Category: Ski-ing

Wander: More Than Just a Summer Song – It’s the Anthem for Every Journey

On By VagabondIn Cruise, Destinations, Exotic Holidays, Guest Post, Music, News, Ski-ing1 Comment

There’s something lekker about music that captures the essence of movement, of discovery, of that restless spirit that calls us to explore beyond the familiar. “Wander” by Canadian alt-pop duo Neon Dreams, South African Booshle G and New Yorker BYRNE, isn’t just the perfect soundtrack for chilled summer days – it’s the anthem that should be playing in every traveller’s heart as they set off to discover the world.

The Summer Connection

Summer has always been synonymous with adventure. School’s out, the weather’s warm, and there’s this electric feeling in the air that anything is possible. “Wander” perfectly encapsulates that summer energy – the freedom, the spontaneity, the desire to chase horizons. But here’s the thing: that feeling doesn’t have to end when March rolls around.

Beyond Seasonal Boundaries

What makes “Wander” truly special is how it transcends the typical summer song formula. While other tracks might focus on braais and beaches, this song speaks to something deeper – the universal human desire to explore, to seek, to find ourselves in new places and experiences.

Whether you’re:

  • Backpacking through Southeast Asia in the monsoon season
  • Exploring European Christmas markets in December
  • Chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland’s winter darkness
  • Road-tripping through autumn’s changing colours

The spirit of “Wander” travels with you, regardless of the season or destination.

The Traveller’s Soundtrack

Every seasoned traveller knows that music can transform a journey. It’s the soundtrack to our adventures, the emotional backdrop to our discoveries. “Wander” deserves a permanent spot on every travel playlist because it captures:

The Anticipation: That flutter of excitement as you plan your next adventure
The Journey: The open road, the unknown path, the thrill of movement
The Discovery: Those moments when you find something unexpected and beautiful
The Reflection: Looking back on experiences that changed you

Making It Your Own

The beauty of adopting “Wander” as your travel anthem is that it grows with your experiences. Each time you hear it in a new place – whether it’s echoing through headphones on a train in Japan or playing softly at a café in Paris – it collects new memories, new meanings.

Your Next Adventure Awaits

So the next time you’re planning a trip, packing a bag, or even just daydreaming about far-off places, let “Wander” remind you that the world is vast, beautiful, and waiting to be explored. It’s not just a summer song – it’s a call to adventure that knows no seasons, no boundaries, no limits.

After all, the best journeys aren’t just about the destinations we reach – they’re about embracing the spirit of wandering itself.

What song serves as your travel anthem? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

How to Pack for Any Trip

On By Yours in Travel, Lindsay QuailIn Exotic Holidays, News, Packing, Ski-ing, Travel Information, Travel TipsLeave a comment

Oh, the joys of travelling: waking up early in the morning to be at the airport three-and-a-half hours in advance, arguing with the ticket agent about how big your carry-on luggage is, being checked through security and having all of your belongings searched, waiting two hours in the gate area, and worrying about whether you packed all of the essentials. Like we said: what a joy.

Well, although most of these problems might be out of your control, the last one could be avoided. So, when you plan your next trip to Mauritius or Thailand, you’ll be free and clear when it comes to your luggage.

CHOOSE LUGGAGE WISELY

The first rule of packing involves knowing how to choose good luggage. This involves determining whether or not your suitcase is going to rip, break and if it can be easily opened. You need top-quality for peace of mind.

Make sure the luggage you choose has water-resistant material inside. Many people have opened their suitcases only to discover a puddle of liquid sitting at the bottom and eating away at their expensive clothes.

A quick tip: Line the bottom of your suitcase with a few plastic bags, which can later be used as laundry bags.

PACK ONLY THE ESSENTIALS

When going on a trip for more than five days, you will need to carefully assess which items are essential. You wouldn’t want to be stuck on your third day with nothing but dirty underwear. The following is a checklist of all of the essentials you will need to pack right for any trip:

Toiletries

Toothbrush, mouthwash, toothpaste, floss (traveling abroad doesn’t mean your breath has to start stinking like the local farm animals), comb, nail clippers, shaving cream, razor, cotton balls, cologne, and moisturizer. If you’re not picky about shampoos and conditioners, then don’t bother packing your own; hotels usually provide them.

Hot climate essentials

When traveling to warmer climates, remember to bring plenty of sunscreen to practice proper skin care. Just in case you get a nasty burn, bring along some burn cream or spray. Don’t forget a hat and sunglasses too.

