All photos: Lauren Quinn

THIS IS HOW Lauren, aka laurenq, defends her status as Matador’s destination expert on San Francisco:

Exhibit A: I was 17 before I learned that people outside of the Bay Area don’t say “hella.”
Exhibit B: I can tell you how to get anywhere in the Bay Area on public transit.
Exhibit C: I know which taquerias have the best burritos.
Exhibit D: I spent my high school Halloweens partying with drag queens in the Castro.
Exhibit E: I wouldn’t live anywhere else in the United States.
Exhibit F: As Matador’s SF Expert, I can now say “I represent the Yay Area” with no irony whatsoever.

We didn’t really need convincing, though. Matador was happy to add her to our crew of international destination experts after working with her to produce content for several Matador Network sites. Check out some of her work below:

Día de los Muertos: 5 Places to Celebrate
5 Destinations for the Tattooed Traveler
Who Defines Dangerous: Should Travelers Pay the Cost of Their Rescues?
5 Views of a Lesser-Known Morocco
My Hometown in 500 words: Oakland, CA
[Note: "My Hometown in 500 Words" is one of many assignment prompts given to the students of MatadorU, Matador's travel writing course.]

Just a couple weeks ago, Trips published Lauren’s What NOT to Do in San Francisco, a guide to avoidable Bay Area attractions (and behaviors) and what you should do instead.

There’s a lot of solid tips in there for visitors, but if you have other specific questions you’d like answered, you can connect with Lauren directly. Sign into your account (if you don’t have one, joining the Matador community is super easy), click over to laurenq’s profile, and send her a message.

And definitely make sure to check out her personal blog, Lonely Girl Travels.

Community Connection

Matador wants to fill the world with experts. If you’re interested in joining up, shoot me an email at hal@matadornetwork.com.

All photos: SophieR

GUIDEBOOKS MISS so much about a destination because, like you, guidebook writers are travelers, just passing through. So a conversation with a local can be worth an entire chapter of your Lonely Planet — if not the whole thing.

If Oslo is your destination, Anne-Sophie Redisch is your local. Known within the Matador community as SophieR, she’s a pro at laying out, in her words:

all the great things in the world’s most expensive city that are cheap and even free.

She did so recently in the popular Trips post What NOT to Do in Norway, helping steer visitors around amateur tourist mistakes. And then there are her insightful Matador personal blogs, including My hometown in 500 words*, a narrative examination of a nude sculpture park in Oslo.

• * This is an assignment prompt from Matador’s travel writing course, MatadorU.

Sophie blogs at Sophie’s World, and she’s also NileGuide’s Oslo expert.

Troll’s Ladder, Norway

Here’s some more about Sophie, taken from her Matador profile:

Favorite places I’ve been: Nepal, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Egypt, Mozambique, Oman, Jordan, The Azores, Ireland, Wales, Cuba and China’s Fujian province, Svalbard
I’m fired up on: Exploring new lands. There’s nothing quite like hopping off a train in an unknown city, preferably early in the morning, watching it wake up.
Why I travel: Searching for … something. Not sure what. I’ve been to more than 100 countries, and I still don’t know what I’m searching for. Differences, maybe? But somehow, the more I see, the more people I meet, the most striking discovery is how alike we all are.

Even if you’re not headed to Scandinavia, Sophie might be a good resource for you. She often travels with her two young daughters and is happy to offer advice on Travel with Kids. Visit her profile to connect.

Community Connection

Are you an expert on a particular slice of Earth? Join the Matador community, and then send me an email at hal@matadornetwork.com to tell me why you deserve the title of Matador destination expert.

Photos: bearshapedsphere

Eileen Smith, known quirkily around the Matador community as bearshapedsphere, is a native Brooklynite who now calls Santiago de Chile home. Or would that be “hogar”?

Either way, Eileen’s our resident expert on this long, skinny, kinda funny-looking nation. Chances are you already know her, since she’s been working in community outreach at MatadorTravel for several months now. She’s even been giving me a hand here at Trips while Carlo’s away. That’s one busy lady!

Here’s some more about Eileen, from her Matador profile:

I’m fired up on: Biking distances short and long, finding the perfect ingredients and cooking for myself and friends, language acquisition, travel writing, dispensing (mostly useful) advice, walking too far for mere mortals, lying on the ground taking pictures, watching skateboarders and other extreme athletes and hoping to not see anyone get injured.

[Editor's note: Super jealousy alert -- she's off to cycle New Zealand's South Island next month!]

Why I travel: To engage my five senses, to become honest with myself, to reduce myself to the three true needs (food/drink, sleep, bathroom), to lose contact with mirrors, appearance, egotistical trappings of home.

Languages spoken, other than English: Spanish, Chilean (it’s a joke, but kind of true)

I want to make a difference by: showing generosity in the face of adversity, and encouraging others to pay it forward.

We’ve already featured some of Eileen’s sage advice in the post What NOT to Do in Chile. If you need more, all you have to do is ask:

If you’re dying to know how to get here, what to do, how it works being an expat, etc, I can answer questions. There’s still more to see, but I’ve been to the way north and the far south, and lots of places in between, and a whole bunch of it on two wheels. Ask away!

Also, make sure to check out her blog, Bearshapedsphere: Quirk. Perspective. Travel.

Community Connection

Are you an expert on the area where you live? Drop me an email at hal@matadornetwork.com to find out how to become a Matador destination expert.

All photos: nineroots

THOUGH NOT BORN or bred in Alaska, Matador member nineroots spent several years in this vast, unknown chunk of America, both on the “road system” and in “the bush.”

I moved up to Alaska on a whim that lasted six years. I quickly fell in love with the simple, back-to-the-land, lifestyle that is inherent in such an extreme climate.

For a few years, I lived…in the amazing community of Talkeetna, known for it’s river rafting, history, bluegrass festival and for being a jumping off point for climbers to Denali. In a struggle to stay employed year round, I moved out to…a fly-in Athabascan village on the Yukon River called Galena for a couple more years.

This is where I discovered the true Alaska.

A writer, teacher, mentor, and part-time ebayer, nineroots (and her husband and daughter) has cracked the code to flexible living, enjoying the freedom to travel when and how she likes. You could call it the Matador vision.

