For all the travelling I do, you’d think I’d be a pro at flying long-haul. But the truth is, I hate it. It makes me feel nauseous, I don’t like being cramped in Economy (whatever name they hide behind, “World Traveller”, it’s still cattle class to me) and frankly, I get bored easily. If I didn’t like exploring new places so much, I’d probably be one of those people who leave their home village once every decade or so.

Anyway, the point is if I can emerge from a airplane feeling ready to tackle whichever place I’ve landed in, anyone can. Here are some of my personal thoughts on surviving that long-haul flight;

Try to Reserve a Decent Seat

This depends on the airline, but some will still let you reserve a seat (often on a first come, first served basis when you check-in online). Get in there early and try to nab a seat with a bit of legroom; an exit row seat is always a good bet.

Drink Water Not Whiskey

If you’re being offered beer, wine and spirits for “free”, it’s tempting to get completely and utterly sloshed. I know, I’ve been there and it makes me feel like crap. Have a few drinks, sure, but make sure you keep hydrated by sipping plenty of water and juice.

Move Around

Nothing new here; if you sit in your seat for hours at a time, you increase the risk of DVT. So every hour or so, take a walk. A saunter to the toilet, perhaps? A jazzy little jaunt along the aisle? Why not pester the flight attendant for more whiskey (ahem, water) while you’re there?

Pack Earplugs in Your Hand Luggage

Earplugs are almost as important to me as my passport. They have kept me sane on many a night in a shared hostel dorm (why do some couples think it’s appropriate to “snuggle up” in the bunk above me? Why?) and are a godsend on a long-haul flight. Sleeping is the best way to pass the time, and with earplugs firmly in place you stand a good chance of some shut-eye.

Don’t Forget a Travel Pillow

Like earplugs, travel pillows are a must for flying long-haul. Mine is inflatable and fits snugly around my neck like a collar, so I can fall asleep without jerking uncomfortably awake again. Most of the time.

There’s loads of other stuff I could cover, but to me the five points above are the most important. As long as I’m hydrated, as well-rested as I can be and (touch wood) don’t have DVT, I’m good to go on the other side. I just wish I knew a way to stop my fellow passengers farting…

Do you have any Long Haul Flight Advice?

Have you got any tips of your own to share? What helps you survive a long haul flight? Are you looking for more advice? Post your comments below.

Sydney

The east coast of Australia is beautiful, and right now there are plenty of flights to Sydney that are very affordable. Summer takes place in December, January and February, and if you live on the other side of the world, it’s the perfect time to take a holiday. The weather in summer can be anything from a mild 23C up to a sweltering 44C!

After booking your tickets, it’s time to plan your itinerary. With so much to see in Sydney, it’s important to have a list of things you’d like to do. One of the most popular activities is a walk across the top of the Harbour Bridge. The Bridge Climb takes 3 ½ hours and leads you to the summit. Visitors will be in awe at the magnificent views of the spectacular Sydney Harbour. Also a must see is the Sydney Opera House. Walk through Circular Quay and have a leisurely lunch at the Rocks. Take the ferry from the Quay and spend the afternoon in Manly. To wind down, consider a sunset dinner cruise on the harbour where visitors can take in the city at night while dining on lobster, sipping champagne and dancing the night away in Kings Cross.

Melbourne

With big discounts on flights to Melbourne, you can be there in just an hour.  Much like Sydney, Melbourne is very cosmopolitan with plenty of activities for visitors to pack their schedules with. One of the most popular places to dine is the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. This beautiful diner on wheels takes you through the city streets while you enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner. Melbourne is a very accessible city, easy to walk to all the central tourist attractions and night life. There’s a great tram system too including a free tourist tram that circles the city centre. Be sure to check out an AFL match at the huge MCG stadium. Tickets are cheap and it’s great fun! Aussies are mad about sports, there’s also the exciting Formula 1 race at Albert Park, easy walkable from the city centre and the near to the famous St Kilda district and beaches. Also worth a visit to get away from the city for an afternoon.

Phillip Island

Another item for the ‘to do’ list is a day trip to Phillip Island, which offers a tour departing from most hotels. On the way you’ll get to enjoy wine tasting accompanied by delicious cheeses, locally grown olives, cherries and chutney. Next on the tour is the Koala Conservation Centre where visitors can witness this charming native animal in its natural habitat. This is followed by a journey to the southwest tip of the island where you can photograph the Nobbies, which are home to hundreds of fur seals.

