It’s the time of year when the sky turns grey and the air turns cold. There’s a long winter ahead of us and as we cozy up in front of the fireplace pictures of tropical islands dance in our heads. We reminisce about our days at the beach or long walks in the sand and then start to plan our next vacation.

What is it about the islands that make life better? Is it the tropical breeze coming in from the ocean? Is it the sound of the waves crashing on the shore? Maybe its the laid back vibe or the perfect sunset that you see no matter what island you are visiting.

Really, it could be any of the above.

When I think of our times in the islands, nothing but perfection springs to mind. All the complications and stresses of life completely melt away in the tropical heat and are instantly replaced by the tranquility of a deserted beach or seaside cabana.

So lets take you away, far far away to some of the most stunning islands on earth in our collection of Tropical Islands in Pictures.

The beautiful tropical island of Zanzibar

The island of Zanzibar is located off the coast of Tanzania. Known as the spice island, Zanzibar has some of the most spectacular beaches in the world. Its turquoise waters are like nothing I’ve ever seen and when the tide goes out, there isn’t a more beautiful coastline on earth.

Nothing says tropical island like Fiji

When thinking of the island Fiji, you can’t help but picture absolute paradise. It is one of those places that doesn’t disappoint. It has yet to reach the levels of development in the Caribbean and you can still find a quiet, secluded beach in this mother of all tropical islands.

Get me to Jamaica now!

The Island of Jamaica in the West Indies is the ultimate vacation destination for the package tourist. But head out from behind the gates and you will discover a country filled with rich culture, fun activities and friendly and inviting people. And yes, the beaches are absolutely beautiful. Taking a catamaran tour will give you a view of it’s magnificent coastline.

St. Kitts is paradise.

You may not know much about St. Kitts, but this tiny island packs a punch. With only one major development in the country, it is one of the few Caribbean Islands that still feels like an untouched paradise. Head over to the Reggae bar on Reggae beach or hike up the volcano through the unspoiled jungle to see a birds eye view of the island.

Let Bali into your tropical island dreams

Bali is really the island of dreams. Located in Indonesia, it offers the tourist an island experience with deep cultural roots. Temples line the coastline like the one above. Tana Lot is one of its most sacred temples and you can’t help but feel peaceful when visiting it or any of the great monuments on the island of Bali.

If Koh Lipe doesn't say paradise don't know what does.

Thailand has some of the most beautiful islands and beaches in the world and Koh Lipe is one of those islands. Located right on the Malaysian Border, the trip out to Koh Lipe is worth it. Longtail boats line every beach in Southern Thailand making for the picture perfect setting for anyone travelling to the tropics.

Koh Lanta in Thailsnd

No tropical islands in pictures would be complete without the perfect sunset. We witnessed many a sunset in Thailand and had many to choose from. But it was this one that spoke to me most. It’s looking out over the Andaman Sea at the fiery sky after a perfect day in Paradise.

This summer we were approached by American Express Canada to test drive their new American Express Gold Rewards Card and after using it for the past few months, we’re big fans.

Our latest adventure found us driving an ill suited car across 13 countries from London, England to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. What better way to put the rumours to rest than by paying for our adventure on our American Express Gold Rewards Card?

At the Finish Line of the Mongol Rally

Europe was the first test ground…

Needless to say it passed with flying colours. England, Germany, Czech Republic and Hungary. All were eager to accept the card.

One thing we did do before leaving was to make sure we got a chip card. This is very important when traveling to Europe as all cards are based on a PIN system. This certainly increased our chances of it being accepted.

I must admit we were skeptical once we reached the more remote countries on our itinerary. We assumed that companies wouldn’t even take a credit card let alone an American Express Gold Rewards Card in places like Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Boy Were We Wrong.

We kept on using our American Express to buy groceries, gas and to book accommodations all the way to Ulaanbaatar. Imagine our surprise when we thought we’d be paying cash for everything only to find out that “American Express is Accepted Here.”

American Express, Accepted Everywhere

Our favourite moment was in a Japanese Restaurant in Aktobe, Kazakhstan. We enjoyed an elegant meal with all the comforts of home after weeks of camping in the desert. We ate sushi in air conditioning with soft lighting, mellow music and chilled glasses of beer as we sat on plush padded seats.

We chatted to our server who spoke excellent English as she spent four months in New York on an exchange program and we even became Facebook friends. When the bill came, we pulled out our AMEX Gold Rewards Card and handed it over. Just like they had in so many other places throughout our travels, they asked us to punch in our pin code and sign the bill.

There you have it, a meal paid for with plastic in the land of Borat.

Paying for Dinner in Kazakhstan

Putting those rewards to work.

Did you know that we can use our 90,000 points towards our flight, and still accumulate status miles with Air Canada? Normally when we cash in points, we miss out on accumulating the much-needed flying miles to help us reach elite status. But the great thing about the Gold Rewards Card is we can purchase the flight, get the status miles and then redeem our points against the travel purchase through TripFlex.

We only needed one more long haul flight from somewhere like China to reach Elite Status with Air Canada and our flight home from Ulaanbaatar is more than enough to help us achieve our goal.

