Langkah- langkah keselamatan semasa travel

Kejadian yang berlaku baru-baru ini di Bangkok amat mendukacitakan kepada rakyat Thailand dan juga warga pelancong. Tetapi jika anda biasa mengikuti perkembangan semasa, kejadian letupan sering berlaku di Thailand terutama di Selatan Thailand. Oleh itu tidak asinglah bagi warga Thailand jika berlaku pengeboman di negara mereka.

Oleh yang demikian melawat negara yang bergolak adalah satu risiko kepada backpackers tetapi tidak bermakna kita tidak boleh pergi ke negara bergolak kerana mungkin hanya kawasa tertentu sahaja yang bermasalah tetapi kawasan lain aman dan damai. Mungkin kita boleh mengambil beberapa langkah-langkah keselamatan seperti berikut :

1. Sentiasa mengetahui akan perkembangan semasa melalui online akhbar tempatan dan luar negara.
2. Apabila kita tahu akan perkembangan semasa, dinasihatkan menjauhkan dari kawasan yang kerap berlaku masalah atau kawasan bergolak.
3. Mesara dengan orang tempatan untuk mendapat maklumat terkini atau keadaan semasa di negara yang kita lawati.
4. Tidak memakai baju yang menunjukkan kita dari negara asal atau warna/logo yang menyokong mana-mana kumpulan politik/ngo di negara bergolak atau bermasalah. Ini kerana tidak mahu orang tempatan mempunyai perasaan dendam atau tidak berpuashati  kepada kita hanya kerana sehelai baju. Jika kita memakainya secara tidak lansung menujukkan kita menyokong kumpulan tersebut.
5. Membalut buku travel guide dengan suratkhabar tempatan
6. Memilih rakan travel / tempatan yang  betul-betul dan sangat membantu.
7. Memakai pakaian yang tidak menjolokkan mata atau tidak bersesuaian dengan keadaan orang tempatan.
8. Di nasihatkan memakai memakai seperti orang tempatan.
9. Tidak digalakkan balik terlalu lewat kerana kebanyakkan kejadian yang tidak berlaku diwaktu lewat malam.
10. Di nasihatkan tidak melalui kawasan yang mencurigakan dan kawasan gelap.
11. Sentiasa 'aware' dengan kawasan sekeliling kita kerana ditakuti anda diekori oleh orang.
12. Berdoa dan berserah kepada Tuhan. Itu lah jalan yang terbaik setiap kali memulakan pengembaraan.

Apa-apa pun risiko tetap ada di mana-mana anda mengembara. Semuanya terletak di tangan anda untuk membuat keputusan berdasarkan pertimbangan-pertimbangan yang ada pada anda. Saya ada menulis ebook tentang 20 LANGKAH KESELAMATAN SEMASA BERBACKPACKERS untuk anda yang mungkin boleh membantu anda membuat keputusan melibatkan isu keselamatan semasa berbackpackers. Bagaimana? Hanya klik pada gambar tersebut dan kemudian sertakan nama dan email. Dan akhir sekali CONFIRMKAN subscription. Anda akan menerima email dari saya.

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Bagaimana bermula solo backpacker

Ramai orang hendak cuba travel secara solo atau solo backpackpacker. Tidak ada masalah kerana solo backpacker sangat mencabar dan menyeronokan jika kita tahu caranya. Untuk langkah pertama nak cuba travel secara solo kenapa tak cuba dalam negara dulu. Saya pernah ke Kuching selama 4 hari dan rezeki pada malam terakhir ada orang belanja makan burger. Saya pernah ke Miri - Brunei - Labuan secara solo. Jika anda ada rasa was-was atau ragu-ragu ketika berjalan secara solo, perasaan itu akan sama berlaku jika anda travel secara solo di negara orang. 

Saya selalu mengambil langkah berhati-hati seperti tidak lalu di lorong gelap atau sunyi dan juga selalu memastikan tiada orang follow kita dari belakang. Jika kita travel secara solo dia asia tenggara maybe kurang sikit perhatian kerana muka orang asia lebih kurang sama sahaja. Cuma dari segi bahasa mereka boleh 'detect' kita bukan orang tempatan. Oleh yang demikian banyakkan baca buku atau blog tentang budaya orang luar. Secara tidak lansung memberi kita panduan bagaimana hendak bergaul dengan mereka. Back to basic always be humble and respect the local culture. Not to forget dont show your weird face. 

Solo backpacker akan menjadi menarik apa bila kita dapat membuat kawan baru dengan orang tempatan atau backpacker 

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Taking the Fear Out of Solo Travel

Solo travel may not be high on the list of things to do for many, but for some people with an intense desire to see the world, taking the solo travel route might just be the only way. Believe it or not, not all people have a desire to roam ancient ruins, trek through bug infested jungles or try and navigate through a city where no one speaks the same language. So, for those travelers who get excited by these thoughts, finding a travel partner is the most difficult task of all.

