Most Conversational Travel Posts of 2009
December 30, 2009 by Gennaro
Filed under Travel News
As 2010 approaches, Enduring Wanderlust has collected its most conversational travel posts for 2009. Feel free to re-visit these articles and offer your thoughts about their content in the comment section. Have a happy and healthy new year.
1. 8 Best Chocolate Shops in NYC
New York City has some of the best chocolate shops in the world. This post offers eight of the best shops.
2. Angkor Wat Through the Lens
Angkor Wat is one of the most beautiful sites in Southeast Asia. It’s one of the primary reasons travelers have Cambodia on their itinerary. Enjoy this look at the site through photographs.
Chocolate Shop: Jacques Torres, New York City
New York City is the home of lots of great pizzerias. It’s a constant debate about which spot has the best pies in the city. See if you agree with the selection.
4. Cusco, Peru: A Photographic Journey
Many travelers journey to Cusco in order to visit Machu Picchu, but the city itself is one of the most enjoyable in South America. This post is a look at the city through photos.
5. Things to Do in NYC for Free
New York City is expensive for tourists and locals. This post offers some of the attractions that are available for no charge. Yep, free things to do in NYC.
Irish Pub: McSorley’s, New York City
6. 9 Top Cities, 9 Top Irish Pubs
Irish pubs are plentiful throughout the world. These are some of the more authentic and enjoyable spots to enjoy a libation.
7. Historic Estates of U.S. Presidents
American presidents have some of the nicest homes to visit. Most offer an educational experience along with a step back into history. The estates in Virginia are particularly impressive.
Women surpassed men in terms of total solo travelers. This post looks at the statistics and reasons for the recent development.
Presidential Home: Monticello, Virginia
9. Recycled Masterpiece: Chandigarh’s Rock Garden
Chandigarh’s [India] Rock Garden is a fascinating garden created from recycled household materials.
10a. Lao Fishermen on the Mekong
This post takes readers into the life of a couple of fisherman from Laos. The photos capture their day on the Mekong River.
10b. 6 Steps to a Lucky Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a time for a rebirth. This post looks at the steps taken for those looking to have a lucky new year. Chinese New Year falls on February 14, 2010. 2010 is the Year of the Tiger.
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.
Receive our free content by e-mail directly to your inbox or through an RSS reader.
20 Travel Tips From Our Commenters
February 19, 2009 by Gennaro
Filed under Travel News
Joanna Young of Confident Writing recently compiled an excellent resource for fighting writer’s block by using suggestions from her readers. That inspired Enduring Wanderlust to select 20 helpful travel thoughts from our commenters. The personal experiences and incites of our readers are an invaluable resource. Read through the list and feel free to add your favorite and unique travel tips in the comment section.
Visiting Great Cities
1. I like strolling in the Lower East Side and visiting the Essex Street Market or going to Chelsea Market. NYC’s Green Markets are a great place to see what’s local and seasonal and where lots of great chefs get their produce.
Katie Parla | Katie Parla.com
2. I would also add the free outdoor movies shown during the summer months in Bryant Park (NYC) and at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge in DUMBO.
Wendy | Escape From New York
3. We went to Paris a few years ago for Valentine’s Day. That’s definitely the most romantic city. Especially at night. You can view the city from atop so many different monuments (Arch, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur).
Seth
4. I have been to Vegas at least a dozen times and the Bellagio fountains never get old. The Conservatory at the Bellagio also never gets old, as they change it for the season/holiday. [Test] drive a Ferrari’s from the Wynn [Hotel]!
Ryan | Lifegawker
Brooklyn Bridge © Gennaro Salamone
Eating On The Road
5. Picking foods that are native to the area is a great way to have a picnic. Then all you need to do is find that “special” spot.
Barbara Swafford | Blogging Without A Blog
6. I have to agree on Di Fara [Pizza] and Grimaldi’s as the top stops [in NYC]. Both deliver a great pie. I would add Patsy’s to that list. It’s right up there with Lombardi’s and Totonno’s.
