An Aware Traveler

Vacations 

(reproduced from DailyOM)

; by Madisyn Taylor

An aware traveler sees each new journey as an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of humanity.

As the technology of travel grows ever more refined, the world grows smaller. Whereas a journey of a hundred miles once took many days, we can now travel across the globe in mere hours. The four corners of the earth are accessible by plane, train, and ship, and there are few pleasures in life as soul-stirring and transformative as travel. In a new land, the simplest of joys can be profound—meditation takes on a new quality because the energy in which we are immersed is unfamiliar. Our sensory experiences are entirely novel. Yet the relative ease with which we can step out of our own culture in order to explore another means that we are ambassadors representing not only our own way of life but also the culture of the traveler. As a conscious citizen of the world, you can add value to the locales you visit while simultaneously broadening your own perspective.

A truly aware traveler sees each new journey as an opportunity to improve international relations, spread goodness, and gain a greater understanding of humanity. To immerse yourself in foreign cultures is to open your mind to fresh ways of being. Your natural curiosity can help you navigate the subtleties that define a culture. While you may not agree with all the traditions or laws of a country, abiding by them demonstrates that you understand and respect their value. Staying centered in another culture is often simply a matter of learning about your destination, being patient with yourself and others, and accepting that people may treat you as an example of your country’s attitudes. New worlds will open to you when you take part in the everyday life of a locale—the reality of a destination is in its markets, its streets, and its people.

Traveling presents a wonderful opportunity to practice being open-minded and grounded. The voyages you make help cultivate a worldwide community in which we as humans can acknowledge and appreciate our differences as much as we recognize and appreciate our similarities. Though you will eventually return home, the positive impression you leave behind will remain as a testament to the respect and amicability that marked your intercultural interactions.

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Are you ready to Travel for the Holidays?

Going to another country for the holidays is a great way to learn about a new culture or visit family that is located there. Regardless of the reason why you are traveling to another country during the holidays, you need to make sure you are prepared for the trip.

For most countries you are going to need a passport with a photo ID. This will allow you to remain in the country for a specified amount of time. Generally, this time frame is from 30 days to 90 days.

Make sure you keep your passport and other pertinent travel documents in a safe place. You don’t want them to get lost or stolen as this can delay your travel plans. Make sure you arrive early for your flight so that you can get through all of the necessary inspections and verifications in plenty of time. 






There may be vaccinations that you are required to get and others that you are encouraged to get before you can travel to certain countries for the holidays. Plan ahead and find out what these vaccinations are and then schedule appointments with your doctor. Some of the required vaccinations have to be given in a series with a specific amount of time between each shot in the series to be administered. Therefore you don’t want to wait until close to your time of travel to take care of this matter.

Depending on where you are traveling, you may have to deal with a different type of currency. You can get your money exchanged at your local bank before you leave. This will save you time trying to take care of it when you arrive in the other country for the holidays. There may be language differences as well that you need to take into consideration.

Be careful what you pack when you travel for the holidays. Most modes of transportation have strict guidelines on the size of your luggage, how many bags each person can have, and the weight guidelines. They will be enforcing these restrictions during the holidays because of the volume of people traveling. You don’t want to have to get rid of some of your items or purchase more bags at the gift shop.

Make sure you are aware of how much luggage you have for your return trip as well. While it can be fun to purchase items while you are there, think about how you will get them back. It may be a good idea to pack an extra bag in your luggage when you go so you can fill it up for the trip back. Another idea is to have items shipped but that can be quite expensive.

While traveling to another country for the holidays can be exciting, you need to remember that their customs may be significantly different than your own. Be respectful of such differences to avoid any conflicts while you are in that country. It is a good idea to read about the various customs that will be in place so you won’t reach them by accident. 

The Importance of Comparing Airfares

Do you need to book a flight?  

If you are looking to take a vacation,  you will find an unlimited number of options.  There are thousands of airports around the world, as well as multiple airlines that service those airports.  With these different options, you are encouraged to compare prices before making any official reservations.

By comparing, you will get more travel options.  When comparing flights and airlines, in general, you are likely to come across flights that you may not have otherwise seen or known about.  In addition to getting a better deal, you may also find flights available with a different airline that has more convenient times.

Another reason to compare prices when buying airline tickets is because you can save money.  What many people, especially first time travelers, do not take into consideration is price differences.  Although you will find some similarities, different airlines charge different fees.  

