed me.

2) I got to practice my Spanish

“Lodo,” the guide said before we set off. I nodded, not having a clue what he was referring to.

It turned out to be the Spanish word for mud, a word I will never forget. I was up to my knees it in, had fallen over in it, created a face pack out of it and pointed at it many times repeating the word back to my guide.

For six hours, slowly and steadily we eased down the volcano, chatting as we went, me teaching him English for blood, toes, sunset, moon and beer while I got to practice my Spanish, thanking him for his patience, telling him when we could speed up and how much I was looking forward to dipping my feet in a bucket of ice after my ordeal.

Lodo—a Spanish word I will never forget.

3) I took time to stop and smell the coffee

If a hike’s worth doing, it’s worth doing quickly . . . or so I used to think. Until Ometepe, walking and hiking was all about the end destination for me and I took on each walking challenge like it was a race to the finish line or summit.

However, there is nothing like sharp volcanic shale and bare skin to slow you down. Stopping every ten minutes to assess my wounds and scope out the land ahead, I got a chance to stop and smell the coffee—literally, we were walking through land that grew coffee beans.

I’ve not hiked at speed since and I’ve seen far more as a result.

Going slower, we stopped and explored our surroundings.

4) I realized the importance of keeping spirits high

“This is how people die.” It was a thought that occurred to me more than once during the descent.

We were four hours in, I had severe foot pain, untold injuries and the sun was staring to set, spelling darkness within the hour. My spirits couldn’t have been lower and a quiet threatened to settle over the group, until I told a joke.

There was barely a beginning, a botched job of a middle and a completely forgotten ending, but there was laughter nonetheless.

So I told another joke and another knowing that time passes more quickly when you’re kept from dark thoughts, and with spirits high, even the most difficult of tasks (four of us walking in a lone spotlight for the last hour) seems more possible.

Keeping spirits high was vital.

5) I pushed through my pain barrier

I used to take pain medication at the slightest hint of a headache and would spend half an hour complaining if I stubbed my toe.

But during my climb, I lost three toenails, had lacerations on my feet that lasted for weeks and suffered swelling that took days to go down.

Without any pain relief during the hike, I had to rely on my mental will power alone. I learned that I have more natural capacity for dealing with pain than I thought and that I don’t need to rush to the pain medication pack as quickly, or sometimes at all.

This volcano taught me that I have a higher pain threshold than I thought.

Have you had a challenging experience that you gained a positive experience from? Let me know in the comments below.

If you liked this article, you might also like: 7 Life Lessons I Learned Trekking the World’s Deepest Canyon.

All photos are author’s own.

Just about every region in every country has tasty cuisine specific to that area. In Germany, Bavaria is known for its schnitzel, Tandoori is the specialty in Punjab, India and quinoa is the staple of the Peruvian Andes.

The same goes for the United States, which offers varying delectable dishes depending on where you find yourself in this massive country. Though Southern regional cuisine may not be the first thing that pops into your head when you think “American food to die for,” it surprisingly offers a diverse menu that has become even more so as chefs jump onto the gourmet local-food bandwagon.

Take a tour through the food of the South via the images below, then start planning a road trip that will make your taste buds jump up and down with gratitude.

1) Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and grits is the epitome of the new Southern classic dish, which was born in the 1980s at the down-home Crook’s Corner restaurant in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Now a staple in restaurants throughout the South (and beyond), you can find different versions of this signature dish depending on where you find yourself—loaded with extras such as scallions and mushrooms in an upscale South Carolina restaurant; flavored with spiciness in Mississippi; touched with a Mexican chipotle twist and queso fresco in Texas.

Pictured is the King and Prince Resort’s, located in St. Simons Island, Georgia, award-winning version of the delectable dish, full of cream, butter and, yes, lots more cream. Take time to savor and compare notes about this satisfying dish as you travel throughout the South.

Shrimp and grits combine to Southern favorites for a delectable dish.

2) Biscuits

Flaky, buttery, covered in jelly or smothered in gravy. For the Southern version of scones, biscuits are versatile in their application: add sausage and cheese for an easy breakfast, have them with strawberry jam and tea mid-afternoon or add some bacon and cheddar in the biscuit mix as a side dish for dinner.

Many southern restaurants offer these little gems as the starting bread dish before the meal. Just be sure not to fill up on these rich appetizers or you won’t be able to eat the rest of your meal!