She’s also happy to share what she’s learned about the Last Frontier with anyone heading that way.

I can give info for almost all areas on the road system including the Alaska Marine Highway in Southeast Alaska and on some of the Interior such as Fairbanks and Yukon River villages.

Each bush village is unique and expensive and difficult to reach; I haven’t been to most of them, but I’ve known someone from most of them.

Connecting with nineroots — to pose a question or just say hey — is easy. Log in to your Matador profile (don’t have one yet? sign up), visit her profile page, and send a private message.

Community Connection

If you have a destination, chances are Matador has an expert. You can browse the full list, or see some of those who’ve been featured here at Trips.

Photo: Jason Rezaian

One of the funnest things about editing Trips in 2009 has been connecting with destination experts from the Matador community. Nearly every week, we’ve introduced an expert on a different city, region, or country around the world.

Here’s a random, geographically diverse selection of five of them:

1. The Philippines – MichaLola

“Her goal as the Philippine travel expert is to shed light on her diverse, dynamic, and intriguing homeland made up of 7,107 islands. She aims to dispel the inaccurate stereotypes that have been attached to this nation and would be more than happy to provide tips, suggestions, and answer your every query and travel concern regarding the Philippines.”

2. Iran – Jason Rezaian

“I’m fortunate enough to be one of very few Americans able to travel freely to Iran. With that country dominating the headlines once again, there are so many misconceptions swirling around about it. I’d love to help clear some of them up. I assist journalists as well as private citizens in their travel plans for Iran, and I would love to answer any questions you may have.”

3. Antarctica – rico nico

“I’m flattering myself with the title of “expert,” but if anyone is curious about how you can get to Antarctica and be PAID for it, I’m happy to provide some useful suggestions.”

Photo: El Lobo

4. Spain – El Lobo

“Southern Spain, called Andalucía, is my specialty, as I guide cultural walking tours every summer in Sevilla, Granada, Córdoba, and the Alpujarras. I’ve lived, studied, worked, and traveled extensively in Galicia, Cataluña, Extremadura, Madrid, and the Cantabrian coast. I also spent two years living in Sevilla and Granada.”

5. Kenya – jonnyontheroad

“I lived in Kenya for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer and traveled just about everywhere in the country. If you’re looking for trip or service ideas, let me know.”

Recently, in order to leverage the knowledge of our experts to an even greater extent, Trips began posting guides on “What NOT to Do” in various destinations. This series gives destination experts a chance to get candid, outlining the avoidable attractions in their region — and what to do instead.

Photo: ajari

1. What NOT to Do in Japan

Turner Wright advises you to stay out of the pachinko parlors.

2. What NOT to Do in Paris

The view from the Eiffel Tower isn’t worth the climb, according to Matt Scott.

3. What NOT to Do in Chile

Eileen Smith lays out which Santiago-based wine tours are good to go.

4. What NOT to Do in Egypt

Nick Rowlands explains how John Wayne, legs, and camel farts might fit into your Egypt itinerary.

5. What NOT to Do in Guadeloupe

If you’re headed to this virtually unknown Caribbean archipelago, Anna Brones has the info you need.

Community Connection

Matador’s destination experts are just one resource in our vibrant travel community. Sign up today and discover the rest.

All photos: ethekwinigirl

2010 is almost here, and that means only six months to go till World Cup South Africa. A local’s advice could prove invaluable when you’re planning your visit. I mean, did you know you might have to be on the lookout for brazen baboons in Cape Town?

Good thing that Karen, known in the Matador community as ethekwinigirl, is as local as they come:

I live in Durban on the East Coast of South Africa. Every morning I watch the sun rise over the Indian Ocean. I have lived here in South Africa all my life and have travelled across the country, through all the game parks in KwaZulu-Natal, and spent many holidays in Kruger. I’ve been to the Cradle of Humankind and the Cango and Sterkfontein Caves.

I’ve climbed in the Drakensberg and enjoyed all four seasons in the beautiful Eastern Freestate. Seen Rock paintings by the San people; explored the winelands in the Cape; enjoyed the warm ocean on the Transkei coast.

As a writer, translator, and photographer, Karen makes a living producing content on her home country. She’s even written speeches for local politicians in Durban. Check out Why should you Travel in Africa? and visit her website and suite101 page to learn more about her work — including the upcoming publication of her South Africa-based crime fiction novel.

Karen’s written for Matador as well, sharing travel tips on her hometown in Durban, South Africa’s Playground. Here’s some more from her Matador community profile:

About me: I write for a living and I really enjoy what I do. I also enjoy taking photographs and travelling when I can afford it. I feel priviledged to be living in South Africa during this time of transformation.
I’m fired up on: I love wandering around strange cities and towns; sitting at pavement cafes with a book or a newspaper (or my laptop) and just absorbing the newness and differentness.
Why I travel: Maybe I like the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen next; the looking at everything through new eyes; the totally different sensory stimulation. I guess I live much more consciously when I travel and because it is all so different from home, it frees my head and cleans it out.

Do you have questions for Karen? Asking is easy. Just create your own Matador profile, visit hers, and send a private message.

Community Connection

Have you discovered Matador Sports? Get your stoke up for the World Cup with these titles:

World Cup Team Profile: United States

World Cup Preview: North Korea vs. South Korea

Who Will Survive ‘O Grupo da Morte’?

Thierry Henry Foul Gets ‘Heavy-Handed’ Reaction

Photos: pranaforce

A Matador community member since the early days, pranaforce is our resident go-to for all things Thailand. In his own words:

I’ve been known to take off to Thailand quite a bit, though I don’t feel like an expert in my knowledge of the land of Thai’s I do feel I’ve experienced enough to give ya’ll a pretty cool perspective of where to go depending on what you’re looking to do/experience for yourself.

Diving, trekking, climbing, yoga, meditation, food, shopping, clubbing, fun scenes from downtown BKK to isolated islands with other truth seekers on the path. Let me know if I can help and I’ll do my best to assist in anyway I can. Be well~

Here’s a little more about pranaforce:

About me: Gangsta sums it up!
I’m fired up on: Punjabi, the suns energy, oceanic endeavors, punjabi.. oh and yoga; )
Why I travel: To learn as much as I can.. and teach all that I learn
Let’s collaborate: and listen!

