Flight Centre’s Marya Shaharyar travels to breathtaking Hawaii to explore the beauty and meaning behind this Polynesian culture. Marya offers vacation tips on where to shop, bargain, sightsee and stay on the island of Oahu. From beaches and surfing to picking your own oyster, Marya says Aloha! from Hawaii…

In Hawaii, the term ‘Aloha’ is used and substituted in many ways. It can mean Hello, Goodbye or even love. However, the true meaning of the word is ‘Breath of Life’. This certainly holds true when you visit Honolulu! The fresh, floral air energizes you and the tranquil waters revitalize you. The breathtaking, all natural beauty breathes new life into you.

Honolulu, being the state capital and the most metropolitan area, caters to all types of travelers. If you like city life and shopping head over to Waikiki, the most vibrant part of Honolulu. If you like beaches then get to Sandy Beach or even Waikiki Beach, just two of the many options available. Want romance or quiet time? Drive over to North Shore and stay at Turtle Bay. Hawaii even has something for the history buffs who can visit the memorial site of Pearl Harbour. For surfers, Hawaii is heaven. To experience Hawaiian culture you have to go to the Polynesian Centre. In fact, a visit to Honolulu is not complete without getting over there!

You cannot walk more then a few steps before you see a bride and groom or honeymoon couples walking hand in hand. Natural beauty is in abundance in Hawaii, from mountains to Diamond Head to beautiful oceans that seem to go on forever. Oahu is definitely a nature photographer’s dream. And of course nothing beats the feel of sand running through your toes or eating dinner while watching a beautiful sunset. From fine dining to the best cheeseburger I have ever had, culinary options will never be limited.

Oahu offers you a variety of hotels and dining for every budget making the myth of Hawaii being too expensive just that – a myth. From boutique hotels to condo stays and the ultra luxury hotels, you really can find a place you like.

If you like to bargain, even just for the fun of it, then walk over to the International Marketplace in Waikiki. You can also go shopping at Target or visit many of the designer shops that line the streets where the Coach store is more popular than McDonalds. Guaranteed, you will always find something to buy. You can even experience picking an oyster for yourself, by visiting one of the many booths that allow you to do just that! Pick your oyster, crack it open, and discover a beautiful pearl.

Want to learn more? Then be sure to visit Oahu and see for yourself what this island has to offer!

The island of Oahu is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Hawaii license plate photo used under Creative Commons by woody1778a from Flickr.

******Looking for more information on travelling to Honolulu for an exotic Hawaii adventure? Contact Marya Shaharyar, a Travel Manager with Corporate Traveler based in Toronto, Ontario who can be reached at 1 866 606 5350.

Flight Centre’s Samantha Osborne-Wong travels to Greece on a Transat Holiday and blogs about her adventures in Athens, and on the islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Heraklion, and Patmos. Samantha also visits Kusadasi, Turkey and the ruins of Ephesus. Let’s turn this over to Samantha –

I recently had the pleasure of partaking in the Transat agent FAM to Greece in May. The itinerary that was arranged for us was fantastic. Our trip consisted of a 4 day Greek Island tour and 3 days in Athens. The trip was very well planned, and had a great balance of work and play. I could write ten pages about my trip, but instead have decided to narrow down my favorite highlights of the trip.

While in Greece I had the pleasure of visiting some of the most popular Islands; Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Heraklion and Patmos. We also had the pleasure of visiting Kusadasi, Turkey and got to see the beautiful ruins of Ephesus. That was a real treat and one of my favorite days!

Mykonos was our first port of the cruise, and a memorable island it was. We visited two romantic hotels that Transat had to offer, before we headed to the waterfront for our first taste of traditional Greek food. A group of us thought it would be nice to get to know each other so we all had dinner at this intimate restaurant. We ate Moussaka, drank wine and it finally sunk in that we were in Greece!

Rhodes was a photographer (me) dream! The Island was surrounded by a medieval wall. Once inside you were almost overwhelmed by the cobblestone roads that were lined by street vendors and motor bikes. Once there we were bussed off to Lindos, where I was first to climb the 300 steps to the Lindos Acropolis. The views from above were breathtaking and I truly could relate to what our guide was saying. She said that the ancients built this Acropolis there not only for the Military advantage, but for the spirit, rejuvenation and exhilaration that they would feel once they reached the top. She said that they would all feel leaving with a sense of accomplishment and enlightenment, and I couldn’t agree more. The view was enough to make you feel truly alive. Santorini was a very interesting experience for me. The cliff side was lines with white buildings and blue rooftops. It was everything that I imagined it to be. We visited some of the luxurious hotels that Santorini had to offer, as the seaside view was worth a million dollars. I was sad that I only had 4 hours to spend there as I felt that I never wanted to leave. After the hotel inspections we all decided to go to one of the posh restaurants for some refreshing wine. Well thank goodness I had more than one glass of wine, as I wouldn’t be able to do what was needed to get back to the cruise ship on time.

