Home Articles Posted by Izy Berry (Page 108)
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Foreign Bodies, Common Ground Exhibition in Regents Park 2014
The human body is one of the most interesting things and it is very complicated in how it operates. As technology and resources improve, our understanding of the human body and treatment we can provide when things aren’t working properly increases. If you’re living in London or planning a trip there soon, this is one event you simply need to add Foreign Bodies, Common Ground exhibition to your list of things to do here. It’s taking place between the 14th of November right through to the 10th of February, 2014. If you’re looking for some accommodation nearby, I have heard great things about Holiday Inn London Regent’s Park.
So what’s it all about?
This collection is a unique exploration into health across the globe and how it varies from country to country. It is a comprehensive collection including a number of media, such as photography, sculpture, film, performance and paintings that were made during residences in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and the UK. The programs were funded by the Wellcome Trust and has resulted in a very moving collection of pieces.
Cultural context has a significant impact on health in varying cities and countries and this exhibition really showcases the differences. From the spread of diseases from animals to people, to the continued HIV epidemic in Africa, this is a wonderful insight into the reality of global health.
As someone who studied Science at University, this exhibition is very exciting to me. Many people fall into the mindset that holidays and travel should be purely for relaxation and light hearted fun. While I agree that is important, some of my most moving experiences overseas have happened in educational buildings. I saw both The Human Body Exhibition in Prague, and the War Remnants museum in Ho Chi Ming city, which both left me speechless, although for different reasons.
If you’re heading to London or living there now, make sure you set aside a little time to browse this interesting collection. Foreign Bodies, Common Ground is on show at Wellcome Collection, see their site for more information on opening hours and location.
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Tips for Financing Your Trip
Often people will ask me how I afforded to travel for so long, many people believe that travel has to be expensive, but the truth for me is that traveling is actually cheaper than living at home. When you factor in expenses like rent, power, food, insurance payments and so forth, living at home is actually quite pricey. I work for myself and all I need is a working Internet connection and I can run my business anywhere in the world. I know not everyone is as “lucky” as me, but I didn’t start out like this. I had a traditional job, worked for a while, saved and worked along my travels. How effectively you finance your trip will make a big difference as to how long you can be away and what kind of trip will have. Here are some tips so that you can have your dream holiday:
Photo: 401(K) 2012
1) Start Saving… Yesterday
Saving is one of the best ways to ensure you have enough funds for your trip. If you’re planning a trip a bit in advance, you can even look at setting some investment packages so that your savings grow while you’re planning your trip. If you invest wisely, you can end up with surplus cash ensuring you can have your dream holiday. There are lots of options available, but look into Scottish Friendly’s My Choice ISA for a good introduction.
2) Stop Drinking
Sorry if you’re a lover of beer, wine or spirits, but the truth is these things eat a big hole in your wallet. If there’s no hope of you curbing your weekend drinking, at least try to drink at home or buy your own spirits to save serious cash. Drinking in the bar on the weekends is an easy way to spend a few hundred dollars – in a night. Imagine sipping your favourite beverage on a beautiful beach in Thailand for 1/10th the price.
Photo: Stephanie
3) Set Clear Goals
Setting clear saving goals is one of the best ways to motivate yourself and ensure you manage to get away on your trip. At certain saving points, start booking parts of your trip, such as your flight tickets, hotels etc. That way you’re getting things out of the way, but you’re also moving closer to your final goal which is hugely motivating in itself. Setting clear goals both in terms of saving and booking will help make the trip a reality.
These are my favourite tips for quickly financing any travel that I do. To cheapen your trip while you’re away, consider staying in hostels, woofing, becoming an au pair, teaching English overseas or even working in a bar – the options are limitless.
