Here I am, drafting this post while living in Medellin once again. It feels like the last year and a half since I first arrived in the city has flown by. Looking back, I packed a lot of sightseeing in my first few weeks in the city.
When my sister and I decided to explore the Greek islands last summer, we had trouble with the logistics. We wanted to go to so many places, but to say that the ferry schedules were confusing is an understatement.
Many of the islands we wanted to visit didn't have direct ferry routes to and from each other, and I kept hearing that ferry schedules changed often and frequently ran late. That many flights would be too expensive.
We found out that Louis Cruises operates cruises through the Greek islands, and it turned out to be the perfect way for us to cover a lot of territory without the hassle of dealing with the logistics.
It was smaller than your average commercial line, and the low-cost, five-night cruise took us to Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, Kusadasi, and Santorini.
We didn't get to spend too much time in any one place, but it gave us a taste of many islands and helped me figure out where I want to return and spend more time (Mykonos and Santorini, of course!).
We also started and ended in Athens, so we took a few days to explore it. I was awed by the blue water and white buildings-the Greek islands were just as gorgeous as I had imagined. Here are some of my favorite photos from that trip.
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About the Author: Emily Starbuck Gerson is a writer based in Austin, Texas. She's a copywriter in the travel industry by day. She runs her travel blog, Maiden Voyage, in her free time and does freelance writing and editing. Follow her on X @TheMaidenVoyage.
Before leaving Spain, I'd already had my wallet stolen by a pickpocket. Was traveling to Colombia going to be that much more of a risk than getting on a crowded metro after an FC Barcelona match?
Due to a Couchsurfing stay in Bogota, I quickly began to feel at ease in a country with a violent past, and a troubled present (America's ongoing demand for cocaine doesn't help).
The night of July 30th kicked off the annual Fiesta de Flores here in Medellin, Colombia.
It's the biggest festival of the year for Medellin and one not to be missed if you are in the area in the first week of August.
Every day there is something different going on, from horse parades to car shows, street parties and lots and lots of drinking and eating!
To start the festival, they had live music downtown with a fireworks show at the end.
Below are the photos I took that night, all of which were taken with my travel camera.
I dragged my expensive tripod down there too (hoping it wouldn't get stolen) just to get some nice long exposures, but forgot the clamp to mount the camera to the tripod.
I cursed myself for such a rookie mistake but was able to get a few good photographs even with the low light conditions and having to handhold the camera.
This is a guest post by Phil Paoletta. If you'd like to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read more here.
I am a little over a month into my travels around West Africa and for the first time on this trip, I have experienced catastrophic, explosive diarrhea. This was inevitable - my eating habits have been reckless and I often purchase sachet water (" pure water" sold in 500ml bags for about 3 cents) that tastes like dirt.
This particular brand of diarrhea wakes you up in the middle of night and offers you a few seconds to find a toilet (or something toilet-like). If you make it to the toilet, you can find solace in that fact alone, because what happens while you are sitting on it is absolutely horrific. There is no relief, only terror, when pure fluid is coming out of your ass. When you stand up, vertigo takes hold and you have a splitting headache. You realize that along with your life-force in general, you've also just pooped out your cranial fluid. You stagger back to bed - anything else is impossible.
So what do you do about it?
First, be proactive, travelers diarrhea is avoidable. If it's a fruit or vegetable, don't eat it unless it's cooked or you can peel it. Don't eat foods that are lukewarm, especially meat and dairy. Drink bottled water or water that you purify. Avoid ice. Unless you're in North America or Europe, steer clear of anything coming out of a well or a tap.
Many people will expand these guidelines in an attempt to preserve GI health. Even if you are exceptionally careful, however, you may still fall victim to traveler's diarrhea and you should be prepared to deal with it.
Before you leave, go to a travel clinic for a consultation and create an arsenal of the following items:
Oral rehydration salts, Travelers diarrhea can be miserable, but dehydration is really its only threat (unless you are seeing blood in your stool). You lose a lot of fluids when you have diarrhea and you can't just replenish them by drinking water alone. Oral rehydration salts are typically a combination of sodium and potassium chloride (salts) with glucose (sugar), both ingredients being necessary to effectively absorb water. You can find them at travel clinics, pharmacies and most camping/outdoor recreation stores. If you run out of them on the road, try to find a Gatorade-like energy drink or powder. If you can't find that, put a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of sugar into a glass of water.
Pepto-Bismol, Will not get rid of the diarrhea, but will ease stomach and intestinal discomfort.
Imodium AD, " Controls the symptoms of diarrhea." What they mean to say is that it temporarily holds the diarrhea in your body. In other words, the destructive bacteria is still in your gut wreaking havoc.
Antibiotic, Depending on where you're going, you will most likely be prescribed Ciprofloxacin. It will be your most potent weapon. Cipro is an antibiotic (the same used to treat anthrax poisoning in fact) that is akin to an atomic bomb. It will destroy everything in your system, good (as in beneficial bacteria in your gut) and bad.
When traveler's diarrhea strikes, follow these steps:
1) At the onset of diarrhea, look at your stool. If there is blood, get yourself to a clinic. If you can't get to a clinic, start taking antibiotics immediately.
2) Take note of additional symptoms. I once had a brutal bout of diarrhea and it was accompanied by an atrocious fever. Turns out I had Malaria. If you have other symptoms (especially a fever), go to a clinic.
3) Begin rehydrating (with the rehydration salts) like its your job.
4) Try to avoid eating for one day. After a day, start eating BRAT foods (bananas, rice, apple sauce (unsweetened), plain toast).
5) The diarrhea may last several days. If possible, clear your schedule and just focus on rest, rehydration, and going to the bathroom.
6) Go to the bathroom as often as you need to do. Holding it in will only make the diarrhea last longer.
7) If you absolutely must do something absurd like take a 12-hour bus ride, bust out the Imodium and Pepto-Bismol. You must understand though, when you get off that bus, there will be hell to pay.
8) Did I mention rest and rehydrate?
9) If the diarrhea persists past two days without improving start taking the antibiotic.
10) If the diarrhea does not improve within a day of taking the antibiotic, go to a clinic.
Ideally, you will not encounter travelers diarrhea on your trip. Depending on where you are traveling, however, there is a good chance you will. These tips are designed to ease the misery and to restore your humanity as quickly as possible.
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About the Author: Phil Paoletta is taking a break from teaching middle school in Washington, DC. He is currently traveling West Africa indefinitely, collecting and making music along the way. You can follow along with him at http://philintheblank.net.
Spain's capital of Madrid was my last stop on a whirlwind trip through western Europe.
The Prado (museum) houses a large number of masterpieces, and I recognized quite a few from my days of studying art history in college.
It's now one of my favorite museums, along with the Musee d'Orsay in Paris (impressionists) and the National Gallery of Art's East wing (modern) in Washington, DC.
My couchsurfing host also took me out to the popular La Latina nightlife area my last night.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of joining fashion and travel writers and editors at a Robert Verdi Twitter Party.
It was unlike anything I've ever been to: the apartment was chic and decorated with beach, as well as exotic accents.
There were platters of sliced vegetables, bread, meats, and cheeses.
Bacardi Torched Cherries were served generously as men and women sat on smartphones updating their Twitter accounts by the minute.
Before long, the real fun began, as Robert sat fabulously at the front of the room and introduced the best in products and services for every traveler-- creative, stylish, luxe, and coastal, amongst others.
The selection was above and beyond what I've become accustomed to, a.k.a. there was no speak of hostels.
That's not to say, however, that I couldn't relate. The travel they spoke of reminded me of family vacations and the kind of trips I hoped to be able to take one day.
Along the way, I also learned a few invaluable tips from experts like how to spruce up a limited clothing selection, scarves, or when booking flights, try midnight, when traffic is low, or early morning when systems reset.
I also walked away with quite a few valuable getaway items, including a face moisturizer with sunscreen, luggage tags, a bathing suit, and one of Lonely Planet's freshest new guides, New England Trips.
As Robert Reed explained, the series provides unique itineraries on exciting trips across the United States and, in this case, specifically within the New England region.
Each page of this comprehensive guide features insiders tips and expert advice on how to get to the heart of historical, modern America.
There are iconic trips, regional music playlists, a green index, and even pet-friendly listings.
For many, like myself, it is perfect for a weekend escape and reveals a lot of gems within my local area.
If you happen to live in the northeast or plan on visiting soon and are in the market for a quick travel thrill, please leave a comment below about what makes your hometown special.
One winner will be randomly chosen to win a Lonely Planet New England Trips guide of their own in two weeks!
Update: Congratulations to Two Backpackers! Enjoy and have multiple great trips.
Every July, Colombian models descend on Medellin, which hosts Colombia's annual fashion week, Colombiamoda.
Billed as one of the biggest fashion events in South America, the three-day show is an opportunity for local and international designers to share their latest collections, both in a public expo-center setting by day, and on the runways at night.
On the first day, I headed over to Plaza Mayor with Dave to catch a glimpse of the Colombian models, and snap a few photos.
Entry to the show cost 80,000 COP, or about $40 USD, and our badges stated that we were "International Buyers." It was a fun day.
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Getting lost and traveling go hand in hand and everyone who ventures out into the unknown has experienced asking for directions from a total stranger who barely (if at all) speaks your language. You would assume the local you are asking knows their way around, and you heed their advice which leads you in... the completely wrong direction!
You trusted their advice and after 20 minutes of wandering around, you wondered if they had an evil motive and were trying to get you lost on purpose, or simply made a huge mistake. This is where the RULE OF 3 comes into play.
While backpacking in Mexico, everyone in the hostel soon realized that they had been given the wrong directions numerous times, and in order to save a little sanity, they would need to ask multiple people for the same directions. The actual number differs by country, but the rule in Mexico is the rule of 3, and sometimes 5.