When the sun begins to set you will witness the whole reason that you went to Phillip Island in the first place, the fairy penguins. Visitors are left in awe as the penguins waddle up the beach after a long day of fishing.

It is advisable to plan your holiday well in advance so you can find cheap flights and enjoy a holiday of a lifetime. Australia is a great destination with so much to offer. Everything from great city life to beautiful wildlife and scenery.

Photo Credits: Str1ke, Vermin Inc, Edwin.11 & Ken and Nyetta

In recent years Malaysia has become one of the best destinations in South East Asia. It’s great infrastructure, amazing landscapes, friendly people and cheap food means it’s very easy to have a great time here. There’s the usual list of places you must visit and on everyone’s list you’ll find the cool climate of the Cameron Highlands. A welcome break from Malaysia’s tropical heat and a world away from Asian life elsewhere in the country. Tanah Rata is usually the town that most tourists make their base for a few days and there’s a great place to stay called Gerard’s Place which we had the pleasure of reviewing recently.

Gerard’s Place

There are of course many guesthouses and the occasional hostel in this tourist town. It’s a great place to people watch, has all the shops, banks and restaurants you could need and some great trekking trails nearby too. It’s also a homely place and Gerard’s place is more a home than a guesthouse. In fact to anyone else living in the Cameron Highlands you could say it actually is a home.

Gerard’s Place is an apartment up on the hill right near the Heritage hotel. Just a short 7 minute walk to the centre of town and quietly out of the way. In fact you’ll pass other apartment blocks of bold white and black as you reach the apartments that Gerard’s Place is in.

An Apartment-stay

When we entered the apartment it was such a welcoming home and I do mean “home”, not “homestay”, while the owner, Gerard and his family, lives just next door, this really does become your home for a few days, more of an apartment-stay! It’s immaculately decorated with ample kitchen space, lounge space with a big TV, even some great ornaments on the shelves. There’s a cosy little outside area and has 8 bedrooms, some twin and some double beds. When we arrived there were already some guests relaxing in the lounge and we were shown to our bedroom, big enough for a double bed, wardrobe and small desk and chair. Towels were laid out on the bed and we even had our own balcony space, despite this being at basement level.

It really did feel like a home with everything you’d want. Flat screen TV and all the satellite channels, if staying in is your thing. Wifi which was also free, there was also a long desk in the hallway with a number of chairs and power sockets to accommodate even a full house of guests who might want to charge their phones or laptops. The kitchen also have a large refrigerator with ample drinks inside which you could purchase on via an honesty system. I always like them as makes you feel more at home when you’re trusted.

Tours and travel

The owner Gerard is an accommodating and hospitable owner with a friendly family too. The apartment is filled with information on local tours such as the Rafflesia plant, trekking trails and BOH tea plantation tours. Gerard also runs a tour operator in town so sorting you out with whatever tours you’re looking for is very simple. He can even arrange buses to Penang or Kuala Lumpur so your onward travel is covered too. We arranged our trip to Penang with Gerard that picked us up outside and dropped us off in the heart of Penang 5 hours later.

We really enjoyed our stay at Gerard’s Place in the Cameron Highlands. It was a real treat to have our own home to stay in for a while, rather like sharing an apartment with like minded people. The attention to detail and warm hospitality meant we had the perfect stay.

More information

• Visit their website for more details
• Located opposite the Heritage Hotel in Tanah Rata @ Carnation Block C 9, C 10 & C 17 in Greenhill Resort.
• Telephone: +600125885454
• E-mail: – fathersonline@hotmail.com

Cameron Highlands video

Check out this great video of the Cameron Highlands by PleaseTakeMeTo.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr1yoe_UGDQ

South Australia

During a recent trip from my hometown across the border to Adelaide, we managed to check out The Big Lobster, which is on the coast of South Australia, down in Kingston SE. Called Kingston SE because there are several Kingstons in South Australia (we asked a local), this little beach town has Larry the Lobster situated at the highway gateway in and out of town.

On this same roadtrip, while consulting a map and the list of Aussie Big Things as we were driving, we figured out that with just a small detour we could see The Big Olive. Actually two olives, this stop has a great store stop for samples and purchases of olive oils, tapenades, and even wine. All locally produced, the sales woman was very friendly and grateful for the visitors for the day. The Big Olive is actually made by the same artist responsible for Larry, and presents the added bonus of being able to capture yourself holding up one of them when taken at the right distance.

