MONEY WHILE TRAVELLING

Buying foreign currency can be an expensive exercise in fees and pitfalls, says Ed Ewing. But there are ways to make your money go further. It should be simple. You want to change pounds into euros, dollars or rupees and you want to get the best rate. But in reality it's a financial minefield with a huge choice of options: cash, traveller's cheques, credit cards, debit cards and the new kid on the block, pre-paid currency cards. So what's best way to get hold of foreign currency? "The cheapest way to spend abroad is on the 'right' debit or credit card," says Martin Lewis from MoneySavingExpert.com. This means one that doesn't hit you with charges each time you use the card or withdraw money from a hole in the wall. Credit and debit cards At the moment - because they can and do change regularly - Abbey's Zero card is the best credit card for many travellers. It costs nothing to use and you get the best exchange rate available. But aren't all credit cards the same, a confused traveller might ask? No, they are as different "as a kettle and a fish", says Lewis. Because while all Visa cards and Mastercards get a good rate of exchange - much closer to the "official" bank rate than any tourist rate offered in a high street bureau de change - the way they add charges to each overseas transaction differs. In general there are four charges to look out for. The first is the bank's commission, called the foreign loading fee, which applies to both credit and debit cards whether you get cash out of a machine or pay a bill with the card. The cost varies between banks, but typically it's 2.75%, or £2.75 on a £100 transaction. The second fee is the cash withdrawal charge. This is typically 2.5%, or a minimum charge of between £1.50 and £3. It applies to cash advances on nearly all credit cards and many debit cards. The third is a penalty for spending fee, which is a charge for the privilege of using your debit card overseas. It doesn't apply to credit cards. Charges can be steep - up to £1.50 for every transaction, regardless of the price of the item. The fourth is a hidden cost on credit cards - unexpected interest. Use your credit card to withdraw cash, and even if you pay it off in full at the end of the month some card providers will charge interest from the day you withdraw the cash, often at a higher-than-normal rate. So what should you do? "There is no rule," says Martin Lewis. "It's card by card." However, there is a "clear winner" of all the cards, he adds. The Nationwide debit card has no fees attached to it at all. The only downside is you need a Nationwide current account, which is a lot of hassle to go to if you are only going away for a few days. Other top-rated credit cards include the Nationwide credit card and the Post Office credit card. Neither charges a foreign loading fee, but both charge a cash withdrawal fee of £3 or 2.5%. If those are the best cards to use, the worst are high street debit cards, says Lewis. Halifax, Lloyds, Intelligent Finance, Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest all carry a penalty for spending fee - from NatWest's 75p levy to Halifax's £1.50. Cash Cash is handy to have the moment you land, or for emergencies, and is much more widely accepted than credit or debit cards. To get the best deal on buying foreign currency you should go online. Don't leave it too late and whatever you do don't get it at the airport. This is because in general the bureaux de change in airports offer poor exchange rates and high commission to a captive audience. Where a sign advertises "no commission" you can rest assured you will get a worse exchange rate. A YouGov survey in May revealed travellers can pay up to 11% more for their foreign currency at an airport than they if they pre-ordered online. Change £500 and you've just lost £55. There are numerous websites where you can order foreign currency and get it delivered to your door by secure Royal Mail delivery, or pick it up from a desk at the airport. To find who offers the best rate you should use a web tool like Moneysavingexpert.com's Travel Money Maximiser. Watch out for delivery charges that can bump up the price by a few pounds. Traveller's cheques Photograph: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP Similar advice counts when you buy traveller's cheques. They will be expensive at the airport - look at the commission charged and the exchange rate offered. It's often not much better on the high street, because while banks might charge a lower transaction fee (1%-2%) with minimum charges of around £3, commission can be as high as 6%. Commission and transaction fees also often apply when you change the cheques abroad - especially if you are changing sterling traveller's cheques into foreign currency. And while many banks offer a fee-free transaction to change unused traveller's cheques back to sterling, lots don't - and you are usually hit with more fees. However, traveller's cheques offer more security than cash and can be used in places where cards might not be accepted. Currency cards Perhaps the newest way to carry money abroad, and one that is rapidly replacing traveller's cheques, are pre-paid currency cards. These chip-and-pin cards are backed by Visa or Mastercard and can be pre-loaded online with foreign currency at a good rate. They can then be used like any other card abroad without incurring charges, although most charge a withdrawal fee of £1. Stephen Heath is the head of FairFX, which launched their pre-paid currency card in November last year. "The main point is the rate," he says. "It's the cheapest possible. We guarantee rates are less than 1% above wholesale rates." This means you can change money very close to the official bank exchange rate. Security is like any other chip-and-pin card - they can be cancelled immediately and the money refunded. If you want to get your money back when you return from travelling, you simply take it out of an ATM in sterling. A downside is they are only available in dollars and euros and the card, depending on who issues it, costs up to £10, unless you catch a promotion or order more than £500 of currency, in which case it is free. Until August 31 moneysupermarket.com is offering the FairFx card for free, but otherwise it costs £9.95. Another downside is that you have to plan some days ahead of your holiday - the card is sent out by post and the Pin sent separately, so this isn't an option for the last-minute traveller. If all this sounds like too much hard work, especially as you are meant to be on holiday, then instead of comparing exchange rates and commission deals, simply ask the question: "After all the charges, how much do I get for this much money?". That way you know when you've found a good deal, and when you're about to be ripped off. Travel money at a glance · The best credit cards offer the standard Visa or Mastercard wholesale currency exchange rate with no charges. · The best debit cards offer the same standard Visa or Mastercard wholesale currency exchange rate with no charges. · The worst credit cards charge 3% commission, £3 cash withdrawal fee, plus a higher rate of interest charged the moment you withdraw cash · The worst debit cards also charge 3% commission, £3 cash withdrawal fee, plus a £1.50 fee for every purchase.· The best rate for cash is online, but watch out for delivery charges - up to £7 a transaction · The best rate for traveller's cheques is also online - arrange to pick them up at an airport to avoid the delivery fee · The best rates for pre-paid currency cards are available online, but watch out for one-off sign-up fees of up to £10

