MANALI + TERRY | Newlyweds Backpack Round The World » Videos

M & T’s Top 11 of 2011 | Things To Do In Shanghai

Manali — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:33:11 +0000

1. Shanghai Museum: First of all it’s free which is always nice. The museum also provides great insight into Chinese culture and history. It is conveniently located near People’s Square, Nanjing Road and Renmin Park.

2. Walk Nanjing Road (especially east of People’s Square): Nanjing Road is the tourist haven, and this pedestrian street caters to that face like no other place we saw in Shanghai. Lots of opportunities for shopping, and people watching. Once the construction for Expo 2010 is completed you can walk eastward all the way down the river and The Bund.

3. Take In A View of The Bund & SWFC Observatory: The Shanghai skyline is relatively well known, and the view is spectacular from the world’s highest observatory. The SWFC (Shanghai World Financial Center) also houses the world’s highest hotel.

For other accomodation recommendations, visit Scottish Cottages for awesome deals!

4. Visit Food Streets like Wujiang Road: You want find scorpions on sticks, but there is a good variety if you are adventerous and don’t mind a little trial by fire. Food from most places seem safe to eat, but be wary. Hopefully streets like these will continue to be around in some form, but apparently gentrification is taking its toll.

5. Yu Gardens and Bazaar: One of the best places (Yu Gardens) we found for a little room to stretch our arms and bask in relatively quiet surroundings after walking the streets of Shanghai for a week. Will cost you 40 RMB per person, but interesting and expansive gardens. The surrounding bazaar offers tons of shopping, and is another big tourist haven, evidenced by the many tour buses collected down the street.

6. The Bund Observation Tunnel: We did not have a chance to do this, but seemed like an interesting experience. 20 RMB one way or 30 RMB roundtrip, the tunnel should offer excellent views of The Bund and waterfront. Wait until Expo 2010 or after as the endless construction barricades should be down by that time.

7. Explore French Concession Area: Never found this name used locally, but guidebooks referred to it constantly. Collection of western oriented bars, restaurants and hotels. The area is also home to most foreign embassies, and the difference in architecture of the area is quite obvious.

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M & T’s Top 11 of 2011 | GBR Pro Dive Live Aboard

Manali — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:10:04 +0000

We have nothing but great things to say about Pro Dive in Cairns! The three day live-aboard was nothing short of professional, entertaining and enjoyable. Although a packed schedule, we never felt rushed and the crew definitely made it their mission to be attentive to all the divers and ensure the experience was ‘once in a lifetime’.

The meals were hearty and delicious, the afternoon cake was the best (I have a severe sweet tooth), dive briefings were thorough, and the facilities were great.

The first question that comes to mind on a live aboard is, “Where will I sleep?”. We were not disappointed, and after the first night, adjusting to the rolling of the sea, we were fitter than US Navy sailors.

We rarely went into our rooms unless we were changing into dry clothes or sleeping, and there was plenty of room to spread out and relax.

We met some great people from all over the world and even squeezed in some games of Pictionary and Spoons! We heard all about the cottages in Yorkshire, which we’ll have to check out next time!

How did we know we were going to dive that day? Sure, a schedule was posted, but we loved lulling about until one of the dive staff yelled out, “It’s dive time!”. My days afterward, just don’t feel as good, without that beckoning call. At the notice, we prepared for a briefing and then down the stairs to mount up with our gear.

The only regret about the whole experience is that it ended too soon! Thanks Pro Dive!

Details: $600 per person + $45 reef tax for 11 dives and 3 day / 2 night live-aboard
Address: 116 Spence St, Cairns, Queensland – www.prodive-cairns.com.au

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M & T’s Top 11 of 2011 | Routeburn Track
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M & T Top 11 of 2011 | Greek Island Hopping

Terry — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:30:45 +0000

The Greek Isles were always a highly anticipated stop on our around the world adventure, so we were stoked to finally be there! With over 6000 islands, we obviously have to save some of the smaller ones for another trip, but were sure to hit up the more popular spots including Corfu, Crete, Mykonos and Santorini.