Instead of giving up, solo travel becomes an option, but it can be an option full of apprehension and fear. Fortunately, solo travel can be an amazing opportunity full of life-changing and growing experiences that will forever impact a person's existence. When the anxiety of an impending solo adventure seems like it is too much - relax! There are plenty of ways of taking the fear out of solo travel!

1) Travel to familiar places first. Instead of heading to the furthest place possible in respect to your current living situation, try starting a solo trip off in a familiar place. A familiar place can be a location you have previously traveled to on past trips, or it can be a place that has a similar size, feel or language as your home. This will get the travel juices flowing and provide preparation for further journeys.

2) Get firsthand accounts. There is only so much a travel guide can tell, and the fact that it was written much longer ago than one would hope, they might not always be correct. Track down blogs of people who have been there and see what they have to say. The more one knows in advance, the less there is to be surprised about later on, and that alone can take the fear out of solo travel.

3) Participate in group activities. What better way to meet people with similar interests then to join a group?! Test your hand at a language course, volunteer to help build a house, or just sign up for a tour. All of these options provide a way to make friends, and possibly future travel friends, as well as the opportunity to not feel alone.

4) Stay in a hostel. Hostels are havens for travelers. They provide a cheap place to sleep, and they also provide the means to meet others just like you! Stay in a hostel for a night or two and most people will find new travel plans, location insights, and even travel buddies. Choosing to stay in hostels can easily take the fear out of solo travel because you are not coming back to a lonely hotel every night.

Solo travel does not have to be a scary thought. Seeing the world on one's own and on one's own schedule can be a truly liberating experience not to be overlooked because of a little fear.


Brooke is a solo female world traveler that has been globetrotting since September, 2007. She lays down the truth about traveling alone in her article, "The Good and Bad of Solo Travel". Read about Brooke's own adventures on her travel blog: http://brookevstheworld.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brooke_Schoenman
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3203476

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Passenger arrival card

 Jika kita travel mana-mana country pasti kita akan berjumpa dengan 'passenger arrival card' atau  'disembarkation card' atau 'landing card' atau pelbagai nama kad mengikut negara masing-masing sama ada by flight, train atau apa jua kenderaan  apabila kita akan 'cross border' negara orang. Kad ini amat penting bagi 'immigration department' untuk simpanan data mereka seperti statistik pelancong masuk dan keluar ke negara mereka. Lagi satu sebagai rekod pengesanan data pelancong yang masuk ke negara mereka in case if anything happen senang mereka nak trace pelancong.

Photo Copyright by globalsingapore.

Sebenarnya bukan saya nak cerita tentang 'passenger arrival card' tetapi tips hendak tulis alamat yang kita akan duduk di negara tersebut pada kad tersebut. Biasanya sebelum kita pergi memang kita dah tahu di mana hendak duduk di budget hotel  atau rumah kawan tetapi bagaiman jika kita tidak tahu disebab terlupa atau lupa kawan di negara kita nak jumpa lupa nak bagi alamat tempat tinggal ?

Mesti huru-hara kan , itu yang berlaku dengan saya dan my travel buddies Lim. Agak huru-hara jugalah tetapi sekejap jer hehehe maklumlah pengalaman mendewasakan kita. Kami sebenarnya travel ke Cebu cuma kami tidak tahu ke mana kawan kami yang tinggal di Cebu akan guide kami yang kami tahu dia cakap akan bawa ke pulau . Nama pulau pun tahu sampai lah kami sampai di sana.

Sambung cerita berkenaan kad tu , dah lah jarang tulis kad itu maklumlah setahun mungkin 2-3 kali baru travel ikut budget gak . Walaupun dah tulis berkali-kali masih confuse dengan address sampai ker address tempat tinggal asal hehehe. Time tu pening jugaklah nak tulis address apa yer tetapi memandang kan habit saya suka membaca majalah yang disediakan  dalam flight terlintas. Biasanya mesti ada iklan hotel-hotel dalam majalah tersebut so saya gunakan alamat hotel tersebut dalam 'passenger arrival card'.

Dengan muka muchonyer saya selamba minta pinjam pen dari awek philippines yang duduk  di seat belakang. Apa lagi dah dapat pen tulis lah alamat tu dan tak perlu pening-pening kepala . Selamat hehehee. So rajin-rajin lah baca majalah dalam flight , selak-selak pun jadi mana tau dapat info yang berguna seperti di bawah ini.

