Category: Travel

1.   – You need lessons and you need a guide.

No one simply arrives at a ski resort, straps on skis or a snowboard and just goes for it. If you’re new to the snow– and even if you’re not – you need lessons. You need an experienced trainer to tell you how to do this properly. Allocate a few hours each morning, at the least, to getting training. And once you’re got used to it, a mountain guide can be very helpful for showing you the whole resort.

 

 

2.   -It doesn’t matter how good you are.

This is the greatest thing you’ll learn about skiing and snowboarding: it really doesn’t matter how good you are. Whether you’re hammering the half pipe runs, or slowly puttering down the bunny slopes, there’s an abundance of fun to be had in the great snowy outdoors.

 

3.   -There’s no such thing as bad weather …

…only the wrong attire. This is a favourite saying among lots of snow lovers, and they know what they’re talking about. Even if there’s a horrendous blizzard outside, when the wind is howling and the snow is smashing into your face, you can have fun out on the slopes. Just rug up appropriately and take regular hot drink breaks.

 

4.   -Falls can hurt

As a novice skier or snowboarder, you’re going to fall over. More often than not these little spills will harm nothing more than your pride – especially as, given you’re a beginner, you won’t be going anywhere near  fast enough to do any serious damage. However, when you start getting the confidence up, and trying to increase your speed, you’ll soon realise that soft, fluffy snow can still hurt

 

5.   -You can get sun burnt, easily

You know it’s winter, right? A beautiful snowy wonderland. So you could be forgiven for assuming that you don’t require any protection such as sunscreen. Don’t do it. The combination of high altitude and the sun’s reflection from the snow means the sun at ski resorts is more powerful than ever. Plenty of beginner skiers have ended up with pretty ridiculous goggle tans and sunburnt noses.

Everyone takes a journey.

Whether it’s for organisation, enjoyment, holiday or world dominance, eventually all of us leave the convenience of our individual home towns to go to another place. It might be a quick journey to the next town over for a service conference or an enormous experience halfway around the globe for months at a time appreciating the natural and man-made landscaping designs of different countries. No matter what sort of journey it is, they all have something is common:

Our regular fitness training regimens can get entirely tossed out the window when taking a trip. This is usually because:

• If you exercise in a health club, you may not have access to any gyms
• If you jog in  your local park, you may not have one near you
• If you  prepare your  own meals, you may not have a cooking area or refrigerator
• If you’re used to a good night’s sleep, all of a sudden you’re sleeping at odd hours in different time zones

We are creatures of habit. While working a regular day job, we can stay in a regular routine quite easily (awaken at the same time, consume all meals at the same time, exercise at the same time, falling asleep at the same time). Nevertheless, when we take a trip, usually nothing is familiar and the smallest speed bump can be enough to screw things up.

Fortunately, there is hope! It’s time to define an action strategy that you can take with you on your next trip, whether it’s for a day or a year.

My Huge Journey

Back in January 2011, I started a trip of huge proportions, a trip all over Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. I’m not going to lie, I was seriously anxious about my physical wellness for this journey I actually never had the ability to sticky with any physical exercise  aside from the occasional walk.  I validated this by telling myself that it was simply too tough to keep a regular routine going and that I would start back in my routine when I get home.

Now, for this big trip of mine, I was going to be gone for 5 months without any access to a health club or a food service that makes my meals (which had actually represented half of my day-to-day meals). I was going to be living out of a backpack, in a brand-new city every couple of days, sleeping at odd hours, checking out unique areas, crossing off insane things from my list, flying stunt aircraft and discovering Nemo, as well as working full-time on my site called Gee Physical fitness.

On top of that, I managed to get myself sick for the first 2 weeks of the trip and I didn’t exercise or eat well at all. I was getting further behind the 8-ball. After that I put on my running shoes and went to work.

3 Months of Wins

Putting aside my exceptionally chaotic life and travel schedule without my personal trainer, I was able to load on 10-12 pounds of muscle throughout my 3 months of hardcore travelling schedule. (I didn’t have any way to determine body fat while away so I do not have specific numbers). I invested the  first 9 weeks “loading” my  system with calories, strength training, and the last 3 weeks consuming less calories while continuing to strength train.

Now, if you’re thinking, “big deal, to put on  twelve pounds in 3 months is really easy”,  I can tell you that I definitely strained throughout those 3 months to put on the right type of weight to get more powerful and larger. If you have actually ever attempted to load on muscle, you would understand it is difficult without raising any weights or having access to a stable supply of healthy food. Another small thing you can do is, most hotels come with a pool, why not do a couple laps while you check out the pool surrounds and figure out what you are going to do with your day.

