Travidition- Travel & Tradition

More than kangaroos and

great beaches

Australia

Top Travel Destinations

Volume 1 Issue 1 USA $ 4.99 www.travidition.com

TRAVIDITION / travidition.com4

In t

his

is

su

e

Paris is a city teeming with cliches, allof which I skirt around and skip over;

Paris of the movies has little appeal for me.

Getting around - PARIS

Page 10

Arabian Adventures offer a huge variety of Tours within Dubai, aswell as touring the outer regions. The tours, as described in this arti-

cle were outstanding. We could not find fault with this company at all. Easy to book, easy

to pay on-line.Emirates airlines are the absolute best way to Fly!

Arabian Adventures within DUBAI

Page 18

When I planned my European adventure I originally thought I wouldspend one, maybe two nights in London. I heard it was really expen-

sive over $200 Canadian a night. All I really wanted to see was Buckingham Palace and Big Ben so I

figured I would knock them off in one day then be on my way toParis one of the big highlights of my trip.

LONDON Calling

Page 24

I was cramped in a stationary three-seated Tuk-Tuk at midnight, sur-rounded by hundreds of people.

It was hot, sticky, loud and smelt unfamiliar, but I was definitely notdisappointed. I had read about the buzz of Bangkok, before I arrived

in the city, but nothing seemed to capture exactly how it felt to besitting at the heart of it.

Thailand's city of angels, BANGKONG

Page 36

Page 70

Crazy as it sounds, some visitors to Australia do expect to find kangaroos hop-ping down the main streets. But in fact, Australians in the cities are very ur-banized and so have devised ways of getting an adventure rush nomatterwhere they are in our great land. Whether in the city, he bush orthe outback, the national thirst for extremes results in a wealth of excit-ing experiences.

AUSTRALIA More than kangaroos and great beachesCover Story

TRAVIDITION / travidition.com 5

Rushing around New York on a two day or two hour furlough is like try-ing to squeeze a symphony orchestra into a minivan. You'll never get

the whole experience; but the amount of stuff that you DO fit in will bewell worth it.

NEW YORK - A world class city

Page 52

This street that winds down to the harbor on Kowloon island is lined with shops thatwould make any shopaholic drool. There are bargains everywhere; and in between

some shops you'll see some wonderful finds that are a bit exotic but more expensive.Big-name stores are all here in Hong Kong; Prada, LV, Gucci, Ferrari,

Maserati...they're all here!

HONG KONG - A city with no season

Page 64

Each shares their ultimate “gold medal getaway” on the CanadianTourism Commission’s (CTC) LOCALSKNOW.ca site to help Canadians

find deals and inspire them to explore their country this summer.

Great Canadians know great CANADIAN escapes

Page 80

Shanghai is like Manhattan and London combined and on steroids. Itis the definition of a mega city. In Shanghai the buildings seem eventaller, the crowds seem larger and there are hoards of people every-

where.

SHANGHAI - Travel experience at a dynamic city

Page 82

There are many "must sees" when visiting Rome for the first time, but there are also

numerous sites and experiences that are missed by most who never had the luxury of

spending a year there to hunt for the treasures. Luckily for you, I already did the re-

search and now you can reap its rewards.

All roads lead to ROME

Page 90

Fellow travelers advised me to skip Singapore onmy recent worldwide jaunt. Boring. Plastic. Too

many rules. I'm glad I ignored the advice.

Page 42

SINGAPORE - Three days in an Asian oasis


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Although definitely a step towardsconservation, it pales to insignifi-cance when compared to hotelsthat offer 5-star facilities with littleimpact on the environment and aconcerted effort toward goinggreen.

Leading the way are many hotels in

Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific

Rim which have been specifically de-

signed to blend into their surrounding

environment. Resort structures have

been built sitting on stilts above the

ground, ocean or lake, to minimize en-

vironmental damage.

These designs enable guests to watch

nature from the comfort of their

rooms. While staying in a waterfront

lodge at Australia's Couran Cove Island

Resort, not only was I able to view the

fish and bird life but I was treated to

the beautiful sight of two kangaroos

swimming at sunset.

Couran Cove Island Resort co-exists

with the fragile sand eco-system of

South Stradbroke Island in Queens-

land. It has its own water treatment

plant and recycling center. As well as a

massive worm farm, housed in a barn

any farmer would envy, where food

scrapes from all the resort's kitchens

are composted. To be later used as

mulch in the gardens around the re-

sort. Trash is also separated for recy-

cling.

The resort's Nature Lodges, scattered

deep in the eucalypt forest, were built

around existing trees to maintain the

natural beauty of the flora and fauna.

The buildings were architecturally de-

signed to take advantage of the sun

and wind to minimizes the use of

heaters and air-conditioners. Solar

heating panels are used for the hot

water systems and natural materials

such as bamboo flooring and hemp

blinds have been used rather than

hardwoods and synthetics.

Many new hotels and resorts in the Pa-

cific region are taking up similar prac-

tices to Couran Cove in an effort to

conserve energy. Some island resorts

supply cloth bags to guests in a bid to

help with waste management. They re-

quest tourists take home any plastic

bottles, containers and plastic bags

that they bring to the island.

Hopefully as tourists and travelers be-

come more environmentally aware

and educated there will be a demand

for brand name hotels to do more for

the environment than just washing

less towels.

Going green for some brandedhotels is the request for

guests to use less fresh towelsand conserve water.

Eco-tourism:

Hotels go green

by Belinda Youlten



Roadology is not just about roads

Although not found in most major dictionar-ies, roadology is generally accepted as "thestudy of roads, as they pertain to the cultureof an area".

Roadology is not just about roads, but howthey affect the population and the commerceof the areas that the road in question travelsthrough.

When roads are built, commerce is an instantwinner in the area, as stores and restaurants,motels and hotels are built to accommodatethe workers, as well as the people who moveinto the area under development.

When the United States decided to build a high-way connecting Chicago and Los Angeles, in timesof economic depression, the birth of the most fa-mous highway ever built was under way, Route66, and the impact that road had on the towns thatit connected was instant and historic.

Route 66, as the thoroughfare became to beknown, was an instant economic boom for thecities and towns that the highway was builtthrough. However, as the United States becamemore reliant on automotive travel, super highwayswere built to take large numbers of vehicles andcommercial trucking on faster routes with fewerstops, bypassing the cities and towns that had re-lied upon the money that was brought in by mo-torists traveling along the infamous

Route 66, and the towns that were once filled withtourists and truckers all summer long were nowbecoming empty and derelict.Culture plays amajor role in allowing mankind to adapt the envi-ronment to their own purposes, as opposed towaiting for nature to make the changes itself.

What is roadology?by Marc Phillippe Babineau

A little push in the right direction, and mankind can changethe culture of any given area, simply by building a road tothat area from a more populous area. As more roads arebuilt, more people convene, and therefore more culture,and a more mixed culture blend becomes evident in thatarea.

The study of roadology is the study of what happens to agri-cultural and residential areas when a road is built amongstthem, or when that road is bypassed by a newer, biggerhighway, and how the people within those areas are af-fected. When a super highway is built to bypass urbansprawl, the smaller, populated areas with one and two lanehighways suffer from loss of travellers, and the loss of themoney that they would have spent in those bypassed areas.

On the other end of the spectrum, roadology also studiesthe positive impacts that building highways and roads hason economic times for the cities and towns that the roadsor highways are built through, and it's effect on culture.Culture does change when a road is built from one city toanother, as the two cities would now have a more directand easily travelled connecting each other, allowing for

more people of differing backgrounds and upbringings tointeract. Bypassing major detours and long, winding roadsthat have 35 to 45 mile per hour speed limits, the newsuper highways allow the drivers to speed along at almosttwice the speed as they would have had to drive at usingthe older roads. This attracts drivers away from the smallerroads, whose towns relied upon the money that these driv-ers brought along with them. And with people speedingalong on the highway, fewer stops are made on the journey,and less money is spent in the areas that were bypassedby the new highways.

Using roadology, engineers can figure out the best routesfor new highways to follow, and the probable impact onareas that would be bypassed. If roadology had been stud-ied earlier in the 20th Century, many towns that now liederelict and nearly empty could still be thriving.

Unfortunately for the cultures of these towns left behind,roadology and how it relates to culture could have had amajor impact on the routing of the newer superhighwaysand Interstate highways, so that these dead towns may stillbe alive and prosperous today.


PARISgetting around

Travel experiences: Paris, France

by Peggy Tee

Paris is a city teeming

with cliches, all of which

I skirt around and skip

over; Paris of the movies

has little appeal for me.

We head up to Sacre

Coeur (Sacred Heart),

on Montmartre, a con-

fection of creamy white

Byzantine and French

architecture. It's a

Roman Catholic church,

with a huge, glorious

mosaiced dome on the

inside. The view from the

top of the hill is marvel-

lous, stretching across

the Parisien skyline. As

we leave, a group of

buskers sings Aicha, a

favourite of mine, but in

its original French; we

linger on the steps lead-

ing up to to the church

and listen while the sky

turns grey and raindrops

gently fall.

Eiffel Tower at twilight

Our next stop is the Arc deTriomphe, and we navigatethe Metro, with its rubberwheels and latch-openeddoors. It's cheap for a sin-gle trip - only EUR1,50, orEUR11,10 for a carnet of10 tickets. It's twilightwhen we reemerge above-ground, and set off to-wards the colossal hulk ofNapoleans' homage to hisGrande Armee. It is in themiddle of the Place Etoile -12 wide, sweeping boule-vards radiating from theArc towards the edges ofParis.

The traffic is horrendously fast and a little chaotic; we cross over by the under-pass and ask for "deaux billet tarif reduit" to climb up the Arc. Serendipitously wemanaged to be in time for the ceremony to restoke the flame at the Tomb of theUnknown Soldier beneath the Arc; complete with war vets bedecked in medalsand a brass military band. The view, when we finally climb up, is of a windsweptParis, and the outline of the Eiffel Tower at twilight.

We have an engagement with the

ladies of the Moulin Rouge,

however, and so rush back to

the IXe (9th arrondissement) where we're

based for the weekend, to eat and change.

Dinner is escargot to start, then duck and

salmon mains. There is no time for dessert

or coffee, and we jump into a cab heading

for Pigalle, the red light district, and that fa-

mous windmill faade.

It takes forever to check our coats in; then

a squeeze in the dark and past warm el-

bows and knees to get to our seats - the

lights have just gone down and the per-

formers are already in their places on stage

as we walk into the tent.

Show

at the Moulin

Rouge

Our show is Faerie, the costumes areso elaborate and bejewelled, speckledwith so much glitter it is difficult to no-tice something as ordinary as a littleflesh. There are some moderatelygood voices,and interesting dancechoreography; witty costumes andsome good variety acts, a passably en-ergetic can can performed in tricolourcostumes, a girl swimming in a tankwith some bored looking snakes, shel-ties and a talking dog; otherwise theshow is merely entertaining at best.

Parisians

out and about

Th e next morning we have breakfast at a little bar -pain au chocolat and a shared croissant andespressos. It's a beautiful day; blue sky shredded

with fluffy clouds and sunlight on the back of my neck.We walk through the Tuileries, filled with manicuredlawns and calm pools and white graceful statues.

There are Parisians out and about; jogging, reading inthe sun, a boy lamenting his listing toy sailboat andyelling to his papa to save it. The gardens are huge andit beggars the imagination to think that it was once theinner courtyard of the enjoined Palais Louvre and Palaisde Tuileries. The gardens lead up towards the Champs,consumerism HQ and witness to military parades, inva-sions, and city celebrations.

The avenue itself is expansive and wide and generous,filled with shopfronts and tourists. It's lunchtime, andwe head back riverwards, exploring the delicate beautyof Le Petit Palais and the artwork inside it (free entry,and a charming garden were the drawcards), passing byLe Grande Palais, which we would have entered, if wehad time, as it has 8 of Monet's giant Waterlilies paint-ings.

Lunch is at an overpriced cafe, before crossing PontNeuf into the islands; we visit St Chapelle first. TheLower Chapel is covered in fleur-de-lis, atmospheric anddimly lit; but the Upper Chapel makes me gasp - all thelitreature in the world could not have prepared me forthe beauty of its stained glass windows. Walls of scintil-lating colour. There are over 1000 scenes depicted instained glass, from Genesis to Christs' resurrection. Wesit for awhile, and watch the light change as sunlightstreams through one side of the chapel and makes but-terflies of jewelled light on the walls.

We head to Notre-Dame next; the queue is ridiculouslylong, so her bells and rose window will have to wait formy second visit to Paris - it's time for Musee d'Orsay,something I'd been looking forward to since landing inthe city.

The Museum is housed in an old train station, and thespace is lovely; broken up into galleries and broad stepsof housing statues in the main hall; some Rodins are onthe mezzanine. The Impressionists are on the top floor,and I wander around in bemused wonder, stopping atevery favourite, familiar piece. Monet, Manet, Degas,Renoir - they're all here, amorpheous suggestion ofform and movement and light captured on canvas in oiland charcoals. We stay until the museum starts to closeat about 6:30pm; because we'd arrived so late therewere less tourists milling around, though the Impres-sionist rooms are always full.

It's grey outside and cold; we plan to scale the Arcagain, and soak in the night view later on. For nowthough, we trace a path through the metro down to LaTour du Eiffel to pay our respects; we have not seen herfrom close up just yet; and Paris would not be Pariswithout going to see her. The Eiffel tower must be oneof the most photographed icons of the world.


O riginally only a temporary exhibition, she has re-mained a symbol of the city since the late 19th century.She is graceful, and aesthetically severe, all steel rivetsand soaring lines, more installation than functionalbuilding, and she plays tricks on our perspectives - thetower appears larger the further you move away fromher, for some reason. We wander along the parks,under her arches, watch the military men holding bigmilitary guns (found at St Chapelle also, and the nextday, at the Louvre) watching us, speak Italian back tothe gypsies who ask us for money in English (this getsrid of them surprisingly easily) and watch the sliver ofsunset behind the clouds.