Here is an example of how the process works:
TIP: When there is a language barrier, be sure to know the translation for the following words: left, right, straight, and blocks. These will get you closer to your point of interest by making sure you aren't totally screwing up.
When all three sets of directions don't seem right, head towards a more trustworthy source of information such as a tourist info center, hotel concierge, detailed map, or just give in and pay the taxi. Chances are you are headed somewhere none of the locals ever go.
TIP: Walk one block (and maybe two) between asking locals simply to be polite. It would seem very rude to ask someone for directions and then immediately ask the next person on the road showing that you obviously don't trust the first person.
The lesson to learn is that most people are over-generous to lost travelers and want to help in any way they can. If you ask someone for directions in Mexico and they don't know the correct way, they will not tell you they don't know but simply give you the best guess they have.
Well thanks, but no thanks. I would have been better off with a simple "no". People's generosity has led me astray numerous times which is why I now usually will stretch the rule to a "sometimes 5."
Going traveling, backpacking, whatever you want to call it, it is a rite of passage for young westerners hailing everywhere from Los Angeles to London.
But is it the best way to experience another culture, or do you spend weeks flitting from place to place with little to show for it but snapshots and kitsch souvenirs?
If you want to experience another culture, I reckon it's time to ditch your backpack and grab your TEFL certificate.
Here's why:
1. Spending time with people just like you? That isn't experiencing another culture!
Ah, hostels, the spiritual home of the backpacker.
Great for cheap accommodation, but is spending all your time with other backpackers who are just like you making the most of your time abroad?
Hell, you could have just stayed home!
Opt to teach abroad, and your working life will be spent surrounded by locals, both students, and other staff.
Great for getting under the skin of the country's culture.
2. You'll be paid to be there.
Unless you've got a bulging bank balance, spending any length of time in a country is out of the reach of most travelers.
That means quick hops here and there, only seeing the don't miss' sights that guidebooks rave about.
With TEFL, you'll be getting paid to be in a country for anything from six to 12 months, which means you can experience everything a country has to offer (not just the selected extras) and not feel like you have to cram it into too short a time.
3. You'll get to know the people whose country you're visiting.
While it's easy to pass through a country and have nothing more than a few brief exchanges with waiters and taxi drivers, teaching abroad forces you to get to know the people you're teaching, working with, and even living with.
Sometimes cultural differences can be a bit of a challenge, but you didn't fly halfway around the world to have everything run as it does back home!
Before you know it, you'll be mastering local drinking games, cracking jokes with your boss, and making friends with the old lady who lives in the apartment next to yours.
4. You're already qualified to do it!
If you're a native English speaker, you're already qualified to teach English abroad.
Yes, you might need to do a TEFL course to get your hands on the best jobs and not make a total mess of your time in the classroom, but you don't need any previous teaching experience or the ability to speak another language.
5. Don't just take snapshots, be in the picture yourself.
Go to any major tourist attraction, and you'll see backpackers snapping away, trying to peer into an alien culture.
Want to know the best way to get to know the place you're visiting?
Stop hiding behind your camera and dive in feet first, get to know people and you'll soon find that you're not on the outside looking in, you're in the picture yourself.
6. You'll get the lowdown on the coolest stuff in town.
Have you ever read a guidebook for your hometown?
Flick to the bar and restaurant section, and I bet the cool bar you and your friends go to on a Friday night isn't in there.
By the time that book hit the shelves, it was already out of date.
That's why working abroad is so great, because you'll make friends with so many locals and long-term expats, you'll know exactly where's good to go on the weekend and it won't be yet another dodgy tourist bar.
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About the Author: Honor Baldry works for TEFL course provider i-to-i. She ditched her backpack to teach English in China and reckons it's the best way to travel. To find out how to start teaching abroad yourself, download a free copy of TEFL Uncovered: How to Teach Your Way Abroad with TEFL!
Although Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, it boasts a rich culture and history of its own. Its culture is a strong mix of Spanish, African, and native Caribbean influences.
So, how can you experience this blend to the fullest? Here are five ways to absorb some of these influences and get a "real" feel for Puerto Rico.
Table of Contents
The traditional cuisine of Puerto Rico, known as comida criolla, is a blend of Spanish and native Caribbean influences. Most traditional dishes include rice and beans, arroz con habichuelas. Add to this some plantains, and you have a typical daily meal.
For dessert, try the flan, a custard made with flavors such as cheese, coconut, or vanilla. Or the tembleque, a local bread pudding with a coconut flavor.
If you genuinely want to experience the full Puerto Rican experience, visit a lechonera. These casual roadside eateries are mainly located outside the metropolitan area, so a little bit of travel is required, but it's worth it.
They specialize in roasted pork, known as lechon, a must-have at any Puerto Rican holiday dinner. The best lechoneras are in Guavate, just 30 minutes away from San Juan.
Salsa dancing, without any doubt, is a big part of Puerto Rican culture. So why not learn the basics? In San Juan, you will find many places that offer free salsa lessons.
Some of these include The Courtyard by Marriott (Thursday at 8 pm), The Latin Roots (every day at 7 pm), Oyster Bar (Sunday at 8 pm), and others.
Now, where to dance? The best places to dance salsa are Rumba in Old San Juan and Nuyorican Cafe, where the band plays till 4 am on the weekends.
If you want to experiment outside the tourist area, head to the bars along Roosevelt Avenue and Avenida Universidad, which are approximately 20 minutes away from Old San Juan.
Most students love hanging out and dancing at El Ocho de Blanco in Avenida Universidad, next to the most prominent college campus on the island. If you think salsa is too complicated for you, try dancing the local reggaeton (made hugely popular by Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, among others).
Don't worry. There's no science to it. Just take a partner, get close to each other, and start rubbing your bodies together in a rhythmic motion. Sorry, I have no better description without going into crass details. But you get the point. Be sensual; that's keeping with the spirit of reggaeton dancing.
Get out of the metropolitan area. Each part of the island offers a diverse range of attractions, including Puerto Rico boat rentals, ecological adventures, beach retreats, 19th-century cultural displays, and more.
The island is small enough to drive across from east to west in under three hours. Explore the mountainous regions and climb Toro Negro (the tallest point, 4,930 ft. tall).
Visit El Yunque Rainforest and swim in its rivers; locals adore them. Visit the sister islands of Vieques and Culebra. They have some of the best beaches in Puerto Rico, and most of them are secluded.
If you need professional Spanish translation services, click here to check out Magma Translation.
Old San Juan has some of the oldest buildings on the island. Walk through its narrow cobblestone streets and feel the solid Spanish Colonial influence, a hallmark of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Four centuries of history are surrounded by the massive fortress walls that once protected this city from foreign invasion.
Visit El Morro and San Cristobal Fort, two dramatic fortresses classified as National Historic Sites.
Without a doubt, the metropolitan area is your place to go if you want to experience the nightlife. There are many ways locals enjoy spending the night, from dancing and playing pool to betting at casinos and simply relaxing at a bar or lounge.
If you're looking for a "chic" night at a lounge, go to Condado. For a great dance club experience, head to Old San Juan and Santurce. And for a good time in a bar, go to Isla Verde.
If you're unsure which one to choose, don't worry; all four counties are located next to each other. You can easily hop from one place to the other and enjoy the night in your preferred way.
Visiting Europe on my 'round the world trip, I was trying to catch up with some popular spots I missed my first time around back in 1998. Switzerland was one, and Spain was the other.
Barcelona kept me busy with Gaudi's buildings and Picasso's art. The beaches were almost empty, however I found plenty of people at the FC Barcelona soccer match I attended.
This is Part II of the photo essay about street life in Cartagena, Colombia. To see Part I, click here. David Lee took all the photos from Part I and I (Troy Floyd) took all the photos for Part II. It is interesting to see these photos from two people who visited the same place, that took different shots of the city.
Styles vary hugely with photographers and this is a good example of why it's always best to have a different perspective on one thing. What David might have seen, I didn't, and vice versa.
I hope you enjoy the below photos... let us know which one you liked best and why!
This is a guest post by Caroline Eubanks. If you'd like a guest post on Go Backpacking, please read more here.
It's the same old story- You arrive at a hostel. You look around at the other travelers, hoping for some piece of familiarity that you can use as a catalyst for conversation. A sports jersey or an accent or fondness for a brand of beer. " You like Chiang beer too? What a coincidence!" And so it begins. You don't know it yet, but you will eventually spend hours with these people, wandering the streets of your destination, acting as if you have known each other for years.
In this true backpacker formula, my British roommates and I were best friends within two hours of meeting. We bonded and laughed for hours in the air-conditioned dorm rooms over the linguistic differences between the Brits and Americans, such as " khaki pants" and " aluminum."
In those two days, my new friends and I went to a traditional Croatian dinner, splurged on cherries from the fruit stand downstairs (or rather, I splurged for all three of us), watched Jackass 2 and other terrible examples of American entertainment, rated girls as " deal" or " no deal" as we walked by, and went beer for beer on a pub crawl. They reminded me of the boys I had grown up with in the States: cocky, flirtatious, witty and often vulgar. It was a perfect travel friendship because I didn't have to wander around alone and they got to harmlessly flirt with an American girl they would never see again. They even added me on Facebook, so that had to count for something, right?
But to my surprise, by the time I got home they had already deleted me. Why would they do this?, I wondered. Didn't we share some laughs over our two days in Split? And then a better question: Why did I care? The truth is that although we seemed like friends in Croatia, it never would have made us friends in real life. They wrote me off that morning I checked out of the hostel (one of them more so because I turned him down, but still). I would never see them again, but I felt like this made our fun two days meaningless. And as naïve as it sounds, I wasn't used to the people I meet on the road not liking me. At least not openly. It felt like getting rejected in high school.
