Years of experience in welcoming travellers from all over the world have made Asia the perfect host, and like all good hosts, it offers something for every taste. Whatever you’re looking for on your gap year there’s a good chance you’ll find it in Asia; from whitest of white knuckle adventure rides to some of the best volunteer projects in the world.

Asia is perfect for gap year travellers; the serene beauty provides a soothing backdrop to a career escaping break while the rugged mountains and million mile an hour cities offer the perfect slice of adventure for those full of youthful energy. Here are a few words of advice on the how, why and where of gap year travel in Asia and start planning your own trip.

Check out the Gapometer to mark Asia on key gap year criteria.

*****        Gaptastic

****         Great for gappers

***           Worth a look

**             Too much else to see

*              Never mind the Gap

Volunteering

In an age of mass media the beauty of this place somehow continues to surprise, yet too much of the Asian continent continues to experience severe depravation. According to the Asian Development Bank, Asia’s poor account for two thirds of the total in the developing world and a huge number of volunteer projects have sprung up to help ease the problem.

There are lots of different projects in areas like community work and teaching or maybe even link one with a conservation project or two. Asia should be as famous for its wildlife as its landscapes; animals like pandas, elephants, tigers and sea turtles can all be found here. The WWF has listed 6 places in Asia amongst their list of 19 priority places, leaving no-one in any doubt as to the area’s significance.

***** The perfect place to use your gap year for good

Travelling around

With a year on your hands you’ll want to spread your wings and really explore a place, and in Asia that’s both easy and rewarding. There are now easier ways to get around Asia than the famous overland expeditions of the 70s (though if you’ve got a camper van spare give it a go). Travelling varies from country to country so make sure you plan thoroughly. Most central countries, like China and India, offer extensive rail and road links. South-East Asia, with the exception of Myanmar, is probably the easiest and cheapest place to explore in the world. Don’t forget to bring a good book for the journey though!

For people who get coach sick there’s always the option to use up a stop or two from a Round the world ticket. Low cost airlines are getting in on the act so look out for new destinations. For those who want to do most of their travelling in Asia, check out companies that offer an ‘air pass’ which for one price, allows you to dot around all over the place.

**** Plenty to see and no reason not to explore

Money

Money and budgeting are big considerations when you’re planning to spend a year away from home, so the cost of getting to and living in a place is all important. There are big differences between countries in this respect; the more expensive countries to explore in Asia are Japan, Taiwan and because of its size, China. If you want to visit these countries perhaps consider earning money by teaching English while you’re away. The affordable countries include Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Sri Lanka while cheap countries such as Thailand, Nepal, India, The Philippines and Indonesia offer truly budget travel.

Living costs are a large part of your budget so plan carefully. While you’re on a volunteer placement this will normally be sorted out for you but when you’re travelling independently remember that budget hostels doesn’t necessarily mean rubbish hostels. In fact they can often be the most fun! The same is true about food; the best food in Asia is found on the street and it’s incredibly cheap. Some of the best meals in Asia cost less than 50p! The great thing about Asia is that you don’t need to pay for your entertainment because it’s all around you!

***** Plenty of bargains to be found

Earning as you go

Earning while you’re away is essential for many people. For travellers who do need to earn a few pennies, Asia is a good place to choose for your Gap year travelling. The continent has the biggest demand for English teachers and there are placements in a range of destinations including some of the world’s most exciting locations. Getting qualified is one of the best money saving investments travellers can make. For a relatively small price you can get qualified in double quick time and at least have it as a safety net in case you spend a little too much souvenir shopping! You’ll get access to TEFL contacts all over the continent and can easily include a little teaching in your itinerary.

***** There is nowhere better to earn money while travelling

The wow factor

Asia has the wow factor in bucket loads. It’s the most popular destination for westerners and millions of people can’t be wrong. The cultural and natural diversity of the continent offers the perfect backdrop to a gap year with enough going on to keep you entertained at just the right price to keep you solvent! The old favourite still has plenty to offer a new generation of travellers.

