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- 1. December 2013 RAVEL ALEST T agatasmaytrip.blogspot.ca ust on my Sandals Also in this issue: Contiki¡¯d Out Teimoshi Conquers Asia D
- 2. cadencetravel Explore the world... in luxury, style and comfort findlogo ipadwallpaperhd
- 3. Masthead Anna Santiago Editor-in-Chief Contributing Writers Rex Michael Knight Christine Fernandez Timothy Sear Columnist Joanna Dee Art Director Anna Santiago Contributing Designer Ryan Rivera published quarterly by New Media Inc. 3000 Lowell Road Vancouver, BC V0J 1X9 RAVEL ALEST T Unique Journeys Email your stories to: mytrip@traveltales.com www.tripcentral.ca Hello everyone! Welcome to yet another collection of unique travel adventures here at Travel Tales. In this edition, we are featuring Rex Michael Knight¡¯s two-week pilgrimage through Jordan, Israel and Egypt. Enjoy his recap of this once in a lifetime journey. Also in this edition, don¡¯t forget to check out Teimoshi¡¯s travel diary entry from his Asian escapade. Finally find out more about Contiki tours from passionate traveler Christine Fernandez. As you begin to read about these wonderful adventures, I encourage you to share your own. Tell us about your travel experience (whether it¡¯s good, bad, disappointing or funny) and show the world your captivating and hilarious photos. Happy Journeys!
- 4. inside RAVELT TALES 5 This month: My Travel Diary Teimoshi Conquers Asia 9 Contiki¡¯d Out Dust on my Sandals Feature Story Follow Rex Michael Knight¡¯s journey of self-discovery as he embarks on a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands. 6
- 5. Teimoshi Conquers Asia The Travel Diary of Timothy Sear SEPTEMBER 28-JAPAN E. Honda - You¡¯ve got nothing on the Mongolian on Electric Avenue The title is for the appreciation of the Street Fighter 2 geeks out there. Today we went to Sumo wrestling and Electric City, the place to go for electronics in Tokyo. We started out the day in search of a bank machine that will actually take our cards. We were a little unsettled when the first two banks, completely in Japanese, spat our cards out as us like it was a white guy eating a Japanese fermented plum (almost happened on the plane). Luckily, corporations came to our rescue as the 7/11 down the street had a 7/11 bank machine that took internation- al cards. We were set. Next stop Electric City. On the way to Electric City, I saw this cool sign on the Japan rail line platform. I interpreted it as ¡°If you are a young girl and you lost your hat, a man with a freakishly long claw arm will retrieve it for you.¡± I searched for this man in vain. I wanted to shake his hand. At Electric City, you¡¯ll find a smackload of things that beep, buzz and ping, and some crazy plechinko game where everyone smokes like a chimney. You¡¯ll find all you could ever need if you wanted the latest phones and gadgets. Plus there¡¯s an alley full of shops with electrical components so you can build your own Astroboy. Good times. We didn¡¯t buy much, other than an XD Card Reader because I left my camera USB cable at home. Page 5TravelTales Dec 2013 Walking around, we saw the fire department and a crowd of people. On a separate trailer, they had a mock up of an apart- ment on hydraulics. It was an earthquake simulator. So we did the natural thing...we asked if we could try it out and they were more than happy to oblige. The whole thing shook back and forth for what felt like a very long ten minutes. I did my best to look completely terrified but couldn¡¯t stop laughing at how ridiculous it was. The crowd of Japanese people gathered around was completely entertained and gave us a round of applause after we completed the Earthquake Ride of Death. For our troubles we were awarded a delicious can of Mackerel. Good times. Next, we headed to the Sumo wrestling match and it was probably one of the best experiences I¡¯ve had so far... (continued on page 8) newshopper biffybeans newshopper