PARTY GALORE

Start with the Philippines’ rum-fuelled parades, end with the stilt-dancers in the Bahamas, and be sure to fit some naked mini-golf in between. Follow the festival season around the globe with our guide Every country in the world has its own festivals and celebrations. They’re a colourful key to unlocking local cultures and can make for a fantastic travel experience. Many travellers have their own special memories of spectacular events they have attended, whether it’s a long-planned visit to Spain’s Fiesta de San Fermin, or a stumbled-upon saint’s-day procession in a dusty town in southern Italy. Covering nearly 200 festivals and events, the new World Party: The Rough Guide to the World’s Best Festivals shows you how the world likes to party. In this extract, you’ll find high-energy inspiration for a year of party-led globetrotting.

Ati Atihan, Kalibo, The Philippines

Mid-January, for two weeks At Ati Atihan, you’ll find all the elements for a spectacular carnival parade – extravagant costumes, lavishly decorated floats and a legion of up-for-it participants – but absolutely none of the organisation. Nor will you find a distinction between spectators and parading dancers. In Kalibo, wherever you are, you’ll be in the thick of it. You’ll be hauled on to a float by a bunch of mermaids and forced to drink ludicrous quantities of rum until you can barely stand. The whole shindig rages until sunrise, by which time you will be totally disoriented and wondering what on earth you’re doing there. But hell, what better way to start the year?

Rio Carnival, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

In Feburary/March for five days Carnival celebrations are hardly unique to Rio de Janeiro, but, without doubt, the city boasts the world’s wildest, glitziest and largest of them all. Drawing participants from all over the globe, this is the world’s best party – full stop. Partying at the Rio carnival is something you definitely won’t forget so leave your inhibitions at the airport and get ready to party. And don’t worry that you can’t dance samba in the sexy, shuffling way the locals do; there are worse things in life than being taught how to samba by a Brazilian guiding the movements of your hips.

Holi, primarily in north India but also in various other states

In February/March for about four days Holi is one of the most vibrant Indian festivals. It has its origins in Hinduism, but revelers today span the entire country, regardless of their religion, caste or class. Although it is a springtime festival, and hence a celebration of the arrival of the harvest season, Holi is essentially about colour, and everyone gets involved, showering friends, family and passers-by with multi-coloured powders, and assaulting complete strangers with water balloons and spray guns. Colour may be the common feature of Holi, but each region adds its own unique touch to the spectacle – from Mathura’s mock battles between the sexes to Phalen’s full-moon bonfire.

Queen’s Day, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

For one day on April 30 (unless this falls on a Sunday, in which case April 29) Queen’s Day is the wildest possible time to visit Amsterdam. The queen in question isn’t one of the flamboyant transvestites hanging around Rembrandtplein but Holland’s reigning monarch, Queen Beatrix, whose official birthday is celebrated throughout the country on April 30. The ensuing fiesta is Amsterdam’s Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest all rolled into one. In a city famed for its easy-going, fun-loving population, it still manages to crank the party volume a few notches higher as the citizens of Amsterdam reclaim the streets, parks, squares and canals of the town from tourists, motorists and officialdom for one glorious party. There are just two rules to observe; you must dress as ridiculously as possible, in orange – the Dutch national colour, and you must drink enough beer not to care.

Bun Bang Fai, Vientiane, Laos

In May for one day On the full moon in May, it’s time to light the fuse and stand well clear throughout Laos, as rocket fever grips the nation, and countless homemade contraptions are launched skywards to ensure good rain and a healthy crop as part of the Bun Bang Fai Festival. Vientiane is the place to be, although you’ll find smaller events going on all over the country. Buddhist monks are the most expert rocket scientists, using bamboo tubes – up to five metres in length – stuffed with gunpowder, decked in coloured ribbons and capped by a paper dragon’s head. There’s much bawdy singing and dancing through the day, and come the evening everyone assembles in raucous crowds by the Mekong river to watch the launchings.

Gnawa and World Music Festival, Essaouira, Morocco

In June for four days The music of the Gnawas (or Gnaouas), a spiritual brotherhood that has its origins in sub-Saharan Africa and melds animist, Berber and Arab influences, is mysterious, hypnotic, trance-inducing stuff that can send the musicians spinning (literally) into another plane. Essaouira makes for a beautiful setting. Its picturesque lanes and squares, sparkling light and tranquil atmosphere have attracted many painters, woodcarvers and other artisans over the years. During the festival, the pounding rhythms of drums, reed pipes and castanet-like garagabs ringing out from Place Prince Moulay el Hassan, deep inside the city’s medina, or old town, only add to the atmosphere.

II Palio, Siena, Italy

On July 2 and August 16 for two to four days, including associated festivities Siena’s legendary bareback horserace – Il Palio – is a highly charged, death-defying two-minute dash around the boundary of the city’s majestic and equally famous Piazza del Campo. Twice every summer, riders elected by each of the city’s ancient districts compete in a bid to win the much-prized palio, or banner, that gives its name to the event. Following the race, the winning jockey is feted, and the residents of his district sing, dance and ferociously celebrate his victory into the small hours. The vibrancy of the costumes, grand architecture, stifling heat, and huge crowds all create a frenetic mood to go alongside the shocking potential for brutality and behind-the-scenes sleaze.

