just to clarify on my first question, I would like to capture friend,family, and life as I travel?

I would like to buy a good camera, from the brand that has been sugested, canon seem to be the choice for everybody,the mega pixel is 12, but I'm double minded for there are other brand that also have the same pixel,so really what do you guys who have camera's suggest I do?

for you i think a canon powershot a580 or a720 would be the best choice.both are 7.1 mega pixel and have nice handling.do not buy expensive cams cause the only difference is in some setting that you may never use.