India is the second most populated country in the world with approximately 1.2 billion citizens. The country has a rich and storied history that captivates people from around the world. As such, India is steadily growing as a tourist destination. Both citizens and foreign visitors flock to India’s most popular landmarks every year.



1. The Taj Mahal, Agra


One cannot think of tourist spots in India without considering the Taj Mahal. With nearly 4 million tourists arriving at the Taj Mahal every year, it is considered to be the most visited attractoin in the country. Built between 1632-1653 in honor of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of the Mogul Emporer Shah Jahan, the Taj Mahal is often listed as one of the Wonders of the World and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.



2. The Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya


Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, was said to have achieved enlightenment at this spot in Bodh Gaya. Near the temple is the Mahabodhi Tree.

3. Tomb of Humayun, Nizamuddin East, Delhi


This tomb to the Mugal Emperor Humayun was commissioned in 1562 and was built over the course of eight years. Those taking flights to Delhi should consider visiting this tomb, as it has undergone extensive restoration in recent years.



4. The Beaches of Goa


Goa is one of the most visited spots in all of India, accounting for approximately 12 percent of the country’s tourist revenue. The most popular spots to visit in Goa are the many beaches, particularly those in North Goa. Anjuna, Baga, and Calungute draw the largest number of tourists, though beaches in Southern Goa, like those in Varca, are becoming increasingly known for hosting world class resorts.



5. Lotus Temple, New Delhi


Those taking flights to Delhi cannot pass through without paying a visit to the Lotus Temple. Formally called the Baha’i House of Worship, Lotus Temple is given its nickname due to the unusual shape of the building.

6. Mysore Palace, Mysore


The second most visited tourist attraction in India, Mysore welcomes about 2.7 million visitors annually. The palace welcomes the most tourists in September and October during the Mysore Dasara festival. During the festival, the palace is decorated with nearly 100,000 lights to pay homage to the Goddess Durga.

7. Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir


Gulmarg is known for its winter sports. A popular tourist destination between December and March, skiing enthusiasts can choose from one of over 40 hotels in the region.

8. Elephanta Caves, Elephanta Island, Mumbai


Located about six miles from Mumbi, the Elephanta Caves are a group of five Hindu caves and two Buddhist caves that contain intricately carved stone sculptures.



9. Harimandir Sahib, Armritsar, Punjab


The Harimandir Sahib is popularly known as the Golden Temple due to the fact that the upper floors are covered in gold. The construction Harimandir Sahib was completed in 1604, but attacks left it seriously damaged until the time that it was rebuilt in 1764.



10. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, Tamil Nadu


This steam locomotive railway system passes through 26 miles of land over the course of about nine hours. Tourists can pass over 250 bridges and can enjoy the steepest train track in Asia.

Photo Credit: Trey Ratcliff at Stuck in Customs

Have you been to India? If so, please share your tips and favorite places to see in the comments!

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Panaouti is another one of those unique, ancient towns in Nepal. It’s smaller than the intriguing town of Bhaktapur and not overrun with tourists. In fact, I don’t remember seeing any other tourists during our afternoon stroll through Panaouti.

The locals seemed eager to have their photo taken and these two women were no exception. When I first approached this home with teel green bricks and blue wooden doors, there was only the man sitting on the bottom floor.

After the women of the house realized their home was being photographed, they ran to the top floor windows to wave and smile while I captured a moment in time.

Related Posts:

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This post was partly made possible with the generosity of Only Apartments: If you are planning a stay in Barcelona, we have plenty of Barcelona apartments to choose from.

Our relaxing weekend in San Antonio turned out exactly as planned. We sampled tons of food, took lazy strolls on the Riverwalk and I got to experience my first Volcanic Stone Massage.

It turns out that San Antonio is the perfect place to unwind for the weekend. Here are a few of our favorite San Antonio restaurants:

Where to Eat in San Antonio

The Liberty Bar

With a name like The Liberty Bar, I didn’t expect this place to have much in the way of food. But come to find out, the chefs excel at preparing tasty breakfasts. We also indulged in a little pre-afternoon Bloody Mary. (Is there any other kind?)

