Category Archives: Travel Lifestyle

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+

Celebrate the End of Party Culture in Vang Vieng

Travel blogger Stephanie Yoder of TwentySomething Travel explains why she doesn’t miss this former “amusement park for western imperialism.” Find out why she will continue to visit – and why the past is nothing to write home about.

Ask any veteran backpacker in South East Asia and they will tell you it’s the end of an era. Vang Vieng, Laos, the former capital of party tourism in the region, a seven days a week blow out bash along the sleepy Nam Song river, is no more. The bars have been shuttered, the zip lines torn down and the drugs banished by the Laos government. The party is over.

Personally, I say good riddance.

Green Cliffs
by SeenThat

I visited Vang Vieng in March 2011 at the height of the backpacker boom. The town’s reputation had proceeded it throughout the region in whispers and knowing glances, absurd stories and the ever-present “In the Tubing” t-shirts. For many people this seemed to be THE reason to visit Laos. Of course I had to check it out for myself.

I arrived on a dusty school bus packed with other backpackers. The formerly sleepy Lao village had all the hallmarks of a town grown too fast, crowded with guest houses, sunglass shops and pizza places. Cafes full of hungover twenty-somethings blared Family Guy and Friends re-runs on an endless loop

The main attraction for the thousands of shoe-stringers who flocked here each year was tubing along the river. Or, more accurately: getting completely wasted at the riverside bars that line the banks, luring backpackers with free shots and thumping pop music. The place was complete and utter lawless hedonism: $1 cocktails, “magic” mushroom pizzas, opium tea and more.

Heaven for backpackers? Maybe for some, but I left unimpressed. While I did enjoy eating some western food, tubing down the river and drinking a $3 bucket or two, I couldn’t get over the sleazy dubiousness of the whole place. I was relieved to hear about the changes made by the government. I know some backpackers must be reacting with indignation, but here’s why they are wrong:

First of all, tourists in Vang Vieng were literally DYING. Drowning, overdosing, breaking their necks on unsafe swings. Not just one or two either, almost 30 backpackers died in 2011. Tragically it seems that drugs, fast running water and zero safety precautions are not a safe combination. This alone is reason enough to shutter the insanity.

Secondly, I’ll get up on my soapbox and say it: this is BAD travel. Really terrible travel: western imperialism and sense of entitlement and a local hotspot grown totally out of control. People didn’t visit Vang Vieng because they were interested in travel, they simply saw it as an amusement park for rich foreigners.

I saw some of the worst kinds of tourists while I was in Vang Vieng. Laotians are a very modest people, yet young Australians paraded around in nothing but bikinis all day long. Spoiled kids threw trash on the ground, littered the river with beer bottles and were rude to the locals. Whatever local culture Vang Vieng might once have had has been destroyed and paved over with cafes that play Family Guy all day long.

Vang Vieng
by SeenThat

Some will argue that the party crowd brought much needed business to the local economy. Yes, but at what cost? Laos is one of the poorest countries in the world, obviously the people there are going to earn whatever money they can get, but do you think it’s right that they have become reduced to drug dealers and party facilitators?

Finally, let me let you in on a little secret: Vang Vieng is still there. You can still visit. You can even still tube down the Nam Song, relax and take in the beautiful Karst mountains. There is trekking, rock climbing and caves to be explored, local villages, temples and an organic farm.

Nam Xong
by SeenThat

There is still plenty to see and do here. Without the massive drug and party culture dominating the town, they have a unique chance to reinvent themselves as an eco-tourism destination. Did you love Vang Vieng? Go support it now.

You can follow her travels on Google+ Twitter and Facebook

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.

5 Terrible Travelers

I’ll never forget the most horrible traveler I’ve ever met. He was skulking around the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, a sort of haven for obnoxious party animals, but this guy rose above the rest. It wasn’t just his blindly neon outfits or his constant inebriation that made him stand out- it was the incredible rudeness and entitlement that oozed from everything he did. He was rude to the locals (he called the hostel owner’s baby a monkey!) and inconsiderate to his fellow travelers. His antics culminated in him peeing in the corner of our dorm room one night. I don’t think anyone was disappointed to see him slink off the next morning. There’s just something about South East Asia that attracts people with all the worst reasons for traveling. For the most part I don’t really care WHY people travel, just that they DO. Yet, there are some really terrible reasons to travel, and if you recognize yourself in these, you’d be better off staying home:

“The World is my Night Club”
The guy I mentioned above should NOT have been traveling. He should have stayed home and learned some manners before inflicting himself on the world. He didn’t care much where he was, he just wanted to have a good time and if he could do that on the cheap down in Thailand, then all the better. You don’t have to travel solely for culture, and it’s fine to party it up overseas, but at a bare minimum you should show some respect for the country you are visiting. The world is not your no-consequence-playground.

