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Friday, September 17, 2010
Vietnam attractions: Da Nang
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Vietnam attractions: Da Nang: "
Da Nang, Vietnam doesn't have the history of Hue, nor the charm of Hoi An. What it does have are pristine beaches, cool mountain hideaways and the relaxation that comes with being away from most other tourists - and most of the people whose job it is to bug the other tourists - as well as beachside restaurants.
One clam is never enough. Two, not even close. They make their way to the table in a steaming bowl, the scent of lemon grass and sea salt summonsing the drool of any diner within a 10-metre radius. They're plonked in front of you, swimming in a pool of cloudy liquid, the steam quickly whipped away by Da Nang's ocean breeze.
'You have one first,' says Ngo, reaching into the bowl and picking up three of the open shells, shoving them in front of me. There's a pause as I eye my prey.
'Like this,' Ngo sighs, using a small fork to tear the plump flesh from its bi-fold shell, dipping the meat in a small saucer of salt, pepper and lime juice, and shoving it hungrily into his mouth, closing his eyes in pure joy as he chews.
I copy him. The clam explodes in my mouth, rich flavours of salt, lemon grass, chilli, lime and the juicy flesh drowning my tongue. It's incredible. It tastes of both the country it was cooked in and the ocean it came from. One clam is never enough.
Never mind that this is just the entree at our bustling beachside restaurant. Never mind that a typical Vietnamese lunch seems to involve eating as much as is humanly possible, then getting ready for the main course. The fight over the clams is intense.
It soon degenerates into a table war of flying elbows and small forks. You take no prisoners in this battle - only clams. Once they're finished, however, little fried fish served with a clay pot of rice arrive, and grilled cuttlefish, and marinated prawns, and mussels, and fish stew ...
You can forget that old wives' tale about not going swimming for half an hour after eating - we'll be doing well if we can make it off our chairs before dinner is served.
Of all the attractions in Da Nang, surely nothing can match its culinary delights, especially the seafood - it's cheap, it's tasty and it's everywhere.
And until recently, the port city didn't have much competition.
See, Da Nang never used to be a tourist destination. It was merely a beachside speed bump between two of Vietnam's big hitters: the ancient capital of Hue, to the north, and the quaint, heritage-listed Hoi An to the south.
Da Nang was like the middle child between two over-achieving siblings, who was largely left to do its own thing.
Vietnamese tourists have known about it for a while, drawn in droves to the city's white-sand beaches and slower pace of life.
(That's slower by Vietnamese standards, of course. The roads still appear insanely dangerous to the average Westerner, although Da Nang's boulevards are far removed from the chaos of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.)
Of the mountains, Ba Na is the furthest away and also the furthest from reality. Once a French holiday resort during colonial occupation, it's still a holiday resort, although things have changed.
Where once there were 200 villas dotting the mountaintop, the Vietnamese knocked them down for fear that the French might want to return. The villas have recently been replaced with a few, ironically, French-inspired hotels and a cable car to whip visitors up 1487 metres to the mountain-top.
Those not wishing to stay the night at Ba Na can still catch the cable car to the top and bask in the cool air for a day. While it's always stinking hot at sea level, Da Nang residents like to say Ba Na has four seasons in every day: winter at night, spring in the morning, summer at noon and autumn in the afternoon.
Spring - or, morning - is the best time to take in the views from Ba Na to the ocean and to visit the various Buddhist pagodas while avoiding resident monkeys.
You can still spot the remnants of villas. As it stands, though, one of the few relics of the colonial era tourists can still visit is a concrete tunnel designed to be used as a wine cellar. Plans are afoot to turn it into a bar, an idea the original inhabitants would surely approve of.
Danang Resort, VietnamBack at sea level, Da Nang's main attraction is its beach. Nha Trang might be Vietnam's famous coastal resort town but Da Nang's beaches are a lot more attractive to those not looking for parasailing rides or jet-ski hire. People are queuing for a piece of the beachside action, too - that much is clear from the mass of waterfront construction going on. Within a few years, those sites will be towering five-star hotels. Furama Resort has been here for the long haul, though, so stays will be blissfully free of bulldozers or cranes; it's five-star rooms and access to that beach, in all its white-sand, calm-ocean glory.
Da Nang has two mountains close to the city; both have been conveniently named to avoid confusion about what you'll find there: Monkey Mountain and Marble Mountain.
Monkey Mountain has, yes, monkeys, plenty of them.
It was also the site of a US military stronghold during the Vietnam War and has only recently been reopened to the general public. There's precious little infrastructure - just a small restaurant, a couple of disused radars at the peak and a gigantic statue of Buddha at the base.
Marble Mountain, at the other end of the beach, is actually a series of mountains that erupt from the earth, not unlike the islands in Halong Bay, in the north of Vietnam.
They're so named because, yes, they're full of marble, and yes, you can buy marble carvings from the shops at the base.
Finally, there's Da Nang's river, which is not really there for tourists to enjoy - it's a working river; fishing boats and cargo barges plow up and down the murky waters as they go about their business.
Fortunately, however, the river is lined with plenty of cafes in which to enjoy one of the true delights of a stay in Da Nang: a thick, strong coffee. It's a nice palate-cleanser before you head off in search of those clams.
TRIP NOTES
Furama Resort Da Nang has 198 guest rooms and suites overlooking the ocean on one side and a freshwater swimming lagoon and gardens on the other.
There are plenty of metered taxis in Da Nang or, for the brave, unmetered motorbike taxis. To get to Ba Na Hill, it's best to arrange transport through the hotel or a local travel agent.
Take a day trip to Hoi An. The heritage-listed city is a short drive away, its streets meant for wandering in, or having some clothes made by a tailor.
