Travel Tips: Tickets (Transportation)

As college students like me, we always need to figure out the most reasonable and affordable tickets for everything when we travel. However, everything is difficult, and everything costs very much.

What's kinds of tickets we need take? This is not simple, but at least, I can categorize for transportation, accommodation, and others. Now I introduce some ways of these.

Today, I introduce some tricks when people take their tickets for their destinations.

(All these information depends on the countries and companies. Please ask once for your transportation companies at first when you travel. Also, the sightseeing department of your destinations support your travel, too.)


Flights

Now many people use flights when they travel. Many people make their reservations more than two months before because airline companies provide some early-bird discounts. Also, these people always check some discount sites such as "Orbitz," "TripAdviser," and "Priceline." Some airline companies guarantee their sales price. If their reservation prices are more than the prices that travelers find, they pay back.

Mysteriously, some busy people don't care where the destinations are. They wait for the last minutes tickets if their purposes are just for vacations. These discount tickets possibly show up in a few days before the flights fly because airline companies tries to fill all seats.

Railways & Buses

If you are the international travelers, major national transportation companies such as Amtrak, and Greyhound in your destinations should have their special discounts for the international travelers. These are mostly for the long distance travels, but the prices are reasonable. If you have time in your destinations, and want to enjoy the atmosphere of your destinations, this is also one alternative. (If your destinations are insecure, transportation companies may ask about your travel insurances. If you don't have, they forcibly add this as an option.)

If you walk around the specific areas, you can choose "One Day Pass" instead of each one way/round trip tickets. If you need to ride bases/trains a lot for a day, this is very reasonable. If your destinations are not far from your places, local buses are one of the ways to be affordable.

Bicycles

If you stay some weeks, or months for the purpose of learning, bicycles may be a good idea to keep in touch with your towns. You can feel the atmosphere of the towns and find your favorite locations as soon. However, you can freely go everywhere like a bird. You need to understand where the downtown is, and where the dangerous zones.


If you are a student traveler, you may take advantage of ISIC Card, Hosteling International Membership Card, and Student Advantage. They are with special discounts for museums, sightseeing locations, and accommodations in the world.

To rent a car is also good. You can move all over your destinations. However, please don't forget to sign for your insurances when you rent cars. These cars are usually new or very clean. Sometimes, they are the targets of lobbers. Also, usually the rules of the transportation in your destination is difficult to understand for travelers. If you are not familiar with the destinations, I don't recommend to rent cars.

"Fly Away" (1998)

By Lenny Kravitz

Well, well. I'm not on the vacation, but I'm a little busy for everything everyday. I have classes, and also I have my jobs. How's my feeling now? I want to fly away..!


(Currently, I'm a little busy for my classes and jobs. I can't update much. Also, I'm thinking to take advantage of a different way for this "Travel Monkey." When all are good, I'll inform for everyone.)

Travel Tips: Online Photo Service

10 years ago, we used film cameras when we traveled. We needed to keep all the films during our travels. It was useless because we always needed to bring them on board and keep them safe. Now these troublesome things are mostly gone. Everyone can use small SD cards for their smartphones and digital cameras, and store these photos online for the future uses.

Usually, people share photos with the social networking services such as Facebook and Twitter. It's a good way to show their precious moments, but if you want to send actual photos for someone you love, no worry, internationally, you can do it from your destinations with online services.

1. USE DEVELOPPING SERVICES ONLINE
   This is simple. There are a lot of photo developing service providers in the world. In the United States, many drug stores have photo developing services. They also accept your digital photos online. You just sign-in to the sites, upload your photos that you want to gift, and fill the application, all your processes are done.


2. USE SOCIAL NETWORKING SERVICE & STORAGE
   If you use some online photo storage services such as Snapfish, you can also store your photos online, print them, and create some items such as a photo book with your favorite photos. You can send them as a gift to someone you love. With some social networking services, you can order photo print, and send to someone else.

Usually, these internet services internationally work. If your destination is a different country, you can use the service as if you are at home. This is the goodness of the Internet world.

 "Picture of You" (1997)

By Boyzone

It's a good way to keep your precious moments with some photographs. However, it's not enjoyable if you adhere to take photos. Sometimes, "just keep in mind" is the best because it's your precious moment. If you encounter a special moment, your serendipity is on... maybe!

Travel Tips: Speak Up!

"Summer vacation" is very precious for students to find and get into their own world. Especially, for someone who takes a gap year and travels around, it's the term that make sure about the identity. When travelers talk at youth hostels, identities sometimes prevent them with their cultural contexts. What kind of things help to understand each other?

Social Network Service (SNS)
This is very fundamental. Now everyone uses some SNS such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. Travel friends join each other, show each culture, and photos. If you have your personal cards for them, your travel friend can join after you leave.

