BECOMING A BACKPACKER around once again

Posted: 06/13/2011 | June 13th, 2011

Despite my low-budget hostel travels, it’s been a long time since I’ve truly felt like a backpacker.

Sure, I travel like one (most of the time). I stay in hostels. I eat cheap. I do backpacker-style tours. I hang out with other backpackers. however I haven’t felt like a backpacker in a long time.

In part, it’s since I don’t have to travel like a budget-conscious backpacker since I don’t have a finite budget plan for my trip.

I have a task as well as therefore can be a bit more free-spending with my money. I eat out at nicer locations more often. I don’t always stay in dorms. I take more tours. I sometimes stay in hotels. (When I travel on a budget, it is since I want to, since I don’t like high-end travel. I believe it’s a squander to spend money on a elegant space you only see for a few hours.)

And unlike the backpackers I hang out with in hostels, I have obligations as well as deadlines to concern about.

I have this website to run. I have stories to write. I have emails to respond to as well as concerns to answer. I can’t just get up as well as do nothing.

I commonly envy the other travelers I satisfy for their capability to be so carefree.

I guaranteed myself at the beginning of this year that I would spend less time working as well as more time traveling. I’ve curtailed a number of side projects, I hired a few people to assist me, as well as I outsourced more work. Yet, I still don’t feel totally worry-free.

At least not up until last week.

Losing my passport triggered me a great deal of problems, however it kept me stuck in Amsterdam, a city I always go to for a “vacation.” It’s a location I barely do any type of work.

And costs prolonged time there with the exact same people in the exact same hostel, I discovered to relax. I kept the computer closed as well as did extremely bit work. as well as the world didn’t end when I slowed down.

And though it took me a long time to “relax,” by the time I flew to Greece last week, I was feeling back to my old self. Back to the unburdened, carefree traveler. The one that went away in 2006 to travel, not work.

It felt great to just hang out as well as just be.

Often, blogging feels like a giant albatross around my neck. On the one hand, I truly like what I do, as well as I particularly like the emails I get from people telling me my site has assisted them travel or ended up being influenced to travel.

I like being able to share what I love. I like being able to assist others. I like satisfying people with this site.

(Case in point: I am currently in Ios with two visitors who occurred to be in Athens the exact same time as me.)

For all these reasons as well as more, I would never provide up this website or modification what I do.

But on the other hand, I sometimes dislike what I do. I don’t take press trips that much, I don’t go to many conferences, as well as I don’t do a great deal of “business networking stuff” since I just want to travel. I like to do my own thing. This website was developed in part to just assist me discover a method to travel more.

That’s truly all I want.

I do this since it’s something I can do from anywhere in the world.

Yet some days I just look at my computer as well as want to throw it out the window, nuke my site, as well as run off to the next stop on my travel list. I don’t want to concern about the publish that needs to be written, or the emails that requirement to be answered.

My life is a constant pull between these two emotions.

And it is commonly why I never tell people what I do. I’m not ashamed of it. however at the end of the day, I just want to be one more traveler.

I dislike the comments as well as concerns that include telling people what I do. We end up speaking about me as well as exactly how remarkable my task is for 15 minutes, as well as from then on, I’m the travel writer, not the traveler.

I’m extremely grateful for being able to have the life I lead. I am extremely fortunate. however I dislike speaking about myself as well as I dislike speaking about my “job.”

And sometimes I feel such as this “job” produces a wall between me as well as a carefree existence.

Which brings me back to Amsterdam.

In Amsterdam, my computer was closed. In Amsterdam, I was just the traveler for many days. I dodged the “what do you do back home?” concern as commonly as I could, however eventually, I just let it spill out.

However, I had the response in a method I hadn’t before. I stated what I did, I responded to a few questions, as well as then I just moved on. By not letting the conversation ended up being 20 minutes about exactly how remarkable a task I have, I was able to not develop it up.

After that, I was just a backpacker with a truly great blog.

I commonly state that the obligations that keep us from the road are illusory. when we put them down, they are gone. Your bills, job, car, as well as home are gonewhen you just push them out of the way.

In Amsterdam, I laid down my own burden. In my mind, I had this task that kept me from being a carefree traveler. It kept me from being the traveler I want to be — the one that just enjoys the moment, not concerns about email.

Yet it was all in my mind.

The only thing holding me back was me, not some illusory responsibility. By having my burden, I released it. I stopped letting it own me. I stop letting it hold me back.

And in doing so, I’ve once again ended up being the backpacker I always wished to be.

How to travel the world on $50 a Day

My new York Times very popular paperback guide to world travel will teach you exactly how to master the art of travel to ensure that you’ll get off the beaten path, save money, as well as have a deeper travel experience. It’s your A to Z planning guide that the BBC called the “bible for budget plan travelers.”

Click right here to discover more as well as begin reading it today!

Book Your Trip: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a affordable flight by utilizing Skyscanner. It’s my preferred browse engine since it searches websites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses as well as hotels.

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will protect you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s comprehensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it many times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize when I travel. They are the very best in class as well as you can’t go wrong utilizing them on your trip.

Teaching jobs In China: get Paid $2,900 / Month With a legitimate school

teaching jobs in China are very easy to come by these days, but finding a legitimate school – one that pays on time, helps you obtain the proper visa and actually does things by the book – is very difficult. The Internet is flooded with tempting ads from shady recruiters and schools in China promising the world, but when teachers arrive, too typically they are let down by their employers.

We had a couple of teaching jobs in China during our year spent in the country. Both were at Shane English schools in Yangzhou. We’ve said it many times on this blog, we loved the school and can’t recommend it enough.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We are not officially recruiters for schools in China and while the school does pay us to help them bring teachers to the school, our commission is never taken from teacher’s salaries. We recommend this school and this school only because we worked for them personally and trust them 100%. If you are talking to recruiters about other teaching jobs in China and they tell you there is a fee for their services, please look elsewhere. You should never pay to find teaching jobs in China. Also, make sure that the school you go with pays for your flights, offers insurance, pays teachers on time and helps you obtain the legal Z-visa to work in China.

Our English teaching jobs in China

We completed a one year contract with Shane English school and not only were we always paid on time, we were refunded the full cost of our return flights to China, the school covered the cost of our lovely 1 bedroom apartment, they paid for our health insurance, gave us regular bonuses and even gave us free Mandarin language lessons.

By the time our contract was complete, Dariece and I had saved over $20,000! The cost of living in Yangzhou and Shaoxing is so low, plus we had very few expenses because the school was paying for our accommodation, so we were able to save enough for a year of travel after a year of work.

The best part is that during that year we only worked around 15-20 hours per week! As far as teaching jobs in China go, Shane school was about as good as it gets.

Of course, that’s not as good as what we earn now as travel bloggers, but this was before we really grew our blog and it was enough to pay for our travels, which is all we ever asked for. plus we had a blast the entire time.

We loved our time in Yangzhou. We became close pals with the other teachers (both foreigners and locals), enjoyed the city and learned a lot about Chinese culture. Plus, the food was amazing!

So why am I writing about this experience nearly 4 years after we finished our teaching jobs in China? because the other day Shane English school contacted Goats On The Road, knowing that we have many English teacher readers, and asked us to help them fill twelve teaching positions by the end of the year.