Esala Perahera, Kandy, Sri Lanka

For the last ten days of the Buddhist lunar month of Esala (usually late July and early August) In terms of noise, colour and crowds, there’s nothing else on earth quite like Kandy’s Esala Perahera, a 10-day extravaganza dating back to the fourth century and the early days of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Forget Ibiza’s club scene, for truly all-out sensory assault, this is hard to beat. Held to honour the Buddha’s tooth, the festival is based around a series of increasingly lengthy and spectacular nighttime parades involving drummers, dancers, torch-bearers, whip-crackers, fire-eaters and, most spectacularly, over 100 costumed elephants. The final parade is the best part of a kilometre long, and can take several hours to wind its way around the city streets.

Burning Man, Black Rock City, Nevada, USA

The week before Labor Day (first Monday in September), for eight days Picture a nudist miniature golf course, an advanced pole-dancing workshop, a motorised magic-carpet vehicle and a bunch of neon-painted bodies glowing in the night. Now you may be getting close to imagining what the legendary Burning Man is all about. Every year during the last week of August, several thousand geeks, pyrotechnics, Goths, hippies and hip yuppies descend on the Nevada desert for a week to burn a 50ft effigy of a man, constructed from wood and neon, and stuffed with fireworks. It’s not the ideal place to party – temperatures can exceed 38C (100F) by day – but the thousands of anarchists, deviants, mad scientists, techno-heads, dancers and freakish performance artists that arrive here from all over the world certainly give it their best shot.

Fantasy Fest, Florida, USA

From the penultimate Friday to the last Sunday in October, for 10 days Fantasy Fest is a music-and-rum-fuelled party that reaches its zenith with a massive themed costume parade. It’s a camp affair all right, but whatever your sexual orientation, the mood is so exuberant that it’s hard not to get drawn in. There’s a Headdress Ball on Tuesday; an outrageous Beach Party and a Pet Masquerade and Parade on Wednesday (featuring cross-dressing animals and their lookalike owners); and a fancy-dress party on Thursday. There’s also the notorious Toga Party, where you’ll see some of the skimpiest togas ever worn, and, on Friday, the Caribbean Street Fair bursts on to the scene with feathered masks and tons of frivolous exotica on offer. Just before sunset on Friday, the Fairvilla Megastore Masquerade March winds its way through the fair, with the emphasis on – what else? – fantasy.

Day of the Dead, Mexico

November 1 and 2, for two days It’s not every day you get to party with the dead, but on the first two days in November, all of Mexico does just that, as everything stops for the most distinctive festival on the calendar, a nationwide communion with the departed, known as the Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Sound a touch morbid? It’s actually a more joyful occasion than you might expect, as it’s both a time for the remembrance of loved ones and a celebration of the eternal cycle of life – a carnival of welcome, if you like, for the spiritual return of the dead. For days in advance, favourite dishes are prepared and placed on flower-decked altars, along with some beloved tequila. Come nightfall, graveyards quickly start to resemble Mexican roadside restaurants, as picnic tables and chairs are set around graves, tortillas are fried, and substantial quantities of tequila are consumed in memory of the deceased.

Junkanoo, Nassau, New Providence Island, The Bahamas

Two all-night parties, from the early hours of December 26 and again on New Year’s Day The Bahamas’ most important and spectacular party, Junkanoo is a blast to the senses. Parades flood the streets of Nassau in a whirling, reeling mass of singing and dancing chaos, as competing groups or “crews” rush out to meet the dawn, moving toward one another from all directions, rather than following each other in the semi-organised fashion of the modern parade. Various groups and societies compete to be the biggest and loudest floats, which means you’ll see stilt-dancers, clowns, acrobats, go-go girls, goatskin-drum players, and conch and cowbell ringers, all blaring out their tunes in an awesome celebration of life that can only have originated in the Caribbean.

How Air Traffic Control Helps Pilots Avoid Storms

While you're buckled comfortably in your airplane seat, the public address system unexpectedly crackles to life. "From the flight deck, passengers please return to your seats and fasten your seat belts." No great surprise, it's thunderstorm season. But when the announcement is followed by "And we'd like the cabin attendants to take their seats as well," that means there is bumpy or even downright rough weather ahead. Even so, the ride turns out better than you expected. The airplane turns this way and that as the pilots seek smooth air. But how do they know which way to turn? Yes, they have weather radar in the cockpit. But pilots get help from air traffic control (ATC), too.

The thunderstorm threat

The major hazard to an airplane from a thunderstorm is not lightning. Nor is it rain or clouds. It's the convective motion of the air - the powerful up and downdrafts that can be muscular enough, in extreme cases, to upset an airplane and even damage it or worse. Not even the best-built airplane can defy strong thunderstorms, which ATC grades from Level 1 ("weak") to Level 6 ("extreme"). ATC helps airplanes deviate around these storm cells with radar. In a word, radar "sees" precipitation - which might mean rain, hail or snow to ATC, since current radars cannot tell the difference. Radar waves bounce off moisture and some of that energy reflects back to the radar antenna. The radar receiver detects that energy and after computer processing, shows the return on the controller's screen.