Let me paint a picture for you. I personally felt that Santorini would be a classy place to visit, and given that our itinerary didn’t call for much walking I decided to wear a nice black somewhat mini-skirt. I wanted to look nice in my pictures. Well given our time limit to get back to the ship, we were initially supposed to take the cable car back down the cliff side. By the time we were all done our wine, we were told that there would be a three hour wait for the cable cars, which ultimately would lead to us missing out ship. Our tour guide decided that it would be a great idea to ride DONKEYS down the cliff side. I had no choice but to either hold on to my skirt or hold on for dear life. After two turns around the bend, and a stray donkey that bucked MY donkey, I chose to hold on for dear life. Needless to say everyone got a free show at my expense. As embarrassing as it was at the time, it was the bud of a lot of laughter in the days that came.

Moving on, Athens was a different experience. We actually arrived the day after the big riot. We actually stayed at a hotel that was right around the corner of where the 3 deaths in the bank occurred. We saw evidence everywhere of the riot; graffiti on the walls, smashed in windows, blown up cars and police in riot gear everywhere we went. That aside, there wasn’t one moment that I didn’t feel safe. The Acropolis was a true site to see, and was a highlight for me. It is my goal in life to see all of the wonders of the world, so I was able to cross it off of my list. The rest of the time in Athens was spent shopping, eating, drinking and inspecting hotels. Again a great balance of work and play!

I truly had the time of my life in Greece. Even though it wasn’t a Flight Centre FAM, 20 strangers met one day and became lifelong friends the next. It was a unique experience and I am forever thankful that I had the opportunity to go. I can’t wait until my next FAM, even though it will be very hard to top my first!

Lindos on the island of Rhodes, Greece is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Looking for more information on traveling to Greece and Turkey? Contact Samantha Osborne, an International Travel Consultant with Flight Centre based in London, Ontario who can be reached at 1 866 581 7764.

Flight Centre’s Wes Farrar is back to take us on another vacation adventure; this time he guides us through the mysteries of the Orient on a GAP Adventures tour. Let’s join Wes as he shows us how to make the most out of an action packed 9 day tour of Asia with our friends GAP Adventures. Hit it Wes!

For anyone who’s ever wanted to see the sights and wonders of South East Asia but thought they needed a month to do it, I have personally experienced a trip that fits everything into 9 days.

Starting on March 15, 2007, my girlfriend and I enjoyed an amazing GAP Adventures trip that started in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon to some), ended in Bangkok and took in all the amazing sights along the way.

Our adventure began by flying from Toronto to Vancouver on WestJet, an amazing airline! Leather seats, great service, amazing staff, and I’d bet I’m not the only one who loves watching SportsCentre during my flight or a hockey game if it’s on. We arrived in Vancouver and had a few hours to kill before beginning our long haul to Vietnam. I loved the Vancouver airport; Great restaurants, very easy to get from the domestic to the international terminals (short walk which is night and day compared to Pearson in Toronto), and overall a beautiful airport. After our brief stopover and lunch at 9:30am Vancouver time (we’d already had breakfast at 5am EST) we boarded our Singapore Airlines flight and was impressed right from the word go; there’s a reason they’re rated the #1 airline in the world. Now, I have had quite a few long international flights but this was by far the most enjoyable and memorable. The service is second to none, food was outstanding, and the seats were more then comfortable. I’m 5′10″ and have felt cramped in a number of airline seats, as I’m sure several people have, however, the room in economy class allows anyone to stretch out and relax making that 10-12 hour flight very comfortable. Not to mention their in flight movie & entertainment on demand system features over 80 movies to choose from, TV shows, documentaries, and games (on the flight home my girlfriend and I were playing Battleship against each other). Easily the best flight I have been on, they brought the drink cart out twice before the plane was leveled out!

It was my second time in Vietnam and my girlfriend’s first time in Asia and upon our arrival in Vietnam and traveling to Ho Chi Minh City everything came flooding back to me. The immediate culture shock was entertaining for me, to say the least. Bartering for taxis and hotels is mandatory should you ever venture out that way. We found out how much a taxi should cost from the Saigon airport to Da Tham Street (the main travelers area) from the currency exchange counter and ventured to the taxis. Good tip, if they try for more tell them to use the meter for the cab ride, you’ll get your price. After spending the first day wandering the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City and taking in a day trip to the Cuchi tunnels, which were used during the Vietnam War, we met up with our GAP Adventures group. Our first bit of sightseeing with our group was a cycle tour through the streets of Ho Chi Minh City which was one of my highlights of the entire trip.

