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The Not-So-Secret Great Wall of China

Please welcome guest blogger Sarah from Where's My Toothbrush

I think it’s safe to assume that we all enjoy a good secret. They get us wound up. We lean in and promise to never repeat them.

But there is one problem with me and secrets.

 I am absolutely awful at keeping them.

But instead of being so negative, let’s just focus on the appeal of this secret: gaining access to a secret part of the Great Wall of China for less than the price of a night of on the town.

Sure, my hostel’s $5 a night price tag was motivating. But they also offered a clandestine package that included access to a secret part of the great wall. It was secret-keeping for the big leagues.

Perhaps I was expecting the hostel to blindfold me, or even make me pinky -swear.  

But really, the only thing that made the trip so secretive was the security guard I had to pass on our way to the wall. No oath of silence. Instead, he simply ducked his head inside our van, let out an exhale of bone-chilling air, and offered some shaky advice.

“If air cold, put body down.”

Sure, a Beijing winter isn’t the most appealing of seasons. But the security guard using “if” made me think that body-clenching winds were only a mere possibility.

I was soon huddled inside one of the few watch towers that spotted this secret portion of the wall.  Cursing the wind, I realized I was fighting my way  up one of the greatest man-made wonders of the world. Not to mention that I was lucky enough to be exposed to an untouched and unrestored portion of the wall.

Needless to say, my time spent gripping onto decrepit ledges of the Great Wall became the highlight of my time in China.

If you are ever in Beijing, seeking out the secret part of the Great Wall, drive until you see the wall start to dot the skyline. If you pass by a security guard which tells you to "put body down" in times of frost-bitten temperatures, you’ve gone to the right place.

Just don’t tell them that I can’t keep a secret.

 

Some Useful Advice When Meeting and Photographing Locals

by: Sam Lovell (http://www.anyroad.net)

Everyone loves going on holiday, backpacking or simply visiting new and exciting places around the world. For me, the most fascinating and memorable aspect of this has always meeting and photographing the locals. Below is some useful advice on not only meeting and connecting with local people from around the world, but also getting a great photo of them to show your friends and family upon your return home.

Dress Appropriately - You've probably heard it a million times before but it does make a big difference. In countries outside the 'West' you will rarely see any local men wearing shorts or women wearing revealing skirts or tops. Pay attention to what the locals are wearing and do your best to adapt a similar dress.

Always have your Camera out - Most of my best photo's have always come from locals shouting out to me to take their picture. Without your camera in your hand your not going to meet these locals who are willing and eager to be photographed. Which now leads to my next bit of advice...

Don't just shoot and run - Locals don't just want their photograph, they want to talk to you. Spend time getting to know them. For every single portrait I have taken (if you check out my website you will see there are a lot!) I have spent at least a few minutes conversing with them.

Plan your Image - While I am talking to my new friend I am always getting the shot ready in my head. Checking exposure (shooting Digital really is cheating!) and finding a suitable composition.

Smile - A smile is the best thing for a person to feel at ease and relax. When you smile, they smile. We all love smiling!

Shoot - Now that you know where your friend went to school, how many children he as, and if he goes to Church every Sunday you are ready to ask to take their photo. Be quick though, the longer you point a camera at someone the less comfortable they feel. This is whether it's your Father taking the photo or a complete stranger!

If you follow this simple advice your bound to meet some very interesting locals and have some great photo's to take home with you!

 

Sam is an independant traveller who's adventure's have taken him all over the world. He especially enjoyes getting to the places that few dare to go. Follow him and his adventures at http://www.anyroad.net or on his Facebook page.

Bagging a Bargain in Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City

Any traveller to Ho Chi Minh Citywill inevitably find themselves in Ben Thanh, the city’s most well-known market. The market has been in existence since 1859 and the building has since become an icon of the Ho Chi Minh City landscape.