To read more, or to pose your questions about the land of smiles, join the community and visit pranaforce’s Matador profile.

Community Connection

Matador has so much good content on Thailand. I could list my favorites, but why don’t you just check out our Thailand Focus page and choose your own?

All photos: Mei-Ling McNamara

Each of the Matador community’s more than 10,000 members is well-traveled, whether in body or soul. But some of them really get around.

Meet Mei-Ling McNamara.

Currently based in London, she’s worked as a volunteer on projects in Thailand. At present, she’s researching a new travel guide to Senegal.

And she also happens to be our destination expert on Madagascar:

I lived in Southern Madagascar for over three years (2003-2006), working primarily in radio development and travel guidebook writing. Any queries relating to travel or volunteer work in Madagascar can be answered as best as possible!

Here’s a bit more about Mei-Ling, which you can also find on her community profile:

About me: My Chinese mother and Irish father are the opposing, complementary forces that harmonize my life. I believe that every experience, and how you react to it, changes and creates who you are, bringing a distinct energy to the world.

I’m fired up on: Local projects that empower communities; writing that snares an elusive, fleeting moment; waking to the desert at dawn; watching the Sahara at dusk; seeing the faces of my family and friends after a long journey; arriving in a new place with no plans and a wide, open mind.

I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when: I rode on a bush taxi with eighty people across Madagascar for 72 hours non-stop. No sleep, no real food, and a lot of Celine Dion blasting out of two broken speakers. Our truck overturned into a ravine once, and we had to crawl out of the window.

Most recently, Mei-Ling was announced as the winner of Matador’s Discover Dominica contest, scoring a trip for two to the untouched Caribbean island of Dominica.

She’s also written for us, producing articles like:

10 Tips For Safe Travel as a Single Woman

Tips for staying healthy while volunteering abroad

A passion for people: Owen Beaton and The Tandroy Conservation Trust

Hands of the Child: the Diola Drummers of Casamance

I could go on. But all you need to know is this: If you have questions on Madagascar you’d like answered, you know who to ask. Help is just a click and a private message away.

Community Connection

Curious about a different destination? Chances are we have an expert for you. Find them here.

If any of those are on your mind, or if you have others, make sure you drop her a line.

Felicia says she is most liberated, happy, and in her element when she’s out there, on the road. She dislikes tour groups and counts being invited to a prayer session and lunch with a Tibetan family as one of her most memorable travel experiences.

More on Felicia:

Quote: The daily humdrum is mere existence. Travel is LIFE. — Me.

Tunes I rock out to: I love Latino rhythms, and have been wanting to learn the salsa since forever. Jazz, blues, big band, Broadway, acoustic, alternative, reggae, world… I have everything from Aerosmith to Youssou N’Dour on my iPod, and lots more in between – including Thai pop songs and African drum beats.

Languages spoken, other than English: French, Chinese: Mandarin, Cantonese

Who I’d like to meet on my travels: Anyone and everyone. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, it adds to the experience.

In Felicia’s opinion, “traveling is the best form of education – it taught me resourcefulness, resilience, courage, self-discovery and encouraged the broadening of my mind to consider new perspectives and possibilities.

Photo: lamaK

It has taught me that diversity is a way of life, and there should not be room for discrimination in this globalised world today.”

To get in touch with her, visit her Matador profile. Don’t be shy, add her to your network and fire questions her way.

If you’d like to read about some of her travels, check out her blog at Travelpod, The Americas 2008: Rob & Felicia on a llama-eating sojourn.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Felicia shares some tips on penny pinching in her article Singapore on a Shoestring Budget.

And she’s also authored the very popular 10 Steps to Becoming Fluent in a Language in 6 Months or Less.

Photos: smalldogonthego

Travel journalist and videographer Allison, a.k.a. smalldogonthego, has a history with the Dominican Republic going back to 2001, when she lived on the island while working on a baseball documentary.

She hasn’t been able to let go since:

I’m currently involved with a children’s non-profit…and have made a number of trips into the countryside and all over the island.

My areas of expertise would probably be Dominican baseball, Dominican food, the history of the country, getting off the beaten path, good shopping, and larimar (my favorite stone, found only in the Dominican Republic!).

Here’s a little more about this week’s featured expert:

About me: My travel essentials: yoga pants, hiking boots, running shoes, my video camera and my dog.
Languages spoken, other than English: Spanish, Italian.
I’m fired up on: adventure travel, filmmaking, yoga, running, volunteer tourism, my dog, the American Southwest, writing, working for The Travel Channel and doing what I love most!
Why I travel: because the world becomes my classroom

Visit Allison’s Matador profile to find out what you need to know before visiting the DR, or maybe just to ask about “running in the 7th inning sausage race at Milwaukee’s Miller Park dressed as a Bavarian sausage.”

Community Connection

Matador’s destination experts are just one facet of our vibrant travel community. Join today at matadortravel.com.

Photos: Travelflare

Long-time Toronto resident Lusine, known within the Matador community as Travelflare, is eager to help visitors to her city make the most of the experience.

Here’s her take on Canada’s largest metropolis:

Although this has been my home for the past 11 years, I am still finding new places and learning new things. Toronto offers great international cuisine, numerous festivals all year long, live international music, nightlife and peaceful natural parks.

Being a multicultural city, Toronto compliments perfectly my personality and background, hence I have expertise in cultural festivals, concerts, restaurants, nightclubs and touristic attractions. Ask me anything you’d like, if I am not familiar with it, I will try to ask around and find an answer.

When she’s not fielding traveler’s questions on Toronto, Lusine is busy working as a travel agent and as editor of a sweet online travel mag, The Compass, which focuses on culture and experience of place (definitely worth a look!).

She also keeps up her personal blog, Travelflare, when she can.

And on top of all that, she’s blogged about Toronto’s nightlife, Asian cuisine, and its ubiquitous hot dogs right here on Matador.

Obviously, the girl knows her stuff. Visit her Matador profile to connect.

