PureTravel

Support the Olympic Pledge

Jules — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:34:36 +0000

Eighty eight years ago Lt Col Strutt made a pledge during the 1924 Olympic Games, that he would return one of his teams’ gold medals to the summit of Mount Everest. Strutt and his team won a total of 21 gold medals for their Everest climb attempt and this year, the race is on to complete the mission.

Brit mountaineer extraordinaire Kenton Cool (great name) will climb Everest for the tenth time in his successful career and deposit the medal at the peak of mighty Everest. More information and reports are on the video above.

What to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Jules — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:37:30 +0000

No trip to Vietnam would be complete with a few days spent in the buzzing metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, more commonly referred to as Saigon by the locals. Modern and old stand side by side; you can be shopping for spices and silks at a market down one of the many alleyways one moment, and then find yourself in a newly built skyscraper with ice-cold air conditioning. Whether you’re looking to wander around the temples, monuments and historical buildings or looking to fill your time with luxury shopping, gourmet restaurants and five star hotel facilities; Ho Chi Minh City has it all!

Museums

War Remnants Museum is another place of special interest for veterans and their families since exhibits include weaponry and other items including some non-detonated explosive devices. Referenced by locals as The American War Museum, some of the exhibits and pictorial displays portray the horrors of the Vietnam War especially from the Viet Cong soldiers’ point of view.

The History Museum contains exhibits accompanied by provenance indicating the existence of life estimated to span a 300,000 year period. One highlight is a gigantic Buddha featuring 1,000 eyes and arms.

Situated in a converted customs house, Ho Chi Museum, known to locals as the dragon house, contains exhibits of items belonging the former dictator, forced to remain in exile for 30 years, including an American-made radio, said to be among his most prized possessions.

FITO Museum, operated by FITO Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., contains exhibits, of special interest to medical personnel, including various medical implements and supplies of oils and herbs. Knowledgeable staff members act as docents for tours.

Old Saigon - The Shoppers Paradise

Strolling along Dong Kohi Street and Pham Ngu Lao Street affords visitors opportunities to purchase merchandise including jewellery, silks, rosewood items and clothing. At some men’s clothing boutiques, tailors will render custom-made shirts for less than $10, fabric not included, to be ready for wear in 2 to 3 days.

Ben Thanh Market is a massive maze of vendor stalls stocked with crafts depicting various aspects of Vietnamese culture. Tourists are cautioned not to become innocent victims of vendors offering war relics since many are reproductions. In addition to fresh produce, this market is home to the most expensive coffee in the world. This coffee is rendered from the excrement of the Civet, a creature resembling a large rodent that derives its main source of food from the coffee bean fields. During processing, the excrement is boiled to destroy harmful bacteria. Said to have a very interesting taste and not to be as bitter as traditional coffee, each normal-size cup sells for $5. One popular souvenir in this area is plastic bags of coffee beans.

Of Special Interest to Veterans and Their Families

For many American veterans, a visit to Ho Chi Minh City is a way to remember and attempt to explain what the Vietnam War was like for them. Regardless whether tourists fought in the war or knew someone who did, there are things to do and places to see that are guaranteed to change your perspective about that era. Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, prior to 1976, is a mixture of many things ranging from outdoor markets and pagodas to modern buildings, skyscrapers, and restaurants. This city is home to over six million people whose favourite mode of transportation is a motorbike.

Cu Chi Tunnels is a massive underground system that, if followed correctly, allowed natives to cross the entire country in secret. A few of the segments are accessible to tourists. This tunnel system, designed to provide for all the necessities of life, included schools, medical facilities, a kitchen, and sleeping areas. A war memorial provides some explanation highlighting U.S. offensive assignments such as Operation Crimp and Operation Cedar Falls, whose purpose was search and destroy missions. Tourists have the opportunity to test their gunnery skills firing weapons including an AK47 under controlled conditions.

Vietnamese Temples

These structures are known to locals as pagodas, stemming from the Greek word for place of idol dwelling. Believed to be one of the oldest, Giac Lam Pagoda, circa 1700s, is devoted to the spirits of healing and grief relief. Many locals and visitors leave pictures of people in need of prayer. With entrance graced by a massive Buddha, this structure contains a dining room, altar area, and a main hall.

At Ong Bac Pagoda, erected post-WWII, people set paper money afire in petition of prayer for blessings including finances, health and a peaceful life.

By Julie Bowman

USA Holidays - Top 5 Celebrations and Festivals

Jules — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:48:12 +0000

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Running through the first three weeks of February, Mardi Gras has to be the biggest, most outrageous and flamboyant event on the USA festival calendar. New Orleans is a steamy, sensual city bursting with colour, and the vibe there is reminiscent of that in the Caribbean.
Dazzling dancers, African and southern rhythms, unbelievably ostentatious costumes and sizzling soul food are just some of the treats in store.

