Total Travel TAG Issue 1

Total Travel TAG 

tips | advice | guides 

Uluwatu Temple, Bali 

Coming Issue 2 

Issue #1 

Spring 2017 

Total Travel TAG Magazine | 1

A Note From 

The Editors 

Well, here we are. The historic first issue of the Total Travel TAG digital magazine. We 

have been working hard since August last year to make this happen. Many bourbon 

biscuits and lucozade fueled nights have been had. 

We now have nearly 5,000 subscribers. All this before we even launched the first issue. 

Growing more, and more daily. 

We have been going through all 350 submissions we recieved during the submission 

window. We had so many great stories that didnt make the magazine. But, we will be 

adding the best ones that didnt make it, along with all the ones in here, to our new Total 

Travel TAG website. We hope to have this all ready to go live over the next couple of 

months. 

The great thing about our digital magazine, is that we have placed clickable links 

everywhere. You will be able to click writers social media links, websites, and links within 

the text itself. 

We will be experimenting with video content over the next few issues. All videos that 

we do include will be viewable in the magazine itself. None of this clicking away malarky. 

So, without further ado. We welcome you to the first Total Travel TAG digital magazine. 

We would love to hear your feedback. So, give us a follow, and let us know what you 

would like to see from issue 2 and beyond. 

Lee Webber and Tina Bennett 

6 

37 

Things to do in... 

Off the beaten track 

48 

Personal experiences 

64 

World food pictures 

66 

Bloggers Q&A 

80 

How I fucked up 

BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR 

We are always looking for people wanting to share 

their experiences ith the world. 

Whether this is with words, pictures, or both. At 

this stage we are unable to pay you for these 

contributions. We cant even pay ourselves at the 

moment. But we are hoping this will change over 

the next 12-18 months. 

Coutesy of Bao Vo 

1717 meters above sea level, Mount Batur 

(Gungung Batur) is one of the few active 

volcanoes on Bali, Indonesia. A middle-ofthe-night 

trek takes you to the summit, for a 

stunning sunrise and incredible panorama of 

Mount Agung and Mount Rinjani (Lombok). 

If you still want to contribute towards the next 

issue, and beyond. Just click, yes, click on the link 

below. 

totaltraveltag.com/submit 

2 | Total Travel TAG Magazine Total Travel TAG Magazine | 3

Look at our World 

week before our next adventure 

down under. 

By far, and away the best element 

for me was spending valentines 

day in Paris with Tina. Although 

the weather was horrendous most 

of the day. It was great to see all 

the sights with the one I love. A 

close second would be meeting 

our good Friends Markus, and 

Anja from Zornheim, Germany. 

We asked to stay for three nights 

but was invited to stay for 6. 

Not being sure, we said yes, with 

trepidation. I have to admit; 

Markus and Anja are some of the 

most beautiful, and friendliest 

people we have ever met. They 

even helped us out when our host 

in Belgium let us down 2 nights 

before we were due to arrive. 

True lifesavers! It even meant I 

had the chance to experience a 

Bundesliga match. All while Tina 

was indulging in some German 

cheesecake, and tea. 

We finally made our way to Paris. 

Purposely planned so we could be 

in the city of love for valentines 

day. It’s just a shame the weather 

did not play ball. 

None the less, we saw all the 

sights that you need to see when 

you visit Paris. 

It was then just a week until 

heading to Australia and the next 

huge adventure to begin. 

We can’t wait to tell you all about 

our Australia adventure in the next 

issue. 

“We were treated 

like VIP’s on our 

way to Brisbane. 

Sitting in economy, 

but being served 

business class food. 

Utter heaven!” 

Our First Year 

Travelling 

written by 

LEE WEBBER 

from Look at our World 

www.lookatourworld.com 

So, it was back in July of 2015. Tina woke 

me up, so softly. She had been up for hours 

already, coming up with a name for our travel 

website. 

This is when Look at our World was born. So, 

now what? We had our name, but we had 

little else. We lacked social media accounts, 

and we certainly didn’t know if any handles 

we wanted were available. 

We had no idea that, on that July morning in 

a single room in a house share in Brighton, 

UK. We would be sitting here now, piecing 

together our first magazine. 

WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA DO WE 

HAVE? 

So, we thought, and we thought some more. 

What channels are we going to have? At this 

point, it was only a diary, and somewhere for 

our friends and family to see what we were 

doing. 

We settled on Facebook, Twitter, and 

Instagram. We knew that these were the 

easiest to maintain while on the road. Who 

knew when we would have WiFi, so keeping 

the number of social media to a minimum was 

key. 

Before we knew it, a whole day had come and 

gone. Just with social media! However, that 

was the easy part; the next part was creating 

this website. 

Thankfully, lookatourworld.com and .co.uk 

were free. I must have spent 16 hours a day 

for the next two weeks, crafting, and building 

this site. Looking at the user interface and 

how the end user would navigate the site 

itself. It was only recently; we received a score 

of 100 for our user experience. Happy days, 

and made me very pleased indeed. 

It was not without problems, one instance 

we can remember was when the whole site 

crashed, and all the days of custom CSS had 

vanished! So, a sleepless night later, it was 

fixed in 30 minutes. So, if anything learned 

from this. Sometimes, you need to step back, 

take a deep breath, and come back to it later. 

The website you see now when you visit our 

page has not changed much over the course 

of the past 12 months. 

SO, WHERE SHALL WE GO? 

With no money saved (we didn’t think about 

this too much before leaving our jobs). We 

started selling everything we owned that was 

not of sentimental value. So, bye, bye car. Bye, 

bye Xbox One (this turned out to be a nasty 

sell. There is more about this on our website). 

Before long, we had sold everything we were 

going to sell. 

planning. 

Now, was the time for the 

Where to go? Where do we sleep? How 

long do we spend in each place? These were 

all valid, and important questions. So, to 

cut a long story short. We had planned a 

6-week tour around the UK and western 

Europe. Everything was planned and secured. 

Every single night was to be spent with a 

CouchSurfer. However, then, my operation 

date was postponed for a month. Putting all 

my plans down the drain. Well, almost all of 

them. All but our few days in Cornwall, and 

then three days in Wales. 

SO, LET US PICK UP AFTER 

CHRISTMAS AND OUR TRIP 

AROUND EUROPE. 

So, we spent Christmas and New Year back 

in England. With a date set for the middle 

of January to embark on our 6 week tour 

around the UK and Western Europe. Visiting 

Hartlepool, Halifax, Castricum, Dortmund, 

Zornheim, Cumstadt, Zornheim, and then 

Paris (for valentines day. I know, how romantic 

am I). All before heading back to the UK for a 

We went from zero to 5,000 

followers in just under 4 months. 

It was crazy! 


THINGS TO DO 

AROUND THE WORLD 

Lofoten Islands 

British Columbia 

Muskoka Lakes, Ontario 

Kingston, Ontario 

Dublin 

Vienna 

Slovenia 

The Big Sur 

Seville 

Marrakech 

Pushkar & Ajmer 

South Korea 

Ho Chi Minh City 

We all wonder about things to while we are on our holidays. 

We visit places we have never been to before, yes, we 

look at places before we go. But you never know what its 

actually like. 

Namibia 

So, we have some great things to do from around the world. From 

the bustling Ho Chi Minh City through to the pictureqsue Lofoten 

Island in Norway. 

Over the next few pages you will find yourself wanting to visit all 

these far flung places. I know we have since be inspired to visit all of 

the places featured. 

Have a good read, and we are certain there is somewhere you will 

want to visit next week. 

Please note that the opinions and views expressed are the personal 

opinions of the writer and not necessarily those of this magazine, we 

hope you love them as much as we do” 


Don’t forget 

your camera, 

and have a 

great time... you 

will fall in love 

with it. Just like I 

did. 

brewing process of the world famous beer. After the tour, you can get a free pint of Guinness 

at Gravity Bar which offers you an incredible 360-degree view of Dublin City. 

ST. STEPHEN’S GREEN PARK 

This park is one of my favourite places in Dublin, and when I am in the city, I am always going 

there. St. Stephen’s Green is located in the centre of the city. The main entrance lies at the 

end of Dublin’s main shopping street - Grafton Street. It is a perfect place to relax and escape 

the hectic pace of the city. You can also take beautiful photos here of the fountains, trees, or 

ducks. 

GRAFTON STREET 

It is Dublin’s main shopping street but also expensive. At the south end of this busy street lies 

the St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. On three floors you can buy clothes, food, or gifts. 

The main reason I love Grafton Street so much are the many talented street musicians you 

can find here. During my six weeks stay in Dublin, I sometimes went to Dublin City after work 

and enjoyed street music. If I hear great music, I just have to stop and listen. 

TRINITY COLLEGE 

Ireland’s oldest university was founded in 1592 

by Elizabeth I. Many famous people have studied 

here. Jonathan Swift, Samuel Beckett and Bram 

Stoker are only a few of them. Worth a visit is the 

Old Library with the Book of Kells from the 9th 

century. It is said to be the most beautiful book in 

the world. The Long Room houses over 200.000 

books. George Lucas used the Long Room as 

inspiration for “Star Wars: Episode II”. 

DUBLIN CASTLE 

Even Barack Obama 

was here to taste 

a pint of the “black 

stuff” 


Seven years ago I visited Dublin for the first time. It is a city 

that immediately captivates you. Dublin has this unique 

atmosphere: The street music, the pubs, the architecture 

and it is a place full of history. However, above all the 

people make your trip to Dublin something special you 

will never forget. You often read that the Irish are always 

friendly and helpful. Moreover, that is true. It is easy to 

make friends here because they are so welcoming and 

kind. You feel like you are home. Even driving a cab was 

fun because the taxi drivers were so friendly and always 

had interesting stories to tell. I had the opportunity to live 

and work in Dublin for six weeks during an internship and the people I got to know 

made my stay an unforgettable experience. 

After my first visit to Dublin, I swore that I would definitely come back and I have 

returned several times since then. One of my hobbies is photography, and Dublin 

offers you great photo opportunities with its old buildings and beautiful nature in 

places like Howth and Malahide which are not far away from the city centre and can 

be easily reached by bus. Of course, I visited the well-known tourist attractions, and 

now I want to show you those places which you should see when you are in Dublin. 

GUINNESS STOREHOUSE 

Dublin 

written by 

ALEXANDRA SCHNEIDER 

Dublin Castle was built in the 13th century. Today 

it is used for the inauguration of the president. 

You can do a 45-minute tour through the State 

Apartments. If you want to learn something about 

the Irish history, I can recommend this guided tour. 

TEMPLE BAR 

Although it is crowded most of the time, it is worth 

a visit. Here you can find pubs, restaurants, and 

cafes. In the famous bar with the same name, you 

can listen to Irish live music seven days a week. 

PHOENIX PARK 

It is one of the largest city parks in Europe. Here 

you can find a large herd of wild deer. Dublin Zoo 

which is located in Phoenix Park is the third oldest 

zoo in the world and houses over 400 animals. 

JEANIE JOHNSTON 

You can go on board of the re-created famous tall 

ship which sailed to America during the famine era. 

This guided tour shows you what the passengers 

experienced on their journey to the “New World.” 

HOWTH 

If you want to escape the busy city I have a special 

tip for you: Just take the bus to the coastal town 

Howth where you can walk along the stunning 

coastline. At the end of the cliff walk, you will 

see the Baily Lighthouse. Alternatively, you can 

enjoy a meal at Howth Harbour. You have lots of 

restaurants which serve seafood. 

Don’t forget your camera and have a great time in 

Dublin! I am sure you will fall in love with this city 

just like me 

Barack Obama visiting the Guinness Storehouse 

It is probably the most famous tourist attraction in Dublin and my opinion a mustsee. 

Even Barack Obama was here to taste a pint of the “black stuff.” On seven floors 

you get the ultimate Guinness experience and learn a lot about the history and the 



Namibia 

DEAD VLEI/ HIDDEN VLEI/ SOSSUSVLEI: 

These spectacular attractions are situated in the Namib- 

Naukluft Nationalpark, which is Africa’s largest conservation 

area. The whole national park is a dream for photographers 

and pictures one of a fascinating landscape on earth. The red 

sand dunes are some of the highest in the world by reaching 

almost 400 meters. Together with their black shadows, 

rocky mountains, rolling plains, animals, and plants, they 

create a stunning atmosphere and one of the most incredible 

ecosystems in the world. 

Sossusvlei is said to be the most popular vlei, whereas Dead 

Vlei might be the most beautiful one. It is characterised by 

pitch-black Dead Camel Thorn Trees, a white clay pan and 

rusty-red sand dunes, such as Big Daddy, which is supposed 

to be the highest one in the world. 

Its entry is for free, even though you can book guided tours 

if you want to. If you want to find untouristic Hidden Vlei (as 

the name tells), you should go with a navi in your car where 

this vlei is marked. Note: Dead Vlei is only reachable by foot 

(15-20 minutes walk), so make sure to take enough water 

with you! 

Tip: Another nice way 

of experiencing this 

oldest desert of the 

planet is in a hot air 

balloon. 

ETOSHA NATIONALPARK: 

This 22.000 m² area gets its name from a large 5.000 m² 

endorheic Etosha salt pan and is the right place for any 

safari. The national park is home to hundreds of species of 

mammals, birds, and reptiles, including several threatened 

species such as the black rhinoceros. We got to see the ‘Big 

5’ within three days doing our non-guided safari tour. In 

every camp, you should check the safari books, where which 

kind of animal was seen the other day. The fee is 5€/day per 

Person and 70ct for a car. This is a lot cheaper than booking 

a safari tour! Because it is a huge national park, it is easy to 

find! 

SWAKOPMUND: 

written by 

LENA GROSS 

from the Day Travels 

www.thedaytravels.com 

The city was founded in 1892 as the main harbour for German 

South-West Africa and is an excellent example of German 

colonial architecture. Today, a small part of its population is 

still German-speaking. While driving along Skeleton Coast, 

you can hardly miss it! 

Tip: Get excellent dinner in a simple restaurant named 

Ocean Basket. 

CAPE CROSS SEAL RESERVE: 

On your way, you should totally stop at Cape Cross, which 

is a small headland in the South Atlantic Skeleton Coast. 

This protected area is home to one of the largest colonies of 

Brown Fur Seals in the world. Even though it costs you 3,40€ 

to get in, it is worth seeing it. 

FISHRIVER-CANYON: 

This canyon is the largest in Africa, as well as the 

second most visited tourist attraction in Namibia. Even 

though you might finally meet other backpackers, it is 

entirely worth hiking there. There are some footpaths, 

the longest follows 88 km of the Fish River and usually 

takes five days. Important to know is that there are no 

amenities on the trail and hikers have to carry all their 

needs with them. Excellent public viewpoints are near 

the camping side Hobas (of course, they are for free)! 

Also, visit the hot springs resort of Ais-Ais at the lower 

end of the Fishriver-Canyon. We spent a night there 

and just loved its comfortable atmosphere. 

QUIVERTREE FOREST: 

I am addicted to this place! It is all and only about quiver 

trees, but they depict a prime photo motive. This place 

is hard to find; it is 13km north of Keetmanshoop on 

the road M29. You need to watch out for a small sign 

telling you when to leave the main road. Its entrance 

is for free, and the campgrounds around are cheap (3- 

8€/Person). 



written by 

NADIA WAUGH 

Did you ever stop in at a town or city, just 

passing through, only to realise you 

have fallen in love with the place and 

you never want to leave? Ever? 

It was like that for me and Seville, Spain. 

I was two weeks into an epic ten week trip 

around Europe with my primary focus being 

Spain. Seville was merely a stop off on my 

way to visit a couple of friends in Portugal, 

and then a returning transit stays on my 

journey around Spain. 

The plan was a couple of nights, look around 

at the “sights” then head on to my dream 

destination: Granada. 

Oh regrets, I have had a few! - Like, why 

couldn’t I have spent a few more days, a 

week…nay, a MONTH in the beautiful city of 

Seville! 

My hostel was situated in a grand old 

building near Seville’s beautiful and imposing 

Cathedral and right in the heart of the Old 

Town too. It was surrounded by lovely old 

buildings and cobblestoned alleys, lively bars, 

cafes, and shops. 

It was also a short stroll to The Alcazar, an 

exotic Moorish Palace full of history, and 

Seville’s answer to Granada’s Alhambra. 

Seville 

Oh the Alcazar, what a stunning place to visit! 

From the moment you pass through the fiery 

red gates, you are surrounded by intricately 

carved walls, archways, pillars, colourful tiles, 

fountains, and lush gardens. 

The entrance fee is €9.50 (free for children 

under 16, people with disabilities, and 

residents); and is open from 9.30am-7.00pm 

(April to September, and until 5 pm October 

to March). 

I recommend getting there as early as possible 

– not only to beat the crowds (and the heat!) 

but once they reach their maximum capacity 

of 750, they will deny access. 

The Alcazar is right opposite Seville’s 

enormous Cathedral of Saint Mary of the 

See (Catedral de Santa María de la Sede), 

better known as Seville Cathedral which is 

the largest Gothic cathedral (and 3rd largest 

church) in the world. It dominates this part 

of the city and is just breathtaking to admire 

from the outside. Although I did not step 

inside, I was told by fellow travelers that it 

was stunning and a definite must-see… that 

is one for my next visit! 

Seville is a beautiful city to explore either 

by foot through the labyrinthine alleyways 

flanked by gorgeous old buildings, or by the 

river on one of the many boat tours available. 

Traveling this was is a lovely way to get a 

different perspective of this great ancient city 

– history, architecture, bridges, graffiti, and 

local life appear in abundance as you cruise 

along the Guadalquivir River. Make sure you 

wear a hat, as a lot of these boats lack covers 

on their roof decks! 

Then, it is off to a cool bar for a glass of local 

Vino Naranja – a refreshingly sweet, chilled 

orange wine made in the Andalusian region. 

On my last night in Seville, I decided to visit 

Aire de Seville: a beautiful Turkish Bathhouse 

situated in a 16th-century mansion built on 

the foundations of a 1st century AD Roman 

ruin. For €31 (€34 Fri-Sun) you can spend 

90 minutes soaking in the sensations of the 

Warm Bath, Hot Bath and Cold Bath, the 

Thousand Jet Stream Room, the Steam bath 

(or Hammam), before finishing up with a 

relaxing float in the Salt Bath. Massages are 

also available at an extra cost. 

Seville is worth visiting: full of culture, 

stunning architecture, great food, people, and 

plenty to see. Be warned, though: it can be 

scorching in high summer… but that is why 

the Spanish invented siestas! 

Courtesy of Kwangil Yoo 

Luang Prabang, Laos 



The lofoten Islands 

written by 

MELANIE RENK 

3. Å I LOFOTEN AND LOCAL BAKERY 

TOP 7 MUST-SEE PLACES ON THE 

LOFOTEN ISLAND, NORWAY. 

There is no denying of the fact that the Lofoten Islands are on many 

travellers’ bucket list. The Islands allure with idyllic fishermen’s 

villages, picturesque landscapes and tall mountains. However, how 

to decide what to see on a short trip to this beautiful destination? 

Here is a list of the seven places you must see when travelling to 

the Lofoten Islands: 

1. REINE 

Å I Lofoten is a small fishing village at the southern tip of the 

Lofoten Islands chain. Here end the roads that lead south and after 

it comes only vast plains, mountains, and the ocean. However, 

as unremarkable the small village may seem at first it is worth 

spending some time there. May it be to dine at the restaurant 

right at the docks or to visit the several museums where you can 

learn about the fishing in Norway or the famous Stockfish; the 

village has a lot more to offer than the picturesque fishing huts 

and beautiful landscape. While you are there, you also have to try 

one of the famous cinnamon buns that are sold in the local bakery. 

