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!

 

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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 .

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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

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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

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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.

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The Airlines Don't Tell You This Secret

As we know backpackers usually cut their travelling cost at the lowest that he / she could get. Here I give Airline Secret that I found on web..

Never accept the first fare quoted. Half the time, some other airline's flight within hours of the one you booked has a special, less expensive deal.

Take advantage of "illegal" connections. These are connecting fights usually less than 45 minutes apart-too close for airlines to feel safe in making them connect. Result.- These flights usually do not even show up on the computer when your trip is being routed. Way out Have your agent write up your flight on two separate tickets. The second is for the illegal connection that originates at your transfer point. Example: You arrive at O'Hare in Chicago on the way to San Francisco. Instead of waiting three hours for the safe connecting flight, you already have a separate ticket from O'Hare to San Francisco on an illegal connection. If you miss the connection, you turn that ticket in for the next available flight. Cost for two separate tickets.- No more than one through ticket. Baggage.- Waiting for it to be unloaded can cost you valuable time on this tight schedule. Best.- Travel with carry-on luggage.

Some supersaver fares are so low that even if you can't stay as long as their requirements (some ally seven days), you will save by buying two round-trip tickets-one from your home to your destination for the day you want to leave and one from your destination to your home for the day you want to return. The total may be less than the regular round-trip fare.

If you miss your flight and there's just time to catch another, go right to the other airline's departure gate instead of to its ticket counter. If it has an empty seat, the second airline will usually honor the ticket for the flight you missed.

Best seat in the plane. After first class, the choices center on your priorities. For comfort and a smooth ride, pick a seat over the wings. For silence, sit as far forward as possible, but avoid the galley and rest rooms. For leg room, try the first row or seats beside the emergency exits.

via

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Tips For Vegetarian And Muslim Backpackers

If you’re tired of dealing with similar confusion from servers who think that vegetarian means that if the meat’s white, it’s alright, try these tips for actually finding food you can eat on the road.This tips can be apply mostly for Vegetarian and Muslim Travelers that come to country that majority of their population non-Muslim.  

1. Find restaurants online

Creative Commons: C. G. P. Grey

Anyone who has stood on a street corner in Asia and watched a shop owner kill a live animal might seriously doubt that vegetarian cuisine is possible in all parts of the world. But it is! Sites like Happy Cow let you plug in your destination and eating preferences to find restaurants around the world.

Veggies on the Road is another resource listing eateries across the globe that offer at least three vegetarian dishes. If you have some semblance of an itinerary, look up your next destination and print out the list of vegetarian and/or vegan restaurants these sites. Don’t forget to smile as you walk away from the cleaver-wielding shop owner to your plate of mock chicken with veggies.

2. Say it right

Creative Commons: mckaysavage

Some people are unsure of what vegetarian really means. The same goes in foreign lands where definitions for the practice may differ and language barriers can make it difficult to find what you want. This resource from the International Vegetarian Union supplies key phrases in many languages to help you find veggo on the road.

You can also use the Veggie Passport iPhone app to translate your food preferences into 33 languages.

So the next time you’re in the Czech Republic, you can confidently ask “Mate take nejaka vegetarianska jidla?”

3. Get aPPetizing

Creative Commons: mujitra

Speaking of apps, you’ll never go hungry looking for vegetarian or vegan food again if you have an iPhone. Apps like VegOut and VeganSteven let you find restaurants near you and even pull up the menus.

4. Don’t eat at local restaurants

Creative Commons: HeyRocker

Weird tip, huh?

If you’re having trouble eating meatless at the local restaurants, try hotel dining areas — even if you’re not staying there — and pubs.

Many people don’t think to try and dine at accommodations they haven’t booked into, but the public is free to eat at places like Marriot. Hotel menus often have a wider variety of options than some of the local eateries, including vegetarian, depending where you are in the world.

Pubs might also have bar menus full of non-meat fare. Even if you have to build your dinner by ordering a baked potato, side salad and hummus with bread, it’s better than nothing.

5. Eat what you want, where you want

Creative Commons: CarbonNYC

Did you know that Minnesota actually has a law allowing anyone on a restricted diet to take their own food into any restaurant and eat it right there? Individuals can also ask the wait staff to heat up their food in the oven or microwave.

It’s worth checking if areas you’re traveling to have similar laws.

