Tag Archives: Guest Bloggers

Reasons Why I Travel the World with My Kids

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When I was pregnant with my first daughter, Kalyra, I felt as if those close to me were celebrating something other than the life growing inside me.

“So that’s the end of the travels, hey? You can’t travel with kids now.”

I felt as if I was walking a path to the gallows. Why did I have to give up my dreams and turn from a life of joy and freedom to one filled with routine, rocking chairs, and labels?

I was determined to prove the naysayers wrong. I wanted to be like the family I had met only months before on the slow boat from Laos to Thailand. They had an active 3 year old, a bubbly nine month old baby, and they were carted around in prams and backpacks. It looked challenging, but they managed. And they were happy.

“If someone else can do it, I can too.”

Kalyra, now aged six, has accumulated more stamps in her passport than most adults. My youngest, Savannah, now two, has five. In three weeks, we leave to road trip around Australia for 12-18 months.

What do you mean, “You can’t travel with kids”? Here are four reasons for why I travel the world with my kids.

1) Magical memories made while bonding with happy parents

When you go on a family holiday, you leave all the worries of your everyday life behind. There are no schedules to adhere to, no toys to pick up, no errands to run, no school to attend, no bosses to answer to, and no end of day exhaustion that leaves you barely able to mumble a “Hello, tell me about your day,” to your child.

You can even live a little dangerously, like having an ice cream every day, or staying up past 10pm.

The Makepeace family having fun in Thailand

What your children need most are loving, happy parents who spend quality moments with them. When we travel together we strengthen our family bond with shared memories of adventure, carefree living, exploration, laughter and play time.

2) We accumulate experiences, not possessions

I don’t think there is anything wrong with owning material things; it becomes an issue when we rely on them for meaning or identity.

When children start traveling at an early age they learn to live in the present. We want our kids to see life as about enjoying experiences and accumulating memories— it’s what shapes who we are and is the only thing that we can take with us to the end.

3) The world becomes their classroom

Once a child enters school, their innate desire to explore, ask questions, and goof off slowly gets shoved back into a box of rules, regulation, and conformity.

When you travel with your children, all of this is removed.

The world teaches your child based on their curiosities and interests. It’s a natural absorption of knowledge and experiential-based learning that schools can never replicate with such enrichment.

The earth becomes their classroom and all its inhabitants with varying degrees of skin colour, languages and beliefs become their teachers.

Some would call it “The village raising the child.”

4) The ability to make new friends- anywhere

My children are quickly learning that strangers can easily become friends. All it takes is a smile to break down barriers, a common connection, a few stories to share, games to play, and a laugh thrown in.

They are learning about what truly matters: connecting via laughter, smiles, and spiritual essence- not labels, traditions, and beliefs. These differences become something to celebrate, rather than fear or judge.

Savannah making friends with Alida in Vanuatu

“It is because of fear that we judge, it’s because of judging that we hate, and it is because of hating that we hurt”

My daughters haven’t had many opportunities to develop long-term friendships, but the trade off is that they never have any problems making friends wherever they may be.

Traveling with kids is not an easy decision. There are the constant fears of the possible negative impact upon their lives. Staying at home and choosing a conventional life won’t take these fears away. You’re a parent, and that comes with never-ending questions and concerns, but you can’t make your decisions based upon an imaginary future.

The challenges aren’t too different than what you would experience if you were living the settled life; it’s just in a different location, but this time you are managing it as a parent who is happy and fulfilled.

How about you? How has travel benefited your family?

By Caz Makepeace

Caz loves to help people travel more and create better memories. She (and her husband, Craig) share their travel lifestyle and tips on their site, YTravelBlog.com. You can watch their video series here to learn their top 9 travel tips.

You can follow their travels on Google+, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

The “Bare” Basics: The Do’s and Don’ts of the Japanese Onsen

Do: Follow the Crowd

The Japanese have a system for everything, which is kind of great…as long as you know what’s going on. Most onsens, even the big ones as it turns out, don’t have signs in English. Luckily you can usually figure out what’s going on by following the people around you.

Don’t: Bother Bringing a Bathing Suit

It quickly became apparent that the shiny red one-piece I’d carried along wasn’t welcome here. Yup, you will be naked. Luckily almost all onsens are segregated by sex. Once you’re in the locker room you’ll only be seeing your fellow men, or women.

There’s no sense in feeling modest- nudity is an expected non-event and most people treat it like the most natural thing in the world (which I suppose it is). Don’t bother trying to hide under your (tiny) towel, you’ll just look silly. After a while it can actually feel quite liberating to walk around without those pesky clothes.

A selection of robes you can borrow at Ooedo Onsen- photo by Ariesgirl

Do: Get Very, Very Clean

Listen up, because this is the most critical step: onsen users are very concerned with cleanliness, so before you even think about getting near the baths, you need to take a shower. There’s no use doing this at home beforehand- it needs to be in full view of everyone to confirm your clean status. If you try to go in the baths without washing first you will get some serious side-eye and possibly be sent back out.

Some onsens have showerheads; other use small vanity stands with a sink and bucket. Wash thoroughly and use the soap and shampoo. Really scrub yourself down. Once you feel thoroughly cleaned you can pick up your (tiny) towel and head into the baths.

Don’t: Have Tattoos

Exposed tattoos are a non-starter. Body art is not really done in Japan unless you’re a card carrying member of the yakuza (Japanese mafia,) so many onsens will not allow tattoos on bathers. If your tat is small you may be able to cover it with a bandage. If you have a full sleeve, you may want to check ahead with the onsen to see if you’ll be allowed.

Do: Enjoy the Hot Water

Now you can relax and soak it all in. The water can be quite hot so ease in slowly. Leave your (tiny) towel on the edge, don’t let it get wet. If you’re with friends, chatting is okay; yelling, splashing or swimming is generally frowned upon.

