Blog - Go Backpacking

Oysters and Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima

Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake that's especially popular in Hiroshima.

As I was already planning to visit the city's A-Bomb Dome and memorial peace park, tacking on a foodie adventure to try okonomiyaki in Hiroshima was a snap.

Using my Japan Rail Pass, I took a two and a half-hour bullet train ride from Kyoto, and arrived just in time for lunch.

I took one of the city's trams to an area of okonomiyaki restaurants recommended to me by some bloggers on Twitter.

I walked into the first restaurant I saw and took a seat at the counter facing the kitchen.

Traveling solo in Japan is especially fun for foodies because so many of the restaurants seem to have open kitchens.

Instead of playing on my Blackberry or trying not to seem bored, I can spend my time observing the chefs at work.

Sitting at the counter, I ate my okonomiyaki right off the griddle. — Sitting at the counter, I ate my okonomiyaki right off the grill.

A griddle ran the whole length of the counter, or maybe it was the customer counter that ran the entire length of the grill.

Several line cooks were working in the kitchen, and each had responsibility for a specific stage in the assembly of the giant Japanese pancakes.

For 750 Yen (or $9), I ordered a standard preparation with noodles (like spaghetti), pork, egg, cabbage, and bean sprouts.

I love bean sprouts! The only other time I usually eat them is with Pad Thai.

My photos don't seem to capture the monumental size of okonomiyaki appropriately.

The finished product is served to customers at the counter, right on the grill, keeping the whole thing warm while you cut chunks off to eat.

Eventually, I did consume my entire serving, which was the fuel I needed to explore Hiroshima's peace park on a cold Winter's day.

A few hours later, after lots of photos and reflection, I returned to the same restaurant to try the oysters, another popular Hiroshima delicacy.

I became a fan of oysters in Arcachon Bay, France, a few years ago, but the ones I had then were small enough to slide down my throat in a single gulp.

The Hiroshima oysters were gigantic...far too big to swallow without chewing first.

I hesitated, but then squeezed some lemon juice on one and scooped it off the shell with a fork.

Each oyster required several bites, and I was surprised to enjoy them despite the extra time they spent in my mouth (versus the smaller oysters you can easily swallow).

Hiroshima gets points for size, however fresh French oysters dripping with the saltwater win on flavor.

Exterior of the okonomiyaki restaurant — Exterior of the restaurant where I first tried okonomiyaki.

5 Keys to Maintaining Your Inner Peace on a Group Tour

The following is a guest post by Pete Mandra. If you'd like to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read our submission guidelines.

Male African lions in Kruger Park, South Africa.

When I returned from my recent extended tour of southern Africa, friends and family pressed me to know what aspect of my trip brought on the most stress:

Was it tenting in the African bush, surrounded by wild animals? The risk of contracting a deadly, exotic disease? All that time away from home, separated from loved ones and all things familiar?

Nope, I told them. Not even close. Because I couldn't think of a single, hungry African carnivore, a mysterious diseases whose symptoms still stumped brilliant scientists, or any amount of solitude that compared, at least to me, to the sometimes challenging dynamics of group travel.

Don't get me wrong - signing on with a group travel tour, just as I had to visit southern Africa (and later Egypt and Jordan), is an effective way to navigate across a country while taking in its highlights. You not only eliminate the hassle of getting from Point A to Point B, but it's generally much more cost effective than if you were to attempt it by yourself.

The challenge, though, arrives when your tour takes you through a less-developed country, where personal safety, and few diversions like museums and shopping, dictates the group spending time together for seemingly every waking moment. It is then that a strange, almost magical transformation occurs - you stop acting like a group and start acting more like a dysfunctional, slightly manic family, filled with just enough underlying tension to drive one another crazy. In Africa, we fought over food, relaxed every ambition imaginable a little too much for comfort, and almost purposefully got on each other's nerves. Though I can't share all of the sordid details here, suffice to say I did start to wonder, after that whole experience, how any of us could once again function in normal, everyday society.

OK - so I exaggerate a bit. Then why, you're probably asking yourself, after my trying experience traveling with a group through Africa, did I participate in another such trip shortly afterwards through Egypt and Jordan?

Because Africa taught me what I refer to as essential 'mental survival strategies' for group travel, essential to enjoying your trip and dealing with the sometimes difficult group mentality.

The following, then, are my 5 tips for mentally 'surviving' a group travel tour:

Table of Contents

1. Stay connected with family and friends back home.
2. Grab alone time (when you can get it!).
3. Zone out.
4. Protect that personal space!
5. Go with the flow.

1. Stay connected with family and friends back home.

Receiving an email, video chat, or just hearing the voice of a loved one has a way of bringing you back to reality, especially when you need a break from present company. And best of all, you can find an Internet café in even the most remote places in the world (though you may have to deal with a dial-up connection).

2. Grab alone time (when you can get it!).

There's nothing wrong with retreating to your tent or room for a little bit if you need a break. Don't think that just because others always hang out that you are required to, also.

3. Zone out.

Bring that music-loaded Ipod for those long road trips when you don't want to spend another 4 hours (again) talking to your seat mate. Or be really devious and only pretend you've fallen asleep.

4. Protect that personal space!

In Africa, the seat you grabbed on the truck that first day was yours for the next six weeks. It sounds crazy, but on group tours, your instinct is to protect all space in that immediate vicinity as your own, so you don't feel too crowded and have room for your gear. Only remove gear from the truck that you need for that particular moment, using the rest as a personal space holder.

5. Go with the flow.

Will the group annoy you at times? Absolutely! So expect that you may not get along with everyone, and accept that you're personal freedom may seem compromised from the outset as you (often) follow rigid schedules and full days to take in all the sites. A mantra may help, too. Whenever I wanted to strangle someone, I took a deep breath and repeated to myself you're on vacation…you're on vacation. It usually did the trick.

Hopefully, after reading this you aren't scared off if you were considering signing on with a group tour in a less-developed part of the world. Following my own advice on my Egypt and Jordan trip proved extremely helpful, so I'm confident, if you have any such concerns, these same strategies can work for you, too.

Group experience aside, I wouldn't trade the enjoyable experience I had traveling through Africa for anything. We slept under star-filled skies in the middle of the desert, navigated through the hippos and crocodiles of the Zambezi River in canoes, and joined an armed military convoy in Zambia through a patch of land contested by rebel fighters- if that's not living life, I don't know what is!

________

About the Author: Pete Mandra is the author of Overland, a humorous travel narrative ('Bill Bryson meets Generation X') chronicling his budget, six-week 'overland' tour through Africa with his wife and a truckload of strangers.

Photos Credit: David Lee

Cost of Travel: Manila & The Philippines

The cost of travel in the Philippines is relatively cheap, with average South East Asian prices.

The most expensive part about traveling to the Philippines is the initial flight to get there, given its location, a chain of islands off the coast of the Asian subcontinent.

If you plan on visiting many destinations throughout the Philippines, fees can add up due to island hopping and plane flights.

If you wish to stay put and not try to hop around to too many islands, the price of daily living can be very affordable.

The Philippines uses the Philippine Peso: 1 USD = 51.15 Philippine Pesos (PHP) as of July 2019.

Table of Contents

Accommodation
Food
Nightlife / Drinking
Transportation
Sample Costs of Sites and Attractions

Accommodation

To be honest, I Couchsurfed and stayed at local Filipino homes for the majority of my 2-month stay in the Philippines.

That being said, there are plenty of options.

Dorm Beds: If you aim to save money, search for dorm beds which can be found from $2 - $5 (100-250 PHP) but are not always available.
Private Double Rooms: More common than dorm beds are private rooms with a few beds in them; lowest private double rooms go for $5 - $10 (250-500 PHP)
Step Up (Mid-Range): $15 - $30 will get you a nice hotel room (750-1,500 PHP)
I stayed in small guesthouses and bungalows in Banaue, Batad, and Mayoyao rice terraces for $5 - $7 (250 - 350 PHP) per night by myself
I splurged for a very nice guest house dorm bed in Sagada and paid $6 (300 PHP) per night

Accommodation can get more expensive on islands popular with tourists, like Boracay.

Food

There are plenty of street snacks and edibles that are super cheap.

However, most meals, which include rice and side dishes run from about $1 - $3 (50 - 150 PHP) on the street.

Manila street dining - Jolly Jeep street food: $1 - $3 (50 - 150 PHP)
Meals at fast food chains: $2 - $5 (100 - 250 PHP)
Sitting down for nicer meals at restaurants can cost anywhere from $5 - $14 (250 - 716 PHP) per meal. I splurged on a wonderful Korean meat barbecue dinner that came out to be $12 (615 PHP) per person after we were all overly stuffed.
Giant seafood extravaganza is known as seafood dampa (order fresh seafood and they cook it right then and there): about $7 (300 PHP) per person

Nightlife / Drinking

As the home of San Miguel beer, the Philippines (just like Vietnam) has some super cheap beer.

Beers from convenience stores / local bars: $0.50 - $1 (25 - 50 PHP)
San Miguel beer from bars: $0.75 - $1.25 (35 - 65 PHP), often a deal of 6 for $5 (250 PHP)
Tanduay is the most common local liquor: 1 liter for $1.25 - $2 (65 - 100 PHP)
Drinks at fancier clubs and bars: $2 - $5 (100 - 250 PHP)
Some nicer nightclubs charge a cover: $5 - $12 (250 - 600 PHP)

Transportation

Within Manila

Metro: $0.25 - $0.50 (10 - 25 PHP) per ride
Bus: $0.25 - $0.50 (10 - 25 PHP) per ride
Jeepneys: Usually $0.25 - $0.50 (15 - 25 PHP) depending on where you are going
Taxi: $0.70 (35 PHP) startup fare and then increases from there. Make sure to confirm the driver uses the meter.
Tricycle: Small motorcycle constructed vehicles that run around the neighborhoods of Manila and small towns, should cost $0.25 - $0.50 (15 - 25 PHP) depending on the distance.

Outside of Manila

Flight: I took a very cheap one-way flight with Zest Airlines from Manila to the island of Palawan for $11 (550 PHP), coming back to Manila I purchased a flight 1 day ahead of departure for $30 (1,500 PHP). Other airlines to check out for flights to other island are Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, or SE Air.
Bus: A very decent overnight bus from Manila to a city called Naga City in the region of Bicol cost $20 (1,000 PHP). I also took an overnight bus from Manila to the rice terrace town of Banaue for $10 (500 PHP).
2-hour bus ride from Manila to Tagaytay to see the world's smallest active volcano: $3 (150 PHP)
6-hour bus ride from Manila to Baguio City: $8 (400 PHP)

Sample Costs of Sites and Attractions

Manila

Manila Ocean Park: $9 (450 PHP)
Walking around old colonial town Intramuros: Free
Fort Santiago: $1.75 (88 PHP)
Ayala Museum: $8 (400 PHP)
Night of Karaoke: $7 (350 PHP)

Outside of Manila

Hot Spring in Bicol - $5 (250 PHP)
All day and night personal guide hiking through the mountains of Ifugao region of the Philippines (I was by myself) - $8 (400 PHP)
Guide for hiking through a cave in Sagada: $5 - $9 (250 - 450 PHP) per person
Round trip from Manila to the top of Mount Taal - the world's smallest active volcano: around $16 (800 PHP)
Renting a boat and crew to cruise around Coron island (above): $12 - $23 (600 - 1,150 PHP) per person depending on how many people are with you

Traveling and attractions around the islands of the Philippines often cater to groups and for this reason, it's normally cheaper to have a few friends to split costs with.

When taking into account the cost of travel in the Philippines, don't forget about the $17 (850 PHP) tax when leaving the country!

Top 9 Malaysian Foods To Die For

Malaysia is hands down one of the finest destinations in the world to satisfy any culinary yearning.

The dynamic mixture of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines are just a few of the popular influencing flavors.

Throughout my stay in Malaysia and several recurring visits to Kuala Lumpur, I developed an acute addiction to the powerful tastes of Malaysian foods.

Table of Contents

1. Roti Canai
2. Chili Pan Mee
3. Malaysian Satay
4. Grilled Stingray
5. Char Kuay Teow
6. Nasi Campur
7. Nasi Kandar
8. Nasi Lemak
9. Curry Laksa

1. Roti Canai

A roti canai is made from thin dough, cooked into a pasty-like bread, and dipped into a fragrant curry sauce for a burst of tastiness.

A roti canai makes a delicious treat any time of the day, but it is commonly eaten for breakfast along with a cup of milky tea (teh tarik).

2. Chili Pan Mee

It all begins with a foundation of freshly cooked noodles followed by a handful of ingredients like minced pork, fried garlic, a runny half-poached egg, and a sprinkle of green onions.

The signature dried flaky chili sauce is what truly makes chili pan mee one of the great Malaysian dishes, a flavor so delectable that it's impossible not to boast about.

Super Kitchen chili pan mee is one of the best Kuala Lumpur restaurants to eat the dish!

Satay is a common Malaysian food — Satay (photo: rim moto, Pixabay)

3. Malaysian Satay

Usually made with beef or chicken, Malay satays are mildly marinated and lightly barbecued.

They are enjoyed best with a tangy peanut sauce that melts in your mouth.

Be careful. Before you know it, you will have eaten countless skewers without even noticing!

Malaysian Grilled Stingray — Grilled Stingray

4. Grilled Stingray

It's a fish that can be fatal in the waters but is nothing short of pure pleasure when it reaches the grill.

Wrapped in a banana leaf with a combination of spices, the stingray sops up all of its fish juices and retains the brilliant taste of the marinade.

5. Char Kuay Teow

Char kuay teow is a wonderful mixture of stir-fried rice noodles and a choice of meat or seafood and is flavored with dark soy sauce.

Often an egg is added to the dish, coating the noodles with an even more brilliant taste!

6. Nasi Campur

There are a few things that I get more excited about in life than Nasi Campur.

It's an all-out feasting competition involving a few of the most powerfully flavorful dishes in the Malay food repertoire.

You are given a plate of plain rice and instructed to pile on whatever pre-made dish suits your liking.

I tend to go straight for the chili fish, spiced eggplant, jack fruit coconut curry, and fried okra!

7. Nasi Kandar

Especially famous in Penang, Malaysia, Nasi Kandar is a dish consisting of rice and different fried meats or Indian-style curries.

There's usually an option to order other Malay-Indian delicacies like daal, naan, biryani, or tandoori chicken to accompany a nasi kandar feast!

8. Nasi Lemak

Known as one of the national dishes of Malaysia, nasi lemak is comfort food and a dish to truly look forward to.

The dish has several variations: the traditional triangle of rice wrapped in a banana leaf (kind of as a snack) and a meal version served on a plate.

The plate begins with a scoop of fragrant coconut rice and is accompanied by sides such as dried anchovies, hard-boiled eggs, fried chicken, roasted peanuts, and another Malaysian chili sauce to die for!

9. Curry Laksa

All the flavors one could dream of are represented in a single bowl of luscious Malaysian curry laksa.

The version I love the most starts with thin rice noodles covered in rich coconut cream curry.

The list of ambrosial toppings includes shredded chicken, shrimp, fried tofu, a handful of cilantro, and finally, a juicy squeeze of lime!

This is merely a sample of the meals within the staggering array of Malaysian cuisine.

There's so much food to explore in Malaysia from Penang to Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur to Malacca!

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Japanese Onsen: A Cultural Experience

Along with visiting the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, spending time at a Japanese onsen (public bath, hot spring) was a popular recommendation when I asked for advice on Twitter and Facebook before my trip.

I quickly discovered through this feedback that the Japanese traditionally do not wear bathing suits when using the onsens.

Finding this out in advance gave me time to mentally prepare for my first public bathing experience.

Onsen in Kyoto — The entrance to a popular onsen in Kyoto.

While Couchsurfing in Tokyo, I met an Australian who had spent time snowboarding in the northern mountains, and he talked fondly of his visits to the onsens, painting a picture of hanging out in the hot springs as snow gently fell from the sky, and having snowball fights.

He said you get used to the nudity fast. I chose to believe him.

Onsens are everywhere. However, Tokyo seemed too urban an environment for the experience, and while Nagano had a better feel, my day trip to see the snow monkeys there was so rushed I decided to hold off.

As in the United States, early February is still the middle of winter in Japan, and the temps in Kyoto during my stay were hovering around the freezing mark, if not colder at night.

I asked for an onsen recommendation at my hostel and was given a map (as usual, because whenever you ask for directions in Japan, you're also given a map).

I picked my second afternoon in Kyoto to take a break from sightseeing and delve into the Japanese tradition of public bathing.

After an exhausting journey across the city, I arrived at the doorstep of the suggested Japanese onsen, which I was told was a popular one.

Because if I'm going to have this cultural experience, I want it to at least be at a happening place.

Inside the reception area, I removed my shoes and put on the provided sandals.

The woman behind the counter looked at me as if I knew what I was doing, but I didn't, and she eventually guided me toward the entrance of the men's locker room.

I was previously informed by my Couchsurfing hosts that onsens in urban areas are usually segregated by gender.

At the same time, in the countryside, both men and women are more likely to share the same baths.

The locker room featured plenty of lockers (duh!) and a camera crew, to my surprise.

I felt a bit concerned as I scoped out the two female crew members and the massive video camera.

It appeared they were breaking down the equipment after getting whatever footage they needed.

The women seemed to avoid eye contact with me purposefully, so I decided they were doing their best not to pay attention.

I removed my three layers of shirts, hoody, jeans, socks, and boxers.

I swiftly walked into a small hallway connecting the locker room with the bathing area. There were a few sinks, but I couldn't figure out what you'd do in there.

I passed through the second door and entered the bathing room.

It was 2 or 3 pm on a weekday afternoon, and there were at least a half dozen men in there, sans clothes. I was too, but I tried not to think about that.

Since I bought a small bar of soap from the receptionist, I sat on one of the little (and I mean it was no more than 12 inches tall) plastic stools positioned under shower heads that were no more than four feet high.

If I felt awkward standing, I felt ridiculous sitting on that little stool, trying to wash under a tiny shower. Nobody warned me about this part.

As I washed, I tried to scope out what the other guys were doing to figure out the protocol.

Some of the Japanese men seemed to spend ten minutes under the shower.

I cut that step short and then moved to one of the pools of water, which was too hot.

I then tried a larger pool, which was still hot but more bearable; a few older men were hanging out.

Slipping into the water, I read a sign posted on the wall that indicated the water was electrically heated (i.e., not supplied from a natural thermal spring).

It turns out I'm going through the whole routine without the payoff provided by naturally-occurring spring water. Was this all for nothing?

I tried to make the best of the jacuzzi-like environment, but I found it hard to relax.

After a few minutes in the pool, I got out and showered awkwardly again before making my exit back to the locker room.

The camera crew was long gone, and I quickly dressed as it was cold once you stepped outside the steamy room.

Walking outside, I felt surprisingly refreshed. But I surely would've felt the same way had I taken a private shower at my hostel.

I couldn't help but feel my first Japanese onsen experience was lacking, and with so little time in Japan, I'd be leaving the country before I'd have a second chance.

Photo Favorite: Chameleon Crossing

Why did the chameleon cross the road?

To give all the tourists on a Kruger Park safari a great photo-op!

How to Stay Beautiful While Traveling

I never imagined that on my first backpacking trip, I would come face to face with ‘the uglies’.

While I’m not particularly vain, my beauty style is that of Audrey Hepburn, simple and classic. Traveling around the world for a year and living out of a backpack, I threw my beauty style out the window.

