Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 359

USA Today: 10Best Spas in Los Angeles: Part 2

Hidden Gems and High End Treatments: The Best of Los Angeles Spas
by Lisa Niver

Many times in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, Stars need a place relax and hide-away. Whether you are a famous celebrity or just want to be treated like a VIP, here are 10 of the best places to find spa serenity. Ready to feel like royalty? Have a massage at the Hotel Bel Air in a room with a private outdoor patio and Spa tea. Having a luxury hotel experience that feels like a sanctuary is perfect at The Ritz Carlton, Beverly Hills Hotel, Sunset Marquis, InterContinental Hotel and Luxe Sunset Boulevard. After just one Spa Massage at these hotels, you may feel that you have had a multi-day vacation. If you want to stroll in the sand immediately after your treatment, choose Casa Del Mar. If you prefer your celebrity moment to be in a private hideaway, choose Skin and Body Retreat where you will be the only client luxuriating in Los Angeles. To steal a relaxing spa hour during the daytime downtown, enjoy The LA Mart Day Spa at the Reef. For one of the best professional massages available in Los Angeles, experience bliss at Bechtel Physical Therapy. You can be a star in your own life with your choices. Enjoy ten of the best places in Los Angeles for treatment tranquility and choose to put your need to relax in the hands of these caring spa specialists.

7 Skin and Body: A Private Retreat

Skin & Body: A Private Retreat is a private retreat, you receive one-on-one service from the owner Robin Janashak who personally evaluates and guides her clients through the ever-changing skin treatment industry. Each new client receives an in depth consultations to review the client’s goals, past skin care regiment and products used. Robin has been and in the skin care business for over 15 years, both as an educator and practitioner. She works with industry leaders in the skin care including PCA, Is Clinical, Intraceuticals Oxygen, Epicuren and Yon ka. Robin works closely with dermatologists and plastic surgeons in order to stay abreast of the latest developments in Anti-aging, Acne and Advanced Skin treatments. Skin cancer prevention is a personal passion having been affected in her family. (818-284-0790)

6 Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel Spa

The Spa at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard hotel feels like a retreat center. Choose your treatment from the menu and choose your location. You can have your massage in your room.This exclusive hotel is just off the 405 hotel but feels miles away from the commuters just outside its doors. You will find the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel at the intersection of Brentwood and Bel Air. This urban hideaway has seven acres of peaceful property and an outdoor pool. On Sunset, the restaurant, has tasty creations and the Spa is a serene hideaway. The location is close to the beach and the excitement of Brentwood village. As they say at the Luxe Hotels, “chic is not a style, it is having style.” (310-476-6571)

VIDEO: Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel Spa

5 Sunset Marquis Spa

The Spa at the Sunset Marquis has large private rooms where you will be comfortable for multiple treatments. Start with Champagne or water and enjoy the orchids and the art which just might make you feel you are in a James Bond film. Over the last 50 years, Sunset Marquis has been a hotel home for entertainers from actors to comedians to fashion designers and can be for you as well. Want to party like a rock star or just live like one, this is your place. This 3.5 acre Mediterranean is on a hill adjacent to the Sunset strip. If you have ever wondered what does casual luxury look like, stop here to find out. You can relax, dine and luxuriate at this West Hollywood Hotel. ((310) 657-1333)

VIDEO: Sunset Marquis Spa Day

4 Bechtel Physical Therapy

Bechtel Physical Therapy is staffed by 6 DPTs (Doctors of Physical Therapy), licensed massage therapists, and athletic trainers. Physical Therapy services include orthopedic evaluations; movement analysis; soft tissue, joint and neural mobilization; Graston assisted myofascial release; Class 4 hot laser; electrical stimulation; ultrasound; traction; taping (including Kinesio taping); and therapeutic exercise. BPT is the only Physical Therapy clinic in LA to offer Class 4 laser treatments that speed healing and quickly reduce pain and inflammation without drugs. Swedish, deep tissue, sports and hot stone massages are available. Most importantly, all massages are prescribed and designed by highly trained DPTs to address the specific musculoskeletal needs of each client. The beautiful private treatment rooms are all equipped with state of the art equipment. Parking is ample and free. Bechtel Physical Therapy’s motto is “Relax! We will take care of you!” They will. (818-990-0267)

 

Read the full article on USA Today!

