| Mar 30, 2011 |
| India V. Pakistan |
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| It was a match for the ages. Today two South Asian rivals, India and Pakistan, met up in the semi-final match of the Cricket World Cup. |
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Now in North America cricket's barely a blip on the radar of sports fans. In fact, Canadians have such a poor international reputation as players of the sport, that "to play like a Canadian" is widely understood to mean losing badly. (We're too busy winning gold medals in hockey to let this hurt our feelings!)
But after soccer, cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, and in South Asia the game is a national passion, culminating with this week's fever of World Cup excitement. Today the nations of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (who will be playing in the final) virtually shut down for business, as companies sent workers home or brought large screen TVs into offices to watch the game.
Today's winner? India. And so they will face Sri Lanka on Saturday, for the first ever all-South-Asian championship match. The host city of Mumbai will be THE place to be this weekend, with people offering upwards of 30,000 rupees (and even reports of desperate fans offering kidneys!) for a chance to witness the historic game. |
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| Mar 29, 2011 |
| A Day in Varna, Bulgaria: Local Tips |
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| Varna, Bulgaria has become a popular port of call for cruise ships sailing through Eastern Europe. One of the prettiest sail-ins on the Black Sea, it’s also a magnet for summer crowds. We asked our popular Bulgarian guide Dany how to make the most of your time in Varna. |
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Dany’s response: You definitely don’t want to mix with the crowds in the most visited tourist sites. You are probably dreaming of a different and relaxing, but at the same time marvelous and memorable experience, an experience to remember.
First thing you should do to get in the holiday spirit: go to beautiful Varna beach, where you can enjoy a short walk on the fine, “gold” sand and dip into the sea. The water of the Black Sea is clean, warm and half as salty as the Mediterranean. There are no tides, no predatory fish, even no jelly fish and the sea bottom is sandy and shallow.
After your sea bath, you should sit in one of the numerous cafes and restaurants located right on the beach. All of them offer a good selection of local dishes and drinks. While admiring the stunning view of the sea, the surf of the waves and the flight of the seagulls you should try a pint of local beer with a fresh seafood dish. If you don’t like seafood, you can taste traditional Bulgarian cuisine with a glass of Bulgarian wine. Fascinated with the majestic charm and energy of the Sea you should stroll through our Sea Park where you will enjoy the perfect combination of the interesting landscape, the plant varieties and the lovely gardens together with calmness, quietness and coolness.
There are several mineral water springs in Varna with proven curative powers. So if you want to fill up your own bottle for free just tap into the mineral springs on your way and there’s no limit to the size or number of the bottles you fill.
If you want to buy a souvenir you can walk along the pedestrian area which is lined with many shops where everyone is spoiled for choice. If you want to see the Modern Bulgarian Art you should visit some of the Art Galleries.
I believe these will be fun and relaxing experiences to remember my city. I hope to see you there soon!
If you want Dani’s help exploring Varna, you can meet her here:
Private tours of Varna with Dany. |
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| Mar 28, 2011 |
| Private tours more economical than bus tours - who knew? |
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| ToursByLocals was recently featured in the Globe and Mail (Canada’s National Newspaper), who ran a piece comparing the merits of private tours versus large group tours. The surprising result was that in most travel circumstances, it was actually more economical for a small group (i.e. a family of 4 and even a couple travelling together) to hire a private guide for a customized day tour, rather than pay for individual spots on a more generic bus tour. |
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Here is a link to the Globe article: Private Guide The Cheapest Way to See the Sights.
And to make travel dollars stretch even further, many cruise ship passengers are connecting with other passengers prior to their sailing, making new friends on online discussion boards like CruiseCritic, and banding together to hire private guides at their ports of call. They end up paying a fraction of the cost of the ship’s standard shore excursions.
So don’t discount hiring a private guide as a travel luxury you can’t afford; crunch the numbers and you may find that a small, customized private tour can actually end up being cheaper (not to mention all the other benefits you'll enjoy, like flexibility, spontaneity and authenticity) than a standard bus tour. |
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| Mar 25, 2011 |
| Learn to Cook in Ho Chi Minh City |
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| Today we’d like to feature a tour that we feel embodies the spirit of ToursByLocals. We believe traveling to new places is about so much more than seeing the sights; it’s about meeting new friends, learning firsthand about the local customs and environment, and leaving a place feeling you’ve gained some genuine cultural understanding. One great way to do this is by eating! |
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Wherever we travel, we find food is always central to a culture; the cultivation, preparation and sharing of food strengthens bonds between individuals and communities. Discovering local cuisine is a wonderfully satisfying way to learn about the specific ingredients, rituals and customs that go into sharing a meal. And it’s fun! Cooking and enjoying a meal with someone is a great way to make a new friend.
Mai, a friendly and popular guide in Ho Chi Minh City, recently created a tour that brings visitors right into her family’s kitchen. She’ll come find you at your hotel or cruise ship, then take you for a shopping trip through a local market where she’ll help you source fresh ingredients for a delicious Vietnamese meal. Then it’s back to Mai’s house where you’ll get a private cooking lesson from Mai, her mother and sister. Once the meal is ready, sit down together and enjoy the delicious local dish you’ve prepared from scratch! Mai will even send you home with your own Vietnamese recipe book so you can try to re-create your meal for friends back home. For those looking for a fun and authentic local travel experience, does it get any better that this?
To get in touch with Mai and learn more about her thoughtfully designed tours of Saigon, visit Mai's guide profile page. |
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