destination unknown

DestinationDecember 2010

U n k n o w n

NICARAGUA:This country is getting busier and busier, so take advantage before it’s overrun by tourists!

NAMIBIA:Experience sandboarding at its best.

SYRIA:The cuisine is divine.

VIETNAM:Very cheap, very good, very Vietnam.

LAOS:Explore what hidden gems the hills of Laos have to offer.

PANAMA:They party all day and all night here.

INDIA:Take part in the colourful Bollywood lifestyle.

BOLIVIA:Explore the country’s famous salt flats.

MOROCCO:Brush up on your dancing skills.

Georgia:Take in the southern charm.

POLAND:Amazing cultural and architectural attractions.

UGANDA:From mountains to jungles, there will be no shortage on adventure.

Our top budget destination picks

2 Dest inat ion Unknown, December 2o1o Dest inat ion Unknown, December 2o1o 3

Our Top Budget Destination Picks

z

way you go! As editor of Destination Unknown, it is my great privilege to welcome you. Our joy of travelling is

quite evident as you explore page after page of captivating stories and breathtaking photos by our team. In our inaugural issue of Destination Unknown, we explore various travel destinations and make it easy and eco-nomically friendly for you and your companion(s) to travel. Rest assured, you will nevertheless be enticed to follow our call, by travelling the four corners of the world. On a personal note, one moment in my life that continues to stand out the most for me is travelling. Having had the oppor-tunity to hop on a plane for the first time and travel to Australia and sightsee a few years ago continues to be a trip I won’t soon forget. Destination Unknown knows no boundaries in terms of its editorial content. For instance, we highlight tips for students in search of discounts. Moreover, we go on to explore ten of the world’s top cities, as well as take an in-depth look at Southeast Asia. Finally, we provide tips to travellers brave enough to ex-plore unfamiliar territory. This is just some of the many fresh and exciting pieces you will come across. We thank you for taking the time to look through our magazine. Whether you choose to do something local or to travel across the globe. We hope that by the time you finish reading Destination Unknown, you will have taken away something new and begun embracing our profound love of travelling. The challenge is there.

Bon Voyage!

Amdrew Santos(editor)

ACheck this out:

The road:

6 Students and youth can qualify for certain travel deals and steals.

8 The dangers and annoyances travelers are prone to run into.

11 A guide to buying the perfect backpack (your other half)!

Spotlights:

12 Explore the Canadian planes on a budget with us.

14 The best of the best pick on cities you must see.

16 An in-depth look at our destination highlight- Southeast Asia.

Adventure:

19 While diving can be expensive, we’ve scouted the cheapest places to explore underwater.

20 Hear some of the craziest tales our travelers have shared.

22 Let’s start scoring off your buket list one adventure at a time.

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“The world

is a

book, and th

ose

who do not

travel

read only a

page.”

- St. Aug

ustine

4 Dest inat ion Unknown, December 2o1o

18

Photos by Stephanie Foden

Shauna McCarthy, sto

ry editor

Lake Louise, C

anada

Dest inat ion Unknown, December 2o1o 5

Geoff Gooden, photo editorSanta Monica Beach, United States

Stephanie Fod

en, art direc

tor

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Andrew Santos, editor

Sydney, Australia

“A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu

DestinationU n k n o w n


The road:

Student Price Card (SPC): The SPC card provides student discounts, including travel, at various retailers. SPC travel deals include: Breakaway Tours ($25 to $50 off regular prices travel packages), Choice Hotels (15 to 20 per cent off), Flight Centre ($150 off Intrepid Tours or Contiki/up to $50 off airfare), Praticar Car & Truck Rentals/Rent-A-Wreck (10 per cent off car rentals, 15 per cent off truck rentals) and Unic (Save an extra 10 per cent off the lowest ticketed price). The SPC card costs $9 and can be purchased from www.spccard.com

On a budget? No problem.

By Geoff Gooden

As a student, you’re already on a tight budget. Luckily, there are special deals students and youth can take advantage of to save a few bucks. Here’s some of the most popular deals:

Travel CUTS: Travel CUTS markets themselves as “Canada’s Student Travel Experts.” They provide travel fares and vacation packages designed specifically for Canadian students. Visit them online at www.travelcuts.com

Greyhound: For those who travel by bus, Greyhound Canada offers stu-dent discounts on many bus routes. With a valid student ID card from a Canadian post-secondary institution, you can save 10 per cent on an adult ticket. Or with an ISIC card it gets better, you receive 25 per cent off an adult ticket.

International Student Identity Card (ISIC): The ISIC card is available to full-time students and pro-vides more than 40,000 discounts and benefits in 120 countries. Certain discount fares from Travel CUTS require the ISIC card. Cardholders can also save with VIA Rail, WestJet, Air Canada, Intrepid Travel and Contiki. Youth under 26 who aren’t students, can take advantage of the International Youth Identity Card. Both cards are available at Travel CUTS for about $20 or by mail with an online application form from www.isic.org

SPC Bank of Montreal MasterCard: As an alternative to the SPC card, some may prefer the SPC BMO MasterCard. The SPC MasterCard is available free of charge with no annual fees. You get all the same deals as you would with the regular SPC card. In addition, you can earn one Air Mile for every $20 in monthly credit card purchases. Depend-ing on how often you use the card, Air Miles can add up quite fast, maybe even enough to cover airfare on your next vacation. Non-students aged 18-24 are also eligible to apply for the SPC Mastercard.

By Shauna McCarthy and photos by Stephanie Foden

There are always certain trends you pick up while

backpacking. They’re not necessarily reflective of the culture of

the country you may be in but more so reflecting the culture of a

backpacker.

You will learn as you go that this specific way of travel-

ling can attract a certain appearance. The hub of travelling

backpackers exhibit many similar emotional and even physi-

cal characteristics. For some reason unknown, backpackers are

drawn to particular trends— or the trends are drawn to them.