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Benefits of Airport Hotels
Photo Credit: Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel by eGuide Travel
Flying can really take it’s toll on you, and the last thing you want to deal with after 10, 20 or even 30+ hours of transit is navigating your way around a city. When I flew from Calcutta home, VIA Dubai, Bangkok, Sydney and eventually landing in Christchurch I ended up getting an airport hotel in Dubai. It was one of the smartest decisions I ever made, as by the time I landed in Dubai I was a walking zombie that desperately needed a shower and a sleep. There are so many benefits to airport hotels, including:
Allowing you to be close to the airport when you have an early morning flight:
There’s nothing worse than having to get up at 2am to be at the airport by 5am. Often airport hotels are mere minutes from the airport, so you can roll out of bed, into the shower and arrive at the airport promptly. This saves precious time in the morning and ensures you can have the best sleep before a long day of transit.
They are a Sanctuary During Transit:
Many airport hotels have buffet breakfasts, high quality showers, beds and other facilities that allow you to refresh yourself during transit and get comfortable. Flying isn’t the most comfortable thing in the world, but it is a necessary part of travel. Booking into a transit stay at an airport hotel is a great way to refresh yourself and make sure you are comfortable. If you’re traveling with children, it can be a much needed resting spot to get everyone ready for the next stage of the trip.
Photo Credit: My room by David McKelvey
Airport Hotels Have Great Business Facilities:
If you’re traveling for business, it can be tricky to find hotels that offer decent WIFI for good prices, business services and facilities so that you can do your job. Airport hotels are often used by businessmen and women, so cater well to that side of things and usually will be able to meet all of your needs. Because you’ll be closer to the airport when your flight is due, you can spend more time working (or relaxing) before your flight, ensuring a productive trip.
You can get Great Deals on Airport Hotels:
Using sites like AirportHotels.com you can get great deals on airport hotels, saving you time and money. Just because the hotel is convenient and high quality, doesn’t mean it has to break your bank. Through booking in advance, you can save some serious money. Some airlines also have a partnership program with local airport hotels to offer further discounts. Because of their location, airport hotels are usually cheaper than central city hotels and the perfect option if you have a late or early flight.
There are a number of airport hotels around the world, from Gatwick Airport hotels or even Belfast Airport hotels, so the next time you’re traveling, consider all the advantages of using an airport hotel.
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Finding Your Career Focus on The Road
Many people who long term travel have jobs or careers waiting for them at home. I was not one of those people. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science, which I soon realised I probably wasn’t going to use. I had worked in a law firm as an assistant and quickly learned it was not a position I was likely to return to.
I had no idea what I wanted to do.
Many travellers, like me, set off in a bid to explore the world and to find some long term direction. They’re a bit lost, so they solve it by getting really lost in far flung places.
Throughout high school, friends and family told me not to travel until I’d studied, because I’d simply never return to formal education, which of course would ruin my job prospects. While I’ll never regret studying and getting my degree, I still wish I’d listened to my instinct and gone traveling fresh out of school.
There are so many things travel teaches you about yourself and the world that you can’t learn while at home. It shows you the bigger picture and affords you the opportunity to think about your future with that in mind.
Whether you want to go home and start a business with the assistance of equipment finance, or you want to go to university and study your passion, or you want to pursue teaching, travel will allow you to focus a little more on your long term goals.
For me personally, my current “job” evolved through my travels. Originally I worked as an au pair in the Czech Republic and English teacher to fund my travels. I did that for six months and thoroughly enjoyed it, but knew that personally it was not a long term career move for me.
It was here that I started my travel blog and pursued my love of writing in my free time.
So I traveled some more and eventually was an au pair for a few months in Madrid so I could explore Spain, Morocco and move west across Europe to Istanbul, before flying home.
During this time I started some freelance writing, which soon became full-time work. Working for yourself while traveling is really the ultimate lifestyle, because you can find a balance between earning money and then spending it in countries that are much cheaper than your own country.
Now I’m fully self-employed, balancing freelance writing with other online projects. It was never the career I studied for, or worked towards, but it became a reality because of my travels.
