Friday, November 4th, 2011
Backpacking anywhere is bound to be an amazing experience. There’s something about the feeling of having all of your worldly possessions crammed into a backpack, setting off on adventures unknown and meeting like-minded travellers along the way who share your passion for exploring new cultures and places. Backpacking in Australia is particularly exciting, because not only do we have a healthy does of culture and history to explore, we also have some of the most beautiful natural scenery anywhere in the world. If you’re planning a backpacking trip to Australia, we’ve got a few tips that will help you on your way. From finding Surfer’s Paradise accommodation during peak season to getting a lift in a car on its way up the coast, you’re going to run into challenges and experiences you’ve never had before. The following tips provide a guide on how to make the most of everything. You’re on for a wild ride….
Attitude
- The one thing that is going to affect your backpacking time in Australia is your own attitude.
- You can either blame other people when things go wrong, or accept that it’s part of the journey and consider it a lesson.
- The amount of fun you have in Australia will be directly proportionate to how open you are to having it. Open your heart and your mind to new experiences and you will reap the rewards.
- A desire to find out about local cultures and traditions will set you in good stead. A lot of backpackers arrive and spend their time on the inside of every Irish pub from Sydney to Cairns, never really getting out and experiencing the real Aussie lifestyle (not that we don’t like to hang out in Irish pubs occasionally!) Get outside your comfort zone.
Experiences
- Do everything that you can possibly do (and afford).
- If you’ve always wanted to climb the Harbour Bridge, do it. If you’ve always wanted to dive the Great Barrier Reef, do it. Don’t let petty things hold you back, and while it’s important to budget, remember that these are probably once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, so don’t go home with regrets.
- Travel by car or bus as often as possible. For those on time restrictions we can understand that planes are more efficient, but seeing the Australian landscape change dramatically as you pass through different areas is an amazing introduction to the country.
- Do day tours as often as you can. They might seem very touristy, but they’re often cheap, easy ways to orientate yourself in a new city or town and find out what you want to come back to later on and spend more time exploring.
Friends
- Open yourself up to meeting new people. Every new person that comes into your life has something to offer, and you have something to offer them. You may not know what it is yet, but if you have that attitude you’ll find experiences and opportunities begin to open up all over the place.
- Choose to travel with new friends, rather than alone. While it might be important for you to complete some of the trip solo, travelling with friends is a way to experience things more fully.
- In addition to this, it can be cheaper—hire a van together or grab a lift with friends, and you’ll find you save a lot of money up the coast.
People come back from backpacking trips around Australia every day, and one of the most common experiences is that they feel it changed them for the better. Australia is a land steeped in history and ancient spirituality, as well as having some of the friendliest locals anywhere in the world. Have you booked your backpacking adventure yet?
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Monday, June 27th, 2011
Where to Stay near Florence: Being in the heart of Tuscany, there are many choices outside Florence that cost less. Consider an agriturismo or vacation rental and take a bus or train into Florence for the day (both the train and bus station are within easy walking distance of the historic center). A good choice is staying at Le Torri Vacation Apartments and taking the bus to Florence.
florence
On the train line, the cities of Prato or Pistoia could make reasonable choices. Montecatini Terme, just under an hour by train, has many inexpensive hotels.
Florence has a number of hostels (not just for youth) and even a camp ground with a view of the city.
Eating and Drinking in Florence: Sitting at a bar on Piazza della Signoria can be very expensive. Restaurants on or near the square are costly, too. Walk just a few blocks from the tourist crowds and you’ll find less costly options. Here are suggestions for inexpensive places to eat in Florence, many of them popular with locals.
Florence has an excellent central covered market, worth a visit even if you don’t want to shop. It’s a great place to assemble a picnic lunch. More about Florence San Lorenzo Market.
Sight-seeing in Florence: Florence is an architectural treasure trove with many beautiful buildings to be observed. Many churches are free and hold important artworks. Florence is easily explored on foot so there’s no need for transportation. Wandering around the city and walking along the Arno River are good ways to spend the day.
source : about.com
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Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
We live in a world blessed with sights that are beautiful beyond words. Every human being probably dreams of visiting at least one of those places in their lifetime. Living in modern cities with high-rise buildings, we tend to miss out on what Mother Nature has to offer as well as some of the most incredible man-made structures built throughout the course of history.
