Travel Reviews

7 Things To Consider Before Travelling

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7 Things To Consider Before Travelling

Photo by Edgar Chaparro on Unsplash

Getting out there and seeing what the wider world has to offer is something that everyone should do in their lives. We do like the comfort of our own homes and our own areas, so it can be a difficult prospect for many, but it’s completely worth it. You may think you’ve seen a lot in your life, but if you venture out onto the other side of the planet, you’ll see how wrong you were.

On earth, there are a vast amount of cultures and traditions that you couldn’t even fathom as you sit in the comfort of your lovely home, and your mind is truly broadened by experiencing them. Earth is also home to some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes and monuments you could imagine.

If you’re seriously thinking about dropping everything and heading on a long-term trip around a particular continent (or two!), then it’s not just a case of hopping on some public transport and haplessly heading on your merry way – it takes a bit of thought and some real commitment.

You’ve gotten this far, so you probably have a vision in your mind of hiking through unknown areas and feeling the goosebumps as you gaze upon some of the views. Want to do it? Well, before you make a move, you have to get a bunch of things in order. Let’s go through some now.  

Make Sure You’re Ready Mentally

The first point isn’t exactly one of the formalities, but it is vital. It’s a big step and a big commitment, and if you’ve never done anything like this before, then it may be more and more nerve-wracking and overwhelming as the time draws nearer. It’s hard to battle your inner thoughts, but just know that this experience will better your life!  

Do A Little Research

It goes without saying that you should know what you’re getting into – you’re about to head into places very much unlike what you’re used to. It can be a fun little session, however, as you get to look into all of the exciting places that you could potentially visit. If you’re not in tune with the travelling scene at all, then this is a good time to soak up as much knowledge as you can. There’s no real set way of doing things, so you can absolutely come up with your own method after learning a thing or two.

Plan Your Entire Trip

As we mentioned before, you can’t just book a flight or a train and go walking around without first having a set plan of doing things – you need to have everything set out, and it will need to be as airtight as possible so that you don’t manage to make a mess of anything. It may be a little boring but preparation is key.   

Make Sure You Have The Money!

Another obvious point here, but if you don’t have the funds to get yourselves successfully around then you’re going to be in a bit of a pickle. Look into your budget and see what you can and cannot do – you might think you have the money, but there may be some costs that you haven’t taken into account, so be careful.

Find Places To Stay

As you make your way around, you’ll need places to rest and rehabilitate before you get out and do more exploring – you’re not just going to sleep on the streets. A lot of people on their travels aren’t exactly made of money, so they’ll find cheaper overnight stays like couch surfing at places or staying in hostels. There are, of course, more luxurious ways if you’re that way inclined – if you’re travelling through some Asian countries, you could, for example, research some monthly rental in Singapore or Malaysia and see if that fits your criteria. Having a place to sleep at night is vital if you want to have some energy for the days and weeks ahead.      

Vaccinations

When you enter certain parts of the world, you’ll find that they differ from your home. Unfortunately, on the other side of the planet, there are some serious diseases that can be spread around, and if you’re not protected against them, then they could do some serious damage. It’s wise to go to your doctor and let them help you. You should get vaccinated about four to six weeks before travelling.

Remember To Take Photos!

Finally, and this one is less of a stress, bring your camera or keep your phone charged up! It’s nice to have the memories stored in your mind’s eye, but having tangible proof of being somewhere is lovely too. You’re bound to make wonderful memories and capturing them forever would compound the delight! Also, if you’re a bit of social media person, then your friends and followers may get a kick out of your jollies!

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Turkish Hammam Experience Is One Of A Kind

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Turkish Hammam

You have likely heard of the Turkish hammam even if you have not traveled to Turkey. Hammam is a unique public bath and has been a part of Turkish social culture for hundreds of years. The concept was largely developed during the Ottoman Empire inspired by Roman baths. There are similar concepts in other cultures such as Finnish saunas, Russian baths or banyas but the Turkish hammam is unique in many ways. In Turkish hammams, the air is steamy. In hammams, you will be washed by washers called tellak who exfoliate, massage and wash you! Tellaks are usually of the same sex as the person being washed. While your tellak is preparing to wash you, you are given a hammam bowl to fill with hot water from marble sinks and pour it over your head to start your bathing experience. You can leave the rest to your tellak!