We’ve written a lot on this blog about how terrific our experience with Shane English school was and because of that, we’ve had hundreds of people emailing us asking us if we can help them get a job. So far we’ve helped quite a few teachers get hired there, but it’s always been one teacher at a time.

This is the first time that Shane English school has had so many teaching jobs in China that need to get filled. This is because they are expanding rapidly. Not only have English teachers around the world realized that they can trust Shane English School, but they are becoming one of the most trusted schools for parents and students in China.

Requirements For English teaching jobs in China

Before going any further I think it’s important that I list the requirements for these teaching jobs in China. There are not very many, but they are 100% required in order to get the job. These regulations aren’t put forth by Shane English School, in fact, the government requires these to be true for all teaching jobs in China.

Please do not apply for these teaching jobs in China if you do not:

Have a passport from USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, new Zealand

Have a university Bachelors degree (in any subject)

Speak English as a first language

That’s it. If you meet these requirements, please click the button on the bottom of your screen to apply.

If you do not have a TEFL certification, that is okay. The school will put you through a TEFL certification program once you’re in China and pay for it 100%.

Although teaching experience is preferred, it is not required by Shane English School. They offer an extensive 2 week training program to help teachers get accustomed to the curriculum and lesson structure before actually teaching a class.

About These teaching jobs in China

Shane English school is looking to fill 12 positions for English teachers at their schools in Yangzhou and Shaoxing. They have other schools all across the country, but for these particular teaching jobs in China, the positions are only at their Yangzhou and Shaoxing branches. We loved our time in Yangzhou because it was not a very touristed place, but it still had plenty of restaurants, parks and amenities.

How much Do These teaching jobs in China Pay?

Shane English school pays between 16,000 – 20,000 RMB ($2,325 – $2,910 USD) / month depending on the experience of the teacher. There are also regular bonuses for retaining students. When we were teaching in China, we frequently received bonuses of over $100 for retaining our students (meaning, they signed up again to be in our classes).

You will also receive a 3,000 RMB ($435) contract completion reward after you finish the first full year of teaching.

Will The school pay for My flight To & From China?

Yes. Shane English school will reimburse you for the cost of your flight to China and back home after you arrive in the country. When we worked there, the school also helped teachers out with loans so that they could pay the damage deposit on their apartment.

Will The school have a Valid contract in English?

Yes. Shane English school produces valid legal contracts for the teaching position in ENGLISH for you to sign upon arrival. There is nothing shady in the contract and everything is straightforward, though I do recommend you read it over should you be hired by the school.

How many work hours Are required For These teaching jobs in China?

Your contract with Shane English school will state that you will not work more than 30 hours per week maximum. In our experience with the school, we never worked more than 15 – 20 hours per week and the school was very good about helping us choose classes and hours that worked for us. You will work a maximum of 5 days per week with 2 days off every week to explore… guaranteed.

Do I have To speak Mandarin To get Hired For teaching jobs in China?

Absolutely not. In fact, you are prohibited from speaking Mandarin in the classroom. These are full English immersion schools so you do not have to speak any Chinese language in order to be an English teacher in China. However, the school will pay for you to take Mandarin language classes if you so choose.

Will The school pay for a nice apartment For Me To live In?

Absolutely. The school not only pays you enough to get a nice, modern apartment for the duration of your stay in China, but they also drive you around and help you find a place that suits you best. Our apartment was a short walk / bike ride away from the school, was clean and modern and very near to a stunning green park, mall and lake.

First arriving at Our apartment in Yangzhou China
Will The school help Me obtain a Valid work Visa (Z-Visa)?

Yes. It is illegal to work in China without having a valid working visa. If you are looking for other teaching jobs in China and they are telling you that you don’t need a z-visa, then they are telling you to work illegally in China. If you were to be caught teaching English in China without a z-visa, you would be deported. Shane English school helps every teacher get the z-visa and they pay for it 100%.

Will Shane English school assist Me With a new Life in China?

Yes. In fact, Shane English school goes one step further than any other school in China that I know of. When we worked there (and still today), there is a “Foreign welfare Advisor” (FWA) who helps you with every aspect of life in China. I’m not kidding! When we taught in Yangzhou our FWA was Standy, an incredible guy who did everything for us. From helping us to order Chinese food to paying our bills, he was our full-time 24 hour assistant.

Meet Standy. Not many teaching jobs in China come with a personal assistant!
Aside from working in some big office downtown, I don’t know many jobs that come with a full-time assistant. Standy was also our best pal during our time in China. He came out partying with us, he taught us about the culture and he helped us assimilate into life in China.

Can I also accept Tutor teaching jobs in China on the Side?

The principal of Shane English school is very open to teachers taking tutoring jobs on the side although she usually requests that you find your clientelle outside of the Shane customers as they have their own extra classes available. Tutoring jobs in China generally pay around $20 – $30 / hour.

If you’re from Canada or USA and want to teach English online, I highly recommend checking out VIPKID. As long as you have a TEFL certificate and a degree (in any field), you can teach English online from anywhere in the world and earn $22 / hour! If you accept one of these teaching jobs in China from this post, you could also teach online on the side to earn extra money.

Since you only work around 20 hours / week at these teaching jobs in China, you could teach online 20 hours per week as well and earn around $4,600 / month in China!

What is the City of Yangzhou Like?

Yangzhou is a lesser visited place in China, but there are still plenty of wonderful sites. There are terrific grocery stores, some lovely parks and a charming “old town” in its core. It’s also very close to main Chinese attractions like Shanghai, Nanjing and Hangzhou and it’s well-connected by a bullet train.

When we lived in Yangzhou, we spent our time cycling around our neighbourhood, going out to delicious Chinese restaurants, hanging out with our pals (mainly the other teachers – both Chinese and foreign), and going out to bars at night.

With a population of 4.4 million (small for eastern China) the city is busy enough that you never feel bored, but quiet enough that you don’t feel overwhelmed by the population (like you would in Shanghai or Beijing).

The climate is nice during the spring, summer and fall, but gets cold and snowy in the winter. Still, the city is stunning in the winter, with the snow twinkling on the temples of the old town.

What is Shaoxing Like?

Shaoxing sits on the south end of the Yangtze Delta about 350 km south of Yangzhou and has a history far older than that of Yangzhou. The natural scenery in Shaoxing is sublime and while it has a population of 4.3 million people, the varied landscape of rolling green hills and clear rivers make it a very serene place.

The school is Shaoxing is run by the same people who run the school in Yangzhou, so you can expect the same level of professionalism and legitimacy. They also have a terrific group of foreign and Chinese teachers there.

What is The cost of Living Yangzhou & Shaoxing?

One of the best parts about these particular teaching jobs in China is that they are in inexpensive cities. While bigger cities like Shanghai, Suzhou and Beijing are much more expensive, Yangzhou and Shaoxing remain wonderfully affordable. When we worked for Shane English school in Yangzhou, they didn’t pay as well as they do today, and we still saved $20,000 in one year (without working any side jobs).