Picture Cards
If you plan to travel, bring a few picture cards that indicate your local cultures. When you talk with others at hostels, you can indicate them with your cultural contexts.

Music Playlist
You can create your music playlists on music services such as Spotify, iTunes, and Youtube. You can talk your favorite music with your new friends. Especially, if you have some playlists in your countries, they may be very exotic for new friends. You can listen on your smartphones too.

Coins
If you have some coins after you exchange money from your countries, you can bring them. They may not useable in your destinations, but you can give them for the friendships for your new friends. Also, the designs on coins indicate the fundamental things of your nations. They must be good when you talk.

Candies
If you can bring a few small candies from your countries, it's a good idea to give and let your friends taste. (Some countries prohibit to bring food in domestic for security reasons. Please check about your destinations.)


Anyway, if you travel for a long time, it's better to keep your package small. The best is to keep all in one backpack. Don't buy expensive and big stuff for this purpose. In many cases, they are just waste.

"Happy" (2014)

by Pharrell Williams

In fact, to get a travel friends are not easy. Your cultural context and common sense make your new friends something wrong. These make them just one time friends. If you can get a permanent friend, you are lucky. It sounds "Happy."

Travel Tips: Anti-Internet

If you are a back packer, I think you have a lot of tools. You may have a laptop, tablet, smartphone, and music player. These are very useful, and keep your travel joyful. However, they also spoil the beautiful sights in the world. They are always with the Internet, and people always mind about their daily lives. Is it really beautiful for your travel?

Here are the suggestions: What to do for these?

1. Stop connecting the Internet for a while
   If you have the Internet connections, always you receive from your friends. If you want to ignore, you can use "Airplane Mode" or "Offline Mode" on your phones. Even once you turn it on, you can still shoot videos, take photos, record audios, listen to music, read books, and take some notes on them.
2. Describe your purpose once, and keep it
   Once you decide to the purpose of the travel, you can limit your ways of the Internet uses. If you depend on some travel apps, put the apps on your favorite screen on your devices. If you start from the screen, you remember about your purposes and can limit your uses.
3. Bring minimum things with you
   Anyway, you can't travel with a lot of belongings. Therefore, at first, try to decide your essential things. Should you bring all your laptop, tablet, smartphone and music player? I don't think so. Only with your smartphone, you can do minimum things.

 
Well, when people travel, travelers may meet some happy accidents. If you receive from your friends, you may fail to meet the precious moments. Don't forget your motivations because it's a beautiful day.

"It's A Beautiful Day" (2013)

by Michael Bublé

What do you think about your beautiful days? Many people think of "beautiful" as "special." However, originally, beautiful means "suitable." Maybe, the days without any troubles is beautiful in our lives.

Extra: Maps

This is the update of "Travel Tips: Maps" below.

Are you ready for the Holiday Travel?

Some months ago, media informed about the wrong directions of Apple Maps. It had some fatal mistakes, and some drivers who believe the direction mistakenly got into the desert in Australia.

Without these kind of disturbing behaviors, people naturally can enjoy the maps. For example, if you have Apple Maps, you can check "Horse Guard Parade" in London, UK. I believe the photo is just before the Olympic Games in 2012. It's under-construction. You can see the view from the top of Everest on the map apps, and you can see the scenes of Manhattan on them. You can enjoy seeing your old destinations and talk with people too.

---

Many people want to be out for holidays, but they cannot always do. If they have families, they may spend with them. However, if the person is alone without a partner?

This article may indicate something:

How the iPad Release and Other Big Events Impacted the World’s Porn-Watching Habits

It's a news feed from "Time Magazine." It has a link to "Pornhub." It's a blog page. It has a big map. It indicate how people spend time with/without porn on special days. It's a little interesting.

---

If you are in the urban jungle, museums may be solutions for your holiday plan. If you are in New York, there are a lot of museums near the Central Park. If you are in London, you have some choices of parks such as Hyde Park and St. James Park. You can stay with Themes river, and the National Museum too.

For avoiding the dull travel, please figure out a few purposes for your small trips. Also I recommend you to take some pictures, audio and video clips, and keep them for your journals.

Travel Tips: Maps

If you are busy outside everyday, you may use the "maps" such as Google Maps, Bing Maps, Apple Maps, and Nokia Maps(Here Maps) on your phone. Especially, urban explorers such as in New York, losing your ways means losing half a day of your work. However, you phones help you and find a way to get rid of because automatically they can track your locations, and precisely display on your phone.


