Viva Safaris!

Adamo hotel recommend content: Viva Safaris!

We can successfully say we have seen 4 of the BIG 5 and it would not have been possible if it weren’t for the amazing tour via Viva Safaris! First and foremost, we’d like to give a BIG thanks to Viva Safaris for accommodating us in the best way. The trip starts by getting picked up at your hotel in Johannasburg (super convienant, and yes they were on time). From there, you’re driven to the Tresimina Lodge in Kruegar park. It’s about 5 hour drive, and you stop for lunch along the way. Upon arrival, the friendly staff welcomes you to your own private Chalet. Each bed in covered with a mosquito net, but fortunatly we didnt get bit once. Once you get settled in, you are scheuled for a sunset drive in a 4 by 4 open landcruiser. Right away we saw a few massive African elephants, as well as lots of impalas. To see the elephants in the wild was very exciting. We even heard a baby elephant call out for her mom several times. After watching the striking African Sunset, darkness falls and you get to cruz around with a powerful spotlight looking for all the nocturnal animals and listen to all the incredible noises!

When we didn’t think it could get better then this, we were taken to a candle light dinner in the middle of the wide-open park. We had amazing African food, good company, and left with a satisfied belly.

Morning came, they provided breakfast and we were on our way to see the BIG 5! My most favorite and exciting day of the Safari trip! We were out there all day and saw so many amazing animals. You are in an open landcruiser so you can get amazing photographs of all the wild life! ( I would reccommend bringbinoculars) You would think driving for that long in the hot heat would be exhausting, but it was the most invigorating outing. I felt like I was on an endless “I spy” game. It was awesome! Sadly enough, we only had one day of exploring the whole Kruger Park. I could’ve easily had another day of this.

After the Safari, we were brought to our adorable tree house just outside of the park. We had it to ourselves with a shower inside. It was quite awesome to be in the wild, in a tree house. I mean it looks as good as it sounds! We were warned about an early wake up call of monkeys trying to break in and steal your belongings, mostly food. Luckily, we didn’t see any until we reached the pavillion for breakfast. They were everywhere and of course we loved them! We couldn’t snap enough pictures of the little thieves.

Early morning before sunrise went on a quick hour bush walk through the park. This was more relaxed, educational, and you could see things you wouldn’t ever noticed if you were in the jeep. Lets just say you were one with nature for a moment. It was very interesting to learn about the trees, ants, bugs, etc. Basically, I was just imagining cuddling some lion cubs! After the bush walk we then headed over to our last breakfast.

When we departed Kruger Park we thought it was the end of our journey. NOPE, to our surprise we were brought to an incredible place called Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondawels. This placed offered magnificent views and my mouth was in awe the entire time as there are lots of photo-opps here! (check out pictures below to get blown away,)

We loved this 3 day, 2 night excursion. All the people we met and the animals we encountered. Not to mention the amazing staff that was provided every day. If we were to do it again, we would opt for an extra day or two. It’s just too incredible.

Thank you again VIVA SAFARIS! WE LOVE YOU SOUTH AFRICA, I can’t say it enough!

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Great White Shark Cage Dive

Adamo hotel recommend content: Great White Shark Cage Dive
Our travels have finally taken us to Cape Town for an adventure that we have been dreaming of! It was a very exhilarating and fascinating experience, definitely living up to our high expectations. We had the opportunity to join the White Shark Diving Company. They are phenomenal to book with, very accommodating and helpful. They are located in Gansbaai, approximately a 2-2.5 hour drive south of Cape Town. If you don’t have your own transportation they offer a shuttle service, to and from, your hotel with an additional charge. The White Shark Diving Company offers an early morning dive, 6am (which we did) and a mid-morning dive, 11am. The tour last about 2 hours and its about a 15-20 minute boat ride. If you suffer from sea sickness, we advise you to get sea sickness pills.

After Check-in, you go through the basic safety drills, followed by what to do and NOT to do, if you’d like to keep all your limbs. Sorry to break it to you, but sticking your GoPro through the cage, into the open, is forbidden. You can still have a GoPro, so make sure you bring it. But don’t let this scare you! I promise it will be the best and safest experience.

The Great Whites are surface feeders, so the cage dive takes place just below sea level. No scuba gear or certification is required. All you need is snorkel gear and a wet suit, both provided. Also included, for the morning dive was a small continental breakfast, before boarding, light refreshments and water while on the boat, followed by a pasta lunch after the dive. The floating cage, attached to the side of the boat, fits up to 8 people at a time. Each group gets about 20-30 minutes inside of the cage. To be on top of the boat, seeing the sharks, is almost just as incredible, as being in the water. You can see the bait being dangled right in-front of the cage, as the Great Whites surface to attack it.

Being in the cage and water can sound a little exhausting. But it’s not at all. Your head and your shoulders are above the water until the dive master informs you that the Great Whites are approaching. You then submerge yourself into the water for the opportunity of a lifetime, as Great White sharks may get in arms reach . It all happens very fast, so be ready!

The only down side to the Great Whites that you must remember is that they are in the wild, so there is a possibility of no sightings. In this case, the company will issue you a voucher of a future date of your time and day of your choice. We got really lucky and saw 9 different sharks, and this was considered to be in the “off” season. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any breach, but it is possible, especially in the months of April-September. We went mid February.

I can’t wait to go back, and I will definitely do this again. Its a MUST-DO and make sure you book with this Company. The staff was awesome and so helpful. Find the daredevil in you. Take our word that seeing a Great White Shark has totally changed our image on how truly amazing these sea creatures are. Boom!