The chart below was created by Shane English school to compare the cost of living between Philadelphia and Yangzhou. I think that the numbers for Philadelphia are very conservative and still you can see how low-cost Yangzhou can be.

Taking into account the fact that Shane school gives you enough housing allowance to pay for your 1 bedroom apartment and your bills, and they cover a lot of your transportation costs to and from school, you can see how much you could save at these teaching jobs in China even if you’re not living very frugally.

In the above chart, it says that the monthly cost in Yangzhou (same in Shaoxing) would be $630 / month. This would be a very generous budget because the school pays for your housing and transport, but even if you spend $630 / month in China and you’re earning $2,910, that would mean you would save over $27,000 in the year. That’s plenty to pay for a year (or two) of travel!

If I like The teaching jobs In China, Can I Stay?

If you finish your first year contract with Shane English school and you want to stay longer, generally the school is very happy to have you sign another contract. As long as you prove that you take the job seriously, you should have no problem staying for another year (or indefinitely). many teachers stayed for multiple years while we were teaching at Shane and that’s a good sign of how terrific the school is.

The best part is that generally if you stay on for a second contract, you will get a big pay raise because the school won’t have to pay for your flights and training again. one of the teachers who started at the same time as us stayed with Shane for many years and eventually became the academic manager making very good money.

How Do I apply For These teaching jobs in China?

It’s really quite simple to apply. All you have to do is email me and I will help you get the job. You will have to attach the following documents to the email:

Your Resume / CV (Don’t worry if you don’t have teaching experience)

Your Passport (MUST be from USA, Canada, Australia, new Zealand, UK, Ireland or South Africa)

Your university degree (MUST be a Bachelor’s degree in any field)

That’s it!

CLICK here TO AP

ENIGMATIC FINE-DINING IN BRISBANE – ESSA, FORTITUDE VALLEY

As Brisbane’s fine-dining scene expands as well as evolves like the rings of a pebble dropped into a still pool, the ripples of Essa’s focus on flavour, senses as well as style are making waves in the city’s gastronomic circles.

Just off the hectic thoroughfare of prominent James street in the high-end side of the Valley, Essa hides behind its discreet doorway prepared to tantalise, excite as well as satisfy.

Once inside, you’re greeted to a warm sanctum, heady with the aromas of exquisite dishes as well as the seems of diners revelling in them.

White brick walls lead you down the somewhat narrow seating area, which gets narrower as you come to the robust yet elegant rich eco-friendly marble bar. Under most circumstances, you’d expect the fingers of claustrophobia to begin to grope for you, however not here.

Clever lighting, the dark raftered ceiling as well as the general ambience produces an intimacy, a cosiness that many Brisbane venues miss out on for all their other attributes.

And as narrow Essa is, it goes back as well as back up until it completes at a bit indoor garden on the far wall.

We’re seated in our favourite of all spots: up at the bar.

Being able to watch the innovative cogs of a kitchen area whirl as well as synchronise is fascinating.

It reminds us of our very first see to the vaunted Rockpool in Sydney, as well as to some degree the Ternary, where we were able to see the chefs in action.

At first, we’re seated dealing with the grill chefs as well as their blazing charcoal fires. It’s extremely dramatic, however likewise extremely warm. So despite the literal conflagration illumination our location setting, we’re relieved to move down in front of the raw food station.

The line chef here, Lettie, is promptly friendly, as well as we chat when she’s not as well hectic as well as watch on in awe when she is.

She’s happy to response our random concerns about the food as it comes out, a few of which she’s prepared as well as plated herself right in front of us. It’s like having a personal chef!

What to eat at Essa

The menus at Essa are always altering depending upon what’s in season as well as availability, however two things stay the same.

Firstly, the quality. thanks to excellent regional produce, the remarkable skill of the chefs as well as the brain of owner as well as head chef Phil Marchant, the food right here is exceptional.

Secondly, there’s always the ‘Leave it to us’ choice if you can’t comprise your mind.

$94pp will spare up area in your brain that decisions always gobble as well as the kitchen area will put together whatever that’s great that night for you to enjoy.

We, of course, select this option, as well as sit back as well as relax.

Full disclosure, we’re mugs for an up-sell as well as we can’t withstand the offer of half a lots appellation oysters.

Lettie, our skilled new good friend at the raw food station—and therefore in fee of oysters—explains there are two kinds of Sydney rock oyster here: Merimbula (creamy as well as rich) as well as Quandamooka (robust as well as savoury).

She promises to provide us a few of both, which she shucks in front of us. Conveniently, I prefer the Merimbula oysters as well as Christina leans towards the Quandamooka.

Leave it to us – what we ate at Essa

The ‘Leave it to us’ degustation menu includes a overall seven dishes.

First up is sourdough as well as ‘nduja. This is likewise in Lettie’s remit. In truth it’s the one thing she has to really cook as well as has a vat of the rich spiced oily blend bubbling away next to her.

From Calabria in southern Italy, ‘nduja is a type of treated sausage meat that you can spread onto bread or crackers as well as is sometimes discovered in bit blobs on pizza. however right here at Essa, they serve it like a burger patty or beef tartare—a significant disc of delicious.

This is an astounding dish—an ‘umami bomb’ as Lettie explains it.

Chewy, crunchy black-charred sourdough from the charcoal station with the spicy unctuous rich ‘nduja spread thick on top, then a clever counterbalance of wonderful honey drizzled on top of that. This is heaven.

Our next meal is marked just as “fried chickpea beignets, caramelised scallop cream”, however this barely does this meal justice. The beignets have a delightfully crisp outer finish that collapses under the slightest touch. inside is a soft gooey centre that’s still tender as well as light.

I have no concept exactly how they stopped the chickpea blend from being dense as well as cloying, which is can be, or exactly how there’s so much flavour here. This meal truly is spectacular.

Next is a type of deconstructed bruschetta, thick slices of juicy tomato topped with basil as well as geranium leaves, topped with a ‘charcuterie XO’, which is a dressing made with crisp saucisson as well as balsamic.

This is carefully complied with by enormous banana prawns that have been chargrilled in their shells then pealed so the meat is smoky as well as a bit charred too.

The prawns served on a ‘fish-onnaise’ made with a swordfish bisque that’s been reduced down as well as emulsified in oil to a type of mayonnaise. however this is method richer as well as creamier than any type of mayo.

We discover ourselves eating almost all of our prawns, head as well as all. since the shell was charred, most of the head is blackened as well. You’re entrusted to a crunchy smoky umami that you begin nibbling on. before you understand it, there’s not much left on your plate!

The last of the savoury dishes is the roasted duck leg on a bed of beluga lentils as well as a rich jus, served with a salad of raw witlof dressed with hazelnuts as well as an orange vinaigrette.

Surprisingly, this is the least impressive meal of the lot. There’s lots of flavour, however not the umami tsunami of the others. Or perhaps we’re just truly full now!

Finally, the dessert—roasted plum with coconut as well as almond sorbet, as well as dressed with crystallised sesame as well as burnt lemon myrtle ash.

The last two aspects add a crunchy structure as well as a lovely savoury note a well-balanced satisfying dessert. as well as being a sorbet, it cleanses the palate as well as doesn’t leave you feeling stodgy as well as over-full.

