Blog Archives - Travel Instruction

Tokyo Japan’s Multidimensional Wonderland

September 12th, 2018 by Dave 1 Comment

There are few places on earth that can match the vibes of the beautiful city of Tokyo. While it is densely populated with millions of inhabitants and millions or more tourists coming in each day, the city manages to hide some of the rarest, oldest and most beautiful gems of Japanese tradition in its heart. We have been to Tokyo thrice now and every time we find something new to explore and experience here.

There are several casual restaurants lining the streets of Tokyo that serve you delicious food. The rice, noodles and sea food dishes are overwhelmingly good and take over your taste buds completely. When you go back home, the aftertaste of the amazing food you eat here remains on your tongue. The magical sushi of this place is unlike anything we have ever tasted around the world. To put it simply, Sushi is a Japanese mainstay and even humble restaurants here make more delicious sushi than the best diners in the world.

We always go to Central Tokyo fist because the Imperial Palace is a one-of-a-kind destination to visit. This is the spiritual and geographic heart of the city as well. The gardens here are so spectacular, that you can spend hours simply looking at their beauty. Downtown Tokyo is our favorite, especially in Nihombashi, Ginza and Marunouchi.

The shopping streets here are amazing and there are several authentic restaurants serving you mouth-watering foods. If you are a fan of big portion sizes, you could be disappointed in Japan because their sizes are small. So, if you are planning a hearty meal, make sure that you order a little more than usual. The Tokyo International Forum is another amazing place that will mesmerize you to the core. However, we like to wander around Akihabar- the place where you get manga stores and tons of electronic goodies at one place. If it has anything to do with Japanese comics or anime, it will definitely be here.

The National Art Center has created an Art Triangle at Roppongo where you will find three beautiful and awe-inspiring museums, the other two being the Mori Art Museum and The Suntory Museum of Art. Don’t forget to go to Akasaka as well. Here you will find a historic shrine called Hie-jinja. Of course, the Tokyo Tower remains in every tourist’s bucket list that is also located in the center of the city.

There is one or the other festivity going on in the city every day. You will meet people of several nationalities in the bars here. Talking with the locals, expats and fellow tourists is a completely unique experience. We have often bought electronics and several eerie products from here.

Japan is a place that will never fail to surprise you. Be it their lush greenery, the mind-blowing beaches or the cosmopolitan cities, there is something about Japan that takes your breath away, the moment you set foot in this place.

Have you been to Japan before, which are your favorite destinations here? Let us know in the comments below.

3 Of Our Favorite Destinations in Europe

May 1st, 2018 by Dave Leave a Comment

Travelling in Europe is like moving across the set of a fairytale movie. The elaborate castles, the grasslands, beaches and mountains look like they have been carefully designed by an accomplished artist. We love travelling in Europe. It connects us with thousands of years of unmatched heritage and presents the most beautiful natural views we have ever seen.

Here are three destinations that we absolutely love in Europe.

City Walls, Dubrovnik, Croatia

This place is surrounded by spectacular walls that will constantly remind you of an era gone by. The views you get of the old town from the walls are mesmerizing to say the least. Look over the rooftops to find the shelling damage these walls sustained in the 1990s. The oldest of these walls were made in the 9th century.

Later, in the 14th century, 15 square forts were added to the 1.5m thick walls. In the 15th century, the city was under the threat of Turk attacks, because of which new walls were added and a 2km long stone barrier, which was at least 25m high was built. On the sea side, the walls are 1.5m to 3m thick while on the land side, they are as much as 6m thick.

Hofburg, Austria

You haven’t experienced real Austrian beauty if you haven’t been to this place. The cultural heritage of the nation stands tall in Hofburg. Habsburgs called this place their home base between 1273 and 1918. The oldest of these sections date back to the 13th century and are called Schweizerhof or Swiss Courtyard in the memory of the Swiss guards who protected them.