The bigger onsens have different types of baths to choose from. Some vary greatly in temperature (if you’re feeling brave take a dip in the cold pool before sinking into the warm- you will tingle all over).

Definitely test out all the different options. Spa World had outdoor Japanese style tubs, indoor Persian baths and even a carbonated bath!

Most onsens will also have a sauna. When you use the sauna make sure you sit on your (tiny) towel- nobody wants to sit where your sweaty butt has been!

Onsen with a view at the Kawaguchiko Hotel- photo by Composthp

Don’t: Shower Post-soak

After soaking up the waters until I felt slightly past-prunish, I jumped back into the shower. No no! A woman told me frantically, gesturing at me to get out. Apparently you’re not supposed to shower before you leave- this is when the minerals soak into your skin.

Do: Take a Nice Nap

With all of the warmth and relaxation you may find yourself getting sleepy. Do not fall asleep in the tub, trust me people will look at you funny. Many of the bigger baths have napping rooms. Get a big drink of water and then get ready for some of the best sleep of your life.

For first time visitors, the strict procedure (and the nakedness) can be intimidating, but don’t miss out on this important and really enjoyable aspect of Japanese culture.

Stephanie Yoder

Stephanie is a girl who can’t sit still. Since graduating she has spent her time either roaming the earth or saving up for her next trip, until finally quitting the rat race for good to become a full time writer, blogger and owner of Twenty-Something Travel.

You can follow her travels on Google+ Twitter and Facebook

The Real Outback: Experience Australia’s Northern Territory

When people think of Australia, many think of the Sydney Opera House and the urban activities in Melbourne, however the term “outback” refers to the other side of Australia: the Northern Territory. Nellie Huang of WildJunket gave us the scoop on all the can’t-miss sights of this continent’s northern hemisphere! Get a jump start on planning your experience and see what events are coming up.

Sprawling across the northern regions of Australia is the Northern Territory, two and a half times the size of Texas and far more remote and untouched. It’s my favorite part of the country, with so much endemic wildlife and out-of-this-world landscapes that other regions just can’t rival. The region is made up of two distinctive areas: the Red Center and the Top End.

They are almost at extreme ends — the Red Center is hot, dry and harsh, dotted with patches of spinifex and unique rock formations, many of which are sacred spots for the region’s Aboriginal people; while the Top End is a lush tropical oasis sprinkled with waterfalls, billabongs and verdant green forests.

This is the Outback at its best and Australia at its most natural. Last year I took a road trip through the Northern Territories, here’s a look at some of the best places and experiences I encountered along the way.

Watch the Sunrise at Uluru and Kata Tjuta

On a three-day camping safari, we hiked through the deserts and impressive rock formations of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, camped out under the stars and even caught sunrise one early morning over Uluru. Blinding rays of orange flashed across the vast desert like a laser light show and lit up the whole area in a kaleidoscope of colors. Sunrise at Uluru and Kata Tjuta was a stunning sight to behold, and there was no better moment to experience these two impressive sights than at the crack of dawn.

Kata Tjuta

During the safari, we explored three main sites: Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon – all of which are considered sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the Red Center. Having lived here for approximately 20,000 years, the Anangu have a particularly close relationship with their land. The trail that led us up, through, and into King’s Canyon was my favorite of all as I felt like we were truly immersed in the Outback. Anangu stories and myths just seemed to come alive here.

Hiking Kings Canyon

Wandering through the West MacDonnell Ranges

Stretching across the center of Australia, the 644 kilometer long mountain range runs to the east and west of Alice Springs. With our feisty Britz Bushcamper 4WD, we headed to explore the spectacular gaps and gorges that run through the ranges. During our daytrip, we wandered through Simpsons Gap, swam in the fresh waters of Ellery Creek, went on a short hike through Glen Helen Gorge and even climbed up the red quartzite cliffs of Stanley Chasm — it’s a stunning area that has surprisingly remained a secret among foreign visitors.

Nellie in Simpsons Gap

Encounter Wildlife at Alice Springs Desert Park

Located seven kilometers outside the city of Alice Springs is the Alice Springs Desert Park, a conservation park that showcases the Australian desert environment as its natural state. It is a beautifully sculpted area where kangaroos roam, birds fly overhead, and endangered bilby burrow underground. There’s hardly any fence around – it’s almost like an open-air playground where all of the area’s wildlife live freely.

Alice Springs Desert Park

Enjoy the Lush Greenery of Kakadu National Park

Gorgeous secluded waterfalls, rough rocky landscape and unspoiled greenery are peppered throughout the huge Kakadu National Park. This area is found in the Top End, where the proximity to the Equator gives it a humid tropical climate. Our tour through Kakadu was thrilling and exciting as we clambered over boulders to get to the stunning lookout point where we grazed upon Arnhem Land, hiked up steep slopes to find Aboriginal rock art and took respite in the waterfalls.

Kakadu National Park – Wild Junket

Try a New Kind of “Wild Game” in Darwin

In the capital city of the Northern Territory, there are plenty of choices when it comes to food. I’m a wildlife buff; unfortunately I also have a big appetite. Thankfully the animal population in Australia remains healthy and eating them isn’t going to dwindle their population. My most memorable meal in Australia remains this one in Darwin where I feasted on skewers of kangaroo, alligator and emu meat.

Are you “game” enough to try kangaroo or emu meat?

A journey to the Northern Territories redefines ‘the great outdoors,’ with landscapes and experiences that I never even imagined before my road trip. It is so vast, isolated and remote that mere words cannot do it justice. The only way to comprehend the Northern Territories is to travel through them.

Nellie Huang

With an eye for adventure and a thirst for the unknown, Nellie is a travel writer and blogger who loves to veer way beyond the conventional trail. Her blog, WildJunket is the child of all her adventures (and misadventures) around the world. Since the success of her blog, along with her photographer/designer husband, she has also launched a digital flipbook magazine, WildJunket Magazine.