Biscuits, biscuits, biscuits. Slather butter on them, add some jelly, pour gravy over them or peel off layer after layer of these flaky Southern favorites.

3) Low Country Boil

What exactly is a Low Country boil you ask? Sometimes called a “seafood boil,” a National Guardsman who had to quickly cook up a meal for 100 soldiers developed this dish that includes shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes.

Low Country boils are meant to feed large groups of people, as you can see here. The table is covered in shrimp, crabs, corn and potatoes.

Now a staple at cookouts on the beach and July 4th festivals throughout the South, this one-pot meal boils all the ingredients together. Just add some seafood seasoning and if you like, a little onion, crab and butter. Don’t forget a side of cocktail sauce.

Beyond a pot and a fire, the only other materials you need are some newspaper and a picnic table to dump the contents on once cooked. Your guests can then eat to their heart’s content.

The outcome of the Low Country boil: sausage, crab, corn, potatoes and shrimp all on a picnic table.

4) Honey

Though honey was certainly not born in the Southern United States (evidence of honey harvesting dates back 8,000 years to Valencia, Spain), the sweet, slow, sticky sweetener conjures up images of hot afternoons and ice-cold beverages in the marshland.

Savannah, Georgia offers up this sweet delicacy at its Savannah Bee Company shops. Not only can you choose from a variety of honey types—tupelo, wildflower and acacia, you can also find easy pairings for your favorite foods and drinks such as cheese, teas and meat. Don’t forget the luscious body products, like hand salves and body butters.

When you are traveling through the South, try honey in place of sugar for drinks and treats.

Artisanal honey from the Savannah Bee Company. Authentic honey comes in many different flavors and pairing choices.

5) Bread Pudding

What better use could there be for stale bread than to make it into a delicious dessert? Though that is the traditional way to make bread pudding, today it is normally made with gourmet bread, along with eggs, milk or cream, sugar and raisins. A popular addition is Nilla wafers.

Bread pudding is often considered to be a soul food and can be found in barbecue restaurants throughout the Southern United States. Make it a New Orleans-style version with some pecans, brioche bread and bourbon.

Bread pudding in its gourmet form.

6) Omelettes

A lovable egg-heavy concoction that is a meal unto itself, the omelette isn’t necessarily a weekend Southern tradition. But the variety of the omelettes does allow for particular Southern influences that make it very obvious where you have landed in the country.

Palmer’s Village Cafe in St. Simons Island, Georgia offers its own Southern twist on the omelette, directly from a New York-trained chef: egg whites, smoked tomatoes, goat cheese with sweet potatoes, candied bacon and pea tendrils tossed in Georgia Olive Oil.

Other Southern versions often include lots of cheese, onion and ham.

Omelettes can come in a variety of flavors, including this Southern version with sweet potato, goat cheese, roasted tomatoes and Georgia Olive Oil.

7) Southern Wine

Sure, California is America’s wine country. It’s hard to surpass what they’ve become famous for. But with the increase in popularity of drinking nice wine over the last 10 years, other parts of the country have jumped on the wine-making bandwagon, including the South.

With the changing climate, it’s been easier to grow grapes in Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia. The wines produced in this region tend to be sweeter than the West Coast offerings and may offer flavors of different fruits.

If you enjoy wine tasting, head out to the Charlottesville area in Virginia, take a trip on the Yadkin Valley Wine Trail in North Carolina or head out to Still Pond Winery while you’re in southern Georgia.

Wineries have taken over the South, including from the Still Pond Winery in southern Georgia.

8) Moonshine

There is possibly nothing more linked to the South than the word “Moonshine.” Illegal since Prohibition, this hard liquor has often been made in bathtubs and by the “light of the moon” by Appalachian distillers.

Times have changed, and moonshine is becoming the stuff of artisans and the locavore movement, with many producers considering their offering as organic. Though they don’t have the potency of the illegal versions, some state laws have changed over recent years that allow these artisanal versions to make their way to the market.

Midnight Moon makes their flavored offerings in Madison, North Carolina, conjuring up images of the speakeasies of yesteryear. Grab a moonshine cocktail at bars and pubs throughout the South.

Head back to a time of debauchery and Prohibition with a moonshine cocktail. Here’s Midnight Moon’s version of the controversial liquor.

What are some other great Southern foods that we missed? Let me know in the comments below.