Some other South Australian Big Things include The Big Church Block (Wine Bottle), in McLaren Vale wine region, the Big Rocking Horse, which is out towards the Adelaide Hills wine region.

The Big Oyster and The Big Galah were part of a Nullarbor roadtrip I did last summer, and can be seen on the way out of South Australia on the road towards Western Australia. The Big Galah is in a tiny country town called Kimba, which is signposted as the halfway points across Australia. A good lunch stop, and a stretch of the legs with a quick game of carpark cricket! The Big Oyster is a little further along, as you drive out of Ceduna, just before you start the Nullarbor stretch.

Victoria

I happen across The Giant Koala on travels for work when I am headed towards Horsham, because he is situated on the highway in the middle of the Western Districts, in Dadswells Bridge. He is so very ugly, and looms up above the passing traffic. Apparently at night his eyes turn red!

Also in Victoria you can come across The Big Miner just outside of Ballarat, and then The Big Tap, The Big Wave and The Giant Worm are all down on Phillip Island which is just within day trip distance from Melbourne.

New South Wales

On a roadtrip from Brisbane down to a wedding destination last year, we managed to check out The Big Prawn and The Big Avocado on the NSW leg of this journey. The Big Prawn is also out on the main highway in Ballina, which is south of Byron Bay. This tired crustacean sit upon a long closed down fish and chip shop, and even has a fence around the building, making the future uncertain for the Prawn.

This same roadtrip led up to find The Big Avocado, located at Tropical Fruit World, which was a bit of a challenge and detour off the highway. In NSW there is also more famous The Big Banana at Coffs Harbour, The Big Bicycle at Chullora Waste Transfer Station, Chullora, and also The Big Merino, which is within sight from the Hume Highway at Goulburn, to be found!

Queensland

The wedding bound roadtrip also had us discover The Big Pie, just off the highway as you are coming to the Gold Coast from Brisbane, and floats above the Yalata Pie Shop, which was doing a roaring trade the morning we were there. Not many people were checking out The Big Pie as we were, but we got some great snaps!

Also around the great Queensland state is The Big Cow, The Big Crab and The Big Golden Gumboot, which I will definitely have to figure into a couple of roadtrips in the future!
There are so many, many more around Australia, and setting out to find one, or figuring out you’ll be driving nearby and that it will be possible for a small detour to check off another one, is pretty quirky way to break up the vast amount of driving it takes to get to where you are going in this massive country. Well worth the rest break!

Have you seen a big thing?

If you have a photo of a bit thing in Australia please post a link to it below. We’ll add it to our photo collection of big things and credit you!

As we were in Malaysia it made it easy for us to find cheap flights to the Philippines with our partner Air Asia. Flying from Kuala Lumpur’s Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) the journey took just short of 4 hours. There are officially two Manila airports and Air
Asia Currently fly to the airport that is around 2 hours by bus or taxi from central Manila. The bus is around 700 pesos while a taxi can cost around 3000 pesos so try and share a cab if you want a quicker trip to the city.

There’s no shortage of places to stay in Manila. It’s city much like Bangkok, well prepared for tourists. We opted to stay at a very nice hostel called Where 2 Next in Malate district. Definitely an area popular with Japanese and Korean judging by the number of far eat restaurants and Soju in all the local shops. The hostel has great private rooms and clean dorms with a simple breakfast and good common area. It’s also an easy walk from lots of tourist sights.

After a long day of travel we enjoyed the local Japanese cuisine which was very well priced. I’m always a sucker for Japanese food. Just down the road from our hostel is 3 small roadside makeshift bars that closely resemble sheds with plastic chairs outside. After a tip off from a backpacker at our Hostel we decide to check it out. The Philippines is famous for its San Miguel beer. Something I’ve enjoyed back in the UK many times but had no idea it was Filipino! At just 35 pesos for a ‘SML’ aka San Miguel Light (around 50 pence) we settled in for some people watching. Much like Bangkok the people watching included all sorts from ‘ladies of the night’ at least I think they were ladies, to street vendors selling everything from hot chestnuts to laser pens, fake watches and even guitars ( one man was carrying 13 guitars at once!). After a few too many SML we headed back to our hostel for a long sleep. Thankfully it was a quiet and comfortable hostel!

