What do you collect on your travels?

Recently, PepsiCo unveiled its new, eco-friendly soda bottle. The bottle, the first of its kind, is made entirely from recycled plant materials: switch grass, pine bark, corn husks, and other materials. It is identical in shape and style to its predecessor and the new plastic is equally priced. PepsiCo plans to launch the product—which ultimately will consist of orange peels, oat hulls, potato scraps and other leftovers - with a few hundred thousand bottles in 2012. The new bottle marks an inevitable (and dare I say it, trendy) departure from our reliance on fossil fuels (most plastic is petroleum based). The message is not, of course, to curb your rampant consumerism, but instead to consume in ways that reduce your carbon footprint. Err, sort of. Ironically, despite the fact that these bottles are made from plant materials, they are not biodegradable or compostable. But they are recyclable… And that got me thinking. I tend to view discarded plastic bottles, and other man-made materials only in terms of their negative impact, but, what about the other ways these materials can be used? That is, if we're stuck with this trash anyways, how are the materials being used for the better? Here are some rather ingenious ways the humble plastic bottle and other trash has been up-cycled into something far greater than its initial intended use: Wat Pa Maha Chedio Kaew. Made from more than one million glass bottles, the temple lies roughly 400 miles northeast of Bangkok in the city of Khun Han. Collection of Chang and Heineken bottles began in 1984 when the monks began using discarded bottles to decorate their shelter. As word of the new building material spread, donations of bottles grew until they were able to build the current standing temple. Roughly 1.5 million bottles were used in its construction, and bottle caps play an integral part in design mosaic. Not surprisingly, over time the temple garnered the nickname "Wat Lan Kuad" or "Temple of Million Bottles". Spiral Island. Built by British artist Rishi Sowa, Spiral Island is an artificial floating island near Cancun. The first Spiral Island (66 ft by 54 ft), which Sowa began constructing in 1998, was destroyed by Hurricane Emily in 2005. The island was made by a placing bamboo and plywood platform on top of nets filled with approximately 250,000 discarded plastic bottles. The platform was then covered with sand and plants. It was strong enough to support a two-story home, solar oven, and self-composting toilet. The second Spiral Island (approx. 66 ft. in diameter) was built in 2008 using 100,000 bottles. It contains beaches, a house and solar panels. The island opened for tours in August 2008. The Corona Save the Beach Hotel. Mexican beer king Corona sponsors the Save the Beach Campaign, which aims to recover one European beach each year from human-caused pollution and damage. To gain attention for their campaign, last summer, German artist HA Schult built a two-story hotel in Rome entirely out of trash found on European beaches (12 tons of garbage was used!). The hotel opened for only 3-days, and could accommodate up to 10 people. What do you think about these initiatives? Does a stay in a trash hotel appeal to you? What other "green" projects have you seen on your travels? — Madeline Grimes MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: Have a Green Stay The Ecolodge Authority Baby Steps to Save the Earth

There are more ways than ever to tour Europe. Unfortunately, the trip just might be more complicated and more expensive than ever too. In an upcoming issue of Budget Travel, Trip Coach aims to help readers plan the big European vacation in the most rewarding, least stressful ways possible. First, we need to hear from you. In the comments section below, please enter your most pressing concerns and questions. For instance, you might be wondering… *What's the most sensible way to come up with a doable itinerary? *What destinations are overpriced? Which ones are up-and-coming and still affordable? *Any tips for saving on airfare during the peak summer months? *Any tips for saving when exchanging money? *Get around by bus? Rental car? River cruise? Ocean cruise? Fly? Train? Rail pass? Air pass? Some combination therein? *What are the pros and cons of hostels, hotels, apartments, and other forms of lodging? Now you tell us. Fire away with your questions, and we'll answer the best ones in the magazine. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL: London Booking Strategies Paris: 4 Easy Day Trips by Train Trattoria Heaven in Tuscany

Cherry trees may take center stage in the spring (as the numerous festivals around the world demonstrate), but they're not the only woody perennials that paint the landscape with colorful, fragrant blossoms this time of year. Here are the other trees that we love when they're in bloom: Plum Blossom Trees Plum trees look surprisingly similar to cherry blossoms and, it turns out, are cause for celebration as well. According to CNN, the city of Nanjing in China started celebrating the blossoms in 1995. The celebrations continue to this day with performances by folk singers and dance troupes and are decidedly less popular (and therefore less crowded) than cherry blossom festivals. While plum trees originated in China, they're no longer unique to the country—you can find them in Japan too, which also celebrates the pink and white blossoms in the spring (check out the Kairakuen Plum Blossom Festival in Mito, Japan). These trees typically flower between late February and mid March. Apple Blossom Trees I don't know about you, but when I think about apple trees I think about, well, apples. Before that juicy red fruit appears, however, these trees come alive with a lacy filigree of small, pink flowers that slowly turn white before falling from the branches. You can appreciate these fragrant blooms from April to September. If you want to celebrate them, consider a trip to Winchester in Shenandoah Valley for their annual Apple Blossom Festival. For the past 84 years this Virginia town has been honoring their apple trees with live music, dances, parades, and a 10K race. This year's festivities take place from April 25 through May 1. Pear Blossom Trees Similar to apple blossoms, pear trees come alive with thousands of delicate, snow-white flowers in the spring. The blooms start to appear in early to mid April and can last for up to a month. A quick internet search revealed that the pear blossom receives special attention in at least one U.S. state—Oregon. On Saturday, April 9 the town of Medford, Oregon celebrates its pear trees as it has done for the past 54 years, with a Pear Blossom Festival Parade. The parade is, of course, a highlight, but the celebration also includes a series of dance competitions, food-and-wine pairings, and a street fair. Are there any other blossoms worth celebrating? Tell us below! See more from Budget Travel 18 Gorgeous Cherry Blossom Photos 26 Stunning Ireland Photos 11 Places You Want to Be Right Now

Éirinn go brágh! Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, we're featuring your best pictures from around the Emerald Isle. Discover all the shades of green among lush landscapes, majestic castles and even experience a unique "Irish roadblock" (see photo #6). Feeling inspired? Find out how to explore the real castles of Ireland and why now is the best time to start planning your trip. Check out this great deal to Ireland and keep that camera handy. See all 26 photos in our slide show. RECENT READER SLIDE SHOWS Cherry Blossoms | Coastlines | Funny Signs NOW IN SEARCH OF... We're collecting your photos of glaciers and gardens. Upload them through myBudgetTravel, tag them, and check back in the coming weeks for a slide show of the best submissions.