On the Horizon of Green Air Travel

Using the ideology that planes could have a greater freedom of travel (shorter routes) if their noise was reduced (less restrictions). “Half of the noise from a landing plane comes from the airframe.” To help reduce sound they strive to …

Travel Words of Wisdom - No. 7

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” Maya Angelou …

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Post from: TravellingLight.com

Post from: TravellingLight.com

However, it’s very easy to take out an insurance policy only to discover that you are under-insured for some risks - or, even worse, your policy doesn’t cover some activities.

The Consumer Action Group (CAG) has recently demanded that insurance companies must be clearer with customers when selling travel insurance.

It cites the case of a 19-year-old man who crashed a moped in Vietnam but his insurer refused to pay out.

The insurance firm involved said the policy “clearly stated” that the driver must have a full UK motorcycle licence.

The warning from the CAG comes as millions of gap year students and schoolchildren prepare to take their holidays this summer.

CAG group highlighted the example of gap year student James Pinnington, 19, who crashed his moped in Vietnam in May, breaking both his legs.

Although James had what he thought was comprehensive travel insurance, held a full driving licence and was wearing a helmet, his insurer refused to honour the claim because he did not have a full UK Class A motorcycle licence.

Officially any class of UK or international driving licence would not apply in Vietnam and local moped and car users are required to have separate licences, although these laws are not strictly applied in practice.

James’s father Chris had to pay £25,000 to transport his son from a remote village in Vietnam to London via Bangkok.

Before taking out any travel insurance we strongly suggest that you ask for a copy of all the relevant documentation. Make sure the policy provides you with adequate cover for the activities that your journey will include.

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A lot of people take to traveling after they’re through studying or after retirement. It is during this period in a person’s life that he has the time to travel and see the wonderful sights that the planet earth offers.

In Australia, they have what they call a “walkabout” which people go through at eighteen or after they finished school. It is a time of travel, discovery and adventure. This practice originated from the Aborigines when at age thirteen, they would go on a walkabout in the wilderness as a rite of passage.

Because traveling is very expensive, many people have taken to backpacking. What exactly is backpacking? According to some aspects of its history, this type of traveling is somehow also similar to walkabouts. In the 1960s and 1970s, many hippies took to traveling to Europe and Asia in the unconventional manner. Backpacking is also called independent traveling. This involves staying in cheap motels, hitchhiking, taking local transportation, and sometimes even staying in the homes of strangers.

Backpacking is very appealing to many people because you don’t have to be rich to travel and go to many beautiful places. You just need a lot of research before you embark on such a journey. Familiarize yourself as much as possible with your desired destinations – its local culture, its modes of transportations and lodging, and its famous local spots. Traveling is not necessarily the glamorous journeys movie and TV stars portray.

Backpacking was also called by the name because of the type of luggage backpackers use which is the backpack. The backpack is very portable and practical. You can lug this around and it can carry almost anything you need. However, today’s technology has made backpacking more challenging with the advent of recording equipment like digital cameras, camcorders, and PDAs. Bringing this stuff along makes you vulnerable to robbery and hold-up.

The allure of backpacking comes with its association with freedom and adventure. You do not need to have a fixed itinerary, you can travel and journey to places not usually visited. Some backpackers even take odd jobs during their travels so they can fund their trip. Another appealing factor of backpacking is the camaraderie and the bond that you build with your fellow travelers. You get to learn from people of different cultures and background.

Backpacking is not really a vacation or a holiday, it is more for educational and self-reflection purposes. Backpackers go on these unpredictable trips so they can learn more about the world and expand their knowledge. There is a whole wide world waiting to be explored. You don’t need to be extremely rich to travel, you can go visit places in other countries at your own terms. You get to decide your journey and destination.

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One of the famous expeditions that most adventure and travel enthusiast dream of accomplishing is climbing the Mount Everest. It is the highest mountain in our planet. Climbing mountains have always signified great achievement and accomplishment. People challenge themselves and push their limits whenever they try to accomplish the feat of climbing mountains. Aside from Mount Everest, other famous choices for mountain climbing are Mount McKinley and Mount Rainier in the United States, Mount Logan of Canada, Mt. Popocatepetl of Mexico, and Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Other expeditions involve traveling to see famous sights such as the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the pyramids in Egypt, or the Great Wall of China. Most people only get to see these places in pictures or through the Internet –  which is why it is a huge dream to see it in person and get to experience the place, the culture, and the different environment.