Spend a day in the Cham Islands, a small group just off the coast. Ferries leave from Hoi An and there's plenty of time to explore the main island of Hon Lao and go scuba diving or snorkelling before returning to the mainland.
Relax on the beach. It's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of trying to fit in all the attractions before you go home, so set aside some serious chill-out time. You may have the beach pretty much to yourself during the day.
There's plenty for children to do as most outdoor attractions are suitable for kids. Most of the larger hotels, including Furama, also offer daycare facilities.
Source: stuff
Recommendations for tour in Danang, Vietnam:
Danang City guide
Hoi An tours
Tet Trung Thu (Mid- Autumn Festival) in Vietnam
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Tet Trung Thu (Mid- Autumn Festival) in Vietnam: "
In Vietnam, Têt-Trung-Thu (tet-troong-thoo) or the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most popular family holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
Vietnamese families plan their activities around their children on this special day. In a Vietnamese folklore, parents were working so hard to prepare for the harvest that they left the children playing by themselves. To make up for lost time, parents would use the Mid-Autumn festival as an opportunity to show their love and appreciation for their children.
Appropriately, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Children’s Festival. Trung-Thu activities are often centered around children and education. Parents buy lanterns for their children so that they can participate in a candlelit lantern procession at dawn.
Lanterns represent brightness while the procession symbolizes success in school. Vietnamese markets sell a variety of lanterns, but the most popular children’s lantern is the star lantern. Other children’s activities include arts and crafts in which children make face masks and lanterns. Children also perform traditional Vietnamese dances for adults and participate in contests for prizes and scholarships. Unicorn dancers are also very popular in Trung-Thu festivities.
Like the Chinese, Vietnamese parents tell their children fairy tales and serve mooncakes and other special treats under the silvery moon. A favorite folklore is about a carp that wanted to become a dragon. The carp worked and worked and eventually transformed itself into a dragon. This is the story behind the mythical symbol, Cá hóa Rông. Parents use this story to encourage their children to work hard so that they can become whatever they want to be.
There’s also a story about how the Moon Lady ascended to the moon. A man named Chu Coi found a lucky tree that had special healing powers. Because this tree was sacred, people were forbidden to urinate at the foot of this tree.
Unfortunately, Chu Cuoi’s wife, Chi Hang forgot the rule and urinated on the tree. On day, while she was sitting on the tree’s branch, the tree started to grow and grow. Eventually, it reached the moon, Since then, Chi Hang lived on the moon for the rest of her life as a punishment for desecrating the sacred tree.
Source: familyculture
Recommendations:
Tours in Vietnam
"
There’s also a story about how the Moon Lady ascended to the moon. A man named Chu Coi found a lucky tree that had special healing powers. Because this tree was sacred, people were forbidden to urinate at the foot of this tree.
Unfortunately, Chu Cuoi’s wife, Chi Hang forgot the rule and urinated on the tree. On day, while she was sitting on the tree’s branch, the tree started to grow and grow. Eventually, it reached the moon, Since then, Chi Hang lived on the moon for the rest of her life as a punishment for desecrating the sacred tree.
Source: familyculture
Recommendations:
Tours in Vietnam
Top 5 reasons Why I Travel
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Top 5 reasons Why I Travel: "
I often get asked why I love to travel so much. Or why I can’t just stay home and skip a year without
going anywhere. The reasons are obvious to me but they are not always obvious to others. Here are my top 5 reasons why I’m hooked on travel!
Breaking the routine
No matter how many road trips I may take per year, a routine is a routine. You get up, go to work, workout, socialize and go to bed.
Although I don’t mind having a routine (surprising eh?!), I do like disconnecting from it at least once per year. Traveling is stress free once you’re in a location. You get up and do what you feel like doing. There is no need to return phone calls, cook or worry about anything! Now that’s what I call la bella vita.
Michoacan, Mexico
Learning About a new culture
I can read all I want about different cultures but the best way to learn is to actually experience it! Going to a country, talking with
locals, eating their food and walking in their streets is the best way to both experience and learn about a culture.
Friends in Rio
Meeting People and Exchanging Experiences
Traveling allows me to meet people. I do indeed meet people at home but it’s not the same. In a hostel, you randomly meet new friends in
your dorm room, in the kitchen, in the hallway or at breakfast. They normally don’t react when I tell them that I enjoy traveling alone and they don’t question why I’m in a hostel instead of a hotel. I don’t need to justify things that I normally justify when meeting new people at home. While some of the backpackers have traveled extensively and others are new to the backpacking world, traveling allows myself and others to talk and share our experiences. I may hang out with a person for as little as an afternoon, but that afternoon will forever remain engraved in me. I’ve spent countless nights just talking and listening to the interesting stories of others in random cities of the World. It’s great!
Hang-Gliding in Rio
Being a Kid is Fun
Hang-gliding in Rio, elephant riding in Thailand or skiing in the Alps make me feel like a kid again! These are adventurous opportunities
that arise when traveling and I crave these types of adventures regularly. It’s fun!
Sharing your experience
The best part of it all is to come back home (I actually do enjoy going back home believe it or not!) and share my experiences with
friends, family and who ever else I may run into!
Katherine Region
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Katherine Region: "
Stretching from the border with Western Australia to the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Katherine Region of the Northern Territory is full of things to do and see – including Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), historic Pine Creek, the beautiful Edith Falls, the remote Gulf Region, the thermal pools at Mataranka, and the premier fishing destinations of Victoria River and Daly River.
Lovers of the great outdoors will find plenty to do here – the landscape here is as diverse as it is beautiful - it is a combination of gorges, escarpments, rugged Outback, waterways, and savannah grasslands, making it the ideal place for fishing, bushwalking, camping, canoeing or bird watching. The region includes six national parks, and over ten nature parks, conservations areas and reserves, which are home to hundreds of species of birds and other wildlife.