Chris
7. The best pizza, naturally, comes from Italy. The best pizza I have ever had was made by a Roman who had a pizza bar in a neighborhood nearby [Australia]. Where most pizzas are made in electric ovens this guy used a wood oven. [Often the best foods come from neighborhood restaurants without famous names]
Sire | Wassup Blog
8. Una Pizza Napoletana [NYC] gets points for their crust with manages to mimic the texture, consistency and thickness of a Neapolitan crust. It fails in several ways: the center of the pizza is too thick. I want the almost translucent dough of Starita [Napoli] and Di Matteo [Napoli]. Also, their pizzas cost $21. A Napoli, 4 euros. Its dough. And marginally palatable mozzarella. Get real. And $10 for a glass of second rate wine. If the name “una pizza napoletana” wasn’t crafted to evoke the ideas authenticity and simplicity, then I would have no qualms. But since it was, then I expect both.
Katie Parla | Katie Parla.com
On Giving Back
9. I’m planning on participating in Kiva.org. As a person who runs a business, I needed a loan at one point…I’d like to help other succeed. Especially, since it won’t require much in a lot of those countries. I was in Peru a few months ago. I’ll try someone from there.
Tim
Rock Garden, Chandigarh © Gennaro Salamone
On Green Travel
10. Chandigarh was so much fun when we visited it. It was truly a pleasant surprise and a change from most of India’s chaotic cities. The weather during monsoon season is a not as hot as in most parts of India because of its geographic location. The [rock] garden was an amazing experience. Be sure to visit manmade Lake Sukhna after the garden and take a boat ride.
Sima
11. Here in Philadelphia, Isaiah Zagar has created a “garden” and mosaic house out of basically junk. [It's called] Zagar’s Magic Gardens.
Kim Woodbridge | (Anti) Social Development
12. Coyotes are spotted often in Oakland County Michigan, Detroit’s northern suburbs. It’s very common to watch wild pheasants walk across streets of rural Detroit. Wildlife is running out of wild so they are forced to adapt to nearby cities. The mix isn’t always workable. Man always wins, even when we shouldn’t.
Brian D. Hawkins | Extreme Ezine Marketers
Bringing In A Lucky Chinese New Year
13. Another thing that Chinese consider good luck is the pulling of Raw Fish strips (during Reunion Dinner which is end of CNY) – the higher it’s pulled (vertically) from the table, the better.
Kelly | MyQute.com
14. I really like the idea of cleansing the house and body at the beginning of the year. It’s like setting the tone for the rest of the year. It’s human nature to judge something based on how it begins and ends. If you start off a year properly, then you are setting off on the right foot.
Trey | Swollen Thumb Entertainment
15. That’s [luck for the New Year] what my mom’s been stressing to us yesterday and today — oranges and a clean house. Phew I’ve been cleaning some parts of the house since yesterday. And we’re not even Chinese!
Brian Karl | Brian Karl.com
16. I think one of the most important aspects to have a good year is having an environment that promotes balance and feng shui.
Elijah | The At Home Couple
17. In my family, a bowl of black-eyed peas on New Year is essential for good luck.
T Edwards | Poverty101.net
Conservative Clothing, Pushkar, India © Gennaro Salamone
On Staying Safe Abroad
18. In terms of sexual assaults, a big mistake that women travelers make in India – as they do in the Middle East – is to think that because it’s hot they can wear next to nothing. Female travelers forget that India is a conservative society – Hindus and Muslims both so – and that wearing minimal clothing is provocative.
I don’t think it’s a matter of right or wrong, it’s more a matter of appreciating that the culture (whichever culture it is) is different and as travelers we’re guests (male or female) and we need to appreciate that culture regardless of what we think of its values.
Lara Dunston | Cool Travel Guide
19. “Safety” is such a broad word. Terrorist attacks [in India] are not my number 1 concern. Better measures are necessary for dealing with more everyday crime. Because when I am attacked when leaving a shopping mall in Kolkatta, I don’t want to hear from the police that “it was probably my fault, because I must have provoked the thugs somehow” – as happened to me last January.