Situated centrally in District 1 and only a stone’s throw from backpacker area Pham Ngu Lao, Ben Thanh is one of the first ports of call for many visitors to the city and getting there is no problem: enthusiastic taxi and cyclo drivers follow just-arrived travellers with calls of ‘Where you go? I take you Ben Thanh’ A savvy traveller staying in the backpacker area should realise that a walk to the market will take about 10 minutes, but if you choose your taxi wisely the fee should only be around a dollar.

So is the market worth a visit? In a word, yes. Upon entering the market through one of the four entrances you find yourself in a colourful maze. The building’s rectangular shape makes it possible to follow a logical route around the outside of the market in decreasing loops until you reach the centre. You can find pretty much anything: wigs, accessories, fake designer watches and sunglasses, clothes, souvenirs, bedding, material, DVDs, spices, candy, fresh fruit, flowers, meat, bread and fish.

Be warned that the sales tactics can verge on aggressive and in some of the narrowest aisles it is hard to avoid the pinching and pulling. It is also useful to know that prices are considerably higher than on many of the nearby side streets, therefore bargaining is essential. As a general rule the prices get lower the further inside the market you get as the outer stalls are a prime location. Also many of the traders will appreciate an effort with the language – knowing some numbers will help! The traders enjoy bartering so have fun!

The currency of Vietnam is the Vietnamese dong but the US Dollar is widely accepted, however it is always best to use the local currency in the markets – you’ll get a better deal and your money will go further.

To find out more about my travels around South East Asia, or to follow my upcoming adventure in South America check out my website www.runawaybrit.com, you can also find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/runawaybrit and Twitter.

 

Holiday, Make Mine an Adventure!

Please welcome guest blogger Stan from http://www.travelniche.co.uk

One of the most exciting experiences I had as a child was our family re-emigrating out to Brisbane, Australia. Since that time I cannot do the return flights, sandy beaches, hum drum do what everyone else does on holiday stuff, in fact I'd rather stay at home, let me tell you why.

My dad always wanted to be like Alan Whicker, travelling the World, seeing exotic places and making every trip an adventure. On this particular trip the journey was broken up with stop over’s, flight changes, different airports, cities and countries. I funnily enough remember more about the airports than the actual places we visited, somewhere breath taking like Abu Dhabi, it's airport was a mosaic of blue tiles, whilst others were quite run down, but for a 13 year old lad it was awesome.

We spent 24 hours in Bangkok at a fantastic hotel. The first evening there we took a walk, my sister being blonde attracted a lot of attention from the locals, much to my mum's dismay, but as we found out later on they just wanted to touch my sisters hair for luck, apparently where we were they didn't see many blonde haired people and that's the thing I remember most about travelling is your always made a fuss of, from the airline stewardesses to the local people.

Another airport that stuck in my mind to this day was Kuala Lumpur, the reason I remember it was due to stepping outside and being hit by a wall of heat and my dad pointing down the road towards all these trees and greenery and saying "that's the jungle down there". Now whether that was true or not I don't care and I never want to find out, it was the jungle as far as I was concerned back then and I was an intrepid explorer, well that was until I got too far from Mum and Dad and they called me back.

So we arrive in Sydney and stay at a place called the people's palace, my mum described it as a dive but we had to wait until the following day to take a train to Brisbane, I had been on plenty of trains, but this one was a long haul trip well long haul coming from the UK, but to Australians it's a short trip of only 1200 miles give or take. The trip itself wasn't short of excitement either, there had been a derailing ahead of us, nothing serious but we had to stop at Coff's Harbour at about 2am, change over to coaches to travel the last 300 miles or so and finally we reached Brisbane, the journey took 5 days.

Now some people might think what a lot of aggravation and trouble just to go from the UK to Australia, but you have no idea of the things you see, the people you meet and the fun you can have. So is there a moral to this story? well no not really, it's about planning and being adventurous, don't just go to sunny Spain and spend 2 weeks getting sunburnt on a beach or in a hotel swimming pool, get more from your holiday and turn the travelling bit into something to remember, sometimes the roundabout way can work out more expensive but the experience is priceless.

