By Erica and Matt Chua, on Tue Jan 21, 2014 at 8:30 AM ET Japan is what the world could be, if we all worked a lot harder. For example, Tokyo is home to more than 30 million people, yet the streets are cleaner than restaurants in the USA. The food chain is so trusted that meat, included beef and horse, is consumed raw. Rush hour traffic is orderly, composed and quiet. The grass is so green and pristine that it looks fake. The trains run on the second, show up at 12:00:07 and you missed your train. When you have a Japanese person explain why things are the way they are you can’t help but laugh and think, “Yeah, that makes so much sense…why is it done differently at home?” While many things are lost in translation, understanding the order and practicality of Japan is a wonderful experience.
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DON’T MISS: Nara, imagine traditional Japan hundreds of years ago, what you are imagining is Nara.
MUST SEE: Raw meat restaurants in Tokyo; Harajuku and Yoyogi Park (Tokyo) on Sundays to see people wearing crazy clothes such as “cosplay” and the Dancing Elvises; Arashiyama hill and forest temples (near Kyoto); Shinjuku (Tokyo) at Night.
MUST TASTE: Sushi at Tsukiji Fish Market…really sushi anywhere and everywhere in Japan.
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TRIP PLANNING A week is enough to see the major sights of Tokyo and Kyoto, but 10-14 days would make the trip much more enjoyable.
GETTING AROUND: Trains. The train system, especially intra-city, is among the world’s best. Avoid traveling during rush-hour.
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OUR COST PER DAY (2 ppl): $77.58 without accommodations (we Couchsurfed)
COST OF A BEER: $3 at 7-11.
KEY MONEY-SAVING TIP: Take the bus instead of the train from Tokyo to Kyoto. We paid $36 each for the bus instead of over $160 for the bullet train. This was only possible because we had a Japanese speaker arrange it for us, so find a friend.
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YOU NEED TO KNOW: Japan is expensive, think Switzerland expensive. Public transit often costs $2-4 USD a ride, a short taxi fare is $20, a meal rarely costs less than $20. That said, it’s all worth it, Japan is an amazing country.
IF WE KNEW WHAT WE KNOW NOW: We would buy a Japan Rail Pass and travel extensively through the country. It would have cost a lot more than what we did, but allowed us to see a lot more than we did.
HELPFUL LINKS TO LEARN MORE: How to travel Japan inexpensively. Is a Japan Rail Pass worth it? Free attractions in Kyoto. Please send us any sites you found useful and we’ll add them!
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WE WERE THERE FOR: 3 weeks
OUR HIGHLIGHT: Couchsurfing with Takeshi in Tokyo and Masato in Arashiyama.
WHERE WE WENT: Tokyo, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Mt. Fuji
WE REGRET MISSING: Okinawa and Hiroshima
By Erica and Matt Chua, on Tue Jan 14, 2014 at 8:30 AM ET Egypt’s modern history may be in the spotlight, but it’s ancient history is it’s gem. Having given birth to the world’s first major civilization, Egypt amazes with the depth and breadth of experiences to have, places to go, and ancient wonders to see. While the Pyramids and temples are the main attraction, the magnificent beaches of the Red Sea and chaos of Cairo add to the intrigue of this country caught somewhere between Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
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DON’T MISS: The Pyramids at Giza. They are magnificent.
MUST SEE: The Temples of Karnak (Luxor), Luxor Temple at night, Valley of the Kings (Luxor), the marine life of the Red Sea, the Library in Alexandria and the striking temple of Abu Simbel.
MUST TASTE: GAD, Egyptian fast food…it’s delicious. Also try koshary, all the carbs that fit in one dish…you have to taste, because it can’t be described!
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TRIP PLANNING: Two weeks provides enough to see the historic sights, but adding another week for the Red Sea will make the trip.
GETTING AROUND: The main sights of the country along the Nile, Alexandria-Cairo-Luxor-Aswan, are connected by train. Take tours to get to far-flung sights and consider flying to the Sinai (Sharm El Sheikh or Dahab on the Red Sea).
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OUR COST PER DAY (2 ppl): $55.87
COST OF A BEER: $1-$2.50 for the local brew at restaurants and liquor stores (if you can find one).
