A Widely Variegated Fast Five!

Here's another list of ideas of special little things to do on already great vacations!  Hope you get inspired!

 

1.   Learn a bit about a traditional dance!  Do you like to dance?  Are you fascinated by some of the world's most famous dances?  This option might be for you.  There are hundreds of dances around the world that are national or folk dances associated with the places we love to travel.  The Whirling Dervishes of Turkey, Salsa dancing from so many Latina countries, the Tango; thank you Buenos Aires, Hawaii's Hula, or even Spain's Flamenco.  Those are only a sampling of famous dances that you can learn while traveling.  Most of the locations have a means for you to go to a class or have a session, and it's a great way to add to a great vacation!

https://www.spain-traveller.com/en/flamenco-dance-classes/

https://www.hawaiihulacompany.com/hulalessons.php

https://adrianlunacoach.com/tango/tango-lessons-in-buenos-aires/?gclid=CjwKCAjw3oqoBhAjEiwA_UaLtv-fCxad4Mn_o9AAen34V1mxvYhMeSF8c-TjhEnoVcZdElibySLM7BoCMccQAvD_BwE

https://matadornetwork.com/read/learn-salsa-dancing-cali-colombia/

https://istanbuldervishceremony.com/learn-how-to-do-a-whirling-dervish-dance/

2.  Take a walk on rice terraces in Bali, Indonesia.  Bali is one of the most beautiful islands on Earth, and most of us would love to spend some time there.  There are tons of things to do, but here's another.  Tegalalang Rice Terrace outside of Ubud, Bali is fast becoming a tourist favorite.  While there are several places where you can take a walk through rice terraces, it's wise to check into a tour company for such a thing.  If that doesn't appeal to you, as it never does to me; you can contact the tourism authority in Ubud for places and times for this activity.  Rice terraces are peaceful outdoor rural places where you can get away from it all and just enjoy nature and are a great addition to an exotic Bali vacation.

https://www.walkmyworld.com/posts/tegalalang-rice-terrace-walk

https://findingbeyond.com/ubud-rice-fields-walk/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g297701-d7708759-Reviews-Ubud_Kajeng_Rice_Fields_Walk-Ubud_Gianyar_Regency_Bali.html

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/indonesia/articles/the-best-bali-rice-fields-to-visit

https://www.introducingbali.com/rice-fields

3.     Ride a cable car in Singapore.  That's right, I said it!  We all know about the infinity pool on top of the hotel.  We all know about the lighted trees in the famous gardens.  We all know that the airport is super cool.  We all know about the food.  Did you know there was a cable car?  It's been there for 50 years and is going to be down for two weeks for maintenance starting at the end of September, but it links Mount Faber to Sentosa Island and the Harbor area.  It's 100 meters in the air and gives you an amazing view.  So, if you saw Crazy Rich Asians and didn't notice it; this could be a great extra activity for you while in Singapore after October 11th!

https://www.mountfaberleisure.com/attraction/singapore-cable-car/

https://www.sentosa.com.sg/en/things-to-do/attractions/singapore-cable-car/

https://gocity.com/singapore/en-us/attractions/singapore-cable-car-sky-pass

https://www.singapore-tickets.com/singapore-cable-car-map/

https://sg.trip.com/guide/info/singapore-cable-car.html

4.    The Lady Buddha Da Nang in Vietnam.  Vietnam is one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world.  On the Son Tra Peninsula near Da Nang City is a complex with gardens, pagoda, several Buddhas and the largest Buddha in Vietnam known as the Lady Buddha.  She's the size of a thirty story building!  You can visit inside the statue, as well as all around it.  The views from the park are amazing and it's one of the most unique places to visit in Vietnam.  So, it's a great must see if visiting the Da Nang area.

