Las Vegas, United States
Beautiful showgirls at Mermaids casino

Fantastic Fremont Street, Las Vegas

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When you think of Las Vegas, what springs to mind?

Glitz and glamor on the Las Vegas Strip?

Being rufied by a bearded man, beaten by a naked Asian, and losing your best friend ala The Hangover?

Having a wealthy older man offer to buy your beautiful young wife for the evening?

High stakes roulette? Strippers? Big name boxing bouts and Penn & Teller?

Heaven forbid… Carrot Top?

Rollercoaster in Las Vegas
A roller coaster in your hotel. Only in Vegas. And Dubai.

Las Vegas has attained near mythic status as the place to go for a good time, and it’s true that most of these travel daydreams and epic weekends take place on the Strip. And why shouldn’t it? From the Bellagio to New York New York, Mandalay Bay to Caesar’s Palace. The hotels and casinos of the Strip have transcended their original purpose and become palaces of hedonism.

And with this multitude of pleasures comes a high price tag.

But a weekend in Vegas doesn’t have to bankrupt you. And that’s where Fremont Street, aka Old Vegas, comes into the equation.

Why Fremont Street?

The world's largest LCD screen hangs overhead in Fremont Street
The world’s largest LCD screen hangs overhead in Fremont Street

Fremont Street was Vegas before places like Stratosphere and Mandalay Bay took decadence to dizzying new heights. You’ve probably seen it before without even being aware of it. For as long as Vegas has been a den of iniquity, there’s been movies glorifying or mourning the city and its inhabitants. And while these days Caesar’s Palace and the Bellagio are the face of Vegas, it used to be that places like La Bayou, Mermaids, the Golden Nugget, and the Plaza that Hollywood focused on.

In 2009 I was in Vegas for a few days of drinking, gambling, and sight-seeing to celebrate my then girlfriend’s birthday – and while we obviously checked out the Strip and even saw a show at the Mandalay Bay – the majority of our time in Vegas was spent exploring (and loving) iconic Fremont Street.

Whether we were wolfing down 99 cent shrimp cocktails at the Golden Gate, sucking down $2 Coronas while the legendary Fremont Street Experience exploded overhead, or playing cheap casino games at the Golden Nugget in exchange for free beers: we were having an absolute blast.

A weekend or even a week in Vegas doesn’t have to break the bank. And here’s five Fremont Street gems I found and loved.

Five of the best on Fremont Street

Fremont Street is home to a lot of unique characters. People watchers are going to have a field day in the place. It’s the kind of place where families walk the same street as 70 something women in mini skirts and tube tops. Where a morbidly obese man in a gopher will keep pace with a trio of gorgeous girls dolled up to the nines.

Various stalls along the street sell $2 Coronas and $5 bottles of water. You can tell where priorities lie in Vegas.

Outside of Mermaids beautiful girls will pose with you for a price. Graffiti artists, souvenir shops, and street performers vie for the attention of customers scuttling from casino to casino. Whether you’re here to gamble, hook up, drink, or just have a crazy good time – Fremont Street offers it all at a reduced rate.

I won’t say that Fremont Street is seedy, because it’s in no way disgusting, but it’s definitely different. A far cry from the plastic fantastic of The Strip. But that’s a big part of its charm.

 

Hurricanes at La Bayou

 

Enjoying a Hurricane from La Bayou
I’m all man as I sip on my massive pina colada

This New Orleans themed casino isn’t one for the gamblers. Where most of Vegas boasts table games such as Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette – you’re limited to video poker or slot machines in the very old school La Bayou. Me? I wouldn’t be going in to La Bayou in search of striking it rich. I’d be going there to get hit by a Hurricane.

I’m not talking about a storm system caused by low pressure (thanks Wikipedia). I’m talking about a large, potent, and delicious ice drink that La Bayou is famed for. Sweet drinks might not be for manly men, but when it comes in a glass that is one third your size – I think it’s ok to indulge in Sex on the Beach, a Pina Colada, or a Mudslide.

But that’s just me. I’m pretty confident on my masculinity.

The price tag ($25 when I was there) might seem a bit exorbitant, but compare that to a $14 cocktail here in Sydney. A cocktail that would be lucky to be 500 mls. But if the Hurricane doesn’t kill you with brain freeze, it’ll knock you for six with its potency. It might be hidden beneath the ice and the sweeter flavors, but a Hurricane is a top way to start a night. And the price of the drink goes down if you bring your glass back for a refill.

