August 18th, 2008 at 07:01am
Under China
When I’m sending messages home from an internet cafe in an unfamiliar part of the world, I like to check out what the locals are doing there. In China, I saw a lot of people playing complicated multi-user games; they all seemed to be shooting each other. Posters on the walls showed fantasy characters with huge swords and angular haircuts.
But among the gamers, there were a few lonely bloggers. And now it turns out they weren’t so lonely after all.
There are, in fact, more than 47 million of them. In spite of the Great Firewall of China, the famous censorship system that prevents people from reading and dispersing information, the Chinese have become the word’s most prolific bloggers.
With the world watching Beijing this month, Chinese bloggers are using all kinds of methods to bypass the firewall and get heard - including hosting their sites on foreign servers.
One of the most high-profile Chinese bloggers is Isaac Mao: in a fascinating interview he talks about the whole phenomena, and why he’s proud to have ‘blogger’ on his business card.
- Kate James
By admin
August 18th, 2008 at 06:25am
Under Mexico
There are plenty of nasty culinary experiences to be had. Stories abound with variations on the themes of Moctezuma’s revenge and bizarre local specialties. Then there are the times a taste will take you into a whole new territory, far removed from your normal points of reference. It happened to me when I first tried huitlacoche - a mushroom-like delicacy known in English as Mexican truffle, corn fungus, or the even more intriguing corn smut.
A couple of Mexican friends were devouring innocent-looking quesadillas with gusto. I was urged to take a bite, then noticed a black substance oozing from the sides. With my limited Spanish I could only catch the phrases ‘found in corn’, ‘a kind of pest’. Images of corn-dwelling critters stuck around for a while, even after reassurances I was eating a vegetable, but the taste just blew me away.
These infected corn kernels turn to silky, inky-black bubbles when cooked. On the tongue, they release the complex, earthy flavour that enraptures the initiated.
I’ll keep waiting for my next taste sensation.
- Dolores Welt
By admin
August 18th, 2008 at 06:23am
Under Costa Rica+ South America
Nicaragua is a country I could not help but love: it is a fascinating place, full of history, culture, natural wonders and good food. It is also very cheap! We left Monteverde, Costa Rica at 6am in order to start our epic move to Nicaragua. Well, maybe “epic” is too strong a word, but it was certainly a bit of a trial, involving 4 different chicken buses, a taxi, a boat and a long border crossing to finally reach our first destination, the town of Moyogalpa on Isla de Ometepe. We arrived just in time to check into a good cheap
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By admin
June 25th, 2008 at 02:03pm
Under Eco-Travel
Jennifer Conlin writes in the NYTimes about a new trend in honeymooning: low- to no-impact, carbon neutral, and less wasteful post-wedding trips. Many of the honeymooners mentioned in the exposition were already interested in environmental and social issues, or professed to be, though they traveled to places like Kenya and Spain (to be fair the folks that went to Spain lived in England). It seems like one way to lessen the carbon footprint of a honeymoon would be to stay closer to home. Another is to follow in the very light carbon footprints of those who went on wwoofing honeymoons, working with the organization World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.
If there is any restricted event in a person’s life that involves high levels of spending and waste generation, its the whole event of unifying two humans for life; any way we can green that is a step forward.
[Source] Leslie Wolcott
By admin
June 24th, 2008 at 11:46am
Under Eco-Travel
Summer travel season is here, and Pope Benedict wants you to remember one thing: harming the environment is a sin. So, watch out all you globetrotters! The increasingly eco-friendly Vatican released a set of travel tips to the devout that week, including suggestions on how to compose your vacation more environmentally responsible. Apparently, the word on the street in Vatican City is: “One can choose to be a tourist at odds with the Earth or in favor of it.”
The notice comes as the latest in a series of environmentally-conscious initiatives by the Vatican — like going carbon-neutral and defining pollution as a “new sin.” The Pope’s travel tips aren’t really all that enlightening. They range from simply bringing less luggage on planes and other gas guzzlers, to offsetting your travel footprint by planting trees. Still, it’s pretty significant that Catholicism is going green. It kinda seems to raise the question: is any mold of tourism truly eco-friendly? Shouldn’t we just abolish vacation and work all the date? I’m kidding.
[Source] Josh Loposer
By admin
May 18th, 2008 at 07:19am
Under Canada+ USA
Run! Starting today, you can purchase tickets between New York to Toronto for as low as $1 at Trailwaysny.com or Greyhound.com. NeOn, short for New York-Ontario, has two round-trip express schedules each day between New York and Toronto.NeOn tickets are available for purchase in advance at Trailwaysny.com, Greyhound.com or from a driver before boarding. One-way fares start at $1, plus a booking fee. The highest fare will adjust based on market demand. The earlier passengers purchase their tickets, the lower the fare they receive.
The best part? They offer free Wi-Fi, power outlets and video. Yay! I am convinced it won’t be long before even riding a bus is more comfortable than flying.
By admin
May 13th, 2008 at 09:10am
Under Travel Ideas
I think I just figured out where I want to be buried when I die. Check out this underwater cemetery, which opened last fall about about 3 miles off the coast of Key Biscayne.
The Neptune Memorial Reef was built as the “perfect final resting spot for those who loved the sea”, AP reports. Its creators hope that one day the reef will cover 16 acres and have room for 125,000 remains. The artificial reef’s first phase allows for about 850 remains.
In March, the remains of 93-year-old diver Bert Kilbride - who called himself “The Last Pirate of the Caribbean” - were placed atop a column of the reef’s main gate, because of his contributions to the sea. Kilbride was named the oldest living scuba diver in this year’s Guinness Book of World Records.
