With a squeal of brakes the noisy old bus clattered into the station and wheezed to a stop, kicking up a small cloud of dust in the early afternoon sunshine.

The brief silence was shattered as the door swung open to a crowd of tuk-tuk drivers clamouring to offer over-priced rides into the city.

I scooped up my backpack, squinted towards the carpark and grinned as I headed towards the nearest songthaew.

Chiang Mai

I had made it to Chiang Mai.

Coming from a laid-back month in Laos I wasn’t sure what to expect from this large city in Thailand’s north, but after a couple of days of exploring its temples and laneways the place started to get under my skin.

Even with the downpours of monsoon season turning the streets into rivers each evening, there was something about being there that just felt right.

I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at the time, but as I headed south to Bangkok and on to Europe, my thoughts kept returning to that week in Chiang Mai.

A year later my body returned as well.

Much had happened in those twelve months. My previous trip had finished and I had gone back to Australia. I rented an apartment. I got a real job. I drank great coffee and pretended to fit in. For the entire time I was there, though, part of me really wanted to be somewhere else.

A couple of months ago I listened to that part of me. I packed up my life again and headed back to Thailand.

It was absolutely the right choice.

As good as Chiang Mai was during the monsoon months, it is immeasurably better when the sun is shining.

The cooler months from December to February offer a welcome respite from April’s sweltering heat or the rains that start in June. Cold enough at night to sleep without a fan but more than warm enough to lie beside the pool in the afternoon, there is no better time to be here.

And then there is the food.  Oh the food.

The cuisine of northern Thailand is noticeably different to that further south, with obvious influences from nearby Burma and Laos.  Khao soy is my new best friend.

The night markets

The air of the night markets is filled with the tantalising aroma of foods and spices being simmered and stir-fried to perfection.

Perched on a plastic chair watching the ebb and flow of people walking past, I enjoy some of the best food and drink of my life for a dollar or two.

On the rare occasion I want something different there is a surprisingly depth of international food here as well. Excellent Mexican, Italian, Indian and other Asian restaurants do a thriving trade at very reasonable prices.

Thailand promotes itself heavily as the Land of Smiles.

While that cliche can sometimes be hard to find in the tourist-heavy south of the country, the genuine warmth of the people that live in Chiang Mai brings a smile to my own face as well.

I pay local prices for most things, not tourist rates. The cafe owners and stall holders take the time to stop and chat for a while – many know me by name, or at least by my regular order.  People in the street smile at me, and I smile back.

Most of the time though I am just another face in the crowd, just another guy at the traffic lights. I am not special, and nor do I want to be.

I am just living here.

Chiang Mai is the perfect spot for people looking to drop out of the rat race and do something different for a while. Fast internet and reliable power let me work online.  My furnished apartment (including utilities) costs around $250 per month, and total expenses struggle to hit $1000.

The pace of life is surprisingly slow here, and even the daily traffic jams barely raise an eyebrow as I weave between snarled vehicles on my scooter. Having one is a luxury, really – most things I need are within walking distance of the old town, and songthaews are cheap and plentiful.

The fresh air of the countryside is a few minutes away and the alpine scenery and quiet roads cry out for regular exploration.

Chiang Mai

Food, weather, infrastructure, culture, scenery. This place has it all.

The only thing it is missing is a beach – but then again if it had one it wouldn’t be Chiang Mai. Without the resorts and sun loungers this place offers something different to the rest of Thailand.

I will happily holiday in the islands for a month or two with the sand between my toes, but it is to Chiang Mai I will return when the rains come.

Of course to return, I will have to leave in the first place.

I don’t even know if I can.

BIO: Dave grew up in a small town in New Zealand, which seemed like the perfect incentive to get out and see what the rest of the world looked like as soon as possible. Fifteen years later he still hasn’t quite figured out how to stop. He blogs about travel technology at Too Many Adapters and the highs and lows of life as a long term traveller at What’s Dave Doing?

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“22 year old Australian man dies on flying fox in Laos”

I didn’t have to read any more of the article to know what had happened.

Copious amounts of alcohol in Vang Vieng and common sense lost.

Yep.

Confirmed, and I was also shocked to read that 22 people died on this famous river tube pub crawl last year.

River tube swing Vang Vieng Laos

This should not happen. Travel should not be about going so crazy that you trash a beautiful small river town with Western excess and debauchery, and people die.

I think back to other places I know that have been trashed in the same way. Full Moon parties in Thailand, check- Australian died last year; Muscle Bar at the Running of the Bulls in Pampalona; Kuta Bali;

The Hofbrauhaus Beerfest tent.

Walk into that tent during Beerfest, and then walk into another tent that is mostly filled with Germans and Europeans, and you’ll know what I am talking about.

A lot of my horror comes from the fact that I know a large proportion of the people who trash these places are Australians.

What is wrong with us?

I’ve been to all these places, and I try to cast my mind back to see if I behaved in these appalling ways. I wonder if my horror is merely a result of me being much older and wiser now, a mother with two children, who I like to think has a bit more decorum and respect.

I did get really drunk at Beerfest… I was on a tour group with a bunch of Aussies. I ran into a lot of friends from home. I spent most of my time in the feral beer tent.

Fun at Munich Beer Fest 1997

We stood around laughing, drinking, dancing on tables and chatting with people from all over the world. Not too bad.

Previous to going, I had heard of the 100 club, a disgusting Beerfest rite of passage for Aussies and Kiwis. You stand around, take a shot of beer every minute for a 100 of them, and if you need to throw up or go to the toilet then you are out.

