REPOST: 5 places to add to your traveling bucket list for 2015

Traveling the world is fun but choosing where to go is the hardest part of it all. This New York Daily News article enumerates five destinations you should be adding to your travel bucket list.

Aurora over Jokulsarlon, Iceland. | Image Source: nydailynews.com

 
New Year’s is not that far off, and if you've resolved to make 2015 your year of travel, here are five places you’ll want to add to your list. From cultural meccas to natural beauties, family-friendly havens and one place in particular that just has that certain je ne sais quoi about it, these top-pick travel destinations each promise eye-opening experiences all their own. All you have to do is buy the ticket.

Bahamas

Image Source: nydailynews.com

If the only things you know about the Bahamas is that a certain pop-music princess who sings about umbrellas happened to be born there or that it was on the Beach Boy’s list of travel destinations once upon a time, then might we suggest a trip to this tropical island and an updated copy of Trivial Pursuit. “The Bahamas are home to one of the most picturesque archipelagos in the entire world,” says Jackie Finley, a representative of Holiday Cruise Line. “And the fact they're so close to Florida makes going on cruises one of the most exciting things you can do with your family." Bahamian cruises are so popular in fact that Holiday has a specialty service dedicated to such excursions — might be why it's been named the “Best Bahamas Getaway Cruise” three years running by the editors at Porthole magazine.


Central America

Nicaragua, Central America | Image Source: nydailynews.com

If the is calling to you, but you’re not entirely interested in island hopping, Central America might be a better place to plan your great escape. Lying just above the equator in the Tropic of Cancer, with the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean on either side, this smallest sliver of the Americas offers warm climates, beautiful weather and plenty of awe-inspiring natural wonders at which to marvel. Panama is possibly the most recognizable Central American country, but to its north, Costa Rica has long held the crown as an ecotourism hotspot. New to the tourism scene, but equally capable of offering an exotic adventure is Nicaragua. While its war-torn history might not be far behind it, Nicaragua is charting a new course for itself as a cultural and culinary destination. Seafood lovers should stick to the Caribbean side of the country, where they are sure to enjoy the spoils of Nicaragua’s shrimp and lobster boat industries; caffeine connoisseurs might consider a trip to the country’s central highlands for a tour of its authentic coffee harvestings; and Nicaragua’s most intriguing of natural wonders, its coral reefs, are best seen by scuba diving off the coast of Corn Island — situated in the Caribbean Sea about 44 miles off Nicaragua’s mainland.


Paris

Image Source: nydailynews.com

Despite having a history that spans over 10,000 years, the City of Lights still holds a fascination for tourists. In fact, it is the ever presence of its antiquity, in the form of gothic architecture and cultural landmarks like Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tour that continue to make the Parisian capitale a perennial favorite — not to mention the Mona Lisa, Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece housed within Paris' most popular museum, the Louvre. Whether you spend your time here doing nothing more than eating macaroons while strolling along the Seine basking in the wealth of history simply surrounding you, or you pound the cobblestone pavement traversing the city from the Champs d'Elysee to Sacré-Cœur, Paris holds plenty of opportunities to make memories to last a lifetime.

Iceland

We can understand why any travel destination with the word ice in the name would be enough to raise the eyebrows of even the most unimpressed of New Yorkers — a people for whom the term polar vortex still illicits chills — but if this Nordic country is not on your traveling bucket list by now, it’s time to make an addendum. Falling just outside the Arctic Circle, a trip to Iceland is not for the faint of heart. In this case, however, fortune truly does favor the brave, because once you arrive, a veritable treasure trove of natural beauty will be at your fingertips. From getting an up-close look at glaciers to taking in the polar collision of gaseous particles better known as the Northern Lights, Iceland is awash in wonders — and not all of them require a parka to appreciate. Amongst Iceland’s main attractions are its geothermal pools. These naturally heated watering holes are reason enough to book a ticket to Reykjavik right now.

Washington D.C.

Image Source: nydailynews.com

 While part of the fun of travelling is getting to put a stamp in your passport, there are plenty of picturesque, historically significant and awe-inspiring places to visit right here in the states. One of our favorites is just a train ride away. Washington is one of the world's best museum and monument cities, according to Lonely Planet, an arbiter of all things travel oriented. For the next 12 months, our nation’s capital will in even rarer form than usual, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Through 2015, rarely seen artifacts from America’s 16th president, like his iconic stovepipe hat, as well as the pistol John Wilkes Booth fired the deadly shot from will be on display through a partnership between the Smithsonian and Ford’s Theatre where Lincoln was fatally wounded in 1865. While the occasion warranting Washington D.C. a place in our list might be a bit somber, it's short window of opportunity makes it all the more significant.

A trip to any of these above destinations is sure to make your two weeks off of work feel like the much needed getaway it's meant to be, but whether your vacation winds up being one from this list or another port of call entirely, the experience of exploration is what’s important.

Riyesh Menon loves to travel the world because he enjoys experiencing the different cultures of every place he visits. Follow him on Twitter to find out the hottest and most beautiful destinations.