http://ladybuddha.org/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298085-d5531576-Reviews-Lady_Buddha-Da_Nang.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/lady-buddha

https://vietnam.travel/places-to-go/central-vietnam/da-nang

https://www.getyourguide.com/-l939/?cmp=ga&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=15511502792&cq_con=130339350705&cq_term=things%20to%20do%20in%20da%20nang&cq_med=&cq_plac=&cq_net=g&cq_pos=&cq_plt=gp&campaign_id=15511502792&adgroup_id=130339350705&target_id=aud-1393039795340:kwd-15920607183&loc_physical_ms=9003419&match_type=e&ad_id=569326848122&keyword=things%20to%20do%20in%20da%20nang&ad_position=&feed_item_id=&placement=&device=c&partner_id=CD951&gclid=CjwKCAjw3oqoBhAjEiwA_UaLtvGousdWiYKv2V4XgG_pa86K6b25ZJQk5w2p5DiNhQShuyOSROCXTRoCOigQAvD_BwE

5.    Check out a mural or several in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Kuala Lumpur, in what has become a city famous for catering to people wanting to spend money, has a surprise.  After you've visited the Petronas Twin Towers, tried the food, checked out a museum or two and gone shopping; check out the murals around town.  This city has become one of the premiere street art destinations in the world.  There are a bunch of tours to book, which is the way I'd probably go with this attraction, due to it's wandering locations.  A guide can take you to the best places to get your art geek on.  It's a great way to spend a little extra time in an amazing city!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g298570-Activities-Kuala_Lumpur_Wilayah_Persekutuan.html

https://www.townandtourist.com/malaysia-street-art/

https://thegeestravel.com/jalan-alor-kl-street-art-collections/

https://www.viator.com/Kuala-Lumpur-tours/Street-Art-Tour/d335-tag21519

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAA4n7EO9lc

So, there's this week's fast five.  I took special consideration into working in some Asian activities.  I know I don't go to Asia myself, but I would love to if I could just find the time.  I hope you enjoy these ideas for things to do that will enhance an already great trip.  Just remember, keep your bucket list going and enjoy!

This Week's Amazing Fast Five!

 

1.  The Kelpies and Helix Park of Falkirk, Scotland.  Kelpies are a mythical shape shifting water horse of legend in Scotland.  They are probably created after the large workhorses of the country and legend says that they appear as kind spirits but lure children to the river where the demon comes out and the end is tragic.  I don't know what I think of the legend, but the three hundred foot high statues are amazing.  There's an adventure park and water fountain to play in, a visitor's center for shopping and information needs.  It's, of course, near the Falkirk Wheel and there are lots of trails for hiking in the area.  One of my favorite parts is that you can book a tour of the sculptures.  That's right.  You can go inside.  Not that you would travel to the area to look at some statues, but it's a vibrant area of Scotland with a lot to do and this is just a small part of it.

https://www.thehelix.co.uk/visit/kelpies-tour/

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/the-helix-home-of-the-kelpies-p889261

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsz5jKCq2iQ

https://scotland.nordicvisitor.com/travel-guide/attractions/central-and-southern-scotland/stirling-and-trossachs-national-park/the-kelpies/

2.    Rent a cabin or farmhouse in the wilds of Iceland.  I can't recommend this one enough.  Whether you want to see the northern lights, go hiking, help with a sheep roundup or just get away from it all; there's no better experience than renting a remote cabin in Iceland.  I did this once a while ago.  Rented a farmhouse that's used during the fall roundup, but during spring and hiked the Eldga.  It was wonderful.  It was a real house, so we could cook, shower, sleep and everything as though we lived there and we did for a week.  It's a one of a kind experience, especially during the extreme light or extreme dark seasons; depending when you want to come and what you wish to see.  You won't see the northern lights during the light season.  Just a fact.  

