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Travel Experiences You Can Learn

By: Jan Mikel|In: Travel Adventures|Last Updated: November 14, 2019

Relaxation and entertainment have different forms for different people. While some go to movies or parties, others go for plays and music shows. However, there are some for whom relaxation holds a completely different meaning. Such people prefer to be in solitude or spend some quality time travelling with their family or friends. Travelling can be great experience as it can provide you with relaxation, entertainment and some valuable life experiences simultaneously. Travelling helps you mature as a person. It makes responsible men out of boys and helps you learn about the world. No wonder travelers always have a trove of great travel stories to tell.

Travelling can be a great fun. Visiting different well-known destinations and unknown places can be an enriching and educating experience. Many people have grown up reading and listening to exciting and adventurous travel stories. A lot has been written about destinations like the Rohtas Fort, Peer Sohawa, Murree and Lahore City in Pakistan; as well as other touring spots in Jamaica and Indonesia. However, there is a vast difference between reading about a place in a travel guide and actually having a first-hand experience of the place. These destinations offer a unique experience on their own. Anybody visiting these places has their own travel story to narrate. Such tales make for good nostalgic readings. It doesn’t just reflect on the historical background of these places, but also gives me an insight into the unrecorded history of the place, the people and the era. Many authors have made careers out of travel writings and have earned a massive fan following over the years.

Then, there are the new and interesting people you meet when you visit a tourist destination. These locals always have many different travel stories to tell. Most people, who are regular travelers …

By: Jan Mikel|In: Inspirational Recreations|Last Updated: November 7, 2019

One thing is certain, most want to reach this path, even if they don’t have the courage to go down in the middle of the action. If you are one of the thousands of tourists who are addicted to adrenaline, this is the perfect place for a week full of action and entertainment. The risk is quite high, considering that around 200 people are injured each year and 15 have been edited since 1910, when this tradition began. Even so, more and more people come to see the show every year.

Bull running is the main event of the festival, which lasts for eight days each. At 8 o’clock in the morning, 6 large bulls were released on Pamplona days and the participants started running from them. The final goal is to direct all the bulls in the arena at the end of the course. Even though this only takes a few minutes, it is very intense. The participants, mostly dressed in white with red scarves and mostly young men, tried to avoid bulls when they ran. The committee placed barricades in secondary streets and made room for people to get out. There are certain rules that need to be respected so that everyone is safe.

Bull running is not the only strange but exciting festival event. The day starts with this race, but continues with many activities that can be just as interesting, even for people who don’t run with bulls.

The bulls brought into the arena are used for bullfighting during the day. This was highly valued by the Spaniards, but was highly contested by animal rights activists. Another interesting point is the religious procession that goes on in honor of San Fermin. On every festival day there are many traditional music concerts and theater representations on the …

By: Jan Mikel|In: Creative Recreations|Last Updated: October 24, 2019

The #1 Reason to Hire & Learn From a Travel Specialist!

There is nothing more complex than an around the world journey, trust me! I set out on a journey to Namibia, Africa. Once in Namibia, I had to see Victoria Falls. Vic Falls brought me to the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Then I heard about the emerald blue waters in Mozambique. The waters sparked my curiosity to visit Zanzibar, and Zanzibar’s culture interested me to visit India and once in India, I was so close to Indochina I just couldn’t resist. You see, my single trip to Namibia made me an addict who needed more!

What I didn’t tell you is how I got to all these places or where I stayed. An around-the-world journey is no easy task! To make a journey like this possible, I first had to have an interest. I then needed to take a leap-of-faith and just do it! I wanted to do it, and so does a lot of people, but how many people actually do it? Unfortunately, it’s much easier to talk about than actually do. Sadly, this goes for other dreams people have.

I took the risk, accepted the danger (I was never harmed or deathly ill along my 8 month journey to circle the globe), and learned along the way. I consulted with regional experts, read travel guides, and listened to the local people.

My journey was different. Other professionals circle the globe due to their job. The internet cannot book this kind of trip for you! You need to either do all the extensive research yourself, stealing all of your valuable time, or hire a travel consultant to do it for you. Bouncing around the world can be complicated, confusing, and frustrating. A good travel consultant will calm your nerves and provide you with expert knowledge, tips, and ensure …

By: Jan Mikel|In: Travel Inspirations|Last Updated: October 17, 2019

You’ve heard it all before. Things like not being able to use your cellular phone in the time of flight and the other myth of cruises being “all inclusive”. These types of myths along with others have made travelers a little bit more cautious of the things they hear when they are traveling. Traveling is a fun thing that should not give you stress, but we all know that once we travel, we need a vacation from a vacation. There are other myths that you may have heard about or not. Some of these myths are:

1. Hotel Key can steal your identity- This is an outrageous myth, but it is easy to see where it comes from. Your hotel key, most people think, has your name, address, and phone number listed on it. The only thing that the key has on it is the room information. The key number is registered to you, not your identity. That information is stored in the booking information.