The wildlife is easily spotted whilst walking in the region and there are numerous walking trails – Nitmiluk National Park alone has more than 60 miles of walking tracks, ranging from gentle strolls to challenging hikes.
Originally inhabited by the Dagomen and Jawoyn Aboriginal people, Katherine itself was “discovered” in 1862 when the explore John McDouall Stuart passed through. The town of Katherine developed following the arrival of the Overland Telegraph Line. After favourable reports about the suitability of the land here, the homestead “Spring Vale” was established here in 1879 – it still exists today, and is the oldest homestead in the entire NT. Katherine boasts a number of other “firsts” – it was here that the first flying doctor worked, and his original aeroplane is housed in the Katherine Museum. 56 miles from Katherine Township is Pine Creek, famous for its gold mining (which only ceased in 1995) and railway heritage.
Get more information about the tourist destination in Australia
Cheap Tickets to Australia
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Top 7 Places To Visit in Patagonia, ARGENTINA
Top 7 Places To Visit in Patagonia, ARGENTINA: "
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Top 7 Places To Visit in Patagonia, ARGENTINA
1. City of Mendoza
The Mendoza province of Argentina has been very popular for its vineyards and winery. Most of the locals will always recommend wines
originated from Mendoza. Malbec is one of the most popular types of wine in
Argentina and it is said that the best Malbec wines comes from Mendoza,
Argentina. One notable change in scenery in Mendoza region is the hazy
condition of the landscape. I was told it was the natural moist from the
ground. The city of Mendoza also has lovely restaurants and also a casino at
Sheraton Hotel. You can travel to Mendoza by air or by land.
2. UNESCO World Heritage City of Cordoba
As the second largest city of Argentina, Cordoba is one of the first Spanish colonial capital of the region. Declared in 2000, as World
Heritage Site by UNESCO, some buildings here are dated in range of hundreds of years old. The Cathedral which is perhaps the most emblematic structure in the city of Cordoba. Cordoba is located at the north of Mendoza and east of Buenos Aires.
3. Lake Alumine, Nuequen
If you love camping, this could be a perfect place for you. I bet not much people would know about this place. Lake Alumine is located at
Nuequen, with many lodges and resorts surrounding the area. I was there camping
with the 4x4 Expedition group for one night. It was my first time in my life
camping. The experience was surreal. With the breathtaking view of Lake
Alumine, this could be one of the preferred weekend getaway in Patagonia. Lake
Alumine is located in between Malargue and Bariloche.
4. Estancia La Angostura Ranch Homestay at Gregores
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Argentina, the ranch homestay experiences of Patagonia. In Gregores, I stayed over at Estancia
La Angostura Ranch. The stay included with dinner with authentic Patagonia food such as roast lamb, grill sausages and salads. Thus, there is also activity like horse riding with the view of the wild ducks and also the sheep in the ranch. It is a really unique experience.
Gregores is located in between Los Antiguos and El Calafate. There are also many other ranches available throughout Patagonia, Argentina.
5. Bariloche
I fell in love with this place at the first sight. Located by the lake side, Bariloche is beautiful. Shopping is heaven here, with a few
rows of shops selling the local Patagonia products. Staying in Bariloche could be slightly expensive as it is very popular with tourists. You can also purchase the famous Patagonia chocolates there. Remember to take the cable ride up to the hill for a breathtaking view of the beautiful city of Bariloche.
6. Perito Moreno Glacier, El Calafate
El Calafate, a town named after the famous Argentine black berry. It is located near the famous Perito Moreno glacier. Named after the 19th
century explorer Francisco Moreno, Perito Moreno spans 250 km2. It is the largest glacier in the region and one of the most important tourist attractions in Patagonia Argentina. We spent a full day visiting Perito Moreno Glacier at the Perito Moreno National Park by cruise and also by driving up to the mountain to have the best view of Perito Moreno glacier. Many tourists from around the world gathered here to see the glacier. The best way to go to El Calafate is by air.
7. City Of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the World
Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. Served as the closest port for cruises to Antarctica, the city has a population around 100
thousand people. Different cruises will come and go at different days, which make Ushuaia an important destination for cruise tourists.
The city itself has 2 casinos and plenty of restaurants serving fresh king crabs. Other tourist attractions will include the “End of
the World” train ride, the lighthouse cruise, the Penguin Island cruise and the local museums.
Ushuaia is the last port and the nearest port to Antarctica. Antarctica cruises are available there with a minimum of 10-11 days of cruise
and estimation of USD 5000 per person for the cruise fees. The easiest way to travel to Ushuaia is by air and by sea. Otherwise, you can have a 2 weeks road trip like me from Buenos Aires via Route 40 with the most amazing views of Patagonia.
For all the pictures for this post please visit http://www.placesandfoods.com/2010/08/top-7-places-to-visit-in-patagonia-argentina.html
and for all my Argentine related posts, please visit http://www.placesandfoods.com/category/argentina
Thank you for reading.
"
Wine Tasting in Lavaux, Switzerland
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Wine Tasting in Lavaux, Switzerland: "
September is the month in which the harvesting of the grapes takes place. During this time of the year, little villages in canton Vaud are filled with people enjoying open air festivals, such as the Fête des Vendages de Lutry taking place the weekend of the 24th to the 26th of September.
