Brad Bernard of Georgia U.S.A.

32. Featured Traveller 

 Brad Bernard 

 Management Consultant : Traveller

 Georgia USA

"Travel Curiously"

Flag of the USA

Brad’s humanitarian projects in Africa and the Middle East have enabled countless trips to far-fetched places. He seeks out freshest off-the-map experiences and pushes his own personal boundaries by travelling experimentally. His personal quest to find the most extreme and bizarre in travel has bred misadventures and moments of enlightenment alike.  His travel stories aim to illustrate how he overcomes personal fears and vulnerabilities while seeking a deeper meaning in the unfamiliar. 

He has explored eighty three countries as of this writing and he will never stop. He wants to continue discovering countries that he will see for the first time. Panama, Laos, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo and New Zealand are on top of his list. 

Brad wants to discover and travel more deeply and look beneath the surface of the tourism infrastructure. He prefers to explore beyond the guidebooks to ask directions from locals. "You don't necessarily have to break into a Bolivian prison or find a priceless artefact or survive a life-threatening situation like me, find the best hawker stall in Singapore, the best place to see the sunrise in Bagan, the best Shisha bar in Istanbul", he confesses.

His biggest advice to you when travelling is simply to smile.  Nobody wants to rob a nice guy and you'll find yourself surrounded by unexpected friends who will teach you things you never expected.  "Exploration and learning works both ways, and you'll quickly find the locals are much more curious of you than you have them.  You are an advocate for your country and the impressions you leave will be long-lasting", he says.

Are You Ready for a Trip? Here are some Tips on What to Bring and What Not to Bring

Hello fellow travellers! 

Photo by Tumi

We are creating tips that will be very helpful when you travel. This will serve as reference before, during, and after your journey. We are categorizing each one to make it easier for you. 

The same is true with the deals that we are posting as we get them. Deals and offers that will help you plan your trips, now and in the near future.....

If you want to share quality tips and deals with your fellow travellers, feel free to send an email to: fromatravellersdesk(at)gmail(dot)com.

This will be the third series of our Useful Travel Tips. Stay tuned!

Now that you have planned your trip and purchased a cheap airline ticket, here are better ideas on what to bring to keep your journey as smooth as possible. 

Remember to bring small or travel sizes only.

What to Bring

• Bar of Soap
• Brush, Comb, Hair elastics
• Camera and Camera charger
• Carry-On Bag
• Deodorant
• First-Aid kit; Bandaids, Antibiotic cream, Scissors, Gauze
• Flashlights
• Ginger Root for motion sickness
• Hand Sanitizer
• Hats
• Healthy Snacks like Granola bars and Dried Fruits
• Inflatable Travel Pillow
• Insect Repellent - if visiting remote and forested areas
• Kleenex and Facial wipes 
• Laptop with an Auto/Air Adapter
• Laundry plastic bag
• Liquid Make-Up
• Magazines, Book, Reading Materials
• Moisturizer
• Nasal spray and Ear Ache relief 
• Pair of sunglasses
• Passport and Travel Documents
• Perfumed Cards and Strips found in Magazines – put in your luggage

Tips for Keeping Travel Expenses Under Control

Written by Jesse Cadena

Most people agree that travelling is worth the cost, but still, there is no denying that vacations can be pricey.  While you do not want to be overly frugal on a trip and regret missed opportunities later, you do need to strike a balance between depriving yourself and spending yourself into debt. With these travelling expense tips, doing so should be much easier.  

Planning ahead is often the key to keeping travel costs manageable.  You should consider travelling during whatever time of year is the off-season for your destination — for instance, if you want to visit a mountain town or take a tropical vacation, you may find lower rates during seasons besides winter.  By checking into lodging and transportation prices online, you can get a feel for when peak season and off-season fall.  Last-minute deals on flights, hotels, and rentals will often cost more, and you will have fewer options to choose between, so start looking early for bargains.  You should also look into alternative lodging options, such as staying with people you know or participating in a home exchange.