If you liked this article, you might also like: 5 Hawaiian Dishes that only the Locals Eat.

All photos are author’s own.

I’d made it. Seven years of training and I was officially qualified as a lawyer. I should have been ecstatic but all I felt was disappointment.

Client meetings, conferences and presentations provided me with more than enough to do, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. It was a feeling I endured for eight years, willing it to get better, but it didn’t.

Meanwhile, during my vacations, I tapped into something that started to fill the void: Seeing new places and exploring new cultures. Year after year I took one trip after another closer to the inevitable truth—I couldn’t be a lawyer any longer.

I threw away years of hard work in search of travel and don’t regret it for a second.

Here’s why I gave up law to travel:

1) I swapped materialism for experience

One of the things a legal career guarantees is a healthy bank balance. A premium Champagne lifestyle was mine, but the satisfaction that came with my material purchases barely lasted longer than the Visa swipe.

Conversely, staring into the inquisitive eyes of an orangutan gave me a sense of awe and inspiration that lingers even now, as does rocketing down a sand dune on a snowboard, taking my first surf lesson, eating chicken brain and making new friends around the world.

Travel has given me experiences that no material item ever could.

Looking an orangutan in the eye was more fulfilling than any material purchase.

2) I gained a perspective on life

Despite my traveling ways, I have an intrinsically bad sense of direction, which, one wandering day, took me into the midst of a residential area in Cambodia.

I was horrified at the poverty—huts made from any item that came to hand or mind, children toddling bare bottomed and shoeless adults sat on the hard dirt floor, but equally I saw a smile on every face within that community.

Seeing other cultures with less but enjoying more from life is a humbling experience. Equally, visiting countries where resources are short has taught me some good survival instincts—always shampoo first and never leave home without a flashlight.

Seeing Cambodian children with so little, but so happy is humbling.

3) I reset my body clock

I used to eat, sleep, exercise and breathe according to a schedule set by my superiors at work. My time was their time and it didn’t take long to lose any sense of what my body really wanted.

Wandering the globe has allowed me the luxury of resetting my internal clock. I rise when I’m ready (earlier than I thought), sleep when I’m tired (later than I thought), eat when I’m hungry (less frequently than I thought) and spend the time in between exercising, not in an air-conditioned gym, but in the beauty of nature.

Now, a working day can involve my laptop, a beach, snorkeling equipment and a picnic. I’m doing all of the same necessary activities, just in a different way.

Swapping an office cubicle for a beach view.

4) I revisited my dreams

We spend our childhood coming to understand our dreams and our adult life trying to forget them.

Mortgages, jobs, family and responsibilities can quickly remove the time or intention to follow our dreams. Taking a break from the norm can provide a real opportunity to reconsider what it is we want in life and how to get back on track.

With the comfort of a career break backing me up, I was able to take time out, rethink my life and pull my attention in a different direction. I always had my writer’s pen and paper on me; I just wasn’t working on the right script.

Quiet contemplation and a chance to revisit my dreams.

5) I’m living life fully

I feel like I have done a lot in my life and most of that experience has happened in the past two years.

During my legal career, I quelled my sense of adventure, diverting my energy into hard work instead. Without the constraints of an office to exhaust me, I can search out the activities that excite.

Mine isn’t a bucket list, it’s a living list. I don’t want to cram my adventures into a one last burst of life before death.

I want to live my life every day to its absolute fullest, and in a few weeks, that’s going to involve my first ever sky dive.

Mine isn’t a bucket list, it’s a living list.

Becoming a lawyer was hard. Making the decision to un-become a lawyer was even harder. But enjoying the results of my choice has been the easiest thing ever, and something I don’t regret for a second.

Have you quit your career to travel or do you dream of doing the same? Let me know in the comments below.

If you liked this article, you might also like: 15 Things I’ve Learned from 10 Years of Living and Traveling Abroad.

Main photo: Once a lawyer, now a world traveler…with no regrets.

All images are author’s own.

Last year I had the opportunity to trek Colca Canyon, located a few hours from Arequipa, Peru. The canyon plunges over 13,000 feet from peak to valley, making it twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.

Colca is widely advertised as the world’s deepest canyon, though that title is contested between Colca and its sister canyon, Cotahausi.

The trek from top to bottom and back up again with my fellow companions took one night, two days, and copious amounts of water and trail mix.

