Carnival, or Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is one of the world’s biggest parties. This week we speak with Joel Ward from Freedonia Post about his experiences learning to samba and enjoying a few drinks in Rio.
A lot of people think Carnival only happens in Rio, but that’s not true. The whole thing is rooted in the Catholic religious calendar — this is the beginning of the Lent period of fasting, and if you’re going to fast for 40 days, you might as well party like anything to kick it off, right?
Carnival is actually an international event… everywhere that Catholicism or Orthodox Christianity has a significant cultural influence, you get a carnival or a related celebration.
Joel’s experience
During this interview, Joel talks about his preparation, how he joined a samba school and took part in the massive Samba competition, and some of the hijinks he got up to in the organised and the unofficial parts of Carnival. He also shared some travel tips, and these on-the-ground photos…
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15% off any tour booked before March 16 when you travel before December 31, 2012.
How do you get that? Simply visit Urban Adventures and use the coupon code INDIETRAVEL on checkout. Make sure you update the cart, so the discount shows up before you pay.
Urban Adventures bring together locally-run day tours in over 100 cities. We did their walking tour in Buenos Aires and used them for our second visit to the Iguacu Falls. They’re good guys, especially to offer us 15% off tours… That’s a great discount.
Get 15% off any Urban Adventures trip with coupon INDIETRAVEL, valid before March 16, travel before December 31, 2012. Click here.
It’s completely impossible to create a definite list of the best places in Asia… It’s so big, so varied, so fascinating.
This list comprises the places we’ve loved the most, and the places we’re most fascinated by. We’d love to hear your recommendations too — so let us know your favourite places in the comments.
Luang Prabang, Laos
The most beautiful city in Laos, Luang Prabang seems to marry a romantic view of the east with modern life in one easy sweep. Travellers can arrive by river and then wind as high up the hills as they wish.
Delicious streetfood at the night markets of Luang Prabang, Laos
The UNESCO-listed old town is home to truly original craft markets, delicious morning food markets, and a myriad of emerging cafes and bars to fit the mix of expats and travellers. Laos has only been ‘open’ to visitors since the mid 1990s, but in Luang Prabang you can see the best of what tourism money can do.
Suzhou, China
Its canals have given Suzhou the name the “Venice of the Orient”, but today it is known for the Suzhou gardens: stunning gardens built by the aristocracy in pursuit of aesthetic perfection.
Suzhou can form a day trip from Shanghai, but we highly recommend taking a few days here to explore the rich cultural offerings of the city, rather than skipping through and seeing only the main sites.
A fun diversion between the main destinations of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Battambang is a place to chill out and relax. It’s also home to a fabulous tuktuk tour, taking you to the country’s only winery, temples rebuilt from the desecration of the Pol Pot era, a bat cave at dusk, and the genius of the bamboo train.
This little city is somewhat cheaper than Tokyo, but still offers all the entertainment you can find in the Japanese capital. Like many Japanese cities, it suffered severe damage in World War II, but several important buildings remain — like the Osaka Castle.
As Steffi wrote, “Osaka is famous for three things: its friendly, straightforward (by Japanese standards) locals that speak a particularly colourful dialect known as Osaka-ben; its good, cheap and plentiful food; and its night life and entertainment.” That’s reason enough for this Japanese city to be top of our list when we visit.
The bustling, scooter-filled city of Ho Chi Minh is something to behold! Electrical wires tangle, crossing the road is an exercise in faith, and everyone’s vision of a chaotic South East Asian city is fulfilled.
The city itself is fun to explore and filled with pho — a delicious noodle soup that’s second to none. There’s plenty to do, no matter if you want to search the markets, party hard, explore wartime history, or go further back to colonial French or pre-European settlement.
Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is an excellent getaway from the big cities. The compact central city is easy to navigate by foot or scooter; there’s fantastic food — in restaurants, from street vendors and the fresh food markets; and the place’s history is fascinating too. Once the capital of Thailand, that honour moved to Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, and then Bangkok, as it is today.