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HOW JIM DIDN’T LET A NEW DISABILITY CHANGE HIS TRAVELS

Adamo hotel recommend content: HOW JIM DIDN’T LET A NEW DISABILITY CHANGE HIS TRAVELS

Last year, I interviewed Cory Lee, a wheelchair bound traveler, about his experience seeing the world. I’m a firm believer that travel is possible for people from all walks of life, so when I stumbled across Cory’s website, I knew I wanted to share his inspirational story. You don’t meet a lot of disabled travelers on the road.

A few months ago, I was contacted by a 64 year old wheelchair bound reader named Jim. Inspired by Cory, he wanted to know if I wanted his perspective, too. He became wheelchair bound later in life due to health issues. Because there’s not a lot of information in the media, many people with disabilities lack the knowledge and support they need to travel. I know this because people email on the subject. “Matt, I’m a senior who can’t walk well” or “I’m blind” or “I’m in a wheelchair” and they wonder how they can travel, too, so stories of people like Jim are important for me to share. In this interview, Jim talks about how he ended up wheelchair bound, how he travels, and his advice for others:

Matt: Tell everyone about yourself.
Jim: I am a fifth-generation Florida native, dating back to 1828, when Florida was a territory. I grew up in West Palm Beach, leaving at age 19 to join the military. I served as a soldier in the US Army for slightly over 30 years of active duty service. I consider my time in the military as one of the best things that ever happened in my life because of the experience, training, opportunities, and development I got. I retired from active duty in 2002 and immediately after, I secured employment as a civilian with the US Army Training and Doctrine Command at beautiful Fort Monroe, Virginia. I recently turned 64 and plan to work in my current position until age 66.

You’ve been in a wheelchair for a year. What happened?
I have been in a wheelchair since December 2014. I have an unusual autoimmune disease called inclusion body myositis (IBM); it’s the result of an overactive immune system, where white cells attack good cells, inflaming and gradually destroying muscle tissue, resulting in loss of muscle mass and severe weakness. I have always been very active and had anticipated I would remain physically active in my old age. But now I can do very little for myself, although I certainly do what I am capable of. I cannot dress myself, put on my socks or pants, or button my shirts. I can rise to my feet under certain conditions, meaning from a certain height using a motorized office chair or lift recliner. I am very unstable when standing but can use a walker on smooth, flat surfaces indoors. But I have gotten to the point that this is not safe or even possible outdoors.

Were you a big traveler before you started using a wheelchair?
I have always enjoyed traveling and was provided many opportunities to travel as I relocated to new duty stations. For example, in 1985 I was stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and relocated to Fort Greely, Alaska; we chose to drive from Alabama to Alaska. It was very interesting to drive across the country, through Canada, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territory and back into the USA. Two years later we made the drive back to Fort Pickett, Virginia. A few years later we drove from Virginia to another assignment at Fort Bliss, Texas, and then back to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

In my current job I traveled about one week each month using air and ground travel. Many times I was working, but I also tried to make every business trip a fun trip by planning ahead and researching opportunities I could take full advantage of. One of my favorite locations for such required travel is San Antonio: I know when I go there I’ll go to the Riverwalk and the Alamo and enjoy authentic Mexican food, the best Texas barbecue, and steaks. These are simple things, but ones I truly appreciate and enjoy.

When you ended up in a wheelchair, what did you think travel would be like now? Did you think it would be possible?
My move into a wheelchair has been a gradual process that allowed time to think ahead, research, and plan how to overcome new obstacles. I know that travel will continue to be difficult and challenging. I also know that planning well in advance will allow me to resolve problems and better enjoy my travel.

I feel that I have a choice to travel or not travel. But not to travel implies defeat, and that’s not a good choice for any of us. The time may come that travel is no longer possible, but I do not plan to rush into defeat. This will be a time of resolve and determination to make the best of the life given to me.

How did you overcome any obstacles?
My most recent travel objective was to drive the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is 469 miles from Rockfish Gap, Virginia, to Cherokee, North Carolina. Preparation for the trip included a detailed written plan depicting each day’s starting point, destination, projected travel miles, dining suggestions, and lodging location (it is imperative that I find handicapped-accessible lodging that includes a roll-in shower, as I am unable to step over a bathtub). A packing list has been a practice of mine for many years, and that makes packing and planning easier. Some of the unique items I pack are a hat with a mounted flashlight, a night-light for hotels, portable suction grab bars, a lift belt, a urine bottle, non-slip pads, a bath mat, wet wipes, a grab stick, and a raised toilet chair. Keeping these lists and adding to them from lessons learned during and after the trip is very helpful.

What is the hardest part about traveling in a wheelchair?
I’d say the hardest part of travel that I experience is all the unknowns. For example, arriving at a lodging location with a reservation for a handicapped-accessible room with a roll-in shower and then finding that it has a tub. I learned it is best to make a reservation for a roll-in, call and speak directly with the hotel manager, and then call again the day before arrival. That’s a lot of calls, but this is important to me.

I prefer the Hampton Inn Honors program, which clearly describes their rooms and accessibility. I am also a Marriott member, but their online site has not been very user-friendly locating handicapped-accessible rooms.

What are some good resources people in wheelchairs can use to travel? I suspect many just think they can’t do it!
I am still learning about resources for travel, but I have found it is good to ask others specific questions about their travel experiences. The Internet is an excellent source of information; you can ask most any question, and someone will point you in the right direction.

For example, I really had no idea there was a wheelchair capable of rising straight up, which is what I needed. The VA (Veterans Administration) representative immediately recognized my needs and provided the perfect chair for me, for which I am very grateful.