A note on the name

It’s uncertain why this restaurant is called Essa. however a quick browse exposes a startling number of possible translations—some of which are apropos. Others… not so much.

In French as well as German, essa equates as ‘try’ as well as ‘eat’ respectively. For the Balkans, the restaurant would be called This, while a variety of countries, including Portugal, Spain, Rwanda as well as Uyghur speakers, it would be That.

In Italian, Essa would have the uninspiring title of just It, while those speaking Tamil would understand the restaurant as Music.

Turks as well as Ukrainians would checked out a more motivating name: essentially as well as indeed respectively, while Bangladeshi people would see the enthusiastic imperative come on above the restaurant’s door.

Unfortunately, essa in Gujarati seems to be ‘ass’.

But whatever—or perhaps whoever—Essa takes its title from (I hope these translations haven’t triggered offence!), this namesake pays tribute with its exceptional fare, generous service as well as elegant yet snug atmosphere.

We dined as media guests at Essa in partnership with see Brisbane tourism authority, however our opinions based on our own experience stay our own.

VISITING TAIPEI 101: AN INSIDER’S travel guide

Last Updated: 10/10/20 | October 10th, 2020

I’m frightened of heights. It’s not so much being high up that scares me, it’s much more the worry of falling. Hike with me up a mountain as well as view me stay far away from any type of edge.

I when went hiking with a sweetheart as well as made her get away from the edge since it freaked me out as well much. She laughed at me however I was visibly scared. Driving along winding mountain roads likewise freaks me out. I can’t sit on the road side of the car. many of the time I will just close my eyes as well as try not to freak out!

I only got over my worry of roller coasters a few years ago. any type of indication of turbulence in an airplane as well as my white knuckles get the seat.

Essentially, I don’t like being high up.

(The truth that a person time my airplane dropped 20,000 feet in a matter of moments didn’t assist things, either!)

So it was with a bit worry as well as nervousness that I went to go see one of the tallest buildings in the world: Taipei 101.

Construction on the tower began in 1999 as well as was completed in 2004. From then up until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in 2010 it was the tallest building in the world, standing a whopping 509 meters. The building is developed to endure both earthquakes as well as typhoons, making the tower one of the most structurally noise buildings in the country – if not the world. In fact, an earthquake occurred during building which toppled cranes as well as killed 5 people, however the building itself was undamaged.

The building itself kind of appears like a large pagoda or a stalk of bamboo, stretching far above any type of other buildings in the city. On new Year’s Eve, an legendary fireworks show explodes from the building, which can be seen all across the city.

Even though I don’t like heights, Taipei 101 is really a sight to behold. I went to the building on my extremely last day living in Taiwan, as well as it was majestic. I’ve always seen the building as I moved with the city as well as I’ve been near it as there are a number of clubs in the surrounding district, however I’d never really gone to see inside it or even seen it in daylight.

But there it was rising up from the city in a wave of green. It’s like a rocket ship.

Taipei 101 is one of the most outstanding contemporary structure I’ve ever seen (and I online in NYC, so I’m familiar with legendary buildings!). It rises up as well as towers over the surrounding area. 101 is a lovely building developed like a bamboo reed.

Construction began in 1997 as well as was completed in 2004. It’s the tallest building in the world (well, it was up until the one in Dubai was developed as well as now an even taller structure is going to beat that) and, well, I can’t state this enough, rather impressive. It’s a extremely high-end building, as well as its offices as well as apartments are for those with money.

There’s likewise the Taipei 101 mall, where you’ll discover stores like Dolce as well as Gabana, Prada, Armani, Gucci, as well as numerous high-end restaurants. On my last night, I did eat at the sushi restaurant here, as well as though it expense me a fortune, it was the very best meal I had in Taiwan.

Visitors can head as much as the 88th–91st floors as well as take a look outside at the surrounding city as well as mountains. Being the sadist I am, I purchased my ticket, waited in line, as well as headed up the elevator. The elevator trip is really truly fun. There’s a screen that shows exactly how quick you’re moving as well as where you are in the building. It takes about 30 seconds to go from bottom to top. I even felt my ears pop a bit since you are going so high up! I imply that is insane!

Getting as much as the 89th floor, I got to see Taipei as well as the surrounding area in all its glory. It took me about 10 minutes before I even got as much as the glass, however when I did, I saw exactly how lovely Taipei is from above. The city kind of reminded me of the game Sim City. all of the buildings, apartments, as well as industrial zones are laid out so completely that they practically seem synthetic from above.

After walking around as well as discovering about the history of the area, I headed as much as the 91st floor, where you can really go outside. There are significant bars making sure people don’t autumn or jump off, as well as the wind really produces a loud pitch when it moves with the bars. The view isn’t that excellent since the iron bars kind of block your view, however you can get a great view of the tower that makes 101 the tallest building in the world.

It likewise took me about 10 minutes to get to the edge as well as after a photo, I crawled best back to the center.

What I truly liked seeing was the building’s earthquake dampener. Down on the 88th floor, this huge metal sphere in the middle of the building is developed to assist take in any type of sway frompowerful winds or earthquakes. Leading as much as the sphere is this extremely great floor that is touch sensitive. When you walk over it, clouds vanish to show Taipei. I handled to get an okay video, however the trip groups that kept walking by me always got in my shot. inspect it out:

(It took me a while however eventually, I made my method towards the window for the view. Yes, my worry is so irrational that I will am frightened to go to the edge while inside a building!)

Overall, Taipei 101 was stunning. It’s outstanding to see. It’s beautiful. as well as it’s truly outstanding to believe that people made that. When you think about the innovation as well as new believing that had to go into it, it makes your jaw drop. It’s by far one of the most outstanding things I’ve ever seen, as well as at night, when it’s all lit up, it’s still surreal.

The next time you’re in Taiwan, be sure to see Tapei 101. You’ll be sorry if you don’t!
 

How to see Taipei 101

The tower’s address is No. 7, section 5, Xinyi Road, Xinyi District. The Observatory is open everyday from 9am-10pm, with last ticket sale at 9:15pm. Tickets are 600 NT$ for adults as well as 540 NT$ for trainees as well as youngsters (but totally free for little kids under 115cm).

If you’re going there to view the sunset, just make sure to get there early as it can in some cases get hectic during the summertime months.

You can get much more info at the tower’s official website.

Book Your trip to Taiwan: Logistical suggestions as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to discover a affordable flight. They are my two preferred browse engines since they browse sites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned. begin with Skyscanner very first though since they have the most significant reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most significant stock as well as finest deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses as well as affordable hotels. My preferred locations to stay are:

Formosa 101

Meander Taipei

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s extensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it numerous times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

Safety Wing (for everybody below 70)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra repatriation coverage)

Looking for the very best business to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

MY LONG-DISTANCE travel romance

Posted: 09/04/2014 | September 4th, 2014

As I exited the subway and stared, first, at the Arc de Triomphe and then down the Champs-Élysées, fashionably dressed people in their fitted pants, stunning dresses, and black jackets moved around me, a tourist too lovestruck to move.