The city is a great stopping-off point if you are moving towards the border with Burma, China, or Laos, but you might just find yourself stuck there, as a growing community of expats have found.
“The city is a maze of narrow lanes and quaint alleyways which are filled with colourful shops selling interesting items, people walking up and down, and even the occasional cow roaming aimlessly around. Clearly Varanasi is a city with a heart — everyone finds a place here,” wrote Arti in her piece on what some claim as the world’s oldest city.
When heading out on the road, you might be overwhelmed by suggestions of where to go and where to stay. I’m sure you’ll have some idea of your dream destination — but once you get there, where do you sleep? There are a multitude of accommodation options, and your choice will be influenced by both your budget and your inclination.
From super-budget to high-end, let’s look at some of the accommodation options for travellers.
Roughing it
Whether it’s sleeping in the airport, on a beach, or in the wilderness, anywhere you don’t have a bed to sleep in or a roof over your head counts as roughing it. It might be inevitable at some point in your travels — even business men sleep in airports sometimes — and it might be your preferred way to sleep. If you’re planning on roughing it a lot, make sure you take a sleeping bag that’s suitable to the conditions, and scout around for any possible dangers before setting up your bed.
As a guest
Staying with friends and family can be a great way to travel, but it doesn’t necessarily save you much money. Sure, you’re not paying for accommodation, but it’s important to buy a gift and perhaps take your hosts out for a meal — and not at McDonald’s. Remember to be polite, and to not spread your stuff out all over the house.
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing is similar to staying with friends or family, except that you don’t actually know your hosts. Before you set off to your destination, you can log on to a website like couchsurfing.org or hospitalityclub.org and look for hosts in the place you’re heading to. Then you can get in touch with them via email and hopefully they will offer you a place to stay.
…freedom to stop when you want to…
Make sure you approach potential hosts as far in advance as possible, and it’s okay to contact a few people. Some users don’t check their emails as often as you might like, and others don’t contact you if they can’t host you.
The benefit of couchsurfing is that your host is a local, and by being part of the network, it probably interested in travelling. They can recommend the best places to visit, and might even show you around a bit. Be wise though, don’t stay with someone you don’t like the look of — if you’re new to couchsurfing, consider travelling with a partner first.
The type of accommodation you choose will also be influenced by the type of travel you’re doing. For a road trip, a campervan might be your best option — for the budget version, just throw a tent in the boot of your car.
The benefit of taking your home with you is that you have freedom to stop when you want to. You could sleep at a beach, beside a river, or in a supermarket car park if the fancy takes you. Of course, there are holiday parks where you can power up and take a shower, and some people will choose to stay at one of those every night of the trip. The size of the campervan you choose will be determined by the size of the group and the amount of space you need — but you don’t need a lot.
We like the Spaceship model — a people-mover car converted into a mini-campervan. There’s sleeping space for two people, a fridge, a DVD player and everything you need for cooking. It’s great for exploring in summer, and since it’s a car it’s easy to drive. See Spaceships in New Zealand, Australia and Britain.
Hostel — dorm
Hostelling is one of the most well-known budget options, and the traditional way to do it is to stay in a dorm with between three and thirty other people. This has its pros and cons. It’s cheap (much cheaper than staying in a hotel), and it’s a great way to meet fellow travellers. But dorm rooms can be noisy, and and your dorm-mates might not have the greatest consideration for you or your belongings.
When choosing a hostel to stay in, check out the ratings on the website you’re booking on. Make sure it has high safety, location and cleanliness ratings – “fun” usually means “raucousness” and so a low rating is what I look for there. A smaller dorm is usually going to be quieter than a large one, and if you’re a girl a female-only dorm might be worth considering. Also check out the facilities — if you’re planning on self-catering, a kitchen is important, and if you’re a flashpacker check that wifi is available.
