It's Time For a Little Bit of a Fast Five From All Over!

 Just a little quip from the world of Adventures for Anyone's Fast Fives!

1.    Taking a look at North Korea from The Dora Observatory.    This place sits along the 38th parallel and for anyone who's been under a rock for the last 75 years or so, that's just south of the DMZ.  It's one of the most famous borders in the world, with the mysterious North Korea on the other side; all but shut off from the rest of the world.  What makes something like that so fascinating?  Not sure, probably just the taboo of it all.

It's a great side or day trip from Seoul and other points in South Korea, and most tours are for less than $100.  There's more than you'd think to see there, with educational centers, the actual DMZ, the observatory, and even a wild bridge to walk on.  Bring your binoculars, because it's probably the closest you'll ever get to North Korea.

https://www.viator.com/South-Korea-attractions/Dora-Observatory/d972-a20544

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-korea/gyeonggi-do/panmunjom-and-the-dmz-tour/attractions/dora-observatory/a/poi-sig/1410014/357399

https://www.koreaetour.com/dora-observatory/

https://www.getyourguide.com/dora-observatory-l89991/

https://www.exploreshaw.com/visiting-the-dmz-from-south-korea/

2.    Wadi Ash Shab Canyon, Oman.  This amazing canyon is about an hour and a half from Muscat, and it's best to take that tour, because roaming around in the Omani desert isn't for the feint of heart.  It's an amazing oasis in a rugged deep canyon with crystal clear water, and some amazing hiking.  You can take the equivalent of a river taxi to the opening of the canyon to start your 3 km hike, but as I say; I'd take a tour.

Oman is a fascinating and mysterious enigma and sometimes it's best to let someone show you a beautiful spot and how to get there.  You can hike, swim and enjoy a truly beautiful spot in the middle of the desert for the day while visiting one of the lesser known tourist spots in the world.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g4506867-d1073179-Reviews-Wadi_Shab-Tiwi_Ash_Sharqiyah_Governorate.html

https://www.mapsandmerlot.com/wadi-shab-hike-in-oman-guide/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtCnfDMZxMM

https://www.memphistours.com/oman/oman-travel-guide/oman-valleys/wiki/wadi-alshab

https://www.viator.com/Oman-attractions/Wadi-Shab/d745-a16267?gclsrc=aw.ds&&m=63845&supag=&supca=20927319006&supsc=&supai=&supap=&supdv=c&supnt=nt:x&suplp=9192792&supli=&supti=&tsem=true&supci=&supap1=&supap2=&synthetic_keyword=wadi%20shab%20tour&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20933878235&gbraid=0AAAAAD-gbd65lSLStD6pz7BehjjL2iYSC&gclid=CjwKCAjwwNbEBhBpEiwAFYLtGBxnZLoF-jarz_r-KCq_9OZVhJE78w2UAHezAl51HXqxtbTlDOPYJRoCEIgQAvD_BwE

3.    Flixbus.  It's that big green bus and it's a great way to get around.  They offer great prices.  The buses go to a lot of destinations.  They're comfortable reportedly.  And, these guys are in Europe too!

I've been touting the freedom and the relaxation that comes with all kinds of mass transit, so why wouldn't I talk about this?  I remember when I was young there was greyhound, which to be fair still exists today, but it came with a stigma.  Only down on their luck poor people, nomads with no where to go and such rode Greyhound.  Stupid thought?  Yes.  I love it when I don't have to drive.  These buses both on this continent and in Europe will get you around for cheap.

I couldn't find any definite information here, but the European version online will help you plan your trip with both train and bus.  It certainly seems like a winning idea to me.  Don't miss out just because of your belief about bus travel.  I've been using trains and buses a lot lately and I love it.

https://www.flixbus.com/service/european-services

https://www.flixbus.com/

https://www.facebook.com/FlixBus/

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.flixbus.app&hl=en_US

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32655-d17802555-Reviews-or10-FlixBus_Inc_United_States-Los_Angeles_California.html

4.    Setenil de las Bodegas, Spain.   What an amazing little pueblo town in southern Spain, not far From Ronda.  There is an old Arab Fort to visit, and this amazing town lies largely under a rock cliff.

