Do you use itineraries when you travel? Do you rip out those '48 Hours In...' or '3 Perfect Days in...' pages from travel magazines and newspapers when one catches your eye? Do they end up staying at home lost among your paperwork or do you slip them into your guidebook and take them with you when you go some place? And when you get there, do you actually use them? And what about guidebook itineraries? All travel guidebooks feature them these days; I've just written a bunch myself. They're either organized by duration ("one day in Milan", "weekend at the Lakes" etc) or by theme, with sights and activities suggested by subject or interest, such as "'3 days of food and wine in The Veneto". You get the idea. I'm curious to find out who uses itineraries and how you use them. Or do you simply make up your own? We met a couple of Italian travellers in Australia last year and the woman methodically underlined sights in her guidebook and then wrote out day-to-day itineraries. Her boyfriend was happy for her to do although he didn't seem to mind either way. My interest is partly motivated by comments from readers, in particular Sarah, who in response to my post on casual tourism wrote: "My other half is definitely a casual tourist! Which drives me slightly nuts... I like to plan to ensure I don't miss anything. On our last two holidays, I'm there with the map and the tourist book and he's just like... "can't we just wander around and see where we end up?!" Argh!" I'm interested in hearing from planners like Sarah to find out if you use itineraries and how you use them - what do you do if they're not working for you, say, if you don't like the author's choices, or order of selection, or if there's too much to do on one day? Do you abandon them and create your own? If you're an itinerary user, I'd love to hear from you.

Seated at the heart of Angkor, Cambodia (specifically in the Siem Reap provine) is the Khmer architecture of the World’s City Temple --- the Angkor Wat. Since 2004 and 2005, the Angkor Wat is now a major tourist destination by all avid travelers in the world. The estimate figures went up from 561,000 to 677,000 visitors and still counting for more. 

A Brief History

The construction of Angkor Wat began in early 12th century during the rule of Suryavarman. That time, the Angkor Wat was known as the king’s state of temple in the capital city. As many historians believe, the Angkor Wat was owned by the traditional enemies of Khmer after the death of Suryavarman. 

Since then, the temple was abandoned but thanks to the Western visitors as they decided to restore the real beauty of the temple in 1586. Yet, the restoration was stopped due to civil war and caused destruction to various Angkorian statues.

Angkor Wat: The Reconstruction

Years passed by and the construction of Angkor Wat continues. Even its conservator by the name of Maurice Glaize pointed out that Angkor Wat should be preserved due to its balanced elements and its proportional arrangements of the towers. 

When the construction in placed led by Archeological Survey of India in 1886, the Angkor Wat is now a classic style of galleries that extends from the entrance to the west and east side of the pillar. The outer wall was 1024 x 802 m and 4.5 high below the ground.

The central structure of the Angkor Wat is made up of three rectangular galleries dedicated to Brahma, the moon and Vishnu. The gallery is structured with columns that connect the second encoluse to the west side part of the temple.  The second and inner galleries are internally connected with each other following three sets of steps on each side leading to the corner towers and into the innermost gallery of gods known as Bakan. 

Decorations inside the Angkor Wat are extensively adorned with scenes from the Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.  The western gallery shows the Battle of Lanka while the eastern part of the gallery shows Churning of the Sea of Milk. On the northern part of the gallery lies the scene of Krishna’s victory over Bana. 

All in all, the whole mood of Angkor Wat is truly an ornate and complex architecture but still one of those important religious centers in the world.

Visiting Angkor Wat

One can visit Angkor Wat anytime of the day. Midday is the part of the day where there is less crowd times at the temple. In fact, touring the vast land of Angkor Wat takes four to five days and be sure not to ignore the highlights of this attraction. The highlights are Angkor Thom, Banteay Srei, Phnom Bakheng Hill and the Tonle Sap Lake. 

Hotel bookings and affordable packages are offered online to get the best experience one can have while in the perimeters of Angkor Wat. 

Leaving the traveller versus tourist debate aside, what kind of tourist/traveller are you? Would you consider yourself to be a 'casual tourist'? Or a 'casual traveller' if you object to being called a tourist at all? While my husband Terry was cooking dinner one evening in the big country kitchen my uncle and aunt have here in Bendigo, Australia, where we're staying while we write some books, we were dissecting a couple of trips they recently did to Spain last year and Mexico a couple of months ago. I'd asked Uncle George if they went to the Frida Kahlo museum in Mexico City as I'd suggested. They have a gorgeous garden here - a wild wonderful garden that's a cross between a romantic 'English cottage'-inspired gardens and something you'd see at a Russian dacha in a Tarkovsky film (there's a mini Birch forest) - plus my uncle's an artist and my aunt's very creative when it comes to interior design so I thought they might appreciate Frida Kahlo's garden and house. But they didn't go. In fact they didn't go to a lot of places I'd recommended. But they assured me they still had a great time. Flabbergasted, I asked: "But what did you actually *do*?" "Well, we just walked," my uncle replied, with a shrug of his shoulders and roll of his eyes, "We did a bit of this, a bit of that... we like to walk." I'm guessing the look on my face must have been one of dismay, but still somewhat enquiring, because then he declared - after swallowing a glass of wine (not that I'm suggesting he needed guts to tell me this - but maybe he did!) - "I think I'm a casual tourist..." "Uh-hah!" and I quickly splashed some more wine in my own glass. And so, over a bottle of wine, and Terry's preparation of another very fine meal, we developed a theory... my uncle's idea of travel can be described as 'casual tourism'. The way he likes to travel is very low key and laidback. He likes to explore, but he doesn't like to do much planning or preparation, and certainly doesn't want his day crammed with sightseeing. In fact, when he arrives he doesn't like to *do* much at all. But he's not the kind to lie on a beach and do completely nothing. He wants to experience a place, and the more atmospheric it is the better. For instance, Jerusalem is a favorite. But he and my aunt like to wander around a bit, see a sight perhaps, maybe do a short tour, eat some lunch some place, but it doesn't have to be very spectacular at all - they certainly don't feel obliged to base their choice on reviews. Then they'll do some more walking, perhaps browse in a shop, stop for a drink and a nibble at a cafe... and so it goes. They don't have tremendous expectations, and so they're not terribly disappointed either. They just seem to appreciate a place for what it is. Wandering around, walking the streets, taking in the vibe... that's their idea of a good time. And actually, when I'm not working on a travel book, that's mine too. Oh, except the bit about the restaurants of course. So, what do you think? Are you a casual tourist? Or casual traveller?

