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Group travel can be a great way of exploring Peru, in particular when it comes to interest-specific trips involving adventurous travel that will probably take you off the beaten track.

Indeed, many great travel experiences in Peru are unfeasible without group travel, both for safety reasons and economic costs. Some examples include birdwatching in the Manu National Park, trekking in the Cordillera Huayhuash, and, of course, whitewater rafting.

Cost reduction, fun potential among group members, and experience sharing are probably the greatest advantages of group travel. Group travel though isn’t for everyone and if you’re of the lone-traveller type, it probably isn’t for you. Indeed, even the more friendly and outgoing could find that travelling in packs isn’t easy, as people problems and personality conflicts might be frequent.

When considering group travel, you should ask the travel agent about their focus: adventure, culture, nature, active travel? Although some tours appeal to a wide range of travellers, many have an archetype traveller. If you were expecting to discover Peru’s spiritual edge, you’ll probably feel frustrated among a group of shopaholics. The same applies if you’re a party animal: you’ll rather avoid a group of early-risers, museum-lovers.

Small groups are probably the best option. They allow you to share the company without crowding your experience. Moreover, small travel groups have less impact on local communities and environments.

Journalist, impenitent traveller, and aficionado cook, Ferrer is founder of The
Peru Guide, and its Lima Restaurant and Nightlife editor.

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If you aren’t from New Jersey, or you have spent little time in the Garden State, you may not be too familiar with some of the peculiarly named towns located around the state. Indeed, with 566 incorporated communities, New Jersey has no lack of uncommon named locales including, Hoboken, Hackensack, Teaneck, Wanaque, Ho-Ho-Kus, and others. Located in Bergen County, in northeast New Jersey, Ho-Ho-Kus is one such town with an unusual name. Let’s take a look at the history of this little community.

With 70 communities, Bergen County is New Jersey’s most populated county with just under one million residents. The county is located just west of New York City and the towns which comprise the county are what many call “bedroom communities” for the city workers who make the daily commute to Manhattan. Indeed, located just 17 miles west of New York is the town of Ho-Ho-Kus, where a large portion of the people who have settled in the town make the daily trek to the city via train, bus, or passenger car. With just over 4000 people living within its approximately one square mile radius, Ho-Ho-Kus has a history that can be traced back to 1698 when European settlers deeded land in what is now Ho-Ho-Kus.

The name Ho-Ho-Kus is a fairly big mystery as well. Town residents take pride in the unusual name and are adamant that commonly used ways of writing the name of the town not be used, including HoHoKus or Hohokus. The Lenni Lenape were the original inhabitants of the area and some believe that a particular native term, Hochaos, is one of the closest words associated with the current spelling. The meaning of Hochaos is not certain as some think that it could be a native term for “running water” or to a Dutch term for high oaks, or it may simply be referring to another native term “hoccus” meaning gray fox. Indeed, there are at least six different explanations for the origins of “Ho-Ho-Kus”, but none are definitive.

Much of the current town saw its growth in the 20th century via the establishment of a railroad station. A walking tour of the business district reveals to visitors charming shops, restaurants, the train station, and a beautiful library. There are no lodging establishments within the town, but several can be found in neighboring Paramus.

The town has just one public school covering grades K-8, with high school students sent to Northern Highlands Regional in Allendale for their schooling. Three churches are located within the town and Ho-Ho-Kus is free of all industry.

A national historic landmark, The Hermitage, is located within the borough and it is well noted for having been visited by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The manse is a wonderful example of domestic Gothic Revival architecture.

Most of the residential area is located to the north, west, and south of the business district and the homes are recognized for their architectural beauty as well as being pristinely maintained. Indeed, per capita income for town residents reflects the overall wealth of Bergen County and the residences keenly reflect this fact.

Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on just about any and every issue imaginable. You can preview samples from his high performing site at http://www.thearticlewriter.com

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Man has always been curious about finding new things and new places. It is because of this curiosity that now we know our whole world. It led to great discoveries of new lands and cultures. Men have been traveling since ancient times driven by different motives. Sometimes it was for education, sometimes for business and gold hunting and at other times, simply for pleasure. Whatever had been the purpose, traveling has been the source of novel detections and inventions.

There are many examples of new discoveries made through traveling. The greatest one was made by Christopher Columbus in 1492, the historical finding of America. The intention of Columbus was a socio-economic one. Regardless of the goal behind traveling, it paved the way for development of new ties around the world, spread of civilization in non-civilized regions

Another thing that traveling does to a person, is to bring him close to the nature. Whoever has traveled to such places, would agree to this point. It does not matter that places traveled must be really beautiful and scenic. Even a desert can make one have a same experience. The experience of grandiosity of this world. In my view, it moved us towards God. We feel close to God when we are close to nature. There is a famous saying, “Nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kind of people” (Mark Twain).

Another thing traveling did on communal basis, is development of new cultures and civilizations. Many new civilizations took birth from the fusion of one or more cultures. American culture is one big example. Blending of cultures also produce new languages. English is one example as well as Urdu. The present culture of Turkey is also an example of combination of eastern and western cultures. It is a way of survival and it has shown by the history.

It will be foolish not to mention the old instinct for travel and that is for treasure hunts. In past people used to travel to find gold, diamonds, and sometimes merely money. Some died; some really found something and some never returned from their excursions. However, this thing has not died even in this modern era. Now teams or groups of people travel to find valuable natural items to boost their country’s economy or defense power. Now it is done at industrial level with all new tools and equipments. But the spirit has not died which is ‘Curiosity’.

In the End, we can say that whatever the world is now and whatever we see now, owes its existence due to traveling. Had it not been for man’s inquisitive nature, we would not be so enlightened about our world’s different colors. Apart from the view of new findings, traveling soothes our sense and gives us a new birth. “When one realizes that his life is worthless, he either commits suicide or travel” (Edward Dahlberg). How clear and to precise one can be. It in itself is a way of personal reform and treatment of psychological ailments. Traveling helps our inner growth to occur. Our inner eye is awakened and we feel we are a part of this great universe. This automatically makes one humble and opens one’s heart to other’s problems and pains.

Shariq Ali

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