Top reasons to visit South Tyrol

Vineyard ©southtyrolean/Flickr

South Tyrol is an area in Northern Italy that was part of Austria until 1919, so it is no wonder that culture here is as much Austrian as it is Italian. South Tyrol is technically a German speech area, but you can manage well with Italian too.

This is the land of opposites. The peaks of Zillertali and Ötztali Alpes eternally covered in snow are just a few kilometers away from vineyards breeding wonderful South Tyrol vines. Hope this nice video and short guide will give you the top reasons to visit South Tyrol. …

Switzerland – beautiful places and friendly people

Lake Geneva ©vasile23/Flickr

We have heard a lot of the punctuality of Swiss watches, we have also heard a lot about the chocolate, the banks, the mountains, the mixed culture, it is all Switzerland. The capital is Bern, but the largest city Zurich – both permanent guests on all ‘World’s most livable cities’ lists. But they are not the only places that should be checked out, the whole country is much like a little jewelry box full of gems everywhere you turn.

The beauty of Switzerland is legendary, both the mountain landscapes and the cities, it is really magical, very clean and people – though a bit reserved – are really nice and polite. And if we are talking about beautiful places and friendly people in Switzerland, check out the below video that demonstrates that even the most harsh-looking fishermen can be very devoted when it comes to hospitality… …

Responsible travel in Myanmar

photo by Daniel Julie on Flickr

There are countless reasons to visit Myanmar, formerly called Burma. There are the majestic ruins of Bagan to consider, the surreal sight of Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, a golden rock teetering on the edge of an abyss, you can shop for souvenirs in Mandalay and row on Inle Lake, and just let yourself drown in the mix of sights, smells, tastes and stories. But as alluring as all this might sound, Myanmar is also known for its human rights abuses, and a large portion of the international community (including hardcore travelers) choose to boycott the country despite its huge magnetism. Whether or not you decide to visit Myanmar is a question of personal principles, but if the attractions of the country prove to be too much to resist, responsible travel in Myanmar is not impossible, and here are some tips that might come in handy. …

Mummy travel – top 5 destinations in the world to see mummies

Capuchin Catacombs, ©dede85s/flickr

Some of the most famous mummies in the world come from Egypt, and if you’ve taken a tour of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, you’ve probably seen quite a few of them. But mummies are not exclusive to ancient Egypt – there are tons of places around the world where it was the norm to mummify the dead. If you are interested in archaeology, anthropology, ancient cultures or simply want to see a very old dessicated corpse, then you can do that in several locations around the globe. Take a peek at what eternity looked like for the ancients, and visit some of the top 5 destinations in the world to see mummies. …

The worst travel faux-pas one can make

photo by kopretinka

Traveling is not as easy as simply packing your luggage and going away to a distant place, and even if we disregard all the time and effort that goes into planning and booking, people can still be prone to all sorts of mishaps. Some of the worst mistakes can happen when you’re preparing for travel, but others (which are often far more embarrassing even if they don’t have any lasting effects) can happen while you are on the road. You can commit travel faux-pas especially if you are visiting a place with different customs and cultural norms that you might not be aware of. So in order to avoid offending anyone and putting yourself in an embarrassing situation, here are some of the worst travel faux-pas one can make. …

China Travel Tips

With a constantly revolving base, this mighty land is blessed with powers. It’s seemingly endless Great Wall, the legendary Terracotta Army, lantern villages; innovative cities add immense beauty to the country.

If you plan to visit China, you are sure to enjoy the delicious cuisines, diversified culture, art & crafts and the love of the people. Travelling around here will let you discover so much but you can’t move on if you fail to have your travel tips on the list.

Following are few details about China that can help you plan your trip wisely. …

A glimpse of ancient Rome

Rome has many attractions to offer and without a doubt it is one of the most fascinating places to visit. While the Colosseum, the Forum Romanum, St.Peter’s Church and many other fantastic places are incredible, today I got a glimpse of something more unusual. There was a Roman reenactment show going on at Circus Maximus. Gladiators, dancers, senators and many other actors had given the lively crowd an unforgettable spectacle. More than 1500 actors participated and showed scenes of Roman times. …

Climbing Kilimanjaro

Climbing Kilimanjaro via Machame Route.

Total hiking distance: approximately 100km

Total time: 6 days

Tour operator: Peace Matunda Tour

Guide: Bellasix Kaaya

Day 1
Hiking Time: 7h
Distance: 18km
Habitat: Montane forest

We were picked up by the Focus in Africa team at Tengeru market and drove directly to Machame Gate (1490m) in Moshi. The group consists of 9 people from all over the world.
We left Machame Gate around 1pm and had a beautiful walk up through the rain forest. On the way up I met some of our porters and had Alfonsi and Fredi teach me some Kiswahili phrases. The walk was pleasant and sunny. Jakob, our cook (by the way excellent food!! And he also cooked on my safari!!), had given us a lunch package including bananas, a muffin, donut and a samosa. At 5pm we arrived at the first camp called Machame Camp (2980m) where Jakob expected us with hot tea and popcorn. The tents were already all set up. We had fish that night and potatoes. Kind of bizarre that I had to climb Kili in order to eat some fish in Tanzania! …

Easter traditions around the world

Even if you’re not a particularly religious person, you’ve probably celebrated Easter at some point in your life. And besides its religious meaning, Easter is always a great opportunity to visit friends and family, eat loads of home cooked food and generally be merry. But Easter is also a great time for traveling, especially if you are planning to go to countries where Easter is celebrated in a completely different way. Easter traditions around the world vary a great deal, despite the fact that the essence of the holiday is the same. Here are some interesting Easter traditions from around the world. …

The Advantages of Solo Travel

Many people never travel because they can’t find someone to go with them. That’s a real shame, because what they don’t know is that when you travel by yourself, you often open yourself up to the greatest adventures and opportunities that you might otherwise miss if you were traveling with a companion.

In my travels, I have traveled with friends, family, significant others, and by myself and with no disrespect to any of the people I’ve traveled with, the best times on the road have been those times when I’ve been traveling solo. …