ASIA’S TOP DESTINATION FOR BACKPACKING

 

Southeast Asia is home to opulent tropical landscape and patchwork of ancient civilizations which draws a solid stream of western backpackers since the counter-cultural movement of the 60s. The number of backpackers seeking adventure is as strong today as ever before and, it’s easy to understand the reason why. From hiking limestone cliffs from the sand of unspoiled beaches to diving into emerald waters to discover the marine life of vibrant corals, and weaving handicrafts with a multicultural population of unkempt travellers are just some of the experiences these destinations have to offer.

WEST RAILAY BEACH, THAILAND

Found on the tropical shores of the Railay peninsula, this amazing setting is among Thailand’s most scenic white sand beaches, lapped by emerald tides and surrounded by soaring limestone cliffs that cut the peninsula off from the mainland, which enhances its atmosphere of isle-like isolation. Aficionados from all over the world are drawn to rock climb up these jagged sentries.  There are also many bars and restaurants at surprisingly low prices as well as the accommodation which can range from bamboo bungalows on the neighbouring East Railay Beach, to the reasonably-priced and secluded Tonsai Bay Resort on Tonsai Beach.

ANCIENT BUDDIST CULTURE OF LUANG PRABANG, LAOS

Luang Prabang is a small town in northern Laos, which weaves together natural and man-made beauty. It sits at the convergence of the two rivers which band the town, underneath forest-swathed hills rising to rocky mountains. The town’s horizon is dominated by one sharp hill topped with the luminous pinnacles of Wat Chom Si, one of the many gold-hued wats found all over the town, decorated with complex mosaics portraying the life of Buddha. Handicrafts, which are the town’s longest tradition, are sold at the night marked which is open until 10pm.

CAT BA ISLAND IN VIETNAM

One of the most popular backpacker destinations in Vietnam is the jagged archipelago of limestone islands that comprises Halong Bay off the country’s coast.  Aside from beaches, there are also mangrove forests, rocky peaks and enthralling caverns such as Song Sot for tourists to discover. This environment houses an exceptional flora and fauna, which includes the golden Cat Ba langur and some of the world’s rarest flowers as well. The endangered langur dwells in the Cat Ba Island, which is one of the archipelago’s best stop-overs. This island boasts of magnificent beauty which packs the best of what Halong Bay has to offer into one area and is an amazing base for kayaking, rock climbing, hiking and water sports.

YANGSHOU – A DIFFERENT SIDE OF CHINA

In the 80s, backpackers started to flock in Yangshou, set on the trail by a pouring recommendation in Lonely Planet. Yangshou is a place to discover a completely different China to the fast industrializing country portrayed in the western press, a quiet, picturesque region spread from the banks of two great rivers, Li and Yulong. Threaded within these rivers is a rolling scenery of bare karst peaks, green hills, deep sharp-sided caves and exceptional wonders like Yangshou Moon Hill, which is a moon-shaped limestone pinnacle hole that can be reached by climbing over 800 marble stairs.

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What to Enjoy in NYC?

 

Get a Bagel With Everything at Brooklyn Bagel

Bagels are one of those New York signature foods that you have to try while you’re in the city. We know that they offer no nutritional value, that they probably do your body more harm than good – but they taste amazing! And for a bagel like no other, Brooklyn Bagel is the place to be. Whether you want a classic plain bagel with cream cheese, or you fancy pushing the boat out with onions, multi-seeds, cinnamon or anything else, this is the place to get your bagel hit.

Learn Something New at the American Museum of Natural History

New York City is probably more famous for its art museums than other types of museums, but actually it contains some of the greatest learning institutions to be found anywhere in the world. The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s largest museums, and in our opinion, one of the greatest too. With around 33 million specimens of fossils, animals, plants, minerals, rocks, meteorites, human remains and more, there is plenty to explore.