The problem is that when you are out, you have to lie in the middle of the circle where the judges can serve up punishment. Punishment which usually results in them throwing up on you, pissing on you, or even worse (yes it involves other bodily waste and fluid.)

But don’t worry if you make it through the 100 minutes you can do the same back to the judges.

Are we a nation that is mad?

“There is no way I am going to watch that or participate.” I told my friends. ” I came here to enjoy myself and experience the culture.”

Running of the Bulls, Pampalona

Before going to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, we heard that the Muscle Bar was the place for Aussies and Kiwis to hang out. We had a big party in the campsite the evening before and meet some cool people who we were going to hang out with for the day.

First stop Muscle Bar.

We grabbed our sangrias and headed out to the square in front of the statue. The place where drunken idiots would climb to the top of the 3 metre high statue. They would point to their equally drunk friends below to catch them as they dived head first into the crowd, hoping they would stop them from falling on the concrete and chards of broken glass.

“You know the Spaniards hate the Aussies here?” a spectator beside me spoke. “They come here and trash their celebration and create accidents and deaths where there should be just dancing and having fun.”

I wanted to be swallowed up by the broken glass.

A young girl climbed up the statue, fist pumping the air with her bravery and pointing to her friends below. Who knows what happened to them when she jumped, because none of them caught her.

A silence transcended over the crowd, as the paramedics, waiting in the wings, pushed their way through. I almost threw up.

“I’m sorry guys, but I can’t stay here. I came here to have fun not to watch people die.”

My friends’ solemn faces spoke their reply as they spun on their heels.

We spent the rest of the day dancing and singing in the back streets with the local Spaniards. It is the best festival I have ever attended.

The Running of the Bulls Begins!

Throughout the day, the sirens could be heard racing back and forth from that Muscle Bar and I shrank in shame a little each time at the appalling and disrespectful behaviour of my fellow countrymen.

Full Moon Party, Thailand

I went to the Full Moon party in 99. We danced and drank and had so much fun. It wasn’t as crazy, I don’t believe, as it is now. But the party sure went for a few days.

For some reason it just never entered my head that a sane thing to do would be to go swimming in the ocean or jump off the rocks when I was wasted. Why do some people have these common sense things missing from their brains? People should not be dying in these ways.

From what I’ve heard of Full Moon now I wouldn’t go back again. It sounds like another place that has just been ruined by drunken idiots where too many people die.

Kuta, Bali

I can’t even put into words how I feel about that place now after reading about it on Wandering Earl’s site, “When Tourism Goes Terribly Wrong.”

It was my first overseas holiday; it created an intense desire in me to make travel my lifestyle forever.

And now that feeling has been replaced with horror and the sadness that comes with knowing that we travellers think we own the world and don’t need to respect the culture of the people whose homes we are visiting.

It seems like a lot of Australians have died in Bali lately or been in trouble. Can we please get it into our heads, that taking drugs, buying them or trying to traffic them will land you in a prison in these countries and possibly graciously give you a noose for your neck?

Vang Vieng, Laos

And now Vang Vieng. We loved this place when we first visited in 2006. We spent a lazy day floating down the river on tubes, popping in for a few beers here and there. It seemed pretty sedate and casual.

River tubing Vang Vieng- Laos

I swung out on a rope, sober, and as soon as I hit the water decided that it probably was not a good idea anymore and would rather sit, relax and enjoy myself.

My life is too precious to cut it short on stupid risks.

I’ve seen recent pictures of the partying in Laos, of people with words like “c**t” and such and such “is gay” and “takes it up the arse,” and “slut” written on their backs. This is not cool or funny or honouring the beauty that lives inside each of us. It’s trash in its purest form.

I value the culture of the land I am visiting, and the beauty of the landscape to trash it with irresponsible, outrageous behaviour. I want to give my country a good name.

It doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. But why do people have to die as a result of fun gone wrong?

All I could think about was that young man’s mother. Now that I am a mother I understand.

To hear that your son’s life was taken while he was out on a river pub crawl having fun and probably not making smart choices. Or, maybe he was, but the area he was in has been so trashed now by travellers that the local people have lost their senses are they are trying to cater to the demand in order to make a living.

It’s not until you create a life that you realize the devastation that can only come when that life you created, the greatest love of your life, is gone. I couldn’t imagine the pain of it. I couldn’t imagine how I could ever survive it.

Sometimes parents have to face the loss of their child overseas while travelling. We lost a friend in a tragic accident in Africa (Strangely enough it was Waz who first told us of Vang Vieng.). His mother took some comfort in knowing that her child was doing what he loved and it was just a tragic accident. Imagine knowing that it was a result of something so avoidable and a result of behaviour spun out of control.

Respect and Have Fun at the Same Time

I don’t think my disgust comes from me just being older and out of touch, I think it comes from me just wanting our society to be better than for a change.

To respect our own lives and that of others around us. We don’t have to trash things to have a good time. We can still get drunk and party and have fun without losing so much control.

To all the young travellers, I say go out and have a ball. Go to festivals, go to parties, drink and be merry. But please be culturally sensitive and make smart choices.

Think of your mothers, who are at home, worried about their babies. Please make choices that don’t risk you losing your own life and destroying that of your parents, who love you more than anything.

You’re too young and life is too beautiful for it to be cut short just in the name of drunken fun.

Have you experienced places that have been trashed in this way before by bad foreigner behaviour?

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It was a two day intensive course where I learned the tricks to freelance writing and was armed with many tools and strategies to help me start pitching to print publications to sell my travel stories.

Why not?

You can listen to the video below where I tell you why I really loved the course and what I am going to do with it now.

You can follow along with my freelance travel writing journey as I share with you my ups and downs, successes and failures.