Heart Attack Inducing Food at Mermaids

 

Deep fried twinkie
Wolfing down a ridiculously unhealthy deep fried twinkie

Americans do bad food so very, very well. While Scotland can proudly boast the invention of the deep-fried Mars Bar – America has deep-fried pretty much everything else. I tried a lot of these deep-fried delights when I hit the Arizona State Fair later in my trip, but the best of them remains the wickedly disgusting deep-fried Twinkie I had at Mermaids.

Crunchy on the outside – a gooey mess on the inside.

Mermaids doesn’t just boast the infamous deep-fried Twinkie either. There’s pretty amazing fries and a variety of amazing hot dogs so laden with extras that they’re a disaster to eat. And it all weighs in at anywhere between $1 and $5*. Bargain!

*= Price does not include cost of unclogging arteries.

An unhealthy hot dog from Mermaids in Las Vegas
World’s most unhealthy (and delicious) hot dog at Mermaids Casino in Las Vegas

The other perk of Mermaids, in which I don’t recall even glancing at the gambling options, is the pair of gorgeous girls in showgirl attire that stand out front throughout the night. While there’s no up front charge to pose for a photo with these beauties, bear in mind that they’re not earning a lot and a tip will go a long way towards getting them through college.

Beautiful showgirls at Mermaids casino
Sandwiched between two lithe beauties. Just the way I like it.

 

The Fremont Street Experience

Bright lights on Fremont Street in Las Vegas
The crowd comes to a standstill on Fremont Street as ‘The Fremont Street Experience’ begins…

Perhaps the most well-known feature of a night on Fremont Street is the Fremont Street Experience. The entire street is sheltered beneath the world’s largest LCD screen and every hour during the evening the lights of the casinos are turned off so that the screen can work its magic.

Goliath images dance across the screen as each hour sees a different artist tribute. From Queen to a lengthy American Pie medley, every hour sees the crowds below grind to a standstill almost as if they were zombies transfixed by sky flowers.

That’s a Land of the Dead reference. Points if you got it.

But the Fremont Street Experience isn’t just limited to the hourly light and sound shows. Throughout the year there are live performances scattered along the street. When we were in town it was leading up to Halloween, so we got to see the pretty damn awesome ‘Frankie and the Steins’ rocking some old school horror tunes; a washed up magician from America’s Got Talent juggling chain saws; and some kind of illusionist whose act had the power to make me completely forget what it was he did. Take that, Houdini!

Fremont Street in itself is an experience, but the Fremont Street Experience is something that The Strip really can’t offer.

Karaoke at The Plaza

Singing some Tenacious D at Shark Hotel in Sydney
So this isn’t in Vegas. But here’s me rocking Tenacious D’s F*ck Her Gently at Shark Hotel…

Taking people watching to a whole new level – karaoke at the plaza is hilarious, fun, and sometimes just a tad depressing. The place clearly has its regulars. Cougars prowl while old couples serenade one another in voices at odds with their tiny frames. Groups of rowdy women on their Hen’s Nights perform horrendously choreographed renditions of Lady Marmalade and, periodically the slightly overweight Elvis impersonator acting as DJ will wrestle the mike off of the customers and sing a few songs of his own.

It’s a scene straight out of Billy Joel’s The Piano Man and it’s dreadfully fascinating.

The crowd on hand (at least when we were there) were wonderfully supportive no matter how bad the singing or how terrible the choice of song. Toni Braxton’s Unbreak My Heart. Really? Get out of town.

Grab a few beers, pick out your favorite tunes, and belt out a few classics in between feeding coins into the slots.

Swim with Sharks at the Golden Nugget

The Golden Nugget water slide
Yeah, that’s just a water slide…

Ok, so you don’t technically swim with the sharks. But you do shoot past them at high speeds through a see through water slide tube. And where else in the world can you do that?

Dubai, probably. You can do everything there.

The Golden Nugget is probably as close to a Strip casino as Fremont Street has. With a full selection of table games and slot machines; its own in-house entertainment booked; and pretty lavish accommodations – it’s definitely the upmarket option if you’re on a budget but don’t want to feel like it.

The Nugget acted as our base of operations while we were on Vegas but the only facet of the casino we really checked out was the pool. And what a pool!

The big circular pool is big enough to accommodate dozens, but we preferred to alternate between screaming our way down the slide or lounging in the hot Nevada sun and reading books on our Kindles. The sharks, obviously having long ago come to terms with the fact they’ll never be able to eat the delicious fleshy morsels flying by every few seconds, seem content instead to turn lazy circles of the aquarium.