4. FREDVANG BRIDGES 

Heading back north on the E10 you will come across two bridges 

that connect the Moskenesøya island with the neighbouring island 

of Flakstadøya. These bridges are worth a short detour and a great 

chance to take some memorable pictures. 

There is no denying of the 

fact that the Lofoten Islands 

are on many travellers’ 

bucket list. 

Melanie Renk 

5. RAMBERGSTRANDA 

Not even five minutes further north the E10 leads right past one 

of the most beautiful beaches on the Lofoten Islands. It is perfect 

for a short break from all the driving, and the Lofoten Adventure 

Company offers fun activities for the whole family. 

6. HAUKLAND BEACH 

Haukland is one of the most famous beaches in all of Norway. 

Turquoise water and white sand surrounded by tall mountains and 

green plains. Not even 10km away from Leknes; it is easy to get to 

and a perfect spot to shoot remarkable pictures or go for a quick 

swim – if you do not mind the cold water temperature. 

Reine is a small fishing village in the south of the island chain, and 

it is most likely the best known to most people. The village itself is 

located on multiple small islands and connected by arched bridges. 

It is easily reached by the E10, the highway that runs from the 

north of the island chain all the way to the south, which goes right 

through. Here is the perfect opportunity to stop for a hotdog or 

some ice cream, take pictures or just enjoy the atmosphere before 

heading further south. 

2. REINEBRINGEN 

Reine’s local mountain is famous for its incredible view over Reine 

and the neighbouring islands. The ascent is not recommended 

by local guides anymore but experienced hikers with a couple of 

hours at their hands should dare the climbing. One gets rewarded 

with a once-in-a-lifetime view and a chance to shoot pictures 

you’d usually only find in calendars. 

7. NUSFJORD 

One could say that this small fishing village is the tourist trap of 

the Lofoten Islands. Almost every tour group takes a detour to the 

famous Rorbuer, the traditional fishermen’s huts, and the equally 

famous small corner shop. Later is an experience for itself with the 

displayed goods that were sold here at the beginning of the 20th 

century. 

“I haven’t been 

everywhere, but it’s 

on my list.” And those 

seven places are only a 

few of the reasons you 

should put the Lofoten 

Islands right on top of 

your travel list! 

As Susan Sontag put it so nicely 


Courtesy of Nina van Rijn 

written by 

MINT TOH 

www.mintqft.wixsite.com/mintqft (Coming April ‘17) 


Vienna 

VIENNA (WIEN), THE CAPITAL AND 

LARGEST CITY OF AUSTRIA, A LOVELY 

CITY FILLED WITH RICH HISTORY, 

IMPECCABLE ARCHITECTURE, AND ART. THE 

PEOPLE I HAVE MET ARE NOTHING SHORT 

OF FRIENDLY, THE GUY THAT SAT NEXT TO 

ME ON MY FLIGHT EVEN RECOMMENDED 

AREAS TO VISIT IF I WERE TO STAY LONGER 

SINCE HE LIVED AN HOUR OUTSIDE THE 

CITY! 

ATTIRE 

I went in late September of 2016 to visit a 

friend. The weather was a tad chilly for me (I 

am from Singapore) so alter my suggestion 

based on how susceptible to cold you are. 

For the most of my trip, I was in smart casual 

outfits. A shirt, jeans, paired with either a 

long knitted cardigan or long vest or blazer 

to keep warm and finished off with black 

oxford shoes. If you wish, you can bring a 

scarf along too. Backpacks and handbags 

are safe to carry around but do observe the 

general rule of traveling and safeguarding 

your belongings. 

With all that said, here are my takes on a 

short trip in Vienna and how to stretch your 

time and money: 

MUST DO – 2 TO 4 HOURS 

Visit the Schönbrunn Palace (Schloß 

Schönbrunn). Although photography is 

not allowed within the palace is it still 

magnificent to view. (You will not regret it!) 

I suggest paying a little more for the Grand 

Tour (€16.40) with 18 additional rooms to see 

than the Imperial Tour (€13.30). At the back of 

the palace, there are public gardens too. 

Tip: Wear shoes you do not mind getting a 

little dusty! The gravel left a layer of dust on 

my black oxford shoes; I learned that the hard 

way! 

Visit the St Stephan’s Cathedral. Go up 

the North Tower (€5.50) for a stunning 

architectural detail of the roof! 

MUST SEE – 1 TO 5 HOURS 

If you only have a short day, I highly 

recommend the State Hall (Prunksaal) of the 

Austrian National Library (Österreichische 

Nationalbibliothek). It is considered one of 

the world’s most beautiful libraries in the 

world (You can thank me later). It houses the 

biggest Baroque library in Europe, complete 

with beautiful paintings and statues. So, 

you will have plenty to discover in one room 

alone! 

Tip: I suggest paying for a small fee (€3) for 

the audio guide! You can get them while 

purchasing the entry ticket (€7). Let your eyes 

wander while it explains its beginnings and 

follow along each description of the paintings 

without craning your neck in odd angles. The 

best part? You do not have to stand around 

reading an information board with others 

crowding around! 

Tip: Avoid tour hours! I was lucky enough to 

be there when there was only a handful of us, 

but it did get crowded as I was leaving. 

If you have more hours to spare, visit the 

MuseumsQuartier. With many cultural 

institutions, museums, and shops clustered 

together in one area, you will be spoilt for 

choice! There you can also view some of the 

most iconic works of all time such as Andy 

Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Egon Schiele and 

more. 

MUST EAT – 1 TO 2 HOURS 

This may come as a no surprise, but the 

famous Viennese Schnitzel (Wiener Schnitzel) 

at Figlmüller is one you should not miss. 

Tip: Make a reservation! Even during lunch 

time, it fills up quickly with a long line waiting! 



Marrakech 

written by 

RHIAN STOYLE 

At first glance, Marrakech may seem like a hectic city. There is, 

of course, the Djemaa el Fna, the main square where snake 

charmers, storytellers, acrobats, and monkeys can be seen 

arriving at midday as stalls are being set up, but it is after dark that this 

square comes alive! The city is also composed of the souks that are 

surrounding the famous Djemaa el Fna. 

beyond the souks, is the Musée de Marrakech. 

The museum is in a Palace that was renovated 

in the late 1990’s into a museum of Moroccan 

culture. There is a large courtyard surrounded 

by rooms that hold each of the artefacts. The 

museum consists of traditional Moroccan 

artwork, various aspects of Moroccan life and 

visitors can get a look at the Berber lifestyle. 

Old Berber attire, jewellery, and coins are on 

display. The museum is open daily, and there 

is an entrance fee of 50 Dirham. (approx. 

£4/€5) The museum is located just around 

the corner from the captivating Ben Youssef 

Madrasa. It would not be hard to walk past 

this stunning school as it is hidden away 

behind the busy streets of the Medina but 

it is what I would consider being ‘a hidden 

gem’. It is an ancient Islamic school built in the 

Saadian era. It is the Courtyard that captures 

people’s heart. It is beautifully decorated, 

each wall and doorway embellished with 

exquisite detail surrounding a reflecting pool. 

This piece of history is open daily, and it costs 

a mere 20 Dirham to enter. (just little over a 

pound and just under two Euro) 

If you want to take a moment away from the 

madness and step into a place of serenity, 

take a trip to The Jardin Majorelle. It is a 

stunning 12-acre garden that was designed 

by French painter Yves Saint Laurent and was 

gifted by him to the city of Marrakech. Within 

the gardens is a vast range of flora and cacti 

and buildings of a bright electric blue colourknown 

now as Majorelle Blue. It is a must-see 

in Marrakech and not just if you are a plant 

enthusiast, as I do not have much interest 

in that myself, I just loved the freshness of 

the whole place and taking in the vibrant 

colours around me. Photographers will also 

lose themselves within the luminous gardens. 

The Gardens are situated in the Ville Nouvelle 

Unique handmade and crafted goods are for sale within the maze 

of markets, and there are bargains to be had, remember to haggle! 

The souks are also a spectacular sight and photographers will find 

themselves captivated within. It is important always to ask the owner 

of a stall if it is possible to take a picture, it is rude not to, and they will 

not hesitate to say approach you about this. 

Besides, the electrified streets of the Medina, Marrakech has a lot more 

to offer that might make you forget just how busy the city is. Not far 

Marrakech 

is certainly 

unique... 

you will 

see another 

side to this 

remarkable 

city 

and are easy to locate. If told by any local 

that the gardens are closed today, do not 

believe this as the gardens are open daily 

and this is more than likely a ploy to defer 

you to somewhere else. The entrance fee 

is 70 Dirham (approx. £5.50/€6.50) 

Marrakech is certainly unique. It is 

often first perceived as a bustling city 

comprising of dusty streets that at times 

can seem over-crowded with passer-by’s, 

motorbikes speeding through the narrow 

gaps and local men transporting goods on 

donkey-back. However, dig a little deeper 

and seek out all the hidden wonders that 

Marrakech has to offer. Trust me; you will 

see another side to this remarkable city. 


written by 

JENNIFER CLUTE 

With over 30 

wineries in the 

region... Wine not! 


British Columbia 

Top 3 Things to See and Do in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada 

From conquering mountain tops and exploring vineyards to indulging 

in mouth-watering cuisine, Kelowna, British Columbia offers diverse 

experiences for every type of traveler. 

1. RELEASE YOUR INNER ADVENTURER 

Kelowna is a stellar hiking destination with trails for every type of explorer 

and mountain tops that offer diverse and unique aerial views of the city. 

Located just 20 minutes from downtown Kelowna, Myra Canyon is a 

restored section of the Kettle Valley Railway Trail that runs approximately 

24 km (12 miles) roundtrip and includes two tunnels and 18 trestles. With a 

vantage point like no other, cycling enthusiasts and hikers alike will bask in 

the astounding canyon and Okanagan Valley views. 

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: EASY TO MODERATE 

LOCATION: LAT. 49.801944 LONG. -119.3125 

FREE, BIKE RENTALS AVAILABLE, POPULAR WITH 

LOCALS 

Mount Boucherie, located on the west shore of Lake Okanagan in West 

Kelowna, is what remains of a nearly 60 million-year-old extinct volcano 

and one of the best hikes in the Kelowna area. With a top elevation of 758 

metres, the mountainside switchbacks and several lookout points allow 

for continuous photo ops. Educational signage about local flora and fauna 

and possible wildlife sightings also add to the hiking experience. It may be 

an hour+ trip to the top, but the spectacular lake and city views are well 

worth the trip. 

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: MODERATE TO HARD 

LOCATION: LAT. 49.852529 LONG. -119.568067 

FREE, POPULAR WITH LOCALS, HIKERS, AND 

CYCLISTS 

2. TANTALIZE YOUR TASTE BUD 

The dining scene in downtown Kelowna is nothing short of impressive. 

From brewpubs to authentic Mexican cuisine, Kelowna offers a diverse 

dining experience for every palate. BNA Brewing Co. supports local 

farmers and businesses showcasing Okanagan ingredients when crafting 

their incredible menu. The interior is cozy, rustic, inviting, and exudes 

classic west coast charm. Don’t leave without trying their spicy prawn 

tempura with citrus aioli and chives along with a tasting flight (3 x 5oz) of 

their current selection of draught beer. Try the Pamela Blond Ale, made 

in house. 

WWW.BNABREWING.COM 

PRICE: $$-$$$ LOCATION: 

1250 ELLIS ST., DOWNTOWN KELOWNA 

Unique Feature: Enjoy a good ol’ fashioned game of indoor Bocce Ball on 

the pub’s upper level 

El Taquero serves up some of the most incredible Mexico City style tacos, 

quesadillas, tostadas, and tortas right in the heart of Kelowna. Grab a 

stool, a side of chips & pico and immerse yourself in the authentic Mexican 

cuisine, décor, and music and before you know it, you’ll swear you were 

dining in the streets of Mexico. Portions are huge, and the tostadas are a 

must. Don’t miss out on Happy Hour from 2-6 daily and enjoy four tacos 

and Mexican beer, sangria, or frozen margarita for $15. 

WWW.EL-TAQUERO.COM 

PRICE: $-$$ LOCATION: 

1443 ELLIS ST., DOWNTOWN KELOWNA 

Unique Feature: The salsa bar is fun and yummy (try the watermelon 

flavour), and all tacos are served on soft, gluten-free corn tortillas. 

3. WINE. BECAUSE WINE NOT? 

It’s impossible to visit Kelowna or the Okanagan Valley without tasting 

some local wines, mainly because it’s home to some of the highest 

quality wine and wineries in the country with national and international 

recognition. With over 30 wineries in the region, many are open year 

round for self-guided or guided tastings and tours. Sip and savour a vast 

array of wines that encompass the flair and flavours of the Okanagan. 

PRICE: $-$$$$ VARIES PER WINERY 

LOCATION: OKANAGAN VALLEY 

UNIQUE FEATURE: TOUR OPERATORS OFFER 

STRESS-FREE SHUTTLE SERVICES 



Pushkar & Ajmer, India 

written by 

AKSHAY NAGPAL 

from Akshay Nagpal Photography 

www.aks7694.wixsite.com/mysite 

Ringed by the rugged Aravalli Hills, and home to 

the beautiful Dargah of Khawaja Moinuddin 

Chishti. Ajmer is an extraordinary blend of 

culture and nature. 

Located in the heart of Rajasthan, with some of the 

most beautiful Jain temples in India, along with two 

artificial lakes, Ajmer is a tourist’s heaven. 

Fifteen Kilometres from Ajmer lies the ancient Hindu 

pilgrimage town of Pushkar. The city with the only 

temple dedicated to Brahma (The Creator) in the worl 

Said to have more than 500 temples it is in this town; 

salvation is said to have be found. 

Camel fair of 

Pushkar is one of 

the largest Camel 

fairs in the world. 

When planning a trip first question that comes to 

mind is “WHAT TIME OF THE YEAR should I be visiting 

this place?” Well, the best time to visit Pushkar and 

Ajmer is sometime around NOVEMBER. When the 

sun is not too harsh, winters are just beginning, and 

Pushkar is filled with Camels. 

Camel fair of Pushkar is one of the largest Camel fairs 

in the world. This fascinating spectacle that occurs 

once a year (November) attracts a lot of tourists from 

around the world. Filled with competitions, ranging 

from “longest mustache” to cricket competitions 

between local Pushkar clubs and casual foreign 

tourists. There are hundreds of shops selling 

traditional Rajasthani items as well as thousands of 

camels dressed up beautifully. Making it arguably the 

most colourful gathering of humanity and livestock 

on this planet. 

When visiting the fair, you should go and watch a 

traditional Rajasthani dance, take a camel back ride 

and participate in at least one competition. Only 

then should you move forward and explore more of 

the town. Deep into town on the banks of Pushkar 

Lake stands the next stop. The famous Temple of the 

Hindu God Brahma. The Brahma temple, where Artists 

from around the world take a pilgrimage to request 

inspiration of Brahma and Saraswati, his consort, the 

goddess of the creative impulse, the source of music, 

beauty, and eloquence. This should be on the must 

visit for everyone visiting Pushkar. 

A day at the colorful fair can get tiring, which can be 

easily handled by trying out the amazing food Pushkar 

has to offer. Ranging from mouthwatering tikki chaat 

to Falafel. A lot of options are available, but one dish 

that stands above all, and everyone should try is Rabdi 

Malpua. This is an Indian version of pancakes (fried in 

ghee and dunked in sugar syrup). This heavenly touch is added to the 

whole experience by the sunset there. Pushkar Lake, with prayer bells 

ringing in the temple and the sun going down, is a sight to behold. 

the beauty of the 

picturesque Ana Sagar 

Lake will absolutely 

make the trip worth it. 

A half an hour ride from Pushkar takes you to the city of Ajmer. 

Home to the ancient shrine of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer 

Sharif Dargah). The famous Dargah consists of several white marble 

buildings, all decorated with intricate and beautiful carvings, making it 

the most beautiful Dargah in India. 

Located at the foot of Taragarh hill near the Ajmer Railway Station. 

The best time for a visit to the beautiful Islamic monument is either 

early morning, or in the evening. 

In the center of the city not far from the Dargah, and just about five 

kilometres from Ajmer Railway Station, is Soniji ki Nasiyan the temple. 

Famous for its City of Gold. Sitting in the double-storey hall, it is a 

diorama depicting the Jain concept of the ancient world. Decorated 

with Gold, Silver, and precious stones, it is unlike any other temple in 

Rajasthan and is worth a visit. 

Driving to the outskirts of Ajmer on the Aravalli hills takes you 

to the Nareli Jain Temple. This is another beautiful monument in 

Ajmer. Spread across hundreds of acr, the temple when viewed from 

above the hills is breathtaking. When the sun starts setting behind 

the mountains, the temple lights are left open taking the whole 

experience to a different level. 

Well, known for its food, Ajmer can be a delight for foodies. Along 

with various mouthwatering delicacies, you can get a chance to taste 

several traditional dishes. Dal Baati Choorma, Lahsun Ki Chutney, Ker 

Sangri, Bajre ki roti, Moong Dal Ka Halwa, Ghevar, and Rabdi are some 

of the best dishes that are to be consumed during your stay in Ajmer. 

The beauty of Ajmer lies in the fact that the city, encircled by the 

Aravalli Hills itself, surrounds the spectacular Ana Sagar Lake. The Lake 

is one of the most scenic places in Rajasthan. While sitting outside the 

Bajrang Garh temple, located near the circuit house, having an icecream 

and admiring the beauty of the picturesque Ana Sagar Lake will 

absolutely make the trip worth it. 



The Big Sur, California 

written by 

MATT WYLAN EVANS 

www.wylanevans.com 

In May of last year, my girlfriend decided to 

plan a trip to Big Sur, CA for my birthday. 

Since we had never been to Big Sur 

before, we were not sure what to do while 

we were there. After finding many popular 

suggestions, such as Bixby Bridge, McWay 

Falls, and Pfeiffer Beach to name a few, we 

decided we want to try and find something 

different and off the beaten path to do as 

well. Then, we found it. For a mere $12.00 you 

could get a guided 3-hour tour through an old 

light station that was built on top of a rock 

outcropping right on the edge of the Pacific 

Ocean, perfect! 

The Point Sur Light Station is easy to find right 

off Highway 1 north of the old Naval Station. 

The lighthouse itself is still lit every day and 

is easy to spot, but keep a look out for the 

actual gate itself along the road as it is easy to 

pass, there is a sign with tour info on it. There 

are only two times per day on specific days 

to do the tour (the days and times change 

throughout the year so be sure to check their 

website for the correct days and times for the 

season) and is first come first serve so be sure 

to get there early. Volunteer tour guides meet 

you at the gate and let you through, after 

which you drive along the somewhat paved 

dirt road to the base of the rock where you 

park your car and begin afoot. 

After you park the guides start to take you 

up the narrow road that leads to the top of 

the rock, stopping along the way to share 

fascinating stories of its history and for photo 

ops. 