2012 is the year of upgrades and business class for ThePlanetD and we will do it all by using American Express Gold Rewards.

Dreaming of Being Back in Business Class,

Another added benefit with the American Express Gold Rewards is there’s no time limit to using your points. Points don’t expire. We can save them for a time when we are really feeling the money crunch but need to take a vacation to escape the Canadian winters.

We love winter, but Love Getting Away as Well

We have racked up the travel rewards and are set to redeem two free flights to anywhere this coming winter with our over 90,000 points. We can transfer our points 1:1 to Aeroplan who has partnerships with such companies as Air Canada, United Airlines, Singapore Airways, Lufthansa and 23 other popular airlines.

Rewards can also be transferred to other programs including Alitalia, British Airways, Delta, Cathay Pacific, Hilton Honors, Starwood Preferred Guest and Priority Club.

How did we rack up so many points?

Contrary to popular belief, American Express is readily accepted everywhere. All cards now come standard with chip technology that can be used overseas and we ended up using our American Express card from the United Kingdom to Mongolia to pay for petrol, accommodations and food.

Paying For Petrol in Russia with AMEX Gold Rewards

An American Express Gold Rewards card is different than many other types of credit cards. We have to pay it off each month but at the same time, there isn’t a spending limit. They have faith that we will keep our spending habits within our means and we have proven with our track record and credit history that we are responsible enough to not overuse our card on frivolous things. We may be making less money since leaving our careers in the film business to pursue our dream of being adventure travelers, but we take our credit history seriously and work hard at keeping a high rating.

We were happy to look at our points balance at the end of our 10,000 mile road trip to see that we had added an extra 8,800 points onto our cards balance. That’s the fastest rewards accumulation we have ever seen!

Since signing with American Express, we have 90,000 points.

American express was generous enough to give us a few points to kick start our travels, but 30,000 of those points are our very own coming from bonus offers and purchases. We have been using Aeroplan miles for years and we know that 30,000 points already gives you a nice little flight to somewhere warm in the coming winter months and with the Aeroplan miles that we already have stacked up in our account, we have stored a few more flights for our 2012 itinerary.

As Travel Bloggers, our biggest expense is airline travel. If we didn’t have to fly so much, we’d be sitting pretty living on a small budget as we explore the world. Unfortunately, flying is a part of travel and we have to pay the bills somehow. If we can save on flights through rewards programs, it is a step to helping us achieve our dreams and give us the peace of mind to keep on traveling and sharing our experience with our readers. Often times we want to go somewhere, but the cost of the flight makes us re-think our travel plans.

Next year however, we get to go wherever our hearts desire thanks to the American Express Gold Rewards Card.

To find out more about the American Express Gold Rewards and to apply for your own visit American Express Canada for details.

Since returning home a few weeks ago, Dave and I have been trapped behind our computers for far too long. The old kinks and pains are creeping up and I am in desperate need of a yoga class. While we were in Mexico studying yoga and everything else under the sun for 1-week, I have never felt better. During our studies in India, I was energized and alert. Whenever we are away, we practice yoga, go on regular hikes and try new things, but when we come home, the most we can bring ourselves to do is go for a jog.

When this article came in, it inspired me that yes, there are amazing countries around the world where you can study yoga, but that is just it. Yoga can be practiced anywhere. You don’t have to jet off to a foreign land to do so, there is a most likely yoga centre right in your back yard and if you live anywhere near these four destinations, you’re in for a real treat.

Four Yoga Holidays: Stretching and Chilling Around the World

Yoga is no longer the preserve of ancient Indian masters; rather the practice is well on its way to world domination and as such has swept around the globe spawning all manner of luxurious, traditional and unusual holidays catering for all manner of practitioner. Grab your mat, passport and travel insurance, here’s our guide to some of the best and most diverse offerings on the international yoga circuit.

Island chill out – Ibiza

Renowned more for its hedonistic party scene, modern day Ibiza is actually a chill out spot in the middle of the Mediterranean, with the biggest parties cordoned to Ibiza Town and San Antonio.

The rest of this Spanish island is a quiet, stylish, beautiful enclave, where the hippy tendencies of the Sixties continue to influence island life. A wide variety of yoga retreats, trainings and holidays dot the island, most of which offer up well qualified European teachers, Bikram yoga, yoga on the beach, yoga on the rooftop and post clubbing yoga.

Traditional roots – India

Our Swami in India - Swami "G"

The yoga craze has literally wrapped its arms around the entire world, but the roots do still exist in the heart of India. For a truly authentic experience make your way to Rishikesh, the banks of the holy Ganga, ashrams and sadhus. A pilgrimage site for both local and international pilgrims, Rishikesh is home to a number of notable ashrams, some of which are open to Westerners and offering classes and retreats, others that are private affairs but visible at the dusk ritual of aarati pooja at Parmarth Niketan. Alternatively head 1-2 km up river to Poolchati Ashram for a quiet yoga experience.

We studied yoga in India on the beach in Goa. Our Swami practiced in Rishikesh and his Guru sent him off into the world to spread his knowledge.

