It seems that our natural inclination as humans, especially in modern consumer societies, is to accumulate material objects. So what do we go searching for? Well, the hottest deals of course! After all, getting this 50% off iPad Mini case before it sells out is a matter of life and death — well maybe not. However terrible “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” puns aside, there is something to be said about the motivation to search for the best deals on products. To be fair and balanced though, there are also charities that get involved with this time of year…Everyone loves to travel, but most people don’t do it. They stay in one place, working their whole life away to fund their weekend getaways that are the highlight of their year. Are they happy? Well, that’s debatable. We believe that travel is the road to transformation and to making meaningful connections with people and places around the world. Experiencing cultures in destinations different than our own opens up our minds and our hearts to see the world in a whole new way.
If you’re in the market for a truly non-stop city, Hongdae is a dazzling metropolis that has activities and attractions catering to every taste. From shopping in one of the famous night markets to nights out on Garosugil or Mullae-to, or a visit to one of the many museums there?—?there’s enough for everyone. Don’t be distracted by the hustle and bustle of Seoul, you can always escape into one of the many parks and landscaped areas dotted around Tokyo to relax. For foodies, Phnom Penh is a dream come true! French, Thai, Chinese, and Khmer cuisine can be found in restaurants across the city. For those who aren’t into fine dining, there are plenty of street vendors serving affordable meals for $1 to $5. With bars and clubs catering to all types of music, you’re never far from a wild night out. Perched in the mountainous northern region of Thailand, Chiang Mai is the northern capital of the country and maintains a decidedly laid-back atmosphere compared to the wildness of the southern cities.
Plan on visiting plenty of temples, as monasteries and stupas abound in the historic city center. Drive outside of the city to experience the green countryside of northern Thailand, or hike up to one of the many waterfalls or hot springs in the region. Thailand is packed to the brim with tourist destinations, but this also means that there are hundreds upon hundreds of things to do and places to see. Choose wisely, as you don’t want to be spending your limited time visiting things that don’t interest you while missing out on what’s worth seeing. Traveling abroad is a fantastic way to expand your horizons, particularly when you’re visiting places off the beaten path. An AirTreks Ambassador, Rolf Potts, spent time writing about his experience in Sumatra on the popular travel site, Vagabondish. Rolf’s insightful observations about his vacation gave me an idea for another article. He commented on the current economic climate of Indonesia and how that was affecting his travel plans. He said: “When I started working on this itinerary l assumed I would have between $1,500 and $2,000 a month for everything I needed. That was then before the forex market caught fire and all currencies but America’s began to plummet.” Rolf’s comment got me thinking about how much you can do on a limited budget while traveling abroad.