Aloha Festivals Hawaii

This series of festivals begin in early September and are a celebration of Hawaiian culture, tradition and history. It’s not all about tropical flowers and hula dancing, although there is plenty of that going on. Hawaiian musicians showcase the best in local talent with exceptional ukulele players, Hawaiian rhythms and contemporary sounds creating an air of community, pride and celebration. Vendors sell traditional Hawaiian food that includes luau (stews made with coconut milk), tropical fruits and Japanese style tonkatsu. An equestrian procession accompanies a parade of flower-laden floats and marching bands during the closing floral parade.

Independence Day Celebration Washington DC

The best place to experience the USA’s Independence Day is in the country’s capital, where the most iconic monuments and state buildings stand. The day kicks off with a parade along Constitution Avenue with marching bands, uniformed military types and decorative floats passing by huge crowds. The White House Visitor’s Centre hosts family events and the National Archive celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There are concerts in the Washington Monument Grounds and, of course, fireworks on the National Mall during the evening.

Kentucky Derby Festival, Louisville Kentucky

Taking place over the end of April and beginning of May, the Kentucky Derby is one of the most iconic festivals in the USA and includes the largest annual firework display in North America. At the heart of the festivities is the celebration of the derby itself, and the programme includes sporting events, games and The Great Balloon Race, in which hundreds of colourful hot air balloons take to the sky. There is also a Great Steamboat Race and Pegasus Parade with incredible floats, inflatables and displays.

New Year in New York

To see in the New Year, there’s nowhere more spectacular than the Big Apple. Crowds flock to Times Square for an evening of festivities, shows and displays unmatched by anywhere else on the planet. Dazzling lights and high energy performances entertain crowds of over a million people from the streets and roof tops. The bill includes internationally renowned musicians and there are masses of decorations as well as an awesome pyrotechnic display. For the finale, the New Year’s Eve Ball is lowered as spectators countdown to midnight.

On New Year’s Day when the party is over you can ice-skate at the Rockefeller Centre, take a stroll in Central Park, or bag yourself some bargains in the sale at Macy’s.

USA Holidays with Titan Travel, book escorted holidays starting from £1,565 for 16 days. Flights to Hawaii with Air Canada from £1,109.

7 Signs that a city break is not right for you

Jules — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:24:39 +0000

A long weekend trip to a buzzing city can be a fantastic experience, full of interesting cultural sights, ancient historical monuments and a wide assortment of restaurants, bars and clubs. It’s not everybody’s perfect break though and if you find yourself nodding at the following points then a city stopover may not be your ideal travel adventure either;

Cross-walks - The city is not for you if you hate waiting to cross the street and have to pep step all the way for fear of being run down by people and worse yet vehicles if you get caught in the middle of the street when the light changes!

People, People and more People - The city scene is not for you if you feel that you deal with enough people already during your working week. Cities are mostly bursting to the seams with people, just waiting to talk over you, bump into you and dodge in front of you when queuing.

Coat Tail Caught in the Subway? The best way to get around a large metropolitan city is via the subway; however the trains are always packed. Running to get onto the subway and barely making it, while trying to keep your traveling partner (s) together is downright dangerous. Usually you’ll just squeeze in before the doors close behind you and the sudden realization that there are no seats free to rest your aching legs and sore feet. After walking miles and running a marathon to your train, all you can do is stand in the crowd and hang on (face nestled in a sweaty strangers armpit is almost mandatory). Taxis are an alternative option if you are willing to pay handsomely, tip well and sit in traffic jams.

High Prices – What do thousands of captive people equal? Well, the change to overcharge on everything, from transportation needs to retail items to food at a massive mark up. Maybe the city just isn’t for you.

Enjoy Bird Sanctuaries in the City? You will have to do a lot of walking in a city and you might think that a quiet, restful, break on a cool park bench sounds great, and it would be if it were not for the hordes of pigeons waiting to pounce on your tasty snack.

Camera Toting Idiots - If you don’t fancy weaving through hordes of people and their assorted cameras, and being caught in numerous photos with city landmarks then the city is definitely not for you.

Afraid of Fear? If you fear being robbed, having your wallet lifted or purse snatched then the big city life is not for you, not even for a quick getaway.

What do you think? Are you passionate about a city stay or do you hate the very sound of them? Let us know which camp you are in!