Our first port in Greece was Corfu, also known as Kerkya (important to note when you are riding a scooter all over town), is an island that lies in the Adriatic sea, east of Italy and southwest of Albania. We thoroughly enjoyed the warm summer breeze as we whizzed by countless olive groves to the beaches of Benitses, Lefkimmi and through the narrow shopping streets of Methodiou.

The next stop was in Crete, the largest of the Greek Isles as well as the most populated. We were greated by the stunning Venetian fortress of Rocca al Mare as we approached the inner harbor. We were pleasantly surprised to learn about the Minoan culture (the first civilized European settlement) that had settled there circa 2000BC and decided to walk around town to check out the digs. Since the Romans had ruled over this part centuries ago, we noticed a plethora of Italian architecture, giant walls, columns and old fortress arches. After exploring the old city, we sped over to the numerous beaches and relaxed our tired toes in the refreshing crystal clear sea.

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Next stop was the party island of Mykonos! We had heard many things about this white and blue wonder and it didnt fail to meet any expectations! The maze of white homes with blue doors (zig zagged to confuse the pirates) were a joy to be lost in with even more picturesque homes at every turn. The streets are lined with shops, boutiques, cafes, and bars so you are never too far from entertainment, thus making it the perfect destination for the young partying traveler. After sweating it out around town, the lovely crisp (not warm) clear water was so inviting that we ran in and dunked under the waves to numb our frozen bodies! We would have enjoyed an extended period of time here and hope to be back soon!

Then, Terry’s favorite island of Santorini was up next! First to leave the ship, he had all his camera equipment ready to hop on board a donkey to ride up the volcano! Of all the animals we have ridden on this adventure, we have to say that the donkeys were pretty cute and the fastest of the bunch! They knew the own way up the hill and were not shy to push their cousins out of the way. Whew! What a laugh and a must do experience! Oia, a small town on the west coast is where you can find the postcard perfect sunset shot. However, photos and postcards aside, you just have to visit to feel the beauty and enjoy this delightful and charming volcanic island. One of our favorite chill and relaxing places in the Mediterranean!

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M & T’s Top 11 of 2011 | Things To Do In Beijing

Terry — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:18:39 +0000

1. The Great Wall: Certainly the most memorable experience of our trip to date. There are many options available ranging in time, money and convenience. We recommend the Jinshangling to Simatai leg, a 10 km trek that is moderate in difficulty and takes between 2 – 4 hours. Bus ride each way is 3 hours from Beijing, and our trip costs us 260 RMB per person, plus an additional 95 RMB per person for entrance fees. If you are short for time or don’t fancy a sweaty hike, most tourists opt for the Badaling portion, which is approximately 45 minutes outside of Beijing.

Manali conquering The Great Wall. Isn

2. Forbidden City (Palace Museum): Built from 1406 to 1420, and covering 7,800,000 square feet the Forbidden City is a monumental Beijing attraction. The complex also houses the Palace Museum, putting history into context, as the Forbidden City was home to the Emperor and his household for almost five centuries. As you enter from the south side, make sure you cross the center most bridge, or you may enter the adjacent park. Entry to the Forbidden City complex itself is free, but it is 90 RMB per person for the Palace Museum.

View from south side entrance of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

3. Tiananmen Square: South of the Forbidden City, the large gathering place is a permanent fixture during public parades, and holds historical significance tied to China’s continued political and social progress. Ironically, Tiananmen means “Gate of Heavenly Peace” and although it is little more than a concrete square, one can appreciate its history.

4. Rent Bicycles: Beijing is extremely flat, providing easy cycling throughout the metropolis. No helmets are offered as part of a rental, or any that we came across in the budget category, so be cautious. The traffic could be described as mayhem, and don’t assume a cross walk or green crossing signal gives you any rights if you are not a motorist. Beijing has a decent subway/metro system, but stops are still quite distant, and biking is ideal for seeing attractions while being kind to your feet. Expect to pay about 20 RMB for 24 hours, and a deposit of around 200 RMB for each bike.

5. Acrobatic Show: I’m not sure whether China’s uncanny skills in Olympic Gymnastics is fueled by a spectacular acrobatics profession, or the other way around, but you are left enjoying the fruits either way. Performances are frequent and widely available. The performance we attended lasted an hour and a half, and cost us 160 RMB per person. Acts included umbrella juggling, contortionists and about 20 gals riding around on a single bike!

