The Travel Junkie by Julia Dimon

Where to be seen in Miami

Julia Dimon, the travel junkie — Tue, 19 May 2009 01:00:00 -0400

Strolling along palm-tree lined Ocean Drive, against a backdrop of pastel-coloured Art Deco buildings, I feel like I’m part of a postcard. This is South Beach, a celebrity playground of restaurants, bars, salsa clubs and Miami vices; home to luxury lifestyles, reality-TV tattoo shops and the world famous diet. Dubbed America’s Riviera and the Latin Hollywood, Miami draws a wide range of tourist types, from snowbirds to university students and sun-worshippers to trendsetters.

For those looking to party, South Beach is the place to be, with what seems like an endless supply of bars to choose from.

If you want to party like a rock star but feel overwhelmed by all the possible options, here are a few places to start:

Gansevoort South Hotel:
The Gansevoort South, a hip hotel on Collins Ave., is a favourite among Miami’s beautiful people. Walk past the lobby’s 50-foot-long shark tank and take the elevator to Plunge, a poolside lounge overlooking the ocean, the city and a tree-fringed infinity pool. From there, check out Louis, a vampish Versailles-themed VIP lounge; for details, visit www.gansevoortsouth.com.

Sky Bar at Shore Club
Enjoy the perfect weather at Redroom garden, a chill landscaped patio of tropical plants and eclectic Moroccan-themed design. Sauntering around this communal space, you can wander from Rumbar, which serves up 75 different kinds of rum, into Redroom, where you can dance the night away to hip hop and Top 40; www.shoreclub.com

W South Beach Hotel
When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with W. With slick architecture, high design and a pulse on what’s cool, the new W South Beach Hotel (set to open June 16) is a sure bet.

The Wall nightclub, an ultra lounge open as late as 4 a.m. Fridays to Mondays, boasts specialty drinks and gold-and-black decor; www.starwoodhotels.com.

Casa Casaurina
Sip cocktails at Casa Casaurina, the infamous residence of the late Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace. In this historic-house-turned-celebrity- compound, Versace hosted stars such as Madonna and Elton John until his untimely death in July of 1997, when he was murdered on the steps of this beach-front villa. Once a private members only club, this 1930s landmark now welcomes tourists for dinner, cocktails and tours (offered daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at $65 US per person; www.casacasuarina.com.

Mynt Lounge
With a tight door policy and a long list of celebrity guests, Mynt is at the top of many trendsetters’ lists. It’s not easy to get into, but once beyond the velvet rope, partiers will find A-list fashionistas dancing to the beat of international DJs and breathing in the club’s aromatherapy-scented air. This is a place where you must dress to impress; www.myntlounge.com.

VIP help
If you don’t want to battle lineups or doormen, SoBeVIPs, a nightlife company aimed at taking the hassle out of South Beach partying, can hook you up with club access. They offer limo transportation, VIP bottle service and party passes (a package that includes cover charge, a drink and line-up free entry before 12:30 a.m.); www.sobevips.com.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Concerts, festivals and tomato fights

Julia Dimon, the travel junkie — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:16:56 -0400

With summer vacation quickly approaching, many soon-to-be travellers are weighing their holiday options. While a sun and surf destination may be alluring, consider the following cultural festivals before booking that all-inclusive. Check out this list of cool, quirky festivals taking place around the world this summer.

1. Named best festival by Rolling Stone Magazine, Bonnaroo is a four-day, multi-stage camping festival hosted on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. The party gets under way June 11-14th, rain or shine, with dozens of bands, including Al Green, Beastie Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Phish, Public Enemy, Paul Oakenfold and Nine Inch Nails. It costs $224–$249 for a four-day pass that includes camping and parking. www.bonnaroo.com

2. Head to St. Petersburg for their White Nights Festival, a six-week event from May 15-June 18th. During this time, the sun never fully sets and the nights are bright ... a perfect excuse to celebrate. White Nights Festival offers a variety of programs which include dance, jazz, opera and classical music performances. www.saint-petersburg.com

3. Trying to do NYC on the cheap? Check out Summer Stage, a free performing arts festival in Central Park. This 20 year-old festival has everything from spoken word to stand-up comedy, with free big name performances from the Indigo Girls and Ziggy Marley. Tickets are first come, first served and gates open an hour before show times. www.summerstage.org

4. For something a little unusual, check out the Kirkpinar Oil Wrestling Festival (in late June). One of the oldest festivals in the world, this wrestling fest takes place in Edirne, Turkey and involves shirtless macho men grappling while slathered in oil.

5. The last Wednesday of August, at the peak of tomato season, the small Spanish town of Bunol (just outside of Valencia) hosts La Tomatina, a giant tomato food fight. The tomatoes are specially-grown for this annual event and a reported 140 tons are trucked in from the countryside. Imagine thousands of tourists covered in salsa and the streets over-flowing with tomato juice.

6. Celebrate the Summer Solstice at the ruins of Stonehenge. On June 20, this free, one-night event draws druids, hippie types and peaceful pagan partiers eager to watch the 4:45 a.m. sunrise on the longest day of the year.

7. Summer Fest, the “world’s largest music festival” takes place in Milwaukee June 25 - July 5. Over the 11 days, there are some 700 artists across 11 stages, with a range of performances by: The Roots, Kid Rock and Leonard Skynard, Barenaked Ladies, Bon Jovi, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Whitesnake. www.summerfest.com

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Budget-friendly destinations

Julia Dimon, the travel junkie — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:05:39 -0400

These days, many travellers are shying away from spending money on elaborate trips. But travel doesn’t have to be a luxury only the rich can afford — many destinations around the world offer incredibly good value. For the traveller who’s big on adventure but short on cash, here are my top picks for countries that will give you more bang for your buck.

Nicaragua
The poorest but arguably one of the most beautiful countries in Latin America, Nicaragua boasts active volcanoes, pristine crater lakes, fair trade coffee farms and some of the best surfing in the region. The cost of living is very reasonable with chilled Tonia beers for the equivalent of $1 each and tasty traditional meals (fried rice and red beans, deep fried cheese, corn tortillas and fresh salad) for about $5.

Bigfoot Hostel, www.bigfootnicaragua.com, a chill backpacker hangout in the quaint colonial town of León, offers private rooms. Its easy-going vibe, free wireless Internet, indoor swimming pool and hordes of Swedish students make Bigfoot an attractive spot.

With great value and a strong tourist infrastructure, the country is huge in the backpacker scene and is quickly becoming the “new Costa Rica.”

Croatia
Europe is typically very hard on the budget, but if you must go, Croatia is one of your best choices. It will not only wow you with its charming towns and Adriatic coastal beauty, it’ll please your wallet.

The big save is on accommodations. When I was exploring the island of Hvar, I stayed in a pension (complete with private room, bathroom, full board and garden patio) for about $50 a night. The Croatia National Tourism board’s website, www.htz.hr, offers a list of small, family-run accommodations all over the country, from romantic Dubrovnik to the baroque-rich capital Zagreb.

Bolivia
From La Paz, travel by bus to the Incan hotspot of Copacabana, a tourist gateway between the inspirational shores of Lake Titicaca and Peru’s Cuzco. With inexpensive eats and affordable souvenirs, Copacabana has great deals for the budget traveller.

Stay at the Hotel Rosario del Lago, the nicest accommodations in the city with beautiful views of the lake, for prices as low as $50 a night; www.hotelrosario.com.

With the money you’ve saved, you’ll be able to afford an adrenaline-soaked bicycle adventure down the “world’s most dangerous road.” For the equivalent of $100, Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking offers day trips speeding downhill along twisted roads; www.gravitybolivia.com.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Yoga atop the Canadian Rockies

Julia Dimon, the travel junkie — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:21:08 -0400

There’s nothing quite like doing “tree pose” at 9,000 feet. But there I was, balancing in this classic yoga position while taking in a panoramic view of the snow-capped Canadian Rockies.

This certainly isn’t your average yoga studio. This is heli-yoga, a tourist activity that combines the meditative practice of yoga with a traditional helicopter sightseeing tour.

Just a short drive outside Banff National Park near Alberta’s Lake Louise, Icefield Helicopter Tours takes the conventional aerial experience one step further. This helicopter tourism provider has partnered with Martha’s Heli-Hikes, an outdoor adventure outfitter, and together, they are offering a variety of high altitude activities, from hiking to snow shoeing, ice walking to yoga.

Tourist keen on connecting with nature may find themselves high on the mountain top, resting in “child’s pose,” overlooking some of our country’s most stunning scenery.

A day excursion begins at the heliport with a brief safety lesson, a gear check and the distribution of tasty gourmet packed lunches. After piling into the chopper and slipping on a set of noise-cancelling headphones (complete with fighter jet style microphones), the pilot is ready for take-off. The blades rotate faster. The whomp-whomp sound crescendos. The chopper lifts off and hovers above the ground like a giant metal dragonfly. Even for the most jaded of flyers, there’s something truly exciting about cruising around in a helicopter!

We soared above the mountain range, keeping our eyes open for wolves, elk, grizzly bears and other wildlife found in the area.

Depending on the flight conditions, the helicopter can land in a variety of geographic landscapes, from the waterfalls of the raging Cline River to the ridge of Wedding Knoll, a grassy clearing and matrimonial hot spot.