Here are the 7 life lessons I learned along the way:

1) We overestimate our needs

I thought I had packed lightly for my trek: water, snacks, flashlight, sunscreen, sunhat, hiking gear and an extra sweater for the chilly Andean nighttime air. But by the midway point of the first day, I could feel my shoulders aching under the weight of the straps.

At times, my balance was thrown off-kilter on downhill stretches and uphill climbs. I realized my hiking gear and travel accessories—the excess junk I thought I needed—was more a hindrance than a help.

Local woman carrying a large load of handcrafts for sale into town. Photo by Eoin McNamee.

2) A slower pace can help focus the mind

My mind gets easily distracted. I make mental lists of errands I need to run in the midst of a conversation or think about what to prepare for lunch when I should be focusing on work.

If I’m not multitasking, I feel like I’m not making progress, but during the trek, I found the path ahead demanded my full attention.

My thoughts slowed down to match my footsteps, and for the first time in a long time, I focused only on what was directly before me.

Focus on one step (or goal) at a time. Photo by sharon_k.

3) Setting small goals will help me reach bigger ones

Our guide, Carlitos, set a number of small trekking goals for our group to motivate us along the way: the first landmark was the bridge, then the guest house in San Juan de Chuccho where we ate lunch, then the small village of Cosñirhua, where we passed a small church and playing field before heading on to our night-time lodging.

Breaking up the trip this way made completing each leg feel like a small victory, even if the destinations were only an hour apart. Not a bad strategy to keep in mind for everyday life.

Set small goals and celebrate them. Crossing one of the bridges inside Colca Canyon. Photo by lululemon athletica.

4) It’s tempting to stay in the oasis

We spent the night at the aptly named Oasis de Sengalle. There, we ate a hefty home-cooked meal, swam in the pool, shared conversation and stargazed from our swinging hammocks.

The break was so welcomed after several hours of walking that it was hard to remember we were only halfway through the trek.

Sure enough, my alarm sounded at 4:30 the following morning, and it took several moments to convince myself that I should actually wake up. Even when I finally emerged yawning, flashlight in hand, I was very reluctant to leave the oasis for the hard climb ahead.

After hours of trekking, it was hard to leave this oasis at the bottom of the canyon. Photo by Koala:Bear.

5) The climb back up demands more strength than the descent

We walked for six hours the first day and only three the second, but the second day was much more challenging because it was completely uphill.

Looking up from the canyon’s base, I noticed a small tree and mentally set it as my halfway mark. But when we reached the tree after only an hour of climbing, I knew we still had a long way to go.

The mountain air became thinner as we reached closer to the summit of 10,000 feet, causing our group to stop every 10 minutes or so to gulp down water and catch our breath.

From each stopover, the path looked even steeper up ahead. We grew increasingly discouraged but trekked on.

Our guide Carlitos motivating us for the climb. Photo by yakalita.

6) Having a community is better than doing it alone

Each of my six companions and I took turns lagging behind or facing different obstacles throughout the trek. One girl struggled with her asthma during the uphill legs, another’s backpack dug into her spine with each step, and I couldn’t seem to eat enough bananas or trail mix to keep my energy up and my stomach from growling.

However, in each case, we were always willing to be patient and help each other out to reach the top together. Nobody surged ahead in the interest of speed or recognition.

Why does this team spirit so often seem to disappear in our daily work and personal lives? The journey is more powerful when we share—and work toward—a common goal.

Community helps to keep spirits up. Photo by Benjamin Dumas.

7) Reaching a goal is an opportunity to reflect and change perspective

One of the sacred animals of Andean mythology is the condor, the only animal believed to have access to the hanan pachu or “upper world” and to deliver messages directly to the gods.

The huge birds can be seen swooping in and out of the steep ridges of Colca Valley at a point called Cruz del Condor, just a few minutes away from the canyon itself.

When I took my final steps to the summit, I finally had the prized panoramic view of the condor, but I realized the scenery was much more powerful having seen the path up-close. Maybe that’s the real lesson the condor teaches us: sometimes we need to fly in close before we can gain perspective on the bigger picture.

Cruz del Condor, Colca Canyon. The condor symbolizes the hanan pachu or “upper world” in Andean mythologies. Photo by PearlyV.

Have you been to Colca Canyon or had another enlightening trekking experience? Let me know in the comments below.

If you liked this you might also like: 6 Things I Learned about Myself through 100 Hours of Meditation.

