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	<title>We Said Go Travel</title>
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	<link>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com</link>
	<description>Passport to a Global Community: Travel, Education, Inspiration</description>
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		<title>Singapore: My Trip to the Zoo with My Parents</title>
		<link>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/singapore-zoo-travelmob?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=singapore-zoo-travelmob</link>
		<comments>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/singapore-zoo-travelmob#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 21 May 2013 01:24:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa Niver Rajna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Singapore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[We Said]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[accommodation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Great Singapore Sale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jungle Breakfast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Night Safari]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Singapore Zoo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travelmob]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zoo]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/?p=8120</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Just before my nephew was born in December 2000, my parents came to visit me at work. I was living on a “Renaissance Cruises” ship amidst a fifty-day sailing from Athens, Greece to Bangkok, Thailand. Being the senior assistant cruise director, passengers had seen me on television, on stage, in the halls and in port [...]</p><p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/singapore-zoo-travelmob">Singapore: My Trip to the Zoo with My Parents</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_8124" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Night-Safari-Leopard-.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8124 " title="Night Safari Leopard" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Night-Safari-Leopard--300x208.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="208" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Along Night Safari&#8217;s Leopard Trail, peer into the often hidden world of our Sri Lankan leopards in their forested habitat.</p></div>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Just before my nephew was born in December 2000, my parents came to visit me at work. I was living on a “Renaissance Cruises” ship amidst a fifty-day sailing from Athens, Greece to Bangkok, Thailand. Being the senior assistant cruise director, passengers had seen me on television, on stage, in the halls and in port various times. My parents’ arrival as new cruisers was akin to a royal sighting. Everyone wanted to meet them and inform them my antics.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">There were many highlights and a few dreary moments during the fifty-day sailing packed with different ports; we were in Oman during Ramadan, had troubles with the local seaman in Qatar, and some evening performers showed up hours late or not at all on several occasions.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">I was thrilled to have my parents visit me and could not wait to share amazing sites with them on their first visit to Asia. Singapore was one of my favorite places on the sailing. I loved when my mom and dad took me to the Singapore Zoo. We participated in the <a href="http://www.zoo.com.sg/dining/jungle-breakfast-with-wildlife.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000000;">Jungle Breakfast</span></a> program with the orang utans and enjoyed each other’s company.  </span></p>
<div id="attachment_8123" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Night-Safari-Tram-with-Malayan-Tapir.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8123" title="Night Safari Tram with Malayan Tapir" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Night-Safari-Tram-with-Malayan-Tapir-300x158.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="158" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The quirky yet enchanting Malayan tapirs will captivate you during your Night Safari tram ride.</p></div>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Because of responsibilities onboard, I regretfully missed the <a href="http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000000;">Night Safari</span></a>  that my parents later raved about. During my seven years at sea and two sabbatical years in Asia, I have had very few regrets except missing out on viewing the animals at the nocturnal zoo. George and I will take advantage of discounted accommodation to see the sights and enjoy the shopping in Little India and Arab Street. Don’t miss out! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/travelmob" target="_blank">travelmob Facebook Fans</a> only:   </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"><a href="http://www.travelmob.com/singapore-vacation-rentals/?utm_source=wesaidgotravel&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=gss&amp;utm_content=gss_blog" target="_blank">CLICK HERE for the 10% discount</a> which ends May 31 along with the Great Singapore Sale. <strong>Want to meet us there?</strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"><em>All photos courtesy of Wildlife Reserves Singapore</em>. </span><span style="color: #000000;">Below: The m</span><span style="color: #000000;">agnificent bull elephant, Chawang, salutes visitors as they enjoy a tram ride in Singapore&#8217;s Night Safari. </span></p>
<div id="attachment_8126" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Night-Safari-Chawang-and-tram-with-logo.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8126 " title="Night Safari Chawang and tram (with logo)" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Night-Safari-Chawang-and-tram-with-logo-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Chawang, the park&#8217;s largest resident, is one of five Asian elephants that calls this attraction home.</p></div>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/singapore-zoo-travelmob">Singapore: My Trip to the Zoo with My Parents</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Utah: Deer Valley, the Beverly Hills of Park City</title>
		<link>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/utah-deer-valley-the-beverly-hills-of-park-city?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=utah-deer-valley-the-beverly-hills-of-park-city</link>
		<comments>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/utah-deer-valley-the-beverly-hills-of-park-city#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2013 18:00:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa Niver Rajna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[We Said]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[beverly hills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deer Valley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lisa Niver Rajna]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luxury]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Park CIty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[skiing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Utah]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/?p=8062</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Thank you to Park City Vacation Rentals for inviting me to write about my memories of Park City Past! My first visit to Deer Valley stands out in my memory; everything was hunter green and gleaming gold. It was like leaving Sherman Oaks and traveling to Beverly Hills, all the cars and people and outfits just seemed [...]</p><p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/utah-deer-valley-the-beverly-hills-of-park-city">Utah: Deer Valley, the Beverly Hills of Park City</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<blockquote><p><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/deervalley.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-8063" title="deervalley" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/deervalley.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="198" /></a>Thank you to <a href="http://www.parkcityvacationrentals.com/blog/2013/04/23/deer-valley-the-beverly-hills-of-park-city/" target="_blank">Park City Vacation Rentals</a> for inviting me to write about my memories of Park City Past!</p></blockquote>
