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Five weeks in Iceland – “That's going to be expensive” people said to me. It depends. I woke up and looked behind the curtain, clear blue sky. Yesterday had been cold and grey all day, I find blue sky exciting. I looked at my clock – 08:07, time to get up. The waterfall I'd seen up the road yesterday would look even better in the sun so by 08:20 I was ready to leave (ready to leave = dressed. Everything else is optional) I got to the waterfall and although there were people there it wasn't too busy so I was able to have a good walk around and take some photos. I needed breakfast so I left the tourist car park and stopped a couple of miles up the road to cook myself an omelette - my standard breakfast so far this trip. Since it was sunny, I wanted…
Tuesday, 01 March 2016
Van, Kurdish Turkey: Why I Will Accept Invitations to Tea More Often
Written by Michael Chrusciel
I woke up at 3:45 AM at my budget hotel in Kadiköy, Istanbul’s trendy Asian counterpart, and ran down the block to catch the first HAVATAS shuttle of the day at 4:15 AM to Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. In my attempt to spend as much time in as many cities during my limited time in Turkey (part of a much larger Middle East voyage), and most importantly to do so on a college student’s budget, such daily start times were not uncommon – they were Pegasus Airlines’ cheapest seats. Prior to arrival in Van, one of the largest cities in Turkey’s Kurdish far east, I compiled only a handful of items on my touristy checklist, as most tour guides left this area off their table of contents, so it seemed it would be one of the simplest agendas of my travels. After landing in Van, I boarded a local minibus,…
The two halves of Kochi, India’s tourist draw in Kerala State – God’s Own Country as the street signs remind you – are so violently different, it’s no surprise that it takes not one but two bridges to keep them apart. The modern half, called Ernakulam is tangled, loud, with heavy construction (they’re putting up an elevated train) that manages the near impossible – it makes an Indian traffic jam worse. So worse in fact, that I jumped off the bus before we arrived at the station, deciding that a brisk walk would be more effective (walking on my hands backward would have been more effective). When I reached the station, and the locals directed me to the proper inner-city transit, I pushed my way into the crowded bus and off we went, cramped and unhappy. After crossing the first bridge (called Vanduruthy) and its adjacent military complex, the character…
Riga is home of most of the Latvian population, but keeping in mind that's not even two million people it's not really as drastic as you might think. Therein lies the first charm of Riga. It is physically not possible to be stuck in a crowd, and the only way to satisfy your longing for one is to take the rush hour public transport. My only reason for the trip was for the architecture, summer and some cool drinks so there was no real plan as to my exact movements. The main fascination with Riga is that there is not a single street that you can walk through without your head held high. The place that houses the highest collection of Art Deco style buildings has found a way to mix it with in a strange harmony styles that are developing now. The old wooden style homes that seem to…
To stand on the streets of Kolkata is to be assaulted by this raw and unapologetic city in eastern India. Vehicles, masses of humanity and the climate press down on you from all sides. Amongst the myriad exotic locations that India has to offer to the intrepid traveler, Kolkata is often at the bottom of the bucket list. But this is a city that has shaped history and shaped a nation. Kolkata, or Calcutta as it was known until recently was the capital of British India. Walking the streets of Kolkata takes you down to ground level where you can experience the faded but still magnificent colonial architecture. It also gives you the opportunity to experience the city’s intellectual heritage which gave birth to socio-cultural reform movements such as the Bengal Renaissance, fermented nationalist awakening and produced Nobel Laureates like Rabindranath Tagore and Amartya Sen. And this is the niche…
Every year around October, its always the same question on my mind, “Where do I go for the Christmas break?” After a two hour call with my friend, Chand, we had made up our mind. We were going to CHINA!! Soon we started chalking out our plans which especially involved great research on the availability of vegetarian food. By mid November we had the entire itinerary planned out and were well into flight bookings. We had even started the annoying work of applying for a tourist visa which is a big downside to having an Indian passport. Initial hiccups with the visa and normal travel jitters aside, we finally arrived in Beijing on the 13th of December to an amazing airport with cool body temperature sensors. The Chinese do take their health seriously, but to be deported from a country for having a wee bit elevated body temperature is one…