I should have been grateful to them. It made me more realistic about the people you meet while traveling. Sometimes you meet amazing friends who you click with, keep in touch with and live to travel another day with. I have some great ones of these like Tamar, who I met in Washington DC in 2005 and who has visited me in Atlanta almost every year since. Other people were the product of timing, convenience, and most likely alcohol, that you will probably never see again. Obviously these British boys fit into this category. I could overanalyze it as much as I wanted to, but you know which people are meant to stay in your life. Both kinds of people have a place in your adventures. And at the very least, they certainly make the stories more interesting.
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About the Author: Caroline Eubanks is a freelance writer based in Atlanta, Georgia who has covered everything from fashion shows to sugar daddy bars and aerial yoga to drag shows in her career. Since writing gigs don't pay all the bills, she has worked as a gift wrapper, label sewer, taco seller, and errand runner. Her preferred outlet for writing is her blog, Caroline in the City, where she documents her adventures around the world as a city girl with the occasional taste for the country. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.
On my first visit to Cartagena in early 2009, I invited my new Peruvian friends to join me for lunch at La Cevicheria, the restaurant featured in Anthony Bourdain's "Colombia" episode of No Reservations.
Despite an address I found on the Travel Channel website and the company of two fluent Spanish speakers, we could not locate the restaurant on our own or by asking around.
Fast forward to mid-2010, and I have all the time in the world to the right this tragic foodie wrong.
Seeing how I'd already eaten at Brasarepa, the Envigado restaurant featured in the same episode, it was now a matter of pride that I tracked down La Cevicheria too.
This time, I got the address from the comfort of my hostel room, thanks to my laptop and solid Wi-Fi signal. Then, I identified the location via Google Maps on my BlackBerry Curve.
The restaurant is in the upscale San Diego neighborhood at the north end of old Cartagena. It was surprisingly easy to walk there from the iconic clock tower.
La Cevicheria is situated on a quiet little cobblestone side street. Three tables, taking up the combined width of a single parking space, are set up for al fresco dining each afternoon.
I took a seat at the middle table and began to decipher the menu, which was all in Spanish. A photo of Anthony Bourdain and the owner was featured on the back.
A Thai-American woman named Tania, and her Colombian boyfriend Daniel, who had seated themselves inside before I had arrived, came out to keep me company.
They were doctors working in the USA and spoke perfect English so that I could enjoy their conversation and the fresh seafood.
I went with the Peruvian ceviche of fish and shrimp, served alongside crispy plantains smothered in guacamole, a fresh salad of lime and tomato, and a small piece of corn on the cob.
The presentation showed attention to detail, and I dug right in.
I've had a bite of ceviche here and there before; however, this was the first time I ordered it as a main course.
The shrimp and whitefish were coated in lime-based juice.
As with sushi, I find eating raw seafood to be a unique experience that is often more about the pretty presentations and textures of the food than the actual flavors.
The portion size could easily have fed 2-3 people.
The price was about $20 based on the current exchange rate; including a glass of fresh orange juice, tip, and tax, the total bill was $27.
Satiated by my first authentic ceviche experience, I uploaded photos back at the hostel, only to find that my new 4-gigabyte SD card wasn't working.
As I wasn't about to write of this meal without photos (the photo of the Peruvian dish was taken with my BlackBerry), I deemed it necessary to return a few days later.
I took the same middle table outside. However, dark clouds were rolling over old Cartagena this time, and I knew my time outdoors would be limited.
I ordered the Mexican ceviche with shrimp, avocado, corn, and sour cream, served in a thick and tangy barbecue sauce accompanied by tortilla chips.
The dish might not look like much from the photo; however, there must've been 100 shrimp.
As a light rain began to fall, I held steady at my outdoor table, loading the tortillas with the sauce-coated shrimp.
Again, the serving size could satisfy 2-3 people, and despite my best efforts, I left a lot of good shrimp behind that rainy afternoon.
I love avocado, and it's a big part of why I chose the Mexican-style ceviche, so I was surprised that the dish was so rich in shrimp and severely lacking in avocado.
The small pieces were about the size of the corn kernels, meaning the sauce and shrimp greatly overshadowed them.
I also ordered a regional favorite, arroz con coco (rice with coconut). It, too, was delicious, and I only wish I'd eaten more of it while I was in Cartagena.
Eventually, the rain turned from a light sprinkle to a torrential downpour, and I escaped to La Cevicheria's interior dining area, which included an open kitchen and three small tables.
A framed photo of Anthony Bourdain and the owner hung on the wall, along with various seafood-oriented decorations.
I asked for more chips, as the shrimp ceviche was too rich to eat without them.
They weren't quite what I expected, tasting more like a light version of Doritos than a Mexican-style corn tortilla chip.
And I waited, and waited, for the rain to let up. By then, fully satisfied, I dreamt of sleeping off my second divine ceviche experience.
PS - I like to make jokes about Colombia's food being the one downside to living here; however, after enjoying several meals at La Cevicheria, I realized the cuisine is much more varied than the typical set lunches of soup, chicken/meat, and salads.
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La Cevicheria - Calle Stuart #7 - 14, San Diego, Cartagena (in the north of the Old City, Calle 39, between Carrera 7 + 8. Landline phone: 5-664-5255. Cellular: 315-655-4120.
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My 138-page, all-original Medellín Travel Guide is available for Kindle and PDF.
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People travel all over the world on their backpacking trips, and Central America is often on the list of places to go.
Mexico draws in people for its array of beaches, Guatemala pulls in those looking for an insight into its Mayan past, and Costa Rica offers jungles and pristine beaches side by side.
But Honduras is rarely mentioned and often used as a simple stopover as backpackers work their way down through the continent.
This is a significant oversight. For all its recent political difficulties, Honduras has many stunning places to visit, most of which are yet to be tainted too heavily by the tourist development brush.
There's plenty to keep the backpacker entertained in this troubled country, from beautiful beach destinations to historical monuments.
The Bay Islands are usually atop the traveler's list, with Utila and Roatan the most popular of the three.
Utila is the place to go for your scuba diving exploits but offers little else outside of happy hour.
If it's the paradise island experience you're after, then you should head to Roatan.
It's beginning to get more developed as American tourists become increasingly aware of its idyllic setting, but that is for a good reason.
Stunning beaches, crystal clear waters, and incredible marine life make it the perfect beach getaway.
West End is where backpackers flock to, and this is where most of the hostel accommodation is found, though it's worth venturing to the eastern end of the island at some point to soak up some of the Garifuna culture.
This is characterized by brightly colored local dress, the beating drums, maracas, and outrageous, hip-shaking 'punta' dancing.
You won't believe how high the Garifuna girls can shake it!
Outside of the Bay Islands, Copan Ruinas is another common destination.
Home to Mayan ruins worthy of a day's exploration, its real beauty is in the surroundings; rolling hills that play host to coffee plantations and hot springs, amongst others.
There's plenty to explore, and the best way to do it is on horseback.
I'd never ridden a horse before I visited, but before I knew it, I was knee-deep in a gushing river and galloping along the banks!
It's a real adventure and one I'd recommend to any traveler who has stopped in to see the ruins.
The town itself is beautiful as well; a labyrinth of cobbled streets and pristine monuments, you could sit out for hours on end with the best coffee you've ever tasted, watching the world and its horse go by.
But the real diamond in the rough is a road rarely traveled by tourists' feet.
The eastern part of the country comprises near-total jungle: the area known as "˜La Mosquitia' ("˜the mosquito').
This is a place that is borderline inaccessible and has no roads. All transport is via the interlinking rivers flowing between the trees.
To get there, you have to fly in a small biplane that touches down on a strip of grass hidden in the foliage.
On my visit, there were kids playing football on the runway as we came into land!
From there, you jump on a "cayuco" (a dugout canoe) and head into the jungle on the river, not knowing when you'll next step on dry land.
As you chug along the vast waters, you can see monkeys jumping from tree to tree, hear birds singing, and very occasionally see a crocodile's eye sparkle in the undergrowth of the riverbank.
After what seems like an endless amount of time, you come across villages dotted along the rivers, populated by people who haven't been outside the jungle walls.
They know the 30 people who live in the huts around them and have seen a few other faces in their lives.
Depending on the length of your trip, you'll stay in various villages along the way and get further into the jungle, getting to know the people and feeling more like an explorer every day.
It's an enriching place, and I doubt that I'll ever visit anywhere as remote again.
So there you have it, Honduras should be on your list! And that's just the half of it.
There are great towns sprinkled across the country, National Parks that will take your breath away ("˜La Tigra' to name but one), and beach towns littered along the north coast.
Find the adventurer in you and give Honduras a go.
While I did fly into the Bordeaux airport, and eat a few meals in the city, most of my time was spent farther south in the region around Arcachon Bay.
I was staying with Sebastien and Magali, a French couple I met on the way to a small eco-hostel called Bulungula. The moment they suggested a visit to Bordeaux, I knew I'd be seeing them again. And it didn't hurt that I later found out Magali was working at a pastry shop.
Cartagena's charming colonial architecture helped earn it UNESCO World Heritage status.
The old city is filled with enough character and colorful facades to keep any photographer engaged day after day.
Arepas are a staple of the Colombian diet, and their ubiquity ensures most visitors to the country will try them either from street vendors, small shops, or as part of larger restaurant meals.
According to Wikipedia, "The arepa is a flat, unleavened patty made of cornmeal which can be grilled, baked, or fried. The characteristics of the arepa vary from region to region: It may vary by color, flavor, size, thickness, garniture, and also the food it may be stuffed with."