Sim card Philippines ( 3 days unlimited internet)

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How to make your flight attendant like you

Maybe you don't want to please your cabin crew next time you fly. I know, I know, it's their job to be nice, you're the customer, they're the employee. But if you're good to them, they may be extra nice. So here's how to charm them.

1. Say hi back. If a flight attendant greets you upon boarding, don't just ignore them. A simple "good morning" or "good evening" does it. How would you like to greet 20 people in a row and be greeted by silence? That's what usually happens.

2. Listen to the safety demo. It's just polite. Put down your iPad and Kindle. When was the last time you really listened? If it was more than a few years ago, it's time for a refresher. At the very least, don't talk loudly to your neighbor when a flight attendant is standing in front of you trying to keep you safe.

3. Headphones off! Take your headphones off when they ask you what you'd like to drink so they don't have to repeat it three times. How would you like it if they were wearing headphones when talking to you? It's the Golden Rule.

4. Be specific when ordering. When you ask for coffee or tea, specify milk or no milk, sweetener or not, without being asked, as in "I'd like coffee with milk please." Not only does it make their job easier, but everyone on the plane will get served more quickly.

5. Same for cold drinks. "I'd like Diet Coke, no ice please" or "Water, with ice and a slice of lemon please."

6. Say please and thank you. As in the examples above, say please and thank you when asking for and receiving something. Again, common courtesy that will get you treated extra well. A flight attendant once told me "We thought you were company" (meaning that I worked for the airline) because I was so polite.

7. Magazines! Donate copies of your current magazines to the crew. After you finish reading this week's US Weekly or GQ, give it to your flight attendant. Flight attendants love to read magazines when they're off duty or on break.

8. Treats. It's perfectly permissible to bring a little taste treat for your crew. Just make sure it's safety-sealed— not your homemade muffins, which might be considered a safety hazard. I bring boxes of Walker's Scottish shortbread or factory-sealed chocolates. They're always a big hit and you may be rewarded with a free cocktail or maybe even get reseated in the exit row (yes, it happens).

9. Pens! People are always asking flight attendants for pens, whether to complete immigration and customs forms or to simply do the crossword puzzle. Bring a few extra cheap pens, bundle them up and give them to your crew member. It may not be as enjoyable as a box of chocolates, but they will surely put them to good use.

10. Wheels in! Try to put your carry-on bag with wheels or handles facing in before commandeering twice as much space horizontally. And, for heaven's sake, don't put your jackets or tiny bags in the bin. That takes up space for larger items that have to go there, and these smaller items easily can fit underneath the seat or atop existing bags once everyone has boarded. Flight attendants will tell you that boarding is the most stressful part of their job, and by exhibiting an ounce of courtesy and common sense, it helps the entire plane get on the way more quickly.

11. Stay out of the aisles. Make your best effort to stay out of the aisles when the carts are brought out or when the plane is boarding. Try to use the bathroom before boarding or after takeoff, but if the crew begins their service, it is best to stay seated. The carts are heavy and awkward to maneuver, and there's no reason to become an obstacle to them unless absolutely necessary. And if a crewmember reminds you that the seatbelt sign is still illuminated, remember that they are just doing their job.

12. Tell the airline. If a flight attendant offers exceptionally nice service, most airlines have a mechanism for recognizing them. Ask for their employee number and note the flight number.

Where will all this kindness get you? No, you probably won't get an in-flight upgrade (although flight attendants do have the ability to offer them if there's room). Maybe the crew will forget to charge you for your cocktail. Maybe they'll reseat you if the child behind you is wailing like a banshee. But sometimes being nice is its own reward.

George Hobica is the founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. Airfarewatchdog features the best airfares on thousands of routes verified by a team of expert fare analysts. Source : usatoday.com

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Advice for Women Travelling Alone

The temptation of travelling alone offers countless possibilities and opportunities for adventure and is becoming more popular than ever before - and the number of women opting for solo trips in recent years has increased even more sharply than the number of men. Around 45% of solo travellers are now women - a sign of the times undoubtedly, and an encouraging one for those with a thirst for adventure but a fear of the big unknown

A slightly less encouraging statistic however, is that 79% of those lone female travellers would prefer to have a companion but have no choice. But is the glass half full here or half empty? Should we bemoan the fact that with independence comes loneliness, or instead celebrate the fact that more people than ever now simply decide to go off and follow their dreams regardless? Because the truth is, there's never been a better time to take the plunge and go travelling alone whether you're male, female or something else.

Companionship and Security

If you are a woman considering travelling alone, well, you're er, not alone. Forty percent of lone female travellers aged over 35 have no 'natural' travel partner such as a spouse or close friend. Moreover, there are great advantages to be had as a woman travelling alone. A lone woman will usually find it easier to meet people and make friends than a man, and generally speaking, commands respect and admiration from men and women alike for her independence. Also, if you choose to hitch-hike, a lone female is the statistic most likely to get a lift, though this course carries obvious dangers.