By Julie Bowman

20 Weird laws from around the world

Jules — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:23:19 +0000

I never realized how many laws I have broken when traveling. I have always thought of myself as a law-abiding citizen. Oops! Read this list and see where you could be going wrong;

USA
• Boogers must not be flicked into the wind when in Alabama. (What if it’s stuck to your finger and you can’t get it off for heaven’s sake.)
• In Florida, you may not pass gas in public in the evening. (Question? What happens with the silent ones where everyone is pointing at the other guy? Well I guess just make sure you don’t say oops or sorry.)
• In Florida, annoying the community is a second degree misdemeanour. (The poor guy who passes gas will get hit with two offenses.)
• Bees are not allowed to fly over the village or through any of the streets in Kirkland, Illinois USA. (I wonder if that is what the police sirens were for that day we were there. Apprehending those offenders will surely create a buzz about town.)
• It is unlawful for a person to shoot rubber guns onto a highway without written permission from the City Council in Mount Vernon, Iowa. (Oops!)
• It is illegal to endanger a moving train by standing a vehicle on the tracks in Prince William County in Virginia. (Endangering the train! What if my car stalls?)
• It is illegal for bar owners in Kimball, Tennessee, to allow their customers to fart. (I guess we know who will get blamed this time; the owner!)
• Skunks may not be brought into the state of Tennessee. (Don’t even try it, they will smell you coming.)
• It is illegal to tease or harass an idiot whilst in Georgia. (I will be nice when that “wonderful” person cuts me off on the highway.)

UNITED KINGDOM
• In London it is illegal to flag down a taxi if you have the plague. (Thank goodness it was only H1N1.)
• A pregnant woman can pee anywhere she wants. (Definitely useful information for the future.)
• It is forbidden to carry rabid dogs and corpses in a city cab in London. (I thought the guy was just rude and in need of a bath sitting next to me.)
• You cannot die in the Houses of Parliament in the UK. (Will definitely try my best, but really can’t guarantee the guy next to me in the city cab.)

CANADA
• The country is classified as a no-pee destination. (Sorry! Small bladder and couldn’t hold it.)
• You may never use dice to play craps. (Well. Crap!)

DENMARK
• One cannot be charged for a meal at an inn unless that person (in his or her own opinion) is “full”. (Awesome! I love this one.)

VIETNAM
• Blogging is forbidden in Vietnam, well at least chatting in forums or blogging about the Vietnamese government is strictly forbidden. (That’ll be an early end to your holiday then!)

ISRAEL
• Picking one’s nose on the Sabbath is highly illegal throughout Israel. (I didn’t pick! I blew!)

SINGAPORE
• The sale of chewing gum is prohibited across Singapore. (Brought my own, but I didn’t stick it anywhere. I swallowed it.)

THAILAND
• No one is allowed to step on any of the nation’s currency. (Watch your step on this one.)

How many silly laws have you unknowingly broken?

By Julie Bowman on Google

A guide to strange Asian delicacies

Jules — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:57:16 +0000

A trip through Asia will be an incredibly enlightening trip and one way to immerse yourself fully into the local culture is to try the cuisine on offer. Skip the high-end hotels in favour of street stalls, markets and small eateries. And watch out for these bizarre local delicacies too;

Try balut, a duck that is not completely developed or sometimes a chicken egg that has been boiled inside its shell. A lot of people like to eat this dish across Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines, because it is very high in protein. Totally gross but very nutritious!

Sample drunken shrimp in China, particularly Shanghai, which is live shrimp that is bathed in a strong alcoholic liquor. The liquor helps to calm the shrimp down a little bit so you can tuck in with abandon. Just think of sashimi but with a little more life in it.

For a dish with a difference try octopus testicles, which will probably (hopefully) have been deep fried in some type of batter. They are usually served at some of the festivals throughout Japan. And as we know, everything tastes infinitely better when it’s deep fried!

Also on the menu is codfish sperm. As disgusting as it sounds, it is literally the sperm of a codfish, which is served with a special spicy sauce to give it a little bit of flavour. There are only a few parts of Asia (such as Japan) that actually eat this dish.

And finally can we tempt you with a tarantula dish? This must be prepared properly as this arachnid contains very dangerous venom. That said, the tarantula when cooked is crispy on the outside and a little bit gooey on the inside. Cambodia in particular serves up a mean fried tarantula.

Welcome to a British summer of sporting events

Jules — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:54 +0000

Treat this as your one-stop guide to all the biggest sport events happening in the UK this summer! It all kicks of this weekend with an eagerly anticipated rugby match and the highlight of summer 2012 will of course be the Olympic Games, which are now just 70 days away. Here are the hottest events to look forward to;

The Heineken Cup Final: Saturday 19 May 2012, at Twickenham Stadium:

London hosts Europe’s top rugby union competition this weekend, a match pitting Ulster Rugby of Belfast against Leinster Rugby of Dublin. The all-Irish final is being highly anticipated; the match is already an 82,000-ticket sellout. Leinster, last year’s cup champion, is the first club to reach back-to-back finals since Toulouse in 2005, and are expected to repeat last year’s result after dominating the Pro 12 League table and indeed finishing top again 10 points clear. Ulster’s performance has been more of a surprise as they currently rest in 6th place.