You can find her online on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube.

How to Travel like a Princess…on the Cheap

Many girls dream of traveling like a princess, but trust funds are hard to find. What’s a budget-minded princess to do?

Actually, luxe travel isn’t so unattainable with the right tricks. Trust me on this: I love to travel in style, but there’s no platinum credit card bankrolling my trips!

1. Find the Next Big Thing

One trick for finding value-friendly vacation destinations is scoping emerging locations on the brink of becoming the next hot vacation spot. Prices can be amazing since hotel inventory and services haven’t skyrocketed.

Amador Causeway, Panama City by Saphira

So what’s the next big thing, you ask? Try Panama, home to some outstanding Caribbean beach resorts and spas as well as amazing bargains. Search for a fab Renewal Suite at The Westin Playa Bonita Panama for less than the price of a standard hotel room in the US.

Prepare to be shocked when you see what you can get for your dollar in terms of dining, excursions and spa treatments.

Of course you should head to the spa, right? At the current rates charged at The Sensory Spa by Clarins you can afford half a dozen spa treatments for the price of a single treatment in most US spas.

2. Give Your Camping Experience an Upgrade

There was a time when the words “camping trip” meant uncomfortable nights, air mattresses, doing without a restroom or shower and eating out of a cooler all weekend. It’s fun for some, but one thing was for sure: you’d come home with plenty of dirt under your nails and desperate for a bath.

These days of course gals who love the outdoors and comfort in equal measure don’t have to compromise on either thanks to the joys of glamping: glamorous camping. See what they did there? Clever huh?G

A luxury, pampered camping trip means you can enjoy the great outdoors without having to use an outhouse at the same time. Glamping definitely is not roughing it. You will find everything from Turkish rugs, velvet chaise lounges, to four-poster canopy beds.

Glamorous camping is even available in Peru. Glamping along Peru’s legendary Inca Trail to Machu Picchu sounds very much like what an Inca Princess would have experienced during their lifetime. The mystique of the region as you trek to the “Lost City” has an exclusive ring to it too!

3. High Tea WithOUT the Queen

There is nothing more refined than taking time for High Tea in the afternoon. You may not have the budget to stay at an urban castle for the entire night, but visiting for afternoon for tea makes one feel like royalty.

Lady Grantham herself enjoys a tea that closely resembles the one held most days at The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead.

Desserts fit for a Princess! from the Ritz Carlton Buckhead Atlanta by Kataries

The Lobby Lounge’s large fireplace is the optimum location to refresh for the afternoon like a proper lady. Don’t forget to point your pinkie!

4. Don’t Blow the Crown Jewels

Unfortunately, for all the non-princesses among us usually we have no choice but to accept that we’re going to have to stick to a budget during our trip. In this situation I prefer to book into a budget-friendly hotel but then head out to find what facilities and spas I can find elsewhere.

I know plenty of princess wannabes that stay at Disney World’s Pop Century budget resort but still feel like true royalty by making appointments at the nearby luxurious Blue Harmony Spa. The lobby has large paintings of royalty, chairs you could sink into all day and a spa with a private hot tub.

5. Every Princess Needs a Castle

Ashford Castle by MilwVon

One does not have to be a real life princess to sleep like one! How does a stone archways turrets and ancient castle charm feel for a place to lay your head? No princess should be without a castle, and the Ashford Castle in Ireland has made that happen.

The spectacular setting includes 350 acres of woodlands and gardens. The gray stone castle was once home to those who are practically Irish royalty, the Guinness family (yes the beer).

Riding and golf along with a stein of beer or two round out the most popular activities here. You can have a few drinks, since the castle rooms sometime go for as low as $139 per person per night. Most importantly, you’ll feel just like the “Princess and the Pea” in their large high rise beds with fluffy bedding.

Ava Roxanne Stritt

Ava Roxanne Stritt

Ava is a travel writer and editor of the blog Spa Travel Gal. She believes that travel, spa and skincare experiences are not a luxury, but essential to a healthy body and mind. If her family needs to find her they just call the local luxury spa.

A renowned expert in spa and luxury travel, Ava is featured in USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, Spa Week, Fox News, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, among many other publications.

You can follow Ava on Twitter, Facebook and Google+

Seven Kickass Travel Hacks You’ve Never Heard Of

#1: Save Hundreds on Airfare by Pairing Unconnected Tickets

The Wall St Journal recently highlighted a trick that veteran travelers have known for years: you can save big on airfare by pairing unconnected tickets. It simply means that you book the connections of a multi-leg trip on your own. Using their example:

“The tactic can work best in summer when discount airfares are harder to find. For a June 11 to 18, the lowest round-trip airfare from Atlanta to Berlin was priced on Friday at $1,541. The New York to Berlin fare was $680. With discount competition between New York and Atlanta, the lowest round-trip fare to JFK was $258. That is a saving of 39%, or $2,400 for a family of four.”

Keep in mind that this won’t work for every trip or every destination and it will of course require more legwork on your part. But, if you’re a hardcore, “savings above all else” traveler, sometimes the discounts can be huge.

#2: Trick Your Body Into Eating (Almost) Anything

If you’re a picky eater, it’s possible that you just have “texture issues”. These might induce a physical reaction when your brain wrongly believes that you just can’t stomach a certain texture. For some, that might be “mushy” (think: mashed peas), for others “seedy” (think: tomatoes or kiwi) and the list goes on.

Some travelers would like to be more adventurous eaters, but their bodies simply won’t allow it. One trick is to suppress your gag reflex to overcome that psychosomatic response. And the trick to doing that is simple: form a fist with your left hand, squeezing your thumb. It’s a trick dentists have shared with their patients for years.