The view is one of a kind.  The shopping is great, with a lot of stores to peruse and also a lot of local sights to see.  The food is good, and the structure is just surreal.  If you're looking for a great day trip while in Southern Spain, this is for you.

https://www.getyourguide.com/setenil-de-las-bodegas-l92408/

https://turismodesetenil.com/en/

https://www.andalucia.com/province/cadiz/setenil/home.htm

https://www.totallyspain.com/destination/setenil-de-las-bodegas/1181/

https://andaluciainmypocket.com/the-best-things-to-do-in-setenil-de-las-bodegas-andalucia-spain/

5.    Emerald Star on The River Shannon, Ireland.  This is another idea from Le Boat.  Le Boat are the people that you can rent a yacht from and take yourself on a cruise.  They're all over.  I've read about them in other parts of Britain, France, Canada and on and on. 

Ireland is a place where you'll either take a tour or get yourself around.  It's quaint and beautiful with a lot of little towns and villages.  Taking yourself on a tour in Ireland is largely the way to go.  Hiring a Le Boat is a great way to go.

The company will give you an intro to the boat and the rules and the laws.  Then off you go.  It's like any other boat trip that you'd take on a private boat, except you're the captain.  The River Shannon is a great waterway to sail in Ireland, with great stops at Belleek, Enniskillen, Carrick-on-Shannon, and so many more!  All smaller towns.  All scenic.  It's a real interactive, self guided tour of some gorgeous spots in Western Ireland.

If you like to do things on your own, as I do, this is a great way to enjoy exploring Ireland.  Prices of trips vary but can be as low as $1,400.  It's not nearly as expensive as you'd think and what a great way for the self guided adventurer to visit someplace like Ireland.

If you're nervous, Le Boat is the largest company of its kind in the world.  They know what they're doing and they will help you have the time of your life.

https://www.leboat.com/boating-vacations/ireland/shannon?bases=POR%2CCARR&duration=7&itinerary_type=all&passengers=2&start_date=2025-08-29

https://www.leboat.com/boats/shannon-star

https://www.leboat.com/download-our-region-guides

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g211879-d12706631-Reviews-Emerald_Star_Le_Boat_Carrick_on_Shannon-Carrick_on_Shannon_County_Leitrim_Wester.html

https://theplanetd.com/cruise-on-the-shannon-river/

There you have it.  This week's fast five is for adventure all over!  Whether you want to rent a boat, swim in a beautiful gorge in the Omani desert, dine under a giant rock, take a quick peek into North Korea, or catch a bus, we've got you covered.  Remember, there are a bucket load of bucket list things to see and do out there, and we all should have a little adventure once in a while.  So pack your bags and hop on the Adventure for Anyone band wagon and get out and see and do some great things!

Also, check out my YouTube Channel for adventures that I've been having!  A lot of them are insights into New York City and the Northeast of the USA.  Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/@ninakindred9466

Some Practical Advice for Travelers in Foreign Countries Traveling Without Guides on This Week's Fast Five!

 Being and independent traveler always applies to me, and that's why I think you all might find this advice interesting and useful.

 

1.   Always do your research before you go, and then have back up resources.  I say this with all the wisdom that I possibly can.  Before I visit a country with the intent of renting an apartment, taking public transportation and visiting specific sights; I do my research.  

Recently we visited three countries in northern Europe and were intending to look around, but had some key points in mind.  I wanted to visit two cathedrals and an island in Helsinki.  I wanted to visit Kadriog and walk the city walls in Tallinn.  I wanted to go to the ABBA Museum in Stockholm.  Didn't seem like much to ask, however, I had to make sure that the activities would be open on the days of the week we were in town.  It's mandatory.  The Russian Cathedral isn't open on Mondays in Helsinki.  There are daily hours for walking the city walls in Tallinn.  The ABBA Museum is so popular you have to schedule your tickets in advance to get in.  Had I not done my research, we may have missed out on some of the key things we were intending to do.

Always do your research.  Always do it ahead of time.  If an attraction says you need to schedule in advance; do it.

2.    Be thorough when renting an apartment.  This is important.  I normally use VRBO to be fair.  It's my style.  We like to rent apartments when we can and when we're going to be out for a while.  It's just so easy to live that way.  You don't have to take so many clothes if you can do laundry.  You have a kitchen for breakfast, snacks and even a meal if you don't feel like trudging around finding a restaurant that day.  It's a great way to travel and not that much more expensive in most cases.  

Here's a story for you, however.  I showed up in Helsinki which was no problem getting from the airport to the train station as it wasn't our first trip to that city.  We had a general lay of the land in our heads, because of previous experience.  Finding our apartment should have been easy.  I had all the information connected to my phone.  All I had to do was go on my rental app and pull up the information and voila!  We'd be settled.

Always have a backup plan.  My phone's data for the country didn't kick in.  It was solved by the following morning, but we needed to get into our apartment that night.  We were supposed to go to a pickup location for our keys and then go a short distance to the apartment.  What could possibly go wrong?

