Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Koh Samui Backpacking Travel

The turquoise waters and white sandy beaches and coconut palms on the beach, this stunning sunsets. A picture like advertising a tour operator. What sounds fantastic, it is also, however, it must remain a dream. Koh Samui, the island in the Gulf of Siam, located in the south of Thailand meets every cliché of a tropical paradise island. 



With a size of only 250 km ² Samui is a relatively small island, where about 40,000 people live. The administrative center is located in Ban Nathon, a typical Thai town, into which few tourists get lost. The Bavarian capital is Chaweng, because here is the tourist center of the island. Here you will find a Koh Samui resort next to the other and to many bars, nightclubs, restaurants and a variety of nightclubs. Of course here, as everywhere in Thailand, the tailors, the tailor for relatively little money suits and shirts. Chaweng is primarily the destination of young holidaymakers who want to enjoy the nightlife on Koh Samui. 

Also very popular with holidaymakers from all over the world is the small town of Lamai where things get a little quieter, but in the evening you can also go very well and enjoy the nightlife. The beach in Lamai is not as sandy and light, such as in Chaweng, but it is still very nice and especially little quieter.

Something quiet it goes to the small Fishermans Village of Bophut. Chic bars and restaurants on the seafront and in the small town to invite you to linger. One walks along the beach you can admire the breathtaking scenery and the occasional lucky balloon rises into the sky.

The resort of Maenam is still the goal of many backpackers, budget accommodation with the beach and a slight hippie flair.

Koh Samui is a small but very diverse island on which you can find hotels and bungalow resorts in all price ranges. By the way, carries the nickname coconut island Koh Samui and indeed rightly, because you see them everywhere here, the coconut palms.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

The extraordinary landscapes photographed by Marc Adamus

Marc Adamus is an American photographer, specializing in photographs of landscapes. Seeing is believing. These pictures are amazing because of the techniques that he use in capturing each photos. Well you can visit his link here for more landscape photos.

Here some bio from Marc Adamus website
Marc Adamus is a landscape photographer based in Corvallis, Oregon. The visual drama and artistry of his photographs are born of a keen eye for the many moods of Nature and a life-long passion for the wilderness. This passion shines throughout Marc’s work and has attracted a wide audience around the world. Marc’s style is unmistakable. His talent for rare captures of amazing light and fleeting atmosphere imbue his portfolio with a sense of the epic, majestic and the bold.

His success derives from patient single-minded pursuit of all the unique moments that generate the magic and energy of the wilderness, often spending months immersing himself in the landscape he shoots despite the rigors of season and weather. Marc’s photographs have been published extensively worldwide in a large variety of media ranging from calendars, books, advertising and the publications of National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Popular Photography and many more. Marc has been acclaimed as one of the most talented landscape artists of his generation.



Backpacking Tips : How To Pack an Ultralight Backpack

Ultralight Backpackin' Tips author and guru Mike Clelland shares the lightweight contents of his backpack with you. Can you go into the wilderness for 10 days with 25 pounds on your back? Mike says YES!

 

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Barcelona Tourist Attraction

Wonderful attraction of Barcelona , capital of Catalonia ( a Spain's province ) , is located on on the shoreline of the Mediterranean sea & flanked at both end by 2 river deltas . Barcelona is the second biggest city in Spain after its capital city Madrid . Barcelona has a population of 1 .5 million , over 4 million which include suburbs . The diversified , active historical past of the place times back 4 ,000 years to the originally settlements by early farmers . Soon after it eventually became a Roman colony , the Visigoth's capital city , then got under Moorish rule .


It went through sieges & destruction , and finally to turn into an autonomous democracy 1975 . The city seems to have frequently took a significant role in with political affiliations & traditional lifestyle of spain & it is actually properly magnified in the assortment & top quality of traditional structures , museums , numerous different tourist attractions . At present Barcelona is among the most diversified european cities with unique heritage & vibrant cultures . You will discover an astounding equilibrium of the traditional things & the avant-garde . A cosmopolitan metropolis , Barcelona offers tourists a warm & honest welcome , remaining aknowledged globally as one of the finest tourist-friendly cities in European countries .Barcelona's network of the 1992 Olympics offered renewal of this energetic city , offered an unique beginning to its infrastructure development .

