Preparing for an around the world trip obviously requires a bit of research. I'm just jumping into this whole thing, so my research is quite limited. I'm sure I'll form a network though.
This site lists the 10 blogs you should've been reading in 2010 (which I'll assume is somewhat applicable for 2011, too). I've subscribed to them in my Google Reader. Share similar things if you know of any.
Likewise, it's helpful to get up to speed on what others are doing. A friend I made in Tel Aviv has a blog outlining a pretty major change he made in his life. I also follow many of my friends from Korea's blogs, though I'm not sure how much they'll be travelling after Korea. Some will be, some won't. Add in some major newspaper travel columnists, and some random gadget websites and I'm acquiring a decent reading list.
Often to be sourced will also be Wikipedia and Wikitravel, which have been immensely helpful in my travels already. I'm going to shy away from the Lonely Planet series because they've made those places not so, um, "lonely". They're a reasonable starting point, and offer nice maps, but there's much more to see in a city than what those books lay out.
History is perhaps the most important thing to culture, so I'll be reading some history books before and during my trip, to fully understand the *moment* I'm in. Some I've read about places I've traveled already include "Korea's Place in the Sun", several books about Egypt, and the Bible. Man, that thing gives a good account of the Middle East.
In this regard, a RTW ticket allows for trips to stranger places, and after reading Jared Diamond's book "Collapse" I'm pumped at the though of going to Easter Island.
Reading suggestions are always welcome--e-mail me or in the comments.
Until tomorrow...
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