I have to tell my Mom about this guy. She might appreciate that he made it to the age of 93, being a diver and all. A fortune-teller once told her that “danger awaits me in the water.” Ever since then, she expects I’ll get eaten by a shark every time I dive. How cool would it be to get eaten by a shark after you are already dead a buried? I can’t wait to tell my Mom about it. Tomorrow. I don’t think she would appreciate the sentiment on Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day!
[via ABC News]
By admin
May 13th, 2008 at 06:16am
Under Travel Ideas
Congratulations to me. I finally figured out what the SPF number stands for.
I am pretty religious about using sunblock (that’s what having cancer at the age of 29 will do to you) but I never actually knew what that number meant, aside from SPF 20=good protection. SPF 30=better protection, and so on.
The website Skin911 breaks Sun Protection Factor (SPF) down in a way that makes it easy to understand. Go figure, SPF is all about the length of time spent in the sun:
- Take the time you would normally burn in the sun without protection. 20 minutes would normally produce redness on a light skinned individual.
- Multiply that number by the SPF factor of your product. Example: with an SPF 15 X’s 20 minutes of sunburn time = 15 x 20 = 300 tells how many minutes you may stay in the sun without burning. 300 minutes divided by a 1 hour of 60 minutes = 5 hours of sun protection without sunburn.
The amount of time to achieve redness with the sunblock applied determines the SPF. As people vary product results will vary on individuals in the market place.
I guess I am safe with 25 for a few hours. (Note to self: Not in Australia. Australia calls for hard-core SPF application and re-application)
By admin
May 10th, 2008 at 06:39am
Under Travel Ideas
As I was browsing through the Gadling pool, the thumbnail of this photo caught my eye. From a smaller perspective it looked like a posed shot of tourists, happy to take a picture resembling the Beatles. But when I clicked on the photo and got to see the larger version, I was happy to see that it was in fact an adorable chain of Japanese children crossing the street. The woman in the back waves enthusiastically at the camera, and even the little child in pink attempts to do the same. One word: cute. With this photo, hikikomorix managed to capture the delight of a very simple everyday activity.
If you want to have your own photo featured on Photo of the Day, upload it to the Gadling Flickr pool.
By admin
April 24th, 2008 at 07:48pm
Under Travel Blog
So, roll down the invisible hill again, straight outta Darwin, to Katherine. Or just get straight Outta Katherine if you’re already there already. Like you didn’t know to (get Outta Katherine, that is). Head west, which means south, but those people got it all upside down already, because this time it’s Western Australia that you have in your sights, which is of course West, but the road from the Katherinites perspective somehow departs from Katherine South. Go West - where the big brown land gets bigger and browner and like a gameshow in the outback the rising escarpments say “Come on Down”.
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| The boab tree, nearly as funny as the Western Australians |
So get set for adventure, boab trees (you’ll like this one) and the best weird post-Brutalist sculptures on any roadside ever. Anywhere. Guaranteed.
Onward to the post-brutal West
As you get some kilometres under your belt speeding in a westerly direction along the mighty Victoria Highway away from Katherine and its Hot Springs and Gorge, etcetera etcetera, then you’ll notice the landscape slowly start to rear up and buckle some. Hills are the hot new thing out here, and pretty soon it’s catching on: Big hills are the go and when the rolling wide spaces get the hang of that there are escarpments.
Timber Creek sets the heart a-moving, not for its Wayside Inn nor the quaint little houses on little stilts at the nearby Indigenous community, but for the great towering wall of rock that somehow resembles a giant red piano with its top aloft, ivories etched vertically into the face greeting you as you come over the rise. After flat for breakfast, flat for lunch and, yes, flat for dinner for so long, it’s great to see somewhere take some initiative and stand up for itself and really do something different.
Sure there’s an escarpment in Arnhem Land, out at Oenpelli (Gunbalanya), and another down from Darwin at Hayes Creek. Even Katherine has a gorge and a 20-metre drop into the river bed from the bridge over north of town. But as the landscape’s canvas gets pretty stretched the further west you go, its spots like as this that manage to stand out by virtue of their grand singularity. Or something like that.
Pick your jaw back off your lap, because you’ll probably run into some kind of steering problem with it hanging down there, and get on down the road as Gregory National Park comes beckoning your way. Heck, its got the annual Devil’s Claw Festival (starting May 21 this year) and if that doesn’t go off like a bucket of weeds in the sun then what does? If memory serves me correctly then Gregory is also the second-biggest national park in the Northern Territory, largely because we haven’t crossed the Western Australia border yet, and being big there’s bloody heaps so why not just go there and save the precious paragraphs for that roadside wonder!
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| Keep River National Park |
Pack your swag and keep on west and Keep River National Park will wander by your wheels. A nice stop, there’s lots of national parky goodness and that usually entails a bunch of space, trees, wet bits like creeks et al, and some bits with animals and clumps of dirt. You get the picture?
And, reeling in back in my recliner and reaching for my pipe, I care now to reflect on the trip after New Yeah’s 2002 (that Was a new yeah, ask in Darwin) when we burnt across the border, pursued by nightly displays of thunderheads and lightning all the way to Kununurra. If you’ll allow me a moment more, I shall recall how in Keep River we stood under a covered area some 15-metres wide, bereft of real shelter as the approaching cyclonic winds rendering tent a funny way to use to T’s, and somehow the rain managed to fall horizontally, wetting the ground and us when the odds said we were undercover. (So mental note, January = wet, but subnote: spectacular.)
Suffice to say we packed the van again and drove through puddles that would score a mention on some maps as new formed lakes, as we skipped the last bit across the highway, missing much of Keep River NP’s natural splendour.
