Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things TO PLAN BEFORE TRAVELLING Benny asked me for advice. He is planning for a  holiday but he hasn't got a clue where to go and what to do. Well, that happens to everyone. Here's a pretty handy 13 steps to follow before you go on a trip. I hope they help. #1 - Carefully choose a country you wanna go. Get         some inspiration from Travel channel, Lonely         Planet, or browse on the net. It is always my         advice to visit a more cultural flavor place         instead of going to a city (Tokyo is exceptional).         Almost every city around the world are pretty        much the same because it is too diverse. As for        me, I choose Brazil. More specifically Rio de        Janeiro. #2 - After you have selected the country you wanna         go to, try to choose a few places in that country        that you are dying to visit. Get a map and start        your trail on it. This will help save time. You       don't wanna look like a typical tourist, holding the       map at the road side. So know where to go. #3 - If the country you wanna visit speaks a         different language, pick up that language. A         simple phrase book helps a long way. It is        essential when you wanna do your shopping or        get to places. It is also part of the culture. So,        warm up yourself. #4 - Learn their culture. Don't expect yourself to         travel like typical celebrities. Open up your         mind and embrace others culture. If you go to         a different country just for a look then I suggest         to you stay at home and browse through flickr.         Start with history, food, clothes and weather.         If you are really into something, research on         taboos, religion, and heritage. Invest on a really         good travel guide. I love DK Eyewitness Travel Guide. #5 - This is where the headache starts. Research on          flight ticket. I recommend you to search on          kayak.com first. Travel agencies help a lot too.           Don't rush in to decide. Compare prices. Get to          know some local airline that does international          route. For example Jetstar (Australia) flies to          Osaka. Make sure you book in advance to avoid          paying more. #6 - After you know the date to travel, book a hotel.         What hotel to stay depends on what you expect.         If you have children or senior citizen travelling         with you, 5 stars hotel offers a lot. If you will be         spending most of your time scouting on the road         stay in backpackers. Online booking is always         50% cheaper or more. Never ever walk in and ask         for the price. You'll get a heart attack. #7 - Apply your leave. Be sneaky doing this. Don't let         anyone know you're going for a holiday. The         entire coworkers in the office will send you a list         of sourvenir they want. Just let them know that         you're visiting your aunty in the next village. #8 - You may not wanna apply the above rule to your         family. So make a list of names who you wanna         buy some sourvenirs for. It is hard to know what         you should buy because you have not visit the         place yet. It is best to allocate budget instead. #9 - Planning for a holiday is all about making list.         Now make a list of what you have to bring over         so you don't miss packing it. Never think that you         will only buy it when you're there. A bottle of         moisturizer may cost a hundred in overseas.         Besides, you might not find what you wanna get.         The most important stuff in your list is deep heat         oil. You'll be walking most of the time so you don't         wanna get your muscle strained. #10 - Changing money. Know how much you're willing            to spend. Then add $1000 on the figure. Who            knows you might need it for emergency cases.           Also compare which teller gives better deal. One           cent makes a lot of difference when you're           changing more than a thousand. #11 - Invest on a real good camera. Memory is           priceless. Record every moment you spend          over there. When you get back at least you have          a prove that you have really been there. #12 - Photography is part of the fun of travelling.           Train your eyes on point of view so you won't           take shitty photos. Browse a lot a lot a lot of           photos to get the idea. Also understand the           functions of your camera. Maybe you can add a          little flavour to your photos. #13 - Lastly, pack your bags. Travel light. You're not           going for a fashion show. Unless you really are.           Nobody knows you there. Unless you are really           fam0us. One hand luaggage and a backpack will          do. Safe some space for shopping and sourvenir.          Remember, overweight luagage means paying          more.

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