Ever stumbled upon the perfect café, sequestered deep in the quietest corner of a buzzing city, and just had to share the secret? Ever wanted to be part of that secret? Travelistas Lynn Lau and Abby Bender combine their journalism and travel experiences to bring readers Notes From A Café: Travel stories from the deep end, a refreshing cure to the usual stodgy travel resources. Notes From A Café revolves around the love of travel, with articles covering countries from Belgium to Norway to Malaysia, along with tips and resources to fellow travelers interested in the non-touristy side of exploring the world.
Celebrating the joie de vivre of traipsing the globe, Lynn and Abby feature their stories and secrets under headings such as "Voyage Vignettes" (focusing on the thick and thin of personal travel accounts), "Foreign Foibles" (cultural gaffes and taboos), "Travel Tips" (a grab-bag of information and suggestions for travelers), and "Roaming Reviews" (frank guides on true must-see's and definite stay-away-from's).
A random selection of our articles:
Tomorrow I will be hopping onto a plane for Belgium, where I shall meet up with a good friend and indulge in as much chocolate and castles as possible. Considering I’ll be heading out of the country in 24 hours, you might understand my trepidation when I confess that I haven’t finished packing yet.
Granted, given my penchant for bringing only carry-on luggage, how much packing could I possibly do? It’s not as if I, say, have the option of stuffing a partridge and a pear tree into my wheelie. Then again, having a limit on luggage space leaves no room for error. That, ladies and gents, is the sticking point.
No matter what you do or don’t bring, however, or how much time you have to pack, there are a number of things that can help keep your head on straight before your trip. I know they do mine. In this first of the series, we see how being finicky can actually be a good thing.
» Read the rest of Travel Checklist #1: Keeping It Together ...
Flight comparison sites have certainly helped travel! |
Major travel comparison sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, have made it much easier for us common folk to become world-savvy travelers. No longer are we dependent on travel agents to compare flight ticket prices between multiple airlines—we can do it ourselves with two taps of a mouse! In fact, the last time I used a travel agent was seven years ago, in order to map out a route to Molde. If I were to make that same trip today, there’s no doubt I could pull it off without a third party, just by spending a litle more time in front the computer screen.
Yes, the Internet has made it vastly convenient for us to get our own flight tickets. But did you know that there are actually certain days of the month that are the best times to book those tickets?
» Read the rest of Mark Your Calendar: The Best Times to Buy Flight Tickets ...
Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée Rue des Sables 20 1000 Bruxelles +32 (0)2 / 219.19.80 http://www.cbbd.be |
It’s always seemed to me that European comics have a more tangible “feel” to them, in comparison with American comics. Not that it’s any surprise—after all, here comics are called the Ninth Art, lauded and studied in its own right. In Brussels, comic shops abound with gorgeous graphics and visceral images, not as something for “nerds” but as something to be marveled at for its artistry.
Well, I have to admit I’m a little biased, myself. . . .
Nevertheless, it goes without saying that the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée—Brussels’s very own Comic Strip Art Museum—was a definite must-see for Tonje and I when we invaded the city last week. Stepping in, we were greeted by a red-and-white rocket from Hergé’s Tintin: Destination Moon, while a five-foot-tall Asterix model beamed from inside a glass case.
» Read the rest of Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée ...
If I could keep but one memory of the Abbey of Pontlevoy, it would be this:
» Read the rest of Elysium Fields ...
My friend and I were sixteen when we were about to embark on a river expedition. My mother was quite insistent on slipping money into our pockets before we left. My friend shyly declined, but Mum got her way when she pointed out: “Must have when travel, for good luck!”
There’s no denying a Chinese mother when it comes to good-luck traditions.
Still, there’s truth in what she says. You should always have a bit of the local currency in your pocket, even before touching down at your intended destination. I’ve always done this, merely out of habit, but was reminded of its importance some years ago when I and another friend were returning from travel.
We had just spent some hot summery days in Toronto, and were crossing back into the US. Well, “back” for me, that is; my friend was from Europe, and it was her first time visiting. To cut costs, we took a Greyhound bus. Only two things need be said about that experience:
1. Never again take the bus for a 19-hour journey.
2. Never again take a Greyhound bus, period.
It was close to midnight when we reached the border. We, along with other passengers, sleepily shuffled off to the immigration counters for the usual checks. It wasn’t typical this time, however, when the immigration official discovered that my friend (a) was not American, and (b) did not have a single dollar on her.
The official and her supervisor were very displeased, to say the least. “You have to have at least seven dollars in order to enter the country,” they barked.
I blinked, wondering if this number was pulled at random or if it was indeed a standard rule. “Why seven dollars?” I asked.
“Don’t argue!” they retorted.
Consequently, my friend had to walk to the closest ATM — keeping in mind it was approaching the one o’clock hour by now — so that she could withdraw enough cash to fulfil the minimum amount needed to enter the country. I waited, and fretted, back at the immigration station, constantly watching the doors for her return. My relief was palpable when she reappeared, and we boarded the bus again. Needless to say, it wasn’t something either of us would ever forget.
My mother was right: not having money in your pocket when embarking on a trip is bad luck!
Nowdays, most of the travel and customs forms you’ll encounter — whether in Europe or Southeast Asia — will ask how much of the local currency you possess before you’re allowed to enter the country. Therefore, even if you plan to withdraw or exchange money at your destination itself in order to ge better rates, make sure you have at least some of the local currency prior to your arrival. Otherwise, you might find yourself having to trudge over to an ATM in an unknown location in the middle of the night, and that’s no way to start a journey at all!