Rizal Park in Manila

A full day of sightseeing ahead would involve lots of walking. Mostly around our district as the roads can get very congested here. There’s all sorts of fun Filipino transportation options from horse and cart to Jeepney and tricycle.

We walked to famous Rizal park. Definitely a popular spot for tourists and Filipinos. Especially dance groups who use the wide open spaces to proactive their routines. A wonderful sight to see as you stroll around. There’s also a huge fountain display which is well worth checking out.

José Rizal Monument

The park also contains a very striking monument to the hero of the Philippine’s path to independence. In 1896 José Rizal, a Filipino political activist, was executed for rebellion, sedition and conspiracy, sparking widespread revolution against the Spanish occupiers. On the site of his execution stands a collection of larger than life size statues depicting the moment he was executed by firing squad. Quite a sight and you can walk among the statues that tower over you like trees. Definitely worth seeing.

There’s also a large map of all the islands of then philippines up past the freedom warrior statue that looms over the north side of the park. The map is a great idea as the models of islands are amongst a pond you can walk over. Sadly it’s in need of repair now and with the signs showing names of major islands all removed its a fun but unhelpful map of the Philippines.

A modern city

Manila is a modern city like any other these days. You’ll find an abundance of Starbucks coffee shops, 7Eleven and KFC. There’s some impressively huge shopping malls too. Our stay in Manila was short but sweet. We had fun people watching and drinking the local beer. Wandering the streets and enjoying the parks. Our bus out of town would leave early as we head South to go snorkelling with whale sharks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH8PVkEhlXY

We liked Manila even for just our brief stay. In fact more than we thought we would. It’s modern enough to be familiar, Asian enough to be crazy and Filipino enough to be exciting and different. You’ll no doubt spend a day or two there on your Philippines holiday so I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

Getting to Donsol

You can fly to nearby Legazpi city from Manila in just 1 hour but we prefer to go overland whenever possible. There are some great ‘Deluxe’ buses from Manila that cost around 1100 pesos (£17) and takes 10 – 12 hours. It’s an early start and a fairly late arrival unless you take the night bus but they day bus takes you through the heart of Manila and the countryside, passing through towns, villages, beautiful landscapes and stopping for lunch in a quiet town too. If you have the time it’s worth the journey. It’s air-conditioned and has a working toilet! Very comfortable way to travel.

Donsol is a small town about 90 minutes from Legazpi City so overnight there and check out the Cagsawa ruins the next day with the impressive backdrop of the ever active ‘Mayon Volcano’. Well worth a visit. Then hop in a local van at the bus station and head to Donsol for just 70 Pesos.

Where to stay in Donsol

We stayed at the comfortable and friendly ‘Giddy’s Place’ which seems to be the only hotel in the town.

There are a number of resorts right next to the dive and Snorkelling centre but they lack the local atmosphere that friendly Filipinos will gladly offer you in town.

Whale shark interaction centre

Its just a 7 minute tricycle ride from Giddy’s Place to the ‘whale shark interaction centre’ where you’ll need to register in order to dive or snorkel. This is to keep track of visitor numbers as the whale sharks are a protected species. Registration is 150 pesos and you can hire snorkel gear including flippers right there for 300 pesos.

Local fishermen run the boats which can take a total of 6 tourists. Total price of the boat is 3500 pesos so if you want to save money be sure to share with others. The price includes a ‘BIO’ guide who will snorkel with you and help you get the best experience. They’re friendly and experts In whale shark behaviour too.

Once out on the boat you don’t need to travel far off shore. Just 5 – 10 minutes and you’ll be with the other boats, all with spotters looking for a whale shark to follow. The idea is to jump in and snorkel just ahead to either side of the whale shark but as there are usually 10 boats, with around 40 – 50 snorkelers it can get quite busy in the water. Once your BIO spots the shark and actions for your group to jump in you immediately swim towards the other snorkelers and start looking beneath you hoping to catch a glimpse.

More about Whale Sharks

Whale sharks can grow up to 9 metres in length and have distinctive dark blue skin with light yellow spots on them. They come close to the surface to feed on krill, an abundant plankton in this area. They have no teeth and their size means they have no predatory powers against larger fix. In fact the whale shark is the largest fish in the world. Weighing up to 34 tonnes.