I couldn't connect with the app.  I did finally get to use the Wi-Fi of the Subway sandwich shop in the train station and pulled it up that way, so it was solved, but it would have been easier had I just downloaded the instructions to my phone ahead of the mess.  I will never not download instructions again.

We also discovered that addresses aren't all they're cracked up to be in Helsinki, and we had a terrible time finding the address of our apartment.  Once we found it, it was a great place in a great location.  It all worked out.

 

3.    Location, location, location.   About those apartments.  Make sure that if you intend to take public transportation, your accommodations are near a stop.  That seems simple, but it's not always.  When you look to book accommodations online, take advantage of that little map.  I always do.  I will measure the distance from that location to the nearest bus, tram, metro, or train every time.  You will need to get to where you are going every single day.  Make sure you can get around easily.

As far as that goes, make that decision of whether or not to rent a car based on the geography of where you're traveling to.  Does your location have good mass transit?  If not, rent a car.  When we went to Iceland and St. Lucia, it simply wasn't in the cards to use mass transit.  Northern European cities and Porto; it was far easier to get around by mass transit than it ever would have been driving.  

Once again, download a map, just in case.  Always have a backup plan.  I always have metro maps on my phone.  Every time you think about where to stay, how far it is to the airport or whatever; remember to think about how willing you are to carry your luggage between stops.

Here's my story.  I made this mistake.  I couldn't really get a visual on Tallinn's old town.  My fault.  I saw pictures and videos.  Didn't help.  I rented an apartment in old town.  The host only sent part of the instructions.  Not good.  I had to find someone with a local phone to call the host (I'd learned by then to download all my information).  We finally got some help from one of the amazing locals.  I love the people in Tallinn, by the way.  Then, we had to drag our bag up a cliff.  Oops!  It was hard, but it all worked out.  Always do your homework.  Always make sure the mass transit will work for you.

4.    Always make sure your connections are going to work out.  Do a dry run.  It's one thing when you're visiting a single location overseas.  In most cases, you just go home the way you came.  However, when visiting multiple locations and countries, and flying into one country and home from another; you need to make sure it will all work.

We had a couple of glitches last time.

One was in Tallinn.  Tallinn was full of little glitches, but still well worth the visit.  I'd visited Slavic countries before, and it wasn't a surprise some of the things we found.  First, getting our mass transit cards was more difficult than it needed to be.  How and where to get them wasn't really clear.  We did figure it out.

One of the good things in Tallinn for the first timer was that there were no undergrounds.  It was all bus and tram with trains and ferries.  We could always see what was around us.  That actually helped tremendously.

It helped because the maps at the stops were not reliable.  After a bit of discovery that the trams in particular didn't always go where the maps said they did, and that there were different maps at nearly every stop; we decided to make a dry run to the airport to make sure we could get there when necessary. 

Our first try was not good.  We then had to regroup and try a different route.  The second try worked.  We had mapped out our route to the airport and found that the only accurate mass transit map was at the stop at the airport.  Crisis averted and our trip to Sweden went off without a hitch.

We also made a dry run to the ferry port in Helsinki, but it was all good and the first try there worked.  The trams in Helsinki that go to the ports have a T right in the line identity for terminal; as in ferry terminal.  The dry run also allowed us to book our ferry passage to Tallinn ahead of time and then not have to wait in line with our passports on the day of travel.  Win win.

5.    Last, but not least; be flexible.  While we were trotting around northern Europe, I was notified that there were some changes to our flight schedule for the trip home.  The change was to a very early flight.  Stockholm has a high speed connector train from the city to the airport, so it's an easy ride.  However, our early flight left us having to leave the city before the train began running for the day.  Also, the mass transit in the city wasn't running that early.  We were staying in a district outside of downtown.  So, how to get from our apartment to the train station and then to the airport before anything was running for the day?  That wouldn't work.

I hopped on my app and looked for alternatives.  What I found was that the same people who operated the apartment we were staying in, operated apartments at the airport.  They were more than happy to switch us over, allowing us to travel to the airport the evening before.  We stayed at their airport apartment and then took the shuttle to the airport in the morning.  It all worked out, but you have to be flexible.

Due to the crazy flying schedule we ended up with, I also booked the night we got back at the hotel where we parked our car, so we could get some sleep before a sizable drive home.  Be flexible.  It will save you a lot of grief.