The Golden Nugget shark tank
…a water slide through a F**KING SHARK TANK!

Hitting Fremont Street

It’s not hard to find a flight to Vegas. It’s easier still to find a flight that’s bundled with accommodation either on The Strip (for you high rollers) or on Fremont Street (for those on a tighter budget). We put together our whole three nights + flights for around $250 a head. Not a bad way to see one of the world’s most iconic cities, eat and drink far too much, and celebrate somebody’s birthday.

Bite with a Blogger
Nicole eating some Korean BBQ

Bite with a Blogger: Bitten by the Travel Bug

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What is this?

I can’t quite recall which travel blogger I met first. I know it was at a Travel Massive meeting last year, but whether I first spoke to Heather from No Place Like Oz or Brooke from Brooke vs the World is a mystery for me. I do remember being just a tad star-struck when I met Brooke though. She was somebody I’d been reading for several weeks before I’d even heard of Travel Massive.

Had I known what a big deal Caz and Craig from yTravel Blog are prior to shaking hands with them, I’d have been beside myself.

Actually, I do remember the first travel blogger I met. While I’d had friends in Korea keeping blogs of their travels (such as The Kimchi Chronicles), I guess I could say that the first person I met who I thought of as a travel blogger was Tony from It’s Good Overseas. Although I met him as the boyfriend of an old college friend rather and found out about the blogging much later.

Since that time I’ve met too many bloggers to count, including Lauren from The Life That Broke, Jessalyn from Diary of a Wandering Student, the aforementioned Caz and Craig, Nicole from Hola Chica Travels, Gay from Pinay Travel Junkie, and Claire from Lakwatsera de Primera.

And while they’re all vastly different people with different writing styles and travel backgrounds – they all share the common trait of being wonderfully personable and friendly people. I’ve come to look forward to the monthly Travel Massive meets not just as a great opportunity to discover new blogs and promote my own, but also a good chance to hang out with people I consider friends.

While I often miss the wonderful friendships I forged abroad and the regular access to like minded people, getting to meet and hang out with fellow travelers plays a vital role in keeping me sane while I save money for my next trip abroad.

This has all been a long winded way of introducing a new semi regular feature here on Aussie on the Road: a Bite with a Blogger. Every chance I get I’m going to grab dinner, lunch, coffee, brunch, breakfast, or a sneaky beer with a fellow travel blogger. I’ll not only interview them and do a little promotion for their doubtlessly awesome blog, but I’ll also try and hit a new and interesting restaurant, cafe, or bar every time.

Nicole loves New York so much she attempts to eat it.
Nicole loves New York so much she attempts to eat it.

The first edition features the vivacious Nicole from Bitten by the Travel Bug. Nicole was recently in town to act as a Red Bull Mobile Scout and I jumped on the opportunity to show her a bit of Sydney and have a chat. What ensued was a night of delicious Korean BBQ, far too much soju, lots of travel discussion, and absolutely no drunk dials. None whatsoever.

And so, in what I hope will be a popular regular feature, here’s my interview and night out with Bitten by the Travel Bug.

Korean BBQ with Bitten by the Travel Bug

One thing I really love about meeting up with a fellow traveler is how quickly we jump from awkward hello to the fastest of friends. By the time we’ve walked the two blocks from the Stratton Hotel to BBQ City on Liverpool Street, Nicole and I are already shooting the shit about travel plans and travel experiences.

BBQ City is a favoured haunt of mine. Probably because it’s the first Korean BBQ place I found upon moving to Sydney early last year.

Located right in the heart of the city and below what was once my preferred Korean karaoke (noraebang) joint in the city, BBQ City boasts a pretty broad selection of authentic Korean cuisine and plenty of Korean beer and soju. Their menu also boasts the criminally good makkali (rice wine), but they were out of stock when Nicole and I visited. Sad face.

Nicole has done a great blow by blow of her experience learning to eat Korean BBQ (galbi) the right way over on here blog, so I’ll send you there for more about the meal itself. You can find her entry here.

galbi
Delicious galbi at BBQ City

We ordered up two orders of meat, two serves of rice, a bottle of Hite (beer), and a bottle of soju. I hate the stuff, but you can’t really do Korean food without some of this maple based vodka clone. As with all authentic Korean restaurants, an abundance of side dishes was provided free of charge. These included iconic kimchi (fermented cabbage), samjjang (savory soy bean paste), tofu, and gochujjang (peppers).

And so, as we ate our fill of delicious BBQ and grimaced through shot after shot of $16 soju, I asked a few questions…

The Interview

So, how long have you been travel blogging?