KEY MONEY-SAVING TIP: Traveling to the main attractions independently will save you loads of money, but taking a tour to get to many relieve a lot of the hassle.
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YOU NEED TO KNOW: There is no avoiding the touts, even if you are on a fully inclusive guided tour…be prepared.
IF WE KNEW WHAT WE KNOW NOW: We wouldn’t take a first class train. There isn’t much of a difference between first and second class other than first class costs twice as much.
HELPFUL LINKS TO LEARN MORE: The Egyptian Railways website for train schedules and booking and wikitravel for an overview of sights to see.
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WE WERE THERE FOR: 3 weeks
OUR HIGHLIGHT: Finally making it to the Pyramids, one of the main sights we wanted to see when we started our trip two years ago!
WHERE WE WENT: Dahab, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Cairo, Alexandria, Pyramids of Giza
WE REGRET MISSING: The Western Desert.
By Erica and Matt Chua, on Tue Jan 7, 2014 at 8:30 AM ET Antarctica, the White Continent is like nowhere else. Normally witnessed through a TV screen, in person it dazzles more than can be believed…until seen with one own’s eyes. From crossing the infamous Drake Passage to sighting the vast white plains to exploring the rugged coasts, everyday in Antarctica is unforgettable.
Visiting Antarctica is generally done by ship leaving from Ushuaia, Argentina. Trips range from 10-20 days, departing in December-March, following standard routes (Classic Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and Falklands, Antarctic Circle, Shackleton).
There are roughly 5 companies that run 12 ships regularly during the season, many of which are indistinguishable. National Geographic is renowned for their superb guides and steep prices. G Adventures serves younger backpackers. Oceanwide Expeditions, which we went with, offers unique outdoors experiences and the best blend of expedition and luxury.
All companies offer last-minute discounts if you have a flexible schedule, but expect to pay $5000-10,000 per person depending on the voyage you choose. Everyone we met that went, on every company, said that it was worth every dollar.
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DON’T MISS: Camping on Antarctica. Companies provide gear to keep you warm through the night on the ice…a night you’ll never forget. MUST SEE: Everything. Spend as much time in the observation deck to spot whales, dolphins and incredible landscapes.
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TRIP PLANNING: It takes at least 14 days to visit Antarctica from North America, Europe or Australia as getting to Ushuaia requires at least one full day from major airports. The cruises themselves last 10-20 days depending on journey, but the longer the better. Choose a ship with less than 120 passengers so that everyone can do each landing, larger ships must land in shifts according to current regulations. GETTING AROUND: While much time is spent on the ship, the highlights are from the Zodiacs, the rafts that take small groups up close to wildlife, icebergs and to Antarctica itself.
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COST PER DAY: $500-1500 per person, per day, depending on berth. A double cabin lists for about $900 per person, per day, but last-minute deals (one month in advance) sold double cabins for as low as $500 per day. KEY MONEY-SAVING TIP: Book directly from the cruise company, not through a travel agent. Travel agents commissions will be tacked onto your price and run anywhere from $800 to 20% of your cost. If you learn what deals are being offered by agents contact the cruise company directly and they will often give you a lower price.
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YOU NEED TO KNOW: Seasickness will probably happen on the Drake Crossing…but that’s part of the journey. IF WE KNEW WHAT WE KNOW NOW: We would have booked one year in advance. The prices one year out rival last minute deals, but ensure you can go when you want. HELPFUL LINKS TO LEARN MORE: Oceanwide Expeditions, list of last-minute Antarctica Travel agents (contact for information, but book directly with the company)
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WE WERE THERE FOR: 10 days Classic Antarctic Peninsula OUR HIGHLIGHT: Camping on Antarctica. We really wanted to do the Plancius Basecamp, but it was booked. WE REGRET MISSING: South Georgia Island, the “Galapagos of the Atlantic”.