Community Connection

Calling all experts!

If you think you’ve got what it takes to become a destination expert for Matador, read this forum post to find out more, or contact Trips co-editor Hal Amen directly at hal[at]matadornetwork[dot]com.

All photos: phishtopher

Long-time Matador member phishtopher, like many travelers, has a passion for things Tibetan.

But unlike most others, he’s chosen to commit several years of his life to understanding this flashpoint region firsthand, using his graduate studies to investigate “issues involving identity, memory, narratives, exile, and the ways in which Tibetans adapt to life in cities.”

Here’s a little more, in Ryan’s own words:

I have traveled many places in China, but most of my time is spent in the Tibetan west–Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Yunnan–and Xizang provinces. I often find myself staying with nomads on the grasslands and in mountain villages for research.

These places, regardless of whether they fall within the Tibetan Autonomous Region, are my favorites, as they offer the most unadulterated look at Tibetan culture available.

More on phishtopher can be found in his Matador profile, such as these tidbits:

Why I travel: to enjoy the creation of God, and to meet new people
Before I die I’d like to: set my heels to every nation’s soil and raise children who make a difference in the world
Let’s collaborate: i’m an anthropologist looking to travel, research and write about people. really i am an aspiring renaissance man, so if you need anyone trying to be too many things at once, that’s me.

To collaborate, inquire, or simply converse, click over to his profile page and leave a comment or shoot him a private message.

Community Connection

For more resources on Tibet, start off with Volunteering Opportunities in the Tibetan Community of McLeod Ganj, India and Student Travel in Tibet.

Photo: Matt Scott

I won’t waste your time talking up Paris. You know it’s cool, hip, and romantic. You know the sites to see.

Or do you?

Sure, you’ve got the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and the Arc de Triomf engraved into your itinerary, but what about the real Paris?

Matt is a Matador veteran. He’s penned some hugely popular articles such as 10 Volunteer Opportunities for Free Travel and The 10 Most Spectacular Train Journeys in the World.

Besides writing and photography, he also guides tourists around the city of love. So there is no question about it: Matt knows Paris.

More on Matt:

Favorite places I’ve been: Too many to mention but some highlights: India, Nepal, Indonesia, New Zealand, West Coast USA and Alaska – all have stunning scenery.

I’m fired up on: Food, from all over the world- my breakfast is almost as important to me as what I’m planning to see that day.

Travel style: Just me and my backpack (It’s also nice to have my girlfriend along too) and to really immerse myslef in a culture and place.

Ideal place to watch the sunrise: Waking up where you’ve just watched the sunset.

If you’re shy and aren’t quite ready to ask Matt your questions, he’s also written three Matador guides for Paris, so you can check if the answers are here: Free City Tours in Paris, 48 Hours in Paris, and How to Save Money in Paris.

To contact Matt, visit his profile and send him a message.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

In addition to Matt’s guides above, Matador has published numerous articles on visiting and living in Paris. Just type in “Paris” in the Search bar at the top right of the page and browse around.

We’ve also got you covered all over the globe. Make sure to check out previously featured members at our Destination Experts page.

In my favorite bar in Spain (Capileira) / All photos: El Lobo

If you’ve ever heard of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, you know taking on Spain with two feet can be a profound experience. But this popular trek isn’t the only walking opportunity the country affords.

Just ask Matador’s destination expert for Spain, El Lobo.

Arabesque in Andalucia

For the past 11 years, he’s been leading “cultural walking tours” through Andalucia (southern Spain) during the summer.

It’s a sweet gig, says El Lobo, because it lets him “get back there once a year to drink in the culture, which is seductive, intoxicating, and vibrant.”

To find out more about the tours, visit the website for Olé Spain.

And here’s some more about this week’s expert:

I’m fired up on: writing, drawing, flamenco, bullfights, traveling with my wife and kids, hoops, las playas de España
Why I travel: It’s a rush. The people are so kind. New beverages to imbibe. The heat.
About me: I am also always on the lookout for a standout Spanish basketball player, as I also teach Spanish and coach the varsity basketball team back home in Charm City.

What can El Lobo do for you? All you have to do is ask. As he says,

I’m eager to help travelers who have questions about Spain.

So what are you waiting for? Get on over to his Matador profile and fire away!

Community Connection

Don’t let your Matador destination experts go to waste. They’re here for you — take advantage!

Photos: Jason Rezaian

Ever had a travel question you wanted answered about Iran? This is your lucky day. Long-time Matador member Jason Rezaian happens to be our destination expert on the country, and he comes to us well qualified.

In his own words:

I assist journalists as well as private citizens in their travel plans for Iran, and I would love to answer any questions you may have.

How’s that for an invitation?

Here’s a little more about this week’s expert:

Favorite places I’ve been: Esfahan, Iran. Bangkok. New York City. Musee Rodin, Paris. Havana.
Languages spoken, other than English: Farsi and Spanish
I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when: Getting my drycleaning done in Tehran.

Jason has shared his experiences here on Matador in the article A Common Language: Discovering Baseball in Iran, and he blogs about expat life in the country for the San Francisco Chronicle website.

He’s also writer and executive producer of a documentary titled “A World Between.”

Got questions? All you have to do is click over to Jason’s Matador profile and send him a message.

For more on his professional services, visit Iran Media Service.

Community Connection

Don’t forget, we’re always looking to expand our roster of destination experts. If you think you’ve got what it takes, read this forum post about how to apply.

All photos: joshywashington

Josh Johnson (aka joshywashington) is a man of many talents.

In addition to being a contributing editor at the Traveler’s Notebook — where he’s recently wowed us with his video, mountain photography, and watercolor skills — he fills his downtime by fielding travelers’ questions as our destination expert on Saigon.

Hearing him talk about the heart of southern Vietnam is enough to make you start browsing airfare:

Crossed the border from Cambodia at Chao Dok five months ago and have managed to infiltrate Saigon. I teach and even now still wander around this blessed city in awe. The Vietnamese people are some of the friendliest, proudest, most resourceful people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. It has been a blast.

And you definitely don’t want to miss All Aboard!, his tale of rice wine and jolly fishermen off the coast of Hoi An.