Main photo by Ivan Mlinaric.

“I’m going to France to live in a cave,” I declared to my friends and family. It was the heart of winter and my loved ones rolled their eyes, passing the notion off as another whimsical idea . . . until I packed up and went.

I’d spent the previous year traveling and was desperate for some solitude to focus on my writing. Courtesy of Google I discovered an exciting property nestled in a small village overlooking the Loire River in the center of France.

The peaceful Loire River, from solitude comes serenity.

It was a house fascia crafted onto a cliff face, a genuine troglodyte cave house. I stepped over the threshold and signed the lease without pause.

An interesting few months lay ahead, but I didn’t appreciate how good living in a cave was going to be for me and the new skills that I would acquire:

1) Coming to Enjoy Solitude

I thrive most when I’m surrounded by people, and being tucked away on top of a cliff, a steep and snowy walk from the village plunged me into a state of solitude.

For four long weeks, with few acquaintances in the area and the promise of friends visiting as far away as spring, I started to worry about the prospect of loneliness.

However, each day I came to enjoy my own company more: Time to read a book I’d bought months ago, listening to long forgotten music tracks and finally dedicating time to write.

I found the solitude and silence promoted peace and calm within me.

Montsoreau Chateau.

2) Learning to Cook Seasonally

For the first time in a long time I didn’t have access to good transport. The buses appeared once a week when the mood suited and a rental car was too costly.

Without access to a large supermarket I had to shop locally, which equated to the weekly farmer’s market. After my first visit, French basked loaded with goodies, I assessed my purchases: a ripe round of Camembert, a fresh baguette, a bag of mushrooms, a bunch of earth-covered carrots and a bottle of fresh apple juice.

That week’s meals were interesting, and a great lesson in planning and concocting meals from whatever was available locally and seasonally.

Understanding the local produce. Photo by Urban Hafner.

3) Understanding How to Light a Real Log Fire (and Keep it Burning)

If there’s one thing I learned about living in a cave, it is how damn cold they are.

As modern as my cave was, complete with all the modern utilities, the cave walls had a unique ability to leech away the heat. A roaring wood fire was burning when I arrived thanks to my landlord, but when I tried to replicate the same the flames the next day, all I got was a fast burning firelighter and slowly smoldering kindling.

It took weeks of persistence, blackened hands and a lot of billowing to get my first fire up to standard. It’s a skill I hope I’ll never loose.

Building a fire that will burn, not burn out. Photo by wwarby.

4) Appreciating Good Wine

Did I mention that my cave came complete with a wine cellar? And a very generous offer to help myself.

At first I was reticent to take advantage, and with many of the bottles cast in cave dust and with partially eroded labels due to age, I wasn’t sure where to begin. A short while into my stay I finally ventured into the cellar and picked a bottle at random.

It didn’t taste good; it tasted amazing. Over the next weeks I slowly sampled my way around the cellar learning the different tones of the various bottles.

Without brands and grape names to guide me, I came to rely on taste alone, broadening my willingness to experiment and find new wines.

Learning to appreciate new wines. Photo by hchalkley.

5) Meeting a Different World of People

I’d never lived in a small village before, and without my usual circle of family and friends, I was forced to meet new people.

Necessities determined the first people I met—the butcher who came to know my preferred cut of beef, the baker who would put aside a baguette for me each day, the man in the bar who knew how to brew up fiercely strong coffee.

My generous landlords introduced me to their friends, and I spent a wonderful evening dwelling in the cave of a once famous illustrator who had a penchant for small-scale Sherlock Holmes sets.

These were people I would seldom meet in a city, lives I would never have come to understood and people whom I was delighted to have met.

Meeting people from every walk of life at the local flea market. Photo by photos-chinon.cite-creative.

When I packed up and left the cave that had been my home for three months, I was sad to say good-bye, but with a myriad of new skills, I knew that it had been a short time well spent.

Have you spent a lot of time in solitude? What skills or life lessons did you learn? Let me know in the comments below.

If you liked this article, you might also like: 6 Things I Learned about Myself through 100 Hours of Meditation.

Main photo: maison troglodyte by nicolas.boullosa.

Think of the United States and food, and it doesn’t take long to conjure up images of cheeseburgers and fries, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chili dogs. However, while Hawaii is the 50th state, its unique location in a part of the Pacific Ocean known as Polynesia, a relative stone’s throw from Asia, the cuisine of the Hawaiian islands have a distinct identity.