Tropical adventure – Bali

Bali has been on the traditional backpacker route for years, favoured by Antipodeans as the ideal sunshine get away. Whilst the coast is ideal for surfing and an entire scene has sprung up to accommodate the flux of tourism in areas like Kuta, the lush tropical interior is sparse and home to Hindu and Buddhist temples. Yoga retreats have crawled up along the spine of the island offering all manner of tropical adventures, from intensive yoga courses and teacher training through to sound workshops, trekking and surf combinations.

Mountain retreat – Slovakia

Eastern Europe has very successfully shrugged off the shroud of communist 20^th Century and is now a hot travel destination. Slovakia on the outer edges of Eastern Europe is home to the High Tatras, and the highest peak of the Carpathian range. The entire range is dotted with waterfalls, lakes, huge mountain vistas, snow capped peaks and flower strewn plateaus. Alongside traditional mountain pursuits, such as climbing and ski-ing, the area is starting to provide the ideal, clear, clean environment for yoga retreats. Do your research as new holidays start to pop on the market.

It will be our first trip to Eastern Europe this summer. Maybe while our bodies ache from riding in the car for hours on end during the Mongol Rally, we should stop at the many yoga retreats that can be found throughout Europe. Now that’s an idea!

Oh how I would love to be able to have all the travel money in the world to be able to take off to a different yoga retreat each month, but for now I will be happy to practice my poses in the park around the corner. Canada is beautiful this time of year. The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the breeze is warm and the air is fresh. There is nowhere else I’d rather be right now.

The sun rises over Gunung Rinjani on the island of Lombok in Indonesia

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It was about 5am in the morning and we had been climbing for several hours in the dark. We were on our way up the side of Gunung Batur, one of Bali’s active volcanos, when the sun peaked over the horizon to give us this stunning sunrise view of Gunung Rinjani on the island of Lombok.

Gunung Rinjani is the second largest volcano in Indonesia and is still very active. The sky was perfect that morning giving us that almost lava colour  which gives the photo impact.

So sit back and enjoy a cup of “Java” and take in the beauty that is Indonesia.

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I think one of the favorite things people enjoy looking at is a beautiful sunset. Somehow as that sun sets on the horizon it seems to make you forget the days stress and gives you that sense of Ahhhh!

Photographing sunsets is one of my favorite subjects. It always poses a challenge of how to make every sunset photo different. Subject matter is always the key. Some sunsets stand all on their own and others benefit from a subject in the frame.

Here is a compilation of both. As Friday comes to an end let these photo’s take away the stress and up your Ahhh factor!

Sunset at Patnem beach, Goa, India

Gili Air sunset, Indonesia.

Sunset at Chobe National Park, Botswana

Sunset in the thar desert of India

Surfing at Sunset at Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

Sunset at Hampi, India

Kuta Beach, Bali

Sunset over lake pichola in udaipur India

Travel photography has many aspects. When Deb and I travel most places are defined in some way or another by the people. Faces always have intrigued me because, as Shakespeare put it, “The eyes are the window to the soul”.

As I took these photo’s I believe that each pair of eyes offers a glimpse into the joys and hardships of each individuals life. It is amazing that with the click of a shutter you can relay such emotion. I hope you enjoy these photo’s as much as I did taking them.

Cigar anyone?

An Elder opens the shutters in Myanmar

The Innocence of a Child, Malawi

A wise gaze from a Peruvian elder.

A stunning Sudanese woman.

Digging for mussels on the rocks of Goa, India.

Taking a smoke break at the market in Myanmar.

Hard at work during the Harvest in Bali.

It made us think about the other memorable massages that we have had around the world.  We love getting a massage, it is a luxury that we cannot afford to have regularly at home, so we take advantage of it whenever we travel.
Some experiences have been better than others and some stand our in our memories better than others.

Here is a list of our Top 5 most memorable massages

Reflexology: Penang Malaysia

In a back alley in the heritage city of Penang, Dave and I had our most painful experience while having a massage.  We thought it would be nice to have our aching feet massaged and tended too after traveling for about 4 months.  Well, this wasn’t your every day pamper me massage.  This foot therapy involved strong hands pushing on pressure points and not letting go until he was good and ready.  We squirmed in our seats and winced with pain while he prodded around our feet.  Our expert reflexologist told us exactly what was wrong with us and all of our ailments.  He was bang on about everything and even though it was painful, it was definitely an unforgettable massage for the feet.  Price: About $10

Back Bending Massage in Laos

We had been told my many that we had to get a massage in Laos.  We were in Vientiane when we had our first experience.  The two of us walked into a large room sectioned off with curtains and mats all over the floor. We had a massage side by side and these guys twisted our bodies in all directions.  They were pulling us back, sitting on top of us, pulling our arms.  It was a little scary at times, but we came out alive and feeling pretty limber to say the least.

About $5

Beach Massage in Vietnam

We were chilling out in Mui Ne after both experiencing about a week of illness.  A massage was just what the doctor ordered to make us feel better.  Two little unassuming women walked by as we lay on our lounges and asked us if we wanted a massage.  We decided to go for it and they put us through the wringer.  These little ladies had strength and they pounded and pressed on our muscles until we were literally black and blue.  Dave got the worst of it.  We assume since he was the man, the woman pushed even harder.  He had bruises all over his body for a week.