We’ll start with the beloved and yet intimidating

dreadlocks. Something about this particular hairstyle screams the

laid-back hippie life. It seems to require little maintenance and

gives the idea that the one sporting the style couldn’t care less

about the effort required to keep up the doo. And when you’re

constantly on the go who has the time to keep up a hairstyle

anyways? On more than one occasion the idea of swapping in

my long curly locks for the carefree dreads has crossed my mind.

With the assaulting humidity of some of the places I’ve been to

amplifying my already frizzy hair and the sheer popularity of

dreads amongst my fellow backpackers, the option seemed all

too tempting. But once you get the dread locks you are simply

that—locked into that hairstyle for what appears to be life!

Another trend, which appears common amongst the

backpacking type, is tattoos and piercings. Whether it be a

beautiful piece of art commemorating your experience in that

particular country or just one of the many wonderful plans we

seem to concoct while we’re inebriated- getting inked or pierced

while on the road seems like a right of passage.

The pirate look seems to have made its way into a

trademark style of a traveller. The bandannas, headscarves and

slouch Aladdin pants make it one of the easiest ways to spot

one, second to that of the backpack itself! The accessories, often

made out of sheer materials are great for providing protection

against strong UV rays. The almost weightless attire make life a

lot easier when you’ve already got more than enough to carry.

The simple comfort and freedom associated with this type of

clothing make it a popular choice for those getting around.

Another popular trend is the always-faithful wife

beater. With just as many men sporting one (really, the only

time acceptable) as women the always-comfortable always-

accessible beater makes for the perfect day piece as well as at

night. They’re cheap; easy to roll up into the backpack and go

perfectly with those oh so popular Birkenstocks everyone seems

to be wearing.

Along with the array of colourful flags stitched onto

each backpackers bag like a wall of honours and achievements-

these were just some of the popular trends true to a traveller.

The style


Check out these backpacking styles. It’s easy, cheap and most of all, it looks cool!


The nature of a backpacker has got to be a little adventurous. The desire to take off and explore a new place takes faith and a lot of guts. Each journey into the “unknown” however, is a gamble, and with each toss of the die comes new risks and new rewards. While on the road, it is easy to as-sume that encounters with local people and culture will be positive. Yet stories of theft, scams and other dangers and annoyances, though cannot soon be forgotten — would make the trip a lot less bumpy. First and foremost, it is crucial to always keep your wits together. Despite sounding a little cynical, you should always be wary of strangers who are overly friendly and protective especially where there is a language barrier. There are many stories of locals, especially children taking tourists un-der their wing and showing them some of the town’s highlights. It may seem innocent and inviting at first until a fee is demanded for their efforts. Moreover, reasoning with people of another language can prove extremely dif-ficult; especially if it’s a price you’re trying to bargain. There can often be misunderstand-ings and the situation can quickly escalate. That’s why, for example, it is safer to bargain

the price of a cab upfront. When getting into vehicles without a metre, for example, “tuk tuks,” the price should always be discussed before accepting a ride. The goal is not to get the cheapest fare but to agree on a price that benefits both you and the driver. Another common issue for tourists is theft. One may think it is obvious to take ex-tra care of their personal belongings while travelling but it can be a little more complex than that. There are certainly cases of en-tire backpacks going missing from the under deck of a bus or a hostel room. That is why it is crucial to always keep money, passports and any other valuable belongings on your persons or at least separate from your main backpack safely, locked up. Be extra cautious when travelling overnight, when the lights are out and people are presumably asleep. Do not leave your carry on unattended even on the seat beside you. Stories of bus drivers or other passen-gers going into your small luggage and tak-ing money are not uncommon. As much as you may try to stay cam-ouflaged among the locals in whatever coun-try you’re travelling in, it is sometimes inevi-table to stick out like a sore thumb, especially when shopping. Whether it be clothes, food

or basically any type of service in general, we’re often slapped with a hefty “tourist tax,” so to speak. The beauty tourist factor can make the price jump a whopping two, three or even four times its original price.

Read

Before

TravelLingBy Shauna McCarthy

Photos by Stephanie Foden

The road:

Be wary of your surroundings and keep valuable items on your person for any dangers that may arise on the road.

By Shauna McCarthy

Photo by Stephanie Foden

Heading out into the unknown seems intimidating as it is, but doing it solo? Many travellers have no other option than to journey it alone and some even prefer this way of travelling. I commend those who backpack alone. I myself, would find it extremely challenging- that’s why, whenever possible, I prefer to travel in a pair or as a group. Some of the challenges faced by solo backpackers can seem menial when discussed. But in reality, in the moment, can appear overwhelming. When you’re faced with the constant sense of unfamiliarity moving around from place to place, being alone can sometimes feel isolating. Even though you may be surrounded by hundreds of other backpackers-the notion that not one face appears familiar can be uncomfortable for some. For others, it’s the complete opposite. They thrive in situations where change is the only constant and no one face or location lingers for too long. As every solo female traveler has probably heard be-fore- the risk factor for them is significantly higher than for lone male travelers. Some females feel this is a myth they’d like to dispel and others are familiar with the dangers all too well. Just as you would in your hometown, women should be cautious about where they venture and whom they talk to after dark. Especially when there is a language barrier, a simple misunderstanding can escalate into some-

thing major. If out alone, women should take extra care with their drinks and who they agree to leave the bar with. Although there are certain risks with travelling alone, there are also many advantages that come with it. Being alone forces you to approach people when otherwise you might not. You have to step outside your comfort zone and learn to make new friends. You’ll never be the only one travelling alone and they’ll be no conflicts between you and your fellow traveller about which routes to go because you’ll be in charge of your own path and everything that follows. Travelling in pairs or groups can prove to be advantageous especially when there’s confusion over different languages or trans-portation schedules, teamwork can often find a solution faster than having to problem solve on your own. The security of always having a familiar face there can help with homesickness too or just plain illness when that extra help can come in use. However travelling this way can prove to have its downsides too. Sharing some of the tiny hostel rooms with just one person, the entire journey can definitely test your relationship. Living in such close proximity can result in feuding or even disagreements over travel routes and specific details relating to the journey itself. When all is said and done, solo or not, the people you meet along the way will help shape the adventure into one of the most memorable experiences of your life.