Arrrrgh I’ve been a’ scribblin’ on thee net… (okay, I’ll be good and it’s hard to write like a pirate!)

(Nicole sent me her answers on International Talk Like a Pirate Day.) 

I began Bitten by the Travel Bug in December 2009 but I only posted a few posts before running away to America for a Summer Camp where there was no Internet. After that, the travel bug took over and I have only become truly inspired to get serious posting in July.

And what made you start a travel blog?

When I was searching for information about working at a summer camp I found there was little to no information available for Aussies and even less about the ‘real life’ of a summer camp. All I could find were glowing reviews about how it would be the ‘best summer of my life’ and that isn’t what I wanted! I wanted to know “It’ll be great but….” or a simple “RUN!!!” would probably have sufficed. It was also a way to gloat let my friends and family know I was still a live and to have a record of my travels.

What made you choose the Bitten by the Travel Bug name?

Haha, it took me weeks of URL searching and planning to come up with something I remotely liked. I’m not 100% sure where the inspiration came from. Legend has it my Mum told me I was ‘bitten by the travel bug’ because I started travelling at a young age but myths suggest it may be because I have crazy adventures in my own city (like hoping on random buses and hoping I’ll end up home in time for dinner!) and my friend Cyndal yelled at me when one of these plans backfired with us ending up in ‘whoop whoop’ (a long way away from home!) with no way home and she told me that not all of us are “Bitten by the Travel Bug.” Who knows what the true story is!

A monster and a teddy bear in Melbourne
Street art from Melbourne. Photo by Nicole Blaess-Smith

Where have your travels taken you so far?

Since the tender age of 18-months I have been to: (drumroll)
Hong Kong (6-times to date), Singapore, Australia (South Australia where I was born, Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia, and Queensland so far!), China, the United States (California, Nevada, Illinois, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania), the United Kingdom (including England, Wales, and Northern Ireland), Ireland, the Netherlands (just Amsterdam though) and Denmark!!!! …and does stepping off a train for two minutes in Germany count?

I don’t think that counts…

 

And where will your travels be taking you next?

Next is back to Adelaide! (I’m in Sydney at the moment) and then Melbourne.
Internationally I’m headed to Hong Kong and New York for Christmas and New Years, England in January and then back to the US for TBEX ’12. WOW! I better get saving!

 

 What has been your most memorable travel experience?

 

Halloween in Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland or getting a ride in a police car after a VERY eventful night in Belfast, Northern Ireland – hrm… there seems to be a pattern developing there…

 

I think my readers would love to hear about this eventful evening in Belfast. We should all badger Nicole on here about it.

 

 

Moving on, what is the scariest (or most exciting) thing you’ve ever done while traveling?

 

Scariest? Getting on my first long-haul flight solo without my family or friends! I love flying but knowing I wouldn’t see my family for anywhere from 3-months to 2-years was scary considering even when I was living interstate for University I’d still come home at least once a month to work at a local radio station.

 

Most exciting? Getting on my first long-haul flight solo without my family or friends! Not knowing where I’d be sleeping the next night (my flight was delayed and my hostel reservation had been cancelled), not knowing if I’d like summer camp, not knowing where I could be next week and excited for the adventures to come!
Pouring soju
I break Korean convention by pouring my own glass of soju. Sacrilege!

 

And because romance, relationships on the road, and heartbreak play such a big part in my blog, I have to ask: What about travel romances? Have any war stories to share?

 

Let me sum it up simply.

 

Summer camp. Irish. Cooking guy. Have met up since camp. Planning on meeting up again soon.

Oooooooooo! Nicole and Irish guy sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G…

 

Ahem. Moving on…

What is a travel tip you’d like to share with other travelers?

 

If you have any questions about ANYTHING travel related use Twitter and you will get an almost instance response but don’t forget to include hash-tags!

 

Oh, and if you travel with shampoo or conditioner PLEASE use plastic bags or zip lock bags to seal it. I’ve unpacked so many bags (myself and camp kids’) with exploded hair products in it and it really is a pain to get out of the lining of bags (and can stain your favourite coloured clothing!)

 

Last one, I promise. What is your ultimate travel dream?
NORTH KOREA!!!!! or the Trans-Siberian railway… or island hopping in the South Pacific/Caribbean!

 

Oh, before I forget! Are there any posts you’re particularly proud of that you’d like to share?

 

My recent post “I actually like London…” and my post about the Coney Island Mermaid Parade are my favorites.