It was quite tender to touch as well. $3 bucks, you get what you pay for.

Heavenly Ethiopia Massage

We had just been riding our bicycles through Africa for nearly 2 months and by the time we reached Addis Ababa, we were in desperate need of some pampering.  We booked at room at the Ghion Hotel Resort a where they also had a spa.   Our muscles had been tight and sore since we left Cairo, so a massage was must.  We were led to separate rooms where we received our individual massages.  It was very sanitary and hospital like. But the massage was great.  Just the right amount of pressure to work out the knots, but not to hard that we were black and blue.  After the session was over, we were free to spend time in the steam room and  jacuzzi tub that they had just filled specifically for us.  We hopped in and out of the steam room from the cold water shower to the hot therapudic steam.  After a couple of hours there, we were ready for bed.  Luckily we had two rest days in Addis Ababa.

About $12

Bali Floral Bath and Massage

Ubud Bali is one of the most tranquil places on the Island.  It is a beautiful town set in the interior and it was a perfect place to book a massage.  We each booked individually, but they took us in together.  We walked into the office and were sent to a room where there were two tables side by side.  They closed the hospital like curtains then told us to take off our clothes and lay down.  We didn’t know how much we were supposed to take off so we stripped down to our birthday suits unsure if we were supposed to or not.  I guess that everything was O.K. Because they didn’t bat an eyelash when they came into the room.  It was a very soothing and professional massage.  They covered us with towels and worked on each section with expert hands.  After an hour, we were lead to another room where a floral bath was waiting for us both.  We hadn’t had a bath in months.  It was heavenly and we stayed in that tub until the water turned cool and our hands and feet pruned up.

About $10

Have you had some memorable rubdowns around the world? Let us know of a place where you had your best or most unique massage, we are always seeking out some pampering!

Bali was no exception.

A large crowd circles the sacred cow

Cremation Ceremony of Bali

We had heard of the famous cremation ceremonies of Bali in the past and seen them on T.V. but we never thought that we would actually witness one. The cremation ceremony is a sacred right of passage in Bali. It is a time for celebration and a time for the deceased’s body to be burned and set free from its worldly ties. It is the most important ceremony and celebrated stage in a persons life in Bali and no expense is spared.

Girls dressed in Traditional Costumes

To Witness a Cremation ceremony is very rare.

Sometimes it can take years after a persons death for a cremation to take place. Poorer families save money over time to be able to pay for the ceremony and they have mass cremations together.  The bodies are temporarily buried until the day arrives.

Well, it just so happens that we were in Ubud, Bali when a very prominent priest passed away and could afford to have his own elaborate cremation ceremony.

Many men carry the sacred cow

We didn’t even know that a cremation was taking place that day. However when we were out earlier, everyone was asking us if we were going to see the cremation ceremony. Shop owners, waitresses even the clerk at the Internet café told us that we must see the cremation. We didn’t know if we should but after being reminded by everyone to ho, how could we not?

A Cremation Ceremony is a Festive Event

We arrived to a mass of people dressed in traditional ceremonial clothing. Bands were playing and people carried ornate offerings on their heads and others walked through the crowd selling sarongs and chess sets.

Women Carrying offerings

Soon the procession appeared at the end of the street and the ceremony began.  It was led by a massive white sacred cow carried by dozens of sarong clad men.  The crowd fell into place and the procession grew.  Thousands of people filled the street.

The Balinese music played and the tin drums could be heard from everywhere. The atmosphere was festive and exciting. People yelled and cheered and the energy was intoxicating.

The high tower containing the body followed. A priest stood beside the shrine along with another man who could have been the deceased eldest son or relative.  It too was resting on giant bamboo poles being carried by dozens of men.  At this point we joined the procession following it all the way to the temple where the actual ceremony would take place.

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The Cremation Ceremony in Bali is a time to celebrate life

Every so often the men carrying the tower would stop and turn in circles.  From what I understand, they were trying to confuse the spirit.  They don’t want it finding its way home so the long route is not only just for show it is actually a part of the ceremony and their beliefs. It is to mix up the spirit, they don’t want him finding his way back to the family to haunt them. It must move on. a

It was a very hot day. The sun beat down and the concrete burned through the soles of our flip flops. We were sweating in the intense sun, but we could not miss this once in a lifetime experience.

The band found a spot to sit where it continued to play as the body was prepared.

Wreaths were displayed in front of the alter and the body was transferred from the tower to be burned inside the statue of the white cow.  I could not see exactly what was happening, but they took great care wrapping the body and filling the shrine with offerings.

After and hour of anticipation, quite suddenly and silently the fire was lit.  I had my back turned and it wasn’t until the cow was engulfed in flames did I realize that the cremation was taking place.

The Sacred Cow is engulfed in flames

The intense heat caused even the most curious to step back.