What kind of information is used by the apps are:

Global Positioning System(GPS Data)

GPS is with the geosynchronous satellites. Originally, these were for military purposes on the coldwar era. They correctly tracked the location of ballistic missiles. After the coldwar ended in the end of 1990s, countries spread the use of the satellites to the commercial uses. Therefore, the information is very precise. This was mainly installed to the automotive navigation system for cars before. Now mostly every smartphone has it.

WiFi ID/IP Addresses

If you use the Internet, you never fail to use with IP addresses. IP addresses indicate some important information: who the administrators/users, and where the locations are. When you establish the Internet connection, the information is provided for the network. WiFi ID is also the usable information that indicates your locations. When Google created the street maps, they collected these information with the photos, and this became a huge problem in countries. Now many apps collect these IDs when you use. Users mostly automatically provide these information.

Phone ID

Your phone ID is one of the blind points for detecting your locations. Your phones have some specific ID numbers. One of them is your phone number. When you call, your phone connects near the base station and establish the phone call between your phone and the system. Each base station has each location ID. It can calculate the distance between your location and the base station. Especially, if you are with 3G phones or newer, your phones can track multiple base stations. Therefore, your phone precisely indicate your locations with GPS.


For the reasons, if you are with your smartphones, you have not lost your ways in most of Ecumene where people can live. According to NORAD ( http://www.noradsanta.com/ ), they can track Santa Claus because of these systems.

"Trepak(Russian Dance)" 

(From Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite)

Sochi Olympics comes soon. According to media, they had a lot of troubles for the torches, and also media indicates the bribery of high officials. The construction progresses also delayed, but finally, the games open on February 7, 2014. I checked about Sochi on the Internet, but it's difficult to find the information in English. However, using these map apps, we can travel around the resort town Sochi before the Olympic Games come.

Halloween Everywhere

Do you plan to enjoy "Halloween?" Halloween is fun. Many people make "Jack O' Lantern" with pumpkins, and wear costumes to go out for "Trick, or Treat!"

Seemly, the resource of Halloween is not related to religion things, but the harvest. However, when and where did people get the haunted Halloween? This Video has some of the resource of Halloween!

"History of the Holidays: Halloween"

(by the History Channel)

Seemly, Halloween is originally from Celtic culture in Ireland. According to some books, there are some similar dolls with sugar beets like Jack O' Lantern. Now the customs spread, and this "Trick, or Treat" becomes the famous phrase all over the world.

Well, How many days do we have for Halloween? 

To shop or not to shop, that is the very important question. In fact, shops keeps a lot of Halloween stocks like costumes and candies for customers, but after Halloween day has passed, they can't sell the stocks. If they can't sell, they will be waste. Therefore, usually, they stop receiving these products a week before Halloween. Therefore, if some popular costumes are sold out next week, you may not have a chance to get them. That's why, this weekend, and next 7 days are the war for everyone. Also, for many students, they need costumes for their costume parties in spite of their midterms

"This is Halloween" (1993)

By Marilyn Manson

Recently, I started using "Spotify." It has a lot of Playlist. One of them is for Halloween. The first song of the list is this song. It's a good chance to learn music!

For October 31, people consider about their party schedules. It's sorry, this year Halloween is on Thursday. Thursday night is not the weekend night. What do people do? The answers are quite simple. Some people try one weekend before, and others try the extended Halloween weekend.

In the United States, Starbucks Coffee Stores serve "Pumpkin Spice Latte" now. If you are busy, and not join the party. You may enjoy the feeling with these small daily stuff with Halloween.

Travel Tips: Internet Security

[Updated(10/09/2013): Some additional Tips Below]

Recently, I took a ride of Greyhound line, and got a large city. Then naturally, I used the Internet via our smartphone. Also, recently, people travel with their tablet computers such as iPad, Kindle Fire, and Nexus 7. These tablets are naturally useful. We can check the information about the destinations, and private emails too.

Now many people use these with the Internet Security software that keeps their devices safe. However, what do we do when we can't use our devices?

There are some Internet equipments at the airports, public libraries, and other locations such as the Internet cafes. Also we can use some office service locations such as Fedex Kinko's. Are they safe to use?

Usually, the answer is "no." For example, when I went to my college library and started up the computers a few years ago, they always recognized some viruses. Naturally, the computers are for public people. Especially, on the Internet cafes, many people use the computers for entertainments, and also these people tend to open unsafe files.

Now what to do for these:

When you sit for the computer at a public place, please try these.

1. Reboot the computer(if possible)
   If you use the computer, it may have already had some viruses. Usually, in the public internet places, they have a recovering software for computers. When the computers start up, it becomes always the same setting and the storage becomes empty. (This depends on the locations, please ask before you use.)
    
2. Check the status of the Internet Suite
   For the recent viruses and malware, usually, these computers in public places have the Internet Security suite, and automatically run when it starts. Check the status, and if it indicates malware or virus, avoid to input any private information such as ID, password, email address, phone number and names.
    