An arepa with cheese from a street vendor is the one Colombian comfort food I missed the most while living back in the USA. Usually priced at 1,500 Colombian Pesos, or about $0.80, they are heavy enough to fill me up for an entire lunch or dinner.
Inside the street arepas is a gooey, melted cheese that adds a richness plain arepas often served alongside lunches in restaurants are severely lacking.
While in Cartagena, I frequented a small juice and arepa shop called El Jugo on La Calle de Media Luna in the Getsemani neighborhood (where you find all the hostels). Open only a few months, they offered 3 common arepa options.
Arepas served with fried eggs (and optionally, cheese) are a popular breakfast option. Add salt at a minimum, or a little salsa if you want to spice it up.
The arepas with chicken at El Jugo were divine. It was the first time I'd tried this combination, and it made for a satisfying lunch. Though the color may make it look a little bland, there was plenty of flavor from the salsa added to the chicken. And, of course, there was melted cheese with every bite.
An aprea with meat was my least favorite, though to be clear, I'm much more of a chicken fanatic. Also flavorful, and bedded on melted cheese, it left me satisfied for an afternoon as well.
In Colombian homes, arepas can be cooked any number of ways. Last year, while I was living with Martin from Germany, he would allow chocolate to melt atop his arepas as he cooked them on the stove. Our Colombian roommate, Maira, would slice up a hot dog or chorizo and add them to hers.
Arepas are akin to a blank canvas, much like crepes in France. Their deliciousness is only limited by one's imagination.
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My 138-page, all-original Medellín Travel Guide is now available for Kindle and PDF.
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One of the most exciting parts of any trip is packing. What do you wear? What shoes do you bring? Did you remember to pack socks?
For short-term trips, what to pack is directly related to how many days you will be gone.
For longer trips, like backpacking around the world, packing becomes more of an art.
There are dozens of lists like, What to Pack on Travel Independent that help both men and women determine the essentials for a backpacking trip.
All of their suggestions are practical and necessary, but they are missing the hidden essentials for women.
After wearing the same clothes for months, wearing flats so you can carry your backpack around, and moving from one hostel to another, you start to feel like you are losing that spark of femininity that you had before you left.
Don't let that air of grace disappear.
The following ten secret items to pack as a woman on your next trip are tried and true, straight from a female around-the-world backpacker.
Learn why they are essential to bring and where to get them.
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Why? The great thing about gaucho-style pants is that they are versatile, comfortable, and can be dressed up or down.
Another great benefit to this type of pant is the ability to layer with it.
If you are traveling to somewhere cold first and then warm, you can wear the same pair of pants in both places by simply adding or removing a layer.
Where to buy them? Try places like Bebe, Victoria's Secret, or Express.
They may be a little more expensive, but the quality is better and, therefore, will last for your whole backpacking trip.
Match your gaucho-style pants with bamboo underwear for women. You'll feel more comfortable because bamboo fabric absorbs more sweat than cotton, keeping your intimate part dry, and odor-free.
Why? When you are backpacking and making friends along the way, the inclination to go out is enormous.
If you only have practical shoes, then you are selling yourself short of feeling sexy.
As women, we know what flats, heels, boots, etc., make us feel beautiful.
Pack just one of those so that you are prepared to be a backpacking vixen when the opportunity arises.
Also, pack a couple of pairs of socks in your luggage, especially when the weather in your intended destination is cold.
A foot cream or gel and ankle or foot padding also come in handy to relieve sore feet after long walks.
Where to buy them? In my experience, Nine West, Steve Madden, and surprisingly Pay Less have great comfortable shoes at affordable prices.
Wedges are an excellent solution for a little bit of height coupled with cuteness that are pretty easy to walk in (especially if you are in a big city where everyone walks to go out, like Valencia).
Why? The best thing about being a female backpacker is that our clothing is small and compact.
When choosing your yearlong wardrobe, be sure to pack these two essential pieces.
Try to choose relatively simple tops with an extra something like subtle stripes, polka dots, or lace.
The reason for this is layering. You can transform one outfit into three by simply putting a cute top underneath it.
Your wardrobe will feel like it lasts longer, and you can spruce up any outfit to feel sexier.
Build a more authentic wardrobe by purchasing locally-made shirts or tops. Doing so lends your support to small business owners.
Where to buy them? No need to go expensive here. Try places like Forever 21, H&M, Target, or Wet Seal to get inexpensive tops that will transform you.
Why? You don't have to bring the MAC makeup counter with you.
Give yourself a treat every once and a while with a bit of makeup makeover: a little mascara and some lipstick et voila, new you.
Using easy-to-apply makeup can make your trip more convenient while allowing you to stay fresh and beautiful in your photos.
Of course, you don't want to miss mingling with locals and travelers alike in your best look. Meeting new people and making new friends on your next trip can make for an unforgettable adventure.
Where to buy them? Remember, don't splurge on your makeup. Drug store brands like L'Oreal, Covergirl, Revlon, etc. will do the job well and won't break your wallet.
Besides, if you lose something or it breaks, your loss is minor.
Why? Remember to take care of your hair. Although not a top priority when thinking of what to pack, your hair is your signature when traveling.
A headband and bobby pins can give you different looks without much effort.
Whether you want to make your hairstyle with braids or to prevent your hair from touching your eyes or your skin, bobby pins and a headband can help make your trip more hassle-free.
Both headbands and bobby pins can give you different looks without much effort.
Where to buy them? Stick with buying hair accessories from drugstores. And throw in some extra hair ties. You never know when you might need one.
A girl can never have enough hair ties!
Why? Scarves are versatile. You can use them as an accessory, to pull your hair back, or as a shawl of sorts.
Try simple patterns or solid colors for a more significant combination potential.
Where to buy them? Try places like Forever 21, H&M, Target, or Wet Seal.
Why? Two words here: layering & comfort. Leggings can help you create different outfits and keep you warm when an unexpected trip to somewhere cold comes along.
Plus, they are comfortable for hanging out at your hostel.
Where to buy them? Brands like Poof and Free People have fabulous leggings that are super comfortable.
Why? Don't forget these! A pair of earrings will always rescue an outfit from blahdom. Jewelry can get heavy, so make sure to choose your pieces wisely.
Remember only to bring jewelry that you wouldn't mind losing, just in case.
Why? These are your female staples. Trust me. You will thank yourself for bringing them along.
Why? Using Skype and internet cafes is great, but what happens when you need to talk to one of your girlfriends right after meeting the man of your dreams and computers are nowhere to be found?
Plenty of places still have payphones, and having a "homesick" calling card for those kinds of gossipy emergencies will help you feel connected to home.
My week in Switzerland wasn't cheap, however I managed to save some money by couchsurfing with a friend in Bern, and another person in Geneva. In Interlaken, I stayed at one of Europe's most popular hostels, Balmer's, but with snow on the ground, and a chill in the air, the guests were few and the atmosphere was non-existent.
Train rides through snow-covered valleys, and plenty of Swiss chocolate made the journey worthwhile. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to return when it's a little warmer.
A rainy day or dark-cloudy skies won't keep Ryukyu Mike cooped up in his house waiting for the sunshine to burst out all over.
On a recent rainy Sunday in June, he grabbed his backpack and camera and headed to the southern part of Okinawa and visited Gyokusendo Cave, the second largest series of caves in Japan.
The cave meanders through 5 kilometers (roughly 3 miles) of limestone far below the steaming earth above.
Visitors have access to 890 meters of well-lighted and safety-railed passageways.
Signs warn you not to shout or blow whistles, probably so as not to disturb some of the fragile stalactites (sharp stone icicles) numbering in the thousands that could come crashing down if you did.
Just a few meters from the entrance, you feel as if you've entered an air-conditioned room.
Stainless steel stairs and walkways make the journey through the cavern convenient but, they can also be slippery in spots where moisture has accumulated.
Stalactites grow at a rate of 1mm per year and some of the ones seen in the cave are several meters long.
Gyokusendo cave is estimated to be over 300,000 years old.
Motion detectors control some of the lighting as you travel through the cave and throw an assortment of colors on certain key attractions.
In parts of the cave stalagmite take on monstrous shapes and you can let your imagination decide what they might look like.
Small streams and waterfalls are seen at a couple of locations as you travel through the maze.
The one in this photo is at about the halfway point.
There's nothing quite as soothing as the sound of a brook and waterfall inside a cave.
This would be a choice spot to camp overnight, if such activities were permitted, the babbling brook and sounds of miniature waterfalls echo through the cave.
Underwater blue lights and external flood lamps accentuate the small sandbars formed by a stream flowing through the caverns in this scene.
Leaving this scene the walkway leads back up gentle slopes and stairways towards the exit.
Whether it's raining or the sun is shining, after spending an hour underground, the first thing you'll notice as you hit daylight above is the heat and humidity.
Mother Nature's air conditioning system has been left behind you.
Reportedly discovered in 1967 by a research group from a mainland Japan University, this treasure of a cave was probably well known to local Okinawans many years before it became the major tourist attraction it is today.
It appears the designers and planners did a fine job of balancing the need for tourism and concern for the wildlife inhabitants of the caves.
There are displays of some fish, reptiles, bugs, bats and other cave-dwelling critters along the walkways but in the labyrinth of uncharted areas the tourists never get to see, there are a few miles of safe haven for critters to do, whatever it is cave-dwellers like to do while the intruders meander through their living room.
The cave is open for visits between 9 AM and 6:30 PM daily.
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About the Photographer: Michael Lynch is a photographer and freelance writer living in Okinawa, Japan and he contributes to dozens of online sources. For more information, visit his website: www.mikesryukyugallery.com
A few years ago, back when I was working in an office with too little natural light, I had a memorable conversation with my company's HR person.