“I Want an Exotic Girlfriend”
You’ll find these guys hanging out at expat bars in across South East Asia with a very pretty, usually much younger, local lady (or ladyboy if they’re not careful) glued to their side. They’ve figured out that supply-side economics is on their side and over here they can attract women who wouldn’t look twice at them at home. C’mon guys, if nobody wants to date you back at home, please don’t inflict yourself on the locals somewhere else. Plus, don’t you want to be more than someone’s pocketbook with legs?

“I’m Running Away”
Probably not from the law (although I’m sure it happens), but from problems at home. One girl I met in Vietnam was in debt up to her ears back in the UK, and was simply puttering around Asia until her money ran out. “And then?” she shrugged and downed another shot of rice wine. The problem with this method is that it simply doesn’t work. You can run from your problems, you can put oceans between you and the issues, but you can’t escape them.

“I Don’t Want to Grow Up”
Okay Peter Pan. I know being part of the real world is scary, with all of its pressures and responsibilities. I don’t blame you for wanting to defer that as long as possible. The thing is, you end up growing up anyways- you can’t escape the real world forever. Eventually you’re just the old guy at the bar with no self-awareness.

“I Want to Get it Out of the Way”
Every once in awhile I stumble across one of these naïve career-oriented souls. “I’m just getting my travel out of the way now, then I’ll go back home and get a real job,” they say earnestly over Beer Laos. Well, good luck with that. The thing they haven’t bargained for is that travel is insanely addictive. It’s not something you just “get out of your system” before you go back to real life. The more you see, the more you discover there is to see. You’ve opened a Pandora’s Box of wanderlust and going back to work won’t just close it up.

Which brings me back to the actual good reasons to travel. There are far more of them then there are bad ones: curiosity, a restless heart, a love for the world and everything in it. A view of travel as a challenge to be discovered and explored and not a panacea or convenient escape from acting like a real human being. The reasons to travel are as broad as the sun – and the rewards are too.

Just don’t be a jerk.

by Stephanie Yoder

Finding Inspiration at Iguazu Falls

Travel blogger Keith Jenkins shares his life-changing experiencing to Iguazu Falls. To mimic Keith’s breathtaking experience, book a trip there via LAN Airlines.

I’ll never forget my first glimpse of Iguazu Falls. That day in December 2008 was one of the formative experiences of my new life as a globetrotter; a defining moment that has inspired me to travel and blog ever since.

Breathtaking!

I found myself in Brazil during a tumultuous time, both for the world and myself. Halfway through a five-month break from my career as a banker, Lehman Brothers collapsed throwing the financial world – and my future job prospects – into grave doubt.

Although my future as a banker looked grim, the sights and sounds I was experiencing helped to soften the uncertainty, and eventually opened up the door to a new and inspiring future.

When I found myself perched above the astonishing sight of the Iguazu Falls; curtains of water thundering into the vast tropical gorge below, clouds of water vapour throwing up a series of dazzling rainbows before my eyes, the financial crisis was the very last thing on my mind.

Iguazu Falls, Brazil- 2008

Instead I was in Brazil having the time of my life, exploring the world on my own and learning things about myself that I had never considered before. I pondered upon my future as I peered over the edge. Like the falls before me, I realized that my future was going to be a dive into the unknown.

The thought that I had my future in my own two hands was both exciting and terrifying at the same time. I had no clue what I was going to do but as I watched the water tumble over the edge, I knew that if I simply followed my heart and my instincts, just like I did by embarking on this world trip, the future would be as rewarding as the resplendent rainbows below.

Iguazu Falls- Brazil side

With hindsight, I know now that this moment was a turning point in my life.

I revisited Iguazu in July 2012, this time not as a precarious banker but as a professional and successful travel blogger.

