Blog - Go Backpacking

Couples Travel: 5 Lessons Learned

Nearly three months into my big trip with my boyfriend, I gained insights into couples travel. Sure, we may have met traveling and gone on a few week-long trips here and there, but three months is travel and closeness on a different level.

Brooke and Pat on the Russian train. — Brooke and Pat on the Russian train

Above all, communicating with your partner is the most obvious and important lesson that can be reiterated. On a trip where you rely on each other every day, you need to be extra sure the other knows what you feel and want. Don't go thinking the other is a mind reader!

Besides that important lesson, here are my top five that perhaps other soon-to-be traveling couples will find helpful.

1. Keep Your Date Nights

I love travel because it's full of new experiences: new restaurants, environments, and sights. However, after a while, it gets tiring to run around from place to place and try to take it all in.

I recommend keeping a date night where you go out like normal, doing something familiar without the need to "see" or "do" in a travel sense. Get dressed nicely for a splurge dinner, or go to the movies (hopefully in English).

The night my boyfriend and I decided to head to an American-style steakhouse in Russia for a splurge dinner on our own felt like the ultimate treat. We didn't take any food photos or worry about budgets; no menu decoding was necessary. We just relaxed and felt comfortable.

Since my other half works long hours in his everyday Sydney life, I took care of most of the pre-trip prep. When that involves 3.5 months, seven countries, multiple visa applications, and a 3-week train trip through Russia coordinated with other travelers, it can get to the point where you're sitting at the computer, balling your eyes out because of the stress.

While he couldn't help much in the pre-travel days, the on-the-road delegation saved us. With my continued writing responsibilities and multiple stops over 3.5 months, we've each researched hostels, transport, and tours in a manner that made it so one person isn't getting burned out more than the other. I also recommend sharing translation/language duties if possible.

The time and effort I spent playing Russian translator in Kyrgyzstan were exhausting, so I was more than happy to hand over the duties of Mandarin in China to my boyfriend, who was willing to go the extra mile to learn.

couples camel riding — Riding camels with friends in Mongolia

3. Don't Keep to Yourselves

The joy of traveling with a loved one is spending quality time together, especially since you don't have to worry about leaving for work every day. And, even though taking advantage of every minute together is fun, don't forget to reach out and make friends with others along the way.

Some of our best moments have been befriending other travelers when out and about, and those connections help us put our travels into perspective and our time together.

4. Keep the Plans Relaxed

When it comes to travel, you never know how things will pan out until you get somewhere. If you're the type of person who wants to cram an itinerary full, keeping it busy from the time the plane lands and leaves, chances are there is just more chance of things going wrong.

It is one thing to have plans foiled when you're alone, but being with a partner and dealing with unmet expectations can cause stress, often leading to bickering.

Another consideration is that people get tired, sick, or prefer to participate in different activities that might pop up while on a trip. When I got pretty ill back at the end of April, which I'm sure resulted from too much hectic travel up until then, I couldn't do anything for a good week.

We were lucky to have a flexible schedule for the following few weeks, which allowed us to relax while I recovered without too much drama or the feeling that one partner was missing out on something amazing because of the inconvenience.

5. Keep a Little Distance So Your Heart Stays Fond

You don't have to travel to different cities for a few nights. The distance can be as simple as one person staying at the hostel while the other goes clothes shopping.

Our distance of choice on our trip has been my boyfriend heading off to the shops to pick up travel supplies and beer; it's always an adventure for him, and he always comes back with some great stories to share that are just his.

Other ideas involve zoning out with headphones, getting lost in books, or going alone for a walk or morning exercise. We all need breaks from time to time.

A Trip To Thailand's Antique Sam Chuk Market

[T]hailand is famous for its markets.

Fresh markets, flower markets, night markets, wholesale markets, floating markets... the list goes on and on. Some of the marketplaces in Thailand are used on a daily basis for business while other markets are only open on the weekends for recreational leisure.

A couple hours drive from central Bangkok is a tranquil market located in the middle of nowhere that happens to attract a flood of Thai tourists each weekend.

Known also as the "100 year old market," Sam Chuk is an old Thai village that has been well preserved. The wooden homes next to the Tha Jeen river make for a picturesque setting. While some stores sell antiques, at Sam Chuk the entire market is an antique.

Each weekend Sam Chuk turns into a place for Bangkok residents to escape the bustle of the city for a leisure day of walking, eating, and taking photos.

If you live at the market, you have two choices, a) open your doors and sell something or serve something or, b) leave your doors shut and miss out on the surge of traffic each weekend.

Fortunately, nearly everyone who owns a home at Sam Chuk chooses the former option.

There were all sorts of things to buy and browse at Sam Chuk.

This particular lady had maneuvered her way in between stores to display her dried salted fish and attempt to grab a piece of the action.

While many of the stores at the market sold traditional foods and speciality items, others choose to sell things like stuffed animal hats.

Delicious duck served at Sam Chuk Market

Though as I mentioned before, there are lots of different types of markets in Thailand, there's one thing you can always count on: food.

At the entrance of Sam Chuk were a few street carts piled high with tempting roasted and soy sauce boiled duck. As soon as a customer would purchase a bird, the vendor would slice and dice it up and have it piled into a styrofoam container in a matter of seconds.

Have you ever seen a pork ball the size of a softball?

Pork balls are basically pig trimmings and pieces of fat that are all ground up, formed into a ball, steamed, and served with a spicy dipping sauce.

Most of the time pork balls in Thailand are no larger than a standard pingpong ball, but at Sam Chuk they've taken things to the next level.

I'm not joking, these pork balls were literally the size of a softball. I saw a kid biting into one and it was easily half the size of his face.

For lunch we stopped at a relaxing restaurant to eat a Thai dish known as miang pla too.

The dish included a selection of fresh vegetables, a fried fish, soft rice noodles and a to-die-for spicy peanut sauce. It was wonderful.

Khao Mak is made from normal rice that is slightly fermented to give it a nice zippy alcoholic tinge but not anything overpowering like a shot of rice wine.

It's kind of like an alcoholic rice pudding, but instead of being smooth, it's textured with grains of rice. Let me tell you, khao mak is not only delicious, it's addictive too.

A visit to Sam Chuk market wouldn't be complete without a bowl of homemade Thai style coconut ice cream. It was creamy, not overly sweet, and purely coconut. Served in a half coconut shell and sprinkled with roasted peanuts, the ice cream was extremely enjoyable.

Rich history, a friendly environment, and delicious food is a winning combination. Sam Chuk market is yet another great place to spend a leisurely day in Thailand taking life at a slow soothing pace.

Is ESL Teaching Right for You?

esl workshop — ESL group workshop. (photo by rtlibrary)

[O]ne of the easiest answers to anyone (that speaks English) who is looking for ways to long term travel these days is to teach English abroad.

I'm guilty of tossing this one out there, too, to all the readers looking for more information on how I did this in the past.

Truth is, however, that teaching English abroad is not the job for everyone.

So, before packing up your life and moving over to random country X that liked your smile and ability to form a sentence in your native tongue, you might want to consider some of these thoughts to see if this opportunity is actually the best option for you.

1. Do I like teaching?

I know, seems pretty obvious, right? If you've taught before in any capacity, then this one is easy, but others might need to think about the parts that are involved with teaching.

More specifically:

Do you enjoy talking in front of small groups?
Are you capable of being patient with students that might be struggling?
Do you have the ability to explain yourself clearly using dumbed-down language, or choosing different words/phrases?

Imagine yourself running into a person on the streets who is in your country as a tourist and speaks very little English. His need for help requires you to search for other ways to communicate your answer, whether it be drawing pictures, using gestures, or using very basic language.

When that person finally understands you, did you get joy from the assistance and challenge? If so, you could enjoy yourself as a teacher!

esl game — ESL game in a classroom. (photo by goldendragon613)

2. How do I cope with new living situations?

Take it back to age 18, possibly when you moved away to college. Now that was a completely new and crazy living situation, was it not?!

How did you feel then? Did you go through some down moments where you just wanted to have your own space and old life back?

Well, multiply that feeling by 10 because living in a foreign country (depending on where you go) can be extremely stressful.

If you don't speak the language, or if you don't enjoy the local food, home can scream for your return louder than you thought possible – ultimately causing you to break your teaching contract early.

3. Am I prepared financially?

Some travelers choose the option of teaching English abroad because they are low on cash and want to make some money. Unfortunately, it is just not wise to pick up your life and move overseas if you still don't have some money in the bank.

Several situations can occur that require additional funds:

You might not get paid for several weeks after arrival.
Your pay might not cover your daily living expenses (transport, rent, food, etc.).
Unexpected illness, injury, or crime could result in extra expenses.

My personal preference, if anything, is to have at least enough money put away for a plane ticket home – just in case.

esl class — A potential ESL classroom. (photo by cambodia4kidsorg)

4. Am I willing to fulfill my contract length?

Teaching contracts come in all shapes and sizes with the majority of schools hoping for the longer term employee.

There is a big difference between 4 months and 2 years when it comes to living abroad, so it is important to think long-term to whether or not this move might be right for you.

Not only does breaking a contract cause issues for a school that has spent time training you and getting you set up, but it can also cause you to lose out on benefits, like a return flight home or bonus pay, or to get a bad wrap when applying to future schools.

5. Have I done my research?

Do not accept -- I repeat – do not accept a job until you've done your research. This includes researching the local customs and culture, the school you're working at, and hopefully interviewing past teachers at the same location.

It is also good to find out the teaching style at your school of choice in advance. Some schools may require you to prepare your own lessons on your own time, which can mean you are working for less money per hour than you initially thought.

Even if the situation or the school might not be the best, at least knowing about possible struggles in advance can lessen the stress while abroad.

And less stress often means a teacher is happier and more likely to stick around longer.

Good preparation and research is key to having a successful time as an ESL teacher abroad. Do you have any additional questions to add to this list?

5 Classic Ways To Travel In The UK

There's no denying that the UK has a bit of everything with its selections of classic old buildings, ruins and museums, mountains and valleys, lakes and rivers, national parks and a hell of a lot of coastlines.

So what are the best ways to travel around and see as much of it as you possibly can for the least amount of outlay?

1. Railing

Train travel around the UK can be a thing of glory, for instance, the stretch of track that runs alongside the beaches of Dawlish in Devon, where trains are sprayed with the breakers when seas are rough.

How about a train ride from London to Scotland?

That takes in most of what the British mainland has to offer and if you book far enough in advance and plan sufficiently well it needn't be too expensive either.

2. Canalling

The Victorians had a lot of great ideas, one of them was the railway system, but another was the wonderful interlocking network of canals that runs through much of England.

A truly unique way to see the backwaters of the country, and perfect for a group of friends to share, hiring a canal boat is reasonably cheap and not only gets you to as many country pubs as you could wish for, but also takes you into the heartlands of great cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and of course London.

3. Caravanning

Caravans and their close cousins 'mobile homes' can be a really fun, modern way to traveling around different places whilst staying in the comfort of your own 'home'.

Obviously, for either option, you need at least one trustworthy driver, preferably two, and a good plan of campsites to stay at.

There are websites that can help you with this and offer a comprehensive list of great campsites and caravan parks.

Traveler reviews can also be found within their website, giving you access to honest, accurate opinions.

As always, there are plenty of things which you need to obtain in preparation for a trip by caravan.

If you intend to two your own mobile home then make sure you invest in the necessary caravan insurance (like Caravan Club’s Touring Caravan Insurance Package) and consider taking someone who can share the driving.

4. Coaching

The UK has a great coach system and is perfect for those looking for a relaxing way to explore the country.

Prices are usually fairly cheap but you may have to put up with a slightly more cramped environment than you are used to.

Of course, this is often seen as part of the fun of the adventure and is unlikely to deter those who are looking for a charming and affordable way to explore their home country.

5. Motorcycling

Motorbikes are the ultimate in 'road trip' cool and although going up the M6 doesn't quite have the same ring to it as traversing Route 66, the sense of freedom you get from two wheels is paradoxically much greater than from four.

There are several specialized companies that hire out motorbikes but again you obviously need a driving license and the necessary protective gear to make this option viable.

Glorious Fresh Chinese Noodles

It's still a touchy subject. Which country invented noodles?

Italians, Arabs, and Chinese all have their versions and make their own culinary claims about their contributions to the noodles of this world.

I'll remain neutral on the subject of who can claim noodle fame and just focus on the facts (the delicious facts) about some of the finest noodles I've ever eaten in China.

I've had all sorts of dry pasta, spaghetti noodles, an unhealthy amount of instant ramen noodles (mostly during university), and lots of other noodle dishes.

But it wasn't until I had an opportunity to visit Yangshuo, China, that I truly realized the potential of noodles and just how delicious they can be.

Noodles have been around for a very long time in China, over 4000 years to be more specific, and it's estimated that they have been a staple Chinese food for at least 2000 - 3000 years.

After traveling and eating through China, I can say my perspective on noodles has been elevated to new levels. Instant ramen will no longer do.

Hand pulled noodles in China — Hand-pulled noodles in China

There are countless different kinds of noodles in China, and I know that I wasn't even able to eat a fraction of the noodle dishes in my brief visit, but what I did eat was spectacular.

Lamian is one of the most famous and most beloved types of noodles in China.

It is most commonly made of wheat flour that's kneaded into a smooth dough. The fascinating part of lamian is the process of turning the blob of dough into intricate noodles.

The chef works the dough by hand, pulling and stretching it out to create a strand. At first, the process starts slowly, but as the noodle thins out and grows in length, the chef has to slap the dough back and forth like a jump rope.

He continually folds it over in his hands and then repeats the process as the noodle gets longer and thinner. Done correctly, the chef ends up with just a single string of noodles as thin or even thinner than a standard spaghetti noodle.

The lamian is then bathed in boiling water, and the noodles proceed to be added to soup, stir fried, or served as the base of a dish.

One of my favorite lamian dishes in China was the simple combination of freshly boiled noodles topped with egg and tomato.

The subtle flavor of stir fried egg and tomato didn't overpower the noodles, so they remained the highlighting taste of the dish.

Single strand of delicious Lamian noodles — A single strand of delicious Lamian noodles

Another lamian classic that I couldn't get enough of was the cold hand-pulled noodles. After the noodles were boiled, they were dunked in room temperature water, flash cooled, and topped with cucumber slices, carrots, and beef.

Finally, the noodles were doused in a sesame-infused vinegary dressing to give them ultimate flavor.

A spoon of dry chili flakes mixed in, and I could slurp these down all day.

Taking the same blob of wheat dough (used to make lamian) is another noodle that I refer to as the "knife chipped noodle."

Instead of hand stretching these, the chef grabs an acutely sharp knife and slices off bite-sized pieces of dough right into a boiling cauldron of water.

With incredible precision, chefs can accumulate enough noodles for an entire plate in just a few seconds of slicing.

This kind of noodle is best-enjoyed stir fried with soy sauce along with a few vegetables and pieces of beef or pork.

Fresh rice noodles are also prevalent in China, though they aren't as spectacular to watch being made (I think the texture of rice noodles wouldn't cooperate the way wheat does).

Rice noodles in China are delicious in both soups and stir-fries, spicy soup being my preferred version.

No matter who is credited with influencing the world with noodles, one thing is sure - noodles are a carbohydrate gem contribution to global cuisine.

When you visit China, be sure to take full advantage of the delicious hand-made noodles.

5 Travel Hot Spots in Western China

Western China, namely the Xinjiang region, is quite far off many travelers' radars.

Being on the farthest western area of the country, the region is often bypassed in favor of exploring the dense east coast.

However, if you are looking to experience a truly "different China" and explore some of the more foreign and lesser-known cultures -- make sure you spend some time visiting the amazing Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Unknown to many Western travelers, China is home to over 50 ethnic groups. Western China, being so close to many other countries, draws in people from Mongolia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and even India.

This region, about a sixth of the size of China, is home to some of the most authentic towns and interesting places to see the cultural diversity and historic spots along the ancient Silk Road trading route.

But, given its expansive size, the following list of destinations in the region should help a would-be traveler make better plans:

1. Kashgar

The people are amicable in Xinjiang, despite a fairly significant language barrier.

English is not that common in towns like Kashgar, besides a small handful of operators in the hospitality industry, some shopkeepers, and, of course, expats.

From the number of young children looking and saying "hello" to the strange foreigners (us) on the street, it seems likely that there may be a little more English spoken in the years to come.

Unlike most of China, Mandarin is barely spoken in Kashgar and some of the smaller towns.

The Han Chinese population is tiny in Kashgar, so even if you speak Mandarin, it is probably best to learn a few Uyghur phrases.

2. Turpan

Turpan is an ancient city, which was one of the most significant stops along the Silk Road.

The town now thrives on tourism, with several key attractions located in or near the town.

Jiaohe is an ancient city, whose ruins have been preserved a short distance outside of town.

There are also some caves, the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which are located about 45 kilometers to the east, and more than 40 of them contain murals.

This area is known for grapes, especially those turned to raisins, and it is possible to reach a place called Grape Gully just a short 10 kilometers from the city.

3. Urumqi

Urumqi is the largest city and capital of Xinjiang – with a population of around 2.7 million people and a lot more signs of Western and Chinese development than other areas in Western China.

Urumqi is the most easily accessible entry point for most tourists looking to experience Western China.

Most towns in the Uyghur Autonomous Region are accessed by smaller planes, trains, or buses that go through Urumqi.