I cut my hair too short (I’m Colombian and have unruly hair), dyed my hair bleach blond (it turned orange first), and tortured my skin with my sporadic traveling routine.

Plus I was traveling with guys who could care less about their image. I found myself plagued with the dichotomy of not caring and feeling pretty. What I learned is that with a few adjustments, I can have the best of both two worlds.

It’s important to explore the clear and yet unclear difference between not caring and feeling beautiful on the road.

On the one side, the nomadic lifestyle lends itself to a carefree mentality about everything. That makes it easy to disregard taking care of yourself and your image.

At the core though, putting your best foot forward everyday helps you to stay centered and true to the person you were before you went on the backpacking adventure.

Case in Point

For some reason, I decided that having short hair would be so much easier to manage on the road. I went from long, voluptuous brown hair to a short boy cut. It also didn’t help meeting hairstylists in every hostel.

All of them wanted to ‘help’ me and my unruly hair. I let them cut, butcher and dye my hair all sorts of crazy colors. I used gel to keep it in control, bobby pins to style it and hats to hide the crazy volume.

After 6 months of this self-inflicted torture, I decided that I would never let another person touch my hair to ‘fix’ it. I look at the pictures from the first 6 months and can’t tell if I’m looking at an Einstein look alike sometimes. I hated taking pictures because my hair was so crazy. I learned that for me, my hair is the centerpiece of my persona.

When I travel now for extended periods, I take care of my hair and treat it with respect. My pictures are 10 times better because of the lessons I learned on my backpacking trip.

No matter how much maintenance you put into your beauty routine, everyone loves to feel confident with their own looks. The best way to think about staying beautiful while traveling is by knowing your three most important categories: skin, hair and style.

Remember that beauty extends beyond gender. These tips on how to stay beautiful while traveling are applicable to both men and women.

Skin

Late nights drinking, skimping on showers, sleeping in hostels, eating whatever you can. Sound familiar?

All these things compound and show up on your skin. Your skin may loose its natural glow; you may get acne; you may have dark undereye circles. Regardless of what manifests, treating your skin like a ragdoll is a surefire way to destroy your skin confidence.

These are some of the best ways to help your skin radiant on the road:

Drink water. Think of your skin like a plant. Watering your plant will keep it growing and healthy.
Wash your face at night. You may not think that you're dirty, but your face is a dirt sponge. Our skin regenerates itself at night. If you feel too lazy to wash your face (it will happen), use baby wipes.
If you start to break out, resist the urge to play with it. Your face is not a science experiment. Let the break out take its course.
Wear sunscreen. This applies to your face and your body. Your older self will be eternally grateful if you protect it.

Hair

Learn from my experience. Don’t let random people tell you about your hair!

Here are some tricks of the trade:

Bobby pins, gel, mousse, hats, bandanas. All these tools will help keep your hair looking nice and well groomed.
Dry shampoo or baby powder are your best friends. If you don't have enough time to wash your hair, both of these are lifesavers. They soak up the oil in your hair so it doesn't look dirty.
The upkeep of experimenting is difficult while backpacking. Traveling opens up your eyes to new hairdos. The temptation to try one of them is huge. Just remember that because you're traveling, you won't be able to maintain the style like you would at home. Experiment wisely.

Style

Your style is representative of you. It’s easy to forget that while you’re traveling. It’s as if your style mindset shifts from being authentic to being practical. The great news is that you can marry the two.

Here are some tips to keep your style rocking:

Wear things that make you feel confident. You will radiate with confidence if you take care of yourself. You're clothes are a tangible indication of how you feel.
Try a 'practical with accessories' style. There are some cases where you have to wear certain clothes that won't necessarily be flattering or your signature pieces. In that instance, add one piece of clothing or accessory that demonstrates your authentic style. That is your reminder of confidence.

Beauty is a way of thinking. While these tips and tools are superficial, remember that your beauty will always start on the inside.

It’s also important to embrace your ‘uglies’ as well. Sometimes you won’t be able to help how you look because of your circumstances. That’s ok. What matters is how you present yourself to yourself everyday.

So go ahead…impress that person in the mirror.

Kushikatsu in Kyoto

Kushikatsu is a popular and traditional Japanese dish comprised of battered and deep fried foods ("katsu") served on skewers ("kushi").

I stumbled across a restaurant, Copain, that specializes in Kushikatsu in Kyoto while I was walking along the same alley where I enjoyed the best sushi of my life the night before.

Inside the restaurant, with the near chef searing something delicious no doubt.

After taking a peek inside to make sure there were other people dining there, I walked in and took a seat at the counter facing the kitchen.

I was becoming accustomed to sitting in front of the chefs while they work in their open kitchens, and I kind of liked it, especially since I was mostly eating alone during my time in Japan.

I ordered the 12-piece omakase course (chef's selection).

The total cost for this option was 3,150 Yen ($38), and I had a feeling it'd be money well spent to discover a new style of Japanese cuisine.

Before we got started, I also ordered a Suntory draft beer.

The chef nearest to me presented a plate with chopsticks and four dipping sauces.

Each time a course would be given, the chef would advise me which sauce would compliment it best.

[Editor's Note: Unfortunately, I lost my detailed notes of the ingredients comprising each course, so I can only offer a general recollection.]

Simple salad — Course 3 was a simple salad.

The first course was a glass of tea, which was followed by a giant prawn, and a simple yet colorful salad of cabbage and tomatoes.

This was followed by 5 Kushikatsu featuring various ingredients.

The central element was deep-fried, however, there was almost always a sauce or secondary element on top as well, plus the various dipping sauces.

Tofu soup was course number 9, followed by three more breaded delights.

You might think a 12-course meal of deep fried food bits is a little unhealthy, however, the sign outside the restaurant explaining the cuisine also indicated that they have a healthier house batter in use.

I remember it tasting light, for whatever that was worth to my cardio system at the time.

Upon finishing my last course, I noticed a guy across the counter from me was being served up an exceptionally good-looking course.

I asked the chef about it, and he said it was a [blank] topped with foie gras.

I knew I had to have it, and ordered one for myself.

It turned out to be one of the most picturesque courses, as well as one of my favorites from a flavor perspective.

To see photos of every course, watch the slideshow below. Bon appetite!

6 Thrilling Adventure Activities in Las Vegas

When it comes to having fun, there's no shortage of things to do in and around Las Vegas. If you're an adrenaline junkie at heart, consider the following adventure activities in Las Vegas when planning your next trip.

Stratosphere Hotel and Casino (photo courtesy of the hotel)

Table of Contents

Vegas Adventures

Vegas Adventures

1. Roller Coasters and Other Amusement Park Rides

We're not talking about the highest drop or the fastest ride in America, but the novelty of Las Vegas' amusement park rides appeals to many people.

At the Adventuredome Theme Park in Circus Circus, you'll find the world's only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew roller coaster, which reaches speeds up to 55 MPH.

The roller coaster at New York, New York, drops passengers 144 feet and hits 67 MPH while flying by the Vegas version of the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building.

The Stratosphere offers four rides on top of its freestanding observation tower, which is the tallest of its kind in the United States.

Its three primary attractions are Big Shot, which shoots passengers 160 feet into the air at 45 MPH; Insanity, which spins riders over open air at up to three Gs; and X-Scream, which drops riders 27 feet over the edge of the hotel.

Stratosphere's latest attraction addition is the SkyJump, the highest controlled free fall in the world, high above the Las Vegas Strip.

2. Adult-Only Roller Skating

Though not held on any specific schedule, you can occasionally find adult-only roller skating parties at Las Vegas nightclubs. Rain Nightclub is the most common venue for retro roller skating, though some of the city's roller skating centers also hold adult-only nights.

3. Trampoline Fun

Get your jump on at one of the trampoline parks in Las Vegas. This is one of the few thrill activities that is friendly for both kids and adults, so it is particularly popular with families.

At these trampoline centers, everyone can have their little piece of Cirque du Soleil fun. The centers feature floors and walls that allow people to bounce freely. Check schedules in advance for special events such as dodgeball games.

4. Skydiving

Many people want to live the thrill in Sin City, and for that reason, several skydiving operators in Las Vegas specialize in first-time jumpers.

No experience is necessary to get your heart pumping as you leap from a plane and enjoy the awesome views of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Colorado River, and the Valley of Fire.

If you're not ready to jump from a plane, consider indoor skydiving instead. This simulated version of the real thing is similar to skydiving, with the addition of a mesh trampoline floor and foam-padded walls.

5. Paintball

The ideal weather conditions in Las Vegas mean that people can play all year long, and that means paintball is a 12-month activity.

Several paintball centers are located around Sin City, many of which offer lots of fields, obstacles, and scenarios. And, because there are so many options, playing paintball in Las Vegas won't set you back a ton of money.

6. Adrenaline for Charity

Though you'll pay for a thrill in Las Vegas, there are a few charitable adventures that ensure your money goes toward a good cause.

For example, the Special Olympics raised well more than $100,000 in 2010 when people collected contributions to rappel off of the Rio Hotel (a minimum of $1,000 in contributions was required to participate).

The SkyJump at the Stratosphere, which people can pay for as a thrill ride now, has been used as a charity event for children's hospitals in the past, and there are also philanthropic events that allow people to walk or run up the 1,455 stairs in the hotel as well.

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About the Author: JoAnna Haugen lives and plays in Las Vegas. She writes the popular Las Vegas travel guide, WhyGo Las Vegas, which offers information on where to stay and what to do in Sin City. Follow her on Twitter for updates about Las Vegas.

Exploring the Historic Temples of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Yogyakarta (pronounced Jogjakarta and nicknamed Jogja) is a pleasant city located centrally on Indonesia's most populous island of Java.

From the smog-choked megalopolis of Jakarta, Jogja was a literal breath of fresh air.

The town had an entirely different feel to it, a charm that seemed to make anyone smile as a result of the attractive atmosphere.

I set out to Yogyakarta, not exactly knowing what to expect but eager to explore and looking forward to the wealth of historical and adventurous sites in the region.

It was dawn when our train pulled into the station; there was a crowd awaiting the train's arrival.

Despite the touts and bicycle taxis that were there to hustle customers to their particular guest house, they were unobtrusive and not nearly as pushy as their counterparts in Jakarta.

I avoided the interaction, knowing that it was just a short distance to a selection of decent guesthouses just down the road.

Along the walk, I decided it would be a great idea to grab a bite to eat.

I settled for what I later found out was a delicacy in Yogyakarta: Soto Ayam (chicken and noodles in a soup).

Yogyakarta makes a great jump-off city to several staggering historical attractions in the area.

The two largest and most significant temple complexes located near Jogja are Borobudur and Prambanan.

The entire scene of Borobudur was breathtaking, an ancient historical site with intricate details and marked by acute construction.

I visited the temple twice, the first time at night.

Amidst the dark surroundings, Borobudur was illuminated with bright lights reminiscent of an ancient fortress.

I returned the following day to see Borobudur in the daylight.

The temple complex consists of a series of levels and platforms stacked on top of each other with stone reliefs carved into the outer walls.

In theory, a Buddhist pilgrim is supposed to walk around each temple level to follow all the narrative relief panels.

Completing this spiritual walk is symbolic of the path of enlightenment.

The temple complex of Prambanan looked like a series of rockets from a distance, waiting to blast off from the ground like space shuttles.

As I walked closer, I could see the fine details, the jagged ancient stones that were placed thoughtfully throughout the entirety of the temple structure, similar to the complex of Angkor Wat.

Walking around Prambanan, I was stunned by this architectural wonder, a picturesque masterpiece of human construction.

Constructed in the 9th century, Prambanan was built in honor of the most important trinity of Hindu deities: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

The tallest and most impressive steeple within the complex is the Shiva temple.

Borobodur and Prambanan are the two most grandeur and most visited sites near Jogja.

Still, there are a host of other temples and ancient buildings spread all around the outskirts of the city that are also very impressive.

Along with a few local Indonesian friends and aboard a trusty motorbike, we were able to visit several other temples, including Candi Mendut, Candi Pawon, Sambisari Temple, and the highly impressive Plaosan Temple.

The charming, warm atmosphere paired with world-renowned historical temples makes Yogyakarta one of the most interesting cities to visit in Indonesia.

Even the least known temples were impressively constructed and incredible to see!

How To Survive a 12-Hour Journey

I love traveling. I love meeting new people, seeing new places, and exploring new cultures. The bad thing about traveling is...well, the traveling part. I've had more than my fair share of 12-hour, 24-hour, and 36-hour journeys. They are usually a mixture of buses, coaches, ferries, trains, taxis, and planes, and every time, I pick up a few extra tips to make it slightly more bearable. What follows are my tips for surviving a long journey.

Table of Contents

10 Travel Tips

10 Travel Tips

1. Make Friends With Your Fellow Passengers

If anything makes time go faster, it's chatting with fellow travelers and swapping travel tales and tips. Or even better, find a local who can offer some local advice.

2. Sit At the Front

I still have a teenage instinct that kicks in whenever I get on a bus, and it pulls me towards the back seat like a magnet. The 'cool kids' may have sat on the back seat in school, but during a long journey, you're much better off at the front. There's nearly always more legroom, there's less chance you'll get travel sick, you get a better view, and you'll be first off the bus and first in the queue for the toilet. Check out Seat Guru for the best seat on a plane.

3. Entertainment Options

Having a laptop expands your options massively. As long as you have a decent battery life you can watch movies and play games (with headphones!) for more than half your journey. If you don't have a laptop, stick to a good old fashioned book, crosswords, puzzles, papers, magazines.

A pack of cards can keep you entertained for hours and attract other travelers (see point 1). If you're the trusting type, swap iPods with other travelers for some new tunes. And I don't care how old you are; Eye Spy never fails to entertain for at least half an hour. You can play this with anyone of any age, and it can be a fun way to learn the language.

4. Be Productive

A long journey can often feel like a waste of a day unless you use your time wisely and do some of those tasks you've been putting off. Write some postcards or letters, learn some local phrases, organize your photos and delete the rubbish ones, write in your journal, and if you write a blog, take the chance to write some posts in advance. You can also grab a guidebook and plan what you want to do in your new destination.

Overnight train in Vietnam — An overnight train through Vietnam.

5. Buy an Inflatable Cushion

If you plan to catch up on some sleep during the journey, a cushion is a must, not only for comfort but also to avoid resting your head on the random person next to you. Those U-shaped cushions are great for stopping your head from lolling around like a puppet, but I prefer a rectangular one, as it doubles as a bum cushion during those long journeys on bumpy roads!

6. Take a Jumper or Sarong

If it's hot outside, you may be lucky enough to have an air-conditioned vehicle, which can get chilly after a few hours. If not, you can roll it up and use it as a cushion.

7. Take Healthy Snacks

You'll want a goodie bag full of snacks for your trip, but try to avoid sweet or salty snacks. They may be tasty and convenient, but they'll leave you dehydrated, and a sugar rush is the last thing you need whilst in a cramped space. Dried fruit, fresh fruit, and water are your best bets.

8. Exercise

Yes, do those exercises they always tell you to do on an airplane and take a little walk as often as possible. You'll avoid DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), and it'll perk you up a little bit.

9. Safety

Keep your valuables close and beware that theft on buses is common. If your bag is small enough, use it as a pillow while you sleep and keep your passport and money in a money belt around your waist.

10. Take Baby Wipes

Whenever I pull out a pack of baby wipes, I always hand them out to all the other travelers on the bus. They'll quickly freshen you up and make you feel more human.

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About the Author: Monica Stott caught the travel bug when she was just ten years old and wrote this while on a two-year trip around the world.

The Cost of Travel in Hanoi, Vietnam

It's a city that will entice your every sense, overwhelm you with amusing and exciting sites, and stuff you with fabulous cuisine. Hanoi, Vietnam, has a wealth of entertainment; luckily, most things are affordable for a budget traveler.

The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND), which is equivalent to 1 USD at 23.3 VND. Based on my experience, here is the cost of travel in Vietnam.

Table of Contents

Travel Costs

Travel Costs

Accommodation

The range of accommodation options in Hanoi is nearly limitless. Many people stay somewhere within the Old Quarter portion of the city, close to many famous sites and jammed with traffic, people, and street food.

There is no shortage of hotels, guest houses, and hostels in the Old Quarter. As with much of Asia, guest houses are usually arranged in double rooms, making it most affordable to room up with a partner.

The cheapest room with two beds in Hanoi costs about $6-$10 per night (140,000-233,000 VND).

Dorm beds can be found for around $5 (117,000 VND) per night. If you increase the budget, you can use any decent room with air conditioning (for the summer) for about $12-$15 per night for two.

One more baby step up the budget, and you stay in near-luxury hotels for $20 (465,000 VND) per night.

Food

Those who derive tremendous excitement from food (like me) will be thrilled by the variety and affordability of Hanoi street food.

Most street stall meals average $1-$2 (23,000 - 46,000 VND) per dish, though portions aren't overly large.

If you are a big eater, you might need 2 or 3 street meals to fill up, but that might only cost $2-$3.

For Vietnamese sit-down restaurants (off the street side), expect to pay anywhere from $3 - $8 (69,000 - 186,000) per person.

One night in Hanoi, I indulged at one of the town's fancier, more fashionable Italian restaurants and spent about $8 (186,000 VND).

One of the pleasures of visiting Vietnam is enjoying its incredible coffee. A standard cup of coffee at any typical coffee shop costs much less than $1 (23,000 VND) and is traditionally served with a pot of tea!

A big bottle of water - $0.50 (12,000 VND)

Drinking Alcohol

Those who enjoy beer will rejoice in Vietnam for several reasons.

The price for a single bottle/can of beer is about $0.50 - $1 (12,000 - 23,000 VND)
Draft beer by the cup is super cheap - Most of the time, no more than $0.40 (10,000 VND) per cup.
Locals enjoy drinking on the side of the streets of Hanoi and will frequently invite you for a few drinks with them - free of charge.
Drinking at bars/clubs may cost anywhere from $1 to $2 (20,000 - 50,000 VND) per drink. Some clubs charge a cover on certain nights.

Transportation

Taxis in Hanoi are notorious for ripping customers off and making threats to get more money; everyone seems to have a story. When I was in Hanoi, I avoided taxis.

Buses are incredibly affordable, costing less than $0.25 (4,000 VND) per ride, and they go all around the city.

For those who join Hanoi's motorcycle madness, motorbikes can be rented for about $5 (120,000 VND) daily, though long-term backpackers may prefer to buy a motorbike in Hanoi before heading south.

Buses usually cost about $1.50 (37,000 VND) per hour for traveling throughout Vietnam, depending on where you are headed.

Examples: 10-hour bus ride = $15. It's a popular way to travel in Vietnam. The trip from Hanoi to the town of Hue (central Vietnam) costs around $22 (512,000 VND).

Sites and Attractions

Famous Water Puppet Show - $3 (70,000 VND)
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - Free
Ho Chi Minh Museum - $0.75 (17,000 VND)
Temple of Literature - $0.50 (12,000 VND)
Ngoc Son Temple - $0.50 (12,000 VND)
Museum of Fine Art - $1 (23,000 VND)
Long Bien Market - Free

Halong Bay

It will seem like everyone in Hanoi is trying to sell you a Halong Bay tour. There are so many tour agencies, and I don't think anyone knows precisely how the complex outsourcing system works.

It's often easiest to see what your hotel/guest house offers and pay a tiny commission for them to book it for you.