Going Solo?


By Geoff Gooden

When planning a backpacking adventure, you first must choose the backpack that best meets your needs. Eve Switzer, sales associate at Mountain Equipment Co-op in Toronto, shared some tips on how to choose the right bag. Fit is most important according to Switzer. “You’re going to be walking around with this thing on your back for days on end,” she said. “You can work around most bells and whistles and fea-tures of a bag, but if it hurts your back, that’s going to impair you no matter what.” Mountain Equipment Co-op carries both travel bags and expedition style bags. Switzer says the shape and design of travel bags isn’t necessarily as comfortable for carrying large amounts of weight. However, its suitcase shape and design makes for easier packing and organization. If you’re mainly just carrying your bag from the bus stop to your hostel, a travel bag is well suited for such purposes. On the other hand, if you plan to trek for longer distances, then an expedition style bag would likely be a better choice. Expedition bags are designed to allow easier mobility and are well balanced with larger weight capacities, as well as slightly better weather resistant durability. Special bags for women have recently been introduced by companies such as Arc’teryx, Gregory and Black Diamond. These bags are designed to fit smaller shoulders and particularly shorter spine lengths. “When you’re fitting a pack, you’re actually fitting it to your spine length and because women tend to be all legs and hips with a short torso, they need to have a frame that fits a very short spine length,” Switzer said. Price is obviously important to many people and the slightest features can affect the price of a bag. “A lot of people don’t always understand the cost differences between bags,” Switzer says. “Little

details like weight and materials and water resistancy can up the price of a bag substantially. Having more pockets and compartments to organize your things means more sewing involved to make the bag, so that’s going to up the cost…” She added that top-loading bags are comfortable and have a larger capacity but most people find them

“very inconvenient to live out of.” Certain steps should be taken to avoid back pain. Since your centre of gravity is near the middle of your back, that’s the easiest area to carry heavy weight from. Switzer recom-mends keeping heavier items in the middle of the bag. The bottom of the bag should be padded with something light and fluffy such as your sleeping bag. Lighter items should be packed towards the top of the bag; if the items at the top are too heavy, that can cause you to tilt. Expedition bags have a long, skin-ny top-loading style that keeps all the weight

along your centre of gravity but since the bag is tube-shaped, that doesn’t necessarily make for easy organization. Style might be a concern for some people but Switzer feels style should play a minor role. She says fit should come first, but if you find a few bags that feel the same, then pick the one you think looks better. “I get some people that come in that really are persistent that

(the bag) can’t be ugly and I don’t think that’s a good reason, but it’s definitely something that some people are very concerned with. Better people understand the fact that it’s more important that they have something that works.” Make sure to put in lots of research before buying your back-pack. As Switzer said, you’re going to have it on your back for days on end, so you want to make sure you choose a bag that will satisfy your needs in the long run. Happy backpacking!

How to pick the right backpack

Photos by Geoff Gooden

Photo by Shauna McCarthy

The road: The illnessess we pick up along the way...

Travelling can be both emotionally and physically straining, pushing boundaries and forcing us outside our comfort zones. This is especially true in third world countries, where the luxury of comfort may not come around too often. If you fall ill to injury or sickness while abroad, the challenges you face as a traveller can all of a sudden become amplified. There is no one simple solution to safeguard you against the typical illnesses travelers pick up along their way but certain precautions can be taken. “The most important thing to remem-ber before travelling is to consult a travel physician,” says Carly Ferguson, a Primary Care Paramedic for Durham Region. “Depend-ing on the geographical area you are planning on going to, you are at certain risk for various types of disease. If you were born in Canada, you have an advantage over most as we begin our vacci-nations at a very young age, but these vaccinations are not always enough.” Ferguson explains that some diseases are more commonly picked up than others, and these can include food poisoning, the flu, travelers diarrhea and pain and itching from bed bugs. It is donned “travellers diarrhea” as it is the most common illness picked up by travellers. Up to 80 per cent of the diarrheal episodes in travellers are bacterial in nature meaning it’s contract-ed by eating or drinking contaminated food or a lack of proper hand washing. “In North America, hand hygiene is number one for infec-tion prevention,” says Ferguson who contracted a sever case of traveller’s diarrhea herself while travelling through Thailand. “In Thailand, you will be lucky if you find a sink with water. Therefore I

must have picked something up with my hands, not

washed and eaten food. Prevention- bring hand sanitizer! It kills 99.9 per cent of bacte-ria and will be your best bet.” Ferguson suggests that as well as avoid-ing tap water while in developing countries, travelers should also steer clear of tattoos and piercings as Hepatitis and HIV are com-monly contracted through unsterile equipment. Pharmacies may not be easy to come by in certain regions so Ferguson suggests bring-ing a small medical kit for those unexpected situations.

You never know what you may pick up along the way and it’s not necessarily restricted to developing areas so as a safety precaution it’s always good to have travel insurance. Ferguson ex-plains that purchasing this before traveling to Las Vegas saved her

$5000 in medical bills. “My symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and some diarrhea,” she says. “I ended up checking myself into the emerg, as I began vomiting blood, and felt extremely dizzy, light headed, and pre-syncopal.” Ferguson explains she contracted food poising suspecting it was from poorly pre-pared or handled hotel food. Becoming sick miles away from home can be isolating and stressful, almost serving as a handicap. Taking a few precautions and being careful while abroad can go a long way.