The chopper found a safe pad to land and Martha, my guide and resident yoga expert, hopped out and I followed her lead. I got into yoga gear and prepared for my Hatha yoga lesson. After a series of poses and meditative moments, the lesson ended with a calm concluding “oooom,” a whispered “namaste,” and a scenic helicopter ride back to the base. Icefield Helicopter Tours offers day heli-yoga trips in Alberta’s Rockies at $469 per person. For more information visit www.icefieldheli.com.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

A selection of spiritual journeys

Julia Dimon, Travel Junkie — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:24:19 -0400

From the tops of Machu Picchu, to the rose-red rock of Petra’s canyon-like Siq, to the divinely-inspired churches of northern Ethiopia, there are plenty of places on earth that inspire. If you’re looking for a holiday with a spiritual element, here are a few suggestions:

Korean retreat
Live like a monk at the Lotus Lantern International Meditation Centre. Located two hours from Seoul, this 12-year-old Buddhist temple was designed for foreigners looking to study the religious philosophy of Zen Buddhism. Visitors sleep on traditional Korean cots, wake up at the crack of dawn (3:45 a.m., to be exact), slip into itchy grey training suits, eat simple food, wash their own dishes and meditate many times a day.

Sun rise in Namibia
Bordering South Africa and Botswana, Namibia is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the desert, and where rich wildlife and traditional African culture meet some of the world’s most stunning sunrises. A popular tourist activity is climbing up Dune 45, one of Namibia’s many natural sand castles. The hike along the ridge isn’t easy, but it’s all worthwhile when you see the sun’s warm, orange light illuminate the 80-million-year-old Namib Desert.

Get enlightened in India
Rishikesh, a holy city in northern India, is a place many travellers go to find themselves. It’s a wildly popular spot on the banks of the Ganges River that draws Hindu pilgrims, new-age hippies, young Israeli backpackers and wise Babas who spend their days in the lotus position. Located some 200 kilometres from Delhi, this self-proclaimed yoga capital of the world is packed with meditation centres, ashrams, Ayurvedic massage parlours, vegetarian restaurants and spiritual communities. With its nightly ceremonies along the river and vibe of collective spirituality, there’s something magical about Rishikesh.

Fountain of youth
For a look at the cradle of Incan civilization and a taste of her sacred waters, head to Isla del Sol on the shores of Bolivia’s sacred Lake Titicaca. On the south end of the island, walk up 200 steps to a sacred spring that’s said to be the fountain of youth. A sip of the water is not only refreshing, it’s an important part of Incan tradition. Lake Titicaca is also the highest navigable body of water in world — which means you may have difficulty differentiating between your own spiritual enlightenment and good old-fashion altitude sickness.

Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels airing on OLN; juliadimon.com.

Feats for the fierce and fearless

Julia Dimon, the travel junkie — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:12:03 -0400

If you’re an adrenaline junkie looking for heart-stopping, jaw-dropping thrills and spills, check out these daring activities offered around the world:

Zambezi Swing
The Zambezi Swing, in the quaint town of Livingstone, Zambia, offers up an extreme activity similar to bungee jumping. Adventurers are outfitted in gear, secured to a wire and led to a platform from which they free fall 50 metres — and then finish with a pendulum swing at 120 kilometres per hour across the Batoka Gorge.

Zambia is one of the only places in the world that offers a gorge swing experience. It’s perfect for adventure seekers keen on testing their nerves and bladder control. The full day program is the best value and includes lunch, beverages, a Zambian visa and transfers. You can swing as many times as you like (on average of three to five jumps) and, at no additional charge, you can try abseiling, high-wiring and rap jumping. Visit www.thezambeziswing.com.

Mono-bob
At the ski resort of La Plagne, located opposite the Mont-Blanc and Beaufortain ranges in France, visitors can experience the mono-bob, a single-seater, self-steering bobsled. This “sports car of the ice” can reach up to speeds over 90 kilometres per hour, weaving downhill along an outdoor track with sharp turns. Visit www.la-plagne.com for more information.

Zero Gravity
Incredible Adventures, a company offering once-in-a-lifetime specialized tours, offers wannabe astronauts the chance to experience the sensation of space travel. Just head to the tour’s home base at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, hop aboard a NASA-approved Boeing 727 and enjoy the feeling of weightlessness as the pilots go through a series of manoeuvres that counter the forces of gravity. You’ll flip and float through the cabin, just like the real deal. The two hour program is $5,197 US per person. Check out www.incredible-adventures.com.

Macau Tower jump
Those who are brave enough to take on the world’s highest bungee jump should head to Macau, a casino-clad city just a short trip from Hong Kong.

From the 61st floor of the Macau Tower platform, jumpers will plummet 233 metres towards the earth at 200 kilometres per hour in a wicked, gut-wrenching free fall. This operation is owned by A.J. Hackett, dubbed the “father of bungee jumping,” who manages adrenaline-based activities all over the world. But it’s the height and the views that make this particular location special. While you’re preparing for one of the most terrifying drops imaginable, try and remember to check out the cityscape with its lotus-shaped casinos and massive bridges extending over a glistening river. See www.macauworld.com.

Zorbing
Rotorua, the adventure capital of New Zealand’s North Island, is a dream for adventure seekers. Locally run companies offer bungee jumping, skydiving, abseiling, mountain biking and a unique phenomenon called Zorbing. Originating in New Zealand in the 1990s, Zorbing has people strapped into enormous clear plastic balls, rolling down a grass-covered slope at speeds of up to 30 kilometres per hour. Throw a few buckets of water inside the hamster-like ball and you have what is known as liquid Zorbing. For around $50, you can tumble downhill and understand what it must feel like to be a loose sock trapped in a washing machine. See zorb.co.nz.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Seeking remedies at the Mercado de Sonora

Julia Dimon, Travel Junkie — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:19:50 -0400

Double, double, toil and trouble. Where does one go to see fire burn and caldron bubble? One good bet is the Mercado de Sonora, a sprawling outdoor shopping area in the heart of Mexico City that’s the Walmart of the witch world.

It’s a maze of alleyways stacked with hundreds of stalls, located on Avenida Fray Servando Teresa in the Venustiano Carranza borough. For locals who dabble in witchcraft, or visitors looking to stray off the typical tourist trail, the Sonora market has all your ritualistic remedies.

You can find everything from antique amulets to medicinal herbs; live snakes to mysterious brews; and animal-shaped ceramic charms to powdered potions for health, wealth and romance. The market is loosely organized into three parts: Healing herbs, Afro-Cuban paraphernalia and black magic.

Walking amongst the tribal rattlers, taxidermy rabbits and other accessories of the underworld, I met Bertha Gutieriez Montes de Oca, a shaman who has been working in the market for 51 years. The five-foot-nothing elderly woman explained the ritualistic purpose behind the potions.

“Witchcraft plays a central role in Mexican society and medicine,” she explained. “In the half-century I’ve worked here, the market has grown and the faces have changed but people’s hopes and desires have stayed the same — hopes for money, love, good luck, marriage and fewer problems at work are among the most popular.”

Navigating a clutter of products that claim to ward off evil spirits, Bertha took me to a set of stalls selling popular love sprays. For the ladies, there are potions for better sex, long marriage and curbing a boyfriend’s flirtations with other women.

For men, the art of seduction is a popular sell. Male customers looking to attract their heart’s desire will find Bertha recommends a product called Quita Calzon. As belief has it, men looking for love must first lather their bodies with this powder and think about the woman for whom they yearn. The power of the talcum-like potion will cause the woman in question to succumb to the man’s wildest fantasies, all for the equivalent of a few dollars.

Just in case there was truth to the bottles claims, I dabbed on a little “true love” perfume, an aphrodisiac oil that promises to attract Mr. Right. In the rat race of today’s dating scene, I figured a little sorcery couldn’t hurt.

From there, Bertha showed me a soap called Tapa Voca purchased by women who want to stop gossiping, and a pair of cloth voodoo dolls for women who crave more commitment in their romantic relationships. For every problem, the market sells a solution.

A visit to Sonora market is a culturally significant look into a side of Mexico most tourists don’t normally see. I learned that, though these beliefs stem from indigenous knowledge and centuries-old traditional medicine, witchcraft continues to play a big role in contemporary Mexican society.

As for that love spray? I’m still waiting for results.

Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN; juliadimon.com.

Dancing up a storm

Julia Dimon, The Travel Junkie — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:57:05 -0400

Jamaica is a musical country, an auditory mecca of sound and soul. While this jewel of the Caribbean may be world famous for her Bob Marley beats, a trip there proves Jamaican music isn’t confined to reggae alone.

Dancehall music, loosely defined as high-energy rap with a Reggaeton rhythm, is extremely popular among local youth. Kingston, the island’s capital and largest city, is one of the best places to check out this trend, live and in-stereo.

“Dancehall speaks to the concerns, the aspirations and problems of the inner city. It’s a way of negotiating the issues ... a way for young people to grapple with things that are of major concern to them,” said Clyde Mckenzie, a well-known local musicologist and judge of the Jamaican version of American Idol.

For a chance to experience dancehall music as it’s meant to be heard, I travelled to Weddy Weddy, a nightclub event held every Wednesday in an arena-like haunt called a “dance hall.” Located on a gritty avenue in Uptown Kingston, hundreds of twenty-somethings regularly go there to dance into the early morning.

With its pounding sound system, free cover and unrelenting energy, Weddy Weddy not only opens its doors to Jamaican club kids, but also draws adventurous young travellers.