So take heart. The next time you are lucky enough to go on a trip around the world or just away for a few weeks, with a little thought and preparation, you can maintain your weight and sometimes even your exercise routine even while traveling. After all, isn’t it better to maintain your weight while on holiday than gaining many many pounds and then working harder to take it all off again? I know which option I prefer.

ca

I question any person who has not had first-hand experience with the World’s 50 Best Dining Establishments Awards would comprehend the significance of this occasion coming to Melbourne in April. Tourist Australia has actually played a major part behind the scenes in getting this event here and in the process discovering a significant venue to expose the yarra valley wineries and food scene to the outside world. Chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers and worldwide media will be here in droves, and the impact they can and most likely assert, will be big. Expect partnerships with local chefs, cooking classes, local trips and a great deal of chef-spotting opportunities as the greats of the scene roam around the nation as guests. It’s also where you can check out some of the countries most elegant restaurants and wineries.

 The WINNERS

•  The standouts of 2016 have a clear objective at their core:
•  Stanbuli in Enmore Sydney, with its Turkish roots
• Igni in Geelong, Victoria, with its initial cooking dedicated to fire and smoke
• Lulu La Delizia, in Perth where pasta is in the spotlight in an adventurous way
• Oakridge, in the Yarra Valley, where the sophisticated restaurant and winery makes use of on-site fruit and vegetables that talk to each other beautifully
• Australia’s very first terrific seafood dining restaurant Cirrus
• Then there’s Fred’s, pushing a new design of hearth-to-plate service idea

We were absolutely overwhelmed by the born again Africola located in Adelaide. A  fantastic example of what a single-minded chef can accomplish who is totally in charge. Not forgetting the Wildflower in Perth that  began  with truly inspired fresh food that was motivated by the West.

 The LOSERS

The nation has a great deal of regular eating establishments that continue taking our money in exchange for little back. It’s not a secret. Lowlights of the dining year consisted of Adelaide’s Hill of Grace and Versace’s Vanitas, both a web reviewers’ negative paradise, with most comments mentioning them being both pricey and anachronistic. Cape Lodge in the Margaret River region, a place that cannot seem to get it’s catering for functions side of the business right, in spite of the costs.

These make up a very small group of dining establishments I found enormously lacking in 2016.

Then there was a whole bunch of places inflated by the media that appeared to me to have actually been really poor with service and the quality of their food. They are all, as far as I understand, still alive but for how much longer is anyone’s guess.

 

It’s time for a wine experience once again at the vineyards of the Yarra Valley, with the 2 night Grand Tastings, where more than 250 of the world’s finest wineries participate. It’s a great time to look at some tips about the  best way to approach any big wine-tasting occasion. Our staff share their experience.

1. Dress for the Occasion

Here are ideas from wine pros for looking sharp and remaining suitably comfortable at a wine tasting. In a nutshell, dress in dark colors ( far better to hide spills), avoid dangling sleeves and consider the location and suss out the appropriate dress code. Ladies need to consider wearing flats or low heels for comfort. If you have long hair, tie it back so you can spit quickly (see point 5) or keep a hand at the ready to hold it back. And if you’re going to carry anything (tasting book, notebook, mobile phone or tablet), bring a handbag or have deep pockets to stash them in.

2. Do Not Wear Perfumes or Colognes

Bouquet is a substantial part of wine tasting. It’s tough to take in all the scents of a delicate Riesling or a layered Cabernet when the air is heavy with fragrance, perfume or smoke. So be mindful not to bring any unnecessary aromas to the tasting area. You do not wish to miss out on the nuances of the very wines you’re attempting to take pleasure in. And you do not want to be the answer to, ” what’s that smell?”

3. Create a Plan for Tasting

At most tastings, there will be more wines than you can wisely try in just a couple of hours. If you can get your hands on a list of the producers or wines at the tasting ahead of time, it would be advisable to come prepared with your strategy. That way, your palate doesn’t get broken.

A basic plan consists of browsing for your preferences through the aisles, working from light wines to much heavier ones. Start with champagnes, then fresh whites and move on to richer whites and tannic reds. You can get a lot more focused. For example, wines from Italy or a tasting of only one variety such as Pinot Noir from numerous appellations?

At the Wine Experience, Tim Fish prefers to have two primary goals: taste the classics and explore the unknown. If you want to attempt the biggest names such as the Bordeaux first-growths, head there first before  the crowds form, then avoid the busiest tables and fit in some new discoveries.