Mosquitoes carry many diseases that can put a damper on your trip.

Tattoo and piercing equiptment may not be prop-erly sanitized.

1) gravol for nausea, motion sickness, and to help sleep

2) Imodium for diarrhea

3) Tums for indigestion

4) Allergy pills- you never know. Different plants, trees, bugs, foods,

5) Aspirin/Tylenol for headache, (as also helps with swelling)

6) Anti-biotic of some kind incase of infection

7) Polysporin for battle wounds

Story and photos by Shauna McCarthy


By Stephanie Foden & Shauna McCarthyPhotos by Stephanie Foden

Spotlight: Road junkies meet Canada’s west coast

hat more could you ask for? A mix of cultures spread over 100 million square kilo-metres? Check. Gushing waterfalls, dramatic mountain ranges and abundant wildlife?

Heck yes, Mother Nature did a top-notch job. How about friendly people, good beer and the world’s best creation (yes, we’re talking about poutine). The great white north has it all, eh! With nearly 8,000 km of open road on the Trans Canada highway, what better way to explore Canada than by car. Trekking to the farthest point west we could go, to-gether we tackled ice glaciers, mountain peaks and top grade A sirloin meat that is our Canadian men. Beginning our one-month venture from Toronto, we would love to be able to squish all those floating stereotypes but we cant. We’re as polite as they come, hockey is a religion, and no joke, we love our beer (consuming a whopping 77 L each per year). However, we’re not all igloo living, French speaking, oot and aboot Canadians. In fact , about 13 per cent of us are francophones. After spending nearly 20 hours on the open road, we broke free from On-tario’s winding hills and onto the flat and long terrain that is the prairies. With a fur-ther 16 hours to go, we were looking at an infinity of wheat fields, more than enough fast food, a whole lot of cruise control, and did we mention the wheat? After shelling

out the average 50-60 bucks for a decent nights sleep, or if we used all our loonies and toonies in the roady beer and poutine foundation, our car was our friendliest bet. With our back seats down and sleeping bag ready, we woke with the sunrise, leaving only a quick stop at the gas station before starting our day. If you do choose the desperate car and gas station combo, opt for a quieter side street and don’t forget to lock the doors.

With feeling like our whole life was spent in the car, it was truly incredible to step out and be rewarded with some of Canada’s great-est gems.

Calgary is the playground for our modern day cowboys. It’s one large city with a small town feel, meeting the Wild West as it continues to grow. Hosting one of the most celebrat-ed festivals in Canada, the Calgary Stampede is considered

We like LOVE our countryWawa, ON

Welcome to the PrairiesSomewhere on the road, Sask

Zooming down the Icefields Parkway

Jasper, Alta

Taking a stop at the Athabasca Glacier

Jasper, Alta

View from the Banff Springs HotelBanff, Alta

The world’s favourite ski

townWhistler,

BC

First stop in Van: beautiful Deep CoveVancouver, BC

Our tent!

“Our battered suit-cases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac

Vino fix at Mission Hill Estate WineryKelowna BC

On Long Beach,

couldn’t be more west

Tofino, Vancouver Island, B

C

one of the greatest outdoor shows in the world. Taking place in the second week of July, it makes for the perfect excuse for a summer road trip… just don’t forget those cowboy boots. Setting up tent in one of Canada’s 36 national parks is a must. A $68 pass will grant you entrance into any park in Canada for the entire year and is definitely a worth while investment if you’re planning to hike, bike and backpack through some of the most

diverse scenery on the planet. One of the most stunning drives has got to be from Golden, BC to Vancouver. The mountains appear limitless as they were never too far out of reach. We made extra time for plenty of roadside stops and were sure not to miss the Okanagan Valley en route. Whether exploring wine country, paddling through the many lakes or just soak-ing up Canada’s sunniest weather, the day didn’t disappoint. It may be a hard transition from this to rainy Vancouver, but this laid back met-ropolitan city has something for everyone. Playing host to the 2010 Olympic Win-

ter Games, Vancouver has always been a hot spot for our snow junkies. The nearby Whistler Mountain attracts a diverse crowd. Whizzing down the mountains, you’re sure to hear a melody of accents from around the globe.

Now that we were about as far west as the mainland gave us, we hopped on a ferry over to Vancouver Island where some of the best surfing in Canada awaited us. If you’re lucky, you may spot a whale on your way over. First time surfers can give the sport this town is known for a whirl – just be sure to bring a wetsuit. What better way to wrap up the road trip than experiencing the surfer culture? Some people travel the world before seeing what’s in their own backyard, but maybe said with a little bias: Canada really is the best.

PACKING CHECKLIST:tentsleeping bagscameraflashlightipodbear spraywater beerjunk foodroad mapguide bookbackpacksbug sprayhiking bootsCanadian flagss’mores

Exploring Canada’s National Parks

Jasper, Alta

W


TOP

10cities

Spotlight:

By Andrew Santos

Having the opportunity to travel the world is an exciting thing to do. There’s no doubt about it. If travelling is one of your hobbies or something you’re looking to do in the near future, here is just a brief synopsis of what to expect. Read on and make note of our choice of top ten cities around the world that you should consider visiting when plan-ning your next getaway.

Toronto, Canada Toronto is considered to be one of the world’s most multicultural cities. Many Torontonians are known for their dying love when it comes to the sport of hockey, despite the team’s woes over the years. With nearly 2.5 million people, this city is also home to the one of the world’s tallest free-standing structures, known as the CN Tower. Toronto is also considered to be one of the most expensive cities in Canada. It’s home to the Cana-dian Walk of Fame, numerous art galleries, parks, theatres and hosts some of the biggest cultural parades/celebrations in North America, for example, Pride and Caribana.