Our whale shark experience

Our first snorkel was a failure. No sighting as we swam about. Back on the boat for another go. The captain and crew soon spotted another and we were off to investigate. You’re constantly on edge, ready to dive in. Our second snorkel was better. The glimpse of a tail as it swam away. Climbing back on to the boat takes some energy. 3rd snorkel we saw its entire tail, waving back and doth as it swam. It was so large it looked like a plane underwater with its tail fin protruding.

Our 4th snorkel was even better. Seeing its back and tail before it swam off faster than I could keep up. The best 2 sessions were undoubtably the last 2. Jumping in along side it I was able to see the entire length of it from head to tail. Such a surreal sight compared to our land based life.

The last snorkel was the best. Jumping in at just the right point to be able to swim along side the head of this giant whale shark for over 2 minutes! Ample time to analyse every part of it and take in the full impact of what we were doing this day. A truly amazing experience.

If you’re coming to the Philippines then swimming with whale sharks is a must. It’s easy to do as long as you can swim. Be prepared to have to contend with 10 – 20 other people in the water all trying to get the best view too. 6 snorkels is probably as many as you may have the stamina for as getting in and out it the boat and also keeping up with the shark can take more energy than you think.

Our video

Check out our awesome video of our Whale Shark experience. Enjoy! Watch the HD version for best quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNws4B7QWDM

More information

• Hotel: Giddy’s Place, Donsol – 2500 Pesos (£36) per night. 600 pesos for Backpacker room.
• Transport to dive centre: Tricycle 100 pesos
• Registration: 300 pesos per person
• Snorkel hire: 300 pesos per person
• Boat: between 585 pesos and 3500 pesos depending on the number of people in your boat.
• Best time of year: late January to May
• Best time of day: between 7:30am and 12pm

Why did you go to South Korea?

After finishing university and working in our respective fields for a couple of years, (Arienne in TV production and Tristan in stage production) we knew we wanted to see more of the world. We figured teaching abroad would be a great opportunity to travel and make money at the same time. We originally considered China and Japan as well as Korea, but in the end settled on Korea due to its better work standards (when compared with China) and lower cost of living (when compared with Japan). This meant we’d be able to save more money, which would allow us to travel for an extended period of time when we were finished our contracts.

What were your first impressions and did they change?

Obviously, arriving in Korea meant a blast of culture shock. The unity of Korean culture and society seemed like an impenetrable fortress that, as foreigners, we were only allowed to look at, but never enter. This initial feeling of exclusion was further compounded when we moved to the small city where we were assigned to live and work. Jecheon had only 140,000 people, packed into an area the size of a town (in Canada), with only one movie theatre, a bowling alley, and a ton of bars and restaurants with next to no English, anywhere! For both of us, being a miniscule minority in a small city was a polar opposite to living in the culturally diverse metropolis of Toronto. In the beginning, we couldn’t order food, read any signs, or even talk to the many people who gawked and stared at us. Essentially, our first impressions were ones of isolation, frustration, and feeling like a child with adult problems.

But as we settled into the daily routines of the job and felt more comfortable in our city, we really began to enjoy our time in Korea. Regularly we would travel around the country on the weekends to learn more about the culture and people, but we would always be happy when we’d return back to our small, country city, that began to feel like home.

What was the food like?

In one word: incredible!  We’re not picky eaters to begin with, so we were up to trying anything and everything Korea had to offer. The cuisine is filled with many spicy dishes, and soon enough we were able to handle the spice like the locals. Kimchi (fermented cabbage in a red, spicy paste) is a staple at every meal, including breakfast, and we found ourselves enjoying it almost right from the start. Since we’ve been on the road we find that we occasionally get hit with a craving for kimchi! Luckily there are a few Korean grocery stores in Toronto that’ll satisfy our cravings. Korean BBQ is probably one of the most recognizable dishes outside of the country (and it’s delicious), but there’s more to the cuisine than grilled meat. Some of our favourite dishes include kimchi jjiggae (a soup made with kimchi and pork or tuna), pajeon (a large potato pancake filled with green onions and seafood), dalk galbi (spicy chicken and cabbage grilled in a large iron skillet), and nang myeon (a cold noodle soup perfect in the summer months). If you’re into adventurous meals, Korea’s got plenty of those too, including intestines, live octopus tentacles, and even dog meat!

What was the toughest thing about living there?