Phebe Bay of Singapore City, SINGAPORE

31. Featured Traveller 

 Phebe Bay

 Blogger : Traveller

 Singapore City, SINGAPORE

"Travelling awakens the dreamers, thinkers and believers in us"

Phebe is a talented travel blogger and writer from Singapore. She writes her experiences in her travel blog filled with tips and anecdotes of her "career of travelling", which began at a tender age of 19. 

Flag of Singapore

And yes, she has travelled to India, China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Russia and taken the Trans Siberian.

Despite having been to many top destinations, India continues to remain as Phebe's favourite place. She has a bad sense of direction but continues to travel; sometimes alone because of her quirky habits and intensely inquisitive mind.

Phebe feels that it used to be discovering a new place that motivates her to travel. Now, she thinks that some parts are about reminiscing the happy times she had there.  "Always ask yourself what makes you want to travel. Quite interestingly, it's mostly not because of the destination", she says.

When asked how important budget and planning is for a trip and how she manages to cut cost on each trip, her answers are very helpful, and I quote, "Planning in advance helps to negate unnecessary costs. That being said, it is advisable not to stick to too tight a budget. I've learnt that after some time it would be wise to spend on the best the destination has to offer".

India, where a thousand smiles await you!

Phebe has many tips and advices when it comes to travelling. "You don't have to have a great sense of direction to travel. I personally don't, have gotten lost very often but was always able to find a way. Common sense is most important", she added.

I, myself, is very excited to hear what Phebe has to say about her travel experiences. I do not want you to wait any longer, so, here it is .....

Are You Buying an Airline Ticket? Here are the Tips: When & Where to Purchase

Hello fellow travellers! 

We are creating tips that will be very helpful when you travel. This will serve as reference before, during, and after your journey. We are categorizing each one to make it easier for you. 

The same is true with the deals that we are posting on a regular basis. Deals and offers that will help you plan your trips, now and in the near future.....

If you want to share quality tips and deals with your fellow travellers, feel free to send an email to: fromatravellersdesk(at)gmail(dot)com.

This will be the second series of our Useful Travel Tips. Stay tuned!

How to Buy Cheap Airline Tickets

While it is true that purchasing an airline ticket is at times confusing, the writer suggests that you try and follow the tips below whether you are booking it by yourself or by your travel agent. 

The information that are listed here are part of the experience and proven to be true.

Michael Johnsen of California U.S.A.

30. Featured Traveller 

 Michael Johnsen

Information Technology : Traveller
California U.S.A.

"Travelling comes in three ways, it's either business, pleasure, or both" ~ 
Freddie Miranda 2013 

Flag of the USA

Pops, as he is fondly called, started travelling for more than forty years for work. His passion in international travel started twenty years ago and keeps growing. He will continue exploring Australia and New Zealand but will make sure he is back to Germany in September during the Oktoberfest. Pops is half Danish and half Italian having grandparents who all came from Europe. He has been visiting both sides of the relatives for years and every country between and around Denmark and Italy.

For the record, Pops has travelled to Mexico, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, England, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Monaco, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Singapore, China, Malaysia, South Korea, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama and Czech Republic.

His work took him to Asia where he travelled to Singapore and Malaysia for a span of twenty years. He'd been to China eleven times which he admitted is a combination of both work and pleasure. It is interesting to know that while in China, he travelled all over the country by train and that is what he is sharing with you in the second part of his journey.

Best Things To Do On A Summer Vacation To Canada

Written by Zoya Jazmin

The summer season in Canada is one of the popular times in exploring the wide range of remote and urban destinations for adventure that are available in the country. Though the winter season brings along its fair share of charms the months of June to August is the biggest draw for the tourists. While the inflated bills and spillover crowds at all tourist destinations are a drawback, the pleasantly warm weather with an assortment of activities to undertake more than makes up for the unfavourable situation.

West Hawk Lake ~ Whiteshell Provincial Park - Manitoba, CANADA Photo Credit : Wikimedia

Popular activities for the Canadian summer:

When it comes to spending a summer vacation in Canada, both its locals and visitors prefer heading out to the remote locations to enjoy a moment of relaxation at the lakeside resorts and cottages. Camping, water sports, canoeing, mountain biking and hiking are popular activities pursued all over the country. The more urban destinations such as Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto host numerous summer festivals and events to get into the party mood for the season.