From Ho Chi Minh we went west towards Cambodia. After a one night stop in Chau Doc we took a boat ride up the Mekong River to the Kingdom of Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Pehn. For those who know Cambodia the recent history is less then a bright point, but does not reflect in the energy in this great city. This city is home to S21, which is the most famous of the prisons used by Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge from 1975-79. Also a short distance from Phnom Pehn you will find the killing fields. It was my second time visiting these sites and I can tell you that the second time is not any easier. A little forewarning that it gets very emotional and detailed into the dark past of both of these sites.

After two nights in the capital we flew to what was my most anticipated destination, Siem Reap, to see the amazing temples of Angkor Wat. These jewels just missed the cut to be in the new 7 wonders of the world but they got my vote. Again, this was my second time seeing these impressive man made wonders but it didn’t stop me from being just as in awe as the first time. We spent three days in the town of Siem Reap seeing the markets and temples. This town has amazing restaurants and bars and nothing beats sitting on a patio of one of the street side restaurants enjoying a $3 pitcher of beer!! Another quick tip, the street merchants can be tough so be ready to barter for souvenirs. Don’t be afraid to price shop, there’s tons of everything you see!

After our time in Siem Reap we experienced the only down part of this entire trip, the bus ride from Siem Reap to Bangkok. The ride from Siem Reap to the Thailand border is a 4.5 hour bus ride on an unfinished road with no chance for stops along the way. Stock up on snacks and hit the bathroom before the ride begins. The drive from the Thai border to Bangkok is amazing compared to the ride just experienced; Smooth roads are such a luxury!

Arriving in Bangkok, for me, was like coming home after a long time away. It’s an amazing city and anyone looking for anything should head straight to the Koh San Road. Our tour officially ended that night, so we enjoyed a night out with some great Thai food and Singha beer with our GAP leader and our group of new friends.

We decided to extend our time in Bangkok to enjoy some of the sights. Here is a list of some of the tourist highlights while in Bangkok: floating market, night of Thai boxing, day trip to the bridge over the river Kwai, the royal palace, of course the Koh San Road for souvenir shopping (and a degree in Astro Physics if you feel like buying it).

As I said at the top of this blog, this is a great 9 day GAP Adventures trip that lets you see a number of highlights in this area, all in a short amount of time. We never felt rushed and our tour leader Jarred was awesome! Plenty of free time to explore, amazing restaurants recommended, and most of all it was a great vacation experience and adventure for my girlfriend’s first trip to Asia.

Bangkok is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Looking for more information on travelling Asia on a GAP Adventures vacation? Contact Wes Farrar, a Travel Consultant with Flight Centre based in Kitchener, Ontario who can be reached at 1 866 581 7766.

Flight Centre’s Alicia Bourne travels to Orlando, Florida and blogs about her holiday at Walt Disney World; staying at Bay Lake Tower Resort and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, experiencing the mix of cuisine throughout Disney, and checking out her favourite Disney attractions and shows. Sounds like quite the jam-packed Walt Disney World vacation so let’s turn it over to Alicia –

I just got back from spending a week at the happiest place on earth-Walt Disney World! It is truly a place where you can remember what is was like to be a kid. The resorts are incredible, the food is amazing, the cast members go beyond your expectations and the parks offer experiences that last a lifetime!

I have visited Walt Disney World many times and can say that no matter how often I go, I am never disappointed. Walt Disney World is about the size of Ottawa with four theme parks, two water parks, a large downtown core, and over 15 resorts to choose from. This trip I had the opportunity to stay at two deluxe properties, which offered two very different experiences. For the first four nights I stayed at the new Bay Lake Tower by Disney’s Contemporary Resort which is a Magic Kingdom Resort. This particular resort is a 10 minute walk to Magic Kingdom and is accessible to the various parks by monorail or bus. It offers ultra modern accommodations with a bed and pull out, a small kitchenette and balcony with views of the water or theme park. If you choose to stay in a theme park view you have the opportunity to watch the fireworks from your room with the same music as the park being filtered into your room. It is a very quiet resort as it is very exclusive to the guests staying there. You need a key to get into the resort or use the outdoor pool. There is a walkway attaching the resort to Disney’s Contemporary Resort so you can access the shops, monorail, restaurants and other various activities. I was able to stay in a lake/pool view which was very relaxing and offered a water parade at night for guests to view. The studio rooms are small, but are great for couples. The one and two bedrooms are great for families as they sleep 5 to 9 guests, depending on the room, offer full kitchens and easy access to Magic Kingdom.