3. Check the Firewall Setting
   Before you use the computer, check the firewall status. If it doesn't have any firewall protection, you should avoid to input your private information. Usually, Firewall protects your information. It prevents leaking your information, and protects from viruses and malware.
    
4. Run the Virus Scan
   If the computer has the Virus Scan program, temporarily, it may not work when you use. You have to check it, and make sure it runs, and start browsing.
    

"But wait... how can we use the Internet computer such the bad condition?" Yes, we can use the Internet on the bad security computer. If you just want to search about your travel destinations and don't put any private information, it's mostly no problem to use. You can check the timetable of public transportation and the location on the maps.

However, if you need an appointment or reservation with your private information including name, address, phone and credit card numbers, you absolutely should avoid using public computers.

If you want to post comments to your Facebook and Twitter, write emails and store files and photos on your cloud drives, you have to bring your laptop, or use your smartphone with security software.

Avoid unhappy troubles, and try the happy travels..!

"Blurred Lines" (2013)

by Robin Thicke

Like this Robin Thickle's song, people have a kind of happy troubles on their travel, they may be good. However, don't open the Pandora's box with your private information on the Internet! It may cause the real troubles for your lives.

---

[UPDATE: 10/09/2013]

Here are two more additions for your security of the Internet use. These are not only for the public Internet computers, but for your computers too.

1. Update the Computer
   I wrote when the computer reboot, the setting becomes back as the same as the first time use. It's not always good. If someone has applied to the security update, they are all gone when you reboot. If you have plenty of time to update the computer, update it before you use it.
    
2. Update the Browser
   If you update the computer, it's still not always the good condition. As the same as the reason above 1, the browsers you use is probably old ones. Check the version, and update it.

In many cases, update is the most fundamental thing people should do. If your computer has enough capacity to install updates, you should do it. Also, for the public computers, please take care of them. If you can wait to check your email, transfer files, and comment on SNS,  do it after you reach the safe place.

Travel Tips: Got Troubles!?

I didn't update much recent days. In fact, I'm in trouble on my real life. I don't have time much to do a lot of things such as this blog. However, I'll update little by little.

When you are traveling, you may have troubles. These troubles are sometimes small like battery of your camera, and sometimes big such as involving in a car accident. If you have a friend for your destination, your friend can help a lot. If you don't have, what should you do?

1. Ask the Receptionist of Your Hotel
   This is very important because your hotel provide safe and comfortable private space for you. Therefore, they also know what travelers need. They also can indicate the locations of supermarkets, drug stores, emergency services such as hospitals.
   
2. Visit "Visitor Center"
   "Visitor centers" of your destinations are also good places to solve your trouble. If you need a specific treatment, they can tell you the locations such as the hospitals, police stations, and banks.
   
3. Call Your Credit Card CompanyIf you are a credit card holder, please try your credit card company. They may have the branches near your destinations. Some companies provide coupons for shopping, and also emergency information. If your travel insurance are with your credit cards, they may prepare some alternative services and payment options for you.
   
4. Insurance Companies
   Your travel insurances are naturally for your troubles on your travel. If you purchase for your travel, you may get an insurance for it. You can talk with the branches of your destination and check the coverage.
   
5. Embassy of Your Country(If you travel abroad)The worst case is with the embassy of your country. If you have your passport, you can talk with the embassy of your country. They provide and suggest some solutions for your cases.
   

There are a lot of other ways. You can talk to bus drivers: how and where to transfer, how long it takes, and so on. If you get the post office, they know about the town and the local services. Naturally, the police station provides some information related to crimes and the deals.

"I knew you were trouble" (2012)
by Taylor Swift

I think trouble is everywhere. The worst thing of trouble is that it brings every single enjoyment out. For example, if a cute girl passes, she is not the matter of you. Also, you need to talk with someone else and change your travel plan for it. You may need to get back to your home as soon.

Anyway, when you are on your travel, you are a stranger. Don't forget for the emergency treatments when you prepare for your travel.

(Recently, some travel agencies, insurance companies and embassies provide a lot of information on their websites. Some companies also have been released travel apps for your smartphones. Before you travel, I recommend to download them and deal with.)

Small Travel

Have you ever tried a small travel near you? If you live with your jobs, you have the same routines everyday. People tend to miss the new discoveries for these. If you like jogging, walking or cycling, you can choose different routes.


Preparations:

• Your smartphone with the Internet
• Pens and Notebooks, or an online notebook such as OneNote or Evernote
• Digital Camera

How to:

1. On your smartphone, use maps around your location and research.
2. Find some interests near you such as shops you have ever tried.
3. Note your expectations on your notebook.
4. Go to the locations.
5. Take photos, shoot videos, and record audios for your reminders. 
6. Note your thoughts on your notebook and compare with your expectations.

