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.
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Hotel To Guests: Pay as You Wish!
February 9, 2009 by Gennaro
Filed under Travel News
Ibis Singapore on Bencoolen has instituted a “pay what you want” policy for their current promotion. Ibis is positioned in the heart of Singapore, close to local transportation, shopping, and tourist attractions. It is a new hotel with a modern decor to go along with an Asian Tapas restaurant called TASTE. Rates usually begin from 162.43 SGD ($108.55 or 83.93 Euros) after taxes. They’ve set up a special website for the promotion. Read more on Stuff.
Singapore © Gennaro Salamone
Ibis SIngapore has developed a smart tact for gaining publicity in a struggling market. Hotels have taken a major hit over the course of the last few months. This gimmick will help Ibis to gain headlines, web traffic, and countless travelers to register to their site.
Singapore itself has a lot to offer the traveler. It’s one of the cleanest and most efficient cities in Southeast Asia. The tourists who are lucky enough to score an inexpensive room at the pricey hotel would be smart to visit the Botanical Gardens, wander around Little India, marvel at the Chinatown Heritage Centre, and dive with sharks at the Underwater World. It’s also important to savor the local cuisine including Chilli Crab, Black Pepper Crayfish, and Drunken Prawns. Little India has their blend of Indian and local tastes too.
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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.
Free Things to Do in NYC
January 10, 2009 by Gennaro
Filed under Destinations, Features
Visiting New York City will quickly burn a hole in your wallet. Even budget hotels are extremely expensive in comparison to most cities around the world. Enduring Wanderlust has compiled a multitude of quality activities throughout the city that will allow visitors to have an enjoyable experience without having to shorten their trip because of a lack of funds.
Cultural and educational
There are lots of free museums in the city including the National Museum of the American Indian and the Museum of American Folk Art. Several other museums are based on suggested contributions such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The latter institutions expect a donation based on your ability to pay. Find a full list of the free museums in city.
Visit Ground Zero and St. Paul’s Chapel for a grim remainder of the events of September 11, 2001.
Two must stops for visitors to the Big Apple are St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.
Take a self-guided Bob Dylan Tour (Greenwich Village). It covers lots of places connected to the great musician.
Brooklyn Bridge © Gennaro Salamone
Walking the city
Walk or bike across the Brooklyn Bridge for a beautiful view of the city. Consider having Grimaldi’s pizza on the Brooklyn side of the bridge. Read about the best pizza in NYC.
Times Square is filled with animated neon and LED signs advertising a variety of products. No trip to the city is complete without wandering its streets.
Central Park is an oasis in this concrete jungle. It offers visitors a wide variety of walking tours,
activities, and attractions.
Entertainment
Numerous popular television shows are filmed in the city. These include David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Rachel Ray, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Regis and Kelly Live and many more. Tickets to the shows are gratis for attendees. For free tickets, go to the show websites.
Club Free Time does an excellent job of listing free happenings in the city. These events range from art classes and concerts to site tours and book readings.
Concerts (Mostly Summer) are held throughout out the city. The free shows range from the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera to Jazzfest.
Summer Stage (Central Park) offers several months filled with free performances. Watch for their new schedule about a month before the summer starts.
Seven bars who offer free food to customers. Be sure to check with the bar before arriving to see if their offer remains.
Polar Bear, Bronx Zoo © Gennaro Salamone
Fun with the kids
The Bronx Zoo (Wednesdays) is a perfect place to spend an afternoon. It has a wide range of wildlife along with plenty of activities for the whole family. Be sure to watch the feeding of the sea lions.
Free kayaking is available at the NYC Downtown Boathouse. You will be supplied with a kayak, life jacket, paddle, and some tips on paddling.
The Greenwich Village Halloween Parade is a fun and free place to show off your costumes.
On the move
The Staten Island Ferry provides free rides between Manhattan and Staten Island. From the deck of the ferry passengers have a view of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
RightRides provides free rides home for women on Saturday nights within a select area of New York City.
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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 an article or photograph for publication.
Receive our free content by e-mail directly to your inbox or through an RSS reader.