I buy candyfloss from a vendor by brightly lit carousel;the crowd is mostly tourists or young families. I hadnever planned to go up the Eiffel - the only viewpoint inParis where you can't actually see her in the skyline. Westop for a few minutes so I can sketch her, quickly, in thedying light - she lights up like a glitterball as night slidesin, and there is a collective gasp from the crowds cometo worship at her feet.

We go in search of dinner, near the Arc - I order steaktartare (raw beef mince) - done perfectly and deliciouslyspiced; Jeff has french onion soup and chicken. We're ex-tremely full, but order a creme brulee anyway betweenus - our waiter winks, laughs, and brings two spoons. At night Paris is surprisingly quiet - the boulevards arerivers of gold and red light from the traffic that flowthrough; the Eiffel throws a spotlight into the darkness.The wind rattles the iron barriers, howls around us.

The Louvre is our first stop; after a breakfast at the cafaround the corner from our hotel. We sit at the bar,

order deaux petit dejeuner and ask for pain au chocolatinstead of croissants - the meal reminds me of Italianbreakfasts standing at the bar. It starts to rain as weenter the grounds of Palais du Louvre, the pyramid isstunning and sculptural and jarring against the faade ofthe Palais. We grab a map and hit the highlights we wantto see - Mona Lisa, because its on the list; Da Vinci's sfu-mato paintings like the Virgin on the Rocks; The WingedVictory; Venus de Milo; the Egyptian antiquities, the Ob-jets d'Art and Napolean III's apartments. There is no time to visit Vermeer, or the other wings ofthe Louvre, not if we want to also make it to Rodin; so re-gretfully we leave behind the Grande Galleries pale par-queted halls and elaborately frescoed, trompe de il'dceilings.

Rodin's gardens and the house he stayed in are charmingand a quiet respite after the crowds fringing the MonaLisa at the Louvre. All his famous pieces are there - theCathedral, the Kiss, the Thinker, the Gates of Hell, TheWalking Man, the Burghers of Calais, the Shades. Hispieces are raw, unfinished, seething with movement andpassion. The trees are bare and the fountains quiet, butthere is a peace about the grey sky and expanse of greenlawn, the bronze cast statues scattered about thegrounds.

Paris, city of light and lovers - gracious and generous andgorgeous in all her moods - is definitely a return visit. Ihave yet to visit St Germain, or Ile St Louis, or have a cof-fee in the Latin Quarter, or visit the food markets, ex-plore the cemetaries and catacombs, wander aroundMontparnasse, be dazzled by Versailles, return to theLouvre... the list is neverending. For now though, aurevoir le Ville Lumiere.

The great American road trip, is thereany better way to become closer withyour friends, family or just your own lit-tle self?

Driving, on motorbikes, in RVs, in carsor in minivans, or in the quintessentialroad trip vehicle, the Volkswagenmicro bus, and taking the most scenicand out of the way route as possible toyour destination is the great Americandefinition of a road trip.

With a destination set, the road trip isall but started, and how you get thereis . And gadgets. We must have gadg-ets for our road trips these days. Andthe most up to date gadgets are esse-tial for many people for a road trip

these days, as high technology keepsus connected to those we leave be-hind. Tweet tweet. what a road trip isall about.

The best gadgets

for a road trip


by Marc Phillippe Babineau

Yes, the cell phone is the first technological gadget re-quired for a road trip, with text messaging, Wi-Fi, andbuilt in camera.

Any listings of the best gadgets for a road trip must firstinclude the common gadgets; those being a vehicle, atool box (usually missing the one tool that you will end upreally needing), a map, some willing friends with sometime on their hands, and gas money. Lots and lots of gas money. Friends and money may notbe gadgets, but they are a necessity for a great road trip.For a successful, enjoyable and true to form road trip,there are many gadgets that would help in the mappingout of your road trip's route.

You would want to have a Global Posi-tioning Satellite, or GPS, with a map-ping system to map out the journey,and to find any interesting, out of theway places to drive to, and visit, alongthe way. You would also use the GPSto find any backwoods places to camp,and have campfires at night, thusavoiding paying for motels or camp-ground sites.

The GPS can also keep a journal ofyour road trip in real time, overlaid onthe map, for downloading on your lap-top computer. Before leaving on yourroad trip, you should make sure thatall of the proper and updated mapsand applications that will give youmore of an idea of what you may bemissing along the way, and the abilityto record every mile travelled aredownloaded and working properly.

The best gadgets for a road trip wouldneed to include a digital camera totake pictures of you and your friendsat the biggest this and the longestthat, in front of all of the natural andman-made landmarks that make forgrand and silly pictures.

A camera is needed to take pictures ofeveryone in fun poses, in front of high-way signs, empty and derelect facto-ries, and especially any of theremaining HWY 66 route markers thatare left on the roads (not in people'sbasements). In Canada, there is thelargest lobster, largest nickel, largestBison, etc., and they are booms totheir town's tourism dollars, andAmerica has her own big silly things.

Cell phone cameras are great in a tightspot, but a good digital SLR camerawith interchangeable lenses will takespectacular pictures of places like theGrand Canyon, and is the top gadgetfor road trips. Road trip gadgets must

also include gadgets that make camp-ing much more comfortable, as camp-ing is the sleeping mode of choice formost road trippers.

A propane camping stove, lantern andbug-zappers are needed for the nighttime, along with LED flashlights (alongwith the head-worn cap lights) andelectronic fire starters for the stoveand campfires. While the car is restingfor the next day's journey to com-mence, you will need to sleep as well,and sleeping 4 people in a car is nottoo comfortable.

Amongst the camping gear, as a mini-mum, you will need a collapsiblecamping tent, sleeping bags and blan-kets for sleeping under the stars, be-side a campfire, or in the tent.Sleeping under the stars is anotherright of passage for any road trippers,and the camping gear may not techni-cally be gadgets, but they, like yourfriends and gas money, are stillneeded. However, dancing nakedunder the moon isn't a gadget either,but it never hurt.A road trip can only be considered aroad trip if there are troubles alongthe way. What good is a road tripwithout an overheated engine, a cou-ple of flat tires or possibly running intoa murderous family of zombies alongthe way? Bring a titanium edgedhatchet just in case.

It's good for cutting firewood, clearingspots for tents, and using as a ham-mer, too! Binoculars are anothergadget that will come in extremelyhandy, especially for the navigator,trying to find the next exit that theGPS swears is just ahead. And the u-turn spot to get back to the exit thatwas surely missed. An LED flashlightfor finding your way at night, readingthe map, or finding those lost keys.

And a laptop computer for mak-

ing silly videos and emailing them

back to your envious family and

friends are gadgets that should

be brought along on any road

trip.

The best road trip gadgets are,

basically, those that will make

you enjoy your road trip all the

more, and if there are any other

gadgets that you think may help

you in your road trip, like an MP3

player, an XBox 360 with all of

the Rock Band accessories, or

anything else that would just be

fun to have along, bring them. As

long as you have the room, that

is.



Arabian Adventures

at DUBAI

AHLAN WA SAHLAN - Welcome to Dubai

Arriving in Dubai, we were transported by

Arabian Adventures to our accommodation,

The Pearl Residence.

Travel destinations: Dubai, United Arab Emirates by Caz Kilby


What would we do in Dubai?

The travel agents says, "Youhaven't been there before, whynot have a stop over on your wayto Kenya?"

Gee, why not?Internet searching time...askquestions...find out where isDubai and what is there!

Time difference between Dubaiand Aussie land is 7 hours.

Arabian Adventures offer a huge varietyof Tours within Dubai, as well as tour-ing the outer regions. The tours, as

described in this article were outstanding.We could not find fault with this company atall. Easy to book, easy to pay on-line.

Emirates airlines are the absolute best wayto Fly!

Based in Dubai, the uniforms are unique andthe meals on board are splendid. Not the tra-ditional "hospital" type food, but exquisitevariety like Tasmanian Hot SmokedSalmon(Entree), Sauteed Chicken with Mush-room Sauce served with seasonal salad(din-ner), followed by Strawberry Cheesecake,Cheese & Biscuits, Tea/Coffee and a superiorchoice of wines, spirits and liqueurs.

This was economy food! Imagine what wasbeing served in First class!

The breakfast, however, was only satisfactory. For theprice we were paying, it would pass.Our first thoughts were of how fast people drive hereand the continual honking of car horns.

"Quick, get out of the way, I'm coming through!"Apparently this custom of beeping is common in manyEuropean countries.

It signifies when you are driving forward, turning left,

turning right or coming to a halt. What utter confusionfor the tourist and novice driver! My advice is...DON'Tdrive! Take a bus or a taxi! Believe it or not, they knowwhere they are going and the quickest way to get there.

Oh! If you decide to walk anywhere, be sure to stay onthe footpath! When you cross at the traffic lights, do soQUICKLY, after you have checked every direction. If youthink they are beeping at you to hurry up...you are prob-ably right.


As a passenger, you should focus on

buildings, people walking by or what-

ever else you can. Do not look at traffic

beside you or coming from side

streets,unless of course you are prepared for the

fright of your life.

Time for a quick shower and change, then run downstairs

ready for our first Tour. Quick stop at front desk to remind

Hotel Staff that we only had hand towels in our room. That

was a trick, drying your whole body with a hand towel!

All Points East Tour headed out of Dubai towards Sharjah.

This is the mosque-shaped International Airport designed by

HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed ruler of Sharjah. We

passed a University and a Discovery centre which had a

huge statue of the Koran at the entrance. On to the oasis

town of Dhaid and through the spectacular mountain

scenery we journeyed.

Traveling through the outer regions, we marveled at the in-

credible buildings and were truly surprised that our guides

commentary was so precise and clear. We learned so much

about the people, their culture and way they live.

Approximately ten Mansions existed in each concrete

walled oasis, all built on sand. The housing of the wealthy

Emirates people.

Stopping at the Friday Markets, just before Masafi, was

quite an experience!

The poorer people sell all kinds of wonderful things here.

Carpets, Fruit, souvenirs! Beware! If you ask "price?" they

think you should buy it!

Many stalls sell the same goods. After walking up one side

of the road,the heat of the day saw us heading for the air

conditioning on board the bus. My regret was that I didn't

buy the little stuffed camel back a ways, as the closer one

was twice the price!

Stopping at Fujairah Fort was a wonderful feeling

Volcanic action has created an enormouscanyon which has now become a Touristspot. There is an eerie feeling as youwalk towards the edge of this canyon.You can view the 'wadis' which showtracks used by the nomads in the earlydays.

Traveling on, you are suddenly shockedat the unexpected appearance of theOcean. Dibba is a picturesque fishing vil-lage. In the distance you could see theline up of approximately thirty OilTankers, all waiting patiently for their re-fueling.

The oldest and smallest Mosque in the

UAE is the Bidiyah Mosque.The dress of the Arabs had me bewil-dered! Why did the men wear white andthe women wear black burqas? We wereto notice that many women wear jeans,stilettos, make up and exquisite jeweleryunder these dark garments.

Lunch was at the Hilton, Fujairah. Thebreeze of the Indian Ocean keeping theheat at bay. Don't order potato wedgesif you like them with Sour Cream...theydon't have the Sour Cream!Stopping at Fujairah Fort was a wonder-ful feeling. A feeling that was scary, butalso knowing we were pretty safe. ThisFort is 300 years old.

City of Merchants-Orientation

Tour of Dubai City

The honking of the horns heralded our arrival back in

Dubai. This amazing trip had taken up the better part

of the day and had filled us with an incredible feel-

ing. To see such different lifestyle was totally awesome!

Next day after breakfast, we headed for the closest Mall.Shopping was an experience. Elite brands or copies, whateveryour heart desires. Malls everywhere! Bazaars too. The differ-ence? I'm not sure. "What's in a name?" If, like me, you don'tlike pushy sales people, hang back and view the goods from adistance. When you see something you are sure you want topurchase, get your partner to barter for you! It worked forme!

City of Merchants-Orientation Tour of Dubai City, was our af-ternoon tour. This is a tour of many historical sites includingthe Jumeira Mosque, Palaces and the Windtowers of Bas-takiya. These wind-towered houses were built by the wealthymerchants.

Al Fahidi Fort is 150 years old and houses a museum of im-mense information. It shows the city's past as an importantpearl diving and trading centre. Fantastic lifelike figures de-picting all cultural elements of the Arabian population.

Crossing the Dubai Creek in a water taxi or Abra, is a definite must do! This takes you to the

famous Spice and Gold Souks. Gold, Gold and more Gold! Every woman's dream! The aroma

of exotic spices fills the air.

A tip for travelers is...if the Abra is full, you will be charged less, but if it's empty, you will be

charged a lot more!

Burj Al Arab Tour was to be our major highlight! Seven Star Hotel built on a man-madeisland...you cannot go to Dubai and not visit this!

First stop at the Burj Dubai (world's tallest building), showed what the future has instore for Dubai. A simulated elevator ride to the 70th floor for a viewing of the availableunits. You could choose three different decorating styles if you were rich enough topurchase these units.

No wonder there is nil unemployment as there is so much construction going on in thisarea. Every way you looked you could see cranes atop of buildings.


People were being ferried about and enjoying the ulti-

mate relaxation in the Dubai sunshine. The Nakheel

office provided a first hand view of "The Palm" and

"The World" projects.

The talk and video was a little boring to me, but the wait

gave one a chance to have a little cat nap!

Now for the the Magnificent Burj Al Arab! Impressive be-

yond belief!

Fountains, Chauffeur driven Limousines, Bentleys, Toparies

of Roses, Gold and more Gold.Entering this magnificent

building, one's breath is almost taken away by the sheer in-

dulgence. Gold ornate decorations adorn the entire Foyer.