The most popular Halong Bay trip is all-inclusive for two days and one night and usually costs around $30 - $40 (700,000 - 1 million VND) per person; however, there are all sorts of price ranges.

From a traveler's standpoint, spending time in Hanoi or elsewhere in Vietnam is quite affordable.

After visiting a few attractions, relax and enjoy the bustle of the city by sitting on the street and sipping coffee and tea (or beer) like the locals!

I'm Moving to Chiang Mai

Muay Thai training — Before there was salsa dancing in Medellin, there was muay-thai training in Chiang Mai.

I've had a great run in Medellin, Colombia the last few years, but truth be told, I miss a lot of things about Thailand.

The flavorful curries, the Buddhism, the preponderance of coconuts.

Thailand has long been a good choice for digital nomads, such as Cody McKibben of Thrilling Heroics, who I recently interviewed for Travel Blog Success.

Reliable internet access, delicious food, and gorgeous islands and beaches to hang out at in the south make its appeal all but universal.

Machine gun — I shot my first machine gun, a modified M-16, in Chiang Mai.

Over the last few months, travel bloggers have set up shop in the northern city of Chiang Mai, which I visited for a week back in 2008.

Jodi from Legal Nomads is there, and she's rooming with Shannon from A Little Adrift. Those two alone would be worth the trip. Add Wes Nations of Johnny Vagabond, and the many others stopping through town, and well, it seems like the place to be right now for travel bloggers.

So in August, when it comes time to leave Medellin yet again, instead of traveling the rest of South America as originally planned, I'm going to fly to Bangkok (probably stopping on an exotic, South Pacific island or two along the way) and head for Chiang Mai.

Being based in Southeast Asia, I'll be able to visit Burma which I purposefully skipped the first time around, as well as see more of Malaysia, Indonesia, and maybe I'll even get over to the Philippines for some island hopping.

As always, I hope you'll join me for these new adventures.

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Editor's Note: Happy April Fool's Day!

Tsukiji Fish Market

[B]efore visiting Tokyo last month, I asked for ideas about where to go and what to do on Twitter and Facebook.

Visiting and taking photos of the Tsukiji Fish Market, the world's largest, was the most frequently mentioned activity.

Luckily, my Couchsurfing hosts were up for visiting with me, otherwise, getting up at 5 am and trekking across Tokyo would've been a challenge given I was still suffering from jetlag.

By the time we were exiting the metro near the market, other tourists were already leaving. They'd gotten up especially early to catch the tuna auction that happens every morning.

The market was a flurry of activity as fish was being prepped, sold, processed, and moved around to delivery trucks.

As a result, we moved through the actual wholesale area of the market very quickly, and therefore I didn't get nearly as many photos as I expected.

Eventually, one fishmonger told us all to get out, pointing to a sign that indicated tourists were not suppose to enter the market before 9 am.

Warning sign for tourists — A sign reminds tourists to be respectful while they are walking around the fish market.

Frozen tuna — A worker concentrates on cutting frozen tuna with a giant ban saw. The frozen fish are destined for other parts of the country, while the fresh fish is distributed to restaurants and markets around Tokyo each morning.

Inside Tsukiji Fish Market — Tourists are not suppose to enter the Tsukiji Fish Market before 9am, which is when the market is busiest auctioning fish and processing fresh catches.

Various fish for sale — Various fresh fish for sale.

Fresh fish packed on ice and ready to be shipped to nearby markets and restaurants.

Seafood delivery truck — A seafood delivery truck awaits its cargo.

Salmon sashimi — After walking through the market, may visitors sit down for breakfast in one of the nearby sushi restaurants. I chose salmon sashimi for my breakfast.

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Visit Cheap Hotels if you need an affordable hotel room in Tokyo.

Award Wallet Review

Airplane wing — En route to Mexico City (photo: Dave Lee)

The travel geek's Holy Grail has arrived in the form of a simple yet robust travel rewards tracking program.

Award Wallet is the latest travel tool that deserves a spot in your bookmarks and iPhone.

Everyone has a credit card, airline, rental car, hotel, and numerous off the wall rewards programs, some you probably forgot about.

Award Wallet can centralize all of those rewards into one easy to access summary.

Award Wallet is not for the traditional American vacationer.

If you take a single one week vacation per year and never think about leaving the country, stop reading here.

If you’ve heard of the term “travel hacking” and have too many reward programs to keep track of, this is just the tool you need.

Did you forget you had 23,000 OnePass miles and that you only needed 2,000 more for a free flight?

With Award Wallet, you will instantly know how much you have and where all of your miles, points, dividends, and credits are at.

It takes 10 minutes to plug in all of your rewards accounts and Award Wallet will instantly track, update, and alert you of your rewards.

Price: FREE!!! Okay, the membership site offers two subscription levels depending on how intensely you want to track your rewards.

The free version is very robust and will take care of tracking all the rewards programs you can possibly imagine.

The premium version costs $5 and includes additional tracking information and most importantly an unlimited number of expiration notices (the free account only has 3).

Why Award Wallet is Awesome

Central database – Award Wallet creates a one-stop-shop for you to view all of your rewards programs, see which ones have changed, and add new programs.

Click-through – It took me by surprise but it was amazing when I clicked the name of a reward program in my account and it automatically took me to the program’s website, logged me in, and opened it in a new page.

Free – Aside from the extreme amount of convenience the site provides, being free is the best aspect of the service. Yes, there is a premium version but the free version provides a tone of features that will keep any travel hacker happy.

Simple – There really isn’t much to the site. You log in, add your membership programs, and view them from one simple screen. You can add a profile photo and participate in the forums if you like, but the simplicity of the site makes it easy to get in, check your balances, and get out. The iPhone app is even easier to use.

iPhone app – Although the web site is cool and easy to use, the iPhone app is my first choice for checking my reward balances. The app is free and automatically updates all of your accounts when you start it up.

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This story was brought to you in partnership with Award Wallet. The author's words are his own.

9 Tips to Avoid Theft While Backpacking

The following is a guest post by Monica Stott. If you’d like to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read our submission guidelines.

Money belts continue to be a smart way to safeguard cash, ATM cards and important documents.

[I] recently had a 20 hour bus and boat journey through Indonesia.

I arrived at my destination feeling groggy and tired and ... very light. Suspiciously light. My heart dropped while anger fired up inside me as I checked my half empty bag, the bag that I’d clutched protectively to my chest like it was a small child through the whole journey.

Both my camera and my iPod were gone. I was angry that someone had stolen them from under my nose but I was mostly confused. When and how had someone managed to get inside my bag and how could I have been so stupid not to notice!?

After hours of angry ranting, I finally listened to my fellow travellers and found that almost everyone had had a similar experience at some point during their travels.

I found that most people had their belongings stolen from their small daypacks whilst on buses and boats and together we thought of a list of things we’d do differently to avoid ever being robbed again.

Want more tips? Click here for a complete guide to avoid theft whilst traveling

Here are my top 9 tips to avoid theft while backpacking:

1. Have backpack security.

Anything from small padlocks, combination locks or full wire meshing will keep a thief away. Even if it is just for show, it will make a thief think twice. I even think that a plastic raincover can help, but at the end of the day, nothing can keep a thief with a sharp knife out of your bag, which leads me to my second point....

2. Don’t have anything worth robbing.

This isn’t always possible, especially as most people like to travel with a laptop and camera, but its the only way to be 100% sure you won’t have anything stolen. I always travel with an old, worthless mobile phone, a small and relatively inexpensive netbook (leave the Mac Air at home!) and I leave all my jewelery at home.

3. Don't keep anything of any value in your main backpack or suitcase.

Your main bag can be out of your sight for hours at a time and this is a perfect time for thieves. This tip seems so obvious, but time and time again, I have met travellers who have had things stolen from their main bag while it was stored under a bus or on a boat. [Editor's Note: I met a young couple who had stuff stolen from their bag while atop a bus riding from India to Pokhara, Nepal. Remember, in countries such as those it's commonplace for people to ride atop buses, so you're better off keeping your valuables in your daypack where you can at least try to keep an eye on them.]

4. Keep anything valuable in a small bag.

I’d like to emphasize that this should be a small bag so you can literally take it everywhere with you. You should be able to carry this into a tiny toilet cubicle or whilst climbing up the side of a swaying ship. And most importantly, you should be able to take it everywhere without looking suspicious and make people wonder why you won’t let it out of your sight.

5. Keep passports, money and bank cards in a money belt around your waist.

It is virtually impossible for a pickpocket to reach this, especially without you noticing.

6. Carry as little cash as possible.

You often get charged for using cash machines abroad so it’s tempting to to withdraw as much as you can in one go to avoid the fee. I still think that it’s better the get charged $2 for every small withdrawal than to withdraw $200 at once and have it all stolen.

7. Use your online banking.

Avoid having a lot of money in your current account. If your card is stolen, someone could quickly access all your cash. It is best to keep the bulk of your money it in your savings account, which can’t be accessed with your ATM card, and then transfer a small amount over every week or two.

8. Don’t be flashy.

It is inevitable that you will have some valuables on you at some point so hide them away as best as possible. Use small, discreet black headphones and keep your MP3 player in your pocket. I also have a small, cheap camera that I take on nights out or to crowded places where a big camera would be inappropriate.

9. Always use the safe.

If there isn’t a safe in your hostel or hotel room, there should be one available at reception. If you’re leaving money, place it in a sealed envelope with your name and the exact amount written on the outside.

The most important point is to not forget the 9 points before this!

It’s easy to become more relaxed, particularly if you spend months traveling and don’t have any trouble. It’s a horrible thing to say, but don’t trust people you don’t know and be aware that it can be your fellow travelers who have their hands in your pockets.

Safety shouldn’t be something you have to constantly worry about while travelling, so make sure these 9 tips become second nature and they'll go a long way to ensuring a hassle free trip.

Be prepared for the worst and have photocopies of your tickets and passport saved in your email accounts, and backup your photos on a photo sharing website.

Pin for Later

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About the Author: Monica Stott caught the travel bug when she was just 10 years old and is currently on a 2 year trip around the world. You can read her tales at: The Travel Hack or on Twitter @TheTravelHack.

Fun Things To Do in Utah on a Road Trip

When most travelers plan a visit to the USA, California, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, New York, Chicago, and Disneyworld are high on their list of places to see. You rarely hear travelers planning fun things to do in Utah on a road trip.

"Utah? What's there? Isn't that the Mormon state?"...was my reply to Craig when he suggested this be part of our road trip from North Carolina to Los Angeles.

Arches National Park, Utah (photo: Moriah Wolfe)

Utah was filled with surprises and became one of my favorite US states. It is what I consider to be the Creator's Art Studio.

Its vibrant colors and dramatic sculptured landscapes provide a feast for your visual senses; its beauty will blow you away.

Hire a car, throw some camping gear in the back, and spend some days exploring Utah's many National and State Parks. Here is a small sampling of the fun things to do in Utah.

Table of Contents

Utah Attractions

Utah Attractions

Bryce Canyon National Park

Horseback riding through Bryce Canyon is one of many fun things to do in Utah. — Horse riding through Bryce Canyon

When I first saw Bryce Canyon, I thought I had died and gone to fairy kingdom land. Who had been keeping this a secret?

A kingdom of bright orange and pink pastel spires and towers, archways, and paths leading deep into the canyon's enchanted forests.

We spent a day walking along the fairy trail, deep into the canyon walls, under archways, running around spires, exploring nooks and crannies, and kicking up the orange dust of the path beneath our feet.

It wasn't this or the sunrise we witnessed in peaceful solitude that made this one of the most extraordinary moments on our road trip.

It was the horse ride through the canyon, led by none other than an honest-to-God real cowboy named Cash, complete with studs, leather pant protectors, a cowboy hat, and whiskey jokes spewing forth from a heavy Western accent.

There is no more stunning way to experience the canyon than by trotting through its narrow tunnels and steep paths on the back of a horse.

Zion National Park

A river slowly winds through the lush forested valley of Zion National Park, where pink and red sandstone cliffs and peaks beckon you to climb for amazing views.

Zion is the place for those with an adventurous streak, as some hiking trails here are fit only for the brave-hearted.

Angels Landing

Angels Landing is one of the park's most strenuous, nail-biting trails. It is not until the last half mile that you start walking along narrow cliff faces, holding on to chains for balance and security.

The final ascent is up a thin, tall cliff on three-foot-wide paths with sheer drops down either side.

I am sad to say that once we looked up at that treacherous path, we decided we had reached the end of our Angels Landing road.

The Narrows

The Narrows is Zion's most famous walk. It takes you through the refreshingly cool Virgin River. As the walk progresses, the canyon walls begin to shrink until they are about 20 feet apart.

It is an adventurous hike that will show you a different and beautiful side to Zion, but you need to be careful.

Should a sudden downpour occur, flash floods happen very quickly, and with steep canyon walls on either side of you, you have nowhere to go but under.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is famous for, not surprisingly, over 2,000 natural sandstone arches.

Many of the different rock formations and archways have names such as North and South Window, Devil's Garden, Courthouse Towers, Balanced Rock, and the Fiery Furnace, named for the way they become fiery when the light hits them at the right time and place.

The Delicate Arch is the most visited and photographed of the Arches, a singular symbol of the National Park.

In the scorching desert sun, the hike up slick rock and around a narrow ledge can be immensely challenging, but it is well worth it. You cannot get a real sense of Arch's enormous size until you stand underneath it for your obligatory photo.

It is not just the gigantic red slick rock sitting on two towering pillars that make the hike here worth it; the views of the surrounding mountains are also pretty impressive.

Islands in the Sky Canyonlands — Islands in the Sky, Canyonlands

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands is not as popular or well-known as the Grand Canyon, but could be considered just as spectacular. The storms that rip through here during summer are worth the trip alone.

While driving from one section of the park to another amidst a terrifying storm, a lightning bolt hit the ground only meters from our car and sizzled the air around us. It was a frightening display of Mother Nature, but pretty awesome to see.

The Colorado River and its tributaries have divided the park into three separate areas, each with a distinctive character and opportunities for exploration. There are plenty of hiking and biking trails and areas for river rafting.

Be forewarned that traveling between the park areas can take several hours due to the indirect roads that join them.

Dead Horse Point State Park

View of Canyonlands from Dead Horse Point

Dead Horse Point State Park, not far from Canyonlands, offers a stunning vista of the latter. Grab a few beers, sit, and watch as the sun sets, casting a soft glow over the sculpted pinnacles and buttes carved by the winding Colorado River below.

Kiss your beer and send cheers to the Universe for allowing you to witness such a magical panorama. We camped here on the evening of July 4. While most Americans were watching fireworks and eating hot dogs, we marveled at Utah's stunning beauty.

Scenic Highway 12

View from the top of Highway 12. (Photo: Chuck Collet)

After all the hard work hiking and horse riding, it might be time to take in the stunning Utah landscape from the comfy seat of your air-conditioned car. Scenic Highway 12 is the place for you to go.

At some point throughout the drive, you may think that you have been abducted by aliens and transported to another planet, as the landscape's unearthly lunar appearance is surreal.

The colors of the boulders and bizarre sculptured rock change from red to orange, gray to white, black, and then a rainbow mixture of everything.

This is where the Creator did most of his experimentation with color as he splashed it from one end of the studio to the other.

I sometimes had to close my eyes as the visual onslaught was too much, and I needed my brain to take a break from all that absorption.

Orangutan Trekking in Sumatra

The name Orangutan is made up of two words in the Malay language, "orang" and "hutan."

Together they make up a phrase that translates to "forest man."

This reddish long-haired creature is the great Asian ape, presently only located on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Unlike Mountain Gorillas that move on the ground, the remarkable aspect of Orangutans is that they are one of the heaviest animals in the world that lives and transports themselves through tips of the trees.

The biggest males can weigh over 100 kilos and still have the ability to swing through the branches of the jungle and rest in nests built in the treetops.

Gunung Leuser National Park, home to the Sumatran Orangutans is located just 86 kilometers from the congested town of Medan, on the giant island of Sumatra, Indonesia.

Orangutan tours are usually arranged in Medan before proceeding to the small town of Bukit Lawang where the trekking begins.

I booked a two-day trekking tour which included one night at a lodge and one night at a camp in the park.

Sumatran roads are pounded by heavy rain and suffer from deadly potholes, so the roads were not exactly in top condition.

In order to get to Bukit Lawang, we took a series of battered buses and jungle taxis that artfully navigated the muddy terrain and vainly attempted to drive as fast as possible.

All that to say, the mere 86 kilometers took around four hours.

As always, it was a relief to arrive and I was ushered to a small room at one of the few guesthouses located on the rushing rivers edge.

My experience Orangutan trekking in Sumatra began the next morning, straight through the thick of the pristine forest.

We scrambled to make our way up and down mud bogged trails, fighting steep ascents and holding on from tree to tree.

The inevitable sweat poured off my forehead amidst the jungle canopy that locked the humidity in like a sauna.

King of the Jungle — Swinging Through the Trees!

It took a few hours of navigating through the tangles of the forest until we heard the rustling of trees and the faint sound of our first Orangutan!

The sound was coming closer, rapidly. Within seconds the rustling of the trees high above were swaying and bending right in our direction.

The guides informed us that a male was chasing his girlfriend through the trees, attempting to find some love. It was a truly magnificent sight.

The bulkiness of the Orangutans miraculously swung through the branches of the trees with effortless ease.

The weight of their heavy bodies was supported by rubbery limbs that seemed to just bounce from tree to tree and then spring back as the ape released grip.

Soon the Orangutan crew settled down, watching us as we watched them.

Their lanky arms reached out to grab hold of far out limbs and swing around.

Their playful nature involved entertaining bursts of sudden chasing each other around the perfect jungle gym.

The guides knew each and every Orangutan in the area by years of guide experience, making it easier to approach the apes and observe them closely.

One massive Orangutan posed in a low tree, showing off his photogenic skills and lazily rearranging his position every now and then.

Sumatra Orangutan Camp — Camping in Sumatra

In the evening we settled in a makeshift camp, a beautiful scene on the side of the river surrounded by rolling hills of the sprawling forest.

The sounds of the jungle played like a symphony and we could hear the wailing calls of the "forest man!"

Top 9 Ways to Avoid Looking Like a Gringo in Latin America

There are many reasons not to stand out as an obvious tourist in Latin America, including safety (criminals are far more likely to target an obvious tourist), social acceptance, not feeling foolish, or merely wanting to blend in by dressing in the local fashion.

Still, the best reason is none of those. It requires some explaining, but it delves right into Latin America's culture and concerns poverty.

Plaza Bolivar in Bogota, Colombia is one place you want to avoid looking like a gringo in Latin America — Plaza Bolivar in Bogota, Colombia (photo: Dave Lee)

Ordinary people dress more formally in Latin America than elsewhere. This is because a greater proportion of the population is relatively poor than in wealthier developed nations like the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe.

Consequently, it isn't, and never has been, considered fashionable to dress down or like you're poorer than you are. No one wants to be mistaken for the lowest lower class (Latin America is also a much more class-centered society).

Are you planning a trip to Latin America? Check out flight deals on Travelocity.com.

No one wears intentionally torn jeans (if your jeans are torn, it must be because you're too poor to afford new ones). Nobody wears baggy clothes that don't fit (if they don't fit, it must be because you can't afford proper clothes that fit correctly). And no one dresses informally because it looks "cool" (because it doesn't there), etc.

Latin America is a highly class-conscious society. The A-number-one way people communicate to everyone else that they're respectable, not a criminal, and not a violent delinquent is by dressing as smartly and nicely as they can afford.