Before we moved overseas a decade ago we thought Australian restaurants were some of the best in the world. And it wasn't that we hadn't travelled much. We had. But a meal at Testuya's, Rockpool or Aria was better than any we'd eaten at overseas - even in New York. Yet since returning to Australia last year to research a couple of books, we've been so disappointed by Australian restaurants. (Admittedly, we've not yet had the chance to return to Tetsuya's, Rockpool or Aria - we'll try those again next month). We spent over four months on the road, eating out at least once (or twice) a day, and, sadly, we can count the truly memorable meals we've had on both hands - ten great meals out of 120 (minimum) is not good at all. In Italy, where we spent three months researching books before returning here, it was the opposite. (I'll share our top Aussie restaurants with you in another post.) On Saturday night, we took my aunt and uncle out to dinner here in Bendigo to thank them for having us stay at their beautiful house for so long. We took them to what The Age's Good Food Guide considers to not only be Bendigo's best restaurant (for four years running!), but one the reviewer would travel far to eat at. We've used the book a lot this trip and have been disappointed so many times with their selections. The quality of their best choices just doesn't compare to some of the world's best restaurants. So either the quality of restaurant offerings around these days is not very high, the Good Food Guide's standards are no longer as high as they once were, they reviewers are not looking very hard, or they simply need to get out (of the country) more. It's very disappointing. Terry has one theory: read his post What is the price of an average meal?

Pictured? One of Terry's recent dishes, a Tortilla Soup, just one course in a five-course authentic Mexican menu (not Tex Mex!) we made for my aunt and uncle who recently returned from a trip to Mexico. We might not get out much while we're in write-up mode, but we certainly eat well. Better than we do when we go out in Australia it seems! So, what do you think? Has the quality of Australian restaurants declined? And the standards of reviewing too? Or are we just too critical?

A major incident was averted last week when Terry's Mac died. Had we been forced to buy him a new one (it would have been his second in 18 months) to ensure our project workflow wasn't interrupted and a book didn't miss a print deadline, we would not have been very happy. Fortunately Apple came to the rescue, had repairs sped up and the local business Office Everything who did the job gave him a loaner while they fixed his MacBook Pro. The fact that Terry has his (and my) back-ups organized so beautifully meant he could continue working on the borrowed Mac while he waited for his to be repaired. You can read about what happened and how he manages his back-ups here.

Me? I'm not a professional photographer like Terry, I don't shoot for books and magazines (just my little blog, and memory), so I don't have hundreds of thousands of images to manage to deliver to publishers, so my back-up process is a lot more simple. Equally as important is my workspace. Thanks to my uncle and aunt, whose place we're currently holed up at writing these books, we have a big desk, a cosy and comfortable office (their library), and a cute cat curled up next to us.

So what is it that's so inspiring about travel quotes? About reading profound snippets of writing plucked from novels, memoirs and diaries that have already been repeated countless times? And taken out of context too. Picture this: a tired travel editor, half listening to the banalities of backpacker conversation, and wishing he was down the beach surfing instead of reading copy submitted by his writers, is suddenly engaged and inspired to travel again - by reading great travel quotes! Like these: "People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home." (Dagobert D. Runes) and “To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” (Freya Stark); “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.”(Paul Theroux); “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” and “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” (both by Robert Louis Stevenson). And this one from the comments following the post from one of the readers, Cedric Pieterse: "When you get back from your travels, and tell your friends of all the interesting people you have met in obscure bars and hostels. Only to realise after years of travel, you are the guy they talk about." Somehow I don't think Cedric was the first person to say that, but anyway... now, I didn't go trawling through Brave New World's archives this morning to find these '50 Most Inspiring Travel Quotes of All Time', compiled by travel writer Lola Akinmade, rather they found me... a link to the story was forwarded to me by a friend who obviously things I need to get inspired. But the fact that these tidbits did get me thinking has indeed got me thinking... about the ability of words to inspire us. And in this case, to inspire us to travel. I've been noticing a lot of travel quotes being tweeped on Twitter too. And Twitter's 140-character requirement is the perfect vehicle for sharing quotes, right? So how is it that 12, 14 or 16 words or so, taken out of their original context, can have such power and work such magic? What do you think? Do quotes work to inspire you? Or do you just read them, shrug them off and think "not bloody Robert Louis Stevenson again!" I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Pictured? More people sitting around a fountain, like they have nothing better to do... this time in Krakov, Poland. See my last post.

I did stop to smell the roses today in my uncle and aunt's garden. There are roses just outside the French doors to the library, which has become our office for the time that we're holed up here writing, so I have no excuse for not taking a sniff more often. And the roses are smelling especially fragrant at the moment. There's been rain this week and the garden is in full bloom despite it being the beginning of autumn (or fall, for my North American friends). But as I inhaled the scent, I did think 'Damn, I don't do this enough!' And I was reminded of a friend I used to work with who called me a robot and who frequently told me I needed to stop and smell the roses more often. So as I was looking for a photo today - no time for reminiscing, I simply had to identify a building in a city in Italy we wrote about which I'd become confused about (and that's what you get for travelling as much as we do) - I spotted this photo I'd taken in Bologna last summer. And while I've looked at the photo several times - mainly so I could describe the fountain for a book I was writing - I'd never really stopped to look at the photo properly. Because I had never noticed the kids sitting on the steps of the fountain before. All I had seen was the photo. Which led me to think about how many times I've passed fountains on our travels, especially in Europe (we spend a lot of time in Europe), and noticed locals and travellers alike sitting on the steps of fountains, eating their lunch, drinking whatever, reading books, or just fooling around, and how many times I've been rushing past going somewhere, doing something (always working), and thinking how nice it would be to be able to stop and sit on the steps of a fountain sometime... to be on holidays, or just to be taking life more slowly. Just to be living the kind of life that allows one to stop and sit on the steps of a fountain. Because it's not that I don't have the opportunities. I probably see more fountains in piazzas than most people. I definitely see more fountains than roses when I travel. So 'sitting on the steps of a fountain' is going to be my 'stopping to smell the roses'. My way of measuring the pace of my life, of keeping my work-life balance in check. Because now... well, it's a little out of whack. So, how often do you take time out to sit on the steps of a fountain when you travel?