Part 1 on WSGT

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Children of Kibera, Kenya

When our patients and their parents heard that we were going to Kenya and would visit a school in Kibera—one of the largest slums in the world—many of them asked if we could take some supplies for the children there. One mother had her children use their allowance to buy books, others brought colored pencils, and another patient brought in child-sized Home Depot aprons. My wife and I were bringing toothpaste, toothbrushes and floss for 250—every student in the Red Rose School.

Our plane landed in Nairobi around midnight but the tour group didn’t need to meet until 1PM. That gave us time to interpose our trip to Kibera with a local contact, Ken Okuth, who was coming to pick us up at 9AM. A former patient, employee, and friend of ours named Kate had met Ken when he was an undergraduate student at St. Lawrence University. Kate also spoke fondly of spending a semester in Kenya, so when we asked what we could do to help people in Kenya, she referred us to Ken. Ken was raised in Kibera, but earned a scholarship for his undergraduate studies. He went on to earn a graduate degree at Georgetown University and started an educational non-profit, the Children of Kibera Foundation.

After picking us up at the hotel, Ken took us for a tour of the city of Nairobi. He showed us the former US embassy building that was bombed in 1998 and brought Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda to America’s attention. We passed the ultramodern Kenyatta International Conference Center and a small airport on our two-mile journey to the Red Rose School within the Kibera slum.

When we arrived at the Red Rose School, all 250 students treated us to dancing and singing. Since the government does not provide hardly any services to the inhabitants of Kibera, some of these kids walk 4 miles one way to get to the Red Rose School. Because schooling is provided by various religious and nonsectarian schools that rely on donations, I asked a few students why they chose this particular school. The unanimous response was, “Because of the results.” Ken and the school administrator strongly believe that education is a bridge to better life, and they do everything in their power to make it possible for these kids to go as far as their work, intellect, and luck will take them. Since the government doesn’t provide adequate services for the people of Kibera, “luck” often takes the form of donations funneled through various charitable organizations, like The School Fund, which is a crowd-sourced non-profit that was developed after an American teenager met one of Ken’s protégés.

Ken Okuth has since gone on to be elected a Member of Parliament (MP) at the Kenya National Assembly, where he represents the Kibera constituency. He continues to use his influence to improve the lives of those in Kibera by representing them and giving them a voice. Hopefully, when others learn of the need, they will share some of their power to help make the world a better place.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Discover Los Angeles: Tart Restaurant & Farmer’s Daughter Hotel

The Farmer’s Daughter Hotel is a unique Los Angeles hotel offering stylish hotel rooms and  welcomes you like family in the heart of Los Angeles across from the Grove. Test out Tart Restaurant‘s tasty creations and upcoming Halloween special libations!

 

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#TartRestaurant for dinner and drinks! Come join us! @tartrestaurant @wagstaff_LA

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Tasty treats @tartrestaurant #tartmac, spicy long beans & heirloom tomato salad! Everything is amazing so far! View on Instagram

 

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Taste #tartchickennwaffles: sweet & savory, steak tartare ‘Scotch egg’ @tartrestaurant taste sensations! Come and eat here! View on Instagram

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  #TartRestaurant Thanks for the scrumptious meal with @ajschratz25 @tartrestaurant   View on Instagram

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Choco-Banana Bread Pudding with marshmallow ice cream. #TartRestaurant a grown-up s’more dessert

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  Recently renovated Robin Rooms @farmersdaughter #hotel fun, cheeky & tech-savvy. Perfect for your vacation or #daycation #LosAngeles   View on Instagram

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Charming communal corners @farmersdaughterhotel great location, vibe, rooms & @tartrestaurant

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Love @cobigelowny products! So happy to discover more of them @farmersdaughterhotel. #Mentha shimmer tint is mine! You have to try it! View on Instagram  

Sides To Tempt your Tastebuds:

 

LONG BEANS

 

with spicy bbq sauce, garlic and shaved egg

 

 

 

 

ROASTED SHISHITO PEPPERS

 

#tartshishito

 

 

with romesco

 

 

 

 

BRAISED MUSHROOMS

 

#tartshrooms

 

 

with hazelnuts and thyme

 

 

 

 

BLACK EYED PEAS

 

#tartblackeyedpeas

 

 

with braised greens

 

 

 

 

FRIES

 

#tartfries

 

 

with achiote ketchup

 

 

 

 