New York, U.S.A Is the most populated city in the United States. Has been known in its history for being the gateway of immigration to the United

States. New York City is home of the Statue of Liberty, Radio City, Times Square and the Empire State building. Have your camera ready!

Paris, FranceLooking for a little ro-mance? Paris, France is just

the city you are looking for. With a population of nearly 12 million people, Paris, is the capital and largest city in France. According to the British review Monocle in June 2010, Paris is among the ten best cities in the world to live in. Some of the most famous Parisian land-marks include the Eiffel tower, the Cathedral of Notre Dame and the Louvre, one of the most prestigious galleries in the world. A city you don’t want to miss when in Europe!

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Sydney, Australia Sydney, I believe, has the best harbour any

city could ever dream of. Sydney, home to the 2000 Summer Olympic games. When in Sydney, be sure to visit the world-renowned Opera House and Bondi Beach. Browse Darling Harbour and visit the many res-taurants, specialty shops and cafes it has to offer. Finish off your day by climbing the Sydney Harbour bridge

for a spectacular sunset view.

Tokyo, Japan Tokyo is the capital of Japan with a population of nearly 13 million people. If you enjoy learning about the history and background of cities, Tokyo is your city. Tokyo is also known for humid and hot summers,

with generally mild winters. Be sure to visit many of Tokyo’s national parks and the National Stadium, home of the 1964 Summer Olympics, the Imperial Palace as well as the National Diet Library. Haven’t heard that before have you?

London, England London is the capital of England, as well as the United Kingdom. This city is known for its diversity of religions and various cultures. You can find many of the world’s designated Heritage sites, including: the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the Royal Botanical Gardens.Other important landmarks include Buckingham Palace, where the Queen of England lives. Be sure to visit her guards outside of the palace and hopefully catch a glimpse of her. The easiest and most efficient way to get around town is through the Underground, the oldest underground railway system in the world.

Rome, Italy This city is one of my favourites, just because it has a different element to it, in com-parison to other world cities. It is rooted with deep history and art. You must visit the Vatican and St.

Peter’s Basilica. Also worth noting is the Sistine Chapel, painted by the world- renowned Michaelangelo and the Coliseum. Be sure to visit the stunning churches and art galleries. They are no comparison to the ones in North America.

8 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The Brazilian and Portuguese languag-es dominate this beautiful coastal city in Brazil. This city is well known for its explosive carnival celebrations. Be sure to visit the Christ the Redeemer statue, atop the Corcovado mountain. Rio de Janeiro is host to some of the best beaches in the world. Check out Botafogo Bay!

Los Angeles, U.S.A Is the second most populated city in the

United States. Is also known as the entertainment capital of the world, with Hollywood as its base for television production and motion pictures. You can’t visit Los Angeles without seeing the Hol-lywood sign on the hill, the Staples Centre and a visit to Chinatown. Enjoy!

Moscow, Russia Moscow is a beautiful city and major cultural centre. The Kremlin, the residence of the Russian President is one of several World Heritage sites in the city. The architecture is stunning and well-known across the world. Be sure to visit the long list of beautiful churches Moscow has to offer. Make sure you visit the Moscow State Historical Museum and the many performing arts theatres.

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Dest inat ion Unknown, December 2o1o 17 16 Dest inat ion Unknown, December 2o1o

Sure, you may have heard of folks swimming with dolphins, but can you imagine elephants? These enormous, gentle creatures are much more graceful than one would think, and getting up close and personal with one is definitely something worth trying during

your visit. Kanchanaburi, a province located a little north west of Bangkok is where it can all happen. Bath them, take a dunk in the River Kwai with them or simply feed them; the memories are priceless. If you do decide to visit Kanchanaburi, be sure to check out Tiger Kingdom and get your picture taken with the big cats. Visiting the hill tribes of the north is a must. One of the more unique tribes is that of the Karen people, recognizable by the brass rings worn around their neck. The long neck Paduang tribe in Chiang Mai is visited by thousands of tourists each year. There have been numerous stories circu-lating about why they wear the brass rings around their neck and knee joints but the dominating reason seems to be for beauty. Most of the tribes in the north are underdeveloped and therefore welcome any sort of tourism. It’s a beautiful experience interacting with the families of the vil-lages and catch a glimpse of their basic, everyday lives. You can’t visit Thailand without making a stop on Koh Phi Phi- one of the most beautiful islands in the world. From here you can take a short boat ride into Maya Bay where “The Beach,” with Leonardo Dicaprio was filmed, and make no mistake it’s just as scenic in person as it is on screen. The island is bouncing back strong from the 2004 tsunami hit and tourism is as busy as ever. The

here is a world of wonders to explore in Southeast Asia. There are certain experiences, places or people you encounter that linger in your mind for a lifetime. These are the ex-

periences that make lasting impressions that move you, ignite something deep inside yourself and change you for the better.THAILAND: Thailand is a truly magical country. You’ve got the exotic beaches, the clear turquoise water with the picture perfect white sand. You have the dense rainforests with all sorts of tropical animals. You also have the hills and mountains in the north. With so much to explore, it seems im-possible to know where to begin. But you can’t leave Thailand without experiencing the following.

Catching a glimpse of some cats in Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

A long tail boat en route to Maya Bay in Koh Phi Phi.

Southeast Asia not your expectation

This woman is an elder of the Karen Tribe and has 26 rings on her neck.