https://www.vrbo.com/search/keywords:iceland/filter:64?semcid=VRBO-US.UB.GOOGLE.DL-DSA-c-EN.VR&ktarget=dsa-1191892227793&ksprof_id=700000002166899&ksdevice=c&k_clickid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9o3S1dwoYHCYNEbXclYjq56QNmc407IgQ1NWn1S4cc8y8G7h7r1vxxoC2XwQAvD_BwE&klocf=9003419&kloct=&ha_t=::&ds_cid=71700000080047762&ds_aid=58700006721571344&ds_kid=39700062045759283&ds_kids=p62045759283&utm_source=GOOGLE&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=VRB:USA:ENG:%24:DL:GLOB:ALL:XX:X:X:X:X:SEO:1:&utm_term=DYNAMIC+SEARCH+ADS&utm_content=VRB:USA:ENG:%24:DT:GLOB:ALL:XX:X:X:X:X:SEO:&semdtl=a112344012627:b1120774338354:g1dsa-1191892227793:l1:e1c:m1CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9o3S1dwoYHCYNEbXclYjq56QNmc407IgQ1NWn1S4cc8y8G7h7r1vxxoC2XwQAvD_BwE:r1:c1:j19003419:k1:d1498709947827:h1:i1:n1:o1:p1:q1:s1:t1:x1:f1:u1:v1:w1&gclid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9o3S1dwoYHCYNEbXclYjq56QNmc407IgQ1NWn1S4cc8y8G7h7r1vxxoC2XwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://www.expedia.com/Western-Iceland-Cabins.d668924433240973312-aaCabins.Travel-Guide-Accommodation?semcid=US.UB.GOOGLE.DL-DSA-c-EN.VR&semdtl=a111346549587.b1110777644306.g1aud-1665560112682:dsa-1059520339884.e1c.m1CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9lft5yHeNY5388x50aYQ0HIpWrPtPNP6Oi2gay-zAtq_Wl07p1nZjBoCAbsQAvD_BwE.r1.c1.j19003419.k1.d1660861139561.h1.i1.l1.n1.o1.p1.q1.s1.t1.x1.f1.u1.v1.w1&gclid=CjwKCAjw6eWnBhAKEiwADpnw9lft5yHeNY5388x50aYQ0HIpWrPtPNP6Oi2gay-zAtq_Wl07p1nZjBoCAbsQAvD_BwE

https://elevenexperience.com/optout

https://www.iceland-like-a-local.com/travel/stay

3.    Arnarstapi Cliffs of Western Iceland.  If the cabin you rent happens to be on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, you'll have the opportunity to visit these basalt cliffs.  There's a natural arch within them called Gatklettur, and it's one of the few remaining basalt arches in the country.  Nevertheless, this area is also home to a glacier, a volcano and a small village that dates back centuries.  This is the Western fjords part of the country, providing dramatic views that you can't get anywhere else.

https://www.introducingiceland.com/arnarstapi

https://www.icelandroadtrip.com/iceland/places/what-to-see/west/arnarstapi-village

https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/the-magical-snaefellsnes-peninsula-part-iii

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g12873242-d24865562-Reviews-Arnarstapi_Cliff-Arnarstapi_West_Region.html

4.  Sliding down Cerro Negro in Nicaragua.  That's right,  I said it.  I'd probably kill myself if I tried this one, but what a rush!  You do have to hike with your board to the starting point.  It is a live volcano.  It just looks like so much fun!  Pilas, an eco cooperative operates most of the activities.  They provide guidance and equipment for the sliding.  It's not for the feint of heart; that's for sure, but it is one of the few locations in the world where you can slide down a volcano.

https://vianica.com/attraction/7/cerro-negro-volcano

https://www.volcanoboard.com/

https://www.visitcentroamerica.com/en/visitar/cerro-negro-volcano/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNUcA3h4VyE

5.    The watermills and waterfalls of the town of Jajce, Bosnia.  There's something I bet you never thought about.  Bosnia is beautiful and hilly and full of interesting places and is just now starting to fall on the tourism map.  Jajce is an ancient walled town with an enormous, beautiful waterfall right in the middle of town.  But that's not all.  Long ago the town warmed to hydrodynamics and built a network of watermills to harness that power.  The mills aren't in use today, but they are a great site to visit in the countryside of Bosnia.  

