Quirky Traveller's Tales

As long-haul travel becomes more popular, an increasing number of adventurous Brits are considering trips to exotic Far Eastern countries such as China. The country’s unfamiliar customs and culture are ideal for any traveller looking to get away from the pressures of the Western world and explore a new way of being.

Most travellers are likely to consider heading to China in the hotter months so they can explore the country in the sun, however visitors that start their adventure when it’s the colder season are able to experience a totally different perspective off the country.  This is due to the colder seasons in China giving the country a clearness and freshness – and it is less crowded thanks to there being fewer tourists.  China is a great destination regardless of age.  However, for older travellers with medical conditions it’s extremely important to make sure you’re covered with travel insurance over 65.

 If you are a fan of travelling off the beaten track, then it is a good idea to enjoy some of the nation’s lesser known wonders.  One example of stunning unspoiled beauty is Sanqingshan National Park, which is situated near the city of Shangrao in the Jiangxi province of China. Known for its overwhelming air of peace and tranquillity, the World Heritage Site is subject to seasonal mists, fogs and breath-taking sunsets. Granite pillars and outcrops are dotted in between natural springs and waterfalls.

Another must-see for tourists is the Silk Road, with tours on offer to showcase the 2,000-year-old route which measures some 7,000km – over half of which is in China. Travellers trekking along the Silk Road will see many main attractions along the way including the famous Terracotta Warriors, China’s largest Reclining Buddah of Zhangye, Yellow River and Bingling Thousand Buddah Caves of Lanzhou.

Fans of scenery should not pass up on a visit to Guilin, which sits by the banks of the Li River. Famed for its stunning scenery, including mountains covered in greenery, unique rockeries, crystal clear water and mysterious caves, the area has a colourful cultural heritage, being home to a number of ethnic minorities.

This article is sponsored by Staysure – the over 50s experts, specialising in travel insurance with pre-existing medical conditions. They also provide comprehensive health and life insurance, as well as car insurance, home insurance and funeral plans.  All of their products are for UK residents, however the same services are available for expats.

Many tourists book their holidays in Cambodia purely because of their desire to visit UNESCO World Heritage Site – Angkor Wat. The awe-inspiring temples were constructed in the 12^th century by the Khmer people and really have to be seen to be believed which explains why each year over a million tourists flock to Siem Reap.

Photo by Dave Perkes

Although Angkor Wat is an incredible and unforgettable experience, the nearby town of Siem Reap is also well worth a few days of your time. Here are a few of our recommendations for more unusual places to visit and things to do in this interesting city.

1 – Balloon Ride over Angkor Wat

If you have never experienced a hot air balloon ride than what better place to start than by silently gliding above these ancient temples. Not only will you escape the crowds of tourists and touts at the site but you will get a fascinating birds eye view which allows you to fully comprehend the size of the site. The views of Angkor Wat and the city beyond will stay with you for some time.

2 – Landmine Museum

From the times of the Khmer Rouge to the Vietnamese occupation – Cambodia has a war torn past. In fact, it wasn’t considered safe for tourists to visit until the 1990’s. The country is littered with millions of unexploded landmines and other objects that were left behind by the decades of conflict. As you explore Siem Reap you will be greeted by sights of injured landmine victims who are a testament to just how dangerous landmines are to this day.

The Landmine Museum was founded by a former child soldier whose parents were killed by the Khmer Rough and is staffed by victims and orphans of landmines. A wander around this fascinating museum will give you a sobering insight in to what life was like in Cambodia only a short time ago.

3 – Kampong Phluk

Photo by Ewen Bel

Just 13 miles from Siem Reap is Kampong Phluk, a fishing village constructed entirely on stilts in the swamps that surround Tonle Sap – the largest lake in Cambodia. This is still somewhat a hidden gem as the majority of tourists are distracted by the charms of Angkor Wat. This means that the village remains an authentic place to go to get a glimpse into Khmer life away from the influence of heavy tourism.

4 – Military Shooting Range

It might not be everyone’s cup of tea but if you have ever wanted to fire a gun, this is the place to go. It will take you 40 minutes to get here from Siem Reap and you will be greeted by ex-soldiers who will talk you through the weapons and how to use them. You can fire AK47’s, throw hand grenades and if you have the money you can try out a Soviet made rocket launcher.

Photo by Matthew Hooper

Although Angkor Wat is undeniably the biggest attraction in Siem Reap, stay a few more days and discover some of its other, more unusual charms.

This article is brought to you by travel writer John Gainer, who’s has enjoyed travelling since he was a young boy when his parents first took him to visit family overseas. Since leaving home, John has tracked down family all over the world and regularly jets off to far away lands to experience new foods and cultures.