Do you want to trade links? If you're a travel blogger, leave your URL in a comment at the end of this post, but, unless you just want to say hello and talk travel (then I'd love to hear from you) but please don't email me your URL to link to as it may get lost. I've had a lot of links trickling in recently but unfortunately when I'm on deadline (as I am now) I have to ignore emails that aren't coming from editors (and sadly I also have to ignore my little blog a bit), so emails sometimes slip through the cracks. If you leave your URL here then I've got them all in one place and I'll check this from time to time and I'll upload them in one hit. I have no hard and fast rules. If you've got a travel blog that you write yourself, the content is original, it's good quality stuff, and I like it, then I'll link to you. If it's a commercial travel site, then that's different, you'd better email me. Because I'm a professional travel writer, my credibility is everything, so I don't automatically link to commercial sites. I need to use the site first, try your product and like it before I link to it or write about it. There are very good reasons you don't see me linking to Expedia or Asia Rooms for instance.

Here are some tips on how to avoid being disappointed when you travel from other travellers and travel bloggers. These gems of advice were in response to my request for suggestions from readers:
* Cautious optimism and a focus on the everyday and unexpected is what Sandy recommends: “I do think it's much more exciting to be the cautious optimist ... the human observations, stuff like getting a good breakfast and the moments that that brings, or meeting someone who surprises you, is so much more meaningful to me than getting a look at the Mona Lisa, ya know?”
* Look for news ways of seeing from different points of view, Jessie at Wandering Educators suggests: “As a person with disabilities, I am often disappointed that I can't get in, go to, or actually see things close up. What I've learned is to enjoy things from a distance, and also to look around where I actually am. Sometimes, the benches around the Eiffel tower are infinitely more interesting than looking (or going) up.”
* Go with a good travelling companion and a willingness to spontaneous, says TravelMuse: “Having a great travel companion is my way to overcome disappointment. When my husband and I found Tybee Island in Georgia to be disappointing we decided to stop off at an old fort on the way back to Savannah. This last-minute side-trip turned out to be fascinating and a lot of fun. If you stay open to other possibilities you can always find something amazing!”
* Travel with children, suggests Carolina, who says her son is her favourite travelling companion: “I find that my disappointment usually has to do with things other than the actual place. Maybe I ran into a rude person, or I'm overtired, or it's overcrowded. But these instances are rare. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world just to be out and about… Kids have a way of seeing the cool things we often miss, and I've learned to have a much better sense of humour about disappointments. They often make for the best stories anyway.”
* Use your camera to discover the hidden beauty in places is Miss Expatria's advice: “I'm currently HQ'd in a city that is a hugely popular tourist destination, but that I find hugely disappointing. I keep myself from getting too down about it by taking my camera with me wherever I go, and forcing myself to find the beauty to capture. It's worked - so far!”
* Learning about the stories behind places works for Mark at TravelWonders: “I have had the odd disappointment but I try to keep things in perspective and still enjoy the sight for what it is. Trying to understand its history, cultural impact or reason for being helps salve any disappointment as I think there is nearly always some story that makes sense. That being said, I've almost never been disappointed with natural attractions (nature is always impressive to me). A far greater disappointment is when I travel far to see something to find it closed for some unexpected reason or encased in scaffolding or heavily restricted.” Most of the time, anyway!
* Staying in the moment is what Clearly Enlight recommends rather philosophically: “Accepting the moment, and taking the time to absorb the moment will defeat the emotion of disappointment. Avoid expectations and preconceived ideas. I have not been disappointed with anything, because there is nothing to be disappointed about if a person remains in the moment and accepts the precise moment… Remaining in the moment, which the ego hates, is the remedy. Accepting the moment as it is, and not what a personal fantasy, based on ego, wanted it to be. This process works for myself as a long term traveller.”
Now, you'll never be disappointed again, will you?

I wanted to share with you some more reflections from readers on disappointment on the road that I found insightful. These philosophical responses came in reply to my call for suggestions on how to avoid disappointment when travelling (which in turn was inspired by Eric’s post on TravelBlogs.com) and I’ll post those tips next.
* “… travel is often about the new, and the new needs some preparation, so we have to move ourselves into that zone where we imagine, prepare and then experience… how much research should I do before I get there, will it take away the moment of experiencing and therefore lead to that disappointment… that the expectation then will be either too high or too low, and I guess I'm fearful that expectations become the point of it... how much does it deviate from what I expected... how well am I prepared for this? Should I have brought this, that or the other? Should I have contacted more or less people? And I suspect then for me the disappointment would be in not meeting the expectations that I have of a place. And that feels really pedestrian…" says Sandy O’Sullivan.
* “I think it's important to remember that the icon is just a representation of a place and a time when ‘wonderment’ was not within everyone's grasp. We are a shrinking world. The Pyramids may not appear as huge against the numerous high towers being built today, however, hitching a ride in a lorry to get there, sitting on a crate of figs between the driver and passenger with a chicken on my lap... priceless? Perhaps not, but surely memorable in terms of generosity and storytelling, both by me and I'm sure the driver,” writes Gregory.
* “The only time I remember I've been a bit disappointed was when I came to New York. After reading different travel articles and guidebooks I expected the city to be (even) bigger. Since then I haven't really had any expectations before visiting a new city. I think it's possible to not have any expectations at all - that doesn't mean you don't have any thoughts/views/images in your mind about how a city or certain aspects of the city will be. You just don't expect it - it's all in your head. Not a fact. For example, I have thoughts about how Rio, Sao Paulo, Barcelona, L.A., Chicago and other cities will be. But I don't expect this to be true, so there's no risk that I'll be disappointed - no matter what,” says Erica, from Travel Blissful.
* And from Gregory again: “I grew up 25 minutes from Niagara Falls. I never visited much, because of the tourist trap status. After 20 minutes of watching copious amounts of water tumbling down, you're done. But, now when I go there I get this huge smile on my face as I watch travellers/tourists mulling around the kitsch and tacky commercialism, families with children cramming to see the falls, dropped ice cream cones, picnic blankets spread like quilts over the park. It's a bit of madness and somehow warming at the same time. Don't be disappointed. Don't let your hopes become your expectations. Take it all in, every little visual morsel and watch the spectacle unfold. It's much more than the tower, the building, the natural beauty… it's what the place has been, what it has become, the people who visit, and the people who have made it home…"

What inspiring reflections, and now for those tips...

