What does travel mean to us?

Responses from each of the authors:

Jessica - Travelling is a type of relaxing from busy life, and also to discover the mystery in the world. I love seeing the beautiful natural sight-seeings and I would like to take beautiful photos of them. I start travelling on our own after I become an university students, and after finishing every trip, I am always keen to plan for the next one, and it is also a motivation to save money and it encourages me to work harder in order to get what I want. Travelling could become an addiction and my interest is to collect the most extraordinary photos from the nature. I think life time is quite short, and travelling is the best way to fulfill our life time, those experiences are the most valuable treasure you have. So, go travel and earn your own experience!

Andrew - For a good deal of my life, travel was never a big focus or interest. My father travelled very little in his youth, only going overseas once for a few weeks, to Canada and Hawaii. When I asked why he didn’t travel again, he told me he “never really enjoyed it that much.” My mother was more interested in it, but her version of travelling was going to a relaxing Australian beach outside of Sydney, relaxing away the stresses of city life. So up until the age of 18, travel consisted of going to beaches around Australia to relax.

It was only after I was given my 18th birthday gift – a short trip across Asia with my sister that travel truly started to influence my life. For the first time I saw how other people lived, experienced amazing sights and culture shocks. Since then, I have had the travel bug, and with my recent return from Student Exchange, would like to share my experiences travelling with others using this blog. Travelling for me is a profoundly important experience in my life, as there isn’t any other experience that will change you and open your eyes to the world than travel.

Graeme - Ever since my childhood I can remember family holidays almost always involved travel. As far as my father was concerned, taking a holiday meant going somewhere, seeing what there is to see there and the moving on to someplace else. He loved to explore the wild places and passed on to his children a sense of the beauty in the rolling hills and majestic mountains views, the deep valleys with sparking waterfalls, and the vast open plains where the winds have no barriers.

To be sure, I have inherited these values, and now wish to pass on to you something of significance from my own adventures into places where seemingly chance happenings can become the memories that inspire you throughout your life.

Kristy - I understand travel to be the excitement of the possibility of being somewhere new and exploring it with people that I enjoy spending my time with, and often associate the words "fun", "amazing" and other fantastical adjectives with the experience of travelling. As a child, I would travel regularly overseas to Asia to visit family as well as experience different cultures. I often hated the long flights due to my motion sickness, however, the destination and vibrancy of new cities would be worth the suffering of stifling recycled air, tight seats, horrible airplane food and turbulence. Having the privilege to have travelled overseas at a young age opened a world of possibilities for me. I saw how people from different places responded to each other, how they lived, how they behaved and the food they ate- I wanted to experience all of it. My love to see and experience different landscapes, cultures, lifestyles and foods is what fuels my travels.

As beautiful as wildlife may be, I have a soft spot for large cities- to see skyscrapers, streets bustling with people, breath-taking skylines and night lights. With the great company, I believe that no matter where you go- together- new and incredible moments will be experienced and this blog is where I will share some of my best memories and experiences to date.

Jessica - A Melbourne experience

Since I came to study in Australia, my first trip outside NSW was to Melbourne. Before I went there, I had heard lots of compliments about Melbourne from my friends, but I finally got the chance to find the truth.

The first thing we did after we arrived was to check in the hotel. While we were following the Google map and walking on a main street, we asked the owner of a florist’s for directions, he not only kindly told us how to get to the hotel, also gave each of us different flowers as presents, I got a carnation, how nice of him!

On the way to hotel, I was amazed by the view along the way. The roads are flat and straight to the end, which is so different from Sydney and something I like about it so much. There are lots of classic buildings along the main road, such as the central station of Melbourne, which is the symbol of Melbourne city. It felt so wonderful walking on the flat and straight road with a good mood and a super nice weather. Tram is another symbol of Melbourne city and I have never taken transportation like this. We went on the tram in the middle of the road until we got to hotel, but we could not check in until 6pm, so we decided to have lunch in Chinatown.

  

After lunch, we visited the National Gallery of Victoria. This is one thing I remember the most. The item between these two fans was something that looks like roll film. It is moving on the air because of the strong fan force. It was moving with unstable form which was quite interesting and creative. Also, I saw a lot of paintings and items that demonstrate the old time life of English.

After dinner, we walked back from Chinatown, seeing the city soaking in colorful lights, which was beautiful and special.

Melbourne is so different from Sydney. Although the city is not as big, but it is now a combination of tradition and modern elements, which make this city so unique. I started to love Melbourne and expect the trip next day.