Walls of Aquariums, filled with colourful fish, line the eleva-

tor edges. Exquisite.

Up to the eighteenth floor for Hi Tea. Finger food to die for!

Salmon finger sandwiches, cream cheese fingers, tiny cakes,

pastries and chocolates like we had never seen before. Deli-

cacies and bottomless pots of Tea or Coffee.

Elite furnishings and trimmings everywhere you looked.

The Ladies Only Toilet contained a swimming pool with total

glass walls enabling a fantastic view of the Ocean. A Jacuzzi

and splendid lounging area were also contained within

these walls.

The Famous Sky View Restaurant is situated on the 27th

Floor. No entry unless you have booked. This didn't stop our

little group from taking a sneak peek! It was suggested that

we might like to "GO DOWN NOW" by way of the Panorama

Elevator!

Wow! The Panorama elevator was spectacular! Down we

went, then up again, then down again...again? Better not,

it's time to leave.

Do you know that for only AED 40000.00 you can stay

overnight in The Royal Suite?

(That's $13,741 AUD) or ($10,890 USD)

Sadly, our tour was over and we headed back to our Motel,

but we knew we had to visit the gold souk one more time,

so off we headed toward the water taxi again.

What a difference the night made! A totally romantic view

of the city as we made our way across the creek. The Gold

Souk at night was a little scary, but also exciting!

We took our time to study which shop offered the best deal

and where most people seemed to be shopping. Our deci-

sion was made and we purchased our items from Al Bahar

Jewellers.

The whole Dubai experience was not only a culture shock,

what with the way the people barter and are "in your face",

but also an eye opening adventure that I am so glad I have

now experienced first hand.

I plan to revisit Dubai(one day) and explore more of this fas-

cinating Country!

Places like Wild Wadi World and The Indoor Ski Park, which

although we drove by them, we did not have time for a stop

there.

Next trip will be about a week, giving plenty of time to to-

tally discover and rediscover this wonderful place.

Oh! I will make sure I take a bigger bag or organize to post

my many purchases home, there are just so many bargains

to be had here!

Dubai Marina Complex (take your credit card), is a

tranquil setting with many elite shops, outdoor

eateries and water taxis darting about from one

end to the other.


My 8 day adventure in London

by Teresa Cline

When I planned my European adventure I originally thought I would spend one,maybe two nights in London. I heard it was really expensive over $200 Canadian anight. All I really wanted to see was Buckingham Palace and Big Ben so I figured Iwould knock them off in one day then be on my way to Paris one of the big high-lights of my trip.

Well I managed to find a reasonably priced hotel near Victoria Station for $70Canadian a night then I set out my first night to explore the neighborhood. Much tomy surprise I saw signs pointing to Buckingham Palace. Could I be that close tothe palace? I had to find out. Sure enough, a ten-minute walk led me to the frontgates of the Queen's London abode.

Big Ben & Parliament Square

In a massive square across from thefront gates of the palace sat a beautifulmonument. I was in awe.

Spotlights gave the monument a warmheavenly glow. My eyes were drawn tothe golden angel standing on top withher wings spread and one hand majesti-cally conducting the air.

Fountains flowed at the base of the mon-ument providing peaceful sounds of run-ning water to compliment an alreadyperfect evening.

As I continued my evening stroll, I sawwhat appeared to be a huge clock towerin the distance and decided to walk to-wards it.

I followed the beacon through parks, anumber of other monuments and someamazing buildings before finally arrivingat the foot of what could only be Big Ben.

Wow! I couldn't believe it. My first nightin London wanting to check the time, I searched for my watch in my bag youdumb ass you're standing under thebiggest clock in London...maybe theworld and you're looking for your watch?

I looked up it was 10pm, and I had al-ready seen Buckingham Palace, Big Benand the Parliament. Unbelievable!

My 8 day adventure in London

by Teresa Cline

A short five-minute walk from my hotelbrought me to the pick up area.

Greeted by a friendly English tour guide Iboarded the bus headed to our first stop:Bath. I'd never heard of this town and waseager to learn more. Bath is a world heritagesite and home to the magnificent RomanBaths. These baths are fed from a naturalspring where one million liters of boilingwater flow everyday.

Built back in the Roman times, these mineralbaths were thought to heal as well as relievethe stress of those who soaked in them. Leg-end has it that if you make a wish and drop acoin into the water your wish will come true.

TRAVIDITION / travidition.com

Ispent the next hour and ahalf walking through thebathhouse and checking

out the museum. I put myhand in the water and wassurprised at how warm it was.If I weren't so afraid of beingkicked off the tour and leftstranded in Bath I would havejumped in and enjoyed a soak.

The museum was very in-teresting. They dis-played some stone

caskets, busts and otherRoman artifacts found duringexcavations of the bathhouse.Cameras were allowed in thebaths and museum so I tookloads of pictures.

Bath is a world heritagesite and home to themagnificent RomanBaths. These baths arefed from a natural springwhere one million litersof boiling water floweveryday.

Rom

an B

aths

I woke up early my second day to meet my tour bus. I knew I could not visit England withoutseeing Stonehenge. I heard people were only allowed to walk around the perimeter to viewthe stones. I was disappointed to hear this since I really wanted to see and touch Stonehengefrom the inner circle. Then I read a tour pamphlet I found in the hotel lobby; it seemed myluck had changed. The pamphlet promised a "Private Viewing at Sunset". While "most visi-tors are not allowed direct access to the stones with Premium tours you get that access".

The cost was about $140 Canadian which included a luxury bus ride, a stop at the RomanBaths in the town of Bath and lunch at Lacock. Sold!


Stonehenge! For real! I felt so privileged. I spentthe first few minutes rushing around getting videoand pictures; I wanted this experience well docu-mented. I got pictures of myself touching Stone-henge pretending to push Stonehenge overmodeling Stonehenge you name it!

With that need satisfied, I gave myself time to justbe in Stonehenge. I lightly touched the stones andwalked amongst them allowing myself to feel theenergy while I imagined the lives of the peoplewho erected the stones. What it was like to live inthese times? I felt wonderful full of energy. It trulyis a magical place.

When I got back on the bus, I turned to the couplesitting next to me and mentioned I had videotapedthem kissing in Stonehenge. Many people havetried conceiving in Stonehenge' much to the frus-trations of the guards, believing it will bring thebaby good luck.

I asked if that was their intention. Laughing, the girl told me her boyfriend proposedto her in the inner circle and she accepted. Shecontinued to tell the story of how earlier in the dayshe tossed a coin into the Roman Bath wishing herboyfriend would propose. The tour guide caughtwind of their romantic story and shared it with therest of the tour. A loud applause was followed withmany congratulations. What a great way to remem-ber my visit to Stonehenge!

Stonehengeat Sunset

The site was empty aside from one guard, twentypeople from the tour and myself. We crossed under

the highway and stood in the outer circle then wewere separated into two groups and each group

was allowed to enter the inner circle for twenty-min-utes. Unable to contain my excitement I put myself

in the first group.

I could feel my excitement start to build as the huge circle of rocks came into view in the midst of a grassy

field. I stepped off the bus in utter amazement.

Stonehenge was built nearly Stonehenge was built nearly 5000 years ago and is 5000 years ago and is

the most popularthe most popularprehistoric siteprehistoric site

in the world. in the world.


Istarted my third day by going to

Buckingham Palace to watch the

changing of the guards. This elabo-

rate ceremony takes place in the

palace gates every second day during

the summer months.

The square in front of Buckingham

Palace was buzzing with people eager

to witness one of Britain's most fa-

mous traditions. A policeman pointed

out a great place for me to film the

surge of red jackets marching into the

palace behind a horseman. It was quite

an impressive sight.

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the

marching band play while the guards

moved in unison to the voice of their

commander. After forty-five minutes,

the ceremony was over. The off-duty

guards left the palace marching down

the street in front of me.

At that point I decided I had to visit the

staterooms, which are only open from

July 30th to September 27th. A short

wait in the ticket line and 13.50

pounds later I held an entrance ticket

that was accompanied by the classiest

royal visa receipt known to man and

woman. I know one thing for sure; the

Royals certainly like to do things with

flair.

After clearing security, I was issued an

audio guide and sent on my way but

much to my disappointment, pictures

and video were not allowed inside the

palace. That sucked. Now I couldn't

take any pictures of myself on the

royal throne

They had a special display called the

White Wardrobe, which were the

dresses the Queen wore on an official

visit to France during the war. I guess it

was important to look pretty while

seeking French support against the

Germans.

She definitely pulled it off with this

wardrobe. While it was cool to see the

palace first hand, I found the audio

guide rather boring and impersonal.

There had to be a better way to see

this historical place perhaps a guided

tour by the Queen herself.

I was more impressed by the palaces

backyard than its interior. The gardens

were amazing.

With the price of land in central Lon-

don being as high as it is, I was im-

pressed this green space re

mained in tact. This could very well be

the most expensive backyard in the

world. After spending a royal fortune

in the royal souvenir shop I was on my

way back to hotel.

Buckingham Palace


The

Lon

don

Dun

geon

With half a dayleft, I decided tofill it with a visit tothe infamous Lon-don Dungeon.

This is whereprisoners wereheld and torturedwhile awaiting aboat ride fromTraitor's Gateacross the riverto the Tower ofLondon to bepublicly exe-cuted. Nice placeeh?

I was expectingto see an aban-doned dungeonbut much to mydelight it wastransformed intoa live theater. Ac-tors recreatedsome of London'sdarker momentsin history.

The next 1.5 hours were filled with entertaining and scary reen-

actments of such events as the Plague, the Great Fire of Lon-

don and the mystery of Jack the Ripper. We were also given a

lesson in torture methodology followed by an entertaining mock court.

It ended with a bone chilling boat ride through Traitor's Gate.

I was expecting to see an abandoned dungeon but much to my delight

it was transformed into a live theater. Actors recreated some of Lon-

don's darker moments in history.


Tower Bridge

Upon leaving the dungeon, I looked at my map and noticed I was just a few blocks from the famousLondon Bridge. I decided to make it my next destination.On my way I spotted a couple familiar looking characters. The first man introduced himself as BondJames Bond and the other introduced himself as Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery. Theywere headed to a spy party on the HMS Belfast, Europe's only surviving World War II cruiser turnedmuseum. They invited me along saying it would be "groovy baby" however, I decided to stay oncourse and find London Bridge before it fell down.

When I finally found the bridge, it was not quite what I had expected. Apparently the bridge had a historyof falling down until the Freemasons were decreed to build a sturdy structure that would pass the testof time. It was rumored that a virgin maiden was embedded in the concrete as a sacrifice hence thewords: my fair lady" in the song London Bridge. This bridge was most recently sold to a wealthy Ameri-can in order to finance the construction of the current London Bridge. The Mason's bridge now restssomewhere in Texas thus it not only passed the test of time but also of distance.

The Tower Bridge was a sight to see; two huge Towers connected together by a drawbridge that lifts tolet tall ships pass. The bridge is most beautiful at night when it is lit up. I walked across it to discover theTower of London and St. Katherine Docks waiting on the other side with their lights reflecting on thewater making for many postcard-like pictures. I spent a good hour photographing them before deciding to find a metro station and return to my hotel.As luck would have it, when I went back across the bridge I got to see it rise so a boat full of drunkenpartiers on a booze cruise could pass under it.


Hyd

e Par

k

A walk along Rotten Row brought me to a path along theSerpentine, a small lake in the middle of the park. I was cu-rious as to why there were so many Muslim women wear-ing traditional black dresses and veils strolling along thewalkways and sitting on the benches. I later found out thatKensington, one of London's most expensive neighbor-hoods also acts as a summer retreat to wealthy Arab fami-lies.

When I reached the end of Hyde Park, I crossed the roadinto Kensington Gardens to visit the Princess Diana Memo-rial Fountain. It wasn't quite what I was expecting. Thefountain was a huge circular structure covering a largegrassy area. The idea behind the fountain was to create aspace for people of all ages to enjoy. Water flowed througha shallow trough providing a cool place for children to playon a hot summer's day. The intention behind it was honor-able, however, this monument has been the cause of muchcontroversy and public embarrassment during and after itsconstruction. Coming in grossly over budget the fountainhas been plagued with operational problems such asleaves clogging the drains and the surrounding land beingsaturated by water.

Hyde Park is a massive well-mani-cured green space right in centralLondon. Famous for its outdoor concerts and speakers corner it's aplace for Londoners to jog,rollerblade, bike, walk, watch wildlifeor just hang out and enjoy nature.That's where I spent day four.


Tow

er O

f L

ondo

nI couldn't very well

visit London without

visiting the Tower of

London now could I?

The Tower was once the resi-dence for the Kings andQueens of England and also a

fortress with a prison that held fa-mous prisoners such as Sir WalterRaleigh.

Two of King Henry VIII's wiveswere beheaded at the tower. It isprotected by the YeomanWarders (more commonly knownas Beefeaters) who now act astours guides as well as securityguards. Since the 14th century,the Tower of London has alsobeen home to the British CrownJewels.

After purchasing my entranceticket I waited at the gate for mytour to begin. About twenty-min-utes later a man with a graybeard wearing a blue and red uni-form with a crown and ER em-blazed on his chest appeared. Hecame hobbling towards us canein hand; this was my first en-counter with a Beefeater.

He was a jovial man who capti-vated his audience with grue-some tales of murders,conspiracies and public execu-tions bringing the history of theTower of London to life.

For the next hour he gave us aguided tour of the property ex-plaining the significance of eacharea before setting us free to dis-cover the Tower of London onour own.I spent the better part of the daywandering through the manybuildings and displays.

I enjoyed watching actorsdressed in medieval garb act outstories that once took placewithin the tower walls.

The Tower Of London was a greatway to complete my sixth day.