A slightly more expensive option that retains all the benefits of hostelling but few of the disadvantages, is to book a private room in a hostel. More and more hostels these days provide private rooms, and some also come with an ensuite. This can be a lot cheaper than a hotel, and you still get the advantage of a kitchen, book exchange and lounge to meet other travellers in.
Budget hotel
A new breed of hotel has started to emerge, which don’t have all the features you might expect from a hotel, but also don’t have the high price tag. In Europe the more ell-known ones are Hotel Formule 1 and Etap, and there are other options as well. You’ll always have a private room, but you might have to share a bathroom, and sometimes there is no-one on duty overnight. Investigate the oddities of your hotel online before you book.
Motel
Despite their slightly seedy reputation, a motel might be just what you’re after. Since they are generally located on the outskirts of town, you’ll probably need your own transport to get there — hence the name “motor hotel”. Holiday parks often have cabins or private rooms which offer similar features to motel rooms — namely a private room that opens outside, ensuite and tea and coffee making facilities. Many motel rooms also have a kitchen, so if self-catering is a priority, a motel room might be a good option.
Guesthouse/pension/bed and breakfast
Guesthouses, pensions and bed and breakfasts are usually a lot smaller than your standard hotel. You might be boarding in a private house, or there might be up to twenty bedrooms available. You’ll usually have a private bathroom, but not always. They can be a great place to stay, since they are all unique — you don’t tend to get the plastic standardisation of hotels. The owner is often your host, which adds to the experience if he or she is a bit quirky (and hosts often seem to be quirky!).
Vacation rental
If you’re travelling with a group of people, and plan to stay in one place for a while, consider renting an entire house or apartment for the duration of your stay. You may have to pay per person, but usually you pay one price regardless of how many people are staying, which can be very economical if you have a large group.
Similarly, if you’re heading out on holiday with your family to one destination, and you’re likely to be staying there for a week or more, it might be worth looking into swapping houses with someone who lives in your destination. You live in their house, they live in yours. Along with some cheap international flights, you could be having a holiday for less than the cost of staying at home! This style of holiday was made famous by Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz in the movie “The Holiday” — and that all worked out well!
Hotel
Finally, there’s the hotel. It definitely isn’t the budget option, but you can often find a good deal by looking at websites like booking.com, lastminute.com or wotif.com — make sure you check out what facilities are available before you book. Although you’ll get a private room with ensuite, hotels are quite impersonal, and it’s difficult to meet other travellers even if there’s a bar. I also found that I have higher expectations of hotels, and am often disappointed at what I get for the price I pay.
Wherever you choose to sleep, make sure you take advantage of what your accommodation has to offer — have a spa bath if you’ve got one in your hotel room, hang out in the hostel lounge or swim in the holiday park’s pool. But above all, enjoy yourself!
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Tomorrow you won’t be able to visit Indie Travel Podcast. For 24 hours we’ll be joining the global protest against the United State’s SOPA and PIPA legislation.
We’re not Americans, but the nature of the law they are looking to pass will have a severe impact on the entire internet. The law is pushed forward by pressure groups that don’t really understand how the internet works. I’d say that’s true of 99.99% internet users — including us. So when the world’s formost internet engineers tell us these laws will make the internet less stable and less safe for all users, we know there’s a problem.
Auckland, known as the “City of Sails” is New Zealand’s largest city. It’s surrounded by sea and is studded with volcanic mountains, and is a very pleasant place to live or visit — it ranked third in the 2011 Worldwide Quality of Living Survey, up from previous years.
To listen to this podcast, hit play or find episode 224 in iTunes:
Auckland is a very spread-out city, with a land area almost equalling that of Los Angeles — but it spreads north and south rather than in all directions, as it’s situated on a narrow isthmus. Auckland’s four main regions recently merged to create a “super-city” with one governing body, but the geographical divisions remain: across the Harbour Bridge from the central city is the North Shore, to the west is Waitakere (with the Waitakere Ranges parklands behind the suburban sprawl), and South Auckland (the ex-Manukau City) is, surprisingly, to the south.