The cow took a long time to burn and the head never did. Eventually the body fell underneath the cow and that is when they really fueled the fire to burn the bones.  The intense eat focused on the body to finish the cremation.

Body falls under burning cow to finish off cremation

It was strange.  You could see the skeleton burning and morbid tourists, myself included, rushed to the front to take a closer view.

The band played on and people cheered as the cremation ceremony came slowly to an end.

It was yet another surreal experience in our Asian Adventure.

However it really was a spectacular sight and awesome to see how death can be about celebration as well as grieving. A cremation ceremony in Bali shows that life is worth celebrating. We all have to die one day, we should embrace the afterworld and pay tribute to a life lived.

As a matter a fact, Dave and I had a huge fight the night before. I was blaming with him for wanting to climb Gunung Batur even though I had said that I wanted to as well.  But I wouldn’t admit that I didn’t want to so I was just angry and he couldn’t understand why.  We had come to Bali for many things  and climbing a volcano was one of them, so I wasn’t about to admit that I was chickening out.

The volcano of Gunung Batur

As it turns out, Gunung Batur is not a frightening lava flowing volcano at all.  Yes, it is an active volcano, but you won’t see any lava fields flowing by  as you walk up the trail and you won’t have to worry or fear that you may tumble into molten lava.

I really should have done my research before we climbed and I would have known this. I would have been much happier the night before.  Instead I lay awake all night fretting and waiting for our 2:00 am wake up call.

It seemed that I had just finally closed my eyes when our driver Anung, met us at our bungalow in Ubud.  He lifted my spirits with his warm smile and breakfasts in hand.  We hopped in the back seat of his shiny SUV and we drove in luxury eating our hard boiled eggs and fresh fruit before our rugged trek.

Sunrise over the volcanos and crater lake

I was very stressed out as we approached the base of the mountain. I tried to hide it to no avail.  We stopped to get our permits to trek up this active volcano and then with a quick introduction to our guide Nyoman we were off by 4:00 am. Armed with our boxed lunches we were trekking this mountain whether I liked it or not.

The Trek up the Volcano

He set a fast pace and there was little talking as we hiked in the dark.  I didn’t enjoy myself at first as I still didn’t know what to expect. I had never seen a volcano before this climb, let alone climb on one.

We stopped to catch our breath.  Climbing a volcano is quite tiring.  The black rock is loose and the slope is steep.  We had just climbed Mount Kinabalu in Borneo a few weeks earlier so I thought I would be a breeze after that, but I was breathing heavily all the way up.

Everything ended up being fine and we made it to the lookout with more than enough time to catch the sunrise.  We found a pleasant spot in a shelter with benches to sit on.  There were quite a few of us lined up side by side waiting for the sun to come up, and as soon as it crested the horizon we were armed and ready with our cameras and videos.

Sunrise at Gunung Rinjani on Lombok

Sunrise over the Volcano of Rinjani on Lombok Island

The sunrise was spectacular.  We were on the top of Bali and the sky was ablaze as the sun rose over Lombok, Indonesia and Gunung Rinjani.  It was a slow rise and we had more than enough footage. By the time it was actually daylight we were frozen wrapped in our skimpy sarongs.  The climb was a sweaty one and to sit for an hour waiting in the cool and damp darkness took its toll.   The warmth of that sunrise couldn’t have come too soon and now that all of my fears had subsided, I couldn’t wait to move on to see the volcanic crater of Gunung Batur.

Another view of Mount Rinjani in Lombok

Our first stop was a deep hole in a cave where we watched a lot of volcanic steam rise from the depths of the earth.  Steam was everywhere and Nyoman told us that yearly sacrifices are held each year by the local villagers to appease the volcano Gods.  Live water buffalo, goats and chickens are ceremoniously dropped to their deaths.  This will hopefully stave off another eruption. I just felt bad for the animals and I imagined the sight of the poor buffalo being hoisted by rope and pulley over the deep crater.

The Steam is hot enough to boil and egg

We climbed on after sunrise to the rim of the newest volcanic eruption.  After cooking an egg in a steaming hole, yes it is that hot that one can boil an egg, we went on to view the old lava flows and more smoking cones of sulphur. You could feel the heat all around you and steam rose from everywhere.

Will another eruption occur at Gunung Batur?

Vulcanologist’s are expecting Gunung III to go next and although they monitor regularly, you just never know when it will erupt.  All around you could see rocks that had been thrown into the air from the angry depths of the earth.  They left behind holes with gas spewing from within and I imagined being right there when it happened. There is potential for some serious injury if you happen to find yourself standing next to a spot that is ready to blow.

Steam Rising from the Volcano

I was amazed to think that people can comfortably build homes and businesses at the base of this still active volcano.  Earthquakes occur more frequently and there is a lot of activity.  It could erupt at any moment, but villagers go on with their daily lives.

We trekked through the morning on trails right along the craters edge.  The landscape changed drastically as we walked from black loose sand from the most recent eruption to lush green grass on the older craters.  You could see first hand the strength of Mother Nature, she can rebuild and thrive even after disaster.

Years later, the soil near a volcano is filled with nutrients.