By Stephanie Foden & Shauna McCarthyPhotos by Stephanie Foden

Spotlight: little island has no roads, which means the only traffic you’ll be dodg-ing is the sometimes overwhelming amount of tourists. But, the constant buzz of accents makes for a homey sort of feel and the close proxim-ity of everyone will have you feeling like a permanent resident in no time. Phi Phi is home to some of the best diving. With over 15 dive shops on the island, there’ll be no shortage of underwater adventures.LAOS: Its isolation from the rest of Asia has become a backpacker haven. In Laos you will meet some of the kindest easygoing people in the world. Although its “off-the-beaten track” status is slowly be-coming a must-see destination on the Southeast Asia trail, there still remains the remote village and quaint country life throughout most of the country. If you veer away from tourist cities and towns, you’ll literally feel as if you’ve gone where no man (or woman) has gone before. Hidden amongst the brilliant and almighty forest of northern Laos in the Bokeo Nature Reserve lies the Gibbon Experience: a series of tree houses 200 feet in the air, only accessible by a network of al-most 40 zip lines. It’s an experience for the adventurous heart that will fulfill your deepest Peter Pan or Tarzan fantasy. You’ll find yourself in the middle of a mighty jungle (that means abundant wildlife: tigers, elephants, bears, monkeys and more) – oh so enticing!

One of seven tree houses hidden amongst the jungle in Laos.

Near Luang Prabang are these pristine falls that are bound to take your breath away.

Situated on the great Mekong River is the culture capital of South East Asia: Luang Prabang. Unwind in one of the many cafés, window shop in book-shops or art studios, eat from around the world in amazing bakeries and restaurants, splurge at the all-too-tempting night market or bicycle back in

time through city streets. There is something for everyone in this picturesque city. Take a day trip to the nearby waterfalls – probably the most stunning in all of Southeast Asia. The unspoiled gushing cascades might be the bluest water you’ve ever seen. Don’t be fooled, these seemingly endless falls are au natural, even though they may look man-made. A right-of-passage on the Southeast Asia backpacking trail is tubing in Vang Vieng. If you’re looking for anything other than a party, this isn’t the place for you. Tubing and drinking are the main activities in this riverside town. It may not have the authentic Laos vibe you’re searching for, but this is the centre of the backpacker world. So crack a beer (or bucket) and float down the river, or at least to the next bar.VIETNAM: This is the Asia that you dream of. Vietnam is a country with the perfect mix of fast paced city life and laid-back coastal towns. This is where old and his-toric meets new and modern. It’s a country that oozes with charm and culture. In Vietnam, imagina-tion becomes reality. The colours are bolder, the sun is brighter and the food… well the food is in a league of its own. Delish!

-continued on page 16 Very good, very cheap, very Vietnam - there’s nothing quite tastier than a Vietnamese spring roll.

Sand dunes in beautiful south Vietnam, the country has it all.

T


- continued from page 16

Stepping into Hanoi is a shock to your system – it’s organized chaos. There is something about the buzzing traffic that is intricate, yet beautiful. This is a city that you want to get to know. The true gem is the Old Quarter, where you can feel the city pulsate in its nearly 1000 years of history. Hanoi is also a base for adventure, with Sapa and Halong Bay being key destinations for the Vietnam experience. This may not only be a highlight of Vietnam, but also a spotlight of Southeast Asia. Hoi An is a ma-jestic town – a place of bliss for fashionistas, beach bums and culture junkies alike. Not only does it play home to charming bars, cafés and arguably the best beaches in Vietnam, it is also the centre for shopping. You think of it, they’ll make it. That’s right, custom made clothes, shoes and accessories for prices that can’t com-pare to back home. For a culture fix, stick around for the full moon festival and take a ride in a traditional Vietnam boat down the river. Release lanterns into the water for a month’s good luck and walk about the town streets as it’s completely cut from power and solely lit by candles and luminaras. It’s just flawless!CAMBODIA: The kingdom of Cambodia has so much his-tory and charm to share. Although one of the poorest countries in Asia, tourism has really picked up recent-ly. Moreover, as the decades of war are behind the

Khmers, the future is looking bright. Cambodia is home to a number of religious temples and monuments but Angkor Wat tops the list. This 8th wonder of the world is an architectural masterpiece. Taking in the view at sunrise or sunset is an image you’ll never forget; the five towers and moat cast in a shade of gold reflecting off the water.

The centre of hectic traffic in Hanoi, Vietnam.Ankor Wat is called an eighth wonder of the world for a reason, wow!

Embrace Vietnam’s beliefs of luck on a full moon.

Cambodian children will make your experience an unforgettable one.

Spotlight: You know you’re a backpacker when:

By Stephanie Foden

1. A six-hour bus ride is short

2. You’re an expert at deciphering accents

3. You find money from a different country AFTER

you’ve left it

4. You’ve brushed your teeth at a gas, train or bus

station

5. Hand sanitizer is your best friend

6. There are at least ten people fro

m different

countries on your Facebook page

7. You never know what time or day it is

8. You’re not sure what country you’ll be in next

week

9. You’ve been mistaken for an American and hated

it

10. You’ve been in the same place for more than a

week and consider yourself a resident

11. You forget what it’s like to own a phone

12. You’ve ate something and didn’t quite know what

it was

3. You’ve had to buy a new wardrobe because you

wore through the other one

14. You told a complete stranger your life story

15. Getting dreads seems like a good id

eaSpotting abudent marine life in Koh Phi Phi, Thailand.

Diving adventures on a shoestring By Stephanie Foden and photos by Mike Levermore

all yourself a traveller? Over 70 per cent of the world is covered by water. So what better way to explore the

globe than to dive? Unfortunately, it can be out of the question for those of us on a tight budget. Odds are if you’re diving in prestigious places like the Red Sea or Australia, you’ll be paying anything other than cheap. Yikes! To pay lower costs, you need to go to areas like South America, Central America and Southeast Asia, where the div-ing is still very good, but also very cheap. One of the most eco-nomical places in the world to take diving certifications courses is Utila in Honduras and Koh Tao in Thailand. “The problem is because of this reputation, they’ve simply turned into massive dive factories, and the diving really isn’t all that good,” said dive master, Mike Levermore. “I went to Utila to set up a marine ecology project since they were pol-luting the mangroves and killing the reef.”