Don’t give up, be determined, research, and ask others for advice and suggestions.

What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned from this?
I don’t have life as tough as many others. When I start to feel bad, angry, or frustrated for what I am going through, I snap out of it immediately, realizing there are so many others that experience much worse circumstances and difficulties.

There are techniques, equipment, and sources of information readily available that allow those of us with disabilities to continue to enjoy many pleasures of life.

How we conduct ourselves routinely affects others. We may not realize how others observe from a distance those of us with disabilities and how we continue with our daily activities. Many have told me that they have watched me several times and how I conducted myself. Unknown to me, my actions and kindness motivated them to have a more productive and pleasurable day. It’s important to remain positive and display an enthusiastic attitude of friendliness and happiness. Be friendly, stay positive, and find joy and contentment in your circumstances.

My wife is my best friend that I can depend on forever. Cindy and I have been married for 34 years, and our goals have always been to outserve each other without keeping score. Having a loving and caring companion is an important and necessary part of my life. God designed us for companionship to serve one another and to share life’s experiences, particularly in health and sickness and for better or worse, as we said in our commitment of marriage.

I have a job, friends, medical care, and more, but sadly, some do not have anyone. I am truly blessed and take none of this for granted. God has provided much more than I deserve. I pray that others will be able say to the same.

My purpose in sharing my experience as a man with disabilities and using a wheelchair is to encourage others, to find contentment in my circumstances, and to remain grateful every day. Those of us with disabilities have many challenges and difficulties ahead. I am a man of faith, and I give God all the glory as he created each one of us perfect. If you are reading this, I want you to be encouraged and to be encouraging.

Do you plan to travel internationally, or is that a little too much right now? If so, how are you planning that?
I do not plan to travel out of the country; I simply do not have that desire. I am confident that air travel is possible but would require considerable assistance. I often wonder how guys like Texas governor Abbott and Charles Krauthammer maintain their pace and travel. I believe if they can do it then so can I. We have to believe in ourselves and give it a sincere and wholehearted try.

When you are traveling, how do you figure out what activities you can and can’t do? Do you use any special organizations?
Part of my process for choosing a destination is to check out its website and verify with a phone call. Many websites specifically address accessibility. Not long ago I took my wife for dinner at the Williamsburg Lodge to celebrate our 34th anniversary. When I arrived I was surprised to see three steps going down into the dining room and the nearby elevator inoperable. No problem, though, as I had the pleasure of an escorted tour through the kitchen and down a ramp into the dining area.

I like to use Armed Forces Vacation Club to receive discounted resort lodging, sometimes as low as $299 for seven days. Their options usually address accessibility but aren’t very clear on specifics, such as roll-in showers, but a phone call to the resort will answer most questions.

I also use Vacation Rental by Owner. These accommodations are usually very specific and provide photos and have a search filter for wheelchair accessibility.

If you could offer someone in a wheelchair or with another mobility disability three specific tips for travel, what would they be?
1. Veterans should check out the Veterans Affairs website to determine their benefits. If you are a veteran and need a wheelchair or modifications to a home or vehicle, the VA will assist. If your disability is service connected, then additional and increased benefits may be available. Make sure you contact a local Veterans Service Organization for their expert advice.

2. Plan thoroughly and well in advance to obtain and confirm lodging, accessibility, and available equipment. For example, while I was still on my feet and using a walker for short distances, I visited the Baseball Hall of Fame and Niagara Falls. Both facilities offered the use of a wheelchair. Keep your plan handy so that you can edit and improve it for your next trip.

3. Make a bucket list. Let planning and doing these things be a new hobby for you. If necessary, start small: go to the movies, go to the beach, attend church, work as long as you can and as long as you want. You will develop confidence in your abilities to travel, and then your bucket list can really grow.

What trips do you have planned in the future?
I have several trips planned for this year. They are all by ground transportation in our modified and accessible van.

We also plan to drive old historic Highway 17 from Virginia to Florida and participate in the Azalea Festival in Wilmington, North Carolina. Driving Highway 17 is like taking a trip back in time, as many of the sites have not drastically changed. There are great places to eat at, locations that are a combination of restaurants and gas stations serving fried pork chops, collard greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and sweet tea.

In the fall we will travel the Skyline Drive, which begins where the Blue Ridge Parkway ends in Rockfish Gap, Virginia; it’s fairly short drive north of about 109 miles of beautiful and scenic views. The goal will be to never drive on the interstate and remain on roads less traveled.

*****


People like Jim are an inspiration. They don’t let adversity get in their way. Like the saying goes, where there is a will, there is a way. Jim uses careful planning, support groups, and the power of the Internet to let him fulfill his wanderlust.


Become the Next Success Story

One of my favorite parts about this job is hearing people’s travel stories. They inspire me, but more importantly, they also inspire you. I travel a certain way but there are many ways to fund your trips and travel the world, and I hope these stories show you that there is more than one way to travel and that it’s within your grasp to reach your travel goals. You can send me an email at matt@nomadicmatt.com if you want to share your story!

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HOW TO BECOME A MASTER WRITER (AND PHOTOGRAPHER)

Adamo hotel recommend content: 8 SHOPPING PARADISE NOT TO BE MISSED WHILE IN KOREA

As many of you know, I’ve been building a travel media school called Superstar Blogging over the past few months. The purpose of this school is to create a place where those that want to break into various aspects of the travel industry can get practical, in-depth step-by-step advice from the industry’s leading experts.