Just ten minutes from Hong Kong International Airport lays 310 acres Hong Kong Disneyland. This extraordinary park houses four theme-parks such as Main Street, USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. Each of these parks has designated Disney characters to welcome your visit.  To name a few, Mickey and Minnie Mouse are in Main Street; Goofy and Cinderella in Fantasyland and Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland. 

Two of the most famous events during the daytime activities are Disney in the Stars and Disney on Parade. Disney in the Stars features breathtaking nightly fireworks while an orchestra plays A Whole New World (at other theme parks) while Disney on Parade allows you to explore nine spectacular floats of some selected Disney characters such as Chip ‘n’ Dale, Alice in the Wonderland, Disney Princesses etc. During special occasions, there are events like A Sparkling Christmas and Disney’s Chinese New Year.

Due to criticisms from various legislators, future expansions are to be made and currently, these twelve hectares new locations can be viewed while at the top of Tarzan’s Treehouse in Adventureland. Phase two and three are still in progress. 

Hong Kong Disneyland is in fact the smallest Disneyland park in the world but with the various constructions going on and five-star Disneyland Hotel in the Harbor, your stay will still be a blast. The Victorian-themed Disneyland Hotel features 400 rooms and international cuisines at the restaurants. Three ballrooms are situated in the convention center, the largest being the Cinderella Grand Ballroom. 

Traveling to Hong Kong Disneyland is easy. Transportation services are available by MTRC-Disneyland Resort Line Trains, bus, by private cars, by urban or nearby-territory-taxis and by scheduled ferry. Tickets and reservations vary in prices and booking in advance is highly advised to avoid disruption in your magical experience.

1. With Ustad Ahmad Lahauri as the chief architect, the construction of Taj Mahal began in 1632 and ended in 1653 in memory of Emperor Shah Jahan’s favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. This wonder is located in Agra, India. 
   
2. As the finest Mughal architecture in the world, Taj Mahal combines Persian, Ottoman, Indian and Islamic styles in one.
3. Amanat Khan designed the white marbled calligraphy found in Taj Mahal large pishtaq. In plain English, the various themes written in the calligraphy are about: The Sun, The Purity of Faith, Daybreak, Morning Light, The Fig, The Solace, Ya Sin, The Folding Up, The Cleaving Asunder, The Rending Asunder, The Evidence, Dominion, Victory, Those Sent Forth and The Crowds.
4. The tombs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal were situated at the center interior region of Taj Mahal and both were elaborately designed with precious and semiprecious gems
5. The Garden of Paradise located outside Taj Mahal measures 300-meters-squared, which signifies the perfect garden of abundance due to its four flowing rivers in four directions: north, west, east and south.
6. During the on-going construction of Taj Mahal, more than one thousand elephants were used to transport equipment and materials. 
7. During the 1965-1971 India-Pakistan war, the Indian government created temporary platforms suspended from the top peak of Taj Mahal to mislead bombs. 
8. As the seventh wonder of the modern world, the grounds of Taj Mahal are open from six in the morning until seven in the evening during weekdays except Fridays. Fridays are reserved for prayers at the mosque from twelve noon to two in the afternoon.

Getting Around the Taj Mahal

It will absolutely be a rewarding experience to visit Taj Mahal. As you enter the forecourt, you’ll the Islamic decorative walls of Taj Ganj. Inside the gatehouse, you’ll be ready to go forward the Celestial pool of abundance where you can just sit and reflect the beauty of the place. On the left side of the pool, you are seeing the Paradise Gardens where sixteen parterre, flowerbeds, trees and fountains are laid. 

Moving along at the front of the Chhaka is the entrance of mausoleum. Here, you’ll see the unique stokes of calligraphy and inscription in the walls. Then, as you enter the orbital-shape jail entrance, prepare yourself to meet the cenotaphs of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz. If you walk straight from the cenotaphs, you’ll see the interior octagonal room filled beautiful inlays, chambers and dados. At the rooftop of Taj Mahal, you can clearly see the fantastic view of River Yamuna. 

On the left side of the mausoleum is the reflecting pool by the Mosque while on the right side lies the wide terrace of Chameli Farsh.

Tagged as the second largest city in Mexico, Guadalajara is a distinct place of solace and comfort due to several tertiary activities that are focused on tourism growth. As you tour the city, tourist attractions are everywhere.  To mention a few attractions of the many are:

The Cathedral 

The Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the first minor basilica built in 1541 and has already undergone major constructions for many times. However, the Cathedral remains strong and until now, it still is the wonderful structure in the city. Inside this basilica lay the two of the notable pieces in history like the largest organ in Mexico and the mural of the Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Degollado Theatre

Looking forward to watch theatrical plays? The elegant hall of Degollado is the place you’ll want to be. With its European Opera Houses, chandeliers, frescoes and red velvet seats in all four levels of balconies, watching Mariachi Galas can be a rewarding experience can’t be forgotten.

Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres

Built by Former President Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada in 1872 to remember those people who gave honor to their Nation, the Rotonda is definitely a circular room you must explore with great enthusiasm. When you are in this place, you’ll be surrounded with respected people who contributed pride and honor to Mexico’s history. Naming a few people are David Alfaro Siqueiros, the painter; Eligio Ancona, the historian philosopher; Mariano Azuela, the writer and Calixto Bravo, the Coronel.

Instituto Cultural Cabanas

 

This orphanage has become the neo-classical landmark in Guadalaraja since Jose Clemente Ordozo began to adorn it with beautiful murals and exhibitions. The Plaza Tapatia is a stunning water mirror inside the institute that surely makes you react in disbelief as you stand on the edge portion of it. For those artistic minds, Orozco’s masterpiece, Man on Fire, is absolutely the piece of art to see.