 

Face painted man at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade
Face painted man at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. Photo by Nicole Blaess-Smith

The Evening

Questioning done, it was time to enjoy the delicious meal.

Nicole eating some Korean BBQ
Nicole vowed a photo of her eating Korean BBQ wouldn't see the light of day. She was wrong. Muhahahahaha!

Lots of barbecued meat served up with kimchi, garlic, and samjjang and wrapped in lettuce leaves. Shots of soju that I later washed down with a can of Sprite. A bottle of Hite that I had all to myself. Lots of photos. Me attempting to impress pretty Korean waitresses with my limited Korean skills. And eventually the walk across to the infamous backpacker haunt, Shark Hotel, for some drinks on my good friend Belle’s dime.

I had a lot of fun hanging out with Nicole and it again reminded me what a special brand of people we travelers are. It’s a unique kind of person who can meet a virtual stranger (unless reading one another’s blogs and occasional Tweeting counts) and have an awesome time.

And that’s something I’ve noticed both amongst Aussie travel writers and amongst fellow travelers when out on the road. From the gorgeous north coast girls I met in Fiji to the many friends I made in South Korea; from Jay and Jon in New Zealand to the many great people I got to hang out with while in the United States. It’s an openness that a lot of people don’t seem to have, and I feel bad for them. Life’s too short to miss the opportunity for a fun night out or a new friend just because of a little shyness.

Go read Bitten by the Travel Bug!

This entry isn’t just about eating delicious Korean BBQ and asking questions. I want you to go look at Nicole’s very entertaining blog. She’s constantly coming up with new and interesting content, and has seen more of the world at her relatively young age than I have. She’s worked at a summer camp in the United States and had a bear stumble in on her while she was showering, but I think she’d agree that the highlight so far has been being taught how to eat Korean BBQ by this bearded git.

You can find Bitten by the Travel Bug here, as well as following Nicole on Twitter.

Want In?

I’m really looking forward to adding more to this Bite with a Blogger series. There’s a lot of travelers both here in Sydney and around the world I’d love to get to know a little better.

If you’re ever in Sydney and want a bite to eat, a good chat, and some free publicity for your blog or project – let me know! You can reach me through my Contact page, hit me up on Twitter (@aussieontheroad) or ask on my Facebook page.

Recommended Reads

Friday’s Recommended Reads – September 30th

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October has rolled around and daylight savings is upon us here in Australia! That means an extra bit of sunlight each day – not that I’ll see it with my work hours extending well beyond 6pm…

Exciting times for the Aussie on the Road as well. My Queensland trip continues to gather momentum. Not only are my flights and Fright Night tickets booked, but I’ve also picked up my day pass to Australia’s premier theme park: Dream World.

I’m very excited to try out their new Tower of Terror, Shockwave, and Buzzsaw. The latter looks particularly terrifying, and I get into the park an hour early to ride it because I booked online. Winning.

There’s even more exciting news though. I’ve recently been approached by a representative of Ford about test driving their new Ford Focus on a road trip. Brooke vs the World recently capitalized on the opportunity and did a few trips, and I’m really excited to go on a road trip of my own. The great Aussie road trip is something I’m always up for.

The problem?

I don’t drive.

Thankfully my mate Dave has offered to act as driver and tag along for the ride. I’ve also invited Annie of Wayward Traveler and Mel from The Mellyboo Project to come along too. We’re looking at an overnight trip to Jervis Bay to check out the beaches, party with some backpackers, and see one of the often overlooked areas of New South Wales. Can’t wait!

And after all of the above? I’ve got the wedding of a very good friend up in Newcastle, so I’ll be heading back to one of my old stomping grounds to celebrate the occasion as well as fit in a bit of sight-seeing. It might be time for me to check out a few of the cafes and bars of Darby Street and check out one or two of the beaches I didn’t get to when I lived there.

And then? I’m headed up to my home town for a weekend of ten year high school reunion festivities. I’ve somehow been saddled with organizing the whole affair but it’s coming together nicely. Drinks at the old bar on the Friday night, a sit down dinner with awards presentation on the Saturday evening, and then a BBQ on the school grounds to round it all out. Really looking forward to seeing how everybody has been for the past ten years. Hell, there’s one or two guys I considered good friends who I haven’t seen since we said goodbye on the last day of school. Hard to believe it’s been so long.

But you didn’t come here to read my life story. On with this week’s Recommended Reads!

