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The Forgotten Horrors Of Camping That Can Really Ruin The Trip
Camping is awesome. If you get a good camping experience, you get close to your friends and a lot closer to nature. Few things clear stress and let you forget the outside world as better. For some distance, it might even be better than the sunniest of beaches. But it’s also a little scary. That sense of being lost and alone is part of the thrill of it to a lot of people. But when it gets seriously scary because you have underestimated some of the essentials, it’s no longer fun. It’s a disaster. Here’s how you avoid that.
The weather
You’re going out there to experience something different and to get closer to nature. However, that doesn’t mean you have to be completely exposed to it. Finding out what the weather is like in advance is crucial to camping. It’s going to ensure that you bring the fitting clothes, that you equip yourself with the right tent, and that you prepare the campsite accordingly. For instance, one of the most common weather-related mistakes is to choose a camping spot that’s downhill when you’re to expect some rain. Do that and you’ll find yourself waking up in a partially flooded tent. Of course, while weather forecasts can help you prepare specifically, you should anticipate all kinds of weather. They are liable to be wrong from time to time, after all.
The dark
If you really want to enjoy your camping holiday then you don’t want to have to go to bed as soon as the sun goes down. But if you’re not prepared for just how dark it can get out there at night, that’s exactly what will be happening. The dark out there can get oppressive, especially if you’re in the forest. Besides general environment lighting, find the best tactical led flashlight you can get as well. You need task lighting that can be easily moved, especially if you plan on leaving the camp anywhere near sundown. Reflective clothing, especially blaze orange, is a good idea, too. It makes you a lot more visible to any hunters that might be in the area.
The wild
You can’t forget that you’re sharing a habitat with a genuinely wild ecosystem as well. It pays to be aware of any wildlife in the area, particularly those that are prone to be aggressive, and to take steps to protect yourself. For instance, don’t leave food or any traces of food hanging out. As soon as you eat, clean all your dishes. It’s a good idea to eat things that aren’t too pungent and likely to attract wildlife. But animals aren’t the only things to be concerned about. Being unable to identify poison oak, poison mushrooms and other dangerous flora can just as easily cause a trip to the hospital. With the best plant and fungi identifying app on hand, you can make sure you’re aware of any potential risks you could be walking across. Always take the time to check before you decide to try that mushroom or walk through those leaves.
Once you get past the potential horror stories, camping becomes a lot more thrilling, a lot more peaceful, and a lot more fun all at once. So, don’t go out unprepared.
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The Best Asian Travel Destinations for Summer 2017
Asia is home to some of the most beautiful sights to be seen in the world. However, many people visit the continent during the winter months. Perhaps they are scared off during summer due to the potential for excessive temperatures and an impending rainy season. But that’s not enough reason to completely strike Asian travels from your list of potential summer trips. There are many beautiful parts that are at their peak from July to September, and it would be an awful shame to miss them. So here are a few different destinations you might like to check out in the summer of 2017.
Bali
Bali’s sees most of its visitors pass through from July through to August. Unlike many parts of Asia at this time of year, the region is dry during this time, making summer the ultimate season to visit. Because of its summertime popularity, you might want to avoid busier areas and tourist traps. Try seeking out the alternative side of Bali: trek rice terraces, seek out waterfalls and skirt the edges of temples. Head out early in the morning to secure good spots at beaches and book into restaurants you might like to try out early during your stay.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is urban, making it suitable to visit at any time of the year. The bustling country has so much to offer. From historic sites and temples, such as Tian Tan Buddha and Wong Tai Sin Temple, to Disneyland. There’s something to suit everybody. We’d recommend, as with most urban city breaks, to book into a reputable hotel, such as hotel causeway bay. Hong Kong is a highly popular destination, and you don’t want to leave your accommodation down to chance once you get there, as all hotels in the local area may well be fully booked.
Malaysia
If you’re drawn to the sea and sand, Malaysia might well tick all of your boxes for the holiday of a lifetime. The Tioman and Perhentian islands are highly recommended during the summer months, as the islands’ climes during this period result in calmer seas, which allow for extraordinary snorkeling experiences. If you have your heart set on a more urban retreat, visit Kuala Lumpur, the country’s capital. Book day trips and excursions in advance to avoid disappointment on the day.
Ladakh
Ladakh is a Himalayan region located in North India. It is a summer favorite, with azure blue skies and beautiful weather throughout the summer months. Try exploring the stunning landscape and visiting Buddhist temples along the way. Roads in the region are closed from October to May, so make the most of them being open. Hire a vehicle and take a drive through one of the most spectacular mountain ranges known to man.
Koh Samui
If Thailand has captured your heart, you might fancy taking a trip to Koh Samui. Better known destinations, such as Phuket, are located in the Andaman Sea and experience wet seasons during summer. But Koh Samui lies in the Gulf of Thailand, which has sunny and dry weathers at this time of year.
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Everyone Needs A Tech Free Vacation!
Technology is amazing. There are very few people who would argue with that fact. Technology has improved so many aspects of many people’s lives that it’s amazing to look back on a time where we existed without it. Whether it’s communication, shopping, medicine, or work, there’s almost nothing that technology hasn’t made faster, easier, and more effective. However, does that mean that it’s always a good thing? As with anything else, it comes down to the way that it’s used and the problem many people have is that technology starts to become something of a barrier between them and the life that’s going on all around them. It’s so much easier to focus on the things happening on a screen that the sometimes confusing and messy things that happen in real life. Because of this, it’s important that everyone take the chance for a tech-free getaway every now and again to help them reconnect with the world around them. Here are some of the things that you need to do to take the perfect tech-free trip.
