You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January, 2008.
Who doesn’t like contests? I just read about a contest where you can win a free domain name and hosting package for a full year. To enter you need to have blogged for at least 3 months, you can’t own your own domain name or hosting and you have to write a review of What I Say, the blog that launched this terrific contest. Make sure to read more about this at Free Domain Name & Blog Hosting. And hurry up if you want to participate because I think it ends today.
What I Say is run by Andreana, known as Dré, a Multimedia Arts student in her 20s who just like me loves the smell of rain, afternoon movie marathons and going to the beach. The blog has a nice design with interesting, personal and up to date content. Recent blog posts include a video of her sweet dog Booboos, a Technorati Love campaign, and the sad news of Heath Ledger’s death (I actually started crying when I read about it on the net, I will miss him). Apart from this, you can check out Andreana’s biography, favorites, wish list, photsnaps, and goodies such as articles and fictional stories.
So, why do I deserve to win?
I love blogging and have been updating Blissful Travel since April 2007. While writing for print and online magazines requires a specific tone, blogging allows me to write freer and I can share more personal things as well. I plan to keep Blissful Travel for a long long time (probably my whole life) and will do my best to share good travel tips, travel news and personal travel experiences with readers. So, it’s far from a temporary project.
Having another web host would give me more freedom and opportunities in terms of blog design and paid advertising. The last couple of months I’ve been contacted by different companies that were interested in banners, ads or paid links. But since I have a WordPress.com blog that doesn’t allow paid advertising, I had to turn them down. I wish I had my own domain, so I could work with sponsors, help them reach out to more consumers, and perhaps also join sites as Pay Per Post and ReviewMe. After all, I think most bloggers wish they could earn money on their blogging.
I do get by and freelance writing is definitely one of my dream jobs; I wouldn’t want to work with anything else right now. But I don’t get a regular monthly pay check and freelancing can be an unstable occupation sometimes. Some months I earn more, sometimes less. Having a free domain name / blog hosting would really be helpful to me.
Also, I recently started learning more HTML and would love to practice my skills somewhere. And what would be a better place than on my own permanent home online?
I got a bit carried away, so I’ll stop here.
Anyway, I wish all participating bloggers good luck and thank Andreana for a great, fun contest!
Roofs © Claudia Meyer, St Germain en laye, France
Brooklyn Bridge © Piotr Bizior
Chicago Skyline © Nathan Witt
Calgary, Alberta © P. Widling
Sydney Rendez-vous © Phuong Tran
NYC
Manhattan © Thomas Debray
Downtown Atlanta © Lars Sundström
Detroit Skyline © Donavan McFadden
Melbourne Skyline
Denver Skyline © Benjamin Earwicker
Seattle Night Skyline © Scott Snyder
Hong Kong © Dieter Vander Velpen
Philadelphia Skyline
Toronto Skyline
New York City
In February, Cambridge Beaches in Bermuda offers the special romance month “Come to Your Senses” in cooperation with legendary relationship expert Dr. Pepper Schwartz. During one unique Valentines Day celebration and three weekends of fun interactive workshops he will help couples improve their relationships and have a more fulfilling sex life by using their five senses. An Ocean Spa with couple treatment rooms, private white sand beaches and a beautiful view of the Atlantic definitely can’t go wrong.
For more information about Cambridge Beaches and Dr. Schwartz classes, visit Five Ways to Improve Your Relationship.
The prestigious Maybourne Hotel Group members Claridge’s and The Berkeley start out the new year with their exclusive Suite Heaven offer. When staying in a Knightsbridge Suite at The Berkeley or one of the Superior Junior Suites, you can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning of your stay (from £400 per night). Alternatively, book one of Claridge’s Deluxe Junior Suites or a Mayfair Suite (from £480 per night including English breakfast.)
For more information about the offer, visit Suite Heaven.
Check this out. How to wash your laptop shows why you should never leave your laptop with important files in the garden when your kids are around…. unless you have a Ruff PC of course. Then it’s no problem.
The Travel Blog Carnival by Travel Rants received a lot of great submissions this week.
Barbara Ann Weibel at The Hole In The Donut blog has already shared her favourites at Best Rides On This Week’s Travel Carnival. Apart from writing about some of the blog posts, Barbara also submitted her own My Experience In One Of The World’s Most Dangerous Countries… for consideration. I have to say this is one of my preferred submissions. It’s an enjoyable read on Zimbabwe, the political situation in the country, and Barbara’s trip to the Victoria Falls, followed by some amazing pictures. Not to be missed.