Even if they don’t, other vegetarian travelers have had success asking restaurants to heat up or cook their tofu, rice or veggies. Sweetness will take you a long way here, so be polite and overly thankful if you’re accommodated. Convenience store microwaves are another option for heating up your homemade or store-bought vegetarian meal if you find an obliging clerk.

Depending on where your travels lead you, you might always have to stay on your toes to find vegetarian. But a little Internet and iPhone savvy plus some local know-how should keep you up to your elbows in tofu from Tampa to Tokyo.

What are your tips for finding vegetarian on the road?

Via

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Backpacker To China

Introduction

China is such a fascinating and diverse country! Travel here can be complex and confusing at times, however that’s what makes it such an adventure; Where else can you marvel at skyscrapers in metropolitan cities like Hong Kong and Shanghai, ride on horseback through sprawling countryside, sail on a bamboo raft through rivers flanked by mountains that appear like out of a dream sequence, cuddle a panda and stand on the spectacular Great Wall. This country really does have it all.

Travel Budget/Daily Costs

China is a relatively inexpensive country and by staying in hostels and eating in local restaurants you can get by on a budget of around £15 a day or less.

When to go

China can be visited all year round; however it is most pleasant during April-May (spring) and September-October (autumn). During these times the temperature is pleasant and comfortable and there is little rain. As a rule Southern China is far more pleasant during the winter, and at this time areas of high altitude should be avoided as it will be a little too cold!

Things to do and see

Beijing

Such a great city to visit, and in my opinion the best starting point for a trip to China. Stand in the middle of the awesome Tiananmen Square, the largest urban square in the world and background to many historical events. Go just as the sun is setting and watch the Chinese military honor guards take part in a ceremony where they march and lower the national flag.

While you are there do not miss out on sampling the famous Peking duck in of the many specialty restaurants dotted around the city. It can be a bit touristy but the experience is fun and the duck is delicious!

To travel to China and not stand on the Great Wall is a real shame, for many this is an unforgettable experience. You have a few options for seeing the wall, and this depends on how adventurous you are! The most popular place for a visit is at Badaling, 70 kilometers North West of Beijing. The scenery is beautiful and you have wonderful views of the wall snaking off into the hills in the distance. Be prepared however for the crowds, especially during the weekends! It is for this reason that many people choose to visit another part of the wall which is less busy and not so touristy! It may mean a bit more of a trek to get there, but in my opinion it’s well worth it!

Another option for the Great Wall is the section at Mutianyu, which is 90km northeast of Beijing and tends to be a less commercial experience than Badaling. Here you also have the opportunity to take a cable car ride at the end which is supposed to be quite fun!

Those that don’t mind quite a long hike can visit the Great Wall at Jinshanling, which remains relatively undeveloped. This is the starting point for the 10 kilometre hike to Simatai, The hike takes around 4 hours but you will be rewarded with spectacular view of the wall, often in an un-restored (and sometimes crumbling) state but minus the tourists!

Xian

This city has so much more to offer than the Terracotta Warriors for which it is famous. An ancient capital of China, the city is dominated by one of the oldest and best preserved Chinese City Walls, which are wide enough to cycle along, giving you great views over the city. Wander the streets in the Muslim quarter, sampling some of the great foods at the snack stalls along the way and wind your way over to one of the nightspots within the city, where you’re likely to be one of the few Westerners there, so be prepared to feel a bit like a celebrity at times!

Many travelers flock here to get a glimpse of the giant pandas. The Panda Research centre is just outside of Chengdu, and could technically be described as a zoo; the pandas live in large enclosures within a large bamboo filled park. The city of Chengdu itself is also quite nice, and here you can sample the famous Sichuan hotpot or visit the Chinese Opera which is always entertaining!

Tiger Leaping Gorge (Near Lijiang)

The most famous trekking spot in China, great for travelers looking for an adventurous Himalayan trek. At an altitude of about 2500 meters, the Tiger Leaping Gorge is a steep gorge, you’ll walk along the top of the gorge and on the trail you’ll see the Yangtze River on one side and steep mountain walls on the other, and hardly any people along the way which is great! Most people do the trek in two days, and there are cosy little guesthouses dotted along the route.