Even poor people will still do this. They'll own just one nice pair of dress pants that they wear daily and wash and iron every night if they have to.

Only the worst of the worst don't-- they're not snobs. This isn't our culture. It's not the same as if you were to do this here.

When you dress shabbily (by their standards, typical by ours), you immediately associate yourself with some very "undesirable" people that no one else wants to be associated with.

People will avoid being seen with you, and any friends you might make will not want to be caught out with you, but will be too polite to tell you that your dressing habits make you look like a homeless person.

Before you start ranting at me in the comments, please understand that I'm not saying you can't wear what you want.

I'm not telling you how to dress; I'm just saying people will judge you for it, and you cannot hold that against them (you're in their culture, right?), and you're the one being weird. I'm just telling you what's socially acceptable and what's not, and why.

Just as an example of how this can cause problems, having had this same experience related to me by several backpackers who have had this happen in several different Latin American countries: you will get turned away at the door of clubs and even some bars if you're wearing sneakers or shorts, or a t-shirt (without a nice button-up shirt on top of it), and frequently even jeans. God help you if you're wearing three or four of those.

Gringo Giveaways

The following list contains what I've found to be the most common things that gringos do that you would never see a local doing, thereby being the things that are most commonly known by the locals to indicate that someone isn't from around there.

Most of these tend to be associated with the stereotypical white American/Canadian/European tourist.

Follow these tips to avoid looking like a gringo in Latin America.

1. People don't usually wear just a t-shirt when they go out.

This is an article of clothing that would be worn around the house after work or perhaps while working out or doing some gardening or landscaping at home (though people wear them underneath a nice button-up shirt, so that's fine).

2. They don't wear sneakers unless they're going running or doing (or on their way to) some physical or athletic activity that requires them.

Even then, many people would wear their regular clothes on the way over while bringing their running/sports clothes, which they'd change into when they get there.

Also, white socks are only worn with sneakers, never the regular dress shoes people wear daily.

3. They would never wear a tracksuit, exercise shorts, or exercise pants unless they were exercising.

Even going to and from the gym, they'd wear something nicer, bring their workout clothes back and forth with them, and change at the gym (which would almost certainly involve a shower post-workout before changing back into their nice clothes).

4. Fanny packs.

No. Never. Not ever. This makes you a walking target as far as muggers are concerned.

There are plenty of other less obtrusive options, such as money belts, backpacks (student-style backpacks, that is: students are poor, they have no money, don't bother robbing them, you know?), briefcases/man-purses, etc. There isn't a good reason to have one.

5. Generally dressing like a hippy.

You already know if this applies to you: looking like you just rolled out of Woodstock is acceptable in most places in the U.S., and okay with me, by the way (I have a bit of a soft spot for hippie chicks, I think they're cute especially when they have dreadlocks).

I have nothing against them, but the problem with it is that Latin Americans will perceive you as dirty, in a person with a heroin addiction who might just stab you sort of way.

I'm sorry, but you'll get significantly better treatment and service if you notice that the locals frequently wear nice trousers or skirts and a starched button-up shirt, even in sweltering heat, and do what you can to blend in.

6. Very skimpy clothing.

The women will certainly go to great lengths to show off their "assets" sometimes, especially if they're going out clubbing or something.

And plenty of them are frequently sporting a very respectable amount of cleavage (I'm looking at you, Medellín), but what you won't ever see is revealing stuff like shorts that are so small your ass is practically hanging out, a top so tiny that it's essentially a bra, itty-bitty mini-skirts, etc.

This is primarily a no-no in a church, and this is one complaint I've heard from locals where the reaction goes from "oh that's slutty," which is how they would typically see it, to "that's f*ing offensive, someone should throw her out."

Be careful about what you wear to churches. If you don't usually bother, please just this once make an effort to wear something nice. It's a big deal (this isn't a religion thing-I'm agnostic-it's a respect thing because it's their culture you're in).

7. Cargo pants.

Nope, they don't do them. They never caught on down there; consequently, no one wears them. It'll immediately peg you as a gringo (whether that's good or bad or irrelevant is entirely up to you, by the way).

8. Flip-flops and sandals.

I'm sorry, ladies. Flip-flops are never worn beyond the beach or swimming pool and are considered too casual for everyday wear (like walking around in bedroom slippers). For guys, this includes sandals, with socks or without; it doesn't matter.

9. I've saved the worst offender for last: the men do not wear shorts. Ever.

This is the stereotypical gringo thing to do; it's the one that everyone jokes about. Exceptions: working out, the beach, walking around the house, swimming pool. That's it.

I honestly hope this helps you. Please keep in mind that the above list is not some strict "don't do this unless you're a jerk" type of thing. It's just meant to be informative so you can use it to help you decide what to wear and when.

This is meant to be only for those concerned about this in the first place. If you're not worried about blending in, then don't worry about it.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that, and even then, this should still help you understand part of the culture you'll be interacting in. There's no judgment here. I'm just trying to inform you, that's all.

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About the Author: Andrew runs a blog on how to learn Spanish and has been learning Spanish on his own for nearly four years. He posts information on his site explicitly aimed at people who want to teach themselves Spanish on their own, from home. This includes things like using popular media to learn Spanish, as in his recent series about Shakira's music videos.

Lake Toba: Sumatra's Volcanic Island Paradise

Nestled in the palms of a supervolcano lies the immaculate volcanic Lake Toba (Danau Toba). Once an explosive volcanic catastrophe zone, it's now a picturesque scene so peaceful and gorgeous that any initial impression is that of laziness and relaxation.

Everything from the Indigenous Batak people to the glassy top of the lake induces a slow-paced attitude and a license to clear the mind by doing as little as possible.

Homes along the lake. — Homes along the lake

Getting There

From the northern Sumatran capital city of Medan, the journey to Lake Toba takes five to six hours. Our driver attempted to maximize the velocity of our van, overtaking freight trucks at frightening speeds and gaining air on the potholes.

Driving through the forest, we eventually reached the outskirts of the main volcano and wound our way around the lake edge before arriving in the town of Parapat. The nerve-rattling ride contrasted with the peaceful tranquility we would experience on Samosir Island, located within Lake Toba.

From Parapat, we took the local ferry, which dropped us off at our chosen guest house on Samosir Island. The ferry was so lenient that it allowed anybody to get dropped off anywhere around the lake they requested.

We dropped several people off at hotels, some locals off at their homes, a few got out at a small water village, and finally, the ferry stopped at our guest house. It was like handing me a plate with a slice of heaven.

Lake Toba, Sumatra. — Lake Toba paradise

Where To Stay

Guest houses on the banks of Lake Toba are cheap and comfortable. Some offer traditional Batak-style accommodation in huts that overlook the water. Our room at the Reggae Guest House had at least four beds and was located so close to the lake that we could jump right off our balcony into the calm, warm water.

I was delighted when the reception informed us that the grand total for our noiseless Shangri-La pad was a mere $3 per night, split by two (and there were four beds in the room!).

I couldn't help but daydream about spending the rest of my life in that very spot on the side of Lake Toba, relaxing my life away.

It'd be worth seeing my bank account deplete, but here, it's a micro drop in the bucket each month. My dreams shattered when I remembered my Indonesian visa that was about to expire, depleting my stay to only a few days.

Sunrise over Lake Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia. — Sunrise over Lake Toba

Hanging Out

I truly appreciated the area's relaxed and tranquil nature in the few days I spent on Lake Toba. I would awaken at dawn to observe the sunrise that ever so slowly rose above the volcano ledges and ricocheted off the mirror lake.

A few lone fishermen would cast their nets without making even the slightest sound, paddling their boats with silent strokes. The faint, pleasing sound of birds chirping could be heard, but it was almost impossible to pinpoint as the sounds carried across the landscape.

For exercise, we followed the trail to the mountaintop of Samosir Island, whacking our way through thick brush and being rewarded with jaw-dropping views of the lake. Along the trail, we met a few Batak farmers, excited to see us and happy we had made the ascent.

Submerged by the peaceful atmosphere (just like on Mount Taal), it's sobering to think that Lake Toba is the product of a violent blast from a supervolcano. Today, it remains the world's largest volcanic lake, over 62 miles (100 kilometers) long.

Getting to central Sumatra and finally arriving at Lake Toba can be challenging to arrange, but the relaxing reward is unparalleled. Lake Toba remains one of my all-time favorite destinations in the world!

5 Epic Adventures in New Zealand

Throughout my twenties, I heard so many positive things about New Zealand that I was excited to schedule it as the second stop on my trip around the world.

There were so many adventurous activities available along the route I took through the North and South Islands that I had to pick and choose.

Here are five of my adventures in New Zealand from a month of traveling across both islands.

Table of Contents

New Zealand Adventures

New Zealand Adventures

1. Heli-Hiking Franz Josef Glacier

Franz Josef Glacier helipad. Heli-hiking is one of the top adventures in New Zealand. — Franz Josef Glacier helipad

As if walking around on my first glacier wasn't cool enough, I threw my first helicopter ride into the mix. And I had the front seat on the way up and back down, which was awesome.

Both the helicopter and the glacier. Walking around on crampons isn't easy, and at least one person in my group took a slide down an ice cave, but it was well worth the cost.

Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier nearby account for two of the world's three sub-tropical glaciers. The low elevation explains why you see all the green foliage in the photo above.

Check out my original post about heli-hiking Franz Josef Glacier for more photos.

2. Canyoning

Abseiling down a waterfall — Abseiling aside a waterfall

Canyoning is an activity I've wanted to try since I first read about it in a Lonely Planet Costa Rica guide. When I saw trips run from Auckland, where I first arrived in the country, I immediately booked a spot.

Our guide was a pretty Chilean woman, and after suiting up in thick wetsuits and helmets, we spent 5 hours sliding down rock chutes, jumping off cliffs, and abseiling over waterfalls. It was unbelievable.

For more, check out Canyoning - Abseils, Jumps and Chutes.

3. Tramping the Tongariro Crossing

Hiking the Tongariro Crossing is one of the best adventures in New Zealand. — We are approaching The Devil's Staircase section of the Tongariro Crossing. Mt Doom is to the right.

Tramping in New Zealand (or hiking, as the rest of us call the activity) is hugely popular due to the varying geography and beautiful scenery.

I didn't schedule any multi-day hikes, but I did make time to tramp the Tongariro Crossing, a ridge between two volcanoes on the North Island (one of those being the infamous Mt. Doom from Lord of the Rings).

The weather was cloudy and visibility low; however, it was a fun physical challenge and my first serious hike.

Renting a car in New Zealand is the perfect way to explore the country's stunning landscapes and hiking trails.

Whether you're looking to go hiking or venture into remote wilderness, renting a car will provide you the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want. Look into hiring a car with Enterprise Car Rentals here.

4. Racing Go-Karts

Racing go-karts in the mountains above Queenstown may not be as death-defying an activity as you can find, but it's entertaining, and the views are breathtaking.

If the weather is decent, you can watch paragliders drifting around.

I had the pleasure of racing my bus driver, but he kicked my butt as I imagine he's been racing those go-karts for years.

I celebrated Christmas in Queenstown, and though I didn't write much about it, you can read a few of my thoughts from the city in Scenic Views of Queenstown.

5. Queenstown Canyon Swing

Sure, I'll jump off a 360-foot (109-meter) platform into the abyss of Shotover Canyon...twice!

So watch the video above, and hear me scream like a girl. If massive swings aren't your style, plenty of bungy jumping options and tandem skydives are on offer.

Read Fear Factor: Riding the World's Highest Swing to see videos of both my jumps.

As I said at the top, New Zealand is a unique, beautiful, kick-ass kind of country, and I feel lucky to have had so many adventures there.

All About Apple Vacations

For all the traveling I've done in the last three years, I can still remember my first international trip like it was yesterday.

I was no more than 10 or 11 years old, and my parents took my brother and me on a package trip to Ixtapa, Mexico.

I remember the intense sun, pretty beaches, giant resort pool, and managing to find respite from the heat in an air-conditioned computer room where kids gathered to play games.

When I was invited to check out the Apple Vacations website recently, it brought back those childhood memories.

Founded in 1969, Apple Vacations is an American company specializing in all-inclusive vacation packages to some of the hottest (literally and figuratively) tropical destinations, including the Caribbean, Mexico, Bahamas, Hawaii, and Costa Rica.

Voted Best Tour Operator to Mexico for six straight years by the readers of Travel Weekly, Apple Vacations has built a business out of giving consumers exactly what they desire in a hassle-free travel experience.

By 1997, they were celebrating their one-millionth passenger arrival in Cancun.

They've also built a reputation for trips to Punta Cana on the Dominican Republic's east coast.

One of their website's interesting features is the Apple rating system, which relies solely on customer feedback to create hotel ratings.

The more red apples you see, the better the accommodation.

To give you an idea of the bargains to be had, I put myself in the shoes of many a weary New Yorker and checked the options for a package trip from New York City to Oahu, Hawaii.

Including roundtrip airfare and a 6-night stay at the Hilton Waikiki Beach, the cost is $979.

If you don't want to deal with the jetlag, sticking to a similar time zone makes sense, especially for shorter weekend getaways.

By looking for last minute vacations, you can get even cheaper deals. Head for Cancun's Riviera Maya for three nights accommodation with food and drinks, plus roundtrip airfare for $470.

While a lot is happening on the Apple website, I found the trip search features easy to use and the requisite fine print easy to find and understand.

In addition to the tropical destinations, you can also browse ski packages to Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming and a wide range of trips to popular European cities such as London, Paris, and Barcelona.

If you're overdue for a spontaneous vacation, the kind that requires no planning on your part, check out the deals at Apple Vacations.

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This story was brought to you in partnership with Apple Vacations.

The Story Behind The Hiking Life Website

Hanging with Cameron above 4,000 meters, on an Indian military base in northern Sikkim, India — Hanging with Cameron above 4,000 meters on an Indian military base in northern Sikkim, India

In the far reaches of northeastern India, amidst the tall mountains of Sikkim, our 4 x 4 jeep had broken down, leaving us stranded in the town of Chungthang while we awaited alternative transport to continue our tour of the once-independent Buddhist state.

The date was May 22, 2008, and Cameron's curiosity was piqued when I mentioned I made money from my travel blog.

It was a common reaction, so I shared how blogging about my travel experiences translated into dollars in my pocket.

I first met Cameron in Kathmandu, through Natalie and Sarah, who'd been on my 3-day rafting trip the week before.

I looked up to him for many reasons, and not just because he was taller than me.

Cameron had left Australia some 16 years earlier and set up an export business in Mexico with his sister.

He traveled all of Latin America, and at some point along the way, became a yoga instructor.

His true passion, however, was hiking. And we're not talking about day trips in the Adirondacks.

Cameron's the kind of guy who'd already spent a few months solo hiking the entire Pacific Crest Trail from Canada to Mexico.

Camping adjacent a glacier in Pakistan (Photo: Cameron Honan)

When I met him, he was working his way through the hikes in the Lonely Planet Himalaya guide.

In Nepal, he'd completed the Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Sanctuary hikes.

After Nepal and India, he hiked in Pakistan, Iran and the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.

A year or so later, he traveled overland from London to the Bearing Sea (Russia's east coast).

I knew enough about Cameron on May 22, 2008, to know he could put together an awesome, authoritative blog on the topic of hiking.

Over the years, we stayed in touch, and he'd ask web-related questions via email between his epic journeys.

On January 25, 2011, he wrote me the following:

All is good in this part of the world. As of a few days ago, my website finally became officially operational!

Over the past year I have spent more time in front of a computer than I ever imagined I would. It has been a steep learning curve. It feels good to have finished. The project turned out to be much bigger than I originally expected................the "War and Peace" of outdoors websites!

I just wanted to say thank you for your encouragement and advice. I still remember that initial "website" conversation by the roadside in Sikkim.

I immediately checked out his new site, The Hiking Life, and sent my congratulations.

I was excited that he saw his vision through to fruition. And if he weren't traveling off-the-grid for months at a time, I'm sure he would've created a blog instead of a normal website.

Regardless of the format, the site details a lifetime of hikes around the world, including his photos from each, and offers advice on everything from gear to safety.

Outdoor enthusiasts and hikers can now benefit from his knowledge and first-hand experience, plus I'm positive he could sell advertising or obtain sponsors if he so desired.

Traveling and living abroad the last three years, I've met a lot of interesting and inspiring people.

Far too few have blogs to share their unique perspective on the world.

I continue to believe with every ounce of my blogger being that once travelers realize the possibilities and opportunities that can arise from sharing their knowledge and experience with the world, more people will take the time to create their own independent sites.

Photo Favorite: Daily Errands

I've taken hundreds, if not thousands, of blurry photos from moving vehicles. Buses, taxis, boats and planes. I always try my luck because sometimes you'll capture a moment worth saving.

I took this photo on the road to Pokhara, Nepal. I like it because the girl helps to show the scale of the large mountains in the background, and you can see some details back there too, such as the terraced farmland and winding road.

Nepali girl — This snapshot of a girl going about her daily business in Nepal is one of my favorite photos taken from a moving vehicle.

How to Get Ready for a High Altitude Mountain Climb

The following is a guest post by Suzanne K Nance, the first American woman to complete the Adventurer Grand Slam. If you’d like to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read our submission guidelines.

View of the Lhotse face — Lhotse, which is connected to Mt. Everest, is the 4th highest mountain on Earth (8,516m).

This week as I was trying to catch up on Facebook, I noticed a climber friend of mine reached out for advice on what to pack on an expedition to Everest.

Of course, I had to put in my two cents and then followed along as others added more advice. This dialogue caused me to reflect upon my own experience on the mountain.

I found myself asking, “What is really needed for Everest?”

Any high altitude mountain climb is an endeavor that is both physically and mentally demanding.

It requires top physical fitness, mental fortitude, and patience, with both a strong sense of teamwork and independence.

Climbing is indiscriminate of gender. Both success and failure happen no matter who you are.

It’s more imperative to know how to use the tools of the “trade”, and know how to get by with the bare essentials than it is so much a matter of what you have tossed into your bag.

Don’t get me wrong, what you pack is important, but what you have within yourself is really the key.

The question you really need to ask is, “Are you prepared?”

Here are 5 tips for the making of a fantastic expedition:

Table of Contents

1. Be Physically Prepared
2. Be Mentally Prepared
3. Have a Good Sense of Humor
4. Know Your Strengths
5. Practice, Practice, Practice

1. Be Physically Prepared

Regardless of your height, weight, or gender, you will be required to carry the same load and face the same obstacles as all other members of your team.

Contrary to what you may think, pack weight is not determined by your height and weight. Rather, it is in discriminatory.

You must take this into consideration when preparing for your climb.

Not only do you need to train with enough weight in your backpack to account for your personal gear, you need to add an extra 10-15 lbs of ‘lee weight.’

It is good practice to add more weight to what you consider to be your top load: being physically at your best is the only factor of the climb within your control.

The mountain is going to do what the mountain is going to do.

There may be bad weather, hot weather, avalanches, or difficult terrain and the climber must account for all of these factors in training.

If you are at your peak physical condition, there will be no question of preparedness should an adverse situation arise.

Mountain climbing gear — Gear required for a high altitude climb

2. Be Mentally Prepared

Just suck it up! It’s going to be hard, and no one likes a whiner.

You just have to remember it’s okay that it’s hard and you’re going to have to deal with it.

I like to remind myself of the first time I was in the Himalayas attempting to climb Cho-Oyu.