Today, I have two announcements: our photography course is available again (see the second half of this post) and we’re releasing our third course — on travel writing! (The last course, on producing travel videos, will be out next month.)
How to Become a Travel Writer

I’ve partnered with award-winning travel writer David Farley, author of An Irreverent Curiosity and a professor of travel writing at Columbia and New York University, to teach a course on the nuts and bolts of travel writing. From crafting a story to becoming a better writer, self-editing, and making a career as a travel writer, our course covers it all.

David is considered one of the top travel writers in the country. He’s hosted a National Geographic Channel show, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, AFAR, and countless other publications. He’s one of the people I go to for writing help, advice, and edits, and I’m super excited that he is teaching this course. There couldn’t be a better writing expert to impart wisdom!

In his own words, he’s part of this course because he “made a lot of errors along the way, fumbling in the dark and there were only a couple of ‘how to become a travel writer’–type of books back then and they didn’t seem very good. There were no classes — online or live — where a travel writer could lay out for you just how one successfully travels down this path, which is where this class comes in.”

One of the biggest problems in the travel blogging industry is the lack of focus on writing. At blogging conferences, you rarely hear about it. It’s all press trips, marketing, and sponsored content. Writing is usually just paid lip service but the foundation of a good blog is good writing. You will never get anywhere without improving your writing ability.

I’ve attended writing conferences, hired copy editor, given work to David, and hired outside writing coaches over the years to help me improve my writing. (Long time readers will probably have noticed a big difference in my writing!) Become a good writer takes time, practice and a good teacher. If you go back to the beginning of my blog and read my earlier posts, you’ll see they aren’t great but through practice, I got better. So can you! If you look at the most successful blogs in any niche, the writing is always top notch. It engages people on an emotional level and draws them in to the story.

I am fierce advocate for better writing and helped create this course because I believe not enough attention is paid to writing and because there is simply no place where bloggers and potential writers from around the world can go to get a world class writing course at an affordable price.

This is where our writing course comes in!

Through video lectures, interviews with successful travel writers and editors, detailed examples of edited stories, and writing assignments, you’ll not only learn the nuts and bolts of travel writing and its industry but you’ll be clued into every aspect of the travel writer’s life — from how to find a good story to pre-trip research to writing up a pitch for a story — all of the things David (and I) learned the hard way through trial and error.

There is no class out there that utilizes this level of resources or as many experts in one place to lift the veil on travel writing.

You’ll learn how to write stories that editors want to publish. You’ll learn to improve your writing and get people saying, “I can’t get enough! You’re an awesome writer.”

We’ve taken David’s college-level course and made it available to everyone — without the college-level price!

Over nine units, this course will cover the spectrum of travel writing. It will teach you how to be a better travel writer — from crafting the perfect story to improving your research and writing to self-editing — as well as instruct you in the business side of writing — how to get an agent and book deal, how to pitch editors, and what mistakes to avoid.

What will this course teach you?
A breakdown of the various forms of writing you can focus on, including the types of travel writing found in commercial writing (i.e. magazines and newspapers)
The important rules of travel writing you need to know as you start your journey
How to create a story — through examples of good and bad story titles, angles, pegs — and how to structure your story
Strategies to always create the perfect narrative flow
Grammar do’s and don’ts so you don’t make the mistakes that make editors and blog readers cringe and not come back
The anatomy of story, including examples with each element of the story highlighted
Expert tips on how be descriptive in your writing and what travel clichés to avoid (because the best stories make destinations come alive by placing the reader in your story – and you’ll learn how to do that and captivate your reader!)
The two most common ways to self-edit your work and the important mistakes to look for
Examples of stories before and after editing
How to master the long-form story, create a narrative arc, keep the reader interested, and use anecdotes of significance
How to research any destination
Real-life examples of book proposals
Real-life examples of good and bad pitches, as well as a template — you’ll learn how to submit article ideas that editors will actually read
Where to find literary agents and how to price your work
Quarterly webinars and interviews with writers and editors so you can pick the brain of the very best!
A private Facebook group where you can share your work, get advice, and solicit feedback from us!
The ability to get edits and feedback on your work from me! Throughout the course, we give you writing tasks you can submit for actual, honest feedback to help you grow as a writer!
Interviews with eight award-winning writers and editors who share their travel writing tips, failures, and successes: Don George (author of Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Writing, Nathan Thornbough (creator of Roads and Kingdoms), Matt Gross(former NYT’s writer and editor of Bon Appetit), Derk Richardson (editor at AFAR),Jessica Colley (freelance writer), Stephanie Elizondo Griest (award winning author and writing professor at UNC), and Thomas Swick (editor).

This course comes with lifetime access and updates. Once you’re in, you’re in for life! Any interview, webinar, or new content that gets added is automatically yours.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to be a travel writer — or just a better writer — this course is for you. If you’ve ever wanted access to the best writers out there and their expert insider knowledge and advice about storytelling and how the business works, this course is for you.

Travel is a competitive field, but good writing is always in demand — and it always will be. If you want to stand out online and get a leg up as a freelancer, being able to write well is essential. It doesn’t matter the field — the top people in any field are good writers. So many bloggers write so poorly that with just a few tips on how to choose, craft, and polish a story, you can leap past them in quality, attract new readers to your website, stand out from your competition, and get editors to return your calls.

If you wanted the benefits and details of a college writing course — without the college-level price — THIS COURSE IS IT!

For a one-time payment of $349, you can get instant access to this course plus lifetime access and updates! Every new interview, webinar, update – it’s all yours. This course is an investment in your writing future and will give access to the best writers in the industry

(Want to pay in installments? No problem! You can pay $120 per month for 3 months instead of one lump payment! Click here for that payment option.)

