One thing that you immediately notice as a Westerner in Korea, in the first few hours in fact, is how homogenous Korea is: there are very few white people. For the first time in my life, I felt very conscious of how my white skin set me aside from others in society, as I walked the streets of Korea. Korea, I remember reading a year ago in the Korean press, is made up of close to 96% Korean and only about 4% non-Korean people. Take a walk around London, England and you will notice how multi-cultural the city is. Seoul is, I understand, the most homogenous capital city in the world – or at least in the developed world.

If we travel abroad from our home country we all become foreigners. As a Korean in England you would be a foreigner and as an Englishman in Korea I became the foreigner. The only thing is, in Korea as a foreigner one becomes far more aware of the fact because of the homogeneity. My experiences were though, very positive, as I first stayed in the area of ‘Miasamgeori’ in Seoul. Children automatically would say ‘hello’ in English and start giggling and people in most situations were almost always very friendly – although sometimes too friendly. A few times on the subway within the first few months, a few people started testing their English out on me, at times when I sometimes did not feel like teaching English out of work. Within ten minutes I would also usually have a business card thrust into my hand without asking.

During the first few months in Seoul, with the Iraq war on (as 2003 approached), I was also conscious that, as a white person, I would be automatically presumed to be American, such is the influence of America on Korean culture and politics. There was the odd negative stare, but it was always from middle or older aged men. Comparing to landing in the U.S. for the first time, such as J.F.K Airport in New York, with the policemen walking around with guns and people twice the size and twice the weight as Koreans, Korea from the first moment felt pretty comfortable to be in. The expected culture shock did not happen, maybe perhaps because I have travelled a lot over the last few years.

No British Please. American preferred

I came to Korea without already having a job set-up, but I knew that English teaching jobs are plentiful in Korea. Searching for an English teaching job in Korea was a strange experience though. In England, English people talk about American English as though it is a bastardised version of the Queen’s English. I have travelled and lived in the U.S.A. extensively and personally I really enjoyed America and I like some of the American English expressions. If you go to America they usually love the English accent. In Europe though, Europeans usually dislike the loud, brash American accent. It was thus a surprise on attending my first interview for an English teaching job and then being rejected, because I was from England. I was told that an American or Canadian accent is preferred. The perfect country I would have expected, to be from if teaching English, was England. Clearly when first arriving in Seoul, I was a virgin in terms of knowing how much of an influence America has been on Korea.

Let me use this opportunity just clear up three things that I was asked literally a hundred times and which even to British people can be confusing.

What is the difference between the U.K., Great Britain and England?

Answer: The U.K. is a country that comprises of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain excludes Northern Ireland and England is just England – a territory in the U.K. Confused? Don’t worry about it.

2. How come England, Scotland and Wales all have separate International football (soccer) teams?

Answer: I don’t know. Please can someone tell me the answer by emailing me.

3. How did President Bush in the U.S. manage to get elected 3 times?

If you’re craving a shopping experience of a lifetime, Riverchase Galleria in Hoover, Alabama is guaranteed to surpass even your highest expectations. The enclosed shopping centre, boasting the world’s longest skylight at two-hundred feet, is among of the state’s most frequented tourist attractions; and what’s more, curious crowds are known to flock in from the neighbouring states of Mississippi, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia to get a glimpse of this spectacular site that is deemed to provide ‘one of America’s most unique shopping experiences.’

The galleria is anchored by five major department stores, including Macy’s, Sears and J.C Penney, and holds a total of two-hundred stores and eleven restaurants – making it almost inevitable that there is something for everyone. Even children will be delighted with attractions such as the central carousel ride which replaces its traditional carousel animals with reindeer during the holidays. Riverchase Galleria also organizes community affairs, such as the ‘Mall Walker’s’ program, which admits anyone into the mall from 8:00 a.m. onwards to get their exercise by striding along the second level’s 1.14 mile perimeter; and new community programs are continuously added and publicised directly through the Galleria’s website.