For us, the toughest thing about living in Korea was some of the nuances related to Korean culture. There are a number of things in Korean society we found really hard to accept, even though for Koreans it was normal run-of-the-mill stuff. For example, seeing students going to school from 8am to 5pm, and then going to special after-school academies at night was frustrating to see. Especially when the kids roll into our class and can’t get their heads off the table because they’ve barely slept. The long days at school are just part of the issues faced by students in an increasingly competitive education system.

The language barrier played a daily roll in our lives in Korea and unfortunately the Korean mentality of ‘saving face’ often meant that people who could speak English, wouldn’t, because they were too afraid of embarrassment. This led to numerous games of charades in public, with numerous Koreans standing thinking, “why is this foreigner dancing around like a drunken fool?” Even when we learned basic Korean, there were still things we couldn’t do, like go to a walk-in clinic, deal with household bills over the phone, or order delivery food from any place that didn’t know “the foreigner apartment”. This made us heavily reliant on our ‘co-teachers’, who lucky for us were wonderfully supportive and always willing to help.

Was South Korea an expensive place to live?

Of course, ‘expensive’ is a relative term, but in general we would say no, Korea is not an expensive place to live. On the other hand, it isn’t cheap either. Most people coming to Korea to teach will have their housing paid for them, so there is a huge savings right off the bat there. However, for most everyday products, you will pay pretty much the exact same price in Korea as you will in North America. For those living in Seoul or other large cities, you will find yourself probably finding it a little harder to save money than those living in less populated areas, simply due to the larger supply of forms of entertainment. Restaurants are generally pretty cheap compared with the west. A couple can dine for roughly $15 with a drink each. Bars on the other hand are not as cheap, with most drinks costing between $4-6. If you’re like us and want to save a bunch of cash, it can be pretty cheap to drink at home, especially if you’ve developed a taste for soju ($1/bottle). You can also expect your monthly utilities (hydro, gas, internet, phone) to be slightly cheaper than they are back home.

What were the highlights of your 2 years there?

Experiencing Korean hospitality: Being welcomed into a Korean household is a really special thing. If you arrive as a guest, you’ll leave as a friend. If you come as a friend, you’ll leave as a member of the family. There is almost no end to the generosity and care the Koreans show to their guests. It truly is amazing.
Making a good lesson plan, and then having it succeed: We both worked really hard on making our classes as fun and educational as possible for our students. For both of us, there were some really big road blocks in the classroom, but it made it that much sweeter when we learned how to avoid the pitfalls and really get a message across to a group of learners. Seeing the ‘light bulb’ go off in a student’s head is a really special feeling.

Traveling and learning about Korea: Being nestled between the economic and cultural giants; China and Japan, Korea is often an afterthought for travelers looking to come to Asia. For us, seeing what the country had to offer really opened our eyes to how dynamic Korea really is. It seems that almost every week there is a festival happening somewhere in the country, and with a relatively cheap and incredibly comprehensive transportation system, it’s really easy to get from one place to another with little to no stress at all.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to go to Korea to teach?

Learn to read Hangeul (Korean alphabet) and speak a little Korean. Hangeul is nothing like Chinese or Japanese characters. It’s very simple to read and write, and the sounds associated with each character are very similar to sounds in English. The Korean language is a little more difficult than the alphabet, however learning how to greet someone, order food, and general courtesies really isn’t too hard to do. Accomplishing both of these things will really open you up to more possibilities, instead of just going to the same old places and eating the same food because you know they understand a little English there. Believe us, learning even a little Korean was a really liberating experience, and it also showed the Koreans we were serious about being a positive addition to their society.

Don’t expect Korea to adapt to you. This is pretty much the one thing most people have difficulty accepting. The amount of times we both thought, “well back home this would never happen,” or “why don’t they just do it like this” was really frustrating, simply because it didn’t make a lick of difference what we thought. The reality is, you can’t change the country, and even if you could, is that really the right thing to do? What you can change however is yourself or your mindset. There may be some things that won’t mesh with who you are, but do your best to go with the flow, and if you are going to reject an idea, do it quietly. However, there are some really great ideas in Korea, and you may just find yourself doing things the Korean way when you get home.

Got any questions about life in South Korea?

Post your comments and questions below and we’ll get Arienne and Tristan to reply! Check out their video of leaving Canada and arriving in Korea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fL80hlITFsY

Follow Arienne and Tristan

• You can follow their travels at their blog www.seeyousoon.ca
• Follow them on Twitter at @seeusoontravel
• Like them on their Facebook fan page.
• Read about their South Korea Expat life here.