Hiking on the Craters Edge

It ended up being a beautiful day. I walked and talked with Nyoman as Dave stopped regularly for photographs.  I learned about village life and history as Dave absorbed the surroundings and nature.

I am very glad to have sucked it up and climbed Gunung Batur. It wasn’t the big bad scary lava flowing experience that I was expecting. It was an invigorating climb with spectacular views. Once we reached the lookout, the day consisted of a leisurely trek from mountain to mountain and along craters.  We were at the bottom by early afternoon with not a care in the world.

Changing Landscapes around the volcano

We said goodbye to Nyoman after tipping generously. He earned it.  At first he was quiet and probably didn’t know what to expect from us, but as the day went on we talked openly and frequently.  We talked about family and friends and life in Bali.  We enjoyed his company but knew full well that we would never see him again.  And it ended with a wave goodbye as we caught our air-conditioned van back to Ubud.

That is what is odd about travel, you bond with people and learn all about their lives. You share intimate details and then never see one another again.

Tips for Trekking Gunung Batur

• 1. Bring something warm to keep yourself warm while waiting for sunrise.
• 2. Book your trek in Ubud it is cheaper and always remember to haggle on the price.
• 3. Drink lots of Water.
• 4. Tip your guide. They work hard and make most of their money from your tips.

A Surfer in Bali

Bali was no exception and I had Bali Ha’i, Some Enchanted Evening and Cockeyed Optimist playing over and over in my head for weeks.

I never thought that I would actually make it to Bali, it was always a dreamland to me. A place of perfection that I had seen in technicolor on a Sunday afternoon.  Yet here we were and not only that, we were fulfilling a life long dream of Dave’s.

I thought of songs when it came to Bali and Dave thought of Surfing.  Who was the original adventurer in this relationship?

Look at the Size of That Board

When we made it to Kuda Beach, Dave had one thing and one thing only on his mind. Learn how to surf.  We walked down to the beach from our hotel on Poppies Gang II and started scouting out guys that could teach us.  No big hotels or organized tours for us.

We wanted a local surfer showing us the ropes.  We met Ronald. A soft spoken young man from Sumatra that had started a small business with a few surf boards lined up on the beach.  It turns out that the local surfing instructors weren’t local at all. But he gave us a great deal and told us that he would teach us until we were standing and comfortable.

That is a much better deal than going through a hotel. They have a set time frame and you are learning in a group environment, so you are not guaranteed to stand.  With Ronald, it was Dave and I alone in the surf with him pushing us a long, helping us up and showing us what to do.

Paddling Out

Starting off

Getting There

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If anyone out there has never surfed before, let me be the first to tell you..It is hard!!! It is exhausting too.  Paddling out looks so easy on TV, but trying to break through the surf is one of the most difficult things I have ever done in water.  The waves are crashing overhead and you try to dive under them only to be swept back to shore.

We swallowed a couple of liters of water to say the least, but with Ronald’s patience and skills we both managed to stand on our boards. We were out all morning until well into lunch.

Tip: Wear a t-shirt or board shirt when surfing.  It helps to prevent sunburn, but more importantly chafing from the board.

Standing Up

Falling

Celebrating

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Ronald stood out in the surf with us and watched the waves come in.  He had the eye to know which one was going to crest at the right time and would yell at us to paddle.  He was close by and just at the exact right moment, we gave us the old heave ho that helped with our momentum to be able to stand up.

Chillin' at the Bungalow

I have no idea how people can ride a wave. We managed to stand up and it was one of the most exciting feelings in the world, but there was no way we could do much more than stand and balance.   It didn’t matter though, I was imagining that I was Kelly Slater riding a inside a giant tube until I unceremoniously fell off the board close to shore.

After our exhausting morning, we went back to our bungalow and crashed for a couple of hours. Thank God for ceiling fans because it was hot.  I just love the accommodations in Bali.  Every room is a separate bungalow with ornate stone work and big wooden doors. We always chose to stay in one of these rather than a hotel room.  Every place provided excellent hospitality and some even had tea waiting at our room each afternoon!

The next day Dave was ready to go again.  Since it was his dream adventure more than mine, I wanted to get some shots and video of him in action to remember for the rest of his life. If you want to see Dave Surf, he is about 1 minute and a half into the video. Fast Forward to check him out!

Here is an important tip for anyone visiting Kuta Beach.  Do not hang out on the beach. You will be pestered by touts to no end.  I was in the middle of video taping and I had people standing right in front of me trying to sell me chess boards, braid my hair and give me a manicure. I had one lady go so far as to grab my hand and put nail polish on it and then start asking for money.
I now understand why so many hotels have pools.  It is really the only safe haven for tourists.   We tried to bring our sarongs down to the beach one day to catch some rays and we never had a moments peace. We finally had to pack up and go back to our hotel to lay by the pool.

A Real Surfer Waiting for a Wave

However, make sure to get down to the beach at sunset. It is absolutely beautiful and that is the time that you will see some great surfers riding the waves.  It is an incredible time.  Local kids are playing football, people are surfing and boogie boarding, swimming and walking.  The beach is filled with people and as long as you keep moving, you won’t be bothered too much.