I’d love for you to hold my hand and help me be accountable and I’d love to show you how you could possibly do the same.

You can learn more about the travel writing course at the Sydney Writer’s Centre.

Don’t forget to sign up to receive email updates so you don’t miss any helpful and inspiring posts and vlogs.

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As part of our “Travel Tips Tuesday” series, we sat down and interviewed Dave Lee from GoBackpacking.com who lived in Medellin for 18 months for his personal tips on what to do in Medellin?

Not only did Dave give us great insider knowledge on what to do in Medellin, but also some handy tips for where to stay, where to eat, and where to go for some salsa dancing.

Take it away Dave…

1.  Why Visit Medellin, Colombia?

The city is situated in a beautiful valley, offering mountain views from every angle. Combine the natural setting with Spring-like temperatures year round, Medellin offers a very comfortable climate both day and night.

Nightlife in Medellin is a big draw among younger travelers, as paisas love to dance, drink, and party. The women are reputed to be the most beautiful in Colombia, if not all of South America, and that reputation alone continues to attract more and more male travelers.

Most foreigners know little about Medellin other than it was the former home and stomping grounds of Pablo Escobar, and therefore once listed as the most dangerous city in the world. In the last few years, several companies have set up organized tours to cater to the tourist-demand for information on this tragic chapter in the city’s history.

Downtown Medellin

2. Best Things to See and Do?

Medellin is home to Colombia’s most famous artist, Fernando Botero. In the city center, you can walk through Botero Plaza and get your picture taken amongst a few dozen of his large metal sculptures. The plaza also features the Museo de Antioquia which features some of Botero’s paintings, as well as other Latin artists.

One of the reasons Medellin is a popular place for expats to live in Colombia is the metro system. Medellin features Colombia’s only metro train. From the main train line that runs North/South through the city, are several cable cars (like ski gondolas) that run up the mountains to poorer neighborhoods. These cable cars are meant to give residents easier access to the city, however they also offer a cheap and fun way to get panoramic views of the entire city.

If you prefer adrenaline-pumping activities, paragliding is available for as little as $45 per 25-minute flight.

Metro Cable

3.  Where to Eat?

For a taste of the local cuisine, head to Mondongo’s where you can try the mondongo (tripe) soup. Mexican food is often done well, and I’m a fan of 1910 Revolucion Mexicana for the stylish decor as much as the food. And if you’re craving excellent creole or north Brazilian food, head to Bonuar, which is adjacent the Modern Art Museum, and features live Blues during the week.

Check out my list of 10 traditional dishes to try when visitng Colombia.

4.  Where are the Cool Bars and Discotecas?

While the bars and discotecas around Parque Lleras are always busy on the weekends, there are many more places to party with locals than the Zona Rosa. A paisa favorite is the raucous Dulce Jesus Mio, which is decorated like a mock Antioquian pueblo. Workers dress up as caricatures of typical townspeople. Get there early (9 pm), and ensure you have at least one girl with you, to get a table.

For some of the city’s best live salsa music, head downtown to El Eslabon Prendido on a Tuesday night (around 9:30 pm if you want a table). If you actually want room to dance, then go to the upscale Cien Fuegos, which features the biggest dance floor in town.

inside Dulce Jesus Mio

5.  Best Place to Have a Drink with the Locals?

Just about anywhere they sell beer. Drinking in public is legal in Colombia, so you’ll often see local teens and college age kids buying beers and drinking in the parks on the weekends. It’s a cheap way to enjoy the night.

Otherwise, go for beers in any of the small, hole-in-the-wall bars that can be found in every neighborhood. The bars facing any park, such as Parque Envigado, offer good people watching opportunities too.

6.  Best Area for a Night on the Town and Dancing?

Parque Lleras is the most accessible — you can just walk around until you find a bar or discoteca that looks like fun.  Or, hop a cab to nearby Barrio Colombia and you’ll have a dozen different discotecas to choose from, all within a few square blocks.  And you’ll see fewer foreigners than in Parque Lleras.

More adventurous visitors will go a bit further to La 33, or La 70, a five-block strip of salsa bars and clubs on the West side of the city.

7.  Getting Around: How is the Public Transport System?

Medellin is a large city, so while you’ll be able to walk around within neighborhoods, you’ll need public transport to get you around the city. Bus rides, which can be confusing at first, cost about 65 cents each, while a single ride on the metro will run you 85 cents.

The metro is very easy to use, clean, and generally safe (there’s security at every station and platform). Taxis are metered, and you can go from one end of the city to the other for $6-7.

8.  Favorite Day Trip?

Guatape is a colorful pueblo a short 2 – 2 1/2 half hour bus ride from Medellin. It’s situated on a lake, and is just 15 minutes from El Penol, a monolith sticking out of the ground. You can pay a few bucks to climb the stairs up the monolith. The view of the surrounding countryside from atop the rock is not to be missed.

You can visit Guatape and El Penol as a long day trip, but I recommend staying the weekend to relax like the locals.

el penol

9.  Where to Stay?

Most visitors stay in El Poblado, the upscale neighborhood in Medellin. And with good reason. It’s pretty, clean, and generally safer than other parts of town. Most of the hostels are centered around Parque Lleras, with bigger hotels situated along Avenida Poblado.

While most of the hostels are party hostels, I like to recommend Casa Kiwi where I stayed when I first arrived in the city. The Art Hotel is a nice place for those with a bigger budget.

10. Markets or Shopping Areas to Visit?

Santa Fe, located on Avenida Poblado, is the city’s largest shopping mall. The retractable roof allows fresh air and sunshine in on the nice days. The mall features movie theaters, a food court as well as some specialty restaurants like Sushi Light, and plenty of name brand clothing stores.