<p>My first visit to <a href="http://www.parkcityvacationrentals.com/deer-valley.html" target="_blank">Deer Valley</a> stands out in my memory; everything was hunter green and gleaming gold. It was like leaving Sherman Oaks and traveling to Beverly Hills, all the cars and people and outfits just seemed sparklier. Spending the day at Deer Valley was more like an excursion than our normal ski day at Park City Resort where we just walked across the parking lot from Shadow Ridge Resort with our ski boots on and our skis and poles in hand. Everyone could ski for however long they wanted and walk back.</p>
<p>For a day trip to Deer Valley, we traveled with our after-ski boots on, ski boots in hand and had to board the bus. Getting the skis to fit in those little slots on the outside of the bus felt more challenging than a rubix cube. I always thought it was worth it but not everyone agreed. There was more coordinating and more hassle and we usually waited for each other in the lodge at the end of the day. Remember this was before cell phones and texting, we just had to use our eyes and find each other. I figured an extra hot chocolate in those gorgeous rooms with all the nice people around was pretty fantastic.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.parkcityvacationrentals.com/blog/2013/04/23/deer-valley-the-beverly-hills-of-park-city/" target="_blank">Click here</a> to read the full article.</p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/utah-deer-valley-the-beverly-hills-of-park-city">Utah: Deer Valley, the Beverly Hills of Park City</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Myanmar: Beat the Heat: Shan Secret Waterfall Hike (video)</title>
		<link>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/myanmar-shan-secret-waterfall?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=myanmar-shan-secret-waterfall</link>
		<comments>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/myanmar-shan-secret-waterfall#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 May 2013 18:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa Niver Rajna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Myanmar (Burma)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRIP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[We Said]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Burma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hike]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hspiaw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shan Secret Waterfall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[waterfall]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/?p=8058</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>WATCH: 15 Beat the Heat: Shan Secret Waterfall Hike, Hsipaw, Myanmar (Burma)  In order to beat the heat, we made a plan to be up by 7am, meet for breakfast around 7:30 am and be on the road to the waterfall by 8am. I ate the rice and beans with eggs but the Noodle soup also [...]</p><p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/myanmar-shan-secret-waterfall">Myanmar: Beat the Heat: Shan Secret Waterfall Hike (video)</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iCTXgJEVVfE" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>WATCH</strong>: <a href="http://youtu.be/iCTXgJEVVfE" target="_blank">15 Beat the Heat: Shan Secret Waterfall Hike, Hsipaw, Myanmar (Burma) </a></p>
<p>In order to beat the heat, we made a plan to be up by 7am, meet for breakfast around 7:30 am and be on the road to the waterfall by 8am. I ate the rice and beans with eggs but the Noodle soup also looked tasty. Armed with 2L of water each and some snacks, we set off on the trail to the waterfall.</p>
<p>Following the train tracks, we arrived at the Golden Rock not as large as the one in the South near Bago but brightly colored and very photo worthy. The Standing Buddha was also large maybe 15 feet with corn drying at his feet. Hnit Htawng Nar Yar (Monastery near Golden Rock)</p>
<p>While on the main road, locals on motorbikes called out Hello! We answered, &#8220;Mingla-ba!&#8221; The large trucks beeped loudly as they passed smaller cars, bicycles and motorbikes. Once we got off the road, we were rewarded with peace, quiet and gorgeous pastoral scenes with people working in the fields. October 5, 2012</p>
<p>This movie is from our 28 days in Myanmar (Burma) from September 28, 2012 to October 26, 2012 and our year TRIP in South East Asia, see all <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv_jKkCiDQcQPYznldATOSVolsu-dOms6" target="_blank">the videos from our trip</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/myanmar-shan-secret-waterfall">Myanmar: Beat the Heat: Shan Secret Waterfall Hike (video)</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Gracias Puerto Rico</title>
		<link>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/gracias-puerto-rico?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=gracias-puerto-rico</link>
		<comments>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/gracias-puerto-rico#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 May 2013 18:00:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Katie Lee</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Independence Writing Contest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Puerto Rico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bacardi Factory]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Katie Lee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Old San Juan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[San Juan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/?p=8014</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>West Side Story made me want to be Puerto Rican. I discovered the show in my 7th grade musical theater class and listened to the soundtrack obsessively. My favorite character was Anita, the fiery Latina with short hair and frilly skirts that she shook around her knees when she danced. For our final class project, [...]</p><p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/gracias-puerto-rico">Gracias Puerto Rico</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/CAFE.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-8015" title="CAFE" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/CAFE-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a><strong>West Side Story made me want to be Puerto Rican.</strong></p>
<p>I discovered the show in my 7th grade musical theater class and listened to the soundtrack obsessively. My favorite character was Anita, the fiery Latina with short hair and frilly skirts that she shook around her knees when she danced. For our final class project, I performed the song “A Boy Like That” as Anita with a friend playing Maria.</p>