WHITE CHEDDAR MAC AND CHEESE

 

#tartmac

 

 

 

PLATES FOR YOUR PLEASURE:

 

CRISPY SKIN SALMON

 

#tartsalmon

 

 

with fennel puree, petite herb salad and preserved lemon

 

 

 

 

HANGER STEAK

 

#tarthangersteak

 

 

with grilled broccoli, fork crushed potatoes and horseradish cream

 

 

 

 

TART BURGER

 

#tartburger

 

 

with blue cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, mustard aioli and fries

 

 

 

 

PAN ROASTED HALIBUT

 

with tomato consomme, confit tomatoes and grilled spring onion

 

 

 

SWEETS:

 

CHOCOLATE-BANANA BREAD PUDDING

 

#tartbreadpudding

 

 

with nutella, banana brulee and marshmallow ice cream

 

 

 

 

BROWN BUTTER TART

 

#tarttart

 

 

with blackberry coulis and vanilla bean ice cream

 

 

 

 

COCONUT PANNA COTTA

 

#tartpannacotta

 

 

with strawberry tartare, mint, shortbread

 

 

 

The post Discover Los Angeles: Tart Restaurant & Farmer’s Daughter Hotel appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Sarajevo, Bosnia

As a child who lived for make-believe, war was about good-guys fighting bad-guys and princes slaying dragons. Often, I pranced around the living room, fencing with an imaginary nemesis, only to be waved away from the idiot box. I never took much note of the sad faces with downcast eyes, as they often uttered a strange word – Yugoslavia. Too young and far removed to comprehend the conflict, but soon too old to ignore it, I catalogued Yugoslavia in my mind with an asterisk (*) next to it. Fast-forward 20 years and a few edits to the world political map; I found myself living in Europe and paying little attention to the new countries I didn’t recognize from old textbooks. I often heard friends talk about their fabulous holidays, island hopping in Croatia, camping in Slovenia, or strolling around Dubrovnik and quite robotically added these places to the list of exotic locales I wanted to visit. It was only the name Sarajevo that haunted my conscience, till one day I gave in and revisited the asterisk.

The history of Yugoslavia was so complex and heartbreaking, I was grateful to have a few decades to buffer me from the intolerable cruelty of men. But, amidst all this tragedy, a united Sarajevo set a higher standard for humanity. A city under siege, they chose to fight as one, and eventually shamed the world into rescuing them. Sarajevo called to me. But, what exactly did I want to see? Did I want to walk on sniper alley, and look at the beautiful hills, from where they riddled her with bullets? Did I want to stand where Miss Sarajevo contestants pleaded with the world “Don’t let them kill us” or did I want to walk up a hill of tombstones to the children’s cemetery and make sense of why these kids who played like me and were loved like me, just never got to grow up and stand there with me? It seemed like sacrilege to go to a place so steeped in tragedy just to soak in some sun and buy souvenirs. I moaned and mulled over this, but eventually the simple truth was that I should celebrate the peace and freedom Sarajevo enjoys now and that life goes on (it has to) and all we can do is to learn from these cautionary tales and enjoy the sun, buy souvenirs and bask shamelessly in the privileges that they are.

From the moment she emerged out of the hillsides, Sarajevo was an assault on my senses. The aromas, sounds and images still flicker close to the surface as I revisit her today in the comfort of my home. Even a year after my visit, some visions/stories transport me back to Sarajevo in an instant:

The first glimpse of Bascarsija in the morning mist – shoo-ing pigeons off the intricate Sebilj fountain at the (you guessed it) Pigeon square – sitting elbow-to-elbow with locals at a tiny cafe bench – pitter patter of coppersmiths in back alleys – selfies at the bridge where WW I started – much needed turbo-charged bosniak coffee inside a quaint little courtyard – hopping across churches, mosques and synagogues – standing silently in front of a busy market that was bomb down on a similar day 19 years ago – standing across from the holiday inn and reading an account of how events unfolded around the square leading to the siege – feeling blessed as we walked hand-in-hand along the Miljacka reading about the Romeo and Juliet of Sarajevo – Sharing a pint at the Sarajevo Bewery – learning of how they supplied the town with clean water during the siege – Bascarsija coming to a standstill during a frenzied rally – goofy smiles as we realize the rally was in support of the local football club – stumbling upon the cutest tea house right next to our apartment – being schooled on the correct way to drink tea, while we flipped through old pictures of BiH and listened to stories from our friendly host.