They offer Bloody Mary and Mimosa specials until 1:45 on Saturdays. That way you can drink all morning and head back to your hotel for a nap before you explore the rest of the city.

From the outside, The Liberty Bar doesn’t look much like a restaurant. If it weren’t for the ‘Sunday Brunch’ sign out front, I would have thought I was walking into someone’s house. I dig the pink though and give them props for not looking like every other restaurant on the block.

We loved this place so much that we ate here for breakfast two days in a row.

The Huevos Revueltos Mexicanos includes scrambled eggs with green onion, tomato and chile serrano. This dish did not disappoint.

On our second trip to the Liberty Bar, we enjoyed this mouth Watering Fried Egg Sandwich and my favorite, Huevos Rancheros. I have high expectations when it comes to Huevos Rancheros, but theirs was so good that I ordered it twice.

The Original Mexican Restaurant & Bar

We had originally wanted to eat at Casa Rio on the Riverwalk because this place was packed every time we walked by and it’s the place with all the pretty umbrellas outside, but it was Saturday night and the wait was close to an hour. Instead, we stumbled upon The Original Mexican Restaurant & Bar who could seat us right away.

Not to say this place wasn’t busy. I think we just got lucky and since there were only two of us, they were able to seat us at an extremely small table.

The Enchiladas Suizas were smothered in a cilantro cream sauce and filled with pulled chicken and melted cheese.

We also ordered a huge quesadilla with chicken, sour cream and guacamole and possibly the best Flan we have ever had for dessert.

La Gloria Ice House

Since we won this trip to San Antonio, we had a gift certificate for the La Gloria Ice House restaurant. This place serves street foods of Mexico. It was different than any other Mexican restaurant we have been to. We ordered a shredded beef chalupa (also known as a tostada) and fresh ceviche.

The service was great and our server is the one who suggested we make the 45 minute walk back to our hotel via the Riverwalk. The concierge at our hotel didn’t suggest it, but I’m glad this girl did. It also saved us a $25 cab fare.

Achiote River Cafe

Last but not least, we got drinks and appetizers at the Achiote River Cafe which was right next to our hotel.

The Duck Tacos were to die for! We obviously didn’t even have time to take a photo of them before they were gone.

What are your favorite places to eat in San Antonio?

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I didn’t include this photo in our recent La Jolla Cove photo essay because I thought it would make a great travel photo of the week. I think these pelicans look like the perfect three stooges.

Pelicans are such majestic creatures, but they do look a little goofy. Wouldn’t you agree?

I had a conversation recently with a good friend of mine who was upset because she didn’t have any goals.

I was talking to Scott later that night about how he feels I may be taking on too much and sometimes it feels like I want the entire world and I want it now.

I explained to him that I’ve been like that my entire life and how my friend told me that i was the first person who came to mind when she thought of goal making. She said I’ve always been working towards something for as long as she has known me (17+ years).

Scott suggested that for a week, I should try not to have any goals and see what it feels like. For some reason, that scared the crap out of me.

Part of me would love to feel like I don’t have anything to accomplish, but the other part of me knows that I would get bored eventually.

Scott doesn’t understand why I have the need to work towards so many goals. Maybe he thinks I am trying to prove something. He has said that having the goal of wasting time sounds pretty awesome to him.

I think, like anything in life, there has to be a balance. I don’t think I have found that balance yet because lately I’m not even sure if I remember how to waste time.

It’s something I would like to relearn how to do though. Yep, another goal for me to work towards. I like to make goals, remember?

Wasting time can mean different things to different people. For me, I need to get over the feeling that if I’m not doing something that directly relates to my goals, then I’m wasting time.

How about you? Do you think you have a good balance between working towards your goals and “wasting time?”

We are excited to take part in Hostel Bookers 7 Super Shots photo game. Thanks to Beers and Beans for tagging us!

Here are our super shots for each category. You may recognize these from our Best Travel Photos from 2011 post.

1. A photo that takes my breath away

Havasu Falls in Arizona was one of the few places that have literally taken my breath away. I couldn’t believe a place like this existed and that we were seeing it with our own eyes. It’s like something out of a fairytale and I wouldn’t expect it to be only a short 8-hour drive away from San Diego. It’s not too often we find a destination that we would be happy to visit again and again.