Needless to say, one does not have to love shopping to have an enjoyable experience at the Riverchase Galleria. The shopping centre itself is beautifully structured, with an amazing nine-storey glass atrium to admire – so guests can simply take a leisurely stroll, read a book, or possibly dine at one of the mall’s many restaurants. Whether you’re planning to visit the Galleria on your own, with friends, or with your family, the various options for things to do are countless – therefore don’t expect to accomplish it all in a single day. In fact, it might be a wise idea to book a nearby hotel for a few nights, so that you’ll have enough time to absorb all the splendours of the Galleria. And with a number of other fantastic attractions nearby – such as the Birmingham Zoo, the Botanical Gardens and the Museum of Art – you’ll be kept pleasantly busy for days at a time.

So if you’re planning a trip to Alabama, you simply cannot pass up the opportunity to visit Riverchase Galleria; after all, doing so would mean missing out on one of the most spectacular attractions – if not the most prominent – in the state.

Hostels working to accommodate flashpackers need for wifi

Don’t worry a flashpacker isn’t some student backpacking Europe flashing people and it’s not somebody that packs very quickly or anything else you might imagine it to be- flashpacking simply is backpacking with a lot of high tech gear. Flashpackers generally come in two types, the younger group, still in college, who have all the gadgets but not all the money for luxury accommodations and the second group of individuals is in their late 20′s who have a little bit more money to spend and carry iPods, digital cameras and laptops.

Oftentimes over a third of the stuff a flashpacker brings along on vacation is technology related. Not only laptops and digital cameras are brought with, but also extra batteries, camera cords for uploading pictures to share while traveling, portable wifi finders and international plug adapters to name a few. Let’s face it, in the past decade technology has changed our everyday lives and things like laptops, cell phones, iPods and digital cameras come with us everywhere, especially on vacation.

According to a survey completed by 2,561 visitors to Hostelworld.com this year, 21% travel with a laptop, 54% with an MP3 player, 83% with a cell phone and 86% with a digital camera. Hostels have been noticing this trend and have been trying to accommodate the flashpacker’s needs. Just because you have an iPod, a laptop and a digital camera, doesn’t mean you can afford to fork out $200 a night for a hotel.

Truthfully though, this new “flashpacker” phenomenon doesn’t seem that shocking. The generation of kids that grew up in the 90′s, grew up with the Internet and cell phones. It only seems natural that they would want to bring them with while on vacation. Plus if it is a student backpacking Europe, they’ll be gone for awhile and will want to communicate with friends and family back home and will want to share their travel adventures.

While some hostels have been making changes, in particular offering free wifi, a large majority of hostels don’t offer all the high tech accommodations that flashpackers desire or they charge for Internet access. If you’re going flashpacking, here’s list of a few hostels that offer budget accommodations and wifi to help you on your quest for Internet while backpacking Europe or across the country.

- Hostelling International – New York, New York

- Hostelling International Chicago – Chicago, Illinois

- Hostelling International Santa Monica Santa Monica, California

- Bellavista Hostel Santiago, Chile

- Green Tortoise Hostel San Francisco, California

- Banana Bungalow Maui Hostel Wailuku, Hawaii

- The Generator Hostel London, United Kingdom

- The Tropics Hotel and Hostel Miami Beach, Miami

- USA Hostel Las Vegas, Nevada

- Yosemite Bug Lodge Hostel – Midpines, California

After only one month in South Korea as a Westerner, things already seemed a mismatch of the ingenuous and the illogical. One minute you will be blown away and pleasantly surprised by something and then, an hour later you will see or experience something which to a Western mind, is peculiar or plain odd. It is probably true to say that as a Westerner, there is no reason to suggest that the Western style of doing things or thinking is the correct way. The observations below are simply my observations according to what I have become used to in the Western world and from my travels.

You walk into an apartment and the first thing you have to do is take your shoes off and after two years in Seoul, I still have this habit wherever I live these days. Tramping around outside with your boots or shoes on and then spreading the dirt inside one’s house surely is not a hygienic way to live, like us Westerns do. The Korean idea of no shoes indoors definitely seems to make a lot of sense to me. Once you get into an apartment, you are quite likely to then also be pleasantly surprised by the delightful way in which the heating works. Under floor heating in Korean apartments seems like a very sensible thing and I missed it a lot when I left Korea. Thirty minutes after putting the heating on, you can usually turn it off and the room will stay warm for hours. Just like the under-soil heating which some English Premier League football clubs use for their football pitches, the heating involves hot water pipes under the floor/soil, which have hot water pumped through them and the heat created rises. In England, central heating with vertical units against one wall now seems so impractical. Heat rises. Surely the Korean style floor heating is a better idea.