<p>“A boy like that, he keel your brrrother,” I bellowed, trying to compensate for my white Long Island-ness with extra sass. Puerto Rico seemed exotic but in a comforting way, like mashed potatoes with a hint of chili.</p>
<p>I didn’t go Puerto Rico until eight years later when I went to visit my boyfriend Adrian’s family who lived in San Juan. I had long outgrown my West Side Story obsession, but I still got a rush when I stepped out of the airport and the humidity draped over me like a warm, damp towel.</p>
<p>Adrian spent that week showing me some of Puerto Rico’s most popular attractions. We toured the Bacardi factory, swam in a waterfall in the El Yunque rainforest and walked the cobbled streets of Old San Juan. What I enjoyed most, however, were the regular, everyday aspects of Puerto Rican life that he showed me, things that I would have missed if I came as a tourist. For example, I liked going to Pueblo, the supermarket where the coffee was kept in a locked case.</p>
<p>“When the economy is bad, coffee is the first thing people will steal. We can’t live without it,” Adrian explained.</p>
<p>I liked going to the gas station to pick up pan sobado, a sweet, soft bread that’s perfect for fried egg sandwiches, and battling crowds of women at the Plaza las Américas mall who dressed better to go shopping than I dressed ever. I liked sitting outside at night and drinking red wine while I battled the mosquitoes with an electric racket, delighting in the satisfying sizzle it made when I got one.</p>
<p>“Soy borracha,” I said. “No wait…estoy borracha.” The difference is an important one. Estoy borracha means that you’re currently drunk, while soy borracha implies that you’re always drunk.</p>
<p>My Spanish wasn’t very good anymore. I had studied it in high school but hadn’t used it much in the past few years. That didn’t stop me from reading every sign we passed with enthusiasm.</p>
<p>“Hatillo. Aquadilla. Mayagüez,” I shouted as we drove down the highway. I loved the way the words rolled around in my mouth and jumped off my tongue. It was as though they were begging to be said dramatically.</p>
<p>In many ways, the tropics didn’t really agree with me. No matter how much sunscreen I put on, I always missed some spots and ended up with red, angry-looking stripes across my body. I sweat constantly, even when I wasn’t moving. My wavy hair quickly became frizzy. But there are some things that are more important than unblemished skin and nice hair, like being able to drink out of a coconut that you just cut down from a palm tree with a machete. The machete is considered a weapon in some places, but here it was a practical tool, no more out of place in the kitchen than a bread knife. One carefully-laid crack was all it took to split the hard shell of the coconut and expose the sweet, slightly sour water that was hidden inside.</p>
<p>Adrian and I are married now, and I have been to Puerto Rico at least half a dozen times. Each time our plane lands in San Juan everyone claps. No one ever claps when we land in New York after our return flight, but there is something about Puerto Rico that makes you want to show your appreciation for being there. I join in with the rest of them, clapping my hands together until they’re stinging and red. Gracias, my hands say. Gracias, gracias, gracias.</p>
<p><strong>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</strong>: Katie Lee is a web content developer from New York who now lives in Scotland. When she&#8217;s not traveling, she&#8217;s writing short stories, cooking vegetarian food and running around at the gym.</p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/gracias-puerto-rico">Gracias Puerto Rico</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Los Angeles: Certificate of Appreciation</title>
		<link>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/los-angeles-certificate-of-appreciation?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=los-angeles-certificate-of-appreciation</link>
		<comments>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/los-angeles-certificate-of-appreciation#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 May 2013 04:23:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa Niver Rajna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[We Said]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Accolade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[award]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bill Rosendahl]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Rajna]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lisa Niver Rajna]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Los Angeles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[we said go travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wikipedia]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/?p=8045</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Presented to Lisa Niver Rajna and George Rajna of We Said Go Travel: City of Los Angeles Certificate of Appreciation: On Behalf of the Citizens of Council District Eleven this certificate is presented to you for your ongoing commitment and dedication to provide community and leadership in Los Angeles. Your efforts help to build connections [...]</p><p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/los-angeles-certificate-of-appreciation">Los Angeles: Certificate of Appreciation</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/rosendahl-Los-Angeles.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-8049" title="rosendahl Los Angeles" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/rosendahl-Los-Angeles.jpg" alt="" width="159" height="212" /></a></p>
<blockquote><p>Presented to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Niver_Rajna" target="_blank">Lisa Niver Rajna</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Rajna" target="_blank">George Rajna</a> of We Said Go Travel:</p>
<p>City of Los Angeles</p>
<p>Certificate of Appreciation:</p>
<p>On Behalf of the Citizens of Council District Eleven this certificate is presented to you for your ongoing commitment and dedication to provide community and leadership in Los Angeles. Your efforts help to build connections in our city and to other countries as well as with our neighbors. Through your ongoing programs, you have enhanced and changed the lives of many and I join with other members of our community to applaud your involvement to building a brighter future for everyone.</p>
<p>Bill Rosendahl</p>
<p>October 18, 2011</p></blockquote>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>WATCH</strong>: <a href="http://youtu.be/O9k-1yk14Vw" target="_blank">Realize Your Dreams</a></p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/O9k-1yk14Vw?list=PL0CAFAA88FE23BDAA" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315"></iframe></p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/los-angeles-certificate-of-appreciation">Los Angeles: Certificate of Appreciation</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Scottish Coast: Fringed with Gold &#8211; Fish &#8216;n&#8217; chips</title>
		<link>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/scottish-coast-fringed-with-gold?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=scottish-coast-fringed-with-gold</link>