Yangshuo

A popular backpacker haunt, this city, idyllically located on a river in the Karst mountain region is probably the most well known natural environment in China and rightly so. The scenery is quite spectacular and it’s very easy to while away your days here. Hire a bike and explore, sail on a bamboo boat across the river, hike through farm land, go hot air ballooning or just relax and take in the surroundings. In the evenings you can enjoy a magical laser show or visit one of the bars on 'West Street'.

via

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World Best Beaches

Hi backpacker travelers

From the National Geographic book The 10 Best Beaches


Seychelles
www.seychelles.com
One of the most photographed beaches in the world, the pale pink sands of Anse Source d’Argent unfurls across the island of La Digue, one of the 115 components of this archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The sands sparkle against a backdrop of towering granite boulders, worn by time and weather. The turquoise water is relatively shallow and protected from the ocean’s waves by a reef.

Maldives
www.visitmaldives.com
Whether your dream beach trip consists of spending a few pampered nights in a four-star resort or swimming among tropical fish some 80 feet (24 meters) underwater, the Maldives are the sort of islands where either—or both—can come true. Straddling the Equator southwest of Sri Lanka, the 1,102 islands that make up the Maldives form 26 atolls. The soft air enveloping the archipelago blends into a beautiful palm-fringed haze.

Bora Bora, Tahiti
www.boraboraisland.com
This is one of the magical islands that make up French Polynesia in the South Pacific. Just 18 miles (29 kilometers) long, this lush little slip of land lies in a protected lagoon edged by white sandy shores, the best being at Matira Point. Bora Bora boasts the nickname the “Romantic Island,” a moniker easy to appreciate with its isolated beaches, intimate hotels, and quiet atmosphere.

The Hamptons, New York
www.hamptons.com
One of the hip spots for the air-kissing, well-heeled set, the Hamptons boast some of the prettiest beaches on Long Island. The unspoiled shoreline begins around Southampton and runs east to the end of the island at Montauk. Windswept dunes and waving grasses border the Atlantic Ocean.

Lanikai Beach, Hawaii
www.hawaii.com
Half a mile of sparkling sand, palm trees swaying over a white beach, lush tropical plants, and endless sunshine make Lanikai one of Hawaii’s most scenic beaches. The shore is protected by a nearby coral reef, which keeps the surf relatively calm. The water is always deep green and postcard-perfect.

Nantucket Island, Massachusetts
www.nantucket.net
The most popular beaches on this island in the North Atlantic are Surfside and Children’s. The waters here are relatively calm, and there’s plenty of sand to use for sunbathing or castle-building. Madaket Beach is known for its rougher surf and not-to-be-missed sunsets. Quidnet Beach provides great views of Sankaty Head lighthouse.

Fraser Island, Australia
www.seefraserisland.com
Perched on the sunny Queensland coast 161 miles (259 kilometers) northeast of Brisbane, Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and home to a wonderful beach. This World Heritage Site is an ecologist’s dream, with 640 square miles (1,664 square kilometers) of unspoiled natural paradise. Rain forests with 1,000-year-old trees sprout from the sand. Lodgings here accommodate a wide range of tourists, from the backpacking ecology lover to pampered resort fans.

St. Bart's
www.st-barths.com
One of many islands in the Caribbean Sea, St. Bart’s stands out with its blend of French chic and island relaxation. With beautiful secluded beaches, fine French cuisine, and gracious hotels, this tropical playground is popular with the Jet Set. The 8-mile-long (13-kilometer-long) island is edged by 20 beaches and small coves for swimmers and sunbathers, with sparkling water and white sand.

Langkawi, Malaysia
www.langkawi.com.my
The name “Langkawi” translates into “the land of one’s wishes,” a welcoming concept that somewhat belies the island’s historic origins as a reputed refuge for pirates. Langkawi has since become a modern hideaway for the traveler seeking an escape. If your vacation wishes extend from uncrowded white sands and clear waters to lush green forests, you will find yourself content here. Datai Bay, located on Pulau Langkawi, is a heavenly retreat on the Andaman Sea.

Kauna'oa Bay, Hawaii
Located on the Kohala Coast of the Aloha State’s Big Island, Kauna’oa Bay is the quintessential Hawaiian spot. The 0.25-mile-long (0.4-kilometer-long), crescent-shaped beach has plenty of white sand, palm trees, and calm, clear, blue water. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, beachgoers here can snorkel or ride boogie boards. (Be careful swimming, however, because there are no lifeguards on this public beach.) At night, nestle into the sands and peer out into the water to see if you can catch a glimpse of manta rays swimming

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