The Reads

The American Dream by 1 Dad, 1 Kid, 1 Crazy Adventure

Talon and Tigger’s adventures around Central America have kept the blog pretty quiet so far, so it was a pleasant surprise to see this really thought provoking read about the pursuit of the ‘American dream’ and having the guts to question it. I for one think that Talon is living the dream as he and his son travel the world, and I can’t imagine finding anywhere near that level of happiness in a house and 2.5 kids.

I think a lot of my fellow travelers will be able to relate to the sentiments expressed here, and there’s a bunch of other discussions of the topic included at the end of his post.

My Top 10 Favorite Road Trip Stops by A Dangerous Business

Amanda’s amazing road trip tour of the United States has come to an end and she’s taken the time to stop and run down a list of her favorite stops along the way. I’m a big fan of the road trip and have enjoyed reading about her adventures gallivanting all over the States, and she’s highlighted some amazing spots in this top 10.

She also points out that the States is so damned big that even after her big trip, she barely touched on what there is to see out there. I know I’ve been guilty of the same here in Oz.

Korean BBQ 101 in Sydney by Bitten by the Travel Bug

My good friend Nicole’s first appearance in the Recommended Reads just so happens to coincide with my role in this week’s post. I swear, I didn’t choose it because I’m in it… >_>

When Nicole was in Sydney recently for her role as a Red Bull Mobile Scout we had the chance to catch up and we made the most of it by indulging in a lot of delicious galbi (Korean BBQ beef) and soju. It was really amusing to read Nicole’s recount of her first brush with real Korean eating, and there’s a lot of photos of me looking like an idiot as I demonstrate the process.

There were photos of Nicole as well, but she’s decided they shouldn’t see the light of day.

City Guide, Detroit MI by Bucket List Nation

Fresh of having two reads featured last week, Bucket List Nation is on the scene again with this really interesting look at Detroit. I don’t know about anybody else, but I really didn’t have a great level of interest for visiting the motor/murder city, but this entry might just have turned me around. There’s more to the city than meets the eye and, much like my beloved Newcastle, Detroit seems like it gets a bad wrap almost exclusively.

Good to see somebody leap to its defense.

Night Life in the Old Town of Bratislava by Man vs Clock

Those who have seen Euro Trip probably have a rather colorful idea of what Bratislava’s night life might be like, but Anthony has just experienced it first hand and can attest to the lack of absinthe induced twin incest. I’m sure you’re all relieved to hear that.

This was a really amusing read and I’m all about entries that highlight places most people haven’t been to (or even heard of). Top stuff.

A Tour of Chernobyl and the Ghost Town of Pripyat by Neverending Footsteps

How on earth did this not make the cut last week!? I know I read it and loved it then. Call it a case of massive oversight.

It’s long been a dream of mine to visit the town of Pripyat and see first hand the aftermath of the disastrous Chernobyl meltdown. Amanda from A Dangerous Business had a really interesting entry on visiting places such as Ground Zero, Auschwitz, and the Killing Fields recently – and Chernobyl certainly fits into that same category.

This entry really just needs to be read and enjoyed. Plenty of photos and a really great recount of her visit. Go go!

10 Must See Deserts by One Giant Step

Another first timer here. One Giant Step counts down the ten deserts of the world that he believes are ‘must see’. I’ve been lucky enough to visit one of those listed and it’s not even the one in Australia. But having lived in the gorgeous NSW Outback in the past, I can definitely attest to the charms of the Australia red centre.

What deserts have you explored? And what deserts do you still need to visit?

Coming Home – What’s Bothering Me by Runaway Juno

Juno has just completed an envy inducing road trip journey around North America and is now back in South Korea recovering and coming to grips with life after life on the road.

I just about cried reading this entry. I can completely relate to Juno’s feelings of isolation and confusion after finishing up a big trip. It’s something I’ve dealt with after leaving Korea in the past and even, to a lesser extent, after getting home after last year’s New Zealand and Fiji trip.

I’m sure we’ve all felt that sense of isolation and confinement when we’ve come back from a big trip. Go give Juno a big virtual hug!

Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates in Iceland by Wild Junket

How on earth am I only just hearing about this?

Nellie from Wild Junket had the opportunity to snorkel between the tectonic plates that separate North America and Europe and she took some amazing photos along the way. I think something just got added to my bucket list…

What’s Going On?

After a pretty slack week last week, I’ve made the vow to myself to get back in the writing saddle and get plenty of entries out this week. I’ve got my interview with Nicole from Bitten by the Travel Bug, part two of my Top 10 Best Kept Aussie Secrets, a post about how to do Las Vegas on a budget, and the first in a whole series of posts about my time in Korea and the United States.