Look at the places below, and you will see beauty that fills the eye and warms the heart. It wouldn’t be appropriate or humanly possible to just pick a few places from the huge collection of amazing sights around the world and call them the “best.”
They say that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and there are perhaps other places that have touched your heart. For this reason, we do not claim the places included in our list are the best, but rather among the vast collection of the most beautiful places of the world.
Skardu Valley – Pakistan
Photo by bogavanterojo
Photo by NotMicroButSoft
Skardu Valley is part of the Baltistan. Baltistan is spread over an area of 26,000 square kilometres – just right below the jagged and glaciated ramparts of the Karakoram. Once part of Laddakh, it was known as Tibet-i-Khurd – Little Tibet. Archaeological exploration has proven that it was encompassed by the Silk Trade Route.
you can read the entire article here : http://kicktheworld.blogspot.com/2011/02/top-bautiful-places-in-world.html
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Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
traveling to the city that known as the center of mode or fashion, we managed to look so good or local people will look at us oddly. but we’re as traveler didn’t carry that much cloth to always look casual 
so here 10 cloth you should put on your backpack to make you look casual at traveling or backpacking.
1. Jeans
Jeans were invented for travelers. And cowboys. They don’t need ironing, no thief can get his hand in the front pocket, and you can wipe your sweat, grease and mucous on them without making too much of a stain.
2. A Hooded Top
Sometimes you just want to curl up and hide on the road without a hundred curious pairs of eyes seeking yours. Pull up the hood and you’re in world of your own. It’ll also save you from catching your death of cold when hitchhiking on a windy mountain road.
3. Decent Shoes
Your footwear is worth investing in. Sandals just don’t cut it with immigration and going barefoot leaves you open to catching ringworm. Boots are heavy to cart around and are too hot in tropical climates. A good pair of leather deck shoes, though will suit you in any climate. Just make sure they’re dark enough not to look too beaten up after the first few scratches.
4. A Blanket
Like Ford Prefect’s towel, a blanket can keep you dry, warm and serves as a useful weapon in close hand-to-hand fighting. A blanket can be a cushion on uncomfortable bus journeys and you’ll eventually learn to sleep with it pulled entirely over your head, protecting you from the cold, mosquitoes and curious passersby when sleeping outside.
5. A Lunghi
A lunghi is the oriental version of the blanket. Lightweight and easy to wash, it makes a good towel and can be worn around the neck to mop up facial sweat.
6. Something Smart
Even if you’re going to be hanging out with grungy hippies most of the time, there will be times when you need to look the part. Maybe you’re going for a visa extension, maybe you’re about to catch a plane and don’t want to look like a drug smuggler. A good wrinkle-free shirt or dress can transform your appearance from vagabond to respectable tourist in moments.
7. String
Staying clean and smelling good on the road will win you the respect of the locals, make you welcome in people’s homes and improve your love life no end. So carry a bar of soap and a ball of string to make an impromptu washing line beneath the fan in your hotel room.
8. No Iron
Only the most uptight traveler would travel with a plug-in iron but you can still lose the wrinkled I-slept-in-a-ditch-last-night look by shaking out your wet laundry before you hang them up. That way all the water goes to the bottom of the clothes and gravity helps pull it straight.
9. Don’t Buy Clothes in Tourist Shops
The thin grab on sale in backpacker ghettoes usually tears in a matter of days and marks you out as the kind of idiot who buys clothes in shops made for travelers. If you wonder why you get hassled to buy stuff all the time, take a look at what you’re wearing.
10. Bury Incense in Your Backpack
It’s tough to stay fresh and clean all the time. Get caught in the rainy season and your clothes might not dry or it might be so hot that you get through your entire wardrobe every 3 days. Bury a few opened packets of incense in your backpack and you’ll carry exotic scents with you wherever you go.
there article sources are : www.roadjungky.com
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Saturday, June 11th, 2011
The Republic of Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world comprising 17,504 large and small tropical islands fringed with white sandy beaches, many still uninhabited and a number even still unnamed. Straddling the equator, situated between the continents of Asia and Australia and between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans, it is as wide as the United States from San Francisco to New York, equaling the distance between London and Moscow. Indonesia has a total population of more than 215 million people from more than 200 ethnic groups. The national language is Bahasa Indonesia.