2. A photo that makes me laugh or smile

I’m still shocked that I was able to capture this shot at the San Diego Safari Park. We were mesmerized by the Colobus Monkeys jumping from tree to tree with their long hair flowing all around them. I always imagine this little guy as praying to the monkey gods after a satisfying scratch.

3. A photo that makes me dream

If this steamy solitude photo doesn’t make you dream, then I don’t know what will. We took this at Black Sand Basin in Yellowstone National Park. I made Scott stand in the middle of the sulfur smelling steam for about five minutes while I obsessed over getting the perfect photo that represents solitude.

4. A photo that makes me think

I was blown away when Scott showed me this shot. I didn’t even realize he was photographing me at the Yuma Prison. I love the harsh light, which I think gives this photo an erie, yet contemplative feeling. He’s really good at capturing those spontaneous photos that make you think.

5. A photo that makes my mouth water

Our trip to San Antonio was full of gluttony. Before our visit, I had no idea San Antonio had so many tasty restaurants to choose from. This breakfast dish was one of our favorites from the Liberty Bar Restaurant. We are in the process of putting together a post of our favorite places to eat in this intriguing city.

6. A photo that tells a story

I was surprised at how many hilarious captions this photo evoked when we posted it as a photo of the week. I think it’s one of those photos where you really wonder what these two ladies are thinking. I certainly wonder what they must have been thinking of the crazy lady who was willing to pay them to take their photo.

7. A photo that I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot)

This was a hard one to choose. When I think of National Geographic, I think of great portraits taken in far away lands. I almost chose our Sadhu in Kathmandu photo, but I think this one has more charisma since the subject is not looking straight into the camera.

Part of the fun of these games is to nominate other bloggers to participate. We nominate the following bloggers:

As We Travel

The Fearful Adventurer

Positive World Travel

Hecktic Travels

Technosyncratic

Rules: Post your photo selections on your blog, tell us about it, then nominate any other blogger friends you have. Follow the fun on Twitter with the hashtag #7SuperShots.

This post was partly made possible with the generosity of Only Apartments: With our Seville apartments, you can enjoy an inexpensive alternative to a hotel room during your next visit to Spain.

We’ve all been guilty of it in the past: simply selecting the cheapest travel insurance option and going with it. After all, travel insurance policies are all pretty much the same, right? Not so. Buying the cheapest coverage may end up coming back to haunt you, should you find out that you’re not actually covered for what you thought you were.

It’s vitally important that you check the small print when researching travel insurance as this is the only way to make sure that you have complete peace of mind when you’re away on holiday.

Map out the activities you plan to participate in before you go. That might sound like a strange piece of advice, but the activities you carry out may well affect which type of insurance you need. To take an extreme example, your average travel insurance policy may not cover any injuries sustained while skiing. It turns out that skiing can be considered an extreme sport or special circumstance. Asking a few extra questions may save you from some devastating news if you have to file a claim.

Reviewing insurance policy terms and limitations may not be the best way to ignite the flames of excitement before a big trip, but you might be glad you did. If you’re stuck in a foreign hospital with a huge medical bill to pay because you didn’t carry out the necessary checks, you’ll be wishing you’d spent an extra 10 minutes making sure everything is covered.

The language used in travel insurance small print is largely straight forward, but if you come across anything that is ambiguous or if you reach the end of the document and are none the wiser as to whether you’re fully covered for what you want, don’t assume anything. Pick up the phone and call the insurance provider as soon as you can to make sure that you have everything straight.

You can buy cheaper coverage, but if it turns out your policy won’t pay out for the activities you want to enjoy, then what’s the point? Get the peace of mind you’ll need by asking the right questions about your policy.

It’s worth it to pay a little extra in order to enjoy your holiday without any insurance-related headaches. Leave the stress and worry at home. After all, will you really be able to relax knowing that trying to save a few extra pounds could potentially end up costing you a whole lot more?

A place must be pretty special in order to be nicknamed “The Jewel,” and La Jolla certainly fits the bill for a variety of reasons. One of the main draws to La Jolla is the cove. No, this is not the same cove where they slaughter dolphins. That documentary was filmed in Taiji, Japan.