An interesting to point to note at this stage, much as the order you find out as you approach the WA border: that load of fresh fruit and veggies you bought back in Katherine to see you through the next two weeks - forget it. Make an omelette, curry, stew, meal or two right now because just for crossing an invisible dotted line you lost the right to own it. Quarantine restrictions mean NO biological matter (they’ll even take beeswax candles) can go across the border. Sad but true. And rumour has it these guys don’t even like fruit or veggies, preferring a steak to anything and scurvy is just another kind of necktie to them.
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| Beef Road Monument: Does it get any better??? |
And crikey! In all that interstate excitement I forgot clear about the wonder of the North itself, combining three of the most important words in the Australian Language: Beef Road Monument. Like some alien Monolith without the adoring apes, or even a runaway Picasso, this mighty block of concrete sporting the unique corrugated iron style is a Must for any family holiday. Damn, I rushed out of the car and hugged it I was so happy to see something that finally settled all my yearnings for beef, roads and monuments in one. It’s not clear how it relates to any of these things, but something inside of me just Knew. You’ve seen brutalism in architecture, there’s “post-“ just about everything as you’d know from any decent late-night campfire postulations (post-structuralist, post-modernist, post-arrivalist) and this thing is so post, that its pretty much post-post-Brutalist its so post-like and Brutal at the same time.
Do yourself a favour, go there and hug it so you know what true, unflinching gratitude can be.
Oh yeah, from there you can drive over the border and on to about one third of Australia’s land mass where you can find the Kimberleys in all their large and resplendent glorious, um… splendour. Rivers with wild crocodiles, gorges beyond description, boab trees (funny things) and Western Australians (even funnier). That’s if you find the need to tear yourself away from the Beef Road Monument. It should probably have National at the start of that, just so we can hang a flag there. I think I’m weeping…
–Jack Brown
Planning a trip? We think Jack is suggesting you check out things to do in Perth, Broome and the splendor of Western Australia, including the Kimberley. But you just never know with Jack.
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By admin
April 24th, 2008 at 07:46pm
Under Travel Blog
A friend told me the first time I came here, that every summer you spend in Berlin, will be better than the last. You have survived the long winter, now the sunshine is warm and you want to make the most of it.The city parks are indeed plentiful, and inside their lush greenery is where you will find the locals hanging out, enjoying the sunshine and working on their tans.
Many of them have a café, some have Ping Pong tables, a flea market or a lake. And of course, this being Germany, there is often an important site redolent with history to be found close by. So here’s my list of the top places to be, things to do, in Berlin this summer.
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| Yes, there are plenty of things to do in Berlin during summer |
Things to Do in Berlin: Visit a Park
Gorlitzer Park in Kruezberg is across the road from one of the places I stayed on my first trip to Berlin, watching the puffballs float through the air, making my through the chattering Turkish family picnics and groups of young kids hanging out, doing capoiera, or playing ball games. This area was heavily bombed during World War II; an enormous crater is left in the park, showing where the railway underpass ran, as a reminder of the desecration and violence of war. The twisted metal from the railway underneath is formed into an abstract monument, jutting up into the sky. Edelweiss Cafe is opposite the faux roman ruins – an expensive edifice that is crumbling and in genuine decay now, as the sandstone absorbs the water that freezes and then cracks, making them into an all the more authentic, although expensive folly. The café has lush banquette seating, a nice relaxed vibe and upstairs hosts parties, concerts and literary events, in summer the chairs outside are perfect for observing the passing parade.
The Mauer Park hosts one of the best flea markets in town every Sunday, and the wandering musicians and buskers will keep you entertained after you have sifted through the incredibly range of second hand treasures and junk. During the recent Berlinale Film Festival, the crowd suddenly swelled with the upmarket well-dressed international film-set, making a change from the usual mixed array of hipsters, artists, and stalwart locals. The scout hall tucked away in the middle of market is an island of calm, at least until the play area becomes overrun by small children. Until then, get yourself a coffee or beer from the outside bar, and lean back in your deckchair and relax on the sand in the sun, with the generic euro-dance music making it a kind of after-party every Sunday.
This is of course along where the Berlin wall ran, creating a limbo zone on either side, and it has been regenerated over the past 20 years into the lively district it is today. Further down Bernauer Strasse towards Nordbahnhof, a short section of the wall still stands, opposite the new museum and a fascinating open-air exhibition about the history of the street, centering around the construction and eventual destruction of the wall.
Next, lose yourself in the rambling Volkspark Friedrichshain park, which has play areas for all ages – from children to fitness freaks - plus wonderful wooden swings, a lake, elephant statues and some lovely paths winding through hills and monuments. Café Schönbrunn is closest to the Am Friedrichshain street entrance, near the corner of Hans Otto Strasse, overlooking the lake and a gorgeous patch of emerald lawn, it has a cosy minimalist interior and outdoor terrace to enjoy the sun and warm evenings.
Nola’s Am Weinberg Swedish Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge is at the top of the hill in the Volkspark am Weinberg, named after the former vineyards located on the site, between Veternanenstrasse and Kastanienallee. They have a decadent if slightly pricey menu, including a variety of fondues, and there is a special lunch deal of 3 courses for around 8 euro. The view and ambiance make the prices worthwhile, looking over the grassy hill and across the city, and the benches along the terrace are perfect for late afternoon drinks, while the sun disappears behind the trees.
Eve and Adam’s 100% organic salad and smoothie bar (at Rosa Luxemburg Strasse 24-26) will keep your energy flowing with vitality and freshness, perfect summer taste after that walking in the park. All of the containers are biodegradable, and the design is simple and refreshingly open.