You are allowed a backpack, and I would 

suggest bringing extra water and snacks 

since it is a long tour. I would also encourage 

a jacket or windbreaker, especially during 

colder seasons, due to common cold winds 

blowing in off the ocean. Also as a side note 

for those of you with small children, there 

are no railings along the road as you make 

your way up to the lighthouse and the cliffs 

are sheer at some points so definitely keep 

them close. As you make your way up the 

road, the views only get more and more 

breathtaking of the Big Sur coast. The first 

of the buildings you stop at is the lighthouse, 

which you get to go inside! You then make 

your way up to the rest of the light station 

at the top of the rock, which is surrounded by 

an inspiring 360-degree view, where you get 

to go through the station keepers’ cabin and 

workshop. Finally, you end the tour in the gift 

shop where you then pay your fee and can 

pick up cool souvenirs and have some snacks 

outside at the tables and benches and enjoy 

a gorgeous view. 

It is an unforgettable tour, and it is only $12! 

Bring a Camera as you are allowed to take 

pictures of any and all that you see on tour. 

Also, the light station volunteers do night 

tours and other special events as well. You 

can check out dates, times, events, and other 

info at their website: pointsur.org. 

Courtesy of Sebastian Hofmeier 

This photo was taken in Milan, Italy 

on Sunday, October 30, 2016. 

After a long day of trying way too 

hard to get THE shot with my DSLR 

on a short trip to Milan, on the way 

back to our hostel I took this snapshot 

with my smartphone. It turned 

out to be my favorite photo of the 

trip and a useful reminder to me that 

sometimes, you can not find great 

pictures, but they have to find you. 



Ho Chi Minh City 

written by 

EMMA-LIISA GREED 

www.emmaliisa.com 

Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city of Vietnam, 

boasts a population of eight million humans 

and seven million motorbikes. Saigon, as it 

is still popularly called, will never cease to have 

things to do, experience, see, learn, or consume. 

The main ‘sites’ are not numerous or massively 

impressive – an apparent fact is that one of its 

most famous sites is the post office – but the 

distinguishing feature of the Saigon Experience is 

the atmosphere. 

classes for some sophisticated hip-shaking 

accompanied by Boppy Vietnamese pop 

music! 

Saigon provides you with plenty of fun days 

out, too. For a relaxing, paradise-vibed day, 

take a ride to the Binh Thanh district to 

the beautiful Van Thanh Park (48/10 Dien 

Bien Phu), complete with an uncrowded 

swimming pool (60k). 

Another favorite water-themed adventure is 

situated the opposite side of the city - Dam 

Sen Waterpark (3 Hoa Binh Street, 140k for 

adults), full of rides ranging from the fastwhirling, 

adrenaline-filled with names like 

Kamikaze and Boomerang, to the leisurely 

tyre-rides floating gently down the river. 

However, the primary experience in Saigon 

is its traffic. Crossing the road is a thrill 

comparable to the craziest rides of Dam Sen 

Park. Remember to never rush across the 

road, as motorbikes are used to maneuver 

around pedestrians with predictable, steadypaced 

walking paths. Also remember, 

motorcycles are always allowed to turn 

right regardless of the colour of the traffic 

light. If you feel up to it, definitely hire your 

own bike (there are many on Pham Ngu Lao 

street) and brave the streets of Saigon. 

Saigon will, without a doubt, keep you 

entertained for ages and ages. Enjoy it 

with every sense you have, and soak up the 

compelling, chaotic madness. Moreover, the 

motorbikes. 

Firstly, make sure you eat. Banh mis (filled 

baguettes), xoi ga (sticky rice and chicken) and the 

ubiquitous pho (noodle soup) are best enjoyed at 

various street food stalls you can find at every 

corner. For a nice local meal, go up to district 3 

and enjoy dinner and people-watching at a canalside 

street restaurant, for example, Hoa Map on 

Truong Sa 922 (prices around 50k). 

Western restaurants are also exceptionally 

affordable in Saigon – try Au Parc (23 Han Thuyen) 

for excellent Mediterranean food; it is easy to find 

and conveniently right near the aforementioned 

post office, with prices for mains for 150-325k. 

Saigon will, 

without a doubt 

will keep you 

entertained for 

ages and ages. 

For a stunning sunset, pop by the View (195 Bui 

Vien), a picturesque restaurant with affordable 

drinks and decent food (rice served in a pineapple, 

ah). Prices for food range from 100-150k and nonhappy 

hour cocktails are around 100k. Note that 

you have to go inside the Duc Vuong hotel to get 

to the restaurant. 

For a proper cloud-skimming experience, visit the 

incredible Chill Sky Bar (AB Tower, 26th Floor, 76 

Le Lai), just a stone’s throw away from Bui Vien 

(cocktail prices from 250k). Just remember – you 

will not be allowed in with flip-flops! (Ironically, 

murky trainers are usually ok.) 

For a cheaper, more practical experience (literally), 

find the tiny plastic chairs and 10k beers of 96 Bui 

Vien, and start your Bui Vien nightlife experience 

there. 

Saigon also has a booming coffee culture going 

on. Try out the dilapidated old warehouse 14 

Ton That Dam – yes, you have come to exactly 

the right place – with numerous out-of-the-way 

cafes, along with funky vintage shops, hidden 

within the crumbling stairwells. 

For non-food-related escapades, visit the 

green park on Pham Ngu Lao in District 1. Pick 

up a smoothie in the morning and chat with 

the local students, and in the evening, if you 

are brave enough, join the local free aerobics 


written by 

AGATA NOWACKA 

from Podróze małe i duze 

www.podrozemaleduze.pl (Polish) 

Things 

BOAT SWIMMING AT 

LAKE BLED 

There is something magical about this 

tiny little island in the middle of Lake Bled. 

No matter what season you will decide to 

visit Slovenia, you will be enchanted by 

this place. We went there at the beginning 

of September. The weather was still great, 

but the number of tourists was lower than 

during summer holidays so we could enjoy 

the remarkable views just by ourselves. 

Lake Bled is located around 50 kilometers 

from Ljubljana – the capital city of 

Slovenia, near by the Austrian border. In 

September it is easy to find a parking place 

just next to the lake. You can get to the 

heart of the Island by a traditional boat 

called „Pletna.” You will get to the shore 

and back and will have around 30 minutes 

to climb 99 steps of the St, Mary’s Chapel 

located on the island. You have to ring the 

Bell at the campanile built in XV century – 

it will bring you luck. Many couples decide 

to get married at this unique place. It is an 

absolute must-see in Slovenia! 

Many couples 

decide to get 

married at this 

unique place. 

to do in... 

WALK AROUND BOHINJ 

LAKE 

Slovenia 

It turned out that during our visit 

in Slovenia there will be a summit 

organized in Ljubljana. That was the 

reason why the choice of hotels was 

limited; all were too expensive for 

us. Because of that, we decided not 

to go to Ljubljana at all. Instead, we 

have booked a room in a little Inn at 

Ribcev Laz – small town in the Triglav 

National Park. Sometimes you get 

to an amazing place just by accident. 

That was exactly what happened to 

us. We never expected to find one of 

the most remarkable spots in Europe 

in Slovenia. However, we did. 

Bohinj Lake is located within the 

Bohinj Valley of the Julian Alps, in the 

northwestern Upper Carniola region, 

and part of Triglav National Park. 

We were stunned by its beauty. In 

September there were few tourists, so 

wandering around the lake was pure 

pleasure. It takes about 3 hours to 

walk around the whole lake, but you 

will stop every five minutes to take a 

picture and enjoy the views. If you are 

planning to engage this is the perfect 

spot! 

PARAGLIDING FROM THE VOGEL 

MOUNTAIN 

I have been thinking about paragliding since I saw “The 

Intouchables” movie. Remember the moment when Philippe 

is off the Grodnu and his face just glows? I wanted to feel the 

same. The office where you could book a flight was located just 

300 meters from our hotel. This had to be a sign from above. 

The lady at the office told me that it depends on the weather if 

I can fly. I left my number at the office and waited for the pilot 

to call. He said that we could try to climb the hill, but it will be 

just here where he will decide whether we can fly down or not. 

I decided to take the risk. Moreover, of course, it was worth it. 

The wind was just perfect! I was scared as hell standing at the 

edge but when the wind took us above the hills It was one of 

the most amazing moments of my life! I felt so happy, powerful 

and free… 

How much it costs: 

€14 - PLETNA AT LAKE BLED 

FREE - WALK AROUND THE LAKE 

€130 - PARAGLIDING FROM VOGEL 

€125 - 2 NIGHTS IN RIBCEV LAZ 

(DOUBLE ROOM) 



Muskoka Lakes, 

Ontario 

written by 

JENNIFER CLUTE 

THINGS TO DO IN MUSKOKA LAKES, 

ONTARIO, CANADA 

From lakeside relaxation to sipping wine in the cranberry capital of 

Ontario, Muskoka Lakes, named by Travel Gay Canada as one of the 

top 10 gay-friendly destinations in Ontario other than Toronto, offers 

a vast array of experiences for LGBT travelers. 

Located just two hours north of Toronto, Muskoka Lakes, known 

as Canada’s “cottage country,” has long been recognized as the 

destination to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city life. 

Surrounded by Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau, and Joseph, this quaint and 

picturesque township is a diverse destination eager to welcome and 

introduce LGBT travelers to the natural paradise they so lovingly call 

home. 

THE WINE 

Located in Bala, the cranberry capital of Ontario, Muskoka Lakes 

Winery and Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh boasts a variety of yearround 

activities for every type of traveler. Designated a Canadian 

Signature Experience by the CTC, the winery’s Bog to Bottle Discovery 

tour guides guests through the cranberry bog and concludes with wine 

tastings and cheese pairings. 

WWW.CRANBERRY.CA 

PRICE: $-$$ 

LOCATION: CRANBERRY ROAD, BALA, ONTARIO 

Unique Feature: Bala’s Cranberry Festival, always hosted the weekend 

after Canadian Thanksgiving, is one of the top 100 festivals and events 

in Ontario. 

THE GREAT OUTDOORS 

Muskoka Lakes is home to an unbelievable array of activities for every type 

of traveler. Tap into your inner adventurer and go boating or wakeboarding 

on one of the many lakes in the area or enjoy the serenity and peacefulness 

of one of the many hiking and nature trails. One of the more popular trails, 

Torrance Barrens, is not only known as one of the most incredible geological 

areas in Muskoka but an ideal place to view the night skies. 

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: MODERATE TO DIFFICULT 

LOCATION: SOUTHWOOD ROAD, TORRANCE, ONTARIO 

FREE, POPULAR WITH LOCALS, HIKERS, AND 

CYCLISTS 

WINTER WONDERLAND 

While Muskoka Lakes may be known for its summer fun, this year-round 

destination also attracts winter tourists seeking adventure and rest. Venture 

to the JW Marriott – The Rosseau Muskoka for luxury accommodations with 

classic cottage décor. While you are here, take advantage of snowshoeing 

trails, snowmobiling or dog sledding excursions! 

WWW.THEROSSEAU.COM 

PRICE: $$$$ 

LOCATION: PAIGNTON HOUSE ROAD, MINETT, ONTARIO 

Special Feature: In 2014, JW Marriott hosted “Matrimony in Muskoka” proudly 

welcoming LGBT couples to be married at the resort. 

Whether you are planning the quintessential Muskoka summer experience 

at the cottage, basking in the fall colours, or sledding through a winter 

wonderland, make sure to contact the local chamber of commerce (www. 

muskokalakeschamber.com) and consider the LGBT diversity ambassadors 

listed, on the website that are eager to welcome you with their Muskoka 

hospitality! 



Kingston, Ontario 

Home of one of the biggest events in Canadian history, 

Kingston, Ontario has so much more to offer than just 

being the home of the world famous band, The Tragically 

Hip. Being where The Tragically Hip played their final concert. 

Kingston is a beautiful, waterfront city full of appeal for all ages. 

It has activities all year round, and this article is going to name 

one activity to do in Kingston in each season, although there are 

endless possibilities! 

THE SPRING 

Is a good time to visit Kingston and see all of the snow melt and 

the flowers start to bloom as well as new and old activities start 

to arise once again. An activity that is perfect for the spring season 

in Kingston is to go on a hike on one of Kingston’s many beautiful 

trails! Kingston has several different trails in the area to discover! 

A trail that is worth a 

hike on is Lemoine’s 

point conservation area 

which is surrounded by 

Lake Ontario 

A trail that is worth a walk on is Lemoine’s point conservation 

area which is surrounded by Lake Ontario and has many different 

trails through forests, marsh’s and along the beautiful lake. This is 

a great spot to come and relax, get some exercise and see some 

beautiful views and wildlife! 

written by 

REBEKAH BOUDREAU 

ONTO THE NEXT SEASON! 

Summer is a prime time for tourists to visit Kingston 

because the number of activities that you can do is 

endless, just one activity to get you inspired to visit 

the limestone city during the summer! 

One activity that you can do i the summer in 

Kingston is visiting Wolfe Island, which is just 

a quick 20-minute ferry ride away from the 

city. Wolfe Island is a large island with beautiful 

farmland and famous wind turbines that give 

power to almost every home on the island, as well 

as an excellent bakery and other small shops. 

Wolfe Island has so much charm and is worth a 

visit! Ah, the season of fall! 

FALL (AUTUMN) 

Fall is a fantastic time to travel anywhere in but 

especially in Kingston! This event is during the 

month of October at the historic Fort Henry which 

was built in the 1800s and was used to protect the 

city of Kingston, but is now a historic landmark 

with year-round tours of the fort and also home 

to a modern bistro! However, during the month of 

October, Fort Fright is where the souls of soldiers 

and other creatures come out to frighten daring 

guests and seek their revenge! 

Each year there is a different theme for the 

fort, which can range anywhere from spiders to 

zombies to clowns to the cursed hallows! This 

event is world famous and is so fun! 

FINALLY, WINTER! 

Winter is a fabulous time to come to Kingston 

and see the beautiful snow fall! An activity to 

do in Kingston during the winter is to go to the 

famous Feb Fest which takes place every February 

in Springer Market Square. Each winter, the square 

is transformed into a huge skating rink! 

During Feb Fest, visitors, and locals can come and 

skate on the ice with their friends and family, watch 

professional figure skaters perform, watch hockey 

games, compete in hockey games, as well as enjoy 

some warm Beavertails (Fried dough not real 

beaver tails!) and hot chocolate. This event is fun 

for all ages and is a huge hit every year! Kingston 

may not be the perfect tropical or European 

vacation, but Kingston has a lot to offer all year 

round with activities fit for everyone! Kingston 

also has a lot of history, culture, and friendly faces 

to see! I hope you visit one day! 


written by 

NERI FATRINA SARI 


South Korea 

On my second time to Korea, I tried a few 

things that I had not dont the first time 

i visited.. 

After 6 hours flight to Seoul, we landed at 

Incheon International Airport. We got a Coupon 

book of Halal restaurants in Korea to support 

the Halal Restaurant Week in November. This 

book useful for us who sometimes difficult to 

get a Halal meal during our traveling. 

In this visit, I also want to have an experience 

living in Hanok, traditional Korean houses. I 

booked a room at Hanok Guesthouse in the 

area near Gyeongbok Palace. Using the airport 

limousine bus, we arrived at the guesthouse. 

It was gorgeous. You get rooms with futon 

bedding that held in the floor. We went in 

autumn, at the room was warm. 

After taking some rest, we walk to Insadong 

area. We saw many groups of teenagers 

walking around using the Hanbok, Korean 

Traditional Dress. 

Still, in the Insadong area, we tried the Halal 

food which was mentioned in the Coupon 

Books and devoured some homemade food of 

Korea. It is delicious! 

During this time I tried some Korean Halal food 

such as Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), 

Chuncheon Dakgalbi (spicy grilled chicken), 

Bulgogi (Korean BBQ), Banchan (appetizers 

typical of Korea), Tteok (rice cake), Hotteok 

(Korean-style pancake), and of course drink 

the famous Banana Milk. All of which were 

delicious! Thanks to the Korean government 

who had promoted the Halal Food Week! 

From the list of Must Visit Place at Korea, this 

time I visit: 

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace 

2. Namsan Hanok Village 

3. Nami Island 

4. N Seoul Tower 

5. Gwanghwamun Square 

6. Cheonggyecheon Stream (there’s a Seoul 

Lantern Festival) 

7. Dongdaemun area 

8. Myeongdong area 

Beside Seoul, I also visited Jeju island. We took 

a domestic flight from Gimpo Airport to Jeju 

International Airport. In 1, five days we visited 

Seongsang Ilchubong Peak with a bus from 

Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal (bus no 701). We 

also visited the Teddy Bear Museum, Jungmun 

resort using Jeju Airport Limousine bus. If you 

want to explore all Jeju area, you need 2-3 

days. I will back here one day to explore more 

because Jeju has many beautiful landscapes. 

I will go back to Korea because there are many 

places I want to visit, and most importantly, 

Korea one of the safest place for women to 

travel alone. Especially now there are many 

places to eat which are certified halal for 

Muslims. 

On my second 

time to Korea, 

I tried a few 

things that I 

had not done 

the first time i 

visited. 

See you next time in Korea 


Courtesy of J. Randy Houk 

He used his tripod to capture this moment, as he 

was waiting to catch a ferry from Patras, Greece to 

Italy 

OVER THE NEXT FEW PAGES YOU WILL SEE 

SOME OF THE VERY BEST PLACES TO VISIT 

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK. 


When visiting the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, most 

people stick to the cities of Arusha and Moshi. There are 

plenty of things to see and do there, but, if you go on a little 

adventure to a spot between Arusha and Moshi, you will 

find a hidden oasis! 

In a village called Rundugai, far off the main road, there is 

a hot spring (or Maji Moto) waiting for you to jump in! Its 

sapphire waters are warm, with a constant current running 

through it. The spring is even made complete with a rope 

swing! 

This can be a day trip spent swimming in the clear water, 

with a beer in hand, or you can camp out under the stars 

for the night and explore. Just bring your tent and some 

food to BBQ, and you are all set for a fantastic night in the 

Tanzanian wilderness. 

HOW TO GET THERE: 

A two-hour drive from Arusha town or a one hour drive 

from Moshi. This little paradise is seemingly in the middle 

of nowhere, but it is easy to drive there and if you get 

someone to show you the way it does not take long. You 

can easily find a tour company to take you, but you can 

also quickly drive yourself if you ask for directions from the 

locals once you reach an area called Boma. Alternatively, 

you can park your car at a hotel on the main road and jump 

in a bajaji (like the Asian tuk-tuk) and ask them to take you 

there. You can also ask a motorcycle taxi to drive head of 

you and lead the way. 

Tip: you will feel 

lost at least once 

or twice once you 

turn off the main 

road. Have no fear, 

just keep asking 

the locals you see 

for the Kikuletwa 

Hotsprings, and 

you will reach 

your destination 

eventually! 

WHAT TO BRING: 

Money for transport and fees, a towel and a cooler full of 

drinks! You can buy drinks there, but no electricity means 

no fridge. I do not know about you, but I prefer my beers 

cold! 

COST: 

There is a small ‘villiage swimming fee’: 5000tsh approx. 

$2.50USD. Food is only Chips, Mayai (local dish much like 

a potato omelet): 2000tsh Approx $1USD. You can then 

wash it down with a warm beer: 4000tsh approx: $2USD 

each. 

written by 

OLIVIA LEACH 

from Liv Life in Wanderlust 

www.livlifeinwanderlust.com 

TANZANIA 

written by 

VIRGIL REGLIONI 

SRI LANKA 

When visiting Asia, I advise hitting 

the Sinharaja National Reserve in 

the southern province of Sri Lanka. 

Surrounded by the tropical jungle, I 

have been amazed by the amount 

of wildlife you can spot around you 

once immersed into the rain forest. 