WHAT TO SEE & WHERE : POINTS OF INTEREST

La Rambla is a tree-lined pedestrian boulevard crowded with buskers , living statues , mimes & itinerant sales agents promoting everything right from lottery tickets to jewellery . Pavement restaurants & stands selling craft work , street entertainers accompanied by wondering onlookers , a noisy bird market , Palau de la Virreina , a great 18th-century rococo residence , the Gran Teatre del Liceu , the well-known 19th-century opera house- these are definitely most of colourful areas of La Rambla's mosaic . La Rambla ends at the extraordinary Monument a Colom ( Monument to Columbus ) & the harbour . Barri Gotic - often known as Gothic Quarter , it is the old part of the city . Picasso resided & worked in Barri Gotic from 1895 to 1904 & Joan Miro was born & lived here during his earlier childhood days . Gothic Quarter is located on the right hand side of the La Rambla , it consists of a concentration of medieval tall Gothic structures ( 14-15th century ) on narrow cobbled pavements & currently is home to a lot of the city's nightlife . La Sagrada Familia - La Sagrada Familia is among the most popular & wonderful among Barcelona's landmarks .

The life's work of Barcelona's widely known architect , Antoni Gaudi , the incredible spires of the unfinished cathedral imprint themselves visibly against the sky with bloating outlines influenced by the sacred mountain Montserrat . Above every facade there's a couple of towers , twelve in total , that are designed for the Apostles . The structure in the center , the tallest of all at 170 m . , is designed for Jesus Christ . Around all these there's the towers of the two Evangelists , & the tower over the apse is devoted to the Virgin . they are encrusted with a tangle of sculptures that appear to breathe life into the stone . Gaudi died in 1926 before his masterwork was finished , & since that time , disagreement has continuously dogged the construction plan . However , the southwestern ( Passion ) exterior , is completed , & the nave , started in 1978 , is progressing . La Pedrera - Casa Mila ( Mila House ) is an apartment building , the last example of Gaudi's civil architectural design .It is among his greatest & most aspirational masterpieces , incredibly revolutionary in its functional , constructive , & attractive characteristics . Tourists can tour the building & travel up to the roof top , exactly where they are able to observe magnificent views of Barcelona . One floor below the roof top is a modest museum designed for Gaudi's work .

Montjuic - the largest open space in the city , its primary points of interest are the Olympic installations , the Village & the hilltop fortress . Montjuic , the hill overlooking the city centre from the southwest , is center of several fine art galleries , recreation attractions , relaxing recreational areas & the primary group of 1992 Olympic sites . Montjuic is balanced in beautiful landscapes with water features & is considered the most well known place in Barcelona on Sundays . Tibidabo - is the highest hill in the wooded variety that designs the environment to Barcelona . it's incredible landscapes of the entire of Barcelona , an exquisite cathedral , & a fun park Parc d'Atraccions with old-style rides that offer spectacular scenery . A glass lift at the recreation area goes 115m ( 383 ft ) up to a visitors' observation area at Torre de Collserola telecommunications tower . Modernisme - amazing modernista architectural masterpieces dotted around the city by popular Antoni Gaudi & his contemporaries . Camp Nou - home of F .C . Barcelona , certainly one of Europe's leading soccer teams , with capacity of 100 ,000 spectators . The Seu Cathedral - Built in medieval times on the site of a Roman temple , La Seu is among the wonderful Gothic structures in spain . Parc de la Ciutadella - Barcelona's favorite recreation area & a Sunday afternoon rendezvous for families and friends , & ducks The Sardana - traditional Catalan dancing , performed outside the cathedral & at national festivals , with everybody recommended to participate .

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Propane Gas Stove Review

Before packing for a longer backpacking travel , backpackers can pick to bring along either a white gas or  travel propane stove . Both of them will get your meals cooked quickly , however the differences between white gas and propane stoves are many . Make sure to go through this guide to assist you analyze if a travel propane stove is perfect for you .