The best ideas in Korea are sometimes the simplest. A trip to McDonald’s and you will notice the difference from a Western McDonald’s. If you want take-away food, the staff (server) will tape the top cover of the drink to secure it. It is very simple but effective. In the convenience stores in Korea (often a ‘Seven Eleven’ store as in the United States), unlike in the USA and many other countries, there is a hot water tap and a counter-top in the middle of the store for people who wish to eat the noodles there and then. You can buy a plastic container of noodles and you can eat it there – Plastic fork and spoon also provided – What a great idea. You can even get hot coffee in a can; the coffee kept hot in a small oven type display. The coffee does not taste very much like coffee but it is a good idea. Why these simple ideas are not available in Europe is baffling. I noticed that Koreans also hold their burgers with their wrappers, seemingly as a matter of cleanliness and this always seemed like a good idea. Some fast food restaurants such as in the Subway station in Kangnam, have automatic wet towelette dispensers so that you can wipe your hands before eating: This also seemed to be standard in most Kalbi/Samkyaetang and other restaurants.

Let us not be under any pretensions. Foreigners in Korea can also be a crazy and weird bunch of people as well. I am sure Koreans struggle to understand some of the things that foreigners do in Korea. I can also only begin to imagine what Koreans think when they travel to countries such as the U.S. or the UK and see the strange things that Westerners do. Seeing Western men for example, walking around topless with their beer bellies hanging out, the sun turning their skin bright red in the summer-time. Why would Western men and women place their skin directly in front of the sun for long periods of time and why do the men sometimes walk around with no t-shirt on? Something you would never see in Seoul. Alternatively, why do Westerners walk into their own homes with their shoes on? Surely carrying the dirt and waste from the bottom of your shoes and distributing the dirt throughout the house is not wise.

I was also impressed quite early on, with the ingenuity of Korean people. One young student told me the story of her quest to learn English. She was lucky enough to be able to travel to California, USA and backpack around for a few months. Travelling alone, aged 23 and not really knowing anyone, she started attending the local church on Sundays despite having no real interest in religion. Knowing that people in church are usually quite friendly and open to conversation, she used this opportunity to get free English conversation. Morally it may or may not be right, but it is a creative idea. Another one of my Korean students told me of how whilst travelling the U.S., she naturally said that she was Korean when the subject of nationality came up. But, if she accidentally upset someone or got into an embarrassing situation due to her lack of understanding of Western culture, she would say she was Japanese.

I found Koreans to be very open from the very start. Some Koreans told me you should not talk about certain things i.e. politics, but it was my own personal experience from the start that students often enjoyed and wanted as much as possible, to know the views from a Western perspective. The same students were also often more than willing to share their own thoughts, thoughts that were always interesting and often different to my own. Once people get to know you they are keen to know your opinion on almost anything, including taboo topics such as sex, politics and religion.

Winding through the Tuscan hills, the wine roads offer travel itineraries within remarkable viticulture areas which are characterized by vineyards and wine cellars and also by landscape, historical attractions in a frame where all kinds of comfort is offered to welcome tourists.

Along the wine road signs point out clearly places for lodging, especially farm holidays. Information services are available all over an area where vineyard control is guaranteed by strict quality standards. Any time of the year is suitable to participate in these itineraries, whose beauty reveals itself in various ways at any change of season.

The approach to wine is not only characterized by the simple act of tasting it, but it goes along with visits to vineyards, tastes of typical dishes and attendance to cultural events.

Tuscany is the first region, among all the others in Italy, which has promoted the realization of these itineraries.

Tuscany, which is well-know for its extensive and fascinating landscape, is as well as famous all over the world for its good quality wines and the special taste of its gastronomy.

Along the wine road itinerary in the Tuscan region, and even beyond the beaten tracks, a full patrimony of culture and popular knowledge is offered to those who really want to appreciate the high value of discovering tastes and emotions in relation to wine and all life’s aspects associated with it.