The central business district is centred around Queen Street, which runs from the harbour south (up) to Karangahape (“K”) Road. Quay Street runs along the waterfront, with Viaduct Harbour at its western end and Britomart Transport Centre a little to the east of Queen Street. At the top of Queen Street, following K Road to the east will take you to to the Auckland Domain, and westwards is trendy Ponsonby.
Fact box
Name:Auckland, New Zealand Place: North Island, New Zealand Population:1.4 million Languages: English. Maori and New Zealand Sign Language are also official languages Known for: The Sky Tower, hosting the Americas Cup, scenery Temperatures: Summer 14-24, winter 7-15 Airports: Auckland International Airport (AKL), 20km south of city. Find airfare to New Zealand. Price of a pint: NZ$8 Price of a dorm bed: NZ$20-25 Price of a public transport ticket: NZ$1.80 (one stage on the bus)
Accommodation
Auckland has the full range of places to stay. High-end options include the Hilton, the Stamford Plaza, and the Skycity Grand Hotel at the base of the Sky Tower. For budget hotels, try Jucy Hotel, or see what wotif.com has to offer.
There are a wide range of hostels to choose from, most of which have both dorm beds and private rooms available. Be aware that you might be charged extra for linen, as many hostels expect you to bring your own sleeping bag.
Food
As a vibrant multi-cultural city, Auckland has quality food on offer from all over the world. Takeaway options include sushi, kebabs, pizza, Chinese, Korean and a whole lot more. Make sure you drop into a bakery or dairy (convenience store) and try a hot meat pie — it’s traditional. Another great cheap eat is fish and chips — you’ll find a fish and chip shop in every suburb, and a feast on the beach is a great way to start the weekend.
The meat in New Zealand is second-to-none, so make sure you have a juicy steak or dig into some lamb shanks if you’re so inclined — animals in New Zealand have a good life before they hit your plate, so there’s no guilt required.
Sadly, Auckland’s public transport isn’t the most comprehensive, since the population density is so low. You’ll be fine walking around the city, but if you want to venture further afield you’re better off hiring a car. Taxis are generally safe and well-priced, though it’s usually easier to call ahead for one than trying to hail one on the street.
When you arrive, you’ll likely arrive at the Auckland International Airport. Getting away from there is an expensive enterprise unless you get someone to pick you up. The Airbus is probably your best bet — to the city it’s $16 one-way, $26 return. A taxi could be a little cheaper if there’s three or more of you, depending on your destination.
If you decide to brave the public transport, you’ll probably be catching the bus. The train network has improved recently, but doesn’t cover very much of the city. Buy your ticket for the bus from the driver — just state your destination and the driver will tell you the price. A day pass will probably save you some cash if you’re planning to do a lot of travelling in one day, and if you’re staying in the city for a while it might be worth getting a Hop card. It’s a tag-on, tag-off card that you load with money and can also use to make small purchases in some shops. You get a discount off the cash fare and can travel for free on the red City Link buses with a Hop card. Check out maxx.co.nz for more information.
And find out why Spaceships are the swiss army knife of campervans. Click here >>
Attractions — free
Auckland’s a city where a wander around will be rewarded. Explore posh Ponsonby, edgy Kingsland and the always-busy Viaduct and brand-new Wynyard Quarter, then head further afield to a suburb of your choice. Mission Bay is worth a visit, for a swim in summer or a coffee any time. There are a lot of parks to explore and relax in, or choose a beach you like the look of — Piha being the best-known surf beach.
Head out to the Waitakere Ranges (west) to do some short day walks, have a picnic at the top of one of Auckland’s many volcanic hills, and visit Otara markets (south) for fresh fruit and veges, clothes and knick-knacks.