Things to Do in Berlin: Mitte Revisited
Now that I’ve lived here for 3 months I’ve found that there is plenty of joy to be found in Mitte, from the Ballhouse to the bathhouse. Schwarzwaldstuben, on the corner of Linienstrasse and Tucholskystrasse, is a fabulous place to while away a decadent afternoon, with robust German dishes and decent coffee. A friend and I tucked ourselves into the couch one afternoon, as we couldn’t head back out onto the streets until the hurricane passed, so spent a lush few hours drinking sekt.
You might want to get back out into the sunshine, and find your way along the many galleries on these two parallel streets to see what’s happening in the commercial art world these days. The scene is definitely hot, hyped and popping, with careers and fortunes being made all over town.
The Ballhaus Mitte, on Auguststrasse, is a fantastic reminder of bygone days, with a minimal entrance fee, old-style charm, live music, and even dance classes a few nights a week.
Stadtbad Mitte has an amazing Russian-style bathhouse and sauna on the third floor, although make sure you follow all the rules during your visit, or the ladies will berate you and fetch the manager to get you back on the program. The dry sauna has an intermediate room with stone benches, and a larger wooden area that gets very hot, and the damp room is satisfyingly steamy. The plunge pool will refresh you in between, if you can dip more than a toe in it, and the relaxing room has a lush array of rocking chairs that tilt back for the full therapeutic effect.
Things to Do in Berlin: Expose Yourself to Art
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| Artnews Projects, Berlin |
The art galleries have blossomed into another cluster along Brunnenstrasse, where if you time your visit to coincide with all their openings, can provide a colourful evening’s entertainment. Artnews Projects has consistently the best shows I’ve seen on this strip, where the New York to Berlin art crowd are making a splash, and I often finish up at Curators without Borders for the best parties, or the after-party at Kim and Zurmobel out the back of Brunnenstrasse 10.
Alternatively make your way out along Invalidenstrasse to Heidestrasse, where a different batch of the art crowd has set up camp, with Tape, AA, Haunch of Venison, and more galleries, Pecha Kucha nights and art scene parties
Program Gallery hosted me for three months, and has an open approach and diverse range of art events and exhibitions, everything from installation to the weekend symposium on sound art and architecture, and most recently a workshop in which the gallery was taken over by a group of fantastically bohemian and very dedicated French artists, who created a river of blood and roasted a pig as part of their work. The gallery also hosts a monthly reading group, and is home to many architects and designers working in the open plan space. Drop by and say hi.
Things to Do in Berlin: Film & Theatre
The tiny cinema opposite Babel at K77 has a great program of art house films, next door is Dock 11 Dance studio for experimental dance, music, literature and film fans. If you really can’t stand being inside, then check out the Freiluftkino open-air cinema. A number of them spring up around the city between May – September, with a great program of new release and classic films.
The Volksbuhne is one of the most innovative and spectacular theatres in town, established in 1914, with a commitment to providing entertaining theatre and an ongoing debate on political and cultural issues. Also hosting live music and ‘expanded theatre’ projects, check out the program for this sumptuous performance venue.
–Jodi Rose
Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Berlin tours & things to do in Berlin.
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By admin
April 24th, 2008 at 07:44pm
Under Travel Blog
Last year Viator offered its first private after-hours tour of the Vatican & Sistine Chapel in Rome. This is a private small-group tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Yes, you heard right — a private two-hour tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel, after the crowds go home, without hordes of people spoiling your view.
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| The Creation of Adam, from Michelangelo’s ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel |
Well, it was a smashing success. So we’re offering it again. Just like last time, tickets are limited to 60 people each evening, and each group will consist of 20 people maximum plus your own guide. And these tickets are only available through Viator.
And just like last time, this private after-hours tour of the Vatican & Sistine Chapel begins after the Vatican Museums are closed to the general public. The evening is hosted by an English-speaking guide specializing in the Italian Renaissance. You can read the full description of the tour over on the main Viator site, and check out reviews from other travelers who took the inaugural tour last year. In fact, here’s an actual review from one of the people who took the tour:
“Our private tour through the Sistine Chapel was definitely the highlight of our trip to Italy. When we first went by the Vatican, the lines waiting to get in were literally almost a mile long. There were fewer than 20 of us on this tour and the guide was marvelous. She knew so much about the history and the art itself that I never would have known. And the guide was so involved in the subject matter, she made it a very emotional experience for all of us. We ended up spending about an hour in the Sistine Chapel itself which never could have happened without the tour. I would definitely do this again. It’s well worth the money.” –Robert Z, USA
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, Robert.
At the moment we are offering this exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on the dates listed below. We will offer additional dates as we get them, so keep checking back or sign up for Viator.com’s email newsletter for the latest updates. This is a completely unique experience, exploring the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel after hours, without the crowds, with time to admire the amazing art and architecture in peace and quiet. What a way to spend an evening in Rome…
Available Dates for the Private Tour of the Vatican & Sistine Chapel
- Friday, May 9, 2008
- Saturday, June 7, 2008
- Friday, June 20, 2008
- Friday, July 4, 2008
- Monday, July 21, 2008
- Saturday, August 2, 2008
- Saturday, August 23, 2008
- Friday, September 5, 2008
- Monday, September 22, 2008
–The Viator Team
Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s things to do in Italy, including Rome tours, Florence sightseeing, attractions in Tuscany and more.