My team was making the ascent to Camp II around 23,000 feet and it was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life, to date.

I had to climb the face of a section of the mountain with a frozen ascender (jumar).

The teeth of the jumar were iced up and would not grip the rope; therefore, it was useless to me.

Consequently, I had to climb the face by wrapping the rope around my arm several times, painfully, pulling myself upward, while slamming my climbing boots and crampons into the wall to hold me in place.

Over 8 hours later, I finally reached home sweet home for the night, a tent at Camp II.

Thankfully, after a bad night’s sleep at high altitude, my team retreated back down to ABC (advanced base camp), still sitting at over 18,000 feet.

Later that day, I made a call home to my family in the States, giving them an update and progress report.

I recanted my success thus far, however, when I finally got to speak with my daughter, I broke down into tears.

I told her how difficult the climb had been and how tough the expedition was.

She was so sweet and supportive. She said. “Mommy, you can come home. You know we love you even if you don’t make the summit.”

I was shocked. I instantly reported back to her. “Come home? I don’t want to come home. I’m just telling you how hard it was.”

3. Have a Good Sense of Humor

Be able to laugh at yourself and at the present situation. It’s not about you, so just take you out of it. It’s all about the experience and the fun you’re having.

I have been snowed in, buried in, frozen in, and guarded in, yet I have never lost my sense of humor.

On the contrary, it’s what keeps the whole expedition enjoyable for me.

On Antarctica, we were triumphant, the first expedition of the season, unfortunately, that only equated into unpredictable temperatures with unstable weather.

It so happened a late-season weather system came through the middle of our expedition, exposing my team and me to -40 F in our tents.

The extreme temperature caught me off guard and it resulted in a frostbit nose, not to mention shivering constantly for two days.

The first morning after the temperatures dipped, I woke up in my sleeping bag, screaming in pain.

The tip of my nose was out of the sleeping bag while I slept and therefore got frostbit. Instead of reaching for my medical kit, I reached for my camera and instantly started taking pictures of my tent mate and friend.

Her night sleep caused condensation to form into long icicles right above her face.

They dangled just above her nose forming exquisite crystal formations, not to mention, that the site was hysterically funny.

I shot away, only thinking of the story it would tell later on after the expedition, and completely forgot about my own pain and injury.

4. Know Your Strengths

I can carry and pull anything, so I like to think of myself as a small powerhouse.

A close friend of mine, who is also a guide, likes to think of himself as a mule. It’s important to use whatever it takes to visualize your strengths.

On the other side of the coin, I know I am not very speedy at climbing steep inclines when I have an extremely heavy pack.

Perhaps it’s because my legs aren’t as long as my teammates, or maybe it’s due to the weight ratio of my pack to my body weight that plays a key role, and literally weighs me down.

I really haven’t analyzed it in great detail. All I know is that I lose distance with regard to my teammates when I am climbing a steep incline while carrying a heavy pack.

However, being able to recognize my weakness is a strength.

I know I need to make up the time and distance on other portions of the climb and I know I’m a beast when it comes to descending.

Loose hips and knees, the effect of gravity, or maybe just because it’s fun usually creates an advantage for me when compared to other climbers. I can usually make up lost distance on the downhill portion.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice

Climbing big mountains isn’t child’s play; therefore you had better bring along confidence, experience, and skill.

If you happen to be a woman, you need to practice a few things (tasks) in which specialized equipment is required.

When roped up to a climbing harness on the side of a mountain to a team of two to three other climbers, going to the bathroom seems like a horrific proposition.

It’s a much wiser idea to practice these skills while in the privacy of one’s own home than to try to figure things out while out on a rope.

(Personally, I don’t know any woman climber who has not had a least one casualty while perfecting this technique, no matter how seasoned she may be. I think it must be a right of passage.)

Climbing ropes, climbing harnesses, and extra clothing are extremely burdensome.

For that reason, mastering the use of all equipment is essential for a climb.

While artfully managing a climbing rope is a learned skill, personalizing a climbing harness lends itself to efficiency and security.

Exposing yourself to extreme weather conditions prior to your climb not only introduces you to the elements you will encounter but gives you a sense of spatial orientation and proprioception in all those layers of clothing.

Preparing yourself by practicing before an expedition for as many possible conditions that you may encounter will only increase your statistics for success.

When compiling a packing list, toothbrush and deodorant are immaterial.

What is most important is the mental, physical and spiritual training that you have done prior to your departure.

These are the essential items you must bring.

Taking to the Streets in Hanoi

If there's any place that lives life on the street, it's Hanoi, Vietnam. People around the city seem to inch everything closer and closer to the side of the street.

Through business, food, and social life, Vietnam presents a much more acute definition of what it means to live on the street. Throughout the Western world, sitting roadside is shunned, maybe even illegal in some places.

Street Vending Hanoi — Edging further into the street

In Vietnam, it's a way of life.

I've determined that in a city characterized by an everlasting flow of motorbike traffic, catching someone's attention by displaying things as close to the street as possible (or even on it) is the necessary micro-advantage for generating that sale. Edging closer and closer to where the people are could be a pivotal move in the competition.

Note: For travelers considering joining that flow of traffic, Go Backpacking recently published a guide to buying a motorbike in Hanoi without getting ripped off.

In the Old Quarter of Hanoi, businesses spread their goods out onto the front or outdoor sidewalk of their stores, using the inside as more of a storage space than a sales floor.

The overflow of products does not particularly cater to the passing pedestrian, though it tends to be quite an effective sales strategy.

When someone is walking down the street and encounters a rack of shoes blocking the middle of the sidewalk, there are 3 possible reactions: to get angry and frustrated, to enjoy that this is life in Vietnam, or to think, "I might actually need that!" The genius of Hanoi's street marketers banks on the latter option.

Along with businesses and products, food is the quintessential example of taking to the streets in Hanoi.

Vegetables Hanoi — Vegetables on the Sidewalk in Hanoi

Produce markets and vendors line the edge of the street side, accurately accounting for mere centimeters of distance between their vegetables and the roaring tires of motorbikes.

Hanoi Bread — This lady put her stock of bread in the street!

Take-away food hawkers compete to see who can get the closest to the side of the road (even in the road), presuming more motorcycles whizzing past will halt to purchase their products.

Bread sellers plop their baked goods in the street for maximum exposure, forcing traffic to weave around them.

Participating in the always-amazing street-food dining scene is no different. It seems that at some of the more popular street restaurants, customers will sacrifice themselves to get that tasty dish, even at the mercy of the road.

In this case, I can completely understand that some foods are just worth the risk! The more the merrier, and customers are never turned down, just relegated to another plastic stool, maybe in a more vulnerable position.

Drinking coffee plays a large role as a social and leisure activity in Vietnam. There is an abundance of street coffee shops throughout Hanoi.

Sitting indoors is like locking yourself up in a jail cell. Why not take in the bustling scenery and listen to the screaming traffic by stepping to the side of the street to enjoy your beverage?

Meat in Vietnam — Portable street butchery at a coffee shop

Sitting on the street, relaxing on the street, eating on the street, napping on the street, shopping on the street, fixing your bike in the middle of the street, or a selection of anything else you can imagine on the street, is what makes Hanoi such a joyous and continually entertaining city.

Sit for long enough, and you might find yourself shopping while relaxing and drinking, all at the same time!

Flimsy plastic stools are stocked at nearly all restaurants and coffee shops in Hanoi, making it convenient to pop a squat and socialize or marvel at the turbo-speed of everything that goes past.

Grab a coffee or a beer, situate yourself on a plastic stool, and take to the streets of Hanoi as you watch everyone else conduct their lives on the side of the street!

Kyoto Nightlife: Sushi, Sake, and Salsa

Nigiri (from left): prawn, salmon, tuna, fatty tuna, salmon belly

I had the best sushi of my life in Kyoto.

The hostel had given me a map with a variety of restaurants, and when I couldn't find the cheap sushi place my first night, I randomly wandered into Sushi Masa.

The restaurant's first floor had a narrow rectangular layout, with a long wooden sushi bar running its length. A few locals were at the far end, next to a fish tank that acted as a wall between the dining area and the kitchen.

I pulled up a seat in the center of the sushi bar, right in front of the chef's workstation.

The menu felt limited, however I soon found out that didn't matter. The quality of seafood on offer mattered more than the variety.

I ordered a bottle of hot sake, and a few familiar friends, including prawn, salmon, salmon belly, tuna, and tuna belly.

The chef went to work in front of me, and he wasn't shy about his use of wasabi to bind the fish with the rice.

The prawn was fine, as was the salmon and tuna. I don't tend to enjoy fatty tuna as much as normal tuna, though I continue to order it because it's suppose to be better. But on this night, the salmon belly was the nigiri to win my belly over.

Decadent would be an understatement. It melted blissfully in my mouth.

I ordered more, along with live tiger prawn. I had a feeling I knew what that "live" moniker meant, and sure enough, the chef fished a living tiger prawn out of the tank at the end of the bar, and promptly chopped its head off, cleaned it, and dropped it on the plate in front of me atop a ball of rice.

Yum.

I branched out, ordering a piece of cuttlefish, but the texture was tough, and I prefer soft and silky.

A few other Kyoto locals shuffled into the restaurant and took up residence to my right. They ordered a lot of food, and kept the chef busy, which I appreciated since it slowed down my consumption of more salmon belly.

The sake was starting to kick in, though I didn't realize it at the time. I continued to watch the chef meticuously prepare plates of sashimi for the new arrivals.

I could've kept eating, but it was my first night in town, and I knew many more amazing meals awaited me and my wallet. The total bill was no more than $50, and well worth it for the best sushi I've had to date.

I'd return a second time, and try the sea urchin, which I normally wouldn't order. It was another melt-in-my-mouth experience. It was also the most expensive item on the menu at 630 Yen per piece ($7.60).

Ponto-Cho Street is a narrow alley lined with restaurants that runs parallel to the Kamo River.

I stepped into Winter's cold grip outside, and immediately heard salsa music playing from a speaker 10 meters to my left. Following the music, I descended into El Coyote, a basement-level Latin bar, to continue my foray into the Kyoto nightlife scene.

I ordered a beer, stunned to be back in the familiar environment of a salsa bar, yet halfway around the world in Kyoto, Japan.

Serendipity strikes again.

Flyer for salsa dancing in Kyoto — Flyer for salsa dancing in El Coyote bar in Kyoto.

Smoking was allowed in the bar, which quickly got on my nerves, but not before I found out the bartender was a salsa instructor, and had been dancing for 8 years. I introduced myself to a Cuban guy, who was also an instructor, and had been living in Japan for 10 years.

There were other foreign guys in the bar, dancing occasionally with the Japanese women they were with. I chose to wait for the opportunity to dance with the bartender, which was fun. One good dance under my belt, I quit while I was ahead and walked back to the hostel.

As far as first nights in new cities go, I couldn't have been happier to be in Kyoto.

Rio and Traveling Self-Indulgences

The following is a guest post by Ana Freitas. If you’d like to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read our submission guidelines.

Skateboarding bowl in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The first thing a Paulista - you know, a Brazilian who was born in the state of São Paulo - notices when he or she goes to Rio for the first times is that the Cariocas, unlike us, live their lives properly. They actually enjoy it. And I’m not talking about parties (São Paulo’s nightlife is among the best in the world) or Carnival (we have ours, too).

It’s about life quality, about being able to wake up and run along the shore before going to work. It’s about working out and taking care of your body, and because of that, being proud of showing it off. About keeping it simple: in Rio, you can walk into a café or a snack bar at 2 in the morning, in your pajamas or in your bikinis, and no one will give a damn. And you’ll get natural juice, fresh baked snacks and a smile from the guy behind the counter for a reasonable price, considering Brazilian standards.

São Paulo has it’s beauties (and its beasts, surely) too, but cannot be compared to Rio in that matter - neither regarding natural beauties or people being so much more relaxed and fun about life itself. And apart from Rio’s reputation of being a violent city in Brazil, the second thing I noticed about it is, I rarely feel as safe in SP as I felt there.

Most of us - me and four other Paulista friends - had never been to Rio before, despite everybody’s advice, and we faced São Paulo’s traditionally heavy traffic in Via Dutra, before actually being able to hit the road. It felt like an adventure: I know it’s going to sound surprising, but Brazilians don’t usually travel inside their own country.

Among youngsters, there is no such thing as "travel culture." Most of the time, it’s cheaper to visit Buenos Aires. And besides, when you turn 17, you’re expected to pick a career and try to get into university. Traveling to get to know far away lands is not affordable for the lower classes and considered, between higher classes, something you do once a year, when you have a vacation from your solid, good job, or from college. The exceptions, Brazilian backpackers inside their own country, are considered irresponsible, hippies or just plain crazy.

Well, we took the risk. After driving for six hours in the Via Dutra and getting lost in the Avenida Brasil, one of the most dangerous places in Rio, we finally arrived at our hostel, located inside a small, gated village in Ipanema. We parked the car and didn’t even take the bags out of the trunk before we decided we should, first of all, take a walk around to have a snack and get to know Rio on a Friday night.

We shouldn’t have, but we checked out the Copacabana area. It’s one of the most touristy places, and also, it’s full of prostitutes, drug dealers and "pivetes," the young boys infamous for pickpocketing tourists. It’s the perfect symbiosis - the excentric mix, along with the beautiful beach, the prostitutes and the numerous hotels attracts the foreign visitors, while Copacabana’s native species, such as the poor boys and the drug dealers, feed from the tourists.

But it was 4 in the morning and, wherever the bad guys or the tourists were, it was not in Copacabana. It was the very emptiness of the deserted street that gave us the dimension of the beauty of Rio, even at night, and how the beach landscape and the buildings, all together, looked astonishingly beautiful.

Tired, we headed back to the hostel, that offered a very suffocating room for a not-so-cheap price. But it would have to do, since it was supposed to be a budget holiday; besides, the other hostels around had no availability. There was nothing we could do, and later we realized, we were lucky to stay there. Yeah, the rooms and the bathroom weren’t that great, but the staff were really helpful, not to mention the atmosphere of the place: something close to experiencing a UN youth congress right in the middle of Rio de Janeiro.

In other words: we barely heard a word in Portuguese during those four days. We were surrounded by young, open-minded people from every place in the world, from Europe to Bermudas, USA to Australia. We practiced Spanish, English, Italian, French, Dutch, Dannish, Russian and every language you can imagine, without leaving an area of about 200 square meters.

On our first day in Rio, the idea was to go to the beach in the morning and, later, walk from Ipanema to Copacabana and see the sunset from Arpoador, a tourist highlight in the city. We left early - at least for a sunset in Rio, at 3pm. And instead of Arpoador, we stopped by another mountain, that seemed to lead to a natural park with a square by its side.

Turns out it was the Garota de Ipanema park, sided by the Praça do Arpoador, right at the end of Vieira Souto. There was a path to go up, and so we did and ended up finding a huge, very nicely graffitied skate bowl. And, lucky us, one of my friends had a skateboard. Truth is I had mine too, but it was a longboard, and I didn’t feel safe to drop a deep skate bowl with a huge longboard.

From up there, the view was awesome even for those who can barely do an ollie. You can just sit around and watch while the skaters fly surrounded by the beach and the sun in the horizon. That said, we weren’t the only people to think we found the most amazing, cozy open air skate park in Rio: a few boys apparently were already familiar with the area.

They were local young kids, about ten of them, from 6 to 16 years old, and they were messing around and having fun like only kids can do. The boys from Arpoador, as we later came to call them, were all black, tanned, and clearly residents of the suburban area. Dressed in underwear or swimsuits, with sand all over their bodies, they were using the bowls to play Capoeira, running inside it and throwing little dry fruits they picked from the trees to each other. And we watched, amazed, sharing their fun, seated by the edge of the bowls.

But everybody could feel something heavy in the air. Maybe it was just me, but fact the was, I was a little bit scared. They were the stereotype of the young kids who might rob tourists in Rio. Of course they were just playing around and speaking loudly, but in that context that could be interpreted not only as the natural need the teenagers have to draw attention, but as a desire to mark their territory.

We had our expensive, middle-class cameras, and everything about us seemed to scream WE ARE PAULISTAS. It was obvious, although we were speaking Portuguese, that we weren’t locals. But again, everybody seemed to agree silenciously that we couldn’t just walk away, for we were witnessing something fun and spontaneous.

Most important, that situation seemed to challenge us: were we gonna be the spoiled tourists who will take give in to their preconceptions about their destinations or the brave travelers that take the risk and whatever good or bad consequences it might bring?

Also, watching the kids amazed us because it’s something that would never happen in São Paulo - kids enjoying themselves at the beach, living like kids should do. In São Paulo, these days, children are raised in front of the television or the computer, whether because of the heavy, dangerous traffic, or because of the unsafe neighbourhoods. And we don’t have open, free leisure areas like the beaches in Rio.

Boys from Arpoador — The boys from Arpoador.

So I took the risk and started taking pictures. I knew it would be the final showdown, and my move would allow them the next one, whether it was talk to us in a friendly matter or rob us. And although they talked, their intentions were not yet clear. A 13 years old girl looked at me and yelled “Wow, fancy cam, mam.”

I just smiled, though I wasn’t still sure if by that she meant she wanted a) some kind of friendly approach b) the camera itself. The black piano in the compact camera indeed made it look fancy. I answered, “Yeah, it’s a beautiful camera, you wanna see the pics?” And that was the signal for them to gather around me and the camera, not to steal it, but to actually check on the pictures I took of them.

Both sides defenses lowered, the same girl - a bit too bossy and cheeky, yeah, but as you later learn in Brazil, that’s just how the kids that live in poor areas are, most of times - asked to borrow my friend’s skate, which he promptly offered, and showed impressive skills on the board. We asked them their ages, where they lived and took pictures of the (somewhat nice) tricks they were impressively able to perform on the skate.

The boys showed us a few crazy Capoeira moves and we stayed there, after the sunset, when the young ones had to leave because their mothers were waiting for them. After a little bit more of chitchat, one by one, the older kids said goodbye and left the bowl. We did the same, just after them.

I know it might sound silly, but it was the nicest afternoon I had during my trip. Of course, later, I felt bad about being so suspicious, but you can’t blame me if you’re not Brazilian: that’s just how we are raised to be in the middle class. And I realized that sometimes you need to allow yourself some self indulgences, like doing stuff no travel guide would ever recommend. Maybe letting yourself go of some preconceptions and be around young, poor kids in Rio de Janeiro.

Lowering your guards and see what happens, you know? Even though it could be dangerous, sometimes every travelers should afford time to doing that. Your common-sense should always be with you, for sure, but so often, people travel in a paranoid mode, especially in Brazil, considering what the travel guides says about the country being unsafe, and cease to try what could end up being a pleasant afternoon.

Also, it made me realize that, unfortunately, São Paulo is not REALLY Brazil. Brazil is in the spirit of free kids in Rio, in the energy of the street Carnival in Pernambuco and Bahia. São Paulo, somehow, is the most important economics in the country, but so modern and developed that most of what makes it Brazil is lost in translation.

It doesn’t mean that you should not go to São Paulo. There’s a lot to see here too. But it’s probably the only place you’re not going to see what Brazil actually is, so please: never come only to São Paulo.

_________

About the Author: Ana Freitas is a 22 years old Brazilian journalist who loves São Paulo, but the city has let her down so many times that she has decided to dump it and go look for a new one. She is now preparing to move to Holland for a year to work and travel.