The fauna and flora will leave you 

speechless. 

From colourful forest lizards 

to large butterflies, without 

forgetting the kings of camouflage 

such as snakes, spiders, kangaroo 

lizards or Boyd dragons, you 

cross path with some of the most 

beautiful species of animals in Asia, 

including some species unique to 

Sri Lanka. You will be able to cross 

an amazing hanging bridge across 

fresh water river flowing from the 

jungle hilltops, leading to a resort 

handled by locals. 

One of the best spot during this 

three and half hours hike is the 

beautiful water hole and waterfall 

in which you can have a nice deep 

before heading back on the track. 

Jumping from rock to rock to reach 

the spot; you can be sure about 

the adventure awaiting for you. 

You will need a guide to 

lead you along the track 

through the tropical 

rain forest. The guide 

costs about 1500Lkr 

(Sri Lankan Rupee) 

which is about 10 euros. 

They are friendly, with 

excellent English, very 

knowledgeable and will 

show you how to spot 

things that you do not 

even imagine bumping 

into. 

The place is known for 

the locals who will take you there 

without any problem. The trip to 

head to Sinharaja Reserve can be 

made from Galle by Tuktuk. Quite 

bumpy and hard to go through 

when the rain flooded the day 

before, I would advise checking the 

weather before planning the trip. It 

would take about three hours from 

Galle. 

I heard about the place while 

traveling to the Daintree rainforest 

in Australia, comparable to 

Sinharaja tropical rainforest in Sri 

Lanka. 

KOS ISLAND, 

GREECE 

There is a place in Kos island where 

you can experience the hot water 

from the spring of the mountain 

exactly next to the cold water of 

the sea. 

Before we tell you about the hot 

water we should explain you the 

way to reach the place. It is located 

to the most North Eastern place of 

the island, reachable by a vehicle, 

about 10 km away from Kos town 

and exactly where the road ends. 

You can reach the area by the 

local bus and then walk for 2 Km 

in declivity on a beautiful rocky 

scenery. If you have a car you can 

leave it only 700m away from the 

spot, still enjoy the rocky scenery 

and fortunately skip the uphill 

later. 

If you ever 

visit Kos 

island, put 

Therma on 

your list.... 

the scenery 

is so 

beautiful... 

written by 

THENIA GAGALIDOU 

from BeenThere 

www.beenthere.eu 

It is a small hot spring under high 

cliffs, almost hidden from the 

rocks around and separated from 

the sea water with just some rocks. 

The water of the spring contains 

Potassium, Calcium, Sodium, 

Magnesium, and Sulfur and as the 

locals say “all these elements are 

ideal treatment for rheumatism, 

arthritis and any gynecological 

related issues.”. There are not any 

organized facilities there and you 

feel close to pure nature, away 

from the civilization and especially 

not the peak hours. The nights are 

silent there and the days bright. 

Once you go there, you will notice 

that the Therma is full of people 

all day. It is common for the 

youngsters to visit here for a night 

bath instead of going out. Some of 

them even spend the night there 

with their sleeping bags. 

The older generation enjoy to 

take their bath at sunrise. If you 

are well equipped you can climb 

100m north and reach the next 

small gulf. Here you will find a lot 

of free campers with their tents. 

Ready to spend their holidays by 

the Therma. 

If you ever visit Kos, make sure you 

put Therma on your list of places 

to visit. The scenery if so beautiful, 

it will just take your breath away! 


written by 

JOLLY QIAN 

BALI 

I would like introduce my trip to a forest 

resort in Bali, named Bagus Jati. 

Most of us may have been to the beach 

resort or the Ubud area in Bali. However, 

Bagus Jati is not close to any of these resorts. 

It is about 40 mins drive from Ubud, located 

in the mountain area. 

Because of its unique location, the air is a 

bit chilly. We had to wear our jacket most of 

the time. We called it ‘our superb detox trip’ 

because of the serenity, and peace it brought 

to our body and mind. 

The resort has very well equipped chalet that 

not only has a huge bathroom but a jacuzzi 

as well. You have the luxury of an open air 

massage, with all sorts of natural product. 

We woke up every morning at 6am to do 

some Yoga. Followed by the fresh, and very 

enjoyable healthy breakfast. 

There were very few guests during my stay, 

so your privacy is assured. The peace and 

quiet added to the amazing experience. 

I would Highly recommend a visit here. Not 

only for ladies, but for couples who are tired 

of the hustling-bustling life of the city. 

written by 

KAROLINE MERTES 

ICELAND 

Me and my boyfriend were travelling through 

eastern Iceland, when we came across a little nature 

reserve we had not heard about yet, located near the 

Reydarfjördur fjord. 

We stopped at a parking lot on road number 92 some 

miles south from Eskifjördur. From where we parked, 

we could overlook the entire fjord. Right below us we 

saw a little peninsula with two hills and a short beach. 

A small little reserve full of nature to explore. 

Since it was a sunny day, we decided to take a short 

hike to scout the area. 

The trail started out as a steep, rocky and narrow 

path. Soon we reached the first valley, and the trail 

was now covered in knee high grass. We hiked around 

the first hill, passing through some meadows until 

we got to the foot of the second hill. 15 min later 

we arrived at the top. The most amazing view over 

the fjord and the surrounding mountains awaited us. 

We made our way down to the beach, following the 

tiny, wooden, red markers. As soon as we reached the 

beach, we realized that some of the markers must 

have gone missing. We were lost. Ironically in reserve, 

that was not bigger than eight football grounds. Since 

we went too far to double back, we decided to try our 

luck finding the path. After what felt like hours, we 

finally found the trail. The short hike we had planned 

took us almost three hours, but it was worth every 

minute of it. The landscape was fantastic, and the 

solitude was lovely. 

In case you ever find your way into this part of Iceland, 

I really recommend a stop at this lovely little island of 

peaceful quietness, to go on an adventures hike in a 

breathtaking landscape. I does not cost you a penny 

and it is a real treat. 

And remember to keep a close eye on the little red 

markers… ;) 

Courtesy of Jesús Román 

Representation of Mexican independence 

war, this is done every September 

16 in Cocula, Guerrero, Mexico. The 

man with the painted face pretends 

to be a native in battle, the man on 

the horse represents even a mestizo 

general in full fight, rather than a representation 

is a game in the locality. 


written by 

MELISSA MAHONEY 

from Worldly Roamer 

www.worldlyroamer.com 

ICELAND 

Ever since I was a child, I considered myself an 

explorer. I always go off the proverbial (and 

often literal) beaten path in order to discover 

something that, hopefully, not many other people 

have found before. Even to this day, I roam and 

explore until I find an abandoned building to 

photograph, or perhaps some street art down an 

alley in a not-so-traversed area of a city. I have 

found so many interesting things to photograph 

throughout my life by heading off the beaten 

path. 

written by 

RAJ LODHIYA 

INDIA 

The September of 2016, I went hiking with 

some friends in ‘Govind’ national park situated 

in Indian Himalayas that tourists and hikers 

from all around the world visit. It is a two-way 

trail starting from Taluka, a small mountain 

village at 7,000 feet, going up towards 

Jaundhar glacier at 14,200 feet through the 

Har-ki-dun valley and ending back at Taluka 

coming back via the same trail. It took us five 

days to hike these 45 miles. 

Day One of the hike, the trail went through 

green Himalayan broadleaf forests along the 

river Tons and we spent the night in a small 

wooden cottage in Osla, another mountain 

village. Osla has one of the very few temples 

dedicated to Duryodhana, the bad guy from 

Mahabharata, a Sanskrit epic of ancient 

India. This temple was built by the people of 

Har-ki-doon who worship Kauravas as their 

ancestors. Wild Himalayan cannabis plants 

are found in abundance in and around Osla 

and one may see some of the local smoking it 

using a ‘Chillum’! 

On day two we started hiking from Osla 

through endless meadows of alpine flowers 

going over our heights and camped for the 

night reaching ‘Har-ki-doon.’ ‘Har-ki-doon,’ 

meaning ‘Valley of Gods’ is a cradle shaped 

Himalayan valley at about 12,000 feet altitude. 

This valley is blessed with many natural 

elements and every picture you click here is 

sure to look like a desktop wallpaper. At night, 

if the sky is clear, one can clearly see our Milky 

Way in all its glory and get the tripod out to 

capture some amazing star trails. 

The third day of the hike we walked to 

Jaundhar glacier at 14,200 feet and caught 

some close-up views of the over 20,000 feet 

high Swargrohini peaks. This day is in complete 

contrast to the lush greenery of the past few 

days and adds an element of high altitude 

scenery with its breathtaking landscapes. We 

came back to our camp at Har-ki-doon and 

spent the night. 

We took days four and five to come down to 

Taluka down the same trail where our hike 

ended. 

Now, as an adult and when in a foreign city, 

the way I explore is to combine it with exercise. 

Admittedly, I am a bit of a health and fitness 

freak, and, oftentimes, the hotel I am staying in 

has no gym. So, what do I do? I wake up early in 

the morning and go for a jog (just so long as I feel 

safe in the area my hotel is located). My favourite 

off-the-beaten path jogs so far have been in 

Reykjavik, Iceland. Why? Well, the early mornings 

I am out running the streets and alleys, there are 

hardly any people around. And I have found some 

incredible street art, and perhaps even a Banksy 

(see the photo and judge for yourself). 

The hotel my 

family stayed at 

in Reykjavik was 

on Laugavegur, 

the main street 

that is bustling 

The hotel my family stayed at in Reykjavik was on 

Laugavegur, the main street that is bustling during 

the day, but not so much in the early morning. I 

would run in either direction on the road and veer 

off in the opposite direction of the water. I would 

get “lost”, turning corners and finding roads I 

ordinarily would never explore whilst with my 

family. What I have seen has been extraordinary 

to the point where Reykjavik has now become my 

favourite place to discover street art. I felt that 

everywhere I looked while on a run, there was 

art splashed on the side of buildings and even on 

back walls of a car park in front of an apartment 

building. There is even gorgeous street art located 

on the walls of the garage located across from the 

Harpa. 

written by 

THENIA GAGALIDOU 

from BeenThere 

www.beenthere.eu 

LIMNOS ISLAND, 

GREECE 

Limnos island is the 8th largest island in 

Greece. The Limnos Island is located in 

the northern part of the Aegean Sea. You 

can reach it by boat either from the port of 

Kavala or Thessaloniki. 

Limnos is commonly known as a windy 

island and therefore is a real paradise for 

surfers from all over the world. There is also 

Keros beach, ideal for surf, sup, windsurf 

and Kite-surf practice. The kite spot there 

is magnificent to watch from a distance. All 

these sails in the air make the atmosphere 

exclusive. 

Another unique place that captures the 

visitors’ attention in Limnos is “Ammothines.” 

“Ammothines” is the Greek word for the 

dunes and frankly there are dunes 

there. They give you the feeling of 

being in the desert and the beauty 

is remarkable. If someone has a 

camera there, he/she could be so 

creative with some photographs 

and pretend to be at the Sahara 

Desert, too! 

Also, one of the spots worth visiting 

is the Salt Lake of Limnos. It is a big 

muddy area covered with a thick 

layer of nutritious salt, where you 

can collect some of it. Be careful 

when you head to take it because 

the mud gets thicker as you walk 

further into the Salt Lake. If you want our 

advice, you better leave your shoes behind 

and enjoy the walk barefoot. It gives you a 

nice chilling sense after all. 

Finally, every traveler that can hike for 2 

hours must visit the small church of Panagia 

Kakaviotissa. The thing we liked the most 

there is the fact that the church has no roof 

and is the only one roofless in Greece! It is 

located in a beautiful location, up on the 

mountain, where you must hike among the 

windy hills to enjoy its beauty. 

Limnos is ideal for campers, backpackers, 

surfers and alternative travelers who like to 

explore places off the beaten track. Enjoy it! 

My advice to everyone who is an explorer at 

heart, just get lost! You never know what you will 

discover. 


written by 

VARADA SARIF 

AUSTRALIA 

Edinburgh and San Diego are two beautiful 

cities, and the love for their dogs is 

celebrated. Scotland’s capital city may not 

seem like it would have much in common 

with a Southern California beach town. The 

architecture, the accents, and most notably 

the weather are relatively different. Despite 

both being coastal cities, Edinburgh and San 

Diego are far apart in their likeness. However, 

through all their differences, one small part 

of their canine history has connected them 

in a unique way. 

Since the mid-1800’s, Edinburgh’s Greyfriars 

Bobby has become the city’s most prized pooch 

and an enduring story of devotion. Bobby, a 

Skye Terrier, belonged to a local Edinburgh 

policeman named John Gray. Following John’s 

untimely death, Bobby’s unconditional loyalty 

was demonstrated as he faithfully remained at 

his master’s grave for the next 14 years. Leaving 

only for food or occasional shelter, Bobby 

always returned to John’s side in Greyfriars 

Kirkyard, thus earning him the name “Greyfriars 

Bobby.” The devoted dog kept watch over the 

grave until he too passed away on January 14, 

1872, at the age of 16. In remembrance of his 

commitment and dedication, a statue of Bobby 

written by 

MATTHEW CEMENTINA 

from Wanderxlove 

www.wanderxlove.com 

SCOTLAND & USA 

was placed out front of Greyfriars Kirkyard. 

Around this same time, another furry friend was 

making his impression over 5,000 miles away 

in Southern California. Lovingly named Bum 

by his newfound colleagues, the St. Bernard/ 

Spaniel mix arrived in San Diego as a stowaway 

aboard a ship coming from San Francisco in 

1886. His free-spirited nature soon captured the 

hearts of his community, and he was happily 

taken in. Even after being struck by a train and 

losing one of his legs, Bum never lost his upbeat 

personality. Food, shelter and even medical 

treatment were provided for Bum by his fellow 

San Diegans until he passed away on November 

10, 1898. As a tribute to his positive impact on 

the city, a statue of Bum now resides in San 

Diego’s historic downtown. 

In commemoration of their extraordinary 

connection, Edinburgh and San Diego became 

Sister Cities in 1977. This officially joined them 

together through acknowledgment and 

adoration of their furry friends. To symbolize 

this friendship, Edinburgh presented San 

Diego with a duplicate statue of their beloved 

Bobby. Moreover, in return, a statue of Bum 

was given to Edinburgh. Both cities now hold 

a permanent place for their precious pets. 

It is fun traveling to such different and distant 

destinations and still finds a familiar face. 

If you are interested in visiting each statue 

location, here are some helpful hints on where 

to find them. Edinburgh’s Bobby statue is set 

on a pedestal located out front of the gates to 

Greyfriars Kirkyard and across from Greyfriars 

Bobby Bar. Bum, often nestled amongst leaves, 

is laying at the bottom of Edinburgh Castle 

near King’s Stables Road. In California, Bobby 

and Bum can be found together in Pocket Park 

at the William Heath Davis House Museum in 

downtown San Diego. 

While the Land Down Under has 

a ton sights that should be on 

everyone’s bucket list like the Reef 

and Kangaroo Island, it also has 

a ton of secrets that are tucked 

away in all corners of the country. 

One of these beautiful secrets is 

Lake McKenzie – a freshwater 

lake in the middle of the world’s 

largest sand island; just off the 

east cost of Queensland. The 

island is probably the strangest 

thing I have seen – it has got 

bright yellow sand dunes that 

hug the coast and rainforests 

full of eucalyptus and palm trees 

in the middle. I did not even 

know rainforests could survive 

in the sand till I saw this island. I 

suppose the island is an accurate 

depiction of the strange wonder 

that is the landscape of Australia; 

it feels like it should not work, but 

somehow not only does it work, 

it thrives. 

Getting to the lake is not exactly 

an easy drive in your car because, 

well, there are no roads on the 

island. The best way is renting 

an ATV and strapping in for 

the ride because if your guide 

is anything like mine, he will 

insist on providing the “full ATV 

experience” which means driving 

over every bump in the road and 

forgetting that the ATV comes 

with brakes. 

The lake is just a short hike 

through the forest after the ATV 

ride. The walk leads to a large 

clearing with an awe-inspiring 

view of crystal clear waters and 

bright white sand. I do not really 

think there’s a way to describe 

the beauty of that lake – other 

than saying that the view is 

jaw-dropping. The water is so 

clear and vibrant, you can see 

about fifty different shades of 

blue across the lake. The sand 

surrounding the lake is made 

from white silica, and it is the 

softest I have ever walked on. 

The fine grains of silica make it a 

perfect exfoliator for your skin! 

Moreover, because there are no 

inflows into the lake, the water is 

spotless – making it a great place 

to swim! 

The white sand, blue-green 

landscapes, and quiet atmosphere 

leave you wondering how 

this paradise is even possible. 

A local legend does offer an 

interesting explanation for the 

vibrant colours of the lake. The 

natives believe that the island 

was created when the goddess 

K’gari transformed herself into 

the land. The lake is said to be 

one of the goddess’ eyes. More 

recently a different explanation 

has been offered - the organic 

matter at the bottom makes the 

water too acidic for most plants 

and wildlife. A lack of aquatic life 

leaves the lake a perfect shade of 

aquamarine. Whether you believe 

the local legend or the scientific 

reason, I think we can all agree 

that the blues and whites of this 

lake are fascinating and worth a 

visit! 


Courtesy of Nina van Rijn 

Showing the modern influence from around the world. 


written by 

LEE WEBBER 

from Look at our World 

www.lookatourworld.com 

The beautiful Canggu Club Bali. 

This 

multi-functional leisure and sports club 

is a one-stop hub for all your needs. We 

were lucky enough to get to explore this 

beautiful place for the day. The club has a 

whopping amount of options available, and 

you would need a whole day to do them 

all. The club itself has several tennis courts, 

extensive trampoline centre, bowling alleys, 

child creche with additional after school 

activities. They have a fully comprehensive 

gym, football pitche, a private spa boutique 

area and last but not least a water park 

with rides, slides, climbing frames and lap 

pool too. It’s an excellent place to spend 

the day, just by yourself, or a couple, with 

friends or with your family. Not forgetting 

the wide range of snack places, sports bar 

and a bistro restaurant on site too. 

The Waterpark 

Is Just 

Incredible!!! 

The club itself has several tennis courts, 

an extensive trampoline centre, multiple 

bowling alleys, child creche with additional 

after school activities. They even have a 

fully comprehensive gym, football pitch, a 

private spa boutique area and last but not 

least a water park with rides, slides, climbing 

frames and lap pool too. It’s an excellent 

place to spend the day, just by yourself, or a 

couple, with friends or with your family. Not 

forgetting the wide range of snack places, 

sports bar and a bistro restaurant on site 

too. 

Canggu is a former private country club 

style venue, but they have opened their 

doors to everyone in Bali with introducing 

a day pass to all of the clubs facilities. There 

is a membership option too, so a perfect 

place for the locals to take advantage of, 

which is great also as you get discounts on 

all the activities and food on site too. 

With some of the activities such as bowling, 

trampolining and the create, have an 

additional cost though but we have to admit 

although we had everything available to us 

we did end up spending most of our day in 

the fantastic waterpark. It was so hot, and 

the water was just perfect. There were no 

queues for the rides, and we had the best 

day, definitely a great place for families to 

relax and enjoy the surroundings. 

We had an excellent day, and we know you 

would too definitely check this place out 

next time you’re in Bail. 

VISIT THE BEST 

WATERPARK IN 

BALI 

THEN VISIT THE 

INCREDIBLE FINNS BEACH 

CLUB 

OMG, this place 

is just incredible. 