- 6. Sometimes, we just need to take a break from the world. Sometimes, it¡¯s not always about getting where you want to be. Sometimes, time for ourselves is exactly what we need... and what we have been ignoring. These days, everything is so fast-paced that we forget to catch our breaths, wait for a moment and internalize all that¡¯s happening around us. I am guilty of this sin. Being in the medical field, my profession demands a lot of time and dedication that I barely have time for other things. However, after passing my board exams, I knew that I finally have the chance to explore the world. More importantly, I now have the time to explore the world within myself and exploit this chance for personal growth. I took the year off from work. Since I¡¯ve gotten through the first of many hurdles I¡¯d be facing in this field (that being the Medical board exams, of course), I figured it would be the perfect time to pursue my other interests with- out as much consequences to worry about. I don¡¯t want you to get the wrong impression, though. I, unquestionably, love being a doctor ¨C to save lives for a living is an honor given to only a select few, and it is more than a fulfilling job as it is. However, that¡¯s not to say that we, too, lose a bit of motiva- tion. Who doesn¡¯t, right? Hence I told myself that Medicine will always be there, waiting for me to come back, once I am ready to pursue the noble art again. In the meantime, I¡¯m grabbing onto this chance for self-discovery. The highlight of my ¡°break¡± was our Holy Land Pilgrimage. The tour was arranged by a local Church and we were referred by a friend. As part of my mother¡¯s bucket list, we couldn¡¯t pass up on the opportunity. The following is a let- ter I wrote to our companions after our short yet memorable trip a few days after we got back home: Page 6 Peter¡¯s adventures archersdirect TravelTales Dec 2013 ¡°Sometimes, time for ourselves is exactly what we need.¡± Dust on my Sandals Rex Michael Knight
- 7. Today, while packing my things for another few hours at the gym, I noticed a few grains of sand left on my sandals. I took a few moments to glance at it, if only to revel at the images that flashed rapidly ¨C uncontrollably ¨C into my mind. It all just seemed like yesterday. The first time I learned about Pilgrimages was about four or five years ago when I read a book from the acclaimed inspirational author, Paulo Coelho, one, so appropriately entitled, ¡°Pilgrimage¡±. From that point on, I made it a personal quest to go on that same journey of devotion. Of course, subconsciously, I expected it to be, at least, 20 or 30 more years before I¡¯d actually be able to do it. Little did I know that the quest will be fulfilled at a much, much sooner than I anticipated. It¡¯s funny that just about 3 weeks ago, my mother and I had gone into a frantic shopping mode - buying clothes, bags, food and whatnot for the trip. Just 3 weeks ago, we knew 21 less people. About three weeks ago, Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem were all abstract places we only heard about in Bible stories. Our little expedition took us to marvelous places; places that I never even knew existed. Jordan showed us part of the Israelites¡¯ journey to the Promised Land, the long King¡¯s Highway that heard nothing but our complaints on the bus, forgetting that God¡¯s chosen people had once travelled that same road on foot. Moses¡¯ final resting place, Mount Nebu, where he got a glimpse of their destination, only to fall short at the end. The wonders of the city of Petra, that left all of us dumbstruck and speechless with its elegant natural beauty, combined with the uncanny talents of the Nabatean civilization that helped shape it. Egypt and its in- comparable richness of ancient history, from the Great Pyramids of Giza to the Sphinx, from King Ramses II to King Tutankhamun ¨C names I only used to hear about in movies, documentaries and history books. I climbed the summit of Mount Sinai and watched the most picturesque sunrise one would ever see; an accomplishment I never ever fathomed in my wildest dreams. And finally, the sacred grounds of the Holy Land, itself, the Promised Land ¨C Israel. Oh, how I¡¯ve fallen in love with the place. Walking the very steps that Jesus Christ, Himself, had walked. Touching the very surfaces that His skin touched. Bathing in the waters that He had been washed in. Catching, with each breath that we took, the very air that He once breathed. Seeing where He lived, worked, and preached... where He suffered. But the Pilgrimage was a whole lot more than the physical places we visited. More than the tears we shed with the suffering portrayed in Yad Vashem. More than the sympathy we felt for the Jews praying at the Wailing Wall. More than the pretty people that we so shamelessly gawked at (haha!). It was mostly about the 25 people that gathered to become one in discovering their faith anew. It was about developing new friendships, in as much as it was about rekindling old relationships. It was about finding love, losing it, and rediscovering it once more. It was about finding one¡¯s own happiness in seeing the joy of those around you. It was