Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Monday, May 29, 2017

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Friday, May 26, 2017

Friday Travel Tip - Thailand - Train, Bus, Or Fly

Getting between cities in Thailand can be very simple. Most people take airplanes, and most tourist cities have airports. Flying in you'll probably have to transfer in Bangkok, then it will be followed by a short flight to your final destination. Flying is quick, however it's pricier than other options and you'll miss out on seeing some of the country side.

Travelling by bus and train can be much more affordable, and if you take night trains or buses you'll save a night in a hotel. The ride from Bangkok to Phuket or Chaingmai could take as much as 10 to 12 hours.

Both the buses and trains offer several class levels, the 1st and 2nd class trains and buses will offer air conditioning, beds in overnight rides, and snacks, drinks, and meals. In all cases alcohol is not permitted on the vehicles. The advantage of travelling at night is that you have a place to sleep and you'll arrive early to your destination. The disadvantage comes to anyone over 5 foot 6 (due to the size of the reclining seats on the vehicles). Daytime travel while taking more out of your travel time gives you the opportunity to see the country a little more.

Later

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Thursday, May 25, 2017

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Monday, May 22, 2017

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Friday, May 19, 2017

Friday Travel Tip - Thailand - Temples Of Chaingmai

Chaingmai is a city full of temples, and the sheer number of these temples can be overwhelming. The main temple complex in the old city is known as Wat Chedi Luang and this is the must visit stop for most tourist, but it's certainly not the only, or even best option. While the Wat Chedi Luang is very beautiful, particularly with the very large old temple in the center, it can be very crowded and it can be difficult to enjoy the serenity that temples often offer. The best way to enjoy the Wat Chedi Luang is to arrive very early in the morning, or better yet wander the temple grounds about an hour before closing at night.

As far as the other temples in Chaingmai are concerned discovering them is the best part. Simply wandering through the streets in search of temples is a great way to see the old city and also find some great hidden gem temples. When you're visiting a temple, make sure to be respectful. Take your shoes off before entering any buildings, and consider making a donation to help keep the temple in good condition. I tend to wait till I'm leaving a temple before I make a donation. This way I can see if the money seems to be going towards actual maintenance or not.

Some temples also offer items for sale, or even services (sometimes free sometimes for a fee). The items can be foodstuffs, religious items or flowers to make an offering. The services can be a consultation with a monk, or in some cases massages. At some times you may notice what looks like a cafeteria line forming in a temple. This is a free service where the temple feeds people. This service is available for everyone including tourists, the poor, as well as locals. The best tip for this is feel free to take what you'd like, but don't be greedy.

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Thursday, May 18, 2017

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Monday, May 15, 2017

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Saturday, May 13, 2017

Friday, May 12, 2017

Friday Travel Tip - Thailand - Massage

When you think of Thai massage two images are generally conjured up. One is a serene place with candles light, bamboo all around, where a deep massage relaxes the body. The second is much seedier, a place where a lady will take you into a booth, rub you down a little bit, then offer some kind of sexual favour for extra money. In Thailand, both of these services are offered, and it can be difficult to tell for sure what might be on offer at any one particular massage location.

In some places, it's very obvious, it can often be read on the signs outside. If a place is offering "testicular massage" chances are it's the seedier choice. If it's unclear about what they offer, other than simply telling you "massage", and the girls are scantily clad, it's also likely a seedier massage place. Then there are the places in between, they're kind of seedy looking, but it seems like they offer regular services. Your first sign at that point is how well you can see into the establishment. If you see the massage chairs and other people getting massages inside, you're probably OK. These middle ground places do however sometimes offer both legitimate and seedy services. In that case enjoy your massage, and maybe the experience as well.

If you're worried about accidentally getting involved with a seedy place you can always play it safe. There are several spas in Thailand that give you the full serene experience, candles, calm music, all that relaxing stuff. These places look very fancy and are often more expensive than the local street massage place. A good place to be really sure, if you're worried, is to go to a reputable hotel. Hotels and resorts in Thailand often offer spa (including massage) treatments. You'll pay a lot more for them, but it's likely that there will be nothing seedy about these places.

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Thursday, May 11, 2017

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Monday, May 8, 2017

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Friday, May 5, 2017

Friday Travel Tip - Sri Lanka - Snacking On The Road

While some might argue that not all of the food in Sri Lanka is that great, one of the most overlooked delicacies of this country is the travel snacks. Walk near any bus or train station and you'll find a bevy of vendors selling salty snacks and juicy fruit.

The range of salty snacks is very immense. From a variety of deep fried roots, extruded snacks, to a large variety of spiced nuts, these snack shops have something for everybody. The only thing you'll have to be careful about is the spicy factor. If you're very sensitive to spicy food you may get burnt, literally. Even the non-spicy snacks have a little kick to them. You may also notice that there are some strange black or green bits and pieces in your snacks, they are supposed to be there. In some cases the spices used in these snacks are not ground to a powder, and instead are left in their full size. This actually enhances the flavour of the spice and adds to the texture.

The other vendors you'll see around these bus and train stations are fruit vendors. Since this is a fairly warm and wet island, fruit is abundant. Many of the trees you'll see on your train or bus ride probably produce the fruit you're eating. The fruit is very fresh, and if you're going on the train the vendor will often prepare it for you for easy traveling. Some vendors even have pre-made travel ready bags of fruit ready to go.

Later

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Thursday, May 4, 2017

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Monday, May 1, 2017