How you determine your likes and dislikes needs exposure to different wines, notes James Laube. He doesn’t just devote an entire tasting to the kinds of wine that give him the most pleasure. He always checks out, or reviews, wines that inspire other people, even if not him. By doing this, you can get a better understanding of why you like particular wines.

A highlight would be to polish off the night with something unforgettable, such as a glass of sweet wine such as late-harvest Riesling, Sauternes or Port. However, Laube often prefers to finish with Champagne, which he calls the “ideal taste buds cleanser.”

4. Eat Something

Tasting wines (and perhaps drinking some too) on an empty stomach is a dish for getting drunk quickly and then not having the ability to enjoy the entire occasion. Bear in mind to eat ahead of time at one of the many winery restaurants in the Yarra Valley, and if there’s food used at the tasting, take a break and check that out too. Consuming water in between wines helps you to remain hydrated.

5. Keep in Mind to Spit

Yes, you’ll be tasting fantastic wines, and yes, no one likes to “lose” wine. To get the complete experience of the event, you’ll wish to pace yourself by spitting wine as you go. That’s why there are containers on every table. Unglamorous perhaps, but take heart, all the pros do it. Do not be shy, states Fish as the winery staff are used to it. And if you don’t want to finish a wine, you can pour out any remaining in your glass into the spit pails too.

For tips on the various methods to spit, have a look at this Q&A from Dr. Vinny, “How do I spit without looking like a distressed camel?” The short answer: Practice at home  first, do not do it too fast or too slow, and come up to the spit pail. If you’re spitting into a shared bucket, you would probably be best advised to spit slowly to prevent backsplash. If there’s a crowd around the spit container, you may wish to wait to take a sip of wine till you can get closer.

Dr. Vinny also weighs in on whether you have to wash your glass in between tastings: Not needed, unless you’re switching in between red and white or sweet and dry, or had a rather unpalatable wine. If you’re going to clean, Vinny states the very best approach is to use a splash of wine instead of water.

So, there you have it. A few simple tips on how the pros handle tasting all the wines they do every season.

There are many destinations in Australia that we could write about here, but we decided to make a list of what we think are the top five experiences.

1. From Tasmania to the Great Barrier Reef

In Tasmania’s capital, Hobart, you can go for an expedition to Bonorong Wildlife Park on Freycinet Peninsula. then cross Bass Strait and  drive the magnificent Great Ocean Road and stay in some pristine accommodation in Lorne itself. Likewise, enjoy the wine in the Yarra Valley, a four-night stay in Melbourne. Tick off the traditional sights on a 21-day adventure which starts with an iconic trip around Sydney harbour for views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House and then a trip to Cairns for snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.

2. Tastes of South Australia

In South Australia there’s wine, wildlife and magnificent landscapes. You can take a 17-day tour which begins in Adelaide, which is known as the country’s wine capital. The tour takes in the vineyards of the Barossa Valley as well as the Clare Valley. Visit to the Wadlata Outback Centre, after which you can explore the mountainous views of the Flinders Ranges National Park.  4×4 trips to Wilpena Pound are available where you can experience its huge, natural amphitheatre. Then the tour  heads  south to the nature reserves of Kangaroo Island which is rich with koala’s, sea lions, and countless penguin nests.

3. Classic Sights

There are many tours that integrate the traditional sights in Australia  with memorable experiences. These  include an outback dinner outside in Alice Springs under the stars. There’s also a private wine tasting in the Barossa Valley at the historic Seppeltsfield Winery.  An optional helicopter flight offers sightseeing excursion from Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and you can cruise to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns on a luxurious catamaran.

 

4. Onboard the Ghan

One of the highlights of travelling around the Outback of Australia is undoubtedly the Ghan Passenger Train. You can do it in extreme comfort and if your budget allows it, extreme luxury. Like I said, if your budget allows it, part of the  22-day scenic tour is an overnight “Gold Service” journey on the Ghan from Alice Springs to Adelaide. It is considered by many as one of the world’s most popular and iconic train journeys. part of the journey is travel between Melbourne and Adelaide, through Victoria (where you can take a breather and indulge yourself in a Yarra Valley wine tour and experience the best wines from that region) and New South Wales to Sydney. Uluru (Ayers Rock) is not left out and nor is the Great Barrier Reef.

5. The fifth one, well we decided to leave this one open to you the reader. Please leave a comment at the bottom of what you think should be on this list and once we have a few, we will publish them here.

 

If you have ever attempted to travel with young kids and were totally put off by the experience, listen up….there is hope! All you need are a few simple tips from seasoned travellers who have successfully navigated the mine field which is attempting to travel with young children in tow.

