Waegook Tom

A Blog About A Globetrotting English Teacher

travel

Planning a getaway to Hampshire? What to see

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Source: Unsplash | Annie Spratt

Hampshire is perhaps synonymous now with comfortable country living and iconic English towns. This slice of idyllic England is home to the seaside, acres of towering forest and homes of some of Englands most famous authors. Hampshire’s reputation for being the home of refined taste makes it the perfect place to plan your getaway to. Whether you’re after a town or city break, or you’d prefer to spend your days outdoors, there’s plenty to do in this beautiful corner of the country.

Jane Austen’s House

If you’ve watched Pride and Prejudice and ever wanted to see where it all began, then this is the place to visit. Not only is this the home that Jane Austen wrote her most famous novels, but it’s also a beautifully preserved cottage with stunning gardens that surround it. This capsule of Jane’s life is a treasured place for many literary enthusiasts and is also a monument to celebrate one of Britain’s most influential female authors.

Endless Gardens

While you’re in one of the most quintessentially English parts of the United Kingdom, you may as well visit some truly iconic gardens while you’re there. In Hampshire, you’ll find beautifully-presented gardens that are bursting with the best wildlife that Britain has to offer. For example, Exbury gardens come to full vibrancy during the summertime, and while you’re there it’s a good idea to make the most of their quaint nearby attractions – an adorable miniature steam railway being one of them. You’ll also find forests, as well as riverside walks, to enjoy. Nearby gardens also include the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, where you’ll be able to smell some of Britain’s most beautiful native flowers, such as hydrangeas.

Mid-Hants Railway

If you want to enjoy the English countryside at full speed, then taking one of their picturesque railway routes is the way to do it. The ‘Watercress Line’ takes you to some of the most quaint English towns known to man, including Alresford. If you want the chocolate box experience, then be sure to take the train to this adorable little town. You’ll find multi-coloured houses, tiny boutiques and plenty of places to eat and drink. This town is renowned for its place on the train line, and so it’s not completely removed of tourist attractions.

You’ll also find plenty of riverside walks to go exploring down and views of the sprawling green countryside. Depending on which end of the Mid-Hants Railway you’d prefer to base yourself at, you’ll also find plenty of places to stay in the surrounding area. By simply searching ‘Holiday Cottages Hampshire’ you’ll find plenty of luxurious cottages to base yourself, in the Hampshire area.

Hampshire enjoys some of the UK’s most beautiful views, as well as some of its most vibrant wildlife. By taking the steam train, you will discover hidden towns that look as if they belong in a film set. You will also discover the writers of films that would be created centuries later, as well as beautiful gardens to lose yourself in – it is truly a county that’s worth visiting.

Adventurous Travel Options For Thrillseekers

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Whether you’re an avid traveller or someone who just likes to get away from it all on occasion, it’s entirely possible that you will like to take advantage of time away from work to focus on things that you love to do, such as hiking, exploring, art and music or cooking. If you’re planning a great getaway, you might be wondering where you can go that will allow you to exercise your interests as well. Here are a couple great options for travel ideas for thrillseekers. 

Source: Unsplash | Felix M. Dorn

Botswana

Botswana is a landlocked country where many people flock to see some of the area’s most important wildlife. The Okavango Delta is located in Botswana, a hugely important ecosystem of flora and fauna in the area. This is one of the major points of interest in all of Botswana, with a number of safari companies bringing tourists to the area. If you want a real treat of African wildlife, this is the place you need to see. Boat trips are just one of the ways you can explore the area, but any safari operator will provide you with excellent options if you want to add this to your itinerary.

Colombia

Formerly considered one of the most dangerous countries on the planet due to the cocaine trade, since the dissolution of the FARC, Colombia has grown its tourist infrastructure and industry to become one of the biggest up and comers when it comes to tourism. Not only can you visit impressive beaches, but also cocoa plantations, coffee plantations and beautiful mountain regions where hiking is ample, the people are friendly and you’re sure to have an experience that will leave you with lasting memories. 