Mount Taal, The World’s Smallest Active Volcano

Conveniently located 31 miles south of metro Manila, the capital of the Philippines, Taal Lake is a haven of calm and greenery. It's also home to Mount Taal, the world's smallest active volcano. Escaping Manila's congestion for a quick trip to Taal in the Province of Batangas is a refreshing experience and a thrilling volcanic adventure.

Depending on the traffic conditions, it can take one to three hours to get from central Manila to the sleepy town of Tagaytay, where your adventure into Taal Volcano National Park begins. We created this story to help you visit Mount Taal from either Tagaytay or Manila.

Pro Tip: Need a flight to the Philippines? Search Travelocity for the best deals!

Mount Taal Volcano island (photo: Mark Koester)

Table of Contents

Mount Taal Travel Info

Mount Taal Travel Info

Safety Check

Before planning your visit, visit the Philippine Institute of Volcanology website for the latest reports of volcanic earthquakes and eruptions at Mount Taal (and throughout the country).

Check the current alert level for volcanic activity, review seismic activity maps, and read about past explosive eruptions. As recently as July 2021, Taal has experienced phreatomagmatic bursts, a lesser event than a phreatomagmatic eruption (which last occurred in August 1967).

Where To Stay

Tagaytay village is the closest place in the surrounding area with a range of accommodations and is, therefore, an excellent place to stay when visiting Mount Taal. Tagaytay has several well-rated hostels and a full range of hotels and holiday apartments, many of which offer great value if you feel like splurging.

We've listed hotels here on Booking.com because they offer the best deals compared to Agoda, which is also very popular in Asia. Check out Booking.com coupons to see if they can save you even more money.

Alternatively, you can stay in Manila, the Philippine capital, and visit independently or as part of a full-day trip from Manila to Mount Taal. The journey takes one to three hours, depending on the day and traffic.

When To Go

If you visit from Manila, you must take a bus to Tagaytay, preferably early, to avoid traffic and heat. Once you have the correct instructions, it's not hard to do. You can take a tricycle or jeepney from Tagaytay to Talisay Bay and hire a boat to take you to the island.

Alternatively, you can take an 8-hour round-trip tour from Manila for about $150. Depending on your energy levels or time, this could be a good option, as it includes several other sights.

What You'll Spend

All prices are subject to change, but the following should give you a general idea of what it will cost to visit Mount Taal.

Buses from Manila to Tagaytay: 80 to 120 pesos
Jeepney/Tricycle from Tagaytay to Talisay Bay: 100 to 1,000 pesos, depending on your haggling skills
Boat from Talisay to Taal Island: 700 to 3,000 pesos, depending on your haggling skills
Tourist Entry Fee: 50 pesos
Optional Pony/Donkey Ride to the Top: 700 to 2,000 pesos, depending on your haggling skills

Total Cost: 930 to 6,170 ($18 to $121)

(If you're a good negotiator or can share the costs with others, it's cheaper to DIY the trip. If you don't like negotiating, it might be worth splurging on the round-trip organized tour from Manila.)

Filipino boat with volcano island in the distance (photo: Shankar S)

Where Is Mount Taal?

It's a complicated situation, so I'll do my best to explain. Luzon is an island in the Pacific Ocean, the most populous island in the Philippines archipelago.

Tagaytay is located on the island of Luzon, nestled on a ridge of Taal Volcano and overlooking the vast Taal Lake. Within Taal Lake is Taal Volcano Island.

Within Taal Volcano Island is yet another crater lake, Taal Volcano Main Crater Lake. Finally, within the Main Crater Lake is Vulcan Point, a volcano outcropping.

If that didn't make sense, here is the simplified version, starting from the outside layer and proceeding to the inside:

Pacific Ocean
Luzon Island
Taal Volcano
Taal Lake
Volcano Island
Main Crater Lake
Vulcan Point Island

It's called a volcano complex for a reason!

Mark's Experience at Mount Taal

Most people climb Mount Taal by climbing the Volcano Island part of this volcanic system. One must take a boat across Lake Taal to reach the island and the world's smallest active volcano.

The enjoyable boat ride took about 30 minutes and provided spectacular views of the lake and its rough-cut ridges. The boat dropped us off at the base of Volcano Island, a foundation of muddy ash and volcanic sand.

As soon as the light breeze from the ride ended, the hot, humid air penetrated; it was the type of thick, drenching mugginess you could feel before your body even started to sweat.

The small village on the island seemed like a throwback in time. Wooden stilt houses hovered over the water, and there was an old, weather-worn basketball court and an old horse pen. It was quiet, with no motorized vehicles and residents resting under trees to escape the day's heat.

Mount Taal Volcano crater lake (photo: Mark Koester) — Mount Taal crater lake (photo: Mark Koester)

There was a small park entrance fee and a choice to hike or hire a horse to navigate the well-defined trail to the volcano's summit. I chose to exercise, though the horse looked like an enjoyable option.

The trail to the top was a muddy mess, stirred up by the horses' hooves and the manure they defecated on when they pleased. I was glad I had traded in my flip-flops for my tennis shoes for the first time in the Philippines.

The scenery was gorgeous: a natural tropical mixture of bright green shrubs and the occasional palm or papaya tree sprouted out of nowhere. With every step, the spectacular view became increasingly impressive, a panorama of the surrounding Taal Lake and its outer volcanic rim.

The hike to the top took about 45 minutes. As the trail gained in elevation, the wind started to pick up, offering a blessed relief to the dripping sweat. The trail became quite steep at the last section of the ascent, but overall, it was an easy climb.

The tiny green island in the crater lake is Vulcan Point, the world's smallest volcano (photo: Shankar S.)

Do you see the tiny green island in the middle of that lake?

That is an island in a lake, on an island in a lake, on an island in the Pacific Ocean. The view was a magical panorama of the entire volcanic region. The edge of the interior crater lake was smoldering with sulfur, and one of the inner sides was leaking a murky fluid. Though it's highly active, it's different from Iceland's fire and ice volcanic eruptions.

A guard at the top allowed me to sign a Filipino-style consent and release form (a crumpled piece of blank paper) before I hiked to the shore of the interior Crater Lake. Short on time, I didn't make it to the bottom.

The Taal Volcano's layers of complexity and depths of surrounding beauty more than justify its status as the smallest active volcano in the world.

Where To Stay in Tagaytay

Falling under the "cheap and cheerful" category, past guests seem to appreciate this hostel's friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere, combined with an excellent location for exploring Mount Taal.

Room options include six-bed mixed dorms, three-bed family rooms/shared bathrooms, doubles with shared or private bathrooms, and twin privates with shared bathrooms.

Some reviews mention that the shared bathrooms need more attention, but this place offers good value for money overall! Check pricing and availability at Hostelworld.

Budget Hotel with Pool

ZEN Rooms Buho Amadeo - If you're willing to up the budget, Zen Rooms offers some well-rated rooms in town, with ZEN Rooms Buho Amadeo topping the list. This property has an on-site restaurant, TVs in the rooms, and an outdoor pool. At the time of writing, rooms were available for $27, around what you'd pay in either of the hostels in town. Check pricing and availability on Booking.com.

Funky & Affordable Hotel

Tagaytay Garden Budgetel-City Center-This cheerful, bright, nicely decorated hotel is right in the center. It looks attractive if you're willing to pay $36 for a room. Traveling as friends who don't mind sharing a bed or as a couple is probably the best option. Past guests highlight the beautiful views, lovely garden, friendly staff, and comfortable beds. Check pricing and availability on Booking.com.

Where to Stay in Manila

Z Hostel

A large hostel with a rooftop bar offers fantastic city views. The facility has a 'designer boutique' feel. It is clean and well located with a cafe next door, a 24-hour mini-market nearby, many bars and restaurants, and the uber-modern Century City Mall just down the street.

The beds are large and comfortable, with reading lights and power outlets. Even the lockers have power outlets to charge your camera or phone while safely locked up. There are four-, six-, and eight-bed mixed dorms and six-bed female-only dorms, all with ensuites. Private twin rooms with private baths are also available. Check pricing and availability at Hostelworld.

Bahay Kubo

Tropical-themed hostel in a mid-20th-century heritage home. Charming but basic accommodation with a good vibe and easy-to-meet people. A past guest commented that the Wi-Fi wasn't the best, but the Wi-Fi at a café nearby was fantastic.

The rooms have basic beds and pillows, A/C, and lockers. It doesn't look like there are reading lights or power outlets in the bunks, but reviewers seemed to like the overall vibe and the friendly owner.

It's a place to chill and hang out with fellow travelers. It is a short walk to a vast shopping mall, a metro stop, and many cafes, bars, and restaurants. Mixed six, ten, and fourteen-bed dorm rooms and twin and double rooms with shared bathrooms are available. Check pricing and availability on Hostelworld.

Our Melting Pot

It is a nice little hostel on a quiet street above a Korean grocery store. Past guests commented on the comfortable beds with privacy curtains, reading lights, and electrical outlets. Lockers are available, but bring a lock. The hostel has a no-shoe policy, so it's pretty clean. It is near the modern Century City Mall and many small bars and restaurants.

There are four-, six-, seven-, and nine-bed dorms, one double private room with a shared bathroom, and one double private room with a private bathroom. Check pricing and availability on Hostelworld.

Additional Tips

What Kind of Shoes Should You Wear to Climb Mount Taal?

If you've been traveling in Southeast Asia, you probably prefer wearing flip-flops or thong sandals. These are not the best choices for this trip! If you plan on visiting or climbing Mount Taal, wear sneakers or hiking boots with a good grip on the bottom and accept that they may get muddy.

What Should You Pack to Climb Mount Taal?

As noted above, expect hot and humid weather, and plan accordingly, especially if you plan to do the 45-minute hike up. Bring water, sunblock, and a hat to cover your head and eyes from direct sunlight. It's probably wise to carry a basic first-aid kit, as well.

Suntory Whisky at the Park Hyatt

I used the long flight to Tokyo as an opportunity to re-watch a fantastic travel movie by the name of Lost in Translation (2003).

I'd seen the indie classic once before, and enjoyed it more the second time (probably because I was on the verge of experiencing the same culture shock as Bill Murray's character).

On my first night in the city, it was Kenya, my Japanese couchsurfing host, that mentioned the Park Hyatt Tokyo was where the bar scenes from the movie were filmed. He had been there himself, saying it was a special place, and you had to take two elevators to get there. He also warned that there was a 2,000 yen cover charge ($24).

I have a tendency to go out of my way to see where movies have been shot abroad. My prior credits include:

Maya Bay (Thailand) from The Beach
James Bond Island (Thailand) from The Man With the Golden Gun
Schilthorn (Switzerland) from On Her Majesty's Secret Service
The Dresden (Los Angeles) from Swingers

My mission was clear: drink a whisky at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, and pick up Scarlett Johansson in the process.

After a long first day of sightseeing, I found myself in the bustling business district of of Shinjuku as evening arrived. Minutes before it closed, I picked up a local map from a tourism office and set off to find the hotel.

The Park Hyatt Tokyo is part of the Shinjuku Park Tower complex, and it took some time to figure out where I had to go; the delayed gratification only added to the adventure. I was a tired, jetlagged man in need of a quality Japanese whisky.

View of Shinjuku from New York Grill and Bar.

Kenya was right, of course. To reach the New York Grill and Bar on the 52nd floor of the building required two elevators. While making the walk from one elevator to the next, I passed by two other hotel restaurants. I felt grubby passing through the corridors of a 5-star hotel wearing jeans and a hoodie, however Kenya had assured me that as long as I wasn't wearing shorts or sandals, I'd be fine.

I stepped out of the elevator on the 52nd floor at about 7 PM, and was immediately greeted by a hostess in the darkly lit entrance to the bar and restaurant. I was also immediately greeted by a sweeping view of the city. When I told the hostess I preferred the bar, she mentioned the cover charge of 2,000 yen for the live jazz music, but it was only levied after 8. Serendipity strikes again.

The hostess walked me over to the bar area, with its piano set against the backdrop of large glass windows, and the long table where Bill Murray's character sat and sipped his Suntory whiskies.

It was a Thursday night, and aside from a few others in the bar, I had the place to myself. I picked a table next to the window, in the center of the room, with the piano to my left, and a direct view of the city below. It was a commanding view, and I savored the moment. It was the third time that day I'd been to the top of a tall building to view the city, and it was by far the best.

Soft shell crab roll, with spicy cocktail sauce, avocado, and daikon sprouts.

The waiter dropped off the drink and a la carte menus, and I got my first taste of Japanese fine dining. There were at least a dozen or so brands of whisky on the menu, so I was happy he also pointed out the one used in the movie.

Suntory Hibiki whisky was the brand Bill Murray's character consumed, and thus it would be the one I would drink as well. There were three ages, with prices that conveniently matched each. I opted for 17 years for 1,700 yen ($20). Starving, I also ordered a soft shell crab roll. The lobster mac 'n cheese was a close second.

Consuming liquor straight isn't my style, however when the whisky arrived in a tumbler, chilled by one giant cube of ice, it looked as sophisticated as the bar I was sitting in. I took a sip, and found the it surprisingly smooth. I savored the drink, enjoying the flavor, and ensuring at $20 a pour, it lasted as long as I did.

New York Grill and Bar — The long table in the New York Bar where Bill Murray's character sat in the movie.

Scarlett never did show up, however my bill for the experience certainly did.

Drinking fine Japanese whisky, and snacking on softshell crab in the bar of a 5-star hotel with stellar views of Tokyo was worth the $59 price tag.

But we all have our limits, and I made sure to pay and get the heck out a few minutes before 8 PM, just as the jazz band was warming up.

7 Simple Tips to Raise Funds for Your Round the World Travel

The following is a guest post by Ben Manning. If you’d like to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read our submission guidelines.

Raft houses at Ratchaprapa Dam Khao Sok, Thailand

However you look at it, money is the principle enabler of your travel. Even travelling on the tightest of shoestrings requires money (food, shelter and water at the very least; see Maslow's hierarchy of needs) – the absolutely key thing is to manage it proactively and control it...and not bury your head in the sand (as you lay on the beach with another beer).

Some basic practices can save you a lot of money and can even supplement your funds to make your travel go on as long as possible - the principle of preserve and supplement. Here are 7 simple tips to help you raise funds for your round the world travel!

Table of Contents

1. Saving
2. Sell your stuff
3. Interest free credit cards
4. Cashback credit cards
5. Cashback on online purchases
6. Website monetization
7. Organisation and preparation

1. Saving

Before you go, the key aim from the first brain wave to go, is to save your cash. This is key: preserve. Identify where you spend the most money and remove everything you can live without. Do this methodically and comprehensively (i.e. go through every item on your bank statement and determine if you really needed to spend that money). For instance, I was able to remove hundreds per month by removing: gym membership (and running outside instead), taking taxis, eating out, drinking in bars, DVD purchases, closing magazine subscriptions, etc.

Aligned to eliminating spending is the measured cut down of activities you deem impossible to cut out: make an effort to reduce these. For instance, burning less petrol by using the car less, reducing home bills, buying cheaper lunches, drinking less alcohol...

2. Sell your stuff

Force yourself to sort through your belongings and ask yourself the question: will I be disappointed if this item isn’t here when I return in 12 months? It’s surprising: all the things you thought were your essential items really aren’t...and this is an opportunity to finance your trip by selling your excess belongings.

One-off larger items can be sold via Ebay or a local listings website....smaller collections of things can be sold via car boot sales and the like. An added benefit is you won’t need to store all that junk now you’ve cleared it away and raise cash in the process.

3. Interest free credit cards

There are many tempting offers available on new credit cards – depending on how you intend to finance your travel (i.e. with existing debt facilities) taking out a new credit card where 0% interest is on offer can save you significantly.

For instance, I took out a new card with 6 month interest free instead of using an existing facility, which I have subsequently used to purchase the travel tickets and travel insurance – meaning over the 6 months it costs me nothing but saves hundreds.

Note: after 6 months you need to remember to pay off the card to avoid high interest rates.

4. Cashback credit cards

Coupled with interest free offers, gaining cashback on spending you know you have to make (for tickets, travel insurance, travel equipment etc) is a great way to gain cash for things you were definitely going to purchase anyway.

On my travel I generated over £100 ($162) of cashback from purchases that I was making anyway: it wasn’t extra cost to me, just a nice kick-back for the spend I made.

Fruit market in Thong Sala Koh Phangan, Thailand

5. Cashback on online purchases

Cashback from credit cards is good, depending on the amount you spend and any enticing starting offers you get (such as 5% cashback up to £2000/$3,242) but the cashback you can gain from dedicated websites will usually supersede what the credit cards can offer.

(Of course, use both together for optimal benefit: use a cashback credit card to purchase goods via a cashback website and you will gain from both systems as they aren’t connected and so you can’t get penalised: the credit card provider is paying for their cashback while the cashback website is paid for by the actual retailer you purchase from.)

So when you go travelling you know you’ll need a rucksack, insurance, towel, MP3 player etc --- buy it online and get it cheaper than the High Street....plus gain significant cashback of hundreds and hundreds....for kit you needed anyway.

6. Website monetization

Running a travel blog is a nice way to keep in touch with folks at home with photos, videos and more. It can also help to raise you significant money if monetised effectively. There are many approaches required to effectively achieve significant earnings....but these are the basics: produce compelling content that many people are interested in, understand the basics of traffic procurement via SEO and social media and understand how to ‘commercialise’ your site.

Harnessing this combination will earn much, much more than you think. Indeed many people are able to finance their travel through this single income stream. There is much written about how to do this, including Dave's Travel Blog Success course.

7. Organisation and preparation

This is one of the easiest to do...and one of the easiest to get wrong. When you go travelling you need to tie off your loose ends, close down subscriptions, time your account terminations to ensure you save the very most and get as much rebate and refund as possible.

For instance, some of things I had to time carefully before my trip were: car insurance, car tax, home insurance, mobile phone contract, gym membership, Spotify, and magazine subscriptions.

Being smart and proactive with your planning really can add up to save you a lot of cash. It also gives you peace of mind that you're organised and prepared (which is worth a lot in itself). Of course, once you're on the road it's a whole new world of money management, but that's for another article!

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About the Author: Ben is currently on a round the world trip through Asia and Australasia. Read more travel advice and Ben's travel experiences at roundtheworldtraveler.com.

Street Food in Bangkok: How to Take Full Advantage of the Endless Supply

street-bangkok — Street Food Stall in Bangkok

Burger King's marketing team may have obtained inspiration for their slogan in Bangkok because with Thai food you can always "Have it your way!"

The underlying highlight of any visit to Bangkok is the provision of street food that seems to sprawl indefinitely. It's sometimes hard to imagine that the demand can even profit from the seemingly endless supply.

Stall after stall, all abundant with wonderful food and spewing heavenly aromas into the street can be an intoxicating experience for the senses.

On the streets of Bangkok there's such a food fury of delight, that it's easy to slip into confusion, wanting to eat everything, but hesitant to dive in and choose anything.

In the peak food rush hours, stall owners might notice you are a foreigner, and make a conclusion as to what dish you want to eat (the dish that every foreigner wants...right?...WRONG).

In order to take full advantage of Bangkok's exuberant array of street food, there are a few things to keep in mind.

If a street stall or restaurant is packed with business elsewhere in the world, there are three possible reasons: lovely ambiance, cheap food, or delicious food.

In Bangkok, there's only one reason, delicious food. Price can help, but in the end, Thai people are willing to dish out for what is most delicious.