There are also phenomena worth spending money and time to see. Such is the Cherry blossom (Sakura) season in Japan. Most Japanese plan their vacations around the time when cherry blossoms are expected to bloom. A ritual or a cultural activity called “hanami” or cherry blossom viewing where droves of people visit parks where many cherry blossom trees are planted. Popular cherry blossom viewing sites are Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, Sumida Park, Aoyama Cemetery, and Koishikawa Botanical Garden. The track of the blossoming of Sakura moves upward as the warms season approaches. It begins in Okinawa in January and reaches Kyoto and Tokyo by March, then arriving at Hokkaido some weeks later.

Certain expeditions, in other cases, are done for more noble causes. These are often ties called pilgrimages. One of these expeditions involves journeying to Lourdes, France in hopes of curing illnesses and diseases – sometimes of the person undertaking the journey or perhaps a loved one of the pilgrim.

Muslims also undertake their own expedition or pilgrimage to their sacred place, Mecca. It is part of their religion to visit Mecca at least once in their lifetime. It is located in Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, Christians and non-Christians alike journey to Israel and visit the Holy Land. Devout Christians take treks and tours of where Jesus Christ had his journey and travels, where he was supposedly buried and other places associated with him.

While travel and expeditions are usually for own pleasure and satisfaction, community travel has been popular of late. The concept of community travel is to go to a remote location and assist the community with their needs and other matters. It is an expedition of giving back to others by offering what we have. Many people have found community travels very satisfying and fulfilling as they go home with a sense of accomplishment.

Whether you travel for yourself, to see sights, or to go on a pilgrimage – every journey is worth it. The world is too big to stay in your own backyard

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Adventure holidays are extremely popular nowadays not only because the world is getting smaller – with all the kinds of transportation available like cars, trains, ships, airplanes, and many more – but also because you don’t really have to go that far away from your home to get that adventure that you desire.

Most adventure holidays involve activities that you do not normally do like bungee jumping, paragliding, scuba diving, snorkeling, mountain climbing, or activities that involve some danger. And it is in danger that the attraction lies.

For those with minimal budget and time, camping in the woods or nearby parks are considered adventure holidays. Spending time outdoors, sleeping in tents, cooking fresh meat or fish, and just being surrounded with the beauty of nature is refreshing. Who said that you need to shell out lot to be able to experience adventure in your life?

Perhaps one on the most popular adventure trips that people dream about of write in their list of things to do before they die is bungee jumping. This activity involves jumping from a very high place and experiencing the rush of falling. The top locations for bungee jumping are Kawerau Suspension Bridge Bungee in Queenstown, New Zealand; Victoria Falls Bridge in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe; World WaterPark Bungee jump, West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Canada; Bloukrans Bridge Bungee Jump in Plettenburg Bay, South Africa, and The Bhote Khosi Bungee in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Another popular activity during adventure holidays is whitewater rafting. It is a recreational activity wherein a body of water, usually a river, is navigated. This activity can be very dangerous so guides and experts are usually present. Many adventure enthusiasts travel around the word in search for the perfect whitewater rafting experience. The top whitewater rafting locations are Futaleufu River in Chile, Cherry Creek in California, USA, Zambezi River in Zimbabwe, Great bend of the Yangtze River in China, Magpie River in Quebec, Canada, and Karnali River in Nepal.

Also a very popular adventure activity is going on safaris. Traditionally safaris are long journeys. However today it typically involves traveling to Africa to hunt or just observe wildlife. The top locations for safaris are the Namibian safari, Rongai safari, Botswana, Tsavo National Park in Kenya, Singita private reserve in South Africa, Madagascar, and Uganda.

Because many of the world’s population live in cities or urban communities, we lust for some danger and adventure in our lives – just like when we were more primitive and there was less technology. Having adventures does not necessarily mean you have to travel halfway around the world, you can have your own adventures in your own country, and possibly in our own towns. Most people have not thoroughly explored the place they’ve lived in for years. There are also many sites available online where you can search for the tour or adventure package perfect for you. Adventure is just around the corner, you just have to open your eyes.

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Because of rising prices in food, gasoline, and everyday necessities, more and more people begin to see vacationing or traveling as a waste of time or money. The resources you spend in airplane tickets, board and lodging, other transportation could very well be placed into other matters in need of funding like education or putting up a business.

However, since we are creatures that easily get tired, we need holidays and some rest and recreation time. Holidays does not necessarily need to be expensive or time-consuming. Everybody needs a day off once in a while.

Activity holidays are holidays where you spend your time doing worthwhile activities. You want to go back to your homes with a sense of achievement. Activity holidays can also be spent building solidarity and unity in the family through activities that all family members enjoy.