Sarajevo was not the static museum of pain and suffering I expected, but it was a vibrant city, not without its struggles, but so full of warmth. Sarajevo’s blend of catholic, orthodox, muslim and jewish heritage, was imprinted as much in its structures as in its people. She exuded the old world charm of a city that had seen better days, graciously draping herself in Sarajevo roses. She was at the same time, a medieval town with haunting prayer calls, a romantic European city with bridges spanning its river and a struggling modern capital gazing hopefully at a brighter future. This contrasting beauty would be a photographers dream, and her contrasting realities, make her a philosopher’s haven. I hope she greets me with the same sweet smile when I see her again.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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USA Today: 10Best Spas in Los Angeles: Part 1

Hidden Gems and High End Treatments: The Best of Los Angeles Spas
by Lisa Niver

Many times in the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, Stars need a place relax and hide-away. Whether you are a famous celebrity or just want to be treated like a VIP, here are 10 of the best places to find spa serenity. Ready to feel like royalty? Have a massage at the Hotel Bel Air in a room with a private outdoor patio and Spa tea. Having a luxury hotel experience that feels like a sanctuary is perfect at The Ritz Carlton, Beverly Hills Hotel, Sunset Marquis, InterContinental Hotel and Luxe Sunset Boulevard. After just one Spa Massage at these hotels, you may feel that you have had a multi-day vacation. If you want to stroll in the sand immediately after your treatment, choose Casa Del Mar. If you prefer your celebrity moment to be in a private hideaway, choose Skin and Body Retreat where you will be the only client luxuriating in Los Angeles. To steal a relaxing spa hour during the daytime downtown, enjoy The LA Mart Day Spa at the Reef. For one of the best professional massages available in Los Angeles, experience bliss at Bechtel Physical Therapy. You can be a star in your own life with your choices. Enjoy ten of the best places in Los Angeles for treatment tranquility and choose to put your need to relax in the hands of these caring spa specialists.

3 Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie

Enjoy the lush, tropical gardens and exotic flowers at The Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. The Pink Palace has luxurious rooms, spacious suites and secluded bungalows. Bar Nineteen12, The Cabana Cafe and the Polo Lounge welcome you for your eating pleasure and the experience at The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie is remarkable. The Spa in partnership with Yada Yada Yoga provides an opportunity to transform your life with pilates, yoga with AJ, fitness assessment with Russell, a private healthy cooking session with executive chef Kaleo Adams, and finished with a world class spa treatment with Brian. As Chef Kaleo says, “People think about what they wear, and who it is designed by, what car they drive, and who they associate with but don’t always give as much thought to what they put in their mouth for sustenance.” Spend your day choosing carefully! ((310) 887-2006)

VIDEO: Beverly Hills Hotel Spa Day

2 The Ritz Carlton Spa

The golden tiles of The Ritz Carlton Spa encourage you to relax, rejuvenate and restore. Wondering where to prepare for your red carpet experience or just want to feel like you belong on the red carpet? Choose to indulge at this urban oasis. From the signature Champagne to unparalleled personalized service, each of the nine treatment rooms will allow you to unwind from the moment you begin to smell the eucalyptus in the steam room to your time in either the co-ed Sanctuary, or private men’s and women’s relaxation rooms. While the NEST at WP24 offers garden to table herbs from the rooftop garden, the spa offers Garden to Glamorous treatments featuring fresh ingredients grown on site. The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, is a luxury hotel located downtown in the vibrant center of the city’s emerging L.A. LIVE Entertainment District. (213 743 8800)

VIDEO: #DTLA: LA Live, Ritz Carlton Spa, WP24, The Nest

1 Hotel Bel-Air Spa by La Prairie

After spending a day at the Hotel Bel Air, you might believe you had a much longer vacation. As you walk over the bridge, the swans are immediately visible in the water and it seems like a pristine oasis. The grounds are beautiful and the spa feels like its own resort. The sanctuary waiting area has an outside patio and the snacks are plentiful and divine. The couple’s treatment room opens up to an outside patio where you can enjoy a special spa tea after your treatment and bath. Enjoy the Hollywood style and 12 acres of gardens in the Bel-Air Estates neighborhood. Originally built in 1922, the hotel currently has a restaurant operated by Wolfgang Puck. ((310) 472-1211)

VIDEO: La Prairie Spa at Hotel Bel Air

Read the full article on USA Today!