Among the most well known islands are Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan (formerly Borneo), Sulawesi (formerly Celebes), the Maluku Islands (or better known as Moluccas, the original Spice Islands) and Papua. Then, there is Bali “the world’s best island resort” with its enchanting culture, beaches, dynamic dances and music. But Indonesia still has many unexplored islands with grand mountain views, green rainforests to trek through, rolling waves to surf and deep blue pristine seas to dive in where one can swim with dugongs, dolphins and large mantarays.
Because of her location, and geology, Indonesia is blessed with the most diverse landscape, from fertile ricelands on Java and Bali to the luxuriant rainforests of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, to the savannah grasslands of the Nusatenggara islands to snow-capped peaks of West Papua.
read the rest of indonesia backpacking here : http://kicktheworld.blogspot.com/2011/04/about-travel-in-indonesia-tips-travel.html
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Friday, June 10th, 2011
North of Sydney is Ku Ring Gai Chase, the typical original Sydney bush. If you’re fit, you can take a 12km walk through a track to the river. This place is just half an hour from the Sydney hostels and the Opera House. You’ll find wildlife and a truly magical place.
It’s pretty easy to find the Turramurra entrance of the Ku Ring Gai Chase National Park. You can take a bus from the railway station and get off next to the old soldiers’ hospital. The Park entrance is just over the road.
If you’ve never been in the Australian bush before, you need to know a few things:
- Keep track of your position. You can get lost if you take too many turns.
- The Australian bush can be very dry, particularly in summer. Stay hydrated, and takes some water with you.
- Take a cell phone. You may need it if you get lost.
- The bush animals are pretty cool, and don’t attack humans. That said, don’t scare them. The big lizards like goannas and water dragons can bite, and those bites are likely to be septic.
- Don’t get too close to any sharp drops. A fall can be real trouble.
The walk to the river
The first thing you’ll see as you walk down the made road into the bush is a Sphinx. It was made by wounded soldier recuperating after World War 1 in the hospital. Follow the trail past the Sphinx, straight ahead. You’ll come to some steps leading downwards. This is the river track.
You’ll see is a prehistoric-looking landscape. That’s because it is one. Around here you’ll see tree ferns and other dinosaur-era plants among the big gum trees. After about 3km, you’ll also find yourself in goanna and water dragon territory. The goannas are big monitor lizards.
They’re relatives of the Komodo Dragon and miniature versions of a giant hunting lizard called Megalania, a 5 meter monster twice the size of a Komodo Dragon. This was the biggest lizard ever, and be thankful the goannas are much friendlier. They’re more likely to mistake you for a tree if they get frightened and try to climb you. They can stand on two legs, too, and it’s a sight to see.
The next stage of the walk is through a combination forest of gums, ferns and some trees like sheoaks, gnarly-looking trees and native flowers. If you’re lucky and observant you may find some signs of Aboriginal habitation, too. The walk will take you to a small harbour where you can get something to drink and take a break.
The walk back is something else. Every time you see the Australian bush, you’ll notice something new. You may see more animals, or hear the local wallabies hopping in the scrub, although you’ll be lucky to see one of these shy creatures.
Ask any backpackers in Sydney who’ve ever been to the National Parks, and you’ll hear a lot of different stories from the more observant people. Meeting the Australian bush is a real privilege. Treat it with respect.
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Wednesday, June 8th, 2011
The great thing about traveling in countries like Argentina, China and India is that you get so much more for your money. By paying less for your night in a hostel, you can spend that little bit longer on the road, and really get under the skin of the country.
The hostels featured here are certainly cheap… and, for the traveler, extremely cheerful!
There are loads of other equally cheap hostels, guesthouses and even hotels on the site. But we’ve picked ten places that we felt offered that little something extra.