You’ll likely be paying be-tween $200 and $300 for open water certification in these places. Panama and Vietnam tend to have budget diving too and usually aren’t as busy. People are often shocked when they go to poor countries and find diving to be expensive when everything else is so cheap. This is because a flood of Westerners have started dive shops around the world and are unwilling to lower their prices. In Koh Phi Phi, Thailand prices are double, even triple than what it is to dive in Koh Tao. However, the diving in Phi Phi is much better than in Koh Tao. So for big dive junkies looking to see more than a few fish, you’re going to pay a hefty dollar for a great diving experience.

C

Naked in Germany

Nursing a hangover the morning after

one of Munich’s infamous pub-crawls, we

decided to venture to a spa just outside

the city, which we must have read about

somewhere. It was actually Europe’s biggest

thermal spa – and we were in the mood for

some serious R&R. Of course everything was

in German, and when we were asked what we

wanted admission to, our adventurous selves

simultaneously replied “everything”!

After the thermal pools, hot sulphur springs

and extreme water park, unbeknownst to us,

we entered the spa’s full on nudist colony. I have

never been so caught off guard and felt like

such an outcast in my whole life! We were the only

people not naked. There were families, groups of

friends and old married couples, all enjoying life

completely nude. But, when you’re in Germany, do

as the Germans do, rightttttttt?

The best part wasn’t the thermal pools

or gawking at the naked people. It wasn’t even to

experience this completely different culture. It’s that

when I came home – I have a damn good story to

tell.

- Jennifer Wilson, Toronto, Canada

In the jungle, the mighty jungle I once trekked alone through the Taman Negara National Park in Malaysia in search of wild elephants and tigers. This is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. There are these jungle hideouts (cabins) that are elevated 15 feet from the jungle floor.

The hideouts are located beside natural salt licks that attract animals at night.

There are small viewing holes in the cabin. I spent the night in this dark, rustic cabin in the

middle of the jungle. Just listening to the loud creatures in the dark. It was amazing!- Grant Sae, Waterloo, Canada


Never Try, Never Know

By Stephanie Foden Unique stories by unique people.

A tasty treat in Vietnam Eating a snake is a must when visiting Vietnam. My experience began

on the back of a moped through the notoriously poor driving conditions to a real

snake village a few miles outside the city. There is nothing like it, picking out the venomous snake of your choice to

consume with a nice bit of rice wine. The entire process done in front of your eyes,

they place the still beating heart in a shot of vodka, an appetizer if you must. Your

snake is then presented to you in a variety of manors. First to be served were snake

egg rolls with a side of rice and, of course, chili sauce. Then came the snake patty

wrapped in leaves, delicious! And all this washed down with blood wine and locals

giggling at the sight of a white man on uncommon ground.- Adrian Mason, New York City, USAPhoto by Stephanie Foden

Preparing the snake for dinner.

Just taking my jaguar for a walk in Bolivia People were living in camp with clothes shredded by jag-uars, and cuts covered with bright purple iodine - looked like the start of a zombie invasion. We caught several buses and rode in the back of a couple of trucks to get to the site near Santa Cruz in Bolivia, on the way being excited handed newspaper clippings by Juan Car-los, featuring him holding a massive anaconda and proclaiming that he was returning it to the jungle to bring rain. There was definitely enough fucking rain as it was — paths were flooded over our waists in places. It turned out the snake was taking the journey with us, in a cardboard box, in the luggage rack above my head. It got released in a swamp somewhere near our camp. The main tasks of my team was to construct a jaguar enclo-sure for a new cat arriving - the cats are very territorial so you’ve got to cut a path through dense jungle to find a spot far enough away from the others. We spent two weeks dragging huge iron grates through a thin path covered with mosqui-toes, fire ants, sweat bees and mud, and on our time off, we got to take the cats for a walk... It took three men to walk a jaguar. Two to hold on to an industrial climbing rope attached to its collar, and another to go up ahead and try to figure out what it might get up to. Jaguars are massively intelligent animals - they knew we were there trying to help them, but it seemed often they felt a bit patronized, and had to declare their dominance by jumping on people, shred-ding their clothes and putting heads in their mouths. I was actually slightly insulted they didn’t feel they needed to do this to me.

- Mike Levermore, England

Photo by Mike Levermore

“They dominate the shit out of you!”


Try petting this wild cat.

“The brave

may not

live foreve

r, but the

cautious do

not live

at all.”

-Richard

Branson

Adventure:

Boys and their toys

I read about five words,”Southeast Asia’s Death Road”, and I was hooked. I

was going to do this trip. And I did (we did, me and my mate Simba). It was awe-

some. We both converged on Chiang Mai in Thailand and immediately set about

hiring motorbikes for the 750 km trip around the Thai/Burma border. So after pass-

ing hands with approximately $230 we started kangaroo-hopping our new off-road

bikes around the city of Chiang Mai before tackling the Thai Highway system.

I had read a little about the trip and knew that it consisted of approxi-

mately “1,000 hairpins” and some off-road trips but to be honest I took that with a

grain of salt, it was just words on a page right? It turns out that the Thai’s don’t lie

when it comes to the number or corners they build. The road throughout the majority

of the trip was a hellish route for the bikes, but at the same time we had no other

option but to embrace it and we ended up being grateful for it.

We headed north and were humming along nicely until we came across

the first sign that pointed to a waterfall. Being boys’ with toys we decided to tackle

the track and see how the bikes worked off-piste (so to speak). Long story short,

the bikes worked fine until driver error/over-confidence and a couple of stray dogs

came into play and both driver and machine hit the gravel track hard. And there we

were, 8km up a dirt and rock track into the Thai jungle in humid 40 degree tempera-

tures with no water and no food and a broken bike. Not ideal.