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A Taste of Pura Vida in Costa Rica

I enter online contests all the time.  I never expect to win but my way of thinking is if I don’t enter, I definitely won’t win!  At some point during the spring or summer of 2012, I entered a contest to win a week long stay at a yoga retreat in Montezuma, Costa Rica.  In the fall of that same year, I received an email informing me I had won.

I didn’t know a thing about yoga or meditation when I replied to the email asking for my preferred travel dates.  All I cared about was going on a free trip to a country I had always wanted to visit.  The yoga classes and other activities were optional so I wasn’t even obligated to participate if I didn’t want to and my plan was to skip all that and spend that week learning to surf and lying on the beach.

After a long trip by air, sea and land, I finally made it to Anamaya Yoga Retreat atop a hill overlooking a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding coastline.  After a brief introduction to the place and the people I would be spending the week with, I unpacked, settled into my shared room and slipped into the salt-water infinity pool to relax.  I later glanced at the week’s scheduled events and decided that attending that evening’s group discussion and dinner would be the appropriate thing to do…at least for the first night.

Introductions were brief but personal.  Each person said their name and their reason for attending the retreat.  I felt awkward stating that I was only there because I won the trip so I lied and said I was there to get some well-deserved relaxation and learn more about yoga.  The words just rolled off my tongue and I immediately realized what that meant for me; there would be no early-morning treks to the beach or late nights partying in the town below.  I had just committed myself to 7am yoga classes for the entire week.

Dinner was beyond my expectations.  I’d stayed at all-inclusive resorts before and the food was always just ok.  But Anamaya was not your typical all-inclusive resort.  All participants sat at a huge dinner table complete with yoga-inspired décor and candles that shed a relaxing ambiance over the room.  Light music made sitting with a group of strangers to have a meal even more relaxing.  The meal itself consisted of three courses – soup and appetizers, the main course and desert – and everything was healthy, fresh and organic with all the vegetables and dairy products coming from a nearby farm.

Getting up at 6am the next morning wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be; my bed faced a huge glass door that overlooked the Pacific and the early morning sunrise was so spectacular, I just couldn’t bear to sleep through it.  After a light snack consisting of various fruit, I joined the group for our first yoga class.  This being my first attempt at yoga, I was both embarrassed and intimidated at my lack of ability in comparison to the other more seasoned yogis in the class and I failed miserably. I was unable to do more than half the poses and I ended up in severe pain for the rest of the day.

After breakfast, we gathered around in a circle to discuss our lives more in depth.  I am not used to opening up about my private life in such a setting but everyone was so at ease at doing so that I relaxed and began to open up too.  I instantly felt comfortable in that group of people from all over the world, each with his or her own goals, aspirations, failed relationships, moments of enlightenment and hopes for the future.  Every single person in that circle was there at that moment because they had had something bad happen in their lives and had reached a point where they wanted to change for the better and move forward in a more positive direction.  That was the first time I had ever been surrounded by a group of people who were not afraid to admit they had fallen and wanted to get back up.  Before that, it always seemed that everyone’s lives were perfect and I was the only one who was falling.  We laughed, we cried and we hugged as we shared our inner-most secrets.  Later that day, I received another gift that I have been carrying around with me since that magical, life-changing week in Montezuma; a lesson in living what native Costa Ricans call the Pura Vida.  Translation? Living simply, happily and purely.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Gratitude Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Free Accommodation Isn’t Just for Bums

When you picture somebody living for free around the world, what do you see? Is it a hippy planting trees and living in a tent or run-down shack? Or a down-on-their-luck hobo with dirt under their fingernails and a long face to match, sleeping on whatever charitable couches are offered to them?

What if I told you that there is a whole world of free accommodation that has nothing to do with being a bum? That you could stay in palatial accommodation – for free – in some of the most desirable destinations, sometimes simply for checking the mail and watering the plants?

Or that you can tap into a local culture and make new friends and do some volunteer good while you’re at it?

Or that you could sail the world at large – for free?

It’s true. Free accommodation isn’t just for bums.

 

I’m a Professional Hobo, But I’m Not a Bum.

