1 . Like many young people, Jessica wants to travel the globe. Unlike most of them, this 25-year-old is doing it _______ . She and her husband have spent the last two years traveling the world, stopping everywhere from Paris to Singapore. It might sound like one long, expensive _______ , but the couple has an unusual way to make their travel _______ .

They’re part of a new form of the _______ economy: an online group of house sitters. Throughout their no-cost stays in _______ homes, they feed pets and water plants in the homeowner’s _______ .

It’s not all sightseeing. The two travelers carefully _______ their trips, scheduling their days around the pets that are sometimes difficult to _______ . But house sitting also offers a level of _______ they can’t find in a hotel. “It’s like ________ at a friend’s house,” Jessica says.

The couple has a high ________ rate in getting accepted as house sitters and they always go beyond the homeowner’s ________ . For Jessica, that means ________ plenty of pictures of happy pets, keeping the house ________ and leaving a nice small gift before heading to the next house. “You want to make the homeowner feel that they made the right ________ ,” she says.

3 . Xi'an enjoys a reputations as a “Living History Museum” due to its rich, diverse collection of historical and cultural treasures. Apart from the Terracotta Warriors, there are also some other attractions in the city. Here are some of them.

Ancient City Wall

Xi'an City Wall was built in the 14th century in the Ming Dynasty as a military defense system. Now it is one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese city walls. The wall is now a landmark, dividing the city into inner and outer areas.

Giant Wild Goose Pagoda （塔）

Situated in an ancient temple, the pagoda built with layers of bricks was built in the Tang Dynasty. It is traditional Chinese architecture. One of the main functions of the pagoda was to store Buddhist scriptures（经文） and figurines brought to China from India by the famous monk and traveler Xuan Zang, who stayed here for 19 years translating Buddhist scriptures.

Shaanxi History Museum

The Shaanxi History Museum, built in 1991，is home to over 370,000 precious relics unearthed in Shaanxi over the years, The museum consists of three main sections. Its collections range from bronze ware（器血）to pottery ware, gold and silver ware and mural paintings from the Tang Dynasty tombs.

The Muslim Quarter

One of the highlights is its local snacks when you tour Xian. The best food destination is the Muslim Quarter，which has a history of several hundred years. Consisting of a number of food streets, the area has become a famous attraction in the city for its rich and authentic Muslim cultural atmosphere.

5 . Five Star Yellowstone Tour

Discover the world’s oldest national park, Yellowstone, on this grand wildlife tour. Our professional guides will give you a 5 star customer service experience on your all inclusive tour without any additional taxes or booking fees.

Starting at approximately 7 am, we will be rolling out the red carpet for you and all you have to do is to sit back and enjoy the ride. We provide snacks, bottled water, and cooked food for lunch. This tour’s main focus is on the wide variety of wildlife, Yellowstone’s rich historic landscapes as well as the fascinating prospect formed by the Yellowstone Supervolcano for over millions of years. Binoculars (双筒望远镜) are provided to help you appreciate the scenery better.

Whether you are an amateur photographer, a science or history enthusiast or just want to explore the outdoors, this tour has something for everyone. Our fun but professional guides will give you a first class tour in a very comfortable tour bus.

Duration: 10-12 hours

Taking Covid-19 safety measures: Click here

Hotel pickup offered

Group size: 9

Ticket type: Mobile

Available language: English

Scheduled date: Check availability

Total fees: $300 per adult (age 13-99); 40% discount (age 1-12)

Reserve now & pay later: Learn more

Free cancellation: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Now you’re all set! Have a great time.

6 . Bill and Cathy wanted to go on a holiday. They chose a place called Maldives (马尔代夫). And they decided to _________ there for two weeks in spring, because they heard that the weather there was _________at that time. They worked very hard for several months. Finally, they made enough money for their dream _________. But their trip was more like a nightmare (噩梦)!

The problem _________ when the flight was put off because of bad weather. They couldn’t leave _________ night. They finally got on the plane twelve hours later! But they couldn’t fly to Maldives because there was a _________. They had to fly to the capital city _________. There they stayed in a small hotel _________ the airport.

The hotel was next to the sea, but the sea was _________ dirty that they couldn’t __________in it. And the hotel swimming pool was full of leaves! The food was __________, too. For breakfast there was only bread and milk! The worst part was when the storm came, they felt really __________. Because of the __________weather, they had to stay for another night in the small hotel. And they had nothing to do. It was so __________. Finally, they __________ at Maldives three days later. And someone told them the weather there had been wonderful all the time!

8 . Travel allows us to experience the world. But as we travel, we are also leaving our footprint on every place we visit. This is why culturally immersive (沉浸) travel is so important. Because the wrong kind of travel negatively affects the world. One of the reasons we started this blog was to help others travel better and feel comfortable getting off the beaten path, interacting with locals, and take you “Beyond the traditional Bucketlist”, if you will.

People who only get 2-weeks off per year are often just looking for an easy destination with a beach to relax on. This isn’t travel. This is a vacation. But “Immersive Travel” or “Cultural Travel” is an entirely new type of trip. It is about experiencing and preserving the various traditions around the world. It’s about being open to new experiences and willing to step into another’s shoes. Cultural travel is jumping in with both feet and leaving your idea about what your trip should be behind you. It’s eating local dishes and sleeping in guesthouses. It’s building genuine connections with locals. It’s learning about the history of a country and leaving your trip with a greater understanding of the place you came to see and the people who live there.

Often times in today’s age, “travelers” will visit a country just to snap some photos of the famous sights to post on Instagram or to drink the night away, or even just to relax on a tropical beach. But that kind of vacation can be harmful to the very communities you’re traveling to.

Beyond supporting the local communities and the preservation of local customs and traditions, you’ll also experience some personal benefits through cultural travels. There’s simply no way to travel this way with a closed mind. You’ll get to know different cultures intimately and understand them a lot better. You’ll also become less judgmental of others the more you travel.

10 . The world is changing rapidly. Here are four cities that have changed greatly over the past five years.

Budapest, Hungary

Back in the 1990s, Budapest was a mystery to many people outside Europe and tourists wouldn't have dreamed of visiting it. Now, Budapest has a booming tourism industry, and it has been called one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The cheap accommodation, the surprisingly delicious fine dining scene, and the wonderful views of the Danube River simply can't be beaten.

Boise, Idaho

Surprised to see this up-and-coming city on this list? Actually, Boise is really making a name for itself. This city is known for its growing cooking scene. But not only that, it is also becoming a major ski destination. The mountains surrounding this city are unbelievable, and the ski resorts around Boise are one of the best kept secrets in America. It's worth checking out!

Medellin, Colombia

In the past, you might have heard about how dangerous Colombia was, but things are rapidly improving for this South American nation, and Colombian cities are changing for the better. Medellin is a new popular travel destination. This is the place to dance all night and see a whole new side of Colombia. And the prices are still low!

Hobart, Tasmania

Hobart is the capital of the Australian state of Tasmania, and it's also becoming a more popular city for tourists and new permanent residents alike. There are plenty of historic buildings still around, nice harbors where boats are docked, and lots of cute new cafes, art galleries and shops popping up. The scenery there is truly beautiful, with wildlife unlike anywhere else. Travelers should make their way over!