Brian Williams, the anchor of NBC Nightly News, decided to have a surgery for his knee which was broken in his high school era. Like him, many people such as military uniforms also became disabilities for their activities. If you are training for your obstacles, this is a good way to find a new world. You can try with your abilities.

 "Traveling Man" (1971)

By Stevie Wonder

Discovering the local areas is very interesting. Everyday, we pass some places by car. However, you may have a place that you wonder on the route. Why don't you try the place? You can decide it good or bad, and then you have a topic to talk with your friends.

Travel Tips: Calling & Texting

We need cellphones when we travel. Now people use "smartphones." If we travel in our countries, we can call, text, check emails, and play with a lot of fun services. Also you can take photos, check the maps, write some journals with your facebook, and tweet your impressions to the world. However, for the international uses of your phones, you may have some troubles.

The Way of Communication

If you have some international friends, you may find the same phone of yours with your friends. However, your phone works in your country, but your friends' phones doesn't. In fact, there are some communication ways for phones in the world. One important difference is the frequencies that are used in your countries. There are some big divisions for this in Euro, Northern America, Latin American countries, Africa, Asia and Pacific. Also, their communication systems are different from countries and companies. Still a lot of people in the world use GSM phones, but some countries such as Japan and South Korea, CDMA is the major system for their cellphones. If you live in the United States, both frequencies and system uses don't match with them.

What are the Substitute?

There are two major substitutes with WiFi if you can't use your phones in your destinations.

1. Skype
   When you want to call, "Skype" is one of your substitutes of your phone. You can call and chat through WiFi with your specific phone number named "Skype Number." Using this, you can call with the same number in the world.
   
2. Google Voice
   If "Google Voice" is available in your countries, it's also an alternative of your phone with WiFi. You can call with your specific number that you choose.

Naturally, you can buy a calling card, use a public phone, and rent a cellphone at the airports. You have a lot of alternatives to communicate with your daily life.

(Note: Some countries such as China and North Korea limit using the Internet for the domestic reasons. If you create these accounts before you travel, you may not access your accounts with their blocks. I strongly recommend you to check the communications and the conditions of your destinations before you leave your countries.)

Travel Tips: Saving Money with Coupons

(There are some updates below.)

When we travel, normally shopping is expensive. Especially, people want to travel long, money is very important. If you think your money very much, here are some ways to save.

1. Credit Card
   Once you get your credit card, you can take advantage of a lot of the benefits. In some stores, only you show it, you can get the free gifts and discounts. Also, if the card companies have the offices in your destinations, you may get some coupon books.
2. Coupons in the Newspapers
   You may get some coupons with newspapers. Especially, in the weekend editions, there are some glossary coupons with flyers. You may not use these coupons at small glossary marts, but you can use them at big supermarkets at least.
3. Visitor Center
   Local Visitor Centers also have some coupons. They are normally for local destinations such as museums, restaurants, and shopping malls, and transportation.

The days of the coupons in newspapers are different from countries and areas. Also, usually, before holidays, many stores have some discounts without coupons. Then you can buy some local and cultural food and stuff too.

"Coupons? It's a local way." Maybe, you think so. However, if you stay long, please check and get some destinations' atmospheres with them. It's time to get the influence!

---

Update: July 15, 2013

Here are some additional information:

Credit card companies have a lot of international services. For example, some cards are originally with travel insurance. They support when you start traveling to be back home(you may need to buy the ticket with the card.) You may not buy an expensive insurance. Also, with something reasons, you are not able to have credit cards, you may use the international debit cards. Some international debit cards are also issued by major international issuers. They have similar services for your travel.

Here are some major companies for credit/debit cards:

• American Express
• Diners Club
• MasterCard WorldWide
• Visa International

These international companies tie with the domestic issuers, and may provide the international functions. There are some more international issuers such as Discover Card and JCB. For the services, please check your issuers' websites.

---

Update: July 17, 2013

Coupon Apps & Sites

Is Saving Money not easy? "No!" It's easy with your smartphone too. Recently, some online coupon companies comes up. They are normally for the local people, but you can use them also with registrations.

Here are some sites:

1. Groupon ( http://www.groupon.com/ )
2. Living Social ( http://www.livingsocial.com/ )
3. Amazon Local ( http://local.amazon.com/ )

You can download their apps on your smartphone and tablets, and also use on your computers. They normally have some special discounts. Many of them are similar with travelers interests.

These are also for the international cities. If they have the information in your destinations, it's worth checking.