To be clear, this won’t work for everyone. But if you’re seriously interested in stepping outside your culinary comfort zone while traveling, give it a try.

#3: Beat Jet Lag by Fasting

You already know that the symptoms of jet lag stem from your body’s falling out of its natural circadian rhythm. The Harvard Business Review reveals that fasting can snap it back into place. In short:

Airport food: avoid it before your flight, and enjoy it after you land. (photo courtesy of LenR)

Try fasting both before and during your long flight, then eating in a pattern that puts you in sync with local time. For instance, if you’re taking a 14-hour flight from New York to Beijing, it would work like this:
•   Avoid all food from the time you get to the airport (i.e., about two hours before departure)
•   Don’t eat during the flight — but still drink plenty of water
•   Eat soon after you land, as close to a local meal time as possible

#4: Cancel Your Hotel Reservation at the Last Minute Without Penalties

Almost every hotel charges a penalty when guests cancel their reservations on short notice (typically less than 48 hours).

But there’s a surprisingly simple way around this – so simple, you might wonder why you never thought of it before.

If you need to cancel your reservation, simply reschedule your stay for a future date (say, one month out). Then call back the next day and cancel it completely. Done.

#5: Survive a Mugging Abroad with a “Decoy Wallet”

The key to surviving a mugging is to appease your assailant, and the key to that is to make sure he doesn’t leave empty-handed. Simply carry a “decoy wallet”.

Crowded markets are perfect places for pickpockets to strike. (photo courtesy of rcoffelt)

Think of it as a crappier (read: less valuable) version of your actual wallet. It needs to hold enough cash and cards for the thief to believe it’s the real deal, but not so much that you’re seriously suffering from its loss.

Toss in $100 in cash, a couple of expired credit cards, a receipt or two, and a few customer loyalty cards from places like CVS and your local grocery store and you should be good to go.

#6: Save Big By Calling the Hotel Directly

In an effort to combat dwindling profit margins from online booking sites, many hotels now offer deep discounts to travelers who call the hotel directly. Meta-travel booking sites such as Kayak.com typically offer great rates.

But take their best offer to the hotel directly and see if they’re willing to wheel and deal with you.

I’ve saved as much as 40% off advertised online rates using this method. Bonus: while you’re bending the manager’s ear, kindly drop a request about the type of room you’d prefer (corner room, suite away from the ice machines, etc.).

They’re much more likely to comply when talking to an actual person versus an automated reservation e-mail.

#7: Just Ask!

This isn’t a “hack” per se, but it’s the best possible advice I can offer: if you’re not asking for upgrades, compensation, and plain ol’ free sh*t while you’re traveling, you’re a sucker.

Hotel insider, Jacob Tomsky, lists the phrase “Sorry, there’s just nothing I can do …” among his list of “standard front desk lies””

“There are a lot of these “There’s nothing I can do” situations, when it’s quite untrue. Making a friend and having someone take care of you, it might change your stay. It’s hard to trust what the front desk is telling you because they want to make everyone happy—there are bad rooms and someone has to get them. So being nice, possibly a gratuity, calling ahead—it can go a long way.”

Make new friends with the people working the front desk- they could be your greatest ally! (photo courtesy of panda2)

There’s almost always something they can do in every situation: a better hotel room, a premium airline seat, a better class of rental car. And 90% of the time you simply have to be polite and ask.

Just keep in mind that there’s a big difference between demanding and asking. Remember that travel can tempt otherwise kind, ordinary folks to act like a$$holes.

Hospitality workers often face a daily barrage of verbal assaults and moody, impatient travelers. Be the exception to their day: whether that’s through kindness, flattery, or plain ol’ bribery.

by Mike Richard

Mike Richard is a Rhode Island native and travel junkie with an unhealthy addiction to backpacking, hiking and seeing the world. Since 2006, he has edited, written for, and kept the gears running behind the scenes as founding editor of his blog, Vagabondish. He absconded from corporate life in 2010 to travel full time and hasn’t had a permanent residence since.

He has spoken professionally as a featured panelist at the annual TBEX (Travel Blogger’s Exchange) conference. Other noteworthy credits include “Woman’s World magazine contributor” and having once been interviewed by Tyra Banks (seriously).

You can follow him online at Google+, Twitter and Facebook.

The Genius of River Cruising: My Viking River Cruise Experience

Awhile back I took my first river cruise on Viking River Cruises and instantly fell in love with this burgeoning mode of escape from the ordinary. As a quick aside, over on my own blog site at Travel By Terry, you will find a couple of posts (January 22, 2013 & January 24, 2013) where I talk about several entertaining aspects of that enriching experience not mentioned in this post. If you are among those who have never had the pleasure of seeing the world through a Viking River Cruise, let me share with you why I personally find the experience so satisfying. (By the way, this is not one of those all too frequent cases when my tastes run counter to the rest of the known universe.) I must be in respectable company because river cruising is one of the fastest growing travel industry segments.

Step on and Settle into Luxury

Like many of you, I previously visited various parts of Europe utilizing the “planes, trains and automobiles” approach (a great movie, by the way.( You are not going to find me disparaging train travel because it is a highly romantic way to roam around Europe. However, unless your wallet or purse is considerably more bulbous than mine and you can afford to ride the rails on the Venice Simplon – Orient Express or the Royal Scotsman, you are never going to mistake a normal train’s sleeping or dining cars for a suite at the Dorchester in London.

However, when you board your Viking river cruise vessel, you are stepping onto a floating luxury hotel with appealing accommodations, sumptuous cuisine, convivial traveling companions and stellar service. Like all cruise experiences, it affords the opportunity to unpack one time, stow away your gear and nestle in for the duration. This is made to order for those of us who despise living out of an open suitcase.