The Italiopian Point of View

I recently visited a website which I adored. The Italiopian ( http://www.chroniclesofanitaliopian.com ) is a young lady named Greta who is traveling and enjoying the culture and scenery of Europe while she studies at a university. What's amazing about this site is not the places she visits, but her point of view. The beauty she chooses to share with her readers is unique and offers a different perspective to common experiences.

The images have a certain artistic flair and planned poise that make them truly thought provoking. The chosen scenes, different image effects, and more make them especially eye catching. There is a sense of innocence and beauty revealed about the world in each frame. The writing is wonderfully fluid and conversational. You can read for hours and enjoy yourself without feeling bogged down with boring details.

Overall, this is a wonderful site offering an interesting view of the world.

Oh, and don't forget to follow Greta on twitter!

Visit the Italiopian

Follow her on Twitter

Six Considerations for International Travel with Your Kids

By Kaamna Bhojwani-Dhawan, Momaboard.com

Traveling overseas is a greatly rewarding experience for adults and kids alike. New cultures, languages, sights and sounds are a wonderful learning experience, but international travel requires a lot more preparation and planning than making a domestic trip, especially when the family is involved. Here are some of the things you need to think about:

1. Passports and Visas: Unlike for domestic travel, traversing international borders requires that every traveling individual (including a baby) has a valid passport. Similarly, many countries require foreign travelers to obtain visas. US citizens are exempt from visas for several countries but there are those like China that still require one so make sure you check the rules beforehand so as not to be taken by surprise at the airport.
2. Accessibility: You may be dreaming of crossing the seven seas on a global expedition but when you are with young kids, it’s best to start small. Fly to places that are not absurdly far or that require many stops and changes along the way. You don’t want to be exhausted before you even get there!
3. Vaccinations: If you are planning to visit countries in Asia and Africa, there are some required and recommended vaccinations that your family should know about. Talk to your general physician and check out the Center for Disease Control website to learn more.
4. Safety and Security: While some of the most exciting places in the places (Beirut) have troubled political climates, it’s best to save the adventures for when you are without the kids or they are old enough to assist in the event of an emergency. You never want to risk putting your family in an unsafe situation, be it because of political unrest or a disease epidemic, or the like. Natural disasters unfortunately are something you cannot foresee.
5. Cost: International travel is expensive, especially when you factor in plane tickets for a full family. It doesn’t mean that it’s not doable though. Websites like Expedia offer hotel and flight deals that allow for some cost savings. In addition you can try to travel in off-peak times when fares are cheaper (if you have kids that are not yet in school this is a great way to save). Finally, take advantage of exchange rates: when your currency is strong, go to countries with a favorable rate and enjoy calculating how much cheaper everything is! Also remember that kids under 2 fly practically free so there’s a good case for traveling when the children are young.
6. Travel insurance: Because international trips are such an expense, and because kids are so unpredictable (illnesses, etc.), travel insurance is probably a good idea when you are planning an overseas jaunt. Ask your travel agent or search Google for the best plans to suit your needs. Make sure to read the fine print (eg. Some plans do not cover babies).

Momaboard.com is a global community of traveling parents. We offer international city guides, general travel tips, deals and reviews. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest and greatest in international family travel. 

 

Triptrotting – I travel for people, not for statues

By: Shana Zheng from Triptrotting

I recently received the following note from a fellow Triptrotter that really sums up how important the “people” factor is when you travel. Whether it’s an adventure with an old friend or making new ones, a solo trip is just too boring by yourself. I travel for people, not the statues.

“TT (Triptrotting) rocks, I had an am azing tim e last night and m et som e really great lifelong friends. Thanks!!!” – Brad (Visual Effects Editor) from Los Angeles meeting new Triptrotters in Budapest.