Propane backpacking stoves commonly using butane , isobutane , and also propane for fuel . This fuel is normally inside a particular canister that your camp stove will screw right into . The canister fittings are works with nearly all available in the market stoves , but bear in mind you will find stoves available on the market which use very own canisters . Once a canister is out of fuel , you may just toss it into your regular garbage collection .
I actually have and using a Coleman PefectFlow 1-Burner Stove . I had used it for 9 months and really like it . It starts conveniently and consistently burns with a constant flame . Several of my camping friends using white propane gas stoves , and additionally my installation time with a propane stove is going to be , much faster . Before their stove maintains a constant flame , I normally have already got a pot of boiling water all set to be used for my subsequent freeze-dried food .

I had utilised the propane stove on various extended mountain trips in Kilimanjaro and used the stove on a 5-day backpacking journey on the Mt.Kinabalu,Malaysia . On condition that I do not turn the stove onto high at every meal , the propane efficiency is usually really good . At the same time as camping out on the Appalachian Trail , I just used 3 full canisters and also experienced the propane efficiency was excellent .

Considering I am not winter season trekking , I would certainly never think about whatever thing besides my backpacking propane stove . This is certainly merely a lot more effortless and maintenance-free compared to the white gas counterpart .

Friday, August 30, 2013

Calculate Your Backpacking Travel Cost


Determine the expense of transportation . Method of travel will probably be one of the prime a journey expenses you certainly will encounter . In case you are taking a airplane , train or maybe bus , well then your transportation expense means the price of your ticket . For anyone who is driving a vehicle , it is very important to estimate the expense of the rental vehicle , if it turns out applicable , along with amount of petrol your vacation would require .

Focus on the distance you will be traveling , in miles or kilometers

Determine the distance by your car's petrol economy ( miles per gallon or maybe kilometers per liter ) . The output total is the amount of gallons or liters it will need you to definitely finish your vacation . Multiply the amount of gallons or liters by the standard price of fuel . Be aware : Say you decided to drive a rental vehicle, the rental service provider would probably demand an allocated amount per mile and also , additionally , a specified total for automobile insurance . Remember to consider these kinds of prices into your backpacker travelling expenses . Include all expenses which can be incurred during journey .


Food and drink - Let say you decided to taking a trip for a long period , you need to stop for food and drink , or perhaps you can choose to package food and drink . One way or another , you have to include this cost in your price of backpacker traveling estimation .
Accommodation - For journeys that demand driving for longer than 24 hours , you will have to stop by at some place to have some quality sleep . Except if you prefer to pull to the side of the roads and then get to sleep in your car , that are necessary to include the price of accommodation to your current total traveling expenses . But my advise is to avoid sleeping on your vehicle unless you have a very comfortable place that you can lay your body without no-aches when you wake up.
Tolls - A lot of road systems include a number of toll booths that any user must stop at whenever you travel . The price of tolls can also add up , especially when you are on a long road trip .Calculating toll might be useful because it help you to determine how much you need to have in your travel if you insist to do a backpacker travel using your vehicle.
Parking facilities - Say you decided to choose to grab a flight , train or perhaps bus , you probably may have to include the price of keeping your vehicle in a airport parking lot or car garage to your travel expenses and start you backpacker travel.
Depreciation - Whenever you drive your vehicle , the value of your automobile depreciates , so that total has to be included with your price of travel calculation . Depreciation might be figured by multiplying the standard cost of depreciation , 27 cents per one mile ( 5 cents per 1 .6 km ) , by the distance you are going to be traveling .
Indirect expenses - Indirect travel expenses should be thought about in case you are driving a vehicle , and thus may include road servicing , pollution , federal government taxations , incidents and land use . To estimate indirect expenses , multiply .05 cents by the number of miles or .01 cents by the number of kilometers you are going to be driving .

Time to traveling - Furthermore think about your time traveling vs . location in case your going on vacation ; to determine this take the hours that is needed to travel to your destination , include each stop point time ( meals , washroom , refuel ) per 15min increments , therefore you will have an overall time to arrive at your desired destination . If you wish to learn how much 'money' you have lost in your delays ( a standard time against . pay for your career when your traveling for this kind of a reason ) take the total you're earning money total to arrive in time and subtract 10 cents for each 5 min you are not traveling , this would give you an ordinary expense of what you will lose or gain for being on time .