It had to do with the way different people cultivate their personal energy. Her message was simple, and I've respected it ever since.
Extroverts gain their energy from being with other people, and likely feel something is missing during times when they're alone.
Natural introverts, such as myself, gain their energy in the absence of other people, and then proceed to expend it while attending social events or hanging out with friends/partners.
As a result of that conversation, I learned to allow myself time alone without feeling guilty about it.
It can be a slippery slope, however, as I've used this concept in the past to be anti-social at times (especially in the year running up to my RTW trip).
Upon arriving in Cartagena, I visited several hostels in search of one with the best price for a private room.
In the past, when given the choice between a sub-$10 dorm bed, and a private room, I'd choose the dorm bed 99% of the time.
I might spend my money on good restaurant meals while traveling, however, I was always willing to take a cheap bed in an effort to balance out such pleasures.
My priorities were clearly different on this trip.
I'd flown to Colombia 36 hours after a long weekend of hardcore networking and socializing at TBEX. It was immensely fun, though draining.
I was as excited to feel a sense of independence again, as I was to visit Cartagena.
In 2009, I spent the first half of the year couchsurfing in Europe, living in a party hostel in Medellin, and sharing a 3-bedroom apartment in Envigado.
Returning home to the USA, I lived with my parents for 11 months.
Trips to Los Angeles and New York City involved staying as a guest with someone, and Rwanda was a whirlwind of overnight flights and hotel rooms, albeit comfortable ones.
Cartagena became my chance to decompress not just from the socializing at TBEX, I realized, but from more than a year of being dependent on others for a roof over my head.
I'm grateful for those who've hosted me (in particular my parents!), but I've missed the feeling of having my own space, no matter how small or minimally decorated.
So after staying in two hostels with noisy common areas (in the form of open-air courtyards), I settled into room 201 at the Hotel Villa Colonial.
All of the rooms featured fans, air-conditioning, cable TV, free Wi-Fi, and private bathrooms, however it was Villa Colonial's small balcony that turned room 201 into a makeshift apartment to me.
Ironically, it's the balcony that makes the room far noisier then the ones at the other two hostels combined.
Every morning, I awake to the sounds of men walking along the street below, shouting "pescado, pescado" (fish) or a variety of fresh fruits, "mango, papaya!"
I brush the sleep from my eyes, turn the fan up a notch, and unlock the balcony doors.
Swinging them open, my corner room is flooded with fresh air, sunlight, and the sounds of life in the neighborhood.
In the afternoons, vallenato music reverberates from a bar down the narrow street.
Dogs bark, residents chat, teenagers practice their skateboard tricks, and every Sunday night is an impromptu block party as people hang out in the streets, drinking beers and enjoying the remnants of their weekend before going back to school or work the next day.
The inner streets of Getsemani aren't as clean and pretty as old Cartagena; there are homeless people laying out, drug-dealing prostitutes on one corner in the evenings, and some scrawny looking dogs and cats, however I've yet to feel threatened.
There is a police presence once the sun goes down, and the density of hostels in such a small radius means the locals are used to foreigners, and vice versa.
In my prior travels, I would always look for hostels with social common areas in order to meet other travelers.
After two weeks in my private room, I'm hooked on the ability to casually observe local life via the sounds of the street below, while writing, tweeting, watching World Cup matches from bed, and generally enjoying my own thoughts and company.
At times, I've felt self-indulgent or lazy. Shouldn't I be out exploring?
Going to the beautiful Playa Blanca (beach) via boat, or slathering myself in mud at a nearby volcano?
I'm not a guidebook writer, nor am I "on assignment" for someone else, so the answer I've come up with is a resounding "no."
And to me, therein lies the beauty and freedom afforded to travel bloggers.
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My 138-page, all-original Medellín Travel Guide is now available for Kindle and PDF.
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The Aires flight touched down at Cartagena's airport as scheduled, a few minutes shy of noon. Stepping off the plane, and onto the tarmac, the strong sun and heavy tropical humidity were already inducing my body to sweat profusely.
One of the two baggage carousels was already surrounded by passengers who had arrived a few minutes earlier on an Avianca flight. I staked out a spot at the empty carousel. As much as I've traveled the last few years, I always await my checked backpack with baited breath. Only after seeing the red, black, and gray bag with 101 straps make its appearance, can I breathe easy.
I grabbed my pack, walked outside, and picked up a ticket with a set rate for a taxi to the Getsemani neighborhood where the hostels are located. The taxi driver had the air-conditioning on full blast as we drove south; the Caribbean Sea brushing up against the road to my right. The mid-day traffic was heavy. Despite the heat and noise, it felt wonderful to be back in Cartagena after an all-too-short visit 16 months prior.
I looked at private rooms in a few hostels within a block or two of each other before settling into the one with the lowest rate ($16/night). Tired from the overnight flight, I tinkered around online thanks to the free wi-fi, and called it an early night.
The next morning, I awoke well rested with a desire to walk around old Cartagena before the sun rose too high in the sky. Figuring I'd be gone for an hour or two at most, I put on a pair of jeans and skipped the sunscreen. I had a fashionable new hat from New York City to ensure the top of my head didn't burn up under the Equatorial sun.
To experience the charm of the old, walled Cartagena, one simply needs to walk the streets, admiring the Colonial architecture while mixing with the locals, and maybe munching on some fresh fruit.
I left the hostel around 9 AM, passing a bar I remember drinking at last year. The area was strangely familiar. My body was walking through the streets in the present, while my mind replayed scenes from February 2009.
When I walked through the clock tower, which acts as an entrance to the old city, I immediately saw Tu Candela, another bar I'd been to before. More flashbacks, however this time I was traveling on my own, with no pressing deadlines to worry about.
I made my way to Las Murallas, the thick stone walls dating back to the 16th century, that encircle the old city. Rusty canons face the sea, as though waiting for ghost ships from the past to lay siege today.
It was 9:30 AM, and I was already sweltering under the sun, when I came upon a foreign girl talking to a lone Colombian guy selling drinks.
As I got closer, he called out in my direction, "agua...cerveza!"
I walked closer, tempted by the thought of a cold drink, which would also act as the perfect icebreaker to meet the girl. I looked at her, asking if she wanted a cerveza. She nodded yes, and I paid the guy for two Aguilas.
Sipping our cold beers, we walked further along the wall, engaged in standard backpacker dialogue. Linda hailed from Germany, and was wrapping up a 3-month trip to Colombia.
As our beers ran dry, we descended the wall, and sought shade in the Parque de Bolivar (note: every Colombian city has a park named after Senor Bolivar, which usually includes a statue of him on a horse). Lunch consisted of arepas con queso, chicken empanadas, and tintos from street vendors.
Walking Las Murallas was one experience I missed last year, and visiting the Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas was another. An imposing stone fortress built upon a hill, it promised great views of the city, and a terrific photo-op with a giant yellow, blue, and red Colombian flag. In a country without a universally recognizable tourist attraction, the giant flag was the best symbol of the country I could come up with.
Linda and I walked out of the old city, through Getsemani, and over to the old castle. The entrance fee was a stiff $8, however we both agreed it'd be worth it. Views from atop the castle are sweeping, and while you can see the sea, they skyline isn't particularly picturesque.
I would still recommend visitors pony up the money, as wandering through the underground tunnels in near darkness, and hanging out up there is a quiet diversion from the bustling streets below.
I kept Linda company over a few more beers back at my hostel, before she had to catch an overnight bus to her next destination. She reminded me (yet again) of how often I meet people when I least expect it.
By the time Linda left, and I had a chance to look in the mirror, I realized every uncovered part of my body was the color of boiled lobster.
Welcome to Cartagena, gringo!
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My 138-page, all-original Medellín Travel Guide is now available for Kindle and PDF.
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Grey, dreary, cold and wet. That sums up Paris in the final days of 2008.
On the bright side, the city has lots of lights up for the holidays, and it presented the polar opposite experience I'd first had when visiting Paris in the peak of Summer ten years earlier. And I was staying with a local, Laura, who I'd met on a train in India months earlier.
South Africa is not typically considered one of the hot spots for backpackers or tourists, but the country has a lot to offer travelers.
With the World Cup buzz echoing across the planet, South Africa is center stage. As a keen traveler, you may be wondering if South Africa is somewhere for you to visit and how World Cup visitors are finding this uncommon tourist destination.
A few years back, I actually visited South Africa and had a brilliant time there, touring from Johannesburg to Cape Town over several weeks.
South Africa is a country that has struggled with a tough image of high crime, which unfortunately is well deserved.
A few minutes in a major South African city and the signs of high crime are given away by the high security throughout.
Private armed guards outside hostels and hotels and tall walls topped with spikes are a common sight.
A friend of mine who emigrated from South Africa told me that some cars are booby-trapped with flame throwers. I don't know if that is true, but it would not surprise me.
With South Africa in the spotlight, the government has been working hard to minimize crime and look after tourists in the hope of extending the countries tourist industry.
That does not stop the rarer horror stories from getting attention in the news.
The South African government invested roughly R40bn (about $5 billion). Still, it has been estimated that the tourist injection of cash would only mount up to 8.8 billion rands ($1.1 billion), according to a new report from Grant Thornton consultancy.
However, it is not uncommon for any country to lose money from hosting a sporting event, but that has not stopped the local government from being optimistic.
Due to the recession and possibly a fear of crime, local experts have lowered their initial expectations of visitors from 450,000 to 300,000 over the four-week period.
Word of mouth from World Cup tourists will be a powerful factor in deciding whether South Africa's tourism will increase soon.
As is often the case with a country with a tough history of struggles, the pride, and energy of its people heightens.