Enjoy Some Classic Cheesecake at Junior’s in Brooklyn

New Yorkers sure do know how to indulge, and this is especially apparent when you tuck into a slice (or five) of classic New York cheesecake. For our money, the best place for a slice of the good stuff is at Junior’s in Brooklyn. This is a classic Brooklyn diner that dates back to a time when Brooklyn wasn’t hipster central in any way, shape or form.Similarly, the cheesecake is no frills, but that doesn’t stop people travelling from all over the city to savour some of the yumminess.

Visit Manhattan’s Oldest Church, St Paul’s Chapel

New York City hasn’t always been the bustling metropolis as we know it today, and taking a stroll in Lower Manhattan to St Paul’s Chapel is a great way of getting a sense of the city in the centuries gone by. This church was built all the way back in 1766, making it the oldest church in the whole city, and at the time of being built it was also the city’s tallest building, although these days it is eclipsed by the many NY skyscrapers. St Paul’s is still an active church with services and weekday concerts. 

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Where to Eat in Venice?

Once you have decided where home is going to be during your stay in Venice, and of course you’ve decided how you’re going to spend your days-the beaches you’re going to be relaxing on, the museums, galleries, basilicas and neighborhoods you’ll be visiting, and the scenery you’ll be taking in-you have only one thing left to decide. Where in the world will you eat? While most of the hotels have amenities that will include making sure you get at least one meal a day (even if it’s a continental breakfast) you will need to think about where the other ones are coming from. Chances are as well that you’ll want to find a few things to do that might include taking in the local nightlife and maybe visiting a romantic venue or two under the twinkling canopy of Venetian stars-or at least under the nearest sparkling disco ball.

Just as Venice has opportunities to explore everything imaginable in regards to what you’re eager to visit, or where you might want to stay, there are innumerable places to choose from to take a meal, snack, or beverage. This is another area in which this amazing city excels; there is absolutely something for any taste you can imagine.  

Bacareto Da Lele

Sometimes, all you want is to grab a quick sandwich and a beverage and sit and watch the world go by on the side of a busy street so you can do a bit of people watching without seeming…. well, odd. This is the norm in this lovely little place. Here, you can look after your most basic needs-nourishment, and since you are in Venice, a glass of wine, or maybe a spritz-while you decide on your next adventure and just soak things up. Menu options and combinations are varied and delicious and you’ll be certain to find something to give you sustenance that will be perfect. Prices are incredible for what you get in this tiny place. A sandwich or maybe a sweet to enjoy while you soak up the sunshine and watch the sun twinkle on the water of the Canal. Bacareto is a very popular spot when the locals need a snack on the run.  

La Bottiglia

This tiny bustling little shop is misleading when you first stumble upon it, and you’d be forgiven for being a little leery of it or wondering if you’d been misled when you were told you must stop here for a bite to eat. It’s a very unassuming little place, but don’t let that fool you. When you want a great selection of local beer or wine, and a sandwich to accompany that, La Bottiglia is another wonderful little place that is popular with locals and visitors alike. The offerings don’t stop at a sandwich and some snacks, either. Here you will find fresh cheeses and salamis that you can build your very own custom panini out of, or take away to your hotel room to make your own. Because it is also a delicatessen, the selections here are endless for your tasting pleasure. La Bottiglia uses only the freshest local ingredients for everything that they serve their clientele. Stop here for a bite in between your adventures and you’ll likely not want to leave; rather its tempting to take a tray of fresh bread, meat, and cheese and while away the afternoon by the Canal. With a glass of wine or two. Maybe even three.    

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Why Visit Torcello? (PART 2)

The Cathedral of Torcello, dating back to the 6th century, and Basilica di Santa Maria Assuntais worth a visit as well, to view the beautiful mosaics within its walls which glow with the golden beauty also found in St. Marks Basilica. No services are held in the Basilica anymore, but it and the Cathedral remain open to the public on a daily basis.

Despite its diminutive size and sparse population, Torcello manages to still maintain a lovely little museum, the Museo Archeologico della Provincia di Venezia di Torcello. This modest little museum is filled with some interesting artifacts from the former churches that were on the island and various historical, religious, and archeological bits and pieces. It is a delightful way to spend part of a sunny afternoon.