***** Everyone should go at least once. It’s the law

Useful links:

http://www.i-to-i.com/resources/students-and-gap-years/

http://www.i-to-i.com/travel-asia.html

We all use home appliances with some using them more than others, our day to day activities mean home appliances get used very often and as such they use a considerable amount of energy. We are all being encouraged to live our lives in a more environmentally friendly way and as such the government is helping us with our homes in terms of the home improvements we make.

As a result of the environmental issues that exist many of the leading brands have released energy efficient models of all their products. These include all major products such as washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers and these will not only help you do your bit for the environment but will also, and more importantly for many people, having these types of appliances will help you save money on your utility bills each month.

Appliances are products that you will not have to buy on a regular occurrence as long as you buy a good quality appliance in the first instance. These are definitely investments for the future as a good quality home appliance should be lasting you 10 years at least.

Unfortunately there are plenty of appliances that do not meet the required standard and as such you need to be careful with what you are buying. Buying from a trusted brand such as Hotpoint, Beko or Bosch is a good way of ensuring that you have brought a high quality product.

There are many different appliances that can be brought for the home and if you have never had one break down on you then you are very lucky as those who have not been so lucky will tell you. Appliances are very important to the running of our homes and you don’t realise how much you rely on something until you can not use it.

The best place to find all home appliances is online where you can also take advantage of all the services available such as home delivery which saves you having to transport the appliance yourself. One of the best services that online stores offer is they will dispose of your old appliance in an environmentally friendly way. This helps you as well as disposing of your old appliance can be quite difficult and very tiresome.

For cheap tumble dryers make sure you search online where there are also some great cooker deals available.

The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes ‘sight-seeing’. – Daniel J. Boorstin

Practical information

If you want to get inspiration for what to see go to a place that sells postcards an check out the things which seem interesting.

Take some snacks (e.g. an apple) with you while sightseeing to keep your energy level going.

You can sometimes pay entrance fee only once and then return on consecutive days without having to pay again. In order to be able to do this you may have to get a special stamp with the date or write your name on the back of the ticket. In some destinations such as Cancun, Mexico there are time share agents. They can offer you free food, discount tickets or even cash if you go and listen to a presentation (and to the endless argumentation from sales guys afterwards). If you can handle this it can be a good way to save money, but you have to look reasonably rich in order for them to give you the offer.

Personal Experience – The Punjab Plague Ploy

In Dehli a very nice gentlemen approached me as I was trying to find a place to buy train tickets. He kindly informed me that he came from the “Official Tourist Office” – something the metal badge strapped around his arm ensured. Perplexed by his badge and a being a newcomer in India I nicely took a stroll to the “Official Tourist Office”, which turned out to be nothing more than a regular travel agency. I said I wanted a train ticket to Punjab. People in the office were shaking their heads. “No, no, you can’t go to Punjab. People are dying there!” They were referring to a plague of some kind. And quickly offered a 10-day sightseeing tour to Rajastan instead. Well, I realized in time this was a bunch of crooks and found my way down to the official ticket office. Not surprisingly situated at the railway station, a few steps away from where he hooked me up.

In general, showing up at times when there are few people there is usually rewarding. Going to Taj Mahal in India in the early morning can offer great photo opportunities, while going there in the afternoon will give you a tourist invasion to cope with.

Tours

If you plan to visit sites which are visited on day tours (e.g. Petra in Jordan) but would like to avoid the crowds you can consider taking the tour day 1, stay overnight in a local hotel, go to the site early before the tour buses arrive day 2 and go back with the tour company on day 2. If you want to take tours the advice from fellow travellers is worth a lot more than that of the tour operators (who will try to sell you the tour where they get the highest commission).

If you travel alone going on a tour is a great way to meet people and to get advice on other things to do.

Personal Experience – The Balaton Blunder

I was staying in a private home near lake Balaton in Hungary. The house consisted of two floors with a common entrance door. The owner of the house showed me around the place and left me the key before he left. I was preparing for a nice afternoon sightseeing trek but when I tried to open the front door I found it locked. I tried to unlock it but the key did not work, the owner had left me the wrong key! The windows did not open and here was no back door. I gave up trying to pick the lock (I am an honest guy after all) and proceeded to yell out the window and wave. There were several people passing by but they all just smiled at me and waved back. After one hour the neighbour started to wonder what all the noise was about and finally got hold of the owner who came back and unlocked the door.