Important documents

In order to pack right for any trip, you must not forget to bring the following documents: plane ticket, driver’s license, passport, health insurance card, calling card, credit cards, traveler’s checks, and a couple of business cards (you never know what kind of contacts you might make). You will also discover (if you haven’t already) that hotels can forget who you are when checking in, so bring your confirmation number and reservation documents with you.

Garments

Bring ample amounts of socks and underwear. If you’re going on a business trip then focus on formal wear and bring a couple of casual items for your own comfort. Otherwise, if traveling for pleasure, pack all of your T-shirts and G-strings, and have fun. Bringing a light jacket can also help during those rainy days, or bring a snow jacket if traveling to the majestic north.

IMPORTANT BUT NONESSENTIAL ITEMS

Although not as important as the essential items, you may want to carefully consider some nonessential items as well. Here are some more things to consider when packing for a trip.

Watch/alarm clock

We once stayed at a hotel that had a unique art-nouveau alarm clock for us to use. Real fancy stuff. Unfortunately, overnight, the power went out and the alarm clock was reset. We looked like a fool when we showed up for our meeting an hour late the next morning. We learned a valuable lesson that day: Bring your own watch or travel alarm clock. To be extra careful, ask for a wake-up call if the hotel provides it.

Pack of gum

Chewing gum can do three important things: refresh your breath, repress hunger for a while and depressurize your ears while flying at 30,000 feet.

Your favorite MP3 player

Many hotels now include docking stations for MP3 players in their rooms, as do many rental cars. If you have such a device, it’ll help you pass the time while possibly giving you a topic of conversation with a random stranger.

Medication

You don’t want to be stuck with an awful headache or heartburn during your whole trip. Here are some meds you might need: Tylenol, Aspirin, antacids, and Imodium (for upset stomach).

Bug repellent

While recently traveling to the Caribbean, we discovered that mosquitoes are not only native to New York. They are even more vicious down south (and harder to see since they’re extremely small critters). You may also encounter sand mites and fleas. Thus, make sure to pack bug repellent and creams.

Entertainment

Magazines, playing cards or mini electronic games will come in handy to help pass the time during your five-hour flight or if you’re bored and alone in your hotel room.

Camera

Whether still or moving pictures, you will thank yourself in a few years when reminiscing about yourself in front of some of the world’s most stunning modern architecture. 

 

QUICK TRAVEL TIPS

  • When traveling from a cold to a hot destination, make sure to choose garments that are logical for the trip. A lightweight, long-sleeved shirt with bottom-detachable cargo pants is the type of outfit you should wear for the first and last days of travel.
  • When packing, fold your shirts flat and roll all of your pants and ties to avoid wrinkling. Make sure to optimize and maximize your luggage space, and leave a bit of room for potential souvenirs and gifts that you can pack on your way back home.
  • Bring two pieces of picture identification. You will be asked to provide these when checking in, going through security and even when you’re boarding the plane.
  • With the current situation of higher airport security, make sure not to carry any sharp or pointy objects in your carry-on bag.
  • Do not drink coffee, tea, soft drinks, or iced tea while flying unless you’d like to visit the washroom every half hour. Drink water instead.
  • Buy travel, baggage, health, or cancellation insurance. It will save you a ton of headaches in the long run.
  • Remember which time zone you are traveling to, and appropriately adjust your watch before you arrive.
  • Get plenty of sleep. Traveling drains your body of energy and can be very stressful.
  • Exercise whenever you have the chance, unless gaining a potbelly within a week is on your to-do list.

READY, SET, GO!

The more you travel, the more experienced you’ll get. Let this guide help you prepare for the first few trips and, before you know it, you’ll have the best stress-free travel experience of your life. Bon voyage — you’re now ready to go.

Sourced from: www.askmen.com

Written by: Harry Marks

Breathtaking landscape of the Grand Canyon's vast geological formations in Arizona.

25 Must See Places

On By Yours in Travel, Lindsay QuailIn Curated Source, Destinations, Exotic Holidays, Ski-ing, Travel InformationLeave a comment

A collection of 25 cool places to visit around the world.

Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon is the steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in Arizona State of United States. The powerful sources that cause an impact on the Grand Canyon is erosion, first is by water and second is by wind. Nearly 5 million people visit the 1 mile deep Grand Canyon every year. Planning a vacation to the Grand Canyon national park provides a great relief for you and your family.