Torcellos like single huge claim to fame is, believe it or not, its world famous restaurant, the Cipriani - the Locanda Cipriani, to be exact. This establishment is not only a restaurant, it also houses a little in for weary visitors to have a place to stay if they wish to be completely out of the hustle and bustle of the city of Venice. In its tranquil setting surrounded by gardens of flowers and trees, nestled close to the towns two quaint churches, it makes a perfect oasis in the midst of this little island. The menu is comforting and homey, and there is a perfectly respectable wine menu with a great selection to choose from. The desserts available are baked fresh daily, and with love. Perhaps if one prefers to take a beverage and skip the meal (although why would a decision like that ever be made?) there is a large bar available, complete with a lovely fireplace to curl up beside.

Even with only a relative handful of sights to see, Torcello is a place to include on your itinerary to Venice, just to make sure you can say you had a chance to visit this restaurant.

A holiday in Venice is akin to taking a step into a world that only exists in one’s dreams. Wandering the streets and waterways, touring the galleries, museums, churches and basilicas sweeps you back in time to an era of opulence and beauty, and of art and nobility. The atmosphere in Venice gives one a taste of what life must have been like centuries ago; to this day a love of culture, music, art, history and romance still abound. There is no wonder that so many people have made this their destination to return to time and again when the urge to travel strikes them. A visit to Venice is like making a trip home, to the way life should be.

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Take A Break from Stress and Plan A Trip to Ireland

Dance, Dance, Dance at Longitude Festival

If you love nothing more than to dance in puddles of mud while listening to live music from some of the most awesome bands on the planet, you need to get tickets to Dublin’s Longitude Festival as a priority. Every July, Marlay Park, one of the largest parks in the city, invites world music talent to its stages so that thousands of merrymakers can dance until dawn. Highlights from previous years have been Massive Attack, The Chemical Brothers, Phoenix, and Major Lazer.

Get to Grips with the Ireland’s Literary History

Dublin is world famous on the literary scene. Many Dubliners, such as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and WB Yeats, have created some of the best loved works of literature ever written. To learn more about the Irish literary tradition, head straight to the Dublin Writers’ Museum. As you tour the 18th century mansion, you can explore the lives and works of the writers through manuscripts, personal letters, their personal objects, and their books. Guided tours are also available.

Ridea Horse at the Slieve Aughty Riding Centre

There are numerous ways to explore the beautiful countryside of Ireland, but none is quite as special as mounting a horse and viewing this green land on horseback. There are numerous places where you can take a horse ride in Ireland, but we are particularly fond of the Slieve Aughty Riding Centre, which is set across 17 acres of land in County Galway. Whether you want to book a scenic ride for the afternoon or stay for a while and have a horse riding holiday, the choice is yours.

Get Entertained at the Kilkenny Arts Festival

There are quite a few arts festivals dotted around the country during the year, but our favourite of these might just be the Kilkenny Arts Festival, which is hosted in Kilkenny in the middle of August each year. Founded in 1974 by a group of classical music enthusiasts, the festival now incorporates many kinds of performances and shows from poetry readings to contemporary dance, and everything in between. Performances are as likely to occur on the streets as in venues, and there is a parade through the streets every year as well.

Take the Angela’s Ashes

Walking Tour Before you visit Ireland, a must read is Angela’s Ashes, an autobiography of Frank McCourt’s life, which tells the story of how young Frank and his family tried to escape the poverty of pre-war Limerick. These days, you can actually step inside the book on a trip to Limerick by going on the Angela’s Ashes walking tour, a tour that will take you to the streets where Frank grew up, the school where he had his education, the pub where he and his family drank, and the People’s Park.    