Table of Contents

Look to the Locals
Go on Food Adventures
Sample a Wide Range of Dishes and Complimenting Flavors
Save Room For Dessert
Eat Lots of Fruit and Vegetables
Get in Touch with Local Bloggers and Tweeting Foodies

Look to the Locals

Local people know what to eat and where to eat it.

A great method of determining what new dish to try is to simply walk around and see what people are ordering and what looks good.

Don't hesitate to converse with the street chef to inquire about what that person just ordered.

It's beneficial to even point to a dish he has cooked up and ask him to make the same thing for you.

Go on Food Adventures

An adventure with a determination to strictly focus on eating will always bring rewarding effects.

Lots of street stalls specialize in only a few dishes, so don't be ashamed to eat a few small portions and then head to the next stall to sample the next specialty.

Sample a Wide Range of Dishes and Complimenting Flavors

Thai's love to mix and match a meal order until it is balanced to perfection. In order to take full advantage of Thai food, it's a necessity to order a wide range of dishes that will make full use of the taste buds that are embedded within your mouth.

A red chicken curry (panang gai), stir fried pork with basil (pad ga pao moo), stir fried morning glory (pad pak bung), and lastly, a palette cleansing sour spicy soup (tom yum), is an example of a well rounded Thai style meal.

Save Room For Dessert

Thai sweets are not usually the airy fluffy type.

Popular dessert options are more in the form of sweet snacks or dessert meals, characterized by sweet sticky rice, super-ripe fruit, and sugary creams.

Exploring the world of Thai desserts is exciting and needs to be fully taken advantage of.

Eat Lots of Fruit and Vegetables

Thailand, like all of South East Asia, produces a dazzling array of tropical fresh fruits and vegetables.

Some of these naturally grown delicacies are specific only to the region.

To take full advantage of the supply, balance the porky goodness with some freshly cut fruit and odd-looking vegetation.

Get in Touch with Local Bloggers and Tweeting Foodies

Bangkok is full of local and expat Bloggers and Twitter fanatics that are obsessed with eating Thai food.

There's a community of eaters that frequent the latest street food stalls and aim to devour all forms of Thai food.

Use social media searches to take advantage of locating Thai food, and browse user food finds.

Though street food is rampant throughout all of Bangkok, there are a few streets that offer mind-blowing arrays of glorious food.

For a few suggestions on where to get Bangkok street food head to the Victory Monument area, Chinatown Yaowarat, Ratchawat Market, or Sukhumvit Soi 38.

Luckily, developing a habit for eating Thai street food is not an expensive addiction.

Even with a low Thai food budget, there are endless street opportunities to indulge in deluxe meals for just a few dollars!

It can take years to fully explore the range of street food in Bangkok, but if you can leverage your advantage and sample a wide range of Thai foods, you will at least take part in that everlasting supply of Bangkok street food!

12 Natural Wonders of Southeast Asia

The perfect tropical climate, island chains of volcanoes, and sparkling waters are just a few of the things that make Southeast Asia such a prime destination for captivating natural landscapes. Here are 12 natural wonders of Southeast Asia that are sure to impress!

Railay Bay is a natural wonder of Southeast Asia (photo: Chamaiporn Kitina) — Railay Bay (photo: Chamaiporn Kitina)

Table of Contents

SE Asia Natural Wonders

SE Asia Natural Wonders

1. Krabi Province - Thailand

Jagged limestone cliffs and clear Andaman seas make Krabi an inspiring destination in the south of Thailand.

A few adventurous opportunities include climbing on the rock formations, adventure trekking, island hopping, or just relaxing and admiring the wondrous natural beauty.

Krabi is a great place to learn how to dive amid coral reefs and see an entirely new dimension of environmental beauty on a memorable vacation.

Sunrise in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand — Sunrise at Sangkhlaburi, Thailand

2. Sangkhlaburi - Thailand

Located on the Thai Burmese border, Sankgkhlaburi represents pure relaxation and natural charm.

The simple town surrounding the lake's emerald-green waters is friendly, easy to manage, and laid back.

The best way to see it is during the cool climate of early sunrise. A thick layer of fog hovers above the lake, slowly dispersed with every second of gaining light.

The morning sunshine in Sangklhaburi is so soft; it feels healing.

Mount Kinabalu is one of the natural wonders of Southeast Asia. — Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

3. Mount Kinabalu - Sabah, Malaysia

Borneo is an island blessed with abundant natural forests and hundreds of square miles of magnificent landscape.

The island is divided into three countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. In the Malaysian part of Sabah lies the unmissable Mount Kinabalu.

Ascending the peak takes determination and lots of energy, but the plant life and views of the island make it worth every step.

4. Taman Negara - Malaysia

Taman Negara National Park, a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site with a dense ecosystem of plant life, is considered the world's oldest rainforest. You can even see komodo dragons.

The beautiful attractions are trekking through the old-growth forests, walking through the top layer of the trees on the world's most extensive canopy, and spotting wildlife.

This natural wonder of Southeast Asia is the ideal vacation destination if you want to see unique flora.

5. Lake Toba - Sumatra, Indonesia

Located in the center of the massive Indonesian island of Sumatra, Lake Toba defines the ideal tropical paradise.

A break in the lush forest makes way for one of the world's deepest volcanic lakes.

The lake is so calm and pure that it's possible to stare into the water and see the volcano's depth.

Mount Bromo is another of Southeast Asia's natural wonders (photo: Dave Lee) — Mount Bromo at sunrise (photo: Dave Lee)

6. Mount Bromo - Java, Indonesia

Indonesia is an island nation that is formed on the foundation of volcanoes.

This area consists of two prominent volcanic peaks, Mount Bromo and the continually active Mount Semeru.

The view from the top ledge surrounding the Bromo basin is moon-like, a truly surreal landscape.

The famous sunrise over the volcanoes creates vibrant colors of light.

7. Palawan - Philippines

The Philippines is home to some of Southeast Asia's most concealed and gorgeous beaches.

From Coron to El Nido, the island of Palawan is a treasure trove of crystal clear waters, private beaches, and underwater springs and caves, with an expansive underground lake.

8. Chocolate Hills - Bohol, Philippines

The perfectly rounded cone-shaped hills on the island of Bohol, Philippines, appear to be evenly spaced throughout an area of 50 square kilometers.

These symmetrical mounds of earth transform to a chocolate brown color during the dry season, resembling a field full of giant Hershey's Kisses!

9. Mount Pinatubo - Philippines

The volatile nature of volcanoes gives them the power to destroy and create some of the most dramatic natural scenes of beauty available.

Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, creating a caldera from the excess lava flow.

The basin began to fill with water, resulting in a turquoise volcanic lake surrounded by the hands of Pinatubo.

The Banaue Rice Terraces are a natural wonder of Southeast Asia. — Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines

10. Batad Rice Terrace - Philippines

Rounding the final corner of the hike and facing the amphitheater of the rice terraces of Batad is nothing short of breathtaking.

The rugged mountain scenery of this fantastic place cradles the irrigated rice fields, or rice paddies, on terraces built directly into the side of the highest mountain in complete natural harmony.

Hiking and swimming in waterfalls is another incredible thing to do here in this verdant destination.

The stunning terraced hills of this hilly region make it one of the Philippines' most popular tourist spots.

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam — Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

11. Ha Long Bay - Vietnam

In Northern Vietnam, there's a vast mystical bay with thousands of limestone islands proudly sticking out of the water. Welcome to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.

Travelers can explore limestone island caves and paddle sea kayaks through the dreamlike landscape. Magnificent photos are a given in such a naturally beautiful area.

The Mekong River flows through Southeast Asia. — Mekong River, Laos

12. Mekong River - Laos

The wide Mekong River is a vital part of life in Laos.

The expanse of the brown-colored river weaves its way through green jetting mountains, nurturing natural ecosystems and the farms of local communities and indigenous people along the way.

A boat ride on the river gives one a glimpse of its power and the environment that so crucially relies on the waterway.

The natural wonders of Asia are a stunning display of mountain peaks, glassy lakes, turquoise seas, and chocolate hills!

Visiting any or all of them would provide nature lovers with a truly memorable vacation.

Couchsurfing Tokyo

Jam session (from left to right): Kenya, Alexis, and James

A few nights before my flight to Japan departed, I logged onto Couchsurfing, pulled up the hosts in Tokyo, and sent out a handful of requests.

For a large city, the community was smaller than I expected, however by successfully couchsurfing such far-flung places as Tahiti, I knew it was worth a try.

Alexis, a Frenchman living with two Japanese roommates, responded less than five hours later.

In an instant, I had a local connection, a place to sleep for four nights, and an extra $160+ in my pocket from not having to pay for a hostel.

I would be couchsurfing Tokyo, and it would be my first stay as a guest in two years, the last one being a week I spent with a Colombian college student in Bogota.

Normally I wouldn't email an expat, however, the profile indicated his Japanese roommates both spoke English and would be around to talk if they had free time.

I always try to stay with a resident of the country I'm visiting first, as my primary interest is a cultural exchange, followed by the chance to save money.

I arrived at Narita airport after roughly 20 hours of travel from Washington, DC, I was able to quickly get through immigration and customs. I was packing light so I didn't have to wait for checked baggage.

I grabbed some money, ensuring my ATM card worked and went to rent a SIM card at one of the many telecom company desks set up outside the Arrivals area.

It was around 7 PM, and I was already running about two hours late due to the de-icing delay in Newark.

We couldn't get a connection with my Blackberry using the rented SIM card, even though I knew my phone was GSM compatible.

Too tired to figure it out, I rented a cell phone, and tried to call Alexis to let him know I was late, but still on my way.

The number didn't work. I was walking around the Arrivals area like a chicken with its head cut off, worried I'd have to spend the night somewhere random instead of in the company of friendly couchsurfers.

Narita Airport, like much of Japan, doesn't offer free wi-fi access, so I paid for Internet access, verified I had been dialing Alexis' phone number correctly, and emailed him about the confusion.

I bought a ticket on the Narita Express train and figured I'd head toward his apartment.

I checked my rental phone again on the train platform, and Alexis had already called me back. I called the number, and he confirmed there was a misplaced digit in the number he gave me.

He also offered to meet me outside Ikebukuro station, one of Tokyo's biggest, and the one from which we'd walk back to his place about 10-15 minutes away.

I was waiting outside Ikebukuro for no more than a few minutes when I spotted him, and we greeted each other.

My favorite part about Couchsurfing, whether you're the host or guest, is that initial meeting.

It's almost always a high-energy conversation as if you're trying to get to know the person's entire outlook on life and travel within the first hour or two of knowing them.

Back at the apartment, I met Kenya, his male Japanese roommate. Later, I met his Rika, his female Japanese roommate as well.

I had the chance to talk with both of them each night and used the opportunity to clarify observations I'd made during the day about Japanese people, customs, and society.

Between the jetlag, and spending my days crisscrossing Tokyo, I had little energy to be social in the evenings.

I was asleep by 10 PM. On my second morning, Alexis and Kenya woke up with me at 5 AM to go see the Tsukiji Fish Market.

I don't know if I would've done it on my own -- and if I did, it wouldn't have been as fun.

When I arrived back at the apartment after a day trip to Nagano on my third day, James, an Australian traveling the country for three months, was settling in for a few nights stay as well.

He was traveling with a guitar, and I managed to shoot a few photos of all the guys playing together before I collapsed in sleep once again.

Ironically, Alexis told me that his first Couchsurfing experience was with a Japanese girl in an apartment above us.

He met his roommates while Kenya was living in the same hostel, and Rika was working there. The three decided to get an apartment together and immediately began hosting people.

I was their second guest, and Alexis said he was getting 8-9 requests a day. Considering it was Winter, I imagine that number could easily triple by Spring.

Surrender & Serendipity in Japan

Map of JR Railway Lines in Tokyo, just one of dozens of companies operating there.

If you've ever been on a plane that needed to be de-iced, I'm sure you'll agree it's an unsettling process.

Once I seated myself on Continental's Boeing 777 bound for Japan, I looked out the window to see a centimeter thick sheet of ice caked across the left wing.

Ice is bad for planes. Per Wikipedia, it can "cause critical control surfaces to be rough and uneven disrupting smooth air flow and greatly degrading the ability of the wing to generate lift." This can result in a crash.

Thus the 30 to 45-minute de-icing ritual, whereby your plane is surrounded by special trucks, and people who spray a non-toxic, colored goop across the whole thing. This was my first experience with the process, and I couldn't shake the image of my flight ending up on the evening news.

Of course there was nothing I cold do but sit, and hope, and remind myself that if ice does cause the plane to crash, at least I died in the midst of doing something I love. In those anxious moments, I was forced to surrender.

I let go of my life.

As the plane accelerated down the runway, I watched with fascination as the green de-icing solution rippled in waves across the broad expanse of the wing. In the process, it wiped away any remaining ice particles. By the time we lifted off, the wing was as smooth and clean as if it were a dry Summer's day.

I relaxed. I reclaimed my excitement for the adventures that lay ahead of me in Japan, after what would be the longest non-stop flight of my life (14 hours). My mind was flush with all the things I still wanted to do and experience.

I was reborn.

Buddhists believe life as we know it is a neverending cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (unless you reach enlightenment). We go through this experience, whether conscious of it or not, in every day moments and extraordinary ones.

The practice of surrendering to the present moment is part of why I enjoy traveling, and it was a recurring theme during my time in Japan.

Take one look at a Tokyo metro map and you're forced to surrender. The system is a complex network of city subways and trains, run by dozens of different companies. Yet once I accepted that I'd get lost or I'd go out the wrong exit, and that was OK, I slowly got the hang of how to navigate the city's subterranean maze.

Sumptuous salmon belly nigiri in Kyoto's Sushi Masa restaurant.

During my first night in Kyoto, I was referred to an inexpensive sushi restaurant, but couldn't find it even though I had a map. Instead, I walked into a random one, sat down, and was soon watching the chef prepare the the best sushi of my life. A perfect example of surrender and serendipity in Japan.

I'd heard a guy in my Kyoto dorm room talk with his girlfriend over Skype about the Geisha he saw that afternoon. I spent 5 days in Kyoto, not seeking one out, but secretly hoping to see one all the same. I'd given up on the idea, as I made my way to catch a train back to Tokyo.

It was only after I walked up the stairs of my train's platform, minutes before departing the city, that I saw a Geisha sitting in a waiting area. She was wearing as much white make-up as the guys from Kiss, her hair in perfect form. Posture statuesque. I took a seat in the same room, stealing glimpses of her before she got up to leave a few minutes later.

Learning to surrender isn't as easy as it sounds. All too often, the ego gets in our way. Constant awareness is required, the kind you can count on when traveling abroad.

Can you recall a time when something wonderful happened, only after you surrendered?

Top 10 Travel Revolutionaries

There are people who travel and then there are people who re-define what it means to travel.

A rare breed of travelers, they are are the ones who discover new lands, break records and rules, and risk their lives to see how far they can go.

They inspire, awaken, and remind us how to live for the moment.

They are travel revolutionaries.

Everyone on this list has either changed the way we look at travel or used travel as a way to change the world.

And as one person's Cook is another's Drake, feel free to add anyone who has inspired your travels in the comments section.

1. Amelia Earhart: Sure, she's known for her ability to fly a plane. But besides her record-breaking career in aviation, Amelia was the first woman to gain worldwide celebrity status for her travels.

Not only was she one of the most famous people of her time, but she also leveraged her fame into lucrative endorsement deals, hawking everything from Lucky Strike to her own clothing line.

Her disappearance during her flight across the Pacific remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries.

2. Ferdinand Magellan: A seasoned explorer of the seas, Ferdinand set out in 1519 to attempt the first circumnavigation of the globe.

His crew successfully arrived back in Spain after 3 years of sailing. Unfortunately, Magellan didn't live long enough to see his voyage come...wait for it... full circle.

He died midway through the trip, during a battle with the natives on an island in the Philippines.

Even though the route he took was terribly inconvenient and never to be used again, it is considered the single greatest act on the seas, and effectively altered man's understanding of the world.

Bonus: We can thank Magellan for our cool photo along the international dateline.

3. Jack Kerouac: His book On the Road made him the poster boy for bohemian living.

Based on his own travels, On the Road was written in a mere three weeks on a single scroll of paper.

A book that defined American culture in the '50's, it continues to influence travelers today.

The characters Sal and Dean are immortalized on the Kerouac Scroll Tour, where travelers, free spirits, and those who yearn for a simpler life can pay homage to the original manuscript.

4. Che Guevara: A powerful example of how traveling can change a man's life, Che's early travels through South America were the catalyst for his a lifelong mission to eradicate poverty and unite Latin America.

A complex and polarizing man, Che traveled extensively hoping to bring awareness to what he considered were the unjust ways of the world.

One out of every four backpackers owns a Che Guevara t-shirt. Okay, there's no data to support that statement, but man, is his face everywhere or what?

5. Alexandra David-Neel: In the late 1800s, she traveled to India by herself, boldly seeking out the truths of spirituality.

That trip was remarkable enough for a woman of that time but she didn't stop there.

She continued traveling for enlightenment and found it in a cave in Sikkim, where she lived for two years.

Later, she managed to sneak/trespass into Tibet and stay in Lhasa for two months by dressing as a pilgrim.

Her writings on spiritual philosophy have influenced many, including Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

6. Harriet Tubman: The honorable Ms. Tubman risked her life for hundreds of slaves by traveling with them through a secret network of safe houses and checkpoints known as the Underground Railroad.

She took slaves as far north as Canada in order to guarantee their freedom.

Despite a huge reward for her capture, she never wavered in her belief of freedom as a right for all people.

The fearlessness in her travels shifted the political and social consciousness of America for the better.

Sir Richard Branson, the original Space Cowboy

7. Richard Branson: Cross Atlantic via hot air balloon: check. Create a wildly successful airline: check. Become billionaire: check. Buy an island: check. Pave way for outer space tourism: Check. Colonize a new planet: To do.

8. Marco Polo: Chances are you first heard the name Marco Polo in a swimming pool. However, MP's legacy reaches far beyond a super fun children's game.

During an epic 24 year journey, Marco traveled to the Far East, determined to go farther into China than any other Westerner before him.

He succeeded and his book, The Travels of Marco Polo, was a widely read account of his time in the Middle East, Central Asia, the Far East, and Africa.

His collection of treasures brought back from the Silk Road ignited Europe's interest in trading with China.

Wonder if during his travels he ever felt like a fish out of water. Har-Har. Get it?

9. Richard Halliburton: There's travel writing before Richard Halliburton and then there's travel after Richard Halliburton.

A charming daredevil who wrote several best selling books on his adventures around the world, his desire to be known as the most traveled man that ever lived won him as much fame and notoriety as Earhart and Lindbergh.

A few of his exploits include: riding an elephant across the Alps, swimming the length of the Panama Canal, and a visit to Timbuktu.

As is the case with several on this list, he traveled to his death. An attempt to sail the Pacific failed when he ignored warnings of bad weather.

His last words were, "Southerly gales, squalls, lee rail under water, wet bunks, hardtack, bully beef. Having a wonderful time. Wish you were here, instead of me."

10. Gertrude Bell: This is a lady who got things done. She knew many languages (French, German, Italian, English, Persian and Arabic), had a history degree from Oxford, was an experienced mountaineer, and traveled frequently through the Middle East.

Because of her experience in the region, Winston Churchill invited her to help construct a new country after the fall Ottoman Empire.