If you’ve ever wondered how to set yourself apart from your competition or wanted access to the best writers out there, this is the course for you. Travel is a competitive field but good writing is still in demand – and it always will be.

And, with this course, you’ll learn how to be a great writer.
How to Become a Travel Photographer

Finally, our photography course — taught by acclaimed travel photographer Laurence Norah — is out of beta. We spent the last seven weeks testing it, and now it’s ready for permanent viewing!

Broken into 11 units comprising 33 lessons — all laid out with examples, images, and walk-throughs to make it really easy to grasp — the course starts off by getting you entirely comfortable with your camera. You’ll learn how to be its master, with a detailed understanding of how it works and how it to get the perfectly exposed shot every time.

It then teaches more advanced topics, such as how to shoot the night sky, what HDR is, mobile (smartphone) photography, and long-exposure photography.

Then the course tackles the post-processing side of photography — what happens after you’ve taken your photo. You’re going to learn everything from how to set up an efficient workflow to editing and backing up your photos. And from how much to charge to getting yourself found, we also go through in detail all you need to know to start making an income from your newfound skills.

Additionally, Laurence will personally look at and give feedback on your submitted pictures! And, every quarter, he’ll host a free webinar (that will be recorded) where he’ll answer questions, give advice, and build on the course’s information.

In addition to all that awesome content, we added a giant glossary of terms, unit summaries, and some advanced editing content, as well as a field guide that lets you take the best of the course with you on the road. It’s a downloadable, 47-page PDF filled with screenshots and tutorials to help you get the perfect picture when you’re away from the computer!

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MY 15 FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IN SYDNEY

Adamo hotel recommend content: 8 SHOPPING PARADISE NOT TO BE MISSED WHILE IN KOREA

The first time I was in Sydney (all the way back in 2007), I spent most of my days sitting in the botanical gardens, reading a book and looking at the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. For so long I had heard about how wonderful and beautiful Sydney was, and there I was experiencing it! Over the years, I’ve been to the city a handful of times, exploring it more and more and getting a local taste through all my wonderful friends there.

After spending two weeks there last month, I wanted to share my favorite things to do and see in this laid-back, warm, sunny, and gregarious city:

Explore The Rocks – The Rocks is the oldest part of Sydney. With it narrow lanes, fine colonial buildings, sandstone churches, and Australia’s oldest pubs, this neighborhood is where Sydney started when the British first landed. It was almost torn down in the 1970s for modern high rises, but, luckily, citizen action got it preserved instead. The Rocks’ weekend markets, art museums, street entertainment, delicious (and sometimes overpriced) restaurants, and beautiful views of the harbor, Opera House, and bridge make this is one of the coolest areas of the city. I love heading up to the Sydney Observatory Hill Park for a good view of the city, wandering the harbor promenade, and hitting the bars at night.

Hang out at the beach – Sydney is synonymous with its beaches, and the area is also especially famous for having world-class surfing. Since it’s warm and sunny most of the year, the city has a strong beach culture, and on the weekends (and many weekdays for that matter), locals flock to the seashore. From Palm Beach and Manly in the north to the famous Bondi and Coogee in the south, Sydney has a beach for everyone. All the beaches are easy to get to via public transportation or car and there are tons of restaurants and surf shops around, too! My favorite beaches are Manly (wide and beautiful) and Bronte (small and quiet)

Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair – You’ll find Australia’s first vegetable garden and a treasure trove of trees, ferns, flowers, and gardens at the Royal Botanic Gardens. On a sunny day, you’ll find locals sprawled out all over the lawns soaking up the sun. You can also see Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, a seat carved into a stone cliff, where you can sit and gaze out at the harbor. There are also free one-hour volunteer-guided tours of the garden, too!

Take the ferry to Manly Beach – The ferry ride to Manly ($12.40 AUD round-trip, $2.50 AUD on Sundays) offers sweeping views of the harbor, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the world-famous Opera House. It’s a picturesque 30-minute ride each way that puts you in one of the coolest parts of the north end of the city. Manly is famous for its wide beach, giant waves, surfing, and kick-ass nightlife.

Walk the Sydney Harbour Bridge – The bridge was built in 1932 as a government employment project during the Great Depression. Its steel frame has become an iconic symbol of the city. While tours that climb the bridge are expensive ($158 AUD), it is free to walk or bike across it for panoramic views of the harbor and Opera House.

Marvel at the Sydney Opera House – Just as iconic as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House is famous for its white-shelled roof. As an architectural delight and feat of engineering (getting the roof to stay up took the creation of a complex support system), guided tours ($37 AUD) give you a whole new appreciation for just how challenging the building was to design and erect. Tickets for a show in the Opera House are surprisingly affordable ($43 AUD), so try to take one in if you can.

Visit the Blue Mountains – Over the millennia, the ancient sandstone of this national park has been weathered into gorges lined by steep cliffs and separated by narrow ridges. Some activities in Blue Mountains National Park include seeing the magnificent rock formation of the Three Sisters (particularly stunning at sunset and under evening floodlights) or hiking along the paths that offer excellent views of the valley, sheer rock walls, tumbling waterfalls, and magnificent forests. The park is free to visit and you can get there by train from Sydney, which takes 90 minutes. If you want to hike further afield, it’s best to stay overnight!