The other deluxe property that I was able to stay at was Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This is a beautiful resort with a very lodgey feel amidst a 33 acre wild preserve. There are three different views to choose from, standard (parking lot), pool view and Savannah views. Savannah rooms offer views of giraffe, zebra and other wildlife on an African Savannah. It was an unforgettable experience to see these types of animals from your balcony! The Savannah view is worth the upgrade! The rooms are spacious with one or two beds, a refrigerator, flat screen tv, and African decor. For those who do not purchase a Savannah view room, the Lobby offers areas to view the wildlife up close. There is a fire pit located outside and in the lobby if you choose to sit and relax with a drink.

One of the things I love about travel is the opportunity to try food. There are amazing restaurants located all over Walt Disney World, however the majority of great eats are located at Epcot. Many countries have a pavilion located around the World Showcase and offer cuisine from their country. My favourites are Teppan Edo located in the Japan pavilion, Chef De France in the France pavilion and Le Cellier in the Canadian pavilion.

I was able to visit my favourite attractions at each park and have to say that they always live up to my expectations time and time again. The newest attraction at Hollywood Studios is the American Idol Experience which makes you feel like your at the show!

Although there are so many things to see while visiting the parks, the one thing you do not want to miss are the firework shows! They never disappoint and are like nothing you have ever seen.

If you ever get the chance to experience Walt Disney World be sure to stay on Disney property and visit all four parks in order to get the complete Disney experience!

Bay Lake at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Looking for more information on Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida? Contact Alicia Bourne, a Team Leader with Flight Centre based in Ottawa, Ontario at The Glebe and can be reached at 1 866 991 5584.

Flight Centre’s Catherina Iglezos blogs about her Scotland holiday and traveling to various historical landmarks such as the distillery at Glenturret, St Conan’s Church, Isle of Skye, and Loch Ness. Let’s turn this over to Catherina -

I went to the UK (my second time there) for a few weeks and this 6 day period was by far my most memorable. I decided to use the help of one of my traveling companions, Cecile, to put together what we did during my amazing 6 day trip in Scotland. I hope it gives you a good idea of where to go and what to see. If you have any questions, drop me a line or comment and would love to give more details.

On the first day we walked in the hills at ‘Ellie’. The Ellie chain walk was phenomenal and frightening all at once. Be sure to wear walking shoes for any journeys you may take while in Scotland. Then we went at ‘Dunino’ (place of the fairies) and finished with St Andrews before going to our lovely house in Comrie Croft.

Day two found us at Distillery at Glenturret where the best whiskey in the world is made. Why not have a taste of whiskey at 10am! After, we took a walk up the hill overlooking Loch Earn and then it was on to Doune Castle.

We then ended up in Stirling and Bannockburn (where we were standing next to Robert the Bruce’s statue on a cold day with a long, wonderful story to follow). It was in Bannockburn where the Scottish, led by Robert the Bruce, won a battle against the English. Next, Loch Lomond and we sang the infamous Loch Lomond song of Bonnie Prince Charlie who’s men were captured and left behind in Carlisle after the failed rising of 1745. When then visited Inveraray (and castle), Dunadd (first real capital of Scotland where Kenneth MacAlpin became first king of Scotland in 844), Kilmartin Church and tombs, and Carnasserie Castle (hide and Seek). Our last stop on the day was a proper Scottish caleigh in Oban.

The following day it was on to St Conan’s Church which has unusual architecture and two brothers actually built this for their Mother. Then it was off to Kilchurn Castle where the Macdonalds aimed at attacking the Campbells followed by Glencoe where the Campbells killed the Macdonalds in 1692. Finally it was off to Ben Nevis the highest mountain in Scotland and Loch Garry which is in the shape of Scotland before we reached Loch Carron in Stromeferry.

Our second last day we experienced the 5 daughters of Kintail (mountains), The Isle of Skye, and the Castle of Saucy Mary. Before the day ended we visited the river of Eternal Youth where Margaret MacDonald lived until 106 years old.

The last day found us visiting Eilean Donan Castle, the Loch Ness (24 miles long), Culloden Battlefield where the Jacobites led by Bonnie Prince Charlie were slaughtered by the English and specifically the Duke of Cumberland in 1746, Faskally Forest and finally back to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh, Scotland is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Looking for more information on traveling to Scotland? Contact Catherina Iglezos, based at Flight Centre Business Specialists Glebe in Ottawa and can be reached at 1 877 565 5295.