Most women with doubts about travelling alone cite the lack of companionship and security as the two greatest negative factors. If you're one of the 79% who would rather not travel alone then fear not: thanks to the growing demand, there are countless opportunities nowadays for women to find other women in the same situation and some quick research on the internet will bring back a wealth of information, from women-only travel groups and package trips to simply finding travel buddies online.

Things to Bear in Mind

As a resource the internet is invaluable, but not just for finding useful sites and organisations - it's also a forum, quite literally, for you to find people who have done what you want to do and ask them personally about any issues you have in mind. Here are a few common samples of advice taken from various forums.

Pack Light: When travelling alone, the sheer volume of baggage you carry is a greater factor than you would think. Most airlines now have a weight limit of less than 23kg (about 50lb) per bag for one thing; then there's the question of carrying it all up and down stairs in airports, train stations and underground stations in rush hour.

Male Attention: Be aware that flirting or provocation are based on wholly different norms and social fabrics in every country. For example, simply making eye contact or accepting a drink can be construed as a serious come-on in some countries. Also, the law in other countries varies as to what may be considered provocation or even consent. Wearing a wedding ring is an internationally understood deterrent if that's what you want.

Self Defence: Do not carry any weapons other than a can of mace, and check whether the law in your choice of destination allows even that. Always carry a mobile phone for use in case of emergency.

Hygiene and Sanitation: Bring your own toilet paper, pads, toilet paper, sanitizer, toilet paper, condoms… and did we mention toilet paper?

Dressing Appropriately: Check out in advance what constitutes 'appropriate dress' and bear in mind that lone women are very often mistaken for prostitutes in certain places.

Other Useful Things to Take: A small handbag, just big enough for your valuable documents etc. yet small enough to hold on to at all times rather than set down; comfortable shoes; compact make-up; maps.

And Finally: If you think walking in heels is bad enough in Britain, bear in mind that much of the rest of the world does not have as good quality roads and paths as we do; and maids do steal from hotel rooms, it's a fact, so don't carry anything valuable that is not essential. (Source - http://www.travellingalone.co.uk/)

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Advice on quitting your job and travelling for a year

Most of us see the world in snippets at a time – a long weekend here, a two-week vacation there. But when wanderlust grows beyond what those trips can contain, a longer journey might be in order.
Embarking on a six-month or year-long adventure often can mean taking a leap of faith and leaving key responsibilities behind, like arranging for an extended leave of absence or resigning from a job. But those that have done it say the experience is more than worth it.

We sought out some of those brave, inspirational souls on the question-and-answer site Quora.com, asking: “what should I know if I want to quit my job, leave everything behind and travel for a year?”

From the logistics of planning such a trip to the difficulty of managing others’ expectations and re-entering the workforce, the Quora community chimed in with their most useful advice.
Related article: Navigating the minefield of travel, love and money

Expect people to worry on your behalf
Quitting a job may seem like a huge risk to others around you. “People will bring up the dangers to your career, dangers of getting hurt out there, dangers of not finding a job when you come back,” said Kyle Pennell, who recently left a marketing career in San Francisco to live in Oaxaca, Mexico. Those dangers can be real, but according to Pennell, “the places you see, the people you connect with, the pace of life, the person you might discover yourself to really be – it is amazing”.

"It’s easy to keep doing what you’re doing, and it’s hard to go do something completely different,” said Julia Lam, a former Facebook employee who left the San Francisco Bay area and is currently in the middle of taking a year off to travel around the world. “You’ll probably have moments of regret or confusion, so stay focused on your goals and why you’re doing this.”

Do not over plan
Travellers who are used to planning long weekend or weeklong vacations may be tempted to lock in as many logistical details as possible before departing. But according to Quora's world travellers, keeping the itinerary open allows for more flexibility and the chance to take suggestions from locals on the road.

“We bought only transcontinental flights in advance,” said Sasha Katsnelson, who quit her management consulting job in New York to travel South America for six months. “We landed in Quito, Ecuador and had 40 days to get to Rio for our flight out. Everything else was booked during our travel.” Other travellers had success buying one-way or round-the-world tickets and having only an outline of possible destinations for the first few months.

“Part of the fun is to wake up each day and say ‘What do I feel like doing today?’” said Shahaf Abileah, who left his software development job in Seattle and travelled with his wife for a year through Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands. “We ended up in entire countries that we didn't plan to visit [Uganda, Rwanda, Myanmar], simply because we met people along the way who said, ‘You gotta go there!’"

