Archive for November, 2009

7 of the Safest Countries to Visit

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Being safe while traveling is a #1 priority for many. It’s a sad fact that many beautiful travel destinations (such as Columbia) are simply not safe for most people to travel to. While most places are generally safe, especially in well known “safe” districts, there are 7 countries that are well known for their low crime rates and high safety ratings.

New Zealand is high on the list of safe countries to visit. It has a relatively low population, and it’s an overall peaceful place to be. Many of the residents are natives and have lived there for their entire lives. Not only does this country provide exquisite landscapes, but also plenty of activities and safe fun.

Denmark is a country that is happy overall, and therefore, there are fewer crimes. Like any country this one does have its ups and downs, but overall its stable and minimal murders and robberies take place. You probably won’t get mugged in Denmark unless you are in the wrong part of town.

Norway is a beautiful country with majestic mountains and clean landscapes to explore. There are tons of attractions in Norway, both affordable and luxury. One of the best parts is that it is a safe place to visit and crime is minimal. While crime is “rising”, it doesn’t pose a huge threat to travelers.

Iceland is known for its remarkably low crime rate, happy people, and safe environment. Almost everyone keeps their doors unlocked and people are friendly here all around. If you want to visit someplace safe and beautiful, Iceland has to be it. There are very few crimes and when crimes do occur, they are minimal ones.

Austria is a pretty safe country too, but some cities (such as Budapest) are not as safe as others like Vienna. When in Austria, get advice from those who know which areas are safe and which are not.

Sweden is a clean and beautiful nation with beautiful people and safe places to visit. The crime rates here are low and well controlled. People seem to have better things to do.

Japan is a place of zen people, crazy customs, and low crime. If you want to visit a unique and culture rich country, go to Japan. It has plenty of fun opportunities for anyone.

Most countries in Europe are relatively safe, and they include Finland as well as Slovenia. Other countries that have records for low crime rates include Canada. It’s no surprise that the US isn’t on the list. However, these other countries are far more interesting if you already live in the United States anyway. As with any travel excursion, be sure to ask questions and get reviews from people who live there. They can tell you better than anyone, if something is safe or not. If you are adamant about traveling to a particularly risky place, be sure to take a self defense course ahead of time and pack lightly without valuables.

Travel Gadget Review – Kindle 2

For many travelers, nothing passes the time like reading a good book. Thanks to technology, long gone are the days of buying a few paperback books at the airport gift store in preparation for the long haul. Now, thanks to Amazon’s Kindle 2, you can download hundreds of books into your e-book in minutes. With the Kindle, you’ll be able to save time, money, and the environment.

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The Kindle 2 is the second iteration of Amazon’s e-book reader, and while not a complete redesign, it incorporates many features and improvements that make it a worthy upgrade. Amazon basically completely redid the the layout of the device making it much more user friendly. The keys are arranged in a more familiar keyboard like fashion, with a joystick like device allowing the user to move up, down, left, and right with ease. What’s even better is the new and improved screen – the new Kindle can display 16 shades of grey, vs the 4 supported on the previous iteration. What this means to you is a more newspaper-like look when looking at newspapers, and a more book-like look when looking at books. The new Kindle also boasts 2gb of onboard memory, more than enough for even the most avid readers.

Of course, not all improvements was hardware related – the software was much improved as well. Navigation menus have slimmed down a bit, giving the user less options but making it easier to find needed features, faster. A completely worthless feature on the original Kindle, the dictionary feature is now actually usable. Whereas it used to send you to a new page whenever you looked up a word, now the definition pops up at the bottom of each page. Finally, search has been given a facelift, and it’s now much more powerful and easy to use.

While devices like the Kindle 2 have been popping up here and there over the past year, is the market completely ready for it yet? No, but that’s not to say there are many people who will love the Kindle. Avid readers will love it for it’s ability to store hundreds of books in a footprint the size of a small magazine. Travelers will love it’s compact size and brilliant screen. Geeks will love it for it’s many technological gadgets. But with a price tag of $250, the big question is – is the average consumer ready for it?

Things to Do in Seattle, Washington

Seattle, Washington is a popular vacation destination for many reasons. It’s chilly but pleasant climate is attractive to outdoors enthusiast, and it’s thriving downtown is a favorite of shoppers and tourists. There are many things to do an see in this beautiful city, but below you will find some of the most popular attractions.

1. Pike Place Market

For those who don’t know, Pike Place Market is a huge marketplace, similar to a farmers market. You can find fresh food, collectibles, and just about anything else there. Plus, the market itself as well as the surrounding area is very beautiful, so it’s a good place to go just to sight see.