So if you find yourself questioning your life or your career choices, I think travel is the perfect solution. If you come home no clearer about your career, well at least you had a great holiday.
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Top 5 Reasons to Get Travel Insurance
Many travellers resent getting travel insurance, as it’s just another cost on the long list of things necessary to get ready for your trip overseas. The simple fact is that travel insurance provides a safety net most of us could not otherwise afford, just in case something goes wrong during our travels. There are a lot of scary stories out there, involving travellers in foreign countries without travel insurance. Many hospitals overseas will shut off treatment if you cannot provide evidence of being able to pay your bills. If your condition is life-threatening, then this is obviously quite serious. Travel insurance can also help with more minor issues, such as the cost of replacing lost luggage or stolen items. There are lots of travel insurance companies to choose from, such as travel insurance direct. Make sure that you choose a company that provides coverage for the following things:
Photo Credit: “BA killing my xmas” by: Gui Seiz on Flickr
1) Travel Problems
Things don’t always run smoothly. Sometimes flights can be cancelled, train lines might be closed – anything can happen on the open road. Having travel insurance can help cover the costs of arranging alternative travel, ensuring you get where you need to be as soon as possible. Covering these costs without insurance can be painfully expensive and can sometimes put a halt to your trip if you don’t have the spare cash for it.
2) Medical Cover
This is perhaps one of the most important reasons to get travel insurance, as your life can literally depend on it. Unexpected overseas medical care can be very expensive, especially if you need surgeries or emergency treatment. Travel is much more comfortable when you have the security of knowing that your healthcare treatment will be covered. You can even get coverage for things such as doctors visits or prescriptions will overseas. I personally find this option very helpful as I’m much more likely to go to the doctor when I’m feeling off if I know it’s not going to cost me a small fortune.
Photo Credit: “Can you spot the difference?” by: jepoirrier on Flickr
3) Cancellation Insurance
This can work in a number of ways. If you have to cancel your trip because of health reasons or personal reasons, then you will be reimbursed a portion, if not all, of your trip’s costs. This can soften the blow of not being able to go on your trip, while ensuring you haven’t poured thousands of dollars down the drain. If anything in your trip is cancelled, e.g. an airline cancels it’s route that you were planning to fly, then your insurance will generally cover the cost of booking a new ticket that meets your requirements. Travel insurance helps you deal with unforeseen instances that could otherwise ruin your trip.
4) Emergency Evacuation
While this is a worst-case scenario situation, imagine being stuck somewhere with no access to medical treatment and not having the money to be able to afford it? Emergency evacuation is very, very expensive and you don’t have to be doing anything extreme to warrant it. Imagine getting hit by a car in Cambodia and needing to be air-lifted to Thailand for adequate medical treatment, only to not be able to afford the bill (which would probably be in the tens or hundreds of thousand dollars). That’s a scary thought. Having travel insurance will ensure you get the medical treatment you need, when you need it.
Photo Credit: “Broken laptop screen” by: bcwood on Flickr
5) Coverage for Your Stuff
If you lose your passport and need an emergency replacement passport, then travel insurance will foot the bill. If an airline loses all your baggage, then there’s usually a clause in your insurance that will help cover the costs of replacement items. While I was overseas, I accidentally broke my laptop screen, had my expensive digital SLR camera smashed and travel insurance footed the bill for all of these.
Some people feel they can’t afford travel insurance, but in my experience you can’t afford NOT to have travel insurance.
