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While my husband and I were teaching English in Mongolia, some of our friends took us to Naadam, a competition of archery, wrestling, and horse racing held every summer in Ulan Baatar, the capital city. I love this picture because it captures the complexity of the country as it is struggling to catch up with the modernized world. It seems that most cultures lose so much of their identity as they become more international, but in Mongolia a lot of the population still wears traditional clothing, such as the del worn here by the archer. Mongolians have such a strong identity and it was so amazing and beautiful to have had the chance to observe what makes them truly unique. This picture also reminds me of all the sunny (but cold) afternoons spent in the countryside while my husband and his friends practiced archery with their own bows.

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MONGOLIAN ARCHERS
by Lydia Rich, Aurora, CO

Lydia's Dream Trip
Africa: From the Nile to South Africa

In the late 1940s, my grandparents sailed for sub-Saharan Africa as Protestant medical missionaries. I grew up enraptured by my father's tales of traveling with the Bedouins, living in a leper colony, and exploring the untamed countryside. My husband and I are also adopting two children from Ethiopia. We were drawn to the overwhelming need of the millions of orphans who have lost their parents to AIDS, famine, and civil unrest. And while we have yet to see Africa, these children are forever linking our lives to this mysterious and fascinating continent.

As a lover of ancient history, I (along with my husband and three young children) would start my trip in Egypt, perhaps cruising down the Nile to visit the ancient capital of Thebes or volunteering on an archeological dig. I would then head north to Alexandria and travel by camel and boat around the northern coast to the take in the elusive romance of Morocco, stopping in Tunisia and Algeria to witness the coming together of so many seemingly contradictory cultures and civilizations over thousands of years.

Once all of my senses are saturated with the exotic spices and flavors, and the dry, dusty magic of northern Africa, I will explore the extreme opposite of what the continent has to offer by heading for Botswana and South Africa. There, I will feel the mist of Victoria Falls on my face, sleep under the endless skies of the savannah, take part in the daily life of a small tribe or village, and witness the awe-inspiring scene of Africa's varied wildlife in their natural habitat. To round of this amazing experience, I will head for the Seychelles to relax on the beach, explore the beauty of the underwater world, and thrive off the quietness and simplicity of small island life.

Lydia's Travel Tips

• You can often get better rates when using national travel agents within the country you are traveling to, enabling you to get "local" rates as opposed to "tourist" rates. For example, by using a Chinese travel agent in Beijing, the hotel room that cost over $100 when booking online cost us $30, and a one-way plane ticket from Beijing to Denver cost $300 instead of around $800.

• Most American cell phones are actually "world phones," meaning that they can be used internationally. When you arrive in the country you are traveling to, remove the SIM card (usually behind the battery) and replace it with one from a local cell phone shop (around $10). You can then load it with minutes and make as many local calls as you want for only a few dollars.

• When visiting third-world countries, it is tempting to give money to the seemingly countless beggars and street children that swarm around you wherever you go, but remember that they will have to pass on most of that money to the individual who "controls" that particular street corner. Instead, carry small packets of food, such as nuts, that you can pass out, or take the time to buy them a snack or quick meal from a nearby street vendor. If you are staying in the area, befriending these people can be invaluable because they will be less likely to rob you or to allow someone else to do the same.