2. The Space Needle

The Space Needle is known by most Americans, and even many foreigners, as the symbol of Seattle. Though you can see the needle from almost anywhere in the city, a trip to Seattle would not be complete without a vist to the legendary Space Needle. You can simply go to look and marvel at the amazing structure, or, for a price, you can go up in the elevators. If you happen to be hungry, there is a very good restaurant at the top of the needle. Just be sure to make a reservation as space is usually limited.

3. Experience Music Project

Experience Music Project, or EMP, is a music museum known nationwide. Though admission is fairly expensive, the experience is well worth the pricetag. The things you will see at EMP are hard to explain, but suffice it to say that if you like music, you will like EMP.

4. Safeco Field

Safeco Field, which is home of the Seattle Mariners, is a popular destination for baseball fanatics. Whether you like baseball or not, going to a Mariners game is a fun, bonding experience, especially if you bring your family along. Just be sure to bring enough cash, as food and drinks in the stadium are far from cheap.

Classic Mini Tours of London – A Cool Alternative to Big Bus Sightseeing Tours

I have lived in London for two years of my life and I visit once a year for work. In all that time I have never been on a tour. The idea of getting on one of those big buses has never appealed to me.

So when I was contacted by smallcarBIGCITY and offered a ride in a British design icon, I found myself on my first tour of London.

smallcarBIGCITY provide retro tours of London in classic Mini Coopers. The Mini’s range in vintage from the 60’s to the 90’s, and the tour guides/drivers dress the part in period 1960s uniforms. They bring swinging London to life – Italian Job style.

smallcarBIGCITY - Classic Mini Tours of London
smallcarBIGCITY – Classic Mini Tours of London

I was met at my selected location by co-founder and driver Oliver, and fellow guide Alastair. When I saw the Mini I was wondering how a 6 foot guy would fit. I was about 4 foot when I was last in a mini. I had visions of me like a circus clown with my knees hanging out of each window. They turn out to me more roomier than than they look (like Dr Who’s Tardis).

The advantage of a mini over a bus was shown as soon as we started. Being able to squeeze through small traffic lanes is a big advantage in the maze like streets of London. If there was a car built driving in London it was the Mini. At one point we veered off Whitehall (the road between Parliament and Trafalgar Square) down a narrow side alley to see a point of interest. Try doing that in a big tour bus.

I did the A-list Tour, which covers the essential London for tourists checklist. Having lived in London I thought I knew alot about the capital and I didn’t think I would learn much from this tour. Boy was I wrong. I found out all sorts of interesting facts about places that I have walked past dozens of times previously. These guys really know their history, and as a fellow Londo-phile I had a great time sharing their passion for all things London.

smallcarBIGCITY have a number of tours to choose from, and you can be picked up from any location in Central London (Zone 1 on the tube map). They also provide bespoke London tours to your own requirements.

There are plenty of tours on offer in London, but if you want to do something different and in style then have a look at smallcarBIGCITY.

James went on tour courtesy of smallcarBIGCITY.



Travel Photo: Annasaule, Innsbruck – Austria

Location: Innsbruck – Austria
Photo: Annasaule

Annasaule

Annasaule, Innsbruck – Austria.

Travel Photo Gallery: Innsbruck Photo Gallery



Tibetan Opera

Tibetan opera, Ace Lhamo or Lhamo, which means Fairy Sister in Tibetan language, is a kind of time-honored Tibetan art. It is said to be created Tibetan Operaby Drupthok Thangthong Gyalpo, a monk and ridge builder in the 14th century. He arranged the first performance with the assistance of seven beautiful young ladies to collect money to build bridges so as to improve transportation conditionsand ease pilgrimage. The custom was handed on and grew into Tibetan opera, loved by every native. Normally Tibetan Opera shows can be enjoyed on diverse gala occasions, such as Shoton (the Sour Milk Festival), during when professional and amateur troupes are invited to Lhasa to stage fabulous shows.

Buddhist teachings and Tibetan ancient stories are the generators of Tibetan Opera’s inspiration, thus most of its repertoire is based on Buddhist stories and historic legends. The traditional play is a combination of dancings, tones, songs, and costumes.  When performing, they wear masks that are strong in color and strange in apprance, which are highlights of the shows. Usually on the forehead of the mask there is a pattern of the Sun and Moon. From the mask, the character of the actor can be identified. A red mask refers to the King; a green the queen; a yellow lamas and deities, etc. A Tibetan opera performance follows strict processes. Each performance starts with the purification of the stage and a blessing to the God. A narrator sings a summary of the story in verse. Then performers show up and begin to dance and sing. The plays conclude with a blessing ritual.

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