The following is an excerpt from the popular e-book How to Get Free Accommodation Around the World:

In 2006, I sold everything I owned (including a busy financial planning practice) to embrace my lifelong dreams of traveling the world, long-term and intensively. I had no idea where I would go, what I would do, how long I could make my money last, and if there was any way to earn income along the way. I just knew I had to go.

Through extensive research, networking, and a bit of serendipity, I stumbled on various ways to get free accommodation; I started with volunteering (Part 1) and couch surfing (Part 3). Over time I discovered house-sitting (Part 2), and even the extensive world of getting free accommodation on boats (Part 4) when I sailed the Caribbean for a few months.

The only thing I haven’t tried myself (but which is very similar to house-sitting) are home ex- changes. (But don’t worry, I cover this too, in Part 5.)

 

The Money I’ve saved with free accommodation

When I commit to something, I commit. For the entire year of 2011, every single day of which I was traveling (since I have no home to speak of), I spent $173 on accommodation. Not per night, or per month – that was for the entire year. (And it was for two nights at the Hilton in Stockholm as a treat).

The only money I ever spend on accommodation is either:

Staying in hostels or hotels between free accommodation gigs
Renting an inexpensive place in a country where the cost of living is (usually) cheaper

 

Here are my approximate accommodation expenses in my first six years of full-time travel:

2007: $1,500

2008: $1,000

2009: $2,400

2010: $1,800

2011: $173

2012: $1,700

 

So for most entire years of accommodation expenses, I’ve spent less money than many people would spend on one month of accommodation.

If we assumed that it would cost approximately $1,000/month (sometimes less, usually more) for housing expenses in most developed cities, then between 2007 and 2012 I saved over $63,500 in accommodation expenses.

This is not only why I’m the free accommodation guru, but also why I have successfully made full-time travel financially sustainable.

 

Intrigued? Check out the book How to Get Free Accommodation Around the World here!

 

What You Have to Do in Trade For Free Accommodation

There are no rules when it comes to the tasks required for free accommodation. I’ve done a variety of jobs in trade for free accommodation over the years, including:

Designing marketing plans for a hostel in Hawaii
Checking the mail and simply keeping an eye on a house in Zurich and cottage in the Swiss Alps
Taking care of the dog at a Caribbean beachside resort
Cooking delicious food at a retreat centre in New Zealand
Keeping a dog, cat, and bird company in a mansion in Panama, with full staff on-hand to do all the work

…and much, much more.

 

The Art of Financially Sustainable Travel

I like lobster – and I eat it when I want it. Techniques like getting free accommodation are a scientific means to an end – one of financially sustainable travel – which I do in style, thank you very much.

The two main components of financially sustainable travel are:

Keeping travel expenses down – or at least keeping your expenses in line with:
Earning an income along the way

Keeping Travel Expenses Down

You can keep your travel expenses down by:

Traveling slowly (the less you move, the less you spend)
Using cheap transportation hacks (and again, I’m not talking about hitching free rides; when I fly, it’s in business class for less than the price of equivalent economy tickets – here’s how I do it)
And of course, by enjoying free accommodation.

Earning Income Along the Way

There is a myriad of ways to earn money on the road, from location independent businesses (of which there are dozens of options), to using working holiday visas, working on boats, teaching English, being an au pair, teaching at international schools, implementing your greatest creative business idea, and much much more.

I’ll be releasing a guide to Working on the Road in the next few months (more on that soon), but in the meantime, whet your tastebuds with this collection of resources from around the web to get you started:

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For more information about how you can enjoy free accommodation around the world, check out Nora’s jam-packed resource:

How to Get Free Accommodation Around the World

 

Nora also wrote the book Tales of Trains: Where the Journey is the Destination , about some of the world’s most famous and epic train journeys and what it’s like to ride 42,000 kilometres of trains through 11 countries in a total of 44 days.

 

 

 

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Friends in Unexpected Places, UK

The first thing that hit me was the embarrassment. It was only when I was back on my feet that I realised my legs were pouring with blood.

It was pitch black and I ‘d been walking across uneven paving, but the alcohol undoubtedly contributed. I hadn’t fallen far but my pride had taken a massive tumble.

You see, even at midnight, the streets of Atlanta were crowded and so my fall from ‘grace’ had been witnessed by more than a few onlookers. Luckily I wasn’t alone and my friend, Nicola, was on hand to help me up and dust off my bruised ego. Without further ado, we continued towards our destination – The Clermont Lounge in Atlanta’s notorious Poncey-Highland district.