Have a goal or theme to guide you
Although over planning an extended journey can be limiting, wandering the world completely aimless can be equally frustrating. Andy Anderson, who has visited more than 35 countries, enhanced his year-long journey by finding ways to incorporate his passions. “I found a way to work at an Italian winery,” Anderson said. “I also spent a full season in a ski town, skiing being another passion of mine.” Software engineer Marcin Czech travelled from his home in Poland to Malaysia completely on land, and now finds his feat differentiates him from other world travellers.

Not sure where to start? Abileah recommended planning around big festivals. “By dumb luck we ended up in Lalibela [Ethiopia] during their Christmas celebrations, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. It felt like walking into Biblical times,” he said. “There were other events that we just barely missed. For the next trip we'll definitely check out the big events happening in different countries.”

Know your budget
While you do not need unlimited funds to take some time off and see the world, knowing how much you can afford and how long you want to travel will help you make the right choices. “Your money will last a lot longer in places like Southeast Asia or South America, than places like Australia, New Zealand or the Middle East,” Anderson said.

Toni Middleton, who left her job as an IT portfolio manager to travel solo without a cell phone, suggested looking into what housing might cost in your possible destinations. “Practice looking for lodging online at places like hostels, Airbnb and hotel websites, so you can devise a daily or monthly budget before you leave,” she suggested.

Do not over pack
Katsnelson warned travellers to pack as if for a two-week vacation. “You will need to do laundry,” she said. “Whether you get laundry service in Southeast Asia, use a washing machine in your hostel or hand wash clothes on the washing stones at a farm, you'll get to see a very real part of local life and you'll not break your back with six months of clothes.”

Embrace your journey, even after it’s over
While some Quora users went back to their original careers after returning home, others started new ones. Anderson said the job hunt could take two to three months upon return, but suggested starting to look at the end of your trip for a jumpstart.

Interviewers may question the gap in your resume, but that could also work to your advantage. Gary Forman, a marketing director from New York, used his experience to screen potential employers. “Some of them couldn't relate; those weren't the folks I wanted to work for,” he said. “Others loved the idea, and had taken similar journeys themselves. Those were the places I wanted to be.” by Lindsey Galloway Source at BBC Travel

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10 things how to enjoy a train ride

After several post about my trip by train someone ask me how to enjoy a train ride because travel by train  take long hours. So how to enjoy a train ride? Actually depend what inside the train have and what type of coach you take 1st class , 2nd class or seater etc. Depends also on the regulation like maybe they are not allowed you to enter other coach. So different country maybe different regulation. Normally I like to explore new things so that I can plan to do something useful so that I can kill my free time. So this is 10 things I have done in a train .

 1. Mingle with local people or with backpacker. Talking can do wonders to relieve boredom.

2. Play poker or anything game card

The picture belong to http://eloneu11.wordpress.com/

3. Walk around from back to back

4. Hangout and chill at restaurant on the train

5. Busy body or try to found out what's going on .If the train stop for awhile try to found what happen like what I'm doing I try my best to take photo at every station that the train stop by.

6. Try to have experience using pantry or toilet. Even tough is not comfortable a least you feel how's the toilet is shaking.

7. Sleep at late night or any time you want

8. Read a book / ebook  or bring your iPod or mp3 player.

9. Look out the window if there is good scenery or something interesting to look at. If not, it is best to just stick to the activities above.

10. Doing crazy things when you feel so boring

The most important thing is 

Don't be too loud on the train. This counts for your music as well, use headphones and keep the volume down! Respect others.

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WHY YOU SHOULD TRAVEL YOUNG

Muiz @ Perhentian (Photo credit: Anan Amri)

As I write this, I’m flying. It’s an incredible concept: to be suspended in the air, moving at two hundred miles an hour — while I read a magazine. Amazing, isn’t it?

I woke up at three a.m. this morning. Long before the sun rose, thirty people loaded up three conversion vans and drove two hours to the San Juan airport. Our trip was finished. It was time to go home. But we were changed.

As I sit, waiting for the flight attendant to bring my ginger ale, I’m left wondering why I travel at all. The other night, I was reminded why I do it — why I believe this discipline of travel is worth all the hassle.

I was leading a missions trip in Puerto Rico. After a day of work, as we were driving back to the church where we were staying, one of the young women brought up a question.

“Do you think I should go to graduate school or move to Africa?”

I don’t think she was talking to me. In fact, I’m pretty sure she wasn’t. But that didn’t stop me from offering my opinion.

I told her to travel. Hands down. No excuses. Just go.

She sighed, nodding. “Yeah, but…”

I had heard this excuse before, and I didn’t buy it. I knew the “yeah-but” intimately. I had uttered it many times before. The words seem innocuous enough, but are actually quite fatal.

Yeah, but …

… what about debt?

… what about my job?

… what about my boyfriend?