		<comments>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/scottish-coast-fringed-with-gold#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Richard Lakin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Independence Writing Contest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scotland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anstruther]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fife]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fish 'n' chips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Richard Lakin]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>A queue snakes along the cobbles, restless with hunger, teased by the scent of frying fish and the waft of vinegar. The tide laps at anchor chains and barnacled hulls. Seagulls eye toddlers’ dripping cornets. We sit with our haddock and chips on the sea wall, Ss rising from steaming boxes. A terrier snatches in [...]</p><p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/scottish-coast-fringed-with-gold">Scottish Coast: Fringed with Gold &#8211; Fish &#8216;n&#8217; chips</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_8002" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Anstruther-harbour.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-8002" title="Anstruther harbour" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Anstruther-harbour-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Anstruther harbours</p></div>
<p>A queue snakes along the cobbles, restless with hunger, teased by the scent of frying fish and the waft of vinegar. The tide laps at anchor chains and barnacled hulls. Seagulls eye toddlers’ dripping cornets.</p>
<p>We sit with our haddock and chips on the sea wall, Ss rising from steaming boxes. A terrier snatches in the golden sand at a chucked tennis ball. It is this sand that led King James VI to describe Fife as ‘a beggar’s mantle fringed with gold.’</p>
<p>The line of coaches are proof this fish ‘n’ chip shop draws people from as far afield as Newcastle, Manchester and York.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s such a draw even Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have shared a table here. The fish bar isn’t big and, judging by today’s long line of hungry punters, the owners could fill their restaurant five times over. But maybe that’s the appeal. There’s something special with fish ‘n’ chip shops that doesn’t translate to a franchise.</p>
<p>Perhaps it’s the authenticity, as well as the taste, that packs them in. In an age when fishing quotas are rigid and fish stocks are declining it’s heartening to watch the catch landed.</p>
<p>Vast herring fleets no longer stalk shoals here, but trawlers still work these waters. For many of the townies chomping chips on a quayside bench it is the connection between plate and ocean, rather than supermarket and freezer, which feels like luxury.</p>
<p>The tang of diesel, the rattle of crates or spool of rope is Anstruther’s secret weapon. It is every bit as important as the taste of that crisp, golden batter.</p>
<p>The Scottish Fisheries Museum stands just across the road. Here, and just along the coast at the St Monan’s Collection, the folklore and tradition of fishing and maritime is captured in a charming selection of photographs, engravings, maps and curios.</p>
<p>There are early photos of the East Neuk harbours packed with herring fleet where the masts of the vessels are so numerous they could just as easily be matchsticks or toothpicks.</p>
<p>The men could be away for days or weeks in bitterly cold, mountainous seas. But if the men were tough, the fishwives’ feats are the stuff of legend. They would carry their men piggyback to their boats to keep their boots and leggings dry ahead of a voyage. With a flash of their razor-sharp knives they could gut a herring, sometimes several, every second. Their lightning-fast work and their hardened, weathered faces and thick shawls are almost lost to a blur by the slow exposure of early photography.</p>
<p>Fife has a rich fund of maritime stories from the Forth to the Tay. Alexander Selkirk – whose story was the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe – still watches over his hometown of Lower Largo. There is the might and majesty of the Forth Bridge and the tragic broken stumps that tell the tale of the Tay Bridge disaster.</p>
<p>Whaling fleets left these ports for the southern seas. In the coastal caves at West Wemyss there are circles carved into the rock by the first fishermen. The sea has brought food, trade, salt, escape and death to generations. There is truly a story in those fish and chips.</p>
<p><strong>ABOUT THE AUTHOR</strong>:  <em>Richard Lakin</em> is married with two sons and lives in Staffordshire, England. His work has been published by the <em>Guardian, Independent on Sunday</em> and <em>Daily Telegraph</em> newspapers in the UK and in 2009 he won the <em>Daily Telegraph</em> Just Back annual travel-writing prize. Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakinwords" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/Lakinwords</a> Website: <a href="http://richlakin.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://richlakin.wordpress.com/</a></p>
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		<title>Antarctica Feature: Part 3 &#8211; What Photography Equipment Do I Need?</title>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 16 May 2013 18:00:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kellie Netherwood</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antarctica]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Countries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[They Said]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Falkland Islands]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kellie Netherwood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Packing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South Georgia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[travel tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/?p=7705</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>&#160; Antarctica is a place like no other and the cost, time and effort to get there makes it a once in a lifetime experience for most travellers.  It&#8217;s not an experience you want to ruin by being unprepared and one of the most common planning questions is &#8220;what photography equipment do I need&#8221;? The [...]</p><p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/antarctica-feature-part-3-what-photography-equipment-do-i-need">Antarctica Feature: Part 3 &#8211; What Photography Equipment Do I Need?</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.mydestinationunknown.com"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7708" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Kellie-Netherwood-5373-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Antarctica is a place like no other and the cost, time and effort to get there makes it a once in a lifetime experience for most travellers.  It&#8217;s not an experience you want to ruin by being unprepared and one of the most common planning questions is &#8220;what photography equipment do I need&#8221;?</p>
<p>The answers depends on what type of photographer you are and what you want to do with your photos, but <em>take something.</em>  Even if you don&#8217;t usually take photos when you travel, you will find yourself constantly snapping away at wildlife and landscape that is difficult to put into words.</p>
<p>Some of the things to consider include:</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>1. Camera</strong></h3>
<p><strong>DSLR v Point and Shoot?</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left">Having a new and expensive camera is not a pre-requisite to capturing great photographs.  You are more likely to return home with great images from a point and shoot camera you are familiar with than a new DSLR that you don&#8217;t know how to use.</p>
<p style="text-align: left">But if you have been considering upgrading your equipment, would like more creative control over the images you produce or intend to do more with your photographs than simply show them to friends and family, a trip to Antarctica is a perfect excuse to upgrade your equipment.</p>