A great thing about river cruising is the small, intimate ships. I was on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas a while back and had a great experience. The ship offered a world of amenities but it was larger than some shopping malls I have frequented. With 6,000+ passengers, it is the polar opposite of being on a vessel with less than 200 guests. The latter greatly increases the likelihood of establishing new and lasting friendships and trust me when I say, I can use all the help I can get. I suspect posting candid blog pictures of the few friends I do have may not be aiding the situation.

Step Into Another World

When you step off the gangplank of your river cruise vessel, you are quite literally stepping into another world, (that is, unless the houses up and down your street happen to resemble this one.) It is amazing what a skilled pastry chef can do with gingerbread! Even the cars look realistic!

If you happen to be as much of a history buff as I am (please note, not history in the buff . . . for that see cruises / nude), there is enough knowledge disseminated by genuine local experts to have your head spinning like Linda Blair in The Exorcist.

For others, a history lecture may conjure up suppressed memories of a tyrannical college professor who wouldn’t recognize a brilliant essay if it was inserted crossways up his . . . ahem . . . robe all the way to his goofy mortar board. Sorry, I digress. Some memories die hard. Anyway, If history is not your cup of tea, the great thing is you can sit on the deck with a literal cup of tea and gaze for hours at fairytale palaces, captivating castles and picturesque villages.

Step Off and Enjoy

And when I say step off, I mean that quite literally. In many cases culture and history, art and architecture, music and museums are all a short walk from the ship. When you disembark, typically you are in the heart of a great city. Viking is well-known for their informative walking tours complete with headsets for easy listening. And for those with more mundane interests, well, there are always plenty of these establishments. I was escorted out of this particular shop for excessive drooling.

Finally, here is a little insider’s tip. There are two brand new Viking itineraries that are going to be very popular when they launch in 2014. However, the early bird can book the elusive worm if you act now. Don’t let another raptor beak you to it!

1) Châteaux, Rivers & Wine – (Bordeaux – Saint-Émilion – Bordeaux)

2) Memories of Mandalay – (Bangkok – Mandalay – Yangon or Bangkok – Yangon – Mandalay)

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have caught a raging case of river fever. It is highly contagious and the only known cure is booking your own magical river cruise experience, preferably before the sun sets today. You don’t even want to hear about the night sweats and hallucinations.

About Terry Denton

Inveterate traveler, proficient writer, avid golfer, unremarkable person. Co-owner of Travel Leaders / Main Street Travel of Fort Worth, Texas

10 Myth-Busters About North Korea

North Korea has earned itself quite a few names: a member of the Axis of Evil, the Hermit Kingdom, and the Iron Walls. Better known as the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK), it is one of the most isolated nations in the world, having closed its doors to the outside world since its split from South Korea during the Korean War in the 1950s.

Since then, DPRK has usually been covered in a negative light by international media – but is it all true? I decided to find out.

A recent trip to North Korea gave me a rare glimpse into a world that few people know about. Although we barely scraped the surface of the country – having spent just five days visiting the capital of Pyongyang, the ancient city of Kaesong and the DMZ (demilitarized) border, it gave me a peek that none of the news or TV documentaries could.

North Korea surprised me in so many ways, here are some of them. As a word of advice, don’t make judgment based on what you see and read on the news; go see North Korea and find out for yourself.

Sharp contrast in the two Koreas

Having visited both South and North Koreas, I was overwhelmed by the stark differences despite being mentally prepared for it. Visiting North Korea is the closest thing to actual time travel – I felt like I had gone back in time to the Korea of the 1950s, from our first step off the Air Koryo flight at Pyongyang Airport to the museums and soviet-style buildings and scenes of people dressed in comrade caps and buttoned suits.

Our group with our guides

Cult-like Juche regime

When Kim Jong-Il passed away, scenes of North Koreans wailing on the streets were all over the news. Many were skeptical about the authenticity of it. There’s no doubt that North Koreans worship their supreme leaders but only after seeing for myself did I realize the extent of it. The locals spoke of their supreme leaders with utmost respect – almost as if they were of heavenly status. At Mansu Hill, where the larger-than-life statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il stand, we were required to bow in front of the leaders as if it were a religious site.

Statue of Kim Jong-Il

Propaganda, propaganda and propaganda on the streets

Walking on the streets of Pyongyang and Kaesong, there was an obvious absence of posters and billboards (only one can be found in Pyongyang from the local brand of cars). I had somewhat expected that, but it was also strangely bizarre to not see any movie poster or circus ads. In their place were colorful mosaic art and hand-painted banners from the Korean Workers’ Party, used to promote the socialist regime. Many of them used representations such as the sickle for farming, the brush for education and hammer for the industry.

Impressive Soviet-style architecture

I’ve seen Soviet-style architecture in Russia and China, but honestly none are as impressive as those in Pyongyang. Massive grey blocks of imposing government buildings dominate the public squares of the North Korean capital, all of them adorning images of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, as well as the national flag. In the heart of Pyongyang stands the “Arch de Triumph”, that’s even bigger than its French namesake. Other impressive works of architecture include the Juche Tower and Workers’ Party Monument, both of which are enormous and impressive in scale and grandeur.

North Koreans are just as curious about the world

North Korea is completely closed to the outside world — there are only local channels on TV, they don’t watch any foreign shows and only intranet exists in the country (internet is available to ambassadors or approved journalists). Prior to going there, I had the impression that they would be very wary and suspicious of foreigners. But I was pleasantly surprised to find locals smiling at us, even waving and talking to us. On the subway, we even interacted with them, showing them photos on our cameras and laughing with them. We played guessing games with children in the park and danced with groups of ladies who were having a picnic and drinks.

