Beware of the local laws when you travel

Here are some of those cultural differences that can land ignorant travelers in the local jail. Although some can be humorous, it’s a good idea to be informed about local laws wherever your adventures take you.

Amsterdam, Netherlands A curious loophole in the law means that smoking tobacco in a public place such as a coffee shop in Amsterdam is banned, while puffing away on pure cannabis is entirely legal.

Eboli, Italy Honeymooners might be best to avoid hiring a car in Eboli, just south of Naples. Kissing in a moving vehicle here can carry a fine of up to 500 euros.

Eraclea, Italy Many holidaymakers head to the sandy beach at Eraclea to escape the hordes of tourists in nearby Venice. Unfortunately, those who enjoy building sandcastles can think again – it’s forbidden.

Capri, Italy Locals in Capri, Italy, must value their peace and quiet – a couple were arrested recently for wearing excessively noisy flip-flops, following the introduction of a ban on “noisy footwear.”

Dubai, UAE Dubai’s luxurious resorts and stunning beaches may seem like the ideal place to spend a romantic holiday, but don’t get too affectionate – kissing in public here is illegal, and many tourists have fallen foul of this law in recent years.

Singapore In a bid to keep the streets of this super-efficient city clean, the authorities in Singapore decided in 1992 to ban chewing gum completely. Stick to a mint

South-East Asia The durian, a fruit native to Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, has a smell so incredibly strong that it is banned from many public places in South-East Asia.

Best places to hike

Lace up your hiking boots and lets head out. Everyone had different thoughts on what makes a good hike. Something in the forest, or something with a view. Learning history or experiencing it along the way. Here are some of the top rated hikes in the world. Would you agree?

In our own back yard, British Columbia Canada, is the West Coast Trail.
It is a rugged, challenging but extremely rewarding trail. The 75km path take you through old growth forest to beaches and headlands.



Zion Narrows, Utah USA

Hike through the waters of this canyon, which twists and turns to reveal carved alcoves, hanging gardens and "Wall Street" a 3.2km stretch where the canyon narrows to 7.2m wide and 455m high.




Inca Trail, Peru

This is a trek for those who love history and culture. Learn about the ancient Inca empire as you follow in their footsteps to magical Machu Picchu.



Hadrian's Wall, United Kingdom

This wall was built as a defense fortification in AD 122, and ran across the width of Northern Britain. A significant part of the wall still remains along this 120km hike from coast to coast.



Routeburn Track, New Zealand

Just one of the many amazing hikes in New Zealand, this hike takes 3 days. Hiking through the superb scenery of the Southern Alps in the South Island.


Phoenix, Arizona USA

National Geographic rates Phoenix among America's best hiking cities with 320 kilometres of accessible hiking trails.








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Hotels for Solos

While hotels generally don't charge a single supplements the way tour operators and cruise ships do, some hotels are taking steps to cater to solo travelers.

Dukes London has a whole floor just for women. (Duchess Rooms) are readily available for the ladies traveling alone. Rooms include things like smaller slippers, lifestyle magazines and a makeup mirror at the vanity.  Women can enjoy a corner table to themselves in the dining room so that they can eat in peace and not feel like they are on display in the middle of the room. And all services on the floor, from escort upon arrival to deliveries to housekeeping, are handled exclusively by female members of staff.

Foods that are a little different

Would you try any of these foods ?  Have you ?
I couldn't bring myself to post pictures of these picture, do a quick google if you need a visual.

Bird's Nest Soup - China

This is not just a clever name. This soup is actually made from a birds nest, which in turn are made of bird's hardened saliva. The texture is apparently reminiscent of mucus.

Hakarl - Iceland
Hakarl has a strong ammonia smell, which makes me wonder who ever thought to eat it. This fermented shark is readily available in Icelandic stores all year round and is eaten in all seasons.

Casu Marzu - Italy
Often called ‘Italian maggot cheese’ because the special ingredient is live maggots. Casu Marzu is a rotten sheep cheese that has been made in Sardinia, Italy for generations in exactly the same way. The maggots are removed before eating, however sometimes they are missed.

Sheep's Head
This is a dish enjoyed in many countries, particularly Scandinavian and Mediterranean ones such as Morocco. The diner is served an entire sheep's head, eyeballs, tongue and all.

Balut - Philippines
This hard boiled fertilized duck embryo is a common street food in the Philippines, most people tent to season their duck fetus with a salt, chili and vinegar dressing.

5 things not to do on airplanes

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Every time you get on an airplane, it's a crap shoot. No, I'm not talking about safety but rather the person you'll be sitting next to. All walks of life end up flying at one point or another. Maybe you're stuck sitting next to someone who doesn't quite understand that his actions impact others around him. Or maybe YOU are that person.

Put out by CNN, here are a list of the top 5 things not to do on an airplane.

NUMBER ONE
No bare feet -- It should go without saying that being cooped up on an airplane with others mere inches from you is painful enough with everyone clothed. Just because it's a long flight does not mean you can get as comfortable as you get at home. Sure, go ahead and kick your shoes off, but you better be wearing socks. And if your feet smell, put those shoes right back on to make sure that you contain the stink. This one applies in all classes.

NUMBER TWO
Don't abuse the recline -- Coach passengers have few things that they can control in the flying experience, but one is the angle of their seats. For most, there is a realization that if you recline your seat, it will impact the person behind you. There are those few out there, however, who simply don't care and jack that seat back as far as it will go. You have the right to recline, but try to be considerate. Don't be that guy who sees a cart rolling down the aisle with dinner on that long flight and decides to lean back. It's hard enough to eat on an airplane, but it's impossible with the seat bending back into your face.

