Euro Travel & More

So the in-laws wants to take a cruise this fall – to celebrate their anniversary and asked me to make some inquiries and if it looked good – I should go ahead and booked it.  Like most people the in-laws were focusing mainly on the destination and not the ship they are going to be on for 10 days – well maybe 7 for most people – now that is a mistake – because one should focus on what you want to do on board – a spa cruise – a eating expedition – or just one that you can dance all night.  So be sure to talk to your travel agent face to face – with a list of cruise ship that you found online and make sure the travel agent knows what the cruise ship is offering their vacation party.

If you are booking for a cruise – make sure you try and book early – the earlier the better.  For my in-laws – I’m afraid I won’t be getting a good cabin for them – because it is pretty late to book for the fall cruise.  Early birds gets a discount – and you also get a choice of your cabin.  6 months – is a good time for booking a cruise and if you are lucky – one can get as much as 50% discount – pretty neat eh.

More cruise tips on another post.

This summer had been an interesting summer for us – not only are we doing a bit of traveling ourselves – the nephews are going backpacking to Europe.   The grandparents and aunts were a little bit worried and apprehensive but i told them that I had gone backpacking at their age too and given the right information and safety procedures to follow – the boys will do fine – I believed strongly.   So the preparation started like 2 months ago – getting their passports and visa ready and of course their air tickets and accommodation plans – and since they are going on a budget – we had to get them some really good carry all – like the  Gregory Backpacks that was recommended.    So the boys left yesterday – and their adventure begins – and we will meet them halfway in Paris – in about 2 weeks.  More on the backpacking – and the nephews trips later.

Health retreats are getting more and more popular here in the West  but we’ve all gone for a few in the East especially around Bali and Thailand but lately – I have been seeing more and more inns offering health retreats specializing in detox programs and yoga sessions.   I think it is a very smart idea to have these health retreats to help revitalize and rejuvenate  – now if they have these opiate detox done with the view of the harbor and rooftop setting or just about any Balinese view  – I think I wouldn’t mind spending time there and doing my detox either.   But yes!  I found one right here in our backyard – a Yoga retreat place combined with a wellness program  – I think it is an awesome program – for those who wants a better lifestyle – or who needs help with detoxing your body – plus it’s nice to be able to tell people that you went for a health retreat – afterall, detox is like a health retreat right.

I’ve flown on Malaysian Airlines many a times on first class and to fly first class in domestic flight on this airline is super cheap – maybe that is why Malaysian Airlines not allowing babies on their first class seats?   This new rule does not sit well with a lot of parents of course.  But the business class cannot be that bad either right?   So if you are flying from KL to Amsterdam, London or Sydney with babies – forget about flying in first class seats and because of what Malaysian Airlines is doing – I hear that other airlines are thinking of doing the same too.    Now that would not be good at all.

While many do not visit Jordan – we did and to me this place is full of history with the Roman columns in Jerash.  People are mostly friendly – not every spoke in English but it’s pretty safe I can boldly tell even though we see a lot of not so nice reports of Jordan in the papers and news.  While most people come with their tour guides and in tour buses – I prefer traveling with a small group of friends and explore and take in the sights and sounds of places that I go – of course we still hired a guide – but having to pay a private guide we felt it was much more worthwhile.

We had a good guide – his name was Amran – I think and he spoke fluent English and albeit and accent – we understood him perfectly.  This is by the way – the Roman Plaza – now on the way back to Jerusalem was the tricky part – the weather was extremely hot in the summer and the crossing took us an hour.  Plus you are not to cross after 5pm – for prayer reasons I think – but I`m not too sure.

At the crossing – of Jerusalem.

We headed to the Archeologist Park the next day and although the group was tired – I was getting way too hot and wanted to go shopping.  And there are shopping to be done in Jerusalem alright!  but the haggling part is definitely an art – especially when most of the shop keepers don`t speak in English.

Yes, more ruins – this is the city of David and I have to warn you – if you are someone who don`t like trying new food – Jordan or Jerusalem is not for you.

We are going to be a little bit more adventurous this year and go camping during the summer in RV parks across Canada – with a very dear family friend.  He knows all about  rv repairs and everything you need to know about camping and staying in an RV for your holiday – for he does it every year without fail.  He said that when he retires – he was going to travel with his RV all around Canada and USA – and visit all the RV Parks.

I used to be worried about going on holidays on an RV – first off – the spouse don’t like to drive so much on a holiday  – plus the motor home is a huge vehicle right – so not as easy to maneuver.  But after going for a test drive with the family friend – he was convinced to take up the challenge and brave it out in the jungle out there.   But I’m excited to check out the roadside unusual attractions and theme parks as well as museums and famous parks and we can bring our dogs for our summer vacation too!  woohoo!

India is a different culture altogether and even though I’m Asian – there are some things that takes a little bit of time to get used to.  My boss was stationed in India for 2 years and he thoroughly enjoyed it with his wife – so when he said to come along one year – to India for business – I said sure – but little did I know that I was going for a hard trip – hahah!  but overall, I find India amusing and amazing.

The Indian War Veterans was one of the places that I had visited with my boss and it looked modern enough right?  but wait a minute – while this is so modern – some folks still washes their hair in the river.  I kid you not!

See i told yer!

India is full of people  – it’s hot and humid there and lots of human traffic.  More on India in another post.

Havana brings out the best in most people – why?  everyone is so friendly and warm – and everything is so cheap – except toilet paper – haha !  I kid you not – USD$1 for toilet paper – to use the public toilet – daylight robbery eh.   They say that men who goes to Havana with  low testosterone symptom comes back all refreshed and all ready to start anew after a trip to Havana.  How true it is – I don’t really know – but you and I know that it’s ok for men to take enhancers for low testosterone if they need it – no need to be shy about it.

Havana has changed very, very little since the 1950s – did you know that they are not allowed to import new cars?  so whatever you see on the street are probably vintage – most of them turned their vehicles into cabs for tourists like you and I.   Havana offers much more than just salsa, mojitos and cuban cigars – it is full of history and cultural experience.  Take your time to explore and talk to these really friendly people – and know that they are so humble and even though they are not in friendly terms with the United States – you can see that they are very much influence by the States.

This is a stadium in Havana – The Colossus of Cerro – and is usually used for baseball.   It’s pretty cheap to go watch a baseball game in Havana – for your info – this is not the only stadium in Havana.  For just USD$1 – you can get admission to a game – but choice seats are usually taken even before you get into the stadium.

Another view of the stadium.

This the the Havana Skyline called the Capitolio Nacional Cuba – inside the skyline – you can find some pre-revolutionary monuments.

The entrance of the skyline – so if you are in Havana Cuba – make sure you don’t just stick in the resort – come out and enjoy Havana and learn all about the history of Havana.   Havana is the can definitely raise my testosterone – because I love all old buildings and the architectural work done on them – you can’t find this in the new world now.

The spouse travels for work and because in various countries they don’t encourage smoking indoors – he has decided to look into get  electronic cigarette wholesale for himself and co-workers in his office.  If you’ve watched the movie currently out on DVD – The Tourist – you will see Johnny Depp smoking an electronic cigarette – I definitely like electronic cigarettes so much more – for the nicotine is the same – but you don’t get all the smokey and smelly clothing after you are done for the day.  So yes! i’m all for it – electronic cigarettes are so much more cheaper so I read – and if you are traveling as much as my spouse – you wanna get some too – you can even smoke them on the train and anywhere – so I’ve heard.