While it is a large city, it is still unique in the blend of people and cultures.

After visiting Kashgar, it is easy to spot street food vendors making flatbreads, grilling kebabs, and meeting a taxi driver who speaks Uyghur instead of Mandarin.

In Urumqi, there are many sights to see, such as the Xinjiang Geological and Mineral Museum – which has an extensive collection of interesting rock and crystal formations, particularly those with modern significance as geology is key to the region's economy.

When we went, the museum had free entry, although unfortunately a lot of the information was not available in English.

4. Karakul Lake

The Karakul lake is famous for being surrounded by snow-capped mountains and is sometimes called the "black lake" or "mountain lake" by locals – at least when they tried conversing with us in English.

The area is renowned for its natural beauty and can be experienced with more than just a day trip if you arrange to either camp or stay in the small town nearby.

You are also likely to see the traditional yurts or gers in close proximity to the lake, which local people still use today.

5. Hotan

Also commonly known as "Khotan", Hotan is a famous town situated right next to the Taklamakan Desert.

The people of Hotan are primarily Uyghur and adapted to the harsh climate of extreme heat in the summer and freezing temperatures in the winter.

It is well-known for the mummies which have been discovered there, including some which are now displayed in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Museum in Urumqi (great free museum by the way).

While in Khotan, you can see some of the sites, the Sunday markets and the Hotan Cultural Museum, which is a bit smaller, but also has a couple of mummified bodies and relics from centuries ago.

Top 5 Budget Travel Activities in Virginia

These are not simple economic times; many of us have had to make sacrifices and find ways to do more with less. For many, a vacation is an apparent sacrifice, but we're here to show you that you can travel and have a great time even on a tight budget.

These types of opportunities exist in every state and province in North America, but this article will focus on Virginia. The following list presents five awesome Virginia travel activities that will not break your budget.

1. Appalachian Trail

McAfee Knob on the Appalachian Trail — McAfee Knob is the most photographed site on the Appalachian Trail (photo: Roanoke Outside)

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a marked hiking trail that runs for approximately 2,184 miles from Mount Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia. More than a quarter of the trail is in Virginia. Visitors can hike and bike the trail, and get access to secluded wilderness areas, national parks, formal campgrounds, and areas to fish.

Some of the parks and campgrounds charge fees, but most of the Appalachian Trail is free. You can easily create a family adventure that costs nothing other than food, supplies, and transportation to and from the trail.

2. Virginia Beach

Virginia offers a wide selection of beaches for tourists to enjoy. The most famous and popular is Virginia Beach. All public beaches in Virginia are free. They generally require a parking fee, but visitors can even avoid that if they're willing to walk a few blocks.

There are restaurants and vendors, especially near the boardwalks, but beachgoers can also bring their food and non-alcoholic beverages. Lifeguards are on duty from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Surfing and rollerblading on the boardwalk are allowed, and areas have been assigned for dogs.

3. Virginia Zoo

The Virginia Zoo is an excellent budget option. Kids from ages 2 to 11 get in for $9. Younger children get in free, adults for $11, and senior citizens for $10. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a ticket gives you all-day access.

The zoo is immense, and there is so much to do that you likely can't do it all in a single day. Almost all of the zoo's activities are free, but the train, which is one of the most popular, costs an additional $2 per head.

The zoo offers many dining opportunities, but families can pack their own lunches and dinners. There are also picnic areas where you can relax and eat.

4. Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg is a wonderfully diverse area with a lot to do. Outside of the immediate area, there are numerous battlefields and historic sites.

The majority of these places are completely free to visit. Even places within Colonial Williamsburg that charge usually only charge a few dollars or so.

The most significant costs associated with the area are food and lodging. Bringing your own food can limit food costs, and staying at a motel just outside of Colonial Williamsburg can save you a lot.

5. Boating and Fishing

Virginia provides numerous opportunities for boating and fishing, and it is certainly possible to have a good time on a limited budget.

If you plan to captain a motorized boat, the state does require you to pass a Virginia boater safety course, but it also accepts the equivalent from another state or province. Also, Virginia does have freshwater fishing licenses, but they are only used in specific areas.

There are numerous lakes and rivers in the state where you can camp and fish without paying anything at all. So grab your backpack and head for a fun-filled adventure in Virginia!

Travelling Sri Lanka

The Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka's most important Buddhist temple and home to the Tooth Relic. (photo: S J Pinkney)

[D]escribed by many travel writers as a ‘magical place’ Sri Lanka lives up to expectations and often surpasses them.

The Sri Lankan climate is a major factor to consider when you are making your plans to visit this island, the country boasts not one but two monsoon seasons, though having taken this into account, be prepared to explore and enjoy.

Travelling Seasons

The driest times of the year to embark on your Sri Lanka holidays are between April and September especially if you plan to take in the awe-inspiring historical wonders of the ‘Cultural Triangle or the stunning east coast beaches, including the amazing Trincomalee beach, famous for its whales, or the surfer’s paradise at Arugam Bay.

Alternatively, escape the cold and the damp of the Northern Hemisphere from December to March and take advantage of Sri Lanka’s other dry season and head for the sun and sea on the island’s West coast.

The hippies of the 1960's/70's first brought this part of the island to fame and if you head off from the capital Colombo moving down the west coast to the port of Galle you’ll be able to take in the esoteric charms of this former Dutch colonial city.

Expect The Unexpected

The Hill Country is also dry between December and March but a mellower climate can produce a greater influx of other travellers and tourists, you have been warned.

The Sri Lankan Hill country tends to have a more temperate climate in general than the rest of the island but even this area isn’t spared the odd torrential downpour or ten.

The colonial masters of yore built their tea plantations here and there are trains that can transport you from one plantation to another while enjoying the stunning mountainous landscaping and sipping a refreshing cup of tea.

Celestial Beauty

If you want to take your breath away, why not visit World’s End where a flat plateau suddenly makes way for a sheer drop of 880 metres.

Alternatively you could always go to the beginning of the bible and visit ‘Adam’s Peak,’ known locally as ‘Sri Pada’ where you can see the footprint of the Buddha on the mountain summit, this famous sight has now become a multi-religious shrine.

Be prepared for an energetic 2,243 metre climb and consult local guides about the weather at the top of the mountain on the day of your visit.

Accommodation

Having a limited budget does not mean missing out on any of the eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, admiring the ruined ancient temples of Anuradhpura in the Cultural triangle or trekking through the Sinharaja National Park.

Many of these areas run schemes whereby you can sample authentic Sri Lankan life by staying with a local family through the ‘Home Stay Accommodation’ scheme.

The South and Western regions offer a wide selection of hostels but make sure that your bed is provided with a mosquito net.

95% of Sri Lankan youth is said to travel by backpacking so, when in doubt ask a local traveller.

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Disclosure: This post was written by Celina Bledowska, a journalist and author who is familiar with traveling on a shoestring both overseas and in the UK, and brought to you by SelectiveAsia.com.

Packing List for the Amazon Jungle

Tomorrow, I fly from Lima to Puerto Maldonado in Southeastern Peru for my first foray into the Amazon.

While the Amazon is a new jungle for me, I have spent some time in the rainforests of Costa Rica and Belize.

In the latter, I stayed at an adventure lodge with no electricity.

I am expecting this experience will be similar, especially if the Howler Monkeys have anything to say about it.

This packing list for the Amazon jungle takes into account advice from Rainforest Expeditions, as well as the following:

I'll be in a boat 7 hours (each way) to get to and from the lodges
It'll be hot and humid, with unpredictable rain showers
No electric lights at night (only kerosene lamps)

Backpacks

According to the trip notes, luggage* will be hand-carried at various stages en route to/from the lodges, and it's recommended that the weight per piece not exceed 15 kg (32 lbs).

My regular pack weighs in at just 10 kg, and I plan to reduce this weight even further by leaving behind some non-essentials at the company's Puerto Maldonado HQ before we board our first boat.

Large Gregory Chaos backpack
Regular size daypack

*It should go without saying that it's easier to carry a backpack than a wheeled suitcase for a trip like this.

Clothing

GoLite rain jacket
GoLite hoody (in case the nights are cold, also suitable for mosquito protection at night)
Mountain Hardwear short sleeve base layer
ExOfficio short sleeve t-shirt
3 cotton t-shirts
REI long sleeve base layer
1 pair of lightweight, REI convertible pants/shorts
Volcom board shorts (on the off-chance we go swimming with alligators)
5 pairs of ExOfficio boxers
2 pairs of SmartWool socks, 2 pairs of low-cut cotton socks
Merrell hiking sneakers
Baseball cap (sun protection)
Bandanna

Electronics

iPhone 4S
Canon S100 camera w/soft case and battery charger
13? MacBook Air w/AC cord (for transferring photos each night to an external hard drive)
1 TB external hard drive (photo storage)
16 GB SanDisk SD card
2 GB SD card (back up)
Petzl Zipka LED headlamp w/3 new AAA batteries
Casio Pathfinder watch
Creative Style 8 GB mp3 player

Miscellaneous

Binoculars (unfortunately I don't have a pair, but they make a huge difference for wildlife and bird spotting)
Oakley sunglasses
2 Sea to Summit dry sacks
MSR Packtowl
Toiletries
Sunscreen
Insect repellent (30% DEET)
Optional: Your preferred pills for Malaria prevention (it's present in Tambopata, but "extremely rare")

Documents and Money

Money Belt
Passport and any required entry visas
Immunization yellow book (Yellow Fever shot is required)
Proof of travel/health insurance
Cash - small denomination bills for incidentals, alcohol, souvenirs, and tips
Debit card
Credit card (back-up)

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Disclosure: This tour is in partnership with Rainforest Expeditions. As always, any opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Dave's 160-page, all-original Lima Travel Guide is now available for Kindle.

7 Thrilling Adventures on the Island of Majorca

Located just off the coast of Spain, Majorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands archipelago. Sandy beaches, rocky coastlines, turquoise waters, and the warm climate all add to the popularity of the island as a holiday destination.

Majorca Island (photo by markwoodbury) — Majorca Island (photo: Mark Woodbury)

The island's Mediterranean location and great accommodation make it a breeze to organize an escape to Majorca.

While many choose to recline in the warm sunshine, sipping cocktails for the majority of their visit, the island is also a wonderful place to explore the outdoors and take part in adventurous activities.

The formation of Majorca created a diverse landscape filled with rocky coves, sandy beaches, caves, canyons, and dramatic cliffs. This combination of terrain makes the island a perfect place for those looking to satisfy an adrenaline craving.

Here are seven fun activities that are sure to get your adventure blood pumping!

Majorca Activities

1. Caving

The vast network of limestone caves in Majorca is one of the many adventure draws to the island. While you can visit one of the touristy caves, the best way to see what's underground is by taking a caving excursion.

Discover incredible rock formations and the unique "diamond room," a cave where the rocks shimmer like gems. Caving, though not for the claustrophobic, isn't always about having to squeeze through tiny holes.

While some tours cater to more serious cavers, there are also plenty that don't require much physical fitness and where you won't have to wriggle through impossible slots. Choose the caving expedition that you'll be most comfortable with.

2. SCUBA Diving

Being an island, Majorca is a paradise for those looking to SCUBA dive and see the wonders of the underwater world.

The crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea, paired with an ideal climate, make diving around the island a great activity. From reefs to caves and even a few shipwrecks, there are many fascinating dive sites to explore.

3. Sea Kayaking

There's nothing more relaxing and adventurous at the same time as boarding a kayak and paddling yourself through gorgeous scenery. The rocky coastline of Majorca and sandy beach inlets make kayaking all the more enjoyable.

There's also the opportunity to paddle through water-filled caves, see blowholes, and glide through the turquoise waters. Guided sea kayaking is a fun activity for the entire family on your holidays in Majorca.

For those wanting to experience the coastline from a different perspective beyond kayaking, you can even charter a boat in Mallorca and discover hidden coves and secluded beaches only accessible by sea.

4. Cliff Jumping

Looking for one of the ultimate ways to get an adrenaline rush? Cliff jumping might be the activity for you!

Cliff jumping in Majorca (photo by bettod)

Once again, it's the incredibly rocky terrain and coastline of Majorca that creates the perfect environment for cliff jumping. There are countless places to take a plunge from a cliff into the sparkling water below.

While jumping from any cliff is highly dangerous, several tour companies on the island specialize in cliff jumping and also offer tips on safe jumping methods and secret cliff jumping spots.

5. Coasteering

Coasteering, an activity that can be explained as a natural obstacle course, is a relatively new addition to the list of adventurous things to do in Majorca.

It involves a little bit of everything: hiking, rock climbing, swimming, cliff jumping, and even rappelling. Grab a helmet, a life vest, and some protective gear, and you'll be ready for an ultimate trek by foot along the rocky coastline of Majorca.

5. Paragliding

Paragliding is the perfect adventure for anyone wishing to see Majorca from the sky. The mountainous terrain and the perfect wind conditions make paragliding so ideal.

While some of the other activities on this list require the use of physical strength, tandem paragliding with an expert instructor really only requires you to have a little guts and a great sense of adventure.

7. Mountain Biking

Whether you are a beginner or an expert, Majorca is a fantastic place to hop on a mountain bike and take the ride of your lifetime.

The island offers a trail for just about anything, from a soothing, slow-paced ride along the coastline to an exciting downhill mountain cruise. The panoramic views you'll experience on a mountain bike excursion in Majorca will be nothing short of stunning!

While relaxation should be a major part of any visit to Majorca, a holiday to the island wouldn't be complete without doing a few adventurous activities as well.

Whether you aim to take on the island's most adrenaline-rushing activity or to take your entire family on an adventure they'll never forget, Majorca has so many opportunities waiting to be discovered.

A Traditional Korean Feast in Seoul, South Korea

A traditional Korean feast of epic proportions. — Korean feast of epic proportions

Believe it or not, when we sat down, it was an empty table. Experiencing a traditional Korean feast truly showcases why South Korea is a country that takes extraordinary pride in its cuisine, and rightfully so, because most of the dishes are absolutely scrumptious.

On top of that, within Korean cuisine, many dishes have been prepared and eaten virtually the same way for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Korean food is wholly intertwined with its history and culture.

Before we get started, let me explain one of the most essential parts of any Korean meal: banchan. In English, it means side dishes, and each Korean feast is served with a wide variety of banchan.

The relationship between a Korean main dish and banchan is similar to that of a hamburger and French fries, yet it's even tighter.

The most common banchan is Korea's omnipresent chili-pickled napa cabbage, known as kimchi, but there are also hundreds of other items.

Nomadic Samuel (far left), me, and Audrey. — Nomadic Samuel (far left), me, and Audrey

On a lovely Saturday, fellow bloggers Nomadic Samuel, That Backpacker, and I met up in central Seoul for an epic Korean feast.

We hunted through the narrow alleyways of Insadong (not far from Bukchon Hanok village) before finally settling on a homey-looking restaurant tucked away from the main walking street.

Our goal was to find a Korean "set menu lunch" which can be described as nothing less than a surprise meal that includes probably the same dishes the restaurant owner's family is eating.

It's really a meal that's composed of whatever happens to be on hand - a home-cooked feast at a restaurant.

Taking off our shoes and leaving them at the doorway, we entered and took seats at a traditional table about a foot off the ground.

The first thing that arrived at the table was a fantastic Korean-style pancake filled with veggies and fried to a crisp. Dipped in a soy vinegar sauce and paired with a bite of kimchi, it was an extraordinary way to begin the meal.

Gelatinous Squares topped with chili sauce! — Gelatinous squares topped with chili sauce!

These gelatinous squares tasted almost like earthy jello. They were served cool, and had it not been for the outstanding chili garlic sauce they were doused in, they would have actually been quite plain.

Luckily, the combination was spectacular and oddly addictive (must have been that sauce).

Japchae was a part of our traditional Korean feast. — Japchae

Japchae is a very typical South Korean dish made from stir fried translucent sweet potato noodles. The noodles were combined with a variety of ingredients, including carrots, mushrooms, and green onions.

Slightly chewy and wonderfully fragrant with sesame oil, japchae made a great addition to the feast.

Home Cooked Korean Food — Home-cooked Korean food

When we thought there was no possible way to add more food to the table, the smiling waitress came with yet another few dishes to serve.

This dish was a chicken-and-potato stew that almost reminded me of a Thai curry, minus the coconut milk. Tender chicken, soft potatoes, and a hint of sweet kimchi were the notable aspects of this comfort food.

I'm a serious rice eater, sure, I love dishes of any kind solo as well, but no matter what cuisine I'm eating, everything tastes better to me with rice. Making a mistake, I asked for rice, only to find out it was still on its way!

It was no ordinary plain steamed rice; instead, it was medium-grain Korean rice mixed with beans and Chinese plums, served to our table in sizzling earthenware pots.

After mixing the rice and transferring it to a fresh bowl, hot water was poured into the earthenware pot (which included crunchy pieces of scorched rice) to create a soothing soup.

Though we ate at a mainstream restaurant, it honestly felt more like we were the guests of honor at a local Korean's home. Our traditional Korean feast was exceptional. The diversity of flavors was exciting, and the satisfaction of the entire meal was invaluable.

5 Simple Ways to Pack Your Backpack Lighter

You don't have to be a minimalist to pack lighter when you travel. It's not about scaling everything down to the point where you claim you own just "five" things. Instead, packing light is about being flexible, making transportation easier to manage, and saving your back from strain throughout your journey.