My fiancé and I are set to board an overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. Since this would be a new experience for me and Cassie we were excited. We board the train at 7pm and are not set to arrive in Chiang Mai until 9.55am… Trust me, I wish that was a lie! I am a very energetic person and hate to be static for a short amount of time, let alone for nearly 15 HOURS!! Still, this was the cheapest way to do it and Cassie and I aren’t in a rush. Find our seats and try to get comfy. At this point I’m confused as there are no beds, just two seats facing each other. Not seats like on an airplane that recline and have adjustable head rests, These are uncomfortable brown leather seats from the 50’s that would probably…
Overlooking Anse Marron: Photograph by Danielle Caldron When most people think of the Seychelles, they immediately conjure up images of honeymoon couples and package luxury holidays. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth! The Seychelles can be an affordable holiday destination for solo travelers with the right planning. Here are some suggestions on how you can do the Seychelles on a budget. Stay on La Digue. All three main islands of Mahe and Praslin and La Digue have several idyllic white beaches fringed with lush greenery. However, Mahe and Praslin are both large enough to make renting a car a necessity. A one week car rental can set you back roughly 285 Euros (as of April, 2014). La Digue offers an alternative. The island is small enough for visitors to get around by bicycle or on foot. Hiring a bicycle for one week is easy. There are several places…
Mindo is a small town north of Quito, Ecuador but it feels like a different world from the hustle and bustle of big city life in Quito. It is laidback and informal, but it hosts nature lovers from all over the world with amazing walks, waterfalls, animals, as well as more adventurous river and climbing activities all located closeby. Mindo is a snapshot into only one of the faces, ecosystems and flavors of rural life in South America, but don’t forget to pack your gumboots and raincoat. We boarded a full bus from Quito to Mindo paying $2.50 for the two hour bus trip. We should have booked in advance as we ended up standing in the aisle most of the way! My first impression was how small, quiet and laidback Mindo was although some parts like our hostel could do with a spruce up. There were dogs wandering the…
Most people who travel to Berlin include the Brandenburg Gate on their list of sights to see; it is, after all, an integral part of the history of the city. Likewise, Berlin’s Reichstag building and museums are fantastic, and they are well worth a visit! But there are other unique and interesting activities in Berlin that many tourists don’t see. Here are five of my favorites: Typography of Terror Located in the center of Berlin, the Topography of Terror does an amazing job of telling the story of National Socialism (Nazis) in Germany. It isn’t a “comfortable” way to spend a couple of hours, but when you are finished you will have a much better understanding of what happened (and why) in Germany during the 1930s and 1940s. The museum is a one-floor building near where the secret state police (SS) headquarters were located, and a section of the Berlin…
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I was sitting by the wing of the small plane from Inverness to Stornoway. A slightly nervous flyer, I was buoyed by my excitement at finally visiting the Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western Isles. As we flew over the Isle of Lewis I was struck by how little the signs of human habitation dented the green rocks, even as we approached Stornoway itself. The plane was initially unable to land and so circled the island, at which my point my anxiety levels began to rise, but the air hostess remained smilingly reassuring. Finally we were landing and yet all I could see beneath us was sea and beach, so close is the runway to the shoreline. Had we been flying from Glasgow to Barra, the southernmost of the islands, we would actually have been landing on the beach. For those who prefer a less dramatic arrival, it’s also…