For more ways to save money, check our our Budget Student Guide, Cheap Travel Tips and Budget Transport Guide!
Put your feet up after the Full Moon Party
Koh Pha Ngan is Thailand’s most hedonistic island and one of the most famous party destinations in the world. Every month, thousands of travelers come to Haad Riin for one of the biggest and wildest celebrations – the Full Moon Party.
After the mania of a Full Moon party, take a gentle stroll along the beach, and recharge your batteries in the most idyllic of settings. Thailand hostels tend to be pretty cheap, but here beds in a beachside bungalow amongst the palms start at a sensational €2.34.
A guest writes: ”The food was amazing, and it is so nice to be on the beach, with just forest behind you, no noise from roads, bars or people to hassle you. Eating coconuts that have been picked from the trees and drinking a beer at sunset, superb!!” (Posted on 9th June)
Check prices at the Silvery Moon Bungalow
Meandering through Michoacan
Michoacan is one of the most beautiful (and least visited) of Mexico’s provinces. And the area surrounding Contepec boasts great hiking and stunning scenery. Its surrounding mountains and forests are also home to one of nature’s great spectacles – the migration of an estimated 60 million Monarch butterflies.
Whilst it might seem a bit off the beaten track, Contepec is actually just a couple of hour’s journey from Mexico City. And this little gem of a hostel offers volunteer schemes, ecotourism opportunities and simple, basic facilities all for a staggering €0.66 a night!
(This hostel is new to the website and yet to be reviewed)
Check prices at the Instituto J.F.K.
Street art at Hostel ELF
European travelers flock to Prague in the run-up to Christmas, with the arrival of the colourful Christmas Markets. Because of its higher visitor numbers and myriad attractions, Prague hostels tend to be a bit more expensive than the rest of the Czech Republic.
That’s why Hostel ELF is a real bargain. Just a brisk walk from the bus station, it has a lively atmosphere, and beds starts at only €9.36!
A guest writes: ”Good atmosphere, lots of fun people and definitely a good place to meet people and spend some of your free time!” (Posted on 18th February)
Check prices at Hostel ELF
Bag a bargain at Baluch Backpackers
Cordoba, nestled into the foothills of the Sierras Chicas Mountains, is Argentina’s second city. Its old streets are lined with colonial architecture whilst its world-renowned, UNESCO protected ‘Jesuit Block’ is worth the trip from Buenos Aires alone.
Cordoba backpackers hostels are also excellent, and a bed at Baluch Backpackers only costs around €5 a night. The hostel is set in a charming old property, with elegant balconies giving out on to the street, and a top-class roof terrace to chill out on.
A guest writes: ”I came for the weekend and stayed for the next one as well! Great fun in surprisingly cheap prices. A great place to meet friends to keep on traveling with…” (Posted on 3rd June)
Check prices at Baluch Backpackers
A typically inviting room at the Goodbye Lenin Hostel
The town of Zakopane is Poland’s outdoor activities capital, and in winter offers some of the cheapest skiing in Europe. A little bit more expensive than the others – but still under €10 a night! – the Goodbye Lenin Hostel is the perfect place from which to explore some of the country’s unspoilt wildernesses.
A guest writes: ”The staff were really friendly and helpful and recommended places and things to do while you were staying in Zakopane, and even how to get your next train to your next location , again, so nice and helpful. The hostel is so cute and quaint, and has a really relaxing atmosphere.” (Posted on 28th July)
Check prices at Goodbye Lenin Hostel
Crowned by the amazing Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur is one of India’s most striking cities. Known as the ‘Blue City’ because of the bright, cobalt color of many of the houses, it’s Rajasthan at its most ravishing.
There are actually cheaper Jodhpur hostels – prices even go as low as €2.00 a night. But with a bed in a single room starting at €4.50, and an excellent 90% overall guests’ rating, Cosy Guest House is particularly attractive. Just check out that view! A guest writes: ”The owner Mr. Joshi is fantastic. Their kitchen is amazing, ate nearly every meal there and it wasn’t out of laziness (ok maybe a bit). Great patio for lazy days, location is a bit tough (steep uphill climb from the road) but the views make it worthwhile.” (Posted on 23rd March 2007)
Check prices at the Cosy Guest House
Your tent is ready, sir!