Here's my response to an invitation from Eric over at TravelBlogs.com to reflect upon disappointment on the road:
"Giza’s pyramids were smaller than I’d imagined and their suburban location a surprise, Paris’ Eiffel Tower was little more than an elegant oversized transmission tower, Victoria’s Twelve Apostles tinier than I remembered, and, there weren’t even twelve anymore, and that hot air balloon ride was noisy, cramped, chaotic, and uncomfortably hot. As a travel writer, avoiding disappointment is a constant challenge. Because I know disappointment occurs when expectations are too high. Lower expectations and the chances of disappointment are lower. Raise them and we increase the risk of having a bad time. The irony is the very things we find inspiring – the stirring images we enjoy gazing at, the evocative stories we like reading – are the things responsible for our disappointment if our experiences don’t measure up. To have no expectations, we must read nothing, look at nothing, and listen to no travel tales – impossible for a writer. So the way I counteract disappointment is to seek out different ways of experiencing ‘familiar’ places – to look beyond the main attraction to the overlooked and under-written about (often beneath our very noses or right around the corner), to discover and communicate the wonder of everyday things and people, to write honestly about places, and to encourage others to seek out and appreciate the beauty of the authentic and everyday."

Drop over to Eric's site to see what other travel bloggers have to say, but I'd love to hear from you and find out how you overcome disappointment on the road, or whether you have any tips for avoiding it? Is this even something you think about and are conscious of? Or do you just deal with it when it happens. And if so, how?

"Expectation is a dangerous thing. The higher the expect- ations, the greater the chance they’ll be dashed," writes Eric over at TravelBlogs.com, "But when it does happen, know this: it happens to many travellers." To prove his point, Eric rounded up 19 travel bloggers (including myself) and asked them to share their thoughts on 'Disappointment: when places don't live up to your expectations' and to reflect on their experiences of trips and places that haven't met their expectations. Drop by and see what they have to say.

But I'm keen to hear from you about your travel disappointments, and why you think they came about. Do you think you might have been less disappointed had your expectations been lower? Or were there are other reasons for things not ending up as you'd hoped? And do you have any ideas or suggestions as to how people can prevent or avoid disappointment on the road? If you do, and you don't mind, I'd love to publish your best tips not just in the comments section, but in a separate post on this blog on 'How to avoid disappointment on the road: cool tips from travelers'. Let me know what you think.

Touring Mexico City is fun! Food is no problem due to various restaurants and cafes all around the corner. The Café Popular permits you to have a full meal priced at twenty five pesos only. At La Casa del Pavo, this small but unique restaurant gives you delicious entrees with charcoal-roasted turkey drumsticks at affordable prices ranging from 20-40 pesos.

Landmarks

Apart from food, Mexico City is also the land of fantastic landmarks, parks and museums. The Plaza de la Constitucion, being one of the largest squares in the world is a centerpoint of historic buildings you want to go and if you are a pious Catholic, you should see the Basilica de Guadalupe. The Basilica is referred to as the holiest place in America and the home of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Other noticeable landmarks in Mexico City are Torre Mayor, Coyoacan, Ciudaddela Crafts Market, Latinoamericana Tower and the city’s main campus, Ciuded Universitaria.

Parks

There are three national parks in the city namely the Chapultepec Park and Zoo, Xochimilco and Plaza Garibaldi-Mariachi. In Chapultepec, there are educational museums around niching in technology, history, arts and anthropology. The Xochimilco has big waterways and flower gardens to offer and since 1987, the park is included in the UNESCO world heritage. The Plaza Garibaldi-Mariachi centers on bars and restaurants, especially to the supporters Mariachi Bands.

Museums

Did you know Mexico City is the nest of largest number of museums in the world? If sculptures, jewel and handicraft interest you, go to National Museum of Anthropology. Modern and colonial of Colombian architecture, the museum is called Plaza de las Tres Culturas. Rufino Tamayo’s paintings, explore his museum situated in Chapultepec Park and Zoo. Historic arts and sculptures of Mayan and Aztec--- go to Anahuacali Museum.

Food, culture and fun; Mexico City offers you with something at affordable budget.

A travel story 'Sydney Beyond the cliches: Hidden Gems' is so not full of 'hidden gems' and is so completely full of cliches that I couldn't resist that little nod to American 80's humor (I just love that scene in the satirical mockumentary Borat where he's mislearning how to be funny). But what else would we expect from The Sydney Morning Herald Travel section which has only itself to blame for destroying the fine reputation it once had by publishing stories that seem to either have been penned by teenagers for school newspapers (read this gushy teen diary-style entry about learning to surf: am I wrong to think that the SMH's readers are mostly over the age of 15?) or poorly written pieces without narratives or angles. Take this one on Sydney, which, for want of a better angle, they lazily pass off as a 'going local'/'insider' take on the city. The amusing thing is that to a Sydneysider (I was born and bred there) none of these things are 'hidden' (but then the writer was a guest of Tourism NSW which leads me to believe she doesn't live in the city), certainly not Campbell Parade North Bondi (every backpacker in the world makes a beeline for Bondi Beach around the corner), definitely not Nielsen Park and Shark Beach, Vaucluse (which even Tourism NSW's site says is a popular family picnic spot; I hazily recall a night skinny dipping there some 16 years or so ago), probably not the 'swanky hotel' she doesn't name, and obviously NOT the Hilton hotel's Zeta Bar. It's the Hilton. That alone should preclude it from being a 'hidden' gem, especially as it's on the front page of the hotel website. The bar looks very stylish - it's designed by Tony Chi after all (which oddly enough she doesn't mention) - but don't call it a hidden gem. What's worse is the 'writer' goes as far as to provide a long list of the many celebrities (which alone can't make it a hidden gem) who have been there from the bar's website:

From the story: "You never know who you might spot, the bar has played host to lots of celebrities, including Jessica Simpson, James Blunt, Snoop Dogg, Nicole Ritchie, Hugh Jackman, The Veronicas, Perez Hilton, DJ Samantha Ronson and Jimmy Barnes".