North Korean Boys

They are not ignorant

Since foreign information is so inaccessible to the North Koreans, I didn’t expect them to know much about the outside world, but there were a few exceptions that surprised us. We met a group of 10-year-old boys who were on their way to soccer practice and we stopped to chat with them. We asked them if they knew footballers from Europe and much to our surprise, they could name plenty of them. They could even understand some English.

Tasty cuisine and home-brewed beer

I had no expectations when it came to food in North Korea. I have had my share of bad, lousy food when backpacking in developing countries and somehow expected that to be the case in North Korea. I was clearly wrong. While the food wasn’t Michelin standard, there was plenty of decent home-cooked Korean food. Besides kimchi and rice, we also had traditional Korean barbecue and even beer in microbreweries (that were surprisingly good). No doubt we were brought to the tourist-only restaurants in town and these foods are doubtless a rarity for ordinary people, we were surprised that they even existed in DPRK.

The deepest subway system in the world

It’s a surprise to many that there is public transport in Pyongyang, not to mention that its subway system is the deepest in the world, at 110 meters (360 feet) underground. Having started its operation in 1972, the subway system was designed based on the Moscow metro system. Most of these trains were bought over from Berlin after the wall fell and haven’t been updated since. Their green velvet seats, old wooden carriages and shiny steel railings reminded me of the 1970s. Each station has a different theme, with impressive mosaic propaganda art and sparkling ´60s chandeliers to add to the atmosphere.

Subway in Pyongyang

A surprising sense of normality

Despite all the negative portrayal of DPRK, the biggest surprise for me was just how normal everything felt in DPRK — people went about their daily business, the public subway system was busy, streets were wide but empty, and children hung out in the park just like we do. It was nothing like how you would imagine a ‘dangerous’ place. Besides the soviet-style attire and grim-looking buildings, there was really little to remind you that this was a country considered by many as evil.

It’s not all choreographed

Before visiting North Korea, I knew that we would be chaperoned around our guides and we were not allowed to leave the group or our hotels at any point. I had many friends who had serious doubts if we were being shown the ‘real’ North Korea. While it was true that we only visited places that the government approved and our movements were restricted, I didn’t feel controlled in any real sense of the word. We were free to interact with locals, we drove by farming lands, we saw shabby alleyways and we were obviously allowed to have our own opinions, which our guides respected as long as we didn’t try to impose our ideas on them.

Nellie Huang

You can find her online on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube.

Touring the Axis of Evil: 5 Extreme Adventures

Travel is about getting out of my comfort zone and exploring places that make me hold on to the edge of my seat. But these days it’s getting harder and harder to find untouched destinations – places that remain relatively raw and non-commercialized.

That’s why I like visiting less conventional destinations. More often than not, the places I enjoy most are those with slightly negative connotations.These are also the most ethically challenging places to visit – the “extreme adventure” destinations that confront our beliefs and world views and help us to learn more about our planet and its people.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not silly enough to put my life at risk for bragging rights. But even Tony Wheeler, the founder of Lonely Planet who recently wrote a book on his tour of the axis of evil, poised it eloquently, “In almost every bad land I am moved by the outgoing friendliness of ordinary men and women. I have come to see that bad is a relative term, and that there are always two sides to every story.”

Forget about holiday brochures – get your atlas, find somewhere you’ve never heard about before, and go there. I promise you nothing will make you feel more alive.

North Korea

Pyongyang – photo courtesy of WildJunket

It comes as a surprise to many that anyone can visit North Korea as a tourist. Notorious as one of the “axis of evil”, North Korea (better known as Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) is often sullied by negative perceptions.

Since the end of World War II, the DPRK has closed its doors to the outside world. Only local channels are shown on TV, there is no internet access and only 2,500 foreign tourists (not including the Chinese) visit the country each year.

North Koreans are taught to think that anything foreign is a threat – yet, I was surprised to find how curious locals were of us. On the subway, we interacted with people, showing them our photos and laughing along with them.

We even had the chance to play with Korean children at a park, through charades and guessing games.

In fact, the DPRK actually appeared rather tame until we saw the stern soldiers at the DMZ (demilitarized zone.) They confiscated a camera from a member of our group.

Albania

Another member of Tony Wheeler’s “axis of evil”, Albania is intrinsically associated with the Cold War even today. More than 40 years of communist rule (under the dictator Enver Hoxha,) followed by a period of extreme mid-90s capitalism, the country is still struggling to get back on its feet.

During my visit in May 2010, Albania surprised me with the hospitality of welcoming locals (I lost my wallet and a local brought me to the police station and even lent me some money), local cuisine that easily tops anywhere else I’ve been, and clusters of beautiful towns tucked high in the mountains.

Of course there are always things to be wary of in Albania – such as petty crime on public transport and safety on the streets at night. But all in all, Albania is definitely a unique place to visit.

Myanmar

photo courtesy of WildJunket

Due to decades of political conflict, travel to Myanmar (formerly Burma) presents an ethical decision – are we encouraging the regime by visiting? While Myanmar remains a troubled country, things are definitely looking up. Following the election in 2010, a civilian government took over, Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest, and the tourism boycott has since been lifted.

Traditional and surreal at the same time, visiting Myanmar allows you to travel back to a time when paved roads were non-existent and creaking buses throttled along packed with hundreds of passengers. It is a country that stirs my soul with its thousands of sacred stupas, poetic Buddhist towns, and mystical lakes. It remains one of my favorite countries to date.

Perhaps it’s because of years of isolation, perhaps it’s the deep-rooted Burmese culture, Myanmar remains pure and untainted – for now. Today’s Burma is still struggling with poverty and its tourism infrastructure is almost non-existent, but as long as you’re prepared for the bumpy rides and harsh conditions, you’ll be in for a rewarding journey.

Guatemala

Stories of violence, kidnapping, and drug trafficking incidents are all too common in Central America. Based on a CNN report on Guatemala, 6,500 people met violent deaths in 2009 and nearly 6,000 were slain in 2010. 41% of these deaths were associated with drug trafficking. Worst of all, more than 96% of all crimes go unpunished.