I was excited to re-visit the spot that had become a personal symbol of my career change, though I was apprehensive that this time round would be an anti-climax. Over the previous four years, as I embarked on this new career path, the symbolism of the falls gained almost mythical proportions, at least, in my mind.

Check out other amazing South American wonders such as Machu Pichu & Easter Island

That concern was swiftly banished from my mind the second I laid my eyes on the falls. I was stunned by the ferocity, the power and the incredible volume of water.

For the second time in my life I was stunned by the surreal scenes before me.

Visiting the Falls

The next day, I visited the Argentinian side of the falls. Whereas the Brazilian side offers visitors a panoramic view of the falls, on the Argentinian side you can get up close and personal with the falls, along a series of boardwalks, which lead directly above, and then below the falls.

The Argentina side of Iguazu Falls

You can visit the falls year round, during the drier summer months (winter in the northern hemisphere) the water level is lower and the falls take a greenish tinge. In the wetter winter the water levels can be significantly higher, the falls are much more powerful and the water is a milky brown.

These are easily among the world’s most iconic waterfalls. I suggest spending a few days in the area to view the falls from both countries. Don’t miss the highlight on the Argentina side: the breathtaking Garganta del Diablo or Devil’s Throat.

Devil’s Throat- Iguazu Falls

There are opportunities to go on boat rides to the foot of the falls as well as helicopter rides that provide visitors with a phenomenal bird’s eye view.

The Brazilian side of the falls also has two other attractions: the beautiful Parque das Aves bird park and the impressive Itaipu Dam, both of which I can highly recommend for a visit. Foz do Iguaçu (the Brazilian gateway to the falls) and Puerto Iguazu (the Argentinian gateway) both have airports with frequent connections to major cities in the respective countries.

Keith Jenkins- http://velvetescape.com/

Me- at the edge of Iguazu Falls

Based in Amsterdam, in a former life Keith had a successful career in corporate and investment banking. But despite his success, his career began to feel empty. So he made the life-changing decision to get out and follow his new calling: travelling the world and seeking out its sexiest, richest and most opulent experiences.

Keith has visited more than 70 countries across six continents and writes about his travels on his popular blog, Velvet Escape. He also often speaks at travel and social media conferences, and is the co-founder of the Global Bloggers Network, a community of more than 1,300 individual and corporate travel bloggers that helps its members grow and monetise their blogs.

5 Top Travel Bloggers Name “The Worst Thing I Ever Ate”

Popular Food Network and Travel Channel shows featuring famed food adventurers like Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern have made it cool to eat like a local. We asked our famed travel bloggers “What’s the craziest thing you ever ate?” The answers were brave…can you say cobra a la carte?

Ant Tacos

Lost in Translation, Marrakech
Nellie Huang

We were in the chaotic Djemma el Fna food market in Marrakech, hunting through the smoke and blinding lights for some local food at a budget price.

At Stall 34, blazing flames were clouding the sky in smoke and the aroma from the barbecued meat skewers was too tempting to pass up. My friends ordered several brochette de viande or meat skewers (the only item that we could read in French) right off the sizzling grill but I was craving for something new and exciting.

I scrolled through the menu, which was written only in French, and randomly picked a dish.

“Cerveaux de moutons s’il vous plaît!” The cook looked at me and smiled. Clearly, I had no idea what was coming.

Soon enough a dish was produced: it looked like a lightly sautéed chunk of mincemeat, but in the dim lights, I could hardly make out what it was and the cook didn’t speak any English. I was too hungry to care. I took a bite on the tender meat and almost threw it up. It had a soft, tofu-like texture and a strong gamey taste. No, it wasn’t beef. Neither was it lamb. It had a subtle hint of herbs. Bull testicles? Pigeon?

It was only when I returned home and checked up on the translation of the word did I solve the puzzle. It was sheep brains, and apparently it was a delicacy in Morocco.

No wonder the cook was pointing to his head the whole time!

A Cobra Bloodbath, Hanoi
Stephanie Yoder

I’m comfortable with the implications of being a carnivore but still it’s unnerving to look your meal right in its still squirming face.

I’m not sure what I was expecting upon being invited to a Vietnamese snake restaurant. The building was just another generic store front on a dark street in the suburbs of Hanoi. I would never have found it (or sought it out) on my own. We were the only foreigners there yet dozens of groups sat in their own private areas, all feasting on the same thing: cobra.