There I was, standing face to face with a monstrous bear who stared back at me with vacant soulless eyes.Well, to be honest this was no man eater; in fact it looked downright friendly. Even the two giant bees perched on each of his shoulders were smiling. The truth is that this cartoonish statue stood guard inside my room at the Hang Nga Guest House in Dalat, Vietnam.Known by both locals and tourists as the “Crazy House,” this garish hotel-slash-cultural curiosity features a design that seems inspired by hallucinations. Staircases wind haphazardly around the cave-like structure, easily leading visitors back to where they started instead of their desired destination. Each room has its own statue which corresponds with the animal name, hence the ursine fellow accompanying me in the “Bear Room”. The other accommodations on hand include eagle, tiger and kangaroo themes. Here visitors can pay 30,000 VND ($1.50) to tour…
Our visit to South Dakota marked the third day of the post-grad cross-country road trip I took with two of my best friends, Katelyn and Stephanie. We had covered a lot of ground in those first two days since leaving the East Coast, arriving in Cleveland on the first night and spending the second night in Albert Lea, Minnesota. After a late-night stop at a desolate, attendant-less gas station where Katelyn grew so scared she dropped the gas pump on the ground in her haste to get back into the car, and then arriving at a similarly desolate hotel located next to a truck stop, we awoke early the next morning and proceeded to inadvertently drive two hours in the wrong direction-in the rain. So there was somewhat of a collective sigh of a relief as we entered South Dakota later that afternoon. The sight of a sign welcoming us…
The Indian Monsoon may conjure up images of intense flooding and relentless downpours, but it can also be the perfect time to visit... The small hill station of Darjeeling has become world famous thanks to the many tea plantations that surround it. In the high season (Oct-Nov; March-May) the town’s chaotic web of steep lanes heave with tourists trying to escape the heat of the Indian plains. During the summer monsoon however, the town turns into a peaceful mountain getaway - prices are slashed - yet the views and activities are as sublime as ever. The perfect time to visit Darjeeling is in mid September. Although a few days may be affected by persistent drizzle, breaks in the clouds reveal a serene and unique landscape. From Observation Point or nearby Tiger Hill, it is possible to look down on the lush plantations and be mesmerized by the snow-capped Himalayan peaks on the…
New Years is always difficult. Do we pay a fortune to go out to the places we always go to or do we convince a friend to hold a house party again? Neither took my fancy this year, so my friends and me decided that we should take a trip somewhere new and exciting that we could fly to. Unfortunately flying isn’t cheap, and despite what EasyJet tells you, you cannot get anywhere for the money we were looking at, especially around the New Year period. I also figured if we were to be away during winter, why not do a bit of snowboarding? Before I knew it I had bust out the spread sheet and was ringing up the cost of driving to Slovakia, getting accommodation, hiring boards and sorting a lift pass. Three days snowboarding for just 350 pounds. Find that in the Alps.Fifteen hours into our drive…
Leaving it up to fate, I flipped a coin. Heads was north, and tails south…and the south it was. This was about the extent of my itinerary when taking a month long trip to India. The sub-continent is such a huge place, I thought it best simply to let things run their course in whatever way and in whatever direction they may - after all my reason for visiting India was to ‘find myself’, as they say, following a relationship breakdown. I’ve heard horror stories about India and how it can be a challenge for the most seasoned traveler - from getting conned and staying in dire accommodations, to suffering the famous ‘Delhi Belly’. However, none of this put me off and I can safely say India exceeded my expectations. Whenever I thought of India before, it conjured images of a colorful, vibrant and exotic destination, full of religion, festivals…
Traveling as a student can be difficult. You are on a shoe-string budget, which often means skipping out on the greatest sights and landmarks because you can’t afford the entry fee, or nursing a cheeseburger at an ill-lit McDonalds because the nearest pub was too pricey. However, being a student on a budget can have its perks. Many sights and activities in York are at a reduced rate, or even free, with a student ID. Here are some of the best ways to stretch your dollars (or pounds!) while traveling in York. Forget about the double decker red tour buses you’ll see going round and round the city center – they are over-priced, and only show landmarks within the city that you can see for free on your own. The nice thing about York is that everything worth seeing is accessible by foot, no matter where you…