Best ideas for a summer vacation in Canada: 

Spending a summer vacation in the country can include a whale safari in eastern Quebec, taking a ride on the railroad through the scenic Rockies or simply scouting through the shopping district of Toronto.

Escape to sunny Bermuda for $213 via Air Canada

Now is the chance for you to discover the land of pink sand beaches, friendly people and old-world charm of Bermuda.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Air Canada offers the most service to Bermuda from Canada with year-round non-stop flights from Toronto. When you fly with Air Canada, great fares are only the beginning. Add to that personal touch-screen TVs at every seat, power outlets within easy reach and Aeroplan Miles.

Take advantage of this week's special offers. One way ticket from Toronto to Bermuda is only $213. Air transportation charges, taxes, fees and charges are included in the total price.

Are You Travelling? Here are SomeTravel Tips ~ Planning Your Trip

Hello fellow travellers! 

We are creating tips that will be very helpful when you travel. This will serve as reference before, during, and after your journey. We are categorizing each one to make it easier for you. 

The same is true with the deals that we are posting on a daily basis. Deals and offers that will help you plan your trips, now and in the near future.....

If you want to share quality tips and deals with your fellow travellers, feel free to send an email to: fromatravellersdesk(at)gmail(dot)com.

This will be the first of a series of our Useful Travel Tips. Stay tuned!

Planning Your Trip

• Do your research. Don't buy a guidebook and assume you are prepared
• Don't follow the map: sometimes getting lost is a great way to find amazing places that are not mentioned in tourism guides 
• Read travel tips and reviews online and post questions to travel forums
• Ask your friends and family for recommendations of safe places/areas to visit, as well as areas to avoid

Save 45% during the Niagara's Icewine Festival

To the wine enthusiasts and to those who really want to taste the real wines of Niagara, this is your chance to savour the wines that can only be found in Canada. Have a look and avail of this exclusive tour offer from BuzTour.

People - Cheers - Wine : Photo Credit: BuzTour

The regular price of the wine tour is $149 which is reduced to $78 per person, a more than 45% discounted price. The offer includes a full day wine tasting tour with BuzTour, round trip bus transportation from Toronto, Mississauga and King City to Niagara. You will also enjoy the wine tastings and food pairings at five wineries, namely: 

• Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery
• Inniskillin Winery
• Chateau des Charmes
• Flat Rock Cellars 
• Vineland Estates

This offer is valid January 18 or 19 only and be aware of the following important information:

Ios – It’s More Than Simply Partying

Written by Kate Power

Although Ios has long been a favourite amongst party animals, the Cycladic Island has a lot going on besides. There are long lazy days on the beach, swigging coffee at one of the all day beach clubs. Try breakfast of Ios honey (the most delicious I’ve ever tasted!) dabble in some water skiing at one of the island’s many waterways, go in search of Homer’s Tomb or eat, drink and be merry! Here are some of my favourite things to do in Ios.

Mills of Ios GREECE : Photo Credit Titanas

Chora – the picturesque town is the beating heart of Ios. Filled with white washed little homes, steps up and down and winding paths, it’s easy to see why the hippies of 70s fell in love with the island. Today, Chora is a relaxed small town by day, with souvenir and jewellery shops dotting each twisting turn and locals filling up cafes playing backgammon. While by night, it kicks up a gear as the doors open to the many bars, clubs and discos (more on that shortly!)

Beaches – You can take your pick of jaw-dropping sandy beaches in Ios. Mylopotas beach is perhaps the most well known; a never strip of sparkling golden sand and home to the legendary Far Out Club, so you can hit the town without even leaving the sand. Manganari meanwhile is a little bit further afield. Made of three little coves, it is quite well protected from the wind and offers some respite from the crowds. Gyalos is close to the Port, easy to get to and is popular with locals too. There you’ll find plenty of hotels, tavernas and well-organized facilities.