Renaissance Swiss gates were built in 1553. As new rules came along, they started adding their own variations to the palace which adds to the architectural diversity of this place. It also speaks of the long and varied history of the Austrians. The palace also has in der Burg, a larger courtyard with a monument of Emperor Franz II. The Austrian president’s offices are located here, along with several museums.

Prague Castle

Who can miss the beauty of Prague? The Pražský hrad is clearly one of the most iconic spaces in the country. The left bank of Vltava features this beautiful space that boasts of towers, palaces and spires. The walls of the castle hold some of the most historic buildings, galleries and museums.

If you want to get the best of Prague’s culture and art, this is the place you should go to. It holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest ancient castle in the world. Czech monarchs have always been officially living here and its history dates back to the 9th century.

These places are so beautiful that your heart could skip a beat while indulging in the magnanimity of these structures. If you really want to feel the most authentic vibes of Europe, these places could be a great start. We have travelled to each of these places at least a couple of times and they still inspire us and make us see something new each time.

Do you visit such places too? Let us know your favorite destinations.

Gap Year Travel Doesn’t Have to Be Boring or Even Traditional

April 11th, 2018 by Dave Leave a Comment

More young people these days are opting for gap years and traveling the world. This helps in personality development which cannot always be provided by a typical college curriculum. As gap year travel is gaining more and more prominence, more options are coming up for the travelers too. Here are some good ideas that you could explore with fellow leavers this year.

UK exploration

Trek the Scottish Highlands and move along the beautiful treks of Ireland, enjoying their unique culinary experiences while you explore the UK. You could go on several excursions here, but most leavers love to go on castle explorations or culinary tours. They are quite unique and the confluence of these tours is always in London, which brings in the most diversity in food in the island nation. While you do so, don’t forget to add recipes used by people traditionally and cook them when you are back home.

Europe Escapade

Escape into the sheer natural beauty, cultural diversity and heritage of Europe. Start your journey from London and move to Paris, Swiss Alps, Zurich, Barcelona, French Riviera, Rome, Greece, Austria, Prague, Berlin and Amsterdam. The entire travel experience captures the best of European food, culture, the monuments and the nightlife. You can travel solo or with a group of friends. The experiences will be different in each case but you can bet it will be the most amazing time of your life.

India

It is not a country, it’s an experience. From the mighty snow-clad Himalayas to its lush foothills and from breathtaking beaches to deserts, you get everything here. It will be difficult to capture the essence of this country in a single travel but for a gappie, spending a few months exploring the beauty of the vibrant nation may not be a bad idea at all.

To get a primer on what the four corners of the country look and feel like, plan your travel along the four top metropolitans- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. While Delhi brings the heart of a multicultural ancient capital city, Mumbai is the home to the famed film industry as well as splendid beaches on the west coast.

Kolkata brings to you the most authentic flavors of the colonial times with a culture thriving on literature, tea shops, fish and savory treats. Chennai is one of India’s southern cities that brings scorching heat with beautiful beaches, fishing and completely different cuisine than the Butter Masala Chicken we are used to.

USA

America is the ultimate destination for people who are interested in the arts. From Broadway to Jazz and Hip Hop, it is the sprawling ground for A-grade performance arts. It is also the place where trends are born and grow. The USA is more culturally diverse, with people coming from various eclectic backgrounds, bringing their food, culture, music and values along. The natural diversity of the place is also amazing. You can find many internships here which could fund your travels or give you the opportunity to cross the Atlantic.

What are your gap year travel ideas? Share with us in the comments below.

How to Make Your Travel Photography Pictures Stand Out

March 12th, 2018 by Dave Leave a Comment

Going to an exotic destination for travel, clicking several pictures and coming back home only to see half of them looking bad is every traveler’s nightmare. After all, pictures are the best memorabilia that you can get from your travels. Here are some tips that will help you in getting the most outstaying travel photographs, regardless of where you are travelling to.

Wake up early, and stay awake late

Early to bed and early to rise doesn’t always work when you are traveling. You should be waking up early, probably earlier than the sunrise and stay up later, much after the sunset. This will help you in getting the most out of your travel pics. The stunning shots that you can capture at these times are much better than the afternoon, when the sunlight could be too bright for good pics.