Here’s some more about Josh:

About me: I love to write, read, blog, shoot video, photograph, converse, and create. I want to establish a global community with the aim of gleaning knowledge from each other, supporting each other in our endeavors. I want ours to be the generation that turns this thing around. VivA I can see it! Victory!

Travel style: Seat O my britches kinda travel! I’ve suffered from ill preparation at times but no matter where I find myself I’m always glad to be there. Have only had the pleasure of sleeping on the street 4 times. That kinda travel.

Let’s collaborate: I want to create videos for webtv, Travel with a small crew and pitch our material. I want to host podcasts from around the globe. I want to write, film and go, go, go! Drop me a line if traveling and filming sounds good.

Josh also wants you to know that if you’re on the search for info about Saigon, he’s your guy. All you need to do is click over to his Matador profile and get in touch.

And make sure to check out his media company, Confluence Creative Media, dedicated to “the collaboration of creative energy, worldwide.”

Community Connection

Haven’t heard of Matador’s destination experts? Where’ve you been!? See who’s already been featured on Trips by clicking the “destination experts” tag below, or browse the entire lineup here.

Photo: EElisam

Berlin is big. Really big. And it’s kind of all over the map, so to speak. So it’s certainly not a knock to the pride to look for some advice when visiting.

The sprawling city is well serviced by public transportation, and each time you exit your station it’s almost like you’re in another city. With all that diversity and more history and sights than you can shake a stick at, Matador destination expert for Berlin, EElisam, can point you in the right directions.

She lists Costa Rica, Canada, Jamaica, and Turkey as some of her favourite countries she’s visited, and looks forward to the day when she travels to Japan, Finland, Mongolia, and Hawaii (among others).

More on EElisam:

About me: Crazy, life loving, chilled out and definitely always curious about seeing new spots in this world! Love to meet new people, exchange travel experiences and plan future trips. Ready to take more pictures, learn new languages and experience interesting things every day.

I’m fired up on: meeting up with friends all over the world… drinking Vodka in Russia… eating the best food in Italy… dancing non stop in London… having unforgettable parties in San Francisco…

…learing Spanish in Costa Rica… Shopping in New York… Chilling in Tel Aviv… getting fired up on EVERYTHING that is happening by travelling!!!

Quote: The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine

I want to make a difference by: By creating a large community of creative, well traveled, ambitious, and passionate people who love to live and live to love.

To get in touch with EElisam, visit her Matador profile and send her a private message.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If, for some bizarre reason, you’re still not a Matador member, sign up immediately! And join the best community of travelers, writers, and photographers this side of the Internet.

As Michaela Lola reports, you don’t need a case full of Euros to enjoy Berlin. Berlin on the Cheap will show you how to have a blast without breaking the bank.

Photos: Mr. Balkan

Who better than a professional tour guide to direct your questions to? Mr. Balkan is Matador’s destination expert for Croatia, and chances are he can hook you up with info on the rest of the Balkans as well.

Here’s a little more on this week’s expert:

Languages spoken, other than English: Croatian, Russian, Slovenian, German, Italian.

Sports I do: basketball, soccer, running…

Places I want to go to: Kazakhstan and the Bermuda triangle.

Quote: vsjak svoego schastja kuznjec

Who I’d like to meet on my travels: Michael Palin

To read more about Mr. Balkan, send him your questions, and join his travel network, just click over to his Matador profile.

Community Connection

Whoever you are and wherever you’re going, Matador has a destination expert for you. To see more featured experts here on Trips, click the “destination expert” tag below. Or, browse the entire roster here. Don’t be shy — get your questions answered today!

Parc du Mont-Megantic, Quebec

As a Canadian, I find it pretty sad that this part of the world is just as unknown and foreign to me as Africa or Antarctica (apart from the national love of hockey and beer, that is), so I just might be taking up my own advice and reaching out to Eva for some tips on the eastern end of the Great White North.

Eva has an MA in History and her writing on topics as diverse as travel, indie movies, music and books can be found in a number of Canadian publications, World Hum, Not Coming to a Theater Near You, and, of course, right here on the Matador Network.

Her M.O. is backpacking alone, staying in hostels and catering for herself (though she is quick to point out that she doesn’t think this lifestyle is superior to any others). She quotes Ferris Bueller and Stevie Wonder et elle parle du français aussi.

More on Eva:

I’ve lived in Ottawa, Halifax, Saskatoon and Toronto, and traveled to all ten provinces at one point or another (plus one territory – Yukon and Nunavut await!). The areas I know best are Ontario (especially the south east), the Atlantic Provinces (especially Nova Scotia), and parts of Quebec.

I’d be happy to help out with some off-the-beaten-path suggestions (smaller towns, outdoor areas), logistics of transport, and specific dining/nightlife recs for Ottawa, Kingston, and Halifax. But feel free to send any question you like – even if it’s not my area of expertise I’ll do my best to help you figure it out!

Places I want to go: These days I’m jonesing to head to South Africa, the Yukon, back to New Orleans, back to California, Cuba, India (ideally for a solid six months or more), back to my old stomping grounds in the UK.

There’s still a ton of the ol’ US of A to see, and one of these days I’d really love to take the train across Canada. I’d also like to go back to Italy, this time with my mom. I just want to go EVERYWHERE, really!

Sports I do: rugby, rowing, hockey

I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when: When I visited my dad while he was living in Kuala Lumpur, and I was away from all the touristy stuff and just spent my days wandering around the suburban malls and people-watching.

Also anytime we went to the pub while I was living in England, or when we just sat around the house watching Eurovision or the World Cup or Celebrity X-Factor.

Before I die I’d like to: See all 1000 places in that book?? Nah…

To find out more about Eva and to barrage her with your questions, find her at her Matador profile (deva). Be sure to pop by her website too!

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If you aren’t part of the Matador Community yet, sign up to join the growing number of travelers, writers, photographers, and all-round good people.

All photos: Eric Warren

Eric Warren, a.k.a. advenjunkie, has spent the past 25 years digging deep into Montana.

He’s lived in Missoula, Big Sky, Bozeman, and Billings and has extensively explored Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, the Bitterroot Wilderness, and most other Montana locations.