6. Silk Street Market: THE place to visit for nearly every female tourista in Beijing, and I imagine many a men as well. The renowned home to 48 counterfeit brands, as the building exterior prominently boasts, is a dream for bargain hunters and brand hounds alike. A rule of thumb, take the initial offering price and divide by 10 to get an idea of where you should end up for a deal. Retail sleuths will notice however, it is one big shopping orgy aimed at lightening your wallet, and nearly all stalls, which are redundant in their assortment answer to some higher retail big daddy. You’ll know what I mean when you see it, but still try to play one stall on the price of another to determine your true price.

Manali trying on some jeans in the makeshift changing room, which happened to be a sheet pulled across a corner of the stall.

7. Olympic Park: Acres and acres of clear open space with two notable attractions, the Water Cube and the Bird’s Nest (National Stadium). Although Manali was particularly keen to peruse the Water Cube, we failed to tour their interiors, as rehearsals for National Day events were in full swing and venues were consequently closed to the public. Pull out 90 RMB per person for each venue if you plan on visiting.

Manali striking a pose in front of The Bird

8. Food Street (Wangfujang): We’ve all seen or heard of scorpions on a stick, at the ready for your pre-dinner snack. Bugs and lizards of all sorts are also on the menu, and although they may be living for the purpose of your satisfactory inspection, fear not, they are doused in hot oil and served up cooked for your culinary pleasure.

A variety of snacks offered along Wangfujing Road in Beijing to hungry shoppers to quell their grumbling stomachs until dinner.

9. Summer Palace: Placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1998, the Summer Palace is described as a “masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value”.

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10. Mao’s Mausoleum: The final resting place of Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China from 1945 until his death in 1976. The mausoleum was constructed immediately following his death. Although Mao wished to be cremated, he was embalmed. For several hours each day, you can be ushered through a viewing room to see his body lay in rest.

11. Beijing Zoo: The Beijing Zoo mainly exhibits wild and rare animals of China. The Giant Pandas are one of the most popular exhibits, but other popular exhibits include the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey, Manchurian tigers, white-lipped deer, yaks from Tibet, enormous sea turtles, polar bears from the North Pole, kangaroo from Australia, and zebras from Africa.

12. Shiatsu Foot Massage: For 60 glorious minutes and 28 RMB ($4.10) per person, Manali and I were treated to our second foot massage in as many weeks. Located on the same corner as our Hostel, the ladies at this joint treated us right, and even gave us a bit of a shoulder and neck massage too, to which we were in dire need. Those that prefer therapeutic massages, or light in pressure, may want to avoid Chinese masseuses. If you find it painful, don’t grimace or whine too much, or they may get the impression they are working the right spot and dig in further.

I couldn

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M & T’s Top 11 of 2011 | Great Wall of China
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M & T’s Top 11 of 2011 | Hiking the Tongariro Pass

Terry — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:25:34 +0000

Although it seems ages since we finished the Routeburn track, our sore and tender muscles feel as though it was only yesterday. Despite our pitiful state I was determined to conquer Tongariro, although Manali decided to take the afternoon for herself, keeping busy with napping and reading in the campervan, researching Peak District cottages for our Europe leg of the trip.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is championed by New Zealanders, and heralded as the worlds best one day walk. With 19.4 km of backcountry terrain, the crossing can be accomplished with relative leisure in about 8 hours, given acceptable weather conditions.

From a scenic perspective, Tongariro is as dynamic as the seasons. In the winter months the mountain is blanketed with a majestic layer of snow and ice. In the warmer months the snow is overtaken by bright sunny days, revealing the beauty of Tongariro’s iconic Emerald Lakes, amazingly colored blue pools at the pass peak memorialized in postcards throughout the country. Although the trail is most challenging between Soda Springs and the Emerald Lakes, it is the most scenic. Tongariro is also an active thermal area, so steaming vents and hot springs are common.

To hike the pass, you can start at either of the two trailheads, Pukeonake or Ketetahi Road. If you are looking for convenience, you can pay a reasonable $12 NZD and arrange a drop-off and pick-up through the local visitor information center. Transport leaves from Whakapapa Village, National Park, Turangi, Taupo and Ohakune.