Thea

tre

Distr

ict

On day seven I decided to head over tothe west end, London's theatre district,to see if I could find a cheap theatreticket. One of my guidebooks said therewere a number of discount ticketbooths in the West End where onecould buy tickets for popular shows foras little as half the box office price.

As soon as I stepped out of the metrostation I came across one of thesebooths and decided to buy a ticket forthat nights performance of Stomp; aunique show about eight men andwomen who use a variety of junkyarditems to make music.

Ticket in hand, I had a few hours to killbefore the performance so I decided toexplore the area. I came across quite afew discount ticket booths noticing thatprices varied between them. To my dis-may I discovered how much the pricegoes down as curtain time approaches.I could have saved $20!The West End is a bustling part of Lon-don. Crowds of people filled the streets

enjoying the sidewalk cafes, streetartists and many vendors. Most of Lon-don's theatres are in this area.

They offer every popular performanceimaginable from Phantom of the Opera& Les Miserables to Mary Poppins &Lion King.

I was about to walk to the theatre tocatch the 8pm curtain when I stumbledacross the amazing Trafalgar Square.Fountains and huge lions surrounded atremendous column, which presidedover the square. It was a cloudy nightwith a full moon poking through theclouds shining down on the monumentmaking a link from heaven to earth.

After taking some great pictures, it wastime to make my way to the VaudevilleTheatre for Stomp.

Stomp was like no other musical I haveseen before. A group of dancing streetsweepers made music with everythingfrom brooms to hubcaps. I loved it!

The West End is a bustling part of London. Crowds of people filled thestreets enjoying the sidewalk cafes, street artists and many vendors. Mostof London's theatres are in this area.

In eight days, I really grewto love this amazing city.

I am going to miss the redphone booths, mailboxesand double-decker busesalong with the London Un-derground and itsrecorded voice telling meto "Mind the Gap".

Most of all, I will miss thenumerous friendly Lon-doners who all told meLondoners aren't thatfriendly. Yes you are I'm onto you!

Tips for making the airport

check-in process go faster

Air travel isn't as straightforward as it usedto be. Now that the price of flying has got-ten more affordable, more people do it, andthey are flying on a regular basis. This makes the airports more crowded andthe check in process becomes more compli-cated.

There are ways by which a savvy travelercan shorten the amount of time it takes togo through the check-in and that will maketheir travel experience a smoother and eas-ier one in the process. Here are some tips tohelp make that check-in process as easy

and stress free as possible.

*Check-in online

Most airlines will allow travelers to check inonline beginning 24 hours before theirflight is due to depart. When you do this,you can verify that you are sitting in a seatyou want to sit in and change your seat ifthere are any vacant seats from which tochoose. You can then print your boarding pass orpasses so that you won't have to stand inone of the long lines.


*Weigh your luggage before you leave home

This is very important because it doesn't matter whether you

use the self service check in or go through a line. You will have

to weigh your luggage, and if the weight of your bag exceeds 50

pounds, you will be charged a penalty for an over weight bag. Be

sure you know how much that penalty will be.

*Don't over pack

On most airlines, anyone who travels by economy rather than

business or first class has to pay to check luggage. This means

that you pay $15 to check your first bag and then an additional

$25 per bag. Make sure you can get everything you need in one

bag without having it be over the 50 pound weight limit.

*Pack liquids in sealed plastic bags

You never know what will happen from the time you leave your

luggage to be sent through to the plane and when you retrieve

it. It's best to assume that your luggage won't be handled with

care, and liquids that aren't in sealed bags or unopened and

tightly sealed containers can easily spill all over everything in

your suitcase.

*Use the electronic check-in terminals

Once you arrive at the airport, look for the electronic check-in

terminals. There, you'll be able to scan the bar code from your

e-ticket or boarding pass and that will bring up your reservation

information. You can then opt to check your luggage in from

there. This will save you from having to go through the long

lines where people wait to see an attendant.

Once your boarding passes are printed, you go over to an area

where a person is waiting to tag your luggage. You then put your

luggage on the scale where it is checked to make sure that it

doesn't exceed the 50 pound weight limit. Once they determine

that your bag is 50 pounds or less, they will put the baggage

claim ticket on it, give you the claim receipts and send you to

the conveyor where your luggage is sent through to the baggage

department.

*Have ID and credit card out in advance

To expedite the check in process, make sure you have your ID

and credit card out before you reach the check-in terminal. You

will need the credit card to pay the fee to check your bag. You

will need to show the attendant who weighs and tags your lug-

gage your ID.

Take the time to find out what the airline regulations are regard-

ing advance check-in, how much luggage you can check and how

much you'll have to pay to check it. If you take advantage of the

early check in, you will make the airport check in much easier

and the entire process will go faster. Make sure that you get to

the airport in plenty of time.

You want to be sure that you get your luggage to the conveyor

at least 45 minutes, if not an hour before your plain leaves. This

will assure you of getting your luggage on the flight you are on

and you won't have to worry about whether or not your luggage

will arrive when you do.

Be sure that you have proper luggage tags on your luggage so

that you can easily retrieve it when you arrive at your destina-

tion.


Thailand's city of angels, Bangkok, is the most popular desti-

nation for backpackers travelling

in Southeast Asia

Bangkok

TRAVIDITION / travidition.com

Travel experiences Bangkok, Thailand

Iwas cramped in astationary three-seated Tuk-Tuk at

midnight, surrounded byhundreds of people.

It was hot, sticky, loudand smelt unfamiliar, butI was definitely not dis-appointed.

I had read about thebuzz of Bangkok, beforeI arrived in the city, butnothing seemed to cap-ture exactly how it felt tobe sitting at the heart ofit.

37

by Trishma Borkhataria


TheTuk-Tuk was an amazing machine a mo-

torized, open-air vehicle with a noisy en-

gine.

This particular vehicle had in-built disco lights and stickers

of Liverpool FC all over the ceiling. The city was obsessed

with British Football. I was obsessed with the city's night

life.

As the voyeur, I watched as people weaved their way

through the traffic-jam, busy talking in Thai, laughing and

joking with each other. There was an invisible window be-

tween myself and the crowd, if I

stretched out my arms I could

touch them, but they walked on

without even noticing that I was

there.

Our convoy of two Tuk-Tuk's

stood side by side in the jam.

My five friends and I sat quietly,

taking it all in. Squashed next to

my friends, it was difficult to get

comfortable. I wriggled down

and slouched in my seat, leaning

my head against the metal back-

frame. I closed my eyes.

After a moment, the unusual

high-pitched engine kick

started. As we slowly began to

move, I silently thought about

the past few days in Thailand's

Krug Thep, the city of angels.

I was the original anti-back-

packer. I had been staying in a luxury four-star hotel with fa-

miliar treats such as a cooked breakfast, swimming pool and

the use of my ghd's.

Bangkok has one of the largest concentrations of luxury ho-

tels in the world. I was lucky enough to be staying at The

Asia Bangkok hotel on Phayathai Road. It offered everything

you could ever want in a hotel - good food and great facili-

ties. In my party of six we each spent just under 10 a night,

or 682 Thai Baht.

I was living the life of luxury but still kept within budget.


I awoke every morning to an amazing array of food. Dim

Sum, at my hotel's Great Wall of China Restaurant, was

my usual choice.

When I wasn't eating breakfast or having a massage I

spend hours relaxing in the pool and Jacuzzi. Staying in

luxury certainly had its perks, but it meant that my experi-

ence of Bangkok was fairly limited to the night

Buddhist Wat (temple) and shopping in markets during

the day, I had one holiday regret.

After a night out with my friends at the fabulously space-

aged club, The Bed' on Sukhamurit Road, we had slept-in

and missed our bus to a tourist hot spot, the Emerald Bud-

dha of the Grand Palace. Although I was disappointed at

the time, I saw it as yet another reason to re-visit this cul-

tural metropolis.

The Tuk-Tuk came to an

abrupt stop. My body

jolted forwards. A fight

had erupted in the mid-

dle of the road.

Two men were rolling

around on the ground,

punching each other. It

all seemed strangely fa-

miliar. For a moment I

thought I was back in the

West End, outside a

kebab shop watching a

drunken brawl.


I expected the two Thai fighters to be armedwith deadly Muay Thai boxing skills, insteadthe scuffle, like eighty percent of fights inthe night was fuelled by alcohol and re-quired no skill.

Our driver manoeuvred us around the twowrestling men. The harsh night's breeze wasuncomfortable on my face, a result of driv-ing at speed in a motorised buggy with nowindows - but I could not wipe the smile offmy face.

I was in love with this feeling, the freedomof this city. The night air filled my lungs; I ab-sorbed the culture through osmosis.

I looked down at my beautiful patchworkshirt, bought for 300 Baht from KhaosanRoad in Bang Lamphu. I was the world'sworst barterer. As I am of Indian origin, hag-gling should be in my blood, but whenever Iwas given a price, the guilty feeling in mystomach forced me to utter the word ok'. Iknew that most people marked up theirprices as soon as they saw me.

As a tourist I stood out like a saw thumb, I had my

camera, my video recorder, mobile phone and of

course the give-away sun glasses. I was an easy tar-

get, a foreigner with a conscience.

I spent a lot of time shopping in the city. I visited the

trendy Suan Lum Night Bazaar and the Emporium

Shopping Centre. Both had their own unique charm,

the Bazaar had live music performances and the

shopping centre had the big western brands that I

was used to. Bangkok is renowned for being one of

the most thriving commercial centres in Southeast

Asia and it was always busy.

Sitting in an open-air vehicle, with the wind in my

hair and a smile on my face, I thought more about my

holiday highlights. I had relaxed, eaten some amaz-

ing food, held a 50ft python around my neck, danced

with Lady-boys and explored the city via Tuk-Tuk at

night.

As we made our way back to our hotel rooms, on our

last night in Bangkok, I knew that I had caught the

bug. I was ready to do some real exploring.

The high-pitched engine stopped. We had reached

the hotel. I would definitely come back, to experi-

ence more of this exotic city.

In Northern Norway, the sun never sets during thesummer months. Go on a midnight sun cruise, joina safari or play golf in the middle of the night.

Magical midnight sun

The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon whichmeans that the sun does not set during the summermonths. In other words, given fair weather, youcan see the sun for a continuous 24 hours.The duration of the midnight sun de-pends on how far north you are.

At the Arctic Circle in the county ofNorland, you can see the midnightsun from 12 June to 1 July, at theNorth Cape in Finnmark you can seethe sun from 14 May to 29 July, andat the North Pole the sun does notset for six months.

Midnight sun safaris and cruises

There are several cruise lines visiting Norway. Anexcellent way to experience the Norwegian coast, isto go on a cruise with Hurtigruten (The NorwegianCoastal Voyage) You can sit on deck and just enjoythe midnight sun.

You can also choose a midnight cruise in Finnmarkor go on a midnight sun cruise in Lofoten. Thesetrips will take you out on the open sea to experi-ence the special light.

The Land of

the Midnight Sun

SingaporeThree days

in an Asian oasis

Travel destinations: Singapore by Marilyn De Angelis Pennell

Fellow travelers advised me to skip Singapore on my

recent worldwide jaunt. Boring. Plastic. Too many

rules. I'm glad I ignored the advice.

Coming on the heels of a whirlwind visit to India with

all its chaos and confusion, Singapore had all the

right smells, tastes and sights for a weary traveler.

Rul

es

And, as a teacher leading 85 independent minded college stu-dents to a foreign country, I welcomed "rules"- especially thoseenforced by the local government. Government rules meant all

the less lecturing about proper behavior for me.


Other than therules, what firstimpressed meabout Singa-pore was arriv-ing at theultramodernand efficientairport, whichwas worldsaway from thesad grime andpoverty at thetrain stations ofDelhi and Agra.

The memoriesof what I saw inthe streets ofIndia haunt mestill. I wished Iknew how tohelp. I went toSingapore, inpart, because Ineeded a breakfrom sadness,as self-centeredas that seems.


Back to my journey. InSingapore, drivingdown the main highwayfrom the airport to thecity was another kindof eye opener. Ourguide informed us thatall the pretty pottedflowering plants in themiddle of the roadcould be taken away ina moment's notice tocreate a landing fieldfor aircraft-right thereon the highway! Ingen-ious, I thought! Thesepeople are preparedfor what I didn't exactlyknow.

I needed to chill, as mystudents say. Maybethat's why Singapore issuch a popular stopover destination fortravelers to Asia. Sin-gapore does not testtravelers the way mostother Asian nations do.


With 85 students and two teachers, we were actually a

"bumboat flotilla." The cruise took us past views of Singa-

pore's "mascot" The Merlion, which is a creature that ap-

pears to be half fish and half lion and spouts waterfalls

from its mouth. Our flotilla also cruised by the Es-

planade,shop houses, colonial-style government build-

ings, bridges, modern skyscrapers and the pastel open-air

restaurants and bars of Clarke Quay that lined the river-bank.

It was quite a surprise that we were all allowed to sit on

the roof of the boat to take photos. No threats, no caning,

no "rules." The view from the boat was spectacular. It was

more than refreshing to see a green and clean city after

trudging through the grimy and sad streets of Agra and

Chennai in India.

Whereas in India, when one asked where to dispose of a

discarded soft drink can one was shown the street, in Sin-

gapore, there is a place for everything and everything in its

place. Singapore is clean. Very Clean. But though it is

cleaner than many major American cities, it retains an ex-

otic Asian charm.

Our next stop was a visit to Sir Raffles Hotel and Museum.

Raffles, of course, is a major tourist attraction. It's also the

birthplace of the Singapore Sling. A chocolate dessert and

special coffee for 87 people was a treat as was wandering

around the vast expanse of green lawns and flowers. The

quaint little Raffles museum showed a Singapore of years

past with vintage photos and replicas of rickshaws and

other bric a brac. It was also free of charge.