He’s also an avid mountain biker, rock climber, surfer, and cross-country skier, which isn’t surprising given all the adventure opportunities up for grabs under Big Skies.

Here’s a little more on Eric:

About me: I’m a photographer and writer specializing in adventure and travel. I also do commercial photographic work and write fiction.

Tunes I rock out to: Everything from The Pixies to Tool to Bach to Jem. I’ve been playing a lot of Beethoven lately…

I want to make a difference by: Showing the world through my lens and writing essays/stories either funny or thought provoking that get people moving — either out their doors or deeper into their lives.

As you may know, Matador has put together one of the most comprehensive resources on Montana you’ll find anywhere, including locals’ recommendations for trails, rivers, mountains, restaurants, and bars.

Eric authored a number of these articles, including Bike Touring Montana: Classic Big Sky Rides and 9 Montana Backpacking Trips That Will Blow Your Mind.

You can check out his photography on Flickr, and shoot him all your Montana questions via his Matador profile.

Community Connection

Believe it or not, Eric isn’t Matador’s only expert on Big Sky. We’d also like to introduce Adam French, Brianna, B French, and Matador contributing editor Teresa.

And don’t forget — when we say our experts are here to help, we mean it. Don’t be shy! Get in touch today by joining the Matador community.

Photos: winkyintheuk

Matadorian rico nico’s expertise on the frozen continent comes from a stint of employment at one of the U.S. research stations, an experience he’s eager to help others achieve:

I worked as a “Dining Room Attendant” (read: “Dishwasher”) for nearly 5 months at McMurdo Station. Navigating the application process was the hardest part, so I’d be thrilled to provide a streamlined plan for the quickest way to get hired (ie: learn from my mistakes).

I can also let you know what jobs you’re likely to end up with your first season down there, what you’ll want to pack, and plenty about what your day-to-day will look like if you’re living on the ice.

Not surprisingly, rico nico is no stranger to adventure:

Two weeks after being handed my degree in Graphic Design from UC Davis I started leading trips for an adventure travel company called “Backroads.”

For the last 6 years my spring, summer, and fall months (working months) have looked like this: Cycle through the California wine country, hike the verdant hills of Irealnd, kayak through lobster buoys in Maine, and swim with turtles in Hawaii.

Then, when the winter months hit I’d strap on a backpack and travel on my own: Jumping naked into the water in Antarctica, doing photography in Cuba, attempting to learn Spanish in Guatemala.

But his story doesn’t end there:

Since I’ve always been attracted to volunteer projects that involve medicine, I set my sights on becoming medically trained. I became an EMT through NOLS (awesome course!) and got a job in SF as a Surgical Technician in preparation for Nurse Practitioner school, my ultimate goal.

So now I work in a hospital and sit in lectures. I’ll admit that it feels like a step down. The adventures have been put on temporary hold, but once I’m a medical professional I’m hoping to take the skills abroad and open an entirely new, and purposeful, chapter of travel.

Rico nico can tell you what you need to know about Antarctica, but travel advice is a two-way street. He also “would love a few nudges in the right direction for places to go/volunteer in Africa — such a huge place I don’t know where to begin.”

To connect with rico nico, visit his Matador profile.

Community Connection

Antarctica’s international status means it has no single authority on issues related to tourism. Problem? You decide: US Calls for Stricter Tourism Guidelines in Antarctica.

Matador Goods can show you how Antarctica became the setting of one of the 8 Greatest Adventure Stories Ever Told.

In addition to churning out brilliant articles like How to Order Sushi Like a Ninja and 10 Japanese Customs You Must Know Before a Trip to Japan, Matador regular contributor Turner Wright also does double duties as our Destination Expert for Japan.

Turner lived in Japan for two years, teaching English in Hiroshima and working with a private Japanese company in Kagoshima.

In his time there he also traveled extensively around the four main islands where he kicked back in hot springs, took in the natural beauty, and immersed himself in Japanese culture.

More on Turner:

About Me: Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, attended the University of Texas at Austin from 2001-2005…I’m learning to make ends meet wherever I happen to reside, attending Couchsurfing gatherings, and spreading the word of independent travel to any willing ears.

I have a degree in aerospace engineering. I enjoy singing Phantom of the Opera (badly, I’m sure) when I’m wandering empty streets in a foreign country at night. I once went for 60 hours without sleep (and, consequently, slept for 26 hours after that).

Quote: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Who I’d like to meet on my travels: Anyone who can keep up with me

Why I Travel: I know it’s not possible for me to see every square cm of this world before I die, but in the meantime, I’m learning more about foreign cultures, eating things I never thought I would touch back in Texas, and finding myself changing with each experience.

To learn more about Turner and pester him with questions about Japan, visit his Matador profile. He’d also love it if you’d drop by his blog Keeping Pace In Japan. To check out his pictures from all ’round Japan and beyond, he’s known as turnerw82 on Flickr.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Don’t be on the outside looking in. Join the thriving Matador Community, where you can meet and interact with folks like Turner and other writers, photographers, and travelers (and me!).

If you’re interested in becoming a Matador Destination Expert, check out this forum post for a detailed how-to.

Photos: Travellohr

If you’re planning a visit to the Vineyard this summer, Matador member Travellohr can give you the lowdown on the local scene. As she says:

I’m there every year, riding my bike from town to town, hanging out on the many beaches, and getting into the island’s lifestyle.

Here’s a little more on this week’s featured expert:

About me: A trip to Israel led me – finally!!! – to the realization of what I want to do with my life – write about my travels. This, happily, requires me to travel more than I used to. I was blessed to start getting published soon after I began writing. And I’ve yet to explore most of the world.

Why I travel: I am acutely aware that I live in just one small speck of our huge world. If I’m not exploring it, I’m wasting it.

Favorite places I’ve been: Israel; Germany; Venice, Italy; Wales; London, England

Travellohr also started an intense discussion on the Matador community blog pages by asking, Is Domestic Travel “Real” Travel? – What do you think?

Find the above information and more in her Matador profile.