When I was in Guatemala several years back, I was stumped by my fellow travelers’ tales of mugging and rape.

Danger may be lurking in certain corners, but that doesn’t stop Guatemala from being a popular backpacking spot. It didn’t take me long to fall for the charms of this diverse, rustic nation. I traversed the country from the charming colonial city of Antigua to the impressive Tikal ruins in the north, and never got mugged once or felt like I was in any sort of danger. But then again, I steered clear from Guatemala City – the most potent part of the country where crime and violence are part of daily life.

Zimbabwe

photo courtesy of WildJunket

Like the others on the list, Zimbabwe has been making headlines for the wrong reasons. Since Robert Mugabe took ruling power in 1980, the country has spiraled into a series of racial conflicts, human rights abuse and violence. Although the country’s economy is slowly recuperating, millions of people are still living on food aid and struggling with disease outbreaks.

Behind this dark history lies a gorgeous country waiting to be explored. From the wilderness of Mana Pools to the chaos of Harare, Zimbabwe shows Africa at its best.

Granted, dodgy streets in the cities are best avoided and crowded markets remain off the tourist radar. But thankfully, I got a chance to know its people – who all warmly welcomed me into a country clearly misunderstood by the world.

I’m not saying that these countries are “easy” travel destinations, either in terms of comfort or ethics. But to me that’s what travel is all about.

by Nellie Huang

You can find her online on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and YouTube.

Family Vacations 2013: 10 New Ideas for Fun Family Holidays

New Year’s resolutions come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s a new idea for 2013: Improve relationships, expand your kids’ horizons and make family vacations count.

Need some suggestions beyond the vague notion of “we’re going to travel this year?” Check out these helpful tips.

Plan a Family Vacation Together

Studies show that moms make most family travel decisions, so make it a team effort. Pull out a map and discuss locations or ask the kids to make a list destinations the research online. The kids may surprise you and have ideas you would have never considered.

Personalize Your Activities

After your destination is set, ask every family member to choose a “thing to do” or personalize one day. Get creative. Maybe one day can be spent exploring a regional park chosen by dad, a theme park day chosen by the kids or mom’s choice of afternoon zip-lining. Allowing every family member to have a “day” or activity will build family respect and make everyone feel special.

Start a Family Piggy Bank

We all know travel isn’t cheap. Start a family piggy bank (maybe a cute airplane or cruise ship) and start contributing dollars and quarters. The kids can portion their allowance money. Create special vacation-style chores or tell them to contribute money from completing acts of kindness. When the family vacation arrives, you can use the money for activities or souvenirs. The best part? The entire family feels a sense of pride since everyone contributed!

Save Money: Plan your Family Vacation in Advance

While the piggy bank is a fun idea, it’s best for the parents to plan the trip long before take-off. Make this the year you avoid charging the trip to credit cards. Shop for travel deals and specials, weigh the cost between driving and flying and compare hotel prices.

Plan A Charitable Trip

Global Citizens Network, based here in my state of Minnesota, is just one of many organizations that invite families to travel to remote destinations and assist needy communities. Taking a charitable family vacation will be memorable, educational, and will teach your kids about the greatness of giving.

Educational Trips

Visiting a new country, (for example Mexico,) can offer an array of opportunities for families to learn new languages through immersion classes. Take day trips to the various Mayan Ruins or learn about ocean life through aquatic adventures.

Family photo in Puerto Vallarta by Rick206

Create a Family Reunion

Sometimes extended families are dispersed across the globe. Reconnect with a family reunion-style vacation. Ensure you try new food, attend festivals and visit historic locations. Live the culture!

Smell the Roses and Slow Down

Remember, you don’t have to do everything on your family vacation. It is okay to let the kids sleep in or stay up late and it’s also acceptable to take some alone time with the spouse. My kids love resort kids clubs. If your kids are the same, let them have their kid-fun while you enjoy a few hours alone.

Try Something New

Do you always go to the same destination year after year? This year, try something different. Instead of the beach, head up to the mountains. Rather that the same theme park, try a dude ranch.

User CMeekins03 and their family at Cataract Falls in the Great Smokey Mountains of Tennessee

Start a Vacation Photo Collection

Finally, remember to capture your memories! Snap photos every chance you get (just don’t get obsessed) and instead of letting the vacation photos sit on your hard drive, make a cool scrapbook and share your photos. There are a number of brands that offer fantastic photo book options and they’re very user friendly.

Most of all enjoy your family! The kids are only with you for so long; so cherish every moment with them… even when you’re not traveling.

by Beth Blair

Beth Blair

Based in Minnesota where she lives with her husband and two kids, Beth is a professional traveler, as a flight attendant as well as a professional travel writer and co-founder of award-winning blog TheVacationGals.com. Beth’s won several notable travel writing awards, including Best Travel Blog at the 2012 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition sponsored by the SATW Foundation.

You can follow Beth on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

Love Wine? Forget Napa and Head to the Colorado Wine Country

Mike Richard of Vagabondish tells us why Napa is “out” and the Colorado Wine Country is “in.”

