Travel Mania

By: Frank Johnson

South Korea is one of the smaller nations in Asia, with a size comparable to the state of Indiana. What it lacks in size it makes up for in abundant culture, turbulent history, exquisite cuisine and a generous and welcoming society.

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A Little Background before You Travel to Korea

The Korean peninsula has been literally and figuratively stuck between a rock and a hard place, namely Japan and China, for most of its existence. The region was prosperous under the three kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla during the first four centuries AD until the Mongolians raided the land and built an empire. The 16th century brought the end of the Mongolian Empire and the beginning of a massive game of tug-of-war between China and Japan over the strategic landmass. After World War II Korea finally broke free from Japan, with the USSR managing the North and the United States occupying the South. Today the North and South are two sovereign nations separated by a demilitarized zone. South Korea is officially known as the Republic of Korea (ROK) and commonly referred to simply as Korea.

There's Still Soul in Seoul

Despite the fact that Seoul was largely burned to the ground during the Korean War (1950-53), the northern part of the capital city is still home to hundreds of spectacular palaces and shrines. The Chosun Dynasty's Gyeongbokgung Palace is a 5.4 million square foot landmark with a 500-year history and stands among the remaining four palaces in Seoul. Nearly an entire day is necessary to explore the regal palace in all its magnificence. The Jongmyo Royal Shrine is a perfect next stop, as it was where the Chosun Dynasty worshipped. On the first Sunday of May each year a traditional memorial ceremony is held at the Shrine with all the grandeur of the occasion 500 years past.

The southern part of Seoul is the commercial center of the city and boasts a fascinating blend of traditional and hyper-modern architecture. It is also home to World Cup Stadium, intricately weaving shopping streets and even an amusement park, Lotte World. Make sure to visit the city gates, and then venture beyond into the strikingly lush and green landscape to travel Korea more personally.

When to Travel to Korea

Korea has a temperate clime, which results in heavier rain in the summer months (July and August) and a drier winter. Winter is white and snowy all over Korea and the ski season from November to March is extremely popular. There are 13 ski resorts in South Korea alone! After a day on the slopes it is common to relax in one of the many spas with natural hot spring baths. Summer is extremely crowded and very wet in Korea. For milder weather it is best to travel Korea in the spring or fall.

Traveling to South Korea any time of year is sure to be an exciting and rewarding experience, regardless of the weather!

By: Krista Goon

If you're gearing up, like me, and getting ready for the upcoming Rainforest World Music Festival at the Sarawak Cultural Village (held on the second weekend of July annually), here are some handy tips to bear in mind if you're a first timer! This year it will be from 7 to 9 July.

1. Bring an umbrella or poncho
Good question. Why? Well, if you've ever lived in Kuching city, you would know that it rains almost every other day. And the rains here are not mere drizzles either. So if you want to stay dry and happy, bring a sturdy umbrella or wear a poncho. The weather may turn nasty at the last moment.

2. Go for light clothing
Well, I just said it was kind of rainy over in Kuching but when it gets hot, boy, does it get hot. When you're joining the afternoon music workshop sessions,
you tend to sweat because everyone's packing the longhouses and there's hardly any room to move. So wear cotton t-shirts and shorts.

3. Where to eat?
If you're a daytripper (means you just take a bus/van/taxi to the Sarawak Cultural Village for just the day and return to the city in the night), you won't worry about food. But what if you're staying in the hotels for the duration of the three days and worry about feeling peckish? If it is anything like last year, you'll have a variety of foods to choose from. Food stalls (with reasonable prices! Thank God) will be set up on the grounds of the Village and you'll be simply spoilt for choice. Plus the food actually tastes good...

4. Be an early bird
The open air concert starts at 7pm for the three whole nights but it's free seating folks so if you're good at tarrying, you may not find yourself a seat! Seats are plain old plastic chairs but as the evening wears on, I'm sure you'll readily dispose of the chair as you want to get up and dance! But still, come early say about 7pm if you want the best seats in the house.

5. Bring binos if you must
Unless you're seated right up front, or you're a media person, you won't be that close to the stage and you won't see much. The organisers have two huge screens by each side of the open air stage but you may want to see up close and personal. Short of craning your neck, bring along a pair of binoculars. You won't regret it.