That’s not to say the U.S. mainland staples are not on the menu, they are, and many vacationers happily graze their way through the tastes of home on their trip to the islands.

However, if you want to get closer to the foods that fill the plates of the locals, make sure you try these 5 Hawaiian dishes:

1) Loco Moco

Sticky rice is an island staple that is usually served in two scoops and forms the basis for most local dishes, including the hugely popular loco moco.

Start with rice, add a hamburger patty, drown it in brown gravy and top with two fried eggs (over easy is best) and get set for a flavor combination that shouldn’t work in principle but strangely does.

It takes some getting used to watching vivid yellow yolk tumble over brown-gravy-soaked rice, but don’t let that put you off. Eat it once and crave it forever.

This dish is particularly popular post surf.

Eggs and gravy? Loco moco is particularly popular with surfers. Photo by Tavallai.

2) Kalua Pig

Salt and smoke are what make kalua pig so distinctly tasty. This dish is traditionally served at a luau, a Hawaiian party that comprises a feast and entertainment, but the dish is widely available in restaurants and street food stalls, as well.

Kalua means to cook in an underground oven, and that is the traditional method that creates the distinct taste. Oven roasting is now more practical and common, but no less tasty.

Try it served with cabbage and expect the usual two scoops of sticky rice.

Smoky and salty kalua pig is a luau favorite dish. Photo by www.bluewaikiki.com.

3) Spam Musubi

Spam (pork and ham from a can for those not in the know) is a wartime staple that lives on in the Hawaiian islands where it is so popular that several million cans are consumed each year. A popular way to get your Spam fix in Hawaii is to eat it on the go.

Find a convenience store and you should easily come by a shelf of Spam Musubi. This playful take on sushi comprises a fried slice of Spam placed over a mound of sticky rice bound together by a strip of nori seaweed.

Even if Spam isn’t your thing, try it at least once for the experience.

Playful Spam musubi should be tried at least once. Photo by bandita.

4) Poke

Fresh fish is both widely available and magnificent throughout Hawaii, as you might expect from a location surrounded by so much ocean.

Poke takes advantage of the catch of the day and is one of the best dishes to try while in Hawaii. Made from raw fish that is marinated in soy sauce, chili peppers, green onions, seaweed and oil, the freshness of the ocean is captured in all its fishy finery.

Seek out poke made with ahi tuna (yellowfin) and don’t forget to crack open a chilled bottle of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer for the perfect accompaniment.

Poke makes the most of the island’s fresh fish. Photo by torus.

5) Malasadas

The Portuguese can be thanked for bringing this sweet treat to Hawaii. These sugar-coated donuts are a small bite of heaven, particularly when stuffed with the flavors of the islands.

Fruit centers from mango to papaya are delicious but it’s hard to beat the coconut cream. If you visit Hawaii for Fat Tuesday, also known as Malasadas Day, expect to see these donuts consumed in significant quantities as people deep fry their excess lard and sugar before Lent.

Delicious malasadas—try them with coconut. Photo by blueant808.

Hawaii is a place where American and Asian cuisines blend, so get set for cuisine where anything goes and always expect a serving of macaroni salad on the side.

Have you tried Hawaiian cuisine? Do you have a favorite dish? Let me know in the comments below.

If you liked this article, you might also like: Hiking Hawaii’s Most Explosive Volcano.

Main photo: Digging up dinner—kalua pig at a luau. Photo by akeg.

Health treatments from around the globe vary from the mundane to the extreme, as different cultures look at health and well-being from very different angles.

While an American might think it’s strange that someone in Malaysia would stick their head in a fish aquarium so the fish could nibble off dead skin, a Malaysian might think it odd that Americans take 10 nondescript white pills a day in order to stay healthy.

Nonetheless, there are certain treatments that seem to go above and beyond what is considered normal by anyone. Yet these are the therapies that quickly become popular, probably due in part to their weirdness and eccentricities.

Here are 6 of the most bizarre health treatments around the world. Have you tried any of them?

1) Snake Massage, Carnivorous Plant Farm and Spa, Israel

Ever wanted to feel a slithering, smooth and slightly slimy thing crawling across your back? Probably not.

But if you have, you are in luck. Ada Barak’s Carnivorous Plant Farm and Spa in Talmei Elazar, Israel, offers to fulfill the dream of having a half dozen snakes squirm around your entire body, giving you the ultimate massage.