New Zealand is well-known for its wines and there are four wine regions within day-trip distance from Auckland. Matakana to the north, Kumeu to the northwest, Clevedon to the south, and Waiheke Island — a 45-minute ferry ride away. Most wineries won’t charge you for tastings (except on Waiheke), but it’s polite to buy something if you can, especially if there’s a large group of you.
Attractions — seasonal
In summer, Auckland is buzzing with free events, mostly held in the parks which dot the city. Music in Parks tends to be held in smaller reserves, while the big events like Christmas in the Park are held in the enormous Domain.
In summer, Auckland is buzzing with free events.
Auckland University’s annual Summer Shakespeare is also held outside, on the grounds of the University ($25 per person), and the Lantern Festival to celebrate Chinese New Year is held just across the road in Albert Park.
Other events that are held at various times throughout the year include the Pasifika Festival in March, the Comedy Festival in May, and the Film Festival in July. Plus, there are many sporting events to attend, from school competitions to premier events — notably the Rugby World Cup, which took place in 2011. And hopefully the America’s Cup yacht race will be held here again soon! Check out the Auckland Council website for event listings.
Attractions — paid
Auckland has the regular offerings — a good museum and art gallery (recently refurbished and reopened), an aquarium (Kelly Tarlton’s) and an amusement park (Rainbow’s End). But its real attraction lies in its natural beauty, so spend your sightseeing money on seeing the sights. Catch a ferry to Rangitoto Island ($27 pp return) and hike to the top of the volcanic peak. Or you could visit Waiheke Island ($35 pp return) or Great Barrier ($85 pp return, $120 during holiday season) but each of these really require more than a day. The zoo is worth a visit if you’re travelling with kids, and while you’re out there drop into the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
A trip to the top of the Sky Tower is a must (NZ$28), and you can even bungy off it if you want ($195 for backpackers). The Harbour Bridge also has a bungy option (NZ$150), or you could do the Harbour Bridge Climb (NZ$120) if you think you’d look good in their attractive jumpsuits.
Lonely Planet’s Auckland guide is compact and useful, and you’ll find comprehensive information in their New Zealand guide as well. Rough Guides has a New Zealand guide, and Wallpaper’s Auckland guide is beautiful and informative. And Offbeat Guides will create a personalised guide for you using information sourced online.
Where to next?
You’ve probably flown in to Auckland from overseas, so you definitely need to see more of New Zealand. Hire or buy a car and head north for a few days then go south to explore more of the North Island. You need at least 10 days to see the North Island, and you can take your car on the ferry across to the South Island — allow two weeks minimum. You can fly out of Christchurch, so leave your car there and head to Australia or a nice Pacific Island such as Fiji or Samoa.
Over the last few days we’ve been collecting travel safety questions from the Indie Travel Podcast community. Here they are, and here are our answers.
For a big overview of travel safety, check out our new Travel Safety book. You can get a free preview of it at the end of this article. But now, down to your questions…
I have heard that it is a good idea to scan a couple of key documents, such as passport, and then email them to yourself. Can you guys think of any other similar documents? ~ James
It definitely is. It’s a good plan to keep a colour photocopy of your passport handy as your first piece of ID.
Scanning — or even taking a photo — of your passport photo page and any necessary visas is a good backup. We keep ours saved on our phones, on dropbox, and have a copy in our email too. (You want to have secure, unique passwords for all those services.)
Photos of high-value things (showing serial numbers where possible), in case we need them in an insurance claim
How about secret stash travel tips? Like huff.to/x5lw9i? ~ Joshua
Safety around Bangkok or similar cities for young travellers .. Where to store passports/money etc how to keep away from trouble ?? ~Sam
These two are pretty similar… and both point to concerns about either petty theft or violent crime while you travel. We rely on credit cards and an emergency cash transfer rather than a secret supply of cash if we get robbed. We always make sure there’s a card left behind at our accommodation: you’ve hit really bad luck if your hostel or apartment gets robbed at the same time you get mugged!