My second choice, Worldreviewer experts by Karen Brian at the Europe A La Carte Blog, is a must read for all travellers. Worldreviewer is a new site where you can write destination reviews, upload images, and comment and rate on experiences. Apparently this travel website aims to be “the ultimate travel planning tool.” I had a look at the site and found lots of good tips, particularly in the skiing category.
Price conscious travellers will probably like Price of Transportation (POT) Vacation Budget Rule at foXnoMad. The POT rule helps you save money since you decide your day budget depending on how much your flight cost.
Last, I have to recommend Top 25 Most Beautiful Castles in the World at International Listings… even though each place isn’t a castle per se. Their blog post with stunning pictures takes you from the famous Windsor Castle in England and Château de Versailles at the outskirts of Paris to impressing Middle East creations, Himeji Castle in Japan, a handful of North American castles including Chapultepec in Mexico, and ends with San Felipe Castle in Cartagena, Colombia. They clearly show that luxury castles are not only located in Europe, but in the whole world.
I hope you enjoy my picks. If you wish to contribute to next week’s blog carnival, read the instructions at Promote your Blog and Join our Carnival.
If you’re a blogger on the go, keeeping some useful applications on your USB drive can be a smart choice.
“Whether you’re providing support or just trying to make a strange computer feel more familiar, having a collection of portable applications is very useful.” - Jessica Hupp
Read the rest of Jessica Hupp’s article Top 50 Apps That Fit on a USB Drive at the Virtual Hosting Blog.
Live band at Chambre Neuf
The nightlife in the French ski resort Chamonix will satisfy most budgets and personalities.
1. South Bar - For the music.
2. Chambre Neuf - The most popular afterski place in Chamonix
3. MBC - The first Micro Brewery & Restaurant in the Mont Blanc region.
4. Soul Food - Bar offering terrific drinks in a relaxed atmosphere, the music is a cool mix of soul, funk, reggae and hip hop.
5. Tigre Tigre - Cocktail bar/restaurant serving Indian food.
6. The Jekyll - Irish Pub
For more info about Chamonix, read Inside track to Chamonix in the Guardian.
France Guide has this new contest where you can win a week-long hotel stay on Martinique if you vote for one of the stories at Color me Martinique. I definitely wouldn’t mind spending 7 nights at Sofitel Bakoua, apparently the island’s most luxurious hotel. I’m not a U.S. citizen though so I can’t vote, but they asked me to join the contest a while ago. The task was to write about the funniest or most exciting travel experience. Nothing has beaten our day at Cedar Point, America’s roller coast, so that was an easy choice.
Two of my favourites are Getting Lost on the Appalachian Trail and Christmas 1987, both of them are really funny and well-written.
I wish all bloggers good luck and I hope the winners get a fabulous week on Martinique. I’m sure they will!
Imagine waking up to a beach like this every morning.
A dear friend of mine says you either hate or love the opera. After perusing High Culture on a Low Budget by Olivia Giovetti, it’s clearly that she loves it. The closest I’ve ever come to an opera experience is through movies, the latest Woody Allen’s Match Point. I’m pretty sure I would love it though and Olivia’s Paris: Opera National de Paris, Prague: Prague Opera, and Moscow: The Bolshoi Opera definitely pique my curiosity.
I first heard about High Culture on a Low Budget through Europe A La Carte Blog’s Guest interview with Olivia and couldn’t resist checking it out. This savvy, informative blog is a must for anyone into the world of art, music and dance. Olivia has written about, among other things, ballet in Amsterdam, Portuguese art, Liverpool’s Tate Museum, St John’s Smith Square (apparently one of the best concert venues in the British capital), poetry readings in Barcelona, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Royal College of Music, the oldest and biggest music school in Scandinavia.
Previous posts include Vienna: Haus der Musik, my all time favourite Zurich: Tonhalle Orchester, Paris: Vive la Revolution des Musees!, Paris: Opera Garnier (and Beyond), Budapest: Budapest State Opera, and the most recent Zagreb: Strossmayer’s Old Masters Gallery, Aberdeen: The Scottish Ballet and Genova: Musei di Strada Nuova.
Before booking that weekend trip to Vienna, Prague, Paris, St Petersburg or any other European city, make sure to head over to High Culture on a Low Budget for up-to-date tips from an insider’s point of view. Who doesn’t want to know where to go for the best deals on exhibitions, museums, opera, theatre and classical concerts?