For me, I’ve always traveled growing up but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I really had my “Ah Ha” moment on my first trip to Dubai with my college friend and now business partner Aigerim. I had heard about Dubai from newspapers and television as the place where everything was possible. The biggest, the tallest, and the fastest anything can be found there. I had no clue what to expect and my imagination of the Middle East had images of Aladdin and camels – I’m a bit embarrassed but this was years ago and I’ve learned since. After arriving there for a few days, I made up my mind that Dubai was really bigger version of Las Vegas.

Very few people were actual locals and everything was really bigger and taller. Everyone also seemed to be incredibly rich. It wasn’t until I had the chance to meet a few locals (real locals- most people in Dubai are expats!) did I get a chance to learn more about the real Dubai and its history from the locals’ perspective. Underneath the glamour of what we saw to be a Vegas–like tourism destination, there was the local view of the changes to their city. For hours, we discussed everything from economics to culture, the West to East – probably one of the most enlightening and memorable conversations I’ve ever had. It seemed that in a place of tradition, there is an ever increasing gap between what is “traditional” and what is “modern” and “westernized.” To hear a local’s perspective was incredibly valuable.

Through my travels, I’ve seen lots of statues, fountains, elephants, monkeys (and got bit by one), river cruises, towers, castles, walls, you name it. What really made them memorable has always been the people which I share those experiences with, old and new. For me, travel has a great way truly connect with all the places that I have visited. From Thailand to Dubai, France to Los Angeles, I’ve found great friends in each place that makes me want to go back whenever possible.

These experiences have inspired a new way to think about traveling – Triptrotting. Triptrotting is a community that connects you with like-minded friends all over the world. Whether it’s in your own city or abroad, you can find “like-minded” Triptrotters who are also interested in meeting up. It gives the traveler a way to get a true local’s perspective and provides hosts a way to make new friends from abroad. We enlisted the help of Galen Buckwalter, the prior Chief Scientist at eHarmony to help us create

a matching algorithm that lets Triptrotters see how like-minded they are with other members. If he can help you find the love of your life, a friend can’t be that difficult right?

Milan, the Center of Fashion

By Marina C. Acitizentoftheworld.blogspot.com

When one thinks of Milan, the most obvious thing that comes to mind is fashion and shopping. I can assure you that there is much more to it though!

I will start from the classic walk to the center of Milan starting from Piazza del Duomo, where Milan’s cathedral stands. Around the Duomo Square you can shop as well as have an original Italian coffee. Another thing I suggest is climbing to the top of the cathedral, but make sure to go in the morning, as the roof is only open until the early afternoon. On the north side of the square is the Galleria Vittorio Emmanuele II, a covered arcade that hosts shops, cafes, and restaurants. Walking through the Galleria, you will end up at the Scala of Milan. The fashion lovers shouldn’t miss the Monte Napoleone and Della Spiga streets, with all the high-end brands.

After having shopped, you can go and relax in Milan’s Parco Sempione, a two-minute walk from the Duomo square, and visit Castello Sforzesco, Milan’s fortress. Inside Parco Sempione you will also find the Branca Tower. Take a ride with the lift for a magnificent view of the city. Another green site in Milan that is worth a visit is the Giardini Publici, which are a few minutes walk away from Via Monte Napoleone.

For a little bit of culture, it is worth visiting the Triennale, a design museum right by Parco Sempione and the Pinacoteca di Brera for some more classic art. On the Duomo square you will find the Palazzo Reale, which hosts temporary exhibitions, as well as the newly founded Museo del Novecento.

In the evening, the Milanese go out for an apperitivo, or happy hour, where together with your drink, you can choose from a variety of appetizers to go with it. Two of my favorite areas to go in the evening are Brera, which is right behind the Scala of Milan and the Navigli, which is located in the southern part of the city. In both areas you can find a variety of cozy bars to have your drink.

For more information on Italian cities as well as others, visit Acitizentoftheworld.blogspot.com

©Marina C. 2011