Book Now Before Seats Fly! - Toronto to Manila & Manila to Local Destinations

Updated : July 9, 2014

Domestic Flights

This post is a follow up on your trip to the Philippines. If you are headed to this beautiful country, you should have booked your domestic flights to the best local destinations.

I am giving you the summary of the discounted flight tickets. I will also provide you with the website where you can book your tickets as soon as you can and within the selling period:

Selling Period: July 7 - 11, 2014
Travel Period: December 25, 2014 and January 1-10, 2015
Destinations:   From Manila to Luzon
                     From Manila to Visayas
                     From Manila to Mindanao
                     From Zamboanga to Jolo

Selling Period: July 7 - 11, 2014
Travel Period: December 10 - 25, 2014 
Destinations:   From  Luzon to Manila
                     From Visayas to Manila
                     From Mindanao to Manila
                     From Jolo to Zamboanga

To book your tickets, please visit: 
https://onlinebooking.philippineairlines.com/flypal/AirFlightSearchForward.do

Good luck and have a safe trip to the Philippines. Please do not forget to claim your points for Mabuhay Miles. Book now before seats fly!

* * * * *

International Flights

Now is the best time to fly from Canada to the Philippines. The Philippine Airlines announced their promotions today for the following flights:

•  Round Trip Economy Class ticket for Cdn$977 for Vancouver-Manila-Vancouver and Cdn$1134 for Toronto-Manila-Toronto, government taxes included.
• Round Trip Business Class ticket for Cdn$2477 for Vancouver-Manila-Vancouver and Cdn$2884 for Toronto-Manila-Toronto, government taxes included.

Please note that the Selling Period is between January 8 to 15, 2014 and the Travel Period is between January 20 to March 23, 2014.

The following Fare Conditions apply:

For Economy Class, ticket is non-rebookable, non-refundable, non-reroutable and non-transferable. For roundtrip tickets, maximum validity is six (6) months from commencement of travel.

Anje Rautenbach of Knysna SOUTH AFRICA

29. Featured Traveller 

 Anje Rautenbach

ESL Teacher : Writer : Traveller

 Knysna SOUTH AFRICA

"Dream. Explore. Discover" 

Her craziness and desire to travel started from a very young age. She went from the back seat of her parents' VW kombi to leaving South Africa in 2009 to explore South Korea and the rest of Asia.

Anje picked up the travel bug quite fast - the unknown intrigued her and she got mesmerised by different smells, cultures, food, languages and adventures.

She explored beautiful places around Asia, ate delicious Asian food, got food poisoning countless of times, collected Asian beer cans, did a two month cycle trip in Indonesia, completely fell in love with bicycle touring, studied Indonesian, taught English, got addicted to goats and ducks, ticked off items on her bucket list, added items to her bucket list, filled up a passport, met locals, lived like a local, CouchSurfed, got tattoos and developed a personal mantra to "dream, explore & discover".

Anje returned home to South Africa after living abroad for more than 3 years. She took off all her travelling bracelets, got an interview, bought a car and landed a job as a copy writer.

Try Exotic Travelling Destinations For a Holiday

Written by Jesse Cadena

You recline in the golden glow of sunset, toes digging into warm soft sand and the lulling sweep of waves rising and falling, sending you off into a dream.  Sounds too good to be true when you have a fresh foot of snow to shovel off of the drive and walks in the morning?  Not if you start planning now and book a trip to one of the exotic travelling destinations where you've always imagined yourself going, someday.  Now is that day.

Kauia (Garden Isle) Hawaii USA

Bali.  Jamaica.  Kauai.  Just the sound of the names brings up the dream of long warm evenings on the beach and tranquil days spent near the water, boating or diving.  The islands all have lush forests with trails for exploring jungles and waterfalls when you are ready to venture inland from the beach.  Find food that satisfies your exotic cravings and the most tantalizing drinks of fresh fruit juices you have ever sipped.