Rule of thirds

One of the most important rules in photography is the rule of third. This is an image composition technique that you can master with ease. Imagine that every picture you are composing is divided into nine small cubes, three horizontally and three vertically. Now, just ensure that you leave compose the picture in such a way that the center of the picture doesn’t include your face. You could place the horizon in the lower portion too. You should place some headroom as well. This will help in making the picture look better.

Be patient

You could go on clicking around hundreds of selfies and other images or wait for the perfect images and compose them properly. Take a tripod along with you and ensure that you get the perfect frame every time. Of course, you won’t be able to stand for long holding the camera in your hand. So, a lightweight tripod is a must for you.

Choose the right hotel

What has a hotel got to do with the perfect picture? Well, everything. If your hotel is located at the right place, you will be able to get the right views too. For example, getting a hotel near a place where you could get awesome views of the auroras could help you in getting the best pictures too. Therefore, check out the options in advance, look for hotel reviews, check out their pics and see what kind of views you can get. It could make all the difference.

Search Instagram

You will be getting the best travel photography inspiration if you spend some time on Instagram. Check out the pictures of people who have already visited these places, find live videos and more. You could also find out spots that are most frequently visited by the tourists or check out the frames that most of the photographers have opted for. Use a similar frame in your pictures as well.

These small tweaks will help you in keeping your photographs spectacular. We also suggest you to use a DSLR camera instead of your phone for the best pictures. They look much better and with a little adjustment, even the blandest pics taken from a camera can turn into magic.

How to Start a Travel Blog That People Love

February 26th, 2018 by Dave Leave a Comment

Starting a travel blog is not an easy job. Though it looks like an easy thing to write about your travel experiences, it actually becomes very difficult. You have to ensure that you keep bringing new stuff to your readers. Not only this, you will have to ensure that the quality of your content is right.

We must tell you that you a travel blog needs dedication and hard work to create and manage. The posts in your blog must be simple yet informational. Whether you want to start a blog with deep and detailed articles or not is up to you.

Here is how to get started with a travelogue of your own.

Find a name

There are hundreds of travel blogs on the web and yours has to be very unique. If you are focusing on a specific niche of travel, you should go for a name that matches your niche. Failing this, it could become difficult to get found by your target audience. The name should also be simple and must not contain any fancy words. You can use your name + the travel niche to create a unique title for your website.

Decide the content format

Before starting anything else, decide the content format that you will choose. We have opted for smaller blog posts that provide condensed information to the users. Some travel blogs opt for long, detailed content styles. You should choose a format that matches your needs, audience type as well as the amount of time you can spend writing and managing the website.

Decide the branding

Depending on the blog name, decide a branding style for you. This will decide the colors you will be using on your website, the kind of fonts you will use and the overall tone of the content posted thereof. Make a logo for your website and make sure that it is posted everywhere, right from your social media accounts to all the blog pages. This branding will help you in differentiating your website from your competition.

Be open to change

A travel blog is not like a status update on a social media site. This is nothing you can do once and then forget. Instead, you should be keeping the long-term view in mind. The blog will develop, change and grow with the audience base. Your audience could demand a different type of content and you may have to adapt accordingly. Don’t be too rigid about the blog and apply the right analytics techniques to understand what your readers really want.

Be authentic

Never start a travel blog which doesn’t match with your personality. Don’t start a luxury blog if you are an outdoorsy person. Focus on what you do best, instead of which trends are commonplace in the industry. You will always find an audience who would want to read your genuine and authentic experiences.

So, what are you waiting for? Start your travel blog today and let the world know about your travel experiences.

Our Favorite Destinations in Mexico

January 3rd, 2018 by Dave Leave a Comment

We have travelled extensively around the world but we didn’t find a place as full of life as Mexico. Be it the spicy cuisine or the colorful people, Mexico is one place where you could get lost with ease and like it too. The vibe of this country is amazing and we found the people very hospitable and welcoming too. If we could shift to a new country, we will definitely choose to live here.