See all the museums – Like most cities, Sydney has a wide variety of museums. There’s free entry to the Art Gallery of New South Wales (modern art), the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia at The Rocks, the Nicholson Museum (antiquities), and the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbor. I also suggest visiting the White Rabbit Gallery (contemporary Chinese art; it also has a teahouse) and The Rocks Discovery Museum (local history); both are also free. However, my favorite museum of all is the Hyde Park Barracks. Set in the old convict barracks, it does an amazing and detailed job of chronicling colonial life in the city, with lots of stories of the early settlers, and it’s well worth the $10 AUD entrance fee. If you only pay for one museum, make it this one!

Learn to surf – Sydney is often the place travelers bite the bullet and learn the art of Australia’s famous national pastime. There are many companies here that offer lessons. While Bondi is the most popular beach, Manly on the north shore of Sydney has better waves (though you can find good waves up and down the coast!).

Wine Tasting in the Hunter Valley – North of town is one of Australia’s premier wine regions. The Hunter Valley is home to amazing wineries that produce luscious reds. While it’s not as easy on the budget, it is an excuse to get out of the city and see the countryside. Day tours are offered from Sydney, but they are expensive ($150-200 AUD) and you spend a lot of time in the bus. Want even more fun? Try a bike tour. Grapemobile and Hunter Valley Cycling offer one-day bicycle rentals starting at $35 AUD. It’s best to stay for at least a night to get the full experience.

Take the Sydney Tower Skywalk – As tall as the Eiffel Tower and twice as high as the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Tower offers amazing panoramic views of the city from its Skywalk at the top. At $50 AUD, it’s cheaper and easier than climbing the bridge itself, and the views are actually far better. Also included with your purchase of a Skywalk ticket is access to the “4-D” cinema experience, which includes in-theatre effects like wind and fire.

Walk one of the coastal walks – There are a number of stunning coastal walks that allow you to take in the breathtaking natural beauty of Sydney Harbor. While tons of people follow the two-hour Coogee-to-Bondi walk (skip the weekends when it’s overly crowded), I found both the shorter walk in Watson’s Bay and the Split-to-Manly walk quieter and more breathtaking.

Explore the markets – Sydney has many amazing markets to walk through. At Paddington Markets (Oxford Street; open Saturdays after 10am), the fish market (Bank Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road), Bondi Farmers Market (Campbell Parade on Bondi Beach), the flower market (Parramatta Road), and a whole lot more seasonal markets, it’s really easy to spend a lot of time wandering and shopping. I love Paddington Markets and the farmers market the best — they draw an eclectic crowd, and the farmers market makes me want to cook nonstop.

Attend a cultural event – Since Sydney has a complex about Melbourne being called the culture capital of Australia, it tries to outdo its rival by hosting over 30 official festivals and events each year. It offers art gallery nights, concerts, festivals, and much more. Most of them are free and can be found on the Sydney tourism website.

Party in King’s Cross – If you’re looking to go out and get wild on the cheap, then go to King’s Cross. This is where the beer is inexpensive and the backpackers (and locals) party late. The famous World Bar is where most of the action happens (cheap drinks and a large dance floor). For a less traveler-centric time, head to Manly, The Rocks, or the CBD (central business district) where there are more locals and less travelers (but more expensive cocktails and beers).

Sydney is a remarkable city. While some cities scream “run around and see stuff” (cough, NYC, cough), Sydney’s message to visitors is always “relax, go outside, and enjoy the beautiful weather.” Sure, there’s plenty to do, but I find the best way to enjoy the city is to take it slow, see a few attractions, and mostly lay outside on the beach or in a park… or relax at a nice happy hour at a bar overlooking the harbor!

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HOW WILL TRAVELS THE WORLD ON $20 OR LESS PER DAY!

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Each month, we feature a reader on our community forum as a way to inspire others and remind potential travelers that people from all walks of life go out and explore their world! Today, I want to share the story of Will, a.k.a The Broke Backpacker, who likeTomislov, is traveling the world on an extreme budget of $20 a day. After ten years of travel, I like a little more comfort because of my insomnia, but I love reading stories like Will’s because it is always a good reminder that when you’re creative, you can save money without sacrificing adventure and fun on the road.

Nomadic Matt: Tell us about you. Where are you from, how did you get into travel, age, place of birth, etc!
Will: I’m Will, a 26-year-old amateur adventurer and freelance journalist. I like to get muddy, naked and painted. I first started backpacking when I was eighteen and was instantly hooked by all the inspiring people I met whilst hitching, camping and Couchsurfing around Europe.

Since then, I have lived in India for a year, worked in bars in Vietnam, herded goats in the Holy Land and conquered the highest navigable pass in the world armed with a poorly drawn map and a packet of Ritz crackers. I have survived knife-point robberies in Nepal, guerrilla encounters in Myanmar, motorbike crashes in Vietnam and numerous other mis-adventures. Recently, I started my most ambitious adventure to date: a two-year journey from the U.K. to Papua New Guinea, without the use of any flights.

I was born in Brighton, near London, and although I do love England, it is no longer where my heart is. I’m too restless to be in one place for too long. Right now, I’m on a recruitment mission – I’m heading across the world with the aim to find cool people to help me open my chain of hostels and then, eventually, the commune – yep, my life aims are not especially conventional, but heck, even us crazy traveler folks have gotta have a plan!

You call yourself an extreme budget traveler. What exactly is an extreme budget?
I try really hard not to spend more than $20 USD a day, the ultimate aim being to spend under $100 USD a week. In the past, I picked up bar-work, hostel-work and farm-work whilst on the road. These days, I support my travels through my travel blog, The Broke Backpacker. To help stay on budget I hitchhike, sleep rough when necessary, Couchsurf and liberate bread rolls whenever possible! In the past, I have travelled on less than this. I spent just $3,000 USD on a 14-month adventure around India and Nepal.