Photo by Andrew Patrick Photo on Pexels

The best time to visit Grand Canyon is during the summer, fall and mild spring, but most locals agree that winter is the great time to visit. There are various camp grounds both on the top and floor of the Grand Canyon. Camping at the floor of the Grand Canyon needs a permit from the country office.

 Great Barrier Reef
This is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. It is one of the top travel destinations in Australia. You can see it from the outer space and it is the world’s largest single structure, which is made of living organisms. The reef supports 10,000 species which consists of 1500 types of fishes and 200 kinds of birds. This beauty inspires many of the travellers to visit the place.

Florida
This state built its entire identity with tourism. This is the south eastern state in the US. It is a most popular winter destination. Florida is also called as the Sunshine State. Central Florida is conquered by Orlando and it is well known coterie of theme parks, sea world, universal studios, Disney world, and many more attractions to tourists.

New Zealand South Island
The South Island of New Zealand is characterized by grand open landscapes. The island is well known for spectacular fiords, large beach forests, golden sand beaches and broad plains. Everybody can enjoy the travel to south island. The south island has ten national parks. These parks incorporate world heritage sites, lakes, glaciers, fiords, native forest, coastline, and world class hiking tracks. The fabulous scenery across the south land attracts many people to plan vacation. 

Cape Town
Cape Town is situated at the tip of the African Continent. The only way to understand and enjoy Cape Town is by experiencing the unique range of multicultural lifestyles and scenic national surroundings for yourself. During the summer season, Cape Town is filled with holiday makers enjoying the hot weather, sunny beaches and beautiful scenery. So, if you want to spend your time during holiday season, it is best to make reservations as soon as possible. Before reaching the place, have a rough idea about the places around Cape Town, which you want to visit.

Golden Temple
This temple has a glorious setting and it exists in the middle of the large blue sacred pool. Don’t miss the peaceful and interesting ritual that goes inside the two-story golden temple. When you take a tour to India, you should visit the golden temple.

Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the largest city in the state of Nevada. This is commonly referred to as entertainment capital of the world. The city has great casino hotels and creates a fantasy like atmosphere. Las Vegas is a great travel destination for honeymooners and travel addicts. A trip to Vegas is usually a trip to “the strip”, about 20 long blocks of neon lights, public drinking and casinos.

Sydney
Sydney is the economic powerhouse of Australia. The place is full of sun-drenched natural attractions, delicious and daring restaurants, dizzy skyscrapers, friendly folk and wonderful shopping, so most of the travel addicts want to visit the place. You can take a trip to Sydney at any time of the year.

New York
New York is the USA’s largest metro area. The city is a great centre for fashion, culture, finance, research, media, food, art, and trade. The city consists of 5 boroughs and each is differentiated by its own culture. New York is cinematic. Every year this is a backdrop for about 200 movies.

Taj Mahal
According to most of the travellers, Taj Mahal, most beautiful building, in India is one of the great wonders of the world. This is a hybrid of many artistic styles. Once you visit Taj Mahal, you can enjoy various places near it. The river side behind Taj Mahal provides a wonderful environment. You can enjoy greatly along with your family.

Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies is one of the most spectacular places of the earth. This place has potential outdoor opportunities and world class resorts. Visit the two national parks of Canadian Rockies and find why most of the travellers choose Canadian Rockies as their home away home [Canada Travel]. This place offers you the best of the best. It offers you the hikes that you don’t want to miss, scenic drives and many more natural highlights. You can go for the vacation even along with your children. Winter is a great time to enjoy the place. During this time, you can try sports like skiing, snowshoeing and then relaxing around a roaring fire on every evening.

Uluru
Uluru or Ayers Rock in Australia is one of the world’s great natural wonders. Planning to visit this place is a great way to explore and experience the cultural and physical significance of this Australian icon. The rock is at its visual best at sunrise and sunset. Most of the travellers like to climb the rock by using an ancient aboriginal trail.

Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is a Mayan word. Chichen Itza is one of the largest archaeological cities of Mexico and one of the seven wonders. It is the most visited tourist destination. Travellers like to visit Chichen Itza as a day trip. If you want to enjoy all the activities nearby Chichen Itza, it takes 2-3 days stay. Before entering into the Chichen Itza, you will come across an informative museum, clean rest rooms, a dining room, few vender stands and gift shops. You can visit the site at any time of the year.