I was curious about the Kingston club scene and the part that dancehall music played within local culture, so I slipped into appropriate club attire and set out to explore.

In a country with one of the world’s highest murder rates per capita, I was nervous about my late night expedition, but I was assured by my local contacts that tourists are welcome and safe at Weddy Weddy.

Walking in, I was greeted by friendly bouncers, blaring music and a mushroom cloud of ganja, a smell that permeated throughout the club.

The party gets going pretty late in Kingston, and by 12:30 a.m. the crowd began trickling in. A DJ spun vinyl as girls in pink booty-shorts broke into gymnast-like moves — apparently, the latest tracks often inspire new forms of urban dance.

Weddy Weddy is a fun and inclusive scene to witness but, with all the excitement, it’s easy to forget the controversy surrounding the music itself.

McKenzie told me the genre has come under attack in the past few years. Critics of the music have called some its lyrics misogynist and homophobic; the content has even been blamed for Jamaica’s alarming murder rate and epidemic of violence, advocating a ban on dancehall artists altogether.

While McKenzie knows about this backlash, he argued that “people from the outside may find the music distasteful only because they don’t understand all the nuances of Jamaican culture.”

Visiting Weddy Weddy is a great way for tourists to listen to the music in question, speak with the people and judge for themselves. During my time in Kingston, I learned that dancehall music is the evolution of Bob Marley’s reggae, it’s the popular genre of today and it plays an integral part in Kingston culture — for better or worse.

Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN; juliadimon.com.

Jungle survival 101

The Travel Junkie by Julia Dimon — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:32:43 -0400

Vancouver-born lodge owner Ian Anderson knows how to keep his visitors busy. Caves Branch Jungle Lodge, located in the Western part of Belize, offers multi-day, eco-friendly treks for the adventurous traveller, from caving expeditions tubing underground rivers, to rappelling rainforest canopies, to mountain biking along Mayan ruins.

While there are plenty of things to do across this 58,000 acre private estate, it was the jungle survival course that piqued my interest. This day-long expedition was my chance to learn the basics of surviving in a harsh jungle environment. I’d learn how to make shelter, find edible plants, and set handmade traps to catch birds and small animals (just the kind of skills this urban dweller might need one day).

From the comfort of the lodge, I set out into the wilderness with a team of well-trained local guides. It’s a lot easier to survive when you have members of the Belize Disaster and Rescue Response Team showing you the ropes.

With heavy rains the night before, the path was slick with slippery roots and chocolate-pudding-like mud. Stepping over a swarm of fiery marching ants scurrying single file, I realized that the jungle isn’t the most hospitable of environments. There are vines with spikes, trees with thorns, and branches with natural barbed wire. There are jaguars, pumas and Fer-de-Lance snakes, venomous vipers that camouflage along the walking trails and attack if threatened. “One bite from this poisonous serpent can be fatal to humans, so it’s best to keep your eyes open and stay alert,” warned my guide Ching.

When we arrived at a clearing, the team threw down their gear and launched into their lesson plan for Survival 101.

“Constructing a waterproof shield against the elements of nature is one of the first steps to survival,” said Ching. Together, we built an A-frame structure out of sticks, bark and the umbrella-like leaves of a Bay Palm.

I learned that the sap from the gum tree can be used to heal wounds, water from the Cohun nut helps with re-dehydration and leaves from the “All Spice Tree” are good for stomach cramps.

Food was the next item on the itinerary. The guys showed me how to build rat traps from branches and improvised twine. With my trap set, I waited patiently. Sadly, catching my very own rodent dinner wasn’t easy, so I was forced to look for other unappetizing food sources.

With few fine-dining options in the jungle, desperate times called for desperate measures.

Termites are a good source of protein and much easier to catch than small animals, so I followed my main guide’s lead and cut into a beehive-like nest with a pocket knife. A handful of confused orange termites dropped out into my palm. Jungle survival means doing whatever is necessary, so I stuck out my tongue and drowned the insects in a sea of saliva. Surprisingly, termites taste just like carrots. Not only are they good for you, the nests themselves are useful in survival situations. When you burn a termites’ nest, the smoke acts as natural insect repellent.

Spending a day with the Caves Branch team hacking through the jungle and testing my endurance, I realized that the jungle has everything you need to survive. You just have to learn where to look.

Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN; juliadimon.com.

Selling betel nut with sex

The Travel Junkie by Julia Dimon — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:21:23 -0400

Tourists passing through the streets of Taiwan may notice an unusual cultural phenomenon. It looks like a scene from Amsterdam’s Red Light district, with scantily-clad girls soliciting customers from neon-lit boxes. Tourists might assume these ladies are sex workers, but, here on the hazy streets of Taoyan, a city an hour outside of Taipei, the girls aren’t selling sex. They’re selling betel nut.

Consumed throughout South East Asia, betel nut, from the fruit of the betel nut palm, is a mild stimulant similar to tobacco. Chewing it is a ceremonial tradition, and a habit associated with Taiwanese identity and masculinity. It’s common to see its byproducts: Red stained teeth and sidewalks covered in gobs of scarlet spit.

Today, many users are long-distance truck drivers looking for a quick pick-me-up. Though a known carcinogen, the highly demanded product is sold along freeway on-ramps.

To make the product more desirable to consumers, vendors employ young, attractive women known as Binlan Xi Shi or Betel Nut Beauties.

They stand in provocative outfits at roadside booths, selling bags of betel nut to commuters. There are an estimated 60,000 booths, with thousands of girls working in the industry. They are typically 18- to 25-years-old, making $30,000 to $40,000 Taiwanese new dollars per month (about $1,100 to $1,500).

With kiosks concentrated in the Taoyan area, the competition is fierce. The girls are paid based on their number of clients, so there is a financial incentive to dress erotically to attract customers. Costumed in pink lace teddies and leopard print lingerie, many of the girls wear more blue eyeshadow than fabric.

In this relatively conservative country, Betel Nut Beauties have become a controversial topic. Locals argue that their outfits are too sexy, it exploits women and is “a plight on the Taiwanese landscape.” Others chalk it up to marketing, likening the beauties to cigarette girls of the 1930s.

Ching Jie Lee, a 22-year-old Betel Nut Beauty, doesn’t understand why there’s such stigma surrounding her line of work. “We are not prostitutes. It’s a normal job, like anything else,” she says. “I chose this job and my family is proud of me ... as long as I don’t wear anything too short.”

Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN; juliadimon.com.

Can’t-miss Kiev

Julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:35:25 -0400

Dubbed “the mother of Slavic cities,” the Ukrainian capital of Kiev is a growing destination for international tourists. This former Soviet hub is not only rich in history, architecture and tradition — it’s a cosmopolitan city of trendy cafes, cool hangouts and stylish nightclubs.

Where to stay: For modern accommodations with all the comforts of home, the Hyatt Regency Kiev is the best choice. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel is within walking distance of some of the top tourist attractions, including St. Sophia’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Monastery. In a country where very little English is spoken and taxi drivers are keen to scam foreigners, it sure is helpful to have bilingual concierges on hand.

Where to shop: The main strip of Khreshchatyk has everything from Puma to Nike, Mango to Zara and Soviet-era department stores to Louis Vuitton and Gucci. On weekends they close the strip to cars, making retail therapy all the more pedestrian friendly.

Where to buy Communist-era kitsch: Strolling along the winding cobblestone streets in front of St. Andrew’s Baroque cathedral, you’ll find a whack of kitschy communist souvenirs such as gas masks, Lenin T-shirts, Russian wooden dolls, Stalin shot glasses and Ukrainian crafts. Just a few steps away you’ll find the heart of the Ukrainian art community. On summer afternoons, sidewalks are lined with original artworks.

Where to eat: Koureni, one of the oldest restaurants in Kiev, serves up traditional Ukrainian cuisine in a quaint garden setting. Overlooking the Dnieper River, Koureni has a killer view of the city and some of the tastiest pancakes with caviar.

If you’re craving international cuisine try Avalon, a seafood restaurant with an underwater, mermaid-inspired decor, or Nobu, a venue known for its sushi, sashimi and other Japanese dishes.

Where to party: Buddha Bar is relatively new to the Kiev club scene. Following in the footsteps of Buddha Bars in Paris and New York City, Buddha Bar Kiev is a dinner club with pan-Asian cuisine and a reputation for glamour. While VIPs groove to deep house, could-be-models scan for rich future husbands. Partiers move from the restaurant’s iconic gold Buddha statue to the lounge for martinis. It’s a space of pretty people with mood lighting so dark you can barely see your edamame appetizer.

Where to hang: Many young Ukrainians choose to hang and sip local brew in the famous Independence Square. Home of Ukraine’s Orange Revolution, it’s both a historic square and popular spot for a cheap and cheerful night out. Drinking openly in the streets is common, so many spend their summer evenings relaxing on the steps near the Globus Shopping Centre, cracking open a beer and people watching.

In this liveliest part of the city, you’re guaranteed to spot girls in short skirts and stilt-like stiletto heels, boys sporting mullet hairstyles and some of the flashiest fashions in the former Eastern Block.

Word Travels
Catch the second season of Word Travels, a documentary series that follows travel writers Julia Dimon and Robin Esrock. It airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Cooking up a storm in Turkey

Julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:32:31 -0400

Mardin is a charming town in the Turkish region of southeastern Anatolia. Located high above the Tigris-Euphrates river basins, it’s rich with religious tradition, historical significance and ancient sandstone architecture.

