Inspiration Archives - Page 13 of 15

December 7, 2012 by jfalbelda

Shake Your Bon Bon in Bodrum!

The Mediterranean is no stranger to fun, beachfront resort towns, but while destinations just rely on booze and bikinis to lure tourist in, Bodrum offers much more for the traveler looking for both fun in the sun and a little culture at the same time. If the best of both worlds is what you seek then look to Bodrum in Turkey for holidays you can truly write (or email) home about!

Bodrum is located in the far southwest of Turkey on the Bodrum Peninsula about 500 miles south of Istanbul. Its weather is pleasant all year round (February is the best). It’s pretty easy to reach via Bus from the big cities (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, etc) or via plane at Milas-Bodrum international airport 35 km from the city. Many low-cost airlines fly there from western Europe including The UK and The Netherlands.

Bodrum is very popular with boaters with its large marina and yacht club. Many seafarers spend a night or two there to refuel, have a good meal, shop at the high-end supermarkets right off the dock and shake it at night at one of the many nightlife venues. The Marina is located on the west side of town.

The east side of town is more known for the nicely maintained beach, bars and clubs that thump right on the waterfront all night long. One of the biggest clubs in Europe is located in Bodrum as well, Halikarnas.

If you’ve had enough sun, then check out the ancient city and explore thousands of years of history. One of the most popular sites in town is Bodrum Castle founded by the Knights of Hospitaller who originated in Jerusalem and were originally in charge of running a hospital for Christians on pilgrimages there. They then became a military order after the first crusade and were tasked with protecting the Holy Land. Bodrum Castle also now serves as Museum of Underwater Archaeology which houses an impressive collection of artifacts found beneath the water’s surface from shipwrecks and fallen cities.

One other historical place in Bodrum that is especially famous is the former site of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (Tomb of Mausolus). It is one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world and was created for the Persian governor Mausolus, and both his wife and sister, Artemisia II of Caria. The structure stood 45 meters high (148 ft) but fell down during an earthquake. Now you can visit the remains of the tomb and learn a bit more of the interesting history. The word Mausoleum actually comes from Mausolus which literally means a grave above ground.

As you can see Bodrum has some cool things to see and do in addition to good sun and good fun!

November 17, 2012 by jfalbelda

London’s Quirky Streets!

roads in England

There are two places in the world where men can most effectively disappear ― the city of London and the South Seas. –Herman Melville

When you think about the intricate pattern around which the streets of London are woven, these wise words start to make perfect sense. The capital of Great Britain is notorious for its extremely narrow, winding streets which oddly enough have become a major attraction for tourists all over the world.

Travelers are simply in love with the congeries of alleys, roads, lanes and the charming ‘mews’ which conveniently conceal within their midst a variety of homes, pubs, restaurants, boutiques and some of the city’s last vestiges of community spirit. Although tourists come in search of something precise, they usually end up getting lost between the crooked alleys and the historically filled buildings. For those who have been there before it no secret that every house has its unique character and story. Read More »

November 11, 2012 by jfalbelda

The Beauty of Speaking Another Language

While one might argue that the need to learn another language of recently has diminished with advent of new technologies and rapid communications via social media, the web, etc., I’d have to argue the contrary.

With social media and lightening fast internet connections comes the opportunity to interact with an individual across the world in instantly, with perfect audio and visual quality. While it’s easy being an American and just expecting everyone to “talk English”, the truth is that it’s more important to be able to communicate effectively in a couple of languages (at least). I learned Spanish after literally a decade in my youth and college years (shit I’m only 25!), but it has helped me tremendously in the working world, socially and it is just cool in my eyes to be able to go to rural Mexico and have a conversation with an 80 year old lady in a hut (and have her understand me).

Kaplan made a a cool infographic showing the importance of learning a new language, check it out!

inspire language learning Learn English with Kaplan

November 4, 2012 by jfalbelda

My Official Transition from Backpacker to Flashpacker

What is a Flashpacker?

I am now 25 years old. Sometimes, it’s hard for me to believe that I’ve made it to a quarter century as I have only legally been allowed to have a beer in my own country for less than five years. As far as the world goes, I am definitely well into the dreaded “adult” bracket, but don’t get me wrong though, it’s a great age. I can hang with the 21 year olds and not be that weird older guy who insinuated himself into the table, and I can still be respected in a conversation about my stance on the presidential race with those double my age. I guess I have the best of both worlds, and I have really felt that same sentiment in my recent travels in Asia.

Up until very recently, (i.e. my trip to Istanbul and Bulgaria exactly one year ago), I felt that when on the road, the only accommodation option my “kid” budget could accommodate would be a shit hostel bed, bumping heads and brushing toes with fringe members of society. Read More »

October 25, 2012 by jfalbelda

Relaxin’ to the Maximum in Pai, Thailand

Mountains around Pai

After deciding Bangkok was too nutso for me, I headed to the north of Thailand to explore the region, and my first stop was Chiang Mai. While it’s the 2^nd largest city in Thailand, it is shockingly more calm, easy to get around and just exudes a way different vibe than bustling Bangkok. And when I wanted to take my chillaxing to the next degree, I was told about a place called Pai from some other travelers, just a short 3 hour ride northwest of Chiang Mai.

So, instead of opting for the 150 baht minibus there (5 bucks), I channeled my inner Ché and rented a motorcycle to head for the hills, literally. Read More »