Do you think what you do is something most travelers want to do?
Anybody can do what I do, but to be honest most people simply don’t want to try it. A lot of people have a knee-jerk reaction when I tell them that I hitch and Couchsurf; many folks seem to think this is just insanely dangerous, which is simply not the case. When it comes to sleeping rough or wild-camping, yeah, it helps if you don’t mind being a bit uncomfortable. As far as I am concerned, I would rather be uncomfortable and traveling than comfortable and chained to a desk – a sedentary lifestyle just isn’t for me. Most people want to travel, even if they don’t realize it. Everybody should travel, even if they have very little money – it is totally achievable.

How do you stay on such a tight budget in expensive countries, say Japan or New Zealand?
Staying on budget in more expensive countries is, obviously, a bit harder but the rules stay the same – hitch, Couchsurf and buy dirt-cheap food. In Japan, I pretty much survived off 7-Eleven stores… cheap pizza and rice-balls for the win! In countries like Japan, I have to plan a bit further in advance as, if I can’t find a Couchsurfing host, I end up sleeping rough the whole time and that gets pretty knackering. In some expensive countries, if you have plenty of time on your hands, it’s a good idea to pick up some paid work as you can earn a fair whack in a short period of time and then head off to cheaper destinations… I never got around to picking grapes in Oz with fellow drunken-Englishmen, but it’s on my radar!

Give us your most unique money-saving tip.
Always bring things back home from your travels to sell – I’ve brought back shirts, scarves, leather satchels, all sorts of odds and ends – you can make a fortune selling them at festivals.

Also, once I rocked up into Jordan after getting extremely lost whilst hitching from Israel, I eventually made it to Petra where I met up with a Rastafarian Bedouin, Ghassab, who was the proud owner of a bright pink Landrover, four goats and a rock-cut cave house. I spent two weeks living with him in the cave, collecting firewood and soaking in some truly stunning sunsets.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve done whilst traveling?
One of my craziest stories involves canyoning in Nepal. I hiked with a guide and three other backpackers for nearly two hours until we reached some nearby waterfalls. At this point, the guide realized he had forgotten one helmet so I ended up being the sucker who had to start off with a huge leap of faith, a 6-meter jump into nothingness with no protection.

Later, whilst abseiling down a waterfall, the rope sliding through my fingers felt kind of strange, I looked down and saw it was held together with gaffa tape, which was coming apart. I panicked somewhat, slipped and then made the brilliant decision to unclip myself before the rope actually broke – which it probably wasn’t going to do in all honesty. I fell backwards and luckily ended in a deep pool of water, having fallen perhaps 4 meters (nowhere near as far as I thought it would be). I emerged shaken, but laughing uncontrollably.

What are some of your biggest travel tips?
Go out into the world with an open mind, smile at everyone, and never say “no” to a new experience… this is the best advice I can give to folks looking to ditch their desks and hit the road for the first time.

Travel is like anything, if you put it off it may never happen – accept that you could die tomorrow; do you really want your last memory to be working a job you dislike to pay for shit you don’t need? Whilst it does make sense to prepare before you embark on your first big adventure, I recommend not planning too much – go with the flow and accept that some things might go wrong. When you travel, you have two choices – to be stressed or to be chilled, the latter is definitely the way to go.

Ooooh, and when you do, take a head-torch – it’ll be handy for exploring!

If you could tell your younger self four things, what would they be?
Start a travel blog earlier! – Seriously, I wish I had known it was possible to forge a career for oneself on the Internet without having any major tech skills.
Long-distance relationships, especially whilst traveling, are doomed to failure.
Stuff is going to go wrong, so chill out and roll with it.
It’s good to be scared, it means you are learning.

What’s your least favorite part about traveling on such a tight budget?
Long-term budget travel does get tiring. I miss steak, and wine. Currently I am in Europe, working my way East to Iran and Pakistan. Europe is seriously expensive so I find myself counting my Euros if I want to party in the evening, which isn’t ideal. Luckily, you can buy cheap beer in the supermarkets so it is still possible to get the most out of the Euro-backpacking experience!

When I am really broke and can’t find a Couchsurfing host, that sucks as I am forced to sleep rough or wild-camp. I don’t mind doing either but when you suddenly have to do it, out of the blue, the chances of finding a good spot are not great.

Do you ever splurge? If it gets tiring, why not treat yourself? I love traveling on a budget but sometimes you just need to splurge and get that bottle of wine in Argentina.
Sure, sometimes these days I can afford to splurge if I want to. When I first went traveling, it wasn’t an option but every now and again some kindly Couchsurfing host would treat me to a decent meal and a few drinks; the irregularity made it all the more special. These days, now that my blog is making money, I can splurge if I want to. I tend to stick to my tight budget as I feel it’s the best way to get into real adventures and meet cool people; in Berlin for example, rather than paying to get into museums or any of that jazz, I happily spent a week breaking into old abandoned buildings – check out “urban exploring” to get an idea of what I am talking about – it was free, and it was awesome.

Some quick questions:
Favorite country? Nepal for the scenery. Myanmar for the people. Philippines for the adventures. Venezuela for the trekking.
Least favorite country? France.
One item you can’t travel without? A headtorch.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? If I had one superpower it would be teleportation; I would save a fortune on flights. I would probably become obese though as I would definitely teleport from the sofa to the fridge.