Jessica - A trip to Angkor Wat, Cambodia

I went to Cambodia during the Uni holiday. I travelled back to China, where it was winter at that time, so it is a perfect time to go to Cambodia since it stays warm consistently. Angkor Wat is the symbol of Cambodia, and it has a great reserving value for archaeology. It was built with stones without any concrete and steel back then. It was a magnificent project though lots of people died in the process of its creation. Most amazingly, it is built on the water, and Cambodia actually rains a lot. So the ancestor invented a special drainage system to avoid the flood.

When I arrived there, all you could see was a grand palace looking building sitting in front of me. It appears green when from a further distance. There is a small lake located in front of the building which forms a mirror reflecting Angkor Wat in the water, making Angkor Wat even more mysterious and beautiful.

As I visited inside, it was actually a little bit empty and desolate inside and we were just allowed to visit one corner of this giant masterpiece, which create extremely mysterious atmosphere for the room we visited. While the sunset came in, it gave this cold and still building a piece of hope. And we came out again; the outside was like being gold-plated with the sunset. The picture down here is the favorite picture I took with Angkor Wat. The girl was sitting at an edge of Angkor Wat and she was enjoying her time. She was very relaxed and it formed a beautiful painting drawn by natural color but she was the bright spot who gave this stately building a life and made it lively.

Although I prefer travelling to somewhere natural, I am still keen to visit somewhere magnificent. From those places, what you have felt will be different from seeing the nature, which will become admiration of human’s wisdom and enrich your knowledge about different cultures. Overall, the Angkor Wat is a place you must go to learn about the civilization of ancient Asia.

Jessica's memories of Tibet

I went to Tibet during my summer holiday when I was in high school.

My dad loves Tibet and he has been there for a few times, so he really wants me to go with him and enjoy the fantastic view there.

I went to Namtso Lake the other day. It was highest salt lake in the world, and Tibet people regard it as a holy lake which they show great respect to. Before I went there, my dad already told me how beautiful it is, so I was quite looking forward to seeing its beauty on my own. We departed from Lhasa and it took us about 4 hours to drive there. The altitude of the land became higher and higher as we drove toward our destination. My head hurts so much due to the lack of oxygen, so during the hour before we got there, the only thing I wanted to do was sleep. After we finally got there, we rode a horse down to the lake, and my giddiness gradually disappeared when I saw the view - it was so beautiful! Actually, it was cloudy accompanied with a sprinkle of rain when we were on the way there. But after we got there, sunlight broke through heavy cloud and I felt so lucky that I would not leave here with pity. The water was so clear, like a mirror which reflects the clouds in the sky, as you see in pictures, plus the fresh air I breathed, my sickness got better immediately.

After we took photos around the river, I went toward a small hill to hang with prayer flags, and made some wishes. Thanks God for giving me this memorable trip! It is such a paradise that can calm you down to enjoy the extraordinary natural work of God.

At night, we also went for a walk to the central square where the most famous place located in Tibet --- the Potala Palace. It is even more magnificent under those neon lights than in day time. You will feel an irresistible impulse to praise the wisdom of human is also great and important to the development of civilisation.

Andrew - A simple guide to the foods in Europe that I’ve tried, Part II

This is a continuation of my previous guide to foods that I’ve tried in Europe, featuring foods that I think are a little more appealing to eat this time around.

Eastern Europe, former territories of the Ottoman Empire - Börek

A pastry found all across former Ottoman territories and within Turkey itself. I personally bought it every evening in Dubrovnik, Croatia for a late night snack. It’s made with a thin, pasty dough known as phyllo and often filled with feta cheese and/or mince meat, but can include many other fillings as well.

This one had personal significance for me while I was traveling in former Yugoslavia because my grandmother makes Börek for the family sometimes, and I wanted to see the differences in taste and preparation in the old country. Needless to say, Grandma’s Börek tasted much better.

Recommendation: Definitely give it a try if you are in Eastern Europe and are looking for a tasty, filling meal.

Brussels, also found all over Europe - Rabbit

A delicacy found all across Europe, this was not a dish that I ordered myself, but my friend was nice enough to let me try it when we were eating out in Brussels, Belgium. It was, to my surprise, white meat when cooked and it tasted very much like chicken, but perhaps a bit more on the ‘gamey’ and chewy side. Much of the taste was masked by the thick sauce. 

Unfortunately, there isn’t much meat to be found in this dish, according to my friend a majority of the Rabbit was bone.

Recommendation: Give it a try if you want something a little more unusual but still tasty. However, don’t expect a large, filling meal.

