Countdown to Cancun!!

Its about 7 hours until Cancun and my excitement is palpable. I'll be escaping the 6th heatwave this summer and relaxing on sandy beaches at a five star resort. Am I bragging? A little. But the vacation is well deserved. In this day and age we all work waaaayyy too much for waaaaayyy to long, so taking time off to recharge and just let loose is fun...and necessary. Many things will await my return, but for now, I'm off the grid for the next 4 days!

Greeks should start Tripping

Now that I've introduced you to my new favorite site, www.tripping.com, its time for me to elaborate on how beneficial it can be for people in the Greek community. Once you become a member of a Greek letter organization you instantly acquire a new family; one you've pledged your allegiance to until your dying day (or at least until you go inactive). The cool thing about this family is that they're spread out all over the country, so whether you want to head to Florida for a long weekend, welcome back your brother/sister from their time in Iraq at their base in Colorado, or just roadtrip to visit the newest chapter in the Midwest, you will always have a place to crash and your own personal tour guide. Imagine all that..... on a global scale.

That's exactly what Tripping provides. While you may not be members of the same organization, you are members of the same global traveling community.Tripping allows its members to interact through various networks on its site. These networks are broken down by common interests and allows members to get a feel for one another before committing to a meet up. Don't have the space to host? That's cool, you can still make a new friend and show them all the cool stuff about YOUR city that tourists would never get to see. As "meet-up" sites become popular the country over, Tripping adds a cool twist by letting its members dictate their experiences.

If you're a member of a Greek letter organization this experience will remind you of the "happier" times of pledging, the parts where you get to get far far away and experience new things. Don't forget to sign up for FREE at www.tripping.com and tell them that Jasmind sent you!

I get around

As I continue my countdown to Cancun, and how I plan to venture past the safe harbor of the resort, my main concern is "how do we get around"? I've been lucky to live in an accessible city like Philadelphia; we have 2 main train lines, a myriad of buses that criss-cross the city, and regional lines that can connect you to Delaware and central Jersey. Something tells me that Cancun's system won't be as sophisticated.

In college I took a trip to Puerto Rico and had the same concern. However, my friend and I were able to conquer the bus system there, and I was able to [barely] communicate with my broken Spanish and some of the local's broken English. I hope that Cancun's system will be as easy to figure out because taking cabs everywhere will surely take away from my "shot" money.

#ThingsI'llDoInCancun

The countdown to Cancun has officially begun, and in lieu of my upcoming trip all of my posts this month will be about traveling! I love to travel, try new things, and enjoy new places, and I've never been to Cancun before so I'm pretty stoked. I've been planning for this trip for nearly a year because my dear friend and line sister will be getting hitched at the Moon Palace Resort. I couldn't be happier to get away from the sticky city summer heat, and get near some water and all-inclusive beverages. As much as I enjoy a good resort, I also want to experience some of what the "real" Mexico has to offer. That's why I'm planning to venture into to town (with some Spanish speaking friends) to experience local life, eat a great meal, drink cheap tequila, who knows! The countdown to adventure has begun, and hopefully my fellow trippers will have some great advice!

To ALL my Travlers!

Summertime is perfect for traveling, whether its in your own city, state, or in a completely different country. I recently renewed my passport and I can't wait to add some stamps and travel to places I've never been (Mexico in 3 weeks will be stamp numero uno)!
If you're like me, you're not as into glitz and glamour of a resort, and you're not into paying for a bus ride around town to drop you off at every tourist trap. If you're like me, you'd like to experience something new from a local's perspective, this way you're able to truly understand the culture and lay of the land.
I recently discovered a really cool company called Tripping International, it links up travelers and locals to create a unique shared experience. Its about exchange and helping make the world a better place through understanding and appreciation of other places and cultures. You can meet up for a cup of coffee, get tips on which local record shop to visit, or arrange for a home stay with a new friend (which will save you $$$ over a hotel).
After surfing the site for a few hours I made a quick list of why I'll take full advantage of the opportunity to become a "tripper":

1. A needed service with a great mission- "A global network of travelers who believe cultural exchange makes the world a better place" 

2. Like minded travelers
3. Verification of hosts
4. Satisfied members
5. It's completely FREE

The site is clean, simple, and gets to the point. There's also no obligation to become a host, but if you can it's highly recommended. I know I wouldn't mind having a friend living in London to visit for next year's Olympics, or calling my friend in Brazil when Carnival comes around.

Check them out a www.tripping.com, check out the 30sec clip. Tell them Jasmind sent you!

Happy Travels!