If you want to , think about time taken off work . When figuring the expense to travel , the time you skip from work must be included with the formula . Take the number of hours you will be missing and multiply that by the amount of money you make per hour . 

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Backpacker Travel : Eat Like A Local

If you find yourself fascinated in a specific country to take a trip , you clearly would like to get the total feeling of it . The best method to gain the total experience of a country—its people , its tradition , everything—is via the cuisine . Food is widely accepted because absolutely everyone eats , however the tastes and also what they eat are different in countries . Every country normally owns flavors and also spices exclusive to their people and their tradition , for instance curry in India and also coconut milk in Thailand and Southeast Asia . On the contrary , put aside the travel guides and also miss somewhere you might get a hamburger , listed below are a few tips to enjoy a meal like a local and during it experience citizen lifestyle . 


The most convenient way to know-how local foods is with someone from the area . I highly recommend looking to create a friend before you decide to visit a country . In case you are not strong in the dialect , check out expat resources in the region . Or even think about spending with a host family for a few home made foods .

Toss the Travel Guide and Skip the Tours

In case you are planning to a country to have a five star sunsoaked holiday , laying on the beach throughout the day drinking fruity alcoholic beverages , then you can certainly proceed to cling to travel guides and then have guided tours . This does apply to people who lack curiosity as well as have a fear of the unfamiliar at the same time . However , if you wish to gain a genuine experience in a country , you should be able to take a move into the darkness . Travelling guides will explain just where the most typical foods are , you can get a taste of certain fantastic food and tradition in those places , however those are not at all times where the best foods are .

The perfect food , the things the residents eat , tend to be more often available on the street in debatable appearing dives or even holes in the wall . These are generally the type of locations tour guides and also travel publications won't vouch for . in some cases there may be a chance of parasitic organisms in less developed countries , it will happen and that's the threat , it is important to go over to your doctor once you get home . 


Get Friendly with Food Websites

Almost everyone who travels usually outlines to new travelers that they need to study where they are heading . Sites to find out , foods to dine , stuff to do . In general this equals guide books . But , the ideal resource you can research if you are planning to eat like a local is a food blog . Ideally the more local the food blog , the much better . Some may supply you with the ideal flavored food and also in most cases locations that are not too popular .

They are going to tell you which holes in the wall to stay away from and also which of them have a once-in-a-lifetime eating experience . In case you are not powerful on the foreign language , familiarise yourself with google translate . It could be ambiguous at best , but you will get the gist of the review . However translating a local cuisine weblog on your own can assist you understand the language a bit better .

Ask a Local

Whenever uncertain , ask a local . Cab or even taxi drivers are extremely informative in this respect . Ask them the things they would suggest or where they would eat . Normally they usually will bring you to a good restaurant where all of the other cab drivers eat . Make sure to provide them with a nice fat tip for their tip . One more good option is the man or woman at the front desk of your hotel . However , in case your hotel has a restaurant in it , you know already what they are going to suggest . Actually , it is actually what they HAVE to suggest . As an alternative , ask them the place they themselves like eating .

Lastly , if you still need some advice , find a bar . If you can't trust a bartender , you can't trust anyone .

Discover Street Food

There are basically two points I wish America will fit into their culture : Japanese vending machines {with all|together with all} the kinds of juice and coffee inside and street food . Well , some of the bigger cities in America have street food—hot dogs , falafel , food trucks and the like . However , most people still prefer the abhorrent habit of fast food chains for their lunch time options . You would be hard pressed to find a country that didn't have some kind of street food . It's fast food , it is what working class people eat when they need food and they have to get back to work . If you happen to plan your trip during a local festival , that is the best time to find huge amounts of street food . However , even without festivals , you will still find them in most cities .

So how do you know what street food is good ? It's simple , follow your nose . Does is smell good ? You probably want it . I personally find that any kind of sizzling meat on a stick , marinated or many rubbed in spices , is food of the Gods . Or stews of questionable content , you never knew how good cow tongue or intestines could be stewed in a broth and a slew of spices . Of course , if you knew that was going to be in it , you would have never tried it . It's good to try things you would never normally try , and street food is good for that .