If you like to explore nice cities, then consider your vacation time and find some decent areas of your interest. City-Traveling is a perfect way, to let your dreams come true. The idea is, to get you out of the usual pre-made vacation trap and create your own world of relaxation.

Take any travel magazine from any country you like, and find an area of your liking. It can take some time, to find it. Then collect all the data about this environment, does it have enough variety and does it really give you, what you personally would like. If it is real satisfying, you book hotel and flight. The difference to the usual relaxation booking is here, that you are completely cause over, what you can now expect. Most of the time, what is wrong with all these pre-made vacation offers is, that you will only realize their existing variety, after you did arrive. And if you don’t like just laying at the pool, it may not be as good.

Do you like historical cities. or do you like more elegant. Do you prefer a city beach, including lots of other attractions, or are your real dreams in the mountains. You could make your list per country, city, sensations and action. After that, you can compare your cities and prices and figure out, what it will be this year.

But here is still another aspect for making the right decision.

Let’s say, there are some different types of vacations. Not every vacation has the same purpose, and you should always take the right one for each year. It all has to fit with your current situation in your life as well. Don’t choose the wrong environment with the wrong activities, for what you really need.

1. There is, let’s say the sick person, who needs some help and relaxation, together with some more peaceful environment around her. The best place is here a real relaxation facility, where everything is cared for during the day. Even medical treatment is somehow possible, if really necessary. Sitting in the garden playing games like monopoly or chess, are the only the fun activities.

2. This is a vacation, where you can bring your new born baby, and you may decide heading for a farm or country hotel. The big, open space is yours and there will not be big crowds of people, bothering you.

3. You feel, you need relaxation and you don’t want anything else as just laying on the beach and eat your ice cream. Then you should choose one of the pre-made Hotel-Beach vacations. But your interest level can change and you may ask for more variety. After some days it can become then pretty boring. Only if you want to be alone, “in the greens” or only with your family, a Country Beach or Hotel Beach would be the perfect place and very wonderful for you.

4. If you consider yourself being somehow in good shape and want to keep up playing with others, then only choose a place with some bigger variety of things to do. Let’s say, you should have a fantastic beach, but also several movie theaters, restaurants and shopping centers, together with golf, basket ball and other opportunities. You should be able to rent a boat or yacht, go surfing, parasailing, snorkeling, scuba diving – the list would just go on. And if you find some other fellows, then you can celebrate some major barbeque. Disco dancing is another choice for being entertained and having fun.

5. is similar to 4. but goes still a bit higher in its quality, because this city is also featuring some attractions, cultural or historical. With gardens, parks, museums and wonderful family fun parks – and you should go for one or two days and visit one or more of these places, before you walk the next time back to the beach. This would kick you a little bit out of your day-by-day-beach routine and is giving you some fresh impulses and impressions. This can become a big adventure – plus more variety also brings more fun !

Coming then back home after your vacation time, you will be a different, but very relaxed person – with some new energy, views and spirit.

Fatty hamburgers, oily fries, and greasy pizza—when you’re on a vacation, you cannot help but stuff yourself with these scrumptious and convenient but unhealthy food. It is not any different if you are visiting a world-renowned theme park like Universal Studios. Chances are, you will be exposed to various kinds of unhealthy food during your vacation to this place. But because your health is important whether you are on a vacation or not, here are some tips for healthy eating at this popular theme park.

1.         Bring your Own Food

This first tip is advantageous not only for healthy eating purposes but also to save you money. Bringing your own lunch and snacks would ensure that you are able to stay away from junk foods that are all over the place. Pack healthy snacks such as fruit juice, power bars, sandwiches, and veggie munchies.

2.         Look for Healthy Restaurants

Eating out does not have to mean eating unhealthy foods. All over Orlando, many restaurants serve nutritious dishes. If this means that you need to go out of the theme park to eat, then do so. Here are some of the best choices.

•           Crispers – Don’t be fooled by the name. Usually, crispy food is unhealthy fried food. However, this soup and salad chain actually offers healthy eats such as gourmet sandwiches, amazing wraps, tasty soups, salads with fresh ingredients and fat free dressings. In the menu, choose vegetarian dishes marked with a little red tomato symbol.