You may have already seen my packing list; here are five ways I lower the overall weight and size of my backpack.

1. Use a Smaller Bag

This might be an obvious way to scale back on the things you bring with you, but seriously speaking, we'll probably fill it up no matter what size our bag is.

Have you ever seen a backpacker walking about with a half-empty backpack? No, most of the time, I see backpacks maxed out and overflowing with extra things hanging from strings and carabiners.

One of the easiest ways to pack lighter is to use a smaller bag; that way, when your bag is full, it won't be too big.

2. Bring Less Clothing

Clothing is one of those things that I see nearly everyone brings too much of. Yes, you need the basics, and you may need a few extras, but do you need seven shirts and seven pairs of underwear?

I travel with no more than three sets of clothes, sometimes with just two. Now, of course, you have to consider the weather conditions where you'll be traveling, but think about how many clothes you need.

Remember, you can wash your clothes in a sink each day or even buy new clothes wherever you are.

Here are my toiletries... — Here are my toiletries.

3. Hold Back on Toiletries

I've honestly seen travelers with toiletry kits that are nearly the size of my entire backpack! Stuffed inside are full bottles of shampoo, whole boxes of band-aids, facial creams, and who knows what else.

Depending on your own physical needs and comforts, you can probably still cut back on some of the unnecessary toiletries. Also, remember again that just about everything toiletry-wise will be available in the nearest store in whatever city you'll be in.

4. One Pair of All-Purpose Shoes

Shoes are incredibly bulky and often quite heavy, but they are indeed important, depending on where you're going or the activities you'll be doing.

The way I travel, I bring one all-purpose pair of shoes that I use for walking, hiking, or jogging, and I carry a pair of flip-flops that I prefer to wear most of the time.

These two footwear options are likely all you'll need for a typical backpacking trip, and any additional footwear will only add weight to your bag with minimal use.

5. Fewer Books

I don't mean less reading material (I think reading is a great thing to do when you travel), but I do mean fewer physical reams of paper that are outrageously heavy.

I know it is nice to have a physical book to read while traveling (maybe one or two), but a whole stack of books may not be worth their weight. You can often find used books when you need them or trade with other travelers.

Additionally, consider an e-book reader, which allows you to store hundreds of books on a compact device.

When it comes to guidebooks, either don't bother and rely solely on the information you find online, or I've seen people tear out only the valuable pages from guides and discard the useless portions.

I'm an advocate for traveling in a way that makes you feel most comfortable, and we each have our unique wants and needs. However, I firmly believe that lightening the load is directly correlated with getting the most out of your trip.

These are just five suggestions, but there are countless other ways to cut weight from your bag, allowing you to travel with ease and give your back a break.

Auschwitz - Be a Witness, a Video by Ricky Thind

Auschwitz - Be a Witness from Ricky Thind

"Auschwitz - Be a Witness is a video I did for Hampshire College.

The 'Be a Witness' short had a main aim; to bring across the tragic reality of war on civil liberties; its consequence's on its survivors and to help them understand more about the psychology of humans during genocide.

Trying to inspire young people to do anything is hard enough but getting them to visit Poland maybe needed something like this. You can tell history was a favourite of mine in high school.

Editor's note: Video contains graphic and archival content. Video for educational purposes only.

Music: Jack Peñate - No One Lied"

Photo Essay: Visiting Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is a huge, sprawling mega-city, and though it seemed intimidating at first, after spending a few days there I soon realized that the majority of the central part of the city revolves around the Seoul N Tower on top of Namsan mountain (pictured straight ahead).

The Gyeongbukgung Palace is one of Seoul's most iconic landmarks.

Originally built in the 14th century, the palace has experienced an up and down history of being destroyed and rebuilt.

Now the compound is open to thousands of locals and tourists that leisurely browse and relax on the palace grounds.

Seoul just wouldn't be the same without bustling markets. The Namdaemun Market in central Seoul is one of the oldest and largest in the city.

You can buy all sorts of locally made Korean products, clothes, and there's even an indoor section that's full of imported foods from around the world.

If you're looking for fresh seafood you've got to check out the Noryangjin fish market.

Directly in the center of skyrise buildings is the traditional Korean Jogyesa Buddhist Temple.

On the outside of the temple there is an ancient tree that is strung with impressively bright pink, green and blue paper lanterns.

To be honest, when I first showed up at the Korean War Memorial and Museum I wasn't all that thrilled.

However after walking around and exploring the selection of real tanks and interactive military vehicles I was impressed.

The Bukchon Hanok village is one of the best places to take a stroll in Seoul.

The traditional style of village offers a chance to catch a glimpse of historical Seoul.

On one street there's also a good selection of tempting street snacks!

What would Seoul be without delicious food? It would certainly be a lot less entertaining, but we don't have to worry, because I can assure you there's absolutely no shortage of food in Seoul.

When I was there, my absolute favorite place for Korean food was at the Gwangjang Market.

For a nicer sit-down meal, nothing beats a Korean barbecue.

Sitting at a table and cooking raw meat on a grill right before your nose is simply one of the joys of being in South Korea!

People from around the world visit Seoul with a mission to go shopping. Myeongdong is probably the most famous and most popular shopping streets in the city.

Each day countless people come to purchase cosmetics, bright colored tennis shoes, and cheaper street clothing.

When the sun dies down, Seoul stays alive.

The endless shopping, the scrumptious food and the friendly spirit of Seoul make it a wonderful city with so much to offer!

How to Get Around Kyrgyzstan: The Real Adventure

kyrgyzstan road — A Kyrgyzstan road - many still dirt. (photo: lukas)

It seems that a few of my Kyrgyzstan-based articles, both here and on my blog, have been inspiring quite a few people to want to travel to Kyrgyzstan.

However, there are still questions, like how to get around the country, popping in my inbox.

Well, I can say that getting around the country of Kyrgyzstan can be an adventure in itself.

Several options are available, from shared taxis to marshrutkas (the minivans) and even long-distance buses.

Bishkek west station — The west station, or new station, in Bishkek, is where you can find taxis, marshrutkas, and buses.

Shared Taxis

For a foreigner, I find the shared taxis from one city to another to be the most comfortable... and I use the word "comfortable" lightly.

Typically, you will be in a car of 4 to 6 people (depending on the model), and you pay per seat.

In Bishkek, shared taxis congregate at the West Bus Station, or the New Bus Station as it is also known.

If you need to head anywhere, arrive in the morning hours, and the taxi owners or "taxi pimps" will pretty much find you.

Just say the city where you're heading, and someone will point you in the direction of a taxi.

taxi station in kochkor — This street in Kochkor is lined with cars acting as long-distance taxis.

The price for a 3-hour journey to Kochkor or the edge of Lake Issyk-Kul will typically run 300 to 350 som per person.

You do have the ability to buy out an entire car if you would feel more comfortable, which is still relatively affordable in Western terms ($25-$30).

A few things to be aware of when taking a shared taxi.

Sometimes the driver is not the one finding the cab for you. Someone might see you, take you to a car, and get a cut of your pay from the driver.

Cars can be very cramped. If going in a four-person car, try to find one that is a bit larger. Kyrgyz people tend to do whatever they can to save a couple of bucks, which can mean sitting next to two women holding toddlers on their laps.

Cars tend to break down. Many of the shared taxis are older vehicles, and the roads in Kyrgyzstan can be unforgiving.

Our last rides down to Naryn and on to the Torugart Pass were horribly bumpy, so prepare yourself (aka use the toilet before going)!

Don't be afraid to shop around if the price doesn't sound right.

People are generally reasonable, but there will be times when they shoot off an excessive amount, hoping to take advantage of Westerners.

Long-Distance Marshrutkas

Marshrutkas are minivans that act as public transport. In Bishkek, they can be crowded, over-run and stifling - but they are also super cheap (10 cents for a ride!).

In the same way, long-distance marshrutkas are cost-effective, but they might take a bit longer than a shared taxi (at least they only sell by the seat on long-distance rides).

The rides might still be a bit stifling given that no, or few, interior windows tend to open.

Luckily, many of the rides appeared to be newer machines, meaning AC will hopefully be in your cards on those hot summer days.

In Bishkek, catching a long-distance marshrutka can be done at the West Bus Station, just like a shared taxi.

However, more local, regional stops like Tokmok and Korday have marshrutkas that run from the older East Bus Station.

Besides being slower, it might also take you longer to get on the road in the first place since the driver has to wait for the van to fill up with more people.

Long-Distance Buses

The slowest of all the travel options in Kyrgyzstan would be the long-distance bus as those have many stops to complete en route.

These buses also typically leave in Bishkek from the New Bus Station (West Bus Station), but routes still appear pretty limited.

Marshrutkas and shared taxis are generally the more flexible and better ways to go if possible.

I have opted for the other two popular modes of transport to get around Kyrgyzstan overland. Tickets are more affordable, however.

torugart pass road — Some roads in Kyrgyzstan are not the best, especially that in the Torugart Pass.

Some Tips for Getting Around in Kyrgyzstan:

Try to learn at least a few words or phrases in either Russian or Kyrgyz.

It will help when you need to ask how much the ride costs, where you're going, whether or not you need to ask to use a toilet, etc.

Ask a local before heading to the taxi, marshrutka, or bus how much a typical ride should cost. Use this as a guide when negotiating a price.

Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared for heat or cold while traveling.

Plan to be cramped. Kyrgyz people will cram in anything and everything where there is a free space.

Head out in the morning. You will have more luck in finding a ride and just be safer that way.

As always, I highly recommend Community Based Tourism as a resource. They will help you with transport, and local guesthouses or yurt stays throughout the country.

Nomadic Samuel: From Zero to $6,000 in Under 12 Months

It's been over two years since my last interview with a member of Travel Blog Success. In that time, 200 new travelers have joined the community. Last year, Nomadic Samuel was one of them.

I knew he'd succeed in reaching his goals because the bloggers who ask the most questions often do. They have an insatiable desire to learn, and that's important.

TBS: Why did you decide to join Travel Blog Success (TBS)?

Samuel: When I decided to launch my travel site Nomadic Samuel I had built up a lot of resources that I could potentially share with others in terms of travel photos, videos and stories; however, I completely lacked any technical knowledge regarding running a website or monetizing my online business.

At the time, I hoped that by joining this course it would help me achieve success in these areas where I had limited to no experience.

Overall, the investment has more than paid off and joining the course as a Premium member was one of the best decisions I’ve made towards advancing my travel blog.

TBS: When did you join TBS? How much were you earning per month from your blog at the time?

Samuel: I joined TBS almost immediately after launching my travel blog, so I was earning literally nothing at the time.

I knew I was going to be serious about my site from the initial stages, and it was great to build a foundation of knowledge related to the business aspects before I even had advertisers contacting me.

TBS: In the beginning, how much money did you initially hope to earn per month? And how much money did you make last month (May 2012)?

Samuel: Having launched my blog on July 1^st, 2011, I had set a goal that by the end of my first year of blogging I would make $1,000 in the final month leading up to that anniversary.

My goal was to slowly increase my monthly earnings and eventually achieve over $1,000 by the end of the year. Looking back in hindsight, I realize I had set the bar far too low.

I’m thrilled to announce that I earned well over $6,000 for May spread across several different sites and a few external projects.

I would never have expected to be earning this much money in my first year, but I’m certainly pleased with the results.

TBS: What are the ways you're currently earning money?

Samuel: Currently, the bulk of my earnings come from text link sales on my sidebar and sponsored posts. I think one of the best decisions I ever made was to create several other sites last Winter when I was in between regular jobs.

Although many of my projects have not yet been completed, I’m earning money now on several different sites, such as Smiling Faces Travel Photos, in addition to my flagship site.

Moreover, I’ve just started to monetize my YouTube travel channel, and I’ve been earning money sporadically from private sales with my travel photos for print magazines.

Affiliate sales and Google Adsense make up another small percentage of the money I pull in each month.

I’m planning on setting up a stock photography profile on several different sites as another method to earn more passive income.

In the future, I’d like to monetize more of my travel sites and create several of my own ebook products to sell.

Nomadic Samuel at the Salt Flats in Northern Argentina — At the Salt Flats in Northern Argentina

TBS: Which TBS resources have you found most useful, and why?

Samuel: Overall, I’ve found many components related to the TBS very useful.

The course (written lessons) itself is full of quality information that really provides a blueprint for how to go about successfully building your site up to the point where it can eventually make money.

The audio interviews from experts in different fields provided additional insight.

Finally, the Facebook group has been my favorite part of the program. It’s a community full of like-minded individuals who are supportive and helpful towards one another.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve used the message board to seek advice on a variety of subjects related to my site, monetization, or strategy techniques.

TBS: Were there any moments where thought about quitting, or at least cutting back drastically on the amount of time and energy you were putting into your blog(s)? If yes, what inspired you to continue?

Samuel: Absolutely. I’ve faced several significant challenges related to blogging over the first year of my sites.

Last Fall, I lost a position at work due to the fact I was earning money outside of my job with my blog.

Although this amount was quite insignificant at the time, it was enough for my eventual dismissal.

I had already found it challenging to work and blog at the same time, and this black mark had me questioning whether I was making the right decision to carry on with things.

In the New Year, I made a tough decision to dismantle my YouTube channel and remove all of my travel videos.

At the time, I was achieving nearly 3,000 views per day on average, and almost overnight, I had obliterated all of that.

Since that time I’ve slowly been building the channel back up again doing things properly with royalty-free music.

Overall, the challenges were difficult situations at the time, but in hindsight, I feel they were important tests/hurdles that needed to be overcome to see whether or not I was serious with my blog.

TBS: Who do you think can benefit the most from joining TBS?

Samuel: I think anyone serious about growing their blog and eventually monetizing it can benefit from joining TBS. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

TBS: Parting words. What's your #1 piece of advice to travel bloggers who are just getting started?

Samuel: My number one suggestion for travel bloggers just starting is to try and be consistent as possible with your efforts.

It’s easy to get frustrated, and it is easy to potentially to want to give up after putting in weeks/months of hard work and at times seeing little reward for those efforts.

It’s been well noted by other senior bloggers that it takes time to build your site up to the point where it can earn significant money.

My advice is to be consistent across the board with your efforts until you reach that point.

Any travel blog that has achieved success in any given area is consistently churning out great content, utilizing social media to expand its audience and building links to make stronger page rank/SEO Moz indicators.

I don’t know of a single travel blogger who has not been frustrated or hit rock bottom and wanted to give up at some point. Not packing it in is half the battle towards eventually achieving success in all areas.

Special thanks to Samuel for taking the time to share his experience building a new travel blog.

3 Simple Flight Comparison Tips for Finding Cheaper Flights

[B]ackpacking is a pretty cheap way to travel. The biggest cost you’re going to encounter is booking flights to your destination, then after that it’s all about the street food and hostels.

Although travelling long distance can be eye wateringly expensive, flying really doesn’t need to break the bank either. With a little bit of savvy it’s easy to find cheap flights; just follow these tips and you can’t go wrong.

Flight comparison sites are really useful at this point. Not only do they tell you which airlines and times are cheapest to fly, they can also show you which airports it’s cheaper to fly from, which destinations it’s cheaper to fly to, and what time of year you should travel.

Be flexible

If you’re just starting to plan your escape, you may not be set on your destination. Do you want to channel Leo DiCaprio in Thailand, or trek through the rainforests of South America?

If tossing a coin isn’t working, toss the destinations into a flight search engine instead. Whichever one has the cheapest flights, wins.

Setting your destination to ‘everywhere’ on Skyscanner allows you to see where’s cheapest to fly to say in August.

But you might have your heart set on a trip to India, and nothing’s going to change your mind: not even cheap flights.

In this case it’s still possible to be flexible: simply look at the departing airport instead. Sometimes flights from your local airport will be more expensive than a larger airport in a different part of the country.

When you’re booking your flights, compare the difference in cost. If it would be cheaper to travel to the other airport and fly, then go for it.

Travel off-peak

Off peak tickets isn’t a term that only applies to trains. Using an online comparison tool it’s possible to search for the same flight over the course of a week, month or year and see how it fluctuates.

Weekend flights are generally more expensive than weekday flights due to higher demand, and you’re likely to find that flights during the school summer and Easter holidays are a lot pricier for the same reason.

Just play around a little: arriving a day earlier or later could save you hundreds.

Skyscanner’s month view makes it easy to see when the cheapest days to fly are. See the example below for a comparison of flights to Toronto Pearson in Canada from Heathrow in September.

Take the long way round

Direct flights are almost always more expensive than flights with a stopover, another thing to look out for when you’re using a comparison tool. Before booking your flight, make sure that you really are getting the best value for money.

The flight with a two-day stop in Dubai may be a little cheaper than the flight stopping in Bangkok, but weigh up how much your accommodation and food is going to cost. Dubai is the more expensive country, so you may find that you quickly spend the money that you’ve saved by stopping there.

________

Disclosure: This article was brought to you by James from Skyscanner.net, a flight comparison website based in Edinburgh.

3 Popular Hikes on Oahu in Hawaii

There are plenty of famous things to do in Hawaii like surfing, snorkeling, eating, and just being lazy on the beach.

One of the more overlooked attractions is the beautiful hiking opportunities that all the Hawaiian islands present.

The Hawaiian archipelago is a chain of islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean created by volcanoes.

Jagged mountains, dramatic cliffs, beaches, rocky coastlines, and gorgeous tropical flora and fauna are a few of the aspects that add to the beauty of Hawaii.