We have been to a dozen places in the country and here we count down our absolute favorites.

Teotihuacán

This beautiful destination houses some exquisite pyramids. Once the biggest city in ancient Mexico, it was a part of one of the biggest pre-Hispanic empires here. It is a small offshoot of the Valle de Mexico and is famous for the Avenue of the Dead. Pyramids can be found in La Ciudadela where the supreme ruler of the city is believed to have lived. Don’t forget to check out the fantastic serpent carvings at Templo de Quetzalcóatl.

Our favorite, as of many other tourists, is the Pirámide del Sol is 70 meters high and has 248 steps. The Pirámide de la Luna, Jaguar Palace, Quetzal Butterfly and the Temple of the Plumed Conch Shell are other spaces in this compound that you would love to see. A mural is very famous here, which is both extravagant and awe-inspiring. It is located in the Paradise of Tláloc in the Palacio de Tepantitla.

Tulum

We love this place because it carefully nestled from the east coast crowd and provides you luxury vacation experiences. Though the spot is becoming popular among luxury travelers, it is still not a hotspot, which makes it an even more enduring destination for visit. The little place is located right around some Mayan ruins, which are in perfect condition to date.

Apart from enjoying the wonderful experiences here, you will also love to see the bioreserves and several cenotes. These underground water-filled caverns are awe-inspiringly beautiful. The place remains quiet and quaint, even during the spring break.

Mexico City

This place is uniquely beautiful. It is the cultural capital of the country and lets you dab into the civilization, heritage and culture that Mexico boasts of. It is one of the largest cities in the world and introduces you to a multi-cultural experience that you won’t find even in the most cosmopolitan UK cities.

The Federal District in the area is full of gems in historic and cultural references. The city was founded in the year 1325 and was then called Tenochtitlan. The Spanish later called it Mexico. The 500-year old city has lots of pre-colonial and colonial history. You can get the best of Mexican arts, food and lifestyle here. The fiestas, restaurants and the various performance arts scene is thriving here. So, if you like to have fun without spending a fortune, this is the place for you.

These were our favorite destinations from the beautiful American country. Which ones do you like the most? Let us know in the comments and share your Mexican travel experiences with us.

Romania the Little Known Yet Spectacular Destination

December 14th, 2017 by Dave Leave a Comment

Though Romania isn’t the first country that pops up in your mind when you think about travelling to Europe, it is still a beautiful place to explore. The offbeat destination offers you natural beauty, some hearty meals and a cheaper than usual stay. If you don’t like to be surrounded by thousands of other tourists, this place is for you.

Here are some destinations in Romania that you could travel to.

Dracula’s castle

Although the building referred to as ‘Dracula’s Castle’ didn’t really belong to literature’s most famous vampire, it does have a spending medieval charm. Visit this place to enjoy a meal in Queen Marie’s Tea House or experience the count’s escape route through a glass elevator. Brasov, the city that houses this castle is one of the most amazing places in the country. It has preserved its medieval history and heritage like no other and offers you scores of activities, from visiting the castles to going hiking in the mountains nearby. The bars in this city are as good as the food they serve, which is filling, hearty and made with the freshest and most delicious ingredients.

We also visited the Black Church in the city. This beautiful church gets its name from a great fire of 1689 that caused the walls of the building to turn black because of the smoke. The exterior is slightly damaged but very beautifully so and the interiors are even better. This church has the honor of being the largest gothic church of the country and houses one of the largest organs in this region.

Painted Monasteries in Bucovina

There are few places in Europe as unique as the painted monasteries of Bucovina. The exterior walls house several frescos from the 15^th and 16^th century. There are frescos depicting biblical scenes, including the life of Jesus, the saints and prophets and several images of heaven, hell, angels and demons. They are one of the finest depictions of Byzantine art and bring to you outstanding biblical themes and harmonious colors and elegant compositions.