The right radar for the right job

In the world of ATC, there are two general kinds of radar. Those used near airports are called Airport Surveillance Radars and show precipitation as a mosaic of small squares, with the darker ones indicating more precipitation. Approach controllers overlay this quilt-like mosaic atop their aircraft target display and then guide airplanes around darker areas. Radars that track aircraft at greater distances and at higher altitudes are called Air Route Surveillance Radars. Since ARSRs show only two levels of precipitation, most are augmented by a more helpful weather overlay system called WARP, which stands for Weather And Radar Processing. WARP gets its information from NEXRAD, or Next Generation Radar. You may be familiar with NEXRAD through its well-publicized tornado warning center in Norman, Okla. and/or its availability on the Internet. WARP processes NEXRAD data into a form useful to center controllers, which they again overlay atop aircraft blips. NEXRAD works through its own set of 158 radars designed specifically to analyze weather. Unlike traffic control radars, NEXRAD uses Doppler-shift technology that takes advantage of the fact that a radar return has a slightly different frequency from the pulse that was sent. This simple truth allows NEXRAD to derive valuable information of great use to controllers, including: ● The highest altitude of the storm ● An estimate of how much water is in the storm ● The probability of hail, severe hail and the hail's size ● The speed and direction of the storm ● Detecting rotating thunderstorms, which can mean the presence of tornadoes WARP information can be up to 6 minutes old, but even so it is impressively accurate. Next to keeping airplanes safely separated, severe-weather avoidance is a controller's highest priority.

Ask the weather man

For high-altitude aircraft such as jetliners and for radar coverage in between airports, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operates 21 Air Route Traffic Control Centers across the United States. Each one is staffed with Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU) meteorologists. These specialists provide minute-by-minute weather information to aircraft, with special emphasis on hazardous weather. They also advise on weather that might affect the flow of air traffic. Their briefings can be scheduled or unscheduled as weather conditions evolve. One of the most useful unscheduled briefings is the Center Weather Advisory (CWA), which warns in part about thunderstorms, icing and turbulence. CWAs are broadcast on receipt by both center and approach controllers to all aircraft on their frequencies and serve as a heads-up to aircraft in flight.

Ride reports

Sometimes a controller will simply query an aircraft for a "ride report." The pilot answers informally as to how smooth or bumpy it is. Pilots can also ask controllers for a ride report. With several reports, the controller can assemble a mental picture of where the bumps are in his or her area. Equally, the pilots can form the same general picture since they get to know where other aircraft are as they listen to one another on the radio. Airlines will not hesitate to spend fuel - even at today's prices - if pilots need to deviate for reasons of turbulence. It's a non-issue. One experienced flight attendant told the author that a co-worker on another flight had been injured because of turbulence. "It's nothing to fool around with," she said. When it's turbulent, perhaps the safest thing we can do is to cinch our seat belts a bit tighter. We might, however, stop short of praying for winter.

FLIGHT MEALS

Airline foods. The expansion of the various flight meals continuously change. These airlines don’t get their special meals on advertisement because they cost 50% more than any other regular meal. But more & more savvy travelers are into those special meals which are fresher, faster and of course tastier. Major airlines offer a wide array of special meals on long flights. Be it a vegan, low-cal, vegetarian or lactose-free. Got anything that sounds edible? Check out their fruit plate. They also have a (fresh) veggie platter or a clod seafood platter. American airlines regularly have pizzas, burgers and fries and sandwiches (with cheese). Of course they also have something for the “calorie conscious” travelers. But if you’re looking for Sky Cuisine while flying, go for the Singapore Airlines. The good thing about special meals is that they require extra ordinary handling. They are carefully prepared last but get served first. Airlines find it hard to keep track of special meals. So be it a seafood, fresh fruit or veggie platter, or a burger & fries flight meal – enjoy!

Activities 3

Mountain Climbing

Mountaineering is the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, trekking and climbing up mountains. It is also sometimes known as alpinism, particularly in Europe. While it began as an all-out attempt to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains, it has branched into specializations addressing different aspects of mountains and may now be said to consist of three aspects: rock-craft, snow-craft and skiing, depending on whether the route chosen is over rock, snow or ice. All require great athletic and technical ability, and experience is also a very important part of the matter.

Orienteering

Orienteering is a running sport involving navigation with a map and compass. The traditional form (sometimes referred to as “Foot Orienteering” or “Foot-O”) involves cross-country running, though other forms have evolved. The competition is a timed race in which individual participants use a special purpose map and a magnetic compass to navigate through diverse terrain (often wooded) and visit, in sequence, control points that are indicated on the map. The course of control points is kept a secret from competitors before the start, when they are provided with a detailed topographic map on which the course is marked. Competitors start at staggered intervals, are individually timed, and are expected to perform all navigation skills on their own.

Paragliding

Paragliding is a recreational and competitive flying sport. A paraglider is a free-flying, foot-launched aircraft. The pilot sits in a harness suspended below a fabric wing, whose shape is formed by the pressure of air entering vents in the front of the wing.

Rafting

Rafting or whitewater rafting is a recreational activity utilizing a raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers.

Abseiling

(from the German: abseilen, "to rope down") is the process of descending a rope under control, used in rock climbing, mountaineering, caving and canyoneering; used to descend cliffs or slopes too steep to walk down. It is also known as: rappelling (American English), abbing (British slang for "abseiling"), jumping (Australian slang) rap jumping (American slang), roping down, roping, seiling (Australian slang), snapling (Israeli slang), rappling (Hindi slang).

Rogaining

Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation. It is closely related to orienteering and many people enjoy both sports. For all participants, compared to an orienteering meet, a rogaine: Is a much longer event, usually 6, 8, 12 or 24 hours; Is a team sport (important for safety, given the long duration); Has checkpoints (controls) assigned point values reflecting the distance from other checkpoints and the technical difficulty (terrain, navigation) of visiting them; Requires each team to plan the order in which to visit checkpoints, so route choice is a very important element.

Safaris

A safari is an overland journey. It usually refers to a trip by tourists to Africa, traditionally for a big-game hunt and in more modern times to watch and photograph big game and other wildlife as a safari holiday.