Community Connection

Matador’s destination experts are just one facet of a travel community that’s growing larger, stronger, and deeper every day. If you haven’t yet signed on, now’s the time! Click here to get started.

It’s not everyday you get to meet someone who can claim “adventure tour leader in the Middle East” as one of his past jobs. After two years of this exciting work, Nick has settled into “the delicious chaos of Cairo” where he is currently working as an English teacher and freelance writer.

More on Nick:

I’m fired up on: The complexities and absurdities of the human condition; reality, consciousness, and belief systems; social and environmental justice; where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.

Travel style: With little baggage, few preconceptions, and serendipity as a guide.

Favorite books: Difficult one, changes all the time. Shantaram (Gregory David Roberts), A Scanner Darkly (Phillip K Dick), Foucault’s Pendulum (Umberto Eco).

I want to make a difference by: Living my dreams, and making my own small contribution to the beautiful unfolding narrative of the universe.

Why I travel: Because to travel is to live: there is no better way to learn about yourself, and the world around you. By doing so, you might help to make the world a better place.

In addition to being Matador’s expert on Egypt, Nick is NileGuide’s Cairo local expert and also a regular contributor to Trazzler.

To get in touch with Pharaonick, visit his Matador profile.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

For more on Egypt, check out Benjamin Orbach’s Egyptian Paradise article.

Trips has featured several other Destination Experts. If you’re looking for advice on a place, don’t hesitate to drop any of them a line. For more experts, check out our ever-growing list at the Experts Home.

If you’re interested in becoming a Destination Expert yourself, read this forum post for instructions.

Photos: author

This week’s featured expert goes one step further than most in demonstrating love of place:

“I have the word ‘kiwi’ tattoed over my right ankle with the first ‘i’ being the north island and the second ‘i’ the south. I was in Biarritz after the All Blacks got knocked out (again) of the 2007 World Cup and this was my way of showing support.”

Now, there’s no doubt this is the guy you can go to with questions on NZ’s North Island. Here’s some more about nzjosh:

“I was born at the bottom of six generations of kiwis. Mum’s side come from the mutineering Cornish boy Fletcher Christian; dads side also from Cornwall but not quite as celebrated as mums.

I grew up in the centre-north of N.Z. near the wild(er than the east) west coast and spent a lot of time outdoors playing in the waves, caves, hot springs, rivers and bush.

Basically if you go to NZ you go to party with nature cause she’s up for it there. Just like you’d go to Berlin for a dance or France for great big platters of cheese and wotnot. ENJOWY!”

Recently escaped from cubicle-land, nzjosh is on the hunt for new direction.

He’s fired up on “Creation. Truth. New hobbies & improving old ones. Life,” and is next traveling to an unlikely pair of island destinations: Ireland/Borneo.

To question or collaborate, click over to his Matador profile.

Community Connection:

Like I said, Matador’s got the globe covered with experts. Click the “destination expert” tag below to see those we’ve featured here on Trips, or follow this link to peruse the entire roster.

It also bears repeating that we’re always interested in signing up new experts. This forum post will tell you all you need to know.

Lisaopia receiving mountain holy water / All photos: lisaopia

Lisaopia and her family in Debra Lebanos

Lisaopia’s Ethiopian heritage introduced her to traveling and culture at a young age. Armed with a BA in Journalism and Media Studies from Rutgers University, she traveled the world for seven months after graduation.

She’s had her photography and writing published at Pilot Guides and Escape Artist. In addition, she currently has photos exhibited at her local library and artist guild.

Lisaopia’s family owns and operates Hess Travel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

More background on Lisaopia:

I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when: I was humbly invited to a Moroccan wedding by people I’d only known for a week. They gave me a traditional dress to wear and the celebration was 4 crazy nights. The last night we were following a band playing in the streets at 4 am. It’s the night when the groom meets his bride; then there was a caravan of cars riding along the shore at dawn in celebration.

When I was at my aunt’s funeral in Ethiopia and the paid mourners made me cry.

Who I’d like to meet on my travels: anyone……

Before I die I’d like to: Spend my last dollar on a trip to remind me how lucky I was to live life and hope to take my husband or some friends with me to enjoy

If you’d like to connect with Lisaopia to get some tips on visiting Ethiopia, or if you just wanna say hi, visit her Matador profile.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Click over to this page to browse Trips’ ever-expanding catalog of featured destination experts.

Do you know a place inside and out? Read this forum post to find out how YOU can become a Matador destination expert.

Photos: jgbrandt

In a little over a year of membership, jgbrandt has racked up 73 blog posts on the Matador community site. Not only that, but his profile is overflowing with engaging photographs from his travels, both in Ecuador and other corners of the world.

Now several months into a stay in Ecuador, jgbrandt has all the info needed to answer your questions on the region:

Ecuador’s a small country, but with 4 distinct regions and rough roads, traveling around can take some time. It’s also one of the most diverse countries I’ve ever seen. I’ve been living in Cuenca, high in the sierra and have traveled to all of the regions, except for deep into the jungle.

If you’re heading this way I’ve got relevant information on everything from buses, hostels, things to do and not to do, and much more. First tip: Take whatever the guide book says with a grain of salt.

Here’s a little more on this week’s featured expert:

About me: I find myself redefining “normal” every day. Each challenge, each triumph, each setback is moving me one step closer to the person I’ll become once I leave this place. I’m teaching English at the University of Cuenca for a year and trying to get dual citizenship with Argentina to move there next.

The things I’ve seen and done, the people I’ve met in my travels, all have led me to believe that there’s something great out there worth experiencing while it’s possible. And the best part I’ll keep for myself.

Why I travel: It’s the best way to learn about another society and culture. Books, pictures, and anything else will never do enough justice unless you’ve been there and seen it for yourself. I think if we all traveled we’d understand each other a lot better.

Pretending to ride the tortoise

This isn’t the first time jgbrandt’s been featured on Matador. To find out what’s on his bookshelf, read the inaugural edition of “My Favorite Books” over at Matador Goods.

Make sure to check out his Matador profile for frequent updates from Cuenca. He also gave us a stunning account, complete with video, of the final chapter in a centuries-old tradition in “The Last Iceman of Chimborazo.”