On the island of Oahu, the leeward side is the drier side that receives far less rain than the windward side, which seems almost constantly to be drizzling.

The two differentiating climates of the island make it possible to take a hike in almost desert conditions or mountains surrounded by misty tropical rainforest.

While Oahu, The Big Island, Maui, and Kaua'i all have great hiking routes and national parks, most of my hiking experience is right on the most populous island of Oahu.

Here are a few hikes I was able to enjoy on my last trip to Oahu.

Round Top / Tantalus

Just moments from central Honolulu, Tantalus is a convenient place to hike and offers the perfect green escape from city life.

While many tourists and locals choose to drive to the top for the picture-perfect view of the city of Honolulu, not so many choose to hike to the top.

The tree and plant-filled trail is quiet and relaxing; it's easy to forget you're still so close to a city of a million.

As soon as you emerge at the top of Tantalus, you'll' remember how close you are to the city and be grateful to be taking such a fantastic hike.

Koko Head Crater Hike

For a hardcore dose of exercise, Koko Head Crater makes the heart race.

Formerly a military bunker and lookout, the trail follows a railroad supply track straight up the side of the cone-shaped crater.

In good shape, it's possible to scale the beast in around 20 minutes, but feeling the effects of eating all the Hawaiian food, it may take up to 45 minutes.

At the top, the views of Honolulu, the mountains, and the zigzagging coastline, are remarkable to see and justify every single step to the top.

Koko Head Crater is on the leeward side of Oahu, making it a dry but wonderful hike!

Makapu'u' Lighthouse

The trip to the breathtaking Makapu'u Lighthouse is not a hike but more of a leisurely walk that winds its way up the side of a small hill on the very southeastern part of the island.

One of the highlights of Makapu'u point is the whale watching opportunities.

The last time I went, it was luckily a very clear day, and we were able to see two humpback whales breaching not so far away from the coast. It was incredible to watch.

Though the trail doesn't' exactly provide any opportunities for being alone (due to lots of other hikers), the scenery makes it worthwhile.

There are many more hiking routes located throughout all the islands of Hawaii and Oahu, but these are just the few I was able to do on my last visit.

When you visit Hawaii, be sure to enjoy relaxing on the beach, but also take a day to do some hiking and see the incredible beauty the islands have to offer.

Extra Items in a Female Traveler's Toiletry and Medical Kit

toiletry kit — Extra items for females should be in this picture. (photo by zieak)

I am currently in the middle of a three and a half month trip through some pretty rustic countries, and there have been things in my toiletry and medical kit that have been sent from the Heavens, and others that I acquired and was happy that I did.

So, I'm going to share with you, ladies, the items that are extra important for females that are traveling through lands of squat toilets, rare showers, and long days of transport.

Men, this is not for you, so you've been warned!

Probiotics

It seems that I never have to take antibiotics until I'm traveling.

This time around I was extremely worried because I didn't pack any probiotics, and as a woman, taking antibiotics always has the possibility of leading to another female issue – thrush.

Luckily, I was able to ask for some at the local Kyrgyz pharmacy, which I started on as soon as I finished my course of antibiotics.

The probiotics help replace the good bacteria in your gut that some antibiotics might kill off, specifically the bacteria that keep the yeast also in your body at bay.

Probiotics – the kind that you don't have to refrigerate do exist – are also said to help keep your gut regular when you travel, and even lessen the effects of traveler's diarrhea (the minor kind).

It definitely is something that I've packed preemptively in the past, but didn't for this trip.

Diflucan

Traveling in rough conditions, with few showers, getting extremely ill, taking antibiotics, or just sweating in India's unforgiving climate can all lead to thrush.

It might not be something that ever happens to you on the road, but if it does, it is so much better to be prepared. Nothing quite like being in the middle of nowhere and being in agony, right?!

Before traveling, I like to stop off at the doctor to see about getting some extra medical supplies, such as a course of antibiotics and a thrush treatment in tablet form.

I know in the United States that tablet is called Diflucan, and a single tablet can take the place of those messy creams.

wet wipes are better than toilet paper — Wet wipes do the work that toilet paper alone can't. (photo by artotemsco)

Toilet Wipes

Besides those face wipes that act as my “bath in a bag” after long flights or on days when I can't get to a shower, I also pack a travel sized packet of toilet wipes.

If I'm feeling particularly scuzzy, have just sweated heaps, am on my period, or am having tummy troubles – these wet wipes for your private parts are worth their weight in gold.

Plus, getting clean when you can helps to minimize the risk of more female issues, like bacterial or thrush infections.

belly dancer — Cramps and bloating can be a total damper on your travels. (photo by Alaskan Dude)

Period Pain Tablets

I'm sure most everyone packs a pain relief medicine for travels – for headaches, backaches, etc. – but a tablet that's targeted to period pain is another important one for females.

Midol is a popular brand in the US, and it not only helps with the cramps, but it also helps with the bloating and irritability that come with a visit from Aunt Flo.

If you're someone that suffers from strong periods, then adding this to your packing list is a no-brainer.

Diva Cup

If you follow along on my Her Packing List, you will know I am a huge supporter of the Diva Cup – a reusable menstrual cup that is great for travel.

I know it might not be for everyone, but as a female traveler, the Diva Cup gives me peace of mind. Its suction seal prevents leakage, even on long travel days when you might not be able to make it to a proper toilet.

Travel styles do vary, though, and ladies that are into active hiking/trekking might find regular tampons to be a more hygienic option.

All the goodness of cranberries in a pill form. (photo by kazandrew2)

Cranberry Pills

Cranberry pills hold the acidic benefits that help to prevent UTIs (urinary tract infections) in women.

If you are prone to getting UTIs, then you should consider packing some cranberry pills, especially when traveling to destinations where cranberry juice might not even be an option.

The acidity of the cranberries helps to flush out the urinary tract, helping to keep harmful bacteria (like e. coli) from hanging around and causing an infection.

Condoms

And the last thing that I suggest to female travelers to have in their toiletry/medical kits would be condoms.

Even if you are on the pill, your birth control can be rendered useless if you have to take some antibiotics.

Sure enough, Amoxicillin, like what I took for my chest infection recently, interferes with birth control.

If you don't want babies at this moment in your life, do yourself a favor and pack a few!

Did I miss any big ones, ladies? Feel free to share your tips below!

The Best Parillas in Buenos Aires

Steakhouses in Argentina are referred to as parillas.

These are the restaurants where the hungry go to feed. Where man, woman and child go to indulge in the an endless supply of beef and pork products.

Here are my thoughts on three of the best parillas in Buenos Aires. Buen Provecho!

Parilla La Cabrera

La Cabrera is one of the best-known parillas in Buenos Aires.

Word of mouth amongst travelers and expats ensures anyone who asks for a good place to eat will hear "La Cabrera" in return.

There are actually two restaurants, about 50 meters apart. They are both located on Cabrera Street, in the yuppy Palermo Soho neighborhood.

Ordinarily, the prices at La Cabrera might put off the typical budget traveler, however the restaurant offers an outstanding discount most days of the week. It's almost too good to believe.

Even the caprese salad was delicious — Even the Caprese salad was delicious

Every day of the week, except Mondays and Fridays, the restaurant offers a flat 50% discount on the entire menu, including the wine.

This isn't a 2 for 1 deal or 50% of a second entrée. This is 50% wiped off your entire bill.

The catch is you have to arrive early, around 7 or 7:30 PM, as the discount, only applies for the first dinner seating.

Since Argentines like to eat later in the evening, around 9 or 10 PM, the crowd is mostly foreign. But when you're paying half price, who cares!

On my first night in Buenos Aires, Stephanie and Mike took me to La Cabrera for dinner. We ordered a Caprese salad to share as a starter, and three different cuts of steak.

The waiter, who was well aware of the large portion sizes, took it upon himself to halve two of our three entrees.

Even so, we'd still be unable to finish all the meat that was delivered. Dessert wasn't even a consideration.

Including the wine, tax and tip, each of us paid about $22. The quality to cost ratio is hard to beat.

Details: La Cabrera - 5099 Cabrera Street, and 5127 Cabrera Street, Palermo Soho.

Parilla La Brigada

The night after my feast at La Cabrera, I met up with the other travelers with whom I'd be going to Patagonia.

Jens, a Dutch engineer, had been living in the city for a while and suggested we get dinner at La Brigada, another of the top parillas in Buenos Aires.

When I stepped inside the warm, football-inspired interior, I was acutely aware that I was spoiling myself these first few nights in Argentina.

The menu included such delights as:

lamb kidneys
veal heart sweetbreads
lamb tripe
beef testes

However, everyone in the group ordered a typical steak. I broke the mold and went something new, young wild boar breast.

Later, when the massive hunks of beef were brought out for everyone else, one was also placed in front of me. I alerted the waiter to the mistake, who then reconfirmed that yes, I did still want my wild boar.

As everyone else was eating, I nibbled on my garlic fries. About 20 minutes later, my wild boar was brought out, only it was the ribs, not the breast. I accepted it, despite the second mistake.

Thankfully the food made up for the service. The boar had a distinct flavor which I quite liked.

Along with a Quilmes beer, the boar, fries, tax, and tip added up to about $27.

Details: La Brigada - Estados Unidos 465, San Telmo.

Siga La Vaca

When friends Mike and Stephanie prepared to leave Buenos Aires after three months, they chose Siga La Vaca for their going away dinner.

Along with Erica and Shaun @overyonderlust (and their friend), we sieged Siga La Vaca's Puerto Madero location.

Even though we arrived before 8 PM, which is early by Argentine standards, there were already people eating dinner.

The dining room was gigantic -- far larger than either of the other two parillas, and not as nicely decorated either. It felt more like a cafeteria than a restaurant.

Of course the big draw for Siga La Vaca is the all-you-can-eat meat buffet.

For 120 pesos ($27), you can eat as much meat as you can bear, plus you get access to the salad buffet, and a free drink.

If you choose the wine, as we all did, you get your own 750 ML bottle!

A few of us got dessert, but that might've cost extra.

Everyone seemed to love the portions at Siga La Vaca, perhaps because they were unlimited, but as I'm not a big meat-eater, it didn't do much for me.

I focused on finishing my bottle of wine instead.

Details: Siga La Vaca - Alicia Moreau de Justo 1714, Puerto Madero.

5 Modes of Transportation for Getting Around Bangkok

If you travel to Seoul, you can easily navigate most of the city by subway. However, when visiting Los Angeles, it's tough to do anything without a private car. Thankfully, there are a variety of convenient transportation options available in Bangkok.

Bangkok is a city where nearly every possible mode of transportation is available and necessary to use regularly, and most are very affordable, even a Thailand chauffeur service from the airport.

On any given day navigating Bangkok, you'll likely have to take the BTS Skytrain, hop in a tuk-tuk for a quick ride, take a taxi, or jump on the back of a motorbike to beat the traffic or get deep into the neighborhood. So here are the five most common forms of transportation in Bangkok.

Transportation Options

1. BTS / MRT / Airport Link

The BTS, MRT, and Airport Link are relatively new to Bangkok's transportation scene. The BTS and Airport Link are mass transit trains that run on tracks elevated above the ground, while the single-line MRT is a subway.

While grand plans are being made to create more train lines to serve Bangkok's farthest regions, the mass transit system only covers the city's central areas.

Many cheap flights to Thailand have increased international visitors, so having the Airport Link is highly beneficial for getting from the airport to the center of Bangkok.

2. Taxi

Bangkok is a city that's saturated with taxis. There are so many that I sometimes wonder just how many of them can make a profit.

Taxis, though they sometimes refuse to give you a ride if it's somewhere where there's too much traffic, have the potential to go just about anywhere in Bangkok. A ride around central Bangkok shouldn't cost more than $3-$5.

Though there are many cheap flights to Phuket, I've even heard of people hopping in a Bangkok taxi and heading straight there!

3. Bus

By far, the cheapest way to travel around Bangkok is by taking the local public bus - on some routes, there's even a free bus if you don't mind waiting!

The Bangkok bus network is far-reaching and runs smoothly overall. There are different buses, such as some that take the highway, some with air conditioning, and others with open-air windows.

4. Tuk-Tuk

One of Bangkok's most famous forms of transportation is the tuk-tuk, a three-wheeled go-cart with a metal body attached. Tuk-tuks are extremely popular for visitors who enjoy the novelty of such a mobile.

After taking my share of tuk-tuks, I realized they are not the most comfortable form of transportation. The seats are a little high, making it difficult to see the roadside, and being open-air, you smell all the vehicle fumes. That aside, it can be fun now and then to whizz through Bangkok on a thundering tuk-tuk.

5. Motorbike Taxi

The most convenient and thrilling way to travel through Bangkok is by motorbike taxi. Official motorbike taxi drivers are everywhere in the city, and they are always ready for you to hop on and deliver you straight to your destination as fast as possible.

When the streets are clogged with traffic, motorbike taxis have the advantage of sliding between lanes, weaving through vehicles, and even taking the sidewalk!

When visiting Bangkok, you'll use most, if not all, of these forms of transportation to get around. Sometimes, getting from place to place can be daunting, but luckily, Bangkok has many different transportation options.

Need a place to stay? Check out Go Backpacking's guide to the best hostels in Bangkok.

Bicycle Wine Tour in Mendoza

Going on a bicycle wine tour in Mendoza is a quintessential backpacker experience.

A few days before I was due to leave the city, I was invited by Antonella of Kahuak to join them for a day of wine tasting.

Having already been on a wine tour a few days earlier, I confirmed that their tour would be to three different wineries, in a different region of the city.

And instead of hopping in and out of a van, we'd be on Trek mountain bikes.

At 9:30 AM, I was picked up at my hostel, and along with a German family of three, we drove South.

We were let out at a bike rental shop. It being Autumn, there was a severe chill in the air, and I soon realized it was exacerbated once you began pedaling.

Filosofos

The ride to our Filosofos, a small, family-owned organic winery, was no more than 15-minutes, but I could barely feel my knuckles by the time we arrived.

As the winemaker's daughter began the tour, I hoped it would last long enough for us to warm up.

Having already visited three larger wineries on my previous tour, I found the visit to Filosofos to be a nice change.

Our guide, along with her siblings, were following in their parent's footsteps by learning about the winemaking process.

And I appreciated the fact that they are taking an organic approach to grow the grapes.

Wine Tasted: Vina el Cerno Malbec (only 9,000 bottles produced per year)

My Thoughts: Excellent wine, which tastes all the better because it's organic, and made with a lot of love. I wanted to take the mini-barrel with me!

Lagarde

By the time we were riding to Lagarde, our second winery, the sun had risen higher in the sky, and had the temps had begun to warm up. It didn't hurt that we had already consumed our first glass of wine either.

My knuckles were no longer suffering from the cold, and I was better able to appreciate the scenery.

After 20 minutes of riding through the quaint streets of southern Mendoza, lined with the colorful trees of Autumn, we entered the Lagarde winery.

Much larger than Filosofos, Lagarde offered a look at wine production on a much larger scale.

While we were in the fermentation room, we could see men washing out a giant contraption used to suck (or filter) the wine out of the large, stainless steel tanks.

The temperatures in the fermentation rooms, like the wine cellars, are strictly regulated and kept quite cool.

It's interesting to see how the wineries differ in their approaches to winemaking and storage.

The equipment used to cork bottles of sparkling wine (at Lagarde)

Some wine cellars are underground, while Lagarde's was above ground in a massive warehouse adjacent to the fermentation room.

The most interesting thing I noted on this tour was the 5-step process used to cork the sparkling wine.

The process is still done manually, by a single guy, in a tiny space.

After the tour, by the older brother of our guide (who also use to lead tours at a winery), we had another tasting. This time, we were able to try four different wines.

I've noticed the larger wineries are often more generous with the amount of wine you're allowed to taste.

Not necessarily the pours, which vary by guide, but the number of different types you can try.

Wine Tasted: Malbec 2010, Viognier 2011, Syrah 2010, Guarda 2009

My Thoughts: They were all good; however I liked the 2010 Malbec the most.

Cava de Cano

From the Lagarde winery, we rode our bikes to Cava de Cano, a restaurant that is more akin to an institution.

The cool part about Cava de Cano is the way they have separate dining rooms to cater to individual wine tours.

Our group of five was lead to a smaller room, with a wild boar's head mounted on the wall, among other animal skins (and even a pair of what appeared to be ostrich feet).

Tango music was piped in to set the mood.

On the table, an Argentine picada. This was to be our first course. Picadas are finger food, usually consisting of different meats, cheeses, and vegetables.

The table featured everything from corn on the cob to tripe.

My favorites were the goat cheese, carrots in a vinaigrette, rice with Malbec, and roasted garlic.

Our waiter was the Manager, who was an Argentine-American. He said he likes to help cook and serve when possible, as he gets to know the food (and customers).

The lunch features all-you-can-drink wine, explicitly made to be served in the restaurant.

And they are not stingy when it comes to refilling your glass. If you don't leave the wineries woozy, you can always make up for it at lunch.

The second course was two types of baked empanadas: beef, and caprese (mozzarella, basil, and tomato sauce).

The third course was a meat stew, and the fourth course was spaghetti with fresh-grated Parmesan sauce.

For dessert, we had a few options. I chose the vanilla ice cream with dulce de leche sauce.

I could barely move after lunch. And that's precisely why our third and final winery was only a few minutes bike ride away.