Be Open

Finding good food to eat isn't a challenge if you are willing to try new things . A lot of the best foods are bread out of necessity , especially in poor countries . However they are often the most flavorful and soulful . Don't be afraid to try a stew that is probably made out of the junk bits of an animal , or even an animal you have never eaten before .

There are a lot of friendly people all over the world that would be more than happy to share a meal with you too . Who knows what kind of conversation could be struck up by just talking to a person near you . You could make a new friend and have some fun times . Do , of course , exercise some caution . There are also people that like to pose as friendly people just to take advantage of foreigners . It is that suspicious that often kills a lot of curiosity in travelers , especially when you have a few bad experience

Backpacking Travel Guide

Beginners to backpacking regularly enjoy romantic notions regarding this type of travel . Walking down the Camino de Santiago on a summer time evening . Looking at at snow capped mountains from the windows of a Swiss passenger car . Uploading pictures to several social networking website outlets of flower-draped elephants in Indonesia . These kinds of photographs are usually together with that of a well-used , trustworthy guidebook placed contemplatively from the alter ego’s free hands . 


In fact , selecting the excellent backpack traveling information is a figuring out factor in the success of any vacation . A fantastic guidebook usually leads someone to locations and also experiences even the local doesn’t be familiar with . Alternatively , there are lots of badly fitted traveling publications on the market that work no better than a pile of traveler promotional material discovered in the airport terminal . so what exactly should really a beginner backpacker seek out in his or her very first big journey sans travel suitcase with backpacker traveling guide .

First of all , remember that you will find a significant difference between a basic traveling guide and a high-quality backpack traveling guide . When searching for a guidebook for a backpacking vacation , regardless of your desired destination , recognize between articles published for mainstream tourists and also those promoted especially directly towards backpackers . A few of the more widely used brands is perhaps useful , yet won’t supply enough information regarding alternative accommodation , affordable dines , together with other subject areas which are important to backpacking accomplishment . Rather than , search on the internet for a destination-specific backpack traveling guides created for individuals excited about touring on a tight budget and also with the freedom and flexibility of minimal pack . A number of different backpack-specific manuals is going to be accessible for popular world cities ; in spite of this , in case the dream getaway is a little more unclear , a local handbook could possibly be the best shot .

This really is recommended that you discover a backpack traveling guide at the beginning in the trip-planning process . Utilize other knowledgeable backpackers who have got traveled to the potential destination , online forums , and the web for recommendations and suggestions to be jotted down inside the cover . A backpack-specific guidebook unique with a published compilation of all the tidbits of recommendation every backpacker-in-planning is sure to receive will work as the base to a thriving , inspiring , and off-the-beaten-path adventure

Friday, July 26, 2013

The Basic of Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can help cover medical expenses or financial losses you might incur while traveling. It's often pitched as the best protection for those traveling domestically or overseas. This article will explain what kind of coverage you need before you sign on the dotted line and start paying for protection against the unforeseen and unpredictable. 


What Does Travel Insurance Cover?
  • There are five main categories of travel insurance:
  • Trip cancellation
  • Travel medical
  • Major medical
  • Emergency medical evacuation
  • Accidental death/flight accident

Trip Cancellation Insurance
  • As its name implies, trip cancellation insurance (sometimes known as trip interruption insurance or trip delay insurance) covers you in the event that you or your traveling companions need to cancel, interrupt or delay your trip.
  • Policies differ in terms of which reasons are acceptable, but it's fairly typical for this insurance to cover cancellation or interruption for the following reasons:
  • Sudden business conflicts
  • Change of mind
  • Delay in processing your visa or passport
  • Illness or injury
  • Weather-related issues

Some policies may include additional coverage, which would insure you against one or more of the following events:
  • An act of terrorism
  • The vendor (cruise line, tour company, airline) going out of business
  • An accident on the way to the airport
  • Fire or flood in your house
  • Jury duty
The insurance pays the difference between the refund you get from the vendor and the amount you originally paid for the trip. Make sure the insurance you buy is not from the same carrier you purchased the trip from; that way, if the carrier goes out of business, you'll still be protected if something goes wrong during your trip.