This phrase is lethal. It makes it sound like we have the best of intentions, when really we are just too scared to do what we should. It allows us to be cowards while sounding noble.

Most people I know who waited to travel the world never did it. Conversely, plenty of people who waited for grad school or a steady job still did those things after they traveled.

It reminded me of Dr. Eisenhautz and the men’s locker room.

Dr. Eisenhautz was a German professor at my college. I didn’t study German, but I was a foreign language student so we knew each other. This explains why he felt the need to strike up a conversation with me at six o’clock one morning.

I was about to start working out, and he had just finished. We were both getting dressed in the locker room. It was, to say the least, a little awkward — two grown men shooting the breeze while taking off their clothes.

“You come here often?” he asked. I could have laughed.

“Um, yeah, I guess,” I said, still wiping the crusted pieces of whatever out of my eyes.

“That’s great,” he said. “Just great.”

I nodded, not really paying attention. He had already had his adrenaline shot; I was still waiting for mine. I somehow uttered that a friend and I had been coming to the gym for a few weeks now, about three times a week.

“Great,” Dr. Eisenhautz repeated. He paused as if to reflect on what he would say next. Then, he just blurted it out. The most profound thing I had heard in my life.

“The habits you form here will be with you for the rest of your life.”Photos by Geoff Heith

My head jerked up, my eyes got big, and I stared at him, letting the words soak into my half-conscious mind. He nodded, said a gruff goodbye, and left. I was dumbfounded.

The words reverberated in my mind for the rest of the day. Years later, they still haunt me. It’s true — the habits you form early in life will, most likely, be with you for the rest of your existence.

I have seen this fact proven repeatedly. My friends who drank a lot in college drink in larger quantities today. Back then, we called it “partying.” Now, it has a less glamorous name: alcoholism. There are other examples. The guys and girls who slept around back then now have babies and unfaithful marriages. Those with no ambition then are still working the same dead end jobs.

“We are what we repeatedly do,” Aristotle once said. While I don’t want to sound all gloom-and-doom, and I believe your life can turn around at any moment, there is an important lesson here: life is a result of intentional habits. So I decided to do the things that were most important to me first, not last.

After graduating college, I joined a band and traveled across North America for nine months. With six of my peers, I performed at schools, churches, and prisons. We even spent a month in Taiwan on our overseas tour. (We were huge in Taiwan.)

As part of our low-cost travel budget, we usually stayed in people’s homes. Over dinner or in conversation later in the evening, it would almost always come up — the statement I dreaded. As we were conversing about life on the road — the challenges of long days, being cooped up in a van, and always being on the move — some well-intentioned adult would say, “It’s great that you’re doing this … while you’re still young.”

Ouch. Those last words — while you’re still young — stung like a squirt of lemon juice in the eye (a sensation with which I am well acquainted). They reeked of vicarious longing and mid-life regret. I hated hearing that phrase.

I wanted to shout back,

“No, this is NOT great while I’m still young! It’s great for the rest of my life! You don’t understand. This is not just a thing I’m doing to kill time. This is my calling! My life! I don’t want what you have. I will always be an adventurer.”

In a year, I will turn thirty. Now I realize how wrong I was. Regardless of the intent of those words, there was wisdom in them.

As we get older, life can just sort of happen to us. Whatever we end up doing, we often end up with more responsibilities, more burdens, more obligations. This is not always bad. In fact, in many cases it is really good. It means you’re influencing people, leaving a legacy.

Youth is a time of total empowerment. You get to do what you want. As you mature and gain new responsibilities, you have to be very intentional about making sure you don’t lose sight of what’s important. The best way to do that is to make investments in your life so that you can have an effect on who you are in your later years.

I did this by traveling. Not for the sake of being a tourist, but to discover the beauty of life — to remember that I am not complete.

There is nothing like riding a bicycle across the Golden Gate Bridge or seeing the Coliseum at sunset. I wish I could paint a picture for you of how incredible the Guatemalan mountains are or what a rush it is to appear on Italian TV. Even the amazing photographs I have of Niagara Falls and the American Midwest countryside do not do these experiences justice. I can’t tell you how beautiful southern Spain is from the vantage point of a train; you have to experience it yourself. The only way you can relate is by seeing them.

While you’re young, you should travel. You should take the time to see the world and taste the fullness of life. Spend an afternoon sitting in front of the Michelangelo. Walk the streets of Paris. Climb Kilimanjaro. Hike the Appalachian trail. See the Great Wall of China. Get your heart broken by the “killing fields” of Cambodia. Swim through the Great Barrier Reef. These are the moments that define the rest of your life; they’re the experiences that stick with you forever.