AnnaE | Budget Trouble
On Travel Gear
20. I used to have this [Canon Powershot SX10 IS] camera (or a previous version of it) and it is the best little camera. A great choice if you’re looking for something a little more advanced than a small point-and-shoot but aren’t quite ready to go into the DSLR arena.
Tabitha | From Single to Married
What was your favorite travel thought? Do you have a great tip to share?
Read about unique ways to select your next travel destination.
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.
Receive our free content by e-mail directly to your inbox or through an RSS reader.
6 Steps to a Lucky Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year brings forth celebrations throughout the world. Chinatowns from London to New York to Singapore will be filled with parade attendees enjoying dancing dragons, flexible acrobats, and dynamic fireworks displays.
Chinese New Year also brings about a fresh start for those wishing for a better upcoming twelve months. There are lots of traditions that help to bring about a fortunate year. Here are six of the most popular steps to a lucky Chinese New Year:
1. Using Citrus Fruit
Eating or displaying citrus fruits represents good health and a long life. It’s common to see Chinese families with oranges and tangerines throughout their residence. They are also given as gifts. Pomelo, produced mostly in the United States and China, is said to bring luck and status. Pomelo is the biggest of the citrus fruits and has a sweeter taste than its ancestor the grapefruit. Try pomelo in a fruit salad or a variety of Asian dishes.
Pomelo Salad © SheriW
2. Cleaning and Decorating Your Home
Cleaning your dwelling before the New Year is a must for any Chinese family. It’s believed that this ritual sweeps away the bad luck of the past year. All cleaning items are to be put away after the cleaning, as it’s bad luck to use them on New Year’s Day.
It’s also important to decorate your residence to welcome in the New Year. It’s especially lucky to use red décor. Placing flowers throughout the home is customary. Peach blossoms represent good luck and narcissus help to bring prosperity. The decorating isn’t limited to the interior of the residence. It’s equally important to place banners around the doorway. The most common symbols on the banners are a “door god” or the Chinese character fu for blessing.
3. Eating For Luck
There are plenty of options for dining on Chinese New Year. Jiaozi (Chinese dumplings) are eaten right after midnight to give family members good luck for the upcoming year. The dumplings are filled with ground meat and vegetables.
Jai or “Buddhist delight” is a vegetarian dish. Many Buddhists use it for purification during the first few days of the New Year. The ingredients range from lotus seeds and bamboo shoots to cabbage and fried tofu.
Common on every plate will be long noodles (uncut), which are said to bring a long life to the person who consumes it.
Red Lanterns, Singapore © Ryan Meuth
4. Red Money Envelopes
Red is the color of luck for the Chinese New Year. It is also the color of money or treat envelopes that are given to children. It’s also common for red envelopes to be given to the unmarried by the married. The amount given has an important significance too. For luck, an even number is most common.
5. Fireworks Celebrations
Wearing Chinese traditional clothing, often newly purchased, is customary with lots of red and tints of gold for luck and prosperity for the New Year. Parades in Chinatowns, across the globe, will be filled with a sea of red clothing from attendees. It’s believed that costumed dragons, dancing lions, and exploding fireworks scare off evil spirits. While fireworks have been banned for personal use by many governments, there continue to be professional displays in cities with significant Chinese populations.
New Year’s Martial Arts Demo © Julialat34
6. Greeting With “Gung Hey Fat Choy”
Be sure to wish everyone a “gung hey fat choy,” which wishes others prosperity and wealth.
Want to learn more about Chinese New Year? Setting goals for the New Year? Feeling spiritual?
Read about the three perfect places to befriend a Buddhist monk, lifestyle design for the New Year, the world’s most colorful Chinatowns, and celebrating Chinese New Year in Shanghai.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.
Receive our free content by e-mail directly to your inbox or through an RSS reader.
Barcelona, Spain