<p>If you decide to buy a new camera for your adventure, just be sure to unwrap the packaging before you go and learn how to use it.</p>
<p><strong>Backup camera?</strong></p>
<p>Plan for the worst and hope for the best.  There are no shops in Antarctica, so avoid the potential heartache of returning home without any photographs by packing a backup option.  If you are shooting with a DLSR, a second body that uses the same lenses is a good idea.  A point and shoot is also useful as it can sit in your jacket pocket during zodiac rides just in case a whale comes out of the water in front of you when your main camera is safely packed away in your waterproof bag!</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline">My Packing List</span></p>
<p>Canon 7D</p>
<p>Canon 7D (backup) *</p>
<p>Panasonic Lumix Point &amp; Shoot</p>
<p><em>* I bought a used Canon 7D before I left and as Canon and Nikon products hold their value quite well, was able to sell it for almost the same price when I returned home</em></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline">My Verdict</span></p>
<p>A backup camera is essential.  Rain during our first landing at the Falkland Islands caused my 7D to stop working for 24 hours, so having my backup body prevented a panic attack and allowed me to capture the charismatic rockhopper penguins on the second landing of the day, an experience I would have missed photographing otherwise.  I wasn&#8217;t the only one who experienced camera malfunctions during the trip &#8211; unfortunately it <em>does</em> happen.</p>
<p>My Panasonic Lumix was always in my pocket and whilst I didn&#8217;t find myself using it much in the zodiac, I did get some great social shots from the bar!</p>
<p>The GoPro was a popular camera with kayakers and worth considering if you are adding some adventure options to your itinerary.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong></strong><strong>2. Lenses</strong></h3>
<p><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.jessops.com/ce-images/PRODUCT/PRODUCT_LARGE/ACANOLE401003524.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="142" /></p>
<p>One of the highlights of Antarctica is the diversity of your surroundings: sweeping landscapes, icebergs of all shapes and sizes and wildlife on the ground, in the sea and in the air.  If you shoot with a camera with changeable lenses, you will want a variety of lengths to capture this diversity at its best.  For example:</p>
<p><em>Wide-angle lens</em> for those sweeping landscapes</p>
<p><em>Mid-range/standard lens</em> for general use</p>
<p><em>Telephoto lens </em>to capture wildlife from a distance.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline">My Packing List</span></p>
<p>I packed the following lenses to use with my Canon 7D:</p>
<p>10-22mm wide-angle lens</p>
<p>24-105mm mid-range lens</p>
<p>100-400mm telephoto</p>
<p><em></em><span style="text-decoration: underline">My Verdict</span></p>
<p>Whilst I found myself using the 24-105mm and 100-400mm the most, I still found the 10-22mm essential for capturing the vast landscape and some of the large icebergs in Pleneau Bay. I was happy with all three lenses and would pack the same again.</p>
<p>There was a 600mm and a 800mm lens on board that found themselves <em>in</em> as many photographs as they took but the 100-400mm was probably the most popular amongst the DSLR photographers.  I found this perfect for capturing wildlife.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mydestinationunknown.com"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7711" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Kellie-Netherwood-7591-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a></p>
<h3><strong>3. Storage</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Memory Cards</strong></p>
<p>Everything I read about photographing Antarctica before I left included one consistent piece of advice: bring more memory cards than you think you will need…and you will use them all.</p>
<p>And it&#8217;s true!</p>
<p><strong>Laptop?</strong></p>
<p>A laptop is not only a useful tool to backup your photos, but it allows you to organise and improve your images along the way.  Having my laptop let me spend time on the ship critically reviewing my images in Lightroom, get advice from other photographers onboard, identify what I was doing wrong and use the wealth of available wildlife and landscape subjects to try again.</p>
<p><strong>Backing up</strong></p>
<p>Having a backup camera avoids the potential disappointment of not being able to take photographs.  Having a <em>backup storage option</em> avoids the potential disappointment of losing them once you&#8217;ve taken them.  I backed up my photos after each landing and at least once a day, on both my laptop and a portable hard drive.  I also carried a USB stick &#8216;just in case&#8217;.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline">My packing list</span></p>
<p>Memory cards &#8211; three times more than usual!</p>
<p>Portable hard drive</p>
<p>Laptop</p>
<p>USB stick</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline">My verdict</span></p>
<p>You need at least one backup storage option and back up on a regular basis.</p>
<p>There were three shared computers on board that could be used to transfer photos onto a USB for those who didn&#8217;t have their own laptop.  But there were some photographers who didn&#8217;t bring a laptop and regretted it.  It really comes down to personal taste and how you like to spend your spare time, but a laptop for me was essential.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>4. Camera Bags</strong></h3>
<p>As you are planning your trip, you will find yourself asking: how do I carry my equipment on the plane without incurring excess baggage charges?  How do I keep it safe from salt spray (or capsizing!) whilst on the zodiac?  How can I carry my equipment on shore so that it is both comfortable and accessible?  I read so many different pieces of advice on this subject that I realised it really just came down to personal preference.   But two key pieces of advice include:</p>
<p>- Don’t check in any camera equipment on your flight, it is just too valuable to risk.  Store your camera and lenses in your carry-on bag, find out the baggage limits before you fly and be prepared to pay excess charges if you need to.</p>
<p>- Bring a waterproof bag to store your camera during the zodiac rides to and from the ship.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.mydestinationunknown.com"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7709" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Kellie-Netherwood-192-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>My Verdict</strong></span></p>
<p>I&#8217;m yet to find that perfect camera bag, but I was happy with my Lowepro Slingshot during my Antarctica trip.  I&#8217;ve since changed to a Lowepro Pro Runner which I would also have been happy with in Antarctica.  Although wheeled carry-on cases are easier to drag around airports, a backpack is the best option as you need your hands free for the zodiac rides to and from shore.</p>
<p>The waterproof covers that come with the Lowepro bags proved adequate for the majority of the zodiac rides, but we experienced relatively calm conditions.  I had a dry bag in which I placed my camera bag for zodiac rides to and from landing sights and this gave me piece of mind during our first Falkland Island landing when a lot of water came into the zodiac.</p>
<p>One of the challenges for photographers heading to Antarctica is the carry-on allowance on local airlines who fly to Ushuaia.  I was prepared to pay excess if I had to, but my luggage was never weighed and I never had an issue.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Other considerations / tips:</strong></h3>