Let people know in advance
As romantic as the idea of suddenly going off the grid with no warning can be, it’s hardly the most realistic idea for the vast majority of people. In fact, it can make taking time away from tech downright stressful if you’re constantly worrying about people trying to get in touch with you. If you let people know what’s happening well in advance, then you can avoid them trying to get a hold of you when you’re trying to take some time for yourself. That way it makes the lives of the people around you easier, as well as making the entire experience much less stressful for you.
Have the right equipment
Just because you’re saying goodbye to a lot of technology for a little while, doesn’t mean that you suddenly have to start sleeping rough under a pile of leaves, unless that sounds like your ideal vacation! You should find a camping tent that’s going to be reliable, as well as things like a warm sleeping bag, and some way to cook food. Something simple like a single camping stove is fantastic for things like boiling water for coffee and heating up cans of soup for a quick and filling meal to give you plenty of energy.
Pick your spot
Remember, you can’t just park yourself anywhere if you want to take a tech-free holiday. Make sure that you’re actually legally allowed to be somewhere before you decide to set up camp. Not only that but be careful not to end up somewhere with too many technological temptations. You’re taking this trip to get away from all of that. If you can constantly hear the sounds of technology or cars rushing past, then it’s going to be that much harder to really unplug and get back to nature. Finding the right spot, or spots, for your trip can make all of the difference between an amazing time and a frustrating slog.
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Do You Need Something Different From Your Next Trip?
Travel really is a wonderful thing. It broadens the mind and can open you up to new experiences that you’d never otherwise have. Which makes it all the more unusual how often people tend to get themselves stuck in something of a routine when they travel. Far too often people find a single travel destination that they fall in love with, and then they visit that place over and over again until it loses so much of what once made it so magical. It’s amazing that many people can take something as wonderful and exciting as travel, and actually find a way to make it boring! Of course, things don’t have to be that way! Here are a few ideas for some different things that you can do on your next trip.
Get off the grid
One of the things about traveling is that it takes you out of your comfort zone a little bit. This can be one of the very best things about it. If you go back to the same hotels and resorts time after time that feeling can fade away, leaving things feeling stale and pedestrian. If you really want to turn that on its head then why not take a trip where you’re completely and totally off the grid. Strip yourself of all of the typical comforts that you associate with a vacation and get back to basics in a big way. Doing this allows you to learn more about survival, remind yourself that you don’t need to be glued to technology all the time, and remind yourself of how it feels to be alive when everything isn’t constantly provided for you. Sure it might not be the most relaxing trip, but it will certainly be one that you always remember.
Go somewhere where you don’t speak the language
Another way to really shake things up and sweep out the cobwebs is to go somewhere where everything is completely foreign to you. Of course, there are many destinations where English isn’t the dominant language, but many of those have dedicated tourist areas that make allowances for you. Instead, try going somewhere that doesn’t make those concessions. Take a phrasebook with you and really engross yourself in a culture that’s completely alien to you. It won’t take long before you come to understand it better and you’ll often come away with a much greater understanding of the world around you and the different cultures in it.
Choose the opposite to your normal destination
If you want an immediate shake-up to your normal travel plans, but you don’t really know where to start, then start with what you’re used to, and flip it on its head. If usually travel in cities and enjoy a degree of luxury, take some time out in the wilderness, if camping is usually your thing then get stuck into the incredible energy and culture that cities have to offer. By going in the exact opposite direction to what you’re used to, you can discover a whole new world of possibilities that you might never have even considered before.
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3 Travel Ideas For Animal Lovers
When choosing your next travel destination, there’s a few essentials that you have to keep in mind that influence your choice of location. Firstly, there’s your budget – which is always going to constrain what you might want to do. Secondly, you have to decide if you want to return to a much-loved existing destination, or if you want to try something different. Then there are other considerations such as the time you have available or who you might like to go with – but one thing has a tendency to be forgotten: the things you love when you’re at home.
The chances are, you’d consider yourself an animal lover. Most of us do, excusing the odd phobia and bad past experience. This love tends to manifest itself in the love we bestow upon our pets, but this is something we leave behind when we set off on our travels – the animal lover side of our personality stays firmly at home.
What if it didn’t have to, though? What if you could add another consideration to that long list of concerns – a consideration to find a place that allows you to see and experience animals in a totally different country?
Swim With Dolphins
Swimming with dolphins tends to appear high on many bucket lists, especially for those of us who consider ourselves animal lovers. The beauty of this goal is that it’s so attainable. From aquatic centers in Europe to the natural waters of Australia; swimming with dolphins is something you can incorporate into almost any holiday.
However, it’s perhaps best experienced on coastal resorts in warm countries. Think the Caribbean over the landlocked European countries; aqua parks where the dolphins are kept in as natural a habitat as possible. The Dominican Republic and Jamaica both come highly recommended, so perhaps start your search there.
Volunteer With Conservation Projects
If you don’t just want to experience different animals but actively help them, then offering your help with conservation projects can be a wonderful way of combining travel and your love of animals. You can largely choose any animal that you might wish to assist, with Africa being a prime destination to consider, especially if you’re considering working with elephants or any of the other famed “big five” animals. Namibia and Botswana should be at the top of your list as places to research.
Walk With The Monkeys
Finally, the above two options are wonderful in their own ways. However, they do somewhat separate animals from humans in how the interaction with the animals goes about. If you prefer the idea of a less forced separation, then the island of Gibraltar might be what you need.
The famous local monkeys – Barbary apes, to be specific, but everyone refers to them as monkeys! – are a part of the local tradition and integrate with humanity in ways rarely seen anywhere else in the world. Tourists to the rock are nothing new to these animals, who have grown up seeing humans as a source of easy food and a nice fuss rather than anything to be feared. Gibraltar – a British overseas territory – is nice in and of itself, with a temperate climate and stunning views over the Atlantic Ocean.
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