Botero Plaza

11.  Major Events and Festivals?

In early July, Medellin hosts Colombia’s annual salsa festival. The weekend event is a combination of salsa workshops, competitions, and at night, social dancing.

As the fashion capital of Colombia, Medellin hosts Colombiamoda (fashion week) every July as well. The 3-day event is open to the public during the day (a pass costs about $40), while the runway shows are invite-only.

La Feria de las Flores, the city’s annual flower parade, runs from the last week of July through the first week of August. The weekends are busy with parades, including La Cabalgata horse parade, an antique car parade, and the flower parade. There are also lots of concerts and special events held during the 10-day celebrations.

Flower Parade

12.  Best Time of Year to Visit?

Summer, or the dry season, runs from December through February, so these are some of the best months to visit. Every December, Medellin and the surrounding cities like Envigado and Sabaneta, put up millions of Christmas lights and decorations.

The entire valley is transformed, fireworks are lit off every night, and chivas (party
buses) take both the locals and tourists around to see the displays. It all makes for a very festive atmosphere.

Christmas lights in Envigado

13.  Getting There and Away?

Medellin is well connected to other cities within Colombia by bus and air, and an increasing number of international ones as well. I’m a fan of Aires, a discount airline which was recently acquired by LAN Airlines. You can get domestic tickets to major cities like Bogota, Cali, and Cartagena for as little as $75, thus saving you a 10 to 12-hour bus ride.

If you’re long on time and short on money, stick to the buses. Overnight buses are fairly comfortable, with reclining seats, though you need to dress warmly because the driver always has the air-conditioning on high.

Medellin, and Colombia as a whole, is slowly opening up to more and more international flights between cities such as Quito, Lima, Panama City, and Havanna.

14.  Best “INSIDERS” tip for Travellers?

Try finding a place to stay through Couchsurfing, or by renting a short term apartment. To find a room to rent, try CompartoApto, and to find an apartment, just do an internet search and you’ll find a bunch of agencies.

15.  Is Medellin SAFE?

I believe Medellin is no more dangerous than any other large, Latin American city. The stereotypes from the days when Pablo Escobar, narcoterrorists, and the FARC use to cause widespread and indiscriminate violence live on, yet anyone who visits the city will see it’s not so scary at all.

Common street crime, such as pickpockets and robberies, continue to be a problem but I don’t think that’s reason enough to avoid the city or country entirely.

16.  I love Medellin because __________?

Because I’ve gained so much as a person from living there. The paisas welcomed me with warmth and curiosity. The natural beauty inspired me every morning when I woke up. The friendly (and hot) women inspired me to learn Spanish. And the Latin music inspired me to learn how to dance.

Bio: Dave Lee is Editor-in-Chief of Go Backpacking.com and blogged his way around the world from 2007-2009, and then started Travel Blog Success course to teach others how to do the same. When not writing, he can be found salsa dancing in Medellin. Follow him on Twitter or look for him on Google+

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Trapped in a vortex, you cannot see clearly enough what it is you are doing and why.

Forget even trying to think about what you should do next, the vertigo grips and squeezes all rational thought or ambition out of you.

Photo: http://pinterest.com/bugsonmyface/

I recently wrote a letter to new travel bloggers, giving them the encouragement they need to continue on to the fulfilment of their goals and aspirations.

Sometimes I need to read those words myself.

Wanting to Stop My World

I’ve been struggling.

I grew weary of everything to do with blogging. I couldn’t see what I was doing and why, if I was making a difference anymore, or if I was providing value.

I grew tired of caring about the other stuff. The stats, marketing and promoting; regretting that was a part of what we do here, but knowing I could never avoid it.

Everywhere I turned was arguing, judging, jealousy, and snarky comments in the race to be better than others.

My writing just seemed to plummet off a cliff. I couldn’t string a sentence together. Everywhere I turned someone else’s writing was better than mine which made me want to crawl into the hole of LOSER VILLE.

All I wanted to do was sleep, play with Kalyra, and tickle Savannah and get lost in her bleating giggles.

Playing with Kalyra

Oh my.

If you ever want to stop the world, it is best to just before you do, wrap yourself in the arms of a baby, and you’ll realize that you’ll never want the world to stop spinning.

I could happily sit there all day and stare at her and watch every move she makes. The way she with unwavering focus tries to grab the toy and unsuccessfully move it into her mouth, laughing as she misses and roots around the air instead.

All day every day.

But, I couldn’t and I can’t.

Life doesn’t work if you just meditate on the mountaintop; and the warmth and living cuddles of my children would soon grow cold, if I could not feed them.

Knowing that didn’t solve my predicament.

The desire to stop the world and quit.

But quit into what new space?

What else could I do? What else did I want to do?

Like a pendulum the thoughts swang back and forth within me, never pointing me in a clear direction.

The questions left hanging unanswered.

Does that mean we stop asking?

No. It just means the answers are still trying to find themselves.

Sometimes a step back in what we are doing is needed in order for us to go leaping forward. I needed to feel this lull and this need to retreat for very important reasons.

So I can take stock. So I can slow down the world, not stop it, and see just what it is I really need to do.

What is it that is bothering me so much and how can I fix it?

Usually this is a sign that there is something I need to improve in order to become better.

So my issues

• My health not being optimal
• My time taken up with so much stuff which affected my sense of peace, my time with my family, and the ability for me to move forward.
• The feelings of me not being good enough.

Of course this would all make you want to stop the world. But I decided it was time that I learned how to spin it to my beat instead.

During this retreat of mine, where I have relied heavily on posts sitting in draft in my back office and less time spent online, I’ve learned a few things and am improving already.