When you spend less money on your travel arrangements, such as your airline tickets, you have more money that you can put towards your vacation.  Depending on the amount of money that you are able to save, you can enjoy a nice meal, add an extra activity to your to do list, upgrade your overnight accommodations, and much more.  

One of your first stops should be online travel websites.  Online travel websites are nice because they let you compare flights from different airlines, all at the same time.  A good benefit of using online travel websites to compare airfare rates is you can pay for your tickets through them as well.

You may also want to visit the online websites of airline companies.  If you have to fly out of a specific area, like Albany, you will want to visit the online websites of airlines that you know fly in and out of that airport.  This process of comparing prices will take a little bit longer than using online travel websites, but many take comfort in knowing that they are doing business directly with the airline company.

Happy Flying...

Whats on in sydney

Some of the events being hosted in Sydney, Australia during February.



SYDNEY CHINESE NEW YEAR MARKETS!


When: 8-10 February (Friday 4-10pm, Saturday & Sunday 11am-10pm)
Where: Belmore Park, across Eddy Avenue from Central Station
Celebrate the Year of the Snake at the launch of the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival Friday, 8 February. The festivities continue all weekend with fabulous Asian food, cooking demonstrations by top chefs, kids’ activities, karaoke competitions, entertainment from Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese performers plus more.
There are 80 events to enjoy this Sydney Chinese New Year Festival,.

TWILIGHT PARADE – SLITHER AND SHIMMER!

When: 17 February
Location: Sydney Town Hall to Chinatown
Join us for a magical night of floats, lanterns, dancers and plenty of slithering snakes at this year’s Twilight Parade from Sydney Town Hall to Chinatown.
There will be stunning projections on city buildings and spectacular fireworks. Limited seating is available for $66pp; visit the website for ticket info
Click here for more details.

A GLIMPSE OF BRAZIL IN SYDNEY

When: 19/02/2013 - 09/03/2013

Since 2009, the Brazilian film industry has shared their passion for film with Australian audiences. This year, the festival is in its fourth year and it is bigger than ever. After a humble start just in Sydney, with only four films, it has now tripled in scope and has now expanded to other Australian cities such as Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide

The Brazil Film Festival is a multisensory experience where you can immerse in Brazil's culinary, music, dance and art. The festival is a non-profit project, where it features the professional and creative showcasing their films, as well as teaming up with local businesses and organisations for support and audience reach.
It is the perfect stage for talented people from all over the world, to culminate and share one passion for telling the millions of stories that exist all over Brazil. Stories that made people from all over the world cry, laugh, and mostly fall in love with Brazil and its people.

You can be shown the beauty of Rio de Janeiro's landscape, gain a sneak peak into the mysterious Amazon or simply watch the joy of Brazilians, all through the content in it's movies. You will be guided on a journey that is simply unforgettable.

"We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race." Cicero

Being a Citizen of the World - thoughts for your vacation.

An aware traveler sees each new journey as an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of humanity.

As the technology of travel grows ever more refined, the world grows smaller. Whereas a journey of a hundred miles once took many days, we can now travel across the globe in mere hours. 

The four corners of the earth are accessible by plane, train, and ship, and there are few pleasures in life as soul-stirring and transformative as travel. In a new land, the simplest of joys can be profound—meditation takes on a new quality because the energy in which we are immersed is unfamiliar. Our sensory experiences are entirely novel. 

Yet the relative ease with which we can step out of our own culture in order to explore another means that we are ambassadors representing not only our own way of life but also the culture of the traveler. As a conscious citizen of the world, you can add value to the locales you visit while simultaneously broadening your own perspective.

A truly aware traveler sees each new journey as an opportunity to improve international relations, spread goodness, and gain a greater understanding of humanity. To immerse yourself in foreign cultures is to open your mind to fresh ways of being. Your natural curiosity can help you navigate the subtleties that define a culture. While you may not agree with all the traditions or laws of a country, abiding by them demonstrates that you understand and respect their value. Staying centered in another culture is often simply a matter of learning about your destination, being patient with yourself and others, and accepting that people may treat you as an example of your country’s attitudes. New worlds will open to you when you take part in the everyday life of a locale—the reality of a destination is in its markets, its streets, and its people.

Traveling presents a wonderful opportunity to practice being open-minded and grounded. The voyages you make help cultivate a worldwide community in which we as humans can acknowledge and appreciate our differences as much as we recognize and appreciate our similarities. Though you will eventually return home, the positive impression you leave behind will remain as a testament to the respect and amicability that marked your intercultural interactions.