2. X-Ray Machines will erase your hard drive on your computer- This myth has scared many people when they travel with a laptop. The myth only is half true. No the x-ray machines will not erase your hard drive, but it will erase film from a 35mm camera. That is why they don’t have you scan the film. Always ask questions if you are unsure of what the procedures are. You don’t want to be in security check out for hours because you refuse to scan your computer. That will only cause you more problems to your travel.

3. No need for insurance when you use a credit card to rent a car- You need to have insurance no matter what. Unless the car rental has a special in which using your credit card will …

By: Jan Mikel|In: Travel Adventures|Last Updated: September 20, 2019

Words of wisdom from people of past eras can nourish the soul and guide us on our way. One way to absorb this type of collective wisdom is through the reading of proverbs. Proverbs are ancient or old-time sayings that speak wisdom to us, often on many different levels at once.

If you have an interest in all-things-Japan, in travel, or in both, you may enjoy learning some Japanese travel proverbs. A good proverb yields insights not only about the subject of the proverb itself, but also about both the speaker (the creator of the proverb) and the listener/reader.

Here are 3 Japanese travel proverbs for you to ponder, learn from and enjoy:

1. The Philosophical:

Here is one attributed to the famous Japanese poet, Basho:

“Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought.” ~ Matsuo Basho

The meaning of this one is pretty clear. In the literal sense, it could be taken to mean that there are many ways to the same destination. In a more philosophical sense, it speaks to the idea of not just imitating the appearance or specific steps of another person’s journey, but rather to let their journey inspire your own unique path.

2. The Romantic:

Here is a Japanese travel proverb that has a romantic undertone:

“Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one.” ~ Traditional Proverb

From a literal perspective, this proverb tells us that a love of the journey may be just as important as arriving. More figuratively, it tells us that anything that we set out to do with love and passion will be an infinitely easier task than something that lacks such passion.

3. On Being A Fish Out Of Water:

This one talks about human folly …

By: Jan Mikel|In: Recreation For Couples|Last Updated: September 20, 2019

Big, bad RV motorhomes. These campers are the most expensive option out there, but for good reason. You can hop into a motorhome and tour the country, no popping up, no hitching up, and no towing (unless you’re towing another vehicle, which is another added option with a motorcoach).These bad boys aren’t for the feint of heart, though. These gas guzzling vehicles have created a sort of cult among retirees and adventurers alike. There’s clubs everywhere for these things. Motorhomes are often the most convenient option, but not always. Of course, if you are a very frequent traveler who makes long trips, the motorhome will probably win most times. Another plus with motorhomes is the ability to “roam” the area while traveling, You can relax on the couch, make a meal, or sleep on a bed while on the road. You can’t climb into a travel trailer or popup and do this. I suppose you probably could, but you would regret you did, not to mention legality issues.

I digress though. Motorhomes are obviously the most expensive option. Of course, there’s always exceptions to this. You can find used Class C’s (for example) for below 20, even 10, thousand. However, the cost of these is all over the charts. They have monstrosities that go into hundreds of thousands of dollars, more than the average house. These are the cat’s meow though, with more than most of us would ever need. Proper research is important while on the market of a motorhome, with varying options available and at all sorts of prices. Another plus about motorcoaches though is that it’s the easiest to find EXACTLY what you want. From plain options and the arrangement of amenities to engine size and style.

There are so many different ways to go on this …

By: Jan Mikel|In: Travel Inspirations|Last Updated: August 27, 2019

Seen as a country of snake charmers, magicians and naked fakirs India has for centuries intrigued the outsiders. Subject of much conquest, the Golden Bird has a torturous history, the invasions and occupation has left an indelible but colorful mark in the countries tapestry.

It is no more somebody’s cup of imagination the country is on road to fast progress and becoming an economic super power. But the exotic remains now mingled with ultra modern surprising the inquisitive visitors. Side by side luxury sedans and bullock carts roll in India’s busy streets. A jet flies overhead a cluster laid back villages still stuck to their past.

India is a land of delight and despair and both make the tourists exult in bewilderment. The diversity is mind boggling and so is harmony in existence. India changes every short distance people, landscape, dialect, ethnicity and color. The landmark culture is ancient going back to five thousand years. The subsequent development of fine arts, performing arts, rites and rituals and classical music is a testimony to the age of India.

The state rejoices in colorful festivities, rituals and ceremonies – religious and social. The colors have a profound effect upon the visitors and coupled with the sights and smells India appears an amazing pool of exotic. Indians have faith in spirituality an amalgamation of inner self with external World. Religion dominates in all colors of identity an expression of free belief and practice is evident in public life in this highly pluralistic society.