We’ve heard of or seen people store cash in shoes, seams in their bags or clothes, in specially bought belts with hidden pockets. We normally don’t bother unless we’re carrying a decent amount of cash. We split it between our two bags and our persons — and we do use a money belt if we’re feeling uncomfortable. We lock our bags shut if we’re not with them and, where possible, secure them in a locker or place valuables in a room safe.
The question of whether to use a room safe, reception safe, or carry your most valuable possessions has so many variables, we spent a whole chapter of Travel Safety: Safety Tips For Personal And Corporate Travellers trying to answer it. The preview you can get at the end of the article has a few tips on staying out of trouble in general, and the whole book has plenty more.
I was wondering if you wear your money belt every day or just on long-distance traveling days (i.e. leave it safe in the hotel room during the day while you’re at the museum)? ~ Heidi
It’s a tough one! It depends on how secure we feel with:
a) Where we are.
b) Where we are going.
c) Where our bags will be stored.
d) our general energy levels.
As a rule of thumb, we take our passports and some money with us in a moneybelt if we are staying in a public place like a hostel and we don’t think we can securely lock them up.
How much money do people carry? With ATM’s across the world, you normally don’t have to carry that much, but having a few hundred USD stashed away has gotten me out of some big binds, especially in the middle of nowhere with no ATMs. ~Spencer
It’d be interesting to hear what you carry, readers!
Since we got caught without access to ATMs following the 2010 Chilean earthquake we decided to keep two days worth of food and board money on us at all times. Once we hit that point, we tend to make the biggest possible withdrawal from an ATM (around US$500 in most countries) because we get charged each time we make a withdrawal. This seems like an OK balance between the risk of losing that much money and the cost of withdrawals.
If we’re coming up to a border though, we might let that reserve money drift down to nothing, as we know what kind of rates we’ll get from an ATM withdrawal, but we’ve often been left with currency that can only be changed at a poor exchange rate.
Your thoughts on overnight trains in Europe especially for people on their own – a friend was robbed while she slept a couple of years back and you always hear these rumours (esp Eastern Europe) but I’m reluctant to believe it’s much of a risk? ~Amanda
You’re right — the chance of it happening is real, but very low. You can minimise the chances of being robbed while you sleep on a train by securing the locks on your bag, and padlocking the whole thing to a support. Some people carry lightweight bike wires to do this with — we tend to improvise.
Train passing through Switzerland
You might have a handbag or small backpack with your valuables in it. You’ll definitely want to secure this — both locks on zips and have it attached to something. I normally keep mine right beside my head (on the walled side of the compartment) or treat it as a deformed teddybear.
Having your bag attached to something means it’ll be hard to snatch and run, and give you enough time to wake up and scream… which will bring help pretty fast.
On a similar theme, if you’re going to sleep in a train compartment, you’re best to choose one that has (nice-looking!) people in it. If you have the whole compartment to yourself, there is a chance that less salubrious people may wish to share it with you.
Do you have something to add, or have more travel safety questions? Ask them in the comments below.
Get a free preview of Travel Safety
Travel Safety: Safety Tips For Personal And Corporate Travellers is available for just $9.99 and can safe you endless worrying. But you can also get a free preview and more information by signing up below:
Is it safe to travel in Asia? It sure is! But there are always risks when you step out your front door. We give you the low-down on the best health and safety advice for travel in Asia.
Always see a travel doctor before you head away. Check you have the right vaccinations, and that you understand the symptoms of dangerous diseases that are current in your destinations.
Harden up, and get the shots!
They’ll also be able to tell you about the legality and availability of your normal prescriptions and other medical needs.
This stuff is changing all the time: new diseases pop up, or new strains of old diseases. A specialist travel doctor will be plugged into this data and be able to give you up-to-date advice.