Travellers stranded in Toronto due to Ice Storm

Toronto weather creates havoc in Toronto as ice storm leaves 400,000 in the dark across Ontario

The purpose of this post is to advise friends and relatives of travellers who are in Canada for a visit and scheduled to leave the country during the holiday season. Ice storm that hits Toronto and other cities on Saturday stranded most travellers.  Here is part of the news that was published early Monday morning. Read on....latest news at the end of the article.

A “rare and vigorous” winter storm that coated Eastern Canada in a thick layer of ice over the weekend saw major power outages in Toronto, paralyzing much of the city’s transit system and stranding holiday travellers.

The steady dose of freezing rain Saturday night turned roads and sidewalks into skating rinks Sunday, cut power to hundreds of thousands of people, and played havoc with holiday plans at one of the busiest travel times of the year.

Stranded Travellers at Pearson International Airport in Toronto
Photo Credit : James Martin/National Post

At the peak of the storm’s impact Sunday, hundreds of thousands of households were without power — approximately 300,000 in Toronto alone. By late Sunday night, Toronto Hydro was still working to restore power to 254,000 customers. Southern Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes saw as much as 30 mm of ice blanket roads and trees, sending broken branches into power lines.

“It truly is a catastrophic ice storm that we have had here, probably one of the worst we’ve ever had,” Toronto Hydro CEO Anthony Haines said Sunday. The worst hit parts of Toronto are the neighbourhoods near the 401, stretching the city from Etobicoke to Scarbourough.

Warm Welcome to the New and Shiny Year 2014

Written by Shezaa Nehal

The New Year's Eve celebration greets warmly the coming year, which could be very beneficial, gainful, satisfying and flourishing for the entire world. Everyone is anxiously waiting with the hopes of fulfilling their desires and dreams with the gleaming beam of new sun. Here we will identify the best possible ways to welcome the New Year in the following lines.

Hangout Anywhere For New Year's Eve Celebration

The New Year's Eve celebration can be ideally organized at home, in any unique restaurant or hotel located in the city or anywhere in the local station, in a farm house, in a relaxing location, or in any sea resort. The main aim is to bid goodbye to the passing year, and offer a very warm welcome to a new excellent and shiny year, with the hope that it will bring significant benefits and amazing success, together with well-rounded pleasure and joys.

Jovial Activities for New Year Eve Celebration

The New Year Eve celebration is amazingly known for its foods, which add spirit and eagerness to the vibrant festivities. Other vital components of New Year celebration are eating and drinking gatherings, having a party and dance, gorgeous light decorations, experiencing fireworks and bonfires, and joyful trip to adventurous Hatta mountain safari, a place of natural elegance and grace. There are some well known dishes that are associated with this evening like prime rib, seafood, some soups and lentils and many more.

Rafting in Rishikesh

Written by Zara Jones

The holy Ganga River is one of the strongest anchors of the Hindu religion. It holds the faiths of millions of people and is looked upon as a saviour. The journey of a Hindu life begins and ends in Ganga. The river immerses not only the sins of the people but also the bodily ashes of the departed souls.

The sacred waters of Ganga originate from the mighty glaciers of the Himalayas and after a journey of 250 kilometres, it reaches the plains of Rishikesh (in Uttarakhand).

River Rafting Tour Rishikesh  Photo Credit : Bhandariseo

Rishikesh is the base for undertaking the ‘Chota Char Dham’ pilgrimage comprising - Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The city is also famous for its Yoga and Ayurvedic treatments. The rejuvenating effects of the therapeutic practices get more enhanced through the spiritually enriched in the  picturesque land of Rishikesh.

There is one more facet of Rishikesh for which it has become renowned world over - the adventurous side of the revered land. Rishikesh offers various enthralling activities like river rafting, body surfing, cliff jumping, rappelling, rock climbing, waterfall trekking, kayaking and canoeing. Among all of them, river rafting, which is famously called white water rafting, is the major sparkling attraction, bringing thousands of people to Rishikesh.