There you have it, some advice for independent travel.  I still highly recommend independent travel.  Just know that it all does land on your shoulders when you're not working with a company, but it's a rewarding way to travel, because it's you making all of your own discoveries around the world.

Be prepared, be flexible, have back up plans for anything on your phone, do your research and enjoy!

http://www.travelindependent.info/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i12334-k7614744-o10-How_to_Travel_Independent_Travel_vs_Organized_Tours-Holiday_Travel.html

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/which-locations-are-best-done-on-a-tour-vs-independently

https://maddiearoundtheworld.com/decide-between-solo-travel-and-group-tours/

If you want a great travel card, this is it over at Chase!

Earn 100,000 bonus points with Sapphire Reserve® or 75,000 bonus points with Sapphire Preferred®. I can be rewarded if you apply here and are approved for either card. https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19t/UR5DBNT376

Like and Subscribe to my YouTube channel for videos on some great things all over!

https://www.youtube.com/@ninakindred9466

https://travelmaker.info/en/independent-travel/

My recommendations:

https://www.forenom.com/aparthotels/

https://www.ryanair.com/us/en

https://www.eckeroline.com/

Let's Talk About the Thing No One Really Wishes to Address...Tourist Traps

Every time I hop the ferry to Port Jefferson, Long Island in New York, I see it.  Everything around the port is there to separate tourists from their money.  Expensive hotels and restaurants, shops with all kinds of expensive items.  You can't walk two feet without finding designer teas or a giant sweet shop with everything sugar can make.  

You'll notice if you travel Long Island, that most villages have a British phone booth and an old fashioned stand clock somewhere around.  Most places have a giant Adirondack chair that you can take your photo in.  It's just part of the spiel.  I always have to look closely, but there are places that aren't tourist traps.

So is the plight of the traveler just trying to get a look at the world outside the bubble they live in.  What's a tourist to do?  A lot of research.  I learned this early on. 

 

 

We've all heard the expression, "Tourist Trap".  I remember when I was kid, going to Sandusky, Ohio to Cedar Point.  My parents and my friends' parents all thought it was a tourist trap.  But was it the tourist trap?

Here's a story about when I was a kid and I went to Sandusky for a whole week with my friend Pam and her mom.  We got ourselves a cute little motel for cheap and investigated the whole area and all of the tourist "attractions" that it had to offer.  We went to Cedar Point.  I mean, it's the most famous roller coaster park in the world.  We wouldn't pass that up.  But was it the tourist trap?

Our first "attraction" was called the Blue Hole, aptly named and it wasn't far from the amusement park.  We decided to check it out.  It cost a bit to get in (It's long since closed now) and it was indeed, a hole.  It was called a bottomless pool of water.  It was way overpriced and we only needed about two minutes to observe it.

After a very disappointing visit to a so called natural wonder, we eventually went to another attraction called Seneca Caverns.  Today, it will cost you $24 for the regular tour.  They also have other activities and special tours at times.  This was a great place, and it didn't cost anywhere near $24 back then.

Seneca Caverns when I was there as a kid had seven levels of rudimentary trails before you reached the bottomless river at the lowest achievable level.  You had a guide and the tour took a while.  It was a lot of bang for you buck.

But that's not all.

Guess where the bottomless river is attached to?  That's right.  The Blue Hole.  We learned that week to skip the hole and take a tour of the caverns.  There's also a place called Crystal Caves (not the one in Virginia) that when I was there (many years ago, so something may have changed) was not much and barely more than someone's basement.  Also expensive.

We also visited a drive through dinosaur park.  This was in the late 70's and it was hilarious.  The dinosaurs were fiberglass and had speakers in them.  They made noise when you drove by.  You got a booklet telling you about the different kinds of dinosaurs and it took about 20 minutes for the whole thing.  Way overpriced.

Be aware, Ohio's fascination with dinosaurs has never ended.  You can still normally find something to do with dinosaurs around Sandusky.

If you really wanted to waste your money, you could combine the dinosaurs with Mystery Hill.  This was supposed to be a magic spot that defied gravity and a host of other ridiculous carnival tricks.  It was fun, so I'm not sure I would say it was overpriced, but it was pricey.  Tough call.  Once again, it didn't last long and we were stuck looking for something to do the rest of the day.

Most of these attractions are long gone, so I'm sure you can draw your own conclusions as to how much of a tourist trap they were.  However, Cedar Point, it turned out wasn't the tourist trap.  That place can keep you entertained for days.

Today, I travel in different places.  But there's always something there that costs more because it's for tourists.  So today, I give some free advice.