I just can’t get enough of the Moroccan music from the Kenza Restaurant & Lounge website. When I travel to London I’ll have to go to this place and ask if they give out their music on CD. The three eastern influenced songs are like a fusion of world, lounge and ethnic remixes. The first song is good, the second is ok, the third I can listen to over and over again.
One of the things I love about travelling is all the music you discover when coming to different cities. But even though I know I will hear lots of new sounds, my MP3 player or iPod often follows me wherever and whenever I travel.
Recommended Artists
Lissie - Lissie who resides in Hollywood, California, plays acoustic, rock and indie, and is now going on tour opening for Lenny Kravitz. Not many voices truly touches my heart, but hers really does.
Elohim Marino - At Elohim Marino’s MySpace I read “Elohim Marino is versatile, unique and timeless. He is street, political and conscious. His music is food for thought. The very soul of a genre, He is Hip-hop.” I couldn’t agree more. His album Son Of HipHop clearly shows what authentic hip hop is all about.
Roe - Roe is hip-hop, rap and R&B. My favourite song Winter’s Sun is no longer available on Roe’s MySpace, but his other songs are definitely worth listening to.
Lili Roquelin - Singer-songwriter Lili Roquelin sings poetical, deep, and captivating alternative trip-hop. My words probably won’t make her music justice. You have to hear it for yourself.
Silver and Gold - Acoustic music at its best. Listen to Shine on little star and you might understand what I mean.
Lemon - Listen to singer, songwriter Roger Smith in Lemon if you’re into pop, soul and electronica.
Doorway © Steve Peer
Even though mega-cities can be exciting, it’s often the places where you can escape the hectic city life you will remember most when thinking back of what made a travel destination special. After reading Tianhou Temple, Shenzhen’s Soul I can understand why the author Steve Peer calls the temple the soul of the city. With an almost 600-year-old history, Tianhou Temple is like an oasis of tranquility in the midst of a busy metropolis where people can reflect on the past and dream about the future.
Columns © Steve Peer
The article was written for In The Know Traveler, a site where travel enthusiasts write about their travel experiences from extraordinary destinations around the globe.
Fairest Cape, Table Mountain from Blaauwberg Strand
Pierre Jacques, a fellow CosmoTourist, recommended me to check out his Cape Town Travel Guide. I’m glad he did because this guide is full with useful information for travellers interested in South Africa.
The guide begins with an historical outlook from the 1600th century when the first Dutch vessels arrived at the Cape. It continues to year 1990 when Nelson Mandela held his freedom speech after being released from Robben Island where he spent 27 years of his life.
The following parts with general tourist information, how to get there, accommodation options including the luxurious Cape Grace, and attractions and activities gave me lots of valuable tips. I know many things I’d like to do… shark diving, hiking, a township tour, spend an evening at the theatre, stroll along the water front…
Read the guide at Cape Town Travel Guide.
When seeing these pictures taken by a friend who currently lives and works in the Austrian ski resort St Anton, I almost wished I was there. She and my sister travelled there in December and will probably stay until the end of April when the ski season is over.
One of the best things with writing is that you can write from anywhere, at any time. Sometimes, as tonight, I find myself sitting with my writing projects after midnight, being able to write more effectively than during any other time of the day. For some reason the words flow easier for me at night. In the morning, around 7am to 10am, is also good since I’m usually a morning person and have more energy to write after a relaxing yoga pass.
When I’m at home I normally work at my desk, sometimes on the bed because it’s more comfy, in the summer I love sitting outside on the balcony, in the garden, in a nearby park or at a nice open-air café in town. Usually it’s easier to write while listening to music - soul, hiphop, pop, rock, jazz, classical… it all depends on my mood.
During the cold autumn and winter months, I often bring my laptop to some cosy café - write for hours, sipping on a cappuccino. I mean, I used to… now when I’ve finally gotten over my coffee addiction I’ll have to choose a hot chocolate, juice or smoothie.
When the inspiration hits or a new idea pops into my head, I take notes wherever I am and whatever the time is. For some reason it often happens at airport lounges, while waiting at the gate, on flights, at train stations, on the bus, or while sitting in the back seat of a car. Airports are my favourite though. It’s something about the atmosphere… so many people at the same place, going to all these different destinations across the world. In airports, I also love to eavesdrop on conversations. Don’t tell anyone I wrote that.
Another favourite writing location is hotel rooms because each room has its own special character and creates different emotions. Sitting in a small room without any windows at a budget hotel in Bloomsbury, looking out over Hyde Park from a Park Lane hotel, or listening to opera at Blakes obviously generate distinct feelings that affect how I write.