There is a phenomenon here in New Zealand that dominates the tourist industry. Freedom camping is the art of driving around this magnificent country, usually in a campervan, and camping in areas of outstanding natural beauty (or beside smelly long-drop toilets, depending on the site you end up with!). As part of a year-long expedition, my boyfriend and I decided to hire a camper and explore alone. After many bus journeys of more than 24 hours in South America, we were happy to be in control of our own destiny. By the time I arrived in New Zealand I had eaten well into my allocated budget. Without wanting to rely on credit cards, I had to figure out a way to conserve my money, and have compiled a list of “off the beaten track” camp spots and budget stretching tips to help enhance your freedom camping experience. Go off-peak Traveling…
Xi’an, China is best known for being the central location from which one visits the famous Terracotta Army, but in fact, it’s so much more. One of the Four Great Ancient Capitals, the walled city offers enough delights on its own to satisfy the budget traveler needing a break from standard sightseeing. To begin with, train travel in China is a good value. An overnight journey from Beijing will not put much more of a dent in your wallet than a pricier hostel or budget hotel and the long- distance trains are an experience in themselves! Upon arrival, the city is small enough to navigate with relative ease and the bus system is extremely easy to use -though be sure to secure directions and the location of your hostel beforehand. Once settled, your first port of call must be to make a circuit above the rooftops along the 8 ½…
Before visiting Greece, my first thoughts always consisted of the islands when thinking of the country, but the Cosmos’ “Best of Greece” historical tour (www.cosmos.com) opened my eyes to the beauty and wonder of the mainland. After visiting such places as Athens, Olympia, Delphi, Sparta and Metero on the mainland, I realized Greece’s culture, cuisine and history equals its recognized beauty. Our tour of Greece had a range of travelers from Australia, England, Canada, Cuba and the United States. People signed up in singles, pairs and with their families, so the age-range spanned anywhere from 13 to 65. In the 10-day period of the tour, our group of 22 people (which I found out is on the smaller side of most tour groups) were able to bond in a way I haven’t remembered since overnight camp. More than just the tour itself, the people were also an experience. Yanni, our…
Although the bluegrass state of Kentucky is relatively small, many people of commanding reputation have been born there, among them Abraham Lincoln, Hunter S. Clarke, Lionel Hampton, Adlai Stevenson, George Clooney and Muhammad Ali. Another American icon synonymous with Kentucky is the Corvette, immortalised in the 1960s TV show ‘Route 66’. The car is a powerful symbol of American strength and freedom, and its enduring ubiquity confirms its popularity.
Why Guadalajara? It’s cheap! Guadalajara is a diamond in the rough. This second largest city in Mexico boasts warm weather year round, an abundance of historic architecture, and plenty of attractions, yet is not flooded with tourists. Touted as the most “Mexican” of Mexican cities for its rich culture and abundant mariachis, the nearly 500-year-old downtown has an almost European feel with narrow streets, cathedrals, and large plazas. In addition, numerous nearby side trips from Guadalajara add even more vacationing value to this hidden gem.
As soon as we had crossed into Algeria, it was clear that something wasn’t right. Our shared taxi was slowing down and speeding up, and staggering from side to side on the winding hillside road, like an overloaded, drunken donkey. To the side, lay a sharp, deep drop from the mountain to the surprisingly verdant valley.
The Caribbean Islands are by far one of the most popular tourist regions in the world. A large number of travelers, many of whom are from snow-covered countries, use these tropical destinations to escape for a brief period and enjoy the sunny, hot weather and seemingly unending supply of rum-based drinks.
Costa Rica has long been Central America’s destination of choice for travelers and expatriates from around the world. It’s a paradise that easily meets the needs of any vacationer and has the unique advantage of being able to offer a lot for a little – if one knows where to find a good deal. So put those sandals on for this spectacular getaway in the sun, because the only shoestring needed here is a budget. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy the ‘rich coast’ at bargain basement prices:
With the current economic crisis, expensive cities in Europe like Paris, London, and Vienna are out of many people’s reach. While some avoid the continent all together, there are still many places that offer good value and similar charms – most of them involve traveling east.