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By admin
April 24th, 2008 at 07:42pm
Under Travel Blog
So you’ve made it to Kuala Lumpur – the capital of Malaysia and one of the undiscovered gems in southeast Asia. Very few tourists pass through KL, as Kuala Lumpur is universally known. Most favor Thailand or Singapore for their southeast Asian adventures, but not you, because you are looking for something different. And we applaud you for that.
Kuala Lumpur: Get Cultured
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| Indiatown in Kuala Lumpur |
The first stop to learn about Malaysian culture is the National Museum. After a thorough overview of Malaysian heritage, you may want to visit the Islamic Art Museum and the National Mosque (right across the street from the Islamic Art Museum). Next up: a stop at Merdeka Square, which can be easily combined with a visit to Masjid Jamek, the oldest mosque in KL. Take a break at the Petronas Towers (consider dinner at the Petronas Towers) and you’re well on your way to exploring the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
Museums are a fantastic way to experience KL. But even better to experience the diversity here is wandering the street markets and food stalls that dot the city. Taking a walk from Masjid Jamek up to Chinatown takes you through some of the most diverse areas of the city, where you can chat with the locals as they go about their daily business. Don’t be afraid to stroll down the side streets and take a look inside some of the many interesting and unique shops in this downtown area.
To see another side of KL, take a side trip to Indiatown (just north of Chinatown) – a very small, but authentic, section of the city where you can enjoy delicious Indian food from one of the many street vendors, have a sari or Punjabi suit made in a few days, or sing and dance along with the booming Bollywood music streaming from every shop.
Shopping in Kuala Lumpur
It’s a cliche, but there you have it: KL is a shopper’s paradise. Anything and everything is on sale in the city’s many malls, markets and street-side stalls. From the malls of Bukit Bintang to the splendor of Suria KLCC, you can shop in air-conditioned comfort for hours!
If you’re looking for local souvenirs and crafts head to the Central Market. There are plenty of bargains to be had in bustling Chinatown, which reminds me: in KL the key to a successful shopping experience is to bargain. Prices are never fixed here (unless you’re in an internationally-known chain store), so don’t hesitate to ask for “the best price” whether you’re in an air-conditioned mall, like Low Yat, or out on the street in Chinatown. No matter where you are, keep it light and fun, with a smile on your face – angry bargaining is seen as very rude in this part of the world. And don’t forget, it’s all part of the adventure!
An excellent place to start is Bukit Bintang (Star Hill in Bahasa Malayu), the heart of downtown KL. If you’re looking for the luxury shops, you can find everything from high-end designers like Gucci and Prada at the Star Hill Mall (next door to the Westin Hotel). The lower level also houses a great variety of gourmet restaurants.
Next door to the Star Hill Mall is Lot 10, one of the most popular stops for local fashionistas – great shoes and great bargains can be found in this slightly smaller, mid-priced shopping mall. Further down the street is Low Yat Plaza – electronics is the name of the game here, everything from cell phones to digital cameras to computers to MP3 players (but no clothes, shoes, glasses or books). Don’t forget to bargain hard, though, prices start in the stratosphere, but you can usually get some great deals if you’re willing to try a little banter with the shopkeepers.
Suria KLCC is Malaysia’s premiere shopping outlet – directly underneath the Petronas Towers. The ground level houses designer boutiques, while the upper levels showcase more mid-level shops. Suria has some great restaurants along with an international food court.
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| A Night Market in Kuala Lumpur |
Another great shopping stop is the hustle and bustle of Chinatown, specifically Jalan Petaling. Knock-offs of just about everything can be found, along with more traditional Chinese items. Prices are aimed at well-heeled tourists, so don’t forget to negotiate for everything – start at around 1/3rd of the quoted price and work up from there.
If you’re still on your feet by the time the sun goes down, KL has a great selection of Pasar Malam (night markets) all around the city. The Sunday night market in Bangsar is one of the largest, and a frequent favorite of expats living in KL. Fresh fruits and vegetables, along with all sorts of clothes, accessories and souvenirs can be found at any one of these fabulous markets.
Dining in Kuala Lumpur
Make sure you come to KL hungry because there is a lot to eat! From a budget meal on the street to a luxury, gourmet experience, there is something for everyone. One of the best places to explore KL’s culinary variety is Bangsar – just 5 minutes outside of the city center.
Those on a budget can feast on Indian, Chinese and Malay at any of the fantastic food stalls for a truly Malaysian dining experience. One of my favorite places to snack is Devi’s Corner in Bangsar (across from Bangsar Village) – start with some chicken satay from the vendor on the corner, add a delicious naan bread or roti Chennai, some Tandori chicken and some nasi goreng; wash it all down with some fresh fruit juice, and you have a meal fit for a king, but priced less than RM50 (US$14).
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| Devi’s Corner in Kuala Lumpur |
For those with slightly deeper pockets, Bangsar is a diner’s delight – restaurants range from Spanish tapas to Italian to Middle Eastern to German. Some favorite expat hangouts are La Bodega for tapas and Sangria; Telawi Street Bistro for Western European fare and great desserts, and Haus Frankfurt for authentic German sausage and schnitzel.
Kuala Lumpur’s Nightlife
Despite being a Muslim country, Malaysia has its fair share of bars and clubs (though alcohol can be quite pricey). A popular stop for tourists is around the corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan P. Ramlee – an area of wall-to-wall bars, clubs and restaurants. Another hot spot, though slightly less noisy, is Bangsar – along with all those tasty restaurants, you can find trendy bars open until the early hours of the morning. A little farther afield is Sri Hartamas, a more local hangout, with a few small clubs and bars, catering more to the expat population.