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Creating a Home Away From Home
Photo: “Relaxing in the Mountains with Gabi” by: The Simien Mountains Guide on Flickr
One of the most challenging things about long term travel, or moving overseas, is making a new place feel like home. When you’re constantly packing your bag and moving from place to place it can be a real struggle. Often you’re dealing with a new language, new culture, new food, new climate, new public transport and the list goes on. It can be really, really exciting, but equally overwhelming. One downside to reading travel blogs, is that often you’re given only the happy side of things – the cheesy photos, the reviews of all the great things that bloggers did and so on. Sometimes being an expat or traveler is hard, but there are little things you can do to make things feel a bit easier. Here are the ways I like to create a home away from home:
Photo: “Shopping at IKEA” by: John and Bente Bunæs on Flickr
1) Shopping
Head into a shop and find a few photo frames to fill up your walls with photos of friends and family from home. When I was living in Spain as an au pair, I missed the birth of my nephew. It was really hard, but I knew it was the right choice for me. Keeping photos of your friends and family around your new home will really make it feel more homely. Buying a few nice pieces of furniture also goes a long way to making a new home feel like home. Find somewhere that offers comfortable furniture, and treat yourself to a few pieces. Shops such as Nick Scali offer beautiful furniture that can transform a house into a home.
2) Find a Job
If you’re not lucky enough to have already landed a job before you go, finding a job overseas is a great way to get things feeling a bit more like home. You’ll meet a bunch of new people, start earning some money (for more travel) and it will give you a bit of a schedule as well. Look locally for job search websites and start the search before you arrive in the country, it’ll make the whole process a lot less stressful. Technology has made this easier than ever before, as you can
3.) Meet Some New People
When I lived in the Czech Republic, I used Couchsurfing in order to find people my age who might be interested in meeting up. When I was an au pair in Spain, I used Facebook groups for meet ups to get to know other people living in Madrid. The tricky part is meeting the first few people, once you have a couple of new friends in your city then things will snowball and before you know it, you’ll have a bustling social group.
Photo: Cafe colours by: Andrew Davis on Flickr
4) Find a Local Cafe
Find a local cafe that you love and go there often enough for the staff to start to recognise you. Bonus points if they learn your name. Having your own favourite places in a new city is a great way to feel more at home and like you’ve found your own groove. You might even meet other regulars at this cafe that you can hang out with.
5) Relax
One of the biggest problems I think people face when moving overseas (and I’m guilty of it too) is expecting everything to fall into place. Things take time, especially when you move somewhere new. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and enjoy slowly falling in love with your new city.
These are my tips for settling into your new home. Do you have any tips that are helpful?
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Zip lining in Angkor Kingdom
I’ve visited Cambodia on numerous occasions – to see Angkor Wat, to volunteer in an orphanage (again, numerous times) and to enjoy the madness that is Phnom Penh. On this recent trip, I decided to do something a little different and went zip lining in Cambodia.
I’m going to be bold and say outright that it was one of the best things I’ve ever done.
I know others find themselves doing extreme sports such as jumping out of planes, bungy jumping and cliff diving, but for me this was pretty extreme. My fear of heights usually prevents me from doing such activities, but I’d heard great things about zip lining so decided to give it a go.
My sister, a friend of mine and myself all booked into the same zip lining session with Flight of the Gibbon in Angkor. We were warmly welcomed and promptly fitted with a harness, so we could head out and get started. Unfortunately for us, the weather was a bit drizzly and at times outright poured, but we still had an amazing time.
After a thorough safety briefing, we were put to work on a low height zip lining platform. I did pretty well, managed the two foot landing and felt an instant level of confidence in myself and the course – that was until we all finished and walked up a number of stairs to get to the next platform, which felt infinitely higher.
My heart was racing, thick with adrenalin. I was a little freaked.
After each zip line, my confidence grew and I became more comfortable with the entire process. The crew were very meticulous with the safety, which helped me to feel secure. We were always clipped to a safety line, at each step of the way.
The scenery was stunning, during all my travels I’ve never been so high in the tree tops which such sweeping views. It was both a blessing and a curse that it was rainy season. The trees were lush, but the rain made things feel a little scarier, despite there being nothing to worry about.
I must admit it was quite terrifying walking up stairs some 30 meters in the sky, while they were drenched with water – but it was all worth it. Nothing I’ve done before compares to the feeling of flying through the gorgeous rainforest, feet dangling below while enjoying panoramic views.