You might feel stuck in the wrong groove & feeling temporarily glum, or perhaps you’ve been struggling with unhappiness all your life; many of us feel caged in at some point. While it’s always worth seeking professional depression advice if you’re suffering, backpacking offers many of the lifestyle changes that are typically prescribed for anyone who’s feeling low.

Exercise & fresh air

Photo by Chantal Forster

When you’re at home, it’s easy to get into the habit of staying there, especially if you live in a rainy country, or in a city whose parks contain more urban grit than trees & ponds. Exercise stimulates the production of seratonin, the brain chemical that makes us feel good. It burns off tense energy that’s hanging around unused in your muscles, & gets oxygen pumping further into brain & body, making us feel more alert & generally healthier.

It also increases your metabolism – nothing like a little weight loss to cheer you up on a grey day. Backpacking, especially on a budget, necessarily involves much wandering around, be you sightseeing in a city (where, admittedly, the air might not be quite so fresh) or clambering through the jungle. Exposure to nature, a well-known mood-enhancer, is another excellent side effect of backpacking in the rural & wilder countries

Meet new people, & observe different lifestyles

Photo by Derrick Story

If your colleagues are a bunch of pessimists & your entire family is addicted to X-Factor, it might be time to seek out some alternative points of view. There’s nothing quite like making new friends on the backpacking trail, be they fellow travellers, folk who make a living running hostels or selling supplies & trinkets, or the everyday people you meet on the bus. It’s infinitely refreshing to discover genuinely friendly & helpful strangers. Always follow strong personal safety measures – confidence that you’re self-protected from sad or annoying accidents will let you enjoy your travels – but try to engage with people, & venture further than the English-speaking bars & cafes so common on the backpacker trail.

The chance to help others

Photo by Chantal Forster

Working for a good cause helps you too – from the self-esteem that comes with experience gained, to the friends you’ll make in the process. If something about the world upsets you – orphaned orang-utans, habitat destruction, girls who can’t get an education – then it’s undoubtedly been bothering some of the rest of us, too. Seek out charitable or voluntary organisations where you can spend time working directly with those in need, for all or part of your backpacking trip. If you can’t commit enough time for this, or you’ve yet to encounter a convincing “cause”, look out as you travel – many excellent endeavours are too local to achieve international fame, & you might be able to make an impromptu contribution while you’re out there.

Constant change of scene

Photo by Chantal Forster

It can sound a little trite when a perpetually chirpy person suggests that “perhaps you all you need is a change of scene”. But don’t go underestimating that change of scene. There’s nothing like staring at the same workstation every weekday for several years to really grind a person’s spirit. Discovering that the world does not look like your home town is one of the most liberating experiences available; backpacking, especially when you step off the tourist trail & encounter daily life, provides a fabulous string of new scenes, which will fuel memories, inspiration & conversation for months, if not years, on your return home.

The article is brought to you by Greatvine, a team whose sole focus is finding the best experts in anxiety, depression and other related health and wellness issues, so you don’t have to!

With so many iconic places to visit, holidays in Vietnam can be difficult to plan for. It is a country with deep history and interest; one with such natural beauty that every city and town has a huge amount to offer. However, no trip to Vietnam’s is complete without a visit to its capital city, Hanoi.

Hanoi City by David Conger

Located in the centre of Vietnam, Hanoi is an old city of great cultural importance, growing in popularity with tourists every year. It is one of the most captivating and atmospheric cities in Southeast Asia, with something to entertain and inspire all visitors. The weather is favourable throughout the year, though it is hottest between May and August so it’s best avoided then if you’re not a fan of humid weather. Flights fly directly into Hanoi Airport and it’s easily accessible by rail and road, meaning it’s the perfect gateway to the rest of your journey around Vietnam.

Explore Hanoi’s History

An absolute must-see is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – a tribute and museum to the infamous Communist leader and for many, it’s an important place of pilgrimage to their former leader. The Mausoleum itself is an absolutely remarkable sight and in a similar style to the mausoleums of Lenin and Stalin. Here you’ll learn the history of Ho Chi Minh and can view his body on display in a glass case, a memorable experience in itself as you slowly file past the heavily guarded body.  There is, however, a strict dress and behaviour code so make yourself aware of these before you visit. It’s also worth taking a trip to the Presidential Palace, a stunning example of architecture built by the French colonialists, where Ho Chi Minh refused to stay during his trips to Hanoi. Another place many refused to stay in, though some had no choice, is the infamous Hanoi Hilton. It was here that the American POWs were brought during the Vietnam War and whilst it has been largely demolished, a section still exists and has been preserved as a museum.