If you would like to be interviewed about your travel experiences please contact us.

Chiang Mai

It is still possible, however, to find that special Thai experience that has drawn so many backpackers to the country over the years. Bangkok, the capital, is often the place where most tourists start their holiday, but it is the northern city of Chiang Mai that most Thais regard as the cultural heart of their country.

Some 700km northwest of Bangkok, Chiang Mai is a relaxed city built around nearly 300 traditional Buddhist temples. The temples alone are a reason to visit the city, many are based in the city centre and are easily accessible from most youth hostels.

Chiang Mai’s city centre is, however, developing rapidly, and it’s a little further out that you find some of the real cultural delights. The food is exquisite, and the streets are crammed with shops selling artisan-crafted goods. These can be a little expensive, but if you dig around you can find some beautiful pieces for hardly any cash.

Head out of the city and you’re quickly in some of Thailand’s most beautiful countryside. Chiang Mai is more or less surrounded by mountains, which help the city’s relaxed vibe. One of the more popular things to do is take an Elephant Trek into the jungle, where you spend the morning astride an elephant, heading up into the mountains, and the afternoon coming back down the Ping River on a raft. At about £45 GBP if you book in advance the tour is a little bit expensive for some backpackers, but it’s definitely worth every penny.

Doi Suthep

If you travel north from Chiang Mai, you’ll soon find yourself in the Doi Suthep region and the beautiful natural park that surrounds it. Doi Suthep itself is a mountain of about 1,500 metres, and is crowned by a beautiful temple complex which was first built nearly 800 years ago. It’s easy to get to from Chiang Mai city centre; you can even hike it, although at 30km there and back it’s a lot of walking for one day so it’s best to plan ahead.

Chiang Mai is a beautiful and still relatively untouristy part of Thailand, but it’s developing rapidly. Locals often ask foreigners elsewhere in the country if they’ve had the chance to visit the city yet. Proof enough of how the Thais regard their largest northern city.

In order to get there, you have a few options. You can drive yourself, catch the Greyhound or tour bus, or you can fly.

Coming from Perth, I would recommend driving.  There are plenty of amazing sights to see along the way and even though it’s a long drive (Shark Bay is around 800 km from Perth) it’s worth it.

Shell Beach

Once in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, one stop you can make is at Shell Beach. This beach is exactly as you expect.  Over thousands of years billions of cockle shells have accumulated on the beach making a shell beach which is 10 metres wide in places. You can swim in the hyper-saline water or merely walk for miles along the pristinely white sun-bleached shells.  One must-do, though, is to set up your camera with a timer, pick up handfuls of shells and throw them into the air as your camera snaps a photo.  The resulting picture makes it look like it is snowing in a tropical landscape!

Sailing

Monkey Mia is the main destination in Shark Bay and there are two commercial sailing operators here.  The Shotover offers sailing wildlife viewing tours as well as sunset cruises. The Aristocat 2 offers wildlife tours as well but has the advantage of being the only operator with the licence to be within the “exclusion zone”.  This means that the Shotover has to be at least 6 km from Monkey Mia before it can interact with animals whereas the Aristocat 2 can do that anywhere.  I worked on the Aristocat 2 for almost three months and can tell you a lot is seen within that 6 km from Monkey Mia.

Keep in mind that both the Shotover and Aristocat 2 are very different cruises.  The Shotover is a former racing catamaran and is more of an operational sailboat.  The Aristocat 2, on the other hand, is a purpose built tour boat with wheelchair access and an inner cabin where you can escape from the wind/spray/sun if you want to.  It is also a licensed boat meaning you can have a few drinks while enjoying the sunshine and sea life!  Whichever boat you choose to go on, you’ll have an awesome experience and have the chance to see dolphins, dugongs, turtles and sometimes even sharks and whales!

Fishing

The Mac Attack is a fishing charter operating out of Monkey Mia.  With pink and black snapper, cod, trout, spanish mackerel, tuna and other massive fish in the bay, you will really enjoy this fishing experience.  There is always a chance to see some migrating whales and spot (or even catch) some sharks that call Shark Bay home.