Most of you have heard we have been participating in a diet, or should I say a return to healthy lifestyle. We have both lost a fair amount of weight, I am getting more sleep and am felling so much more energized and light.

I’m spending far more quality time playing with my children, and absorbing every precious moment of their growth, I know soon that my dear Savannah will no longer have to rely on my arms to carry her around. (Sob)

People have entered my life, not unsurprisingly at the right time with the right answers. There is still much for me to figure out, but I am on my way.

I’ve grown so tired of caring about how many people are reading my posts, if my traffic is increasing, are there comments, are people sharing it, will Google ever love me, have I stumbled today, what about helped others out in forums, checking emails, making money, getting annoyed at major corporations who just don’t get it and want to take advantage of bloggers all the time, and the constant fighting that goes on in the blogosphere.

All I want to do really is travel, share it with others, and interact in a fun community.

It’s all this other stuff that just takes over and steals the joy away.

I’m no longer basing my success on that. It’s all about

“Did I make a difference in the life of someone else today?”

And that is all that counts.

Are you Living a Half-Filled Life

I saw Wayne Dyer speak in person last week. If you don’t know who he is, I’d encourage you to discover his words of wisdom and his gentle spirit. He lives his life mission of making sure we all become aware of the “AM that I AM” the greatness that resides in all of us and to know how to get in touch with that. (Many thanks to Lina for taking me with her)

And in doing so making sure that we do not stop the world knowing that we have lived a half-filled life.

Spending your days worrying and steeped in fear means that you are living a half filled life. Caring and allowing your life to be dominated by things that don’t inspire you or fill you with joy is living a half filled life.

The stuff was dragging me down. I’m learning to free it up and focus on just the things that make me feel the joy, which is why I’m doing this in the first place.

Part of that for me, means approaching that subject that terrifies me.

The quality of my writing.

Quite frankly it stinks.

And I know that I have control over my own life. I could wallow around in my own self-pity, and in true masochistic form, hang out with those that are better than me and start stopping the world, because I am such a failure I really need to jump.

Or… I can do something proactive about it.

Wayne Dyer has taught me to spend my days focusing on that which I want to be in the form of already being it.

So from now on I say I am a talented writer, knowing that I’ve already achieved that, I’m just waiting for my hands to catch up to that truth.

Instead of feeling inferior to those who are better than me, I’m letting them instead inspire and teach me.

I completed a freelance travel writing course last weekend which gave me some confidence to know I can do it. (And if you are interested in freelance writing, then watch this space as I am going to share my journey with you through vlogs)

I have armed myself with books and courses on writing in the hopes that some of their magic will rub off on me.

And I have forcibly removed myself from all but one online group. It’s a group that still maintains the spirit of positivity and helpfulness.

The focus is not getting involved in petty arguments, but improving my craft in order to provide a better experience for those who want to travel the world and life a full life.

The Travel Itch is a Respinning of the World

I think as travellers we are used to wanting to stop the world and jump off. It’s that itch that won’t go away, the urge to quit our jobs, sell all our possessions in search of….

None of us really know, we just know we need to stop our old ways as they are causing us to lead a half filled life. We need to sit back, take stock and allow the answers to the questions to come to us.

It’s only then that we learn how to respin the world into the full life we all desire.

I don’t need to stop the world. I just need to learn to spin it a new way

Have you learned to respin the world into the full life you desire?

P.S I will be sharing a lot about what I have learned lately and throughout my life on living a full life at Mojito Mother. Come join me over there to learn more.

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We love Asian food. We love authentic Asian food. And we love value for money. You get all that in Chinatown Sydney.

It’s no secret Sydney can be an expensive place to visit, and dining out is no exception. So more often than not, whether it be lunch or dinner, when we take our regular day trips into Sydney you will usually find us in Chinatown.

Dixon Street Food Court

One of the best options is to head for the food court on Dixon street, which is the main thoroughfare of Chinatown.

There you will find just about every Asian cuisine you can imagine: Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Cambodian, and Vietnamese. Not only that, the dishes are cheap and tasty,  and the service is quick.

You can generally walk into this food court and be sitting down with your meal in front of you within 10 minutes. So if you are looking for a casual and super budget friendly experience, this is for you.

Phnom Penh Teo Chew Noodle House

One of our picks within Dixon street food court is the Phnom Penh Teo Chew Noodle House which has a great selection of soups, noodle and rice dishes…

They have this delicious Tofu and Vege Laksa for just $7…

Tofu and Vege Laksa

Tom Yum Goong…

Tom Yum Goong

The ambience is relaxed but with a nice vibe…

Mamak Malaysian Restaurant

If it’s more of a restaurant setting you’re looking for, then the Malak Malaysian Restaurant on Goulbourn street is a popular choice.

This busy restaurant will see waiting customers lined up outside on the footpath every night of the week. So expect a longer wait time to get surved, but the food is worth it.

Mamak is said to have the best Roti Canai this side of the Indian ocean…

Roti Canai

 Loved this Mee Goreng noodle dish…

Mee Goreng

Dessert Roti…

Dessert Roti

Dinner for three…

A busy and vibrant place to dine…

Finish off with a Malaysian white coffee…

Malaysian white coffee

The Facts

Where is Chinatown in Sydney?

Location – In the southern part of the CBD in the suburb of Haymarket. Chinatown is centred around Dixon Street which runs off Hay Street.

Getting There – It’s an easy 10 minute walk from Central Railway Station, or you can take the light rail.

Website – ChinaTownSydney.com

Have you eaten out in Chinatown, Sydney before?…

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Photo: Storm Crypt

Just to get it out there, Manila isn’t the Philippines.