Enjoy Hanoi’s Culture

Hanoi Pagoda by David Conger

If you want to kick back and relax, Hanoi also offers many opportunities to do so. There’s the tranquil and serene walks around the many lakes the city has to offer, exploring pagodas and taking in exquisitely built bridges. If you want to experience something far more modern, it’s off to the shops.  Hanoi has been named as one of the top 10 places in Asia for shopping and there’s much here to delight the shopaholic, though you may have to rein it in to ensure you’re still able to carry your backpack!  Hanoi also has a thriving nightlife, with many karaoke bars, theatres and cinemas across the city and also numerous festivals to experience throughout the year.

Hanoi at night by Flipnomad

Top 5 things to do in Hanoi

1) Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

2) Take a trip to the Hanoi Hilton

3) Explore Colonial Hanoi

4) Visit an iconic pagoda

5) Go shopping!

Hanoi Market by Fahara

This article is brought to you by Natalie Likness.  She got her love of travel at an early age due to a trip abroad before she was even born! Having close family and making friends across the world, she has continued to travel ever since.

Quirky Travel is all about seeing the world from a different angle, looking at things from all sides, finding the unusual, the interesting, the fascinating.  Meeting delightful people, discovering new cultures, eating strange foods and seeing curious customs, have fuelled my life-long love of the breadth and depth of experiences that travel gifts to us – and 2011 has been the epitome of Quirky Travel.

Over the past 12 months I’ve been fortunate enough to travel around the UK and abroad with a host wonderful companions.  I’ve learnt about some incredibly quirky customs and etiquette (I now know NOT to ask a Finnish reindeer farmer how many animals he has), eaten some absolutely delicious food (Cunard’s Princess Grill restaurant was SUPERB), seen on some amazing sights and spent a lot of time discovering yet more beautiful and inspiring places in my beloved Lake District.

Although it’s been incredibly difficult to choose, here are my Top Ten highlights and why they epitomize Quirky Travel … (They are roughly in date order, NOT preference – that would be impossible.)

1. The Snowmobile Safari, Finland: this was my very first visit to Scandinavia but also my first blog trip abroad. To be invited to stay in beautiful  Iso-Syote fjell-top hotel and experience their adventure holiday was a dream come true.  Zooming across pristine snow over frozen fields and through ancient pine forests at high speed defines ‘exhilaration’.
2. The Scaffolding Tour, Chatsworth House, Derbyshire: In April Visit England invited me to Chatsworth, one of England’s great historic houses.  The external stonework of the house is being cleaned, repaired and restored and I had a Scaffolding Tour to the roof.  Being able to see up close the very quirky Snake motifs was a reminder of the days when, with money, grand designs and a view to history, architects created individual works of art, even when hardly anyone would ever see them.
3. The Calf Of Man, Isle of Man: on a glorious spring day, sitting on boingy grass dotted with dainty wild flowers, gazing out across ancient stones and the Irish Sea, all seemed right with the world. I’d chosen to visit the Isle of Man as the prize for winning ‘Britain’s Best Travel Blogger’ in January.  It’s a magical island and so very quirky … a treasure trove of maritime history, proud Parliamentary tradition, roaring race tracks across the landscape, four-horned sheep and faery folk-lore.
4. Geiranger Fjord, Norway: Gazing down on the toy ship set in the middle of one of the world’s most stunning fjords was surreal.  Had I really sailed all the way to Norway aboard that ship? Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth was on her maiden voyage and I will never forget the myriad of sensory experience on board and ashore during that trip.  I fell in love with the ship and the crew made every moment a joy and a treat.  I am now a total convert to cruising  – maybe someone will invite me on another one in 2012 – hint hint!
5. The Calvari Steps, Pollensa, Majorca: walking up the 365 old stone steps past beautiful gardens was a rather exhausting but rewarding experience. We were having a family holiday in nearby Puerto Pollensa but son & friends didn’t want to do the walk – wimps!  At the top there is a small, simple chapel with a wooden cross placed in memory of shipwreck survivors.  Sitting within its peaceful tranquility was a moment to reconnect with the soul and a reminder of what’s important in life …
6. Cogglesford Mill, Lincolnshire: Windy Miller aka Michael, a retired school teacher, shared his passion for the old tradition of making wholesome, tasty flour in one of the country’s few surviving working mills.  I bought a bag of flour and it does make exceedingly good bread.
7. Walking with Wallender, Sweden: medieval Ystad, in the Skäne region of southern Sweden, was a delight. Its colourful wood-framed houses, winding lanes and imposing square all feature in the detective series ‘Wallander’.  I was with a really fun group of travel bloggers and sharing the delights of this region with a group of like-minded writers was the other reason this trip was so enjoyable.  Oh, and the food was DELICIOUS.
8. The Art Deco Tour, Midland Hotel: Morecambe is not necessarily the most obvious place to find one of the UK’s best-kept Art Deco gems, but then travel is full of surprises.  Renowned (and definitely bonkers) sculptor Eric Gill produced some of his best work for this hotel; my brother and I had an absorbing insight on one of the hotel’s tours, followed by excellent afternoon tea. History, art, culture and cake in one afternoon – heaven.
9. Strahov Monastery Library, Prague: books are a passion and the historic collection in this 12^th century monastery is one of the glories of the Czech Republic. Prague is one of my favourite European capitals. The people are friendly, cultured and feisty, the architecture is varied and well-preserved, the beer is excellent and the food … well, the food is OK if you are a carnivore with a penchant for dumplings, but it’s definitely one place I could return to again and again.
10. Cocktails at the Cavendish, London: learning how to make cocktails from a world-class expert with a group of food & drink bloggers in this luxury hotel – what’s not to like?  It combined so many things I love about travel – great surroundings, meeting new people, discovering how to do something different and getting in the festive spirit in style.