Traveling will change you like little else can. It will put you in places that will force you to care for issues that are bigger than you. You will begin to understand that the world is both very large and very small. You will have a newfound respect for pain and suffering, having seen that two-thirds of humanity struggle to simply get a meal each day.

While you’re still young, get cultured. Get to know the world and the magnificent people that fill it. The world is a stunning place, full of outstanding works of art. See it.

You won’t always be young. And life won’t always be just about you. So travel, young person. Experience the world for all it’s worth. Become a person of culture, adventure, and compassion. While you still can.

Do not squander this time. You will never have it again. You have a crucial opportunity to invest in the next season of your life now. Whatever you sow, you will eventually reap. The habits you form in this season will stick with you for the rest of your life. So choose those habits wisely.

And if you’re not as young as you’d like (few of us are), travel anyway. It may not be easy or practical, but it’s worth it. Traveling allows you to feel more connected to your fellow human beings in a deep and lasting way, like little else can. In other words, it makes you more human.

That’s what it did for me, anyway. - Source by http://goinswriter.com/

"Think About Your Next Trip"

Flashpacking??

The term ‘flashpacking’ has popped up in a few recent newspaper articles and has been catching on in the backpacking scene. Judging by the people I’ve met during my travels recently I would say it is well and truly on its way to becoming a full on movement. So what’s the deal then?

There seems to be a couple definaitions floating around about what a flashpacker is:

The term ‘flashpacking’ has popped up in a few recent newspaper articles and has been catching on in the backpacking scene. Judging by the people I’ve met during my travels recently I would say it is well and truly on its way to becoming a full on movement. So what’s the deal then?

There seems to be a couple definaitions floating around about what a flashpacker is:

The Geeky Flashpacker

The first is that flashpacking is backpacking with all the latest gizmos and gadgets including laptops, satellite phones, GPS systems and the more common things like mp3 players, digital cameras and cell phones. Where years ago the only travellers carrying around laptops were the lucky souls working for Let’s Go or Lonely Planet, today they seem to be everywhere. In some hostels you’re almost as likely to see a bunch of backpackers huddled around a laptop looking at photos as you are a group of travellers playing a game of cards! Bringing all of this along on a trip might seem like a burden but it also has its advantages.

The Minted Flashpacker

The second definition for flashpacking revolves more around money. Flashpackers have it and are willing to spend it – backpackers probably have it but would rather go cheap to be able to extend their travels. A backpacker would spend 24 hours on a bus to their next destination and a flashpacker would most likely spring for the plane ticket. Usually a bit older than the typical post-uni traveller, flashpackers might be less likely to put up with a 32 bed dorm of drunk, snoring, smelly guys and having to share communal toilets and might instead opt for the relative luxury of a single room in an upscale hostel or budget hotel. They tend to already be established in the workforce and have either packed it all in to travel, are on career breaks, or have taken a month or two off and have to get around quickly. This lends itself to having more disposable income than a recent graduate and might also require some faster, more expensive modes of transport to be able to see what they want on in a shorter amount of time.

The Minted Geek

The two worlds of flashpacking are bound to collide from time to time where you’ll end up with a technology savvy traveller with all the latest toys who also has the money to live it up a little while out on the road. This is on the increase as people discover ways of using the internet to take their work with them on the road or as a means of earning an income through businesses that exist purely online that allow them to earn money while they travel and even while they sleep! For a bit more information on this check outWorking Nomad.

Catering for the Flashpacker

Clever hostel owners have picked up on this trend and are beginning to offer a more connected service for the wandering laptop users out there and have modernised their facilities to fit in with the standards expected from a flashpacker including having things like wifi and power points in all rooms. Hostels have been popping up all over the world for the past 5 or 10 years with hotel-standard facilities at backpacker prices and these places seem to know what flashpackers want and are providing spotless hostels, comfy beds, and loads of facilities like bars, swimming pools, spas and all that good stuff.

I think those of us who have been backpacking and have loved it are very unlikely to start taking organised tours and join the ranks of the package tourist, no matter how old we get. But as people age they tend to get a bit more wealthy, might want a bit more comfort and privacy and might be more inclined to need to take a laptop with them on the road either to keep on top of work or to keep in touch with family. The backpacking industry constantly evolving and changing and flashpacking seems to be a trend that’s here to stay. Source-travoholic.com

So are u consider yourself as flashpacking?

"Think About Your Next Trip"

Independent Vacationing for the Novice

Arranging your own vacation can be a little daunting if you’ve always placed your annual trip in the hands of a competent travel agent. Before, all you had to do was to select the country and resort, get yourself to the airport on the right date and at the right time, and the rest was taken care of for you. You were probably met at your destination airport by the tour operator’s representative who then escorted you to your resort, and, at the end of your vacation, you just needed to be ready and waiting for the return coach journey to the airport. The sense of reassurance this can give has always gone some way to help vacationers enjoy their trip: there’s never been any worry about how to get from the airport to the hotel, how to cope with a broken toilet once there, or how to buy tickets for a boat excursion.