Sailing

Sailing is the art of controlling a sailing vessel. By adjusting the rigging, rudder and dagger or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails (main and/or jib) in order to change the direction and speed of a boat. Mastery of the skill requires experience in varying wind and sea conditions, as well as knowledge concerning sailboats. Today most people enjoy sailing as a recreational activity. Recreational sailing can be further divided into racing, cruising and “daysailing” or dinghy sailing.

Skiing

Snow skiing is a group of sports and activities holding in common the use of skis, devices which slide on snow and attach with ski bindings and ski boots to people’s feet. Skiing sports differ from snowshoeing in that skis slide, and they differ from ice-skating, water skiing, and in-line skating by being performed on snow. Although snowboarding shares the general characteristics of skiing sports, it evolved from surfing and skateboarding and so is not considered a type of skiing.

Skydiving

Parachuting is an activity involving a preplanned drop from a height using a deployable parachute. One type of parachuting is skydiving, which is recreational parachuting, also called sport parachuting.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling is the practice of swimming at the surface of a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn. Combining these tools allows the snorkeler to observe underwater attractions for extended periods of time with relatively little effort.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoes, sometimes colloquially referred to as webs, are footwear for walking over snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person’s foot doesn’t sink completely into the snow, a quality called “flotation”. While today they are mainly used for recreational purposes, primarily by hikers and runners who like to continue their hobby in wintertime, in the past they were essential tools for fur traders, trappers and anyone whose life or living depended on the ability to get around in areas of deep and frequent snowfall.

Soaring

Soaring is a mode of flight in which height is gained slowly by using air that is moving upwards. It arises in the flight of both aircraft and birds.

Spelunking

Caving, also called spelunking, is the recreational sport of exploring caves. In contrast, speleology is the scientific study of caves and the cave environment.

Trekking

Backpacking (also tramping or trekking or bushwalking in some countries) combines hiking and camping in a single trip. A backpacker hikes into the backcountry to spend one or more nights there, and carries supplies and equipment to satisfy sleeping and eating needs.

Windsurfing

Windsurfing is a surface water sport using a windsurf board, also commonly called a sailboard, usually two to five meters long and powered by a single sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating flexible joint called the Universal Joint (U-Joint). Unlike a rudder-steered sailboat, a windsurfer is steered by the tilting and rotating of the mast and sail as well as tilting and carving the board.

The activities listed above do not take into account what many travelers consider to be activities. Enjoying the wonders to be found in incredible museums, cultural performances of all types, attending language schools and local celebrations are considered activities by many travelers. Likewise the simple enjoyment of a cold cerveza or a frosty margarita, in an exotic setting, is considered to be a cultural activity by some travelers.

Be assured that wherever you choose to visit there are a number of options that we cannot begin to list. If you are interested in a particular activity that is not listed here contact the local tourism department when you arrive. A quick search of the Internet can also lead to many different options. First try searching by destination, if that doesn't work try adding the exact words that relate to the activity, within the destination results, on your favorite search site.

Activities 2

Diving-scuba

Scuba diving is the act of swimming underwater while using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. By carrying a source of breathing gas (usually compressed air), the scuba diver is able to stay underwater longer than with the simple breath-holding techniques used in snorkeling and free-diving, and is not hindered by air lines to a remote air source.

Dogsledding

A dog sled is a sled pulled by one or more sled dogs used to travel over ice and through snow. Numerous types of sleds are used, depending on their function.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is a form of tourism that appeals to the ecologically and socially conscious individuals. Generally speaking, ecotourism focuses on volunteering, personal growth, and learning new ways to live on the planet; typically involving travel to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is in the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation, and creation of economic opportunities for the local.

Educational Programs

Outdoor education usually refers to organized learning that takes place in the outdoors. Outdoor education programs often involve residential or journey-based experiences in which students participate in a variety of adventurous challenges such as hiking, climbing, canoeing, ropes courses, and group games. Outdoor education draws upon the philosophy and theory of experiential education and on environmental education.

Hang-gliding

Hang gliding is an air sport in which a pilot flies an unpowered and light foot-launchable glider aircraft known as a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminum -or composite- framed fabric wing which lacks moving control surfaces. The pilot is mounted on a harness hanging from the airframe and exercises control by shifting his body weight.

Hiking

Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. It usually takes place on trails in rural or wilderness areas.

Horseback riding

Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving horses. This broad description includes both use of horses for practical, working purposes as well as recreational activities and competitive sports.

Kayaking

Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking is differentiated from canoeing by the fact that a kayak has a closed cockpit and a canoe has an open cockpit. They also use a two bladed paddle. Another major difference is in the way the paddler sits in the boat. Kayakers sit in a seat on the bottom of the boat with their legs extended out in front of them. Canoeists will either sit on an elevated bench seat or kneel directly on the bottom of the boat.

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking usually refers to the sport of riding bicycles possessing particular design characteristics, mountain bikes, off-road, although sometimes the term simply refers to riding a mountain bike. The sport requires endurance, bike handling skills and self-reliance. It is an individual sport which can be performed almost anywhere. Mountain biking is roughly broken down into five categories: cross country, downhill, freeride, dirt jump and trials/street riding.

Activities 1

As the number of outdoor activities pursued while on trips increases, there is a corresponding increase in the number of outdoor activities undertaken while not traveling. Those more active in outdoor activities were also more likely to have participated in culture and entertainment activities while on trips. Those highly active in outdoor activities were especially likely to take part in participatory, cultural experiences (e.g., participatory historical activities) and to have attended sporting events (e.g., professional sports), live art performances and festivals (e.g., musical festivals). There was also a strong association between the number of outdoor activities participated in while on trips and the number of tours and cruises taken during the past two years. Those who are very active in a wide range of outdoor activities while traveling consider it important that they are physically challenged while on vacation. They are also more likely to seek vacations that are intellectually stimulating, provide learning opportunities and offer novelty. By contrast, those who participated in relatively few outdoor activities while on trips are more likely to pursue vacations that allow them to be pampered, renew personal connections with friends and keep family ties alive. Travelers who are very active in a wide range of outdoor activities are much more likely to use the Internet to plan and book trips. For example, 74.3% of those who participated in six or more types of outdoor activities used the Internet to plan or book travel, while only 39.9% of those who did not participate in outdoor activities used the Internet to plan travel. You should be able to find enough interesting activities to keep any member of your family or group entertained, regardless of your destination. Your destination, of course, will determine the type of activities that are locally available. Beach resorts offer entirely different options than a city in the mountains. We will try to give you a partial breakdown of what a particular areas activities might include.