If the dismal economy is preventing you from taking a vacation this spring, consider this: while most are putting their travel plans on hold, vacations may actually be more affordable now than they have been in years! Hotels and resorts have been trying to attract travelers by piling on free incentives, to deal with the heavy decline in sales. The supply of rooms far outstrips the demand, and as a result everything from complimentary breakfast to discount massages are being offered at top dollar hotels. Rates are also being slashed to almost half the original prices. To find top travel deals, its been suggested that bargaining may work in this economy- as hotels are more open than ever to anything that will get travelers to come. Several resorts including The Four Seasons have been offering a third, fourth, or fifth night of travel for free. Online rates at other resorts,…
Lovingly ignore your great aunt’s advice to attend the Changing of the Guard. Even put your friend’s suggestion of spending one full day at the National Gallery on the backburner. While those outings are distinctive for their historical spectacle and artistic value (and free of charge), a more unlikely, brassy way to dive into London awaits adventure-seeking travelers, and for cheap.
Many have lamented the loss of the Windjammer Barefoot Cruises. Catering to a much younger crowd than the big ships, their small wooden vessels would ply the azure waters of the Caribbean with only 60-100 passengers. Famed for their onboard parties and themed nights, they were responsible for many lifelong friendships and more than a few romances. While they have sadly not operated since 2007, those seeking to mellow out aboard a small yacht with the young and the young at heart should know they still could. Not in the Caribbean, but in the Mediterranean with a Turkish Blue Cruise.
Sunday, 28 September 2008
Exploring Alaska's Inside Passage by Ferry: The Perfect Budget "Cruise"
Written by Lies Ouwerkerk
Alaska, "the great land" in Aleut, with its snow-capped mountain ranges and majestic, often inaccessible, wilderness had been on my travel wish list for quite some time. However, the mere thought of an expensive cruise kept me from making any concrete plans. When I finally learned about the affordable Alaska Marine Highway Ferry System, I didn't think twice, I booked a cabin on a ferry from Skagway (Alaska) to Bellingham (Washington) on the spur of the moment, and immediately started to figure out how to get there. In the end, I decided to fly to Whitehorse, Yukon, about a two hour drive from Skagway.
Saturday, 05 July 2008
Putting on Your Fayda Face: How to Bargain in Senegal
Written by Gwen Hopkins
We would come to understand that wahauli, bargaining, is a science and an art. It takes calculating and improvisation, but most of all, it takes fayda – courage, pride, and attitude. The bargainer has to demonstrate fayda at all times to keep the respect of the vendor. For Senegalese bargainers, this respect is serious. For us, the students on my study abroad program, we were just trying to amuse the vendors enough so that they would like us and drop their prices.
The amazingly breath-taking volcano Pacaya was the highlight of my stay in Guatemala. Situated 30k south of Antigua it rises 2552 metres, or 8371ft into the sky. This very active volcano is a must see. Guides reckon anyone can do it, I say make sure you have a head for heights and an average-to-good level of fitness. It’s not so much the walking; it’s what you’re walking on, namely the old lava, which is very unstable and sometimes hot. However, reaching the summit and standing metres away from flowing lava, you could be forgiven for thinking you have stepped out of reality and onto the set of some discovery program.
Finding ourselves just shy of our thirties and well on our way into the “real world” -- careers, a mortgage, and various other trappings of adulthood -- my husband and I felt the need for a winter getaway. Perhaps the idea of a budget Euro-vacation struck us because its appeal lay in the evocation of younger and more carefree days. At the same time, we weren’t prepared to spend our restful week away from work hitchhiking with backpacks and passing off fake ID’s to get into youth hostels. We had a week’s vacation, and we had the means to upgrade slightly from the days of student travel. We agreed that if we could do it for the price of a Caribbean all-inclusive deal we would go. We did some reading and deemed Portugal our destination of choice.