Flight Centre’s good friend Karim Kanji joins us to talk about the value of Social Media and sharing experiences (including his travels with his family). Speaking of travel experiences, Karim wrote this post from his recent family vacation to London England so we asked him to give us his top 10 favourite things about London, England when on a holiday. Let’s turn this over to Karim –

I travelled to England and it’s partly thanks to the good folks at Flight Centre.

(Follow some of the links below to see some of the places I’ve visited on my trip “back home”.)

I’m a big fan of social media and am presently studying it to better understand its implications on business, the charity/non-profit world, and work. Many people use tools like Facebook and Flickr to also keep in touch with friends and family from around the world.

What do these two separate, but related, topics have in common?

Because of, in my case, Facebook, Twitter, email and YouTube, I’ve been able to “document” my life for everyone to see. And I’m not vain enough to hope that millions of people will follow me. Only those interested will – family and friends.

And as a result, I’ve also been able to keep track of the lives of my family and friends. So what do we do when we finally meet at a family wedding after years of being apart? We laugh, tell jokes, and enjoy each others’ company without having to resort to the always polite, but sometimes boring, “How are you?”, “What have you been up to?”, “My your kids have grown!”

Conversations tend to be more in depth. We don’t feel like we’ve wasted time visiting a museum , shopping or getting toys for kids. We enjoy the time while it lasts.

For example, my sister and I may see our brother once a year or maybe once every two years. However, because of the relative low cost of long-distance calls, email, Facebook, Twitter, blogs and our yearly hockey playoff pool we feel like we are in constant touch. So when it’s time to say goodbye, well, it’s not really goodbye.

London, England is an amazing city to say the least.  Last summer I had a chance to catch a Blue Jays game at the old Yankee Stadium in New York City.  At the time I thought New York was THE city that never sleeps.  Boy, was I wrong!  London is right up there with New York.

Here are my 10 favourite things about London:

Size. Size is everything. London is a huge city.  If you travelled from the north end of London to the south on the M25 (the circular motor/highway that encompasses London) it would take you almost an hour and a half at a speed of 100km/hr.  Why do I like this? It means that there is more to see and experience: Neighbourhoods, shopping, restaurants, etc.

Nandos.  Is there a Nandos restaurant where you live?  Maybe there is one in the city you live in.  In London, Nandos is everywhere!  It’s as prevalent as Swiss Chalet is in Toronto. The only difference is the tender chicken, amazing variety of Peri Peri sauces and the endless supply of Coke Zero!

Charity Shops.  I understand there are Variety Village and Goodwill stores in Canada.  But really, would you brag about shopping at these places?  In London, charity shops can be found in your local trendy shopping district.  And the clothes and bargains to be found are plenty. I purchased a Zara brand suede jacket for under 4 British Pounds (that’s less than $10 CDN!).

Roundabouts.  In the city where the traffic light was invented, it is hard to believe that roundabouts still exist.  However, it keeps the traffic flowing.  Anyone from Toronto would love that!

Museums.  And not just the world renowned Natural Museum with the dinosaur bones.  There are plenty of museums and art galleries in this city.  And the museums are FREE.  That’s right, no charge.  I think Chris Anderson would like that.

Public Transit.  London is a city where one can literally travel anywhere, and I mean anywhere, by public transit.  Public transit in London includes bus, train and underground.  There are various zones and times and prices to match.  For example, one could travel all night long on the famous London buses for under 5 British pounds! Or, you could use all the different options and travel with your family for up to 24 hours for under 50 British pounds.  Not only is the pricing outstanding, but so is the coverage.  Anywhere in London is accessible to everywhere at all times.

No urban sprawl. This does not mean there are no “big” homes or green spaces.  It means that London takes its space serious and does not waste it.  For a city as huge, dense and populated as London, it’s incredible that it’s basically void of high-rises.

Cobblestone.  There is that “something” about roads and sidewalks make of rock and stone isn’t there?

Weather. London gets its fair share of rain and overcast days.  As a Torontonian, I would swap a week of sub-zero temperatures and blowing snow for a month of rain and drizzle.  It is impossible to play golf year round in Toronto.  In London? Fore!

People. What would a city be without it’s people?  I am fortunate that I could travel to London at anytime and have a place to stay.  With lots of family and friends, London easily tops my list as one of the best cities that I have ever travelled to.

London, England is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Flight Centre’s Brian Bobroff ventures away from Rome, Italy and Tuscany to the Bay of Naples. While visiting Napoli, Italy Brian enjoys a fresh Caprese pizza before exploring the ancient ruins of Pompeii. Brian also suggests Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, and the island of Capri. Let’s turn this over to Brian -

There are many good reasons to take to the road, or the skies, to visit a far away land. Two of my top sources of inspiration are ancient history and great food. A visit to Italy is an excellent source of both! Though there are many regions to visit, if you want a quick fix of the past and a satisfied palate and want to venture away from Rome or Tuscany then you may find the area around the Bay of Naples to be a perfect destination.