It’s where the main international airport is but I hope you don’t judge the country by its entrance (there are stories that they are spending billions to fix the international airport too, but I’ll wait until I see it).

After living in Sydney for eight years now, there are things that surprise me when I go back to visit family. Here are some realistic and practical tips when travelling to the Philippines – probably a guide that the tourism centre wouldn’t approve of.

Safe travel guides to the Philippines

• Have a trustworthy guide as much as possible. It helps if you know someone there because they know people who know people. Safe people. Maybe ask your hotel for a tour guide. But if you go on your own, ask the right people for information – hotel concierge, airport officials, information centres.

• Travel South. Get out of Manila to see what the country has to offer. There are popular tourist spots like Boracay, but personally, it’s too saturated with foreigners/tourists to be really culturally authentic. I suggest beautiful but quieter ones like Bohol, Camiguin, Palawan, Siquijor, Tagaytay, Baguio, or Vigan.

Want a ride?

• Don’t travel too much South. Yes, kidnappings happen there. Yes, people will try to get as much money out of you. It’s a poor country, you knew that already. So don’t go where the trouble is – like where the rebels are, where most kidnappings happen, or where bombings mostly occur. Stick to the tourist-safe zones. Having said that, there are guides for journalists who want to see those “exciting” areas.

• Ask your hotel. If travelling in one area for a longer period, you can ask your hotel if they can recommend someone you can hire as a driver to take you around. If you ask, you can also find an assistant or a nanny to take with you for an agreed price. If you just want to use a cab, ask for the meter to be turned on instead of a flat rate because they might rip you off.

• IDs and uniforms. It is wise to check IDs and uniforms for services like porters, cab drivers, tour guides and so on. It’s much safer to get their details, or know their details. We usually hire a regular driver, assistant, nanny etc beforehand and agree on a specific payment during the duration of the stay — less headache with the travel arrangements.

• Have cash. The thing with secluded nature spots is that sometimes, there are no ATMs or credit card machines. It’s good to carry around cash, just don’t put it all in one spot, because yes, there are snatchers too. When travelling, don’t wave around your expensive cameras, phones and other gadgets. They’re easy targets for snatchers.

• Protect your tummy and health. Use bottled water for obvious reasons. Bring medicine around – panadol, diarrhea tablets, rash cream and so on. Insect repellent will also come in handy. It is humid, carry around a small towel because you will be sweating constantly.

Lastly, have fun. Although there are unscrupulous people around, generally Filipinos have a happy disposition and welcoming nature, and a hell of competitive streak in karaoke – just saying, you should be prepared.

 Bio: Kristyn is the blogger behind MummyK. She is a journalist, photographer, and first time children’s book author. She is enjoying life with her IT consultant/musician husband and three year-old toddler in Sydney. She tweets as @mummyk.

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Lisa’s guesthouse in Yangshuo China.

We had just gotten back after  glorious day cycling through the Yangshuo countryside and decided to check our emails before heading out for dinner.

AS soon as I opened the Yahoo browser, a picture of a stingray and the latest news headline flashed up at me.

I blinked several times and read the words over and over again.

This must be a joke. How could this be real?

Craig was busy chatting with Lisa about our day and so did not see the news that would devastate our entire nation and put the world’s animal species, human and non, into mourning.

“Oh My God Craig! Steve Irwin is dead.”

Can you believe of all the animals he danced death with, it was a sting ray that finally took his life?

We thought that if it happened it would be from the snapping jaws of a croc, not these graceful ballerinas of the sea.

An Amazing Australian and Friend to the Animals

Steve was one of Australia’s most well known and likeable characters. Larger than life, always with a joke, a story to share, affectionate and loving words for his family, and an unbelievable passion for his life’s mission.

To make this world a place where animals and humans could co-exist in harmony, and we, their greatest threat, would work to protect  them and conserve their homes. Which is really our home too.

Steve wanted to educate the world and teach them that crocodiles, although fierce and dangerous, were not to be feared but loved for their ferocious spirits.

His father bravely spoke at his farewell and I’ll never forget his words.

“Today I feel so sad for the animals, as they have lost their best friend.”

Today is Australia Day and I felt it was a good day to remember Steve Irwin,the work he did an his family continue to do at Australia Zoo and their conservation efforts around the world.

Steve represented our country in such a great light around the world and made me proud to be an Aussie. He was definitely one of our best.

Travel Bloggers Give Back

I also wanted to let our readers around the world know the good work that continues to be carried on his name. There are several Travel Bloggers participating in an initiative created by Bret Love called Travel Bloggers Give Back, where we highlight a charity that we really love.

There is no better day than today to highlight and remember a real Widllife Warrior.

Steve created his own Australia Zoo, and Craig once worked there building rhino and other animal enclosures. We also visited frequently as a family; it was the first place Kalyra patted a kangaroo and displaying fearless Steve Irwin characteristics petted a crocodile.

Fearless

Australia Zoo is a great place to see his works in action, spend time with the crocodiles that he loves so well, and possibly see his wife Terri who now does the feeding. Bindi, his daughter, could possibly perform with you showing just how much she is like her father with her fierce determination to continue on his good works, and their son, is a miniature version of Steve and beyond cute.

There is not only the zoo that operates in order to continue to preserve and conserve wildlife. The also have other foundations and programs set up such as…..

Be a Wildlife Warrior

There are various of ways you can support Steve’s conservation efforts and make a difference You can sign petitions, make donations, sponsor animals, visit the zoo, participate in conservation projects or just spread the word and act like Steve and be kind to the animals.