The jewels of India are Taj Mahal, Tiger and Temples the very hallmark essence of a bewildering cultural pot pouri. The mainstay of tourism in India is cultural tours but nevertheless wildlife is essential to traveling in India. Hence tiger tourism is one way of realizing this diverse country. Tiger …

By: Jan Mikel|In: Travel Quotes|Last Updated: August 15, 2019

The idea of traveling through time is one which is natural to our modern sensibilities. While there is some debate as to how possible such an exercise may be, most everyone at least acknowledges it as a popular concept in fictional literature.

However the idea of time travel as a plot possibility is one which is not found much in human culture throughout the ages. We have a few ancient stories that have a rough inclination towards traveling forward in time, but there are no recorded mentions of even a vague idea of backward time travel found in any written form until at least the 1700’s.

One of the earliest mentions we have of time travel at all comes from an ancient Hindu text called the Mahabharatha. This story dates back to around 700 BCE – 300 CE and involves King Revaita traveling to heaven to meet Brahma. Upon returning home he finds that several hundred years have passed.

In 720 CE we see the tale of Urashima Taro described in the Nihongi, which describes the adventure of a fisherman who travels to an undersea palace for three days. When he returns home he finds that 300 years have actually passed, and his house has collapsed and his family has all passed and everything he owned in life is gone. This is quite similar to Washington Irving’s story Rip Van Winkle.

A more modern version of the time travel story comes from Louis-Sebastien Mercien’s book “The Year 2440, A Dream If Ever There Were One”. This extremely popular book depicts the tale of a man who has a fight with a philosopher friend of his about the problems with Parisian society. He then falls asleep, and when he awakes he is in a Paris of the future. While the story …

By: Jan Mikel|In: Recreational Activities|Last Updated: July 8, 2019

How to Avoid Food Poisoning When Travelling

One of the best parts of traveling is the chance to try a variety of different styles and tastes of food. It can also be the worst thing when your stomach rolls over and you are away from home at the mercy of a foreign bed or worst yet sleeping bag. There are some good advice and tips out there to allow you to enjoy foreign foods but do it with a minimal chance of getting sick.

Avoid Fruits that do not Have to be Peeled

While your first thought is to grab fresh foods such as vegetables and fruits, this tends to be the first way to get sick. Lettuce is extremely hard to clean well at restaurants unless it has been cooked first. Fruits also tend to not be cleaned as well as they should, so avoid ones that do not have to be peeled. Fruits such as oranges or bananas are good ones to pick up and eat however cooking any of them in some fashion is the best choice and is highly advisable. Also only drink from bottled products, these typically have a much higher standard than most other drinks from reputable companies.

Avoid Food that may be Holding for a Few Days

If you want to eat “street” food which is found at vendors around busy areas of high tourist areas, talk with locals and look for busy vendors. These tend to have a high turnover rate meaning their food comes in daily and you can be sure you’re not getting leftovers. Slower vendors may be holding food for a few days to help save money.

Bring some Stomach Settling Medication

If you are still worried about food poisoning, try and bring some stomach settling medication. But only use it as a last resort as …

By: Jan Mikel|In: Travel Destinations|Last Updated: June 12, 2019

The Amazing Galapagos Island National Park

The Ecuadorian government declared the Galapagos Islands as a national park in 1959, which provides fantastic opportunities for tourists to see nature in its most original places. These small equatorial islands have become extraordinary because this is where Charles Darwin found evidence to prove his theory of Evolution. Some of the rarest, endangered and unique wildlife in the world today makes it home to him, these islands now play an important role in helping us understand how our planet develops.

Nature Lovers

The Galapagos Islands are excellent as extraordinary vacation destinations for nature lovers and naturalists, which allow you to come face to face with nature. The animals are not afraid of humans and in fact, are more curious to see their visitors who are often fascinated by these islands. Located about 1000 km from Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, this volcanic island chain consists of more than 123 islands and islands.

Galapagos Islands History

An interesting aspect of the Galapagos is that these islands were never part of the mainland, which formed more than four million years ago. Rather they were formed by marine volcanoes erupting and rising to the surface of the water. A relatively young archipelago in terms of how old the earth is, the Galapagos today sits apart as a distinct World Heritage Site.

The Galapagos was used as a prison colony for many years and officially claimed by Ecuador in 1832. However, by 1934 the importance of these islands was recognized and they have declared wildlife sanctuaries. The Charles Darwin Research Station was set up on Isla Santa Cruz after it was made a national park and began to extensively investigate and research the giant Galapagos Tortoises. The national park service began operating in 1968 and by 1986 the government gave the islands increased protection …