FUNNY MONDAY: PALM TREE JUMP

From live volcanoes to high bridges to the Taj Mahal, for some reason we like having our photo taken while jumping in the air. Tourists.

So when we saw this reclining palm stretching out over a beach in the San Blas Islands, we went right to it. More or less.

At least the sand was a safer landing than the one Kip would've faced if he missed this jump in Thailand...or if this jumping cat crash landed in a monastery in Burma. 

NAKED TRASH CLEAN UP

No, we didn't get naked to clean up a beach in Panama's stunning San Blas Islands. But a little helper named Christopher, seen here, did.  

We shouldn't have been surprised--the kid rarely wore clothes both times we stayed on his island, a tiny teardrop of sand not much larger than a city block. Of course, considering he lives a Blue Lagoon-like lifestyle surrounded by swaying palms and clear blue waters, who could blame him. 

While the San Blas Islands look and feel close to paradise, the Kuna people who live there are facing critical problems with clean water, sanitation, and trash.
























Thanks to the steady stream of tourists and a growing local population, there isn't enough potable water to go around. In addition, all those people are producing lots of waste, which isn't being disposed of properly, leading to polluted oceans, contaminated drinking water, and trash in the water, wrapped around starfish, and dotting the beaches, which we did our best to eradicate with the help of little naked Christopher. 

We even convinced some fellow travelers to join us on the clean up. Together,we walked the beaches, crisscrossed the island, and snorkeled the surrounding waters picking up trash. 

If you do visit the San Blas, make sure to carry out everything you carry in (and more if you have room), and before you book, ask if the island you're on has properly-functioning toilet facilities. If it doesn't, stay elsewhere.

And of course, if you see garbage on the beach, recruit some fellow travelers, and take the time to clean it up. You'll be glad you did, and you might make some new friends in the process.

PHOTO FRIDAY: SAN BLAS ISLANDS, PANAMA

More than 350 islands...less than 50 are inhabited. Welcome to the San Blas.

FUNNY MONDAY: SPHINX KISSING AND CAMEL WRANGLING

Sandy lips?  Too old? Missing a nose? 

Really, who could resist a quick smooch with a 4,500 year old icon? Certainly not Liz. She puckered right up. And no, we're not talking about Keith Richards, although the similarities are striking.

This photographic evidence proves we tried our best to make the most out of every possible photo op during our short time in Egypt. And when it came time to goof off with a camel, Kip was not one to miss out. Unfortunately this camel didn't have the sense of humor of our classic photo-bomber in India.

It's safe to say we had us a good time.

BEACH COWS

Zanzibar's picture-perfect beaches rarely get crowded. Unless a herd of cows gets thirsty and decides it's time for a drink and some sun. These hedonistic bovines give nude beach a whole new meaning.

SUNNY MONDAY: FLIPPING OUT IN ZANZIBAR

Even without the groups of acrobatic kids soaring high over the sand, Stone Town's sunsets tend to stick in the memory. Combine the sights, however, and you get what's by far the greatest show on the historic Tanzanian island of Zanzibar.  

For three days, we started our nights here, watching as not-so-organized gangs of local teenagers twisted, flipped and somersaulted their way from the beach into the shallow waters. These weren't local kids looking to bilk money from tourists. These guys performed for fun. For bragging rights. For each other. And luckily for us, thanks to their nightly shows, they'll be performing in our memories for a long time to come.

PHOTO FRIDAY: BEACH HUTS OF MUIZENBERG

On a long stretch of sand not far from Cape Town, this colorful line of beach cottages makes for a scenic view in the surf town of Muizenberg. We stopped for breakfast at a local diner, watching wet-suit clad surfers come in from the frigid waters for a cup of coffee before heading back out for a late-morning session.