Escaping the cold and enjoying a holiday travel on the cheap

Image Source: dmhsperspective.com

When the too cold weather tags along with the Christmas holiday, it makes you want to get out of town and enjoy a warm-weather getaway. However, holiday travel is notoriously known as being a busy and expensive undertaking. Odds are, you’ll likely get discouraged and end up staying at home, hoping that the heating system will not give up on you.

Image Source: orlandosentinel.com

But, fret not, for there are deals and tactics that will let you enjoy a warm Christmas holiday, away the biting weather. In fact, Travel Channel says that there is quite a window of opportunity for a great vacation with holiday travel, only if you planned ahead and booked early. Independent Traveler affirms that fares rise as the actual holiday approaches, so booking early avoid the price of procrastination. There is no such thing as too early flight booking in this day and age.

Image Source: shetlandtaxis.co.uk

Forbes underscores that the beauty of booking travel in advance for a winter holiday is that you see maximum discounts on resort or hotel rates. A 14 to 21-day advanced booking is ideal for a 20 percent discount or more. With advanced flight booking, you can choose Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, or the actual holiday, as these days are the cheapest times to fly to your destination. And they are less stressful, too.

Escaping winter by vacationing somewhere sunny can cause a serious dent on your budget, unless you plan well in advance and not escape town on a sudden whim.

Hi there! Riyesh Menon here! Traveling is what I love best as I get to see unique places and cultures. Follow me on Twitter to read about the places I visited and those that I plan to see soon.

REPOST: Vacation checklist: Turn off the water

A happy vacation turned out to be a disaster when a family arrived home. Find out why in this article below.

Image Source: .wral.com

WRAL photographer Tom Normanly went on vacation with his family, and they returned to find water pooled throughout their home. A friend had called with the bad news.

“She said there's water everywhere. ‘Something broke in the bathroom, and there's water all over your house,’” Normanly recalled.

The hose that supplies water to a toilet in the home came loose and sprayed water for two days. Water spread to the back bedrooms, the living room, everywhere.

"The carpet was soaked,” Normanly said. “When you walked on it, it sloshed everywhere"

The family’s new cork kitchen floor was so swollen with water, Normanly said, it was about 6 inches high.

The hose to the toilet was “flailing all over the place, and the water was just shooting everywhere,” he said.

Ryan Oakley is a contractor for Emerg+NC Property Rescuers. He said he gets similar calls about three to five times a week.

“The most common things we see are the supply lines for the washing machine, ice maker supply lines, because they're typically held on by a little plastic nut, and that's under constant pressure,” Oakley said.

An easy fix for anyone headed out of town is to shut off the water.

"It never dawned on me to turn my water off,” Normanly said.

Depending on the age of the home, a whole-house valve could be in a hall closet, near the water heater or just inside the crawl space. If the main valve is on the street, a key is required.

Plumbing experts also recommend checking appliance supply lines for corrosion and changing them every five to seven years with stainless steel braided ones, which typically cost less than $10. That’s much less than the cost of flooding repairs.

"I think between replacing everything and fixing everything and drying everything out, it's going to be near $80,000,” Normanly said.

It’s worth noting that water damage is the second most frequently filed insurance claim in the United States.

The Normanlys spent two months in a hotel and were finally able to move back into their home this past weekend. And they now say whenever they will be away for more than 24 hours, they will turn off their water.

 Learn more helpful tips about traveling by following this Riyesh Menon Twitter account.

Bucket list: Things to do in Ishigaki, Japan

Image Source: fineartamerica.com

The Yaeyama Islands are an archipelago situated southwest of Okinawa Prefecture. Ishigaki is the second largest of these islands and is considered the region's business and transportation hub.

With its unspoilt beaches, pineapple plantations, and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Ishigaki Island is considered by many as one of the most beautiful places in Japan.

Snorkeling at Yonehara

Yonehara Beach is one of the most popular destinations in Ishigaki. The sand is not fine, but the surrounding coral reef and abundant marine life more than make up for the pebbly beach. Yonehara boasts a large campsite shaded by trees, free showers, and parking facilities. The water is quite shallow, but snorkelers don't have to wade far to see small colorful fish flitting in and out of sight just underneath the surface of the crystal-clear water.

Yonehara is popular among tourists and locals alike, and can be quite crowded during the summer months, with camping groups and teenagers holding all-night beach parties. Despite the constant influx of guests, however, Yonehara Beach is remarkably clean.

Image Source: flickrhivemind.net

Glass bottom boat tour of Kabira Bay

Kabira Bay is known for its turquoise waters and white sand beaches, and for being the location of one of the only black pearl farms in the country. However, swimming, snorkeling, and diving are not allowed due to rough currents and the presence of “habu-kurage,” a highly toxic type of box jellyfish.

Many tourists who visit Kabira Bay either relish the view from an observation deck or go on a glass-bottom boat tour of the surrounding waters. Glass-bottom boat tours are fairly inexpensive and allow visitors to glimpse various types of marine life and coral. Kabira Bay is a resort village, so there is no shortage of shops, restaurants, and clubs.