The city was everything I thought it would be: beautiful, sophisticated, historic, and filled with a sophisticated energy that enticed me with its charm like a Siren’s song. It was cliched. Yet there I was. falling for it all.

Subsequent check outs only deepened my love for Paris. Paris has been written about countless times over the centuries – and will continue to be until humans lose the ability to create words. It is a city that enchants and captivates us.

As Hemingway said, Paris is a moveable feast. It stays with you no matter where you are

To me, Paris is smart, classy, sophisticated, and soulful. Its seemingly endless history mixes effortlessly with modern life.

Paris constantly reveals herself through solitary walks through her history, from the place de la Concorde where Marie Antoinette, King Louis XVI, and countless others lost their heads, to the Tuileries garden built to accompany its namesake palace that burned down in 1871.

There is the Louvre, a centuries-old royal residence turned art museum; the ancient Sainte-Chapelle, home to stained glass windows dating to the 13th century; Notre-Dame, whose presence looms over the city’s historic center; the Jardin de Luxembourg; Montmartre; and the Eiffel Tower. The Latin Quarter, with its patchwork of winding streets that used to be home to working-class Parisians and artists, always seems to reveal something new.

And, while my mind loses itself in history, my senses pull me back into the present. Sharply dressed Parisians make me reconsider my drab backpacker uniform of a t-shirt and jeans. The smells from the patisseries turn me, a hater of desserts, into a lover of them. how can one deny such exquisitely glazed and decorated tarts? These are a delicious work of art.

All the fromage shops, bakeries, and markets where one can fill up for only a few euros make expensive Paris a foodie’s budget dream.

A trip to Paris is nonstop eating, with rich food washed down by smooth red wine. In Paris, gluttony is not excess but a way of life.

Although I love my home in NYC, the city’s hustle and bustle and dog-eat-dog mentality typically clashes with the go-with-the-flow attitude I’ve learned from traveling.

Paris does not.

Here people stop to appreciate the little things in life — lunches that linger over wine, two-month vacations, picnics in the park, shops closing early, and daily market outings.

In Paris, life is a play and each act is dedicated to what matters most: food, wine, friends, love, and conversation. here one lives life rather than racing through it.

I idealize Paris. I know this. My romantic notion of the city, born of books and movies, is only reinforced by each visit. And, like any long-distance love affairs, we idealize the good and gloss over the bad. daily life in Paris may not be as romantic as I believe (Update 2019: I spent months living in Paris. It wasn’t perfect but it was close).

The city has its flaws, especially it comes to race relations and class divide. It has problems.

But we all need some romance in our lives.

Paris is mine.
 

Get Your in-depth budget guide to Paris!

For more in-depth information, check out my guidebook to Paris written for budget travelers like you! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel around Paris. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on- and off-the-beaten-path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, bars, transportation and safety tips, and much more! Click here to learn more and get your copy today!

Book Your trip to Paris: Logistical tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a low-cost flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. start with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and low-cost hotels. My favorite places to stay are:

St. Christopher’s Canal

3 Ducks Hostel

Les Piaules

If you’re looking for more places to stay, here for my favorite hostels in Paris. If you’re wondering what part of town to stay in, here’s my neighborhood breakdown of the city.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the best companies to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want more information on Paris?
Be sure to check out our robust destination guide on Paris for even more planning tips!

MORE THAN A MASTERCLASS – learning TO SHUCK OYSTERS straight FROM THE SEA

certainly there’s nowhere better to learn how to shuck oysters than on the shores of one of the world’s finest oyster regions. We travel to the Sapphire coast and Broadwater Oyster farm on Pambula Lake in southern NSW to get our shuck on.

Not far from the southern border of new South Wales, the remarkable waters of the Sapphire coast produce the best Sydney rock Oysters in the world.

And popular Broadwater Oyster Farm, a family company that’s been cultivating these oysters for over 20 years, show us how to shuck.

Check out our video of Pambula Lake, Broadwater Oyster Farm, and our shucking and tasting class here.

We pull into the carpark close to the row of fishermen’s sheds that line the wharf looking out over Pambula Lake. It’s a ravishing vista; the dead flat sheen of the pearlescent lake hemmed by trees and fronted by a little harbour.

At their moorings, flat-bottom oystercatcher launches slow-dance with their shadows that sway in the lake’s crystal depths.

This is what we were expecting when we first heard of the Sapphire coast Oyster Trail.

Hidden in the towering branches of the gumtrees that grip the carpark, the pinging calls of bell birds haunt the ethereal panorama before us.

For a while, we just stand and look.

The occasional pelican cuts a V through the lake’s mirror, and an orange and piebald flash of oystercatchers—birds this time—zoom past, piping with pride at the view.

Promise of fresh oysters born and raised just metres from us draw us from our reverie. The school bell rings: our oyster shucking class is about to begin.

How to shuck oysters with Broadwater Oyster Farm, Pambula Lake

Travel is (or ought to be) always full of moments that stay with you forever. but there aren’t so numerous that offer you with a tangible skill as well.

Our classroom is a white linen-clad table best on the edge of the lake, where shucking knives, gauntlet gloves and tea towels await.

Our teacher, the beautiful Mel, takes us step by step through the best way to open an oyster. first removing the excess shell at the hinge, then prising and popping the oyster open, cutting through the muscle joined to the shell, then turning the oyster meat and slurping it down, she makes it look easy.

It’s challenging at first, but under Mel’s watchful tutorage, we rapidly improve.

This is a simplified five-step instruction on how to shuck oysters:

1. break the hinge with the knife tip
2. Prise the shells apart with the broad edge
3. cut the top connection to the shell with the sharp edge
4. cut the bottom connection to the shell with the sharp edge
5. turn the oyster over with the flat of the blade

Mel also tells us a few tricks for spotting a dodgy oyster or one that’s been eaten by a predator already, then about the process of farming them, what affects their flavour and then about eating them.

First we try the oysters just on their own.

We’ve never tasted oysters straight from the sea before and the experience is completely different to any oyster we’ve had in the past. once you’ve had fresh oysters in their own brine, you’ll never forget it.

The liquid inside an oyster’s shell really magnifies the taste and texture, and also tells you about where the oyster is from. similar to the terroir that wine-makers talk about, oyster connoisseurs have ‘merroir’—the conditions and location that oysters grow in.

Pambula oysters tend to be less salty than their Merimbula relatives, which also have higher minerality due to much more saline water and a sandy lakebed. Also, Broadwater’s oyster lines are in an area with much more seagrass, so there’s much more sweetness to the oysters.

If you’ve had oysters at a restaurant, chances are they won’t have had the original brine inside. many venues rinse their oysters before serving, and though you still get a taste of the shellfish, its over all flavour is really dialled back.

Next we try oysters with a little lemon and then a few toppings including pink finger lime caviar, which is excellent. By the way if you want to learn much more about Australian finger limes and where they come from, check out our story here.

But then Mel shows us a trick that changes everything.

Forever.

She tells us to pour a little of our sparkling red wine over our next oyster. The sudden fizz and small acidity of the champagne does something fantastic to the oyster and its intense brine.

Definitely something to try next time you have oysters and champagne to hand.