Royal Ascot: 19 - 23 June 2012, at Ascot Racecourse:

Though the fabulous social aspects of Royal Ascot often overshadow the sporting aspects of the competition, the 301st edition promises to feature many exciting races, particularly the Gold Cup on June 21st. Whether you’re attracted to costumes and pageantry or gambling and athletics, a weekend trip to Berkshire to experience the tradition of Royal Ascot is not one you are likely to regret.

The Wimbledon Championships: 25 June - 8 July 2012, at All England Club, Wimbledon, London:

The world’s most prestigious tennis tournament features many British players hoping to end Britain’s 45-year drought without a champion. Most notably, Andy Murray of Scotland will return hoping to improve on his recent results. After taking the first game against Rafael Nadal in last year’s semi-final, Murray lost next three and was sent home at the semi-final for the third consecutive year. Still ranked fourth in the world, he’ll be holding the hopes of the country on his shoulders, but with the likes of Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic in the field, such a breakthrough would be quite an achievement, indeed. The excitement begins June 11th for the wild card playoff; the tournament’s final draw occurs June 21st.

Formula 1 British Grand Prix: 6 – 8 July 2012, at Silverstone Racetrack, Northamptonshire:

The British Grand Prix, more than just another stop on the F1 circuit, is the longest running continuously staged F1 world championship. Silverstone has hosted the event for decades, and will continue to, despite issues in past years surrounding track renovation. Fans will have several British drivers to cheer for over the weekend, including the phenomenal Lewis Hamilton who currently clocks in at number 3 in the F1 standings, Jenson Button who is ranked sixth and rookie Paul Di Resta in twelfth position.

The Open Championship: 19 - 22 July 2012, at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s Golf Club, Lancashire:

The 141st Open Championship is being held at the historic Royal Lytham & St Anne’s Golf Club, a par 70, true links course considered by many to be the toughest in the Open rotation. Following the excitement of the Masters and the beginning of the golf season, the Open will be highly anticipated come mid-July, especially by Britons; of any event on this list, the Open may provide the best opportunity for a British champion. Two Brits, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy, have been neck and neck for World Golf’s #1 ranking the entire season, with Donald currently holding the advantage. Two other Englishmen, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose, find themselves in the top 10. With the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson making appearances, there’s certainly no guarantee of an Englishmen raising the Claret Jug, but one will likely be in the running.

The Olympic Games: 27 July - 12 August 2012, in Greater London:

The main event of the summer is, of course, the 30th Olympiad. The vast majority of events will be held in the Greater London area, with the only exceptions being rowing, mountain biking, canoeing, sailing, and some of the early football matches. The venues in Greater London have been separated into three “zones”: the Olympic zone, the Central zone, and the River zone. London’s public transportation system, a concern for the International Olympic Committee, has seen loads of improvements in preparation for shuttling eager spectators between the various sites.

Some British athletes to keep an eye out for at the games include Hannah England, a middle-distance runner who specializes in 800 metres, 1500 metres, and mile runs, Liam Tancock, the world record holder in the 50m backstroke, and the women’s field hockey team, which is expected to medal. The UK is also loaded at both genders in the taekwondo competition, led by Jade Jones and Aaron Cook, the latter of which finished fourth in Beijing despite being only 17 years old.

If you’re in the UK and looking for some ideas and inspiration on what to do, where to go and what to see then check out our UK travel guide which has plenty of information.

Cowes Week: 11 -18 August, 2012, in Cowes, Isle of Wight:

One of the world’s longest running regattas, Cowes Week features 40 daily races and an average of 8,500 competitors from across the globe. Held on the Solent, excitement here abounds due to the difficult double tides caused by the Isle of Wight. Interestingly, Cowes provides not only an opportunity for spectators to witness today’s most efficient professional sailors, but also for amateur sailors to compete. Even sailors without a boat have are welcome, as many professionals hire extra hands for the week. Spectators can enjoy good food, shows, and shops, as well as cheap flights around the racing area.

The Paralympic Games: 29 August - 9 September 2012, in Greater London:

Taking place just a few short weeks after the main Olympic Games wrap up, the Paralympic Games will utilize many of the same spectacular venues. Though this summer marks London’s third Olympic competition, it is the first time a Paralympic Games have been hosted there. It provides an opportunity for spectators to witness some of the most inspirational and remarkable athletes in the world perform in twenty sports such as football, volleyball, cycling, and rugby. Many British athletes are expected to compete, though qualifying doesn’t take place until later this summer. One man we do know will be in attendance is wheelchair basketball team captain John Pollock, a leader in the sport for over a decade.

By Julie Bowman on Google

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