Along the road wine in the Pisan Hills you can found an important project named La Mia Toscana? (My Tuscany), that offers tourists solutions in fascinating itineraries. You can choose from the wine and gastronomic itineraries (Tuscan cooking classes, wine tasting and tasting of other typical products, escorted gastronomic excursions), to trekking itineraries (escorted excursions on the Tuscan hills, by foot, on mountain bike, horse-riding), cultural itineraries (escorted excursions in the discovery of medieval villages, castles and handicraft products, Italian language lessons) up to relax and comfort itineraries (with treatments at the Thermal baths) and to golfing (in combination with culture, gastronomy and art).

Pisa Airport “Galileo Galilei” is the main destination for Tuscany and central Italy (after Rome), and is served by several airlines operating hundreds of weekly flights to national and international destinations. Numerous companies offer charter flights to and from a number of European and non-European destinations. Flying to Pisa is really cheap and easy: the most important low cost flights companies reach Pisa, and the airport is 5 minutes away from the centre of the town by bus, train or taxi.

Fitness Travel

Healthy vacations that allow you to get away and get fit

Do you always feel fifteen pounds heavier after coming back from vacation? All that eating out and indulging can pack on a few pounds. Whether you are worried about packing on the pounds while traveling, already have a few to lose or just simply love exercising and would like to tone up; consider trying a fitness vacation. It is one of the hottest new trends in travel, not only do you get to get away, which in itself feels good, but you also get to lose weight and get fitter. There are plenty of fitness friendly travel options, but here are just a few of the many fitness vacations out there.

Bikini Boot Camp – Amansala Tulum Mexico

Bikini Boot Camp: Mind, Body and Spirit, was created as a place for women and men to get into great shape, relax – and feel good about their selves while doing it. This six-night program is limited to 25 men and women and is held at the chic resort Amansala, located on a secluded beach setting in Tulum, Mexico.

A day, while on this fitness vacation, starts with a powerwalk through the beautiful beaches or jungles and is followed by a combination of body sculpting, power ab sessions and Pilates. The day winds down with yoga and meditation. In between these activities, there are excursions to the nearby jungle for swimming and snorkeling in fresh water swimming holes, Mayan Clay Treatments, lots of water and plenty of sunshine.

The Bikini Boot Camp also gives its guests delicious, low fat meals free of chemicals. The meals consist of fresh caught grilled fish, jicima salads and mangos, which will leave you feeling lighter and healthier.

With exercise and toning, delicious low-fat food, exciting excursions and a beautiful and relaxing setting – you’ll come back fitter and more relaxed.

The six-night programs are held year round, and three- and four-night programs are available upon request. Prices for six nights start at $1,842, not including airfare.

Fatpacking – Nationwide

Fatpacking is definitely not as resort-like and fancy as Bikini Boot Camp or other healthy spa fitness vacations, but just simple, back to basics exercise. Basically, fatpacking is weight loss backpacking. Fatpacking leaders take clients on one and two week wilderness hiking vacations with two objectives: getting fit and giving guests an unforgettable wilderness experience.

Fatpacking gives its hikers a supportive environment for slower or older hikers to feel comfortable and unrushed, so they can enjoy the beautiful scenery around them while getting fit. Unlike other programs, fatpacking allows you to eat whatever you’d like, but you got to carry it all on your back. The walks are intense and long, but at a slower pace. The end goal is for backpackers to lose weight, feel great, rid themselves of stress and enjoy the beautiful remote places within which they hike. Upcoming hikes include the Adirondacks in New York, Redwood National Park in California, the Great Smoky Mountains through North Carolina and Tennessee and the Appalachian Trail Fall Foliage Trip through western Connecticut and Massachusetts. Costs vary from $725 to $1,100.

Hilton Head Health Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hilton Head Health is more than a quick weight-loss fitness vacation, their programs focus on creating for its guests a new healthy lifestyle. The program focuses on not only weight loss, but also diabetes prevention or management, cardiovascular health or other chronic disease management.