Wine Tasted: A house-made red wine (probably a Malbec).

My Thoughts: It's good, you can't get it anywhere else, and it's all you can drink, so enjoy!

Carmelo Patti

According to our guide, Carmelo Patti is an amazing winemaker. If I remember correctly, the winemaker was born in Italy, but his family moved to Mendoza when he was very young.

He spent his early years learning to make wine for others and only in the last decade or so, put that knowledge to use by opening his winery.

We took a quick walk through his winery, and then tasted two of the reds that he produces.

I was glad we got to meet one of the winemakers, which is a benefit to going with a guided tour as opposed to renting a bike and going off on your own.

Wine Tasted: Malbec 2007 and one other red.

My Thoughts: I'd consumed so much wine by this time, I honestly can't remember my thoughts!

From Carmelo Patti's winery, it was a short bike ride back to the shop where we began. From there, we took a van transfer back to our accommodation.

Overall, despite the early morning chill, I had a wonderful time on this bicycling wine tour in Mendoza.

The full-day itinerary included three different size wineries and a gigantic lunch. You'd be hard-pressed not to get your money's worth of wine and food on this tour.

____

What You Need to Know

Difficulty: Easy. The city is very flat, so it's not hard getting around by bike.

Where to Book: Kahuak offers a variety of wine tours, including this bicycling tour, as well as others that feature horseback riding and vintage cars.

What to Bring: A daypack if there's a chance you'll buy wine, jacket, hat and gloves (depending on the weather), sunglasses, sunscreen.

______________

I was provided with a complimentary tour. All opinions are my own.

Kashgar's Sunday Attractions: The Famous Bazaar and Animal Market

kasher boy with bread — Kashgar street scene: boy with bread.

[A]bout a week ago, I ventured down from central Kyrgyzstan across the Torugart Pass until reaching China's ancient city of Kashgar.

Kashgar, located in the western area of China in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, closer to the Tajikistan border, has a special draw because of its ties to the Silk Road.

When doing our research, the ability to explore a place with such ancient ties are what initially drew us in, but the more we heard – particularly about the predominant Uyghur population and how many Chinese will consider this a "dangerous place" – I have to admit, the more intrigued we became.

"There are places in the Old Town that when you walk around in them, you won't even feel like you're in China," explained our driver who took us from the edge of the Chinese side of the Torugart Pass to Kashgar.

He was absolutely spot on. I would say there were many moments in Kashgar where we felt like we had gone the other way from Kyrgyzstan and somehow ended up in the Middle East.

Besides that, we also learned from our driver that Sunday is a popular day for visitors in Kashgar, particularly because of the Sunday Bazaar and Animal Market.

kashgar markets — Typical Kashgar market stall.

The Famous Sunday Markets

As far as bazaars go, the Sunday Markets of Kashgar take the cake with a history that is said to date back around 2000 years.

This bazaar is located, because of its size, on the far end of town near the East Gate, and it is also known as the "International Trade Market of Central and Western Asia".

While the bazaar is open every day of the week, traders from all over neighboring countries make the trek into Kashgar each Sunday to be a part of the main spectacle that encompasses over 4,000 permanent stalls and an entire street dedicated just to food.

It is possible to shop for the following goods: carpets, jewelry, instruments, pottery, fruits, nuts and meat.

To get to the bazaar, you can walk a good 20 to 30 minutes from the city center, or take a 15 RMB taxi ride.

outside animal market — Outside the Animal Market.

Sunday Animal Market

On the opposite end of town, only on Sundays, the Animal Market takes place. The Animal Market was at one time a part of the great Sunday Bazaar, but it split off to become a show all its own in a big open area across town.

The animal market is the place where locals and traders from afar gather to buy, sell, and trade livestock – especially sheep and cow. To the locals, it is just another day of work, but for tourists, it is clearly a step into the past.

animal market bartering — Animal Market bartering.

Local Uyghur men, dressed in traditional garb, herd or haggle; when they get hungry, they just head to the sidelines where various food stalls have been set up, each cooking a dish made of fresh mutton.

We saw sheep head soup and sheep laghman going down a treat, but for me... well I'd rather not eat my food right next to where a group of animals is potentially defecating.

You will need a taxi to get to the Animal Market, which will cost 15 to 20 RMB, but on the way back, you might have to take one of the small carts unless you're willing to wait a while for a proper taxi.

A small warning: I, at times, found it very hard to walk around the animal market given the conditions provided to the animals, so if you have very strong feelings towards animal rights and living conditions, it might not be a place for you to visit.

kashgar street boy running — Kashgar street scene: Boy Running

Other Attractions in Kashgar

A visit to Kashgar is made special just by being able to see life in action. The markets, the big Sunday Bazaar, the Animal Market, and the food and drink culture are all unique aspects of the city.

Other than that, one can visit:

The Apak Hoja Tomb
The Id Kah Mosque
The Kashgar Old Town
Zhiren Street
Karakul Lake (day trip)

Getting to Kashgar

Kashgar is one of the westernmost cities in China, so getting there involves a hefty trek. You can fly from Beijing, but there is probably a mandatory stopover in Urumqi.

Otherwise, you can take a 1 day, overnight train from Urumqi, or if coming from Kyrgyzstan, take a day-long drive and border crossing through the Torugart Pass.

Our entire journey from Naryn, Kyrgyzstan to Kashgar, China took us around 8 hours via the pass.

Going to a Boca Juniors Game

Upon my return to Buenos Aires from Patagonia, I checked into a hostel in the trendy Palermo Soho neighborhood.

An upcoming Boca Juniors game was being advertised at the reception desk, and I knew I had to go.

Argentinians are incredibly passionate about football (soccer as we Americans know it), and Boca Juniors is the most popular team in the country.

For 600 pesos ($135), it was going to be by far the most I'd ever paid for a sporting event.

The price is for an organized tour, which includes the cost of the ticket, and some beer.

In Medellin, I attended three football games with friends (including one World Cup Qualifier).

It was my introduction to South American football, and the first game, in particular, was off the hook (crazy).

I'd heard rumors over the years about the fans at Boca games. They'd shake the stadium and occasionally throw urine or feces on the opponents' supporters.

For a variety of reasons, including the fact that it's hard to get tickets if you're not a card-carrying Boca fan (literally, they have ID cards), I decided to pay a premium for the group tour.

I also invited Mike and his girlfriend Stephanie to join me.

The afternoon began when we were picked up in a van at the hostel in Palermo.

We then made our way to La Boca, a rough-and-tumble, working-class neighborhood after which the team was named.

It's one of the neighborhoods that are notorious for pickpockets, which is another reason it makes sense to go with a group.

The price of the ticket included a beer and choripan (a sausage).

Of course I pictured we'd be getting these drinks in an English-style pub with wood trim, but in reality, it was more like a garage.

Upon arrival, there were already other people drinking and chatting.

As we began consuming as much watery beer as possible, new groups of tourists arrived.

Alberto J. Armando Stadium, better known as La Bombonera, was 100 meters down the street from the garage.

Soon after darkness fell, we walked over.

Each of us had been presented with an ID card belonging to one of the club's fans.

It didn't matter that Stephanie had no resemblance to Senor Fernandez; we need to present the cards as we passed the gate.

Our seating was behind one of the goals, with the die-hard Boca fan clubs seated at the opposite end of the stadium, behind the other goal.

We had a great view of them the whole game, but if I had my choice, I would've wanted to sit closer to the center line, as I did at the FC Barcelona match.

To get good seats in our concrete bleacher section, we had to arrive about an hour early.

This allowed us all to sit together. We killed time by eating ice cream and taking pictures with Mike's camera.

My camera broke for no apparent reason on the flight back from Ushuaia, and I didn't want to risk bringing my iPhone.

Ultimately, we were never in any danger. There were so many other foreigners seated around us; we were insulated.

The opposing team's fans were seated in the upper deck above us, so even if they wanted to throw something gross on us, they couldn't.

And because we had private transportation, there was little chance I was going to get my pocket picked after the match, as happened to me in Barcelona.

But back to the Boca Juniors game.

As the stadium filled up, and the game time drew near, a beautiful cheerleader squad emerged onto the field.

From halfway across the field, it was abundantly evident just how short and tight their uniforms were.

They proceeded to do a dance number that'd make any Colombian turn red.

These were dance moves you'd never see in the USA.

The match was against Lunas. The Boca Juniors jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first half. With each new goal scored, the crowd erupted.

The super fans on the opposite end of the stadium sang their songs the whole match.

Now I know where DC United's Barra Brava got their name, songs, and spirit.

Buenos Aires.

In the second half, the Lunas fought back, scoring two goals to draw even with the home team.

The super fans seemed stunned, and the rest of the game was a little quieter as a result.

I'm glad I went to the game. It was on my bucket list for Argentina, and South America as a whole, however once was enough.

Unless I'm paying for a match in Brazil or England or a World Cup-related game anywhere, I won't be paying $100+ again.

Disney World & Universal Studios: Fun For All Ages

Disney World Trip - Magic Kingdom - Cinderella's Castle (photo: Richard Stephenson) — Cinderella's Castle (photo: Richard Stephenson)

By the age of 10, I'd visited Disney World in Orlando, Florida twice. Back then, I could rely on my parents to buy the Disney tickets, while I focused on enjoying the rides. These family vacations are amongst my earliest travel memories.

What I didn't count on was my return to Orlando as an adult.

The first occasion was in 1998 when I convinced a college friend of mine to join me for Spring Break in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Being the bootstrapping college students that we were back then, the Greyhound bus was our preferred mode of transport.

Twenty-four hours later, we arrived in Florida and hit the beach.

Daytona Beach may have been a hotspot in the 1980s, but we were about a decade too late.

There were people, of course, but I wasn't seeing the action I was accustomed to on MTV.

Luckily, we were close to Universal Studios, which we visited on a day trip from Daytona. There, we were able to go on rides tied to some of my favorite movies.

The Jaws ride, while showing its age, was a must, but hardly scary.

The Back to the Future ride involved getting in a mock DeLorean for a ride through space and time, only we didn't actually move anywhere.

It was one of the most exciting rides I'd been on up to that point in my life.

And the 3-D Terminator experience was cool too and involved a surprise ending which shocked everyone in the theater.

Thirteen years later, I returned to Universal Studios on another family vacation. With my parents living in Florida, we visited one day while I was home for Christmas last year.

Universal Studios had expanded immensely since my college years.

The park had doubled in size! Essentially, the park I visited in 1998 had the older rides, while a whole new area had opened featuring more modern movies and rides.

The family split up. My parents went off on their own, while I and my brother went in our own direction.

The first two rides we hit were Spiderman and Jurassic Park, the latter which involved getting ourselves soaking wet.

But the biggest attraction in the new Universal Studios is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

My brother, having read all the books and seen all the movies, made sure we got our mugs of Butterbeer and stood in the long line to get inside the Ollivanders wand shop.

I was along for the ride and found it fascinating how my 32-year old brother, and so many other adults, were so captivated by the make-believe world of Harry Potter.

For example, he spent $50 on a mock, plastic wand. And he was hardly alone in making such a purchase!

At the end of the day, we reunited with my parents for dinner at one of their favorite theme restaurants, Jimmy Buffet's Cheeseburger in Paradise.

It's my great hope that sooner, rather than later, I'll be back to Disney World and Universal Studios with my own family.

I'll enjoy the same places through the eyes of my children, just as my parents had with me. And the whole cycle will begin anew.

_______

Disclaimer: This post was written by Dave, and brought to you by Attraction Tickets Direct.

Is Technology Good or Bad for Traveling?

Yesterday, I went into a well-known coffee shop, eagerly ready to get my daily caffeine fix for my work day. While impatiently waiting my turn in line, I gazed across the room.

Since the coffee shop was directly downtown, it was no surprise to see backpackers and tourists from around the globe. Some had iPads or tablets out, while others were sitting on couches or armchairs, curled up with their computers.

Taking advantage of WiFi, and the view, at a hostel in Punta del Diablo, Uruguay. (photo: David Lee) — WiFi and a view from a Punta del Diablo, Uruguay hostel. (photo: David Lee)

It was then that I started to realize just how small the world had become over the past decade and a half and how this change had affected my life abroad.

I'm not one to tell the young kids how much rougher I had it when I was their age, or how much better life was way back when, and this article won't be any different. I marvel at what technology has done for me as an expat.

When I first began living in Germany, my only lifelines at home were my telephone and laptop. It doesn't sound all that bad, and it wasn't.

Of course, my computer was running Windows 95 and had a 56k modem hook-up, and my telephone was my landline, which was extremely expensive to use when calling home. The worst part of the conditions, and maybe for some, the best part, was the distance.

The purest of travelers may argue that you can't truly respect a foreign culture until you completely immerse yourself in it. I agree to an extent, but family and friends are still essential parts of our lives, and communication was severely limited back then.

Fast-forward to today. My once-a-week phone calls home have been replaced by Skype, Messenger, and FaceTime sessions.

No time for long emails (especially half-written emails that suddenly disappear when the internet goes out)? No problem. I can tweet a short message and let everyone back home know what I'm doing.

Even better, I can sit down and play Xbox Live with my brother when I need to catch up with him. We rock Modern Warfare.

All those nights reading Goethe and Schiller in the beginning, you ask?

No more, my friends, for I now can comfortably sit at home and watch my favorite TV series and movies every night…and in English, no less. Game of Thrones, anyone?

Technology is undoubtedly a plus when keeping up with family and friends, and certain things can be said about increasing safety.

I'd also be remiss to leave out how Google Maps has helped me on several occasions when finding my way around unfamiliar territory. Yet, I'm still unsure about all those other fringe benefits.

McDonald's food in Cairo — The McArabia meal at Cairo McDonald's (photo: David Lee)

I think it's a lot like going into that McDonald's in Cairo - you told yourself you would never go in there, but it sure is tempting [Editor's Note: guilty as charged]. More importantly, it might not even be good, but at least you know what you are getting (comfort and certain satisfaction).

So, as the world grows smaller, travelers and expats alike face the challenge of achieving a precarious balance. Some might say we must balance who we are and what we hope to become. I don't have the answers; I take the easy way out and pose the questions.

But I struggle with the answers too, and occasionally wonder if I should stay up till 4 am to watch the Super Bowl? After 15 years abroad, it's still hard to say no.

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Disclosure: This article was written and brought to you by Flights24.com.

Hiking the Himalayas

Flying over the Himalaya (photo: David Lee) — The Himalaya (photo: David Lee)

[T]he world's mountainous regions are all popular with adventurers, and no area represents greater challenges than the Himalayas.

However, it's not just the mountaineers amongst us who can enjoy the spectacular opportunities. With cheap flights to India, adventurers of all persuasions can enjoy the Greater Himalayan National Park.

In the most northern reaches of India in the Himachel Pradesh, the GHNP took 20 years to establish, finally becoming a National Park in 1999.

The park offers a huge range of eco tourism options to visitors to experience the amazing beauty of the area and support the local community.

The park is accessible by road and air. It is a 14-hour road trip from Delhi or by air from Delhi to Buntar which is 50km from the park.

Treks through the GHNP can be undertaken with guides but entry and route permits are subject to approval by Park officials for obvious safety reasons.

The shortest trek inside the park is a five day 56km trek across the Sainj river valley with an optional additional 10km for the round trip the Dhel taking in a mountainous trek through dense forest to a high, wide meadow, with great vistas and opportunities to spot wildlife.

The majority of treks are more strenuous and are seven or eight days. To see some mountainous drops, waterfalls and a chance of observing the Himalayan Tahr or Black Bear try the Sainj-Tirath Valley trek or the Tirthan Valley trek. Both are eight days and involve some strenuous climbing through dense forest.

For the superbly fit, the trip from Jiwa Nala to Parvati River Valley is very strenuous but truly dramatic with a total up down of 3500m in one day, as part of the seven-day journey. It involves high peaks with snow, and opportunities to see Brown Bear and Snow Leopard.

Outside of the park is the Ecozone, and trails here provide a view of the local communities and their crafts and livelihood. A great time to visit is the autumn when the Dushera Festival, a major Hindu event is on. Displays of music, costumes, exhibitions and foods fill the roads and towns.

There are two tourist centres at GHNP. The Larji information centre is well located for orientation from Neuli or Gushaini.. Park brochures, posters, and entry ticket to the Park can be obtained and the headquarters of Jiwanal Range Officer is also located here.

Sia Ropa Tourist Centre is 5km from Banjar and 5kms before the Gushaini entrance to the park and acts as the HQ for the Tirthan Wildlife Range Office and tickets to the park can be obtained here.

The Centre has a Forest Rest House with two dormitories (20 beds in all), Outside, there is a 520m long Biodiversity Trail which has trees and medicinal plant species transplanted from the Park, a pergola with Tirthan river view, a demonstration site for vermicomposting, a butterfly enclosure and a solar energy site.

Whatever your adventure at GHNP you have a unique opportunity to see some of the rare and endangered ecosystems which make the work of the park so important. Treasure every second.

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About the Author: Linda is a freelance writer and bookseller who, following 19 years in IT for a large airline, loves to write about the places she has visited. She also adores her other job as a bookseller in a local bookstore.

A Walk Through Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Traditional Village

[S]eoul, South Korea, is a fascinating city filled with thriving life, tasty cuisine and rich traditional Korean culture mixed within.