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Verona | Italy :: Casa De Romeo & Juliet

Terry — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:57:13 +0000

Verona is a great side or day trip from Venice, if you have the time. This quaint town is most famous as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Many people consider Verona a more relaxed and pleasant and come here to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Venice.

Although fictional, the smart tourist bureau in Verona has ‘re-created’ Juliet’s balcony; charging 5 euros to climb atop the balcony; thanks but no thanks. On your way home however, don’t forget to rub Juilet’s breast for good luck or leave a love note!

The enormous, spectacular Roman amphitheatre is a must see in Verona and rivals it’s cousin in Rome. Erected in the 1st Century AD, this is the world’s third-largest amphitheatre to survive from antiquity. Much of the outer ring was damaged during an earthquake but the inner part is still intact. When we were in town, Alicia Keys was scheduled to perform – what a great venue!

If you are in the area, try to taste Pastisada de caval, braised horse meat, a specialty in the area. Although we were tempted, we passed on chomping Mr. Ed and jumped back on the Eurail to our next destination!

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Venice | Italy :: City On The Sea

Terry — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 23:54:04 +0000

Arriving in Venice, Italy we were ready to explore the enchanting canals architecture and alleyways while slurping down spaghetti, espressos and gelato! A photographer’s paradise was discovered around each bend; each with more obscure plazas dotted with bougainvilleas on balconies.

We could have spent an entire week roaming around Venice, the world’s only pedestrian city, since the absence of cars makes it even more pleasant.

The best way to explore was to eat our way through the island; espresso, walk, panini, walk, gelato, walk, pizza, walk was our regular routine.

The Rialtine island – the ‘main’ touristy part of Venice – was small enough to walk from one end to the other in about an hour or two.

If you want to get around a bit more quickly or lighter on the belly, you can hire a water taxi or take a vaporetti! Don’t be surprised if you are crammed into small cabins and get completely wet if you’re standing on the sides; these vaporetti drivers are racing for their pride!

Italians do everything fast; drink coffee standing at coffee bars, talk and walk at super-speed – get out of their way! Gondola rides were targeted towards the hoards of tourist buses on tours and cruises; but we thought the $100 for a 20 minute ride with 6 other people through a littered canal was a little cheesy and not worth the ride. I think lots of people were disappointed since there were rows and rows of empty gondolas at standby.

Most of Europe has been really ‘touristy’ like the gondolas so far and we miss the authenticity of the culture we were used to seeing in Asia, just by walking down the streets. However, we are definitely getting back into the whole comfort and convenience thing – bring on the easy travels, we need a break from bargaining and worrying about getting ripped off every minute – phew!

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Taking Europe by Train :: A Eurail Story

Terry — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:46:18 +0000

We absolutely LOVE train travel in Europe! If you are visiting the continent, you won’t get a true depiction of European lifestyle without taking at least one train journey. A normal part of every European’s routine, train travel doesn’t have the typical stigma that most Americans think of when traveling without a car. We are so dependent on our cars (especially in places like Atlanta where there is limited public transportation) that we neglect to explore other options. Don’t wait – buy your Eurail pass now!

WHICH PASS SHOULD I BUY?

First step would be to plan a rough plan – how many countries will you visit? Are they neighboring countries? How long will I be traveling?

If you are only traveling to one country or going on one long distance journey, it makes more sense to buy individual tickets online or at the railway station. However, a Eurail pass may be a more cost effective solution for large groups or people traveling extensively between countries, especially in a short period of time. Remember that traveling by train is usually faster than some short flights – there are hardly any security check in lines – you just show up 10 minutes before your train leaves and hop on!

Rail Europe has a great ‘travel planner’ tool that will help you decide if the Eurail pass will save you money and can help decide which ticket to buy.

Also, be prepared to pay reservation fees in some countries – although you have a Eurail pass, there is sometimes a supplementary fee to secure your reservation (marked with ‘R’ on train schedules). Trains in Spain all require reservations, regardless of distance, but other countries, like Italy, only require reservations for international travel. You can also find this information on the Rail Europe website as well as on Seat61.com. If you travel overnight, there may be some restrictions, you’ll save on hotel stays - and once you get to your destination, you can always book with the new online accommodation provider Wimdu to get the best bargains!