Source: Unsplash | Agreen Duhoki

Iraq

If you’ve ever thought about travelling to a truly wondrous location with a deep history and ancient sites, Iraq is one of the best places. While it’s entirely possible to visit some of the more “shady” places such as Babylon which is out of the “safe zone”, parts of Iraqi Kurdistan are perfectly safe and include cities such as Erbil, where you can find high class accommodation and plentiful sources for restaurants and other tourist sites of interest. 

Russia

Russia has for a long time been somewhat a strange and unique option for travellers who are looking for something new and unusual for trips and adventures. With a number of cities to choose from for exploring including Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg in the western part of the country, there’s a whole host of options for almost any class and type of traveller. One of the most interesting and unusual ways to explore the country is through taking the Trans-Siberian Railway across the country from Moscow to…wherever! If you’re feeling brave, why not take it all the way to Beijing? It’s possible! 

So if you’ve been looking for some truly adventurous travel options, why not consider one of the choices above? There are literally so many cool, adventurous places to choose from, it’s no wonder adventure travel is becoming more and more sought after. So what are you waiting for? Get those bags packed and pick your top place to explore this year. Enjoy!

Making Travel Easy

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Have you ever wondered how some people seem to make travelling look so seamless? Maybe you want to see how travelling can be made easy, allowing you the opportunity to travel and make money at the same time. It’s a dream of many to be able to stay on the road for as long as possible or to travel with ease. Here we run down just how easy travelling can be, along with ways to make it more comfortable for you so you can have the best possible time. 

Travel and Work

Have you ever considered working while travelling? There are numerous ways to make money while travelling, not all of which include working for companies back home. Travelling as a private jet butler is just one way you can make travelling work for you – and you work with travelling. This is just one way you can make money on the road though. There are many others, including freelancing, which allows you a larger level of freedom albeit with a far more instability in terms of finances. 

Booking Taxis Ahead Of Time

Regardless of where you may find yourself in the world, booking a taxi ahead of time from the airport to your first accommodation is a huge help in making travel easier. After all – who wants to traverse strange streets in a new country with all your luggage looking for an address you’ve never been to? It just adds to the stresses of travel that you really don’t need. In this sense, it helps an enormous amount to book your taxi ahead of time – often online which makes things even easier!

Making Lists

When it comes to travelling, one of the most beneficial things you can possibly do is make lists. Whether it’s places you want to see or go to, things you want to try, foods to taste, things to experience or even just things you need to replace in your med kit, lists will help immensely. Lists help keep things in order, straightforward and easily visible and will reduce stress and anxiety. It’s particularly useful to make a list of potential things to refill or replace every time you make camp somewhere new for a few days or more – just so you know what you can get locally and what may need to wait until you’re somewhere else so you can make adjustments. Trust us – this will help you relax and have a better trip!

Research, Research, Research

At the end of the day, one of the ways to make travel easy is to research. Make sure you know what to expect when ti comes to weather and culture so there’s no surprises. You will want to know these things in terms of clothes to take and whether you will need waterproof clothing or similar. Research will save you so much time, money and stress. Just do it!

Regardless of whether you plan to be away for only a week or as much as a year, these tips and tricks to making travel easier. Good luck!

African Countries You Didn’t Know You Needed To Visit

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If you’re a fan of adventure, you’re probably wondering where to go on your next amazing getaway that will satisfy that thirst for excitement and wonder. Africa is one of the most popular continents for people with a love of thrill-seeking – whether you embark on a safari or you like to do things like mountain climbing, Africa has something just waiting for you. Check out these top African countries that you didn’t know you needed to visit, just in time to book a late holiday somewhere truly spectacular and unique. 