1. Load Up With Many Puzzles Books

School-aged children love solving puzzles. For most, the harder the puzzles are, the longer they will stay occupied.

Sudokus are absolutely fantastic for long car trips and for passing the time in restaurants and long queues.  Kids also love the Lonely Planet for Kids series and the Usborne Travel Activity books but there are many different varieties around depending what part of the world you live in.

2. Try Taking Audio Tours

More than likely, your school aged kids will love walking a tourist site with the audio tour recording talking to them. They will be more than interested in the stories and tales of the attraction and will no doubt learn a lot (them learning something is off course a by product of them being occupied and happy). Most guided tours these days have kid’s variations to the recordings. Kids are far better at paying attention to tour guides once they have something else to listen to when there are parts that don’t interest them.

3. Try to Include Them in the Research and Preparation 

I have always tried to  involve the kids in any  preparations  I have made for day trips or longer trips away. Even before they struck school age, I asked them what they wanted to do and see but I always gave them options out of books, travel guides and brochures of the places I wanted to go visit. Once they are school age,  they’re a lot more independent and are able to make sensible decisions, but off course I wouldn’t trust them in knowing how to buy shoes online however (and indulgent fetish of mine I’m afraid to admit).

Allow them to take their time in  investigating and looking through the printed or web materials you supply them. Kids love to look at every page and picture. Let them read books, watch movies, search internet sites for other stuff to do in those locations. I sometimes even gave my kids the very complex choice of deciding what womens shoes mum should wear to certain destinations (some choices I regretted such as thongs to a five star restaurant in Melbourne one time).

Always remember to include your  kids interests as well. There’s nothing more  frustrating than looking at your kids sour faces when you are trying to enjoy an exhibit of Mayan culture at a museum or modern impressionists paintings at a gallery. Kids love doing kids stuff and even though it might be boring for you to go to a shop where they can finger paint till the cows come home or make their own teddy bears, its a compromise. An activity of their choice, then one of yours. I found that works like a treat every time.

So, next time you undertake some time away, try these simple ideas and you will be amazed how well they work. After all, kids are kids. If they worked for mine, they will almost certainly work for yours.

Bangkok,Capital city of Thailand, a paradise for backpackers and clearly the best place for a first approach to Southeast Asia.
I met some travelers who were unable to enjoy the madness and excitement of Bangkok at fair value. But for me, the Thai capital, once “tamed” is one of the most fascinating cities in the world.

This article is intended for those wishing to visit Bangkok for the first time.
I have been there several times and I decided to share with you some tips to help you discover the city.

First things first,get organized

Well, I see you … How come a guy that moves as much as me and has no other purpose than to travel can give you advice on the organization? Well you learn that while traveling, it is very important to be  much more organized
Before you go, plan your way to reach the city center from the airport of Bangkok. It will save you from being overwhelmed.

You should also pay attention to several other things:

Visa

You stay less than 30 days in Thailand? You can go there with a simple passport. For those who stay in Bangkok more than a month, you must get a visa to the embassy.

Also be aware that your 30-day visa (issued upon arrival) can be renewed on leaving the country. Just keep in mind that the visa-run (which is to leave the country by bus and then re-enter it after just 15 minutes) no longer works.

Landing in Bangkok in the early evening

As there are more than 10 hours time difference between the USA and Thailand, you’ll want to arrive in Bangkok bedtime. But before falling into the arms of Morpheus, remember it is probably too early to sleep in Thailand and the sooner you get used to the new time and you will feel better.

Remember to book a hotel the first night not to stress on arrival in Bangkok. There are many hostels, but booking the first night will allow you to travel peacefully. The day after your arrival, you’ll have time to go looking for a new home.

My advice for beginners: there are plenty of hostels in the district of Khao San, but be careful not to choose one located on the main road. It is noisy and not really convenient. The Khao San area is known for its backpacker atmosphere. This is one of my favorite places in Bangkok, there are an amazing mix of cultures, kitschy shops and lively bars.

You can book your room in this area via online booking sites easily. On average, one double basic, clean and equipped with a fan will cost you 400 baht per person. For a room, a little class with private bath and air conditioning, an average  of 1,000 baht.

Warning: in the high season (November to April), prices are often higher.

Wait until you are in Bangkok for shopping

Bangkok is the capital of the world travelers  and there are all kinds of things much cheaper than in USA like womens sandals. No matter what you seek, you will find it there! In search of a comfortable pants for trips? On a cool t-shirt? From a new backpack or even mens boots or a flashlight?

 

Save

Save