6. Buy the CDs
The music artistes who perform usually bring along some CDs to sell at a CD booth near the entrance of the Village. If you can afford it, buy the CDs because you won't even see the artists the next year and the music will be lost to you. The best part is: you can buy the CD, and get the artistes to autograph them for you! Now you'll not only have a memento of the event, you'll also have the artistes' personal imprint! And don't wait until the last day to get the CDs - none will be left!

7. Check out the Village
By getting a pass to the Rainforest World Music Festival (which is held inside the famed Sarawak Cultural Village) entitles you to wander around the huge place, and soak up some native vibes. You even get to go to the auditorium for some comic relief when the Village's one hour performance extravaganza begins.

8. Don't stay in Kuching city
If you plan to be at the Festival three whole days, don't stay in Kuching city and travel the 45 minutes to the Village. It's not worth it. Get your travel agent to get any of the hotels in the vicinity of the Village - Holiday Inn Damai Lagoon, or any nearby hotels are the ones you should be staying in. From these hotels, it is just a 10-minute walk away. If you stay in Kuching city, you'll have to endure the 45-minute trip up the hill and another 45-minute trip down the hill by van/bus. Not fun at all because the party really begins at midnight. You don't want to leave when the party's just heating up, do you?

By: M. Peoples

Nothing ruins a good trip than by unwittingly offending your host or the customs of the country. Travel agencies attest to this, because these are most of the mistakes their clients make when in another country. Statistics show that the bulk of these mistakes happens when a tourist or visitor is on a country in a different continent. Perhaps this is because of the expansive difference between the cultures of the continents. Western culture is radically different from the cultures of the East, especially in terms of religion. Predominantly, Muslim regions are more stringent with their customs, and even visitors are not exempt. If you are thinking about traveling to a Muslim country like Malaysia, there are several things you must remember to enjoy smooth Malaysia travel.

Keep in mind that Malaysian population is an integration of social groups, diverse cultures, and traditions. Generally, the different racial groups form a society, but still keep individual lifestyles and traditions. Malays predominate the total population and are still governed by strong decorum and the authority of the elders. The other Asian members of the society originally came to Malaysia to take up civil service positions but are now also among the professional classes. The Western European influence is visible but minimal. Therefore, as a Western traveler, don't expect to find that your ways will be accepted and understood by most of the locals. Malaysians are hospitable, but they would not change their customs to suit your needs. If you want a successful and hassle-free Malaysia travel, it is better to equip yourself with the knowledge about your host country and its traditions.

Malaysia travel requires that you speak to the locals. Unless you have the extra money for an interpreter, it is best that you learn a few basic and useful Malaysian phrases, and forms of address. You would not be only thought of as considerate but also as a respectful traveler. Locals will also be more helpful and accommodating if you can talk to them, no matter how poorly. A handshake seems to be a universal symbol for peace and goodwill, but unlike the Western handshake, Malays do theirs relaxed and gently as a sign of warmth and welcome. If you want to pay respect to a Malay elder, statue, or temple, simply touch your chest briefly. The way you dress is very important as Malays are very proper people. Don informal clothing bit don't be overly casual. Some shrines and temples won't allow visitors to enter if dressed too casually. Speaking of shrines, removing footwear before entering temples, shrines, and houses is a form of courtesy and respect. Despite the many social conventions, visitors can expect lavish hospitality from the locals. Unlike in western countries, giving tips is not practiced, so do not tip even taxi drivers. It may be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. Smoking is also deemed as rude; if you must smoke, go to designated smoking areas in your hotel but never do it on the streets.

This is one of my favourite countries in all of Africa. The people of Uganda have survived the troubles of 1967-86 period and emerged standing upright and wearing a smile. In that short period, the country suffered under the caprice of two despicable despots. One was the indisputably insane Idi Amin and the other, the arguably insane Milton Obote.This is now history; a testament to the dignity and endurance of this people.

The transformation of the country in the period since normalcy returned is nothing short of astounding. And it shows in the faces of the people you meet. That the graceful beauties of Uganda have not received the recognition they deserve in international beauty pageants is for me incontrovertible proof that most of these events are really fixed.

Winston Churchill was so besotted by the country that he gave it the name that has endured: the 'Pearl of Africa'. His observations about Uganda remain true today.

Travellers to Uganda are drawn by its stunning landscape: green rolling hills, snow-capped mountains, rainforests, majestic rivers and massive lakes. There are also a number of outstanding national parks for your safari encounter with the wildlife for which Africa is renowned.