From the website: "Zeta Bar is fast becoming a Sydney icon with visiting international celebs. Jessica Simpson, Kimberley Stewart, James Blunt, Nicky Hilton, Snoop Dogg and Nicole Ritchie have all partied there... And Aussie A-listers Jennifer Hawkins, Hugh Jackman, Ian Thorpe, and Megan Gale often stop by for a beverage..."

Now that's really lazy. Hang on, let's give her some kudos for some research - it appears she asked the PR people for a couple of extra celeb names to drop. If these 'insider' secrets and the writer's local knowledge and travel savvy haven't impressed you enough already, read these priceless last sentences about the bar's cocktail list: "The extensive menu features everything from the classics, a pina colada in a pineapple topped with cream and a sparkler (p-lease! Was this the first time this writer ever looked at a cocktail list - or had even been to a bar?!), to a cool martini, and the more unusual. If you're really brave, try the bacon-infused cocktail. Tipped to be the next big trend in cocktails, it comes with a rasher on a swizzle stick and a maraschino cherry. It's odd. But it's interesting." What I find odd (but less interesting) is how these 'writers' actually get published. Could an editor have read this story and actually thought this is a good insightful piece of travel writing? I'd be asking for a re-write or an ending at least. What's happened to the Herald? Read Terry's more thorough analysis here: Sydney's odd unfinished weekend. Yep, this one's really had us scratching our heads this week - along with Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck food poisoning scandal and the even more scandalous media coverage of course.

Pictured? Not a hidden gem but definitely a local favorite, and it does do interesting cocktails: Tamanya Terrace at the Radisson SAS Dubai Media City.

Referred to as the Mexican Carribean with an approximate population of sixty thousand is the coastal city of Cancun and has only begun its tourism trade in 1970. Viewing from an aerial view, Cancun is definitely a lovely city of wonder and pristine beauty. There’s no problem to where to stay for beachfront hotels are all around this seven-shaped city.

Most visited attractions in Cancun are Xel_Ha and XCaret. These places blew you away with their natural reserves of marine life. Here, one can hike the mysterious marks in eco-jungles, get wet and swim the depths of their sparkling beaches and just be completely spellbound by the stretching coastlines around.

The Hotel Zone of Cancun in a fourteen mile long island definitely grabs your attention in a puff. These hotels are widely-known for its wide and inexpensive rooms to stay in. In fact, most of these hotels offer time-share condominiums and for those non-timeshare hotels, they all offer various range of accommodations including unlimited breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinne, Jacuzzi, spa, sports, clubbing and lounging; all these pure-fun activities are all here. There’s also forty percent discount to tour the Maya Ruins in Yucatan Peninsula.

The best fine dining and steak houses are in Cancun. Leonardo Cuisine, Frida Cuisine and Miyako Cuisine serve Italian dinner, Mexican food and Oriental dishes, respectively. Life is truly at its great circle when you eat delicious delicacies and attend live entertainments at night life bars after a thrilling adventure at the Maya Ruins.

As your final destination in Cancun, staying at Kabah is a perfect destination. The Kabah Parque is an oasis eco-park for the whole family. Kids and kids at heart can surely enjoy the playground, the wildlife zoo, the clean and a must-explore trail road, the green and great picnic area and the historic collections in their museum. Everyone is welcome in this park and entrance is absolutely for free!

Situated in the Western Coast of Mexico is the beautiful city of Acapulco. Like the Philippines, the climate here is tropical all year round. There are also winter seasons but most of the time, it’s dry. That’s why; this is definitely the hot spot for vacation escapades for several rich people in Europe and in America.

Brief History

Flashing back the history a little, Acapulco was only a small harbor for fishing. Acapulco started to become the center of attraction when Miguel Aleman Valdes, the president of Mexico in 1946-1952, transformed his creative visions and ideas into reality. In 1968, Acapulco was the host of yachting in Summer Olympics and from that moment onwards, it became the “Mecca Jet Set” of all the avid travelers around

the world.

Exploring the Best

La Quebrada is truly an iconic place for awesome adventure, where one experiences the jump of a lifetime. Just imagine if you are standing in the middle of this majestic cliff and dive into the deep waves of Pacific Ocean. But beware, diving must be only done at the perfect timing due to the unpredictable dangers you can face below the water. For those people who are scared to jump, there is a restaurant in one side of the cliffs and see how those large pelicans hunt for fish.

Other exciting attractions to chill in Acapulco are Acamar Beach Resort, Radisson Resort Hotel, Qualton Club, Romano Palace Hotel 7 Suites and Hotel Casa Inn. Three of the five mentioned are five star hotels that surely give you the glow and pleasures not found at the comforts of your home.

Shopping is also a grand activity in Acapulco. Among the various malls in the city, the most well-known is probably the La Gran Plaza. This mall is known for its affordable prices in all leather products. In fact, this two-level Plaza with 135 stores including Mexican Cuisines and Restaurants is easily tracked just by riding a taxi. If you are looking for great gifts and souvenirs like snacks, meat and cheeses, handicrafts, jewelry and textiles at low prices, try shopping at their municipal market, the Mercado Central.

Other department chains in the city are Avenida Costera Miguel Aleman, Artisan Mall across Plaza Bahia, Zocalo and Acapulco Cultural Center.

"Blogging has exploded over the past few years, opening the door to endless opportun-ities. A number of bloggers have been able to have professional writing careers, quit their desk jobs to travel the world, or prolong that backpacking trip indefinitely," writes Gennaro at Enduring Wanderlust in his latest post Road Warriors: Bloggers in Motion, looking at the travelling lives of 'digital nomads'. Through interviews with four globetrotters (including myself), Gennaro explores the challenges of blogging from the road. It's a revealing post that compares the experiences of the four of us, written in a journalistic style, rather than straight Q&A, which is nice to see. I might clarify though that travel blogging didn't lead me to my career as a travel writer. I began travel writing first, co-authoring with husband Terry The Sydneyside Guide, a compact city guide within Gregory's street directories, almost 14 years ago. Terry took up full-time travel writing around six years ago, while I began to dabble in it again (I had a full-time academic job at the time), and we both threw our heart and soul into it, taking to the road to travel continuously, bouncing from one assignment to another, just over three years ago. For me, blogging came in 2007 as a creative release and space to reflect. I don't get paid to blog at Cool Travel Guide. I wish I did! But I'd hate aspiring travel writers to think that travel blogging is an easy way to establish a successful travel writing career. The two are mutually compatible, but professional travel writing is a different kettle of fish with its own set of challenges and involving the development of a huge skill set - which can partly be developed through blogging of course. What I found interesting in Gennaro's post was how people manage the tech side of things, and I might expand on that in another post. Do check out Gennaro's post. He poses the question at the end "How has running a blog influenced your life?" I can't wait to hear what travel bloggers say...