After you spend a massage with 50% discount, you may use the rest of money for delicious dinner:-)

Travel Tips: Culture & Thoughts

When people travel around the world, they meet a lot of travelers and local people. In many cases, they have big culture gaps among them. When they become familiar, it's time to talk about their culture.

Culture things are very difficult to explain. 10 years ago, people worried, "What do I indicate these complicated thing?" Now you have your smartphone on your hand with public WiFi called "Hotspot". Only you search and show the images, you can be familiar with your next guys.

However, you may not talk all the your interests.

1. Religions
   Recently, this is especially important if you walk around the conflict areas such as middle east, South Asia, and Africa. One of the famous conflict in the world is between Jewish and Islam in Israel. Without this, there are a lot of similar condition in the world. In China, for the governmental reasons, the government and Tibet people(Buddhism) have strong conflicts.
2. Races
   All people belong to races. Frankly to say, people call them "White," "Black," and "Yellow." For a long years in the history, white people have been superior than others. Now their rights becomes little by little equalized. However, the feuds and the memories are still on their mind. They are closely related to their lives.
3. Political Thoughts
   If you live in a peaceful country, you may not care about this. However, in some countries, political groups are with religions such as Christian and Islam. These groups are strongly against each other. When travelers tell about their thoughts, these affect to the treatments of the travelers.

These three are on the common senses of travelers. In common of these things are: 1) they are with thoughts, 2) closely related to their lives, and 3) permanent situations. Especially, if you plan to encounter with local people, please mind these and be a beautiful stranger:-)

"Beautiful Stranger"(1999)

By Madonna

A few years ago, especially, airline companies prohibited to use digital equipments such as smartphone, music players, digital cameras on board. However, now many of them turn to permit them. Also you can use in some buses and trains. You've got a chance to talk with people. Make friends, and enjoy your summer vacation!

Travel Tips: Languages

Languages are very important when people travel. If you can speak English language, you are lucky. English language is the world language, and mostly in every country, many people are learning it and can speak. However, thinking about the situations in the world, other language is useful in some area.

Here is 3 popular languages people speak in the world:

English

English is the most popular language in the world. In many countries, this is the public language, and used for signs and guides. If people can use English, they take advantage of them. In addition, some International broadcasting are always provided in English language. When travelers faces problems, they will be one of the solutions

Spanish
Spanish is one of the biggest language in the world. If you travel Spain, Mexico, and South American countries, it's very effective. Spanish language belongs to Latin language. If people can use Spanish, they can also read and understand some parts of Portuguese.

Chinese
Some decades ago, Chinese language was not important in the world. However, this country is developing, and now it becomes one of the most important languages in the world. In fact, the area of the Chinese language is not always large, but it's including the mainland China, South-East Asian countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore. Also Chinese are spoken at Chinatown in the world.

---

Recent days, in Canada, people tend to dislike Chinese immigrants using Chinese language. The reason of the dislike is that they don't respect of Canadian culture, and always depend on own culture they imported. In Sweden, some riots happened in May 20, 2013. The country has around 15% of immigrants from Middle East, Africa and other countries. They have fully treatments from the government for a term, but they are difficult to find jobs and solve the culture gaps. In fact, in many countries, they face the similar problems.

Understanding culture and the context is more and more important in the world. You can find yourself for the problems.

By the way, pronunciations are sometimes interesting. When people in other language speak something, by chance, the pronunciation is like one of own language words or sentence.

"Get Lucky" (2013)
by Daft Punk 

When I listen to the song, for me, a phrase "We're up all night to get lucky" is like "We're up all Mexican Lucky."

When you travel and face like this kind of interesting sounds, ask the native speaker, "what does it say?" Provably, you find some words and phrases having similar sounds but different meaning with your native languages.

Travel Tips: Drinking

I'm not sure how many people are thinking about summer vacation now. In the United States, soon the spring semester is done. Then a lot of students go back home and travel their favorite places.

They meet new friends. Also they start working at companies and get some new fellows. In addition they drink and take a girl to home..? All over the friendships happen in next some months. Anyway, friendly drinking season comes soon.

However, wait... If you start your pregame earlier, you maybe get a lot of drinks at the same night. Alcohol is one of the materials killing people.

Here are some for mad drinkers:

1. Identify Your Locations
If you travel in the world, you can't drink in some places. In California, people can't drink liquors in some public places. In Sydney, you should not drink in your hotel room. In Islam countries, drinking liquors are strictly prohibited for people(without some bars for travelers). If you don't know the rules, you may have some troubles in your destinations.You need a research before you start traveling.

2. Take Care of Your Money

This is for the United States. If you have a lot of money to spend in bars and nightclubs, they may cost a lot. The cover charge is normally more than $20-50 for each nightclub. Even you don't drink at the place, you need to pay a lot. If you order a bottle of champagne, it may cost you more than $500. (Every destinations has different cases.)