Local doctors will, of course, have more current information that those that don’t often travel to that region. It can be hard to contact them in advance, but definitely heed their advice too.
Keep bug free
There are truly spectacular forests, farmland and waterways to explore, right throughout the continent, but there’s always a high concentration of bugs around too!
Amongst other diseases, mosquitos carry malaria — at present they’re mainly non-fatal strains, but they’re still pretty aggressive. You should certainly discuss the malaria risk levels with your travel doctor. Help avoid getting bitten by:
Cover up your arms a legs with long sleeves.
Using a DEET-based insect repellent.
Using mosquito nets when stationary.
Consider carrying a plug-in bug repellant.
Consider investing in mosquito-repellant clothing.
We’ve often found holes in the mosquito nets in places we’ve stayed. Sew or pin these back together or use sticking plasters or electrical tape to close the gaps.
There are often extra bugs around during and after Monsoon season (months). Be extra cautious then.
Food and drink
Always eat local. It's delicious.
It’s always best to eat local! And in Asia that means plenty of rice and noodles as your carbohydrates and proteins from whatever local sources are available.
If everyone around you is downing pho, avoid ordering the rare steak and chips. Unless you have an experienced chef, they’re not likely to prepare foreign food properly. The same guidelines apply in mainly vegetarian countries: enjoy the veges and save the steak for premier restaurants.
In some regions, tap water may contain contagious diseases. If in doubt, treat water by boiling, filtering or using a chemical purification technique. We carry an Ecousable bottle with us, which helps a lot. It doesn’t get rid of the taste of bad water though!
Ice can also contain these bugs, if the ice is made from tap water. Always check the ice you are drinking or using is made from filtered water — preferably from a commercial distributor.
Locally produced spirits are a boon to budget travellers and those looking to cut loose can do little better than a bucket of Thailand’s finest. But every year people die from over-indulging in these, or running into a bad batch. If it doesn’t seem right, send it back.
Safety
Terrorist threats
Let’s get this one out of the way first! The chance of encountering a terrorist attack on your travels in minimal. Pretty much insignificant. Never let the fear of terrorist attacks stop you from travelling.
A safety advisory from your government should give you an overall idea of risk, and you can get an inexpensive personalised report from a travel security company if you feel the need.
If there is significant political unrest in your destination, consider postponing the trip. Details from advisors and travellers on the ground can help you decide if that’s necessary.
If trouble is brewing, consider leaving the area. Your embassy or an international organisation may be able to help with evacuation if things are really serious.
This smart car hasn't been left in the smartest of places
Stay away from riots: either stay in your hotel room (make sure you have sufficient water and snacks) or ensure you’re staying away from hotspots. As a traveller, it’s not your fight — and the army or anti-riot troops are unlikely to be able to distinguish you from rioters.
If you’re caught on the street as a riot comes past, seek shelter in a store or private residence.
Border crossings, petty theft and scams
There are hundreds of potential scams, bribes and cons that surround border crossings in Asia, especially the more isolated land borders.
You can read up on border scams, cons and other issues on the following links:
Looking at our highlights from 2011, we realise we have a lot to be thankful for. Most of all, thanks to you — the Indie Travel Podcast Community — for inspiring us, for funding us, for talking to us every day.
If it wasn’t for you, Indie Travel Podcast would have died a long time ago. Instead, it’s growing.
I think Confucius had it right. There are times to hold back, to protect yourself, but there are also times to open up and charge ahead. If you’re trying to live life on the road, if you’re trying to start a business, if you’re saving for your dream trip; then get the plan right and go! Go with all your heart.
With the help of a little English teaching, we’re scraping by and able to fund our life on the road. But we all want to do more than that.
If we had big profits we’d be starting a foundation, but we don’t… So we work with you on and Kiva. In 2011, US$8,000 has been loaned to individuals, collectives, and micro-businesses throughout the world. Since we started at the end of 2010, $8,425 has been loaned through the Kiva team. Well done, Indie Travel Podcast Community!