It’s also home to tasty local snacks, from pomegranate salads to stuffed tripe to grape-syrup kebabs. Blending Turkish and Syrian flavours, Mardin fusion cuisine made for meals unlike anything I’d tried in other parts of the country.

Likewise, the celebrated Mardin eatery Cercis Murat Konagi isn’t your typical Turkish restaurant. Overlooking the vast expanse of the scorching Mesopotamian plain, this former Armenian mansion dating back to the 1800s not only serves succulent Turkish cuisine, it also offers hands-on cooking courses for tourists.

Cercis Murat’s four-hour cooking class began with a trip to market. Ebru Baydemir, a local celebrity entrepreneur known as the first female restaurateur in eastern Anatolia, took me to a lively commercial center, where vendors hawked ripe, colorful vegetables.

On the hunt for ingredients, side-stepping the occasional donkey, we carefully selected a handful of deep purple eggplants, blood-red tomatoes, eye-watering onions and warm flatbreads. Supplies in hand, we returned to the kitchen, slipped on cloth hairnets, tied our aprons and got cooking.

Ebru told me that classes and meals can be customized according to tourists’ interests but that icli kofte — fried, stuffed meatballs — is a classic dish. I followed her tutelage and got my hands dirty.

Wrist deep in cracked wheat, onion, mince and allspice, I shaped the falafel-like shells into egg-sized balls and plopped them into a skillet of searing hot oil. The fragrant smell of onion and steaming mince filled the kitchen, a good indication of the gastronomical delights yet to come.

Stirring, mixing, chopping and dicing, I learned cooking techniques from a crew of female chefs. In this region of Turkey, women don’t traditionally work outside of the home but Ebru has broken new ground, giving local women a chance at employment.

The restaurant has become so popular that it’s won several awards for best views and has even attracted the attention of Prince Charles, who visited there with his royal entourage in 2004 for a private function.

As my kofte cooled, I was ready to dive into my next dish, Patlicanli pilav, a type of upside-down casserole made with lamb, chickpeas, onions, rice, eggplant and lots of cinnamon.

No doubt, the best part of a cooking class is eating your homework. Sitting at a rectangular table adorned with elegant silver cutlery and crisply folded napkins, I chowed down a delicious home-cooked feast.

Fingers drizzling with lamb juice, the chefs (and my taste buds) agreed that the meal was a success. It was worth the charge of 100 lira (about $75 Cdn), a fee that includes a trip to the market, all the ingredients and lessons.

Mardin

How to get there: Turkish Airlines offers daily, direct two-hour flights from Istanbul to Mardin; see www.thy.com.

Where to stay: Erdoba Konaklari is a charming boutique hotel in the heart of the old town. The historic mansion has wide stone terraces and rooms over looking Mesopotamia; see www.erdoba.com.tr.

Where to eat: For more information about the Cercis Murat cooking school, visit cercismurat.com and click on “translate this” to see the English version.

Places to visit:
• Sultan Isa Medresesi, the town’s architectural highlight.

• Bazaar along Cumhuriyet Caddesi for some unique bargain shopping.

• Mardin Castle, a natural rock structure turned fortification.

• Mardin Museum for a look at 7th Century BC Assyrian pottery.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Another view of the Maldives

Julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:10:00 -0400

Each year thousands of holiday-seekers travel to the Maldives for sun, fun and relaxation. A huge honeymoon destination, these islands just off the coast of Sri Lanka are marketed as paradise on earth, what with their white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and palm trees swaying in the tropical breeze. But outside the tourist zone, far from the comfort of five star resorts and all-inclusive hotels, there’s another side to this string of idyllic islands.

Curious about life outside the tourist bubble, I travelled to the commercial hub of Male (pronounced mal-eh), a densely populated urban centre and capital of the Maldives. Home to one-third of the country’s population, it’s one of the world’s smallest capital cities, but despite its size, it boasts some interesting attractions for independent travellers.

The fish market, located on the island’s northern waterfront, is a great place to begin your tour. Fishing is the second largest industry after tourism, so it’s an important part of Maldivian culture and provides a good excuse to meet the people. Watch as men lug freshly caught tuna from brightly coloured boats and toss glittering silver fish from vessel to shore.

From there, take a stroll along the seawall, where locals come after sundown to jog and socialize. From nearby vendors sample the sugary treat called Kili, a grainy powder that combines betel nut, cinnamon and cloves.

If you’re in the mood for a little cultural heritage, check out Mulee-aage Palace, which serves as the Presidential office, or visit the National Museum’s exhibit of sultan antiques. Though there are several architectural icons around the city, the majestic golden dome of the Friday Mosque is the most notable. This working Islamic centre that can hold some 5,000 devotees is not only the island’s biggest mosque, it’s also a great point of reference when exploring the city by foot.

Walking around Male, I spotted motorized scooters weaving in and out of traffic. Giant bats dangled from mango trees, as women wrapped in headscarves rushed past 17th century fortresses.

The city was a grid-lock of narrow streets, crazy construction and pot holed roads. With single file sidewalks, Male wasn’t a particularly pedestrian friendly place but there was charm in her vividly painted houses, bustling vegetable markets and distinct local culture.

Many may not know that Maldives is a Muslim country. Outside of the tourist areas, alcohol and pork are strictly forbidden. Tourists might experience this law first hand when they pass through airport security. Foreigners who’ve brought their own wine or liquor will have it promptly confiscated by authorities (but it’s available for pick-up upon departure.)

While resorts welcome bikini-clad vacationers, bathing suits aren’t culturally appropriate in Male. At public swimming areas, it’s common to see women cooling off in the water, dressed head to toe in black burkas. In this conservative society, foreigners looking to swim should opt for long-sleeved t-shirts and long shorts.

Whisked away by speed boats on a mad dash towards holiday bliss, few tourists ever get a chance to see life outside the resort. A trip to Male shows another side to the Maldives, one that breathes life into the picture perfect postcard.

Word Travels
Catch the second season of Word Travels, a documentary series that follows travel writers Julia Dimon and Robin Esrock. It airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

A paranormal pilgrimage to the Hoia-Baciu forest

Julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:00:00 -0400

Those intrigued by things that go bump in the night can’t help but take notice of Romania’s most folkloric region. The very word Transylvania conjures up spooky gothic castles and blood-sucking aristocrats, but there’s a lesser-known local attraction to add to your goose bump list.

The Hoia-Baciu Forest (HBF), located a few kilometres outside of the city of Cluj Napoca, is rumoured to be a hot bed of unexplained supernatural activity.

Dubbed the Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania, theforest first gained international attention in 1968, when biologist Alexandru Sift captured a photo of what’s said to be a disc-shaped UFO. Since then, UFOs, apparitions, abnormalities on photos, nocturnal lights and other unusual things have been regularly reported in the area.

Ghost hunters, paranormal investigators, parapsychologists — and more recently, tourists — have all taken an interest. Dr. Adrian Patrut, a chemistry professor at the local university, claims that though there are many places around the world with unexplained phenomena, the “Hoia-Baciu Forest is one of the best due to the intensity, variety and complexity of its manifestations.”

Patrut is president of the Romanian Society of Parapsychology and since the early ’70s he has been studying occurrences in the forest such as unexplained splotches of light and luminescent orbs hovering in the sky. He says that when you spend too much time in the HBF, you can experience symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, excessive thirst, nausea, vomiting and headaches.

With that kind of build-up, I had to check out the forest for myself.

A 20-minute drive outside of the city finds us on the fringes of the forest. Patrut and I climb up a steep grassy plain to get to the tree line. Once there, we get out our ghost hunting tools: A compass, a still camera, a video camera with infra-red sensors and a Geiger counter to measure sudden rises in radiation. Then we head out into the forest in the hopes of seeing something strange.

The scene looks like something out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Spiky branches reach out like bony fingers; trees are gnarled and spooky. Patrut claims that these trees were normal a few years ago. Now they are warped, “A clear sign of an apparition.” Supernatural or not, there’s something truly creepy about prowling an abandoned forest at night. A few hours of hunting left us with a bunch of mosquito bites but, sadly, no orbs or UFO sightings.

Word Travels
Catch the second season of Word Travels, a documentary series that follows the real-life adventures of travel writers Julia Dimon and Robin Esrock. It airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

The buzz on a unique tourism draw

Julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:20:00 -0400

Some corners of the world entice visitors by establishing self-guided wine-country routes, but Slovenia wants you to take a road trip along a trail of beekeeping sites.

Dubbed beekeeping tourism, this relatively new initiative invites travellers to drive across the Central European countryside, stopping along a trail of specialty farms for a behind-the-scenes look at the honey industry.

In Slovenia, the art of beekeeping is so celebrated that its referred to as “the poetry of agriculture.” Its one of the area’s oldest rural activities, and with an estimated four beekeepers for every 1,000 Slovenians, it remains an integral part of the nations culture. “To be Slovenian is to be a beekeeper,” goes a popular saying.

While there are plenty of agricultural farms and bee-related museums to visit, the best place to start your tour is the 130-year old beekeeping association, just an hour’s drive from the capital city. There, I met Janes Gregori, a 66-year-old former biologist and member of the Slovenian Beekeepers Association, who shared a swarm of information about his craft.