3. Don't Drink Too Much
When you simply drink too much, you have a signal in your minds. If you drink more than it, you may puke, become crazy and don't remember anything. It's a problem for the night. Also if you drive a car then, maybe you have a serious car accident. If you didn't have a condom when you have a sex, you maybe have HIV, or face an unexpected pregnancy.

4. Sugar High
This is crazy. I don't think you face sugar high when you drink. However, if you drink a lot of bottles of beers, sweet cocktails, and soft drinks, you take a lot of carbohydrate including sugar for your drinks. This is not good for your health. If you drink everyday, you may get diabetes for these. (If you have some sicknesses like "Hypercholesterolemia," you maybe need a talk with your home doctor before you get drunk.)


5. Water, but Water
When you get drunk, you needs pure water a lot. Alcohol lets water in our body excrete. Also when you dance on the floor, talk a lot with fellows, and have a sex with a partner, your feelings are always thirsty and dry. Please get water then, and fill the pure fresh water for your bodies.

---

I like drinking and sometimes get a bar or nightclub. Recently, I started my fitness too. I reduced my body weight a little, and become a little slender. Now I can't drink like before, and sometimes fall in sleep when I drink too much. This is not fun, but a good sign for my health and money. If you have a habit to drink everyday, you may have some breaks. Decide how many days you can drink and you can break, please enjoy better social lives.

"Swimming Pools" (2012)

by Kendrick Lamar

In the party places, all people became crazy. Then, normally, people divides for some groups. One becomes very open, and one becomes very reasonable. When you get a group, do you really enjoy the party? If you think so, you can switch your group. Maybe you can be an animal, and also become a human. Please think about your situation, and be happy and enjoy for the joy.

Travel Tips: Coins

If you have traveled abroad, you may have experiences of coins. Normally, banks don't exchange any foreign coins. If we have coins a lot, how to do for them?

1. Keep the Change for the Next Travel
If you frequently travel the areas or countries, you can keep them for the next travel. They are especially useful for the public transportation.

2. Give Friends as Souvenirs
This is also a common way. Foreign coins are rare in many countries. If coins are not strange as souvenirs, you can give away.

3. Keep in Albums
You can also keep them in your albums with photos. It will be a good memory for each travel.

In the United States, quarters are a little special for everyone. Every year, the Federal Reserve System(FRS) release some special quarters that specialized for each states in the United States. Some travelers try to collect for all states. Some travelers keep for their destinations.

"Money" by Pink Floyd (1973)

"Money" is the monster in travel. You need money to get the destination. If you are in Las Vegas, you may have a chance to get a big money. In this case, if you don't bet, you don't have chance to get the money. Well, how much can you spend? The balance is the biggest concern. It makes your travel miserable and also impressive.

If I get a huge amount of money here now, I want to learn some years and want to travel all over the United States once. It's just a dream? or should I try some lotteries?

Travel Tips: Internet Radio

Before 2000s, listening to the international broadcasting was very difficult because world broadcasting stations only provided their programs for some specific areas with shortwaves. Now mostly they have turned into the Internet. Therefore, people can listen radio programs on time in the world.

Naturally, the mass-media is for everyone. They provide a lot of daily information for native people. Especially, popular stations in town provide useful information for travelers too. Popular stations take place some joyful events in town. They talk about them. Also, they talk about their value and culture too. They are worth listening.

In some countries, these information is not only for mother tongue speakers, but for majority of people too. Therefore, in some multi-lingual countries like the United States, many cities have multiple language stations. Some international stations like BBC World Service has also multi-lingual programs such as English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish etc.

"How to find the stations for my destinations?"

There are some simple ways to listen to these kind of international radios.

Use iTunes ( http://www.itunes.com/ )
[Apps: Win/Mac/iOS]

iTunes is one of the very popular music players. We, normally, store our favorite music, and buy some apps through it. Now please launch it, and select "Music" on your PC or Mac. It has "Radio." You can find some specific stations if you know the station names.

Use TuneIn Radio ( http://www.tunein.com/ )
[Apps: Win/Mac/iOS/Android/Kindle/Web]

This is my recommendation. If you don't know any radio stations in your destination, you can try "By Location." If you know some specific city names, you can try the search box. TuneIn Radio provides their app for Brackberry too.

Visit Stations' Homepage
This is the simplest way to get their information. However, directly, some stations don't provide their program streams. Some stations also don't internationally provide. If you need to figure out about the local information on their homepage, this is very good way too.

UPDATE: Add "iHeart Radio" for one more example.