Many travelers come to Nairobi to climb the nearby Mt Kilimanjaro (the highest mountain in Africa), or see some of Kenya’s fantastic wildlife. But with its excellent transport links, Nairobi is a great starting point for striking out across the continent.
Wildebeest Camp has a laidback vibe, ideal for getting a bit of rest before heading off into the heart of Africa. They’ve also got an onsite travel office to help guests with any arrangements they might need to make. A bed in one of their groovy looking safari-style tents is great value at €5.50.
(This hostel is new to the website and yet to be reviewed)
Check prices at the Wildebeest Camp
Discover Petra for €8 a night
Petra has been described as “one of the most precious properties of man’s cultural heritage”. Normally, the closer you get to a world famous historical site, the more the prices start to rise.
Not so in Petra.
Prices at the Petra Gate Hostel start at about €8… That’s Petra for €8 a night. But that’s not all the Petra Gate offers. Great meals, Bedouin dancing extravaganzas and their shisha pipes count amongst the place’s highlights.
A guest writes: ”Excellent – Fed meals, given great advice, and got us a taxi for cheaper than you can get on the street. Highly recommended.” (Posted on 5th August)
or ypu can read the best hostel according hostelworld : http://daydaily.com/2011/06/07/top-cheap-hostel-for-backpacker/
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Sunday, May 22nd, 2011
A road trip is a fun holiday that everyone in the family will enjoy. Whether you take the whole family, go as a couple or head off on your own, a road trip is about just letting the road take you where it will. You may decide to stop off overnight and keep on driving the next day, or you might decide you like a particular location and stay a few days. The flexibility of a road trip is what makes it so appealing. It does help to plan your trip and to make it more comfortable take a few things with you. Before you go make sure that you have your car serviced, whether car service Melbourne or Sydney, but have your car checked. It would ruin your entire holiday if you broke down along the way.
Thermos
During a road trip you will stop along the way for breaks and meals, and a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate can help revive you. While you are travelling it is a lot easier to carry hot drinks in a Thermos to prevent spills, which could be dangerous will driving, plus it will keep your drinks warm. A warm drink on a cold day is nice and the caffeine can help keep you alert.
Snacks
Snacks are a good idea, not just for when you are hungry, as they can break up the trip a bit. Pack healthy snacks, rather than eating salty chips or chocolate bars. If you are sitting for long periods you won’t burn off a huge amount of calories, and as well as being bad for you, they can make you overweight. Fruit, nuts or raw vegetables are good, and can be prepared before you leave and don’t take up much room. Buy a good lunch box before you go to keep food fresh. Lunch boxes tend to have small compartments within them nowadays, so they are perfect for different snacks.
Music
Having music definitely helps the trip seem faster, so choose your favourite music and make up a CD before you go. Don’t rely on the radio as you won’t always be in range of your favourite station, and if you are heading away from major cities your choice of stations could be limited.
Cash
Depending on where you are going you might find that cash is the only accepted method of payment. It is also wise to have cash on you in case of an emergency. Anywhere you go cash is accepted, and it is also good to have a collection of coins in the car for things like tolls, parking ticket machines, vending machines or even public toilets that require payment.
GPS
Having a GPS or Global Positioning System in your car is a good idea. These systems are improving all the time and it eliminates the need for large road maps or road atlases. You simply program in your destination and it can either show you where you need to go, or it can give you spoken directions.
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Saturday, February 26th, 2011
As one of Africa’s largest cities, Nairobi is a favorite with tourists from all over the world. With its incredible melting of cultures, incredible natural wildlife preserves and luxurious hotels, Kenya has so much to offer visitors, no wonder so many end upnever wanting to leave.
And because Kenya is such a vacation hot spot all over the world, there are so many cheap Flights to Nairobi available, especially when you book early.The airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, is close too, just l6 km from the city center, simply grab a cab into town, they’re lined up, licensed and waiting for you.
A cultural tour around the city will take visitors to the Nairobi National Museum, which boasts a large number of exhibits, ranging from stuffed animals to ancient relics, some of which date back to the prehistoric era.