Book a table in 

bed in advance 

This stunning beach club is on the Berawa 

surf break around ten minutes from 

Seminyak, Finns is a beautiful beachfront 

club with stunning views and has a delicious 

restaurant food too. Easily accessible by 

car and plenty of parking as well. They 

have these gorgeous daybeds, set on the 

white sand and right next to the infinity 

pool with the underwater sound system. 

It truly is a wonderful way to spend a lazy 

day in the sun, with your beverage and 

food needs taken care of too. Absolute 

heaven. 

FOOD QUALITY 

We had lunch here, the food and drinks 

were top quality dishes which isn’t so easy 

to find in Bali. I had a mango smoothie, it 

was so good I could of drank the whole 

thing in one as it was so delicious but I 

reframed, I had the steak sandwich with 

crispy rustic potatoes for lunch, and it was 

to die for. The steak was perfectly cooked 

with just a hint of pink and the caramelised 

onions with the mustard was the icing on 

the cake, yum yum. 

Lee had a chocolate milkshake (his 

absolute favourite), and he chose Finn’s 

burger, and it was also superb. Lee was 

even asked how he would like it cooked 

(which just doesn’t happen over here that 

often). With the crispy potatoes I had, you 

know the type of potato, they’re so bad for 

you, but they taste so damn good too. 

We were both in the mood for dessert, so 

I chose the dark chocolate salted caramel 

tart with coconut ice cream, this dessert 

was to die for; I was in absolute heaven 

and recommend it. Lee had a baked 

apple crumble with honeycomb gelato; 

it tasted like heaven in a bowl, with tiny 

pieces of honeycomb in the crumble itself. 

It reminded me of home, definitely an 

excellent twist on a British classic. 

VALUE FOR MONEY 

Finn’s restaurant is a little pricey compared 

to other places to eat in Bali, but this is no 

ordinary run of the mill place. It’s a truly 

wonderful experience, and you get what 

you pay for here. Finn’s may not be a cheap 

eat by any means but what you do get 

here is top quality food and an excellent 

experience of pure luxury. 

ATMOSPHERE 

A great place to spend the whole day, 

definitely get there early though if you 

want one of the day beds as they fill up 

fast on the beautiful Bali days. 

Finn’s is a real slice of luxury like no other 

in Bali; the staff are friendly, chatty and 

so attentive too. We felt so relaxed and 

looked after it was an awesome experience 

and one I would recommend. 


WHAT IS, THE MEANING OF 

TRAVEL TO ME?! 

I sit there, like a child flying for the first time, 

staring out the window of the plane. I am 1 

week away from my 31st birthday. What am 

I doing with my life? I feel like I am always on 

the run, but why? I am constantly hopping on a 

plane, trying to live my life to the fullest. In the 

process of seeing the world, I contemplate why 

others are traveling. Is that couple on vacation? 

Why are those parents bringing their child to 

Las Vegas? Why do that businessmen act like 

he is better than me as he reads the Wall Street 

Journal? 

Everyone has their life and seeing parts of 

strangers’ lives as he or she travel, wondering, 

makes me question if I am missing out on 

something. Travel is what I love, but it is also a 

way for me to escape. I run to the airport when 

I need to clear my head of all the chaos. I run to 

the airport when I break up with a lover. I run to 

the airport when I am bored, happy, sad; I run to 

the airport, period. I frequently end up in places 

I never considered. Whether it be Hawaii on a 

written by 

JENNIFER SZYMANKOWSKI 

whim, small town Indiana because I was bored, 

New York because my friends and I all realized 

we have the same off days. London because 

a friend ended up there last minute or Buenos 

Aires because it is finally the weekend with no 

plans and I have always wanted to go to Fuerza 

Bruta. The list of excuses for to anywhere and 

everywhere with little to no notice is endless. 

Staring out the window this particular evening, 

I wonder if how I live my life is normal. I ponder 

this thought as I see thousands of people 

traveling with friends or family or solo traveling 

for business with their family waiting for them 

at home. I have traveled the world, but more 

often than not, it is by myself. Am I supposed 

to be traveling with at least one other person 

because that is what is normal? What does that 

even mean? I tried dating a German man once, 

and after knowing each other for less than ten 

days, we had our whole life of travels planned 

out, but he walked out on me while in Berlin 

after knowing each other for a total of 19 days. 

Hmm…..maybe normal, whatever that is, isn’t 

for me. I know there are other single females 

such as myself who travel the world, but we are 

a diamond in the rough. 

Well, until I figure out the meaning of my life, I 

will continue to stare out the window of the crj- 

700 as I have made yet another spontaneous 

decision not to go home, but to fly to Ohio to 

see a good friend of mine. 

Happiness is key, and travel makes me happy. 

It is where I belong regardless of how everyone 

else in the world chooses to live his or her life; 

in the sky, planning or not, for that matter, my 

next solo trip. 

MY FIRST ADVENTURE IN 

THE PHILIPPINES 

My first ever adventure began when my 

girlfriend thought of something crazy. An 

idea just occurred to her to go south of Cebu. 

That time was around 5 in the morning. She 

texted me if I was free. For no reason I just 

replied “yep, all free” 

She then she told me about her itinerary for 

the day. First, was to go swimming with the 

Butanding (whale sharks) at Oslob, Cebu. 

Next was to go waterfalls hopping nearby. 

From that moment on, I was beginning to see 

more of what nature has to offer. It was an 

overwhelming experience, and from then on 

I promised myself to never stop wandering. 

It was the start of the first of the many 

adventures to come. 

Most of my travels are based in the Philippines 

since I was still a student back then. One of 

the places I conquered was Dumaguete City. 

To say that it is nice place is a massive 

understatement. Dumaguete City has a lot to 

offer, from the tranquil, laid back environment 

and rich history, to the friendly people as well 

as the cheap yet delicious food. 

They are also rich in marine life. One 

beautiful place filled with this is Apo Island. 

written by 

NIÑA CHRISTINE A. PANEBIO 

I had the opportunity to visit Apo Island with 

my partner. Personally, that was the best 

experience I had so far. There were turtles of 

all sizes everywhere, corals are rich, vibrant, 

and very well protected. You just had to swim 

a few minutes from the shore, and you’d be 

swimming with amazing sea turtles! 

From Dumagute, I did not miss a chance of 

visiting the Island of Siquijor. At first, I was 

quit reluctant to go there because of the 

many stories my folks used to tell. You see 

Siquijor, according to old folks was a place 

where people practiced witchcraft, but I went 

anyway. I couldn’t be happier. 

We visited Salagdoong beach, a famous 

beach for cliff diving. There are three 

different levels, each level is quite high. In my 

case I decided to just indulge myself with the 

view. The beach was blessed with white sand 

beaches and clear water. I swam for hours not 

minding the heat of the sun while waiting for 

my friends to finish cliff diving. 

When they were done, I remembered I 

smirked at them for having bruises all over 

their body because of the impact of the water 

from the jumping. But later on, I realized I 

should have gone with them as well, I can 

only imagine the feeling of what it was like to 

fall and plunge into the blue waters, and tell 

stories of how you overcame your fear and 

the bruises that came with it. 

Man, I would be proud to show those bruises, 

for they tell a story, an experience one can 

never take away from you. 

Our day took us to Cantabon cave, wherein 

we walked for almost 2 hours. My friend and 

I were the ones always behind because we 

were taking our time, taking it all in. 

The day was finished with a trip to the 

infamous Balete tree, which in local tradition 

is a haunted tree. We had to lower our voices 

down since that tree was believed to be 

enchanted. 

Being able to travel is a luxury, not anyone 

can do it even if they wanted to. I say I 

am well blessed to have witnessed these 

beautiful places. I only hope for the best that 

these places will not be abandoned. So that 

other people can explore and love them as I 

have loved every place I have been to. 


MY UNEXPECTED 

CULINARY TRIP AROUND 

THE UK. 

written by 

MODESTA SOEKOWURIATMIRA 

from Brolloli and Friends 

www.broccoliandfriends.wordpress.com 

Finding the traditional food in the U.K. from a 

person that used to know little about British 

cuisine 

What is the famous food from Indonesia? Most 

Indonesians would answer “Nasi Goreng” (fried 

rice). What about Taiwan? Beef noodle or stinky 

tofu (a fermented tofu which has an unpleasant 

smell). Singapore? Most would say “Laksa” (a 

spicy noodle soup that is a combination Chinese 

and Malay cuisine). The U.S.A.? Burgers. Italy? 

Pizza, Pasta. The same question came across 

to my mind before my two weeks vacation in 

the U.K and would be my first trip visiting the 

country. 

What is the 

most famous 

food in the U.K.? 

To be frank. 

Initially, I could 

only think of fish 

& chips. 

For an introduction, I am from Surabaya, Indonesia 

and currently living in Taipei. In this trip, I would be 

accompanied by my Taiwanese friend. 

Both of us knew less about British food, a bit 

skeptical about the taste and had not done any 

British cuisine research before this trip. 

Here is our British food list other than fish & chips. 

LA PAIN QUOTIDIEN IN COVENT 

GARDEN, LONDON 

Baked scone, clotted cream, and soft-boiled eggs 

from Le Pain Quotidien at 48-49, Covent Garden, 

The Market, Covent Garden Piazza, Henrietta St., 

London WC2 8RF, UK. I would give it five a star 

rating because the scones were good. I have never 

had a scone as good as that one. My friend was 

happy with the clotted cream. The eggs were good 

too. 

CAFE ZIQUE IN GLASGOW, 

SCOTLAND 

The large Shetland mussels, and a full 

breakfast menu that had a black pudding 

(it is made from pork fat, suet, onions, 

oatmeal, animal blood, generally pork. 

A traditional food from England and 

Ireland), baked beans, bacon, eggs 

and sausages, from Cafe Zique at 66 

Hyndland St., Glasgow G11 5PT, UK. 

I liked the mussels, enough so that I 

would give the mussels another 5-star 

rating. The breakfast would get an 

equally impressive 4-star rating. The 

scrambled egg was too mushy; I would 

give Cafe Zique an overall rating would 

be 4.5 stars. 

SKIFF INN IN SWALWELL, 

ENGLAND 

Mussels in Mariniere (shallots, garlic, 

cream, and white wine) sauce, and 

homemade steak and kidney pie with 

shortcrust pastry menu from Skiff Inn 

restaurant at Clasper Way, Swalwell, 

NE16 3BE, UK. 

I enjoyed the homemade pie; the beef 

gravy was excellent, I gave it another five 

stars. The mussels were not too bad, but 

I did prefer the ones we got in Glasgow. 

The rating for both dishes would be 4.5 

stars. 

LOXLEYS IN STRATFORD- 

UPON-AVON, ENGLAND 

A beef roast rib with Yorkshire pudding 

is a traditional British meal, finished off 

with a rum & raisin crème Brulee for the 

dessert. 

All this came from Loxleys at 3 Sheep St., 

Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 6EF, UK. 

Yorkshire pudding just a batter (eggs, 

flour and milk (if you want the real deal)). 

We were satisfied with the food. I would 

give five stars. My favorite dish so far. 

You can tell, I like the food here in the UK. 

THE LEGENDARY SAVOY HOTEL 

IN LONDON, ENGLAND 

The last stop on our culinary trip was 

an afternoon tea experience from The 

Savoy Thames Foyer (part of The Savoy 

Hotel) at Strand, London WC2R 0EZ, UK. 

What an experience to have afternoon 

tea in that special place was a nice choice 

although the bread and cakes were just 

okay. I would give it four stars rating. 

We didn’t intentionally make a plan to 

complete a culinary trip or list down what 

we are going to have. 

However, in the end of our vacation, we 

could have a list full of traditional British 

food that we had no anticipation of 

eating. We enjoyed the traditional food, 

broadening, and changed our view about 

British food. 

After all, British food was not that bad. 


AUSTRALIA HAS TICKED 

OFF MANY THINGS ON MY 

BUCKET LIST. 

Since this is my 

first contribution 

with any travel 

writer. I am 

going to share with 

you something that 

means so much 

to me that no one 

even knows 

A real honour for us here at Total Travel TAG! 

My 2016 has never been better, 

especially given this opportunity to 

share my experience with you. Let 

me start by introducing myself; I am Junee 

Aguelo, the voice behind the blog Cebu 

Travel Junkie, from the tropical country of 

the Philippines. I was exploring Australia 

when Look at our world noticed my feed 

and popped the great news to me on 

Instagram. 

Traveling to the Land Down Under was not 

like any trips you guys have; coming there 

was purely for business, as I was sent by 

the company, and exploring the continent 

was just a side dish. 

I was excited for the next big step of my 

life and at the same time scared. Since it 

will be my first time to be away from my 

family for an extended period of time; first 

time riding a plane, solo; first time to be 

in a foreign country; most especially, first 

time as a solo traveler. 

It is true what they say, leaving your 

comfort zone will take much courage, and 

it was not until the night before my flight 

that I packed my things. I admit I was a 

bit scared to get on the plane, but, having 

traveled since I was just a toddler and being 

on the aircraft was like catching up with my 

long lost buddy. 

Before coming to Australia, I had my 

expectations about the country, in fact, 

I even researched the best places to visit, 

and I was disappointed when the results 

were mostly pubs and buildings. However, 

when I got there and during my stay, 

Sydney, actually made a mark in my heart; 

from the people down to the buildings; and 

she will forever hold a special place in it. 

written by 

JUNEESISA AGUELO 

from Cebu Travel Junkie 

www.cebutraveljunkie.wordpress.com 

Sydney helped me realized my dream of 

living in a safe neighborhood, which I have 

only seen on my favorite TV series. She 

was the first one to take me on a ride via 

train as well as the first one to take me on 

a sky ride via the cable car in Taronga Zoo, 

and it was a great experience. 

The buildings, which I hated, it is even more 

beautiful when they outshine the stars at 

night. The Opera House, their famous 

landmark, I realized that it is roof reflects 

the color of the horizon; white or bright 

yellow when it is midday; and orange-red 

when it is almost sundown. 

What amazed me were the people. Despite 

the constant warning of my cousin to 

beware of them; they made me believe in 

humanity again. I could not believe how 

gentle and kind they were. There was a 

time in Central Station where I got lost 

while looking for the platform going to 

the airport. I had with me my luggage, and 

someone offered to carry it going up the 

stairs, and it was not just a 10 step stairs. 

This happened not only once, but it also 

happened while I was on the way out of 

the lodge that I was staying. 

What made this so special is that I have 

crossed off many items from my bucket 

list just in a single trip. As a self-confessed 

wanderlust, it has been my life’s dream to 

travel the whole world no matter how long 

it will take. 

Australia just set the bar high. I do not 

think I can ever look at the world the same 

way again. 

LIVING AND BREATHING 

THE PARISIAN LIFESTYLE. 

I know I’m the different one on the metro 

tonight. 

My hair is up. My dress is long and it’s 

only 6:30pm. Dinner doesn’t even start until 

7:30. 

Although no one says anything, I know I 

am the one getting glanced at, the one that 

people tell stories about when they get off 

-- “there was this girl all dressed up, I wonder 

where she is going.” 

But I get off, eventually, and stumble up 

escalators and crowded stairwells until finally 

I see the sky. And with the sky, the facade of 

the Palais Garnier comes into view. 

I try to keep calm. I am Parisian now, these 

things are normal. Going to the ballet on a 

Tuesday night -- not typical, but not atypical 

here. I greet my friends, kisses on cheeks and 

grins on faces. Let’s ask that lady to take our 

picture, my grandmother will want to see this. 

The bell sounds, the lights dim. People 

crowded on marble steps, heels clicking and 

stumbling upstairs -- higher, higher, until I 

reach the fourth floor and the attendant 

points me to a seat that might be wide 

enough for a four-year-old but certainly isn’t 

written by 

SARAH KENNEDY 

from Tales and Times of a Traveling Twenty 

www.talesandtimesofatravelingtwenty.com 

large enough for me. I squeeze in, hearing at 

least three different languages swirling in the 

air around me. 

“Sarah, tu es 

contente?” I 

respond from 

the bottom of 

my heart, “Oui. 

Bien sûr. Je suis 

contente.” 

The music starts. The dancers appear. And the 

world slips away. 

When it all ends, there’s nothing to be said. The 

words do not seem right, because nothing in 

either French or English could describe what 

it is like to be a part of that audience while 

knowing that this is my country now, 

that I am not only there for a day or two 

squeezing every moment into a 24 hour 

day. That I’m there learning and living 

and throwing myself off the metaphorical 

fourth-floor balcony, doing things I’m not 

comfortable doing and speaking words that 

feel funny in my mouth without knowing 

the result. Taking the opportunity to watch 

something so incredibly beautiful. 

Moreover, I walk down the marble steps, 

lingering until the crowd has left and all that 

remains are the couples waltzing on the 

steps to a cheesy recording playing from an 

old stereo. Moreover, I twirl a little, swaying 

my dress that feels like magic to the notes. 

Moreover, when a friend asks “Sarah, tu es 

contente?” I respond from the bottom of my 

heart, “Oui. Bien sûr. Je suis contente.” 

Studying Abroad in Paris, France has been 

one of the most rewarding experiences of my 

life, and I cannot recommend the experience 

of a semester abroad enough. The Palais 

Garner (metro stop Opèra) in Paris hosts 

the national ballet of France as well as ballet 

and opera groups from all of over the world. 

Tickets (and gift cards!) are not expensive and 

can be purchased from their website. 


Was I crazy to not 

refund my ticket to 

Cairo and opt for 

a different destination that 

had less political fragility? In 

December of 2011, everyone, 

Egyptians and travelers to 

Egypt, all expressed the same 

sentiment: if you played it 

smart around Tahrir Square on 

Fridays, you should be okay. 

Traveling on the heels of Arab 

Spring brought me to sites like Couchsurfing 

to gauge the atmosphere. 

Stay alert and mindful. This advice was 

already a mantra of mine. As a woman who 

traveled alone, I had already developed a 

sixth sense for detecting danger. 

I barely planned my 3 ½ weeks. The agenda 

was lax. I hoped to stay with a local, 

preferably a woman, but no women were 

available. Instead, I arranged to couch surf 

with an English teacher from the UK. I would 

figure out my itinerary once I arrived. I ache 

for nature: caves, mountains, lakes, deserts. 

I assumed three days in Cairo would suffice. 

An “ambassador” couch surfer, deemed 

for his dedication to the community’s 

positive values, offered a ride to my host’s 

apartment, the location would be revealed 

once I phoned. 

Before taking off, the ambassador messaged 

me. Change of plans. He was stuck working 

the parliamentary elections and would be 

sending somebody else instead. My flight 

delayed provided me with extra time to vet 

this new person. I did not really know the 

ambassador, which left me a little hesitant 

about this sudden change of plans. I cursed 

myself for not taking the time to prep. The 

Institute d’Egypte had burned down just 

five days earlier inciting my family to beg 

for me to cancel my trip. However, I am 

cheap and stubborn. 

A SERIES OF 

UNFORTUNATE 

EVENTS LED TO THE 

BEST TIME EVER! 

my sister. It is the Egyptian way.” So I stayed. 

A series of unfortunate events and optimism 

led to the most adventurous three weeks. I 

lived with Mostafa’s family, befriended his 

best friends, and together we road-tripped 

across Egypt, celebrating the new year by 

the Red Sea, and hiking the desert. “You have 

given me a chance to explore my country,” he 

said over a cup of tea. 