In the mid-1700s, he says, beekeepers started painting the front of their hives to help distinguish between colonies. Hive panels have intricately decorated wooden fronts that depict historical events, religious iconography and satirical village life. It’s a tradition that continues today.

I learned that Slovenia is home to its own race of bees called the Carniolan. This endemic species (now exported all over the world) is legally protected and is known for its gentle character, and hard-working nature.

Janes explained that global bee populations are dwindling. But while colonies may be in jeopardy elsewhere in the world, they sure seem to be flourishing in Slovenia.

Flying frantically around Janes, the bees didn’t seem too pleased that he was disturbing their hive. He held out a panel covered with vibrating bees, dancing in perfect figure-eights around the rims of their hexagon home. Bees can smell fear so “it’s important to be very calm when handling them,” Janes told me, admitting that he’s been stung thousands of times.

Word Travels
Catch the second season of Word Travels, a documentary series that follows the real-life adventures of travel writers Julia Dimon and Robin Esrock. It airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Foraging for dinner on B.C.’s Meares Island

Julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:36:46 -0400

There’s more to do in Tofino, B.C., than catch waves, whale watch and chill in the hot springs.

Tla-ook Cultural Adventures offers a variety of tours, from black bear watching to wild salmon barbecues and sunset paddles to grocery walks on Meares Island.

Eager to find out about West Coast flora and fauna, I signed up for a trip to Meares Island. This four-hour excursion has tourists foraging for food and learning about edible roots, shoots and berries from a First Nations perspective.

Around these parts, the tides determine tourist activities. For this adventure, low tide is best, so before paddling through Clayoquot Sound in a traditional hand-carved canoe, my guide Gisele Martin and I had to wait a bit.

Once the tide was low enough, we headed out to Meares Island, home to Tofino’s water source and a 10,000-year old forest. It’s a rugged patch of coastal temporal rainforest that’s been left relatively untouched, except for a protective boardwalk called the Big Tree Trail. This path of wooden planks weaves through the old growth forest of massive western red cedar trees.

Once on the island, visitors are introduced to a variety of plants traditionally used by the First Nations people. Licorice root saved European sailors from scurvy, while skunk cabbage’s fragrant flower was helpful when cleaning and gutting fish.

Rooting through a patch of shrubbery, Gisele plucked a handful of fiddleheads. Eat these fronds raw and they can cause a vitamin C deficiency in your body, but fry them with a little butter and they’re a perfect addition to any grilled cheese sandwich.

“The forest is a grocery store,” she explained. “There’s tons of food but you just have to know where to look.”

Many tourists have a hard time recognizing the subtle differences between plants and, while some are suitable for eating, others are poisonous. “The Banana slug is one thing you definitely shouldn’t eat,” Gisele explained. These slimy creatures aren’t the least bit tasty and will even cause your lips to go numb. They are, however, excellent weathermen. If you spot them in the open air, basking on tree leaves, you’re sure to know that rain is on the way.

On the web
• For more information on Tla-ook Cultural Adventures visit www.tlaook.com

Word Travels
• Catch the second season of Word Travels, a documentary series that follows the real-life adventures of travel writers Julia Dimon and Robin Esrock. It airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on OLN, with a repeat at 11:30 p.m.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Sampling a most surprising snack, Balut

Julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:10:00 -0400

Balut is a nutrient-rich snack, an exotic delicacy and a challenge that could unsettle even the most daring of Fear Factor contestants.

It’s a dish widely enjoyed in the Philippines and other parts of South East Asia and at first glance, it seems a lot like a hard-boiled egg. The only difference is that when you inspect the contents, you find the yolk is actually an 18-day-old fertilized duck embryo.

Balut has been described as a snack that’s as common in Filipino culture as hot dogs are in the U.S. It’s most commonly eaten in the early evening with lots of salt and a nice cold beer.

On the streets of Manila, you’ll find vendors on every corner selling warm eggs to hungry passersby. Just crack the egg open, peel the shell and add a pinch of sodium. Some eat the snack with a fork, though the usual way to scarf it down is with your bare hands.

Balut is valued as a good calcium hit, a cheap source of protein and a potent aphrodisiac. Countless people also love the taste, but to the uninitiated, the experience can seem not so much gourmet as just plain gross.

The U.S.-based satirical site www.Cracked.com voted balut one of the “most terrifying foods in the world,” and relates that balut is enjoyed in Cambodia, the Philippines and the fifth and seventh levels of hell.

When travelling, I like to keep an open mind and eat as the locals do, even if that means taking culinary challenges to the extreme. So I head to Pateros — a district 20 minutes outside of central Manila that’s known as the balut capital of the Philippines — to try the thing for myself.

I visit a locally-owned balut factory where they process about 80,000 eggs a week. Half are sold as balut and the other half as salted eggs.

The owner, Andy Concio, takes me through the factory and explains that thousands of eggs are incubated in wooden chambers and heated at just the right temperature. The process of fertilization is regularly monitored using a device that looks like a pinhole camera.

He puts an egg under the light of a naked bulb and inspects it carefully. “The dark shape sloshing around in the egg means the embryo is forming,” he says. “If the light doesn’t show the veiny liquid, the egg is infertile and cannot be used for balut.”

Concio claims to be the first to preserve the product and export it as a non-perishable food item. His main customers are Filipino migrant workers living and working in Dubai, but his base is growing.

He plans to ship the product to the U.S., making it available to millions of South Asian ex-pats who miss their salty snack.

So what does balut taste like? I pick at an eggshell, then take a shot of the fluid inside. The liquid is warm and tastes like green tea. But the rest of the contents aren’t so soothing. They remind me of dry, mealy turkey, the sort that’s been hanging around much too long after Thanksgiving dinner.

I’m happy I tried balut —?and still plan to keep sampling local dishes wherever I go — but I still feel a bit tongue-traumatized. And I may never be able to look at an egg the same way again.

Word Travels
Catch the second season of Word Travels, a documentary series that follows the real-life adventures of travel writers Julia Dimon and Robin Esrock. It airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on OLN, with a repeat at 11:30 p.m.

South Korea’s coolest cultural draw

Julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:00:00 -0400

In the land of Samsung and kimchee, there’s a cultural phenomenon that’s moved out of the underground and into the sights of national tourism marketers.

South Korea is king of B-Boy dance culture, routinely sweeping up international awards for a pursuit that most would more closely associate with the streets of New York City. (It was there, during the 1970s, that a variety of dance styles fused together and became a key part of the burgeoning hip-hop scene — today’s B-Boys can trace their roots to that era.)

In the 1980s and 1990s, the movement came to South Korea, where it’s been practised and honed. South Korean B-Boys appropriated American moves but improvised their own touches, and now the country boasts about 100 crews who compete in international championships and regularly beat out competitors from the U.S.

The Drifterz Crew, three-time winners of the U.K. B-Boy Championships, say that extreme dedication is the reason Koreans make such great B-Boys. “Koreans practice like it’s a science. They break it down and study the parts,” explains one crew member.

They’re known for their precision and for practising four to six hours a day.

B-Boys — and the occassional B-Girl — are becoming so popular that even the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is getting behind them, promoting the movement as a “cultural and unique” attraction for foreign tourists.

The KTO has even set up a “performance tourism marketing strategy” through which tourists can come to see Broadway-style shows starring internationally-acclaimed B-Boys.

Jump, Ballerina Who Loves a B-Boy and Marionette are all examples of non-verbal, multi-media shows that target tourists by transcending language barriers through dance, music and high production values.

Miss Lee, a Utah-raised 24-year-old who recently returned to South Korea to live, work and study, taught herself how to battle by watching American break-dancing videos.

Her signature move is a one-handed hand hop, in which she bounces upside down in a hand-stand-like position.

Miss Lee is also performer in the stage show B-Boys and Ballerina, best described as Stomp-meets-West-Side-Story with a hip-hop twist: Boy meets girl, they fall in love, conflict ensues. He’s from the wrong side of the tracks, and the matter can be settled only one way — with a dance-off. The girls don Sandra Dee-style skintight black pants and true love prevails over social class.

The pounding music, provocative costumes and skilled choreography make for an impressive stage show.

Tourists leave the theatre bursting with energy, excitement and an earnest desire to take B-Boy dance lessons themselves.

Korean B-Boys
• For more information on performances of B-Boyz &?Ballerina, visit bisabal.co.kr.
• To see the country’s B-Boys at their finest, attend the R16 World B-Boy Championships &?Urban Arts Festival, www.r16korea.com.

Word Travels
Catch the second season of Word Travels, a documentary series that follows the real-life adventures of travel writers Julia Dimon and Robin Esrock. It airs Sundays at 8:30 p.m. EST on OLN.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

The downside of travel advisories

Julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:10:00 -0400

Travel advisories aren’t the most comforting reports to read right before you get on a plane. One such advisory, containing phrases such as “fatal bombings,” “incidents of violence targeting crowds of civilians” and “random acts of terrorism,” inspired second thoughts about my impending visit to war-torn Sri Lanka.

In this South Asian country, the 20-year-long conflict between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lanka Army has lead to over 60,000 deaths, damaged the economy, brought political instability and, unsurprisingly, caused a decline in tourist numbers. In 2007, close to 500,000 tourists visited Sri Lanka, 11.7 per cent fewer less than the previous year.

It’s no wonder. A few days before I arrived, Tamil Tiger rebels fired at a civilian bus travelling along a freeway.