With grateful thanks to all people who made these trips possible.  Wishing all the friends and travellers I have met along the way a very Happy New Year and all the very best for 2012.  Travel Quirkiliciously …

The Galapagos Islands provide a unique opportunity to observe wildlife at extremely close quarters. Cox & Kings’ Maria- Louisa Lowther takes a closer look…

The Galapagos Islands are one of those places I had always dreamed of going to as a child but never imagined I would actually get to see. Teachers at schools would tell us about colossal lizards which spit out of their nostrils and strange sounding birds with blue or red feet, playful sea lions which surf the waves, the famous lonesome George and animals you can get so close to you can even see them breathe. Over the years, my longing to visit this ‘other world’ never seemed to go away, as public interest increased, the BBC and National Geographic screened various documentaries and I’d hear of ‘friends of friends’ lucky enough to visit. Oh if only.

 No amount of education can prepare the visitor for the wonders to be seen in The Galapagos Islands. Named after the giant Galapagos tortoise, the archipelago emerged six million years ago as a result of volcanic activity in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. This alluring and complex eco-system is located 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador. It holds a record number of special titles, including: Ecuador’s first National Park; UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in Danger; the second largest marine reserve in the world after the Great Barrier Reef; a Biosphere reserve and a Whale Sanctuary.

In 1835, the English naturalist Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos and this ‘living laboratory’ inspired his writings in support of the Theory of Evolution. In fact, many of the species on these islands have evolved differently from their continental ancestors and thus have become unique species in our planet, often displaying an astonishing lack of fear towards humans. It is thought that the Galapagos Islands were originally linked to mainland Ecuador by ‘stepping stone’ islands; hence the animals were able to swim across and evolve in isolation.

The first time I went to Ecuador in 2003 I was a backpacker travelling overland, squeezing every last dollar. Then I considered fifteen dollars expensive for a hotel and so a visit to the Galapagos Islands was way out of my budget limits – even the cheapest gringo’ cruises cost a minimum of a thousand dollars with flights. So I wandered down Amazonas, the main thoroughfare in Quito, staring sadly at the tour shops offering packages to the islands, still only wishing rather than believing that I could be there. It was still only a dream.

Five years later I found myself wandering down the very same street, past the very same gringo tour shops, knowing that in just a few days’ time I would actually be travelling to this weird and wonderful place.

I was not disappointed. No two islands are the same. San Cristobal features mocking birds, lava lizards, coralline beaches, frigate birds and blue-footed boobies. On North Seymour Island, highlights include land iguanas, endemic palo santo trees and stunning sunsets. Espanola offers colonies of albatross and the endemic sub-species large-billed cactus finch. Santa Cruz is home to the famous giant tortoise and unusual highland vegetation such as the giant daisy tree Scalesia. On Floreana you can see volcanic cones, small Galapagos penguins (the only penguins in the northern hemisphere) and flamingos. Fernandina may be rated as one of the most pristine islands in the world, due to the absence of introduced mammals. Here is evidence of recent black lava flows and sea lizards that feed on algae. Isabela is the largest island, made up of several large volcanoes. Rabida has red beaches and brown pelicans. On San Salvador, watch sea lions giving birth to their pups. Bartolome has Pinnacle Rock, the pointed rock that is the most photographed view of the islands. The list is endless. The true beauty of the islands has to be seen to be believed – get there whilst you still can!

This article is brought to you by Cox & Kings offering luxury holidays and tailor-made holidays to Ecuador and Galapagos.