On a personal level, my week doesn’t hold a great deal. I’m in hardcore saving mode as my Queensland trip approaches. With the added costs of the aforementioned Jervis Bay, Newcastle, and Glen Innes trips – I daresay I’ll be snatching up a few overtime trips over the next few months.

Beyond Christmas I’m not really sure what the future holds. I’ve got job interviews for schools in Japan and Taiwan coming up, and I’m still considering my options on the China and Thailand fronts. While I don’t think teaching is the career that’s going to make me happy for the rest of my life – it’s the career that’s going to let me live abroad, and that’s a pretty big draw.

I’ve still got my sights set on that 2012 big trip too. South East Asia, South America, Central America, and Europe are all calling my name. And I’ve still got a lot of unfinished business in North America too.

So much to see. So little cash…

In Case You Missed Them…

Don’t See Your Entry Above?

If you’d like to see your link (or just a link you really liked) here next week don’t hesitate to leave a comment here, hit me up on Facebook, or send me a Tweet. I’ll feature the post on Facebook as well as Tweeting it to the Twitterverse and Stumbling it to the Stumbleverse. That’s free publicity!

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Europe

Guest Post: Waking Up in Belfast

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A few weeks ago, Jesse from Cooks and Travel Books put together a wonderfully crafted piece of travel narrative detailing his crossing to Belfast. I enjoyed reading the post so much that when he approached me about producing a follow up article, I couldn’t say no.

So, fresh off his crossing to Belfast, Jesse tells us about waking up the following day and what followed.

Waking Up in Belfast

I awoke early to the thrum of rain against the window.  Unwinding myself from the tangle of sheets, I stepped onto the creaky floor of my hostel room in the Linen House as quietly as I could.  A Canadian couple had come in late the night before.  Although I’ve yet to see a surly Canadian yet, I decided to play it safe and packed my duffel as quietly as I could so as not to wake them.  I had university classes starting in less than three days in Dublin, and I had spent too much time and money in Belfast.  University fellowships are a double-edged sword.  You get to travel and they give you a stipend but I always run out of time and money in places that weren’t on the itinerary to begin with.  I had originally planned to stop in Belfast for two days at most before pushing on to Dublin.  I hadn’t actually planned to like it so much.

 

I think that the Belfast folks must make it a point to prove that Belfast is different now that the Troubles are over.  I’ve never run into so many hospitable people in one place.  That may have contributed to me spending more than a week knocking around the red brick streets of Belfast and eating too many plates of fish and chips off wrinkly newspapers.  I shrugged into a thick scratchy wool sweater over a clean cotton t-shirt, pulled on a pair of my least wrinkled Levis and laced up my boots.  The last of my mostly clean clothes crammed into my oversized olive drab Army duffel, I tiptoed out of the hostel room accompanied by groaning wood planking despite my efforts to be quiet.  The Canadians’ snoring never even wavered away from pitch perfect harmony.  I had to think that if the world were populated only by Canadians we’d have fewer wars—a blander diet perhaps, but far less violence.  Still mulling the trade-off, I clumped down the stairwell and checked out.

I walked outside into a blend of greys.  Grey rain was pelting out of a grey sky and running down grey buildings.  My resolve to walk to the train station dissolved rapidly and I hailed a cab before my boots were soaked through.  I got to the train station in time to drink two hot coffees and ward off a case of chattering teeth before the train bound for Dublin pulled in.  I stepped into an empty train car, stowed my duffle and took my pick of seats.  In spite of the coffee I must have dozed off immediately in the warm train carriage because I awoke to a conductor gently shaking my shoulder.  I produced my wrinkled Eurail pass and handed it up to him.  The Irish must have some kind of special minerals in their drinking water—or maybe it’s the Guinness—but this guy had the biggest mustache I’ve ever seen.  It made Sam Elliot look like a wispy-lipped adolescent in comparison.

 

I tried to quit fixating on the conductor’s massive mustache and focus on reading James Joyce’s Ulysses.  The whole purpose for this university fellowship—hence the entire trip—revolved around the novel.  I hadn’t planned on the fact that live Irish folks could be a lot more interesting and engaging than literary characters and dead Irish authors.  I immersed myself in the world of Stephan Dedalus for a while and when I next looked up the rain had stopped.  I watched the brilliantly green pastures dotted with Jersey cows slide by as the sun peaked out from behind the receding grey rainclouds.  Dublin was getting closer, just around a few more bends in the tracks farther south and deeper into the interior of the Emerald Isle.

Jesse Langley lives near Chicago. He divides his time among work, writing and family life. He’s an advocate for online education and has a keen interest in blogging and social media.