Don’t worry, Ada sits by as the snakes do their thing, not only on your back, but across your legs, arms and yes, even your face. The snakes are non-venemous, of course, and previous clients claim they help with everything from sore muscles to migraines.

Here’s to hoping they’ve fully digested their last meal before they get back to their massage job.

Enjoy those snakes slithering around on your back as you gently fall asleep.

2) Bull Semen Hair Treatment, London

You read that right. An upscale hair salon in London offers a deep-conditioning hair treatment that originates from possibly the scariest of places—a bull’s testicles.

Hari’s in Knightsbridge, London, provides “thoroughbred” semen from Aberdeen Angus bulls by way of a farm in Cheshire. Because of its high protein content, the semen is believed to help thicken and soften your hair while making it extra shiny.

We’ll just stick to the synthetic version, thank you very much.

Can he help you improve your lackluster locks? Photo by Just a Prairie Boy.

3) Placenta Facial, California

Have you been battling acne for most of your life? Well, the placenta facial may be just what you have been looking for. At least according to proponents of this sometimes-sheep and sometimes-human based treatment for the skin.

Apparently due to all of the nutrients in the placenta, including vitamins, minerals and amino acids, placenta facials can help heal a variety of skin issues, from acne to psoriasis to rosacea.

In Beverly Hills, Dr. Harold Lancer is known to give the placenta facial to some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. But placentas aren’t just for facials anymore. Several Dutch soccer players have been known to use a horse’s placenta to help treat their torn ankle ligaments.

Have problem skin? Maybe you need a placenta facial. Photo by B.G.P.

4) Dolphin Therapy, Lima, Peru

If it’s an option, many people who travel to tropical getaways choose to swim with dolphins. There’s just something about these sweet-seeming creatures, with their puckered lips and graceful dives.

But some believe that hanging out with dolphins can go beyond a simple, “ahhh….” and into therapeutic territory.

One-on-one dolphin therapy can take place in marine parks and can be used for speech, occupational or physical therapy, particularly with children.

It’s also being used by some pregnant women at the Hotel Los Delfines in Lima, Peru. The expectant mother hangs out with the dolphins, they nudge her pregnant belly, and they emit a high-frequency sound that is said to stimulate the baby’s brain.

Though the babies often respond through increased heartbeat and moving around in the mother’s stomach, studies are inconclusive as to whether or not they are actually doing any good, or if the babies are just reacting to sound.

Can dolphins help heal children with disabilities or help the development of a fetus in a pregnant woman? Photo by tolomea.

5) Beer Spa, Germany, Austria and Czech Republic

So there’s health benefits to soaking in a tub of beer? At least the owners of beer spas like to think so.

Naturally most beer spas can easily be found in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, all well-known for their love of beer.

Supposedly, it is the plethora of B vitamins and yeast in the beer that provides health benefits, particularly for the skin. Whether or not the relaxation comes from soaking in beer or the pints of beer often offered during the soak, remains to be seen.

In Germany, check out the Hotel Brauerei-Gasthof in Nesselwang, or in Austria, you can get sudsy at the Moorhof Hotel and Spa in Franking, Austria. If you are in the Czech Republic, there’s the Right Beer Spa at Chodovar in Chodova Plana.

The best way to get healthy! Photo by Moorhof.

6) Chocolate Spa, Hershey, Pennsylvania

This is one health treatment that more than a few of you are bound to get behind. It’s a spa—filled with chocolate.

Soak in a whipped cocoa bath, have a warm chocolate fondue wrap and partake in an edible dark chocolate face mask as part of your slightly pricey experience at the Hotel Hershey Spa in, you guessed it, Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Not a chocolate fan? Don’t worry, the spa also offers a Cuban Experience, which includes mojito sugar scrubs, seaweed soak and Cuban coffee wrap.

What are the purported benefits of chocolate? Beyond the yummy flavor and decadence aspect, it is high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Feasibly, it could help soften the skin. Beyond that, true health benefits have yet to be determined.

Bask in the glove of a chocolate massage. Photo by The Spa at the Hotel Hershey.

What are some of the weird beauty treatments from around the world that you’ve had? Let me know in the comments below.

If you liked this article, you might also like: 7 Bizarre Bars around the World.

Main photo: There are more than a few odd health treatments throughout the world by O-BeaR-O.