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/watermills-of-jajce

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/watermills-of-jajce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLZpRZDV1H4

https://www.agencija-jajce.ba/video-galerija/#

So there you have it; this week's five.  They are a little out there, but they all are unique.  Remember, travel is about finding the different, the unique, the one of a kind.  Anyone can take a tour or follow the leader and go to the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building.  Being a traveler is different.  It's about experiences.  It's about doing something that not everyone else has done.  It's about following your own muse.  I try to give ideas about exactly that kind of travel and will continue to do so.  I'm still going my own way and finding my own travel treasures and can't wait to share them all with you.  In the meantime, get out there, find something truly different and amazing and enjoy!

Since the Travel Channel is the Ghost Channel Now...

 

Just another quick note for travelers.  Tourists can book a package or a tour.  For those of us who are travelers, finding a new spot and having and adventure takes a little work.  I do a lot of research before going to a tropical paradise for the first time.  I even do a lot of research when I'm going to a new part of NYC.  The problem that I've found in recent years is that where I used to look for inspiration just isn't there anymore.  I used to look at travel programs on the tele, but that doesn't seem to be much of a thing anymore except on PBS.  God bless Samantha Brown and Rick Steves.

for those of us who go our own ways and don't take the cruise or the tour, there's a lot of research involved.  I always turn straight to the internet.  I always try to find a tourism website for the location first.  Most countries, landmark locations and several individual regions and cities have their own website devoted to tourism.  If you wish to go to a country like Switzerland, they have a website that covers everything.  I do mean everything.  But, never just book a flight and room and show up in a foreign location.  I don't even mean out of the US.  Anywhere that's foreign to you.  We used to travel like that in the old days before the World Wide Web.  But now you don't have to take those kinds of chances.

Is it safe to travel through your destination?  Are there wildfires burning in the area where I wish to travel?  Are there floods?  Are there hurricanes?  Are there terrorist attacks?  Is the world cup in town?  All things to know.

https://www.state.gov/    The U.S. State Department site is a great place to start.  If it's not safe, they'll tell you about it and tell you why.  Remember, it's always up to you though.  It's just a good place to start.  You can also find out what shots you may need to travel to your destination.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices   What diseases are going on?  The CDC is the place to look for that information.  We've all just been through a historic pandemic, and not all of us are ready to just roll the dice these days.  The information you find there may help any fears you have.

https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker   In this day and age, we know that countries in various locations are at war.  We've all heard about Russia and Ukraine, but sometimes we don't see about other violent situations around the world.  If you want to stay out of the line of fire, Global Conflict Tracker might be of use.  They show you where the current conflicts are happening, so you can decide how close you want to be to the wrong kind of action.

https://www.usembassy.gov/  When traveling outside the country, you never know what might happen.  This list of United States Embassies can come in handy wherever you are.  If you need or want to know where the closest embassy to your travel spot is, this list is your friend.

https://worldweather.wmo.int/en/home.html  Are you traveling to a place that might have weather issues during your visit?  The World Weather Information site run by the World Meteorological Organization or WMO has weather forecasts and reports for virtually anywhere on Earth.  Did you book that cheap September Caribbean Cruise?  This site might be very useful to you.

https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/  If you want a little bit of statistics on your travel location, The CIA World Factbook might be able to help you.  How big is that city you're going to?  How is the area heated?  Do they have military in the area?  Do they have terrorism there?  Even if you just want a brief history, this site can help you.

Once you have your ducks in a row for how to check on the safety and other issues with any travel plans you may come up with; it's time to research the fun parts of the journey.  One of the amazing things you'll discover about travel is that people are traveling.  A lot of them can be found on YouTube.  I spend a lot of research time looking up and finding Vlogs about the locations I wish to visit on YouTube.  It's a great place to get information.  Here are some of my favorites and why:

