5 Great Places to Visit in BC

5 Great Places to Visit in BC 

by Susan Gerle

Bucket List Travels Blog is not only about faraway places, but we introduce some of the great trips that people can take in our own country.  I'm going to give a quick overview of British Columbia, Canada.

People have heard of Vancouver, but there are many other beautiful spots to visit in British Columbia, especially during the summer.  Here are 5 of the top places to visit in BC so maybe look at planning your summer vacation in BC this year!

1.The Okanagan Valley

The Okanagan Valley is situated a 4 hour drive from Vancouver, runs 120 kilometers from Vernon to Penticton.  The area is known for a dry climate and the temperatures during the summer range from 25 to 40°C.  It is the only recognized desert area in Canada, complete with rattlesnakes and black widow spiders. There are many lakes in the region for recreational boating, fishing, swimming, and sailing. The area is also known for its cottage wineries, many of which have taken awards worldwide. 

3 Places to Visit in Merida, Mexico

3 Places to Visit in Merida, Mexico

By Susan Gerle

The city of Merida, Mexico is a great place to visit when staying anywhere on the Mayan Riviera.  The shopping and the history are amazing.  Merida is considered to be the longest populated city in the Americas.

The city was founded in 1542 and was originally a Mayan settlement with a number of pyramids surrounding what is now the city site.  

Take the bus or a taxi to the ADO (pronounced  adio) Bus Terminal in Cancun.  The bus leaves approximately every 2½ hours heading west.  The city of Merida is about 4 ½ hours away from Cancun. Occasionally you will see a traditional Mayan home built out of tree poles with a thatched roof as you travel along the highway.  The fence around the property is built from stones placed strategically one on top of the other.  No mortar is added.

3 Top Places to Visit on the Mayan Riviera

 3 Top Places to Visit on the Mayan Riviera

 by Susan Gerle

There are 3 places you should considering visiting on a day trip if you are staying anywhere on the Mayan Riviera.  These include Cozumel, Tulum, and Isla Mujeres.

Cozumel

You can catch the ferry to Cozumel at Playa Del Carmen, which is just over an hour from Cancun.  The ferry ride takes about ½ an hour.  While on the ferry there will be vendors who come around to offer you activities to do while in Cozumel.  These are your best deals, price wise, even though there was probably lots of other opportunities to purchase.

If you plan to rent a vehicle to go around the island, it should cost you less than $30 for a 1 or 2 passenger scooter. That’s for the whole day and since there is only one road, you can do a lot of site-seeing. There is also a company that rents jeeps if you need more room.  Make sure you have a major credit card with you.

Volunteering For a Wild Animal Sanctuary

Volunteering for a Wild Animal Sanctuary

By Susan Gerle

I’ve had the opportunity to visit some animal sanctuaries in my travels.  The most recent ones were an elephant sanctuary and a tiger sanctuary, both outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Before the visits we took the time to find out how the animals were treated.  So many organizations are out there to make huge dollars from the tourists.  They really aren’t that concerned about the animals’ welfare as long as the CEO gets his money.  In some organizations very little of the money actually goes back into the coffers to pay the local caretakers and for the animals’ food and medicine.

So how do you find out which ones are good sanctuaries and whether the animals are treated well?  One of the easiest ways now, of course, is to research the places on the internet.  Sites, like Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet, will have travelers sharing their good or bad experiences.  Social media like facebook often have sites where you can read about people’s visits.  If you are already on the road and hostelling, there will often be some people who have visited the sites before you and can give you advice.

6 Great Tips for Train Travel in Europe

European Countryside

6 Great Tips for Train Travel in Europe

by Susan Gerle

On my trip to Europe, my friends and I decided not to purchase euro-rail tickets before we left Canada but just make our plans as we traveled.  The first train trip we took in Europe was from Rome to Florence. We chose to take a second class coach, which cost us 16 euro each for the 2 ½ hour journey. The high-speed train would have got us there much faster at a much higher cost but we would have only seen the blur of the countryside. The Tuscany Valley was something we didn't want to miss.  Tip 1 – Compare speed and price.

We already realized we were traveling with far too much luggage, especially for train travel! The train track is often posted at the last minute and you find yourself running!  Tip 2 – Travel light.  It took precious minutes to load the bags only to find out we were in the wrong car. Tip 3 – Check your car number before you get on.  After determining we didn't have too far to go, we made our way through a couple more cars and settled into a little glass cubicle, which sat six people. No one else joined us so we stretched out and relaxed to enjoy the scenery.