Chaos was still ravaging the country, but 

for us, we had found a way to suspend our 

distrust in the unknown. With open hearts, 

we allowed a series of mishaps to form a 

friendship that still lasts today. 

written by 

CRYSTAL VAGNIER 

from Crystal Takes Care 

www.crystaltakescare.com 

“I can not just abandon you. 

I am now responsible for 

you. You’re my sister. It’s the 

Egyptian way” 

Mostafa on Crystal whilst getting in trying to get in touch with the CouchSurfer in Cairo. 

Courtesy of Beata Jarek 

Hanging Houses, Villajoyosa, Spain 

Mostafa messaged. He was a medical 

student, in his late 20’s, and an amateur 

photographer. Mostafa said I could pick 

him out from his fedora. I told Mostafa he 

could pick me out quickly from my bright 

purple pants. 

Moreover, there he was in his fedora hat 

and a big smile. He stood out from the rest, 

a snazzy pizzazz that served to comfort 

me. “I have to say,” he said, “thank you for 

coming. Everybody is scared to travel to 

Egypt right now. They see all crazy things 

on the news. So wow, it makes me happy 

to see some brave souls.” “Do you mean 

it is brave to trust you, a stranger, for a 

ride?” I laughed. In his neon blue sedan, he 

offered me a selection of juices and snacks, 

“I did not know which flavor you liked,” he 

said, “so I got all three.” 

We killed time at the Sun City Mall, close 

to the airport, as I tried, without success, 

to get in touch with my host. My lodging 

plans were now a bust. Instead of driving 

to a hostel, Mostafa insisted I return to 

his home where his family just welcomed 

a litter of kittens. “I can not just abandon 

you. I am now responsible for you. You are 


Traveling became a huge part of 

my life: saving for it, planning 

trips, living the nomad life and 

even writing about it. Everything now 

is related to a map and a plane ticket. 

The more I traveled, the more I started 

realising what I liked the most about the 

places I visited. 

Somehow I have always ended up taking 

pictures at some colourful alley covered 

with people´s paintings. Moreover, no 

matter how many places I visit, that 

is one of the things that always keeps 

me wondering on the streets for hours. 

Every place is different, now I am writing 

about the ones that I visited and fell in 

love with. 

HOW TRAVELLING 

HAS GIVEN ME A 

PASSION FOR ART 

written by 

PETU GUTIERREZ 

from Eso Que No Todos Ven 

www.esoquenotodosven-com.over-blog.com 

BELFAST 

To me, nothing screams the word 

“embellished” more than Northern 

Irelands capital city. Working class, 

industrial, and very affected by civil 

war not that many years ago, Belfast 

resurfaces between the ashes, especially 

through music, literature, art and every 

culture expression you can imagine. 

Graffiti is all over Belfast, but mainly in 

the area between The City Hall and the 

Cathedral. Here you will find yourself 

walking around charming little alleys and 

even parking lots full of art. 

MIAMI 

While in Miami, I heard about a 

neighborhood called “Wynnwood,” I had 

to check it out. First of anything, because 

I was told that my beloved serigraphs 

master, Shepard Fairey painted some 

walls over there. Looking for some 

information about it, I found out that 

a man called Goldman create an open 

space, with free entrance during the day 

known as “The Wynnwood Walls” where 

some of the world most famous graffiti 

experts participated. Beautiful place to 

visit, as so the whole neighborhood, full 

of design shops, studios, and galleries. 

From the graffiti 

in Belfast and 

Varnasi. Through 

to the incredible 

building art in 

Santiago de Chile. 

You can always 

admire world art! 

PRAGUE 

One of the most breathtaking places 

in East Europe, the gorgeous buildings, 

Charles Bridge and Prague Castle made 

me a fan of this city. In search of Urban 

Art here, I was sent to the John Lennon 

Wall. At first look, it may seem like just 

a wall, but when you hear about the 

meaning of the place, it is not. The wall 

was painted by fans of Lennon after his 

dead as a tribute. Authorities painted 

over the wall several times because it 

was considered a rebellion act at that 

moment. Every time they covered it, 

the following day new poems, songs 

and portraits appeared. Now THAT is an 

expression. 

SANTIAGO DE CHILE 

At the north side of the Mapocho river, 

not far from Santiago´s Downtown, 

is located “Bella Vista” district, what in 

English would be called something like 

“Beautiful Sights.” This was the place that 

I loved the most of all Santiago. It has nice 

bars and restaurants. The house of writer 

Pablo Neruda is here (La Chascona) and 

also the Metropolitan Park. Bella Vista´s 

walls are full of colour and art, and even 

mosaic art. 

VARANASI, INDIA 

Well, here graffiti gets an entirely new 

meaning, as they are not like the ones 

we are used to seeing. This Holy City is 

where most Hindus come to die or to 

be cremated and thrown into Ganges 

River, with the hope that Mother Ganga 

free them from reincarnation. So, given 

the spiritual sense of the place, It´s not 

weird that images painted on the wall 

are mostly referred to their gods and 

goddesses, or people who inspired them 

as Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, 

and Mother Teresa. 


THE MOST UNHELPFUL 

POLICE OFFICER EVER IN 

PRAGUE! 

written by 

CRISTINA CUTLER 

from Cold Pasta and Red Wine 

www.coldpastaandredwine.com 

“Chris,” I thought I heard my husband say from 

somewhere that was not in bed next to me. 

“Someone was in the apartment.” 

“Whose apartment?” I thought I was dreaming. 

“This one. Ours. Someone was in here.” By the 

time he got to “in here,” I was in the living room. 

“I do not think he got anything.” Mike looked 

around. “I think I scared him.” 

“He got my laptop case and my new camera.” I 

think I was screaming. “My new camera.” 

It was 3:00 am in the morning of our last day in 

Prague, and the day was not off to a great start. 

While we had been there more than two weeks, I 

still wasn’t comfortable and was looking forward 

to leaving. The rude awakening did not help. 

Mike thought he heard our apartment floors 

creak. Located in an ancient building in Old Town, 

the apartment had wood floors throughout. 

Of course, the floors and pipes tended to “talk” 

at times, but nothing had woken us before. 

At first, Mike thought the noise was someone 

walking around upstairs, but the start-and-stop 

movement made him realize someone was 

creeping around in our place. 

He glared at me. 

“Why you no 

chase him? 

He got up, tip-toed into the living room, flashed 

on the light, and saw the apartment door closing. 

By the time he got to the door and opened it, the 

hallway was empty and dark. That is when he 

called to me. 

As we dressed quickly, we tried to assess what 

was missing. Everything the guy took was mine— 

camera, laptop case, license, credit cards, cash, 

and a few irreplaceable personal items. 

Since our cell phones did not work in the Czech 

Republic, we could not call the owner or the 

police. One of us needed to walk the three blocks 

to the police station to report the incident. I knew 

where the station was in the maze of streets, 

so Mike watched me from the window as I took 

off. Upon my arrival, I rang the bell, and a leery 

policewoman admitted me to the dreary room. I 

told her I spoke English, and she motioned for me 

to wait. 

Two minutes later, a dour policeman appeared. 

I babbled that we had been robbed, that someone had broken 

in, that they took my camera, wallet, and more. 

He glared at me. “Why you no chase him?” I tried to explain, but 

my words were white noise to him. I handed him the owner’s 

card and asked him to call and tell Mira what happened. 

“Why? Already gone.” He pushed the card back at me. 

“Tomorrow. Translator. Come back.” He marched through the 

door. 

Deflated, I returned to the flat. I emailed Mira and hoped he 

saw the email when he woke up. 

He did. 

At 8:00, Mira arrived with an English-speaking policeman 

and crime lab technicians (CSI PRAGUE!) who took photos, 

got fingerprints, and gave us two pages of legal documents 

in Czech that told us our rights as crime victims. Because the 

officer did not understand English, Mira translated and said 

that the police probably wouldn’t find the man, and even if 

they did, they would not do much. 

“Here, court drags out a long time,” he said. “You might wait 

ten years, and you might win, but criminal only have to pay 

500 Czech crown. Too much work for too little.” He sighed. 

Mike sighed. I sighed. 

Still dazed from the violation, we flew over the red-roofed 

city the next morning. I looked down and wondered what the 

burglar was doing with the pieces of me he had taken. 

“Why? Already 

gone.” He pushed 

the card back at 

me. “Tomorrow. 

Translator. Come 

back.” He marched 

through the door. 

We couldnt get out of Prague quick enough 


9 DAYS AND 479KM ALONG 

THE MANALI-LEH HIGHWAY 

IN INDIA 

written by 

RAJ LODHIYA 

90kpm.. filming.. 

controlling our 

bikes with 

one hand, 

sometimes 

with no hands. 

The 479 kilometers long Manali- 

Leh highway is one of the most 

picturesque routes in the world to 

road trip on that attracts travelers and 

bikers all around the world. 

It traverses some of the highest 

motorable roads in the world and consists 

of five mountain passes, going as high 

as 5,100 meters above sea level and the 

total elevation gain is over 13,000 meters 

(4,000 meters more than the height of 

Mount Everest). 

Having seen all the breathtaking pictures 

of this route, road tripping here was on my 

bucket list for over a year. The July of 2016, 

I booked myself for a cycling/camping/ 

road trip on the Manali-Leh highway with 

an adventure tourism company. 

Hundreds, if not thousands of people do 

it on motorcycles every year, but very 

few individuals in the world do it on 

push-bikes losing thousands of calories 

which make it a truly rare experience. 

Being a 19-year old inexperienced cyclist. 

Naturally, the thought of going through it 

intimidated me. 

Reaching Manali with my bike, I met the 

people who were going with me. Including 

two mountain-bikers, employees of the 

company I went with, two videographers 

hired by the same company to film our 

trip for advertisement purposes, and a 

49-year old man from Sydney who was a 

client like me. 

Being weird and aloof, I did not get 

comfortable with any of these until the 

first night of our trip at our camp in Marhi. 

When the filmmakers offered me a smoke 

we got talking. I can neither confirm, nor 

deny if it was Himalayan cannabis that 

we smoked that night, and the nights to 

come. 

Om Namah Shivay! We ran out of our 

“stuff.” It was the 8th day of our 9-day 

tour when we reached Rumptse, the 

village where smoking was banned. This 

region being near India’s border, we came 

across army check points. At one of which 

we asked the soldiers if they had any 

cigarettes, they could spare. They said 

they do not smoke because then it gets 

harder for them to breathe in the harsh 

high altitude environment. 

We did not find anything up until later 

that night when one of the truck drivers 

that stopped in the village to spend the 

night gave us his only pack of tobacco 

joints. We could not thank him enough. 

Climbing was not particularly challenging 

for me, but it was very slow, and at times 

it felt like we had been climbing forever. 

Slowly making our way up to the high 

passes. Averaging just 6-7 kilometers per 

hour through thin air, with little oxygen 

took every last bit of my patience more 

than once. 

I was still faster than most of the other 

cyclists outside of our team (some solo, 

some with other adventure companies), 

the exception being an Austrian group 

of three, one of which was Jacob Zurl, an 

ultra-cyclist who holds the world record 

for cycling the distance of this same route 

in just 39 hours that he did in 2014. This 

time, he took it slow and did it in 8 days 

camping along the way and taking in the 

views. 

Of course, descending at as high as 90 

kilometers per hour and filming it (I had 

been helping the guys film) controlling 

our bikes with one, sometimes with no 

hands on the handlebar felt like pure 

adrenaline. The roads while descending 

all five passes except Tanglang La were 

broken down, and so it was like riding 

downhill off the road, sometimes through 

knee high glacier melted water streams. 

The shocks are not easy on the body, but 

we sure looked cool doing it. 


MEMORABLE 

FOOD 

WorLD 

FROM AROUND 

WE LOVE FOOD. MORE ACCURATELY. WE LOVE EATING FOOD. BUT THERE IS 

NOTHING QUITE LIKE SEEING WHAT FOOD YOU CAN FEAST YOUR TEETH INTO 

FROM AROUND THE WORLD. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, FEAST, AND SALIVATE 

TO YOUR HEARTS CONTENT ON THE LITTLE BEAUTIES YOU WONDERFUL PEOPLE 

HAVE SENT INTO US. 

WE VISITED THE TASTE FOOD TOURS. WHILST 

ON THE INDIAN FOOD TOUR. WE SAMPLED 

SOME EXCUISITE PANIPURI. JUST FEED ME THIS 

ALL DAY! 

TASTE OF THE OCEAN DOWN AT THE UMII 

JAPANESE RESTAURANTS JUST OUTSIDE 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 

SOME INCREDIBLE CHURROS DOWN IN ANDALUCIA. 

THESE CAN BE FOUND IN THE HISTORIC TOWN OF 

RONDA. 

OLD FERNVALE BAKERY, QLD, AUSTRALIA. MMMMM, 

MY FAVOURITE PIE PLACE. ESPECIALLY THIS PORK 

AND APPLE PIE. FEED MY BELLY! 

A VERY DELICIOUS TIGER LOAF WITH CHEESE AND 

BUTTER. JUST PULL APART GOOD! 

SOME DEVINE CHOCOLATE HEAVEN IN BRISBANE AT 

THE ALCHEMY RESTAURANT AND BAR IN THE HEART 

OF THE CBD. 

GREAT FISH AND CHIPS WITH CURRY SAUCE. A VERY 

NORTH OF ENGLAND. YOU CAN GET THIS AT 

YORKSHIRE FISHERIES IN BLACKPOOL 

CHRISTMAS 2016 IN SPAIN. YOU CAN TAKE THE LAD 

OUT OF ENGLAND, BUT YOU CANT TAE ENGLAND OUT 

OF THE LAD. TURKEY AND ALL THE TRIMMINGS. 

SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE FOOD YOU CAN EAT DOWN 

AT EAT STREET MARKET, BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA. GO 

HUNGRY, LEAVE IN A FOOD COMA! 

SOME DUTCH FRIES WITH SOME CURRIES MAYO. OMG, 

YOU HAVE TO GET YOURSELF SOME IF YOU FIND 

YOURSELF IN AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS. 


Q A 

& 

So what better place to start out 

Q&A segment, than with the 

creators of the magazine. Look at 

our World started their travels only 

back in September of 2014. 

What is even more amazing, is that 

the whole idea of blogging was 

only meant to be a diary to keep 

friends and family up to speed with 

their travel antics. 

So, with that, the Look at our 

World website was born, and the 

NomadicBrits social media handle 

was created. 

With ZERO social media experience, 

well, in fact ZERO experience in 

writing. The following just grew 

and grew. It was in December of 

2014 those numbers had reached 

5,000. 

It was then over the course of the 

first 12 months that figure grew to 

over 50,000! Such an incredible 

achievement from 2 wannabe 

travelers, wanting the world. 

Q. 

SO WHAT MADE 

YOU COME UP 

WITH THE NAME 

LOOK AT OUR 

WORLD? 

I was asleep one morning. Tina 

woke me up saying. 

“I have a name for the website. 

What do you think of Look at our 

World”. 

I knew straight away that it was the 

one for us. So it was that morning, 

the domain was purchased, and 

the hard work to build the website 

began. 

Q. 

SO HOW LONG 

DID IT TAKE TO 

CREATE THE 

WEBSITE YOU HAVE 

NOW? 

Well, the website you see now is 

still an ever-evolving site. 

However, generally, from nothing, 

to the first workings of the site. 

You are probably looking at 

around 1,000 hours of creation. 

That includes the image creation. 

Everything you see has been 

created ourselves. 

Q. 

REGARDING 

YOUR TRAVELS 

ITSELF. WHO IS 

IT THAT HAS THE 

FINAL SAY ON WHERE 

YOU BOTH HEAD OFF TO? 

We are a great pair. We both have 

the same passions on places to 

go. We always knew we would 

be heading over to Australia for a 

large part, as Lees mum and sister 

(and now niece) live over there. 

However, regarding where we both 

brought places to the table, the 

other had not thought of. It was 

good, as we both saw things we 

would not have if we had traveled 

alone. 

Q. 

WITH 

LOOK AT OUR 

WORLD 

SO WHAT MADE 

YOU GO AROUND 

THE WAY YOU 

DID? 

Well, neither of us are people that 

enjoy the cold. Hey, we have spent 

our whole lives experiencing the 

cold that England can bring at 

times. 

Also, we quite liked the idea of 

following the sun around the 

world. 

So we headed to the UK first, 

before going over to Holland, 

THE STATS 

12,965 likers 

16,350 followers 

Germany, and then a monster 12- 

hour drive to Paris for Valentines. 

That was Lees idea, and something 

Tina did not know anything about. 

WERE THERE 

ANY HAIRY 

MOMENTS ON 

YOUR TRAVELS 

AROUND EUROPE? 

Ok, so we were in a part of Germany 

(i cannot remember the name of 

where). We were due to be driving 

to Brussels 48 hours later to our 

next CouchSurfing host. 

That was until we got a message 

from him saying, sorry I will not be 

here. I need to be in Poland, it is 

the children’s half term. However, 

my flatmate will be around. 

With that, we looked at each other. 

It was in that instant; we decided 

that we would look to see if we can 

extend our stay where we were. 

Then, ask our CouchSurfer in Paris 

if we can arrive a day earlier. 

521 followers 

NomadicBrits 

93 subscribers 

So thats the Look at our World social media statistics. Thats a total 

following of 51,003 followers in 15 months, all from having ZERO social 

media knowledge 

Q. 

22,118 followers 

However, it was a comment on 

Facebook Lee had made, that gave 

us the perfect outcome. 

We had stayed with a lovely couple 

in Zornheim, Germany. After a 

week staying with them, they then 

asked us if we wanted to stay with 

them again for two nights. 

All for free using CouchSurfing. I 

must admit, it did mean that Lee 

got to go and see a Mainz football 

match. 

Q. 

SO IT LOOKS LIKE 

YOU HAVE MADE 

SOME FRIENDS 

FOR LIFE IN 

ZORNHEIM. 

You bet we have. 

We have already planned to see 

them later this month (February 

2017) for ten days. 

We even got a German advent 

calendar from them last Christmas 

delivered over to us. 

We will be sure to take an English 

package of goodies that’s for sure. 

Q. 

SO HOW DID YOU 

MANAGE TO KEEP 

UP WITH THE 

SOCIAL MEDIA 

WHILE AWAY? 

With great difficulty. In both Holland 

and Germany we could only use our 

phones when we had Wifi. Which was 

even harder, when one of the German 

hosts did not have Wifi. 

It did mean, though, that we did not 

upload as often as we would have 

liked. However, when we got to 

France, we could use our phones for 

free (because of the phone plans we 

have in England). 

This meant, Facebook, Twitter, and 

Instagram updates from our past few 

days in Germany. 

When we got to Australia, it was great. 

We were able to use our phones there 

as well. So for the rest of our travels 

around, we had no issues with not 

having data on our phones. 

Which was great when we needed 

Apple Music, or podcasts to keep 

us busy on our 5,000km trip from 

Ipswich, QLD through to Port Douglas, 

and back again in 2 weeks! 

Q. 

Yep! 

5,000KM IN 2 

WEEKS! THAT IS 

SOME SERIOUS 

MILEAGE COVERED! 

It is like driving from Malaga, Spain 

straight through to Helsinki, Finland. 

It was mind numbing at times. When 

Lee was driving, as Tina was not 

insured on the hire car. It was no less 

than 8 hours driving. We even had a 

12 hour driving day once. 

Not fun. 

Q. 

I BET YOU SAW 

SOME INCREDIBLE 

THINGS, THOUGH! 

