THE TOURISTIN: Fiji

Showing posts with label Fiji. Show all posts

The Unfair Traveller - Symptoms and Treatment - Travel Etiquette

Travelling is what I love to do, in recent months alone I visited seven different countries, and you can well imagine that I spend a lot of time in, on and around public transport, like train stations, bus stops, airports, planes, boats and trains. I always expect the very worst things that can happen to me on my travels. I’m fully aware that I’m at risk of experiencing profoundly disturbing or utterly bothersome things, as soon as I leave my home. I love that with my expectation comes a feeling of being prepared (up to a certain extent).

A town by the sea seen from a plane window.

The Unfair Traveller - Symptoms

Looking at the state of things when travelling I have serious doubts that we will ever achieve world peace.

Sustainable travel thoughts, beach, australia, cape tribulation.

There are endless moments when I realize that it isn’t easy to do everything right for everybody. On a sunny morning, I was at a delicious café, meeting a friend for breakfast. After a few moments three grown-ups, dressed a bit earthy, as in Birkenstock and slightly wrinkled shirts came along and sat down at the table closest to ours. It seemed as if they were on a visit to Berlin, probably staying at one of the nearby hotels. They were the sort of people searching for breakfast at a place where all the locals hang out. Soon the waiter served the group three coffees and three croissants. They looked at it

Have you ever heard of the Liebster Blog Award? Liebster is German and translates as Favourite (… Blog Award) into the English language. Nominations are made by bloggers for their favourite writers. Once you are nominated, you simply answer the questions sent to you, nominate another 6 writers, ask them 7 questions and let them know. Lovely Patrycja from Travel Opulent Box was so amazing to nominate me for the Liebster Award. Thank you so very much Patrycja. It is great fun to participate again (got nominated before) and to get to know what others are up to.

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This is what Patrycja would like to know from me …

What inspired you to blog and what do you like to blog about?

While I lived in Australia for many years I blogged about Australia and all the adventures I had. After I moved to Berlin I was looking for a new topic. Blogging is a lifestyle, so after years and years of blogging it became part of my life and I could not just stop.

You might have heard that Berlin is the place to be right now, and I often hear people complaining about tourists. I had no idea at all how superior some people feel in the traveller versus tourist debate. I believe in equality, and no matter whether someone is a nomad, a white socks wearing package-tourist or a smelly traveller with a longing for enough pocket money, I love them all in the same way. We might have different values but we all love to get to know the world.

Touristin is the German word for a female tourist. The articles on THE TOURISTIN are about camping and cooking in the bush, going on road trips, as well as visits to galleries and museums or eating at great restaurants. I often even buy shoes or food items when travelling. If it is marvellous, and be it in the bush or in a fantastic major city or small hamlet, I share everything I find with my readers.

There is no niche topic on my blog. I can't narrow my interests down to just one thing, it is unhealthy and I am not starting to live a dull life.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

First place that springs to my mind is Cape Town. As long as I can go somewhere I am happy really. Right now I dream of Rwanda, to see gorillas, the McNeil River in Alaska or British Columbia in Canada to see bears, and Antarctica to see penguins. But I would also love to travel to Lapland in winter to see the Northern Lights and Reindeers. Also on my list is a road trip to Mozambique. For years I wanted to visit the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa. And then there is Scotland where I would like to go hiking. In Mongolia, I would love to sleep in a yurt.

Hotel or Camping? And Why?

If I would have to decide between these two options I couldn’t, not even if my life would depend on it. I love camping in the bush like in Botswana and the sense of freedom that comes with it. I also love boutique hotels in centre of town, like this one in Florence, close to museums, shops and lovely eateries.

Tell us about the most memorable holiday you’ve ever had?

Fiji. Shooting stars at dinner time. Kayaking in the bluest water. Ukulele players at breakfast. One word: heaven. Hm, or shall I answer Tankwa Karoo in South Africa?

Tell us about the worst travel experience you’ve ever had?

