I've always known I love animals, but there was something amazingly special about being among them in the wilderness that I will forever consider one of the best experiences a person can have.

Frequent readers will know that Western Africa is one of my favorite parts of the world, so my expectations were already high when I secured a lift to Bamako.

To avoid flying 30 hours to East Africa just for a couple days, my fiancé and I planned an 18-day adventure that would take us to 3 nature reserves, 2 countries, 5 cities, and enough outings to cover the holidays and then some. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's talk about Nairobi.

TripAdvisor's #1 Attraction in Nairobi is the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant sanctuary, and that's not without reason. Visiting these young elephants is definitely one of the most satisfying things to do in the city.

It was a day full of anticipation. After a 5am hike up the Marin headlands, we settled down on our blanket, alone but for our picnic. Slowly, the sun rose and melted the fog, revealing the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and, eventually, SF. This is the story of the most special day of my life.

One late October day, our two CG's were heading to lunch after church, and it was raining. He shared his umbrella with me, I shared my number with him, and we shared our first date together 4 days later. This is that story.

How do I prepare for a trip to Cuba? What restrictions are there, as an American? What activities count toward Support for the Cuban People? Where should I stay? What kind of money should I bring? Answers to all these questions and more, in a streamlined guide.

No trip to Cuba would really be complete without a visit to cigar country, so we booked a day-tour of Viñales, a rural town three hours west from Havana. It was here that we discovered rolling hills of green, vast farms of tobacco, and the home of Cuba's main exports.

Cuba is a photographer's paradise. It has pastel buildings, neon cars, and green farms that stretch as far as the eye can see. Contrasted against these bright colors are old, dilapidated mansions. It is a country of stark juxtaposition, a country caught in the 1960s.

When I visited Iguazu Falls as a young teenager, I decided it was one of the most beautiful places I had ever been. So on our trip to Brazil, visiting was a must do.

I spent three days in Rio de Janeiro and found it to be utterly beautiful, despite the incredible wealth disparity and world-renown crime.

When I got back to the States, everyone asked me, "How was Carnival?" All I can say is that 1. It was one of the most amazing performances I've ever seen, and 2. Everyone should go if they can.