Backpacking

Backpacking (also tramping or trekking or bushwalking in some countries) combines hiking and camping in a single trip. A backpacker hikes into the backcountry to spend one or more nights there, and carries supplies and equipment to satisfy sleeping and eating needs.

Ballooning

A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner. It is also distinct from aerostat, which is a balloon that is moored to the ground rather than free-flying.

Bicycling

Cycling is a means of transport, a form of recreation and a sport. The bicycle carries riders across land, through tunnels, over bridges, snow, or, less frequently, over ice (icebiking). Cycling involves riding bicycles, unicycles, tricycles, quadricycles and other similar human powered vehicles (HPVs).

Bird watching

Birdwatching or birding is the observation and study of birds with the naked eye or through a visual enhancement device like binoculars. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are more readily detected and identified by ear than by eye. Most birders and birdwatchers pursue this activity for recreational or social reasons, unlike ornithologists, who are engaged in the formal scientific study of birds.

Bungy Jumping

Bungee jumping (or bungy jumping) is the sport that originated from New Zealand and was created by maverick daredevil A J Hackett, and his original jump from a bridge in Greenhithe, Auckland. The sport denotes jumping from a tall structure while connected to a large rubber cord. The tall structure is usually a fixed object, such as a building, bridge, or crane; but it is also possible to jump from a movable object, such as a hot-air-balloon or a helicopter, that has the ability to hover over one spot on the ground; fixed-wing aircraft are clearly unsuitable because they only stay aloft when moving rapidly forward. The intense thrill comes as much from the free-falls as from the rebounds.

Camping

Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants, known as campers, get away from civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or more nights, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, a primitive structure, or no shelter at all.

Canoeing

Canoeing is the activity of paddling a canoe for the purpose of recreation (also called a float trip), sport, or transportation. It usually refers exclusively to using a paddle to propel a canoe with only human muscle power. A kayak is propelled using a paddle with two blades where the paddler sits with their legs in front of them, whereas canoes are propelled using single- or double-bladed paddles where the paddler is kneeling or sitting.

Climbing Mountain

RockAscending rock formations, often using climbing shoes and a chalk bag. Equipment such as ropes, bolts, nuts, hexes and camming devices are normally employed, either as a safeguard or for artificial aid.

Cultural activities

‘Cultural tourism’ (or culture tourism) is the subset of tourism concerned with a country or region’s culture, especially its arts. It generally focuses on traditional communities who have diverse customs, unique form of art and distinct social practices, which basically distinguishes it from other types/forms of culture. Cultural tourism includes tourism in urban areas, particularly historic or large cities and their cultural facilities such as museums and theatres. It can also include tourism in rural areas showcasing the traditions of indigenous cultural communities (i.e. festivals, rituals), and their values and lifestyle.

What is travel?

I was too curious because there are a lot of websites, tour operators, magazine that refer "Travel”.But what exactly is travel and who is the people who travels?It was a good question, because when I’ve started this blog I didn’t know exactly what all the travel activities were.According to wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/

TRAVEL is the change in location of people on a trip, or the process of time involved in a person or object moving from one location to another. Reasons for travel include:

Tourism>>>travel for recreation. This may apply to the travel itself or the travel may just be the necessary investment to arrive at a desired location. Visiting friends and family.

Trade>>>is the voluntary exchange of goods, services, or both.Trade is also called commerce. A mechanism that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and services. Modern traders instead generally negotiate through a medium of exchange, such as money. As a result, buying can be separated from selling, or earning.

Commuting>>>is the process of travelling between one's place of residence and regular place of work. Students who are enrolled at a college or university but who live off-campus are also typically referred to as commuters; institutions that have few dormitories are called commuter schools in the United States.

What is traveler (English)/ traveller (British)?

-Traveler (U.S. English) or Traveller (British English) may refer to: --One who travels, especially to distant lands. --(UK): A term for a modern day gypsy, tinker, caravan dweller, etc. --(Ireland) Member of the nomadic ethnic minority. (The term Gypsy is considered historically incorrect). --A term for a list and record of instructions that follows a part in a manufacturing process.--(nautical) a metal ring that moves freely on part of a ship’s rigging.Other term for traveler/traveller is voyager (plural voyagers) --A person who voyages, traveller, a person who explores new lands and worlds.

types of travelers:

Travelers divide into roughly two camps: those who travel to fill their heads and those who travel to fill their hearts. Head travelers are easy to spot – they are all maps, detailed itineraries and cameras. Heart travelers tend to be found in out of the way corners, staring dreamily at ancient walls or errant flowers. With head travel, the itinerary is easy to create, but the end objective is unclear. With heart travel, there is no particular itinerary, but the objective is achieved with each new adventure. With one approach, you get pictures, and with the other, stories.

1. backpacker (plural backpackers)

---is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. Terms such as independent travel and/or budget travel are often used interchangeably with backpacking---(chiefly New Zealand). The inexpensive place to stay, often with small dorm rooms of 4-8 beds shared by unrelated parties; hostel.