South Africa is keen to be seen as a brilliant nation, and if you want to get a feel for that in Hollywood style, I recommend you watch the film Invictus.
As the most popular sport on Earth reaches its pinnacle World Cup conclusion, the energy in South Africa right now is both tense, joyous, and ecstatic. If you want to catch the final match online, you can watch it here.
With a few hundred thousand foreigners hitting South Africa during the World Cup matches, many will be experiencing South Africa for the first time. Many tourist services, from hotels to tours, are bustling, probably busier than ever.
There's no surprise the sex trade is also seeing a boom. 160,000 condoms have been distributed to Cape Town alone during the World Cup period by Cape Town Tourism. AIDS is still a serious problem in South Africa, so if you do visit, be careful.
It is certainly a great time to visit South Africa, but if you have not visited during the World Cup and your taste buds have been beckoned by the South African flavor, let me give you a quick overview...
Hostels: Hostels in South Africa are pretty cheap, with most being between $10-$20 per night. Although a little bit more expensive than they were a few years ago, the strong dollar is definitely helping keep prices down.
Overall, the hostels are of excellent quality, especially outside the cities, and some can be a unique experience.
In one hostel, wild monkeys would occasionally be found running across the wooden beams in the roof of your room!
Travel: There's only one way to tour around South Africa for backpackers, and that is the Baz Bus. The price is higher than other local transport, but it is made up in flexibility and experience.
Get off at any of the many Baz Bus stops throughout South Africa, and get back on and continue your journey when you are ready.
The best part of this is you will find yourself making friends along the way, and given the flexibility of traveling on the Baz Bus, you'll likely find yourself in a big friendly group of backpackers.
With a bus picking you up at the door of the hostel, and so many attractive gifts available along the way, you will want to make sure you don't get tempted to accidentally go overweight with your luggage.
I suggest this little travel weighing scale to know how much you can fit in your case for your onward flight.
Consider taking a lightweight shrinkable towel, too, as many hostels provide towels now, and your own big towel can take up a lot of space and weight.
Crime: This is another reason to use the Baz Bus, it is safer, and you'll find yourself befriended in a large group, and there is safety in numbers.
If you walk around, especially in the cities, I recommend walking around in groups of three or more or at least two, never alone.
Speak to the hostel owners to find out where it is safe and where it is not and follow the normal safety procedures like not showing off expensive belongings and never carrying too much money.
Wear shoes when you can instead of flip-flops. You will want the option to run if you have to. Crime is high in South Africa, but most tourists never run into trouble. Just be careful and be aware.
Destinations: South Africa has so much to offer, and every place brings a new experience, and more often than not, incredible natural views.
Inside the cities, there is an abundance of tours highlighting the interesting but troubled history of the country and guided tours of slums and orphanages for those who want to see something more real.
Table Mountain in Cape Town is a must-see and will only take about an hour to climb with breathtaking views at the top.
You also shouldn't visit South Africa without experiencing a Safari. You can expect to see Crocodiles, Giraffes, Lions, Hippos, and much more on any Safari tour around Johannesburg.
I recommended stopping off at Swaziland, a small country within South Africa on the Baz Bus route.
It is a developing country, and the people have a life expectancy of only about 40 years, but they were the happiest and welcoming people I have ever met.
St. Lucia (not to be confused with the island St. Lucia) is a hidden gem in South Africa. Not too far from the beach, close to an estuary abundant with wildlife from hippos to zebras, and a generally chilled out and relaxed atmosphere among the locals, this was one of my favorite stops.
About the Author: Chris Tew runs a blog network and spends much of his time traveling the world. You can catch his thoughts on location independent living at BankableTravel.com or follow him on Twitter.
One night I was listening to the Lost Girls speak about their travel experiences, and nearly 200 hours later, I already had my own solo 6-week cross-country road trip planned.
Well, for the most part.
In the past few weeks, I've heard all of it, from the "you're absolutely insane!" to the "I'm so jealous, you're so brave."
I get it. It does sound pretty daring to most people, but to this well-traveled community, I'm sure it just seems like another exciting set of plans.
Here are the tools that helped me come up with mine:
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For some, there may not be any time restraints.
In my case, however, I have a tiny little thing known as a bank account that won't keep me on the road forever.
So, I glanced ahead at mid-October to my alma mater's Homecoming weekend, made that the end date, and then worked my way back to the beginning of September.
I first narrowed down a little more than a baker's dozen of cities that I wholeheartedly wanted to visit based on specific landmarks or loved one's homes.
Then, I went to the map, drew it out, and figured out the other 12 or so that I'd have to stop at for the sake of my sleep needs.
I'll have my Garmin with me, and Google Maps certainly helped as well.
I've also heard that some people may prefer to plan their entire routes along a highway, i.e., I-80 for the North, I-10 for the South, and I-80 for most of the states in between.
It's entirely too early for me to truly set my places to stay in stone (besides the houses of friends or family), but I've already joined Couchsurfing to prepare for it.
It'll be my first experience with the international hospitality network, and I couldn't be more excited!
Not only will it be economical, but it'll also allow for more friendly interactions and new friends along the way.
I cannot afford to stay in motels, and I don't have the nerve to camp by myself.
I probably should have made this the first on the planning checklist. Right? Ha.
Anyway, it is essential to have a vehicle that is in tip-top shape and highly recommended to have one that gets good gas mileage.
Luckily, I have both plus AAA. I don't know if my parents would let me leave town without it.
Renting a car and dropping it off at one end or the other is also a possibility for those over 26.
Since I will be the only passenger in that car of mine, I'll want to pack some food and drinks in addition to a bag of clothes and toiletries.
I am a foodie, remember?
I'm thinking of bottled water, dry cereal, granola bars, chewing gum, and maybe even a small cooler to fill with fresh fruits and vegetables that I purchase along the way.
I am all for leaving days up to a serendipitous chance when I have the time to do so.
On this trip, I am not spending more than 48 hours in any place other than Syracuse and San Francisco, so I want to make sure that I make the most of my time in each one.
Still, I am not making my lists too strict with only one museum, two restaurants, and possibly one more "bonus" activity like hiking.
Maybe in a few years, I can come back and rent a party bus with friends from Limo Find to have a big night out.
My Macbook and iPhone will surely be joining me, complete with a complimentary Wifi app and GasBuddy.com home page.
As for the GPS factor, I've already mentioned my Garmin. And a camera? Check.
Although, in all honesty, I'd love to get an SLR to bring my amateur photography skills up to par with the American beauty I'll surely be seeing.
There you have it: my amateur, un-tested, completely fool-proof-less planning tips.
In my mind, there are only three genuine opportunities for this kind of adventure: post-college, mid-life career change, and retirement.
And since I'm only at square one, let's hope that the number seven has some luck to it.
Kuala Lumpur is a modern industrial city caught up in 20th-century technology, buildings, and media.
Clutched in a triangle of three cultures: Malay, Indian, and Chinese, the city exudes the blending of these cultures in the new versus the old.
From the amazing Batu Caves with monkeys watching the Hindu traditions to the hawker stalls on Jl Pedling with mouth-watering Chinese and Malay delicacies, and the eclectic markets of Chinatown, evidence of the mixing cultures is everywhere.
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About the Photographer: Lauren Becker is a filmmaker turned travel writer who has been lucky enough to travel the world for work and fun. She enjoys sharing her experiences through the written word, the still photograph, and moving image. Read more at her personal website, my personal website is www.laurenbecker.net, or follow her on Twitter @filmlb.
Spirit Air was my first choice of airlines for the flight from New York City to Cartagena, if only for the cheap rates.
When their pilots went on strike a few weeks ago, I didn't have the stomach to continue taking a "wait and see" approach.
I combed Kayak for other affordable options. The rates for Colombia's national airline, Avianca, were over $500, putting them in the same category as JetBlue (which only flies to Bogota) and other prominent international carriers.
Then I recalled a contribution made to Medellin Living about domestic flights in Colombia.
I pulled up the Aires website and found they operated flights from New York City to various Colombian destinations via Bogota.
At the time, I didn't know that this international route was brand new for the Colombian discount airline.
Unlike most of Spirit Air's flights, which would've cost about $260 to fly 1-way from NYC to Cartagena, including taxes and 1-checked bag (almost all of which involved long layovers at their hub in Florida), Aires' flights departed NYC at 3 AM, thereby putting me in Cartagena just before noon that same day. Perfect.
I paid the $289.20 for the 1-way ticket (including one checked bag) and breathed a sigh of relief.
Of course, Spirit's pilots settled their strike the next day, but it was too late. I was about to ride the friendly skies with Aires.
On my last night in NYC, I caught up with Olga over the phone, as we missed meeting in person that week.
Incidentally, she is Colombian and spoke highly of Aires. Now I was curious.
A little before midnight, I left my brother's apartment in Chelsea and caught a taxi to JFK airport.
At that hour, there was no traffic, and with the window rolled down, a cool breeze blew into the back seat.
Cab rides to and from airports are the quintessential travel experience for me.
On the way to the airport, given you're heading to a new destination or beginning a new adventure, one's mind is filled with anticipation of the experiences that lay ahead.
Taking a cab from an airport, upon arrival in a new city or country, you make your first observations while talking to the cab driver if you feel so inclined.
Seared in my memory are the cab rides from countless airports: Bali, Singapore, Kathmandu, Cairo.
It was at JFK, after waiting in a short line at the Aires ticket counter, that I learned my flight was only the second time the carrier had flown from NYC, and the first time was just two days prior.
The newness of the route added to the excitement. Not only was I getting a good deal on airfare, but I was also blazing a new path from my country to Colombia. Or something like that.
The plane was smaller than I expected, given the distance, we were covering.
I had paid an extra $5 to sit near the very front, seat 2A. On any other plane, it would've been the first or business class section.
