Travel - what else?

Travel is as much the journey as the destination.  There is the preparations: first the research - the history, the geography, the myths, the acceptable behaviour, travel options, hotel reviews, the best route - the one that offers the least connections, best price, shortest transit time and perhaps the most interest stopover option.  The the packing - what are the weather patters for the period, temperature, rain, sun, acceptable attire, dress up occasions, sun screen? umbrella?  a little black dress?  shoes, camera, lenses, extra memory cards, which hand bag to take that will hold all the gear and still look good and weigh reasonable.  The question of which books to take is somewhat solved with ebooks.  Now I just don't have to choose. I can take them all and have no more than the weight of one book added.  Once the decisions are made and the packing is done, next comes the question of what to wear to and from.  Finally the day arrives and you are all packed and ready.  the cab comes and you load up, heart pounding you are on your way.  The vacation has finally started and I have already had the time of my life just getting ready. 

When you are traveling through a destination whether it is the next state/province or a country half way across the world the experience of your five senses and the learning and growth that comes with it can never be replicated in any brick and mortar school.  It takes skill to keep your auto pilot mode at home and to really observe and experience to make the most of your travel experience.  Learning a few words and customs will help make you more attuned to what is going on around you. 

Questions:

1. What was the most memorable experience you had getting ready to go on a vacation?
2. What was the worst experience you had on the way to your destination?
3. What was the vacation that blew you away by exceeding your expectation the most?
4. What is the destination/destinations that you would go back to?
5. What is your dream travel plan?
6. What was the strangest custom you had to practice when travelling?