2. tourist (plural tourists)

---are people who travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.

3. fellow traveler

---refers to a person who sympathizes with the beliefs of a particular organization, but does not belong to that organization.

4. The Bedouin

---(from the Arabic badawī (بدوي), pl. badū), are a desert-dwelling Arab nomadic pastoralist, or previously nomadic group, found throughout most of the desert belt extending from the Atlantic coast of the Sahara via the Western Desert, Sinai, and Negev to the Arabian Desert. Non-Arab groups as well, notably the Beja of the African coast of the Red Sea are sometimes called Bedouin.

5. The New age travelers or Peace Convoy

---were a group of people who often espoused New age and/or hippie beliefs, and who traveled between music festivals and fairs in the United Kingdom in order to live in a community with others who hold similar beliefs. Their transport and homes consisted of vans, lorries, buses and caravans converted into mobile homes. They also make use of improvised tents, tipis and yurts. New age travelers were largely a product of 1980s and early 1990s Britain[citation needed], but a small number continue to travel in the country today, and cultural groupings with similar composition have also manifested themselves in other countries, such as New Zealand.

6. Traveling Showmen

---are people who organize and run fairgrounds. In the past, it has also been used for the people who organized freak shows, sideshows, circuses and traveling theatre troupes. commerce. A mechanism that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and services. Modern traders instead generally negotiate through a medium of exchange, such as money. As a result, buying can be separated from selling, or earning.

7. Cultural Travel

-- is a type of travel that emphasizes experiencing life within a foreign culture, rather than from the outside as a temporary visitor. Cultural travelers leave their home environment at home, bringing only themselves and a desire to become part of the culture they visit. Cultural travel goes beyond cultural exploration or discovery; it involves a transformation in way of life.This definition was first used by Gary Langer "Travel to Learn" (March 1977). Transitions Abroad 1: 12–15. Transitions Abroad Publishing. as a way of describing travel that requires a "transition" to a new level of understanding of and appreciation for a foreign culture. The term is often distorted and misused by travel agents, tour operators and international tourism organizations. Culture primarily has to do with people and less with places or things. So visiting museums, touring ancient structures, attending festivals, and eating local food does not provide the same experience as becoming a member of the culture itself. The antithesis of cultural travel is tourism, where people bring their home environment with them wherever they go and apply it to whatever they see

Final tips

Having your dog watched over by a professional dog handler may be needed to take care of your dog during the trip. You also have the option of having your dog stay with a managed kennel. When checking around for a place for your dog to live while you're away, make sure it is comfortable and clean. The dogs staying there should also look content and well-taken care of. A few of these dog kennels allow for you to provide your dog's own sleeping blanket, toy and his favorite foods for while you're away. Make sure, though, that your dog has had its immunization since it is a regular requirement for your dog's stay in such places. -- Get a clean bill of health from your veterinarian. Your vet should also be able to provide you a certificate for this. - -Buy a sturdy dog carrier. This is a must since you'd rather not lose your pet en route to your destination. A few airlines have dog carriers available for sale though they can be quite expensive. Also, remember that some airlines prefer having your pet in the compartment for luggage. If you really can't part with your beloved, get a reservation from an airline that allows pets to remain with you during the flight. -- Try to get air-conditioned cars when traveling cross-country. Dogs need good ventilation to keep them cool. This is also true if you are traveling in trains. -- Don't let your dog hang his head out the window while the car is moving. It may be tempting to let your pet play around, but the risks of falling out or getting hit are still there. -- Leaving your dog inside the car or under the sun is risky. Heat stroke is a serious danger to your pet and can even be fatal. -- Never leave your dog unattended, especially when he is in his carrier. He may get stolen or dog napped. This also goes for when he's wandering around. Sometimes, pets can be too adventurous and may end up in trouble, or worse, getting you in trouble. -- In preparing for a long trip on the road, ready identification for your pet. A collar with the dog's name, your name and a handy contact number can save you from a lot of trouble. -- Prepare first-aid kits for your dog. Remember that some emergencies are special to dogs. A flea or tick powder is a good addition to this. -- Have a ready supply of your pet's favorite doggy treats during the trip. Make sure to bring more than enough to last the entire trip to be safe. -- Pack the essentials: clean water, dishes, favorite dog toys, leash, brush, plastic bags and towels, anything than can help your dog stay happy during the trip.- Allow your dog to answer the call of nature every two to three hours so it won't make any embarrassing messes.

Remember the following

Choose little incoming tour operator with small amount of business. When they start to make “big numbers” the standards of quality goes down. Check to see if the package vacation includes health insurance policy covers illness or injury overseas. Do a research on different adventure travel organizations and operators and try to compare the services, prices and then negotiate. Sometimes a low price is not only a good and trusted service. Get a copy of the travel operator’s terms and conditions.

How to travel on a budget

Compare and Call to several adventure-travel companies and ask detailed info Book in lower season (Feb-May or Sept-Jan) and as much as earlier possible Verify the services included and if prices are comprehensive of taxes Verify how many attractions you can visit Book directly with the tour operator that organize the tour (not third party agencies or similar). You could negotiate a better price The best you could do is to search for a local tourist board to find all you need without buying a guidebook

How to choose a good travel agency

A good travel agency can provide you with a broader and more complete range of services than can be found on the internet. And the ability to conveniently talk with a real person can make all the difference when you have a problem, or need some special advice or assistance. A good travel agency will be an invaluable help to you in planning your travel. Don't let the dismaying abundance of not so good agencies dissuade you.

Always remember the ff. in choosing a good travel agency.

