One Happy Island in Aruba
The Caribbean is full of golden shoreline and amazing backdrops. It might seem a little trite or over-worked, but the Island of Aruba is one of my favourites. You can reach nearly any part of the island in one day, and by escaping the lame casinos and getting away from the resorts (which are lovely, but come on…) you can have your own adventure. I find beach-only holidays a real bore – I get ancy on day two or three. Aruba is perfect for me, though – a balance of relaxing on the beach with cocktails against doing something else besides sitting around. Here’s a few of my personal highlights of things to do in Aruba.
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20 Things I Learned Traveling In China
Today’s Article is written by Monica Wong.
Traveling has taught me more about myself and about the world than all my years of institutionalized education. Learning in a box is like seeing the world through a keyhole and living in one is really no life to live. That’s why I decided to study abroad in Shanghai for a semester. While I was taking a language course 4 days a week, I also managed to travel to 12 different cities all over China within a 5 month period.
From my semester abroad, here are 20 things I didn’t learn in the classroom.
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Vietnam at a Glance
Today’s article is by Donna Hull.
Humidity, an agricultural society, a third world economy, humidity, millions of motorbikes, communism with capitalistic tendencies, humidity, a friendly population, beautiful scenery. Did I mention the humidity?
What’s your impression of Vietnam? Do you dream of exploring the Southeast Asian country on an off-the-beaten-path journey? To truly understand the complex country, first you need to visit iconic Vietnam.
My introduction came via several daylong excursions from a cruise ship that sailed the Vietnamese coast. A cruise ship? Yes, that’s right. A cruise visit to Vietnam can provide the basis for discovery that will lead to more in-depth future visits. Let’s travel more to Vietnam…
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Taiwan, the Other China
As a kid, Taiwan just seemed the “other” China, an island existing in the shadow of monolithic Red China, a sort of big, comfy refuge for Chiang Kai-shek and his cronies, where they could enjoy all the art and goodies shipped out just ahead of Mao’s conquest. The image was of rows of workers turning out electronics and other gadgets we, the West, wanted, and providing a last stand against the Communist threat. Nothing unique enough to travel halfway around the world to see.
A few Taiwanese friends tried to gently suggest I might be mistaken and perhaps I should visit to see for myself. (The Taiwanese are very friendly and polite, even in crowds.) I figured 8 days, not including travel time, would be enough to circle the peanut-shaped country. How much diversity could a country the size of Belgium contain?
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Interlaken: Overhyped or Underappreciated?
Switzerland is known for many things: Europe’s most gorgeous mountains and peaks, hidden bank accounts and expensive travel. One of my favourite places in Switzerland is Interlaken. It’s not exactly a travel writer’s secret; one only has to look at the hordes of Asian and American tourists piling onto the “express” train that takes you to Europe’s highest railway station, Jungfraujoch.
But in fact, I think the whole region is really under appreciated. I spent quite a bit of time there and couldn’t believe how enjoyable the place was – and despite all the tourists, I actually found myself alone on quiet trails or enjoying relaxing cafe terraces. Here’s a few of the things I found most enjoyable and suggestions for how you can enjoy a stay of any length (or in fact any season – there are things to do in Interlaken year-round) in this little Swiss hangout. I’ll be skipping the highest railway station and instead headed for quieter and more enjoyable places. Here’s my travel more Interlaken story.
Note: When you arrive in Interlaken, make sure you get a map – or print one out, such as this one. The area is connected by a series of gondolas, trains, and buses. This is the high Alps here, so sometimes the routes are circuitous. That’s part of the fun.
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London: Love It or Hate It
The world is full of “those types of places” – you know the ones – that people either love or hate. Melbourne might be one. Tijuana too. But the one city in the world that is move take-it-or-leave-it than any other must be, without a doubt, the UK’s capital city and bustling metropolis, London.
I can’t decide whether I love London or hate it. Probably a bit of both. It is a huge place with so many things to see and do, but it’s also crowded and sometimes dirty and oh-so-inordinately expensive. But there’s no where in the world like it, so here’s some thoughts. I’ll let you make up your own mind.
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Inspirational Places: Samasati, Costa Rica
Today’s Article is by Rachelle Lucas
Imagine waking up in the morning to the gradual echoing sounds of howler monkeys high above you in the trees. Their deep throaty calls are greeting the first glimpse of the sunrise over the horizon, but it’s still dark under the canopy in the forest. The air feels cool and damp on your skin, and dew dripping from leaves creates a light pitter patter on the tin roof of your bungalow. But the excitement of all there is to see keeps you from snuggling deep under the covers. Instead, you swing your legs over the edge of the bed, place your feet onto the smooth hardwood floors and meander outside to a stone pathway where you’re greeted by red dart frogs and bright blue butterflies the size of your hand. Toucans fly above your head and you have to giggle because they look like flying bananas.
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Tijuana: Where Prince Meets Pauper
I wanted to take a minute to talk about a very interesting place that you should add to your list if you haven’t been: Tijuana, Mexico. It’s a border town, at the very northwest corner of Mexico and just an hour south of San Diego. Many people make the trip to Tijuana as a day trip from San Deigo, which is very do-able; you can drive and park in one of the many lots on the US side, or take the little tram that will take you right to the border.
Once you arrive, you just walk through a turnstile, and presto: you’re in Mexico. But it almost feels as if you’ve just followed Alice through the looking glass: what once was paved roads with expensive cars is now dirt and dust. Where there was relative peace along the California coast is now a hive of buzz and activity as children swarm around you to tempt you into a purchase and pickpockets look to empty you of anything not attached. It’s an interesting place that is not to be missed.
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Safari and Beach Breaks in Tanzania and Zanzibar
Today’s article is by Rob Atherton.
For those wanting a twin centre break to combine a safari and the beach, Tanzania and Zanzibar are the ideal combination. The length of time of your break is entirely up to you but even if you only have a week to spare, the trip is still worthwhile. From London, the overnight flight on Kenya Airways will take you down to Dar-es-Salaam with a short stop in Nairobi. A quick tip is on the flight from Nairobi to Dar, try to sit on the right of the aircraft and if the weather is clear, you’ll get an excellent view of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. From Dar, an internal flight with Zanair while take you off to the Selous in the south of Tanzania.
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Inspirational Places: Nimes, France
Today’s article is by Sharon Hurley Hall.
Nîmes is the hottest city in France, with 300 days of sunshine a year and summer temperatures reaching more than 45 degrees Celsius, but when I arrived there in late September, it felt cold to me. I’d just come from the Caribbean to spend a year in France teaching English after graduating from university. It would be a year of ups and downs, but also a year of great inspiration. Nimes is an ancient Roman city and signs of that civilization’s presence were everywhere, not least around the corner from my apartment.
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