<p><strong>Tripod</strong></p>
<p>I kept changing my mind about bringing my tripod and in the end I left it home &#8211; and I didn&#8217;t regret it.  The light in Antarctica is incredible and a tripod is not much use on a moving ship.  The only people I saw using one were those who were shooting video.</p>
<p><strong>The weather</strong></p>
<p>There are two key risks to shooting in sub-zero temperatures:</p>
<p>1. Cold weather can reduce the normal life of a battery</p>
<p>&#8230;and you will be taking more photos than you normally do.  To avoid the flashing battery icon appearing just as a penguin appears in front of you, take spare batteries.  I carried one in the warmth of my inside jacket pocket and left one in my cabin.  I found myself continually charging batteries.</p>
<p>2. Returning to the warmth of the ship after being outside in the cold can cause the chilled camera to get covered with condensation</p>
<p>This didn&#8217;t appear to be a major problem on our expedition, but wrapping the camera in a plastic bag or towel whilst outside and then letting it warm slowly inside before unwrapping it, can help combat condensation if it is an issue.  Ziploc bags are also useful to have in your pocket in case it rains in the Falkland Islands or to avoid water spray during zodiac cruises.</p>
<p><strong>Filters</strong></p>
<p>A polarising filter can help cut down the glare off the snow and water and increases the intensity of the sky, so it is useful but not essential.  I had one with me but didn&#8217;t use it very much, although this varied between other photographers on board.</p>
<p><strong>Cleaning Cloths</strong></p>
<p>The same cleaning equipment you would carry on any trip should be fine for Antarctica.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>My Packing List</h2>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Camera &amp; Lens</span></p>
<p>Canon 7D</p>
<p>Canon 7D (backup body)</p>
<p>10-22mm wide-angle lens</p>
<p>24-105mm mid-range lens</p>
<p>100-400mm zoom lens</p>
<p>Panasonic Lumix point-and-shoot</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Accessories</span></p>
<p>Polarising filter</p>
<p>Memory cards (lots)</p>
<p>Two spare batteries and battery charger</p>
<p>Laptop, portable hard drive and USB stick</p>
<p>Memory card reader (for both my SD and CF cards)</p>
<p>Cleaning fluid and cloths</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Bags</span></p>
<p>Lowepro SlingShot 302 AW</p>
<p>Sealline Boundary Drybag</p>
<p>Ziploc plastic bags</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>What I left at home:</strong></p>
<p>Tripod</p>
<p>ND &amp; Grad filters</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Have you been to Antarctica?  Do you have any different or additional photography advice?</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #333399"><strong><em>Author Bio:  Kellie Netherwood (<a title="Destination Unknown" href="http://www.mydestinationunknown.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333399">Destination Unknown</span></a>).</em></strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: #333399"><strong><em><a href="http://www.mydestinationunknown.com"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-3559" src="http://www.mydestinationunknown.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/168925_10150135747408436_5682076_n-150x150.jpg" alt="168925_10150135747408436_5682076_n.jpg" width="90" height="90" /></a></em></strong>Through the intersection of her travel, writing and photography passions at <a title="Destination Unknown" href="http://www.mydestinationunknown.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333399">Destination Unknown</span></a>, Kellie shares her experiences to inspire others to create their own. Motivated by a determination to &#8220;live&#8221; life instead of simply &#8220;existing&#8221;, Kellie is energised by exploring the world we live in and inspired by those paving their own paths in life. She has travelled to more than 50 countries and all 7 continents&#8230;and is not done yet!</span></p>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #333399"><em></em><em>Kellie travelled through the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica for three weeks in Dec 2012  &amp; Jan 2013 with <a title="Quark Expeditions Website" href="http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333399">Quark Expeditions</span></a> and is sharing this experience in a four-part series here at We Said Go Travel.</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399">For more Antarctica stories and photographs, visit her at <strong><a title="Destination Unknown" href="http://www.mydestinationunknown.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333399">Destination Unknown</span></a>.</strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><span style="color: #333399"><strong><em>Kellie&#8217;s Photography</em></strong></span></h3>
<p><span style="color: #333399">Visit <strong><a title="Kellie Netherwood Photography" href="http://www.kellienetherwoodphotography.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333399">Kellie Netherwood Photography</span></a></strong> for travel photography from seven continents.  A collection of these images are also <strong><a title="Photography for sale" href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/destnunknown" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333399">available for sale </span></a></strong>as greeting cards and prints.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333399"><strong>Kellie&#8217;s Antarctica Photography Book &#8211; available as <a title="View &amp; Order Printed Book" href="http://www.blurb.co.uk/my/book/detail/4063956-antarctica" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333399">printed</span></a> or <a title="View &amp; Order Ebook" href="http://store.blurb.co.uk/my/ebooks/375416-antarctica-antarctic-peninsula-south-georgia-the-falkland-islands" target="_blank"><span style="color: #333399">ebook</span></a></strong></span></p>
<div style="text-align: left;width: 450px"><a href="http://www.blurb.co.uk/my/book/detail/4063956-antarctica"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-3895" src="http://www.mydestinationunknown.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/4406406-c2cc0a85dfdbea0f9969c384464646b9.jpg" alt="4406406-c2cc0a85dfdbea0f9969c384464646b9" width="360" height="304" /></a></div>
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<p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/antarctica-feature-part-3-what-photography-equipment-do-i-need">Antarctica Feature: Part 3 &#8211; What Photography Equipment Do I Need?</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Good-bye Nepal, Hello Malaysia</title>
		<link>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/good-bye-nepal-hello-malaysia?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=good-bye-nepal-hello-malaysia</link>
		<comments>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/good-bye-nepal-hello-malaysia#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 18:00:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa Niver Rajna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Malyasia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nepal]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[<p>Do you get our Newsletter twice a month? Sign up by clicking HERE. It was hard to leave Nepal after our wonderful two months there. We enjoyed the trekking in the mountains, the beauty of the Lakes, the wondrous animals in Chitwan, the ancient cities around Kathmandu and speaking at the Nepal Tourism Board for [...]</p><p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/good-bye-nepal-hello-malaysia">Good-bye Nepal, Hello Malaysia</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 style="text-align: center;">Do you get our Newsletter twice a month?</h2>