Pearl Farm

Once home to four pearl farm operations, Monkey Mia is now home to just one.  Blue Lagoon Pearls is a family-run operation and pearling has been in the family for over 90 years.  If you’re travelling around Australia, volunteering on the pearl farm qualifies as “specified regional work” that you can apply towards extending your visa for another year.  Just keep in mind that the work is messy at times but the days are short: from about 8:30 am till 3:00 pm.  This gives you plenty of time to pick up some extra work in Denham to help pay the bills.

Whether working on the pearl farm or merely stopping by for a tour, you’ll get to learn all about how cultured pearls are produced.  Having spent six months on the pearl farm, I was lucky enough to have close encounters with dolphins, turtles, rays, dugongs, whales, a few sharks and most fun of all, the pet pink snapper that live under the floating farm and are fed daily.

Sunsets

The sunsets in Monkey Mia are spectacular!  As the sun disappears on the horizon in the west, colours appear in the east.  The colour eventually fades to black as the darkness chases the colours across the horizon.
Most days, any wind that was present during the day fades to nothing.  The water goes glassy and produces incredible reflections of not only the sky but of anything on the water.  Quite often, the local dolphins can be seen swimming just off shore as they fish for their dinners.  Sitting on the deck of the Monkey Bar is a favourite place to view the sunsets, with drink in hand of course!

Dolphins

You can’t forget about the dolphins!  In fact, the daily dolphin feeding is probably what Monkey Mia is most famous for.  There are five female dolphins which are part of the feeding program and can be fed up to three times a day (depending on whether these wild dolphins show up or not).  Many of the female dolphins have recently had calves which definitely add to the entertainment factor while swimming around with their teenaged relatives.  If you’re interested, you can even sign up to volunteer with the dolphins and help out with the feedings.  If you love dolphins, this is most definitely for you!

Ocean Park Aquarium

Choose your taxi wisely

Solo women in India shouldn’t get a taxi off the street – go to a taxi office and have them call one in for you: that way you can see for yourself that they’re running a legitimate operation. Agree on a fare before you get in so the driver doesn’t opportunistically adjust the meter, and once you’re inside make a call on your mobile to a friend to say you’re on your way. This can be a fake call – it’s just to let the taxi driver know you’re expected somewhere. Expect to share the cab with other passengers. If you’re not happy with this, you can pay a bit more for an ‘exclusive’ ride – but there’s no real necessity for it if you’d rather save the money.

Dress modestly

For optimum blending-in, buy a shalwar kameez and change in to it as soon as you reach your destination. These loose, light tunic-and-trouser combos are worn by both men and women across India and provide the conservative coverage of the body that’s expected. They’re also the most comfortable thing to wear in hot and humid conditions. If you want to wear the clothes you own already, dress modestly to avoid unwanted attention and carry a light scarf so you can cover your head to enter temples – you won’t be accepted inside otherwise.

Another thing to remember with dress is to keep jewellery to a minimum: flashier pieces are likely to make you a target to thieves. Advice usually states that solo women should wear a fake wedding ring to ward off male attention – in India, avoiding this can actually keep you on the safer side. If there’s no expensive-looking wedding ring, you can’t get mugged for it!

Don’t give money to beggars

Be prepared to be confronted by beggars including children on the street, at temples and in train stations. Your first reaction will be to give money, but displaying wealth will only make you a target for more aggressive haranguing. Becoming flustered or indecisive will also incite more attention: walk on purposefully or offer food instead.

Ignore aggressive vendors

At markets and on the streets, catcalls from vendors will become a familiar sound ringing in your ears: rather than reacting, take some headphones and listen to music through your phone or iPod – this totally cuts off the harassment and stops some people from even bothering to even try and get your attention.

Charge your phone

Some places in India have unreliable electricity, so use all opportunities to keep your phone topped up and see that it’s always properly charged before leaving your hotel. This keeps you on the safe side if you need to make an emergency call.

Drink bottled water

Make sure you always have a bottle of water handy so you have a safe source of hydration: either store-bought water from well-known brands or water you’ve boiled yourself at the hotel.

Pack light

Struggling along solo with a heavy bag makes you a vulnerable target – even worse if you’re flapping around with a massive map. Pack light, carry a backpack rather than a suitcase on wheels (extra mobility) and have a clear idea of your route: before leaving point A, you should have an idea of how to get to point B clear in your mind.

Remember: India is a richly cultural, exciting and exhilarating place to visit for women travel. Enjoy your trip!