Napoli is easily reached via train or car from Rome. Though this city has a maligned reputation for shady underworld characters, it also has a very important role in the pantheon of world food as the birthplace to the pizza. It is incredibly easy to eat this perfect dish daily as there is arguably no place on the planet that does it better. My local favourite was the tasty Caprese pizza with pomodoro, fresh basil, olive oil and buffalo mozzarella. Though you can find similar pizzas in Canada, none will have the same freshness of ingredients that makes you remember each flavour years later on a cold winter day. In Italy, there is no shortage of memorable food at any price range.

Once you are well fed, it will be time to walk it off by visiting the ancient ruins of Pompeii. The Roman city was preserved when the nearby active volcano, Vesuvius, exploded in 79 CE and buried the city in lava and ash. Pompeii had been settled in 8th century BCE and taken over as a Greek colony before becoming a part of the Roman Empire. A bustling port city (though it is now somewhat inland as the sea is receding away) there is evidence of wealthy homes, restaurants, markets and even a brothel. Each year, new sections of the city are excavated and new discoveries are made. You can marvel in the amazing tile mosaics across Pompeii, some containing over a million individually placed pieces. Visiting Pompeii is an extraordinary glimpse into history. Guided tours are done via headsets so you are able to go at your own pace. This is a very popular tourist destination so try to avoid the crowds (and summer heat) by going in spring or fall.

You can easily access the area via day trip from Rome, Napoli or nearby Sorrento. Sorrento, Italy is a quieter, more picturesque town that leads you to the Amalfi Coast. The easiest way to get from place to place can be via an organized tour or taking advantage of the regular and affordable ferry service. You can also easily visit islands like Capri, the resort of the Roman Empire elite, or Ischia with it’s healing pools that have been in use for over two thousand years. Enjoy the past, the present and the pizza!

Napoli, Italy is highlighted on the Fight Centre travel map.

Looking for more information on traveling to Italy and enjoying Caprese pizza in Naples? Contact Brian Bobroff, an International Travel Consultant and Team Leader with Flight Centre based at King and Shaw, Toronto who can be reached at 1 866 662 6418.

Flight Centre’s Amanda Blake joins Josie Dye of Oh So Cosmo on Cosmo TV for a segment called Holidate. Josie poses the question – where should woman travel to find sun, fun, excitement, and adventure? Amanda recommends a few travel destinations including:

• Panorama Resort (nicknamed Manorama with a 5:1 man to woman ratio), British Columbia
• Buenos Aires, Argentina for the food and the nightlife
• Cuba for an affordable girls week away
• A quick trip to the beaches of Cancun, Mexico
• Australia adventures for the local wildlife
• and (of course) poolside at The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada Panorama Resort in BC is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Flight Centre’s Mariel Clayton checks in to continue her great blog series on Japan travels. In this post Mariel travels to Koyasan, Japan to take in the monastic life and she finds herself being awakened with the chanting of monks just in time for some prayers before heading out to explore Koyasan’s streets. Let’s turn this over to Mariel –

Science says that scent is the strongest sense linked to Memory.

Every time I travel I look for a specific scent or perfume to wear for the duration of the journey so that I am always transported back to that time and that place at one smell. My perfume for Japan smells like Koyasan, of cedar and sandalwood, of leaves and incense, of even the passage of time.

One of the benefits of the monastic life is that you are given the great privilege of being roused from slumber at 5am to the deep sonorous chanting of the monks saying sutras. It’s actually the most pleasant and peaceful way to wake up. If only they could market that as some sort of alarm clock, I wouldn’t have such a deep attachment to my snooze button, and might actually get to work without a mad dash every morning.

The omnipresent ghosts of last night’s sadly abandoned photographic adventure are now ferreted away in the back of my mind, banished by a good night’s sleep and a Japanese game show.

The sun is not yet up but the sky is washed in a lightening lilac gray. The morning air is still damp from rain and the monks are calling. Like the rest of the guests in the monastery I quietly pad along the dark carpeted halls to the main room of the temple. It is small and cramped and the black wooden ceiling drips with brass light fixtures. Around the walls are statues of Buddhist icons and gods, scrolls and paintings. They are all covered with a patina of time and soot, and to look at them is like looking through a pane of dust glass.

The air is thickened with a miasma of woody, perfumed incense smoke. It rises to the roof, glinting off the rays from the ceiling lamps. The abbott sits on a raised dias, his back to the room. His chanting is low and penetrating and seems to bounce off all the walls, curling back on itself like the wisps of incense. It is layer upon layer of rumbled sound.

