. . . . . . banyan tree with anyone else but me. Out of the many joys and pleasures of running Matouring, one is the ever-changing, never-changing world of travel. When we sit down each day to craft a post or two, it's almost like yesterday never happened: today is as…
Do Something Different
If there was ever an icon for the USA, for many, it has to be Route 66. Some dream of it. Some spend all of their belongings to make the journey, and some never leave, opting to live "the American Dream." Say what you will, but the draw is palpable. U.S. Route 66 spanned…
All over our planet, there are staunch, hardy and never-say-die humans - regular people like you or me - who actually know what is going on with Mother Earth. They push to the front of the queue when on television and news. They're loud and proud when they march in protest about how…
H.G. Wells: "Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race."
We periodically update our posts on the benefits and wonders of riding a bike, no matter your age. Cycling offers a remarkably potent combination of cardiovascular conditioning, joint preservation, and cognitive stimulation, making it…
Rail is the place to be. Most every country in the world uses rail as a De facto way of getting around. We here at Matouring extoll the virtues of rail over and over again until we're blue in the face. That's why we promote rail so much. But one country…
Sunset boulevard is dying. Sometimes, you kind of want to not travel anymore. Flights are often a nightmare. Passengers are unruly. Prices are sky-high. And when you finally do hit the ground and head for your final destination, it ends up being a disappointment. Travelers are obnoxious, rude and ruin one event after another.…
Those of you who have been with us on our travel journeys will know that we are staunch rail fans: we truly believe that rail will save us all: cars, planes, boats and other forms of transport that rely on fossil fuels are not helping at all. So when we landed on this…
. . . and what an adventure we've had. We'll assemble everything we can to deliver as good a time as we did. Stay tuned as the posts work their way to you. And, thanks for sticking with us as we endeavour to share as much of the planet as we can.…
I am British, but have lived in a number of places over the years. I've visited even more, just like you, I reckon. In the 1960's and 1970's, Britain was on the top of many things. Tech was one, and a highlight of Britain's prowess were the hover crafts that powered the…
We will state right here, right now, that there is only one great rock band. And that band can only be The Beatles. They turned pop music upside down, and left the other bands sitting in the dust. The older you get, the more you know that I'm right. Your editor's…
Despite what you sometimes see on social media, not everyone is bouncing around, shrouded by friends and endless frivolity. There are those hardy souls on the planet just want some peace and quiet. And that doubles for some who prefer to make a quieter footprint as they discover their world. Either way, "it's…
Sometimes, you need to get over yourself in order to get over yourself. Everyone is watching. We have the perfect example. Netflix have recently dropped a rather hilarious tale of the toll that vanity takes. And in this case, what starts as a catastrophe, becomes an epiphany. Walk the Camino…
We were ready to step into a small and self-absorbed soliloquy about big bad governments fighting with each other, leaving a wake that requires its residents to clean up the mess. It's true, of course, and sometimes we are just a footstep away from joy or laughter. Pity some parts of Russia, for…
Looking for a thrill? If you're an avid driver and want to "jump across" borders (in this case) between (Canada and the USA) (not that you would necessarily want to get there in this current place in time in humanity) there is a rather pleasant and relaxing method to take the Scenic Route…
Init, though? No matter where you're from, you will always leave a little bit of you when you go. It could be the weather. It could be the food. It could be the people. No matter, they matter to you. We brits are no different. The only difference…
We love history. The more the better. Climb every mountain, ford every stream? That's us. The more you learn about history, the more you'll understand why history is history, and why things happen. And why they happen again and again.
Most historians are sensible, down-to-earth and eminently curious. They…
From our perspective, those two words, the subject and the location must surely be making your heart race, just as much as the bikes themselves will do for you (as long as you're safe and thoughtful.) And, yes, as you might expect, we have just the ticket for you. You may never want…
We like to watch You Tube's Davud Akhundzada. He's kind, thoughtful and thorough when he posts a new episode. It's almost like he is sending videos of his adventures back to his family. He's also tireless, so he leaves a legacy of videos that you can rewind and benefit from as the…
Hardly! Luyuanping (鹿院坪) is a breathtaking, highly secluded canyon village in Enshi, Hubei Province, China. It is famously isolated and completely inaccessible by standard roads or railways, requiring visitors to hike or take a cable car to reach the village floor. We love YouTube's Yan, from Little Chinese Everywhere. If China has been…
If you are planning an adventure into China, Shenzhen is arguably the most logical, low-stress, and utterly fascinating place to start. Just a few decades ago, Shenzhen was a quiet fishing village of 30,000 people. Today, sitting in the Guangdong province directly across the border from Hong Kong, it is a hyper-futuristic metropolis of…