Parks and other reserves offer a weekend of adventure and the thrill of the outdoors. Your family or group of friends could go camping, hunting, fishing and any other activity that you enjoy. There are tours and places such as UK’s Centre Parcs where families and groups could go and join activities such as horseback riding, paintballing, sports training, arts and crafts, film making and many such activities.

Activity holidays could also involve taking classes in a nearby town or location near your home. If there are places near you famous for their theatre classes, or dancing classes, you can opt to take your holidays there to learn something new and meet new people. Vacationing does not mean that you have to just sit around and enjoy the view. You should go out there and join in the activities.

There are other options for activity holidays such as bicycling from town to town as a family or a group of friends. You get to enjoy spontaneity and flexibility. You can stop at a motel or bed and breakfast whenever you feel tired and leave again the next day.

Fitness activity holidays are also available in many places. Maybe spending your holiday in a fitness center where you get to enjoy many facilities and get help from health and fitness experts could be the jumpstart you need to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Activity holidays can also involve enjoying natural facilities while having adventures like trekking, doing the high ropes, or joining an adventure challenge. Holidays can be spent other than in bed. People seldom get days off so they should spend it wisely and do something worthwhile and worth remembering.

Vacations and holidays are also chances to learn and discover. Joining activities and outdoor tours give people the chance to do things they don’t normally do in their everyday lives. And you also get a chance to make new friends in different places.

Post from: TravellingLight.com

There are many approaches to travel apparel. Many people pack their luggage during the last minute and therefore resulting to inconvenience when it turns out that an important piece of clothing was left behind. There are also others who pack too much. This is the kind of person who packs everything he or she can think of bringing “just in case.” This ends with unnecessary discomfort in carrying the luggage around and perhaps extra charges for the extra weight.

When you are going to travel, you plan your itinerary and your lodging and everything concerned. In the same way, you should also pack with much preparation and planning. One of the first things to consider is the place you are visiting and what you plan to do there. Perhaps you are on your honeymoon to some romantic place like Paris or Venice. Then in that case, you should definitely bring some classy pieces for a night out with your partner. However, if you are on an adventure trip, your travel apparel should be prepared accordingly. If you know that you are going to walk or trek a lot, make sure to bring appropriate footwear.

The next thing to consider is the season or the climate at the time of the year you are traveling. If you’re going to Australia or Europe for the summer, you should bring comfortable and airy clothes. Lots of cotton shirts, light skirts, and linen pants are recommended. You want to be comfortable and be able to move around freely. You can also bring a light jacket or cardigan for cool nights.

If you’re going to South Korea or Japan in the winter, you should also prepare for winter travel apparel. Pack a lot of wool and warm clothes and cover-ups. Boots and closed-shoes are definitely more practical than flip-flops. Also bring scarves and hats to cover your head. And as they say, the feet is the first part of the body to get cold, so you should bring lots of socks that can keep you warm, especially at night.

Maybe you’re going on an adventure trip where you’ll be surfing or mountain climbing or some other exciting activity. In that case, you should shop beforehand for the appropriate apparel. You can buy the big pieces at your destination so you won’t be bringing huge stuff on board. The internet is an amazing innovation, you can even order your gear before your trip so that you’ll only have to pick it up when you arrive.

Whatever the occasion or the location, the most important thing when it comes to packing your travel apparel is a lot of planning. This is one thing you do not want to deal with at the eleventh hour. Do some research – check the internet for the appropriate clothing and you can even shop online in the comfort of your own home. Wearing the right outfit is as important as traveling to the perfect destination.

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Travellers are vital to this planet the way that blood is vital to your body. When a body is ill - diseased or parched or withered - the job of the doctor, masseuse, or therapist is to improve the circulation of blood to the affected area. I say that a healthy flow of travellers (Travellers - not tourists; tourists never visit diseased places) will work better than anything to heal the sick, impoverished, illiterate, malnourished parts of our world.
~~ Lance Free

I hope that it resonated as much with you as it did with me.

Post from: TravellingLight.com

These days the expedition is planned and organised in a much more businesslike and professional manner than those organised by earlier generations.

The need to raise, or conserve, funds means that an enthusiastic volunteer, willing to make a financial contribution, is likely to be welcomed with open arms.

Modern day expeditions have also evolved to the point where the commercial, or charitable, expedition organisers are willing to balance self development for expedition members along with scientific, conservation or development elements within the expedition itself.

While for some people expeditions are seen as a form of adventure holiday, the vast majority see them as a way of assisting conservation at both home and abroad, while at the same time training expedition members in key skills and self development.

Post from: TravellingLight.com