Almost forgot the beach. A sunny day on the beach is a great time to get some writing done. And since my favourite sound is the sound of the ocean, that’s just perfect.
Working in different environments gives you new perspectives and ideas. Guess that’s one of the reasons I love travelling.
If I could choose any place where I’d like to write for a few hours, it would be on a boat with the ocean in front of me.
The New York Public Library © Simona Dumitru
The most beautiful libraries in the world are historic and magical places where culture meets architecture. In The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World, the authors Guillaume de Laubier and Jacques Bosser, and photographer James H. Billington share their views of these architectural gems. Some of the libraries featured in the book are The New York Public Library, Library of the Institut de France, The Senate Library in Paris, Vatican Library in Rome, Boston Athenaeum and one of my favourites which is the National Library of Austria in Vienna.
Thailand © Dale Weber
Even though flying is not the most environment friendly way to travel, it is a good choice for people wishing to see much of a country in a short time period. Below are some different flight routes in Thailand.
The Routes
Bangkok to: Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Trat (Koh Chang), Sukothai
Chiang Mai to: Bangkok, Sukothai, Koh Samui
Koh Samui to: Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya
Phuket to: Bangkok, Koh Samui, Pattaya
Pattaya to: Koh Samui, Phuket
Sukothai to: Bangkok, Chiang Mai
Bangkok to: Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Udon Thani, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Phitsanulok, Mae Hong Son, Khon Kaen
Chiang Mai to: Phuket, Bangkok
Bangkok to: Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Udon Thani, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Narathiwat
Bangkok to: Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Udon Thani
Bangkok to: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Hat Yai
Phuket to: Bangkok, Hat Yai
Before travelling abroad, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to currency.
1. Choose the right currency prior to your departure. This is an obvious one, but yet I have heard about people who brought euro to England and Switzerland.
2. Buy the currency as close as possible before departure.
3. Always buy the destination’s currency for the first two to three days.
4. On spot: Only change to the need for at most two days.
Imagine yourself sitting in the middle seat on a flight from New York City to London. The snuffling lady on your right is reading some Harlequin novel, the guy on your left fidgets nervously and puts on his earphones as the plane is about to take off. You look at the CD on his lap: Fear of Flying Self Help Course. You sigh, lean back in your seat. Why do I never end up next to a single, attractive woman? Or at least someone I can have an interesting conversation with?
If this sounds anything like you, check out AirTroductions. Whether you are looking for a new business partner, a potential date, or an interesting discussion, this website can get you the right match. Just register at AirTroductions, give them some information about yourself, and they will help you find a suitable person to sit next to on the plane.
Might be something to try the next time you have a nine hour flight ahead of you.
What many people seem to forget is that no matter where you live, people visit. Even if you haven’t even been outside your hometown, you can break into travel writing.
First, research the markets. Major newspapers and glossy magazines are difficult to break into with no or little experience. Start small to build up a portfolio and save the “tougher” publications for later. Your local newspaper is probably the easiest one to approach since they often have more space for freelance writers.
Think about the town or city you live in. Every place generally has something that attracts visitors. People living on the countryside might need to do a more thorough research. Brainstorm; find something you would feel passionate writing about. Are there any popular events or festivals where you live? Any famous sights or attractions? Perhaps your local restaurant serve an unusual or delicious specialty? Or if you live in a town surrounded by vineyards, write an article on where to savour local wine and attend wine tastings.
Quotes are a perfect way to make your travel story fresh and original. Say you go with the wine angle. Then, contact a wine expert for a short interview. You can easily find an expert through The Premiere Online Experts Directory.
If you have no idea what to write about, contact your nearest tourist office for free tips and brochures. Most tourist offices have specific media pages on their website where you can find story ideas. Keep in mind that a destination is not a story. Find a unique and interesting angle.
Last, study published travel writers’ work to get a feeling for how to mix facts with history and personal observations. Inspiration is great because it gives you your own voice, but imitation is not. Trust your own writing ability and keep going until you get there.
The post My Cities / 2007 by Taylor Davidson inspired me to make a list of places where I have lived so far. A few nights in a hotel don’t count, only a consecutive stay of at least two months.
Halmstad, Sweden
Östermalm, Stockholm, Sweden
Borensberg, Sweden
Mayville, MI, USA
Montbonnot-Saint-Martin, France
Tiefenbrunnen, Zurich, Switzerland
Notting Hill, London, England
Värnhem, Malmö, Sweden
I hope I can add NYC, San Francisco, L.A., Chicago, Buenos Aires, Paris, Bangkok, Dubai or Sydney to my list in the future.