–Kim Cofino
Planning a trip to Malaysia? Browse Viator’s list of tours and things to do in Kuala Lumpur, from a KL City Tour to dinner at the Petronas Towers to the Kuala Selangor Fireflies.
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By admin
April 24th, 2008 at 07:40pm
Under Travel Blog
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| Pompeii: A popular day trip from Rome |
You could easily spend a lifetime in Rome and still not touch every corner. Yet even if your goal is to experience each and every hidden alleyway in Rome, step outside the city for a day trip or two. Even for stays in Rome as short as 5 nights, you could follow our 3-day Rome itinerary and then take one or two of the following day trips.
Are you craving sacred monasteries, Baroque-era gardens, or vibrant Italian cityscapes? Or are you thinking “lounge on the beach”? Either way, it’s all reachable within about two hours (more or less) from Rome.
Rome Day Trips: Ostia Antica, Tivoli & Villa d’Este
Ostia Antica was ancient Rome’s port city. Today you can explore the archaeological park that stretches over an area of about 10,000 acres. You’ll walk along the streets the ancient Romans walked, and still see the grooves in the road from the carts and carriages they used. You can also see examples of excellently preserved mosaics and ancient baths, shops and temples. You can book a day tour of Ostia Antica that includes transport and a local guide, or you can reach Ostia Antica by taking the Lido di Ostia train (which you can catch at the station next to Piramide or EUR Magliana, both on the Metro B line; your local ATAC public transport ticket is valid for the entire journey).
Lido di Ostia is the seashore closest to Rome, and in the summer you can expect elbow-to-elbow sunbathers. There is a private beach at the end of the 07 bus line (once you get off the Lido di Ostia train at Cristoforo Colombo), but the majority of beaches are run by stabilimenti (bathing establishments), where you will pay a fee to get in and additional fees to rent equipment such as lounge chairs, umbrellas and changing cabins. However, if you can’t get to one of Italy’s more popular coastal areas, this is a quick and easy way to take a dip in Italian waters while keeping Rome as a home base.
Tivoli is famous for Hadrian’s Villa, where the Emperior Hadrian came to relax and where he lived out his final years until 138 AD. This magnificent villa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can still admire the statues and pools while wandering the spacious grounds. Villa d’Este is a stunning example of Baroque garden/landscape architecture, with impressive fountains that were designed to play with the effects of jets of water using gravity alone. Viator has a day trip to Tivoli and Villa d’Este. Or take the Metro line B to Ponte Mammolo, then the local blue Cotral bus to Tivoli, where Villa d’Este is located. Once in Tivoli, you can catch a local bus to take you to Hadrian’s Villa.
If you’d like to get more off the beaten path, consider renting a car for a day or two and taking to the road. A good one-day itinerary is to explore the Benedictine monasteries of Subiaco: San Benedetto and Santa Scolastica. Saint Benedict (480-547 AD) founded the order of Benedictine monks and was a hermit who lived in a cave carved out of the mountainside here. The remains of this cave are still visible during a visit to the upper monastery. You can also see detailed 13th-century frescoes that tell the story of the life and miracles of Benedict and his twin sister Santa Scolastica. A small group of monks still live and work here and you can purchase their medicinal teas, honeys, and digestives at two shops that they run on the premises.
For lunch, head to the little-known mountaintop town of Fumone. The name translates roughly to “big smoke,” and this fortified village was used in ancient times to send smoke signals warning Rome of advancing intruders. The town is a charming labyrinth of narrow cobblestone lanes and a good place to have lunch is at the Taverna del Barone (via del Ponte 4, tel. 0775 49655), an original medieval tavern that serves a fixed-price menu of traditional local foods including delicious handmade pasta, with servers in period dress and often accompanied by live music.
After lunch take a tour of the Castello di Fumone, Fumone’s own castle, with many a legend and ghost story to be had. The noble Longhi De Paolis family still lives in part of the castle, and it is also a working bed and breakfast, if you dare to stay overnight (Via Umberto I, 27; tel. 0775 49023).
Nothing in Italy is too far from Rome. The idea that exploring Italy by train is always an idyllic journey over rolling fields of sunflowers is a bit of a myth; however, you can use Trenitalia from Rome to reach two of Italy’s most important cities in about 90 minutes. You can also book guided tours from Rome (see below). Whether you decide to go for the art lover’s capital of Florence, or pizza lover’s paradise of Naples, either of these trips is an easy excursion from Rome.
Florence (or Firenze, as the city is known in Italian) was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and therefore is a must-see on the list of most visitors to Italy. It is relatively easy to reach most of the big sights in a day trip to Florence from Rome. And you won’t want to miss the museums in Florence, from Duomo, the Accademia Gallery (home of Michelangelo’s David), the Uffizi Gallery, or perhaps start with an overview tour of the city.
Many travelers tend to overlook Naples, or actually intentionally avoid it, but they’re missing out on a unique and unforgettable experience. It is true that Naples is more chaotic and haphazard than most other Italian cities, and it’s always good advice to keep close watch on your belongings here (as in any big city). But once you get past the hustle and bustle, you’ll discover treasures like the city’s incredible Museo Archeologico (Archeological Museum, Piazza Museo 19) and the taste of what many Italians consider the only authentic pizza (try Pizzeria Lombardi a Santa Chiara,Via Benedetto Croce 54). Another easy day trip in the Naples area is Pompeii, an unbelievable walk through history.
–Shelley Ruelle
Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s things to do in Italy, including Rome tours, Florence sightseeing, attractions in Tuscany and more.