The La Jolla Cove has no shortage of sea life or glistening, blue ocean water. Last year we took our first kayaking trip through La Jolla Cove and visited natural sea caves. Afterwards, we took a dip in the ocean and snorkeled with the bright orange Garibaldi fish that are common in this area.

Children’s Pool in La Jolla Cove used to be a popular place for families to play and swim. Since the early 1990’s, harbor seals, brown pelicans and other birds have taken up residence in this small cove. The seals now have squatters’ rights much to the dismay of a few of the long-time residents of La Jolla who have fond memories of taking their children to this beach.

It is unknown as to why the seals abandoned the offshore sanctuary, Seal Rock, just a mile away. There has been a great deal of debate over the issue of who should have the right use this beach – humans, seals or both.

If you can get past the smell of bird and seal feces, La Jolla Cove is another great place to photograph in San Diego. It’s especially good for wildlife photos, but the view of clear blue ocean is not too bad on the eyes either.

A Game of Hide and Seek

Bird Crap Rock A.K.A. Bird Rock

Have you been to La Jolla Cove? What did you think of it?

Rainy days are not always bad, even when traveling. For one, it gives your photos a completely different look and feel. Both of these photos were taken on an extremely windy day, just after a downpour of rain.

Instead of staying indoors, we headed to Blacks Beach in San Diego. The cloud cover really brings out the blues in this close-up shot of the rocks at low tide.

Photo Tip: Next time you feel bummed about a rainy day ruining your travels, pick up your camera and start shooting!

If you go: If you are headed to San Diego and looking for vacation rentals in the area, check out Vacation Home Rentals website for more information.

With the launch of OT Surf Apparel coming up in February, I have been thinking a lot about the risks of taking big chances in life. The fear of failure has been creeping its way into my psyche at all hours of the day… but usually right about the time when I should be sleeping.

I’m sure you know the voice I’m talking about.

It’s the one that says, “You have no idea what you are doing.”

“You should quit now or you will lose everything.”

“What were you thinking?!?”

I’m not a quitter, but there have been too many days to count where I have fantasized about quitting. This business project has tested my patience, my confidence, my intelligence and most of all, my sanity.

This venture is probably the biggest financial risk I have ever taken, besides buying my second home at the peak of the market. I guess this doesn’t really compare considering I lost an $80,000 down payment on that “investment”. In comparison to that failure, this venture looks like child’s play.

These are precisely the things I remind myself of when I get scared of failing.

If you are struggling with the fear of failure, the following is a quote you may want to plaster all over your walls, on your computer screen or on your significant other’s forehead.

Overcoming the Fear of Failure

“Without taking risk, you can’t exploit any opportunities. You can live a quiet and reasonably happy life, but you are unlikely to create something new, and you are unlikely to make your mark on the world.”

Other than reading inspiring quotes like the ones above, here are a few tips for overcoming the fear of failure.

Failure Has Its Benefits

Successful people actually call their failures “stepping stones.” Even if this isn’t your big break, you are still moving forward. You are learning invaluable skills and getting attention as someone who makes things happen.

Even if a failure costs you financially, the educational benefits can far outweigh the loss. Just think of it like a college degree, but with actual life experience.

Consider The Alternatives

The biggest debilitating factor when trying something new is the fear of the unknown. When you take a chance, multiple outcomes and uncertainty about the future can be scary. When this fear takes over, remind yourself that 99% of the things we worry about never even happen.

It may helpful then to write down all the possible outcomes you can think of. Take the power out of fear by understanding it. Research the risks and rewards of each possible outcome so you can have a more logical understanding of what you are getting yourself into.

Just Enjoy The Ride

Try taking failure and success out of the equation. Just enjoy the process and soak up as much information and experience as possible. Life is a journey, right? Practice the Zen habit of living in the moment and if you can do that, the fear will melt away.

Take Action

The most successful people are often the ones who just try the most things. In order to speed up your rate of success, you need to attempt new things. Some of those ideas may not be winners, but you will never know if they work until you try!

Do you have any tips to add for overcoming the fear of failure? Feel free to share them in the comments.