Oh, that we did. We Jet Boated 

around Sydney Harbour, held a Koala, 

drank some home brewed lager in a 

brewery, and went on a trike tour. 

That’s just to name a few of the 

places we went. All without paying a 

penny. That’s right, it was gratis, free, 

no money changed hands. We must 

have had over $10,000USD worth of 

free places to stay, things to eat, and 

great things to do. 

Q. 

OVER $10,000USD 

WORTH OF FREE 

THINGS? HOW ON 

EARTH!! 

You will hear a lot of bloggers talk 

about numbers. Yes, it helps to have 

numbers. Because without the sort of 

figures we had at the time. Businesses 

will not even entertain you. 

However, with a stunning website 

that Lee designed, and built. Along 

with Tina’s excellent marketing skills. 

We contacted places, in exchange for 

a write-up on our site. 

We can’t let you know all our secrets. 

However, let us say we had a large 

amount of success. 

Q. 

SO ARE YOU GOING 

TO BE SHARING 

THIS KNOWLEDGE 

WITH EVERYONE? 

The long, and short answer is YES. 

However, we have yet to start to 

figure out how we will do this. We 

have a few ways of doing this. 

However, we are more than likely 

going to be creating a membership. 

This membership will be very well 

priced against what you potentially 

will be able to save with obtaining 

things in return for exposure. 

Q. 

ALL SOUNDS 

VERY PROMISING 

INDEED, NOT ONLY 

FOR YOU BUT ALSO 

FOR EVERYONE READING 

THIS. SO WHAT’S NEXT FOR 

YOU GUYS? 

We are very busy with one thing or 

another. 

We have a wedding to plan for, the 

next issue of the magazine, and some 

more very exciting things coming very 

soon. We cannot share with you just 

yet. However, let us say, we cannot 

wait to share it with you when we can. 

Well, thank you for your time today. 

If you want to hear more about 

how you too can get increase your 

following like Look at our World have. 

As well as finding out the tricks that 

saved them over $10,000USD on free 

food, things to do, and place to stay. 


Courtesy of Michael Leahy 

There are a lot of great spots to watch the sun set. 

But Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy is truly hard to 

top! 


A LITTLE BIT OF 

FREEDOM: HOW TO 

DRIVE IN AMERICA 

written by 

MARY SAVCHENKOVA 

from She loves everything and nothing at all 

www.marrysavblog.com 

America is not just a country for the drivers; it is the 

country in which it can be tough to reach all the hidden 

depths of the continent’s natural beauties without a 

car. By the age of 16, almost every schoolchild collects 

a small amount of money to buy an old car to be 

proudly driving it to school and parties. Moreover, 

after that what can be told about adults. 

While preparing for the trip, a huge number of online 

resources about the peculiarities of driving behaviour 

on US roads were examined. Here are the three most 

important rules: 

- Almost in all states (except New York and 

Pennsylvania) it is possible to turn right on a red light 

if there are no restricting signs and no interference for 

the other drivers. 

- If there is a yellow school bus with flashing lights on 

the road, then it is necessary to stop and wait until the 

lights are off. 

-There are a lot of so-called ‘All Ways’ crossroads 

where the rule of the right-hand does not work. 

Usually, there is a ‘Stop’ sign in front so all must 

stop first and then the first one who arrived at the 

intersection can cross it. 

In general, all the drivers are polite and friendly, but 

the secret of this discipline is because of the rather 

rigid penalties system. Apart from the payment of the 

rather significant penalty. Your insurance will also be 

notified about the violation and from that moment, 

for this person, the payment for the insurance will be 

doubled over the next three years. Moreover, so on. 

One of the most watched for violations are speeding, 

and talking on the phone, in the repair working area 

and school zones. Penalties are twice as high here, 

and a record of the violation is stored for five years. 

5 YEARS !! 

So, except for the standard traffic rules, such as 

fastening your seat belts and not breaking the 

speed limit, it is necessary to remember some more 

peculiarities in order not to blush in front of the local 

sheriff. 

No parking in places for disabled people, near 

the fire hydrants, in the places with the yellow 

stripe on the pavement, and locations for 

motorcyclists. These are quite strict rules, and 

the car can be easily towed to the penalty 

parking. 

This pleasure will cost at least $500. At the same 

time when parking in permitted locations do 

not forget to pay in individual machines. Most 

importantly is to put a check on the dashboard 

near the windshield of the car. If the check is 

not there, but in your pocket, you still will be 

welcomed with a fine. 

For those who like alcohol, the allowable 

rate is about one bottle of beer or a glass 

of wine. Although it is still not worth your 

safety. Fines for drunk driving starts at $6000. 

Transportation of open alcoholic beverages in 

the passenger compartment and even in the 

trunk is strictly forbidden - penalty even when 

the driver is sober. 

Police also monitor highways. Many roads 

have special lanes for more rapid driving in a 

traffic jam. There is HOV lane which you can 

use when there are more that two people in 

the car, sometimes often referred to like the car 

pool lane. There are also TOLL lanes which are a 

paid road. The number of passengers does not 

matter if you travel in this lane. 

In America, police officers are not sitting in the 

bushes and waiting for the victim. They move in 

the stream and monitor the situation. If there is 

a police car behind you then there is no reason 

to panic - perhaps they just check the car 

number. If there are then flashing lights or siren, 

then you should stop at the next available safe 

point. There is no need to run joyfully towards 

them. According to the rules, it is necessary 

to stay in the car, do not make any sudden 

movements and keep your hands visible all the 

time. Bribes in America will not work because 

everything is documented by the video camera 

on the police car windshield. 

Most interesting is that during the whole 

trip almost nothing of this was encountered 

by us. Just a couple of times we came across 

this strange ‘All roads’ intersection and to be 

honest, I did not manage to understand how 

they determine who should go first. Every time 

it was turning into a show of unprecedented 

courage and faith that they see me and won’t 

drive directly into the car. 

However, the overall driving experience was 

very pleasant. Drivers are phlegmatic enough 

not to get nervous or angry if someone behaves 

stupidly on the road. A couple of times I saw the 

guys saying thanks with the help of emergency 

lights although here it is not common. Usually, 

they thank with the hand. 

Highways are taken care of. They are special 

reflective markings on the road that help a lot 

when driving at dusk and night. Also, they are 

convex, so when leaving the road, you will be 

shaken to death causing the driver to wake up. 

In the US large cars are a common choice for 

the Americans, you will hardly find the small 

two-door cars at the rental office. However, it 

is an advantage. From the personal experience 

for the driver, it is much easier to travel long 

distances in a crossover car rather than in an 

average sedan. 

You will face no problems with gasoline either. 

There are three types of fuel - 87, 89 and 91. For 

the rent cars, 87 will be okay unless something 

is specifically marked. So for example for $20 

Nissan Rogue could easily drive for 400-500 

miles. 

Gas stations are located on the highway about 

every hour and even more often. The process 

itself is not hard- put the gasoline gun into the 

car, you go to the cashier, and you give a certain 

amount, go back and choose the required type 

of fuel. It is possible to pay by card as well, but 

I have not tried. Plus there is a $1 charge for the 

transaction. 

In general, it is easy and inexpensive to rent a car 

there. Of course better to do that in advance in 

a few months before the trip. I booked through 

a regular site www.rentalcars.com at the Alamo 

operator. Crossover Nissan Rogue 2016 (yes 

completely brand new) cost about $380 for 

seven days. You will hit with all kinds of add-on 

insurance. Importantly no additional fees were 

charged meaning that the amount stated at the 

end of booking did not change. Do not forget 

that some distributors require a card deposit of 

$200-300. 

If you do not want to stand in long lines at the 

rental place. You are sure that you will take the 

car, it is possible to confirm the reservations in 

advance. You just go directly to the cars. In the 

parking lot, cars are usually arranged according 

to the body type. Find the right one, and you 

can choose any of the proposed 10-15 cars. At 

the exit, there is a special booth. Here you have 

to show your reservation, driver’s license, and 

a valid credit card. Typically rent offices are not 

located at the airport, but all of them provide a 

free shuttle bus to and from the airport. 

Well, that is probably all. All the most important 

points are highlighted. In general, my father 

likes to say that the car is some level of freedom. 

No more so than on this continent. When in 

front of you, there, dissolving into the horizon 

road, your favourite music is playing. Hands on 

the wheel, you can feel the soft vibration of the 

motor engine, the freedom is incredible! 


A JOURNEY TO 

GREEK HOSPITALITY 

written by 

JESSICA NARDI 

from Pure Organic World 

www.pureorganicworld.com 

IT HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT SUMMER, BUT LIKE 

ALL GOOD THINGS, IT MUST SADLY COME TO AN 

END. 

So while I sit back to reflect on all of the amazing 

memories, there is one in specific that tops them 

all. 

It was just another day exploring Crete with my 

two cousins, Brandy and Jon, who came to visit my 

husband, Dan, and I in Greece. 

During their visit, we sunbathed on numerous 

beaches, dove off 25-foot cliffs into the sea, and 

strolled along the ancient alleyways that make 

up the Old Venetian Harbour in Chania. Towards 

the end of their vacation, they both wanted to 

do something different than the typical tourist 

stuff – which led us to experience something 

unforgettable. 

OUR GOAL WAS TO VISIT THE CAVE 

OF ZEUS. 

There are two caves of Zeus: one where Zeus was 

born, and another where he grew up. However, 

we did not realise that until after, we had driven 

headstrong into a tangled mess of unpaved, and 

unmapped roads; while managing to get lost with 

no guarantee we would be able to make it out of 

this mountain labyrinth (and for what seemed to 

be hours on end). 

HOLD ON, I’M GETTING INTO THE 

THICK OF IT… LET’S BACK UP… 

Before we left the house, we packed up three maps, 

several large water bottles, and a few nutrition 

bars. With spotty wifi on our cell phones, we drove 

off sometime around mid morning from Chania. 

Heading straight to the national road (Crete’s 

largest, longest road that resembles a highway – 

connecting all of the major cities on the island) 

towards Rythmeno. 

Following three different maps (not counting our 

“trusty” Google maps because the internet was so 

scarce), we were on our way to see Zeus’ cave! 

We exited the national road just before Rythmeno 

and continued on a secondary road (which is just 

another name for an old, uneven paved road on 

Crete). 

WE DROVE FOR WHAT SEEMED TO BE SEVERAL 

HOURS UP A SWITCH BACK MOUNTAIN ROAD 

IN A SMALL, UNTRUSTWORTHY 4 CYLINDER 

MANUAL EURO CAR 

While passing sheep flocks and goat herds as 

they grazed the hard, clay soiled terrain. We were 

headed to the greater area of where the cave was 

supposed to be… 

Trying to find these caves 

with ZERO internet. 

Google Maps not working 

was a nightmare!! 

Following this 

coach. Who knew 

where we would 

be heading. Hell. 

Who knew where 

we were anyway! 

…but once we made a right turn 

towards what seemed to be the 

correct path, we knew we had taken 

a very wrong detour when the road 

turned to dust. Literally. 

We could not turn around until we 

found enough space for a 10 point 

turn – kid you not. 

The roads here are extremely narrow 

with small rocks to big boulders that 

are scattered everywhere. One flat 

tire and we would be screwed. I 

mean, I know all three of us could 

handle changing a flat, but trying 

to drive out of here on a spare 

tire would be suicide – for the car 

anyway. 

WE WERE LOST. THERE 

WERE NO SIGNS. NO 

CIVILISATION. NO 

INTERNET CONNECTION. 

WE HAD NO IDEA WHERE 

WE WERE. HELL! ALL 

THREE MAPS DIDN’T 

KNOW WHERE WE WERE, 

EITHER. 

We were tired, hot (no AC in the 

car and it was at least 80 degrees), 

famished and exhausted. All we 

wanted to do was reach this damn 

cave. Come on Zeus! Help us out 

here! 

Then, off in the distance, we saw a 

shuttle bus driving. Alas! Civilization! We 

decided the best thing to do would be to 

follow it. Maybe it was going to the cave, 

too! We backtracked our route and drove 

up another rocky hill where we found the 

shuttle bus parked on the side of the 

road with a church at the top of the hill. 

I got out of the car and approached the 

man sitting in the driver seat. He, of 

course, spoke tiny English and pointed 

up the hill for us to meet a tour guide. 

THAT IS WHEN WE MET 

DANAE. SHE WAS SPEAKING 

IN FRENCH, LOOKED 

AMERICAN, BUT WAS GREEK. 

It threw us for a loop. She informed us 

that we stumbled upon a Cretan home 

cooking tour that traveled to a shepherds 

home… moreover, this was the French 

version. 

Both Danae and the shepherd, Andreas, 

tried to give us directions to Zeus’ cave, 

but informed us that it would take at 

least another 4 hours to get there! 

We all looked at each other and rolled 

our eyes. There was no way we would 

continue driving to the other side of the 

island. It was already 2:00 pm, and we 

still had a long way to get back home. 

As I looked around, I saw roast meat on 

a spit over a handmade fire pit, sharp 

meat hooks hanging from the shed and 

a bloody butcher knife gouged into a 

wooden tree stump. Instant thoughts 

came to my mind of a Halloween horror 

film. 

Danae had told us that the shepherd had 

prepared a delicious home cooked meal 

for the tour group (ah… makes sense) 

and since we were technically lost, he 

wanted to provide us with a meal as well! 

He handed us some roasted goat meat 

with his bare hands… it was so bizarre 

but awesome at the same time. I mean, 

it does not get any more “real” than that! 

The Shepherd signaled us to sit with 

the tour group under his thousandyear-old 

oak tree. We were in awe 

of his hospitality, as well as Danae’s 

enthusiasm to join them. We thanked 

them both numerously as all three of us 

were blown away by their generosity. 

She explained to the tour group what 

happened to us… all in French. They 

all smiled, and as we sat down, Danae 

handed us forks and cups. 

We tried to communicate with the other 

guests (Brandy knew a little French) as 

a cute little old gregarious French man 

kept pouring our wine out of a plastic 

water bottle. 

We ate a delicious organic home-grown 

Cretan meal and drank refreshing organic 

house wine. 

We listened to stories and laughed along 

with strangers who soon became friends. 

It was such an incredible moment. 

IT IS CRAZY! WHO KNEW 

GETTING LOST IN THE MIDDLE 

OF NOWHERE FOR HOURS ON 

END WOULD SOON LEAD US 

TO EAT AND DRINK DELICIOUS 

ORGANIC CRETAN CUISINE 

WITH THE FRENCH IN A 

PRIVATE SHEPHERDS HOME?! 

It was such an amazing experience, and it 

tops all of my other adventures on Crete 

so far! 


WHAT YOU FIND IN THE 

SKIRTS OF A HURRICANE 

Luckily, it rarely happens. Certainly, it 

is rarely something you plan for. But 

sometimes you just encounter urgent 

circumstances that ask of you to move into 

the discomfort of uncertainty, while still 

dressing up in the larger gowns of group 

responsibility. 

From time to time, I am called up to join 

a group of students as they travel to a 

destination in Latin America. This November, I 

had one such job for 12 days in Costa Rica with 

young students of culture and sustainability. 

Costa Rica, being one of the most biodiverse 

nations along with an interesting geological 

composition and, at the same time, home to 

one of the most ambitious and successful 

educational frames for future visions in 

sustainability and poverty prevention. Right 

down my alley, that is what I thought. 

The gap between rumour and reality 

The gap 

between 

rumour and 

reality 

The morning of November 21st, after a night 

of sleep over in San José, we drove towards 

the Caribbean Coast to begin the first day of 

written by 

LOUISE BARNER 

from Pocket Journeys 

www.pocketjourneys.com 

educational tourism near Limón, at EARTH 

University. The weather was decent, the 

humidity high. We settled into our rooms 

on campus where we would be spending the 

next four days engaging with students and 

their field projects. Everything was smooth 

and easy. No electronic distractions – only 

nature – and I had already pictured myself 

hunting down rare species of frogs in palm 

trees before bedtime. 

Instead, I woke up to rumours of a tropical 

storm brewing 250km off the Costa Rican 

coastline, to make landfall as a hurricane 

within 48 hours. His name Otto measured 

and weighed, but not following straight lines 

on a map. The dining room was buzzing with 

lively debate. It has claimed three lives in 

Panama; one told his neighbour. It will not 

make landfall in Costa Rica, but in Nicaragua, 

another said, the third nodding in agreement 

and added, but we will get the rain. 

In the face of a possible emergency we did 

what was prudent: made a plan. Find a valid 

source of information; monitor the situation, 

contact local authorities for perspective, 

and stick to the plan to avoid uncertainty in 

the group. As the flow of information was 

ticked in, we continuously evaluated possible 

scenarios and appropriate responses – along 

with answering emails from concerned 

mothers. I learned that a hurricane lingers a 

lot as if it needs to consider its move. 

Our primary concern was safety. Another 

concern was related to being stuck due to 

flooding and mudslides blocking our exits. 

NATIONAL EMERGENCY! 

However surreal, our program that morning 

sent us into the subtropical habitat for 

teachings on biodiversity. By the time we 

got back, Otto was a Category 1 hurricane, 

which would likely make landfall Midnorthern 

Costa Rica. Limon, avoiding the 

eye of the storm, would still be affected by 

heavy rain and flooding. I believe, we were 

safe at EARTH University, but we would 

risk getting stuck for several days. Our next 

stop, Fortuna, at the volcano Arenal, was 

less prone to remain unmarked by events 

and the area would probably be closed and 

the volcano inaccessible. We did not know, 

and safety first. The most sensible move was 

crossing the mountains into San José while 

the storm passed. The Pacific coast was now 

issued a tsunami warning as Otto made his 

way out. Geez, where to go? 

After days of waiting and a broken program, 

we finally made it to the Pacific, only to find 

that national emergency had closed all parks. 

Luckily, the beach is fun even in pouring, 

tropical rain for the dedicated optimists. 

MY PERSONAL AND 

written by 

CLAIRE MATA 

UNFORGETTABLE 

EXPERIENCE OF BATANES 

Philippines northernmost and smallest province 

located at the confluence of the West Philippine 

Sea and the Pacific Ocean.Dubbed as the home 

of the winds and nature’s playground.It is also 

composed of three islands, the Batan Island, 

Sabtang Island and the Itbayat Island.It has 

six municipalities, 29 barangays, 230 square 

kilometer territorial waters and 4500 square 

kilometers. 

To begin with, my personal and unforgettable 

experience in Batanes, last Oct 2016, my sister 

and I went there for six days, and this is both our 

first time to visit the place. 

As the plane landed at the airport of Batanes, my 

heart skipped a beat because I immediately fell 

in love, love at first sight actually because, the 

airport itself has a magnificent view that I never 

wanted to take off my eyes from that beautiful 

Mt.Iraya from behind us. Then, off we go to our 

hotel, it felt like you were at your home. It is a 

two-storey house with a kitchen, dining room, 

living room, veranda and a garden plus they also 

have a bike for rent in case you want to roam 

around. 

We spent our first-day tour at Batan Island. We 

opted to rent a tricycle for a more fresher air 

to breath and a cheaper way to roam around. 

Every time we trek, we leave our personal 

belongings (cell phones, wallets, etc.) with our 

tour guide. Telling us no one would steal it from 

the tricycle. I did not think he was not lying 

because Ivatans (Batanes people) are known for 

being honest. In fact, there is an Honesty Shop 

in Batanes. Moreover, as we returned from our 

trek, our things were still there, it was an amazing 

experience, the honesty of the Ivatans are their 

best trait. 