Use iHeart Radio ( http://www.iheartradio.com/ )
[Apps: iOS/Android/Kindle/Web]

This is also the Internet radio service. They provide some specific functions such as stations for artists. Also you can try to search by the specific names of your favorite stations.

---

I like to listen to the international programs. Especially, some stations provide with very proper pronunciations of languages. I also like to listen to some my born town information on the Internet radio too. These ways may be good for everyone.

"Wild World" (1993)

by Mr. Big

There are a lot of reasons to travel. Some are with their businesses. Some are trying to figure out about this world. Some may try a sentimental journey. Some are trying to escape from their enemies. There is no wrong reason to travel, but there are motivations. Is your motivation right? It always depends on you and also people who surrounds you. If you have a "right" person who respects you, your travel must be one of the most important experiences on your life.

Travel Tips: Context

Have you ever heard about "Context?" Context is one of the most important elements when we communicate with people. This also works on the business situations.

"Context" indicates the way of communication between people. People believe American people are openly talk to everyone. However, Japanese people tend not to talk everything, but keep their thought on their mind. People in Europe tend directly to talk and make their original network, but Asian people tend to make a group to stay, act, and follow the own rules in the group.

These are very significant differences when people walk around the world. For many people, they don't stay for a long time. They only face the honeymoon phase. They accept all the happening as the culture gap, enjoy with the new culture, and come back to their daily lives. However, on business, people go to other countries for a long time, this can be a fatal problem. In the worst case, they become a kind of mental illness.

Here is an interesting homepage about "context." You can test yours, and figure out what do you tend to behave.

Context of Cultures: High and Low

Here is one song related to strangers.

"Englishman in New York" (1987)

By Sting

Here is one more for Jamaican "Jamaican in New York" by Shinehead. Both songs indicate the culture gaps between countries very much. 

Personally, I don't believe this kind of knowledge is important before you travel because knowing this makes your impression of the world a little small. However, if you feel something a trouble on your way, possibly, this is one of the solution.

Hanukkah(Jewish Holiday)

Christmas Dat is one of the holiday in the world. Christian people celebrate it every year. One of the best part of the Christmas is the gifts. Some people thinks how to get a lot of gift. That's true. If you have a lot of gift, you may have a lot of family members and relatives. Anyway, the family reunion is the most important gift for them. If they have good relationships, they can get a lot of god's gifts.

On the other hand, there are some more traditional days in the world. One of them is "Hanukkah." This is for Jewish people. For the historical things, please check History Channel, "Origins of Hanukkah."

If you watched TV show "The O.C.," Seth's parents are Jewish and Christian. Then they celebrate "Christmahhah." In the story, his ground mother visits the family, they talk like the tradition from the dusk of the Hanukkah day.

According to the Internet, these are not traditional things, but they have "Hanukkah Gifts"(like Christmas Gifts) "Hanukkah Songs"(like Christmas songs), and "Hanukkah Bush"(like Christmas Tree).

When Hanukkah Day comes, Jewish people lights candles on Hanukkiya. Children plays with tops named "Dreidel." They have some special food like Buñuelo and Sufgabuyah(they are similar with donuts including fruits jams).

In the United States, one of the most Jewish concentrate place is Manhattan, New York. There may be a little different atmosphere in this season.

Paralympics Start

London Paralympics started today. However, we can't watch the games in the United States. In this commercialism country, it's a little difficult to live.

There are maybe two kind of people. One is disabled athletes who don't want to be in front of people. and the other is the athletes actively appear their activities in the world.

In some countries, these disabled people are a lot than others. I think there are some commons for them. One is military powers such as the United States. These countries actively send troops to conflict front in the name of peace keeping activities. One of them is also the places before it was the front of it.

People know about Vietnam on the Cold War. Then they used "defoliant" for the purpose to unhide the enemies. This defoliant included a lot of dioxin that causes deformity babies. Recent days, finally the United States started the project to remove dioxin from the soil in a part of Vietnam. People think it's one of the advances of post the cold war.

After the Arab Spring, now still some countries in Middle East and Africa have conflicts. Especially, Syria is one of the extreme parts now. These areas even today, the new disabled people have born. It's a sad thing. These are maybe negative parts of the human instincts.

Naturally, if people don't have this instinct called "fighting spirits," maybe these kind of sports games also are not existed in the world.

---

London is one of the biggest city in the world, and also has a long history. Large cities like London are difficult to maintain towns for disabled people. Also when you travel, you may have a lot of moment that like disabled people need helps. Then please help them, save the moment, and be happy.

"You Are the Sunshine of My Life"

by Stevie Wonder (1973)

Stevie Wonder is a disabled singer. According to some news sources, he was interested in the operation which might recover his eyesites in 1999. In 2005, media informed he prepared for the operation. I'm wondering he had the operation or not.