Machu Picchu
It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This is mystical place and a great spot to divinity. It is the Peru’s most popular place, so most of you like to see the place. People of Machu Picchu feel that they are the creators of god. This place offers you strange forces of nature that permit the individual to attain a contrary cosmic state. The place is located at 2300 meters above the sea level. So, you can enjoy the vicinity of the place. One day is enough to visit the spots around Machu Picchu. While planning to visit Machu Picchu, you need to understand a little about the geography of this area, because the location is remote and inaccessible.

Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls can be accessed from both the American and Canadian side, but the best view facing the falls is completely from the Canadian side. When you take a trip to Niagara Falls, don’t forget to take a ride on the famous maid-of-the-mist boats. You won’t get the entire experience of Niagara Falls until you ride one of these boats. It is the foundation for many interesting places to see and things to do. If you love beautiful landscapes, romantic getaways, family adventures and vibrant nightlife then Niagara Falls is the best place to visit.

Petra
Petra, one of the seven wonders, is fabled rose red city and is a well known earliest Nabataean city in the south Jordan. If you have decided to travel to Jordan, then Petra is at the top of your priority list. The solid red sand stone buildings in Petra are unlike anything that you have ever seen before. One full day is enough to see everything around Petra. This town offers you a wide variety of hotels to fit your budget.

The Pyramids
Pyramids and wonderful temples are the great things to enjoy in Egypt. Travel to Egypt offers you the nature and desert treks, fishing, golfing, scuba diving and birding groups. You can choose the places like Sinai coasts or red sea to relax. Winter is the best season to go for a vacation to Egypt. March-May and September-November is the best time to enjoy the warm days of Egypt.

Venice
Venice is one of the Italy’s greatest tourist places. You will be surprised by hearing how the city is built up. The city is built on 317 small islands and has 150 canals which are connected through 409 bridges. During the spring time, Venice is completely filled with tourists. At that time it is very difficult to find the accommodations.

Maldives
Maldives is a great place for tranquil tropical islands, palm trees, white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons. Maldives is a group of 1190 coral islands. This place is a great destination for scuba divers. Visiting Maldives between December and April can makes you to spend some extra hours of sunshine. Also this is the main season for tourism.

Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is the travel icon of China and is one of the most popular travel vacation destinations in the world. It took hundreds of years for its construction. When you have decided to travel to China, don’t forget to see the wall.

Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls was also one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is the most beautiful waterfalls in Africa. This is a cheap travel destination and is full of fun. Those who want to try for adventures will find plenty of activities like elephant safaris, bridge swinging, water rafting and so on. There are two sides of the falls, one is Zambia and the other is Zimbabwe side. Both sides are awesome and are a year round destination.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong, an oriental pearl, is simply amazing. It will be very hard for you to find a more exciting city other than Hong Kong. The best thing about being in Hong Kong is getting confused and fired by the confluences and contradictions of a Chinese city with multi Asian and western elements. The best period to take a vacation to Hong Kong is in the months of October, November and most of December.

Yosemite National Park
Yosemite is located on the western slopes of Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is one of the nation’s most famous national parks in US. Yosemite Valley is the most famous destination in Yosemite. Every year more than 4 million people come to visit Yosemite Valley. It is packed with restaurants, shops and campsites. This has hundreds of miles of hiking trails. You will find a great variety of wildlife along with mule deer, black bears and various bird species. When you plan your vacation to Yosemite, you can enjoy various activities like hiking, skiing, camping, snowshoeing, horse riding and bicycling.

Hawaii
Going for Hawaii vacation will make you feel very happy by the beauty and hospitality. They want to do the things that they would not do at home. The beautiful Hawaii islands offer you to see world famous beaches closely; offer you peace and calmness somewhere off the beaten path. During winter season, Hawaii is fully packed with tourists. When you visit Hawaii, don’t forget to enjoy the activities like: Seeing Molten lava flow at Kilauea volcano, hiking through Waipio Valley, visiting the largest Hawaiian religious temple Puukohola Heiau and playing in the snow atop Mauna Kea.

Paris
It is the most beautiful place and also the capital of France. Springtime is the best time to visit Paris. Paris is the city of life, love and light. You will find romance and magic when you visit Eiffel tower to Mona Lisa and from the bustling Champs Elysees to the winding streets of Montmartre.

I hope you enjoyed these 25 cool places to visit. 

Sourced from: http://www.travelphant.com