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Kim's Tips for Kicks in Stockholm
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Kim's Tips for Kicks in Stockholm: "
The capital of Sweden is beautiful, but go to Mexico if you want cheap. You’ll need to be a bit of a tightwad if you’re traveling on a budget, but that’s part of the fun!History
Stockholm is comprised of 14 islands and dates back to the 13th century. Its prime location immediately elevated the city among European capitals. It soon became a major hub. By the 15th century it was the commercial center for shipping and trade, most notably copper and iron. The Danes attempted to besiege the city in the late mid-16th century, causing uprisings and revolution of the Kalmar Union.When the dust settled, Gustav Vasa became the ruler. Under his heavy hand, trade and religious rule decreased as royal power and taxes increased. By the end of the 17th Century, Stockholm’s population reached 60,000. It was declared the capital and city planners laid out a more modern street grid outside the medieval center.
Famine and plague in the 17th century wiped out over a third of the population and put development on hold. Great strides in arts and sciences were made in the 18th century while the 19th saw a few more setbacks and riots.
Suburbs sprang up in the mid to late 20th century much the same as in American cities. The tourist industry boomed, and Stockholm is now one of the most visited cities in the world.
Weather and Timing
Think of Stockholm like Cleveland, only with less poverty. It’s on the water and the weather sucks much of the year. Expect about 23°F in the winter and 75°F in the summer. We were there in June and it was quite pleasant, apart from the rain. Spring or Fall are the best time to visit, but you’ll want to pack pants and a light jacket.
Brace yourself for crowds in the summer months— big crowds. Hostels and hotels will be in short supply, so plan ahead! We learned this the hard way. We were unfortunate enough to visit on the same weekend as a Kiss concert. So, we had to rock-and-roll all night in a budget-busting hotel in the suburbs. Yuck.
TIP: Some entry fees and tours are cheaper in the winter. If you are really pinching pennies, head to Stockholm in December or January!
Architecture and the Channels
One of the most enjoyable activities in Stockholm—weather allowing—is strolling through the narrow streets and bridges of the medieval Gamla Stan (the historic center). Spend some time walking from island to island over the bridges and simply take in the view. There are great walking paths right along the water and renting a bike is a great afternoon activity.Museums and Interesting Sites
If you love museums, this town is for you! Stockholm has over 100 museums not to mention the historic building tours. You can’t see them all, so I’ve got a few recommendations (in Euros for simplicity):- Vasa Museum – The Vasa Museum features the most complete 16th century ship on Earth. It is quite a sight to see and is the number one sight on my list. Be sure to catch the movie near the entrance which details the ship’s raising and restoration after centuries on the sea floor. It is gigantic and quite impressive. Cost: 12€
- The Royal Palace – You’ll want to see the official residence and workplace of the Swedish Royal Family, but make sure it’s open first. We were there right before the Royal Wedding in June 2010, and they were closed for business. Not a good time to drop in on the Royal family! Cost: 10€-15€
- Stockholm Cathedral – An oldie but goodie from 1279, Gama Stan’s oldest building and an amazing sight from the inside. It’s cheap for Swedish standards. Don't miss the famous dragon statue. Cost: 4€
- National Museum – Sweden’s premier collection of art. The collections comprise older paintings, sculpture, drawings and graphic art, and applied art and design up to the present day. Cost: 11€
- Moderna Museet – Modern Art, collections include works by Picasso and Dalí. Cost: 9€
- Skansen – Open-air museum of Swedish history and life of the Swedes. There are lots of animals and reenactments. Great for kids! Cost: 9€-16€ per attraction, a little expensive and outside the city
- Stockholm City Hall – Beautiful interior and you can climb the iconic tower for the view of the city Cost: 5€-9€
- Royal National City Park – The Swedes claim this is the first urban park in the world. Cost: FREE
Cuisine
I’m not a fan of traditional Swedish foods like pickled herring, blood sausage, fish balls, or boiled Salmon. I wasn’t impressed by the quality of food either. Breakfast usually consisted of some slightly stale rolls and low quality meat and cheese with mustard. You could also get some marmalade and lingonberry or cloudberry preserves, which I preferred.It was even hard for us to find a decently priced place to enjoy some Swedish meatballs. I do recommend springing for that at some point. Don’t skip the Lingonsylt. If you’d like to know some of Clark’s impressions of the food we tried, read this People of The Week post.
TIP: Street food is the cheapest route and a good way to taste the cultural influences of the city. Although, we weren’t overwhelmed by any of these places either.
IKEA
If you are interested in seeing the original (and biggest) IKEA, it’s right outside of Stockholm and makes for a cheap trip! Take the T-bana to Skärholmen and walk under the highway and along the walking path. There will be signs pointing the way to various shopping areas, IKEA included. Warning: Just like the IKEA's at home, it will take you 30 minutes to find your way back out of this place!TIP: To save money, consider getting outside the touristy, city center and experiencing the city as the locals do!
Entertainment
Stockholm has a lively medieval city center. If you are there during any of the festivals, you will be entertained all day by lively reenactments of jousts and other medieval type activities. You’ll also be shoulder to shoulder with hoards of other tourists.We passed a lot of bars advertising live jazz in the evenings. And there are also a lot of nightclubs and bars open late, if that’s your thing. If you venture a little outside the city center near the center of Södermalm, you’ll find some alternative types of cafes and shopping for a lazy afternoon. Don’t venture outside the main populated area after dark though, it can be a little dangerous.
Ice Cream
This is not an ice cream city. But, we did find a few places that are worth visiting. While in Gamla Stan, find a Belgian waffle shop. There will probably be a line. Get a waffle topped with ice cream. YUM!Itinerary Tips
Spend at least three days in Stockholm, five would be better if your budget can handle it. I suggest planning a couple museums a day and giving yourself enough time to rest and relax in Gamla Stan in the afternoon. Europeans love their afternoon coffee and cake, so join in!Resources
- Stockholm T-Bana (Metro) Map
- City Center Map
- Useful Swedish Phrases and Pronunciation - Good luck with that.
Did I miss anything? Post your suggestions, questions, or comments below!
"More like Beautipest!