NUMBER THREE

Don't be an overhead hog -- Everyone knows that there is likely going to be more demand for overhead bin space than actual space up there, so why not do your part to help get as much up there as you can? Put your roller bag wheels-in instead of sideways, if it fits. Don't take up a ton of space by placing a coat along the entire bin. More important, if someone asks if she can move your bag around to try to fit her own, let them. Think of it like a big Tetris puzzle, and you don't want to leave an empty space.

NUMBER FOUR

No talking loudly to strangers -- There are some people who love to talk to their seatmates on airplanes; there are others who dread the thought. There's nothing wrong with talking to your seatmate if there's a mutual interest, but keep the volume down to avoid bugging those around you who really don't care where you're from and what you do for a living. And just because you're talking to someone doesn't mean that he wants to talk to you. Be very careful to observe the warning signs -- fidgeting, quietness, looking away from you, opening a magazine, etc. Some people aren't rude, but they don't want to talk to you. Take a hint.

NUMBER FIVE

Don't make dumb jokes -- It's amazing how many people out there still think it's funny to say, "I've got a bomb," or something equally stupid. Oh sure, it's hi-larious to you, but it's only going to get you thrown off the plane and into heavy questioning. You might have no better way to spend your time, but when you delay that flight, you'll have a hundred or more new enemies who wish you'd never boarded.

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The World's Best Cities for Beer

Ever thought about a pub crawl around the world ?  Well here are the to p 10 cities around the world to indulge in ale, lager, stout, draught, pilsner, and more.

Dublin, Ireland
Are you surprised ? Renowned for producing Ireland's most famous export (Guinness), drinking beer is a way of life in Dublin. Despite the high prices, you'll find pubs and traditional alehouses full of happy patrons.

Munich, Germany
More than 125 million gallons of beer are consumed annually in Munich, home of Oktoberfest and the Hofbräuhaus beer hall.

Amsterdam, Netherland
The ancestral home of globally-recognized beers like Amstel, Heineken, and Grolsh, Amsterdam serves up dozens of styles, flavors, and labels.

Prague, Czech Republic
Arguably the largest consumers of beers in world (more than 41 gallons per person per year), the Czechs are believed to have invented pilsner. The city also happens to be among the cheapest places in Europe for drinking amber ale.

Vienna, Austria

Can't think of an Austrian beer? Well, that's probably because the best beers in Vienna come from boutique microbreweries, so you won't find them outside Europe. Microbreweries are especially popular, but conglomerate brewer groups like Bräu-Union also dominate the local market with brands like Gösser, Zipfer, Schwechate, Wieselburger, and Puntigamer.

Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo may not be cheap, but the beer is certainly easy to find: you can even buy cans from vending machines on the street (no ID is required). Although many pubs here try to cater to Western tastes and offer imported beers, most serve local varieties on tap. There is also a relatively new and vibrant Japanese craft beer scene (ji-biiru).

Portland, OregonThe West Coast beer haven of Portland has more breweries per person than any other city in the U.S.: more than 30 at last count. Hops and barley are grown locally, so you know that your microbrew will be fresh and natural.

Hanoi, Vietnam
The country's relationship with beer started in earnest during the Vietnam War when U.S. soldiers created an increased demand. Today, Hanoi has some of the cheapest and best varieties of beer in Asia. The most popular brands are San Miguel, Tiger 333, Bia Saigon, and Bière Larue. Make sure you also try Bia Hoi, or "fresh beer," a light-bodied pilsner without preservatives that is brewed and delivered daily to drinking establishments throughout Hanoi.

Melbourne, AustraliaHome to Carlton and United Breweries, Australia actively exports Foster's Lager, but locals prefer Victoria Bitter (VB), Crown, or Carlton Draught. With a pub seemingly on every major street corner in Melbourne, prices are relatively low and tipping is included in the price of the beer. Learn the terminology: "a shout" means you're buying the round, and "lite" actually means low-alcohol, not low-calorie. You can try some of these Austrailan beers at a local pub called Moose's Down Under, here in Vancouver.

Edinburgh, ScotlandLocals often boast that Edinburgh has the highest concentration of pubs in Europe. Who are we to argue? The Scots have been brewing hops for thousands of years, and the tradition of drinking continues in the pubs of Edinburgh.

Mexico City, MexicoMexico produces dozens of beers but only exports a handful of brands that have become household names in the U.S. A trip to Mexico City will open your eyes (and your mouth) to other tasty varieties, many brewed
from century-old recipes. Regional pilsners, including Indio, Victoria, and Superior, are crisp and perfect to enjoy under the Mexican sun. The classic Germanic-style Noche Buena is only available seasonally from September to December.

Milwaukee, WisconsinOnce the nation's top beer-producing city and the base for four of the world's largest breweries (Schlitz, Pabst, Miller, and Blatz), Miller is now the only one that still calls Milwaukee home. Fortunately, the beer legacy survives in the form of the smaller breweries that have taken up residence -- and the aptly named baseball team: the Brewers.

Brussels, Belgium Brussels is the center of Belgium's huge beer industry, where the alcohol content is high and the varieties are plentiful.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia -- the City of Brotherly Love -- knows that the best bonding can happen over a pint or two.