He often spoke of his mission and how all he wanted to do was to show people the hearts of every living species so they could get into our hearts and we would protect them.

Steve was a very passionate person, and I’m sure anyone who saw him in action felt a burst of their own energy from within them, he was that infectious, he could move you miles away just through the TV screen.

He was a very proud Australian and a true Wildlife warrior.

Not only did he teach us so much about animals and how we are all interconnected and must help one another, he also taught us a few things about what we need to do to become winners in our own lives.

“I have a message for my fans. Whatever you want to do in this world, it is achievable. The most important thing that I’ve found, that perhaps you could use, is be passionate and enthusiastic in the direction that you choose in life, and you’ll be a winner.”
—Crikey! What an Adventure on Animal Planet, 2007

All animal species miss you Steve.

I’ll be donating in Steve’s memory today to his conservation efforts. I’d love it if you could do the same. Make Australia Zoo a place to visit on your Australian journey. You’ll see lot of Aussie animals, you’ll get to see more of Steve’s work in action and you will contribute to that by visiting.

Australia Zoo

Website: http://australiazoo.com/get-involved/
Location: 1638 Steve Irwin Way Beerwah QLD 4519
Opening Hours: 9am-5pm
Cost: Adult: $59 Child $35 Student: $47

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As part of our “Travel Tips Tuesday” series, we interviewed local DC resident and travel blogger Matt Long from Landlopers.com for his tips on what to do in DC?

Not only did Matt give us great insider knowledge on what to see in DC, but also some handy tips for where to stay, where to eat, and where to go for a day trip as well.

Take it away Matt…

How long have you lived in Washington DC?

I moved here right out of grad school in 2000.

Must see Monuments and Museums? Any Free days to visit?

DC is a city of great museums and monuments and it’s hard to go wrong.

Some of my favorites include: Udvar-Hazy extension of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, National Building Museum, Newseum and the International Spy Museum.

Another great thing about visiting DC is that all of the Smithsonian Institution museums (including the zoo) are free.

Any other areas worth visiting?

A great area many tourists miss is Georgetown, because there’s no metro access. But this historic neighborhood is the most posh in the city, with stunning homes, great restaurants and the best shopping in town.

How is the public transport system? Is DC a walkable city?

The metro is great for getting around town quickly and easily. I personally think it’s easy to understand, but I’m biased.

Parts of DC are walkable, but not all of course. The main tourist area around the National Mall is easy to navigate, but can be grueling on a hot summer’s day.

What Cafes and Restaurants do you recommend?

After years of suffering, DC is finally becoming a foodie town! Some of my favorite lower cost restaurants include: Good Stuff Eatery, We The Pizza, Ben’s Chili Bowl and Moby Dick House of Kabob.

On the higher end of the scale my picks are: Citronelle, Inn at Little Washington, Minibar, Vidalia and Bistro Bis.

Any cool Bars and Pubs?

For the best beer selection in town RFD Washington in Chinatown has everyone beat; they feature thousands of breweries from around the world.

Best place to have a drink with the locals (the who’s who of DC elite)?

Since DC is a political town, there’s no shortage of watering holes. To rub elbows with Congressional types, head to Hawk and Dove or The Capitol Lounge on Capitol Hill.

Best area for a night on the town?

Without a doubt it’s Dupont Circle, a mix of young Bohemians and polished professionals, there’s an abundance of restaurants, bars and clubs in this active neighborhood.

Where to Stay? Can you recommend any budget and high-end places?

For the ultra-budget traveler, there are hostels of course, but my advice for the moderate budget traveler is to stay outside of the District. Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia is on the metro and a quick ride from the city. Because it’s not in DC though, the hotels tend to be less expensive.

Given the number of high ranking officials who visit from around the world, there are plenty of high-end hotels. The Hay-Adams, the Mayflower Renaissance, the Willard InterContinental, the Ritz-Carlton and the Omni Shoreham are all fantastic choices.

Any markets or shopping districts worth a visit?

Locals all know and love Eastern Market, a DC institution. Built in 1873, Eastern Market was in continuous operation until 2007, when a devastating fire closed the
historic structure until it reopened in 2009.

Located just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol, during the week the market offers fantastic fresh meats, cheeses, and produce from a variety of local farmers and vendors.

It is on the weekends though that Eastern Market explodes into a frenzy of food and art. Every Saturday and Sunday vendors from all over the Mid-Atlantic descend on Washington to sell their arts and crafts, antiques, and food. It can get quite busy, so be sure to visit early.

Major Events and Festivals throughout the year to consider?

Since we’re the capital city, there are always major events and festivals going on, but my favorite is the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. This annual festival is a two-week international exposition of living cultural heritage and provided free of charge on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The always changing Festival overlaps with the Fourth of July celebrations and together the events showcase Washington at its best.

Favorite side trip? (half or full day)

One of my favorite day trips is to nearby Mount Vernon, the George Washington estate. It’s a beautiful property right on the Potomac and they’ve done a great job
making the experience interesting and fun for everyone who visits.

For an overnight escape, Maryland’s Eastern Shore is only a couple of hours away. The Eastern Shore sits on the Chesapeake Bay and the many small towns lining this historic part of the state are fun to explore.

When to Go? What is the BEST time of year to visit?

Fall is my favorite time in DC. The weather is comfortable, many tourists have gone home and you can enjoy the city in a less-harried way. DC in the middle of summer
is like walking through hell, avoid it if you can.

Getting There and Away? Any preferred airline for deals? Is train and bus an option?

DC is lucky to be serviced by three major airports, although Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the most convenient. Southwest Airlines has a growing
presence, but there’s not a strong budget airline in the area.