Another monk sits off to the right, holding a smooth, short wooden club that he strikes against a large dulled metal bowl, big enough for an adult to sit in. It reverberates like a gong, but with more depth and resonance. It goes into my ears and makes my throat quiver.

More travellers are shuffling in, trying to be discreet as we sit cross-legged on the floor behind the chanting monks. It is utterly peaceful, and feels as though the soundwaves from the chanting sutras are waking me up, inside and out, shaking my blood.

About an hour later, the prayers are done. After the constant chanting, the silence is loud, and it’s as though a vacuum has sucked everything away. Senses are heightened, and my ears strain to hear something, anything again.

The Abbott turns around to offer blessings to all us travellers and to thank us for staying with them, and to the official ‘pilgrims’ he offers what looks like a blessing brushed on a scroll? I am uncertain.

After the main throng of people have left and it’s only the Abbott and a few monks left in the room, I step forward to ask him to say a Sutra for my dad, who passed away a few months before I left for Japan. I always promised my father we would go to Japan together, and I have tried to keep it – I travel with a mini-urn of his ashes, so that he will always be with me. Like myself, he loved to travel – so I feel safe knowing in some way, he is here on my adventure, and happy, that somehow he is seeing Japan.

Despite not knowing exactly what I mean at first (he wanted to actually keep my Dads’ urn in the temple) the Abbott finally understands that I just want him to say a prayer for my dad, and he obliges. He puts the little brass urn on the high altar and chants for a few minutes. I don’t know what exactly he is saying, but it doesn’t matter that much to me really, I figure that everyone can use a little help in the afterlife now and then.

I’m not really hungry for breakfast after that, spiritual satiety trumping any hunger. I head back out into the dewy morning streets of Koyasan. The air is crisp, brisk and fresh, the sky is lightened to a soft gray-pink. I head back to Okunoin, in the straggling dawn, of course it is not as worrisome as it was the night before – but I can still feel that there is something unknown there. Like there is something hidden just below the surface, like blood under skin.

The stones and cobbles and statues are covered with dew and moss and everything is softly washed in that same cool green. I meet a nun walking on the overgrown path. She has a pale shaved head, smooth and wrinkle free, peppered with age spots. Her skin is so fine it looks like parchment, or tissue paper. I know enough Japanese to say ‘good morning’ and she smiles as she passes me by. She carries a little wicker basket with some gardening tools and gloves. I don’t know who’s tomb she was cleaning.

The Jizo statues peek out from behind grave markers and branches. A row of them sit side by side on a stone retaining wall. Arrayed in scarlet bibs and silver cobwebs. The light is breaking through the trees.

I spend the rest of the day traipsing around the summit region, going from shrine to shrine and temple to temple.

I walk around the main ’street’ of Koyasan, barely wider than a one-way lane. The shops sell monastic trinkets and knick-knacks: bags of incense, miniature gongs, and wooden prayer beads. I buy another bag of roasted chestnuts from a street side vendor. They are woody and rich, and in the moment it feels like I am eating incense.

At a little well-lit shop I buy a ‘Pilgrim Staff’ complete with carved sutras on the top and a cover of deep sapphire-blue silk. It lasts me well on the rest of my journey, but alas – will be rudely taken away from me by an over-zealous employee of a certain National Airline. At least I got to keep the Silk cover.

It is with deep reluctance that I leave the mountain. I feel so at peace here in the trees and in the embrace of this great spiritual history. But this is not my place, and it’s not the end of my journey. Throughout the trip back, down on the cable car and on the little shaky red train back to the contemporary world, the chanting of the monks stays with me. I feel like a bell that has yet to stop ringing once it’s been struck.

Koyasan, Japan is highlighted on the Flight Centre travel map.

Looking for more information on traveling to Japan? Contact Mariel Clayton, an Adventure and Sport Specialist with Flight Centre based in Oakville, Ontario who can be reached at 1 866 704 5366.

Interested in more of Mariel’s great posts? Click here.

Flight Centre’s Heather Worth travels to Vietnam and blogs her way through Ho Chi Min, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Hanoi, and finally Sapa. On her vacation adventures Heather experiences the bustling streets of Ho Chi Min, relaxes on amazing beaches, and enjoys the local cuisine and beers. Over to Heather -

To be totally honest, I was a little apprehensive about traveling to Vietnam. I perhaps had spent a little too much time online researching my trip that some of the various blogs had started to get to me. Past travelers warned that Vietnam was a place where it was very difficult to travel to and within, and that you had to really “watch yourself”. But, as a seasoned traveler, I’ve come to understand that the reason you travel is not to have the comforts of home, but to experience the destination for all it’s worth. I also know that safety can be an issue regardless of where you travel… domestic, transborder or international and I wasn’t about to let a few comments keep me away from this place!