--Choose little incoming tour operator with small amount of business. When they start to make “big numbers” the standards of quality goes down --Check to see if the package vacation includes health insurance policy covers illness or injury overseas --Do a research on different adventure travel organizations and operators and try to compare the services, prices and then negotiate. --Sometimes a low price is not only a good and trusted service… --Get a copy of the travel operator’s terms and conditions.

Travel tips

Traveling should be fun, no matter whether you are traveling for business or pleasure; you need to make the most out of your trip and to have as few complications as possible. Here are some travel tips that you can use when you plan for your trip. Below a list of tips and resource useful for adventure travellers (for the general traveller too).

PLANNING FOR A TRIP

--Decide what will be your destination and trip --Try to read as much as info possible --Verify how much physical challenge you’ll need --Verify how many attractions you could see by staying in one area --Make a list of all the activities you want to involve --Search for review or comments of people who’ve already taken the trip --Take general info about climate --Try to learn some basic words --Take care of your health (emergency, foods to eat, hospitals, etc…) --If you travel with children don’t plan too much each day Before you leave the house you should tell the people around you when and where you're going to have a vacation. Just keep them informed about it so that they'll have an idea about when will they will expect you to be back. Ask someone, maybe a friend, neighbor or relative, to pick up mails and newspapers for you. Always bring adequate amount of traveller's check so that you won't have to bring lots of cash. Have your passport photocopied, if you are travelling overseas, and pack it in a different place than the original. It the passport is lost or stolen, the photocopy may serve as proof that you have a valid passport. Avoid too much baggage; bring only the necessary things that you need. Avoid too much baggage, bring only the necessary things that you need. Always bring some medicines like anti colds and vitamins for your medication. When travelling by a car be sure that it is working in prefect condition. Be sure to put your name and your destination in your luggages. In case of lost the finder can return it immediately.Put your personal and valuable belongings in a safe place. It is also a good thing to have padlocks in your suitcase to avoid lost. Dont forget to bring your camera or a video camera and cellphones when you travel.Memories are never to be forgotten.Don't be in a hurry take your time to prepare all the necessary things you need.

While Traveling :

--Do not bring large amounts of money with you. As much as possible, bring only the minimum amount you need and the credit card(s) you use. --Distribute the cash you have in your pockets. --It is good to have travel books, brochures or leaflets while you travel. You can use them to know the cheapest hotels, restaurants and best food about your destination. --Be a part of a group tour in order to explore the different insights of your destination.

IF YOU ARE A BIKER:

If you have to transfer your bike with you by train be sure: --To buy a ticket for your bike --To know which trains allow bikes --To know which car the bike will go in --Trains don’t wait in stations for long --Breaking away from a group bike tour is the only way to see Italy! --Take care of equipment to take with you --Verify if there are bike services along the trip --Verify if there are markets along the trip --Verify if you can put your bike in a garage --Make sure that you drink enough water

IF YOU ARE A WALKER:

--Walking is an enjoyable way of seeing the small towns of Italy and their scenery --Make sure that you drink enough water --Try to hike with at least one partner if you are unfamiliar with an area --Use a GPS to help in your itinerary

WAY OF TRAVELLING:

--Solo --Couples --Private groups --Honeymooners --No package tours or Fancy resorts

Novice Tour Guide Blogger

These passed few days, I feel so depressed. Why? Because I feel like my life was so wasted. I do not have a job, and I hate it, so much. When I need to buy something like clothes, shoes and other stuff, I need to ask my husband to give me money. But I am ashamed to ask of my requisition. Not because he is perceived, it is only because I am not the type of person who is demanding, I knew that he work hard for that money for us. It is not fair if I will spend that money unwisely. For me to be feeling better, I talked to my husband that I really want to work. I want to have a career. We need to find a nanny for our two year old daughter. I explained to him that we really need to look for a person who is trust worthy. I cannot do a better work if I think of our daughter. It will affect my performance. I also confessed that I got bored and tired of what are I am doing everyday. For me, it is a routine that I woke up 3 o’ clock am in the morning to prepare the food of my husband. Then after that I will feed my daughter then I will go to the market to buy our food for the lunch. Then we will watch our favorite noontime show. Then I and my daughter will take a nap. This is my daily routine. And I think that reading this confession will gets you tired, too. I feel so exhausted doing this for almost three years. Before I got married, I told to myself that I will be a loyal, caring, loving, plain and gorgeous wife. But people say “time change, people change”. My husband and I decided to apply an internet plan for me to browse a job online. While browsing, I checked my friendster account at http://www.friendster.com/. My former colleagues send me a message asking me how I am and do not forget to click her blogsite. This former colleague was my batch mate in college days. We were calling each other “cousin” every time we see each other but we are not really cousins, it’s just because we have the same surname. I replied her and also asked her how her doing is? If she is working? What kind of job? And where she worked? When she replied, she told me that she is working online. So, I got interested in her job. I was wondering, what is her job. She is a blogger. She is making blogs for her to earn money. That was the time when I got interested in making my own blogs. She guided me how to make my own blogs. She gave me the suitable blogsite where I can create and the technique how to develop my own blogs. After, I’ve done my own blogsite. She explained how I will earn money out of my blogs. I thanked her for giving me that information and I told her that it will help us a lot in terms of financial when I submitted my blogs to an advertising sites. Now I am developing my own blogsite so that when I submit my blogs, it will approved fast. I am putting some useful links. I am adding information about my blogs. My blogsite name is http://pinkpanda0816.blogspot.com/and the title is VIRTUAL TOUR GUIDE-At your service!. I chose this title because in my blogsite you can visit any place of different countries in the world featured. You can find a photo, videos, forums, ideas, tips to the country featured. I put the world “virtual” because we are now using internets for us to find a country where we can spend time with our family, friends and love ones. This is my first time to creat blogs...so to my future readers, just fasten your seatbelt as we fly and say hello world.