The two seats next to me were empty, so I made a vain attempt to lie down, which didn't last long because of the uncomfortable seat belt brackets poking up at my ribs.
It took about five mildly turbulent hours to reach Bogota (where, incidentally, there was free wi-fi at the airport).
After an hour and a half on the ground, my shorter, one-hour flight to Cartagena took off.
Drinks other than water and coffee, as well as food, cost extra on both flights. The service was friendly, and I'm happy to recommend Aires as a result.
I will probably use them again for domestic flights while I'm here and a return trip to the USA, as it is not possible to book one-way tickets from Colombia to the USA on Spirit Air.
According to the calendar, it's been a week since the 2nd annual Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) conference wrapped up in New York City, yet as I type this post, sitting on my firm double bed, under a twirling fan, listening to the street sounds of Cartagena on a sunny Sunday afternoon, it feels like a lifetime ago.
TBEX, for me, was an opportunity to meet the travelers, bloggers, writers, and editors I'd been reading and interacting with for months, if not years. It was also a chance to reunite with many people I'd met only briefly once before.
As much as I'd like to give a shout out to everyone whose company I enjoyed, the list would be far too long.
Trying to do justice to the art of narrative travel writing or strategies behind search engine optimization (SEO) in 55-minute panels is impossible, however there were plenty of valuable tidbits to grasp onto if one were so inclined.
In the first panel, I enjoyed hearing the likes of Don George, David Farley, and Jim Benning give nuggets of wisdom with regard to travel writing. I'm sure that with practice, incorporating story arcs, quotes, and character development into my blog posts would get easier. Being aware of these elements is a start.
In the second panel, my takeaway from Robert Reid of Lonely Planet was to experiment with video, even if you have no experience. Learn as you go.
Due to the United States' strong showing in the World Cup, I missed the panels on working with Public Relations people, and Branding. Judging from the crowd at Central Bar on the USA's weekday match, I wasn't the only one skipping work to cheer on the home team.
On the second day, during the ethics panel, it was interesting to hear how the Federal Trade Commission goes after the marketer first, not the blogger, when it comes to potential violations. The bottom line from that panel seemed to be that all bloggers can breathe a sigh of relief.
The second day wrapped up with the panels on SEO and making money online, for which a whole day could've been devoted, and an abbreviated talk on podcasting.
My favorite talk of the weekend was given by Gary Arndt on the topic of travel porn, a term he coined to relay the reality that most people who read about a specific destination will never go there. Instead, they enjoy the fantasy or hope that they'll one day be able to relax on a South Pacific island.
The following day, Gary was named one of Time Magazine's Top 50 bloggers of 2010.
Kim Mance (founder of TBEX) knows her audience, so there were plenty of parties hosted by event sponsors.
The panels were informative, however for me, the parties were more important as that was when I had a chance to mix and mingle, and spend a little quality time interacting with people in person. What a novel idea!
I'm happy to report that everyone's online personas match up well with how they are in person. I take this as a great sign for our community -- we're a sincere bunch. And there were a few people I hadn't talked to much online who were a lot of fun to hang out with in person.
Next year's TBEX is being hosted in Vancouver, Canada, which seems appropriate given the strong Canadian contingent of bloggers that showed up in New York.
It's still far too early for me to commit, especially given I don't have a brother in the city who can host me, however I certainly hope to be there.
This week's flashback is dedicated to my friend Gela, who I first met in Nepal and then went to visit in Tillburg, Holland. Despite January's bitter cold, I was thankful she had the time to show me around her home town.
In southern Laos, near the border of Cambodia, is a region along the Mekong River collectively referred to as 4,000 Islands. As the name implies, there are thousands of little islands dotting the river.
Among the most popular for backpackers is Don Det, due to its laid back atmosphere (and electricity!).
This is a guest post by Craig Zabransky.
The World Cup has been getting interesting, very interesting, and with two options: advance or go home. Last week, for instance, the USA advanced on a dramatic injury-time goal.
Two weeks ago, the host nation, South Africa, defeated France 2-1 but even with 4 points, the same as Mexico, they found themselves in third place in the group based on goal differential, (top 2 advance).
The rainbow nation became the first host nation not to make the round of sixteen knock out stage.
It might be disappointing for some, but as someone who traveled across South Africa for a full month prior to the first match, the green and yellow of Bafana Bafana clearly lifted a nation.
In Pretoria at the time, I decided to watch the opening match in Hatfield Square.
I thought the local square lined with bars, restaurants, and a freshly installed large viewing screen might create the ideal setting. And thankfully, it did.
Upon my arrival, the energy, excitement, and emotion of the scene nearly caused me to shed a tear of joy. Seriously.
With a constant Vuvuzela hum, flags waving, and a vivacious crowd of friendly foreigners and locals of all backgrounds, the match began.
The hum never stopped and I believe that sound carried the nation to its result against an arguably more talented squad.
Early in the second half, the square erupted. Elation and celebration swept through when Siphiwe Tshabalala rocketed a shot past the Mexican keeper. It is he who essentially put South Africa back on the global map. That first goal, still in contention for the goal of the tournament, a rocket, continues to send shivers down my spine when I see the replay.
The game continued, as they often do, but I am not sure anyone surrounding me even watched the next three or four minutes. T
he eruption did not cool. The square was untied, flowing with love for a tournament, and for a nation. It was beautiful.
Unfortunately, the game ended in a tie as Mexico scored a late equalizer and Bafana Bafana's next match was left disappointed before its final game.
The team came up just a little short.
But as we know, it is more than a game, and the team has everything to be proud of decisively defeating last world cup's runner up, being Africa's first host nation, and showing the world how far the country has come in just sixteen years.
But on the soil of South Africa as a fan of the game, it was magnificent to discuss just the players, plays, and match, without the politics.
And as host of the world's biggest event, the country is leaving a positive impression not just on Africa, but one that extends to all of the other football-loving (or soccer) continents and countries.
Complete Ayoba!
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About the Author: Craig Zabransky is a freelance travel writer who appeared of Fox News, Sirius Radio and is published on numerous internet blogs and local publications.
You can find his travel blog at http://stayadventurous.wordpress.com or follow him on twitter @StayAdventurous
Traveling abroad can have its difficult moments, as I found out the first time I spent Christmas away from home....in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Kiwis weren't big on public holiday displays, and celebrating Christmas day in a Queenstown hostel when you're feeling anti-social doesn't help.
As my second Christmas of the 'round the world trip approached, I made it a point to be out of Egypt, and in a major European city.
I picked Brussels because I'd never been there, and it was the cheapest flight from Cairo.
I shopped for warm clothing, and dived into the warm waffles and fries, and stocked up on rich chocolates.
The evenings were dedicated to sampling the Belgian nightlife with a great group of American guys and Brazilian girls I met in the hostel.
But all things being equal, I still prefer to spend Christmas with family.
Medellin, Colombia is a city of 2 million that still feels like a village. Situated in a valley 1,500 meters above sea level, and surrounded by green mountains, it is blessed with Spring-like weather year round.
With lots of universities, theaters, bars, clubs, and 2 professional soccer teams, there's always something going on, and there are plenty of modern malls to keep shoppers happy.
I met Carolyn Lane at February's #DCTravel tweetup, before heading off to Rwanda.
She introduced myself, and us all, to Dog Meets World, a photo diplomacy project she was developing.
Carolyn explains her vision as follows:
My dream is to establish a movement to photograph the children of the world.
To seek children in their own settings, print their image to keep for a lifetime.
We have replicated Foto, the stuffed dog, to enable scores of world travelers to participate with this intentional project.
The dream of Dog Meets World is to empower travelers to make real connections to people in other cultures, in essence to become photo-diplomats.
When Carolyn explained her vision to me, I instantly identified with it based on my personal travels through such countries as Cambodia and Nepal.
She offered to loan me a small inkless Polaroid printer for my Rwandan adventure so I could participate.
In addition, I bought several packets of the special Polaroid paper that must be used. I think $20 afforded me 60 prints.
Rwanda is full of children, so there was no shortage of opportunities to take photos and print them off right then and there.
At times, I would be completely surrounded by 20 children, all curious about me, and the camera and printer I was holding above their heads.
Eventually, I learned the value of crowd control or putting myself in a position that allowed enough space for the printer to work its magic.
For example, when we made stops along the road, kids would often come up to our SUV.
I'd simply roll down the window, offer Foto, the stuffed dog for them to pose with, and take a picture.
It took about one minute for a photo to be printed out. The kids seemed to love it.
After I gave one boy or girl a photo, he/she would often show it to the others.
The language barrier was never an issue when it came to these interactions.
Many of the kids seemed familiar with the fact that they could see themselves in the displays of digital cameras, however, I'm fairly certain, few of the ones I photographed had ever received their own picture.
When I returned from the trip, I was able to upload the photos I took to the Dog Meets World website, and Carolyn featured two of them on the blog.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to photograph Rwanda and it's people while being able to give something back to them in the process.
According to the Dog Meets World website, over 4,000 photos have been given to people across 4 continents.
Figuring out what to pack is hard enough for a backpacker, and then comes the food problem.
You always want to make sure you have enough to survive, but you don't want to pack too heavy or hard to prepare food items.
Through my hiking trips, I've found it fun to find your food along the trail.
Most often, you will come across berries, flowers, nuts, seeds, or roots that are edible.
The only problem with finding food along the trail is knowing what you are doing!
It can be hazardous if you don't have the proper knowledge.
Just in case, I decided to let you all in on my personal top three items, food items I don't go backpacking without.
These items help to keep my pack light and my wallet full.
I know that sounds crazy, but they are easy to pack! Also, it does not matter if they get broken up or moved around.