Originally opened in 1965, The Clermont was Atlanta’s first ever strip club and had gained a reputation for being ‘kitsch’. It was a word that I’d never heard attributed to an establishment of this kind. So while Nicola was convinced that my wounds were severe enough to warrant calling it an early night, I was so intrigued by what would be my first ever strip club experience that I wasn’t to be deterred by a little bloodshed.

With an antiseptic lotion and a gauze bandage – all administered by the surprisingly caring head bouncer – I was ready to enter the mystical realm of The Clermont Lounge.

The narrow steps that led to the main hall were difficult to navigate but as we neared the bottom, a faint pink hue lit the way. And, once we’d rounded the corner, it flooded the room before us.

Through the haze, not much else was perceptible apart from an oppressive odour of tobacco – that was impossible to escape. But as we approached the bar, the scene unraveled before us in hideous technicolour.  The walls were plastered in a gaudy green and on them hung elaborate signs created from neon tubes. The bar, although manned by a completely average looking person, was crafted from a thick wood and decorated by garish mats and bronze fittings. And, most ‘eye-catchingly’, tonight’s ‘entertainment’ was sat astride a flimsy barstool which looked ill-equipped to carry her.

Quite what she was called escapes me. She was in her late 50s, plump and wearing an outfit that gave a whole new definition to the word ‘vintage’. I realised they were right – this wasn’t your average strip joint. It was, in fact: kitsch.

I tried to look away but, transfixed by the unfurling horror before me, I remained in a car-crash-like state. And that’s when I spotted him.

Like many great things, it all started off as a bet between two best friends.

“Bet you can’t get that guy’s hat” was the ultimate challenge for me who, having downed 3 tequilas in the short time we’d been there, (medicinal only, of course), was now more than a little worse for wear.

He was well over 6ft tall and thickset – the most intimidating man in the building and the one that, as a girl of 25, you probably shouldn’t approach. But all that was irrelevant at this point. The mission was on.

He stared with a cruel look, the fixed glare refusing to welcome my approach. I considered backing out but it was too late. I had committed.

As I neared him, I noticed that his face was lined with pain. The kind that you only get from having seen too much of life. It dawned on me that a girl in her mid 20s asking for his hat would be more than an annoyance to such a man. Something more was needed.

I struck up conversation – just small talk, to try and break the ice. And somehow, as happens when you’re talking to a complete stranger, he spoke with a surprising openness. He’d grown in up in Lakewood – one of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Atlanta and, in fact, in the whole of the Deep South. He’d witnessed his brother being brutally murdered on the streets, and was convinced that his mother’s death just two years later was the result of a broken heart.

We spoke for hours before Nicola decided we had to leave.

And then it happened.

As I said goodbye, the glare in his eyes softened. And though only for a moment, the harsh lines that framed his face were replaced by a soft smile. The most human I’ve ever seen.

“I been coming here every weekend for over 10 years, and you’re the first person who ever spoke to me”.

His appreciation for me talking to him was clear, and yet his gratitude was still unmatched by mine. I had met someone real.

I never did get his hat. But I left that night having gained more than I could ever have hoped for.

About the author: Miriam Thomas graduated in 2006 and spent several years in teaching. She has travelled across Australia and New Zealand and has a strong desire to visit Japan in the near future. She currently works in Milton Keynes and is keen to pursue her love of both travel and writing.

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Top Three Reasons to Visit Copenhagen

The vibrant city of Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and offers numerous interesting things to see and do. A Copenhagen city break is perfect for those who want to enjoy a charming destination that is unlike any other, especially during the autumn season. Here is a selection of what this exciting city has to offer.

Art

Art lovers are sure to enjoy exploring Copenhagen’s impressive art galleries. The Danish National Gallery is open free of charge and features magnificent works by a number of celebrated artists including Matisse, Picasso and Rembrandt. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek features classical art by artists like Leger, Picasso and Matisse as well as a large collection of sculptures and statues. Other art galleries that are just waiting to be explored include the Thorvaldsens Museum, the David Collection and the Arken Museum of Modern Art.

Amazing Architecture

Copenhagen is also famous for its architecture, which can be seen by taking a stroll through the city. Climbing to the top of the unique Rundetårn and standing at the top of the observation platform is the perfect way to get a real feel for the city and visitors will be treated to unforgettable panoramic views. People who have a head for heights can also climb the church spire in the majestic Church of Our Saviour, while people who cross the Dyssebroen wooden bridge and head east will discover a large number of stunning buildings and monuments.