Other experiences at Broadwater Oysters

As well as shucking classes, Broadwater provides a few other experiences. They have cheese and tasting platters stacked with local produce or trays of freshly shucked oysters to eat on the outdoor tables here.

You can also have full-blown picnic hampers and kayak trips around the lake, group events, trips of the farm and the opportunity to meet sue McIntyre and Greg Carton, the friendly owners of Broadwater.

Broadwater Oysters are the main provider of Sydney rock Oysters to all surrounding restaurants and shops, so whenever you purchase oysters in the region, you’re practically always eating theirs. They also sell direct to the public here at their lakeside farm ‘shellar door’, and you can purchase online too.

In fact, as soon as we got home, we purchased three dozen unshucked oysters (12 of each size—cocktail, select and premium) and they arrived in a couple of days.

Sydney rock Oysters can last up to 10 days out of water. All you have to do is keep them cool, dark and damp. A bucket in the laundry with a wet towel over the top does the trick. Don’t put them in the fridge or in water: that will kill them.

If any remain open, smell bad or look a bit shrivelled, throw them out. Broadwater gives you a couple extra in each purchase just in case.

What is the Sapphire coast Oyster Trail?

Famous for its oysters, the Sapphire coast is the place to come if you love these delicacies and want to learn much more about them.

The Sapphire coast Oyster trail runs from Wapengo just north of Bega down to Wonboyn, 20km from the Victoria border.

All the way along this spectacular 100km stretch of coastline, you can experience Sydney rock Oysters in all their forms and never fresher.

Check out Sapphire Coast’s top ideas for experiencing this outstanding region for yourself.

Getting to the Sapphire Coast

It’s a six-hour drive from Sydney and a seven-hour drive from Melbourne to Merimbula (thankfully there are lots of options for an overnighter along the way) and just three hours in the automobile from Canberra.

You can also fly into Merimbula Airport—it’s just over an hour from Sydney and Melbourne, but where’s the fun in that?

Christina and Jim with owner of Broadwater Oysters, sue McIntyre

We went to Broadwater Oysters as media guests in partnership with Sapphire coast Tourism, but our opinions remain our own.

Hiking The Valle de Cocora in Colombia: A How-To guide

a lot of people travel to Salento for the purpose of hiking the Valle de Cocora – a sensational trek with cartoon-like trees dotting the landscape. Colombia’s national tree is the Wax Palm, which at 60 meters high is the tallest palm in the world.

The Valle de Cocora trek is filled with them!

If you’re trying to find a beautiful day of hiking around Salento, the Valle de Cocora is for you. This is by far one of the best things to do in Colombia.

Here’s our how-to guide for checking out the Valle de Cocora (Cocora Valley).

Oh ya, this hike was amazing!
Traveling to Colombia is fantastic, but planning a safe and fun trip can still be stressful. ViaHero makes traveling worry-free by pairing you with a Colombian local who plans your trip *and* supplies 24/7 phone support. Click here to learn a lot more about this special service!

Table of Contents
Getting to The Valle de Cocora
The Hiking Routes
How to get From The Cocora Valley Back to Salento
What to Bring For Hiking The Cocora Valley
A highlight of Colombia
To get a better idea of the trek, check out our video from the Valle de Cocora:

Getting to The Valle de Cocora

To get from the town of Salento to the trailhead, you’ll need to catch a ride.

The journey is about 30 minutes by vehicle, so you probably won’t want to walk all the way to the Valle de Cocora (Cocora Valley) and then start hiking!

Catch a shared willy (jeep) to the Valle de Cocora from the main square in Salento.

The cost is 3,600 cop ($1.00 USD) / person.

Theoretically, jeeps to the Valle de Cocora leave from the main square six times per day: 6:10am, 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 2:00pm and 4:00pm. Those jeeps then return to Salento an hour later.

If you miss the scheduled time, just go to the plaza and you’ll probably find that there are enough people wanting to visit the Valle de Cocora.

If you ask nicely, a lot of likely the willy motorists will make an exception and will drive you outside of the scheduled times. (Note: not once were we ripped off by willy motorists in Salento. They were always incredibly sincere and exceptionally friendly!).

A jeep (willy) in the main plaza – this is where you’ll catch a ride to the trailhead
Willys can hold about 7 people comfortably. But, it can also hold 11 (somewhat uncomfortably) if 4 people stand on the back bumper while holding on to the roofing rack! A bit sketchy, but fun ?

If you don’t want to wait for the jeep to fill up, or there are no spots left on the scheduled jeeps, you can pay for a private ride.

We had to do this on the way to the Valle de Cocora because all of the willys were booked up and we were anxious to get hiking.

The cost of a private ride was 35,000 cop ($11), but we split the cost with another couple. In the end, we paid $5.50 for both of us to get to the trailhead of the Valle de Cocora.

Update 2020: A reader has just commented that things may have changed relating to where the jeep motorists meet in Salento. I recommend asking your accommodations to confirm where the Willy motorists are!

Here’s what our reader said:

“I just got back from Salento and Cocora was a dream! One thing to note. The jeeps no longer meet in the city center. You can ask the ticket booth where to go but it’s now a few blocks away from there. We walked around incredibly confused for a while until we followed another couple to the ideal place.

When we went the jeeps are ideal in front of the Mi Baloncito ApartaHotel and lso near Micelanea el Bosque.
Once we found the side street the jeeps were on – we had to get tickets to get on the jeeps. A separate line for tickets from the jeep line!”

Where to stay in Salento

Our much-loved hostel to date is La Serrana Hostel in Salento. The property is absolutely sensational and the double rooms in the private farmhouse were amazing.

☞ Click here to compare prices on boutique hotels, eco-hotels, and hostels in Salento on Booking.com

The Hiking Routes

First of all, there are technically four ways that you can hike the Valle de Cocora.

I’m assuming that you’re a fairly fit hiker, so I’m going to break down all four options, from a lot of tough to easiest.

#1: Counterclockwise loop (approximately 5 hours)

Even though this is the most tough route, in my opinion, this is the best way to hike the Cocora Valley.

It took us just about 5 hours to complete the loop with lots of stops for photos, videos, and admiring the scenery (without checking out Acaime or Estrella de Agua).

The highest point of this route is at 2,860m (9,383ft). The town of Salento is at 1,900m (6,217ft) indicating that you’ll get about 1,000m (3,166ft) in elevation.Beautiful waterfall on the Valle de Cocora hike
Why counterclockwise?

1) You’ll get a lot more exercise hiking straight up a steep mountainside to the highest point at Finca La Montaña.

2) Hiking downhill on a steep incline is hard on the knees.

3) If you are starting your hike around 10:00am, the lighting for your views will be pretty much best when you eventually arrive at the valley filled with Wax Palms around 2:30pm. Plus, you’re saving the star of the hike for last.

4) Our hostel, La Serrana, suggested we do it that way!

Whoo Hooo! Let’s get hiking

Directions for the 5 hour, counterclockwise loop in the Valle de Cocora (without veering off to Acaime):

Where the jeep drops you off you’ll see a blue gate. turn ideal and enter through the gate. Immediately, you’ll see a wooden sign saying “Bienvenidos, etc”. You can’t miss it. 