Image Source: bitpunk.net

Eco-tours by kayak up the Miyara River

The Miyara River runs through mangrove forests and is teeming with life. An eco-kayak tour allows visitors to marvel at the views while learning about the flora and fauna that inhabit the area. The tours being offered in the area are designed to be environmentally sustainable and educational: visitors can also learn more about the history and culture of Ishigaki from their tour guides. Some eco-tour kayak companies stop at tidal flats to let guests explore certain areas on foot.

Image Source: ishigaki-japan.com

Those activities are just the tip of the iceberg: there are many more interesting things to do and see in Ishigaki.

Hi! I love Japan (who doesn’t, right?) that it is actually part of the Riyesh Menon “places to visit again” list. Subscribe to my blog for more Japan travel tales and other Asian getaways.

REPOST: Suitcase or backpack?

Paul Burn's article from Venere.com lists down the pros and cons of using a suitcase or a backpack when traveling.

Everyone loves to travel and we all have our different ways of packing. Some of us travel light wherever we go, the rest of us pack the kitchen sink for even the shortest of trips. We don’t want to be caught unprepared for any eventuality – and of course, we might not find any shops where we are going!

Image Source: venere.com

Who carries what?
How we carry our luggage, though, is another matter. We all have our preconceptions of a backpacker as being young, cool, adventurous, traveling light and on a budget, whereas suitcase users might be considered more sophisticated, business like and more affluent. Whether you go for suitcases or backpacks they both have their pros and cons.

Pros and cons
Suitcases have one big advantage – they don’t weigh you down strapped to your back. These days they don’t even have to be carried far as they all come with wheels. These can, however, be a little tricky on medieval cobbled streets and carrying suitcases up several flights of stairs is not easy. Suitcases have an even bigger advantage in hot climates, they haven’t been attached to your back, leaving you hot and uncomfortable. Newer styles of backpack, though, are designed to eliminate this problem; although such designs might not come cheap.

It is easy to find something in a suitcase without having to totally unpack it. It opens out flat and everything can be seen and you will be surprised at the amount of luggage you can get into it. There’s no end to the pairs of shoes or holiday reading you can pack and once packed it stands upright and only its wheels have to touch the dirty ground; backpacks have a tendency to fall over and their straps can quickly become sticky and dirty. Straps tend to get tangled on airplanes and trip up the unwary. Awkward shaped and sharp objects or glass bottles that risk being broken don’t become hazards in a suitcase, they won’t spear your back as you walk.

Special needs
If you know you’re going to be traveling over rough terrain or having to walk with your luggage for any amount of time then, of course, backpacks come into their own. Your hands are left free to navigate potential hazards and you avoid falling into water or mud. Finally, image has to be considered. Turn up in that hostel in India or Thailand carrying a top of the range, hard-bodied, wheeled suitcase and you might not look that cool. Check in at a 5 star luxury hotel wearing a backpack and you might wish you’d worn your stilettos.


Get more tips on how to pack for trips by following Riyesh Menon on Facebook.

A walk on the wild side: Two of the world's most beautiful trails

Image Source: halleyhosting.com

For a certain kind of traveler, there's nothing more fulfilling than talking a trip through wilderness trails. The combination of exhilarating nature views and the peace that comes with walking or running amidst foliage, over mountains, or alongside great bodies of water is one that holds a special place in the hearts of hikers, trail runners, and campers. 


The following are two trails that deserve a spot on the bucket lists of true trail enthusiasts. 
 

The Everest Base Camp Trek, Nepal 


Image Source: rei.com

Travelers who want a challenging yet rewarding trail that provides a peek at Mount Everest, the peak that serves as an eternal symbol of adventure, will get all that and more with the Everest Base Camp Trek. The trek usually takes three days and brings travelers to challenging paths from Lukla to Kala Patthar (5,545 meter elevation ) from which they can have one of the best views of Mount Everest, and Nangkartshang Peak (5,083 meters) where travelers can view a breathtaking panorama of the snow-topped peaks of Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Nuptse., Makala, and Chukhung. The trek ends at Everest Base Camp in Kala Patthar, located just below the Khumbu Icefall.

Along the way, travelers can immerse themselves in Nepalese culture, through visiting Sherpa villages, market towns, and ancient monasteries, and indulging in local delicacies such as a hot dish of tsampa noodles and a cup of Chhaang, a local beer made from millet.  

Landmannalaugar to Thórsmörk trail, Iceland 


Image Source: philippegatta.fr

This 54 kilometer trail connects the nature reserves Landmannalaugar and Thorsmork. Hikers will traverse the southern highlands from north to south. The trail ends at Thorsmork (300 meters elevation), a beautiful mountain ridge named after the Norse god Thor and flanked by the two glaciers. The Thórsmörk Valley is said to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien, the acclaimed author of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. 


The trail features a variety of spectacular sights: lava fields, colorful mountain peaks, waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs, rivers, and lakes. 
Traversing a wilderness trail is physically and mentally taxing, but the hard work is amply rewarded with stunning views and a sense of accomplishment that only comes from overcoming a great challenge.


Riyesh Menon is a real estate professional who enjoys wilderness tours and holidays in exotic locations. Follow him on Twitter for more travel articles and news.