•           Ming Court – Healthy Chinese food is the specialty of this casual restaurant, which is flocked by tourists and locals alike. For freshly prepared stir-fry and delectable sushi, be sure to drop by this place for a round of healthy lunch or dinner.

•           Red Bamboo Thai Restaurant – Located on the International Drive, this healthy Thai restaurant is the perfect place to eat your lunch or dinner. Don’t miss their tofu and vegetable medley with spicy Thai curry sauce. If you’re looking for something a bit toned down, you can go for the heavy-on-the-appetite steamed meet and vegetable dishes with light seasoning and served with rice.

•           Salt Island Chophouse & Fish Market – People who crave for seafood should certainly head over this restaurant, which offers a wide assortment of healthy seafood platters such as grilled scallops, garlic shrimp, and grilled fish.

3.         Stay away from junk food

Temptation to eat junk food is hard to resist. But you can if you make it a goal to avoid these kinds of foods at all cost with the right motivation. Not only are they unhealthy, they also won’t provide you with the energy you need to do all the activities lined up for your vacation.

Healthy eating is possible even in a place like the Universal Studios. Just make sure that you find healthy restaurants, bring your own food, and stay away from junk food. To make sure that you really have a good time, consider availing Universal Orlando Packages that will make planning a cinch. Universal Orlando Packages can be purchased online but you need to find a reputable travel website to provide you with the best rate and service possible.

Travelers, campers, and vacationers alike can be at risk for getting Lyme disease, a serious, debilitating condition caused by being bitten by an infected tick. 

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Some of the symptoms of Lyme disease are the classic bull’s-eye red rash, fatigue or loss of energy, feeling sleepy, tingling and numbness, swollen and painful joints, memory loss, and feeling like you are getting the flu.  Paralysis of the face is a less common symptom. 

Lyme disease can make your life miserable and cause you a lot of pain and suffering if it’s not diagnosed and treated right away.  The longer you wait before seeing a health professional allows this disease to progress quickly and it may not be possible to lessen it’s effects.

How is Lyme disease spread?

Ticks bite and then feed on animals like mice, other small rodents, and deer.  If these animals are harboring the Lyme bacteria, they can pass this  bacteria on to the ticks.  And if people are bitten by an infected tick they may contract Lyme disease.

What steps can you take to reduce the chance of getting Lyme disease?

Some people do not have symptoms that show right away so prevention is always the best policy.  If you are traveling in the spring and summer months to or through areas where deer, mice, other rodents and animals live, the following are some things you can do.

When you are camping on holidays or vacation, you can lessen the number of ticks around your campsite by cleaning up any brush and leaves debris.  Wearing light colored clothing helps you to easily see these very tiny black insects and remove them before they get attached to your skin.  Make sure you wear long-sleeved shirts and tuck them inside your pants.  Always tuck your pant cuffs inside of your socks.  It is also a good idea to wear rubber boots as ticks are commonly found close to the ground.  However, you may also get them in your hair if you happen to brush against any leaves on a low tree branch.  Wearing a light-colored, wide-brimmed hat will help.  Be sure to check your skin and scalp carefully as ticks can easily be overlooked, especially in your hair.  Applying a DEET insect repellent to your clothes and exposed skin, as well as applying permethrin, an insecticide, to your clothes will also help.

How can you remove ticks safely? 

Ticks that have burrowed and embedded themselves underneath your skin can be removed by using a small-tipped tweezers.  Do not leave any part of the tick remaining under your skin.  When the tick has been totally removed, disinfect the wound thoroughly with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol.  Keep in mind that you are not totally out of the woods yet, so to speak, as the symptoms can take a number of days or weeks before they show.  Using tweezers is the only safe way to remove ticks from under your skin or scalp.  Don’t try to remove any ticks by using burnt matches, petroleum jelly, or alcohol as this will aggravate them, causing them to release more of the bacteria into your blood stream. 

Please note that there is no vaccine available for Lyme disease.

The Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC) states that this bacterial disease is vastly under reported, perhaps by well over 100,000 cases per year in the U.S. alone.  Visit their website at cdc.gov for more information on Lyme disease.

With the present economic crisis affecting all of Europe, the majority of people are trying to lessen their expenses in order to make do with their reduced incomes and in some cases loss of jobs.  Sometimes, some non-essential things are no longer bought and people have to adjust to save some of their hard-earned money for basic needs.  Some people might be even be convinced now is not the right time to go on holidays.  Nothing could be more further from the truth.  With a lot of people experiencing added stress and anxieties, now is exactly the right time to take a break and leave all your worries behind, at least for a while.

Banish the though that every holiday costs a large amounts of money. In fact, it is very much possible to enjoy cheap holidays in Europe without emptying out your pockets.  One good option to consider would be to go local.  If you and your family only have the weekend or only a few days to spend, try going to tourist attractions that are just a few miles away from your home.  There are a lot of inns and home-style accommodations available all over Europe which caters mostly to locals who are just there for a few days.  This type of holiday can be the most affordable and will take a lot less energy and hassle than going to overseas.  Besides, it always makes so much sense to go exploring your own local attractions before you go far looking for adventures and excitement.

Of course, when you are thinking of the once-a-year holiday wherein you wish to take your family or friends to someplace exotic and totally unfamiliar, you might want to consider some of the more popular tourist destinations in Europe.  The key to having cheap holidays in several cities in Europe is still careful planning.  Try looking for deals and packages offered through the Internet, which are normally offered during off-peak seasons.  Savings can be incurred by saying in a resort where rooms are equipped with kitchens and dining area.  This way, you can prepare your own meals instead of constantly eating in restaurants where you will be sure to pay a pretty penny after each and every meal.  Another option would be to stay in a hotel a short distance away from the centre of the city or town, as rates are surely lower compared to those located right in the central hub of an area.

Consider taking package reservations which include accommodations, airfare, and tours.  These travel products are often in demand due to the promised savings and convenience, since the traveller does not have to think of organizing their holidays and everything’s taken cared of. If you want to play the travel agent and secure the best possible holiday which cost within the budget, scour the Internet for attractive deals and offers.

Heading for destinations that are more laid back and has lesser crowds often lead to savings for you and your family.  Granted, you won’t get to enjoy all the other amenities promised in more metropolitan settings but lesser known destinations often emphasize on natural attractions and the hospitality of the locals.  What’s more, you get to spend more time bonding with your loved ones with lesser distractions, translating to happier memories you can take back with you.  Now who can truly say you cannot enjoy holidays without spending all your hard-earned savings on it?  And planning and preparing for cheap holidays in Europe gets easier and better with practice, ensuring you and your family gets to be seasoned travellers without burning a hole through your pockets.  Now that’s something to look forward to year after year, don’t you think?

Biking to work is a great way to save money. For a start, you don’t have to fill up a thirsty tank with liquid gold – not as much, anyway. All that extra energy used will see the weight fall off and fitness take over. That means you are saving both fuel costs and gym fees. You’ll be so fit and healthy you won’t know yourself. And you’ll be able to treat yourself to that wicked dessert without feeling guilty or gaining much weight at all. And just think of all the fuel that is used with the car stationary, but the engine idling away at those traffic lights. That’s waste, if ever there was any. But you cannot switch off, because switching back on would use up even more fuel and also battery power.
Cycling to work costs nothing but a bit of effort and organization. You may have to leave earlier, but it could surprise you just how little difference in time it takes due to the traffic snarls that you have to wait out in your car. With a bicycle, you can keep on riding, or take a short cut across the park.
You won’t even have to go to the gym when you ride a bike on a regular basis. Cycling to work costs nothing but a bit of effort and organization. You may have to leave earlier, but it could surprise you just how little difference in time it takes due to the traffic snarls that you have to wait out in your car. With a bicycle, you can keep on riding, or take a short cut across the park. All that extra energy used will see the weight fall off and fitness take over. That means you are saving both fuel costs and gym fees. You’ll be so fit and healthy you won’t know yourself. And you’ll be able to treat yourself to that wicked dessert without feeling guilty or gaining much weight at all.