So how does Indie Travel Podcast look at the end of 2011?
Podcasts: 221 Community members: 729 Friendships per member: 1.35 Forum posts: 196 Total Kiva donations: US$8,425 Total Posts: 857 Total Pages: 145 Total Books: 5 Visitors in 2011: 362,500 Visitors since 2006: 758,100 Pageviews in 2011: 651,795 Pageviews since 2006: 1,514,000 Facebook community: 2,675
(All numbers estimates, as this was written on December 29th!)
So thank you to the 362,500 visitors we’ve had this year, and 729 community members for making this a fun place to come back to!
Our 2012 resolutions
This year we’d like to travel slowly — at least at first. We want to get a bit more immersed, and we’ve chosen Spain to try and make that happen.
What happens when Linda speaks Spanish?
In late February, we head towards Seville, Spain via Christchurch, Kuala Lumpur, and London. Then it’s the Camino de Santiago! The Via de la Plata, to be exact. We hope to finish on our 10th wedding anniversary: April 20th.
Then the immersion will start. We’ve picked a small city in Galicia, Spain to start with, and hopefully we can make things work there. We want it to be a time of work, friends, and fun. Linda wants to teach English, Craig wants to learn to surf. We hope to spend the summer there, but after that… We really don’t know!
On the table for the last few months of the year are: travelling Europe; heading down to north Africa or into the Middle East; crossing back to South America; or dropping down to South East Asia or the Pacific. I guess we’ll just have to figure it out when the time comes.
And you?
What are your plans or resolutions for travel in 2012? Are you saving? Are you going? Are you doing things differently? Let us know!
Ayutthaya, one of Thailand’s ex-capitals, is located about 90 minutes’ drive from the present capital, Bangkok. It’s packed with remnants from its glory days, and makes a great day trip from Bangkok, especially if […]
Thanks for that. They look like great quality, but not quite the style we’re after. I *think* I’ve got the ’good enough’ bag that’ll last me through the next couple of years… At any rate, I’ve stopped the active search as it was burning up soooo much time.
When you arrive, you’ll likely arrive at the Auckland International Airport. Getting away from there is an expensive enterprise unless you get someone to pick you up. The Airbus is probably your best bet — to the city it’s $16 one-way, $26 return. A taxi could be a little cheaper if there’s three or more of you, depending on your destination.
Head out to the Waitakere Ranges (west) to do some short day walks, have a picnic at the top of one of Auckland’s many volcanic hills, and visit Otara markets (south) for fresh fruit and veges, clothes and knick-knacks.
Auckland has the regular offerings — a good museum and art gallery (recently refurbished and reopened), an aquarium (Kelly Tarlton’s) and an amusement park (Rainbow’s End). But its real attraction lies in its natural beauty, so spend your sightseeing money on seeing the sights. Catch a ferry to Rangitoto Island ($27 pp return) and hike to the top of the volcanic peak. Or you could visit Waiheke Island ($35 pp return) or Great Barrier ($85 pp return, $120 during holiday season) but each of these really require more than a day. The zoo is worth a visit if you’re travelling with kids, and while you’re out there drop into the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
We’ve heard of or seen people store cash in shoes, seams in their bags or clothes, in specially bought belts with hidden pockets. We normally don’t bother unless we’re carrying a decent amount of cash. We split it between our two bags and our persons — and we do use a money belt if we’re feeling uncomfortable. We lock our bags shut if we’re not with them and, where possible, secure them in a locker or place valuables in a room safe. 
It’d be interesting to hear what you carry, readers!
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Since November 2006 the Indie Travel Podcast has evolved into an independent travel hub with regular audio and video podcasts along with articles by travellers from all over the world. 
Hosts Craig and Linda Martin started travelling in February 2006 and have been to over 50 countries. They were 