My favourite zip line was the “honey moon” zip line where my sister and I got to zip line parallel together. We had our own zip line and linked arms around each other and were able to share the zip lining experience, which was a lot of fun. We giggled the whole way across and it was really special being able to share such a unique experience with my sister.
The whole course took about two hours, and was one of the highlights the trip. After we’d finished flying through the sky, we were gently descended to the ground via an abseil. As we walked back to the centre, we were shown the local gibbons and a variety of local creepy crawlies including a banana spider, which are absolutely terrifying.
All in all, the experience was very memorable and I will definitely be re-visiting the Flight of the Gibbon in Cambodia.
The only thing that was a little issue was that because the Flight of the Gibbons is so new in Cambodia, very few tuk tuk drivers know where the meeting point is. I’d suggest pre-arranging transport and using the phone number of the Flight of the Gibbon to get your tuk tuk driver to call and find out directions. We ended up being about 45 mins late to our session because we got quite lost. Thankfully the staff were very accommodating and we didn’t miss out on any of the fun.
Have you ever been zip lining? If so, where did you go? I’d love to hear about what experiences are like in different places.
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Lanzarote by Night: Disco and Dance until Dawn
The wonderful island of Lanzarote is one of the most popular destinations in the Canary Islands and there are plenty of venues there where you can party the night away once the sun has gone down.
Cultural Differences
As a starting point, it is worth pointing out that in Lanzarote and many other parts of Spain, there is a fundamental difference to the meaning of a night club compared to the UK. In Lanzarote a Discoteca is where you go for music and a party atmosphere whereas a Night Club is generally the term used to describe a brothel, which is an altogether different type of party you will be getting involved with if you do not distinguish between the two when you are on the island.
Puerto del Carmen at Night by: Ted Dale
Nightlife
You can get a comprehensive list of the main places to stay and general information about Lanzarote by taking a look at Lanzarote Information, where there are details about the places to see and venues to visit during your stay.
Nightlife is not as noisy and outlandish as it is on neighbouring Tenerife but there is still a big choice of entertainment to suit most tastes. And if you do a bit of research before booking your accommodation using a site such as Housetrip, you should be able to find a suitable place to stay that is convenient for the nightlife you are looking for.
Lanzarote night by: Arnau Ramos Oviedo
Puerto del Carmen
If you are looking for the busiest nightlife on the island then Puerto del Carmen is the place to go. There is a good choice of live music and disco bars which are mainly spread around the area known as Centro Atlantico on the Avenida de las Playas which the main strip, located close to the harbour in the Old Town.
The well-known tour operator club 18-30 has just arrived in Puerto del Carmen, which will surely ensure that the area continues to be regarded as the liveliest spot on the island.
Playa Blanca
Near to Playa Dorada in the Playa Blanca area, you will find Centro Comercial Papagayo and also the Centro Comercial Punto Limones which are probably the liveliest places in the area but if you are looking to join the post-restaurant crowd for a more sophisticated atmosphere and a cocktail, then the Marina Rubicon is the place to be.
By: Thomas Willemsen
Costa Teguise
The majority of clubs and bars are situated on the Avenida de Jabillo and if you are looking for a lively Irish bar or want to find a good restaurant to eat at then Pueblo Marinero is the most popular destination to satisfy your wishes.
These are some of the most vibrant and lively areas on the island of Lanzarote but if you are looking for something that is a bit off the usual tourist path then you might want to consider visiting places such as Arrecife, Calle Jose Antonio or perhaps the Playa del Reducto.
Wherever you decide to stay in Lanzarote, you should be able to find a good choice of places where you can party the night away if you want to.
Jessica Watts is a self-proclaimed traveller and party animal. She enjoys searching out the best night life, and then sharing what she finds with others on the Web.