More Good News to read!...
More like Beautipest!: "
To save a night of lodging, we decided to take the 10-hour night train from Krakow to Budapest. This was our first trip in a sleeper car, and we thoroughly enjoyed lying in bed watching the Polish, Czech,
Slovakian, and finally, Hungarian countryside whiz by.
We didn’t get much sleep though. The cabin was a bit stuffy with the window closed, so we left it open all night. The noise from wheels screeching to a stop woke me up every few hours, along with the lights from the stations flashing in the windows. Around 3:00 a.m. we stopped somewhere in rural Czech Republic for about 45 minutes while our car was detached and coupled to a new train. It's a strange feeling to fall asleep on one train and wake up on another.
After a great dinner at Castro Bisztro (try the carrot soup), we decided to relax at a late night swim party at Rudas Baths-- a 16th century Turkish bath on the Buda side of the Danube.
We soon discovered that Budapest is a very pretty city!
Budapest is rich in thermal springs, so there are dozens of baths around the city. The baths are one of many gifts from the Ottoman occupation of Budapest in the 16th century. It is a favorite activity
for locals and tourists. Doctors even prescribe bath sessions as therapy! The water in the baths is rich in calcium, magnesium, fluoride ions, hydrogen-carbonate, sulphate and sodium, which supposedly helps all sorts of ailments.
Having read up a little on the baths beforehand, we were prepared for a little confusion about how to pay, where to change, how to work the lockers, etc. Everything we read was accurate. The entry fee was a fair price (around $15), but we forgot towels. Luckily, they had towels for rent, but at the steep price of 15,000 forints-- that's over $7 each! Not until we entered were we told by the smarmy door boy that we would get 4,000 back upon leaving. Good news.
We entered the turnstile with our rubber RFID bracelets and were pointed toward a dour older lady who barked directions at us in Hungarian. After much confusion, we handed her our receipts and she
handed us our towels while yelling, “down, down!” repeatedly.
We gathered that we were to go downstairs.
Here we found rows and rows of changing room doors and little electronic kiosks on the walls. We tried a few doors with our bracelets only to get a red light. Denied. We stood watching what other people did for a while. Most were confused like us. Eventually, we realized that we needed to scan our bracelet at a kiosk for a changing room assignment, and then the bracelet would unlock the door. High tech, right?
After changing into our bathing suits, we were finally ready to take the plunge. We tip-toed out of the chilly locker room and climbed a short staircase. At the top we found a doorway with a little pool of
freezing cold water a few inches deep to rinse your feet as you entered. Was the bath going to be this cold?! We timidly walked through and founds ourselves in a huge domed room with a large steaming bath in the center and four more in each corner. There were doorways on all sides leading to saunas, steam rooms, massage rooms, lockers, and showers.
Rudas was built in 1550 and has only recently been opened to women bathers.
Most of our fellow bathers were in their twenties or thirties since this was the late night special (10 p.m. to 4 a.m.). Men were clad in everything from long, Michael-Phelps-style pants to Speedos to baggy trunks. Nearly all the women were in two pieces, some more modest than others. Europeans are not afraid to show a little skin.
The lights were low, the steam was billowing, and the water was hot. It was a very relaxing atmosphere. The water is not chlorinated. Each of the baths was heated at a different temperature. Bathers casually made their way from one to another and let the temperatures work on their bodies. The saunas and steam rooms also varied in temperature from mildly hot to stifling. I don't care for the steam rooms, but Clark is a big fan. He probably spent 30 minutes in the hottest one.
As you would expect on a Friday night, there were a lot of couples at the baths. It is the perfect weekend activity after a hard week at work. Most were well behaved, just a little snogging here and there. However, some were more bold.
About 10 feet to our left, one couple was obviously having a good time. In the interest of keeping this post rated PG, I'll just say they were getting a bit frisky and left onlookers wondering what was going on under the hot, undulating water.
We spent a good three hours at Rudas and were quite limber when we departed, despite another run-in with the towel lady and rude door boy.
A couple of days later, we tried out the largest bath in Budapest, Szechenyi Baths. This huge complex is even harder to navigate than Rudas, but much grander and beautiful. There are corridors leading to seemingly endless pools of different sizes, temperatures, depths, and even current strengths.
The crowd here is much more varied during the day. Families, young adults, and bus loads of geezers. Physical therapy sessions are held right next to splashing kids. Massages are 20-30 minutes and are only 20,000 to 40,000 forints (about $20).
There is a beautiful outdoor complex of pools with old men playing chess in the water. Each pool is heated to a comfortable temperature (which is good because it was very rainy and chilly that day) and decked out with waterfalls, bubbles, jets, and a fun whirlpool. I highly recommend a visit here if you find yourself in Budapest.
I would have loved to try out every bath if I had more time. The atmosphere is mellow and everyone is there to relax. Well, except for the undulating water couple at Rudas.
It rained a lot, but we really enjoyed the city. We saw some of the sights, but mostly relaxed and 'lived' for a few days (i.e. went shopping, saw a movie, etc.). We spent four nights at Lavender Circus and two night Couchsurfing with a great couple, Aniko and G. They made delicious paprikash that night, and we watched Coffee and Cigarettes on their movie projector.
We also got our Indian visas! Hooray! The Indian Embassy is conveniently located on top of a hill, in middle-of-nowhere Buda. The price tag stung a little (52,600 forints), but what can you do? The
only downside from our week in Budapest is that Clark caught a bad cold (probably from the baths), and we think he passed it along to, our main man, G. Sorry, G.