By Erica and Matt Chua, on Tue Dec 31, 2013 at 8:30 AM ET “Going where no man has gone before” is every adventure traveler’s dream. Sadly though it isn’t possible. Unless you explore the deep seas, there are very few places a person can go and be the first. We travelers like to imagine ourselves discovering something new, doing something that has not been done before, but the reality is that we’re just going where others have stood before. While the places we go may impress our geography challenged friends or our ninety-year old Great Aunts, there are no roads not traveled. It’s awesome to be among the few to have visited North Korea and Antarctica, but as Shania Twain would say, “it don’t impress me much”. The most impressive places are those where you share experiences, make friends, which, consequently, draw many other tourists. The Salar de Uyuni, a must-see on the South American Gringo Trail is one of those over-touristed, wonderful, experiences.
Situated on Bolivia’s border with Chile, the Salar de Uyuni is a well traveled 3-day tour that typically starts in one country and ends in another. It is a common destination shared by South American backpackers as “everyone” does it. Why does everyone go here? Crazy photos created by the reflecting salt flats and the dry atmosphere. The curiosity that the Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat doesn’t draw tourists…it’s the cool photos.
Americans have to pay a “reciprocity fee”, which can be done at the end of the tour. Until then we were the responsibility of the tour company, which found it easiest to put us all in one Landcruiser. Two Brits decided to come along with us, because, well, let’s be honest: Americans are pretty awesome.
Read the rest of…
Erica and Matt Chua: The Gringo Trail — South America
By John Y. Brown III, on Fri Dec 27, 2013 at 12:00 PM ET Travel advice for intelligent life on other planets.
If there really is extraterrestrial life out there and they are aware of planet Earth and have beeen monitoring us and waiting for the right time to visit, there really is no better time of year better to visit our planet than around Christmas time and the entire holiday season.
Homes and businesses are decorated with bright colorful lights and our people are in a pleasant, gracious and friendly frame of mind–toward everyone, even strangers.
 Granted, traffic can be bad and the weather is cold but, on the whole, as a planet, we are at our very best during this time of year.
And if you are savvy about it, you can find some real bargains for lodging, food and entertainment.
By Erica and Matt Chua, on Tue Dec 24, 2013 at 8:30 AM ET When I saw the Capture the Color photo contest was going on again this year I was excited to dig through the photos from our trip and share a few with you. Not only did this contest give me an opportunity to reminisce about all the places we’ve been by reliving memories through our photos but I love the theme, it’s so simple, capture the colors Blue, Green, Yellow, White and Red in your photos. I have to admit the deal was sweetened knowing I wouldn’t be competing against some of the travel blogosphere’s most talented photographers: Ken Kaminesky, Abi King, Davefrom the Planet D, Christine Gilbert and Daniel Nahabedian, because they are the judges. You can enter too and have the chance to win £3000, an Arc’teryx voucher or other great prizes. Without further ado below are my five photos that Capture the Color:
WHITE
Huyana Potosi, Bolivia (19,974 feet)
As we carefully inched along the snowy trail on the exposed ridge of Huyana Potosi leading us to the summit the sun just started to peek above the horizon. It was a beautiful sight and a view I will never forget. Once we reached the summit I looked back on the path we had taken in the dark to reach our goal and realized how precarious of a position we had been in. As I watched another group of climbers descend I pulled out the camera to capture the trail with the sun highlighting the pristine white snow. The moment I took this picture I still couldn’t fully comprehend what we had just done to be standing at the top of a mountain overlooking Bolivia.
GREEN
Banaue Rice Terraces commonly referred to by the Filipinos as “The Eighth Wonder of the World”
The vibrant green rice terraces of Banaue are a source of pride for the local Ifugao people and meticulously cared for. Many people believe that the terraces were built by ancestors of the Igugao people with minimal equipment, mostly by hand. The terraces are located about 5000 feet above sea level and cover roughly 6000 square miles of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe. The size is difficult to comprehend from the above photo, but you can see how it reduces the people in the photo to mere ants to help give you a perspective of the massive scale. As I climbed up and down the stairs I loved the sense of being so small and taking in the vast expanse of terraces that stretched out in both directions.
YELLOW
A monk praying at Dambulla Rock Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sri Lanka
The elaborate paintings and statues that make up the Dambulla Rock Temple in Sri Lanka depict the Lord Buddha and his life. Monks from around the area make the pilgrimage to this holy site to pray and meditate. The five major caves include a total of 153 Buddha statues, 3 statues of Sri Lankan kings and 4 statues of gods and goddesses and the murals cover an astonishing 2,100 square meters. I captured this monk praying to one of the many Buddhist statues and then watched in awe as he mindfully and methodically made his way around the cave pausing to pray or pay his respects to specific statues within the cave. It was a beautiful meditation in motion. To see more photos from the other four caves at Dambulla check out A Buddhist View of Sri Lanka.