There are four elements to their health fitness programs: education, nutrition, fitness and regaining control. Each guest gets a personalized program to fit their needs and lifestyle. A typical stay begins with a brief meeting with a Lifestyle Coach to determine the best options and goals for the duration of the spa stay. Mornings begin with a beach walk before breakfast and all meals are gourmet and healthful. The rest of day is filled with demonstrations, fitness classes, educational lectures and more, all focused on what you and your Lifestyle Counselor think is best.

Costs are $3,550 for one-week and $5,620 for a two-week stay. This includes accommodations, balanced and nutritious meals, lectures, demonstrations, classes, individual lifestyle assessments, including blood screening and nutrition, and free use of all fitness and recreation facilities. Hilton Head Health is more than a fitness vacation, but a lifestyle change.

From a relaxing resort to wilderness hiking and island healthy lifestyle changes, there are tons of fitness travel options out there to fit anyone’s lifestyle and fitness needs. Why not get fit and travel at the same time?

Five Central and South American cheap vacation destinations

Why spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to travel abroad or visit a tourist ridden resort city? There are plenty of cheap exotic vacation destinations in Central and South America. Plus, the flights are shorter if you only have a week off (in comparison to European vacations) and the majority of the continent speaks Spanish, making communication easy. Here are some of the best and cheapest discount South American vacations.

Roatan Island, Honduras

Located thirty miles off the coast of Honduras, Roatan Island is an unspoiled Caribbean paradise. With blue skies, turquoise water, sandy beaches and year-round high temperatures in the 70′s and 80′s, Roatan Island offers everything a Caribbean vacation should. While Roatan Island is more expensive than mainland Honduras, it’s a definite deal when compared to other Caribbean vacations. Plus the island has less street crime and violence than the rest of the country, making it safer.

Rooms run anywhere from $8 budget lodging to $175 resort hotels and a gourmet meal will set you back about $15. The island is also home to the second largest barrier reef, making it a popular dive location and scuba diving is a must. It also is one of the most reasonably priced places to get certified as a scuba diver and one of the best cheap exotic vacations.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Once the most expensive country in South America, the economic collapse of Argentina has consequently created travel bargains. Argentina offers amazing scenery, exciting nightlife options, world-class dining and wine – all at budget prices. Budget travelers can easily get by on less than $50 a day. The well-known Argentinean nightlife makes it the perfect vacation destination for young budget travelers looking for adventure. Dinner typically is served around 10 p.m., followed by all-night partying. Argentina is a perfect party and discount South America vacation spot.

Margarita Island, Venezuela

This tropical island paradise is located off the north shore of Venezuela and is home to beautiful beaches and has an average of 320 days of sun a year. Margarita’s daytime activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, beach-lounging and horseback riding. For great bargains and local culture, head to El Mercado de los Conejeros on the outskirts of Porlamar where you’ll find unique souvenirs crafted by Amazon Indians and locals.

Due to the country’s steep economic decline and an amazing exchange rate, hostels can be found at as low as $13.50 a night, a delicious fish meal can go for around $7 and a cold beer will only cost a dollar. There are also plenty of bars, clubs and discos, offering an exciting nightlife.

Peru

For more family friendly cheap travel, visit the country of Peru. Adults enjoy the low prices and sightseeing options and the children love the animals and colorful country. The biggest tourist attraction is the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, but the country also has amazing Amazon rain forests, colonial cities, whitewater rafting and mountain trekking. Meals at local restaurants will cost from $2 to $5. Budget travelers will pay anywhere $20 to $50 a night for lodging in Peru cities like Lima or Cusco, but elsewhere the rates will be lower.

Santiago, Chile

Santiago, Chile is one of Latin America’s most sophisticated metropolitan areas. Lying in a valley surrounded by the Andes Mountains, this capital city allows for a morning dip in the sea and world-renowned skiing in the afternoon. The country is cheap too. Nice hotels can be found for as low as $50 up to $150 and hostels cost from $10 to $25.

The country has unique museums and art galleries, bustling markets and unique colonial architecture. Restaurants can be found at reasonable prices, but some can be fairly expensive – so check them out before you sit down. The country also has decent wineries and wine tours are available. Chile is the perfect metropolitan discount South American vacation and a definite cheap vacation destination deal.