We were especially awestruck by the Ladder to Paradise housed in Sucevita Monastery. You will find several red-winged angels lined up in rows on a slanting ladder that symbolize the way to heaven. The Hymn to the Virgin and Tree of Jesse are equally beautiful. This place even has a museum where you will find several artistic and historical objects. Sucevita was an important manuscript workshop that later became a printing center. You will like the tomb covers of Simion Movila and Ieremia which are beautiful, elaborate portraits made with silver threads.

Our other favorite places are Bucharest which offers you the most unique blends of old communist buildings and new age architecture as well as the Fagaras Mountains. We love to trek here with fellow travelers and enjoy the breathtaking views that this place has to offer. Romania’s three highest peaks are located here, so you should be ready for multiple days of hiking.

We will be travelling to Bucharest again soon. Hope to explore much more in their cuisine this time.

How to Enjoy Travelling with Your Family

November 9th, 2017 by Dave 6 Comments

Does travelling with the family feel overwhelming to you? It doesn’t have to. If you only focus on planning ahead and researching the destination in advance, it will be easy to travel and have fun. Today, we will share our best kept secrets of travelling with your kin.

Don’t start tired

The best advice that we give the readers before travelling is getting rested before starting the travel. If you are travelling solo, you can easily sleep the journey away. However, with family, you may want to engage in chit chats too. A tired mind and body will be difficult to manage during the trip. If you are traveling lost distance, the jet lag could already take a toll on you. Even driving to short distance destinations could be a pain. So, sleep well a night before.

Do it together

When traveling with kids, it could be overwhelming to pack everything. Ask the kids to help you pack. They are likely excited about the travel and will readily help you in packing their belongings too. Make sure that you don’t carry too much baggage with your while traveling with family. It is obvious that you will already be running after kids. Keeping extra load won’t help. So, keep it light, take only the essentials and learn innovative packing techniques to pack in the most luggage in the smallest space.

Take a porta potty along

If you have small kids with you, they may feel intimidated with the new bathrooms or may generally dislike going to a new place. If this is the case, carry a porta potty with you that your toddler usually uses. This will help them in feeling more comfortable and avoid any accidents as well. Again, we would advise you to use the lightest porta potty possible. This will help you in staying comfortable while traveling to.

Stuffed animals

If your child is feel uncomradely in a new place, you should bring them their favorite stuffed animal too. Make sure that it is small. Also, spend some time with the child to make them feel more comfortable. When you are taking the child outdoors and they feel overwhelmed because of crowds and many new faces, you should bring them to a familiar restaurant theme or bring them a food that they would like. Engage them in some kind of activity when moving around.

Keep diapers along

You will always find diapers around the world but it is not necessary that they will suit your baby’s skin. It will be better to carry your own diapers so that the baby’s skin doesn’t get irritated. The space of the diapers can be used to carry souvenirs and all your shopping exploits while on the way back.

Plan the itinerary in advance

Always plan the trip in advance and don’t depend on spontaneity when travelling with the family. If the kids are old enough, tell them about the places they will be travelling to. This will help them feel more mentally secure while travelling.

Try these tips when you are travelling to ensure that you have a great time.

Travelling to History’s Favorite Child- South Africa

October 24th, 2017 by Dave Leave a Comment

South Africa is known mostly for its spectacular beaches, mesmerizing wildlife and Nelson Mandela. Even if you go only to Cape Town, you will find several mountains, safaris and a coastline that never seems to end. It is one of the most spending travel destinations in the world and is very inexpensive as well. Dabbing into the culture is quite an experience but you will be feeling good, even if you simply enjoy the wildlife here.

Here are some of our favorite things to do in South Africa

Go to the Kruger National Park

This national park is one of the most famous in the continent and provides you 2 million hectares of natural life that is filled with exotic flora and fauna. The park features 500 bird species and over a hundred-mammal species include zebra, hippo, buffalo, rhino, cheetah, leopard, lion and the mighty African elephant. If you are fond of more exciting safaris, you can visit the Umfolozi National Park, Addo National Park, Pilanesberg National Park and the St. Lucia Wetlands.