The country's edge as a worthwhile destination is further enhanced by its endowments for white water rafting and sport fishing. Tour operators have on offer a variety of Uganda safari and tour packages.

By Randy Gaudet

Meeting and making friends with different people is an exciting part of travel anywhere.

In Northern Thailand, it helps to know a bit of the language and something about the protocol. To say "hello", say "Sawasdee Krup" for men and "Sawasdee Kha" for women.

To learn more Thai before you come, an excellent free teaching website can be found at Learning Thai. You will gain loads of respect from the Thai people if you learn some basics of the Thai language.

The Thais put a lot of emphasis on manners, so it's a good idea to learn to say "Thank you".

In Thai, it's "Kob Khun", followed by "Krup" or "Kha" for women.

The 'wai', made by placing your palms together in front of the upper chest, is the traditional Thai gesture of greeting or respect and the gesture is always appreciated.

The custom is that younger people 'wai' elders first, so let the children and persons you think are younger than you 'wai' before you 'wai' them.

By Randy Gaudet

The best way to get around Chiangmai is by 'songthaew'.

These are covered pick-up trucks with two benches in the back; 'Songthaew' means 'two benches' in Thai.

You will see them everywhere and it's easy to get them to pick you up. All you need to do is to put your arm out and look at the driver and they will stop. Then tell the driver which street you want to go to and, if he is going that way, he will shake his head for 'yes'; if not, he will say "no" and go on.

Don't worry, there will be another one right behind him.

When the driver turns down the street you want, start looking for where you need to get off and press the switch located on the roof of the cab. The driver will pull over, let you out, and then you pay him. The fare should be 20 Thai baht or less (around 50 cents).

If you tell the driver the name of a hotel or establishment, he will think you want to hire him for a private trip and the price will be much more. Negotiate any price beforehand if you want to go to somewhere particular.

By Debbie Lockhart

At the end of the road, starts various hiking trails into the Rila Mountains; from the forestry building. One of them, a four-hour hike, leads to Belmeken; the sports complex.

To cool down, there is a fountain with two cold taps. It also has two warm taps that flow natural mineral water.

Along from here is the feature that makes the locals proud: the Kostenets waterfall. The sound of it flowing into the river is so peaceful and relaxing; the perfect place for a picnic.

Follow the river down a long and twisting road and you will be pleasantly surprised when you find the Lake restaurant, 'Ezeroto'. They serve great traditional Bulgarian cuisine such as the Shopska Salad.

After parking you immediately see a large, wood carved majestic bear towering above you. It is one of the many wooden sculptures hiding in the natural environment.

It is incredibly beautiful here and the wooden walkways allow you to explore and walk all the way around, to see the ducks swimming up and down on the lake.

By Debbie Lockhart

The roads to Kostenets are in fairly good condition. To get to Village Kostenets, you must travel through the Town of Kostenets; a bustling, thriving town, always full of activity and people.

On a warm day, it is perfect for passing away your free hours in one of the many new cafes.

The main attraction of this town, is the Saturday market: for clothes, household goods, fruit and vegetable stalls and a fairly amazing animal market; where you can find little piggies in the boot of a car, or baby ducks flapping about in a cardboard box.

While driving the 8kms between the Town and Village of Kostenets, magnificent mountains tower in front of your eyes. These are part of the Rila Mountain Range and the intensity of awe that they arouse is very hard to put to paper.

The first sign of your arrival is a locally crafted sign in the Cyrillic alphabet that stands at the right of the road. This village is easy to get around as it is constructed in a circle. The main road will lead you back to where you started.

By Debbie Lockhart.

The centre of the village is beautifully landscaped, with large trees lining the road and the central park filled with flowers. There are two cafes that are perfectly located to relax and watch the world go by.

There is also a quaint little fruit shop that will grind your coffee beans for you; the smell that fills the shop is simply divine.

Across the road there is an infamous 1 lev shop that sells pretty much everything and anything; you'll even find some Christmas decorations in there in during the month of July.

By Debbie Lockhart.

In the Villa Zone there is a little church, that is used by the villagers on weekends for special prayer. It sits on the perfect vantage point.

From here you can see all of the village and even the Kostenets Town in the distance. You are surrounded by mountains and the silence is only broken by whispering insects or calling birds.

Village Kostenets is one of the most idyllic and relaxing places in Bulgaria.

Why not visit a rural Bulgarian location for your next holiday? This is only one of the many rural villages that Bulgaria has to offer.