about getting over one¡¯s loneliness, and finding company amongst new faces. It was about the strength one finds in sacrifice, of beating odds and battling with disease. It was about each person¡¯s selflessness in praying for their loved ones, as well as learning one¡¯s capacity to forgive. The Pilgrimage stands for a lot of things, but most importantly, it was about each person¡¯s personal conquest of finding who God is in each one of our lives. Our Pilgrimage was not confined to our travels through Jordan, Israel and Egypt. In a much deeper sense, it was a journey to get in touch with our very souls. Living in a busy world, where we lay down our own timelines, set our goals, obsess about what steps should be taken next, we, oftentimes, forget to sit back for a moment and take in all that is happening around us. We have forgotten the value of self-reflection, soul-searching and discernment. We are always in a hurry to keep ourselves busy, afraid that the world will leave us behind. The world moves forward... but nowhere does it say that we can¡¯t take a step back, if only to enjoy the surroundings. This was the blessing that we have been granted. To take our rest from all the turmoil and chaos. And, for a few moments, listen to the call of our hearts. I finally brushed the dust off my sandals. The moment of reminiscing has passed. It was a glorious three weeks, indeed. But like these grains of sand, memories, too, shall be blown away with the wind. Page 7
- 8. My Travel Diary...(from page 5) OCTOBER 4-JAPAN Spreading the VC We explored more of Tokyo including Shibuya and Shinjuku(?). Eric took some great shots of Harijuku girls all dressed up. Maybe Eric can upload some. We met up with Kumiko¡¯s work friends Rose and Mei, and hit up what Rose swears was the best Thai food in Japan, even better than the ones in Thailand. We be- lieved her because she¡¯s from Thailand and she didn¡¯t disap- point. Another plus, the Thai restaurant had a Karaoke machine, so we busted out Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline, Guns n¡¯ Roses - Knockin on Heaven¡¯s Door, Bryan Adams - Summer of 69, and Eric did an unforgettable rendition of Limp Bizkit - Nookie. I think there are a few loose pictures on Facebook via Kumiko. And if you¡¯re lucky, she will upload a sweet video of me doing my best Axl Rose dance. Page 8 OCTOBER 15-THAILAND Full Moon Party - and I didn¡¯t show my ass once. We attended the infamous Full Moon Party today and made it all night until the sun came up due to our lengthy training sessions back in Vancouver. With our special ¡°layering¡± tech- nique, we survived the night without becoming one of the fodder and carnage you see in the picture below! Here¡¯s the fodder I was talking about. They littered the beach along with missing flip flops...one pair was Eric¡¯s...I wonder where they are now. burnmagazine TravelTales Dec 2013 OCTOBER 17-THAILAND Thai Boxing - Tonight ¡¯s Main Event We took in some Thai Boxing last night. Very cool, and just like Sumo wrestling, there¡¯s a lot of ceremony and tradition before the fight starts. They do some really cool dances and what looks like praying at each corner. It lasts for about 5-10 minutes and each fighter¡¯s dance is slightly different with crazy thai music in the background resembling the sounds of a drum and an off- tune clarinet. Similar music plays while they are fighting, which they bob and weave to. I have a couple of movies with the big guys fighting, pretty bloody but very entertaining. Very entertaining night though. Off to Krabi tomorrow. The Thai restaurant was in an area called Roppungi, which is the entertainment district frequented by foreigners, i.e. us. On our mission to discover somewhere to drink, I scouted out a 5th floor establishment called Club Pascha...the elevator door opened and I heard music, but saw nothing. As I stepped out of the elevator, my shoulders were crushed by its closing doors. The ensuing crash caused everyone to turn and stare at this t-shirt and jeaned white dude stumbling into the lounge, nursing his shoulder. An old man waddled up to me and said, ¡°Japanese Only¡± and promptly pushed the down button on the elevator. Since the elevator was already on its way down, I stood there... waiting awkwardly, as patrons took turns staring me down. I tried to explain that there were no signs indicating that the club was Japanese Only...but i think it fell on deaf ears. Pinterest