In the midst of modern skyscrapers, trendy shopping malls and high tech smart phones is a traditional section of Seoul that has been designated as an area of cultural preservation.

A "hanok" is the term used for a traditional Korean home while "Bukchon" is the name of the village which lies to the north of some of the most famous landmarks within Seoul.

Though it's not quite the same experience of being in the countryside visiting a local village like Batwa, strolling through Bukchon Hanok village, which is in some parts 600 years old, presents a great opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Seoul.

View of the Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul

Visiting Bukchon Hanok Village

Due to an abundance of both foreign and local Korean tourists visiting Bukchon on a daily basis, the village is well organized and easy to navigate.

After arriving I picked up a free map of the village at the central tourism information office.

The map showed almost the entire village and plotted a walking route that highlighted a number of strategic viewpoints.

View of some of the ancient rooftops in the village

The walk went up and down hills, through small alleyways and pointed out some great panoramic views of the village and city, as well as a glimpse into the architectural construction of the village.

The day I went, there were also thousands of Koreans out for a walk, enjoying the scenery and snapping just as many (or probably more) photos as first time tourists.

Overall the walk circumference around the village took about 2 hours to complete at a comfortable pace and it was one of my most memorable afternoons in Seoul.

On the streets of the village closer to the main road approaching Insadong and the Anguk subway station, there's a large selection of cafe's and restaurants serving everything from traditional Korean food to Italian food and modern fusion cuisine.

Some restaurants appeared to be extremely famous with Seoulites lining up waiting to eat.

As I walked around Bukchon Hanok, I couldn't help but sample a few of the most tempting street snacks like the skewers of juicy chicken lathered in Korean tomato chili barbecue sauce known as dakkochi (pictured above).

Other Opportunities

As a cultural heritage center of Seoul, instead of just walking around the village, there are also a number of ways to explore it on a more in-depth level.

One of those ways is to actually stay in the village and experience the traditional Korean style of accommodation.

There are a number of guest houses where you can book a hanok homestay which not only includes a place to sleep for the night, but also a wonderful cultural experience.

Another way to experience the rich South Korean culture is to sign up for a traditional tea drinking ceremony (tea was originally reserved for the privileged in Korea), a Korean cooking class, or even a lesson on making kimchi - one of the foundations of Korean cuisine.

If you choose to just walk around the village (like I did), stay for a few nights, or take a Korean cultural course, visiting Seoul's Bukchon Hanok village is a throwback in time and an interesting peek into the traditional Korean way of living.

Let's Go Backpacking in the Peruvian Amazon

Today I'm excited to share my reason for returning to Peru next month. At the kind invitation of Kurt, a co-founder of Rainforest Expeditions, I will be embarking on a 6-day journey into the Peruvian Amazon.

Before arriving in South America, I always associated the Amazon rainforest with Brazil, however, I quickly learned that it's accessible from almost every country on the continent.

This will be my first experience visiting the Amazon.

One month from today, on June 22, I will be flying East from Lima to Puerto Maldonado, before heading into the Tambopata National Reserve by boat.

This protected region of the Amazon covers 275,000 hectares in Southeastern Peru and is home to:

More than 10,000 species of plants
600+ species of birds, including colorful macaws, parrots, and toucans (my favorite)
200+ species of mammals, including otters, various monkeys, and jaguars (awesome!)
100+ species of amphibians and reptiles, including caimans

My time will be split between 2 of the 3 eco-lodges run by Rainforest Expeditions in the region. These lodges are designed to have a minimum impact on the surrounding environment.

They rely on kerosene lamps and use a very limited amount of generator-produced electricity every night (we have to charge our camera batteries, of course). There's no hot water either.

Internet access is briefly available each night, I'm told. I will attempt to send some tweets out during my stay, but for the most part, I'll be off the grid.

Day 1

The first day and night will be spent at Refugio Amazonas, which requires a 2.5-hour boat ride to reach.

Activities will include a nighttime search for caimans on the river and canopy tour.

Day 2

On the second day, I'll be board another boat to go a further 4.5 hours deeper into the Amazon.

I'll be spending the next three days and nights at the Tambopata Research Center. This is where the chance of spotting wildlife is greatest.

In the afternoon, there will be a hike, with the potential to see howler monkeys (which scared the heck out of me at night in the Belize jungle 6 years ago).

In the evening, there will be a lecture on macaws. The Research Center is located 500 meters from the largest known macaw clay lick in the Amazon, so it has thus become an important destination for the scientists who study them.

Day 3

The third day starts with an early-morning visit to the Macaw Clay Lick, where dozens of macaws and hundreds of colorful parrots congregate daily.

This clay lick is so important for research purposes, scientists have been visiting it for over 20 years.

After breakfast, there will be another nature walk, followed by a visit to a local pond in the afternoon.

In the evening, there's an optional night walk to try and catch a glimpse of mammals (jaguars!). This is when I expect to come face to face with my first tarantula in the wild.

Day 4

More nature walks around the Research Center, looking for tamarins and tapirs.

Day 5

I'll head back to Refugio Amazonas by boat, where the afternoon will be spent paddling around Oxbow Lake in search of otters.

Day 6

As the trip winds down, I'll leave the Amazon for Puerto Maldonado, where I've scheduled a few extra days before departing for Lima.

In a few weeks, as the departure draws near, I'll share my packing list specific to an Amazon trip of this nature.

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Disclosure: This tour is in partnership with Rainforest Expeditions. As always, any opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Dave's 160-page, all-original Lima Travel Guide is now available for Kindle and PDF.

Falling in Love with Cappadocia in Central Turkey

Cappadocia lunar landscape — Stunning Cappadocia

Whenever a place is described as having a "lunar landscape," I think I enjoy it more.

In the outback of New South Wales in Australia, White Cliffs was also the spitting image of the moon, being speckled with giant anthills that act as opal mines or even homes.

Something about a place that seems so vacant and yet so beautiful draws me in.

Cappadocia, in central Turkey, would be one of those moon landing types of places - the ones where you immediately scratch your head and say, "Hmm, so people actually live here?"

Cappadocia has probably topped the list of coolest places I've been, but not just because of the Cappadocian landscapes and rock formations, but also because of the cute little town of Göreme in which we stayed.

Cappadocia

Cappadocia forced me to get outdoors because most of the attractions involve hiking (light hiking, mind you) or the casual (grueling, in my case) mountain bike session.

Sure, we wanted to die after a big outing, but we also felt good - ready for that 10TL 3-course lunch back in Göreme.

We explored old cave churches, walked through valleys lined with cave and pigeon houses, and twisted and turned around fairy chimneys where we even happened upon the nicest man producing organic apple tea and wine from fruit grown in his garden.

Goreme rest stop — A rest stop along a hiking trail.

Along designated paths in the national park, there were numerous rest stops where you could quickly order an apple tea or two and bask in the natural beauty of a flowing creek rushing through the linings of naked trees.

Göreme

Back in Göreme, a town in the Cappadocia region, we were greeted every morning by the sunrise and 50+ hot air balloons, all reaching slowly above the town's rocky surrounds.

Goreme and hot air balloon — Goreme in the morning with a lone hot air balloon.

Walking down the street felt surreal with these towering icons looming above, but even those that stayed indoors (and out of the clouds) could probably hear the pulsing sounds of the balloons heating up and flying overhead.

We visited the town during the lower season, and even then, vendors were friendly and not pushy.

Some locals offered us free Turkish delights, while others welcomed us into their homes.

Our stay was only supposed to encompass the three full days in the region as marked by our Intrepid Travel tour, but we stayed five to get to know it well.

If it weren't for a schedule, we probably could have stayed longer, just relaxing and spending time with the adorable little girl of our motel owner.

Visiting Cappadocia

Cappadocia is a good 10-hour bus ride from Istanbul or a couple of hours flight, but it is definitely worth the trouble.

If you feel the vibe of Istanbul is too hustle and bustle, head out to Cappadocia to discover the hard-working, friendly, and helpful people that make up much of Turkey.

The best time to visit would not be in the winter, and even early April was chilly when the wind blew (and rainy!).

Our guide explained that mid to late April was when the trees and flowers would bloom, so I can only imagine the beauty at that time.

The 4 Most Anticipated Festivals in Thailand

Busy Chinatown on Chinese New Years in Bangkok

[H]aving lived in Thailand on and off for a number of years, I’ve been able to attend many festivals.

Here are the four main festivals that stick in my mind as the most highly anticipated events of the year!

1. Chinese New Year

There are estimates that more than half the population of residents in Bangkok alone have Chinese blood - so you can be assured Chinese New Years in Thailand is huge.

For Thai-Chinese, the lunar new year is about spending time with family members and remembering ancestors. It's also a time for a new beginning with the hopes of prosperity and good luck for the future.

Not washing or cutting hair and refraining from cleaning the house are a few of the notable traditions. Choose to partake in these activities during Chinese New Year and you run the risk of washing away your wealth for the year.

While Chinese New Year is celebrated all over Thailand, the bulk of events in Bangkok are held in the heart of Yaowarat (Chinatown) where thousands gather to eat, browse and watch the parade.

Date: Late January to February

2. Songkran

Of all the Thailand holidays, nothing is more anticipated or as exciting as the annual Songkran festival that ushers in the Thai New Year.

On the serious side of things, for local Thais, the Songkran festival is about spending time with family and close friends as well as visiting a Buddhist temple to offer food and receive blessings from monks.

For the remaining portion of the days (and nights) during Songkran, Thailand turns into a water splashing war zone where no one is spared.

Many people choose to pile into the back of pickup trucks or on motorcycles to cruise around the streets drinking alcohol and dousing everyone with water.

Songkran is the ultimate chance for everyone to let loose and have a blast. If you’re able to visit Thailand for just a single festival, Songkran is a great choice!

Date: April 13 - 15

3. Vegetarian Jay Festival

Around 150 years ago there was a group of Chinese opera performers that traveled to Thailand.

On their journey they became very sick and after consulting with one another they decided they had not been faithful to the nine emperor gods of the Chinese Taoist belief.

In order to make things right, the group decided to eat a strict vegetarian diet for the first nine days of the ninth lunar month.

The “Jay Festival” as it’s known, still takes place annually. For foodies (not only vegetarians) and cultural travelers, the Thai vegetarian festival and its ceremonies are a highlight of Thailand travel.

While the vegetarian festival is most famous in southern Thailand (in Phuket specifically) there’s also widespread events and vegetarian food throughout Bangkok.

Date: End of September or early October

Loi Krathong Festival in Thailand (photo by makilica)

4. Loi Krathong

The night of the full moon in the 12th lunar month is when the beautiful Loi Krathong festival is celebrated.

A krathong is a traditional floating device made from a slice off the trunk of a banana tree that is decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles and sticks of incense.

Every year thousands of Thais get their own krathong, light the candle on fire and float it in a designated river or lake.

While thousands of flickering candles in a river is truly a wondrous site, the actual act of floating a krathong is symbolistic of getting rid of all personal anger, frustration and grudges. It's also an act to honor the goddess of water.

Date: Normally in November

Thailand is an amazing country, but if you manage to arrange your travels so you are in the country during one of these anticipated festivals your trip will be even more remarkable.

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Disclosure: This post was written by Mark, and brought to you by STA Travel.

Flames of the Forest: A Must Splurge for Far North Queensland

flames of the forest intro — Flames of the Forest Pavillion

[O]ur shuttle bus dropped us on a dirt road in the dark, but we knew where to go into the rainforest because of the small planted lights that led the way.

After turning a corner, we were served bubbly and hors d’oeuvres from an outdoor bar, in a small clearing with a few smaller trees all adorned with white strings of lights.

It was elegant, and classy, or maybe like the beginning of a cheesy haunted amusement park ride – at this point I couldn't tell, but I was definitely enjoying the bubbly.

After maybe 15 to 20 minutes of our casual, soft-lit pre-drinking party, we were summoned by a man in a loin cloth and body paint to follow him. Curious, and warm from our drink, we didn't hesitate.

Around the corner was another clearing with the most breathtaking setup one could imagine in the middle of a rainforest.

The oohs and ahhs were barely audible over the sounds of a digeridoo being played on the stage by another main in a loin cloth and body paint.

Cheesy haunted amusement park ride, it was not. We took our seats and prepared for the feast and the show ahead.

Flames of the Forest

Any trip to the area of far north Queensland in Australia will more than likely involve an experience learning about the Aboriginal culture. Which cultural experience you choose is up to you.

You can go on Aboriginal hikes through the rainforest-filled lands in the Daintree, or you can sit back while Aboriginal people sing and dance in front of you.

Or, you can visit Flames of the Forest outside of Port Douglas for an entire evening of food, drink, and story telling in a stunning outdoor setting of the rainforest.

Flames of the Forest's main draw would be the 3 hour Cultural Evening where participants dine in the pavillion at night on a 6 course banquet (made from local produce), with all you can drink beverages (wine and beer are included), all while listening to traditional Aboriginal music and story-telling, that which is emphasized by lighting effects.

flames of forest story telling — The story-telling begins.

Unfolding of Events

I was mesmerized. Not only was the soft hum of the didgeridoo producing a calming effect, course after course of delicious food being brought to the table – that you share with a few other event goers – filled our stomachs with pleasure.

My favorite dish of the night would have to be the kangaroo meat spiced with lemon myrtle and topped with fig and macadamia nuts, but the giant pavlova dessert was a close second.

When you get well into your meal, the show moves to the front to the clearing right next to the tables with people eating. Almost everyone has a front-row seat.

Lights adorned our Aboriginal guides who then began playing more digeridoo as the other delved into traditional stories – stories about how certain animals were made; legends.

Value of the Evening

At the time of writing, the price of a ticket to Flames of the Forest Cultural Evening is $209 AUD.

While that might seem like a lot, the ticket does include an Aboriginal cultural show, a 6 course dinner (that tasted divine), alcoholic beverages, and transport to and from your Port Douglas accommodation.

When you put it in that light, the cost is not very extreme at all.

Plus, it will provide an experience you will never forget in pristine rainforest surrounds of far north Queensland.

My ticket to Flames of the Forest was provided as part of a media trip with Tourism Queensland. However, I was honestly impressed by the event and wouldn't hesitate to take family and friends there in the future.

Final Thoughts: Patagonia Trip

Penguins — An adolescent King penguin stands out amongst thousands of Magellanic penguins on an island outside Ushuaia.

If I did my job well, then the last few months' worth of dispatches from Patagonia have sold you on the region as a top-notch destination.

I had a blast, and I want to thank G Adventures for letting me join them on an End of the Earth tour. The itinerary met my expectations, and the actual locations exceeded them.

The trip began when we met Nadia in Buenos Aires. By early the next morning, we were meeting Christian, our mountain guide and Chief Experience Officer (CEO) for most of the trip.

Fitz Roy Mountain looms over the village of El Chalten

The active stage of our trip began with a hike around Fitz Roy mountain, whose summit remained hidden much of the time. However, it did not distract me in the least from the day. You will be disappointed if you go to Patagonia expecting perfect weather for every hike.

The next day, I fulfilled a childhood dream by going ice climbing on Viedma Glacier. The morning started overcast, but the skies had cleared by the time we reached the glacier. The surprise ending to our day was something none of us saw coming.

Searching for a connection at Perito Moreno Glacier

Our next big adventure was a visit to Perito Moreno Glacier. The sheer size of the glacier left everyone in awe. It was one of the most spectacular natural sites I've ever had the pleasure to visit. Hearing and watching ice calve off the glacier only added to the excitement.

In addition to the physical activities, we also ate surprisingly well. I threw caution to the wind and dined on the best food in Patagonia with most of our 10-person group every night.

The skies cleared just in time for us to see the summits of all Three Towers.

Upon reaching Torres del Paine National Park, we hiked to the Three Towers and, the following day, to the glacier in the French Valley. The signs of last December's wildfire did little to detract from the park's natural beauty.

The trip wrapped up in Ushuaia, where we walked amongst three species of wild penguins, and I flew my first plane over the skies above the Beagle Channel.

I can't recommend this region of the world highly enough. The key is to visit during the (South American) summer season. Otherwise, the typically unpredictable weather is even worse. Plus, you're less likely to see the mountain tops.

I've been overhearing travelers in hostels talk about their experience visiting Patagonia more recently, and I don't envy them. I get cold just thinking about the weather down there now.

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Disclosure: This Patagonia tour was in partnership with G Adventures. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Top 5 Tastiest Hawaiian Fusion Foods

I have long considered Hawaii to be one of the ultimate eating destinations in the world. Plopped in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, between the mainland American continent and Asia, it is a heaven for foodies.

Influenced by so many different countries, each bringing its cuisine, Hawaii has developed and perfected flavors that are the signature of the islands.

Although traditional Hawaiian food (similar to Polynesian food) is still plentiful, fusion Asian-inspired dishes are the most popular. Here are five incredible fusion dishes in Hawaii that you shouldn't miss!

Hawaiian Foods

1. Plate Lunch

Nothing goes better with the beach and a day of surfing than a plate lunch. A plate lunch combines two scoops of steamed white rice, one scoop of creamy macaroni salad, and a meat of your choice; all piled into a takeaway foam container. The most popular options include teriyaki chicken, chicken katsu, or fried mahi-mahi.

The meats are often Asian Japanese influenced while adding macaroni salad, and the giant portion sizes are Hawaiian-inspired. Many plate lunch restaurants will also offer a mini, which includes less rice and less meat.