Train and bus are both extremely easy to take from New York or Philadelphia. Bolt Bus and Megabus both run frequently and feature some cool onboard amenities.

Best “insiders” tip? Either a place to see or a way to save money?

Even though it’s located outside of DC, near Dulles Airport, Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is one of my favorite area attractions. Founded in 1966 as the result of a gift of 100 acres of Northern Virginia farmland, Wolf Trap is the only National Park in the United States devoted to the performing arts.

This massive facility offers year round programming through the Barns at Wolf Trap and the Filene Center. The best time to visit is in the summer when a variety of acts, from Bill Cosby to Chicago, all perform onstage at the Filene Center.

The least expensive tickets at the Filene Center are, in my opinion, the most enjoyable – the lawn seats. Over the years, patrons have made lawn seating a tailgating event, bringing elaborate picnics to enjoy before the evening shows.

I love DC because?

It’s a big city that doesn’t seem like it. We don’t have sky scrapers and Washington doesn’t feel like a concrete jungle. Instead we have amazing historic buildings, lots of green space and neighborhoods that have tremendous character.

Bio – Matthew Long, travel writer, blogger and photographer is also Editor-in-Chief and creator of LandLopers.com, one of the top blogs in the world. As someone who has a bad case of the travel bug, Matt travels the world in order to share tips on where to go, what to see and how to experience the best the world has to offer. Matt is a Lonely Planet Featured Blogger as well as a contributor to many other travel sites and publications.

Matt’s site LandLopers.com is listed in the Viator Travel Top 25 Blogs, easyJet’s 12 Travel Blogs in 2012, the Top 100 Travel Blogs, Top 100 Independent Travel Blogs and Washington Flyer’s Top 100 Travel Blogs. You can also find him on Twitter and Facebook

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I’ve written about it before at Being Cool off the Beaten Path and Amanda from A Dangerous Business wrote a good post “the Tourist verse Traveller debate” recently as well.

I don’t care how people choose to travel and where they go. Whatever floats your boat.

My only gripe is when people travel expecting and wanting everything to be how it is back home. Now there is a real problem.

We love our off the road adventures, but we also love visiting those touristy places that are touristy for a reason. This is what travel is about. Visiting those famous landmarks you learned about that helped you to know what the difference between France and Italy was.

Sure the Eiffel Tower and Coliseum by no means defines the culture of these places, but it is part of their heritage and was what first intrigued you.

They draw you into the country, which is when you can do some further discovering to learn just what the culture is really about. We do that through talking with the locals, trying their cuisines, experiencing the climate, and participating in activities that are off the beaten track and on it.

We loved Khao San Road - it was our Western Savour after a hard day of teaching in Bangkok and dealing with culture shock.

We loved the Grand Canyon, the Eiffel Tower, Vang Vieng - when it wasn’t trashed by drunken Westerners (and so okay this could possibly be a very negative effect of travel to touristy places. But really the antidote to that is to just raise individual standards a little…or maybe I am just showing my age now and once would have thought that fun!!)

Why would you not want to see this?

And why would we ever recommend to a visitor in Australia, to not spend time in Sydney Harbour because it is too touristy? Are you kidding me? It is one of the most beautiful harbours in the world.

Make it Unique and Memorable

Here is a tip so that when you visit these touristy places you give yourself the opportunity to have a unique and worthwhile experience.

Try to experience it from a different angle. We recently discovered Urban Adventures and was fortunate to give 10 lucky readers a city tour with them. I’ve already read Beverly from Pack Your Passport’s cool adventure Kayaking the Yarra River in Melbourne, giving her the opportunity to see a different side of this cosmopolitan city.

A statistic that shocked us was that the majority of visitors to the Grand Canyon stay for 15 minutes to get their obligatory “I was here” photo, which can lead to the discussion are they really getting to know the place or not?

Getting to know the canyon from Within the North Rim

Again, not really my business as if that is their idea of travel then that is travel for them.

What I suggest is you make your time and effort to go to these places worthwhile. Spend time there. Try to experience it from new angles.

I like what Kerion and Amy from Don’t Ever Look Back did on their recent trip to the Eiffel Tower with their cheesy photos.

Don’t just get the elevator up – how about climb the stairs? That would make for a different experience. Go to the French supermarket, buy some cheese and red wine and have a sunset picnic underneath the tower…It’s magical.

When we visited the Grand Canyon, we went to the North and South rim and hiked at both places. At Zion, we hiked the adventurous Narrows, and at Bryce Canyon, rode horses through the canyon.

Just a little bit more than the “I was here” photos which allowed us to truly appreciate what was so magnificent about it.

Hiking the Narrows

We decided to experience Victoria Falls over Christmas, making that experience completely unique and threw in a guided safari walk through Kruger, allowing us to get close to rhinos on foot. We even made lions flee from from us in fear, now who can tell that story!

Of course we didn’t spend all our time on Khao San Road whilst living in Bangkok, instead exploring the streets of Chinatown, and many other neighbourhoods and having weekly Friday night movie and dinner dates with our Thai friends.

Dinner with our life long Thai friends in Bangkok

Sometimes you can incorporate a tourist destination into your working holiday experiences.

London became not a place where everyone around the world comes to visit, but a home for me for two years and Dublin, a third home, a place where we learned the best local pubs to have a Guinness in, but also enjoyed the touristy craic of Temple Bar.

You can have both when you travel. There is nothing wrong with following the tourist trail. It really should form part of your travels, just as much as getting off the beaten track does.

Mix it up and look for the unique experiences where ever you go, spend time getting to know the culture and the local people and your life will be enriched. That is when you can call yourself a traveller.

What are some unique and memorable ways you have experienced a touristy destination?

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