- 9. Contiki¡¯d Out Christine Fernandez was New Zealand Australia England and the Netherlands After It was fall of 2008 when I finally decided to take the big leap- take a leave of absence from work and travel for four months. It was nerve-wracking and exciting. I have always lived in the comforts of home with family; I have always had the constant support of friends; but this trip will be the first time that I will be on my own. I had the option to backpack or create my own itinerary, and literally travel by myself or book a series of tours. I went to a Flight Centre and the travel agent recommended Contiki, the ideal tour for outgoing and adventurous 18 ¨C 35 year old singles. I chose the ¡°budget¡± travel style and chose my itinerary. 15 days in New Zealand 27 days in Australia and 47 days in Europe It was perfect because it was practical and comfortable. I shared rooms with three other ladies and then we switched roomies every couple of days. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and provided us with information about both the North and South islands of New Zealand. The highlight of my New Zealand trip was when I skydived in Rotorua. It was the most amazing experience and the best $500.00 I ever spent. I probably would not have dared to do it if I travelled alone. It was easier to do something risky like skydiving because over 25 of us went. This is one of the advantages of joining an organized tour ¨C it balances indepen- dent travel (since you only meet fellow travelers on the tour), with the opportunity to share unforgettable travel experiences with these strangers-turned-friends, some of whom can become your friends for life. First stop: Christchurch, New Zealand My first Contiki group was a good mix of men and women aged 22 to 34. A lot of them came from Europe and a few from North America. We stayed in basic hotels, hostels and campsites ¨C the standard for budget-style Contikis. Page 9
- 10. Second stop: Sydney, Australia The group was mostly female, younger single Europeans on their gap year (the travel year between high school and university). It was interesting at first, but it turned out to be the best Contiki group I¡¯ve been with. The highlight of my Oz tour was being able to sleep under the stars in sleeping bags right in the middle of the Outback, where seven out of the 10 deadliest snakes can be found. I never thought I¡¯d experience this in my life but being on the Contiki tour gave me access to these locations with less or no fear. Tour companies with years of experience do guarantee your safety especially in dangerous areas such as the outback. After all, no amount of money can buy your confidence while experiencing these amazing things! Last Stops: London, England and the Netherlands The last leg of my four-month travel began in London, England. My group was a good mix of men and women, mostly in their mid-20¡¯s to mid-30¡¯s. This was an interesting tour because we had to be together for 47 days. I found it a bit too long for 50 strangers to get along. It was an amazing group but we definitely had days when we wished the tour ended sooner. The highlight of my European trip was learning how to swim in the Greek waters of the isle Corfu. I had a few new-found friends who were persistent in teaching me how to swim. While enjoying the beautiful beach in Corfu, they managed to teach me how to swim. I was not a confident swimmer, but I was able to swim for at least 10 to 15 meters, taking into consideration the buoyancy of the ocean. www.paprant.com mgduncan.global2.vic.edu gogreeceyourway Page 10TravelTales Dec 2013 It was an amazing crew and I definitely had fun overall until our last destination where we all said our ¡°goodbyes¡± or ¡°till we meet again¡± in Amsterdam, Netherlands. After three consecutive Contikis with only a few days breather in between, I was Contiki¡¯d out at the end of the last one! The disadvantage of going with an organized tour like Contiki is the fixed schedule which does not allow flexibility of staying longer in places you absolutely love or leave cities where you think are not worth staying at. My recommendation for a long-term travel plan such as mine is to do a combination of organized tours and self-planned ones. This gives a good variation of indepen- dence and flexibility as well as an opportunity to meet new friends while having the comforts of a planned itinerary. I would also recommend reviewing other tours and doing a thorough research before committing to one. Since organized tours are more expensive than self-planned ones, it¡¯s wise to ensure that your chosen tour-type will fit most of your expectations.
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