Switzerland and Belgium – Chocolates

I’ve left the best for last, Swiss and Belgian chocolate right from their source countries. As any chocoholic would know, Switzerland and Belgian are the capitals for good tasting chocolate. They taste very different, with Belgian chocolate being much richer, and sometimes overwhelming, compared to the milder and softer Swiss chocolate.

I personally prefer Swiss chocolate, as it is much milder and I was able to eat more of it without feeling too bloated. One piece of Belgian chocolate, on the other hand, could give me an almost caffeine-like energy boost when I was tired; however, it was just a little too rich when I wanted to have a few more.

Recommendation: Simply must be tried by any visitor, even if you are not a chocoholic like me!

Andrew - Some memorable sights/clubs/things to do in Europe

Amsterdam - Electric Ladyland

We all know what Amsterdam is famous for, so there is no need to reiterate the vices which people go there to pursue. However, in small gallery tucked away on a quiet, inconspicuous street west of the Dam, a very unique and interesting gallery called Electric Ladyland (named after Jimmy Hendrix’s third and final album) which displays some of the most interesting florescent light artwork you will see.

The tour guide (who may be the most awesome hippy you’ll ever meet) will show you various rocks, documents and artworks which change under normal and fluorescent lighting conditions. It’s a definite must for lovers of colourful artwork, the 60s and Jimi Hendrix tunes. It’s a short and sweet tour but may be the best 5 Euros you spend in Amsterdam (disregarding the ‘other’ attractions you may indulge in).

Brussels – Delirium Cafe

Close to the city centre of Brussels, this café is a beer connoisseur’s paradise. With around 3000 beers offered, beer lovers and casual drinkers are bound to find something they enjoy. I tried the cookie and chocolate beers, with the former tasting a little foul and not at all like a cookie but the later having a much more chocolaty taste.

The Café also has a large, vibrant and friendly crowd on most nights and is a great place for tourists and locals to mingle. Plus there is usually a live band playing.

London – Ministry of Sound and Fabric

Two major ‘Superclubs’ in London that are almost guaranteed to provide a wild and fun night for lovers of electronic music, especially Dance and Drum n Bass. Fabric is in Farringdon, Northeast of the centre of London and its three gigantic rooms were packed out on the Friday we were there. Each floor had different forms of Drum n Bass playing. Definitely check it out on a Friday if you’re looking for a good night out in London.

Ministry of Sound should be immediately recognisable to fans of the dance music label found in all over the world. The Ministry of Sound superclub is headquartered in Elephant & Castle a little ways south of the centre of London. With five main area packed out on the Saturday I was there, definitely check it out if you are a fan of the dance music label.

One thing to keep in mind with these clubs is that they are expensive, entry can be over 30 pounds and drinks can be expensive, so it’s a good idea to predrink before you enter the club if you are tight on cash.

Bon Voyage IV - Isle of Pines, New Caledonia

The third island we arrived upon was another New Caledonia island- this was one was named "Isle of Pines". As the name suggests, this island was covered with lovely pine trees. Isle of Pines provided a very interesting scenic view to behold, very beautiful in it's unique way. Our cruise ship was unable to reach the wharf as to pay respect to the island, so we took the small emergency boats in order to disembark onto the island.

On board there were many off-shore activities that passengers could sign up for such as tours, snorkelling and scuba diving. Around 15 of us had decided we register to go snorkelling in Isle of Pines. Those of us who signed up to go were all ushered onto a bus where we were given a brief bus tour of the island. We learnt that the first Westerner who discovered this island was Captain James Cook on his second voyage to New Zealand. It was interesting that we, Australians, have that in common with the people of Isle of Pines. However, Cook never came on shore to the island but he saw smoke and assumed it was inhabited.

The bus could not take us all the way to where we were to go snorkelling so we had to make the rest of the way on foot. The snorkelling experience was sensational, the fish we saw underwater and their vibrant colours. There were many different species of fish and none of them seem perturbed by our presence and our spying on them. We spent many hours watching them in wonder and excitement. Unfortunately for me, this was where I had my whole body sunburnt and I was red and peeling all-over. (Sadly, no one owned any waterproof cameras so no photos could have been taken of the marine life that we saw.)

After snorkelling, we were all ravenous and bought some hot dogs, chicken and kebabs with coconut juice from the local stalls that were under the shade of trees. Satiated, we spent the rest of our time by the beach. Like Lifou, Isle of Pines also had soft white sand but it was unlike any other I had ever felt. When it was dampen by the clear blue waters, it felt like soft clay.

I loved this beach very much and would call it my favourite beach to date (only I’ve forgotten the name of it). We all thoroughly enjoyed relaxing on the sand and playing in the beautiful waters, wishing that this journey would never come to an end.