Overall, I’d call our stop in Budapest quite successful. We are wrapping things up in Zagreb, and moving on to Plitvice Lakes National Park in central Croatia for a few days. I imagine they will be a little colder than the thermal baths.
follow our journey at www.touncertaintyandbeyoond.com
Americans don't take vacation time - some Canadians don't as well
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Americans don't take vacation time - some Canadians don't as well: "
An article by Patricia Reaney of Reuters Life! shares surprising stats on Americans' vacation habits - almost half don't take any vacation time, and of one-third who do, they still don't get a complete break from work, as they check their Blackberrys or other smartphone devices.
Before I started looking into Canadian stats on this topic, I assumed that the situation would be pretty much the same. And I wasn't so far off the mark.
It seems that in 2010, while Canadians felt the need to take a vacation only approximately 54 per cent had either taken one, or were planning a getaway this year. These results were from the 2010 Vacation Deprivation Survey done by Expedia.ca.
This means about 46 per cent are not planning to take one or not using their days to their fullest - the survey finds that excuses include: not scheduling vacation time in advance to be able to make all their vacation days; they are workaholics and love their job; and they can't coordinate vacation days with their spouse or significant other.
I've taken only about three of my vacation days this year so far. This means I have another 12 days to do. Better start planning... and ideally the 12 days would be spent somewhere with a view like this:
 |
| Kite Beach in Cabarete, Dominican Republic |
This blog post appeared originally on my blog (Sub)urban Tourist.
"A Lesson in Saving Money: Traveling in the Offseason
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A Lesson in Saving Money: Traveling in the Offseason: "
Travel Expert Nicole Hockin suggests 21 spring, summer, fall and winter destinations to visit during the shoulder seasons when most of the tourists have already left.
Sunset at the bay of San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua.
Written by Nicole Hockin
If you’re like me then you dream of traveling the world visiting the small and obscure places, as well as large and illustrious destinations. And if you are also like me then the price tag on some of these spots can be quite prohibitive to fulfilling those dreams; unless you are flexible about when you see these wonderful locales.
Traveling in the offseason can be quite beneficial. First, there is the cost savings; from flights to hotels, car rentals and attractions – everything costs less when the peak season expires. For example, resorts in ski towns such as Aspen and Whistler (Canada) do huge business in the winter, but cut rates significantly during the summer. The second reason is that the crowds are a lot smaller, too. Imagine not waiting with your children hour after hour, shoulder to should with other exhausted families, for the chance to experience your favorite rides at Disney World. Tempting, right?
Warning: There are reasons that it is called the “off-season”. Weather can be adverse such as parts of Asia during monsoon season and certain restaurants and attractions could be closed or at the very least could have reduced hours. Non-peak months are also a time of renovation for many hotels and resorts. So if you can put up with the lobby remodel or an obstructed view, you may benefit from reduced rates and perhaps even a complimentary upgrade.
What is a Shoulder Season?
A Shoulder Season is the period of time between the high and low seasons. For example, the Caribbean and Mexico have very nice weather in late April and May, but prices for flights and hotels go way down because Americans are in between Spring Break and summer vacations. The same is true for South America.
So when should you go where? Below is a brief rundown of popular destinations by their off/shoulder seasons.
SPRING
1. Denver (April-May)
2. Egypt
3. Hawaii (March – May)
SUMMER
1. Australia (their winter/early spring)
2. Brazil
3. Florida
4. Las Vegas (July and August)
5. Phoenix
6. Ski towns (Breckenridge, Vail, Aspen, Whistler)
FALL
1. Bahamas
2. Central America (September)
3. Hawaii (August – October)
4. Italy (late September – November)
5. New England (September until early October – before foliage season)
6. Orlando (October until mid-November)
WINTER
1. California
2. Greece
3. New York City
4. South Africa
5. South Padre Island (TX)
6. Wine Country (Napa Valley and Sonoma, CA)
Share Your Stories?
What’s been your experience traveling in an offseason? Post a comment, e-mail me, and let me know!
Nicole Hockin is an industry travel expert, TV/radio personality and Hotels.com spokesperson. At Travel Smart Blog, she provides readers with practical travel advice and recommendations.
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How to Create a Website to Showcase Your Trips and Excursions
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How to Create a Website to Showcase Your Trips and Excursions: "
Steve Testone of SnapPages.com gives advice for people who want to share their experiences on the road with family and friends via a travel website.
Written by Steve Testone
Start the Website Before You Leave
This will allow you to update friends, family and colleagues on your adventures along the way and keep you from forgetting some of the great highlights of your trip. Think of your website as a travel journal and be sure to let those that will want to follow your travels know about your new website.
Choose a Website Tool That is Easy to Update and Maintain
Choose easily updateable and very accessible. You want to spend more time enjoying and less time “working”. Not to mention, if you aren’t carrying your computer, you might be paying for internet service in a café perhaps. SnapPages is a great solution for those that want to create and update a site quickly and easily from any computer that has an internet connection. This makes it ideal for the traveler.
Keep a Blog on Your Site
Blogs are a great way to document your travels day by day or more or less as often as you choose. You can often embed video, pictures, and, of course, text. These entries can also be categorized so people can search for topics they are particularly interested in – i.e. travel sites, people visited, dates, etc. In your blog, also note tips for other travelers that visit – i.e. do eat here, if you take this sub make sure to…
Photos capture and share what you see and are a way of bringing along a person on the trip that couldn’t come. A good website tool will allow you to interact with your photos in Facebook and Twitter (so you can easily share pictures between applications). I like to create albums based upon dates and/or locations or sites. I then display them in slideshows and galleries on my site, and post as images on pages with related content. Be sure to include a title of each photo if you have time. This is a great time and cost saver not to mention inbox saver for you and your friends and family. Imagine not having to email a million photos, not running to the local print center except for the truly greatest shots, and not filling up your friend’s inbox with a massive graphics file. I know it’s saved me some family griping. The embedded SnapPages Photo tools, which are easily added into to your site, include all of this functionality, including editing and adding effects.