Sometimes you don't even realize what's going on.  Helsinki was one stop that amazed me.  We visited the old port.  Sounds cool.  But wow.  Someone planted an entire market full of reindeer meat products and all things made with lingenberry.  They parked a sauna and pool place on the harbor.  There was a giant Ferris wheel right there.  You couldn't miss any of it.  Was it all at local prices?  Did you even know?

Be aware.  In the city center or at an old port; places like that; they see you coming.  If you are American, you stick out like a sore thumb.  All of a sudden you pay to go in a church.  Everyone wants to be your best friend.  In many cases, the prices at the restaurants and booths in a tourist shopping area are non existent.  Never go anywhere unless there are visible prices; particularly for food.

If someone offers to take your picture, don't automatically say yes.  They'll probably want money for it.  Once the picture is taken, they can argue for quite a while.  Don't get trapped.

Is this to say that tourist attractions aren't worth the money?  No, not at all.  Just make sure it's worth it to you.  We spent a few days in Stockholm.  We took public transportation.  It was cheap for Sweden, a very expensive country in general.  They had hop on hop off buses for about double the price of a metro card.  All the transportation went to the same places.  Do five minutes of research on what tram you want to take and save yourself a lot of money.

We also tried to eat in Gamla Stan, the old town.  We went to a little place with prices on the menu, and decided to try Swedish Meatballs.  I know, it sounds hokey, but we were in Sweden.  We got heated up frozen Italian meatballs with dark brown flavorless gravy.  We weren't careful enough.  Make sure there are plenty of customers in a crowded area.  See if there are a few locals there too.  It helps you not get caught in a trap.

Also, be very aware of that burger and pizza culture in the northern countries.  The locals don't go out for Swedish or Finnish food.  They make that at home.  My method has become to try and get out of that touristy city center and eat in an area where locals live.  You may not end up getting authentic traditional food, but the burgers are pretty good.

My husband stopped for some goulash soup in the same neighborhood as the Swedish Meatballs on another day.  There were no prices on the menu outside the door.  I warned him, but he wanted soup.  It cost a fortune and was little more than broth.  One of the biggest signs of a rip off is a menu without prices.  Always avoid that.  I don't care where you are.

Then there was the old town in Tallinn, Estonia.  We were staying in an apartment in the highest point of old town and we found this restaurant around the corner from our place.  There was a mix up with the instructions from the host and the host at the restaurant helped me sort it out.  So we went back that night for dinner.  

It was a long way from the more touristy area that was full of western fast food and tons of overpriced gift shops.  We ate there both nights we were in town.  The staff was friendly and amazing.  The food was fantastic and Slavic, and the prices were completely reasonable.  They weren't located in the frenzied touristy part.  They were out of the way, and it was wonderful.

So, always take into consideration what it's worth to you.  I stick by my theory to never go to a restaurant that has no prices on the menu.  Be careful with anything you buy to keep or eat in a noted tourist zone.  Prices are always higher. 

I normally take public transportation.  Tours and tour buses are far more expensive.  I like to visit parks, grocery stores, malls, plazas.  I like to go to neighborhoods that are more local.  It's the best way to eat and shop.  I like to learn a bit about the places I'm traveling to.  Local places tell you a lot about the real place.  People actually live there.  Tourist zones are there for tourists.  It's what they think you expect to see in their country.  Normally, it's not the real deal.

I loved my time in the old towns on my last trip.  I also loved my visits to their parks, city markets and local restaurants.  It's all about what you want out of your trip.  Make sure you do research before you go traveling and figure out what you want to get out of your trip.

Remember, tours are designed to serve a group of cliche tourists.  Are you that?  It makes a difference.  Cruises are designed to give a taste of several locations while keeping you entertained on board.  Is that for you?  Make an informed decision.

I've learned what my travel style is like.  Everyone should figure that out if you intend to travel.  If you don't figure out how you want to travel, you won't have the best time possible.  Not every style is for every traveler.  Travelers and tourists are not the same thing.  Make sure you have all the information you can get before you go and enjoy!

https://senecacavernsohio.com/

https://sca-roadside.org/getting-to-the-bottom-of-ohios-mysterious-blue-hole/

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/2314

https://travel.usnews.com/Stockholm_Sweden/Things_To_Do/Gamla_Stan_59393/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-dLz8pD-cY

https://www.passportsandpreemies.com/10-things-to-see-and-do-in-tallinn/

https://www.afar.com/magazine/how-can-i-avoid-tourist-traps-when-im-traveling

See more about my travels on Adventures for Anyone on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/@ninakindred9466