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Enjoy Some Quiet and Alone Time When in NYC

Gorge on Sugar at Veniero’s Pastry Shop

The United States is the land of excess, and let’s face it, it’s not a place where you are going to have a hard time indulging a sweet tooth. But not all of the places that serve up sweet treats are equal, and we think that you only deserve the best. That’s why Veniero’s Pastry Shop needs to become etched into your brain. This is a traditional Italian bakery that opened way back in 1894, and it’s the Italian staples like cannolis, biscottis, and tiramisu that locals, whether Italian or not, keep coming back for.

Read a Book in Greenacre Park

When you think of green spaces in New York, your mind will probably wander to images of Central Park and horse and carriage rides, but actually there are many more green spaces in the city, and Greenacre Park is one of the hidden gems. This park covers only a 7th of an acre, but in that space there is a waterfall, and a charming outdoor café. It’s the perfect place to while away a Spring Sunday in New York with a great book.

Immerse Yourself in Nostalgia at the Museum of the American Gangster

If you can’t get enough of movies like Goodfellas and Scarface, you’ll be well acquainted with the idea of the American gangster. But while these are excellent stories, the world of the American gangster extends way beyond fiction, and a place where you can get to grips with this underworld is at the Museum of the American Gangster, which you can find in Manhattan’s East Village. Located in a former speakeasy, it’s particularly great for learning about crime and gangsters in the Prohibition era.

Discover a World of Rum at Van Brunt Stillhouse

In the 19th century, Brooklyn was a major hub for distilleries producing whiskey, gin, and rum, but when the Prohibition era kicked in, all of that changed. Only recently have the distillery licenses dropped in price, which means there is a brand new culture of distilling alcohol in the New York borough. One of the most celebrated of these distilleries in Van Brunt Stillhouse, which is one of few that has a focus on making its own rum. Be sure to book in advance for a tour, but you can pop in at any time for a cocktail or two.

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Ireland is the Perfect Venue for "Me" Time

Expand Your Palette With a Horse Meat Sandwich

Have you ever felt so hungry that you could have eaten a horse? Well, would you be prepared to take the phrase literally? That’s right, over at Paddy Jack in Temple Bar they serve up horsemeat sandwiches. It is a controversial choice, that is without a doubt, but the horse steak baguettes fly out the door, so there has to be something nice about them right? If you’re a food adventurer, you should most definitely add this to your Dublin bucket list!    

Go Fishing on the Easkey River

If your idea of the perfect trip away is sitting on the edge of a river for days on end with your fishing rod in the water, Ireland is the ultimate travel destination for you, and you need to become acquainted with the Easkey River. There are copious numbers of salmon and sea trout in these clean waters, and the best time for fishing is in the spring and summer months. You might just catch yourself dinner.    

Get Artsy at the National Gallery of Ireland

If you have an interest in the visual arts, the National Gallery of Ireland should be right at the top of your “must visit” list on a trip to Dublin. The impressive museum holds over 15,000 items, and you’ll be able to find paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, and more inside. There are works from all over Europe, including art work from Monet, Caravaggio, and Rembrandt. This is also a budget conscious way to spend an afternoon as the audio guides that will take you around the museum’s permanent collection are totally free.

Walk Out to Inishkeel Island

Just off the coast of County Donegal, you can find an island called Inishkeel island, and at low tide a tidal bank is created so that you can actually walk across to the island. This isn’t just a quaint thing to do, the island is actually fascinating, and houses the ruins of a 6th century ancient Christian settlement. You can also discover the ruins on two churches and a graveyard. Just be sure to make it off the island while the tidal bank still exists!    

Feel Dublin’s Creativity at the Irish Design Shop

Dublin is definitely one of the most traditional capital cities in the world, and most people don‘t visit the city for its cutting edge design, but this is not to say that Dublin doesn’t have a creative scene. It most certainly does, and you can feel the force of that incredible creative spirit at the Irish Design Shop. It is the ideal place to go souvenir shopping for something that’s a little out of the ordinary, and you’ll find original works in ceramics, textiles, glassware, jewellery, and furniture from up and coming designers around the country. 

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