Include a Calendar
Prior to leaving, update your calendar with where you are going and when. This will allow people to anticipate your next stop and perhaps add interaction such as do not miss sites, places to eat and souvenirs to load up on. I have also seen people post savings ideas. When you update your calendar, update your blog. Or if you want feedback on a location, request it in your blog.
Home Page News or Blog Section
This is a great way for people to quickly see your latest updates if they are following your trip progress.
Embed Your Twitter Feed
If you are a regular tweeter, include a section where any tweets you post are automatically seen. On your SnapPages website, this feed is automatically updated every time you “tweet”. This is a great option for those who want to send a quick fun update, say from the top of the Empire State Building.
When You Update Your Website, Let People Know on Facebook and Twitter
If you use these types of accounts, let people know you updated your site. I recommend not providing the address en masse unless you are doing this for a business or magazine or blog related purpose. Provide a note saying you just updated your travel website. Prior to departure, email the people you wish to share the site with and let them know of your website and its address.
Finally, upon your return add any details and photos you missed along the way and share your completed website with everyone! They will find it interesting, and many will find it useful in planning their own fun vacations. Viva La Vacation!
Article provided by SnapPages.com
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7 Reasons to Travel With One Bag
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7 Reasons to Travel With One Bag: "
Lindsay Champion of Overstock.com knows the benefits of traveling light.
Written by Lindsay Champion
The next time you travel, rather than shoving nearly everything you own into ten pieces of luggage and hauling them around, try packing light. Not only will it help you keep costs down while flying, it will improve your physical well-being and make your trip far less stressful. Keep your mind and bags light by traveling with one piece of carry-on luggage on your next vacation. Look below for the seven reasons to travel with one bag.
The Top 7 Reasons:
1. Save money. Most airlines charge money for checking bags. If you travel with one bag you can avoid having to pay for more than your plane ticket. Simply take your bag as a carry-on, and avoid the hassle of checking bags all together.
2. Lighten your load. Lugging multiple bags through the airport, in and out of the car, and into the hotel is a hassle. Pack your belongings into a backpack or a rolling suitcase so you can evenly distribute the weight in your bag and carry it easily, as opposed to pulling at two or three different bags at once.
3. Avoid long lines. Checking your bags at the airport almost always involves waiting in a long line. If you have only one bag, you get to bypass the line. It’s like having your own private VIP pass.
4. Stop worrying about losing your luggage. The more bags you check, the greater the chance that one of them will get lost. If you have only one bag, you can keep it with you at all times.
5. Packing to return home takes less time. Instead of running around the hotel, wondering if you’ve forgotten anything, relax and take your time because you only have one bag to worry about.
6. Explore before checking into the hotel. With bags bogging you down it’s hard to do any sightseeing. Instead, pack light and enjoy the day, even before check-in time.
7. Forget about the stuff and enjoy the trip. With your mind focused on all the things you brought and how to use them, you’ll have a harder time enjoying the new environment around you. Pack a few simple items, and instead of worrying about what to wear every day, repeat outfits as much as possible and keep it simple. You’ll enjoy your vacation more when you think about your personal belongings less.
Tip: Purchase a versatile bag with a garment bag included, so you can pack formal clothing as well as casual wear.
Overstock.com is an online retailer offering a wide variety of high-quality, brand-name merchandise at discount prices, including luggage, home decor, appliances, watches, jewelry, electronics, sporting goods, clothing and shoes. They give customers an opportunity to shop for bargains conveniently.
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How do You Really Do It? Steps to a Do-It-Yourself Eat Pray Love Experience
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How do You Really Do It? Steps to a Do-It-Yourself Eat Pray Love Experience: "
Barbara Elaine Singer.
At the age of 44, Barbara Singer decided to reinvent her life. In one tense-filled year, her only child went off to school, she got divorced, and fell in love with a new man who then suddenly died. Barbara was no longer interested in building wealth. She wanted freedom, adventure and romance. After giving up her career to travel cross-country in a RV to Alaska from Pennsylvania, she lived on a sailboat in the Caribbean and spent four months in Florence, Tuscany. For her, the real goal in life is now to enjoy people and collect experiences rather than go shopping and buying new material possessions.
She wrote “Living Without Reservations: A Journey By Land and Sea in Search of Happiness” partly to show that anyone can have an Eat, Pray, Love experience and build the life they dream about. Today, Barbara highlights 12 things to address as you work towards your goal. Here is her roadmap for making a personal transformation that allows you to steadily develop and realize your own true vision:
Written by Barbara Elaine Singer
1. Get Ready Mentally. Your attitude is far more important than the check book balance. Focus 100% on creating the lifestyle that you want. Be acutely aware of how you are spending your time and money. If it is not bringing you closer to your goal, it is taking you farther away. There are NO neutral actions. You must believe in why and what you doing with all your heart. You are no longer marching in step with everyone else. You are choosing a different path and will be making daily decisions that others will question. Don’t listen to anyone who is negative. Stop doing anything that doesn’t bring you joy. Quit all organizations, commitments. Create a totally different home environment -turn off the TV, turn on your favourite music, open the windows, eat your meals outside and de-clutter. Change up your daily routine and spend time walking or biking alone in nature. Plan your strategy.
2. Liquidate your home. Rent it to someone else or sell it. The goal is to travel light. You will be renting a room from someone else somewhere in the world (perhaps even several times a year in different locations), so all your possessions need to fit into a bedroom. Rent or sell your home furnished if you can. It will save you a lot of hassle of moving and selling furniture and household goods which have very little resale value. Sell antiques or valuables on Ebay. Hold a garage sale. Consign designer clothing and expensive jewelry. Avoid storing anything except personal keepsakes. You will pay to keep stuff that no one, including you, will want in 5 years from now. If you have debt, rent your extra bedrooms, attic, basement, garage to others who need it for storage until your Jump Date arrives.