Kuta Beach is also great for shopping.  We replenished our entire wardrobe at the stalls that line Poppies Gang I and II.  If you like beach and surf wear, this is the place to shop.  Barter hard like anywhere in South East Asia and you can get some great deals.  If you don’t like bartering, check out this previous post on how to bargain when traveling. Dave and I have a blast shopping when we travel, because we make it a lot of fun.

So, there you have it.  Another Life List Adventure is checked off the list and Dave and I were off to Ubud to try our hand a completely different adventure.  Climbing a Volcano. But that is another story.

One of the best things about traveling is food. Dave and I seem to plan our days around our meals.  We wake up in the morning and while we are eating our breakfast, we discuss what we are going to eat and where we are going to go for dinner.  We love food. Food makes us happy. And when we discover new and delicious food around the world, well, we are in heaven.

We thought that we would share some of our favorite food from around the world.  We have been to a lot of countries and besides meeting the people, enjoying an authentic meal is always a highlight of our trip. There are willing to try almost any type of food. We have eaten bugs in Cambodia, Snake in Vietnam and Springbock in Malawi.  We have had mystery meat in Sudan and many times we try dishes when we have no idea what we are eating.  We love sampling foods of the world though, it is rare that we try a dish that we cannot stomach. It certainly makes traveling more enjoyable that is for sure.

Here is our list of the best food from around the world

Ethiopia ……Staple Dish – Spicy meat and veggie stews served atop Injera. A type of flat bread made with fermented flour. You rip off a piece of bread and scoop up the stew with your hands.  I just love eating with my hands.  There is something about diving in to your food and grabbing a handful of hearty meats and vegetables.  Meals are just so much more fun when you eat with your hands.  And Wat stews served atop injera are heavenly delicious.

Injera and stews and authentic Ethiopian mea.

Peru….. Staple Dish – Ceviche – It really doesn’t sound like it would be the best dish on earth because it is described as a raw fish stew.  Actually, this fresh fish meal is marinated in citrus juice and it’s delicious. Here is my first taste of Ceviche while dining in Peru.

In South Africa we just couldn’t eat enough. We had finally finished cycling from Cairo to Cape Town and we needed to make up for months of eating not on the road. It was in the wine region in Franschoek that we splurged on a meal at one of the country’s top ten restaurants.  I never thought that I would like Ox Tail, but the chef made it taste so good.  We had an OxTail Pate rolled in Filo Pastry with a perfectly cooked steak piled high on fresh greens and wild mushrooms. Elegant and delicious.  The food in South Africa was delectable what makes it even better is that it is very affordable.

Splurging on a fine meal in South Africa

A decadant dish of Oxtail with Foam Gravy

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Laap in Laos – This national dish is a spicy meat meat salad made with lime juice, mint and chillies. This was our first meal that we ate when we got off of the bus from Vietnam to Vientiane. After 24 hours on a bus, it was pure heaven. They made the food fresh for us on the banks of the Mekong River and we will never forget the experience

Swiss Fondue, Raclette, Cheese Platters….- Cheese, Cheese and More cheese. We just love cheese. In Switzerland it was everywhere and we took advantage of eating their delectable cheeses every chance we had.  It seemed that every meal we ate for 2 weeks had cheese on the menu.

Cheese Fondue in Switzerland

Bali and Sudanese Coffee Africa is the birthplace of coffee and it was the best place in the world to drink it. Every chance we had we would stop for a roadside coffee.  The coffee was hand ground before our eyes, boiled to perfection over an open fire and we met amazing people while we warmed up during the cold desert morning.

man makes us delicious coffee in the Sudan

Africa may have been the birthplace of coffee, but Bali certainly knew how to perfect it. We loved their coffee so much that we took several bags home with us.  It was so sad when we drank our last cup. We need to find a way to get a shipment of Balinese coffee to Canada.

Egypt - an Authentic Bedouin Meal in Egypt. What is cooler than eating authentic Egyptian food in the middle of the white desert. Sure it was served on plastic containers, but it was delicious and we ate in sitting in the sand on blankets in a Bedouin camp.  Our guides cooked over an open flame, served us plenty of sweet tea and cooked up great red stews and meats, potatoes, rice and pita bread. Yummy.  This was certainly one of our most memorable meals during our travels.

Our Bedoin Guide cooking our food over open flame

So there you have it, Our favorite foods of the world so far. Sure we have other favorites out there. Thai Green curry is one of my favorite dishes on earth. I can eat Sushi every day and I love Vietnamese Pho. A savory duck roasted in France and Schnitzel while in Germany are a must and quesadillas and tortillas are a must in Central America. But foods  listes above seem to stand out in our memories as not only great meals, but fun situations and unique experiences.

This post is part of the Lonely Planet BlogSherpa Travel Blog Carnival hosted this time by Kat over at Tie Dye Travels on Food Around the World. The Carnival is hosted every two weeks by a BlogSherpa member

The Famous BackPacker Ghetto of Kho San Road Bangkok

So you have been backpacking through South East Asia for a couple of months. You have travelled through several countries trekking over mountains, sleeping in dingy guest houses, wearing the same clothes for days and you haven’t had a decent shower in I don’t know how long.  Not the makings of a romantic travel situation for you and your partner.