Travel Medical and Major Medical Insurance
Both of these types of insurance provide medical protection if the policyholder becomes ill or is injured while traveling. The difference between these two types of insurance is the duration of coverage:
  • Travel medical insurance provides only short-term medical coverage; the duration can be anywhere from five days to up to one year, depending on the policy.
  • Major medical insurance is for travelers who are planning to take longer trips of six months to one year or longer.

These types of insurance can help you cover medical expenses and locate doctors, hospitals, healthcare facilities and foreign-language services if you become ill or injured while traveling overseas. Whether you purchase medical insurance separately or you already have it, find out if you will need prior approval from your insurance company for any type of medical care. 

The U.S. government urges Americans to consult their medical insurance companies prior to traveling abroad to determine whether a given policy applies overseas. For example, your medical insurance may only cover you in the U.S. and Canada, but not Europe. According to the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Medicare does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs outside of the U.S. For more information go to Travel.State.Gov. 

Also, when traveling, always register your travel plans with the State Department through its free online service Travel Registration website - this way, the nearest embassy or consulate can contact you if there is a family emergency or a state or national crisis while you're traveling.

Note: Check to see what preexisting medical conditions, if any, are excluded before you sign up. Make sure you read all the fine print and know what the policy covers and what it doesn't. 

Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance
This type of insurance provides coverage for medically necessary evacuation and transportation to medical facilities. These costs can easily reach $10,000 out of pocket if you don't have coverage. This becomes extremely useful should you become stranded in a remote rural area without easy access to needed facilities. 

Accidental Death and Flight Accident Insurance
These types of insurance pay benefits to a traveler's surviving beneficiaries, as with life insurance. Benefits are paid out in the event of an accident resulting in death or serious injury to the traveler. 

Specialized Coverage
There are also more specialized forms of travel insurance. For example, some focus on the needs of business travelers, extreme athletes or expatriates. So, if you are planning to participate in high-risk or extreme sports while away, selecting an insurance that is made specifically to cover you in case of a sports-related injury might be more cost-effective and needs-specific than selecting an insurance policy that provides more general coverage. 

Purchasing Travel Insurance
You can purchase travel insurance in three ways:
  • Per-trip coverage is the most common type of travel insurance. according to the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, 80% of all travel policies purchased are per-trip policies. This policy is for travelers who don't travel as often, and it provides protection for a single trip.
  • Multi-trip coverage provides protection for multiple trips during one year, but none of the trips can exceed 30 days.
  • The annual policy is for frequent travelers; it provides coverage for a full year.

The cost for each varies depending on the category or type of insurance for the coverage you think you will need. Generally, the cost of a per-trip travel insurance policy varies between 4% and 8% of the cost of the total trip. For instance, if your total trip cost, including airfare and a week-long tour of France, is $3,000, your out-of-pocket insurance cost would be between $120 and $240.

Be wary of travel insurance companies that overprice their policies. Check out the reputation of the insurance company you are looking to purchase from. You can start by looking at organizations like the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, which provides helpful advice on choosing travel insurance. You can also go to your Better Business Bureau (BBB) office to find out about qualified travel insurance companies.

Do You Really Need Travel Insurance Coverage?
  • There are several questions to ask yourself when trying to determine whether to buy travel insurance or deciding what type of insurance you'll need:
  • Will you be traveling overseas?
  • Are you planning to participate in extreme sports?
  • Can you afford the cost of the trip back home if an emergency arises and you need to get back?
  • If you or someone who is traveling with you gets sick, will you be able to afford medical care?

These are all potential problems that can turn your dream vacation into a nightmare if you aren't prepared. When deciding whether to purchase a policy, go through as many scenarios as you can.
  • Get familiar with the cancellation policies of hotels, tourism cruise lines and other travel service providers.
  • Review existing policies and agreements with credit card companies. In some cases, credit card companies already cover issues, such as lost luggage or car rental liability.
  • Become familiar with price schedules, terms, conditions and exclusions of the insurance you choose.

The Bottom Line
The fine print is the backbone of your contract and it will be what determines what type of coverage you will have when you need it most. When you have the right insurance in place to cover you on your trip, you can ensure that your dream vacation turns out to be all you had planned and more.