Rockefeller Center © Thomas Picard
Yesterday my old post Winter in New York City got a comment from Trikitran who wants to know the best romantic places in New York. After some research I found a few websites worth a visit.
Ten Most Romantic Places in New York City by TravelLady Magazine includes my personal favourites walk in Central Park, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, a stroll across Brooklyn Bridge and Empire State Building.
Heather Cross, New York City Travel guide at About.com, has written several useful articles about romantic locations in New York City. Her Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in New York City, Top 10 Romantic Places in New York City and Top 10 Romantic Bars in New York City are highly recommended.
Excellent Romantic Vacations wrote A Romantic New York Vacation Package and A Guide to Romantic New York Restaurants.
At Top Dating Tips I found the article Top Romantic Destinations: Favorite Places where the author shares her personal top romantic destinations including New York in February.
I’d also like to recommend the Top Ten Romantic Places in New York City! by The #1 online guide for New York City Tourism. And Lydia Disham’s 10 Best Places to Kiss in NYC is definitely worth a read.
For more tips on romantic locations, visit New York Romantic Getaways and Places.
Who doesn’t enjoy good views? The first thing I do when I come to a new hotel is checking out the view. The ocean view from Aparthotel Green Beach in Arguineguin on Gran Canaria is my favourite so far.
When it comes to city views, nothing has beaten Milford Plaza in New York City’s theatre district. The room we had booked from Expedia was somewhere around the tenth floor, but thanks to my friend’s verbal skills the male receptionist agreed to give us a room on a higher floor. We ended up on the second highest floor and got an amazing view over Manhattan.
Below are a few different views from my recent hotel stays in London.
London Marriott Hotel West India Quay
InterContinental London Park Lane
Ramada Hotel and Suites London Docklands
Each hotel view is special in its own way. The ultimate hotel view for me would be of the ocean, a snow-covered Mountain massif, or a city at night.
Shaun White has been a professional skateboarder since 2003 and is one of the most popular athletes in the U.S. To listen to this 21-year-old performer, check out the interviews below from Sportskool. Highly recommended!
All About Sports - Shaun White talks about the freedom that comes with riding a board.
Competitive - Shaun White discusses the bond between competitors.
Free Falling - On how to prepare for a crash landing.
Flow - About getting into a flow.
Pro Skateboarding - Shaun talks about turning pro.
Don’t miss the Shaun White Bio to learn more about the guy who became the youngest U.S. Open slopestyle champion in 2003.
No risk to get lost in the Old Town of Bern. If you walk too far, you’ll reach the river.
It’s only a couple of weeks left to Bern Fasnacht, a three day party to celebrate that the winter is over. I remember when we were in Bern about two years ago. The streets were packed with people - friendly inhabitants and curious visitors like ourselves. In the old town, we heard live music from everywhere, and children dressed in funny, eye-catching and impressive costumes danced on the street. Most of the festivities were located at Zeughausgasse, Rathausgasse, Kramgasse, Münstergasse and Herrengasse.
If you want a break from the crowds for a while, sit down in one the cafés lining the streets and order the special Fasnachts bun.
The next yearly Bern Fasnacht is in February 2008. The carnival begins in the evening the Thursday after Ash Wednesday, on Friday it’s the Children’s Parade in the Züghusgass, and the biggest parade is on Saturday.
For more information, visit Bern Fasnacht.
Sunset pictures often tend to be cliches, but that doesn’t change the fact that I love them. Below are a few of my favourites.
Sunset in Holland
Sunset in the lake of Siwa Oasis, Egypt
Sunset from Cotesloe Beach just north of Fremantle, Western Australia
A new year, new possibilities.
If you’re as me and like festivals, do yourself a favour and check out these events. I chose the ones I’d like to visit at least once in my life.
January 5 - 26 Sydney Festival, Australia
January 17 - 27 Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah
Janurary 25 - February 4 Gothenburg Film Festival, Sweden
February 2 - 5 Carnival in Rio, Brazil
March Turin Chocolate Festival, Italy
March New York Underground Film Festival, New York
March 29 - April 13 National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington
April 25 - May 4 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
April 25 - 28 Art Chicago
May 14 - 25 Cannes Film Festival, France
May 19 - 25 Sydney Writer’s Festival, Australia
June 5- 8 Chicago Blues Festival
July Stockholm Jazz Festival, Sweden
Oct 30 - Nov 3 Le Festival du Vent, Calvi, Corsica
November Paris Photo, France
For more festivals and events, visit What’s On When.