 

Europe, Featured, Travel Daydream

Travel Daydream: Tenerife

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Working an unconventional week means that Tuesday is my Monday. That means I’m spending a dreary Tuesday afternoon daydreaming about places I’d rather be.Lately these daydreams have mostly been about my upcoming trip to Moreton Island or my perennial daydream about someday backpacking my way around South East Asia, but my brother’s recent travels around Europe have got me thinking about island paradises in that neck of the woods instead.

Ibiza isn’t really my speed, so I instead looked at the Canary Islands off of the African coast. More specifically – Tenerife.

Rather than give you a history lesson about the Canary Islands and their role in the Spanish empire, I’m just going to launch in with five things in Tenerife I’d rather be doing than taking phone calls at work.

Explore Teide National Park

A stunning view of Mount Teide. Photo from Fotopedia

Tenerife is perhaps most recognizable for Mount Teide – the world’s third largest volcano and the largest in all of Europe. More gung ho adventurers might wish to hike up the massive dormant volcano (although this post reminds us that dormant doesn’t mean harmless), but the rest of us can simply take a cable car to the summit in order to take in the breathtaking view of the island.

It is possible to have the best of both worlds though. While the hike from foot to summit takes upwards of six hours, less ambitious travelers can ride the cable car partway up the mountain and continue on foot. With approval from park authorities, you can even go to the very lip of the volcano.

The whole park is a stunning example of a volcanic region and offers photographers and geology nuts a great chance to see the unique terrain that exists around a volcano.

You can read more about Teide National Park here.

Scuba Dive

Photo by Ilse Reijs and Jan-Noud Hutten

Ever since I first got my Scuba license in Cairns last year, I’ve been addicted to the deep blue sea. While I did get a chance to dive on Mantaray Island while I was in Fiji, it’s been a long time between drinks.

Tenerife boasts a truly stunning variety of dive sites. Want to dive a wreck? There’s countless wrecks along the coastline of what was once a stopping off point en route to the New World. Want to swim with manta rays? You can! Fancy exploring a cave or checking out some beautiful coral? You can do that too.

Tenerife offers up a whole lot of options when it comes to scuba diving and there’s no shortage of companies offering to take you out. Couple this with year round warm waters, and Tenerife is a diver’s dream.

Relax on the Beach

What kind of daydream would it be without warm sandy beaches, a cocktail, and gorgeous girls frolicking in bikinis? And what kind of island paradise would Tenerife be without a whole selection of beautiful beaches to relax on?

Whether you’re into wind-surfing, surfing, sunbathing, or swimming – there’s a beach on Tenerife for you. While a lot of these beaches are man made and belong to the many resorts that clutter the coastline, there’s still a few better kept secrets for those wanting to avoid a crowd and find their own slice of paradise.

Travel Guru compiled this great list of ten beaches on Tenerife worth checking out, and I daresay I’d try and hit as many of them as I could.

Visit the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción

Relaxation is more than just stretching out in the sun and sleeping away your hangover from the previous night. There’s a certain serenity to be found in places of worship regardless of your spiritual background, I feel.

Built in 1498, this ancient church was built shortly after the islands were conquered and has been built on since. While I was raised Catholic, I think almost anybody with an appreciation of history or architecture would find the church to be a moving experience.

Ken Follett’s outstanding Pillars of Earth was inspired by the writer’s fascination with the role a church played in the community and the incredible artistry that went into their construction – and the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción is a great example of the beauty that can be found in these buildings.

Chase Whales and Dolphins

Dolphins play in the water. Photo from Geograph.org

I was lucky enough to have a chance to see the clowns of the sea in action last year on a visit to Nelson Bay, but I’ve yet to have the thrill of seeing the largest mammals in the world in the wild.

The southwest coast of Tenerife boasts permanent pods of dolphins but there’s a stunning 21 varities of whale and dolphin that can be spotted off the coast. From the killer whales to sperm whales and blue whales to the adorable bottlenose dolphin.

Tenerife boasts a pretty spectacular rate of success when it comes to spotting whales and dolphins – with 95% of tours seeing these fascinating animals out in the waves. You won’t find odds like that anywhere else in the world outside of a Sea World.

Much like scuba, there’s no shortage of companies offering to take you out either. Shop around and get the best deal possible.

Back to Reality

The odds of me taking a trip to Tenerife any time soon seem pretty slim, but a guy can dream, right? And who knows? Someday I might just be teaching in Europe and I can take a trip to Tenerife.