BLUE
Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE
A visit to the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Mosque is a must for anyone visiting Abu Dhabi even for a short layover. The over-the-top opulence is incredible and outshines even the most amazing sights of the world, it is a modern day Taj Mahal and amazing feat of architecture. This reflection of two of the domes that make up the mosque are reflected in the glass doorways that lead into the prayer hall. The reflection of the perfect blue sky adds to the allure of this magnificent building. To see photos of the crystal chandeliers and marble columns in the interior click here.
RED
Market vendor in Mandalay, Myanmar
For any traveler that visits Myanmar the take away seems to be the same, this country has the most wonderful people in the world. They are friendly, helpful and always have a smile to share. I love this photo from a market in Mandalay, not only do you get a sense of the warmth of the people in Myanmar but I was able to capture a little slice of the local market culture. I love markets all over the world, but there was something special about the markets in Myanmar where vendors would invite you to come over and share with you something they are selling or request a picture of themselves, simply so they could see themselves on your digital screen. I have fond memories of meeting the young lady in this photo and wandering the beautiful and busy markets of Myanmar.
NOMINATIONS
Another highlight of this competition is seeing fellow bloggers photos, below are five travelers that I would love to see highlight their pictures:
- Hannah and Adam from Getting Stamped, they have been making there way through Central and South America and I’m sure have some amazing beach shots!
- Cassie and Keving from Ever in Transit, they claim to take way to many photos- so, I would love to see what they might dig out of their archives for a capture the color entry.
- Erica and Shaun from Over Yonderlust, I loved their recent post on the Portland Japanese Garden and would love to see what other photo gems they have up their sleeve.
- Jodi from Legal Nomads, food is her forte and I’d love to see the colorful dishes she may have captured in her years of traveling
- Kate from Adventurous Kate, she is currently traveling all around the world with a new camera in tow- I would love to see what images she has captured in the past few months.
Cross-posted from LivingIF.com
By Erica and Matt Chua, on Tue Dec 17, 2013 at 8:30 AM ET What picture comes to mind when you think of South America? Jungles? Maybe. Machu Picchu? Possibly. Beaches? Of course. Colonial architecture? Certainly. Countless tourism brochures and TV shows have etched the picture of South America’s colonial gems into minds everywhere. The reality though is different. Colonial architecture is far and few between in the modern cities of South America. From Rio to Lima, South America isn’t the centuries ago throwback that many visitors expect. Then where should time traveling wannabes go? Bolivia.
After a tumultuous start to the millennium, Bolivia has made startling progress both in embracing the new and restoring the past. It can be argued in fact, that Bolivia didn’t shake colonization until it elected its first indigenous president, Evo Morales, in 2006. That was the first time, since being colonized almost 500 years prior, that the indigenous, still a majority of the population, took control of their country. Evo, a polarizing figure, has led an effort to both to restore the historic sights and modernize the country. From my first visit 10 years ago to today, the changes to the naked eye are remarkable.
Bolivia’s cities are built around the colonial core, from La Paz to Sucre to Potosí. Each one has their unique aspects, but all have a central square with a massive church on one side and an administrative building on another. No matter what the buildings are used for today, visitors are guaranteed to see the colorful and grandiose edifices of South American tourist brochures.
Read the rest of…
Erica & Matt Chua: South America’s Best Colonial Towns
By Erica and Matt Chua, on Tue Dec 10, 2013 at 8:30 AM ET How do you distinguish “old” in a city that was founded over 1100 years ago? When some of the “newer” areas are older than the United States of America, it’s all old to me, but to the Egyptians there is an old and new Cairo. The old part is called “Islamic Cairo”, which seems like another redundant name in Cairo, one of the largest Islamic cities in the world. To learn more we set off to explore this “old” Islamic Cairo…here’s what we found.
Signs such as this begin to get old, I mean really old, as almost every building was constructed before “Columbus sailed the ocean blue” which marks old for me.