Recycled Masterpiece: Chandigarh’s Rock Garden
January 9, 2009 by Gennaro
Filed under Destinations, Features
Chandigarh, India is a pleasant surprise to travelers who have braved the chaos of the country’s rickshaw-filled roads. The streets of this urban center are well-ordered with sculptures and trees throughout. The jewel of Chandigarh is Nek Chand’s Rock Garden (Map). The garden is comprised of recycled materials including ceramic pots, glass bottles, sinks, and broken plates. It is a place of inspiration for those who support a movement toward green living.
Chandigarh Rock Garden © Gennaro Salamone
For those making the journey, the garden has a maze-like path that features a multitude of creative figurines ranging from animals to human forms. You’ll witness tourists and locals alike marveling at the modern wonder that was developed by Chand. On most days, locals are seen picnicking or sharing a romantic moment on the grounds (see below). To have a particularly unique experience, ask the information desk if Mr. Chand is at the garden during your visit. If so, he’ll be more than happy to visit with travelers.
Chandigarh couple and waterfall © Gennaro Salamone
Toward the end of your walk, a lovely waterfall will appear with human figures atop it. This is a comfortable spot to relax for a few moments in shaded areas. Upon leaving the complex, it’s a short cycle rickshaw ride to the Open Hand Monument, which remains the official logo of the city.
After returning to the city-center, consider having dinner at Ghazal Restaurant (Map). Ghazal has excellent service along with classic Indian dishes. For window-seating and extra attention from the staff arrive 15-20 minutes before traditional dinner is served.
If you’re unsure about making the trip to Chandigarh consider combining it with a journey to the hill station of Shimla. Kalka, the town where the toy train to Shimla originates, is only an hour from Chandigarh.
Read about Bodh Gaya, India.
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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.
Painted Monasteries of Romania
January 8, 2009 by Gennaro
Filed under Destinations, Features
Gura Humorului is a logging town surrounded by beautiful farmland. It’s also the perfect base for visiting the painted monasteries of Southern Bucovina. Most travelers arrive by train from either Suceava or Cluj. With limited hotels, the best option is the free rooms provided by local families. Before the four solo voices of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy start ringing in your mind…free means empty in this case. With a little luck, chain-smoking Brenda will meet you at the train station waiting to offer you a room in her lovely mother’s home. There are plenty of houses advertising their rooms if Brenda isn’t wandering the area.
Staying with a local Romanian family will accentuate your experience. It will also provide you with a home-cooked breakfast. In the case of the Swiss woman I met at Brenda’s, it also provided extra security. As I left to hike thru scenic farms on the way to visiting Voronet Monastery (2.5 miles) and Humor Monastery (3.5 miles), Brenda’s mother requested, quietly, that I accompany her other guest. She feared for a foreign woman walking alone. That won’t happen at most hotels.
Family Picnic, Gura Humorului © Gennaro Salamone
Buses or taxis are available, in lieu of hiking, for travelers who prefer a more comfortable voyage. Be warned that it’s unlikely that a Romanian family will invite you to join them for a picnic by the river (see photo below) if bus transport is your choice.
The painted monasteries are the jewels of northeastern Romania. Their interior and exterior wall paintings feature frescoes of a variety of Biblical scenes including The Last Judgment. Voronet’s intense shades of blue and detailed imagery are pleasant to the eye. Humor is a smaller monastery with its own theme of frescoes adorning the interior and exterior walls. Its reddish-brown shades provide a contrast to the intense blue of Voronet. Each monastery was also fortified with walls to defend against the power of the Turkish Empire, which regularly invaded Romania in the centuries of their creation.
Voronet Monastery © Cristian Bortes
It’s recommended that you ask one of the local guides to gain a better understanding behind the meaning of the frescoes and scripture. The scenes are often self-explanatory, but there is a deeper and more significant message at each monastery. Additionally, there are areas of the frescoes that have faded over time. Only a professional will have the knowledge to fill in the missing pieces of the story. Consider bringing a prepared lunch to the monasteries too. The grounds are a comfortable place to relax for the afternoon.
Read about the perfect places to befriend a Buddhist monk.
___________________________________________________________________________________
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