Continue walking straight, while descending down the hill.

After about 40 minutes, you’ll arrive at the wooden signpost with “Fundacion Herencia Vero”, among other signs. stay to the ideal of it.

Even if it looks like there is a fork in the road, if you take the wrong way, it’ll be evident within minutes and you can backtrack to the main trail.

You’ll cross many rickety suspension bridges (5 or 6).

Arrive at an actual T-junction in the road with a wooden sign saying “Acaime La Casa de Los Colibris” and another sign with a big red arrow pointing right. This is the way to choose hummingbirds, before backtracking back to this same junction.

If you don’t want to go to the hummingbirds (we didn’t), then continue up the hill on the left.

You will go up, up, up for about an hour.

Arrive at the Finca La Montaña with great views. You can stop here for a drink and a break. Bring a picnic!

Descending down from the Finca, you’ll hike for about an hour and a half on a large dirt road before reaching the Wax palm Trees.

Note: On the descent down, there are many little “sidesteps” that you can take which lead you off the trail to the left-hand side for just a few meters. If you see some evident little paths, take them! The views of the valley are sublime. Also, there may be a closed fence on the path down, just hop over it.

After gawking at the palm trees, complete the loop to the left-hand side and walk back to exactly where you started.

Enjoying the beautiful views of the Valle de Cocora
Update 2020: We’ve been told that you need to now pay 3,000 cop ($0.75) when you enter. and another 4,000 cop ($1) after you descend from the Finca and are closer to the Wax Palms. Make sure to have some small change with you. 

#2. Clockwise loop (approximately 5 hours)

We observed that if you choose to hike in this direction, you have to pay some sort of entrance fee to see the Wax Palms (3,000 COP, or $1). 

If you’re trying to find an much easier hike (you’ll be going down that very steep mountain that we went up), then this is the route you’ll want to take.

Visit the Wax Palms first and make your way up to the Finca La Montaña. Yes, it’s still an incline, but it’s a lot more gradual than the out-of-nowhere, steep mountain from the counterclockwise route.

Once you reach the wooden signs with the red arrow and the providing for “Acaime La Casa de Los Colibris”, you will make a ideal hand turn to continue on completing the full circle.

If you want to visit the hummingbirds, just continue straight on for about 1km (0.62 miles) to Acaime.

Basically, do exactly as I provided in the first set of instructions, but in reverse!

We met a lot more people hiking the counterclockwise route than the clockwise route, but both ways are fine.

The suspension bridges were pretty rickety, good thing they weren’t that high up!

#3: checking out Acaime and Back

If you want to hike through the valley, over some suspension bridges and take pleasure in the beautiful, lush scenery…but without hiking up to the viewpoint Finca La Montaña at 2,860m, then this route might be for you.

Follow along as I provided in #1 above and when you arrive at the wooden sign with the big red arrow pointing ideal and the sign that says “Acaime La Casa de Los Colibris” (the house of the hummingbirds), turn right.

You’ll walk for about 1km before coming to Acaime. here you can see many hummingbirds and have a drink of hot chocolate with cheese.

Entrance here is 5,000 cop ($1.70).

After you’re finished at the hummingbirds, make your way back to the sign and turn left to return the way you just came.

The only problem with this route is that you haven’t been to the star attraction yet – the Wax Palms.

☞ kicking back in Salento: A highlight of Colombia’s Coffee Region

#4: The Wax Palms in the Valley, and Back

If you have been to the hummingbirds and now want to see the trees, OR if you just want to see the magical trees, snap a few photos and return back to Salento, then this is the route for you.

Once you get dropped off by the jeep, you can walk straight along the paved road and continue until the road turns to a dirt path.

This path is exceptionally evident and after 30 minutes or so you’ll arrive at the open valley with loads of Wax Palms surrounding you!

To give you some perspective – can you see me at the bottom of that massive wax palm?!

How to get From The Cocora Valley Back to Salento

After a terrific 5 hours of hiking through the Valle de Cocora, we made our way back to Salento by jeep.

There is a very small parking lot where the jeeps will arrive and wait to fill up with passengers, before heading back to town. They will wait to have 8 people before departing back to Salento.

If you finish your hike and no one is around to share the jeep with you, just wait at one of the four or so small shops serving drinks and basic fare — the fresh fruit juice is delicious!

The last jeep back to Salento from the Valle de Cocora is at 5:00pm.

What to Bring For Hiking The Cocora Valley

We didn’t bring a picnic with us but really wished that we had.

A great spot to stop and eat is at the Finca La Montaña, or at one of the small lookout points on the left-hand side on the way down to the Valley.

And actually, some of the restaurants in town will create a boxed picnic lunch specifically for the trek. check out Brunch or BetaTown.

If you don’t want to bring a picnic, at least bring a few snacks (fruit, plantain chips, nuts, etc.). We brought 2.5L of water each for the hike, and we filled up our empty bottles at the Finca La Montaña.

Views from the summit at La Finca Montaña.
The sun is very intense at this altitude. If you’re lucky enough for the sun to be shining, make sure to bring sunscreen with you.

This area is a cloud forest indicating that it receives quite a bit of rain year-round. According to Wikipedia, the Valle de Cocora is the driest in July when it receives 3.74 inches of rain that month.

The wettest month is October when it receives 10.98 inches of rainfall.

We were there at the end of November.

Numerous days leading up to our hike, the valley was covered in low-hanging clouds, it was pouring rain and the trails were exceptionally muddy.

But, because we made a decision to stay in Salento for a week, we were able to wait out the rain and had the best weather for our hike!

We’re so thankful we had sunny weather! check out these bench views ?

Keep the weather in mind when planning your trip. We met a couple who took 9 hours to complete the 5-hour hike because they got lost due to the thick cloud coverage.

Also, you may need to bring a rain jacket and waterproof shoes.

A highlight of Colombia

The Valle de Cocora is known for being not only a highlight of a trip to Salento, but Colombia as a whole.

This hike was unlike any other ones that we’ve completed in the past and we loved the varied scenery along the way. We recommend tackling the Cocora Valley when backpacking Colombia and hope that you found this guide beneficial ?

Happy and (hopefully) dry trails!

To get a better idea of the trek, check out our video from the Valle de Cocora:

Borneo On A Budget: top 2 national Parks To see separately

Borneo has to be one of the most diverse and spectacular islands on our planet! There’s so much to see and do here that you could spend a lifetime and not see everything. With fantastic flora and fauna, spectacular coastlines and rich jungles, Borneo has it all.

There are many national Parks here which cost a lot of money to visit, and you normally requirement to have a guide with you. However, these two fantastic parks can be went to independently, are budget friendly and we highly suggest them:

Enjoying the stunning views from the coast at Bako national Park.
Bako national Park. This jungley area has 16 well-marked hiking trails, which make for terrific independent trekking. There are some remarkable animals here that are only found in Borneo: the Proboscis Monkey, which is a funny looking animal with a substantial nose and the Silvery Langur Monkey. If you keep your eyes peeled, you can area them in the trees.

The elusive Proboscis Monkey and Silvery Languar at Bako national Park.