According to local newspapers, the random attack killed three passengers and injured 16.

With news like that, even I — the girl who has backpacked through parts of the DR Congo, Rwanda and the Palestinian Territories — was feeling spooked.

After a week of exploring, touring from the capital city to the countryside, I discovered a reality beyond the travel advisories — a warm and wonderful country with stunning landscapes, rich cultural festivals and friendly people.

I learned how Ceylon tea is processed, how sapphires are harvested and how to say hello in both Sinhala and Tamil. I checked out a community development project, played cricket with school children and planted my very own mango tree.

Sri Lanka quickly become one of my all-time favourite destinations. Sights, sounds, smell and colour abound; in fact, everyone and everything in this country seems like a potentential subject for a National Geographic photograph.

As much as I wish more people could see this beautiful country, there’s something selfishly intoxicating about visiting “uncharted territories” off the tourist grid.

I loved being one of the only tourists around, but for the Sri Lankan people, it’s another matter.

“If the tourists aren’t hiring tour guides, I can’t make money to support my family,” said HP, a 65 year-old who takes tourists around the Independence Memorial Hall in Colombo. A man with white hair and sparkling blue eyes, he explained that prices have gone up in recent years and living is hard.

Like many others I spoke to — from jewelery store owners to vendors hawking elephant-themed trinkets — HP said that if the downturn continues, he may have to leave the country altogether to look for alternative employment.

Dee, a native of Ohio, first came to Sri Lanka as part of a tsunami relief project but, quickly, he was compelled to do more than just volunteer. Together with local partners he set up Jack’s Place, a guesthouse catering to foreign backpackers. When it first opened three years ago, business was booming but in recent months, Dee’s business has hit a dry patch. Still, there was an overriding sense of hope among the people with whom I?spoke — hope that the civil war will end, that there will finally be peace and the tourists will come flooding back.

Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka can seem scary when you read the travel advisories. Government documents ask tourists to avoid several areas in the northeastern parts of the country, including Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara Districts, the Jaffna Peninsula, Mannar and Vavuniya.

• In the region I visited —Kataragama, in the south — I felt completely safe, although I did have one brief moment of uncertainty while walking through an overcrowded market at a religious festival. Instead of worrying, I temporarily adopted a fatalistic approach and bought myself some curry.

Word Travels
Catch the second season of Word Travels, a documentary series that follows the real-life adventures of travel writers Julia Dimon and Robin Esrock. It airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on OLN.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing Sundays at 8 p.m. EST on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Touring Chernobyl’s ghostly remnants

Julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:00:00 -0400

The site of an infamous power plant may not be a likely place to spend your vacation but every year, curious tourists make their way to Chernobyl for a look at where the world’s worst nuclear disaster took place.

On Apr. 26, 1986, at 1:23 a.m., reactor No. 4 exploded, releasing nearly nine tons of radioactive material into the environment. That’s 90 times as much as the Hiroshima bomb. It contaminated the air, soil and water in parts of Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Russia.

There are disputes surrounding the number of deaths the accident caused. The World Health Organization reports that fewer than 50 deaths can be directly attributed to that day, and predicts some 4,000 people could eventually die of radiation exposure released in the melt down. Greenpeace contends that the eventual fatalities will be closer to 93,000.

However, the contaminated zones are apparently safe enough for tourists to visit. (I’m not entirely convinced, I?suppose?I’ll know for sure if I start glowing green.) There are several Kiev-based tour agencies that offer all-inclusive day trips to Chernobyl.

My own trip to the site began with a 120-kilometre drive from Kiev, to an area near the reactor called the exclusion zone. I presented my passport at a series of checkpoints, got a safety briefing, signed a waiver and drove through a deserted area.

Despite high levels of radiation, everything looked normal. The grass was a healthy shade of green, trees were full and leafy, bees were pollinating. Nature has been resilient — or it appears so, at any rate.

I hopped out of the van and stood in front of the infamous reactor. It was incredible how close I could get, considering there’s still radioactive sludge brewing inside.

My Geiger counter was reading off the charts near patches of moss on the ground. Since the moss is soaked with radiation, tourists are warned against touching or standing on any clumps.

No eating, drinking or smoking either — although the tour group did end up drinking vodka with a guide who claimed it would protect against radiation poisoning.

Next was a visit to Pripyat, a town three kilometres away from the reactor, from which 45,000 people were evacuated following the disaster.

Walking around this abandoned city, I felt as if I were the last woman on earth. It was post-apocalyptic.

Wilderness had taken over, dominating cement structures, causing them to crumble and crack like Roman ruins. Weeds pushed through floor boards and branches overtook ex-apartments.

Rusted cribs and burndt dolls were scattered around a former preschool. With school books strewn around the room and black boards still fresh with chalky arithmetic, the scene was a time capsule of Soviet-era life.

An amusement park, set to open the day after the nuclear explosion, was just a graveyard of rusting bumper cars and a lone ferris wheel.

The scariest part of the tour was learning that the “sarcophagus,” a concrete-and-steel shell built to contain Reactor No. 4’s radioactive spew, is leaking.

Our guide warned, that if the proper measurements aren’t taken in the next few years to rebuild this deteriorating shelter, there’s a real risk of a more severe Chernobyl-type disaster happening again.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN, and editor of www.thetraveljunkie.ca.

Top destinations to visit in 2009

Julia Dimon — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:51:39 -0400

Following the path of certain guidebook giants, I’d like to offer picks for up-and-coming places to visit in 2009:

Oruro, Bolivia: Bolivia offers sacred Inca ruins, rich colonial architecture and a vibrant capital city replete with witches markets. Visit Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water, or Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat on earth. In February, catch Devil’s Carnival, in the mining town of Oruro, where revellers in outlandish masks and costumes pay homage to Mother Earth and the god of the underworld in a colourful display of religious fervor.

Vilnius, Lithuania: Vilnius is a major art hub and hidden gem of a destination that’s been named a European Capital of Culture for 2009. The city’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site with Gothic cathedrals and unique shops is considered one of the most beautiful urban spots in Eastern Europe. Best of all, Lithuania doesn’t use the Euro, so it’s more affordable than other parts of Europe.

Ljubljana, Slovenia: With some 50,000 University students living in Ljubljana, the city is abuzz with culture and nightlife. It’s also rich with historical architecture, and boasts a well-established tourist infrastructure and lots of English speakers.

Nuuk, Greenland: Those interested in destinations threatened by climate change will find Greenland is an off-the-beaten-track alternative to cruise-clogged Alaska. It has oodles of activities from angling, whale watching, and dog-sledding to trekking along the largest active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. On the downside, Greenland’s not cheap, and you must fly between towns.

Berlin, Germany: Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and special exhibitions, memorials and tours will abound. As one option, trace part of the structure’s former path with a GPS-guided walking tour that takes in Checkpoint Charlie and the longest preserved portion of the wall. Then visit Friedrichshain, an area once part of East Berlin that’s dotted with hipster bars, punk clubs and relics of Soviet times.

NYC’s holiday highlights

julia Dimon, for metro canada — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Manhattan is a magical place over the holiday season. Twinkling white lights decorate storefronts, while horse-drawn carriages trot through a snow dusted Central Park.

Even with a troubled economy, nothing beats Christmas in New York! With restaurants, bars, theatres and department stores packed with happy holiday-goers, you’d never know we’re in a recession.

If you’re planning a trip to the city, here are my top five things to do in NYC this holiday season:

Practice your high kick:
The Christmas Spectacular, starring the legendary leggy Rockettes, is an annual holiday tradition at Radio City Music Hall, the largest indoor theatre in the world. While the legendary show only runs until Dec. 30, aspiring Rockette dancers can kick up their heels all year long.

The Rockette Experience is a three-hour workshop taught by a real Radio City Rockette. Wannabes can learn choreography from the Rockette’s repertoire, go through a mock audition, pose with a Rockette teacher, and take the Stage Door Tour.

The program gives regular people the opportunity to train with these world famous dancers in their actual rehearsal hall. Students must be at least 10 years old, with some training in jazz, tap, and ballet. For $108, you get a Rockette dance class, a tour and a free t-shirt.
www.radiocity.com/rockettes

Take the plunge:
If cold water and the onset of hypothermia gets your blood pumping, check out the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Swim. At 1 p.m. on Jan.1, hundreds of swimmers take a dip in the icy waters of the Atlantic.

Part rite of passage, part frosty philanthropy, winter bathing has been a New York City tradition since 1903. Pack your swim suit, surf boots, some warm clothes and a sense of humor for a fun day of frostbite. www.polarbearclub.org

Cirque:
Catch Wintuk, a Cirque du Soleil holiday production at Madison Square Gardens, which runs until Jan. 4. Wintuk “tells the touching winter tale of a boy’s quest for snow in an imaginary land.”

In typical Cirque style, Wintuk includes acrobatics, creatively costumed dancers, puppets and high-energy music.

This family-oriented show boasts some 50 performers, from contortionist tight-rope walkers to jugglers, balancing their technical twists and twirls.

Sharpen your skates:
While there are many iconic places in Manhattan to ice skate (including Rockefeller Center or Central Park) the Polar Rink is a sparkling new facility to cut your blades on. The American Museum of Natural History, which offers such exhibits as Sea Monsters, Climate Change and The Butterfly Conservatory, now boasts a new state-of-the-art skating rink.