And who doesn’t love Out of Africa? The Karen Blixen Museum is a favorite for most tourists. Here you can find memorabilia of the well-known Danish farming woman who lived in Kenya at the beginning of the 1900’s and was forced to leave her beloved Africa due to bankruptcy.
Nairobi boasts Kenya’s very first national park, the Nairobi National Park, which was established in 1945 and offers an impressive range of animals and scenic areas of wild bush and a large expanse of plains. The Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage is a refuge for giraffes, where visitors can actually help feed the baby giraffes,a wonderful way to teach children about animals.
Dining options in Nairobi are plentiful with both local and international cuisine. There are typical small restaurants known as hotelies that propose Kenyan dishes at good prices, while an international menu can be had in the hotel restaurants. A restaurant that should not be missed is the Carnivore, which is one of the most renowned restaurants in Africa, serving barbecued meats in a candle-lit atmosphere.
There is a choice of luxury colonial style hotels, modern five-star accommodation or budget hostels everywhere in the city, although it is best to book your hotel together with your flight to Nairobi. The Panafric and Fairview are good budget hotels, while the Intercontinental and Hilton are the best downtown options.
You can choose any time of the year to travel to Nairobi, as its altitude renders the climate fairly moderate. Nairobi’s summer goes from November to February when temperatures are at their hottest, while during winter the nights can get cool. The seasons are separated in rainy and dry seasons, the rainy season starting in mid June to mid October, while the dry season goes from mid December to mid March.
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Friday, February 11th, 2011
In recent years New Zealand has scored increasingly highly on global surveys that seek to identify the most popular tourist destinations. There are countless reasons to visit this beautiful country. Our list covers a few of our favourites, to whet your appetite. No doubt, when you visit you will be able to add a few of your own.
Adrenaline Sports
New Zealand is where Bungee jumping was invented and it remains the spiritual home of adrenaline sports. Whether you fancy parasailing, white water rafting, jet boating or anything else that gets the blood pumping you are sure to be able to find it in New Zealand. And if that wasn’t enough, in the winter months New Zealand’s mountains become a playground for skiers and snowboarders. If an active holiday is what you want then there is no better place for you than New Zealand. Just make sure you have good travel insurance that covers you for dangerous sports!
Wine and food
If the thought of all that activity has worked up an appetite and a thirst then do not despair. Great seafood, delicious meat raised on lush pastures, and fresh produce is the order of the day in New Zealand. And to accompany it are exquisite cool climate wines from world renowned regions such as Marlborough and Hawke’s Bay. New Zealand is primarily famous for its Pinot Noirs and Sauvignon Blancs, but also produces high quality Chardonnays and Merlots amongst many other varieties.
Rugby
If sport is your thing, then there is something very special about visiting a country that is truly passionate. And there are few nations more passionate about anything than the New Zealanders are about rugby union. With a World Cup in New Zealand in 2011 that passion is close to fever pitch, but every year provides great opportunities to get amongst the crowd and feel the intensity. The tri-nations tournament between New Zealand, Australia and South Africa and regular visits from touring Northern Hemisphere teams mean that the international matches come thick and fast.
Glorious Scenery
Perhaps New Zealand’s greatest attribute is its natural beauty. The snow capped mountain peaks and turquoise glacial lakes that dominate the South Island are the stunning picture postcard image of New Zealand, but the beautiful beaches and glistening waters of the coastline and islands in the North are glorious in their own right. Couple this with mysterious ‘other worldly’ sight of the geysers and bubbling mud that punctuate this volcanic land and you have a quite remarkable natural landscape.
Attractive towns and cities
As stunning as New Zealand’s natural attributes are, you should not be tempted to ignore its towns and cities completely. From historic Christchurch to the magnificently preserved art deco town of Napier, New Zealand’s urban areas have much to recommend them. Auckland too, New Zealand’s largest city, is an appealing place, located as it is on an attractive natural harbour.
These are just a few of the wonderful things that New Zealand has to offer, so what are you waiting for? Pack your bags, organise some cheap travel insurance and head on over!
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