As one of my traveling companions

remarked, "A place doesn't have to be

filthy to experience culture." Maybe she

has a point.

Since we barely had three days in Singapore,

we had to make the most of it. Our first activity

upon arrival

was a cruise down the Singapore

River on a "Bumboat."

Clean and Green


Our next stop was Sentosa Island, which was only a cable car ride away across the harbor. Singa-pore's cable cars aren't your typical cable cars. Besides being the first in the world to span a har-bor, these cable cars are also glass bottomed and available for "sky dining" if you book inadvance. Though sky dining isn't on my top ten list, I can imagine that those jaded travelers whohave "been there and done that" might want to give it a try.

Sentosa Island

Sentosa Island, Singapore's mini Disney-

world, isn't an "authentic" Asian setting. It

has a kind of mini Cancun feel, which is odd

for Asia. Still, it offers sea breezes, man

made sandy beaches, a pink dolphin show

and the high tech "Images of Singapore" ex-

hibit.

Sentosa is also home to a family friendly

aquarium that is a maze of tube tunnels

that gives tourists and locals a chance to get

up close and personal with exotic sea crea-

tures.

The maze is a bit mesmerizing. I found it

rather easy to get lost amidst the crowds of

families, even on a weekday.

Sentosa Island is known for its nightlife,

restaurants, resorts and beach bars, too.

This is where the locals go to get away from

it all and the tourists go to party.

I've heard that the zoo and "Night Safari"

are also worth a visit. I will have to save

them for next time!


Conventional wisdom says that travelersgo to Singapore for two main things:

Food? Head to the night marketsand hawker centers located allover the city. But watch out for

aggressive salespeople. My travelcompanions and I took a cab to anearby night market that was recom-mended. It was located in an outdoorpark, ringed with food stalls filled withevery Singaporean delicacy imagina-ble.

As we entered, we were greeted byseveral "waiters" competing for ourbusiness. Being somewhat naive, weordered through them. As it turned out, the blue crab was de-licious and reasonably priced. But theSingaporean lobster, at $80.00 (Singa-porean), was not a bargain, though wedid manage to negotiate a somewhatlower price when we got the bill.

Apparently, we would have gotten bet-ter prices had we placed the ordersourselves, directly at the food stalls.The "waiters" were probably salespeo-ple trying to get a commission.

Shopping and Food


If you want Fifth Avenue in Asia, then Orchard Road is the place to go. Rows upon rows of high end shops sell

everything from shoes to electronics. I was even able to bargain for a new lens for my camera in a photo

store, though prices for electronics are not any better than those in the U.S., as far as I could tell.


Cultural Attractions

Cultural attractions? There

are many.

But with less than three

days, one has to be selec-

tive.

My friends and I went out

one night to the Kampong

Glam area, the historic

seat of Malay royalty in

Singapore.

The Sultan Mosque is locatedhere. Its golden dome rises ma-jestically above the nearby shops.This is the largest mosque in Sin-gapore and can accommodate upto 5,000 Muslims in prayers.

The evening we visited, themosque and surrounding streetswere busy with worshippers,shoppers, a street festival andoutdoor music. In the area sur-rounding the mosque, there aresome restored shop houses thatsell traditional clothes, artifacts,handicrafts, furniture and jewelry.Browsing here is an excellent al-ternative to the "designer" shop-ping malls on Orchard Road andgreat for finding unique sou-venirs.

Little India and Chinatown arealso worth a visit and offer cul-tural insights, or so I've heard.Two other things for "next time." But what impressed me mostabout Singapore was the peaceand tranquility I found. Even in the midst of all the hustleand bustle of this modern city-state, the people were kind,friendly and the overall pace oflife was sane and serene. Singa-pore, to me, was an oasis amidstthe frenetic pace of an aroundthe world trip that tested me onevery level.

Thank God for Singapore! I'll beback!

New Zealand: A green place to get aroundNew Zealand has much to offer visitors looking for value-based smart travel options, whether

that's about caring for the environment, getting more for your money, or making your holiday

experiences count in some other way.

When it comes to packing a lot into a little, no other coun-try has such a varied and rich natural environment - coast,mountains, lakes, rivers, virgin forests, fauna and flora -that's so easily accessible. About one third of NewZealand's landmass is in wilderness areas set aside as na-tional parks, reserves and special heritage sites.

This award-winning eco destination surrounded by oceanoffers many activities that come without a price tag: lyingon a remote beach, walking tracks and trails through un-spoilt wilderness, soaking up the sun, body surfing, swim-ming in a clean fresh lake, watching abundant wildlife,enjoying an outdoor concert or tumbling down a pristinesand dune.

Sustainable tourism development is actively encouragedthrough tourism industry green ratings (Qualmark Green)and more and more travel and accommodation businessesare adopting sustainable practices - minimising environ-mental impact, and maximising energy and water effi-ciency, waste treatment, and recycling.In the current economic climate, a favourable exchangerate is also on New Zealand's side. On-the-ground costs canmake or break holiday choices but New Zealand comes uptrumps in a number of fields - finding your way around iseasy, people are friendly and helpful, local produce is plen-tiful and reasonably priced and it’s possible to enjoy mil-lion dollar scenery for no cost at all.


A worl

d clas

s city

New York

A quick guide to New York City by Dugan Mcshain

Rushing around New York on a two day or two hour furlough is like trying tosqueeze a symphony orchestra into a minivan. You'll never get the wholeexperience; but the amount of stuff that you DO fit in will be well worth it.The frenetic pace of New York is possible to taste in any amount of time,and depending on what you do, you'll be hard pressed to come away with abad experience.

Here are a few attractions that'll blow your mind while you're there, to bothsee the sights, and get a full-on, action-packed New York experience. Hob-nob with celebrities that you meet in the park, tour the sights and soundsof thousands of movies from Breakfast at Tiffany's to the Teenage MutantNinja Turtles. There's a rare person that can't find something worth doingon the streets on New York, and a good time with the people of the world.


The free Staten Island

Ferry... Packed with com-

muters, tourists, busi-

nessmen and enough

internationals to fill the

UN, this free, three hour

boat voyage is a heck of a

way to see the famous

skyline of Manhattan,

New Jersey and the

Statue of Liberty.

As you set sail from lower

Manhattan, you'll see the

gorgeous skyline drop

away from you. The har-

bor or New York spread

out around you and de-

pending on the time of

year that you go, a brisk

or light breeze blowing

your hair back as the

massive ship slowly

makes its way across the

river.

The Staten Island Ferry

provides 20 million peo-

ple a year (60,000 pas-

sengers a day not

including weekend days)

with ferry service be-

tween St. George on

Staten Island and White-

hall Street in lower Man-

hattan.

Staten Island Ferry

As you set sail from lower Manhattan, you'll see the gor-geous skyline drop away from you. The harbor or New Yorkspread out around you and depending on the time of yearthat you go, a brisk or light breeze blowing your hair backas the massive ship slowly makes its way across the river.

The Staten Island Ferry provides 20 million people a year(60,000 passengers a day not including weekend days) withferry service between St. George on Staten Island andWhitehall Street in lower Manhattan.

The free Staten Island Ferry... Packed

with commuters, tourists, business-

men and enough internationals to fill

the UN, this free, three hour boat voy-

age is a heck of a way to see the fa-

mous skyline of Manhattan, New

Jersey and the Statue of Liberty.


The Metropolitan Museum Of Art tothose in the know, is one of the great-est collections of human artistic cul-ture ever assembled.

With sections devoted to the Pacific Is-lands, Africa, Pre-Colombian and NativeAmerica, you'll get a great impressionof some of the native cultures fromaround the world represented in Amer-ica. Egyptian galleries include the in-credible Temple of Dendur.

The three floor American Wingstretches out into Central Park in a glassenclosed garden. Visiting on weekendscan lead to a romantic interlude in themain entrance's promenade for cock-tails. Admission to the center, locatedat 1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street, in-cludes Museum galleries, all special ex-hibitions, guided tours, gallery talks,family programs, and same-day visit toThe Cloisters.

To help cover the cost of special exhibi-tions, for which there is no additionalcharge or special ticketing, they askthat you please pay the full suggestedamount. If you become a member you'llhave an even better experience.

Metropolitan Museum Of Art is one ofthe greatest collections of human artistic

culture ever assembled.

Central Park


There are always attractions, people, crazies,

young old and the awesome to see and be seen in

Times Square. This five block super center is the

pulse that keeps the city that never sleeps from

drowsing off.

Times Square has it all. It's literally the heart of New York City and the

eyes that most of the world sees New York through.

Here, you'll find all kinds of fun, exciting and informativetours to explore other parts of the city. It's the best placeto start any tour of New York.

Choose from walking, bike, bus, food, limo, TV, landmark,ethnic or water tours. These tours will allow you to visitall major landmarks, sights, and attractions in every partof New York City, showing the diversity, culture, and his-tory of this great metropolis. Or get your tickets for thegreat Broadway musicals and the wide variety of enter-tainment in Times Square.

Go to a concert at Madison Square Garden or a plethoranearby venues, offering all forms of live music. Enjoy astand-up comedy performance, or see a movie in thearea's many movie theatres. Whatever floats your boatyou can use Times Square as a jumping off point for anyactivity.

From Times Square, you can feast or famine your waythrough the culinary delights of New York in luxury at onethe world famous five star restaurants, or just a quick biteto eat on the go from one of the penultimate also worldfamous hot dog vendors.

Foods from all over the world, can be bought and tastedwith many different options to fit any budget. Shopping inTimes Square is a lesson in restraint.


Broadway

An incredibly wide variety of shops and storesoffer clothing, electronics, toys, and every sortof consumer good imaginable. From the Italianfashion houses of Milan to the Japanese elec-tronics markets of Shinjuku you'll get what youneed and a few more things to boot. Make sureto haggle though, because these guys know asucker when they see one, and you're job is tocut that price in half. Making off with somethingat half price that someone else just paid doublefor, will put a spring in your step and a gleam inyour eye, as you're learning that the Big Applecan be conquered.

For the Night owls out there, the vibrant TimesSquare after hours set rivals Las Vegas, MonteCarlo or the Clubs of Paris. Get your groove onto the hottest club beats from the country's topDJ's, hobnob with the likes of Jessica, Paris, andtons of other Hollywood Do-nothings as theydrink their way towards the brink. Snap a photoor two and you may just make a mint selling it toUS Magazine or the Sun UK. Or step it back anotch and grab a brew in a small, quiet neigh-borhood bar, or find the love of your life or anight at one of the hundreds of coffee shops andbistros that line the streets and neighborhoodsof Manhattan.

Whatever your fancy you'll find it in a short hop,skip, and a cab ride from Times Square.

For a change of pace and a bit of history to boot,head on down to the bumpy cobblestonestreets of Pier 17. In this historic district you'llfind restaurants and shops galore, but also a liv-ing museum dedicated to the history of theAmerican whaling and shipping industry.

Inside, you can see ship models, prints andpaintings as well as a slew of memorabilia andartifacts from the long and varied story of Amer-ica's love affair with the sea.

An incredibly wide variety of shops

and stores offer

clothing, electronics, toys, and every

sort of consumer good imaginable.


Inside, you can see ship models, prints and paintings aswell as a slew of memorabilia and artifacts from the longand varied story of America's love affair with the sea. Out-side, tour the boat building shop or take a tour of the 4-masted, 347-foot cargo vessel Peking, one of 6 historicships, feel the history come alive as you stare down thegangway of a fully restored 18th century sailing vessal.Shiver your timbers and imagine a life at sea with nary anipod or cell phone to be seen!

The New York City Subway is a fast, affordable way to getaround New York City. Riding the New York City Subway isthe only way to travel in order to be tromping through thestreets of NY City like a native.

One of the most helpful things about New York City's sub-way stations is the maps located near the entrances. In addition to having a map of the subway system, there isnormally a neighborhood map that shows the streets in thearea in detail. It's a good idea to check out the map beforeyou leave the subway, but it's also great to know that ifyou're lost near a subway station, you can always duck inand check out a map to find your way around. Keep track ofthe stations and which lines intersect for free transfers orpaid transfers.

You can pay cash or get a Metrocard to expedite yourjaunts. The subways also go out to the other five burroughsso don't feel that you have to stay trapped on Manhattan.Subways serve most of Manhattan and surrounding bor-oughs pretty well, but in those places where the subwayservice is sparse or nonexistent; there are buses that can getyou where you need to go.

One of the greatest places in New York City is the Paley Cen-ter Museum of Television and Radio 25 West 52 Street, NewYork, NY 10019. Here's you'll explore the fast paced nostal-gia filled world of American and international television andthe impact it's had on modern culture. You'll explore thevarious themes they are presently focused on or sit down intheir viewing library and watch a few of your favoriteepisodes of TV series long gone or that favorite episode ofMacGyver. To quote the center is best though; "The generalpublic can access the collection and participate in programsthat explore and celebrate the creativity, the innovations,the personalities, and the leaders who are shaping media.

Through the global programs of its Media Council and Inter-national Council, the Paley Center also serves as a neutralsetting where media professionals can engage in discussionand debate about the evolving media landscape."

Sadly, the Little Italy of yesteryear has become a two blockstretch of restaurant barkers and faux Italian eateries. Toget the real experience you need to head on over to thearea centered around Arthur Avenue, known as the LittleItaly of the Bronx, this is the place to go for old-fashionedItalian charm, food, and ambience.

A taste of one of the most influential cultural groups everto help build America its roots are full of passion, great foodand a gravy that'll knock your mama's socks off. Relive thosedramatic twists and turn in the Sopranos by touring theHoboken Eateries and stretches of stripmalls home to Tonyand his gang of merry men. He's no robin hood, but damncould they make a good chicken parm.