Aaaahhh, Napa Valley. Breathe it in … roll the words around your tongue… It’s legendary! Can’t-miss! Bucket list worthy! America’s Mount Everest of Vino for oenophiles! Blah, blah, blah… If you ask me, it’s also staid, pretentious and (most important for budget-wise travelers aka normal people) it’s overpriced. When celebrity chefs can bilk their clientele for $500+ dinners per couple without wine (I’m looking at you, Thomas Keller) when the classic, once venerable Wine Train becomes little more than a rolling fish bowl for mildly intoxicated, purple-toothed tourists dropping $120 per lunch aboard “Napa’s most unique restaurant”, while stumbling from one predictable, mediocre winery to the next; when an over-hyped, well-to-do vintner constructs a monstrous, Disney-esque replica of a 13th century Italian castle (complete with moat, drawbridge and torture chamber!) along the Valley’s rolling hills, it’s safe to say that Napa has finally “jumped the shark”. For travelers seeking an up-and-coming, affordable, back-to-basics wine country experience, look no further than…

Western Colorado Wine Country

“Colorado wine country, eh? Wait … did you say Colorado?” If you’ve never heard of the Grand Valley or West Elks AVAs (American Viticultural Areas), you’re not alone. Most out-of-staters are blissfully unaware of these vast, rolling expanses of Western Colorado viniculture. (Hell, most Coloradans are too.) While best known for a thriving beer scene, the state is also home to a growing number of excellent vineyards and wineries – more than 80 small, family-owned estates in total. Be forewarned though: if you fancy your adult beverages “neat”, have ever considered purchasing an ascot, or routinely use the word “zeitgeist” in passing conversation, you’re probably not Colorado Wine Country material. This area is for wine lovers looking to eschew uppity, pinky-up tastings in favor of a no-frills tour with a laid-back vibe. If you can’t have fun and catch a cheap buzz on excellent local wines here, you’re doing it wrong.

Getting Around in the Colorado Wine Country

A handful of “official” trail will guide you through the area’s best wineries, but I highly recommend the Heart of Colorado Wine Country Trail. Those fortunate enough to travel this entire loop beginning and ending on I-70 in Glenwood will have seen where almost every grape in Colorado originates. Make sure to pack your drinking shoes though! This massive trail covers both of the aforementioned federally designated AVAs. Allow two days minimum, three to really enjoy yourself. The area is most easily traversed by car as most of the wineries are on or near major highway routes. However, the region also offers some of the best biking trails in North America. So, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, hop a mountain bike and pedal the entire route. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous but a little lazy, hop a pedicab ride with Palisade Pedicab (call: 970-250-1654) and pay someone else to pedal it for you.

Where to Taste

I’ll be so bold as to say that virtually every winery and vineyard along The Trail is worth a visit (although it’s worth noting that I spent the tail end of my two days babbling semi-coherently about the dearth of In-N-Out Burger joints in Colorado. But that’s another story for another post…). Allow me to present a brief selection of my favorite Western Colorado wineries:

Sample a Cherry Pie at Carlson Vineyards The fun, knowledgeable staff here pours generous samples of more than a dozen varieties with names like Laughing Cat, Pearadactyl (Pear-Apple), and Prairie Dog Blush. While they’re most famous for their Rieslings, don’t miss their cherry wine. It’s served in a small, plastic cup with a chocolate dipped rim and described as “cherry pie without the crust”. Or their Cherry Lemonade – a blend of cherry wine and frozen lemonade. (Napa snobs, turn back now. It doesn’t get any prettier…)

Get High at Terror Creek Winery This oddly named winery is located high above the town of Paonia on Garvin Mesa. At an elevation of 6,400 feet, it is “the highest estate bottled winery and vineyard in the northern hemisphere” (just in case you were hoping to finally check that one off your bucket list). The tasting room boasts excellent views of Terror Creek’s vineyards and the West Elk mountains. Inside, winemaker and sole proprietor Joan Mathewson is happy to chat about each of her Alsatian-style wines, including a smooth chardonnay vinted without oak and a spicy gewurztraminer.

Help Yourself at Colorado Cellars Winery Colorado-Cellars-Winery The folks here have been producing wine since 1978, making it Colorado’s oldest winery and the only one legally allowed to use the state’s name. It’s also the largest and (in their words) “most award-winning”. The best part: they offer most of their 23 varieties in a self-serve, imbibe-as-much-as-you-like setup. Oh, and it’s free. And there’s often food samples, including fruits, salsa, and gourmet cheeses. Don’t miss their meads – light, soft bodied wines with rich, sweet honey flavors. (Come to think of it, you might just want to stay here and skip the rest of the trail.)

Sample Cabernet and Peaches at Colterris Wines Opened in 2010, Colterris (literally: “from the Colorado land”) is the new kid on the block. They’ve taken to doing one thing and doing it well: red wine blends aged in French oak barrels. For two dollars per, grab a sample of their 2010 Cab Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon (currently 2009 or 2008). The tasting area is a small, open-air patio where the winemakers themselves are happy to serve you and chat about their unique blends. Don’t miss: the small fruit stand next door. The peaches are out-of-this-world good!

Taste Specialty Seasonals at Grande River Vineyards Grande-River-Vineyards-Colorado-Wine-Country The ambiance of the polished wine shop here might feel more like a gift shop to some. But the selection of wines is solid and the tastings inexpensive – first three are free, and just $3.50 for the next five. The real win here is the specialty offerings which vary by season. During my summer visit, I couldn’t get enough of the Late Harvest Viognier – like a full fruit basket upfront with a mellow, not-too-sweet finish. Don’t miss: their outdoor summer concert series featuring everything from jazz to Latin, bluegrass to classical … and of course plenty of food and vino. Well there you have it. Who needs the Napa Valley now we’ve got Western Colorado to play with?

Mike Richard

Mike Richard is a Rhode Island native, professional web designer and travel junkie with an unhealthy addiction to backpacking, hiking and seeing the world. Since 2006, he has edited, written for, and kept the gears running behind the scenes as founding editor of his blog, Vagabondish. He absconded from corporate life in 2010 to travel full time and hasn’t had a permanent residence since. He has spoken professionally as a featured panelist at the annual TBEX (Travel Blogger’s Exchange) conference. Other noteworthy credits include “Woman’s World magazine contributor” and having once been interviewed by Tyra Banks (seriously). Find Mike on Google+. Follow @vagabondish.