Visitors can sip hot chocolate, take in the Upper Westside view and glide around a 17-foot-tall polar bear. Skate rental is included in the ticket price, which is $10 for adults, $8 for kids and $9 for students and seniors. www.amnh.org/museum/polarrink

Light up:
For an illuminated look at New York, hop aboard a guided tour of Brooklyn’s most famous (and often gaudy) Christmas lights. This three-and--half-hour tour takes visitors through the Italian-American neighbourhood of Dyker Heights, a residential area said to have the most extravagant holiday yard decorations. A trip here promises mansions draped with lights and front yards stacked with neon nativity scenes, animatronic toys, mechanical reindeer and 30-foot toy soldiers. Happy Holidays!

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN, and editor of www.thetraveljunkie.ca.

Travel (and get paid to do it)

julia Dimon, for metro canada — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Jet-setting around the world (and getting paid for it), the life of a travel writer is a glamorous one. Trying to get into this coveted and competitive career isn’t easy, prompting many to ask: How do I break into the biz? I regularly get e-mails from readers asking for advice. While I do my best to share what I know, it’s nice to get a second opinion.

Meet David Farley, a New York-based writer who teaches travel writing at New York University. He has been widely published and is the author of the soon-to-be-released travel book, An Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church’s Strangest Relic in Italy’s Oddest Town, available next spring.

Farley shares his expertise on how you can break into the travel writing biz:

Take a travel writing course offered by schools in your area.

Read books about the writing craft. Travel Writing by Don George and published by Lonely Planet is a great place to start.

Read articles written by celebrated travel writers. The best travel writing captures a sense of place. Tap into your five senses to bring the place alive, adding depth and vividness to your descriptions. Add quotes and historical/political context to situate the destination.

It’s important that your article has an “angle,” a unique take on the place. Editors want something that hasn’t been done before. Up-and-coming neighbourhoods, trends and unique destinations always make for a good angle.

The duty of a travel writer is to go one step beyond the realm of an average tourist. Like a reporter, you must talk to people, arrange interviews and get relevant quotes.

Most travel editors don’t want to read proposals, they want to see the finished article, already written and polished. Find out the e-mail address of a newspaper’s travel editor and send it on. If that editor wants the piece, they’ll buy it from you and you’ll have your first big clip.

Pitch your work to local papers, magazines, news-letters and travel websites. Try to get published anywhere and everywhere.

Travel writers don’t make much money. On assignment, it’s nice hotels; at home, it’s bare cupboards and Ramen noodles. Few people can make a living solely from it. Either stick to your day job and write on the side, or become a full-time writer that focuses on travel, but also writes about other passions.

Drive is most important to becoming a successful travel writer. Get into the mindset that nothing is going to stop you from getting what you want. The most successful students I’ve taught weren’t the most talented, but rather the most determined.

Good luck and safe travels.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN, and editor of www.thetraveljunkie.ca.

Rock and Roll Museum a hit

julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:06:41 -0400

Rock enthusiasts, break out your air guitars and head to NYC. Opening in the Big Apple this week, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex, will take visitors “beyond the typical museum experience” to honour “the most defining moments in rock history.”

Nestled among Soho’s boutiques, the Annex is a 250,000 square foot building stocked with music memorabilia. It’s not as comprehensive as her sister museum in Cleveland, Ohio, but Annex does have a wide selection of rock relics, including: An Elvis “peacock” jump suit, handwritten letters from Paul Simon to Art Garfunkel, Bruce Springsteen’s 1957 yellow Chevy, and John Lennon’s piano heard in the 1970’s hit Imagine.

A visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex starts in the theatre, a gallery designed to look like a concert venue. Seated among the bar stools, museum-goers watch a toe-tapping, ten-minute music montage. Iconic stars, everyone from Aretha Franklin to U2, sing their hearts out to a crowd of screaming virtual fans. With surround sound, flashing stage lights and video projections, the theatre experience makes you feel like part of the concert.

In the next gallery, wireless audio devices, an iPod-like box complete with headphones, are handed out. Press play and the music automatically syncs up with the memorabilia you’re looking at.

While standing in front of Johnny Cash’s 1985 black leather boots, the audio guide blasts a fiery tune from the Man in Black. Moving towards Madonna’s gold bustier, designed by Jean Paul Gaultier for her Blonde Ambition tour, the country music fades and transitions to the Material Girl’s hit Express Yourself.

Since the museum and the technology are new, there are still a few glitches to be worked out. If you move around the room too quickly, the technology struggles to keep up. Scrambling songs from different artists, my audio guide played Bruce Springsteen when I was near the Grandmaster Flash exhibit and faded to Elvis Priestly when I was near the Buddy Holly’s acoustic guitar. Despite these tiny inconveniences (which engineers are working to fix), the technology is pretty impressive, giving a new, interactive dimension to traditional museum-going.

No matter your musical taste, New York’s new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is sure to have some unique piece of memorabilia that will awaken your rebellious inner rock star and take it on a nostalgic journey.

Visit www.rockannex.com for more information.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN, and editor of www.thetraveljunkie.ca.

Sleeping in strange places

julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:56:09 -0400

Next time you’re looking for a hotel, why not rest your weary head somewhere a little unusual? From survival-pod hotels in Amsterdam to dog-themed motels in the U.S., there are plenty of strange places out there in which to catch some shut-eye:

Dog Bark Park Inn: Pit stops to kitschy roadside attractions are a staple of any family car trip across America. So if you find yourself passing through Cottonwood, Idaho, be sure to stay at the Dog Bark Park Inn, www.dogbarkparkinn.com, a B&B guesthouse inside the World’s Biggest Beagle. This two-storey wooden structure, built to look like a big dog, offers simple accommodations at $92 US/night (including breakfast, which thankfully isn’t kibble). For a lasting souvenir, check out the gift shop’s “chainsaw art,” a collection of wooden beagle carvings.

The Capsule INN: If you’re claustrophobic, Japan’s Capsule Inn, capsuleinn.com, may not be for you. Located in Akihabara, an electronics district of Tokyo, the hotel has 10 floors offering space-efficient sleeps in coffin-like suites. Each capsule has blinds, a TV, radio, alarm clock, lights and air-conditioning, all of which must be controlled while in the sleeping position — the capsule is so small, you can’t stand up.

Capsule Hotel: Seems like small spaces are all the rage these days. Amsterdam’s Capsule Hotel, capsulehotel.info, offers oil rig survival pods in which to spend the night. Originally built in 1972, these bright orange life rafts are now being used as quirky accommodations. They’re a bit of a tight squeeze but for those who want to get in touch with their inner survivor this sounds like an interesting way to do it.

Woodlyn Park: This New Zealand complex has an eclectic mix of strange lodging choices. You can sleep in a 1950s Bristol Freighter Plane, which is said to have been one of the last Allied planes out of Vietnam.

You can hop on the Waitomo Express, a refurbished rail carriage that sleeps six or you can pretend you’re in Bilbo Baggins’ Shire, sleeping in an underground Hobbit-esque cottage. Woodlyn Park’s newest motel attraction is the Waitanic, a converted WWII patrol boat. See woodlynpark.co.nz.

Hoia-Baciu Forest,
Hemp Hotel – As the name suggests, hemp is the theme of the décor. There are five rooms all decorated with THC-free goods. The curtains, the bedding, the soap, the shampoo, even the breakfast are all made from hemp. Their Hemple Temple Night Bar serves up hemp ice cream, seeds and a dozen kinds of hemp beer. Only in Amsterdam! www.hemp-hotel.com

Hoia-Baciu Forest,
Karosta Prison Experience: Just outside Latvia’s capital city, tourists pay to be treated like prisoners and sleep overnight in a former military prison. Karosta (an active prison as recently as 1997) is now a controversial tourist attraction. For those who want to sleep over, visitors should know that luxury has long left the building. Guest “rooms” are former prison cells that are moldy, damp and dark. You can sleep on a wooden plank or a dusty single bed. The bathroom is horrendous and smells like it hasn’t been cleaned since the Soviet era. Overnight at the Karosta prison is a crazy, creepy, comfortless experience…that’s what makes it so awesome. www.karostascietums.lv

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Digging up history in Harran

julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Eyelashes caked with dust, I make my way through the storm like a lost desert dweller separated from her own archeological dig.

In Harran, a tiny town 50 km away from Urfa in southeastern Turkey, sand storms are as common as kebabs. Blowing in from neighbouring Syria, this thin blanket of dust adds to the mystery of Harran, famous for its historic and religious significance.

Existing as early as 2000 BC, Harran is said to be “one of the oldest continuously inhabited spots on earth.” According to the Old Testament, Abraham lived here for a time and his father died here. They call Harran one of the birthplaces of the three mono-theistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Today, a visit to Harran means touring the relics of Islamic antiquity. The ruins of the Grand Mosque, a castle and traditional beehive houses can all be seen here.

According to a rusty sign at the site, the grand mosque of Harran is the oldest mosque built in Anatolia and is a good example of Islamic architecture.

While it must have been highly impressive back then, time and war haven’t been kind to this former mosque and learning institution. Walking around the ruins, straining to see through the snarling sand storm, I have to wonder: Thousands of years from now, will our own cities be left to crumble, buried under the dust of time for future tourists to find?