Pictured? Terry making tea at the side of our road warrior, one of several vehicles that took us around Australia on our most recent 4-month research trip. I just wished I would have been able to blog from the thing! But it's a bit hard when you don't even have cell phone access for most of the day!

Russia is a large transcontinental country occupying Eastern Europe and North Asia and traveling here can be memorable due to its rich history and breathtaking landmarks. The following are the nicest attractions in Russia:

The Red Square in Kremlin

What’s special with this place is its courageous and religious beginnings and impressive walls that are originally built from white stone. There are magnificent buildings all around the Square. Some of those are the Lenin’s Mausoleum, which lays the tomb of the Soviet Union Founder, and who can forget the elegant architecture of the Saint Basil’s Cathedral. On the eastern side is the GUM Department Store, probably the ideal spot to hang-out after attending mass service in Kazan Cathedral, just few steps away from the store. The Red Square also boasts its sculptured bronze monument of Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky. These were the people who stopped Polish invaders.

Victory Park

Opened in 1995 and by reading its name, this history park is about triumph, courage and hope. If you visit this park, you’ll surely be left in awe when you see the Memorial Complex, Orthodox Church and the Central Patriotic Museum that reminds you of Russia’s victorious fight over the Nazi in World War II. This is simply the place to bond while recalling the past.

St. Isaac’s Cathedral

It took forty years before the construction of this golden dome was completed and was popular due to its circular observation deck. This is situated in St. Petersburg.

The Tauride Gardens

A perfect recreational park for the whole family landscaped in Romantic architecture. Opened to public and no fee for admission, children can play football, older men get hook in chess and sweet couples can walk around with their dogs in the lead. The Tauride Gardens is located near the Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

The Peterhof Palace

Tagged as the city’s greatest pride, the Peterhof Palace is an extravagant place of elegance, of glitters and of ceramics, also in St. Petersburg. The Grand Cascade next to the garden is a must-see. You’ll surely be mesmerized with 150 fountains and statues, located just below the grotto. One of the fountains, the Samson Fountain, depicts the historical victory of Russians over Sweden during the Great Northern War.

Grand Hotel Europe

Another great attraction in the heart of St. Petersburg to explore is the Grand Hotel Europe. With its charming architecture, this five-star hotel can be the fantastic ground for business and leisure activities while enjoying the range of great amenities such as sauna, spa, lounges, health clubs, air-conditioning rooms with satellite televisions and more. Check rates as of the moment is $ 465.

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Another work of impressive Neoclassical art situated just few blocks west of the Kremlin is the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. As what the name stands, the goal of constructing this masterpiece is to give thanks to the Divine Providence for all the blessings He showered to Russia and for you to know; it’s the tallest Eastern Orthodox Church in the world. In 1990, the Cathedral undergone a renovation and on the groundfloor lies a hall for church assemblies.

Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery

The oasis of peace and tranquility worth exploring, this monastery is the place you’ll want to be--- allowing you to see the memorable graves of those famous names such as Nikolai Gogol, Anton Chechov, Chaliapin the singer and the former Soviet leader, Nikita Krushchev.

Glinka State Central Museum of Musical Culture

This museum has six branches and was named after the great composer, Glinka. It is situated in Moscow. Inside, you will scan the various personal belongings like sculptures, articles, instruments, recordings, books, paintings and musical masterpieces of other unforgettable composers.

Tsar Cannon

Visiting Russia might be incomplete without seeing the Kremlin’s Saviour Guide, the Tsar Cannon. This beast cannon approximately weighs forty tons and 5.3 meters in length. This is definitely the reason why Guinness Book of Records called it the largest cannons ever made by human.

As I'm way too busy writing books at the moment to blog, I'm going to post about the things I'm taking pleasure in reading during my coffee breaks. For starters, I'm enjoying catching up on my co-author and husband Terry's blog Wide angles, wine and wanderlust, and his recent post on Hester Blumenthal's food poisoning scare at the Fat Duck and how some journalists have been 'reporting' on the incident. Horrifying stuff! I also enjoyed Terry's post Don't believe the hype on how serving Hollandaise sauce in a Tetra Pak is not cool at all, and is a sure-fired way of getting your cafe crossed out of a popular guidebook. I'm glad Terry mentioned the Indian waiter in Abu Dhabi at a Korean restaurant we ate at years ago who showed us the Yalumba wine cask (wine 'box' for North Americans?) to demonstrate that the house wine was indeed a decent Aussie drop! But I was disappointed Terry didn't tell you the guy brought it out from behind the bar on a silver platter with a white linen cloth over his forearm. It was a 5-star hotel after all. Keep in mind this was nearly 11 years ago. As dreadful as the stuff was to drink, I was both bemused and touched by the gesture. I wasn't amused by the Tetra Pak of Hollandaise on the other hand. Mainly because that was my revolting breakfast and my $18 wasted (add another $30 to that, because Terry's breakfast was mediocre too and both the coffees were bad); because it's a place that gets glowing reviews in the guidebooks; and because it's a cafe that's in a rather hip Victorian surf town not far from Melbourne that should know better. Their reaction to my complaint was also appalling. Once again, something I might have expected from a waiter in Abu Dhabi 11 years ago who didn't know any better, but not from a... well, you get the picture. Now, Terry's Eggs Benedict (pictured) on the other hand, I'd gladly pay $18 for. This is the kind of food I get to eat when we're holed up writing. As busy as we are, he always makes time to cook good food. Rather spoilt, aren't I? So, go take a look at his blog and tomorrow I'll let you know what else I'm reading. Back to the writing...