For a change of pace and a bit of

history to boot, head on down to

the bumpy cobblestone streets of

Pier 17. In this historic district

you'll find restaurants and shops

galore, but also a living museum

dedicated to the history of the

American whaling and

shipping industry.


During the 4-minute ride you will be treated to a gorgeous viewdown the East River and the east side skyline with views of theUnited Nations and four bridges: the Queensboro, Williams-burg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn bridges.

On a clear day you might even spot Lady Liberty. The ride is funand a different way to see New York. Most of the tourismboards and officials don't mention this one, so if you go duringthe day, there's a good chance that you'll have the car all toyourself. If you've ever seen the eerie movie Dark Water, you'llremember Jennifer Connelly taking this swinging transporthome every day. Roosevelt Island isn't a dark and forebodingplace though it's a great stop.For the outdoor types, there's also plenty to do. If you are phys-ically ambitious and walking the shores of the Hudson just does-n't cut it. You wanna feel the wind in your face and the spray ofthe Hudson in your hair. Rent a bike and ride the length of Man-hattan via the work in progress, Hudson River Park.

You can bike from Battery Park to Fort Tryon Park near theGeorge Washington Bridge. However, there are detours alongthe way which occasionally take you on and off the paths.

This is also a great way to see Manhattan by cruising along thebusy streets and alleys on a rental bike. Several bike tours offerrides through central park, the bowery, hells kitchen and otherpoints of interest.

Whatever you choose to do in New York you'll see things you'veseen before, walk the paths of super stars and maybe run intothat Donald Trump and his bad hairdo. Jump in and go with theflow of New York cause the only thing they can't stand are wallflowers, complainers and slowpokes.

The Roosevelt Island Tram is an awe-

somer way to impress your family and

friends with a little known, but spectac-

ular view of the New York.


Guide to understanding China's tea culture

by Frances Stanford


Tea is the national

drink of China and is

consumed by young

and old alike. When

you enter a restau-

rant the first question

you will be asked is

what type of tea you

would like to have.

The practice of tea

drinking dates back

to 2737 B.C. to the

days of the Emperor

Shenong, who was

afraid of getting a

disease from the

water and wanted all

the water used for

drinking boiled.

One day as the staff

was boiling the huge

pots of water some of

the leaves of the

Camellia sinesis tree

fell into this water.

The Emperor fell in

love with the resulting

taste and thus the

tea culture of China

was born.

T here is a variety of tea trees grown in China, which results in differ-

ent regions of the country having their own specialties. These are:

- green tea

- scented tea

- black tea

- compressed tea

- Wulong - a variety that falls somewhere in between green and black

tea.

Each type requires different techniques in the production of the tea

leaves. During the heat of the summer , tea drinking seems to help the

body cool down. In just about every town and village of China there

are tea trees growing in abundance. Tea-houses abound and people

gather together in these locations to chat over a cup of tea.

The drinking of tea in the culture of China serves several important

functions. Serving tea is seen as a W7890P Z sign of respect. The

younger people serve the elders and in the past the servers were al-

ways those of a lower social status. This has changed today, though,

and in the homes of the country it is possible to see older people serv-

ing tea to the younger members of the family.

Then one person needs to apologize to another for whatever reason,

the general custom is to pour tea for them. This comes from the sub-

servient nature of the tea servers in the history of the country. It is

also a way of expressing thanks to another to serve tea to this person.

In a Chinese wedding ceremony, for example, the bride and groom

serve tea to their parents.

There are many ways in which tea is brewed in China, with the most

common one being the simple act of adding tea leaves to a pot of boil-

ing water. Green tea, however, should be brewed in cooler water be-

cause of its delicate nature.

a city with no seasons

HONG KONG

Travel experiences: Hong Kong by Venerando George Jr. Briones

As soon as we landed at Hong Kong

International Airport, you might say

we hit the ground running, literally.

We had done our assignments the week before; downloaded a map of the city redmarked with our way

to the hotel, memorized some important Chinese phrases both in Cantonese and Mandarin, bought a

few hundred dollars worth of Hong Kong dollars, and tagged each of the three smaller kids with their own

ID's, in case they get lost. We even downloaded a five-day weather forecast of Hong Kong; the number

of days we would be staying in this Pearl City of the Orient.


This street that winds down to the har-bor on Kowloon island is lined withshops that would make any shopaholicdrool. There are bargains everywhere;and in between some shops you'll seesome wonderful finds that are a bit ex-otic but more expensive. Big-namestores are all here in Hong Kong;Prada, LV, Gucci, Ferrari,Maserati...they're all here!

After leaving our bags at the hotel, wegrabbed a quick lunch at a cornerrestaurant and soon we were on thetrain headed for Victoria Peak, thehighest bit of land in the city. Therewas a slight drizzle while we werewalking towards the subway, and nowas we were buying tickets for the tramthat would take us up the mountain, itstarted to really pour. Still, we were excited as bees and get-ting a little wet certainly wouldn't

deter us from exploring the top. Natu-rally when we got there all you can seefrom the glass windows was fog andrain. No worries, though. We enteredMadame Tussaud's wax museum andhad a blast posing with the madame'sstatues. They are so life-like. Therewere lots of tourists milling around thefigures, chattering animatedly in differ-ent languages.

On the way down, the rain started tolet up to a sprinkle, until it finallystopped altogether. Meanwhile wewere getting lost in the maze of shopsand buildings. After grabbing somefood that we called dinner, we weren'tdone for the day yet. While on theplane, we had already mapped outwhere the Ladies' Night market was lo-cated, and that's where we headednext.The Ladies' Night Market is a regular

street by day that transforms into asort of flea market by nightfall. All kinds ofwomen stuff are sold thereat a bargain...bags, shoes, blouses andpants and dresses, trinkets and gew-gaws.Over at nearby Fa Yuen street all theysell are shoes; shop after shop areshoes, shoes and more shoes. Whenwe've had our fill we herded the kidsinto a Japanese restaurant for a late-night meal of noodles.Back at the hotelwe redeemed our bags from the frontdesk and proceeded upstairs to find aroom as big as our bathroom at home.

On each side of the room there weretwo beds that were about six inchesapart; one person had to lie on the bedfor the other to pass through. Sincethere were three people sleeping inthat room, TWO people had to lie onthe bed for one to get through!

We bought an "octopus

card" for each individual

at the airport and a quick

hop on the A21 bus

brought us to our hotel

on Nathan Road.

66

Today we wereheaded for HongKong Ocean Park.This amusementpark sits astridethe mountain be-side the ocean.

You enter on theocean side, take acable car up overthe mountain,and exit on theother side.

The bathroom was, of course smaller, being no bigger than a closet. The

shower area was sooo small that when you soaped your feet, your behind

would scrape the glass enclosure; if you stepped forward a bit your nose would

grind the tiles in front. It was really hilarious! Somehow we managed to get

past these small hiccups and everybody was in bed by 1:00 am.

Next day my wife and I were up early for a short walk, leaving the kids at the

hotel. There were a dozen old folks practicing tai chi at the park, while some

were just lounging around the benches reading the newspapers. Since an old

woman was giving it away for free, we got one too; making sure it was in Eng-

lish. The heavens must have rained itself out yesterday because although the

forecast said rain for today, the sun was peeping behind some clouds ready to

come out anytime.

Today we were headed for Hong Kong Ocean Park. This amusement park sits

astride the mountain beside the ocean. You enter on the ocean side, take a

cable car up over the mountain, and exit on the other side.

The entrance to the park was packed

with screaming, laughing six-year-olds

with their teachers, mothers tugging

kids, kids dragging fathers; pleasurably

pure pandemonium! What fun we're

going to have! We practically ran all over

the place, zigging and zagging between

hordes of tourists.

At the top of the mountain we went up

the Ocean Park Tower and sucked it all

in; this magnificent place of merriment.

The most exciting part for us was the

cable car ride to the other side of the

mountain. My wife, who has acropho-

bia, would gasp and hold her breath

whenever we would pass through the

towers and the car would bounce a bit.

After an 8:00 o'clock dinner, we were

headed for Mongkok to do more speed-

shopping. We've sort of fallen into the

groove of doing the shopping after the

day's fun activities; usually until mid-

night. So off we were again to the sub-

way, losing our way, and then finding it

again with a slice of luck and a lot of

questioning and hand signals.


While strolling from one shop to another, we got to

chatting with one of the locals and we found out that

we could actually walk back to our hotel instead of tak-

ing the train. We didn't even have to use our pitifully

scant knowledge of Chinese phrases, except for xie xie

meaning thank you and ni hao for hello.

Most vendors could speak Pidgin English, and a few

could communicate rather well. We haggled over prices

with one interesting lady by actually communicating

through a calculator.

When we asked how much, she punched the price on

the gadget. We then punched in our price, and then it

was her turn again, back and forth, until we agreed on a

middle ground. Not a word was exchanged between us;

and she had a wonderful smile all the time. My wife sim-

ply adored this city!

From a kid's point of view, a trip to a city with a Disney-

land in it would never be complete without going

through the mecca of amusement parks. There is plainly

no argument against it, and parents would do well to

heed their children's desires. You cannot ever, ever skip

the trip or else you get the silent treatment... from your

kids... for a whole year!

It's like a ritual really...you look at the travel guides and

see if they have Disney, then you block one day for that.

Simple. So that was our itinerary for our third day. Hong

Kong Disneyland. If you ask me, they all look the same;

but don't tell them I said so.

Our last day was reserved for just one thing; more shop-

ping. Even if you've gone to several places and you think

you have been through all the best spots for bargains,

there are still a lot more locations that you can go

through. Hong Kong is like a never-ending list of shop-

ping and interesting places.

Photo Credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board

Since there is only so much that you can buy, and carry, you can still spend the

whole day just going through stuff, even if you're not buying.

There is so much to see and explore in this city, so much to buy and bargain for

and haggle. Harried in Hong Kong? You bet but we enjoyed every moment of it.

Photo Credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board

To

uri

sm

Au

str

ali

a

Co

ve

r S

tory

AUSTRALIA

More than kangaroos andgreat beaches

by Gail Kavanaghn


One of the most dramatic ways to see Sydney is

from a seaplane. Both Sydney Seaplanes and Syd-

ney By Seaplane offer scenic flights across Sydney

Harbour and further afield. Imagine buzzing over

the Sydney Harbour Bridge and past the Opera

House before tracking along the coastline’s mag-

nificent beaches.

Seaplane tours can combine with a whale-watching cruise,

and also with a gourmet lunch at some of Sydney’s iconic wa-

terside restaurants. These include Jonah’s Restaurant, lo-

cated next to Sydney’s Palm Beach; Cottage Point Inn on the

water’s edge in the heart of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park;

and Berowra Waters Inn set in bushland beside the beautiful

Hawkesbury River.

You can also hover above Sydney Harbour and the city’s

golden beaches on a helicopter tour. You can also combine

your Sydney sightseeing by zipping away to the Hunter Val-

ley, The Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, or the Southern

Highlands. A sunset helicopter tour over Sydney is another

option. If you want something a little different you can experi-

ence the thrill of an aerobatics flight over Sydney in a bi-plane

with Red Baron Adventures. Red Baron also offers scenic

flights over the harbour and ocean beaches, and trips up to

the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains.

Scenic trips by light plane are also popular with visitors to

Australia. You can go for scenic flights over the Great Barrier

Reef for example, over Uluru in the Red Centre, or across the

South Australian Outback to see the vast expanse of Lake

Eyre. You can also discover Western Australia’s rugged Kim-

berley region by air.

Seaplanes also fly across Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay, and

across the strange orange rock formations of the Bungle Bun-

gles in Western Australia. Touch down on water too while ex-

ploring the Great Barrier Reef, the Gold Coast, or the tropical

Whitsunday Islands in Queensland. Or take a seaplane along

the totally wild Gordon and Franklin rivers in Tasmania and

see some of Australia’s amazing World Heritage

rainforest.

Want more? Well, you can fly across the city of Melbourne in

an old-fashioned Tiger Moth, and soar high above its streets

and churches in a hot air balloon.

Travelling by hot air balloon is about the most peaceful way

you can travel. Float with the breeze in a hot air balloon in

Tasmania, or across the Outback from Alice Springs in the

Northern Territory. Drift over the picturesque Avon Valley

near Perth, or over mobs of kangaroos in the red dirt country

of central New South Wales.

Credit: Tourism Australia

Walkabout by airThere are many ways to explore Australia, but one of the most dramatic is by

air. Whether it’s in a seaplane, a hot air balloon, a light aircraft, or a helicop-

ter, seeing Australia from the sky gives visitors a new perspective on this

amazing continent.

Tourism Australia


But in fact, Australians in the cities are very urbanized and so have devised

ways of getting an adventure rush no matterwhere they are in our great land.

Whether in the city, he bush or the outback, the national thirst for extremes

results in a wealth of exciting experiences. Here are just a few:

What could be extreme about a visit to Sydney Harbour?

It is one of the world's most beautiful locations, certainly, with the astonishing vista of

the harbor itself, the Sydney Opera House, the skyline, and of course, Sydney Harbour

Bridge. Even locals find it a daily wonder. But a place where you can unleash your

inner adventurer? Look no further than the bridge itself.

Crazy as it sounds, some visitors

to Australia

do expect to find kangaroos

hopping down the main streets.

Tourism Australia

Newcomers to Sydney can't fail to be impressed with this soaring wonder that archesover one of the world's most beautiful bays.

In the past, bridge workers were often envied for the views they had to themselves asthey worked along the upper span. But no more since 1988, the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

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Oh, and those kangaroos and beaches?

Sure, we got those too.

Tourism Australia

Tourism Australia


The 360 degree views of the city and the harbor

are breathtaking and leave the climber with a stun-

ning sense of achievement. So popular is this ad-

venture that since the tours started, two million

people, including celebrities, have braved the

span. The climb takes 3 hours and is open to a sur-

prising number of candidates.