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13 WAYS TO EXPLORE SYDNEY ON A BUDGET

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IN KOREA

As my friends and I drank wine in the shadow of the Opera House, I couldn’t help but be happy – I was back in Sydney for the first time in five years and I was here for over two weeks!

“Shall we go somewhere else?” my friends asked.

“Sure, let’s get the bill!” I replied.

When our check came, I was reminded of something about Sydney I had forgotten: its high prices. Even with a currently weak Australian dollar, Sydney was more expensive than I remembered.

With its $10 sandwiches, $10 beers, $19 cocktails, $30 hostels (sometimes up to $40!!!), and outrageous restaurant prices, Sydney can burn a hole in your wallet quicker than actual fire. It was going to be an expensive two weeks if I didn’t figure out how to enjoy the best this city had to offer on a budget. Leaving no stone unturned (OK, probably one or two), last month I found several ways to save big here – while still filling your days and having a lot of fun:

Get an Opal card

This metro card is free — you just need to load it with money — and worth using for three reasons: it offers discounted fare compared to purchasing one-use tickets (this varies by distance); there’s a maximum fare charge of $15 per day; and on Sundays, the maximum is $2.50. That means you can go anywhere on the transportation system – whether by metro, ferry, or light rail – and you’ll never pay more than $2.50! It’s an amazing deal.

The Art Gallery of New South Wales

The Art Gallery of NSW is one of my favorite museums in the city. There are so many exquisite landscape paintings, portraits, and statues in its collection by Australian and European artists (and even a few by Monet). It’s a really substantial collection. Some of my favorites were Albert Hanson’s “Pacific Beaches,” Guerard’s “Jebel Cherib” and “Milford Sound,” Peter Paul Ruebens’ “Self-Portrait,” and Batten’s “Snowdrop and the Seven Little Men.”

The Museum of Contemporary Art

The contemporary art museum also is free and features Australian artists, including many Aboriginals. While I’m not a huge fan of this type of art (bottles on the floor is NOT art), the Aboriginal collection was breathtaking. You can really feel the artists’ connections to their land and culture as well as the pain of past attempts to take it away from them.

Visit the beaches

Sydney is a city famous for its (free) beaches, and there’s no better way to spend one of the city’s many sunny days than by enjoying one of them. Try to avoid going on the weekends, when they fill up and you have to fight for space. While Bondi is the most famous, be sure to check out Manly, Watson’s Bay, Coogee, and Bronte (my favorite).

Nature walks

There are a number of stunning public coastal walks that allow you to take in the breathtaking natural beauty of Sydney’s harbor and coastal cliffs. While tons of people do the two-hour Coogee-to-Bondi walk (avoid it on the weekends), I found Watson’s Bay and the Split-to-Manly walks quieter, more relaxing, and beautiful.

Free walking tours

I’m Free Walking Tours runs a daily tour of the city center and The Rocks, Sydney’s original settlement. Additionally, you can use Sydney Greeters (advanced booking required!), which is a free service that connects you with locals who will show you around their neighborhoods!

Take the Town Hall tour

Sydney’s beautiful town hall is a wonderful Victorian building; on Tuesday mornings, there’s a two-hour tour for $5.

Visit the markets

Sydney has a ton of amazing markets to walk through. From Paddington Market, the fish market, Bondi Farmers Market, the flower market, and a whole lot more seasonal markets, it’s really easy to spend a lot of time wandering and shopping. I love the Paddington Market and the famers market the best. They draw an eclectic crowd, and the farmers market makes me want to cook nonstop.

Attend one of Sydney’s many events

Since Sydney has a complex about Melbourne being called the culture capital of Australia, it tries to outdo its rival by hosting over 30 events each year. It has art gallery nights, concerts, festivals, and much more. Most of them are free and can be found on the Sydney tourism website.

Eat cheap!

Need a cheap meal? The sushi trains around the city offer a filling meal for $10-20, the noodle and dumpling shops in Chinatown offer tasty and authentic meals for less than $10, and Lentil as Anything (a vegetarian restaurant in Newtown) offers meals on a “pay as you feel” system. Another cheap place to eat is the food court in the MLC Centre, a big office building in the heart of the business district and popular with office workers. From Mexican to sushi to salads to sandwiches, you can find big-portion meals for $10 or less.

Avoid the expensive stuff

In many parts of the world, the high end offers some value and you can walk away from an expensive meal and say “that was worth every penny!” However, that’s not often the case in Sydney. I was always disappointed. From cocktail bars to upscale steak and sushi dinners, I always left hungry, unhappy, and thinking about the lack of value I got. Stick to beer, wine, and the low-end restaurants when you’re in town. You’ll get more bang for your buck!

Visit backpacker bars for cheap drinks

Drinking in Sydney is expensive – with beers costing up to $10 each – but the backpackers bars are where to go for a cheap pint. World Bar and Ivy Hotel have backpacker specials for $4-7, and the Peter Pan Travel Agency in Kings Cross has free drinks on Tuesdays!

Explore the free museums

Australia has a lot of expensive museums, but tons of free ones too. Some worth considering are The Mint (a small exhibit on how they used to make money), The Australia Center for Photography, The White Rabbit Gallery (beautiful art), The Manly Art Museum, The Sydney Observatory, and The Rocks Discovery Museum!

Sydney is a vibrant, laid-back beach city with an incredible array of activities. If you don’t watch out, it will bust your budget really fast! Sydney may not be one of the cheapest cities in the world, but there are plenty of free and cheap events to keep you busy during your visit. I found myself with plenty of full days that ended with an even fuller wallet!
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