2. Spam Musubi

SPAM musubi is one of the tastiest Hawaiian fusion foods — SPAM musubi

SPAM is not the most beloved thing to eat on the mainland of the United States. I've met many who aren't overly fond of the tasty block of pink preserved meat, but things are different in Hawaii. SPAM is treasured. One of the ultimate marriages of Hawaii and Japan is the SPAM musubi, a seaweed roll filled with a thick slab of fried SPAM luncheon meat.

Beginning with a piece of seaweed, rice is added, then a bit of SPAM, and finally, the treat is wrapped up and smashed into a rectangular package of goodness. If it wasn't so unhealthy, I could probably eat a SPAM musubi every day for the rest of my life!

Related: 10 Popular Hawaiian Foods

3. Loco Moco

The hamburger is arguably the most famous of all American foods. While it's between two buns, you can eat a burger in a loco moco in Hawaii.

Take a foam container, fill the entire bottom with freshly steamed rice, pile on a few giant-sized fried hamburger patties mixed with onions and seasonings, and pour an abundance of beefy brown gravy. You've got a comforting Hawaiian fusion loco moco.

4. Manapua

Chinese steamed buns, also known as baozi. While authentic Chinese steamed buns can be easily found in Hawaii, some of the tastiest ones have been slightly modified to a local Hawaiian flavor.

Take a ball of dough, stuff the insides with a porky or meaty or even veggie filling, steam or bake it, and you've got manapua. In Hawaii, you can get all sorts of delicious fillings like the common char siu (Chinese red barbecued pork), kalua pig (a Hawaiian food), or even chicken curry!

5. Shave Ice

Shave Ice, a classic Hawaiian fusion food — Shave Ice

Hawaiian shave ice is not as wild as a Filipino halo-halo or as plain as an American snow cone; it's a masterpiece in between. Hawaiian shave ice is made of finely shaved ice molded into a cone, bowl, or cup and drenched in sweet, fruity-flavored syrup.

You can also choose from various other toppings or condiments, such as sweet red azuki beans, sweetened condensed milk, or even ice cream on the bottom. One of my favorite shave ice combinations is the duo of passion fruit (lilikoi) and coconut cream (haupia) topped with sweetened condensed milk.

Hawaii is a confluence of cuisines combined into a unique set of highly appetizing dishes. During a day of enjoying the beauty of the islands, there's no greater pleasure than sitting back and relaxing with a takeaway container of Hawaiian fusion food!

Meet Christian, Our Guide Through Patagonia

[I] recently introduced the world to Nadia, our G Adventures guide in Buenos Aires.

However, it was Christian, a Chilean mountain guide, who'd take us through Patagonia.

He was waiting for us when we arrived at the airport in El Calafate, and would be with us until our flight from Ushuaia back to Buenos Aires began to board.

Initially, I thought I would sit down with him at some point during the trip to ask a bunch of questions for this article.

But, I soon discovered that as the days went by, myself and everyone else peppered him with more questions than any single interview could include.

Over the course of our jaunt through Patagonia, we got to know Christian pretty well, and in turn, I believe he got to know us.

He'd been leading group tours through the region for 6 seasons. When not working in Patagonia during the Summer, he was a snowboard instructor in the mountains around Santiago.

Of course we asked him about his experiences leading other groups. For example, we learned he once saved a client's life by performing the Heimlich Maneuver on her after she began choking in a restaurant.

He joked that she would then go on to give him the biggest tip of his career.

Christian briefs us before we leave El Calafate

Throughout the trip, he was always there to brief us on where we were going next, and what, if any, special equipment or arrangements we'd need to make in advance.

When we set off to go ice climbing on Viedma Glacier, Christian got some rock climbing in during his down time away from the group.

Almost every night, he'd join us for a big dinner. And the restaurants he lead us to were always excellent.

The post I wrote about food in Patagonia is the result of all those recommendations.

Christian telling us about some cave paintings in Torres del Paine National Park

It was during our time in Torres del Paine National Park that he seemed most in his element.

Decked out in Mountain Hardwear gear, which was clearly one of his favorite brands, he lead us up to the Three Towers on the first day.

While we were up there, he shared the history of those who'd climbed the various granite peaks.

And he mentioned his desire to climb the North Tower (2,260 meters), an expedition he was going to plan and undertake within days of finishing our tour.

He said it'd take a minimum of 20 hours. When I heard that, while looking up at the peak, I immediately began praying for his safety!

As it turned out, he was called upon to lead another tour group after us, thus delaying his plans. I hope to catch up with him and find out what happened when I pass through Santiago next weekend.

Dennis makes a toast to Christian at our last dinner together

One of the reasons I appreciate group tours, aside from their efficiencies, is the customers' ability to rely on others if something goes wrong.

In our case, we arrived in Punta Arena during historic floods. The hotel we were suppose to stay at, which we'd been told was the nicest of the trip, was under water.

The flooding was so bad, the bus had to drop us off on the outskirts of town, in the pouring rain.

Christian lead us to a large shopping mall, where we were able to grab some lunch and kill some time, before alternate plans could be made.

A few hours later, we all took taxis to a comfortable Bed and Breakfast for the night.

He broke the bad news to us that we'd be missing the visit to the nearby penguin colony, but then went on to say we'd be able to see penguins in Ushuaia instead.

By the next day, the rains let up, the river was going back down, and we were back on track.

I'd like to extend a big "thank you" to Christian, once again, for his patience and leadership on our trip to the end of the Earth.

___________

Disclosure: This Patagonia tour was in partnership with G Adventures. Any opinions expressed are entirely my own.

How Much Travel Planning is Needed for a Successful Trip?

An unplanned pilgrimage I took in Sri Lanka — An unexpected pilgrimage I took in Sri Lanka

Without a doubt, planning is a big part of traveling anywhere in the world.

Planning a trip and organizing an itinerary of things to do, what to see and where to go is a fun way to get excited about your upcoming trip and anticipate all of your adventures.

But in reality, how much planning do you actually do? And how much planning do you need to do to have a successful trip?

Visiting Sri Lanka

I'm going to briefly go over the way that I plan my travels, and to do so, I'll begin with an example about when I visited Sri Lanka not long ago.

Living in Thailand the first part of my trip planning was to book a flight, this time a roundtrip flight between Bangkok and Colombo, staying in Sri Lanka for just over 3 weeks (Note: if I wasn't based in Bangkok, I probably would have just booked a one-way flight).

The next thing I did was log in to Couchsurfing, searched for hosts in Colombo and within the next week, I had arranged a local place to stay.

The remaining part of my travel planning before departing for Sri Lanka included little online things like reading a little about the history of the country on Wikipedia, checking the weather conditions, browsing a few blogs and sites written by other travelers, checking the exchange rate and contemplating a few of the most famous places in the country to visit. That's about it.

I arrived in Colombo, made my way to my host's home, and explored the city for about a week.

During this time, I met a friend who knew another friend who invited us to his Mother's home in the countryside rolling tea field plantations of central Sri Lanka.

Without having to dart to the next location on my non-existent itinerary, I agreed and we were soon on the train and then in a tuk-tuk in an extremely local area of the island.

Making delicious home cooked Sri Lankan food — Making a delicious home cooked Sri Lankan food

I took strolls through the gorgeous tea fields, checked out the local town, rode tea plantation buses, learned lots about Sri Lankan culture and most of all I was able to eat home cooked Sri Lankan food each day cooked over a fire by a woman that I could not refer to by anything else other than Grandmother.

She was excited for the company and happy to see us so thrilled at her home-style cooking - I even learned to make the best Sri Lankan chicken curry in the world! I ended up staying for nearly a week.

Recommended by my initial Sri Lankan Couchsurfing host, from the unplanned homestay, I made my way north to the war stuck area of Jaffna which was safe to visit.

Though I hadn't planned on visiting prior to arriving in the country, Jaffna proved to be one of the most remarkable places I've ever visited.

Finally my trip was coming to a close so I made my way back to Colombo and on to the airport.

Did I get to see ALL the famous attractions in Sri Lanka? No.

Did I have an exceptional trip where I got to learn about the culture, eat authentic Sri Lankan food and live locally for a few weeks? Yes.

Had I had a long list of places to go to fulfill my 3 weeks stay in Sri Lanka I would have missed staying at a Sri Lankan tea farm country home and dining on ambrosial curry all day.

The thing to remember is that having an open attitude and living with flexibility opens a new world to have some of the most rewarding travel experiences.

One of my most memorable traveling experiences in China

This is not to discourage you from making huge travel plans, they do have a purpose and can be very helpful.

Just sometimes, over-planning can be a burden and can take away from things that you weren't planning to do but that will inevitably arise on any longterm backpacking trip.

As a long term backpacker, I've traveled on both extremes.

Sometimes I've absolutely winged it with next to zero planning and nowhere to sleep, other times I've been chained to a strict itinerary and rushed from site to site to make sure I didn't miss seeing the most famous monuments of the country.

While it does depend somewhat upon yourself and what you feel comfortable with (as well as what you feel safe with), I've found that planning somewhere in the middle works best.

A flight in, possibly an initial place to stay for the first few days you arrive, some places you really want to visit at the back of your head, but also a highly flexible attitude and willingness to just about anything.

In 2009 I got a one-way ticket to Southeast Asia with very little on my itinerary... and guess what? I'm still in Southeast Asia!

I can honestly say that plenty of my most memorable experiences traveling have come as a result of less planning and more flexibility.

4 Hurdles to Overcome When Planning a Trans-Mongolian Train Journey

Trans-Mongolian train car — A train car on the Trans-Mongolian (photo: t-o-n-y)

In less than a month, the culmination of about six months of talking, emailing, planning, dreaming, and finalizing is about to occur: my boyfriend and I are meeting up with two other friends in Beijing where we will begin our Trans-Mongolian train journey.

This epic train journey is going to take us from China to Mongolia to Russia - and from Beijing to Moscow (well St. Petersburg in our case).

Instead of going straight on it for seven days, we will be getting off at key locations to explore a bit more of the countryside.

To me, it sounds like a fantastic trip, but not that many people venture out to take it because of four main hurdles (that can be overcome).

1. Language Barrier

Russian and Chinese (well, Mongolian, too!) are not the easiest of languages.

While an English speaker can simply waft through countries where Romance languages fill the air - sometimes just by adding an ending onto English words - that isn't quite so in this part of the world.

Even worse is the idea that not many people will know English along the way, which, fair enough, is probably true for much of the journey.

Break down the language barrier: Even in remote parts of the world, English is becoming a popular language for people to learn, so you might be surprised to find at least one person that knows bits and pieces.

And, if not, isn't that all just part of the adventure?!

Arm yourself with Google Translate, or just bring along a picture guide book so you can point when you need something.

2. Visa Hassles

Tricky application wordings, letters of invitation that can only be received after booking with travel agents, and big bank checks are not the most appealing of tasks to undertake.

Visa hassles for countries like China and Russia almost immediately decrease the number of visitors by half (ok, so I drew that number out of thin air).

But, seriously, it's no fun to have to deal with visa hassles for multiple countries at once, which you will have to do to ride the Trans-Mongolian rails.

Easing visa annoyance: Applying for visas is never fun, but don't let that fill your travel life with regret.

Think about the travel glory that will come from this small hassle: a chance to ride on the Trans-Mongolian rails.

Other than that, read up on the visa rules and regulations and start putting your information in order early.

cost of train trip — The price can be steep for foreigners looking to ride the rails (photo: breatheindigital)

3. Cost

When a train ticket alone costs you over $1,000, combined with the cost of flights (flying in and out of different locations), accommodation, food, and those pesky expensive visas, you could say a ride on the Trans-Mongolian rails is not really for the budget traveler.

Bringing down the cost: If you have the time, you can avoid going through a travel agency for more than your train tickets (get in touch for more info and recommendations).

Hostels line the stops of the train line, and those can be quickly booked through a website.

Start saving in advance, and if you can, extend your trip before or after the train ride to get the most for your money.

Time to catch the train — Don't miss the trip of a lifetime (photo: Sistak)

4. Time

Unless you're doing the straight seven-day ride where you don't get off the train, then the Trans-Mongolian train journey will more than likely take time - more time than someone might get on a standard holiday.

Do you want to stop off in China, Mongolia, and various places in Russia?

We're planning a three-week journey for our trip, and even that is leaving stuff out.

Battling time: Save up holiday time (if possible!), so you can take an epic trip.

If there is no way to gain more travel time, research possible stop-offs along the route and choose the ones that seem most exciting and worthwhile to you.

Seoul's Noryangjin Fish Market

[M]arkets around the world fascinate me. Partly it's the food, and partly it's because markets are where local life and local business boom.

One of the first things I did when I got to Seoul, South Korea, was head to the Noryangjin Fisheries Market.

Similar to Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market, the market is one of the largest fresh seafood sources in the city.

Amazing seafood at the Noryangjin Fish Market

Every day, thousands of people come in and out of the market in search of the freshest and highest quality of seafood.

There was indeed an impressive display of some of the finest seafood I've ever seen.

Octopus is one of Korea's most coveted culinary gems.

From eating live baby octopus chopped and moving on your plate to giant tentacles stir fried with chili paste, you'll find it all at the market.

There are all sorts of random slimy looking things like sea cucumbers, and some things I'd never even seen before.

If you love shrimp, you'll be in awe at the selection.

I couldn't believe the size of the jumbo prawns, some of them easily a foot in length, and probably offering more meat than a small lobster. YUM!

These rather intimidating little guys are known as sea squirts.

When vendors slice off their hard outer shell, a squirt of water shoots out, sometimes over a meter in distance.

Examining seafood to make sure it's extremely fresh

The seafood at the Noryangjin fish market is filled with aquariums where almost everything is still alive and swimming!

This man was choosing his lunch very carefully.

Along with a host of slimy sea dwellers, mollusks, and crustaceans, there's also a giant selection of fish including lots of stingrays waiting to be sliced up and eaten as sushi.

An aquarium of the freshest Korean seafood

After browsing around the Noryangjin fish market you can go to one of the upstairs restaurants and treat yourself to a delicious meal.

I ordered a fish soup hot pot flavored with kimchi and cabbage - it was fantastic. You can also sample other delicacies like sashimi, and even live octopus.

If you visit Seoul, South Korea, make sure to include the Noryangjin Fish Market on your itinerary.

7 Reasons to Travel as a Couple (vs. Going Solo)

A few years ago, I became known as a solo female traveler and blogger. It wasn't because I set out to put my name into that particular field of travel bloggers - it was simply out of necessity that I jumped from place to place without a travel partner.

Brooke and Pat hiking Turkey, traveling as a couple. — Brooke and Pat hiking in Turkey

But after those experiences, I realized the many benefits of going solo, such as the freedom to do what you want and when you want it, and it became my preferred method of travel-until I met my current boyfriend.

After being with him, it became hard to be away for extended periods. I noticed the little things about travel that would have been better if he had been there, the things that I would like to share with him.

The lonely times felt lonelier, and being away was just not quite the same. It was like I couldn't dig my hands deep into a place because something in the back of my mind was drawing me elsewhere.

However, I am one lucky girl because my boyfriend has finally set off on an extended 3.5-month trip with me, and I can tell that many parts of traveling with him ultimately trumps going solo.

Benefits of Couples Travel

1. I no longer have to lie about having a boyfriend - he's there!

Boy, oh boy. As a solo traveler, even when I told people I had a boyfriend, there was no man on my arm or ring on my finger to make anyone believe me.

For example, there was a time I was stranded at the border between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan (because of silly visa "difficulties"), and the Kazakh border guards surrounded me, took my phone, and called their phones with it so they could have my number... yeah, that was not fun at all.

However, on arrival at the Bishkek airport in Kyrgyzstan this time around, my boyfriend and I went to two separate lines for passport control. The one I went to happened to have three Kyrgyz men behind the desk (chatting and otherwise).

One of the guards told me that I was pretty, which then started the spiel that, in other circumstances, would have continued no matter how many times I said I wasn't available. This time, I responded that my boyfriend was right over there, which they were all able to confirm, and that was that. Wow, it was too easy!

backpackers on move — My boyfriend carries more when I'm not feeling well. (photo by Hanuman)

Sure enough, we each have a lot of stuff that we need to pack, but the sharing part rocks when it comes to medicines and toiletries. In that case, one person can carry the toiletries and the other the medical supplies (I've learned over the years that skimping on cold medicines is just more hassle when you need it!).

Sharing bag space also helps when one is sick or sore. In that case, the partner who is well can perhaps carry more. And let's not forget about souvenirs and other items picked up along the way. How else would I have managed to carry all my media materials from my latest blog trip and an entire box of Baci chocolates around?! Splitting it up has saved our backs-seriously!

3. We are 2x more likely to be on schedule.

Two people set alarms to wake up for flights and early morning bus rides. We now have two eyes to review the schedule and keep current with where we must be.

It relieves a lot of stress on my poor brain, knowing that someone else is with me to help me on my way, whether it be double-checking the schedule or just reminding me that the flight is boarding when I am lost in my email inbox in the Turkish Airlines lounge.

4. I have less chance of sitting next to strange strangers.

brooke pat on bus — Sitting next to each other on public transport.

I know that sometimes those strange strangers can make the best stories, but they can also, at other times, make you cringe and be very uncomfortable on those long journeys. With my boyfriend sitting next to me, we barely have to worry. On a bus and many planes, we take up the two seats on one side.