Batanes, as considered nature’s playground, 

you will see breathtaking landscapes and 

seascapes around the province.The “Rolling 

Hills” stole my heart, these are seemingly 

endless waves of rolling hills with a view of 

the region’s three major islands. They also 

have the boulder beach-it is a rock bay 

popularly known for its long stretch of rocks 

due to Mt Iraya’s eruption in 400AD. 

Honestly, it was my first time to see a lot of 

big rocks on a beach, a huge beautiful rocks. 

Stone houses are also found at Sabtang 

Island, the locals say, these houses are sturdy 

enough in case typhoons/tsunami will 

devastate their place. 

Also, lastly, on the photo, the Mount Carmel 

church or popularly known as the Tukon 

church. To give you a little introduction about 

Ivatan’s religion, approximately ninetyseven 

percent are Roman Catholics, and 

they appreciate visitors observing traditional 

dress code whenever they enter churches. 

Going back to Tukon church, the design was 

based on the traditional Ivatan stone houses, 

the roof is concrete red bricks, and on the 

ceiling, you will be amazed by the paintings 

of different municipal saints painted by 

Ivatan artists. It is one of the most beautiful 

and unique church I have seen in my entire 

life. 

Batanes is a must-see place on earth and 

must be included on your bucket list. Their 

beautiful and breathtaking nature, honest 

people, good food, and their quiet and 

serene surroundings will give you a complete 

relaxation and would make your vacation 

worthwhile. If you would ask me if I will go 

back to that place again, I will and would 

always love to come back there. 

Batanes is a 

must-see... on 

your bucket 

list. 


WHO KNEW PERTH 

COULD OFFER SO MUCH! 

written by 

IRENE CHAN 

from Lady Redot 

www.ladyredot.com 

This is my third time traveling to Western 

Australia, Perth. Every time it is different and 

given me many unforgettable memories. The 

recent one is the most incredible and thrilling. 

Want to find out more? Read on. 

I arrived at Perth International Airport on 17th. 

I planned not to self-drive as I want to travel 

differently. I took Transperth Bus 380 from the 

airport and travel to Perth City where I am staying 

for the next three days before my friends arrived. 

The first day was more of exploring the 

neighbourhood. After check into The Pensione 

Hotel Perth, I took a stroll around the city area 

looking for a decent restaurant. I realised that the 

shops closed very early at 5 pm. It is unbelievable 

quiet. Hence, I walked into the supermarket – 

Woolsworth and grab some essentials. Finally, I 

have settled my dinner with a burger and chips 

and back to my room to prepare for the next 

adventure ahead the next day. 

I am so looking forward today as I signed up for 

a 14000feet Tandem Skydive. It is one of the 

activities that I would like to achieve in my “Bucket 

List.” Thinking about it, I have completed two this 

year – first is the hike up to Mount Bromo and 

second is this Skydive. 

I am very excited and looking forward to it. 

Friends around me are asking, “Am I scared? 

Nervous?” The fear does not come to mind. 

I took TransPerth Subway towards Mandurah 

Line, reached Rockingham station and took bus 

550 to Skydive office. There had been a delay, 

and I have waited for an hour before getting 

instructions before the jump. I need to be 

“kneeling” position upon falling and hands to be 

held on to the clips around my chest. The group of 

participants went to Rockingham beach to take 

a look at the team before. I guess Skydive like to 

assure us by allowing us to see how safely these 

people landed. 

Hopping on to the bus, it took us another 

30 minutes to the Take Off point. My group 

consists of 2 guys and one other lady who are 

all celebrating their 21st Birthday. Okay, I am 

celebrating my 31st! (Not that bad too!) The 

plane took off, and the view of Rockingham was 

breathtaking and beautiful. 

While we were on the plane, Androx, my coskydive 

coach made videos of my entire journey 

and experience. He was humorous and trying his 

best to make me feel comfortable with all the 

uneasy feelings crawling up in my tummy. 

The red light went on, here we go. My eyes were 

shut for those 10 seconds! It happened too fast 

way before I can think or scream of my lungs off. 

The parachute is up, and this is the moment where 

I started to enjoy the view. The ocean, beach, the 

coastal line was so scenic and amazing. The sea 

was in turquoise blue and with the bright sun 

shining on a gorgeous day. 

Androx gives me a 360-degree view of 

Rockingham. The pressure of turning round and 

round was very disturbing, and I keep yelling “I 

hate this.” The entire sky experience happened 

too fast, and we are soon landed on the beach. 

I am so pleased and proud of myself! I did it! 

The entire experience is so amazing and 

memorable. I must admit it is quite addictive and 

I am planning to do a second time when I visited 

Perth again! 

Note to all readers before signing off: 

“Get out of your comfort zone, take the first step, 

and you find lots of unbelievable experiences out 

to explore!” 


THE MOST INCREDIBLY 

FRESH, BLUE CRAB IN 

TURKEY 

Environmentalists and the Turkish Tourist 

Board often boast about the excellent work 

being done on Iztuzu Beach. 

It is pure golden sands stretch 4 kilometers 

separating the Mediterranean Sea from 

the Dalyan delta, except for the narrow 

strip that joins the two waters. The delta is 

a vast area of narrow seaways formed by 

tall reeds growing out of the river flowing 

down from the freshwaters of Lake Ortaca, 

passing the picturesque town of Dalyan 

where the tourists can access the beach most 

favourably by riding the taxi boats. Chugging 

along these winding waters for 13 kilometers 

is an amazing experience in itself as you pass 

ancient Lycian rock tombs carved into the 

mountainside, then brush against the reeds 

with each meandering turn until you arrive at 

the natural expanse of the golden sands itself. 

This is a protected area forbidding night time 

access between May and September and no 

umbrellas on a strip close to 

written by 

UMIT YESILDAG 

Freelance Photographer 

https://uy.smugmug.com 

the waves to allow loggerhead turtles to 

lay their eggs in the sand and allow them to 

incubate. 

You might spot a loggerhead turtle peer 

out of the water before vanishing again just 

about anywhere on the delta. 

However, what you will not see, unless you 

look for it, are blue crabs that have also 

flourished here. 

Who knew 

blue crabs liked 

chicken!? 

Anyone who lives in Dalyan owns a boat. 

My wife, Alison and son Alexander hired one 

and filled it with beers and chicken pieces. 

Captan Osman took us out to an area away 

from passing boats and in the shade of 10- 

foot tall reeds where we wrapped our hooks 

with chicken pieces and threw our lines as far 

out as we could. Then we waited: I had one 

hand holding the line, the other holding a 

beer. Eventually, I felt a tug and very gently 

I began pulling up the line. Then, still, several 

feet below the surface, the crab became 

visible as it clutched the chicken piece. This 

is where being in the shade helps as I appear 

to be part of the reeds, the crab could not 

see me. Just as it reached the surface I pulled 

harder, and it dangled above the water for 

a split second, and immediately Alison, who 

had been waiting beside me, pushed a fishing 

net underneath it. Once out of the water, the 

crab released its claw and dropped into the 

net. We had caught our first blue crab! 

These are rather large crabs. Perhaps seven 

will fit in a standard bucket without being 

able to crawl out. Then Alexander began 

pulling them in, too. Moreover, by the time 

we finished, we became very proficient at 

catching them. Who knew even crabs like 

chicken! 

With Captan Osman’s expertise, we had 

over twenty of these on the boat sitting in 

buckets to remain wet. Then we tied the boat 

to a rock behind the beach, lit the barbecue in 

the traditional Turkish way, using newspaper, 

twigs, and charcoal, and enjoyed a cold bottle 

of Efes beer. When the coals were white hot, 

we humanely killed a crab with a knife before 

placing it on the grill. In just a few minutes, we 

began enjoying the freshest most delicious 

crabmeat ever. The meat inside the claws 

tasted particularly sublime. 

Not forgetting that the most fantastic sandy 

beach is right there, we enjoyed a day like no 

other. 

Courtesy of K. S. Brooks 

There are many amazing national parks in the United 

States, so to me, the Grand Canyon isn’t the be-all 

end-all. But at dusk, when the red sunlight had finished 

bouncing off the rocks, and then the supermoon rose, I 

have to admit it was pretty inspiring. 

THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THE MANY BLUE CRAB WE 

CAUGHT THAT DAY. 


WE HAVE ALL BEEN 

THERE. THAT MOMENT 

WHERE WE PROPER 

FUCKED UP. 

WE HAVE THREE 

STORIES SHARED 

FROM PEOPLE THAT 

HAVE HAD SOME REAL 

HORRORS WHILST 

TRAVELLING THE 

WORLD. 


STUCK IN THAILAND 

WITHOUT ANY MEANS 

OF GETTING CASH 

Before traveling to Thailand, my friend who 

had arranged for my tickets had assured that 

I could withdraw money from any ATM at 

Thailand by paying an additional service tax. 

I ensured that I carried enough cash before 

travel but being a shopaholic girl, I exhausted 

all my money. 

I was at Bangkok then when I stepped into 

the ATM outside my hotel. I inserted my 

card only to get a regret response. I thought 

there was a problem with the specific ATM 

and tried another. To my dismay, I got the 

same regret message. This time, I was tensed 

and grew restless. I tried another and then 

another and all in vain. 

I immediately called my friend at India 

and reported this. He said Indian cards are 

supposed to work and that I should try 

again. Helplessly, I tried again, but it did 

not work as I knew. I was traveling alone 

in a foreign country with no local contacts. 

I called Somnath, my friend again and began 

to blame him for misguiding me about 

Indian cards working at Thai ATMs. Somnath 

suggested that I should go to Indira Market, 

an electronic market near the Baiyoke 

Towers. He said there were Indian stores 

there and I could seek help from them. 

I rushed to Indira Market and spotted an 

Indian store. I lamented my situation to the 

fellow shopkeeper and tried to push the 

Indian emotional button by saying,” I am 

from India brother. I am alone in Thailand, 

and I am unable to withdraw cash. Can 

you please swipe my card and give me some 

money in return?” I felt I was able to convince 

him. He took me to another shop that was 

run by a women. He explained to the woman 

that I was in need of money and asked her to 

help. I saw some hope that got lost when the 

women said she would not withdraw cash 

unless I purchase something expensive, a 

minimum of 5000 baht. I did not want to buy 

something that expensive. I tried to convince 

her, but there was no way she would listen. 

She asked me to try at the hotel as I was 

their guest and they would help me out. 

Meanwhile, I called my brother in India and 

asked him to call up the bank and ask them 

for a solution. 

I called my 

brother in India 

and asked him 

for help 

went to the hotel and asked them to 

written by 

PUJAN GUPTA CHOUDHURY 

swipe my card and give me some cash. I was 

hopeful they would help me as I was their 

guest. However, to my surprise, the lady at 

the counter blatantly refused to help. She 

was rude and said they were not a bank. I 

requested her reminding her that I was their 

guest and I was in need of money. Moreover, 

I was not lending any money from them. I 

was only asking them to swipe some money 

out of my card and give me some cash. The 

lady’s response was bitter. I did not know 

what to do then and helplessly began to cry. 

Just then my brother called and said that he 

spoke to the bank and guided me how to 

enable international transaction by logging 

into the bank’s site. I did so and went to the 

ATM to try, and it worked. I was happier than 

ever to have the cash at hand. 

It was then that I pledged always to ensure 

that international transaction is enabled 

before I travel outside my country. 

written by 

JENNIFER SZYMANKOWSKI 

If you have ever been to Singapore, 

you know it is a pretty amazing 

airport. I have wandered around 

that airport thoroughly; watched 

a movie in the theater, seen the 

butterflies in the garden, strolled 

through the sunflower garden, 

taken a selfie in the transit area, 

played video games upstairs, 

gotten my feet eaten by hundreds 

of fish at the spa; the list of 

activities is endless. 

It all started out with a 4-hour 

sit in between connecting flights 

while on our way to Bali. Before 

my friend and I even left the US, 

however, we decided to leave a 

day earlier. We wanted the luxury 

of first class, so we switched our 

tickets to make that happen. Our 

4-hour sit in Singapore would 

now be a 28-hour sit. We were 

excited to thoroughly explore this 

fantastic airport. 

While studying the various aspects 

of the airport and planning on when 

to fit in a nap at the transit hotel, 

a lady at the left baggage area told 

us about a tour of Singapore. This 

is a tour that takes you out into the 

city of Singapore you are welcome 

to sign up for if you have large 

airport to appreciate the time in 

between flights. 

My friend and I jumped at the 

chance to explore the city until our 

flight on to Denpasar. All you need 

to do at the sign up is to show your 

boarding pass, and if you want to 

stay in the city longer than the 

length of the guided tour, the only 

requirement is that you are back 

behind security before midnight. 

We signed up at 7 am for the 9 am 

tour and even without our next 

boarding pass in hand, the guides 

still let us go; we told the guides 

we would check in when we got 

back to the airport so we would 

have our boarding pass to get back 

through security, or so we thought. 

After the tour of Singapore with 

our very knowledgeable tour 

guide, it was time to get our 

boarding passes. The only problem 

was, unlike the US, where we can 

check in 24 hours prior, we had to 

wait until 4 hours before departure. 

Well, this cannot be right, maybe 

we can convince the agents 

otherwise, or so we thought. We 

had no clothes and limited funds 

since all of our belongings were 

behind security and if we did not 

get back behind security, we were 

screwed. This is where the rush of 

uneasiness settled in very quickly. 

OUR GOOD, BAD, 

AND UGLY DAY 

IN SINGAPORE 

The shock, stress and angry 

traveler rage got the best 

of us as we argued with the 

ticket agents as best we could 

and tried to get back behind 

security. We were at a loss. 

The tour of Singapore was not 

worth this trouble; we were 

locked outside security with no 

way of convincing the agents 

to give us our boarding pass 

more than 12 hours before 

our allotted 4-hour check-in 

time, and we did not want any 

problems with our passports 

for future travels. 

After several attempts to get 

behind security, we managed 

to get a hold of people in 

charge of customs. They had 

us sign forms and then led us 

through security to get our 

bags and then walked us back 

outside security since we still 

did not have our boarding 

passes in hand. By this time, 

we had 5 hours to kill, so we 

booked a day room at the 

Capri by Frasier to take a nap 

and cross our fingers we could 

get our boarding passes as 

close to midnight as possible. 

After a relaxing nap, Jetstar finally 

gave us our boarding passes just 

before midnight, after an entire 

day of stressing, where we found 

a comfy couch to cuddle up in to 

rest a few hours more before our 

5 am flight on to the beaches of 

Bali. The real vacation was finally 

in sight. 

Just a side note, I was having a 

hard time how to write this, so it 

sounded appealing to others. I am 

going to try to think of how else 

I can word it. Also, I do not have 

many pictures because all my 

photos got deleted, but I would be 

happy to go back to Singapore to 

get more pictures if need be! 

After several attempts 

to get behind security, 

we managed to get 

hold of customs. 


written by 

EMMA-LIISA GREED 

www.emmaliisa.com 

There are worse places to be stuck in than Bali, 

but trust me, it is not always intentional… 

My friend Nikki and I had just finished a 

fantastic holiday. We were in good spirits, 

and I was wearing my luminous neon yellow 

Gangnam style top to match my mood. 

It was at Bali airport gate, just as our flight’s 

boarding had started, that I realised I had lost 

my purple folder that held my passport and 

boarding pass. So I had been of possession of 

it just twenty minutes previously at passport 

control. 

THE DAY I 

WANTED THE 

GROUND TO 

SWALLOW ME 

UP IN BALI 

After rummaging through Nikki’s bag, my 

bag, and my brain, I ran off to retrace our 

steps. There was no sign of my passport in the 

toilets – the only stop we had had between 

passport control and the gate. Panicked, I 

stammered my predicament to the cleaning 

lady, who pointed me to customer service, 

who in turn told me to talk to security at 

immigration. 

I started running back, stopping only to take 

off my flip-flops as they were impeding my 

run. I got to immigration and told the security 

guard: “I have lost my passport and boarding 

pass. What do I do?” He was understandably 

confused and tapped the shoulder of one of 

the immigration officers. 

“You have lost your passport?” Mr. 

Immigration Officer was flabbergasted. 

“Yes.” 

“When does your flight leave?” 

“Now.” 

Mr. Immigration Officer promptly left his 

desk and the passenger he had been in the 

process of dealing with. 

There were many concerned airport officials, 

many phone and walkie-talkie calls, and 

a little nagging feeling of deep, deep 

embarrassment at the back of my gut. 

No lost and found purple folder. 

It was approximately five minutes till takeoff, 

and I had to run back to the gate. Fingers 

crossed Nikki would have found it… She had 

not. 

I started, slightly crazed and void of all feeling, 

desperately going through my bag, knowing 

it was hopeless; the gate officials were 

reminding us the flight has to leave NOW; 

our names were announced on the airport 

loudspeaker. last call; Nikki was asking “What 

do we do?” and I, the experienced, confident 

traveller, was telling her hopelessly honestly: 

“I don’t know.” Amid all this, however, I did 

remember to make a point of putting on my 

hoodie so as to cover my ridiculous Gangnam 

Style top. Now that would have been just too 

tragicomic. 

When the airport officials went off to tell the 

plane that it has to depart without us, I found 

a suitable corner to cry in. 

While blubbering to my dad on the phone, 

lent to me by the Friendly Main Airport 

Official Guy, the airport officials came to 

us with exciting news. Someone had found 

it! We dashed to customer service, where 

they were holding MY PURPLE FOLDER. 

With its joyful elephant and singing bird and 

exceptionally ironic ‘Good luck!’ on it. 

There is no excitingly mysterious reason for 

its misplacement. It was found at the airport 

restaurant. It came back to me now - the 

restaurant had an excellent sign in front 

of it that I had to get a picture of. So, I put 

down my purple folder on a table, put down 

my bag, took out my camera, put away my 

camera, picked up my bag… so didn’t pick up 

my folder. 

We were escorted out of the airport, and I 

felt like a criminal being caught just before 

the final escape. 

We managed to get decently priced tickets 

booked for the next day, a VOID stamp into 

our passports, and suddenly there was a taxi 

waiting for us, taking us back to central Kuta. 

It was a horrific and an incredibly 

embarrassing experience (though we did not 

complain too much about an extra full day in 

Bali...) However, considering circumstances, 

everything went amazingly. The Bali airport 

staff were magnificent, so helpful and 

friendly despite me being the dim-wit of the 

century. 

The next day we tried again, and this time 

managed it through passport control and 

even through the gate onto the plane out of 

Bali. 

The lesson of the day: Never travel in a 

Gangnam style-top. 

THE SAID PURPLE FOLDER THAT CAUSED ALL THESE 

PROBLEMS 

Ready to board the plane. 

Shit, where is my passport! 

With the gate closing, and 

still not passport in sight! 

JUST ONE OF THE MANY THINGS YOU CAN SEE WHILST 

WANDERING AROUND BALI AIRPORT. 

VISA DEPARTURE STAMP. VOID! OOPS. IT DOES MEAN 

THAT I GET AN EXTRA DAY IN BALI. 


Astagina Resort 

Villa and Spa 

in Legian, Bali 

Book your stay HERE 


Issue 

Whats coming up in 

2 

May 2017 

- More of your personal experiences 

- More off the beaten track 

- Unforgettable culture experiences 

- Best of Instagram 

- More breathtaking photos 

- Build a website on a budget 

Plus so much more! 

88 | Total Travel TAG Magazine

Total Travel TAG Issue 1

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