Considered the “Mother of Iraq”, she defined the current borders of the country and advised the new king on government matters.

Her letters of her time in the Middle East are still studied today by the Pentagon to better understand the conflict of the region.

_________

About the Author: Sarah Walker is a writer, actress, and international superstar. She is also the President/CEO of the Sarah Walker Fan Club. Some of her favorite travel adventures have taken place in Edinburgh, Barcelona, and the Peruvian Jungle. Connect with her on Twitter @sarahwalkur and check out her blog at http://www.sarahwalkerfanclub.com.

Backpacking Is An Attitude, Not a Budget

Cost of travel — Snapshot of my travel costs. (Click image to see full size spreadsheet.)

About two years ago, I published the Cost of a Trip Around the World based on my experience traveling for 15 months through over 20 countries.

I kept meticulous records of my expenses not because I was trying to stick to a budget, but out of a curiosity for what I was actually spending. I was also intent on sharing the results with readers as I traveled, so they could have an idea of how much money to save if they were planning to visit similar places.

This summary of my expenses continues to be Go Backpacking's most popular post in terms of raw traffic month to month, so I know plenty of people are looking at it. And I still receive the occasional comments, which have echoed a common theme -- that my spending was surprisingly high.

@adventurerob said "I'm surprised you clocked up such a cost in Thailand though, I found it a lot cheaper then $55 a day."

Friedel of Travelingtwo.com wrote "this strikes me as so expensive"

Mic asked "u think u could spare some extra money. because i think for ex. 45 € for india per day is a loooot. dont u think?"

Magda wondered "I would love to know what Dave did do go through $51 a day in India"

Roeyurboat commented "Between $35,000 and $40,000 for 15 months of travel is hardly even close to a "backpacker's budget" $54/day in Nepal? $51/day in India and similar rates for Thailand and Indonesia. Dave must have been enjoying some very high end accomodations to average those rates in those countries."

Txrizzle recently shared "My opinion is that the spending listed above is much to excessive. One could take that same $30,000 and spend 3 years traveling the world. $50+ in Thailand? That's intense."

And last week Andyl added "I agree with many here, I don't know how you managed to spend $63 a day in cambodia but that's nowhere near "between backpacker/flashpacker" That's living 30 times costlier than the average citizen..."

Instead of continuing to respond on a comment by comment basis, I'd prefer to address this line of questioning as a whole.

First, this post was a summary of my daily averages per country, and if they seem extravagant for places such as Thailand or India, I believe it's due to my accounting method, not my actual standard of living.

The most I spent on a night's accommodation? $40 for a private room at a boutique hotel in the capital of Laos, and that was after 8 months of staying in hostel droms, cheap guest houses, and bungalows. In fact, for anyone who took the time to look at my detailed spreadsheet which I link to at the bottom of the post, they'd see I spent an average of $9 per night in accommodation over 253 days in Asia.

My average daily spending numbers are inflated because of the "miscellaneous" category which was a catchall for stuff like souvenirs, cost to ship souvenirs home, new clothes, guidebooks, and internet cafes (which I used for 2+ hours per day uploading photos and managing this blog). Those costs are too subjective, too different for every backpacker, and thus skewed the non-negotiable categories that matter most -- visas, food, shelter, and sightseeing.

When I share my expenses for the recent Japan trip next month, I'll aim to present a more accurate cost of daily travel.

Backpacking is an attitude toward travel, not about one's age or spending habits. If you travel with a backpack, you're a backpacker. I don't care if you drop your head at night on a fluffly down pillow and fresh linens at a 5-star forest lodge in Rwanda, eat at a restaurant frequented by heads of state in Delhi, or try and swallow undercooked intestines in a Colombian pueblo.

A backpack symbolizes two things to me, wanderlust and independence. Sure, you can have both with the wheeled-suitcases, but try jumping off a Thai longboat on a beach carrying one of those suckers. Or gliding between the aisles of gift shops as you do a little last minute shopping on your way out of a country. The ability to do both remains the reason I continue to travel with a backpack.

In Japan earlier this month, food quickly became my primary focus given the cold Winter temperatures and lack of flowers in the gardens. What I saved on accommodations, I spent on food (and then some).

My approach toward travel continues to evolve with age. At 34, I can still sleep stacked like a sardine in a 10-bed Kyoto dorm, however I also want to know what it's like to eat in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

And as long as I'm carrying that backpack, I'm going to share my experiences on this blog.

Your turn. What does being a backpacker mean to you?

5 Essential Travel Photography Tips

Have you ever been to a truly incredible place or captured a perfect moment? If you had a camera in hand, you probably snapped a photo. After taking that photo, you probably thought, "This will be great. Maybe even an award winner."

When you get to a computer and look at the photo, it's nothing like you expected-and not in a good way. Don't worry; you're not alone.

I've experienced this countless times while traveling. Over the years, I've developed a few tricks and techniques to ensure my photos turn out the way I want them to.

Many of these suggestions may seem pretty simplistic and basic. However, if I have one word of advice, it's to stick to the basics.

Often, when traveling, you look past the basics in photography. So many things are going on around you that you forget.

But if you keep the basics in mind, your photos should turn out just how you like. So without further ado, here are five essential travel photography tips.

Table of Contents

Photography Tips

Photography Tips

1. Direction of Sunlight

Again, this may seem rudimentary, but how the sun is positioned in the sky significantly affects your photos.

Preferably, you want the sun to be at your back to illuminate your photo's subject. However, sometimes you don't have the luxury of waiting until the sun is in a perfect position. That's when you have to get creative.

You can try to block the sun with one hand while taking the photo with the other, or use something in the natural environment to shade you. This could be a house, a tree, a rock-just anything to keep the sun's glare off your lens.

You could also invest in a lens hood that blocks the sun unless you're pointed directly at it.

Often, when traveling, I forget to consider the sun's position. I snap photos and assume they will turn out great. Well, I was wrong. The sun either washed out many photos or created a lens flare, which is not desirable in award-winning images.

So keep aware of that big bright thing in the sky, and you'll be much happier with your photos.

2. Polarizing Lens

Going hand in hand with the sun is a polarization lens. A polarizing lens is probably the best investment I've ever made for my camera.

So, what does a polarizing lens do? It blocks the sun's glare, just like polarizing sunglasses. And by blocking the sun's glare, you get crisper and less washed-out photos.

This lens will allow you to see through the water instead of getting the annoying glare off the surface.

It's perfect for shots at the beach, lake, or river and for making clouds "pop" in your photos. Clouds often blend in with the sky, but a polarizing lens creates a distinct contrast.

In reality, it makes your greens greener and your blues bluer because you eliminate the sun's washing-out effects. And it only costs $50, and that's a worthy investment, if you ask me.

3. Use a Tripod

I know. Carrying a tripod around is probably the last thing you want to do when traveling. However, it's essential if you're serious about photography, especially at night.

A camera must gather light to take a picture, so the shutter needs to stay open longer at night. If your camera is not on a tripod, it tends to move even the tiniest amount, which causes blurring.

There's no way around it. Even if you use a railing or rock to steady your camera, you still get some shake. Sometimes you may get lucky and hold it steady enough to get a good night shot, but most of the time, you don't.

Trust me, I know from experience. And it's not only applicable to night shots. During the day, a tripod is the best way to capture time-lapse shots and achieve the highest clarity.

So if you're serious about your photos, bring a tripod along. You won't regret it.

4. Be Creative

Try the same shot from different angles. Play with the settings on your camera. Just try to take a picture that everyone and their mother hasn't done before.

Of course, there is a limit to this. But for a second, put yourself in the shoes of the people viewing your photos.

What do you think will grab their attention? And what's the best way of doing that? Sometimes you may get it right, occasionally dead wrong. But you can't succeed unless you try.

Typically, looking for scenes with high contrast gets a positive reaction. Sunsets are incredible because there is a sharp contrast between a lit-up sky and a darker foreground.

Also, dark objects against a cloudy sky or a landscape with the sun on your back tend to get positive reactions.

In the end, it's all about you. But if you can think of new ways to make your photos more attractive to the audience, you will have great success.

5. Have Fun

This may seem obvious and unneeded, but it's true. The best photos I've ever taken are when I'm having a good time and relaxed, not when I'm worried about how the image will turn out.

If you stress about how your photos will turn out, it's probably not helping you or your photography. Let things happen naturally. If it's meant to be, it will happen, and you'll get that perfect moment to snap a shot. If not, there's always another day.

Trust me. The more fun you have, the better the photos. Always! So kick back and enjoy it because life's too short not to have fun.

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About the Author: Ryan has been backpacking around the world since 2005 and has recently launched FollowMeEverywhere.com to combine his love of travel with work. If you like his stuff, subscribe and follow him on Twitter: @RyanMartin07.

Wish You Were Here

I was in a relationship for the full 9 months of my first real travel experience.

I spent nearly a year learning foreign languages, galavanting through South American and European countries, and missing a guy at home. My friends abroad called me crazy. How could I possibly have a full experience when romantic ties where holding me back? I wasn’t sure, but I believed I was having one anyway.

Whether or not there had been a special someone, I would’ve continued to take classes, spend time with my host families, travel on the weekends with friends, and stay out late dancing and drinking beverages before it was legal in my home country to do so. I was having the time of my life, or so I thought.

Couple — A couple in Mexico (Photo: Tapato)

My last two extended trips have been taken as a single woman. And boy have they been liberating! I didn’t have to worry about not being able to Skype for a week’s time. I didn’t feel the need to send anyone a daily email; I knew for as much as my best buds also cared, they were busy enough as it was.

I met new people, made new friends, and even kissed a boy or two that I’ll probably never see again. It’s been amazing, and yet, I still can’t say that I ever made a mistake the first time around.

Having no one to miss sure is easier, yes, but on that same token, a girl/boyfriend, in the truest form of the title, can enhance a travel experience with support, encouragement, and comfort when you need it.

The real challenge is finding someone that is willing to let you be free. When it comes down to it, it’s the person at home that has it the hardest. Globetrotting is a fabulous distraction from the pains of a long-distance relationship. With that said, however, deciding to have one is a decision that should be made with much thought and consideration for it’s always a challenge.

Short visits make it easier for both parties, as do scheduled return dates. Then, of course, there's the traveling together option too. I haven't done it myself, but I've heard many success stories.

Perhaps it’s just me, but for as much as I love to be in love, I forever remain an independent person. I do not believe that our worldly dreams should be restricted or put on hold for someone else. And on that same token, I understand that sometimes relationships are worth keeping, no matter where in the world you’re headed.

Working In An Italian Vineyard

A view over the Tuscany Vineyards (photo: Mike Zarro)

There are a lot of beautiful and unique places in the world, but if you haven't seen the Tuscany hills or taken a sip from the Tuscany wines at wine tastings, you've missed something "meraviglioso".

Apart from being the cradle of the Renaissance, Tuscany offers a fertile land for growing juicy grapes, amazing food, and people ready to host you even if they don't know your language.

In Tuscany, most of the wine is made in small family vineyards according to ancestral traditions.

Not only the wine respects rigorous traditions, but the people as well, and even the time obeys a different kind of rules, the "unspoken rules" of the land.

Although for us - the habitants of the noisy cities, the rural parts of Tuscany may seem too quiet and too simple, life in Tuscany has a certain charm which some of you may recognize in the movies of Benigni.

With a rich history, splendid sceneries and plenty of quality wine, Tuscany can be the perfect place for a unique holiday. From organic farms to a local olive grove, there's so much to see and taste.

Whether you're grape picking for the winery harvest, doing other vineyard work in Italy's large wine industry, or just enjoying the harvest season in Tuscany, is a wonderful way to experience life in its purest form: sun, bread, olive oil and a glass of Chianti.

This is what the Italians call "La dolce vita!"

A city in Tuscany dressed for "Feste" (photo: Simona83)

If you want to spend your holidays working in an Italian vineyard, in a job such as a grape picker, first of all, you need to know that in Italy the harvest season starts from late summer and lasts until September/October.

You may not receive money in exchange for your work, but the Italian families will do their best to provide you with comfortable lodging, delicious local food, and plenty of fun.

Also, you may not need a work permit, because such an activity is part of the agricultural tourism and you'll be regarded as a tourist.

Picking grapes can be quite a challenging activity, not to mention that the weather in Tuscany can be rather difficult to stand.

Most of the grape pickers start work early in the morning and take a break during lunchtime when the sun is scorching.

All the sweat and hard work are forgotten when you enjoy a glass of red wine from the wine you've helped make. It's a fantastic sensation!

The really fun part starts when the picking activity is over, and the entire community takes part in the making of the wine.

Making wine is a fantastic experience, which can be both fun and rewarding, and which for certain will enrich you from so many points of view, bringing benefits that will last your entire life.

Developing skills in volunteer vineyard jobs during the wine region grape harvest is not just a great experience or a great way to sample local cultures and fine wine.

It can also open doors to permanent jobs where you can build up years of experience, as well as giving you access world wide opportunities.

So, if you're planning your first visit, you've picked one of the best places to learn about wine culture and the wine business, and it's waiting to welcome you with open arms.

Pin for Later

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About the Author: Oana is a gadget lover with a vivid interest for traveling and good food. Although until now she has visited mostly Europe she plans to travel to Turkey - the Asian part and Morocco, and she would return every time to Italy.

The Alternative Arts of Brazil

The following is a guest post by Tammerin Du Preez. If you’d like to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read our submission guidelines.

Brazil is well known for having some of the greatest celebrations in the world. New Years and Carnival are the biggest of those celebrations and Brazil’s largest tourist attractions. However Brazil has a very distinct culture of its own that it is now sharing with the world, it is the home of two very distinct and yet vastly different martial arts, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Capoeira.

I would suggest if you are a bit of a Martial Arts enthusiast and a traveler that you try your hand at discovering the alternative arts in Brazil. You will never get any closer to the roots and philosophy of an art then you will by being in the place of its creation.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a hard ground fighting form often seen being used in fight arena’s such as the UFC. It is considered a modern day modified version of the combination of judo and Japanese jujutsu. I will not go in depth into the history; however as most know the art has been made world renowned by the Gracie Family who have proved its effectiveness in many ultimate fighting championships.

When travelling to Brazil I suggest trying your hand at this Martial art in one of the schools located in Rio de Janeiro such as Gracie Barra Rio de Janeiro-RJ or check there official website for a school, www.graciebarra.com.

Capoeira

Capoeira on the other hand is a Martial Art that began in Brazil by African slaves during the colonial period. I guess it could almost be considered a “forbidden” art that has become rather popular in modern times despite its past oppression by the Brazilian Authorities.

It was created by the sad oppressed slaves as a fight-dance. These fight-dances would take place in a circle or roda and the participants would play music, sing and perform sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. Those performing Capoeira became known as Capoeiristas and music became an important part of this art, often performed in wide open spaces to make for easy escape from the authorities.

Capoeira was outlawed in Brazil in 1890, and severe punishment awaited anyone who was caught. After slavery was abolished however slaves not being able to find jobs joined gangs, became involved in crime and police believed that Capoeira played a role in these activities and tried to stop them, however this only pushed the Martial art further underground…

Capoeira is a Martial Art full of history that is showcased in many of its techniques, if you are willing to take a chance and get out of your comfort zone into a high energy, beat driven and entertaining martial art I suggest you try Capoeira in its birth place, no better way to experience such a beautiful art than to learn it from the masters.

Capoeira also forms part of many night shows taking place every night in Rio de Janeiro, so even if you don’t try your hand at it I advise you at least go and watch it being played, you will not regret seeing such an amazing display of athleticism. If however you are brave enough to try your hand at Capoeira there are a list of schools available on the following website www.gringo-rio.com

Believe me you will not regret trying these amazing Martial Arts while you are travelling, they will make a magnificent story to tell and it will be an experience of a life time to learn these arts in the country of their birth!

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About the Author: Tammerin Du Preez is a martial arts enthusiast living in South Africa. She loves to travel any chance she gets and enjoys trying her hand at any extreme sport at least once. You can catch up with her via Facebook.

A Surefire Way to Cure Homesickness

Nearly every backpacker suffers the effects of homesickness at some point in their travels.

There are only a lucky few among us who are immune and you are likely to find them drinking in a Thai bar, bragging about the fact that they haven’t been home in a decade.

For the rest of us, the important thing is to quickly shake off the homesickness blues so we can continue exploring and having great adventures on the road.

Instead of buying a plane ticket home the next time you’re suffering a major case of homesickness, consider another less conventional, but more fun option.

It might sound less than enjoyable, but getting a job and staying in one place for a while is a great way to cure homesickness.

Have a home base

A requirement of nearly every job you encounter will be that you stay in one place.

Having a bed of your own, a place to hang up your pictures, a place to throw your dirty laundry without upsetting the other backpackers in a packed dorm… these are all great benefits that will help you feel more at home and less of a visitor in a strange, far off land.

As a bonus, try finding a job that provides free housing.

I have saved untold amounts of money by offering to work reception at a hostel and signing up to live and work on a sailboat.

Feel like a local again

Remember that special hole-in-the-wall restaurant you and your friends flocked to back home?

You probably felt a little superior knowledge about the place while the camera-happy tourists didn’t even have a clue it existed.

When you get a job and settle down in a place you start picking up local knowledge.

You suddenly find the city's awesome hidden secrets and you start to feel like you belong.

Make some long-term friends

As backpackers, we know how making friends can go.

You meet some of the most incredible people in the world when you are traveling. Suddenly they are your best friends who you would literally die for.

Fast forward a week or two and its time to say goodbye with false promises of meeting up again someday. Rinse and Repeat.

This is probably the most serious cause of homesickness.

Missing your friends – the ones you can call at any time, the ones who know you, really know you – this can be a killer for the long-term traveler.

When you sign up for a job abroad not only are your meeting great new coworkers and other locals but you can finally relax because you know these friends will be around for quite a while.

Most of the benefits above can be easily gained just by deciding to stay in a place a little longer. Who needs a job when you can just hang around for a while?

Getting a job adds a necessary element needed to truly cure your homesickness – responsibility.

Back home you had a routine, you have a schedule, you had commitments and hopefully a work-personal life balance.

When you travel, every day becomes a Saturday, and in reality, this can easily become more tiring than a 9-5 job.

Homesickness is often the end result of backpacker burnout.

Instead of turning into a lazy expat, to really fix the homesick blues, give yourself some responsibility and get a fun, interesting job.

Realize why you went traveling in the first place

You might be reading this and thinking, “why the hell would I go and get a job when I’m out traveling the world?!”

Exactly!

When homesickness strikes you have a few options.

You can suffer through the pain and end up bitter and unhappy even though you are experiencing the best that the world has to offer.

You can fly home to a welcoming reception of friends and family only to watch the enthusiasm fade as people get back to the same-old-same-old of your home town.

Or you can get a job! You’ll get a lot of the benefits of being at home but in the end, you are still sitting on a beach halfway around the world.

Plus, work is work wherever you go and you will probably soon remember why you went traveling in the first place.

So sign up for that bartending gig, save some money, and get ready for the oh-so-much-more-enjoyable disease of travel fever.

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About the Author: Chelsea is currently living in beautiful Cartagena, Colombia, staying close to the beach and out of the wintry US. She is a total foodie and loves to collect all the crazy stories of her fellow travelers. While traveling she has had gigs working in hostels, as crew for a sailboat in the Caribbean, and currently supports her travels through freelance writing.

You can follow her adventures on her Twitter @ChelseaRaePS or on her personal website – ChelseaRaeSchmidt.com

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