The snake came out nearly immediately. “Who will eat the heart?” the server asked, passing around our very alive, very alert, and very poisonous entree, “Vietnamese Viagra!”

I laughed nervously and downed a shot of rice wine. Next to me, my boyfriend Michael raised his hand to volunteer.

Do snakes feel fear? I flinched when they brought the knife out. It was just a quick hand motion and the beating heart was outside the body, still attached, still pumping. Michael bent over and ripped it with his teeth. Vietnamese Viagra? No way I was kissing him now.

“How did it taste?”

“Slimy.”

In the confusion afterwards the snake was bled out, the blood mixed with the wine and handed out in thumb-sized cups. We toasted and drank. The wine overpowered any taste but the act itself felt primal. Next up, wine with venom and bile. This shot tingled on the way down. I tried not to think about it too hard.

The snake disappeared into the back to be cooked into an (ultimately delicious) 6-course meal. The rest of us, who were clearly having a better night than him, went back to drinking wine.

Bulls Balls in Brazil
Keith Jenkins

I saw them for the first time at a grill house or churrascaria in Foz do Iguaçu, the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. The restaurant chef accompanied me and explained the different parts of the cow on the massive grill.

With a chuckle, he proclaimed, “bulls balls”!

“Testicles? No way!”

I glanced at them and made a beeline for the juicy-looking tenderloins. But when I returned to my table I was horrified to see the person next to me sitting with an enormous testicle on his plate. Seeing me recoil in shock, he grinned and asked me if I’d ever tried it. I shook my head, trying to regain my cool and appear uninterested.

His grin grew wider, he cut a slice from the testicle and handed it to me.

I shook my head but no words came out of my mouth. The sight of his knife slicing through the testicle made me squirm in my seat. I looked at it on my plate and thought, “Get over it. It’s just a meatball!” I put my fork into it (ouch!) and raised it to my mouth. I munched on it twice and swallowed it quickly. The only thing I remember was a salty flavor, which I swiftly washed down with a big gulp of beer!

Having the Guts to Try Something New, Buenos Aires
Jessica Festa

One hungry afternoon in Buenos Aires, my friend and I caught a whiff of grilling meat and followed our noses to a street vendor selling the usual selection of choripan sausage and other snacks. Although delicious, choripan is pretty greasy and very fattening so I thought I’d brave something called morcipan. It was cheaper, darker and less greasy; vegetarian sausage I assumed, without stopping to ask either my friend or the vendor.

One bite was all I needed to realize something wasn’t quite right, but it tasted enough like black beans that I kept chewing. And I mean chewing. They were the chewiest black beans I’d ever eaten.

At one point I was yanking a very stretchy piece of “black bean” with my teeth trying to rip it out of the bun until the food actually snapped apart, whipping my head back. Annoyed, I turned to my friend and asked him why they made their vegetarian sausages so chewy in Argentina.

After nearly choking on his own food he finally explained what was wrong. This was no vegetarian dish, it was congealed pig blood and intestines. Let’s just say from then on I stuck to the fattening choripan.

Mexican Fried Critters
Mike Richard

It would appear that bugs are the last bastion of “extreme eating” nowadays. And I’d say that I’m a traveler willing to try (almost) anything.

Which is how I found myself in Puebla – the literal epicenter of Mexican cuisine – this past summer with a mouthful of multi-legged critters. The good chefs at El Mural de los Poblanos an upscale restaurant in the heart of the city – serve some of the most traditional fare in the entire country.

As an “appetizer”, we started with gusanos – worms fried table side and served in corn tortillas with salsa, guacamole and ground worm powder. They’re crispy, crunchy and well … fried. Once I got beyond the fact that I was eating worms, they were surprisingly tasty.

But the real prize was the escamoles – fried ant larvae served with all the same fixin’s as the worms. It goes without saying that, among the dozen travelers in our group, few opted to taste this admittedly terrifying delicacy.

I knew if I was gonna do it, I was going all the way – a heapin’ helpin’ of ant eggs with a dollop of salsa and guac spread liberally on a fresh tortilla. It all combines into a buttery, nutty, and slightly spicy mess of flavors. To be honest, it’s still one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in Mexico!

By Heather Green

The IgoUgo Blog

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