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By admin
April 24th, 2008 at 07:36pm
Under Travel Blog
Editor’s Note: Terry Carter has photographed and, with his wife and writing partner, Lara Dunston, written or contributed to half a dozen travel guides to Dubai and the UAE and have made it their home base since 1998. We asked Lara and Terry to write about experiencing the “real” Dubai. They have kindly obliged with a guide to eating, sleeping & sightseeing in Dubai aimed at first-time visitors.
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| Top thing to do in Dubai? Soak up the atmosphere. |
Things to Do in Dubai, Day 1: Bur Dubai
Need a place to sleep during your three-day tour? For a supremely ‘local’ experience check in to the boutique Orient House in the atmospheric pedestrian-only Bastakiya area. Or if you prefer a stylish update of the Arabian experience try the Qamardeen or Al Manzil hotels near the new Burj Dubai (currently the tallest building in the world). Of course for an all-out 1001 Arabian Nights experience, it’s hard to go past the plush and more-than-a-little sexy One&Only Royal Mirage.
Now in keeping with our Emirati /Arabian theme, start the day with a cultural breakfast at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU), a rare opportunity to try authentic Emirati food, learn about local culture and ask any questions you have about traditional and contemporary Gulf life – don’t be shy!
Wander around the Bastakiya area with its enigmatic, restored wind-tower houses. Once home to wealthy Persian traders, it’s now the centre of a flourishing art scene. Head to the Majlis Gallery for some souvenirs, XVA gallery for a snapshot of contemporary Middle East art, followed by a casual lunch at the nearby Basta Art Café where the fruit cocktails are sublime and relaxing under the shady trees is a treat.
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| Breakfast at Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, Dubai |
To further escape the afternoon heat, make your next stop the compact and compelling Dubai Museum, housed in one of the city’s oldest buildings (a restored fort) and learn how this former fishing village evolved into the daring metropolis it is today.
After taking in the amusing dioramas of old souq (market) life at the museum, take a late afternoon meander through the Bur Dubai souq while the traders are shaking off their siesta and check out the tempting textiles, sparkling slippers, cheap kitsch t-shirts, and the fascinating ‘Hindi Lane’, where local Hindus head to worship, buying fragrant flowers and fruit offerings for their rituals.
As the suns sets, stroll along the Creek’s edge down to the Shindagha area, stopping in at Sheikh Saeed’s house to check out the wonderful historic photo collection in the beautifully restored residence, then head into the Heritage and Diving Village where recreations of coastal life of the local people are wonderfully realised. If you’re fortunate, you might catch locals performing traditional songs and dances as well as old Emirati women preparing tasty traditional bread.
With your taste buds tantalised, have an Arabic dinner at Kan Zaman overlooking the Creek or head back to the Bastakiya area to dine at the enchanting Bastakiyah Nights, completing your day of tasting local Emirati life. Or, if you’re up for more, head to one of the sheesha (water pipe or hookah) cafés that are dotted along the Creek to finish the night with a local ritual – try the aromatic apple sheesha.
Things to Do in Dubai, Day 2: Deira
Day 2 starts with another must-do Dubai experience – an abra (water taxi) ride across the Creek to the other side of the city (Deira). Everyone from South-East Asian expat traders, locals in their elegant flowing dishdashas (the blindingly-white local dress), and tourists use this form of transport, as much to soak up the Creek atmosphere as to beat the bridge and tunnel traffic – all for a measly 33 cents. You’ll get a glimpse of the restored wind-tower architecture on the waterfront, and pass dhows (traditional cargo-carrying wooden boats) making their way to a berth along the Creek. Once safely on terra firma, take a wander along the fascinating dhow wharves where everything from four-wheel-drives to the kitchen sink are loaded on these boats bound for Gulf and Asian destinations.
Stroll across to sample the aromas in the spice souq then follow the souq down to two of Dubai’s underrated historic gems. The Ahmadiya School (1912) was Dubai’s first private school and has been restored with exquisite attention to detail, while the adjacent Heritage House (1890) was once owned by the wealthy pearling merchant who started the school. Both are wonderful traditional houses of the pre-oil era and showcase the charm of and grace of local courtyard houses.
Back out on the streets, get lost in the covered souq (don’t panic, everyone does!) and mix up your own fragrance at one of the plentiful perfume houses. Size yourself up for a sparkly kitsch belly-dancing outfit (for her) or a dapper wooden cane (for him) or weigh up some simple or ornate jewelery at the legendary gold souq, where you can bargain for some of the cheapest gold in the world – shop around and enjoy the haggling ritual! One of our favourite breaks on this shopping excursion is to grab a cheap, filling shawarma (juicy, fragrant lamb or chicken rolled up in a pita bread) and a super-fresh mango juice at Ashwaq Cafeteria, a block from the gold souq.
If you want to shop until you drop, jump in a taxi and head to Deira City Centre (one of Dubai’s oldest and most popular shopping malls) where you can escape the heat, do some people-watching and buy some souvenirs – haggle for carpets, Aladdin’s lamps and beautiful hand-beaten brass coffee pots. Be prepared to shop for another suitcase to get your haul home! Take a coffee break and hang out with the locals who meet their friends here for a chat at one of the myriad cafés.
Freshen up back at the hotel, then if you can’t get enough of the Creek, take a dinner cruise on the Bateaux Dubai, or, if you’re craving more Middle-Eastern atmosphere, make a late booking for Awtar, the Lebanese restaurant at the Grand Hyatt where the classic Lebanese night out of mezze (starter snacks), fragrant grilled meats, sheesha, band and belly dancer melds into the early hours.