Of course do I occasionally experience things like taxi drivers with a manic driving style, or delayed flights because of weather conditions and lost sports equipment or similar but I tend to forget all of these things. As long as no one gets sick, everything is excellent really.

Favorite Social Media and why?

I love Twitter, a lot. Come over and connect with me. It is a great place to talk to people from all over the world and to catch news first. The world becomes a pretty small place (in the most positive sense). Same goes for Instagram. I use both platforms to network and to learn as much as I can about the things I am interested in. It saddens me to see how many people automate or schedule posts. It is silly that they take away the social side from Social Media. Scheduling things is about gaining a fan base (and to be famous for five minutes) and not so much about engagement. I love both platforms for socializing and exchanging experiences and news.

Favorite thing about your home country is?

The very best thing about my home country is its close proximity to pretty much any country in Europe.

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And I would like to ask the following 6 writers these 7 questions. Thank you so very much in advance. I can't wait to hear your answers.

1. Who are you?

2. Please give 5 adjectives to describe the way of life in your home country.

3. Coast or countryside?

4. What would need to happen before you give up travel?

5. Can money buy happiness?

6. Last time you felt truly cheerful?

7. Please let us know what three skills make life easier for a travel writer/blogger?

I nominate:

Sam and Zab from Indefinite Adventure.

Lindsay from The Anthrotorian.

Rosita Reser.

Sarah and Kris from Jetsetting Fools .

From Berlin with love

Travel etiquette. When did you last steal a clothes hanger from your hotel room?

Again: anti-theft hangers

I know, I know, I know it is likely that you never ever did steal a hanger from a hotel room. But most of the times I am about to put my clothes into the wardrobe of a hotel room I have to fight with these silly hangers.

If none of us would never even plan to steal a hanger why do we have to deal with the theft proved ones? Would the world not be a better place if none of us would have to struggle with these hangers anymore? One step at a time, right? Next time you are about to take a souvenir hanger from a room, think of your fellow travellers first. And maybe, hotels will soon start to use normal hangers. Never stop dreaming ...

Where do you draw the line, have you ever stolen from a hotel room? Looking forward to hear from you.

From Berlin with love

The World's 101 Best Private Islands

The island lover Farhad Vladi presents in Cool Private Island Resorts - The World's 101 Best Private Islands, published by teNeues, carefully chosen islands.

On the first few pages the coffee table book feels like a high quality travel brochure. When one browses through the book, one quickly notices that it is more than that. If one looks at the texts and the 344 images on 220 pages, on the one hand, one sees that all 'paradises' look pretty much the same and just as one envisions them. Azure water, a green island plus white sand.

On the other hand, there are all the many differences that turn an island into a personal paradise for the individual. The short texts in German, English, French and Russian reveal whether the islands are deserted, or whether holiday makers can go diving, on long beach walks or enjoy a swim and also what other services are on offer.

Travel the South Pacific - On vacation in Fiji

South Pacific sounds magical and rightly so. While I was there I cried a lot. It was the very first thing I did when I landed at Nadi airport. I went there early November and was greeted by a lady who put a shell necklace around my neck. I was so overwhelmed by her gesture that I could not help but silently weep ... and smile... at the same time.

A ferry took us far out into the ocean, to a group of islands, the Yasawas. When I hopped off the boat on Yaqeta I did not believe my ears: someone was playing the ukulele and a choir sang.

Fiji - A bure on the beach

There I was in a bure, only a few centimetres from the shore. The only thing which separated me from the big blue was a hammock. I went swimming; snorkelled the reef full of colourful fish, went kayaking for hours, strolled along beaches and felt like I was the only person in the world. I dined under the night sky and made wishes while shooting stars fell off the sky, and had no idea they were not meant to come true; I was totally at ease.

When I left, the ukulele guy played his instrument, I wept and the boat driver comforted me with his smile: There is nothing wrong with you, people are always like that when they have to leave the island...