6 Ways to Avoid Robbery in All-Inclusive Resorts

6 Ways to Avoid Robbery in All-Inclusive Resorts

By Susan Gerle

I have spent many years traveling and living in Mexico.  I’d never been robbed until a couple of years ago.  There is always a first time for everything.

My first robbery occurred at an all inclusive resort.  99% of the staff at the resorts are honest but there is always the 1% though that can’t be trusted no matter where in the world you travel. I personally feel the reason for robbery in an all-inclusive resort is the huge monetary distance between the staff and the customers.  Most servers and housekeepers are averaging $7 to $8 per day in wages in the larger resort cities.  In the smaller ones the wages are often less. 

In order to feed their families, it requires extra income from some source.  The honest ones work 2 and 3 jobs. The thieves find robbing vacationers an easier way to make extra money.

6 Ways to Avoid Being Robbed:

The Jewel of the Mayan Riviera - Puerto Morelos

The Jewel Of The Mayan Riviera – Puerto Morelos!

by Susan Gerle

The white, silky sands of Puerto Morelos, and the turquoise blue of the Caribbean make a fantastic combination for visitors.  With the second longest reef in the world, Palancar, just 600 meters off-shore the warm calm waters are great for swimming and snorkeling.  Don’t be surprised if you end up swimming alongside a sting-ray, turtle, or barracuda in the calm waters.  They come in closer to shore around the middle of February.

It used to be anyone who discovered Puerto Morelos would go home with the message, “don’t tell anybody else about this jewel.”  Gradually more people discovered it though and the tourists came.

7 Places to See in Valladolid, Yucatan

7 Places to See in Valladolid, Yucatan

by Susan Gerle 

 

There are so many amazing cultural centers to see in Mexico.  Valladolid, (pronounced via dough lead) is a wonderful colonial town to visit.  The city has a population of under 50,000 and is easy to get around in.

To reach the city, take a 2-hour bus ride from the ADO (pronounced adio) bus terminal in Cancun. The terminal in Valladolid is located only 2 blocks from the main square and it is an easy walk.  Don’t expect to find too many people who speak English.  Mayan is the first language for many in the area and Spanish the second language.

On August 30, 2012, Valladolid became part of the Pueblo Mágico El Programa Pueblos Mágicos ("Magical Villages Program") which is an initiative led by the Mexican tourism department to display influential towns in Mexico based on their natural beauty, cultural riches, or historical relevance to the country.

Full Moon Lantern Festival in Hoi An, Vietnam

The Full Moon Lantern Festival in Hoi An, Vietnam happens every month, not like other parts of Asia which only celebrates with a full moon lantern festival about once every 15 months. The traditional festival is tied in with Chinese New Year.  We were lucky enough to be there to see it on our first visit to Vietnam.  In fact, one of my travel companions, Jon, celebrated his birthday in the beautiful soft glow of the candlelit lanterns.  

To experience the Full Moon Lantern Festival in Hoi An, Vietnam, is to understand a simple, joyful, peaceful way of life that isn't always evident in the bustling village.  Many buildings in the central old town have existed for centuries, managing to stand strong through times of floods, famine, and war.  Modern technology quickly weaves its way through the narrow streets, honking to be allowed past.

The Giving Lens in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The following guest article was written by Paula Wallis, a professional photographer out of Vancouver, Canada.  She recently went as a volunteer photographer to work with children in Siem Reap, Cambodia with an organization called The Giving Lens. Her other photos can be viewed at www.paulawallisphotography.com

For those of you who don't follow my Facebook page and perhaps didn't see my regular postings as we made our way through Siem Reap and interacted with the wonderful youth and volunteers at Anjali House along the way; I returned in December, 2013 from a volunteer stint in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with The Giving Lens team, to work with the children of Anjali House, along with several other NGO organizations in the area. It was a pretty amazing experience.

As a team of eight photographers, we were led by two team leaders, Naomi and Elia Locardi. Both are extremely experienced full-time travel photographers and it was an absolute pleasure to work with them. Please check out Blame The Monkey or The Giving Lens to see more info on the fantastic work they do.

7 Top Sites to See in Cambodia & Vietnam

"Pre-dawn at Angkor Wat, Cambodia"
www.paulawallisphotography.com 

There are at least 7 must see sites on a trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. In order to appreciate the cultures and understand the communities, it is better to travel in small groups with local guides.  We will share information about the places we recommend on our new blog, Bucket List Travels.  We will also visit other areas throughout the world.  First of all though here is a little history about our blog and how it came to be!