https://www.youtube.com/@Worldwanderista  The World Wanderista.  She is Joelle and she's from Belgium.  I like to research places through her Vlogs because she doesn't do all the standard activities when traveling.  She likes the outdoors.  She loves hiking and waterfalls.  She's also into ancient architecture.  I've watched her Vlogs and learned a lot about Madeira, Morocco, St. Lucia, Italy and so many more countries.  She doesn't go to Asia much, but if you want authentic wandering outdoor travel in Europe, Northern Africa and the Caribbean; you'll like her.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheMattJames  Matt James is another one of my favorites to watch on YouTube.  The thing I like about him is that he doesn't only make travel Vlogs.  He's from England, whether it be his home in London or with his family in the Manchester area, and he travels a lot of Europe and sunny destinations around the world.  But, he also continued to Vlog during covid 19 giving we the viewers an idea of what it was like to travel in that time.  He also talks about items to get that help with efficient packing and photography and so on.  There's more to him than just travel and you learn a lot about the details like which car to rent in a certain area or which day trip to book to enhance your trip.  With Matt James you will also find Vlogs about spending a specific amount of time in a location so that you know how much you can expect to fit in during a specific period.  Very informative and a wide variety of location and information.

https://www.youtube.com/@ricksteves  I've already mention Rick Steves.  He's on YouTube and a lot of the videos also provide practical travel information that you don't get on the TV Series.  He travels all over Europe and part of the western Middle East.  Great stuff and with decades of experience.

https://www.youtube.com/@ONWorldTravel  On World Travel is an American couple traveling the world.  You never know where they'll be next, and unlike a lot of travel on YouTube, Olivia and Nathan travel in the U.S. and all over the world.  They try out different kinds of travel.  They discuss budget travel.  The give you a lot of information for how to make the most of a buck in the location you're traveling too.  Great information.

https://www.youtube.com/@LucasWorldTravel  Lucas World Travel is again an American couple traveling the world.  The idea was to find a different country to move to, so when Kendra and David visit a place, you get to see a little bit more of local life.  They tend to rent an apartment, they take local means of travel from location to location and they find places that are for the locals.  They travel all over the world and even have Vlogs from during the pandemic lockdown so you get a taste of what life was like during that time while on the road.  It's informative and this couple tackles more of Asia than most of the Vloggers I watch.

https://www.youtube.com/@JonnyTickle      and     https://www.youtube.com/@baldandbankrupt   

Jonny Tickle is a British expat living in Russia.  If you are a Russophile like me and can't travel there for obvious conflict reasons, he's great to watch.  He visits cities around the country and gives you a great feel for the places and history of the country.  And, his name is Ben, that's all we know for sure about Bald and Bankrupt, and he's from England.  He goes where most people don't want to, and for years he was all over Russia.  He's also spent significant time in India as well as travel all over the world.  He shows us places we would never think of in the countries he visits and he spends a lot of time with the locals.  He's wildly entertaining and teaches you a lot about the places he visits.  I don't plan trips from either of these guys, although you could with Jonny Tickle if we could just go to Russia.  I do love to watch the places they go and the people they meet.  Fascinating stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheTimTraveller  And finally, one of my true favorites; The Tim Traveller a British Vlogger.  If you like the unusual, he's your guy.  He travels around western Europe and finds some of the most unusual attractions I've ever heard of.  If you like Atlas Obscura, you'll love Tim.  I love to find something truly one of a kind when I travel.  Like, when I went to St. Lucia and found this little seaside restaurant that I couldn't get enough of.  Didn't see that in any brochures.  This is the kind of thing, although it will be more unusual, that you find with Tim.  His Vlogs will give you great ideas to go along with a trip you've already planned in the area.

So, there you have it.  Some places you can do some great travel research.  I love having the information that the government and worldwide statistics and news sites give.  Helps me with everything from picking a location to deciding what time of year to visit and how to travel within the location I'm going to.  All very useful stuff

And YouTube.  I just type in the location I want to visit and search until I find some good information for my type of travel.  It's one of the best tools in the world for travelers, and I highly recommend it.  So, if you don't want to travel like the masses, these are some ways you can plan an interesting trip to almost anywhere.  It might be a little homework, but in the end, you'll have an unforgettable location and your friends will be telling you how lucky you are.  So, do the work, make your own personal plans and enjoy!