RSSSep|20|2007
Home Swap/Home Exchange Facts
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Destinations, Family, Tips
While doing research on home exchange I was really surprised at how widespread it apparently is. After looking at various listings though I was a bit disappointed at the number of “home exchangers” who were actually simply looking for vacationers that would rent their beach houses and other luxury properties. Anyway, here’s what I found out about home swaps.
1. Home swaps are supposed to be free. While websites might exact a price for you to be able to post listings or even just view them there should be no money exchanged between the vacationers.
2. There are plenty of posers out there. To avoid people who are just trying to reel you into renting their property here’s some things that will warn you about them while scanning listings:
Exchange period is listed as flexible – It’s flexible because when you contact them they don’t even really live in their house nor are …
Sep|19|2007
Swapping Homes
Posted by Hannah Grace as Adventure, Around The World, Family, Website
After reading Camica’s post about Women Welcome Women WorldWide (5W), I remembered this blog I stumbled upon sometime last year – Travel the Home Exchange Way (called Home Exchange Travel before). The blog exposed me to a whole new way of vacationing.
Staying with another family during vacations is nothing new. In fact people have stayed with family and friends, or even friends of friends, since time immemorial. What is not so common is vacationing in the home of an almost stranger – an acquaintance. After all this requires not only hospitality but a huge level of trust. This is why 5W struck me as, not only unique, but refreshingly idealistic. Not too retract from the merits of opening your home to a stranger turned new-found friend, swapping homes is, as I …
Sep|11|2007
Coober Pedy: Opal Capital of the World
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Australia NZ, Destinations
Coober Pedy, touted as the Opal Capital of the World, has every right to claim the title being the major supplier of gem quality opals in the world market. With its more than 70 opal fields plenty of people who have heard of the place are quick to assume that Coober Pedy has nothing more than mines and write it off as definitely not one of the places they would want to visit. This is unfortunate since Coober Pedy really has some interesting stuff to offer.
One of the weird but fascinating things about Coober Pedy is that many of the infrastructure, including homes, bars, and even churches, are built underground. The reason for this is that it experiences temperatures so extreme that the best way to get a beat the heat is to just stay underground. So while it is true …
Sep|05|2007
Sydney Must-Sees: Taronga Zoo and the Blue Mountains
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Australia NZ, Destinations, Eco-Friendly, Family
Aside from the Sydney Opera Hourse, the Rocks Market, and Darling Harbour Sydney musts sees for me are the Taronga Zoo and the World Heritage Blue Mountains.
Taronga Zoo
Taronga Zoo won the 2007 ARAZPA (Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria) Exhibit Award for small-scale exhibits which showed the zoos dedication to helping conserve and revive the almost extinct Corroboree Frog. Though efforts like these are laudable in itself Taronga Zoo will awe its visitors not (only) because of their dedication to conservation but also because of the wide variety of animals (340 species) that live there. Like any zoo the animals are the real stars in Taronga Zoo. Aside form the wildlife Taronga Zoo also boasts an excellent “garden”. The “garden” covers a total area of 33 acres of landscaped gardens with exhibits as well as bushland.
Blue Mountain…
Sep|01|2007
Sydney Must-Sees
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Arts & Culture, Australia NZ, Cities, Destinations, Family, Shopping
With so many things to see and do at Sydney if I were to choose just five things you really must see during your trip to Sydney, this would be the list.
Sydney Opera House
ALL tourists go to see the Opera House. You can go and buy tickets to watch all kinds of performances from plays to dances. Of course you can watch an opera too. For those interested in knowing the latest performance schedules you visit the Sydney Opera website. If you do not really wish to watch a performance you can go on a guided tour or eat out in one of the cafes and restaurants located in or near the Opera House.
The Rocks Market
Held during weekends only the Rocks Market is located at the end of George and Platfair Streets. …
Aug|29|2007
Shopping in Sydney: Where to Shop
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Arts & Culture, Australia NZ, Food and Drink, Shopping
Since we now know WHAT to shop for in Sydney now let me point you to the places WHERE you can shop. All over Sydney you will find shopping havens some with exotics stuff to offer some with more mainstream goods and many with a huger variety of products.
Starting at the city centre, Sydney will already capture the shopaholics heart with so many places to spend your money on. Anyone who wanders around the city centre is warned to leave their credit cards at the hotel safety deposit box because you wouldn’t be surprised if you max it out with a single whirlwind visit to the World Square Shopping Centre (offers everything from homeware to fresh food and so much more with 90 specialty stores), the Martin Place (which is not just a place to shop but a landmark where you can find the GPO Shopping centre, MLC …
Aug|28|2007
Shopping in Sydney: Fun Under the Sun
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Australia NZ, Resorts, Shopping
If you love to shop and are a beach lover at the same time Sydney is one of the best places to combine your two loves. Forget about bringing your swim wear and head to shop before hitting the beach.
Australia, not surprisingly, is home to popular surf wear and swim wear brands such as Mambo, Billabong and Quicksilver. Women have plenty of great brands such as Zimmerman, Tiger Lily, Sea Folly, Togz and more. There’s so much to choose from that you will surely find one to suit your body and your budget. Ken Done’s swimwear is an all time favorite for those who want to look exquisitely artsy.
What I love about shopping in Australia, and anywhere else, though are the beach accessories. Flip flops, bags, straw hats, sun glasses, and even lip …
Aug|27|2007
Shopping in Sydney: Jewellery
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Australia NZ, Shopping
Australia is a great place to shop if you’re looking for something to add to your jewellery collection. The country produces precious resources such as gold, diamonds, opals and pearls. Naturally Sydney is a great place to look for the best pieces being home to some of the world’s best artisans and jewellery houses.
Before shopping for jewellery it would be a good idea if you visit the website of the Jewellers Association of Australia where you can find lots of informative articles. They have individual guides to buying cultured pearls, opal, gold jewellery, couloured gemstones and diamonds. You will also find tips on caring for the jewelery you buy as well as questions you should ask to help you choose a jeweller. You can also search their website for a list of local jewellers. You will need to enter the …
Aug|24|2007
Shopping at Sydney: Art
Posted by Hannah Grace as Around The World, Arts & Culture, Australia NZ, Destinations, Shopping, Website
When people hear the word “Sydney” the first thing that pops into most people’s minds is a picture of the Opera House. Like any place though Sydney has so much more to offer and will delight any tourist with all the sights to see and all the things you can do. With all the things that can be said about Sydney it was pretty hard for me to choose what to write about today, until I remembered shopping! Shopping for souvenirs might be the last thing to do for many travelers but for shopaholics souvenirs are just an excuse to browse around and haggle. Sydney is a great place for shoppers whether you are looking for art, fashion accessories or wine and food.
Art lovers will surely love the indigenous art of the aborigines with each piece reflecting a special part of …
Aug|16|2007
Flying with a Wheelchair: Other Reminders
Posted by Hannah Grace as Air Travel, Tips, Transport
If you have read my previous posts on Flying with a Wheelchair (Airline and Booking Issues) the you are probably more confident about going on a trip now despite having to take your your (family member’s) wheelchair along. Before I end this series of posts here are some more reminders to help make sure your wheelchair survives the flight and that you enjoy th flight as much as possible.
1. Packing – Make sure the wheelchair is packed well. Though you might be able to oversee the loading, if your wheelchair isn’t packed properly and there are rattling parts inside then you might end up with a damaged wheelchair. This is the one thing you don’t want to happen of course. So check and double check the packing and make sure handling instructions are followed. Use as much foam as needed!
2. Batteries – For those …