However, over the years, it seems that technology has helped the average vacationer to develop a somewhat more adventurous spirit. They’ve found that not only are they capable of arranging their own travel — and making substantial savings in the process — but that the flexibility and choice independent travel offers provide a greater chance of experiencing much more than they would otherwise do with a vacation package.

While all of this is true for the majority of travelers, there are however a few who will tell you that they wish they’d carried out a little more research before heading off with only a guidebook and their return flight ticket. While independent travel offers an abundance of opportunities, it needs a little preparation and organization. This way you can enjoy your vacation, as well as get back home at your scheduled return time!
Transfers

One of the biggest issues the independent traveler has to contend with is how to get from the airport to the hotel (or apartment, or hostel). While many will just jump in the first taxi that comes along, others prefer to do it a little differently. There are those travelers who want to keep costs down and therefore look for a cheaper alternative; others who believe that local transport is perfectly adequate for their needs; and those who want to experience the local transport system as part of the whole “vacation experience.” If you prefer to take public transport, then you’ll need to research not only the schedules, but whether it will actually be operating when you arrive. Many an independent traveler, arriving at his or her destination when the locals have been enjoying a day off, has been forced to take a taxi instead of public transport as originally intended. While this shouldn’t cause too many problems — apart from depriving those who want the experience of traveling on local transport — if you’re on a tight budget, it could very well mean the difference between dinner and just a beer!

On a similar note, always pay particular attention to the arrival time of your flight at your destination airport. Remember that you won’t be whisked away in a tour operator’s nice big comfortable air-conditioned coach. Ensure that you can get to your hotel and that you won’t be left hanging around for hours. This also applies to your return journey, especially if it’s imperative that you don’t miss your return flight home. It’s always prudent to avoid scheduling important commitments the day immediately following your return from vacation, especially if you’re traveling independently for the first time!
Accommodation

In order to get the best possible deal on your accommodation, ask if there are any membership discounts available when booking (e.g. AAA, seniors, family, or hotel membership). Most hotels have some or other promotion running so it’s worth trying to negotiate a cheaper rate than that advertised. Most accommodation bookings can be made online; however, if you want to negotiate on price, it’s probably easier done over the telephone. If you can be flexible with your dates, you stand more chance of negotiating a discount on the cost (this also applies to buying your airline tickets).

When choosing your hotel, don’t be content only with the information provided on the hotel’s website. This will show the hotel in the best possible light and some of the details (e.g. its location in relation to the local attractions) may be a little vague: “a short walk to the beach” is always worth further investigation! Check the hotel’s location in respect of amenities and attractions depending on what’s important to you: Is it close to the beach? Is it close to the bus station so you can take trips out of the city/resort? Is it close to the local sights?

If you’re on a tight budget, transfer fees from the airport to your hotel may dictate where you eventually decide to stay. While public transport costs will undoubtedly be cheaper than taxi fares, you could still end up paying more than you bargained for. Again, try to find out how much you’ll need to pay in public transport costs.

If you’ve been advised that the hotel or apartment is particularly difficult to find — this sort of information can be obtained from reading previous guests’ reviews online — then make sure you have a good map of the local area. While most local taxi drivers should be able to find your hotel, there’s no guarantee that they will. Always carry a contact number for your hotel just in case you run into any problems en route. Most times, if you get into difficulty, there will be someone you can call who can help you with directions.
Necessities

It always pays to learn a few words of the local lingo, regardless of whether or not you travel independently. However, without access to a tour guide, and the comfort of an “all-inclusive” resort, you may find that a few words of the local language come in very handy. Attempting to communicate with the locals can sometimes be the difference between receiving acceptable and very good service in a restaurant or café. Invest in a small phrase book. If you’re going to be eating out often then make sure it includes translations for food and beverages, especially if you have special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian, food allergy).

Find out whether you’ll be able to access your money while on vacation or whether you need to take cash or travelers’ checks with you.

As you won’t have a travel agent to remind you about necessities such as vaccines, and visas, research what’s needed in this respect for the country you’ll be visiting.

The same applies to travel insurance. Carry out the necessary research to see which package best suits your travel needs.

Research the resort or city where you’ll be staying to know which spots you should visit — and which you should avoid. Again, there may not be anyone on hand to advise you about this aspect of your vacation so find out what you can before leaving home.

And finally, regardless of how independently you travel, remember that we all need to consider our impact on the places we’re visiting and how we can be responsible travelers: take only photographs and leave nothing but footprints.

"Think About Your Next Trip"