Things to Do in Dubai, Day 3: Jumeirah & the Desert
Start the day with a tour of the handsome Jumeirah Mosque with the SMCCU people. On a visit to the mosque you learn about the Islamic prayer rituals, from how the five times daily call-to-prayer (signified by the melody of the mezzuin who leads the prayer) is calculated by the sun and moon, to the performing of ablutions (washing before prayer) and how the prayer ritual is carried out. It’s also a great opportunity to ask questions about Islam in general at the Q&A session afterwards.
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| Dubai Desert Safari |
Jump in a taxi or a local bus (they run frequently along Jumeirah Beach Rd) and head up to Madinat Jumeirah, a contemporary interpretation of an old Arabian souq. Here you can do some more shopping, take in the atmosphere, and watch the abras glide along the man-made canals. Have lunch at one of the excellent waterside restaurants (there’s everything from pasta to Moroccan) before heading back to the hotel to freshen up before your desert safari in Dubai’s desert conservation reserve.
After an exhilarating drive through the dunes, where you might spot the rare and reintroduced oryx (like a desert dwelling deer) but will see plenty of camels, prepare yourself for a sublime desert sunset. The safari provides a great opportunity to catch up on those must-do’s that you didn’t have time for over the last couple of days – you can take a camel ride, watch a belly dancer, get a henna tattoo, sample some local cuisine, and smoke some sheesha. And while the safari is definitely a touristy th’ng to do, you can drink a toast to having experienced the closest you’ll get to the ‘old’ Arabian Dubai.
–Terry Carter
Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s complete list of tours in Dubai, from desert sandboarding safaris to Dubai city sightseeing tours.
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By admin
April 24th, 2008 at 07:34pm
Under Travel Blog
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| Iguazu Falls area - Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay |
I have not been to Brazil. That’s the official line and I am sticking to it. However, the reality is, I have been to Brazil. Well…
My trip was simple enough. After visiting the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls we would transit the very corner of Brazil to Ciudad del Este in Paraguay, where we booked a charming riverside guest house to spend a couple of days before taking a local bus to Asuncion. (That’s a story for a future post!)
As any prepared traveler, I checked the situation for visas with both the US State Department and each countries consulate– Paraguay, check. Argentina, Check. Brazil: Not required for transit from Argentina to Paraguay. Excellent! Brazilian visas are expensive and I was happy to not pay this. I printed the information page from the consular website to take with me, “just in case”.
After several incredible days of hiking and relaxing at Iguazu, we hired a local taxi to take us to the border of Brazil. From there, we would transit by bus to Paraguayan border, walk across the bridge and take another local taxi to our guesthouse. At the Argentine/Brazil border, we were stamped out of Argentina with a hearty “Adios” and “Buen Viaje”. We walked through the no-man’s land to the Brazilian immigration office and presented our shiny blue American passports. The officer frowned and fired something at us in Portuguese.
Now, my partner speaks Spanish fluently and with a little improvisation can get out some basic phrases in Portuguese, but did we hear this correctly? They wanted $250 ($150 more than a “real” Brazilian visa) to transit for 45 minutes?? No way! We tried to explain the situation that a visa was not required. I even provided the printout that I brought with me from home – BAD MOVE! As it turns out, the US had just started charging $100 for a US visa to Brazilians and they were one of the first groups of travelers to be photographed and fingerprinted for entry. Needless to say, there was no negotiation and we simply were turned away. Dejected, we took a taxi back to Argentina and called our guesthouse in Paraguay to tell them that we could not make it – and that’s where the fun began!
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Shortly after our news, our Paraguayan hosts called back and said that they were coming to pick us up - on a speedboat! It turns out that the boat can motor down the Parana River and navigate directly to the Argentine waters without ever entering Brazil. Great! We were instructed to go down to the river area, where the boat would meet us. What service! We trekked down to the boat docks and waited. It was a Sunday and the normal ferries were not running. The area was deserted and a bit eerie. We waited and waited.
About an hour later, the phone rang again – the boat was not working. Now they were coming to get us - with a car. Again, we explained our situation and they told us not to worry. We would not need to go through customs. Intrigued (and not wanting to re-arrange the rest of the trip), we agreed. About an hour later, a car (with Paraguayan tags) arrived. We were warmly greeted by the Manuel, the hotel owner and his Brazilian girlfriend Ratina. They gave us a glass of wine and we chatted as we sped off toward Brazil for the second time. As we approached the border, Manuel casually turned around and told us to “crouch down on the floor”. It was then that it hit me. We were not being “assisted” through customs. We were being “smuggled” through customs and it was too late to turn back now. We did as we were told and Manuel drove through the commuter lane and waived at the guards. It was that easy. We were in Foz de Iguacu, Brazil! Manuel and Ratina wanted to stop in for a bite to eat. By this time we were a little concerned and did not want any more troubles. We asked if we could just continue on to the hotel instead. They insisted that we celebrate our Brazil “visit” with a drink. We reluctantly agreed and stopped for a glass of wine. Manuel also bought a bottle of scotch. This was clearly a lot of fun for them.
Our departure from Brazil was quite simple. Once again, we were instructed to crouch on the floorboards as Manuel sped through the gates. Our arrival in Ciudad del Este was also straight forward. Manuel explained that the guards may wonder why we did not have an entry/exit stamp from Brazil and he would take care of everything for us. He took our passports (complete with official Paraguay visas) AND the bottle of scotch from earlier. Ah-ha! Something to smooth our entry. Fifteen minutes later it was “Bienvenidos – Paraguay,” and we were back on track.
–Ken Frohling
Editor’s note – Viator does not condone Human Trafficking, Smuggling or Bribery and Ken’s HR file has been duly noted. If you are going to Brazil or Argentina (legally), check out our full range of tours at Viator.com.
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