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24 Hours in New York
New York truly is ‘the city that never sleeps’, so with 24 hours to spare you’ll have a wealth of options to fill your time. Here’s how to make the most out of your 24 hours in The Big Apple.
Photo by: Patrick Nouhailler on Flickr
Getting There
With three main airports serving New York, John F. Kennedy, La Guardia and Newark, you can get a flight there from most UK airports, and they may cost less then you’ll expect! To get the most savings when booking your flights try using a comparison website such as Momondo.com and see how much you can save. Don’t just look for your closest airport to fly from, as you may get a better bargain flying from an airport that’s slightly further away. Getting from the airports to New York City is easy, you have the choice of taxi, shuttle bus, train, subway, hire car or bus, depending on your needs and budget.
Accommodation
If you’re looking for central accommodation for your trip to New York, the choice could be mind-boggling. From 5-star hotels, to backpacker hostels, and even a library hotel, New York has something to offer for every taste and budget.
Photo by: Jeremy Keith on Flickr
Eat and Drink
There are countless restaurants, cafes and specialties to be experienced when eating and drinking in New York, so you’ll have no problems finding the perfect location or dish. Make sure you try a New York bagel, a Reuben sandwich, a hotdog or pastrami on rye to experience New York at its best.
For film and TV buffs there are many places where you can go and relive the adventures of your favourite on-screen characters. The exterior of Tom’s Restaurant will be recognizable to Seinfeld fans as the diner, and if you want to recreate Meg Ryan’s ‘happiness’ from When Harry Met Sally then you must visit the famous Katz’s Deli where the scene was filmed. If you fancy re-creating John Travolta’s famous Saturday Night Fever strut, then Lenny’s Pizza on 86th Street is the place to go.
See the Sights
To acclimatize yourself with New York, take a Big Apple Greeter Tour, where a native New Yorker shows you around their New York; trip locations and lengths can be tailored for your individual needs. For views around New York including The Statue of Liberty, take the free Staten Island Ferry, it sails all day long so you’ll have no problem fitting it into your day.
For your evening in New York the options are endless; go disco bowling at Bowlmor Lanes, catch a show on Broadway or just spend the evening bar-hopping and enjoying the local New York ambiance.
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Keep Your Money Safe While You’re Abroad
It’s common sense to keep your credit cards and the rest of the contents of your wallet in a safe place while you’re overseas, but other tricks might require you to have your wits about you a little more. Scammers operate everywhere, but make sure you don’t let your relaxed holiday mood allow you to come unstuck by any of these cons:
Photo by: epSos.de on Flickr
A Fake Call from the Front Desk
If you happen to be woken up in the night by a call claiming to be from the front desk be careful before disclosing any information. Tricksters will typically claim they need to verify your credit card details due to a computer glitch or similar problem and will hope the strange circumstances will lead you to handing these over. Chances are the caller doesn’t work at the hotel at all and is hoping to run a bill using your plastic before you get out of bed in the morning. Remember to never give out your details over the telephone unless you’re absolutely certain of who you’re dealing with.
ATM Skimmers
If you’ve made a successful credit card application prior to your break then you might be best avoiding using ATM’s completely while you’re abroad. For one thing many lenders will charge you withdrawing cash and secondly if you’re unfamiliar with the country’s cash points you could more easily fall foul of a skimming device. This is attached to the machine and will steal your card data, leaving you open to fraud.
Photo by: nist6dh on Flickr
Unexpected Fees
When factoring the cost of a holiday, you’ll probably have a rough idea of how much you have to spare while at the destination. But if you set off unprepared you might find yourself paying a number of small fees that you hadn’t counted on. These could come from the airline, the travel company or the hotel, so always ask and check the small print to find out if the price you’ve paid covers everything you expect it to.
Statistics from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau recently suggested that more than 1,000 different holiday scams were used last year on British holidaymaker. With that in mind, always think twice before handing over your credit card details and remember that if an offer seems too good to be true, chances are it is.