Amusement Parks

People who are travelling with children will want to take the time to explore some of Copenhagen’s amusement parks. Copenhagen boasts the two oldest amusement parks in the world and Tivoli is particularly enchanting as it is situated in the middle of a beautiful park in the heart of the city.

All of these elements and more combine to make Copenhagen a city that should not be missed. The great thing about this destination is that it makes the perfect weekend getaway, while visitors who have longer to spend can really take their time getting to know the city and the surrounding area. Copenhagen boasts its own international airport, which provides quick and convenient access to the city.

About the Author: Jennifer Cartwright is a caring housewife who loves her two playful and bright children dearly. She has always been fascinated with technology and how it has made things a lot easier for housewives like her. She also writes informative as well as though-provoking articles about her life being a mom.

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Secrets of the Sahara in Morocco

Sitting in a small circle around the fire that evening, darkness fell all around us. Beyond the glow of the fire, the endless sand dunes that extended outward in every direction fell asleep in the alluring shadows of the night. Above us, the scintillating stars in the infinite sky twinkled with divine secrets to which we were not privy. Someone pointed out Mars in the starlight, while another, the Milky Way. We see what our eyes allow us to see; in the middle of the Sahara, your imagination takes rein and you find your wildest dreams taking flight.

Four snowy-white cats with features resembling that of leopards encircled us. I wondered if they were residents of the desert or nomads at heart, with an insatiable bout of wanderlust, not unlike myself. In the distance, the camels were sound asleep. I smiled at the thought of my intrepid camel with the jagged half-ear, who had hours before ventured into the heart of the Sahara with me at sunset. There are countless ways in which the losses in our lives manifest themselves.

Yet, there are also joys. For instance, the joy of hearing your sentiments being shared aloud by a Dominican traveler named Miguel, who had, at the sight of the sun setting over the undulating mountains of golden sand, exclaimed profusely in Spanish: “Gracias, muchas gracias, God, for creating this beauty, and for allowing me to be part of this beauty!”

Most of all, it is for me the joy of meeting like-minded wanderers on the road, with whom your paths cross ever so briefly, and yet, have the power to leave an indelible mark in the geography of your heart. In the desert, I met one such inspiring woman who caused me to tear while listening to her story by the fire. Her name was Alejandra Cardenas.

A single, immigrant mother who had painstakingly brought up her daughter to have had her heart broken when her child left home at the age of 20, Alejandra decided that she had to, for the first time, live not for others but for herself. She has had a trying life, but her lifelong dream was to travel the world. To embark on this journey, she sold all her material possessions, abandoned all forms of convention, and kept her zeal and courage shining in the paths she has chosen to walk, touching the lives of those she has met, mine included.

Despite having suffered humiliations, one of which included having to literally stand up by and for herself while ignoring the leering faces of unkind teenagers when she slipped and fell in a youth hostel in Italy, Alejandra remains stoic in the pursuit of her dream. She shared her uplifting stories from the road thus far, and the exotic destinations she planned to go after leaving Morocco: Kenya, Egypt, and subsequently, wherever else her heart led her.

Her face lit not only by the light of the fire, she effused: “Mija, I urge you to go travel. Travel as far and as widely as you can. Do it when you are young. When you reach my age, you’ll realize how the muscles start to ache and the bones, they hurt from walking too much. Travel is the best education anyone could ever have. You learn so much about people, about different cultures, about yourself. This is something no one and no university can ever teach you.” Smiling to herself, she said in a whisper: “And I want to do that now, to travel the world. Just imagine all the stories I can tell my grandchildren one day.”

That night, with neither electricity nor a proper toilet, I lay awake on the sand-crusted floorboard of my tent as the faces of all the individuals I have met in Morocco, who have each moved me so deeply in their own ways, floated in my mind. As the stifling heat gave way to the frigid cold, I drifted off to an intermittent sleep, wondering what new adventures and people awaited me when I awoke.

About the Author: Agnes Chew is a writer, traveler, and musician at heart, with an insatiable curiosity for life. Enamored with the notion of getting lost in places beautiful and hitherto unknown, she has no intention of removing the rose-tinted glasses everyone tells her have been left on for far too long.

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