Along the coast there are enormous limestone cliffs that jut out of the sand. The scenery at this national Park is outstanding! The cost of entry is 20 MYR ($6.50) for foreigners.

Me standing below the enormous rock formations on the beach at Bako national Park.
Niah national Park. The caves at this national Park are massive. The aptly named terrific Cave is about 1km long and 1/2 a km wide. Human stays from over 40,000 years ago have been found here!

Looking out with the enormous entrance to the terrific Cave at Niah national Park.
There is a smaller cave called the painted Cave where rock paintings have been found dating back 1,200 years. The wooden walkways leading to the caves are easy to follow and a guide is definitely not needed.

The wooden walkways around Niah Caves, easy hiking without a guide.

The whole area is surrounded by thick, rich jungle. It’s stunning! We suggest renting a automobile from Miri and driving to the caves yourself. The entrance fee to Niah national Park is 20 MYR ($6.50) for foreigners.

Heading into the dark cave.
Visiting the national Parks of Borneo is a must. The rich jungle, the animals and the scenery are spectacular. We always try to travel separately and on a budget, and these two parks in shape into that travel style nicely.

We highly suggest renting a automobile or taking a bus out to these national Parks and walking around at your own pace. Enjoy!

What are your preferred national Parks in Borneo? Leave a comment below!

Like this Post? Pin it!

Disclaimer:Goats On The road is an Amazon partner and also an affiliate for some other retailers. This implies we earn commissions if you click links on our blog and purchase from those retailers.

A total guide TO THE SWEDISH ICE hotel

Last Updated: 01/05/19 | January 5th, 2019

In the heart of Swedish Lapland, the most northerly province of the country, is the Ice Hotel. found some 1,200km north of Stockholm in Jukkasjärvi, it has over 80 spaces as well as is developed yearly utilizing ice from the close-by Torne River. The 30,000-square-foot hotel is found 200km north of the Arctic Circle as well as features an Absolut Vodka ice bar, an ice cinema, an ice chapel, ice household rooms, as well as ice suites. The whole structure utilizes 4,000 tons of ice.

In short, whatever is about ice.

The hotel began in 1990 when French artist Jannot Derid held an exhibition in a cylinder-shaped igloo in the area. One night, there were no spaces offered in the town, so some visitors slept in sleeping bags on top of reindeer skin, beginning the world’s very first “ice hotel.”

In 2016, they broadened the hotel as well as there it’s now a long-term structure that is available to visitors all year round. That implies that you’ll likely spend a few of your nights “cold” (in an ice room) as well as others “warm” (in a routine room). You can choose which nights you want to spend warm or chilly when you book.
 

Swedish Icehotel: space Prices

The winter season is far as well as away the most prominent time to see as you’ll not only get to delight in the icy lodging in its natural habitat however you’ll likewise get to see the northern lights during your see (which is well worth heading north to see!).

In the winter, expect to pay around 1,600 SEK per night for a common warm space as well as 4,000 SEK per night for a common chilly room. Suites will expense between 5,500-8,100 SEK per night depending upon exactly how elegant you want to get. Deluxe suites even have direct gain access to to the sauna, although the “regular” suites likewise gain access to to the sauna.

What to See as well as Do at the Ice Hotel

There are tons of activities that you can take part in at the hotel as well as in the area. right here are a few of the very best things to do when you see the Icehotel in Sweden:

Guided trip – Take a guided trip of the ice hotel as well as discover about it’s past, see the different rooms, as well as see exactly how the hotel is really built.

Ice shaping – try your hand at ice shaping yourself with this fun class. classes are around 2.5 hours as well as expense 745 SEK per person.

Go snowmobiling – offered from December to April, this is a fun method to see the arctic tundra as you cruise with the snowdrifts. trips last a couple of hours as well as expense 995 SEK per person.

Moose safaris on horseback – You checked out that right! This trip will take you around the tundra on horseback, searching for the elusive Swedish moose. You may even see other wildlife like foxes, reindeer, as well as hares. This is a full day activity, which even includes a hearty three-course lunch!
Tickets are 2,100 SEK per person. offered December-March.

Wildlife safari – Hop on a snowmobile as well as head out onto the tundra to area moose, reindeer, as well as the lovely scenery. If you’re a photographer, this is a excellent chance to snap photos of Swedish Lapland. trips typically go from 9am-3pm as well as expense 2,750 SEK per person.

Hang out with reindeer – discover about the native people of Sweden, the Sami, by experiencing their lifestyle, hearing about their history, as well as seeing their culture. Head to a conventional Sami house as well as try your hand at feeding reindeer before you try to drive a reindeer sled. trips are offered from November to April as well as last 3 hours. Tickets are around 2,000 SEK per person, depending upon the time of year.

How to get to the Icehotel

The closest flight terminal to the Icehotel is in Kiruna. From the airport, you can go by car, taxi, or you can book a pick up from the hotel. If you have a car, you can likewise get to the hotel by train from Narvik (Norway) or Luleå (Sweden). For a much more distinct option, you can even take a canine sled transfer to the flight terminal (though at 6,700 SEK it’s certainly not a affordable option).

Flight from Stockholm to Kiruna expense at least 1,200 SEK. A round-trip night train ticket from Stockholm to Kiruna will expense around 1,400 SEK for bed as well as 1,150 SEK for a second-class seat.

***
The popularity of this hotel has influenced imitators in other Arctic areas like Norway as well as Canada. You’ll be difficult pressed to discover a much more distinct hotel stay in Scandinavia, so be sure to add this to your container listing the next time you’re in Sweden!
For much more information, you can see www.icehotel.com. If you are thinking about going, make sure you book well in advancement as the hotel’s enhancing popularity implies it is commonly offered out.

Book Your Trip: Logistical suggestions as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to discover a affordable flight. They are my two preferred browse engines since they browse sites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned. begin with Skyscanner very first though since they have the most significant reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most significant stock as well as finest deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses as well as affordable hotels.

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s extensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it numerous times in the past. My preferred business that offer the very best service as well as value are:

Safety Wing (for everybody below 70)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for extra repatriation coverage)

Looking for the very best business to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the very best business to utilize when you travel. I listing all the ones I utilize to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.

Want much more info on Sweden?
Be sure to see our robust destination guide on Sweden for even much more planning tips!

FLYTE Q&A video recap

hey everyone, 

This year, FLYTE, our nonprofit, celebrates its five-year anniversary! W…

Hey! Sorry to interrupt but….

You seem to have stumbled onto a subscriber-only article!

(Already a member? Log in here.)

This short article is exclusively for members of Nomadic Matt Plus! NM+ is our member’s only program that gives visitors like yourself gain access to to benefit blog posts. members likewise get totally free books, guidebooks, blogging courses, gain access to to our events, event replays, monthly giveaways, t-shirts, special money-saving travel discounts, as well as more!

As a member of Nomadic Matt Plus, you not only get tons of perks to make your travels less expensive however you assist us keep creating the in-depth travel material you love!

Best of all, subscribing costs less than the expense of lunch!

If you want gain access to to this short article (as well as 100+ other member-only articles) as well as all those other fantastic perks, join Nomadic Matt plus as well as begin getting much more out of your travels today!

Learn More

Login