3. Get Rid of Your Car. Stop your car lease or car payments sell it then buy something under $5,000 and put the minimum insurance required by your state. You will cut 2 bills with this one move. Most of the time, your car will just sit, unused while you are out of the country.
4. Stop all re-occurring monthly charges. If you don’t spend it, you won’t have to earn it. Stop all services like cable TV, lawn care, pool care, cleaning service, car detailing, beauty treatments, all memberships, and classes. You will have plenty of time to do these things yourself because you are not doing any of the old time wasters of the past. Eat all your meals from home. Use up all household products in your pantry, bathroom, wine cellar/bar and garage. BUY NOTHING!!
5. Forget about Security and Responsibilities. Security doesn’t exist. It is a big lie. All kinds of unexpected events can change our lives in second- like a heart attack, car accident, getting fired, or divorced. Live today joyfully rather than spending time, energy and money on days that may never come. You will handle what actually happens. You are only responsible for yourself. You are not responsible for another. Let each person stand on there own. By providing for another, you are actually weakening them by making them dependent. Let each person stand on their own. Their life is a result of the choices they made. If you just said, “I would love to do that but…,” everything after the but is your ego talking. I can assure you, that if you died tomorrow, everything after the but…would some way or some how be taken care of.
6. Get Healthy. Since you will be living and travelling abroad, you need to be in good shape. Get off all medications and get in your correct weight category. Look toward alternative medicine if need be. Buy catastrophic health insurance with a big deductible and shop around for the best price. The healthy you are, the cheaper your monthly rate.
7. Get Mobile. Get a laptop and learn to get all the information about your finances and other important things on line. Stop every piece of paper mail and learn how to get what you need from anywhere in the world. Get a Post Office box at Mailboxes Ect. And have them forward you the mail every so often.
8. Living Without a 9-5 Job. Focus on the gift of exchange.You may not have money, but you have something much more valuable, time and talent. Practice thinking of ways to get what you need without using money. Always give more than you receive in cash value. Do your best and think win/win. I trade you this X and you give my Y. Everytime you spend, think how you could get this without paying with money. You can have everything you need to live your dream life without a huge pile of money. Start in small hops. Take a leave of absence, unpaid for a month or two. You will be surprised how many employers would love that. You would take time off unpaid if you or your loved one was sick, why not when you are well. There are lots of ways to make money without a “real job” and all the deduction from a normal paycheck. Trade out for services you need. Clean for the dentist or paint his fence. Let your natural talent shine and the money will come. Offer something you enjoy doing. Such as babysitting, tutoring, yard work, painting, caring for elderly or sick, music lessons, computers, fixing things, organizing closets, helping make a garage sale or running errands. You can even trade your room rent for these items.
9. Work on the Road. Work when it’s right, then make it last as long as you can. That’s my motto. You work in season in the states and then travel wherever you want until it is time to work again. If you have skills you can freelance your self online anywhere. If you don’t, you can still find good paying tipping jobs at restaurants and resorts at during high season for a few months in destination towns (e.g., Aspen or Key West). Then you can fly to Italy or the Carribean, rent a room for a month at a time, and go on from there. When you head to the destination and high caliber tourism locations during high season everyone is hiring. The beauty of moving around is you get choose a place where the weather, temperature, and recreational opportunities meet you desires.
10. Make Your Plans and Study Now. You may simply want to move to someplace new and get set up for the first time. You can do that. If you have a particular country in mind, apply for a visa before you quit your job and travel. Every country is different so get online and do your homework. Don’t be afraid! It is easier to find work once you are already there. Not the other way around. You can’t even imagine the opportunities until you are there to see what is happening. Find work with housing included: working on a cruise ship, for Club Med type resorts, caretaker. Work for an American company abroad.Use the internet! Tons of resources at your fingertips. Work for a resort company. Work for the National Park system (Campworkers.com), find unique opportunities at Caretakergazette.com or work on boat and be paid crew (Crewfinder.com or 7knots.com), or be a live in nanny or teacher and travel with an International family (nanny services).
11. Making a Living on the Road. You don’t have to plan out the rest of your life. Break it down into little chunks. Rent a room for a month at time or plan to stay in an area for a season. If you decide to go touring you can keep costs low by staying in hostels (no longer just for youths!). There are also organizations that offer assistance to travelers, pensiones, and home stays like serva.org. Americans can even travel and work in places like American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and other places without any additional papers. Once you are on the road, fellow travelers are an excellent source of information. You do not need to have an agenda or great expectations. Stay light and be flexible.
12. Be Helpful And Be Useful. Visit without mooching – If you are lucky and have friends and family in places you want to visit, go see them, and be useful. Offer you talents. Offer your time. Work freely and wholeheartedly. While you are there, you can wait for the roofer or the air condition inspector to arrive, take the dog to the vet, clean the pool, mow the grass or take their car in for repairs, hang drapes, paint, do yard work – whatever you do to be helpful and appreciated. Make people happy you are there and make sure you leave a favorable impression.
Hit the road. Go ahead. Decide to meet new people living incredible lifestyles. You will blow your mind and eyes wide open.
You will learn to trust the laws of the universe. You will find courage that you never knew you had. You will watch in sheer amazements as life and all its miracles, unfold right before your eyes.
Living Without Reservations is for all those who say “some day.” This book will inspire you to take that leap of faith and starting living your dreams.
Living Without Reservations: A Journey By Land and Sea in Search of Happiness is available in bookstores nationwide and online. For more information visit http://www.barbaraelainesinger.com..
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