Just like any other time in your life, couples that travel need to make the time to keep the relationship sizzling.  Backpacking is no exception. You can get so caught up in treks, seeing sights and partying, that you can loose sight of each other and simply turn into traveling buddies.  Well, here are some things you can do in South East Asia to chill out and bring a little romance back into your backpacking adeventure.

The romantic setting of Ubud brings back all romance to travels

1. Go for a massage and floral bath in Ubud, Bali – What better location than the centre of Bali surrounded by rice terraces, volcanoes, lush jungle and a feeling of what Bali must have felt like decades ago to take time for romance in your travels.  To the soft sound of traditional Balinese Music,  you can have your aching muscles worked on as you relax side by side.  It doesn’t end there. After you have completely relaxed, walk into the next room where a floral bath awaits.  When was the last time you had a bath during your travels in Asia?  You milk it for all its worth and sit in that tub until your skin prunes.  But you don’t care, you are rejuvenated, mellow and smelling a whole lot better.  Maybe a trip to the market is in order to spice up your travel clothes.  Top off the night with some wine and cheese at the Delicat restaurant.

A Pool in Paridise Makes Everyone Happy

A fine hotel will bring back any romance

2. Splurge on a hotel. We love Wotif.com to find an executive suite in Kuala Lumpur (or any big city for that matter).  We did this after months on the road, and it was heaven.  It cut into our budget a bit, but it was worth it.  For under $100 you can stay in a deluxe hotel at an extremely discounted rate.  We loved sitting in our white robes on our queen size bed so much that we went back to the Internet and booked another night.  It was worth every minute and we were ready to face the hassles of travel fresh and relaxed.  Yes, there was a pool too, but as many of you travelers know, a clean, comfortable and decadent bed is a luxury for any travel couple and we didn’t leave it for 2 days.

A Cruise Through Ha Long Bay to Bring Back Romance

3. Take a cruise on Ha Long Bay- Bring along some Vang Dalat, Vietnams cheap red wine and cruise through Vietnams most spectacular destination, the magnificent Ha Long Bay.  Lay on the top deck and watch the unique landscape pass you by.  You are surrounded by giant khart; thousands of limestone islands burst out of the South China Sea. The sky is blue and the breeze is cool and clam. You are fed a gourmet meal by an excellent cruise staff and will enjoy an evening under the stars in the most romantic place on earth.

Nha Trang Mud Baths to rekindle the Romance

4.Mud Baths of Nha Trang – So you have been fighting the touts of Vietnam for days, the pollution is taking its toll on your skin and that cracked heel that you developed just won’t go away.  You need a rest.  Just outside of Nha Trang there is a romantic little getaway, the theraputic mud baths.  Cover yourself in this cool goo and bake away your worries in the sun.  After rinsing off under the shower, pop into a hot tub and clear your mind.  The serenity and peace can lift your spirits back up to face the rigors of travel in Vietnam.  But wait, you can’t leave yet, you need to stretch this out for as long as possible.  Never fear, there is a warm pool that you can swim in and relax by.  Stay all day chatting with each other with no fear of being interrupted to buy a book or some flowers.  Just watch how you start to reconnect with each other and have those romantic feelings come surging back.

5. Meditate in Chang Mai – You can book a private 2 to 5 meditation course in Thailand’s Northern city of Chang Mai.  What better way to reconnect than to meditate together.  We had a private session where we learned how to meditate to music, did a laughing meditation and eventually worked our way into a full meditative silence.  Our teacher cooked us traditional vegetarian dishes, and we ended each day with learning some Tai Chi.  With both of us centered and relaxed, we could easily get through our travels in a more Zen Like state.  It is a wonderful thing to do together, you will both be feeling refreshed and optimistic at the same time.

Splurge on a nice meal for travel romance

Other Travel Romance Ideas

• Go on a dinner cruise-you are in a land that has water everywhere.  Splurge on a romantic night out feasting on the water.  Almost all destinations offer dinner cruises and nothing brings two people together more that fresh air, good food and gorgeous scenery.
• Take a traditional cooking course.  These are everywhere and can be a lot of fun. Fun is important in any relationship.
• Massage, Massage everywhere.  The thing that I love about South East Asia are the massages everywhere.  You can get a cheap traditional massage that does wonders for the backpackers body.  On the beach in Thailand, On the Beach in Vietnam,  In Lao, Indonesia.  In Cambodia, get the best massage at one the healing hands massage clinics where highly trained blind masseurs take care of every joint. In Malaysia, try something different and get a traditional reflexology foot massage. It can be painful, but they will fix you right up.
• Take the time to just be.  Too often we run around catching busses, seeing attractions, jumping on a trek and ticking things off of our list, that we don’t stop to just relax for a few days and do nothing. It is important to take the time to watch the sun go down and walk on  the beach with no plans for rushing off any time soon. Just Be.

Relaxing will Help you reconnect