I have moved five times in the past year and a half. Why, you ask? To find that place that is warm and cozy enough to call home. While home will always be the house I grew up in in Mystic, Conn., that house belongs to my parents. I have been in search of that place that feels comfortable enough to call my own.

You would think since I have such a passion for travel that home wouldn’t have such meaning to me, but after those trips abroad it is always nice to come to a place where you find comfort. I find so much happiness in traveling to new destinations and experiencing new cultures that I feel all of those places are my second home. I am just looking for the first one.

I have been all over the place since I graduated and left my college town of Burlington, Vt. Well, I have been all over the palce while being in only two different places, my hometown in Connecticut and New Jersey. Why Jersey? I fell in love, and love can take you to a million different places.

Some people think I am crazy because I have had six jobs in the past year and lived in four different apartments, but I am not willing to settle until I feel right at home. And recently I have. With a great new job here at Global Traveler and an apartment just big enough to fit my belongings, I can finally say I feel at home. While the world is my vacation house, there really is no place like home.

Jackie Adam, advertising and editorial coordinator

I was going through security at Montreal Dorval Airport this weekend and found the security to be very strict, especially regarding the liquids restriction. I thought about it for a minute and realized I find the airport security far stricter in most other countries than in the U.S., especially regarding the liquids that have to be less than four ounces and in a plastic bag. Technically, the liquids have to be removed from your bag and in a bin. I always have my liquids/toiletries in that separate Ziploc, but I never remove the bags when going through security at the NY airports. I rarely get stopped. Yet in Montreal this weekend, or any European country I have visited recently, I have been made to remove the bags. Furthermore, if the Ziploc was the wrong size, security agents have made me change the bag to the regulation size. And if I missed an item, like my mascara, they search my whole carry-on.

Now, I’m all for strict security, and I find attention to the tiniest details impressive in all of these countries. Except, of course, for the country that initiated the restrictions to begin with — the U.S. I would like to see the security more consistent in the U.S., but I also wonder if the scrutiny to my mascara elsewhere is leaving a void in the attention of security to what may be bigger problems.

I asked the security agent in Montreal about the differences in strictness and he said it could depend on the risk of the port you depart. Montreal happens to be a high-risk zone. This is just some food for thought the next time you are going through security. Even though we leave security in the hands of paid professionals at the airport, it is always a good idea to be aware yourself. As they say on the NY subways, if you see something suspicious, say something! We all need to take responsibility to help keep the air safe.

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

Last week I started telling you about Tanzania, but in the short blog format I wasn’t able to expand my discussion to the Masai tribe. I have met a lot of interesting cultures over the years, but the Masai seem to stick out in my mind. They are one of the last remaining primitive tribes in Africa, and despite having some very curious traditions, they are very warm and welcoming.

My first meeting was an invitation from the women of the nearby village. They had been taught how to grow vegetables, and the garden they created in only one year was remarkable. Everything from tomatoes to cabbage, corn and onions were being nurtured into colossal proportions in this fertile land, shielded by sturdy fences from elephants, wildebeest and many other typical neighborhood creatures. As I arrived, the women greeted me with a welcome song and when I demonstrated my talent at creating some of the same vocalizations, they rushed at me with laughter and screams of “mzungu masai,” or “white masai” - for those of you not fluent in Swahili. It was an incredible morning punctuated with the women wanting to give me a gift of a giant head of lettuce. One I had to unfortunately decline, but the moment was extraordinary none the less.

After leaving the garden, I headed to one of the family corrals, where I had the chance to meet some warriors and go inside a manyatta. The small, smoke-filled hut had me instantly claustrophobic yet still fascinated, although I was not going to drink the chai tea with goat’s milk being offered. The entire village had turned out to meet the visiting mzungu, and I was overwhelmed with their welcome, but the finishing touch was when I was presented with a traditional beaded bracelet as a gift.

These are uncomplicated people. They do not measure time with a watch or show much emotion. They are content with their existence and fiercely proud of tradition and customs. They live a meager existence and yet are some of the most resilient people on our planet. Most importantly perhaps, they measure success not by bank accounts and big houses, but by family and herds of cattle and goats.

- Morissa Pawl, consultant, Western region

I stumbled upon a list of “The Best Places You’ve Never Heard Of” on the travel section of MSNBC’s Web site and I thought I would share the list with you. Maybe you have heard of these places, maybe you have been to these places, maybe you need some suggestions for your next destination - whatever the case, I thought I would indulge you all with a list of hidden gems.

• Willunga, Australia - a great spot for red wines, the Willunga Farmers Market and Russell’s Pizza, this destination is an hour south of Adelaide
• Chapada Dos Veadeiros, Brazil - a 253-square-mile national park with large quartz reserves
• Graskop, South Africa - a small, artsy community about four hours from Johannesburg
• Weymouth, England - great for divers and sunseekers, a cobblestone street English town
• Purnululu National Park, Australia - also known as the “Bungle, Bungle”, great for hiking beautiful, eroded sandstone domes
• Bergerac, France - great wine, food and shopping
• Gaziantep, Turkey - applauded for its food, particularly its baklava
• Moravsky Krumlov, Czech Republic - local castle is great for sightseeing and the town has a classical, romantic feel
• Wilson, United States - located in Kansas, the state park is renowned for its biking
• Tanabe, Japan - forested, hot springs and great hiking

The article first appeared in “Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine“. Each location was selected by a world traveler and the destinations are unique and special to these people, which gives the piece an interesting perspective. The article, published in the Sept. 2008 issue, offers transportation and lodging tips as well. For more information on any of these locations, read the article here.

And, if you have been to any of the places listed above, let us know what you think about them! What destinations would you add to a list of “the best places you’ve never heard of”?

-Kimberly Krol, circulation and PR executive, eFlyer editor (GO PHILS!)

I just came back from Tanzania in East Africa, where I had the chance to check off one of the items from my “bucket list” (if you remember back to a blog I did earlier this year). What an amazing sight! The Great Migration of wildebeest and zebra is absolutely breathtaking, and the people are so warm and friendly.

My first lodge was the Serengeti Under Canvas, owned and operated by CCAfrica. This was a first-class experience with butler service and gourmet meals, but the best part was sleeping in my luxury tent (and I mean LUXURY!) while hearing the Great Migration taking place not too far away. I have been in the African bush before, but this was different. It is something I recommend that anyone who loves wildlife do at least once. It is something that you will never forget.

My second abode was the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, which sits right on the rim of the crater. The crater itself is a World Heritage site and is believed to actually have been higher than Kilimanjaro before it erupted millions of years ago. This is a completely different landscape from the Serengeti, but it is actually still part of the Serengeti/Mara ecosystem. The lodge itself is stunning, and each 5-star chalet is well-appointed. The coup de gras for me was a lovely touch - after spending the entire morning on the crater floor, we returned for a fabulous lunch in the lodge, and upon returning to the room, I found the free-standing tub full with a bubble bath and rose petals. Talk about room service!

I want to give a shout out to my new friends, Asheri and his team from Under Canvas and Beata and her team from the Crater Lodge. I miss you all terribly! I also want to thank the fabulous Ian Procter from Ultimate Africa Safaris in Washington for his help with all the last-minute plans. If any of you get the chance to visit the wonderful country of Tanzania, give Ian a call - he is my hero!

-Morissa Pawl, consultant Western region