Even on the 3-seater planes, we don't feel as uncomfortable as it's only on one side (instead of possibly both) that some unknown person starts taking up your armrest space and sneezing on your food.

5. We get to split meals to save money or order like normal to try more!

There have been several times when my boyfriend and I have sat down for a rest but have not been very hungry. In that case, we got something small to share and a few drinks, saving us money.

Other times, we like to take advantage of our two-ness by ordering normal-sized meals but different ones and then splitting them to taste as much foreign food goodness as possible.

6. We get each other's backs.

Brooke and Pat working together. — Working in solitude, but together.

This goes for more than a security sense. The ability to leave your bags with your partner while you run to the toilet is a perk that deserves a shout, but the real benefit comes socially.

There are times when you are plain tired and can't handle going out for drinks or socializing with others you meet in hostels, and it can make you feel like a recluse of sorts when you're back in your room.

Having that downtime with someone who understands you makes it a nice and relaxing experience instead of one in which you're considered socially awkward.

7. Some things are just better experienced with someone you love.

I can think of a few places and experiences common on travels that are better with significant others: sunrises, sunsets, and Italy spring to mind. Enjoying gelato in front of the Trevi Fountain is never going to be bad, but sharing a gelato in romantic Rome is probably 20 times better. Am I right?

Why Nicaragua Is the Next Costa Rica (and How to Take Advantage Of It)

Laguna Apoyo - Nicaragua (photo: Dave Lee)

Times are changing. Fast.

Nicaragua – once a political hotbed deemed unsafe for travelers – has opened up in a big way.

So big that travelers and ex-pats are moving here in record numbers (Nicaragua greeted over one million visitors for the first time in 2010, which brought over US$360 million to the country).

But that’s just the beginning. Mention Nicaragua to most people, and you get raised eyebrows.

“You’re going where? Isn’t it, you know, dangerous?”

In a word: no. Nicaragua has the lowest crime rate in Central America, and second lowest in all of Latin America (behind Uruguay).

Word is getting out, and as public opinion catches on, it’s a matter of time before Nicaragua becomes the next Costa Rica.

Nicaragua: A Quick Intro

Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. It borders El Salvador and Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south.

It’s a tropical country divided into three regions: fertile plains along the Pacific, the central highlands and the Caribbean lowlands.

The dry season goes from November to April, while the (very) rainy season runs from May to October.

In a way, Nicaragua feels like two countries. Spanish-speaking Latinos make up the western and central regions and primarily eat rice, beans, and chicken.

Head farther east, and suddenly everyone is taller, darker, speaks English and dines on lobster, shrimp, and other seafood.

Like Costa Rica, Nicaragua offers eco-tourism (though not on the same scale). You can hike through rainforests, fish off either coast and explore volcanoes, often without the crowds found in Costa Rica.

Plus, Nicaragua has Lago Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America.

Granada, the charming colonial city along the lake’s shore, is well worth visiting for a few days (though another colonial city, Leon, is more popular for long-term stays).

Why Nicaragua?

As we’ve already seen, Nicaragua is safer than Costa Rica (though public opinion believes otherwise) and offers similar outdoor activities.

But let’s be real. Budget drives backpackers and backpackers drive travel.

While in Nicaragua, I met dozens of people who left Costa Rica’s high-priced tourist trail in search of adventure.

Here are just a few price comparisons between the two countries:

Consumer prices are 32.01% lower in Nicaragua
Rent is 54.21% lower in Nicaragua
Groceries are 29.61% lower in Nicaragua

In effect, this means you can travel for almost twice as long in Nicaragua as Costa Rica. For the budget backpacker, at least, this is a very compelling reason to stay longer.

But it’s not just the backpackers.

Nicaragua and Business: A Match Made in Heaven?

Well, not really. No country in Central America is considered a fantastic place to start a business.

According to a World Bank report, Nicaragua ranked 118 as a country to do business in. Costa Rica ranked 121, so there’s not much difference there.

However, these rankings fail to consider two important points.

First, Nicaragua’s infrastructure has improved considerably over the past few years. So unlike Costa Rica – whose development remains constant – Nicaragua’s showing a strong positive trend.

Secondly, Nicaragua is a lot cheaper than Costa Rica. Which means it’s easier to start a business and – in the worst case scenario – it’s easier to try again if your business fails.

My wife and I spent a month in San Juan del Sur, a small surfing town on the Pacific coast. While there, we couldn’t believe how many entrepreneurs we met from other countries, many of whom moved to Nicaragua to start their own business.

So while Nicaragua may not have the business acumen of Singapore or Hong Kong, it’s a breeding ground for those willing to strike out on their own. And that leads to further economic growth.

Before You Move to Nicaragua and Start A Business

Realize this country still has a lot of problems. President Daniel Ortega has been accused of controlling the media to help him get reelected (which he did in 2011).

It’s also one of the poorest. The World Bank ranked Nicaragua 131 in terms of GDP, which makes it the poorest country in Central America and second poorest in Latin America (ahead of Haiti).

But if you’re looking for adventure, both in business and in day-to-day life, you’d be hard-pressed to overlook Nicaragua.

Watch out Costa Rica. Your time is (almost) up.

_________

About the Author: Adam Costa is Editor in Chief of Trekity.com, an "insanely" useful travel site. He also runs the Travel Blogger Academy, which shows how bloggers can grow their travel blogs traffic.

10 Famous Prisons Around the World

Once housed in some of the world's most notorious prisons, the prisoners could never have thought that their forbidding homes would one day become tourist attractions.

These prisons were either home to famous prisoners, well-known from literature, or synonymous with cruelty, which gives them a macabre interest for visitors. Whatever the reasons, many such places are now firmly on the tourist map.

World Famous Prisons

1. Alcatraz, USA

Alcatraz in San Francisco is one of the most famous prisons in the United States (photo: Dave Lee) — Alcatraz (photo: Dave Lee)

When considering famous prisons, Alcatraz prison in the United States is the one that springs most readily to mind. It's America's best-known federal prison and its first maximum-security prison. Famous inmates include Al Capone and Robert "Birdman" Stroud.

The prison is situated on Alcatraz Island, a rocky island in San Francisco Bay that is considered impossible to escape from, although 36 men have tried throughout its history. Closed in 1963, the island and the former supermax prison are now open to tourists. Tours cost between $28 and $60, depending on the length, type, and boat trip to the island.

Visitors can see the prison cells, including the "hole" (solitary confinement), and experience what it is like to be an inmate. A popular night tour of this U.S. penitentiary is also available.

2. The Tower of London, England

Tower of London (photo: Amy Leigh Barnard)

Alcatraz only operated for 20 years, but one of the world's most visited prisons was used much longer. The Tower of London, home of Britain's Crown Jewels, was once a notorious prison. Built in the 11th century, it was a prison until the mid-20th century, making it one of the world's oldest prisons.

This building has seen many notorious inmates, including Henry VI, Anne Boleyn, Rudolph Hess, and several Scottish kings.

A tour of the Tower includes an audio tour of the cells and interactive displays of prison life. Visitors can also see Tower Green, where executions took place. The Tower is open daily and costs £17.60 to £20 for an adult. Family tickets are also available.

3. Robben Island, South Africa

Touring Robben Island, South Africa's most famous prison (photo: Dave Lee) — Touring Robben Island (photo: Dave Lee)

Robben Island in South Africa is known for one extremely famous prisoner: Nelson Mandela. This island prison lies seven miles off the coast of Cape Town. Although it has been a prison for centuries, it has been a maximum-security facility for political prisoners since 1959. Over 3,000 prisoners, including Nelson Mandela, were held here between 1961 and 1991.

The last prisoners left Robben Island in 1996. Later that year, it became a museum and a national monument of South Africa. Tours cost R230 for adults and R120 for children and take about three hours. They include the return boat trip to the island, a visit to the prison, and a chance to talk to a former prisoner.

4. Château d'If, France

Chateau d'If prison in France (photo: Jan Drewes) — Chateau d'If (photo: Jan Drewes)

Nelson Mandela was a real prisoner, but another famous island prison was home to fiction's best-known prisoner - the Count of Monte Cristo. Château d'If is off the coast of Marseille, and even if the Count of Monte Cristo was fictional, it did hold many real prisoners from the mid-1600s to the end of the 1800s.

Alexandre Dumas's book, The Count of Monte Cristo, was based on the island, and its success made the Château d'If famous. Two adjacent cells are named after Edmond Dantes and Abbe Faria, the main characters in the book. In the story, Dantes escapes from the island, although nobody is believed to have done this.

Ferries go to the island from Marseille, and an individual return ticket will cost €5. The entrance to the Chateau is €5.50, though there are concession prices and family tickets.

5. Devil's Island, French Guiana

Devil's Island was home to a former penitentiary in French Guiana (photo: Annika12, iStock license) — Devil's Island (photo: Annika12)

Another famous French prison is on Devil's Island. A book and a film immortalized this, though the story is true in this case. Devil's Island is in the Caribbean, off the coast of French Guiana in South America.

It was open for 90 years from 1832, and around 80,000 prisoners spent time there. As with all island prisons, it was designed to be almost impossible to escape from, and the thick jungles and infested waters around it did make it so.

Albert Dreyfus was imprisoned there, but Devil's Island became famous when Henri Charriere, a former inmate, wrote a book about his successful escape. The film "Papillon" was made later.

The prison closed in 1952, and the restored historic buildings became a tourist attraction. Tours of the island are possible, and many visitors go there on excursions from cruise ships that pass by.

6. Elmina Castle, Ghana

Elmina Castle in Ghana (photo: Peace Itimi) — Elmina Castle (photo: Peace Itimi)

The following two prisons are famous for the same terrible reason-both once housed enslaved people en route to the New World. The first one is the Elmina Castle in Ghana. On the Cape Coast, just west of Accra, it was a holding prison for enslaved people for 300 years, with as many as 200 people in a cell.

At its peak, over 30,000 enslaved people passed through its doors annually. Elmina Castle reached worldwide fame when President Obama visited in 2009. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A tour of the castle with a guide costs around $0.50.

7. Goree Island, Senegal

Goree Island in Senegal (photo: Jean Luc Angrand) — Goree Island (photo: Jean Luc Angrand)

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site is Goree Island in Senegal. This was also a holding prison for enslaved people. It was known as the House of Slaves until the French abolition of slavery in 1848.

Many African Americans visit to learn more about their roots, and Nelson Mandela, George Bush, and Bill Clinton have also visited it. Goree Island also has a school, a university, a Botanical Garden, and a museum of Senegal's history and culture.

Ferries run frequently from Dakar and are available all day. The prices are low, and full-day tours can also be booked from Dakar.

8. Tuol Sleng, Cambodia

A cell block at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Cambodia (photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen) — A cell block at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen)

Southeast Asia also has two infamous and dangerous prisons, now dark tourism attractions. The first is Tuol Sleng in Cambodia. The brutal Khmer Rouge opened this prison in 1975.

It was only open for four years, but over 17,000 male inmates passed through its gates. Few made it out because it was a place of torture and execution.

Tuol Sleng became a museum soon after its closure as a prison. It is a memorial to all those killed during the Khmer Rouge regime. The museum shows cells as they were at the time of the prison's operation and photographic exhibits.

Tuol Sleng is just outside Phnom Penh and is open daily. Going to the museum is free, but donations are welcome.

9. Hoa Lo Prison, Vietnam

Hanoi Hilton, a well-known prison in Vietnam(photo: Kelisi) — Hanoi Hilton (photo: Kelisi)

Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi, Vietnam, is nestled somewhat incongruously at the foot of an imposing high-rise in the city center. Once a French prison, it was called the "Hanoi Hilton" by the Americans imprisoned there during the Vietnam War.

The most famous prisoner was U.S. presidential candidate John McCain, whose flying suit is displayed in the museum. The French originally built the prison for political prisoners, and many of Vietnam's leading independence fighters spent time there.

Exhibitions show these former inmates' harsh conditions, many of whom served life sentences, lived in. There are also exhibitions relating to the American POWs, but they don't reflect the absolute horror shared by those released after the end of the Vietnam War. The prison complex museum is open daily. The entrance is just 5,000 dong.

10. Port Arthur, Tasmania

Port Arthur penitentiary ruins in Tasmania (photo: Keith Davey) — Penitentiary ruins (photo: Keith Davey)

Finally, Port Arthur in Tasmania is another prison worth visiting. Once a penal colony, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It operated from 1833 until the 1850s and housed the most dangerous criminals.

You can still visit the prison, the hospital, the church, and the insane asylum. The prison was located on a peninsula surrounded by rough seas.

It was virtually impossible to escape, with just a narrow strip of land known as Eaglehawk Neck connecting it to the mainland, which was patrolled by vicious dogs.

There are various entrance fees for a half-day, full-day, or two-day visit. The full-day and two-day passes include lunch and snacks; a night tour provides dinner.

Conclusion

The journey through the world's most famous prisons reveals the stark realities hidden within the formidable prison walls, from the chilling solitude of Alcatraz's "hole" to the echoing corridors of the Tower of London and the haunting cells of Robben Island.

Each site, a witness to tales of hard labor, notorious inmates, and escape attempts, now stands as a monument to history's darker chapters.

Once symbols of fear and despair, these prisons have transformed into places of reflection and learning, inviting the curious to explore the depths of human endurance and resilience.

_______

This post is provided in partnership with TravelSupermarket.com.

5 Ways to Escape London for a Relaxing Getaway

London is a great city, but let's be honest, there comes a time when we all need to clear our minds, rejuvenate our bodies, and get away for some much-needed relaxation. Even though it can be easy to fall into the routine of city life, there are some great places in the UK to escape for a short, stress-free vacation.

1. Hiking, Camping, and the Outdoors

Outdoors in the United Kingdom (photo: nicksarebi). — UK wildflowers (photo: nicksarebi)

One way to get a breath of fresh air is to spend time surrounded by nature. It's even possible to take day hiking trips to locations near London. Try the Hastings circular route, which offers opportunities to see the historical town and majestic views of the ocean coast.

If you have more time, camping at a place like the Cotswolds or the Epping Forest can be fun. The sound of rustling trees and the pitter-patter of flowing water will transport you far from the hustle of the city into a relaxing paradise.

2. Coastal Retreat

Outdoors in the United Kingdom — UK coast (photo: neiljs)

Golden dunes, peaceful rolling hills, and a pleasant ocean breeze make a stay on one of the UK's coastlines memorable. Book a coastal cottage for the opportunity to admire the beauty while immersed in a thrilling book while sipping on a cup of tea. Littlehampton is a fantastic destination to dine on the freshest fish and chips as you enjoy the serenity of the ocean.

3. Spa Holidays

Jeda Villa massage-service — Spa products (photo: jedavillabali)

Perhaps the ultimate way to relax the body and escape the stresses of everyday life is to retreat to a health and wellness spa. Many spas offer a menu of different treatments that cater to your own particular needs.

Does a facial, oil massage, detox, or even just time in a soothing hot tub sound inviting? Pampering yourself at a spa is a fantastic way to spend a vacation. Even if you have a single day, you can find excellent spa day offers to satisfy your desire.

4. Eating and Drinking

Bangers, bacon and mash. — Bangers, bacon, and mash (photo: adactio)

Eating is one of the most enjoyable ways to relax if you're a foodie. Going on a culinary hunt for famous oysters or taking an adventure to a famous gourmet destination is a rewarding way to spend a break.

Picnics are another fun way to get outdoors, spend time with family and eat. At Cotswolds, picnicking can be taken to the next level with farmers' market produce and choice deli meats packed into your basket.

Of course, drinks come with food, and there are many wonderful drinking retreats around the UK. Denbies Wine Estate is one of the largest wineries in the UK. It offers wine cellar tours and bed and breakfast accommodation. If beer is what you seek, plenty of breweries are scattered throughout the UK.

5. Historical Town Trips

Thomas Hardy's cottage, Dorset, England, 8 October 2005 — Thomas Hardy's cottage (photo: flissphil)

The UK has plenty of interesting historical attractions, including everything from Stonehenge's ancient, mysterious formations to medieval castles and cathedrals.

Besides the many famous individual attractions, heading to an off-the-beat historical village in the countryside and staying at a local cottage or boutique hotel is another excellent way to find peace. Waking up to the sound of chirping birds, eating a delicious English breakfast, and strolling through cobblestone streets is sure to clear your mind.

From camping and hiking in the UK's beautiful forests to cheap UK spa breaks, there are many different ways to escape the busyness of London. Whether you have a single day or an entire week, these relaxing getaways will freshen you up and get you ready to return to the daily tasks of life in London.

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2. Bring Less Clothing

3. Hold Back on Toiletries

4. One Pair of All-Purpose Shoes

5. Fewer Books

Shared Taxis

Long-Distance Marshrutkas

Long-Distance Buses

Some Tips for Getting Around in Kyrgyzstan:

Be flexible

Travel off-peak

Take the long way round

Round Top / Tantalus

Koko Head Crater Hike

Makapu'u' Lighthouse

Probiotics

Diflucan

Toilet Wipes

Period Pain Tablets

Diva Cup

Cranberry Pills

Condoms

Parilla La Cabrera

Parilla La Brigada

Siga La Vaca

Transportation Options

1. BTS / MRT / Airport Link

2. Taxi

3. Bus

4. Tuk-Tuk

5. Motorbike Taxi

Filosofos

Lagarde

Cava de Cano

Carmelo Patti

What You Need to Know

The Famous Sunday Markets

Sunday Animal Market