Some medical conditions may prove a barrier and

you must be over 1.2 meters tall, but the bridge

has been climbed by the hearing impaired, some

people with disabilities and a one-hundred-year-

old woman! Basically you need to be fit, strong and

co-ordinated enough to sustain moderate physical

activity for the duration of the climb. You can even

tackle the climb if you are less than 24 weeks preg-

nant.

You can't take a camera, but Climb Leaders will

capture your moment on top of the world anyway,

and the climb includes a complimentary group

photo by the time you finish you will all have

bonded anyway!

Climbers are guided up catwalks and ladders to the immense upper span, 134

meters above the water below. T

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Camels are among the most successful migrationsto Australian shores, brought here by Afghan mi-

grants more than a century ago.

The animals have adapted so well to the Australianoutback that they have become a tourist attraction.Camel safaris operate in wilderness areas and are a

rewarding way to experience the outback. The sa-faris are led by Australian wildlife, cultural and envi-

ronmental experts to ensure that tourists learn asthey ride.

The camel is called the ship of the desert' and this isusually thought to refer to its capacity to carry

water in its hump but in fact there is another goodreason. The camel is also one of the world's most

tireless pack animals, and on the average four daysafari, it carries everything its rider needs, such as

water, food and sleeping gear.

No back up vehicles follow the tour and despoil thepristine desert wilderness, because none are

needed. You don't need to be an expert camel riderbut you do need to be reasonably physically fit, asmany first timers prefer to walk occasionally while

they are getting used to the saddle!

If gazing down on the wonders of Sydney

Harbour don't offer

enough apeal, head for the outback and

meet some of Australia's most

unusual immigrants.

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Tourism Australia


Ecologically speaking, Australia has some of themost glorious nature destinations in the world.

But it's not all sight seeing and hotel hopping. If you ant

something really different, does bush walking, spear throw-

ing and living off the land sound like a plan to you?

Eco Tourism is a big thing right now, and Australian ecotour

leaders like Odyssey Tours and Safaris have the ecotour of

a lifetime. It's a non-stop adventure through Australia's `top

end' These tours are taken at the best time of the year to ex-

plore places like Kakadu, in August and October. This is the

Australian Spring, and the `top end' is blooming.

These tours also take in the cultural life of Australia's native

peoples, the Aborigines, who have lived in this amazing land

for 45,000 years. On these tours, you will have the chance to

meet the local tribes, an unforgettable experience in itself,

and learn ancient arts like spear throwing and basket weav-

ing from the tribal elders.

You'll be living off the land, swimming in natural waterholes

called `billabongs', viewing ancient Aboriginal rock art and

singing songs around a roaring campfire. So what are you

waiting for? Australia has a wealth of once-in-a-lifetime ex-

periences waiting for you!

Oh, and those kangaroos and beaches? Sure, we got those

too.

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A host of

Olympians from

Canada’s 2010

Olympic Winter

Games including

skier Alexandre

Bilodeau, figure

skater Joannie Ro-

chette and hockey

player Hayley

Wickenheiser have

banded together

with such figures

as vocalist Keshia

Chante, Glee’s

Cory Monteith and

Chef Michael

Smith as Canada’s

local tourism

ambassadors.

Each shares their ultimate “gold medal getaway” onthe Canadian Tourism Commission’s (CTC) LOCAL-SKNOW.ca site to help Canadians find deals and inspirethem to explore their country this summer.

All Canadians are invited to find inspiration and voteon their top “gold medal getaway” for a chance to wina flight package and create a winning getaway of theirown.

“The campaign focuses on the unexpected – encourag-ing Canadians to seek out new and exotic experiencesthey didn’t know existed,” said Michele McKenzie, theCTC’s president and CEO. “Canada’s Games have of-fered us the opportunity to identify with our country ina deeper and more meaningful way. Who better to in-spire Canadians to get out there and explore than ouriconic 2010 Olympic heroes?”

“Tourism is vitally important to our economy and weare pleased by the success of the CTC’s domestic mar-keting campaign to date," said the Honourable RobMoore, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism).

"Through the LOCALS KNOW initiative, the CTC is help-ing to inspire Canadians to explore new areas of thisbeautiful country and moreover, helping to boost localeconomies by keeping our hard-earned dollars athome. We look forward to even greater success during2010."

Great Canadians know great Canadian escapes

Alexandre Bilodeau

Jennifer Botterill


Here are just a few “gold medalgetaways” from our team of in-spiring Canadians includingtheir favourite places to stay,places to eat and things to do:

Alexandre Bilodeau, 2010Olympic Gold Medalist,Freestyle Skiing – Men’sMoguls: “My Gold Medal Itiner-ary would be in Victoria, BritishColumbia. I visited when I wasyoung and the ocean wasamazing. I went there recentlyfor training and went cycling,road biking, surfing and playedhockey all in the same place,which is great.”

Cory Monteith, Actor, Glee (TVseries): "Vancouver is my ideaof a Gold Medal Experience.Late in the snowboarding sea-son (in April), if the weather isjust right, you can snowboardin a T-shirt at Cypress in themorning, only a half hour fromdowntown. You can then be onKits Beach by the early after-noon. And finishing up the daywith awesome sushi at TheEatery never hurt anyone!”

Clara Hughes, Olympic Medal-Winning Speed Skater and Cy-clist: “My absolute favouriteplace in Canada is the north.The most epic and satisfying

trip I’ve ever done was a biketour of the Dempster Highwaythrough the Yukon and theNorthwest Territories, startingclose to Dawson City and all theway up to Inuvik. I wish allCanadians could see that partof Canada because it is so beau-tiful.”

Jon Montgomery, 2010 OlympicGold Medallist, Skeleton: “MyGold Medal Itinerary is to gohome to Russell, Manitoba. Welove going to Riding MountainNational Park which is about anhour away from Russell and myfolks have a cabin there.” To view more “gold medal get-aways”, please click here.

Create your own “Gold Medal”getaways!

The Canadian Tourism Commis-sion is giving Canadians achance to win big.

From April 28 to June 20, 2010,Canadians can visit www.local-sknow.ca and vote for theirfavourite Great Canadian “GoldMedal Getaway” for a chanceto win a grand prize of eightround-trip flights to any Cana-dian destination.

travel.canada.com

travel.canada.com

travel.canada.com

travel.canada.com

There is plenty to see and experience in this dynamic city!

Shanghai

Travel destinations: Shanghai, Chinaby Aida Garcia-Toledo

Shanghai is like Manhattanand London combined andon steroids. It is the defini-

tion of a mega city.

In Shanghai the buildingsseem even taller, the

crowds seem larger andthere are hoards of people

everywhere.

If you stand at a busy intersection here at rush hour you will literally see a sea of peo-ple walking towards or away from you. Look up and you will see huge buildings tow-ering over you. It is exciting, urban, hip, modern and still a bit traditional. Shanghai iswhere all the cool kids in China choose to live and where they have perfected the artof balancing western and eastern traditions with brilliant results.

HISTORY

By the end of the 19th Century the area was decreed as a Spe-

cial Economic Zone and divided into various parcels, sovereign

from Chinese law; each governed by its respective country. In

those 50 years (mid 19th Century to 1900) the population of

Shanghai more than doubled to over one million, with an ex-

panding expat community.

The 1930's were legendary in Shanghai.

The city was rich from trading opium, silk and tea and thus at-

tracted the most powerful financial institutions and individuals

from around the world. Soon Shanghai had the tallest buildings

in the world and was a deemed a city of the future, but with all

the excess came numerous brothels, opium dens, and gambling

establishments. It was a decadent oasis for rich and/or ambi-

tious Americans, French, British, Italians and Japanese men and

women.

Once the Communist Party took over China, Shanghai's bon vi-

vants either toned it down or left town. Just over 50 years later,

Shanghai is once again a legendary and vibrant city. It has con-

tinued to grow at an astonishing speed; just imagine that the

Special Economic Zone of Pudong which today is an urban plan-

ners dream with some of the most modern and tallest buildings

in the world and a world renowned financial and business dis-

trict was, just 20 years ago, little more than a large marshland!

THE VIEW

The minimal amount of time you need in Shanghai is 3 full days.

There is plenty to see and experience in this dynamic city!

Perhaps the most well known area in Shanghai is The Bund. It is

Shanghai's famous river side promenade where you can admire

some of the city's best views.

The Huangpu River divides Shanghai into 2: Puxi and Pudong.

Puxi is where you will probably spend most of your time. It is the

oldest side of the city, its' former financial and festive district

from the 1920's and 30's. Pudong, across the river, is Shanghai's

newest ubber modern financial hub. There you will find, among

other things, the famous Oriental Pearl Tower.

You can, and should, visit both sides of the river, although the

view from Puxi towards Pudong and the Oriental Pearl Tower is

probably THE most spectacular and well known view of modern

day Shanghai. It is worth coming during the day as well as the

night, as the city's lights and night views are a lovely sight.

Shanghai, of course, was not always the mega city it is today. Westerners first came en

masse to Shanghai in 1842 when the British opened their first concession. At that time the

area was little more than a small fishing village. Five years later when the French

arrived, a growing international community was already also settling in.


85TRAVIDITION / travidition.com

TRADITION

Shanghai might be an ultra modern city, however deep inside its maze of streets is an urban oasis called

the Yu Yuan Gardens.

The area around Yu Yuan Gardens is a touristy shopping district that used to be the Chinese City' in colo-

nial times. Here traditional Chinese architecture creates a huge, although welcomed, contrast with the

rest of the city's modern sites. Red balconies are carved in traditional Chinese style, complimenting the

white facades and topped off with traditional Chinese 4-point tiled roofs. The streets are cobblestone and

red lanterns hang from most of the balconies.

Downstairs different stores line the streets; here youcan find everything from tea sets and kites to exoticherbs and exotic medicinal rarities (for westerners).Be warned: this area is full of tourists, and thus bestto visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

The Yu Yuan Gardens date from the second half ofthe 16th century and in a way they could serve as anescape away from the busy city, however only if youmanage to visit at an off peak' time (usually just be-fore the gardens close at 5pm or on a cloudy or rainyday!). Your walk will then be a delight for your eyes

with beautiful flowers, bamboo, ponds and carvingsto admire.

At sunrise or sunset you have an opportunity to findpeace and relaxation in many of Shanghai's cityparks.

At Fuxing Park (entrance is at Yandang Road nearNanchang Rd just off Huaihai Rd) members of theolder generation take some time to practice tai chi orfight their shadows in slow motion with silver swords.Mesmerizing best describes this sight.

THE SHOPPING

Shopping in Shanghai must

be one of life's most delight-

ful experiences. This is the

home to many a mall and

many a store, but more im-

portantly it is the home to

countless original designers;

finding something unique is

not very hard.

Taiking Road is literally a hid-

den jewel for shopping. Nei-

ther our guide or our driver

had ever hear of it and it took

persistence and a lot of ask-

ing around to find this hidden

haven, but it was worth the

effort. The area is located

down a somewhat plain look-

ing street (almost alley) off a

main avenue.

Eventually this community of

artists and designers with un-

veil itself with countless cool

stores, galleries and cafes

that sell up and coming

young designers' creations.

Everything from clothes to

accessories to home

dcor can be found here.

Xintiandi has been called the

destination where "yesterday

meets tomorrow today in

Shangahai". It is a mostly

pedestrian district in Shang-

hai where you can stroll,

shop, eat, drink and people

watch.

The surrounding facades are

mostly restored Shikumen

(stone) houses, a style of ar-

chitecture in which at one

time 80% of Shanghai resi-

dents lived in.

Located near the former

French concession area, it is

an ideal place to spend the

afternoon browsing through

the stores and galleries and

venturing into the side

streets and then onto the old

French Concession Streets

(try the area between Julu Lu

to the north and Huai Hai Lu

running through the center.

At Chang Le Lu and Xin Le Lu

you can also find small de-

signer clothing shops).



Under an hour from Shanghai are the Water Towns. Best described as China's Venicethese towns are a spectacular way to see what small town life is like in China. Yes they are a bit more worn down than Venice, and yes the narrow streets where foodis being sold can smell a bit foul (but even romantic Venice sometimes doesn't smellthat great! ), but the experience is unforgettable.

Some of the water towns go back more than 2,000 years,

and have remarkably preserved their rural Chinese origins.

One of the closest water towns is Zhujiajiao. There is evi-

dence of civilization in this very area dating back 1,700

years. Stroll and allow yourself to get a bit lost through the

narrow streets, crisscrossing over the small distinctive

stone bridges many of which were built during Ming and

Qing Dynasties.

Peek into open windows and see the old men playing Chi-

nese domino and the old ladies preparing their food (you

can get a map at the entrance so you won't be lost for very

long). North Street is the main street. Here you will see

amazing colors, exotic ingredients and unidentifiable foods

being sold: try them at your own risk!

The Ancestor Pottery Museum and Jade Hall (40 Meizhou

Rd) is a nice stop as is the City God Temple where you will

see countless worshipers burning large packs of incense

and bowing. Make sure to write a wish on a red string at-

tached to a small bell that you then hang on the wishing

tree.

THE FOOD

The food in Shanghai is eclectic and scrumptious. There are

numerous wonderful restaurants with world renowned

chefs working diligently in the kitchens creating world class

gastronomical experiences. But you don't necessarily need

to visit a Michelin Starred restaurant to experience the

Shanghai gastronomical experience.

Today, when I think of Shanghai I still have pleasant dreams

of dumplings; the best dim sum I have ever had was in

Shanghai, at Crystal Jade inside the Xintiandi Shopping

Mall. The crowded and noisy restaurant is a favorite of lo-

cals and just about anything you order will leave your taste

buds begging for more until you overdose on dumplings

that is!

Enjoy your time in Shanghai, but make sure you plan your

meals just as much as your visit.