As the second largest country in the world, Canada is divided into nine popular cities. These cities are Ottawa (being the capital), Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto, Quebec, Montreal, Halifax, Edmonton and Calgary. In fact, Canada is the home of major business industries and great tourist spots in the world.

Ottawa as the real transport system in Canada is also referred to as the home of museums and galleries that are free of admission during Canada Day on the first day of July. The Parliament Hill, situated in the middle downtown area, is the most attention-grabbing attraction in Ottawa. Apart from its Gothic style of architecture, this is also the center point of political hub wherein multiple tours are allowed upon early reservation. Other than the excellent museums (Science and Technology Museum, Museum of Civilization and National Gallery of Canada) around the city, there’s this fantastic nightspot they call Byward Market Area. Various delicious foods can be bought here in reasonable prices.

Also a significant center of trade and tourism is in Calgary, the fifth largest city in Canada. There are several tourist attractions both in the city and in the suburban areas of Calgary. The largest city park is Prince’s Island Park and is the host of annual festivals such as Calgary Folk Music Festival and Carifest. Other special attractions in the city are Devonian Gardens, Chinatown and Glenbow Museum. In the suburban area, the Canada Olympic Park is a must-see. This was the host of 1988 Winter Olympics and when you’re here, you’ll surely be in cloud nine when you do the ski jump and skiing.

Canada’s sixth largest city is Edmonton. It is the capital city of Alberta and the home of largest shopping mall in North America--- the West Edmonton Mall. The mall has eight hundred first-class stores like Abercrombie and Fitch and Urban Outfitters. If you want to side with luck, seven thumbs-up casinos are all around; Enoch Resort & Casino, Casino Yellowhead and Palace Casino to name a few.

Halifax is referred to as the largest city in Atlantic Provinces of Canada and one of the nicest spot to hang-out is probably the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, just situated in the downtown waterfront. Inside this museum are the collection and artifacts of the sinking ship, Titanic. Other spots to explore in Halifax are historic waterfront--- the Pier 21, Victorian park--- the Public Gardens and the fort in the harbor--- the York Redoubt.

Montreal is an inviting city where several historical and ancient museums stood. The Fonderie Darling is probably the unique one due to its long history of national comedy for the whole family. For the animal lovers, the Parc Safari is the place for them, housing seven hundred species and there is also amusement park alongside.

Quebec is the home of several Haute-Ville and Basse-Ville. The architecture designs of these buildings are popular due to its walls built in stones. Chateau Frontenac is called as the Quebec City Icon and the most photographed Haute-Ville in the city. The Place-Royale is tagged as the beautiful public square and probably the most well-known Basse-Ville in Quebec due to classical construction made by French explorer, Samuel de Champlain.

As the largest city in Canada, Toronto is the land of the tallest free standing structure in the world, the CN Tower. When you reach the observation level, you can see the breathtaking view of the whole city all the way to Niagra Falls, when the weather is fine. For a new level of food and dining, visit their revolving restaurant and wine cellar.

Another destination in Canada to hop is Vancouver. Vancouver is without a doubt one of the best cities to live in. Coming to Qualicum Town is a delight. Their community museum houses collections of eye-shocking artifacts and paintings that are all worth remembering to. Also in Qualicum is the Old School House Center. Exhibitions, classes and special events are held here. Don’t fail to visit the Milner Gardens and Woodland just situated on the seaside garden of Qualicum Beach. Its four hectares green and blossoming rhododendron, cyclamen and trilliums is synonymous to living in a fantasy island.

Like in other major cities, historical buildings are also common landmarks in Winnipeg. Modern and ancient architecture are all in good hands and visiting them in Winnipeg Art Gallery, Promenade de Riel, St. Bonifacio Cathedral, Confederation Life, Ashdown Warehouse and The Grain Exhange is surely a splashing experience to be kept in your memory.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (no, Dubai is not the capital, as much as it likes to think it is), has been getting loads of media coverage in the travel press lately. You know when a tourism body and airline has hosted a junket as a spate of stories appear as they have recently in Australia, such as these: Abu Dhabi's match for the Taj Mahal (Jan 09), A higher plane at the world's costliest hotel (Jan 09) and The future of the Emirates' Capital (Feb 09) (the last of which reads like a few other stories published in early 2008, including my own). All of this recent attention has resulted from the opening of a monumental mosque dedicated to late President and UAE founder, Sheikh Zayed. But the travel press were already starting to cover Abu Dhabi in 2007 with the announcement of the $14.5 billion Saadiyat Island cultural precinct with its Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim and branch of Paris’ Louvre among other stunning museums, and the city’s inclusion on the Formula One Grand Prix circuit. The announcement of Abu Dhabi's innovative new Norman Foster-designed eco-city Masdar also sparked some coverage in 2008, including this story Seeing the Light, which we wrote for Gulf Life, Gulf Air's in-flight magazine. Don't get me wrong, we're pleased to see the city-emirate starting to steal some of the spotlight from Dubai, as it's a city we've always loved, and one we immediately fell in love with when we first moved there in 1998. So, you want to know what we love about it? Well, take a look at this story we wrote for Viator: 10 things we love about Abu Dhabi. Let me know what you think - especially if you've been there, or live there. Planning to go there? Then get a copy of DK's Top Ten Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide, which I co-authored and Terry photographed; I don't get royalties, it's just a book of which I'm very proud.

I find it curious how reporters work sometimes. I answered a few questions last week for a reporter who was writing a story on Dubai for a travel news syndication site that produces 'news' stories that are then picked up (or not) by their subscribers. Although I answered just a couple of questions from a long list of questions I suggested were better directed toward a Dubai Tourism spokesperson and a real estate expert, a brief part of one of my responses in effect became the story. So far it's appeared on a travel insurance website (take a look here at: More to Dubai than Glamour Alone). What I find odd is that the suggestion was that my answers would contribute to a much larger story but instead they became the story. Which leads me to wonder... was there ever a 'story' in the first place? Or had the reporter's editor just directed the writer to come up with a story on Dubai, any story on Dubai? Which explains the odd combination of questions directed to me. Or perhaps there was an idea for some kind of story initially but because the writer couldn't find anyone else to comment, my quote simply became the story. What do you think?