Once I had arrived, I immediately knew that this place was like nowhere else I’d ever been. I was a little tired from the flight to Ho Chi Min, but I found myself wide-eyed staring out the cab window at this new, interesting and BUSY metropolis. The streets were four lanes each direction and jam packed with more scooters then I could have ever imagined! There was a unique ballet-like movement of the traffic… what seemed like complete chaos to me, flowed like a mellow, meandering stream. While my taxi seemed to effortlessly maneuver through all the scooters and pedestrians in almost complete harmony, I have to say I was quite pleased to be a passenger in all that “madness”. The hotel, a welcome sight after a few hours on a plane and a moderately hair-raising taxi ride! It was basic, but clean and comfortable (which, after 3 months of backpacking around Asia, clean was my only real requirement!).

We stayed three days in Ho Chi Minh just wondering around the busy city street trying the numerous types of Pho, and experiencing my first monsoon type flash rain storm. After leaving Ho Chi Minh, took a 3 hour train ride to Mui Ne, a small beach town with amazing BBQ dinners and even better beaches. Needless to say I started building a great base tan. Mui Ne is very small and only consists of one main street of resorts and small family run guest houses. Our guest house was on the beach side of the road, and was only $25.00 cad a night. After two very relaxing days in Mui Ne, took a 3rd class train to Nha Trang. Although I don’t consider myself a high style traveler, traveling on a 3rd class train was one of my biggest challenges. It was not air conditioned in anyway besides the one ceiling fan for the whole cabin that periodically came on, and the open windows. The seat resembled a church phew. A wooden bench set at a 90 degree angle, with no cushions what so ever. The one thing that got me through this 4 hour journey was the gentleman on the opposite side of my bench had a young puppy with him. Playing with a puppy helped pass the time pretty well.

Arrived in Nha Trang and immediately noticed that it was by far the most “western” town we had seen in Vietnam. There were night clubs on every corner, hip pubs and cool shopping malls. Nha Trang, for me, boasts the best beaches I have seen in my life. I was in the water to my neck, and looked down and saw my feet perfectly clearly. The water was crystal blue, warn like a bath and as clear as glass.

After leaving Nha Trang, traveled via overnight train to Hoi Ann. A riverside town, where you can have any piece of clothing you want made in 30 mins or less, and at a fraction of the cost of every other store in the world. The buildings were full of French influence, and so colourful. Hoi Ann is mainly a pedestrian town, meaning there are not really many areas that permit cars which makes it easy to be a tourist. No worries about being run over by a rouge scooter. It’s a sleepy town, but had a great time.

From Hoi Ann, flew to Hanoi in the north. Local flights in Vietnam are extremely inexpensive. For example, the flight from Hoi Ann (Da Nang) to Hanoi, was $25.00 Canadian inclusive of taxes. We looked into taking the train as well, but the train was 6 hours long, and would cost us $35.00 Canadian. Factoring in the cost of food and beverages that would need to be purchased along the way, it was a clear decision.
Hanoi was one of my top places in all of Asia. It’s a city full of culture, and vibrancy. The food alone, made the city worth it to visit. The city’s history is visible throughout, and comparing it to the cities in the south, you can really notice the communist influence still. The buildings are older, less kept up, and full of culture. One of my favorite parts of the city, is a must do for anyone going to Hanoi. In Old Town, there is an intersection with 5 streets meeting. On each corner there is a street side bar serving the Vietnamese specialty beer called Bia Hoi. Bia Hoi is a fresh beer with no preservatives that is by far the cheapest beer you will ever find. For a full pint, it costs the equivalent of .30 cents Canadian. It’s delicious and cold, and sitting on the little plastic kid chairs on the side of a street drinking beers gives you a true Vietnamese experience.

After an overnight train to Sapa in the Northern part of the county, I quickly realized that northern Vietnam was my favorite part of the country. Sapa is mounted on the side of a mountain, facing another mountain sides covered in rice fields and small villages. The views were spectacular, and it’s impossible to take a bad photo. It’s also impossible to not be intrigued but the locals and their way of life. Mountain villagers come to Sapa to buy their supplies with baskets and children strapped to their back.

Sapa was our last stop in Vietnam, and while waiting for our flight back to Thailand, I felt a real sadness. Vietnam is such an amazing country, full of beautiful sites, great food, and a culture of people that open their hearts to those who are open to them.

Hanoi, Vietnam is highlighted on the Flight Centre Travel map.