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My wife and I packed our entire lives into one backpack and prepared for a month-long trip around the Middle East. As luck would have it, the airline lost that bag and we spent 27 days wearing the same clothes. We unknowingly set out on a journey that lead us to discover the true value of life and material goods, as we learned that our temporary inconvenience was trivial in comparison to the family in this photo. This shot was taken in a medieval castle in Syria called the Citadel of Aleppo. They are Iraqi refugees who have been living in the castle after fleeing the turmoil of their native land, and have come to this foreign country with few possessions. It is here that we realize how much we have.

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IRAQI REFUGEES
by Jason Locke, Vancouver, BC

Jason's Dream Trip
Buffet of the world: Japan, India, the Maldives, Dubai, Prague, and Morocco

An accountant in my real life, I'm a budget-conscious traveler by default. I rarely indulge in the fantasy of dream vacationsýbut I can easily be persuaded to create one.

When I travel, I like to customize my trips so that I visit several countries while I'm in that part of the world. My dream vacation would be the same but on a global scale. If I won, my wife and I would use the money to sample a "buffet of the world." The dream would begin in Japan when springtime-pink cherry blossoms dot the landscape and provide a perfect backdrop for Japanese architecture. Taking the high-speed train from Osaka to Tokyo, the majestic views of Mount Fuji would be in the background.

From there, the trip would continue on a "Cliff's Notes" tour around the world. The next stop would be India to see the Taj Mahal, to check out the crazy traffic in Delhi, the nightlife in Bombay and the beaches of Goa. After that, we'd take a dip in the Maldives for a taste of luxury.

From there we would sample Dubai by visiting the manmade island in the shape of a palm tree, playing a round of golf and spending a night in the Burj Al Arab. Our next stop would be to Eastern Europe to experience the beautiful city of Prague. After that we'd head over to Morocco, and I'd play Bogart in Casablanca.

Now, I know what you're probably thinking. You can't do this trip on $25,000 for two people! The trip would be part of my "high-low" philosophy with a mix of splurging and saving. To make the budget work, we'd utilize a range of accommodations and transportation methods and we're up for an adventure.

Jason's Travel Tips

• Talk to strangers: Some of your best memories can be made when you venture out of the resort or hotel and spend time with the locals. Ask some questions, find out where the locals like to go, and you'll feel like you're really savoring the experience.

• Travel light: It's an obvious one but when an airline loses your luggage for a month-long trip, you realize just how much you can live without. You'll be surprised by how stress-free travel can be the less possessions you have.

• Learn to laugh: Okay, so the airline may have lost your suitcase, you got food poisoning, and you dropped your camera equipment off a cliff. The good news is that things usually work out in the end no matter how dismal they may seem at the time, so learn to laugh off the absurd rather than letting it ruin your trip.