While I was eating a flower-shaped ice cream in the Saint Paul Quarter, my mom watched Paris burning in flames on Fox News. I could see the first signs of spring, but no signs of civil unrest. In reality, 14 year olds were getting tear-gassed only a few neighborhoods away in the Republique, but for me Paris felt very peaceful.
Eighteen hundred years ago there was an explosive volcanic eruption - the largest the world has seen in 5,000 years. The Chinese noted a ‘blackening of the sky’, and the Romans recorded ‘the heavens turning fiery red’. Much of New Zealand’s North Island was covered in a thick layer of pumice. Today we can still see the result of the volcanic eruption: Lake Taupo. The lake covers an impressive 622 square meters, an area the same size of Singapore.
Last May, I headed off to Southeast Asia – where the US dollar stretches a bit further than it does in Europe – and while backpacking through Vietnam, my two travel companions and I stumbled upon Hoi An, a small town on the central coast that just might be Southeast Asia’s most European city – at 1/5th the price.
I’ve met too many people who’ve decided to cut Scandinavia out of their European itinerary because of fear of high costs. So, this spring when I caught a sale for a $199 round-trip ticket to Stockholm from NY ($389 with taxes) I grabbed it and was off on another adventure – to prove Stockholm is possible on a budget.
The Cyclades are ancient, breathtaking, and in large part gloriously untouched by the modern hustle of city life. I once assumed that they were also inaccessible to someone without lots of money to throw around (which was me, three weeks into a four-week journey across Italy and Greece, and about 99.9% into my budget). Luckily, my husband and I were there outside of “high season,” when prices and temperatures soar and the islands become overrun with tourists.
When it comes to cheap thrills in developing countries, it’s hard to do better than a motor scooter. During a recent three-month trip through south east Asia, I found no greater pleasure than blasting past villages and farms, taking in the menagerie of smells and seeing the countryside as many locals see it - from the saddle of a step-through motorbike.
With the dollar’s recent decline versus the Euro, there are few travel values left in Western Europe. For adventure travelers willing to go on their own, a self-guided bicycle tour of Sicily is still a bargain – and a wonderful adventure.
Bangkok is a magical place. It’s a bustling and colorful warren of small alleys, grand boulevards and intriguing market places where the air smells of incense and spice. The friendly locals have a zest for life and a very different idea on how to live it. As you drive through the streets-horns blaring and your life flashing before your eyes- you realize that the taxi drivers are high on a little more than life.
Far from the polished resorts, white sand beaches, and all night partying of Cancun and Playa del Carmen lies another side of Mexico. Beachfront, colorful, and with a devotion to tequila that rivals any Spring Break destination, the northern Baja peninsula offers the budget traveler a perfect weekend getaway.
Want to visit Florence and Tuscany, but are afraid of the damage to your wallet? For a beautiful side trip from crowded and expensive Firenze, take a little detour past Pisa, and hit the gorgeous seaside villages known as Le Cinque Terre – the five lands. This is an area in the province of Liguria, on the Italian Riviera, which consists of five villages along the coastline that are connected to each other only by footpaths and train tracks – no cars allowed
As a recent college graduate, I was young but broke and didn’t want to squander my meager savings. So when I decided on a solo trip to Argentina as my first post-college adventure, I was determined to make my budget stretch as far as possible.
India, multifaceted and rich with historical lore, is a wondrous tourist delight. Start your visit to India with the capital, New Delhi, or as Delhi-ites would say, “Dilli”! The heart of Delhi is Connaught Place. All Delhi commerce and tourism is harbored in Connaught Place. Built to commemorate the Duke of Connaught’s visit in 1920, this paint-splintered ring of ever-widening colonial arcades is lined with dusty-shop fronts, airline offices, restaurants and squatting merchants selling everything from piles of books to (inexplicably) whips and knuckle-dusters.
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