From the ruins of the Grand Mosque, I walk a few minutes to find Harran’s famous beehives houses, traditionally constructed in conical, ant hill-esque shapes.

Dating back some 200 years, the houses were built with bricks gathered from the ruins of historical Harran. They accommodate the climate, providing habitants with “cool” in the summer and warmth in the winter.

Slurping on strong Turkish coffee, I catch up with a rowdy tour group of 50-plus Israelis. Their group has come to this holy land to learn about their biblical beginnings.

Ruti Millar, a tour guide that comes to this region five times a year, tells me “this area is special and exciting because it’s the genesis of our history.”

While Israelis aren’t permitted to travel to Syria, Iraq or Iran, Turkey is quite welcoming. “The Turkish people are wonderful and very warm,” she continues. “We’ve come here to meet them, see the sights and learn about different cultures.”

This is what drew me to the region of Southeastern Anatolia. It was a chance to see a side of Turkey beyond the tourist traps of cosmopolitan Istanbul and the country’s Mediterranean seaside resorts. A visit here delves into the ancient histories of the Middle East… under the veil of a good Syrian sandstorm.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Hidden jungle jewels in Belize

julia Dimon, for Metro Canada — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:20:47 -0400

Ruins tend to incite the imagination, conjuring up thoughts of ancient civilizations, lost secrets and mystic rituals. That’s running through my mind as I stroll through the moss-covered ruins of a major Mayan city, located in the remote jungles of northern Belize near the tiny town of Orange Walk.

Lamanai, located on the banks of the New River Lagoon, goes down as one of the longest-occupied Mayan sites. It was inhabited for more than 3,000 years and has some of the oldest ruins in Belize. The name itself means “submerged crocodile,” in honour of the toothy reptiles that infest nearby waters.

My guide tells me that, in its heyday, Lamanai was a ceremonial centre, with a population exceeding 35,000. Today, it encompasses more than 700 structures, a visitor’s centre and a museum. Today, only a small percentage of the site is fully excavated, leaving a wealth of archeological findings to discover.

While many associate Mayan ruins with Mexico, neighbouring Belize also played a big part in Mayan civilization. Visitors can visit Lamanai as part of a tour, which usually includes a boat trip, admission fee and a well-trained guide.

Wandering around the ruins, I can hear the faint cry of a Howler monkey growling in the distance. It’s one of those unmistakable sounds — more like a pained, demonic snarl out of Dante’s Inferno than the noise of a territorial primate hanging from a nearby tree. Nevertheless, it adds to the air of mystery.

With the entire place to myself, I visit the Jaguar Temple, a huge crumbling pyramid with intricate carvings. Then to the Mask Temple, named for the 13-foot limestone representation of an ancient Mayan king.

But it’s the High Temple that’s easily the most impressive structure. “At 108 feet, it’s the highest structure in the area,” notes the guide.

Climbing to the top of it, however, is harrowing. The steps are narrow and slippery, while the steep incline incites vertigo. I cling to a rope (strategically placed so dumb tourists like me don’t trip and kill themselves) and nervously make my way up this ancient stone Stairmaster.

“Slow and steady,” I tell myself, as I huff and puff up the ruins. Tumbling down this flight of steps would be bad for business.

Once at the top, the view makes up for the climb. It’s a striking 360 degree panorama of jungle and river lagoon.

As a colourful keel-billed toucan flies overhead and settles in a canopy of rainforest, it hits me — it’s no wonder the Mayans lived here for thousands of years. It’s a stunning spot with a killer view, and it showcases the beauty of Belize.

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Truly spooky encounters

The Travel Junkie by Julia Dimon — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:10:07 -0400

With Halloween a few days away, I’ve gotten to thinking about the supernatural realm. Here are a few of my favourite eerie experiences around the globe:

Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania
The Hoia-Baciu Forest, located a few kilometres outside of Cluj Napaca in Romania, is rumoured to be a hot bed of unexplained activity.

Dubbed the Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania, it first gained international attention in 1968, when biologist Alexandru Sift captured a photo of a disc-shaped UFO. Since then, UFOs, apparitions, luminescent orbs, nocturnal lights and other unusual phenomena continue to be reported in this area. Trees that were normal a few years ago are now warped and gnarled, something that many say is a clear sign of an apparition.

People who spend extended periods of time in the forest claim to experience anxiety, insomnia, excessive thirst, nausea, vomiting and head-aches.

Witches Market, Bolivia
Located among the sidewalk vendors of Avenida Sagarnaga, the Mercado de las Brujas (the Witches Market) is where Bolivians come to buy all their ritualistic needs: amulets, herbs, ceramic charms and tools of the occult. There are no little green Martian men here, but you will find a most unusual souvenir — dried llama fetuses. Bolivians bury them under the foundation of their new homes for good fortune.

Though Bolivia is primarily a Catholic country, the popular religion is a blend of Christian ideology and pre-Colombian indigenous rituals. To this day, blessings and burning ceremonies are an important part of everyday Bolivian culture.

Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana
Not sure if it was the threat of poisonous snakes or the alligator-infested waters, but there was definitely something mysterious about Louisiana’s swamp lands. There have been eyewitness reports of a seven-foot-tall Bigfoot- type creature that lives in the area. They call it the Honey Island swamp monster.

It’s been described as: “half mammal, half reptile, all man-eater.” Of course, no one can prove its existence, still many locals dare not enter the swamps alone. Happy Halloween!

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; juliadimon.com.

Frequent-flier tips

The Travel Junkie by Julia Dimon — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:05:59 -0400

Having traveled to some 60 countries, with three around-the-world adventures under my belt, I’ve spent a lot of time flying. With so much time travelling to and from airports, packing, unpacking, standing in line-ups and answering questions from customs officials, I’ve picked up a few tricks.

• When booking an airline ticket, flying mid-week will not only be cheaper, it won’t be as crowded.

• Sign up for frequent flier rewards points from all airline carriers: Air Canada (Aeroplan), Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles), American Airlines (Aadvantage), and so on. This way, no matter what airline you fly, you’ll be raking up points to put towards future travel.

• On the day of the flight, check in online. By doing so, you’ll avoid one less frustrating line-up, get the chance to select your preferred seat in advance and minimize your airport waiting time.

• Selecting the perfect airplane seat is an art. For short flights, I prefer an aisle seat (more leg room) near an exit row, so I can quickly escape if, in the unlikely event of a crash, the plane bursts into flames. For long-haul flights, I prefer a window seat, so my head will have something to hit when it nods off. I’ve also learned the hard way that the seats just before the exit row don’t recline. Not a very comfortable choice for overnight flights; www.seatguru.com is a great resource for plotting your perfect seat.

• Bottles of liqueur may make great gifts but, due to recent rules about bringing liquids on-board, they must be checked. In order to prevent leakage or breaks, wrap these bottles up in clothing and pad them in the middle of your suitcase.

• Charge up your gadgets, be it laptop, iPod or cell phone, so they’re juiced up for the long plane ride and point of landing.

• There’s nothing worse than when your gooey cosmetics explode all over your neatly packed clothing. I like to put anything that can leak inside tightly sealed Ziploc plastic bags. So if a spill happens, at least the mess is contained.

• When you arrive at the airline check-in counter, it may be worth asking if there are any “emergency or exit rows” available. These seats come with responsibility, but you also get extra leg room.

• Think ahead. For the sanity of the rest of us patiently waiting in line behind you, empty your pockets before you get to the metal detectors. Scan through your bags to make sure all liquids, tweezers and weapons of mass destruction are not in your carry-on.

Safe travels!

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.

Sunning in a doomed paradise

The Travel Junkie by Julia Dimon — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:04:07 -0400

Every year, thousands of tourists come to Maldives looking for fun, sun and a pina colada paradise. A tiny chain of islands in the Indian Ocean, just off the coast of Sri Lanka, Maldives is rich with high-end resorts that promise beach-side relaxation far from the realities of urban living. One thing many tourists might not know is that the Maldives may be disappearing.

In this palm-tree fringed haven, with more than 200 inhabited islands, all is not well. At one metre above sea level, these islands are at risk of vanishing altogether. It’s highest natural point is 2.3 metres, making the Maldives one of the lowest countries in the world. With global warming and rising sea levels, some expect the Maldives to disappear almost totally by the end of this century.

Touring the postcard-perfect islands, it’s hard to imagine that, one day, this place may be obliterated from the map. I found myself at Soneva Gilli, an extravagant resort with villas that cost a whopping $1,800 US a night.

Here, everything seems normal. Drawing honeymooners, scuba divers and infidels on adulterous week-long retreats, this place is one of the most luxurious pads I’ve ever stayed in. But beyond the impeccable service and friendly staff, resorts like these are under threat of washing away.

As the ice caps melt, many are looking to islands like the Maldives as an indicator of what’s to come for the rest of the world. Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was reported as saying to the British media: “Whatever our fate tomorrow will be your fate the day after.”

Under threat of extinction beneath the waves, it’s not surprising Maldives was one of the first countries to sign up for the Kyoto Protocol. BBC reports the country has implemented reforestation programs, is working to protect its natural coral barrier and is teaching environmental science in schools.

A trip to Male, the capital city, shows huge cement breakwaters that protect the shores; but despite all efforts, the fate of the country’s 380,000 citizens remains uncertain. It has many people asking — will the Maldives become a modern Atlantis?

– Julia Dimon is co-host of Word Travels, airing on OLN; www.juliadimon.com.