They'll always be tasty, light to pack, manageable, and easy to prepare!
Pack a few dried veggies and have yourself a Top Ramen Vegetable soup! Yummy!
As expected, these can be a quick fix when you're hungry on the trail.
They also come in a variety of brands, flavors, such as Activity, Meal replacement, Protein, and Endurance.
The only downfall with energy bars is that they can be pretty expensive. I have found this recipe helpful when preparing for a hiking trip.
Trail Bars (makes about 12)
Ingredients:
Directions:
Two other items that I love to bring along on my backpacking adventures are instant potatoes and instant rice.
The original packaging can be big and bulky, so I would advise you to pour them into a zip lock bag and write the instructions on it with a permanent marker.
Just like Raman noodles, but more natural, they're easy to pack along and only need water to be tasty. If you want to get creative, though, try the recipes below:
Grandparent's Rice Breakfast (serves one)
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients in a pan and bring to a boil with the amount of water indicated on the rice package.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes (serves two)
Ingredients:
Directions:
I hope you eat well and enjoy your many backpacking adventures this summer!
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About the Author: Marina Chernyak is a travel lover and has made it through half of Europe in the last three years. Currently, she is managing her Venetian Masks Store at 1001venetianmasks.com.
Even though I chose to take a barge-like cruise ship up the Nile River, I still had plenty of time to enjoy felucca rides around Aswan. As with everything in Egypt, the cost had to be negotiated, and it's best to bring your sense of humor.
Buenos dÃas fellow backpackers! My name is Hansen and I am the newest addition to the GoBackpacking team of contributors. I hail from... well I'm not quite sure. Currently, I am writing on some virgin beaches in Mazatlan. Born and raised in San Diego and educated in Los Angeles, I guess you can call me a Southern Californian. Here are few points to help you get to know me better, quick:
The travel bug is deep inside of me, and I have let it out a few times so far. Growing up, I only ever visited Mexico. In college, I continued visiting Mexico but also took off for a semester in Denmark studying International Business. I love Denmark, but will only ever go there during summer from now on (remember, I'm from So Cal). My girlfriend and I drove across the US and up the east coast for a fun summer trip. And now, I have been in Mexico for over 3 months and my plane leaves in 2 weeks to visit San Diego and move up to Portland. Travel is in my blood, and I am just beginning my adventures around the world.
For a short time, I forced that travel bug back down and took a desk job. I know what you're thinking.... dreadful. It took me almost 2 years to realize that and another 2 months to act on it. I booked a 1 peso flight down to Guadalajara, put in my notice, and sold almost everything I owned for some travel cash. I needed to get out and meet new people, places, and cultures. The mundane day-to-day life was killing my free spirit and it was time to let the travel bug back out. Here I am 5 months later writing for one of my favorite blogs, GoBackpacking.com. Of course my family wanted to keep tabs on me, so I naturally started my own travel blog.
My next step is to start my own business creating and selling Sustainable Travel Guides. I studied socially responsible business and have always been passionate about sustainable travel. On GoBackpacking, I plan on sharing my travel stories and tips along with a few funny posts about backpacking. Please feel free to contact me or follow me on a few social networks. This is just the beginning of my adventure, thanks for coming along.
Follow me on:
Hardly believing what we are seeing is actually real, the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia located in the center of Turkey are an exceptional natural wonder well worth visiting.
These unique formations were formed due to volcanic eruptions fused with rocks from the erosion of rivers and wind over thousands of years.
The cave dwellings have been settled since the 2nd Century BC, and many inhabitants still live in cave homes.
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About the Photographer: Lauren Becker is a filmmaker turned travel writer who has been lucky enough to travel the world for work and fun. She enjoys sharing her experiences through the written word, the still photograph, and moving image. Read more at her personal website, my personal website is www.laurenbecker.net, or follow her on Twitter @filmlb.
On a beautiful, albeit steamy spring evening in downtown Washington, DC, I exited the Federal Triangle metro station with a backpack full of cold beer.
Walking east along Pennsylvania Ave, I bumped into Stephanie from Twenty-Something Travel, who was carrying a few bottles of sparkling wine from Trader Joe's.
It was our last time co-hosting a DC Travel tweetup together before I head for Colombia, and she takes off on her trip around the world in September.
We signed in at the reception area of the Newseum Residences and headed up to Carolyn's (Dog Meets World) apartment.
She had offered us the use of her building's rooftop terrace for our monthly happy hour, as it delivers perfect views of the Capitol Building.
A large group of Capitol Hill staffers had already begun to set up shop in the area with the best view of the Capitol (you can see them all in the first photo above), so we brought some extra tables and chairs over and worked around them.
The photographic firepower in our group was hard to ignore - 4 DSLR's, and me still trying to figure out how to use my Canon S90.
The turnout was one of our best yet -- a mix of regulars and newbies.
In Carolyn's infinite wisdom, she made a chocolate cake for my departure.
If you can't tell from the photo, it was delicious. But before we could enjoy it, Steph and I were asked to give impromptu speeches.
Though I'd already had a few drinks and may have rambled on with an overly-sentimental tone, it was a small price to pay for the cake.
Thanks again, Carolyn!
Speeches, sweets, and celebrations aside, the rooftop truly was a wonderful spot from which to enjoy a sunset.
The stark white Capitol Building slowly began to glow orange as the sun went down from behind us.
While I'll be heading for the tropical beaches of Colombia's Caribbean coast in a few weeks, Stephanie will continue to organize monthly DC Travel tweetups.
Fashionistas and shopaholics have been trooping to Singapore for years, lured by its many shopping malls that offer every brand and label to fulfill the (shopaholics') hearts' desires.
But while I do enjoy shopping, I don't relish the idea of going to penury to pay for a huge credit card bill. There are other ways of enjoying Singapore.
So instead of heading to the malls, I often go to Singapore's museums.
They are the best in Asia, benefiting not only from the government's vast resources (this wealthy country is competing with Hong Kong to be Asia's art center) and the city's state fondness for organization and efficiency.
That may be boring, but it has nevertheless produced well-curated art spaces.
Singapore's museums are accessible through public transport, air-conditioned, and have wheelchair-accessible facilities, restrooms, and souvenir shops.
Best of all, given that Singapore is one of Asia's most expensive cities, you only need to pay a small amount (about 5 to 10 Singapore dollars, or roughly 4 to 7 U.S. dollars) as an admission fee.
And some days, you can even go to the museums for free!
So when you're in Singapore, try visiting the following places.
Table of Contents
The only museum that showcases the arts and culture of a distinct ethnic group shaped and continues to influence Southeast Asia.
The Peranakan, which means "locally-born" in the Malay language, usually refers to the descendants of Chinese traders who settled in the straits Settlements of Singapore, Malacca, and Penang in the 14th century and married Malay women.
The Peranakans also included those who descended from unions between Indian merchants and local women during the 15th century.
This intermarriage produced a fusion of cultures and is reflected in the colorful cuisine, architecture, and fashion that form the multicultural mix of Singapore and Malaysia.
Address: 39 Armenian Street
Opening Hours: Monday - 1 pm to 7 pm/ Tuesday to Sunday, 9.30 am to 7 pm (to 9 pm on Fridays).
Admission Fee: 6 Singapore dollars. On Friday, 3 Singapore dollars.
With over 7,000 Southeast Asian pieces of artwork in its permanent collection, SAM stands as the region's repository of visual art.
The collection includes paintings, sculptures, multimedia installations, drawings, prints, and photographs - eye candy for those who can't get enough of modern and contemporary art.
Address: 71 Bras Basah Road
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday - 10 am to 7 pm / Friday - 10 am to 9 pm.
Admission Fee: 10 Singapore dollars. Free admission on Friday, 6 pm to 9 pm.
This is the custodian of the 11 National Treasures - the most important artifacts in Singapore's history.
It includes the Last Will and Testament of Munshi Abdullah, the Father of Modern Malay literature, the 1930's era Chinese glove puppet theater stage, and a collection of watercolor paintings of local floral and fauna commissioned by William Farquhar, the First Resident of colonial Singapore.
Visitors interested in Singapore's history should also go to the museum's Four Living Galleries, a showcase of artifacts, replicas, pictures, costumes, and even old films documenting Singapore's history of fashion, performing arts, and photography and cuisine.
Address: 93 Stamford Road
Opening Hours: 10 am to 8 pm, daily.
Admission Fee: 10 Singapore dollars. Free admission from 6 pm to 8 pm, daily.
This is a must-see for those who want to backpack around Asia.
A visit to the ACM is like going through a crash course on Asian studies.
It is the only museum dedicated to presenting artifacts and collections representing different regions of Asia, including China and the Middle East.
Address: 1 Empress Place
Opening Hours: Monday, 1 pm to 7 pm / Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 7 pm (up to 9 pm on Fridays).
Admission Fee: 8 Singapore dollars.
The museum that appeals to the child in us, as who after all didn't have a stamp collection when they were kids?
The museum's collection includes stamps and archival philatelic material of Singapore from the 1830s to the present day.
The museum also encourages philately in Singapore, with its permanent galleries dedicated to the global history of stamps, and organizes workshops and talks on how stamps chronicle Singapore's history.
Address: 23-B Coleman Street
Opening Hours: Monday, 1 pm to 7 pm/ Tuesday to Sunday - 9 am to 7 pm.
Admission Fee: 5 Singapore dollars. Free admission on New Year's Day, the second day of Chinese New Year, National Day, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali, and Christmas Day.
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About the Author:
Prime is a journalist, blogger, and a genuine blue gypsy gal who's into art and food tripping. She blogs at www.gypsygalstales.com, where she offers stories and tips for independent women travelers. Find her on Twitter @prime_sarmiento