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<p><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/May2013-map.png"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-7965" title="May2013 map" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/May2013-map-300x199.png" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>It was hard to leave Nepal after our wonderful two months there. We enjoyed the trekking in the mountains, the beauty of the Lakes, the wondrous animals in Chitwan, the ancient cities around Kathmandu and speaking at the Nepal Tourism Board for a Reader&#8217;s Club Event. Twenty-five people gathered to hear us talk about travel, writing and our book. <strong>It was the first time we ever read from our memoir about our first year sabbatical in Asia</strong>. After the event, the feature editor from The Himalayan Times interviewed us for over an hour. <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/lisa-george-talk-about-travel-in-the-himalayan-times" rel="nofollow">Click here to see <strong>the FULL PAGE article</strong> that recently was in print</a> and photo below.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/himtimes.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7966" title="himtimes" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/himtimes-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Our first goal when we arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was to repair our MacBook Air. I cracked the screen during our Langtang Trek and we had been without a computer for weeks. After several online conversations, I was certain that iMalaysia would be able to help us quickly and for a good price. When we arrived at the mall, their shop was closed forever. I was really disappointed.</p>
<p>Two wonderful workers in a nearby shop directed us upstairs and we found Lim Ching Sheng at EGate Service Center, <a href="http://www.egateservice.com.my/" rel="nofollow">www.egateservice.com.my</a></p>
<p>who recovered all the data from my harddrive and then bought the broken laptop as repairing it was out of my budget for time and money. I then met Azmi of Umer Enterprises<a href="http://www.umeronline.my/" rel="nofollow">www.umeronline.my</a> at Low Yat Plaza who had the only MacBook Air on sale in the entire multi-story building. We had a working computer and could leave for the beach!</p>
<p>Salang Beach at Tioman Island had good snorkeling in warm clear water with creatures like a coral stingray, moray eel, colorful nudibranchs and several large turtles. We stayed three nights on the beach at Ella&#8217;s and then traveled North in the pouring rain to the #1 highlight for Malaysia in the Lonely Planet, the Perhentian Islands. We only stayed three nights on Perhentian Besar because all the rooms were booked and we had to go. Flora Bay Resort was right on the beach and we snorkeled with a 6ft black tip reef shark! Sin at Lemon Grass Hotel on Long Beach, Perhentian Kecil, told us about the baby black tip reef sharks. We found a dozen of them all swimming in a straight line. On two other snorkel adventures, we saw another large six-foot black tip reef shark. Really great snorkeling! We enjoyed our two weeks in Malaysia and are off to Thailand!</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who has shared our journey literally on the road with us or by reading and commenting on our newsletter and website! AND for watching : Our channel just went OVER 75,000 views!</p>
<p>Lisa and George (Click here to <a href="http://forms.aweber.com/form/58/577760258.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sign up for this newsletter</a>. )</p>
<p><strong>Recent posts to enjoy</strong>: Interviewed on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/interviewed-by-daves-travel-corner" rel="nofollow">Dave&#8217;s Travel Corner</a>, <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/india-myanmar-touriosity" rel="nofollow">Lisa&#8217;s article IN PRINT </a>in an Indian magazine called TOURIOSITY, and a video from <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/myanmar-monks-mandalay" rel="nofollow">Myanmar about Monks on Mopeds in Mandalay</a>!</p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/good-bye-nepal-hello-malaysia">Good-bye Nepal, Hello Malaysia</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Mauritius: Traveling is not always about going far far away&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/mauritius-traveling-indian-ocean?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=mauritius-traveling-indian-ocean</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 18:00:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Priscille dArifat Koenig</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Indian Ocean]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mauritius]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[They Said]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Priscille d'Arifat Koenig]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[traveling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/?p=7858</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>Traveling is the most amazing thing. You meet new people, you see new places, you open yourself to new perspectives and more often than not come back inspired by what you have seen. My first traveling experience was at about ten years old, when I went to London with my mum and my sister to [...]</p><p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/mauritius-traveling-indian-ocean">Mauritius: Traveling is not always about going far far away&#8230;</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Traveling is the most amazing thing. You meet new people, you see new places, you open yourself to new perspectives and more often than not come back inspired by what you have seen.</p>
<div id="attachment_7859" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Centenial-park.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7859" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Centenial-park-300x225.jpg" alt="Centenial park - Australia" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">At the Centenial park in Australia</p></div>
<p>My first traveling experience was at about ten years old, when I went to London with my mum and my sister to meet my dad who was doing a training course there. Stepping out of my tropical island into an end of winter London was a shock to my system, and right there I had a very new and priceless experience. Needless to say, I still keep cherished memories of these holidays.</p>
<p>Each of my travel experiences to Reunion island, South Africa, Australia or Rodrigues island has brought me different but amazing memories.</p>
<p><strong>But what if you can&#8217;t afford to travel all that much&#8230;</strong></p>
<p>It does happen though that at times, it’s not that easy to travel. Sometimes finances are the issue and other times work or family obligations. For other people it might be their age or their health that prevents them from going abroad. Whatever the reason, there are times where we are not able to travel that easily.</p>
<p>Does that mean that we can’t see new places, meet new people and open ourselves to new perspectives? Hell no!</p>
<p>When I met my husband, about twelve years ago, one of my dreams was to be able to travel at least once every two years. That was my goal. Unfortunately, life caught up with me, and I wasn’t able to follow that plan. I got married, we had a loan to repay, then started a family&#8230; All this didn’t allow us to travel all that much.</p>