So, after a trip on the back of Simba’s bike we made it back to the main

road and had to try to converse with the locals in sign language to explain our situa-

tion. That didn’t go so well.

An hour later we were back in exactly the same position as before, but with

another fall along the way when we both came down again on Simba’s bike. It was

turning into a tragic-comedy really. It somehow only took us two hours to push the

bike back to the road and then, surprisingly, it only took the mechanic 35 minutes

to fix what we thought was a busted ignition. After a few cold drinks and a massive

high five we were back on the road again - battered and bruised, with the majority

of those bruises having been taken to our egos.

From there on, the trip was smooth sailing, despite very sore legs, wrists,

shoulders and elbows. We managed to see some amazing villages, checked out

some spectacular waterfalls and even made it to the top of Thailand’s highest moun-

tain. We spent five days, in total, racing around Northern Thailand through countless

rural Thai villages and made it back to Chiang Mai again, beaten up, but satisfied.

And maybe a little wiser as well.

- Mike Wakefield, Christchurch, New Zealand

Photo by Mike WakefieldThe ride of a lifetime.


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OUR PLAYLIST:

Milosh - The City

Xavier Rudd - Let me be

Bonnie Somerville - Winding Road

Alexi Murdoch - Ragged Sea

Ben Harper - Burn one down

Jason Blaine - Run with me

Aaron Pritchett - New Frontier

David Gray - Sail Away

Dido - Sand In My Shoes

The Foo Fighters - Times Like These

Eddie Vedder - Society

Patrick Watson - Drifters

The Beatles - Black Bird

Steppen Wolf - Born to be Wild

Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon

Wheel

John Denver - Take me Home, Country

Roads

Tom Cochrane - Life is a highway

Bored on the road?By Stephanie Foden

Had enough of your iPod? Need a good book? Or per-haps an inspiring flick? We can help. Whether you’re on the bus, plane, train or boat, you’ll want something to pass the time. And what better way to pass the time than travel themed entertainment to inspire you to do and see more. Here’s a list of the new and old, best of the best. Happy travels!

Top five movies:1. The Beach2. Up in the Air3. Lost in Translation4. Slumdog Millionaire5. Motorcycle Diaries

Top five books:1. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer2. Life of Pi by Yann Martel3. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert4. Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne5. Welcome to Hell by Colin Martin

Why do we travel?By Shauna McCarthy

We travel for a number of reasons, but the one thing most of us travellers have in common is a zest for life. We are only one of millions living in this vast world so to those who want to explore it region-by-region, province-by-province and country-by-country,the sooner you start, the better. It’s been said the world is our playground, so play! Experiencing different foods, people and cultures shapes who we are. It enriches our life and gives us invaluable experience and knowledge that no textbook can provide. At one point or another along the way, doubts of such reasons will arise. When you’re not only sharing a hole in the wall, dormitory style bedroom with one irritating roommate, but also a small family of cockroaches that hide in between your bed sheets you may ask yourself why am I doing this? When you insist on trying a side street dish labeled “chicken,” it restricts you to your scummy hostel bathroom for days. When you are sweaty, sore, tired and frustrated, having been through two long bus rides and you have two more to go. It’s moments like these we may lose track of why exactly we put ourselves through these sometimes excruciating experiences – but then we get there. We’re lying on that beach or we’re sitting on top of that mountain or we’re meeting some of the best friends we’ll ever have. You know it’s all worth it when you realize your life will never be the same. You’ve changed. You’re better than who you were yesterday and you’ll just keep getting better.

“Nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.”— Chris McCandless (Into the Wild)


What SHOULD be on YOUR bucket list

Adventure:

Diving in the Cayman Islands By Stephanie Foden

If you ever get a chance, you should ven-ture to the Cayman Islands. But not for the stunning beaches, great weather, turquoise waters or the polite company — go for the diving. On Little Cayman, the most remote of the three islands, I did the best diving of my life. I strongly encourage anyone to explore the pristine waters sur-rounding the tiny island. You’ll find corals and sponges that shimmer like Technicolor rainbows, unspoiled walls that drop 6,000 ft deep and the clearest water with visibility of more than 150 ft. Just flawless – whether you’re a diver, or not, what more could top that?

Swim with elephants

By Shauna McCarthy

One of the best experiences by far has to be swimming with elephants. Although the choice of swimming companion may not be as popular as dolphins for ex-ample, splashing around, with this giant beauty is something I’ll never forget. Sitting on his rough sandpaper back trying helplessly to balance myself with his ears while he dunked into the water, I couldn’t help but want to cry. It’s not everyday you get to play with an elephant and see first hand just how gentle and playful these animals really are. Definitely a must try for everyone!

Explore beautiful Ontario

By Andrew Santos

There’s no need to travel to the Maritimes or down south, when there’s Flower-pot Island to see. Flowerpot Island is one of five islands in the Fathom Five Marine Park on Georgian Bay. The island is a simple 20-minute ferry ride from the seasonal, coastal town of Tobermory, located on the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. Altogether, this scenic, breathtaking island is a four hour commute north of To-ronto. The views are stunning and you can get in some hiking. There are also many great camping sites on the island and throughout the peninsula. The island is renowned for sculptures on its beaches that look like pots of flowers. It’d be best if you make this rather cheap trip a weekend getaway! Rest as-sured, you won’t be disappointed.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Ex-plore. Dream. Discover..” – Mark Twain

Want to revamp your bucket list? Our team came up with great suggestions through our travels. We hope you read something that sparks your interest. Enjoy!

Photo by Neil van Niekerk

Playing with the elephants in Thailand.

A tarpon near Little Cayman, Cayman Islands.


Yes believe it or not, this is in Ontario (Bruce Peninsula National Park).


“Stop worrying about the pot holes in the road, just celebrate the journey.”- Unknown

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