Turkish Hammam

The architecture of hammams is also very unique. A traditional hammam has three interconnected rooms. The first one is the hot room, then the warm room and finally the cold room. The hot room usually has a large dome with glass windows. There is usually a large heated marble table in the middle of the room and fountains in the corners. In this room, you get exposed to steam and get exfoliated. The warm room is for washing with soap and water after the exfoliation and finally the last room is to relax and perhaps sip a Turkish tea.

Going to a Turkish hammam is not only a unique bathing experience but it is also a social one. People of the same sex get together in Turkish hammams and share intimate stories. It is almost like a therapy session where the bathgoers open up to each other. An environment where people let their guards down and relax like nowhere else! Think about it, you are half naked with a group of strangers in a hot steamy environment wrapped in your Turkish towel also known as the peshtemal. Wouldn’t you let your guard down?

Turkish Hammam

This is a physical and a spiritual awakening. By the end of this experience, your body and your skin are rejuvenated and purified or, at least, that’s how you feel! The exfoliation and the massage are probably stronger than what you experience in North American spas and can sometimes be a bit painful but you can tell your tellak the intensity you prefer.

If you’re planning to visit Turkey anytime soon, you should definitely add the hammam experience on your list of things to do. Istanbul probably has the most gorgeous hammams you will find in Turkey but other cities such as Edirne, Bursa and Eskisehir also have renowned hammams to discover. Cagaloglu and Cemberlitas hammams in Istanbul, Saray hammam in Edirne, historic Eski Kaplica hammam in Bursa, Ferah hammam in Eskisehir are some of the most traditional ones but your hotel might even have a hammam within their facilities!

This blog post was provided by Shopping Blue. They share a passion for travel and  connect the Mediterranean with those who are passionate about this region and its products.

The Adventurer’s Checklist For A Visit To Australia

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There are many, many reasons why tourists flock to the land down under from all over the world. They get scorching hot summers while most of us are getting ready for winter. They have the friendliest locals and the coolest cities. They have delicious food and incredible wine. They have one of the most spectacular and diverse ecosystems on the planet. They have some of the world’s most incredible creatures (I dare you to spend 5 minutes with a quokka and not fall in love). They have numerous thriving centres of art, music and culture, yet, one thing that characterises an Australian holiday perhaps more than any other is the enormous sense of adventure. Australia is a great place for relaxing by the beach with a cocktail and a good book, but it’s also quite possibly the adventure capital of the world.

The Adventurer's Checklist For a Visit to Australia

Image by Alex Healing via Flickr

If you’re the kind of person who can’t sit still for a moment while on holiday, make your way through this adventurer’s checklist of Australia…

Walk in the wilderness of Fraser Island

Before European settlers arrived in Australia, the country was an ecologically diverse (and spectacularly dangerous) wilderness that only the canny indigenous peoples could navigate safely. Perhaps that’s why so many of the country’s cities hug the coast. Yet, if you want to get off the beaten track and explore the “real” Australia, heading on over to Adventure Free tours and booking a trip to Fraser island is a good place to start. In this UNESCO World Heritage site in Queensland you’ll get to enjoy long hikes and swimming in crystal clear waters surrounded by some of Australia’s stunning native wildlife including dingos, echidnas, flying foxes and all manner of exotic birds.

Climb Uluru… while you still can

There are some who can’t pass a rocky outcrop without wanting to climb it, and if you want to visit the sandstone monolith formerly known as Ayers Rock with the intention of climbing it, you’d better get your skates on. The site’s cultural significance to the indigenous population and the inherent risk factors of the climb have led to the decision for climbing trips to be banned in October 2019. Of course, even if you should choose to visit after this date, there’s still lots to see and do around this seminal landmark.

Snorkel with white sharks

Australia has no shortage of stunning wildlife on land, but perhaps its most spectacular sights are seen beneath the sea. Australia has a plethora of opportunities for scuba diving and snorkelling but for a truly memorable experience head on over to the Ningaloo Reef where you can swim side by side with 10 metre long white sharks. Of course these graceful giants aren’t the only natives to these fair waters. You’ll also encounter dugongs, manta rays, dolphins, turtles and whales.

Go kayaking in Nitmiluk National Park

Finally, those who are most at home in the water won’t want to miss the opportunity to go on a kayaking adventure down the the Katherine River in Nitmiluk National Park. You’ll be able to go off the track most beaten by tourists and dive deep into the outback, mixing it up with freshwater crocodiles and paddle your way past hoards of screeching cockatoos.