<p>I missed it though. A lot.</p>
<p>This is when the idea of discovering, and re-discovering, places close to me started to take shape.</p>
<p>I love my island. I&#8217;ve always been completely fond of all it has to offer. However, I noticed that I didn&#8217;t pay enough attention to all these beautiful places surrounding me. Being trapped in our daily routine often doesn&#8217;t allow us to appreciate what we have right on our doorstep.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="attachment_7861" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 650px"><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Mauritius.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-7861" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Mauritius.jpg" alt="Mauritius Island" width="640" height="480" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Mauritius Island upon arrival</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>This is when I decided that this needed to change and that I needed to make a plan to see new places, meet new people and open my perspectives right here and right now.</p>
<p>Therefore in December 2011, right on new year&#8217;s eve, I made a commitment to myself for a whole lot of new discoveries in the upcoming year and to share my discoveries with others online. That was so much fun that I never stopped!<strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>Here are 3 things I learned while discovering my island:</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="attachment_7863" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/shadow-on-field-copy.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7863" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/shadow-on-field-copy-300x168.jpg" alt="Cut sugar cane crop plantation" width="300" height="168" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">A harvested sugar cane plantation</p></div>
<p><em>1. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder</em><br />
Once I started to view my island through the lens of a camera, taking photos during all our different visits, I started changing my own point of view about the landscape around me. Now I don&#8217;t need my camera anymore to appreciate a beautiful lighting on the sugar cane fields or the cliffs of a mountain. I notice little details that would not have had me stop before. I always knew there was beautiful landscape around me, however I didn&#8217;t appreciate them as often nor to the same extent as I do now.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div id="attachment_7864" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 235px"><a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Port-Louis-copy.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-7864" src="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Port-Louis-copy-225x300.jpg" alt="Port Louis - the capital city of Mauritius" width="225" height="300" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The capital city of Mauritius: Port Louis</p></div>
<p><em>2. You don&#8217;t have to go very far to feel in a completely different world</em><br />
Mauritius is not very big. So small in fact that it doesn&#8217;t even appear on most maps. However, there are so many very different things to see in these 1865km2, that you can feel in a completely different world. From the sunny beaches on one side to the wilderness of the mountains, or the tiny villages full of vegetable plantations to the cities and their tall buildings.<strong></strong></p>
<p><em>3. Creating connections with people sharing the same passion is always heart warming</em><br />
I didn&#8217;t foresee meeting so many new people and creating so many connections along the way. This was for me the cherry on the top. Whether it is fellow mauritians, foreigners who came the time of a holiday who fell in love with the island or those who left the island a long time ago to establish themselves elsewhere. These encounters, the time of a comment on facebook, a cup of tea or a friendly walk, are always a rich sharing experience for me and I really do cherish them.</p>
<p><strong>To travel or not to travel&#8230; that is the question!</strong></p>
<p>Traveling then, is not always about going far far away to some unknown and new place. And if you do love traveling, my advice for you today is, while you are planning your next trip, don&#8217;t just fall back into your daily routine. Explore your surroundings and be amazed about all the wonderful things that surrounds you.</p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/mauritius-traveling-indian-ocean">Mauritius: Traveling is not always about going far far away&#8230;</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Little Bagan in Hsipaw Myanmar (video)</title>
		<link>http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/little-bagan-in-hsipaw-myanmar-video?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=little-bagan-in-hsipaw-myanmar-video</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2013 18:00:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa Niver Rajna</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Myanmar (Burma)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TRIP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[We Said]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Burma]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hsipaw]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lisa Niver Rajna]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Little Bagan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Myanmar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[<p>WATCH: 14 Hsipaw Little Bagan Myanmar (Burma)  Wandering around Hsipaw and out to Little Bagan, we saw rice fields, water buffalo and smiling friendly faces. I enjoyed the dirt track and seeing the stupas. Many children said, &#8220;Mingla-ba&#8221; or Hello to us. Being in the monastery where the young monks were chanting and studying was [...]</p><p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/little-bagan-in-hsipaw-myanmar-video">Little Bagan in Hsipaw Myanmar (video)</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BeXRToXrN4E" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315"></iframe></p>
<p><strong>WATCH</strong>: <a href="http://youtu.be/BeXRToXrN4E" target="_blank">14 Hsipaw Little Bagan Myanmar (Burma) </a></p>
<p>Wandering around Hsipaw and out to Little Bagan, we saw rice fields, water buffalo and smiling friendly faces. I enjoyed the dirt track and seeing the stupas. Many children said, &#8220;Mingla-ba&#8221; or Hello to us. Being in the monastery where the young monks were chanting and studying was a highlight of the day. It was a very tranquil wander in a beautiful area. The only negative is we were told there was no overnight trekking in the area as the Army was engaged in battle with some Shan tribes. We had thought that this area had peaceful relations now and were surprised to learn of the fighting. October 4, 2012</p>
<p>This movie is from our 28 days in Myanmar (Burma) from September 28, 2012 to October 26, 2012 and our year TRIP in South East Asia, see all the videos <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLv_jKkCiDQcQPYznldATOSVolsu-dOms6&amp;feature=plcp" target="_blank">from our trip</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/little-bagan-in-hsipaw-myanmar-video">Little Bagan in Hsipaw Myanmar (video)</a> appeared first on <a href="http://www.wesaidgotravel.com">We Said Go Travel</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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