Steven Moore of Lowestoft ENGLAND

28. Featured Traveller 
 Steven Moore

Writer : Novelist : Traveller

 Lowestoft ENGLAND

"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, 
in the end." ~ Ernest Hemingway

Featuring a fellow traveller is fun and fulfilling. It's a great honour, especially to me as a blogger who tries to reach out, not only to a cool guy who blogs, but that is also a seasoned writer. 

Flag of the United Kingdom

I am talking about nomadic Steve, who, once upon a time, hailed from England.  He has since travelled to many places around the globe (and still counting). I cannot help but publish the list of countries he has explored, not just once, but a couple of times. Have a look and tell me if you notice something.

England (home),  Republic of Ireland,  Wales x 5,  France x 3,  Monaco,  Spain x about 20,  Italy x 2, Vatican City x 2,  Holland x 3,  Belgium x 2,  Czech Rep x 2,  Poland,  Austria,  Germany x 3, Greece x 2,  Turkey x 3,  Slovakia,  Hungary,  Israel x 2,  Egypt x 2,  Tunisia,  Morocco,  Nepal, India x 2, South Korea x 3,  Japan,  China (Hong Kong),  Singapore x 3,  Indonesia x 4, Philippines,  Malaysia x 5,  Thailand x 8, Cambodia x 2,  Vietnam,  Laos,  Australia x 6,  New Zealand x 4,  Fiji,  French Polynesia,  Argentina,  Chile,  Brazil,  Peru,  Mexico x 3,  U.S.A x 2, Canada.

It's no wonder Steve does not stay long in the UK. He is always on the road, and possibly at places we still haven't heard of. 

You might ask why he's visited Spain the most (20 times) and not India (x2) which is his favourite destination. Steve must have a good answer to that. Please note that he is a writer, so he can surely justify as you read on.

Steve in the Red Sea

Steve loves to travel by train but prefer to walk on his travels.

He muses, "Budget is important, as I tend to go on longer "trips" than short holidays. But sometimes, you've just got to splash out on once in a lifetime moments. Carpe Diem, right?"

Taiwan- beautiful island blending East and West

Written by Ruth Sheffer

The lure and magic of the East with the comforts of the West - what could be more tempting?

After living in China for a while, the attraction of modern toilets and a clean environment could never be overstated. So with this in mind we hopped on a ferry boat to the island of Jinmen and from there onto a small domestic flight and soon found ourselves in the heart of the capital city, Taipei.

Maobitou Rock Formations & Cliffs - TAIWAN

How can I describe Taipei - bustling, cultured, fascinating, illuminated? 

All of these are true, but not enough to capture the charm of the city. It has a great subway system, cheap and easily navigated even by those who don't read Chinese characters. It has skyscrapers, the famous Taipei 101  being one of them, it has Asian markets full of cheap knock-off goods, but also exclusive glitzy fashion stores for the fashion conscious, and it has every style of restaurant imaginable, from the hole in the wall noodle guy to the fancy elegant upscale seafood place. 

It also has a fascinating history and enough museums to prove it, and finally it has art galleries and exhibitions. We were lucky enough to be there during a Hello Kitty exhibition in a building formerly a tobacco factory.

Autumn in Patroklos Island

Written by Antonis Iordanoglou

Years ago I heard my father talking about Gaidouronisi (donkey island in Greek), as we drove to Cape Sounion, watching this remote island, located quite close to the shore. We now know the place as Patroclos (or Patroclus’) island and since I got my speedboat I often moor at its sandy beaches and protected bays.

Island of Patroclus...

On that October Saturday, I had gone spearfishing with a friend, again in that island. The weather was weird: it started like a north wind but kept changing direction west - east. The clarity at the atmosphere was amazing. We loiter at the spotless horizon all the nearby Cyclades islands up to Serifos. What a sweet autumn afternoon...
 
Very few boats had come out to the sea that day and quiet was absolute. Underwater it was quiet too; fish were not many, but the images were full of greatness.

I was watching around, during my dives, the remains of the many shipwrecks of Patroclus. Broken crockery everywhere, iron plates, wires, handles from ancient jugs tied to incredible formations with the colourful rocks of the seabed, trimmed with all kinds of seaweed, anemones and sponges. I've seen those remains many times.