SO, HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE REALLY SAVE?

For illustrative purposes, we’ve charted our actual train journeys below and costs.

We show Terry buying individual train tickets in each rail station he visits versus Manali who planned ahead and bought a Eurail Global Adult Flexi Pass, 1^st class, 15 days of travel within 2 months for $1052 in April 2010.

Note: Prices are based in US Dollars (as of August 2010) and Manali’s cost of each journey is determined by taking the entire cost of her Eurail Global pass divided by 15 journeys in 2 months; costing her a fixed $70 per journey.

(click for larger image)

We saved approximately $600 per person on our total travel throughout Europe with our Global Eurail pass!

HINTS AND TIPS

Buddy up to buy Saver tickets (discount for 2 people or more) rather than two individual tickets
Traveling international saves more than traveling locally (Manali actually overpaid for her first 3 journeys in Italy)
Traveling in Eastern Eruope is generally cheaper than Western Eruope
For your first day of travel, be sure to get your pass validated at a ticket office and only fill in days of travel once you are sure you will be on board! Mistakes will cost you an entire travel day!
High speed trains are usually more expensive (such as Eurostar Paris to London in 2 hours – wow!); so if you have time, relax and enjoy some slow train travel!
Be sure to buy your train reservations in advance in the summer and periods of high travel or festivals – seats do sell out for popular journeys!
We saved over $600 each with our passes; the only other investment is taking the time to figure out if it works for you – if money is no object, get the pass and save some hassle!

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Norwegian Cruise Lines :: Greek Isles Cruise Highlights

Terry — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:41:56 +0000

How much do we love a great cruise?! We sailed the blue seas over to Alaska in August 2009 and kept our eyes open for any other cruising opportunities as we traveled – before you could say ‘ahoy matey’ we were booked to cruise the Greek Isles!

If you have never cruised before, let’s just say that 80% of you will be hooked after Day 1 – it’s just a perfect time and place to get together with family and friends and just relax – everything is taken care of for you! Just be prepared to gain a few pounds while on board and don’t forget your sunscreen.

We really enjoyed the ‘freestyle’ aspect of Norwegian Cruise Lines where we could eat and do whatever, whenever! Perfect schedule for tired, worn out backpackers, not used to an established routine – we were in heaven! We signed up for the unlimited spa pass and sauna’ed our way into the deep blue of the Mediterranean! Though not detailed here, you can see more details regarding our ports of call in Venice, Split and the Islands of Greece.

The NCL Gem had extremely updated, efficient and state of the art cabins, we still can’t believe they can have over 5000 guests and crew on board. The shows and entertainment were a little cheesy, but with the casino as a redeemer we didn’t complain. Be sure to get your bonus buck coupons the first time you visit!

The premium steak and sushi restaurant was well worth the small cover charge and was nice for a change to avoid the usual cafeteria style buffet masses.

Despite the art auctions, comedy shows, cabaret dancers and numerous activities on board – what was really going through our jaded backpacker minds? Unlimited food, no more packing and unpacking for a whole week, no noisy neighbors and English TV channels!

We ate our weight in ice-cream sundaes, lounged by the pool and individual spa tubs and lunched with some wonderful people – shout out to old friends Dru & Nicky in Atlanta, GA and new friends Dick and Tut from Columbia, SC!

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Split | Croatia :: Exploring The Port

Terry — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 22:12:07 +0000

We had a day to settle into the cruise and explore the ship while at sea, got our SPA passes, ate the usual 5 meals a day and even randomly bumped into some college friends, Dru and Nicky onboard!

The first stop on our Mediterranean cruise was in Split, Croatia and we were excited to disembark and explore the port area and make the most of our few hours on land. Split is the second largest city, also one of the oldest, in Croatia and is located on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea.

We had time to squueze in a brief visit to the Diocletian Palace (Unesco Heritage Site) and strolled around Old Town eating snacks we picked up at the local market. Although the water was a tad bit cold to swim in, we watched a rowing race while enjoying a delicious gelato with just enough time to taxi back to the cruise for some evening entertainment!

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