As if this weren’t enough, he also regularly posts to his personal blog, Travel Guy.

Community Connection:

Visit this page to browse Trips’ ever-expanding catalog of featured experts.

Do you know a place inside and out? Read this forum post to find out how YOU can become a Matador destination expert.

Photo: Julie Schwietert Collazo

With president Obama easing up on travel restrictions to Cuba, she might be needed more than ever to offer tips and suggestions for those visiting the capital of the Caribbean’s largest island.

I’m fired up on: I’m fired up on life and all its complexities. I’m fired up on good grammar and excellent writing and mostly true stories only slightly exaggerated. I’m fired up on travel, of course. I’m fired up on new spices and new combinations, on new colors, on new sounds.

I’m fired up on finding a suitcase or backpack that is actually practical and simultaneously durable (if you know of one, please let me know). I’m fired up on making a difference in the world on the most intimate local level since larger efforts seem to confound me. I’m super fired up on marriage…mine, specifically.

Tunes I rock out to: Ana Belen, Ani Difranco, Bebo Valdes, Johnny Hartman, Sam Cooke, Ella Fitzgerald, Bamboleo, Laura Pausini, Carlos Varela, Mario Frangoulis, Angelique Kidjo, Cesaria Evora, Joao Gilberto, Polo Montanez, Francisco Cespedes…

I want to make a difference by: Telling stories and being the medium through which others can find a voice.

Always interested in a story, Julie works as a freelance writer, editor, researcher, and translator (English to Spanish and vice versa). She is also the managing editor of Matador, so if you’d like to pitch a story, Julie says, “I’m your woman.”

To learn more about her, or to contact her for some killer tips on Havana, visit her Matador profile.

Julie would also love for you to check out her other work at her blog Collazo Projects.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

In this article, Julie explains how to travel to Cuba and why you should do it now. She also gives the low down on the 10 hottest nightlife spots in Havana.

For information on how to become a destination expert yourself, click here.

One of the newest members of our growing roster of Matador destination experts, Dominic is a travel writer and photographer based in Montevideo.

About me: I say “cheers” in ten languages and counting. I enjoy meeting newness – whether it be a different type of cheese or a new country.

In addition to Uruguay, some of his favorite travel destinations have been Colombia, Australia, Japan, and Denmark.

I’m fired up on: Culture. History. Writing. Photography. Speaking Spanish. Playing basketball. Reading. Cooking. Still learning more and more salsa. New-ness. Now.

Dominic has this to say about his adopted home country: “Whether you are in the town-ish capital city of Montevideo, or hanging out on the beaches of Rocha, Uruguay will offer its visitor a memorable time.”

Let’s collaborate: I am currently in Montevideo, writing for a few publications, starting to take my photography seriously (as I know when and where to show my expensive camera and equipment). I am keeping a blog here if you want to check it out.

For further collaboration, visit his Matador profile.

Community Connection:

The Matador community is full of destination experts who can help you plan your next trip, field oddball questions about their region, or just fill out your travel network! Search their ranks on this page.

For information on how to become a destination expert yourself, click here.

Photo: Anna Brones

“A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.” – Persian poet Moslih Eddin Saadi

Meet Anna Brones, our destination expert for the French archipelago of Guadeloupe (don’t confuse it with Guadalupe!). Should you find yourself planning a visit to these islands in the Caribbean Sea, drop her a note — she would love to share her knowledge of the area.

Languages spoken, other than English: French, Swedish.

Travel style: With my backpack and a notebook covered in random global stamps, on the search of local food and drink. And yes, many Moleskines. Cliché but necessary.

I want to make a difference by: Inspiring people to live environmentally conscious lifestyles — we can’t travel and explore on a dead planet, and if we don’t start changing our daily habits and pushing for change, that will be the direction that we’re going.

Anna grew up with a Swedish mother and an American father, encouraging her interest in culture and languages at an early age. She never travels without her sketchbook and she has an addiction to coffee, dark chocolate, and fresh pineapple.

After college, Anna spent a school year working as an English teacher in Guadeloupe. She says that experience, coupled with having lived and studied in France, gives her a strong tie to the Francophone world, and she often throws French words into the mix just for fun.

Anna currently works as senior editor for Wend Magazine, and her Matador profile can be found right here.

Make sure to check out her personal blog, je vais où?

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Recently profiled destination experts for the Philippines and Kenya are waiting for your questions.

Think you know your stuff? If you’re interested in becoming an expert for Matador, read this forum post.

Why I travel: Why do you breathe or eat or read or go to school?

Ideal place to watch the sunrise: After a 5 hour hike to the peak of Mt. Kenya

Tunes I rock out to: I groove to the sound of my bare feet on a long dirt road.

My neighborhood market in Kenya

jonnyontheroad speaks Swahili in addition to English, and he feels most immersed in a foreign culture when “living with a family and participating in every aspect of running the household. Especially when I’m slaughtering a goat for my Kenyan sister’s fifth birthday.”

To get in touch, visit his Matador profile.

Don’t have your own yet? Membership is free and easy; sign up here.

For more of jonnyontheroad’s writing, visit his blog, On.The.Road.

Why I travel: I dont know…it’s just such a part of me that being “somewhere else” feels so natural, whilst being at home feels UNnatural. Strange and hard to explain.

I want to make a difference by: Staying open-minded and promoting free thought and creative thinking.

She aims to live in accordance with this quote by Salman Rushdie:

“Go for broke. Always try and do too much. Dispense with safety nets. Take a deep breath before you begin talking. Aim for the stars. Keep grinning. Be bloody-minded. Argue with the world. And never forget that writing is as close as we get to keeping a hold on the thousand and one things–childhood, certainties, cities, doubts, dreams, instants, phrases, parents, loves–that go on slipping, like sand, through our fingers.”

In addition to English, MichaLola speaks Tagalog (Filipino) and lists Thailand, Canada, Spain, and Burma as some of her favorite travel destinations.

To get in touch, visit her Matador profile.

If you aren’t yet a member of the Matador community, don’t fret. Membership is free and easy; sign up here.

For some extra-curricular reading of MichaLola’s work, check out her personal blog, Looking for Lola.