Township areas

It is deeply saddening to witness the history of Apartheid in South Africa. During the times, the government made separate townships to contain people in Soweto. You can go here and see the harsh realities of the long-gone Apartheid in action. You can also go to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in jail for raising his voice against the discriminatory policies. Johannesburg museums are also full of the era. We strongly believe that no one should be discriminated against. You must visit these places to find a humbling realization that the world is connected and there is no place for hatred in this world.

Sleep in Gandhi’s house

South Africa is full of history. Another great figure of the 20^th century, Mahatma Gandhi started his early years of protest while practicing law here. He lived in Hermann Kallenbach’s designed house here. This house was the home for Gandhi between 1908 and 1909. It is situated in Johannesburg and has now been restored for visitors.

You can come here for day trip as well as overnight stays. The seven rooms of this home are now available for people. You can come here and learn everything about Gandhi’s movement of passive resistance against the British Empire and why he is revered in this young nation, apart from his home country of India.

Visit the vineries

You never thought about vineries when we mentioned South Africa, or did you? This country is the biggest exporter of wine in the world and has some of the freshest, crispiest and most delicious wines in the world. To come here and taste the wine fresh among the lush mountains is the most fantastic way to end your tour. You will find vineries all over the country, but Cape Town is often the most accessible.

Surfing and soaking up the sun on the beach is also popular in this country, thanks to its large and diverse coastline. Don’t forget to spare a day only for beach hopping when here.

North Japan Travel Destinations That No One Will Tell You About

September 18th, 2017 by Dave Leave a Comment

If there is one place on Earth that will continue to mesmerize you every day of the week, it is Japan. Most tourists who visit this beautiful nation stick to traditional options like Tokyo, Kyoto and some places of Honshu and Hokkaidu. However, there are many more places that people don’t discuss about on travel blogs.

Dewa San-zan

The three holy mountains of Yamagata are known to mountains priests as a site for performing sacred rituals. Several pilgrims walk up to the summit of Haguro-san. This place is famous amongst the Japanese but anyone who is looking for some spiritual enlightenment, a new kind of hiking tour or simply willing to enjoy the sheer beauty of this place could come here and walk more than 2,400 steps to the summit. We also like to go to Tendo, the highlands where locals make shogi chess pieces.

Chuson-ji

The temple at Chuson-ji was built in the 12^th century and had stayed put since then in all its simple glory. This place was designed by the Fujiwara family. However, their several wars against their counterparts, led to a destruction of this beautiful structure. Today, only two of the temple structures are standing valiantly in the sun. The Konjikido is the more spectacular of the two.

This mausoleum is fantastically rich and opulent and was designed in 1124 by Kiyohira for himself. This place is known as the Golden Hall because everything is covered in pure gold, except for the uppermost reaches of the roof. Experts suggest that Columbus was after this place and called it the country of Chipangu. Today, the Golden Hall is covered behind a fireproof concrete wall and a glass exterior.

The second structure, Kyozo, was built in 1108. During its golden days, it was used to store Buddhist sutras. You can also visit Hiraizumi, where you find a spectacular garden from the Heian period. The garden is located in Jodo-teien of the Mostu-ji temple which was found in 850 but is now destroyed. The garden survived the test of time and its mini islands, lawns and lake can still be experienced here. Iris flowers bloom in the paradise garden every June.

Otaru

It was once the bustling fishing spot in the region but now has become a curious blend of modern and traditional Japan. From here, you can go to witness the spectacular coastlines of Hokkaido. There are several opportunities to boat and fish. Plus, there are many ski areas and campsites too. No matter what you like, there is something for you in Otaru.

Sapporo

This place is located in southwestern Hokkaido. The city is home to 1.7 million people and provides a great atmosphere with the most beautiful boulevards in all of Japan. Most tourists flock here in the beginning of February to witness the Snow Festival. Several artists create sculptures made of ice and amateurs, professionals and even corporates send their teams to create the sculptures here.

If you are planning an itinerary to Japan, don’t forget to add these places to your list. You will be surprised at the experiences that they can bring you way.

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