WATER TOWNS


"The Hidden Gem of the Caribbean "Dominica

If it is true adventure that you desire on a Caribbean vacation, then take the trip to the island of Dominica.

Dominica has been referred to as "The Nature Island"and "The Hidden Gem of the Caribbean " Althoughcruise lines have recently started adding this stop in theirCaribbean cruises, Dominica remains highly unspoiledand secluded. Very few tourists stay on the Island formore than a day.

Dominica's main attraction is the exquisite jungle and nature scenesit provides. One of the Islands proudest claims is that you can drop a

seed of any sort in any grass or dirt on the Island and a few days laterit will be growing. There are 365 rivers all flowing through the landinto the ocean. The water is crystal clear and any local will tell you it isperfectly safe to drink straight from the scene. A good way to spend aday in Dominica is river tubing. It is a relaxing way to get a view of allthe colors and plants that cover the land.

Now, with all the rivers flowing through the Island one can only expect a waterfall or two. And they would be correct to assume thatthere are also plenty of these natural beauties flowing from the rocksabove us. Sari Sari Falls offers one of the most magnificent views of awaterfall one will ever see. Pictures simply can not do it justice. Thehike through the jungle to get to Sari Sari Falls is kind of intense butworth every step. There are two rivers to cross by holding a rope, androcks to climb, but the prize at the end makes one wish they never hadto leave. You will begin to hear Sari Sari Falls far before you reach it, butyour first glance will take your breath away.

by Jennifer Desormes

As you make your way closer you will see the blue

pool formed at the bottom and watch the mist

get lost in the wind.

Once you climb the last rock you are able to take a swim in thepool. It will feel refreshing after the hike, and for a quick moment you might forget that this isn't a dream.

Of course there are many other waterfalls to check out if youdont think you can make the hike to Sari Sari Falls. The Twin Fallsare also grand and amazing. They are hidden so far in the jungleyou will once again forget the reality of the world. Trafalgar Fallsare easier to reach for those who might not be able to hike asfar. Trafalgar Falls are charming and offer the mind a kind ofcalm and peace one cannot experience without the sound ofrunning water falling into a river.

Other points of natural interest include the black lava sandbeach, the emerald pool, and the boiling lake. The black lavasand beach hugs the coast line closely and is surrounded byrocks and cliffs. It is not safe for swimming as the waves are extremely high and there are jagged pieces of rock formationshidden everywhere, but it is a beautiful stroll along the coast.The emerald pool is in a nature conservatory that offers a lot ofscenic views. At one point you are able to look out over the Island and see nothing but trees meeting up with the blueocean. The emerald pool itself looks like a lagoon in a mermaidor pirate movie. It is kind of small, but swimming is allowed andthe water is extremely refreshing.

The boiling Lake is the second largest boiling lakeknown on earth.

The hike to get to the boiling lake is one of the most extremeon the island. It is not recommended for the elderly or thosein bad health. It is an extreme hike through the jungle, butwhen you reach the boiling lake there is a reward ready foryou, in the form of hot lava sand face masks and body rubs.There are also pools to refresh in along the way. If you are ableto do this hike, it will not be a regret, the end product makesyou remember how healthy a moment of silence can be.As far as beaches, Dominica is not known for its white sandbeaches with umbrellas and fruity drinks like many otherCaribbean destinations. Dominica does have its share ofbeaches, but is best for scuba diving. The island of Dominica isknown throughout the world as a top venue for scuba divingor snorkeling. The beaches are not crowded and there are notpeople trying to sell you things and braid your hair everywhereyou look. If you need a break from nature at this point the Is-

lands capital city Roseau offers a lot of fun activities . Thereare plenty of restaurants with local food that will leave yourmouth wanting more after your meal is done. There is plentyof shopping and stands to buy local art such as jewelery, homemade jams and jelly's, and baskets.

The streets get kind of crowded and hectic during the middleof the day but you can look around and see that everyone ishaving a good time. But even in the capital city, where there isshopping and nightlife available they must stay true to thetheme of the island; nature. The Botanical Gardens located inRoseaus downtown area offers trail upon trail of breathtakingnature walks. And then there is whale watching and hotsprings.The locals are kind and humble, always willing to help. The bussystem is a bit tricky at first but the prices are fair. Dominica of-fers a new look at the Caribbean and the gems it holds. For awhole new Caribbean experience, check out Dominica, andgive it a chance, as it differs greatly from other Caribbean is-lands .

ROME

All rOAdS lEAd TO

No one can tell you more about Rome's history, art, quirks, tourism, food, fashion, and lifethan I: I have spent my life being obsessed with the Eternal City and a year living in an un-

believable apartment in Rome's equivalent of SoHo, Trastevere a medieval district over-flowing with food, music, and all things beautiful ranging from centuries old frescoes

eroding on walls to vines hanging from rooftops and stretching to the narrow, cobblestonestreets strutted upon with Prada heels and Ferragamo loafers by model-esque Italianslicking cones of exquisite gelato and heading to a coffee bar (not a Starbucks) for the

world's best cappuccino.

Travel destinations: Rome, Italyby Brandon Schultz


The Roman citizens take for granted their historical

masterpiece of a home; they use the Trevi Fountain

as a place for merely meeting up with old friends

before

heading to lunch; they attend church services at

Santa Maria in Trastevere (yes, "in" is an Italian

word!), the oldest Catholic church in the world,

decked with

Cavallini mosaics from the 1300's; and they have

concerts outside the Colosseum (please learn this

correct, English spelling of the structure and stop

butchering it!), using it as a backdrop for laser light

shows.

Where else in the world are history and art so en-

grained in the natural customs of life that a citizen

does not think twice when walking the famous Via

Sacra (The Sacred Way), the same stone walkway

traversed by Julius Caesar and Augustus? Such is the

life of the Roman. Whether you have two weeks or

two days to spend in this unique city, you will find

yourself indulging in the best the world has to offer

at preset day while learning about the most power-

ful and influential people the world has ever offered

in the past.

There are many "must sees" when visiting Rome for

the first time, but there are also numerous sites and

experiences that are missed by most who never had

the luxury of spending a year there to hunt for the

treasures. Luckily for you, I already did the research

and now you can reap its rewards.

The Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

If you want to see a work of masterful beauty, do

not miss the Trevi Fountain. Though the Trevi is not

a part of ancient history, it is still nearly 400 years

old and intact. If you only get to see one of the many

fountains of Rome, this is the one to see. Be fore-

warned, you will encounter dozens of men trying to

sell pointless trinkets to you.

Do not accept a rose from anyone and do not let

anyone take a picture of you with his camera . Feel

free to trust other tourists to take a picture of you

throwing a coin into the fountain, but do not let a

professional take your photohe will charge you

enormously for this service.

The same is true of the roses: even if he tells you

the rose is free, once you accept it, he will harass

you for money. Take plenty of time to soak in the

joy of the Trevi Fountain, but just do not accept any-

thing from anyone here.


The Palatine

The Palatine hill is the most exciting of

Rome's seven famous hills and is home

to many hidden treasures. The Flavian

Palace is a remarkable structure that

has been excavated and is yours for ex-

ploration. In addition, there are several

other Imperial homes and artifacts scat-

tered about the hill's beautiful walk-

ways and vegetation.

What most people do not realize is that

a walk along the Palatine's paths leads to

the most stunning view of the Colos-

seum available: the PERFECT place for

the award winning photograph. Also

within view of the top of the hill is a fan-

tastic look into the famous Circus Max-

imus. Be sure not to miss the small

museum that is included in your ticket

price. Even if you wisely choose not to

enter the Colosseum, spring for the

ticket and climb the Palatine.

Circus Maximus (Circo Massimo) Skip it.

It is famous for its races and other

games, but it is nothing but a large,

grown-in field of grass today. It is a place

where Romans walk their dogs and kids

frolic in the grass that is rare in this an-

cient city. The view from the top of the

Palatine Hill is all you need to experience

the Circus Maximus.

The Colosseum

This imposing structure standsproudly in the center of CentroStorico (the historic disctrict) andyou will never need to ask direc-tions to find it! Almost 2,000 yearsold, the Colosseum has been hometo exciting games, barbaric cere-monies, impressive theater, andhas even served as an apartmentbuilding in the medieval years.

With such abuse, it is no wonderthat the interior is nearly gutted andlooks nothing like you would imag-ine a stadium of such proportion tobe.

There is not even a floor in the cen-ter, anymore (though this affordsyou the opportunity to see belowinto gladiatorial holding cells).

In short, the view outside is muchmore impressive and does not costyou any money. If you cannot resistthe urge to go inside and you in-deed purchase a ticket, HOLD ONTO IT because you can use it againfor free admission to the PalatineHill, a gem that most tourists miss.


Roman Forum (Foro Romano)

The Roman Forum is the pinnacle of the historical experience in

Rome. Inundated with temples, houses, arches, and business

structures, it is perhaps the extraordinary amount of column

heads, engraved stones, and millennia-old pathways that create

the awe and mystery of this former center of Roman life. I

strongly suggest devoting a large amount of time to exploring

the ruins of the forum and ABSOLUTELY recommend purchasing

a guide book to divulge the vast body of knowledge available. I

personally have enjoyed picnics in the Forum, and I strongly

suggest you buy some sandwiches and drinks and do the same-

just find an ancient column head or stone to sit on and enjoy

your meal in the center of history.

A special note for you lucky readers: come back to the Forum at

night, when the temples and imposing columns are majestically

lit from below. To access the most incredible view of this splen-

dor, see the section called "Rome at Night."

Monument to Victor Emanuel:

This is the largest and most easily located structure in the city.

Built to rival the size of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, it en-

cases a military museum, a tomb, an enormous bronze statue

that can only be properly appreciate up close, and a completely

view of the entire historic district of Rome. Often called the Wed-

ding Cake or Typewriter by Romans, this monument is completely

free to access and you definitely should undertake the climbing of

its many stairs.

Once on top, the view from all sides is one that includes numer-

ous other monuments and an overlook of the city that has been

bustling for two thousand years. At the top, do not forget to look

up at the masterfully painted ceilings of this incredible structure.

The museum inside is rather small and not very interesting to

those who are not obsessed with military history, so skip it if you

are on a limited time-budget. Just hike the monument and be

sure to check out the views from both ends!


Rome at Night

I strongly urge you to return to the Roman Forum and the

Trevi Fountain as late as you willing to stay up and walk

about the city. I have done this many times at 3 AM, but you

can do this as early as midnight and still have a similar experi-

ence. To the Forum properly, head to the top of the Capito-

line hill, go to the right of the central building with the

beautiful fountain, and walk under the arch. A very short

walk straight ahead will lead you to a stone wall that over-

looks the entire Roman Forum and, from here, at night, the

view is both humbling and energizing. Spend some time re-

flecting on history and beauty from this amazing, generally

hidden spot.

Going back to the Trevi at night allows you to enjoy this foun-tain without other tourists, so you can hear the lulling roar ofthe rushing water and see the beautiful lights ascending fromthe water towards the magnificent sculptures. I would oftenbring some takeout Chinese food and eat it while staring at theTrevi in the middle of the nightmy own personal escape spot.It is amazing how different the fountain is at night when noone else is there. Try it.

The Janiculum Hill

A lesser known hill in Rome, I recommend climbing the Janicu-lum early in the day and being at the top by noon. Not onlydoes the wall at the top of the hill provide a breathtaking viewof the entire city, but here you will find the canon that isblasted every day at noon. It is exciting to witness this other-wise trivial part of daily Roman life and the photo-ops fromthis point are priceless.

The Capitoline Hill

This is the hill located next to the Monument to VictorEmanuel and characterized by an enormous staircase leadingto a medieval church and a beautiful ramp/obscure staircaseflanked by Michelangelo's sculptures of the mythical Alexis andCorydon with their horses. At the top of this hill are a beautifulpiazza and a museum also designed by Michelangelo duringthe Renaissance. The museum is of average quality, but thebeauty of the piazza is worth the easy trip to the top of thishill.

The Pantheon

The Pantheon is the world's only ancient building surviving inits entirety today. It has served as a temple to all gods, a courtunder the emperor Hadrian, and is now the tomb of Rome'sfirst modern King and Queen and the artist, Raphael. What isperhaps most remarkable about the Pantheon, though, is thatit is an engineering marvel: its enormous dome is entirelymade of concrete and is perfectly round.

Experts have demonstrated that a tremendous ball would fitperfectly inside of the painstakingly precise dimensions of thePantheon. Engineers suggest that the Pantheon should havecrumbled under its weight over centuries of standing, but ithas, nonetheless, withstood the test of time, including two se-vere earthquakes. The Pantheon is free to enter and will truly give you a sense ofRoman grandeur. While you are there, check out the beautifulfountain in the Pantheon's Piazza. Side note: when facing thePantheon, the gelato shop to the right serves the most ex-traordinary Rose and Orange Chocolate flavored gelato. Eat it.


The Rest

There are HUNDREDS of monuments, museums, and sights (both famous and lesser known) to be seen inRome. This list is intended to share the most essential spots that must be visited with a view hidden treasuresthat will allow you to appreciate Rome in a way that most tourists do not. Try to visit the Mouth of Truth,Tiber Island, the magnificent churches, and, of course, the Vatican City.

Check out the Spanish Steps if you have time to spare, but do not go out of your way to trek there if you arepressed for time or energy: nearly all visitors find them to be a great letdown. Spend some time shopping atValentino (or strolling and window shopping!) on Via Dei Condoti, and eat as much gelato as you possibly can.

Drink wine outside as you walk the streets, because this is legal in Italy and a very enjoyable experience. Mostimportantly, DRESS UP and just wander the streets at night: Romans live to dress beautifully and walk amongsteach other every night, enjoying La Dolce Vita (the sweet life). Be part of it. Oh, and any chance you get, eat out-doors. And if you go to McDonald's while you are in Rome, smack yourself. Buon Viaggio!

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