Old Cairo isn’t a dead city or closed off to be a museum, rather it’s as alive today as it ever was, full of homes, stores, restaurants and mosques.
Read the rest of…
Erica and Matt Chua: Climbing Above Old Cairo
By Ronald J. Granieri, on Mon Dec 9, 2013 at 10:00 AM ET Click here to download the podcast of December’s “Geopolitics with Granieri”
 Russia’s resurgence raises a host of questions. Specifically, what does this mean for the future of democracy in the former Soviet republic? How have recent shifts in Russian-American relations influenced Russian ambitions in the “near abroad?” What role – if any – will China play in Eurasian politics? Join Host Ron Granieri, as he “interrogates” Stephen Blank, one of the nation’s leading experts on Eurasia, to find out the answers to these important questions and much more!
Dr. Stephen J. Blank is a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council. He has published over 900 articles and monographs on Soviet/Russian, U.S., Asian, and European military and foreign policies, testified frequently before Congress on Russia, China, and Central Asia, consulted for the Central Intelligence Agency, major think tanks and foundations, chaired major international conferences in the U.S. and in Florence; Prague; and London, and has been a commentator on foreign affairs in the media in the U.S. and abroad. He has also advised major corporations on investing in Russia and is a consultant for the Gerson Lehrmann Group. He has published or edited 15 books, most recently Russo-Chinese Energy Relations: Politics in Command (London: Global Markets Briefing, 2006). He has also published Natural Allies? Regional Security in Asia and Prospects for Indo-American Strategic Cooperation (Carlisle, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 2005). He is currently completing a book entitled Light From the East: Russia’s Quest for Great Power Status in Asia to be published in 2014 by Ashgate. Dr. Blank is also the author of The Sorcerer as Apprentice: Stalin’s Commissariat of Nationalities (Greenwood, 1994); and the co-editor of The Soviet Military and the Future(Greenwood, 1992).
By John Y. Brown III, on Fri Dec 6, 2013 at 9:30 AM ET Reposting from July 2013:
Our world seems on the cusp of losing a genuine hero for the ages, Nelson Mandela.
The word hero gets overused a lot but never when applied Mr Mandela, who looks like Morgan Freeman playing God after God has decided to stick around and live among the mortals.
Muhammad Ali famously dismissed achieving the impossible saying “Impossible is nothing.” Nelson Mandela has exemplified that statement throughout his life and continues to do so.
I first heard of this man when I was 20 years old and had the privilege to spend several days in South Africa in 1983. Apartheid, legalized racial discrimination against blacks, was embedded in the nation’s legal system. Nelson Mandela was incarcerated and in poor health. We were taught at the time that he would almost certainly die in prison.
But he didn’t.
Several years later celebrating his 70th birthday while still in prison, Nelson Mandela rallied his people. He became a symbol of patient and peaceful persistence against injustice and a symbol of inspiration much like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King had become resisting injustices in their own countries just decades earlier.
Shortly after that, even though struggling with tuberculosis, Nelson Mandela emerged from prison a free man who not only lived but lived to become the president of his country (and the first black office holder in South African history). Ironically, his country had imprisoned him years earlier for resisting its laws and committing treason and sedition in defying Apartheid in Mandela’s youth. As president Mandela went on to remove the yoke of Apartheid from his country and for all of South Africa’s people.
And today—nearly 30 years after I first heard Mandela’s name whispered as a ghost in the failed resistance to South Africa’s Apartheid policy, he is a living embodiment of everything that was impossible then ….and that his most ardent supporters had stopped believing could ever happen.
How does that happen?
How does a man physically weak, legally incarcerated, politically written off, sick with a potentially fatal malady and aging into his 70s not give up?
How does that same man emerge in his twilight years and become arguably an even more successful South African version of our nation’s Abraham Lincoln?
I don’t know.
Except that’s the kind of things that real heroes do…..and real heroes are as rare as they are extraordinary. And it’s worth pointing out that one is still alive and in our midst. Although sadly, perhaps not for much longer. But he’s here now.
And we are blessed to be able to acknowledge him, again, while he is still alive. And thank him for teaching us that impossible isn’t always as difficult to overcome as it seems.
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