Source: Unsplash | Michal Průcha

Namibia

Namibia is one of the more unique of the sub-Saharan African countries. With gorgeous sand dunes and a luscious coastline that rivals some of the best throughout the rest of coastal Africa. There is a strange and unusual sight to see in Namibia – the Skeleton Coast – which is home to numerous abandoned oil tankers that proves to be some of the most picturesque coastline in Africa. Not only this, but Namibia also plays host to some interesting options for safaris as well as activities like dune bashing. If you’re looking for a country that is a bit more desert than jungle, but with a more sub-Saharan African vibe this is the country for you.

Botswana

Botswana is a beautiful, landlocked country that is home to numerous animals to watch and experience up close and personal. Whether you want to go on a proper bush driving safari or just sit in a camp and let the animals come and go as they please, Botswana is the place for you. Not only this, but the Okavango Delta is located in Botswana, a piece of the country that is home to some of the richest flora and fauna in the world. In truth, people from all over the world come to see this spectacular piece of the country which never fails to impress.Botswana is also home to some of the most luscious and unique safari experiences, so you’re in for a treat if you choose this country for your African trip.

South Africa

South Africa is a huge country right at the very southern tip of the continent, hence the name. Not only is South Africa home to great safari experiences, such as in Kruger National Park, but you can experience the coastline which is home to various bird species, including penguins! In the springtime, many of the fields throughout the country come alive with bright wildflowers that many people from around the world flock to South Africa to see. If you’re a wine lover though, don’t miss the wine country just north of Cape Town – the ideal way to spend a weekend trying various delicious wines amid beautiful wineries. 

Whether you’re an avid traveller or you’re new to the game, you will want to know which countries you absolutely must visit. This short list of must see African countries will surely help you make decisions with regard to where you should check out on this unique, amazing and sometimes strange continent, allowing you to plan a trip with ease. Good luck!

Unique Travel Experiences You Should Try At Least Once

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Have you ever dreamt of going on a trip where you experienced something truly wonderful that leaves you the envy of your friends and family? Who hasn’t? There are countless experiences across the world that fall into this category, the only problem is choosing just one or two to focus on each time you go abroad. If you’re looking for a trip that combines rest, relaxation and amazing experiences, check out these awesome suggestions for travel experiences you should try at least once. 

Visiting The Vatican

The Vatican – or Vatican City – is a unique location to visit. While it’s technically part of Rome, it’s actually considered its own sovereign nation and even has its own passport stamp. Be warned though – visiting the Vatican is serious business and if you aren’t dressed to impress (so to say) then you will be expected to cover up with paper trousers and the like. The Vatican is a holy, serious place, so come prepared and dressed appropriately in longer shirts and trousers or skirts and good walking shoes. That being said though, it’s an impressive and amazing experience that shouldn’t be missed, and if you’re a fan of impressive art, you won’t want to miss some of the most famous paintings by Michelangelo in St Peter’s Basilica.

Sampling Argentinian Wines

Live the estancia high life in Argentina and sample not just those delicious and decadent Argentinian wines, but also truly unique flavours and cuisines that the ranchers eat on a daily basis. Estancia living in Argentina is big business and you can truly find unique experiences living on ranches and farms alongside locals who are happy to show you the ropes of how life happens in the rural parts of the country. What could be better than sipping local wines while trying hand raised beef that comes straight from the ranch you’re living on?

The Most Dangerous Hike

The ‘World’s Most Dangerous Hike’ is nothing to laugh about, and is actually a seriously scary endeavour. Mount Hua, in China, is a dangerous hike that many people take on every year, traversing only a few planks of wood that have been bolted into the rock of a 7000 foot high mountain, only to reach a small Buddhist shrine. While it sounds like it’s more hassle than it’s worth, the actual fact is that it provides visitors and climbers with spectacular views and impressive photos, along with a nice pot of tea at the end.

Safari

While a safari may not sound like it’s terribly unique, it can be! Safaris range in quality from basic tent safaris all the way up to full luxury, private safari where you can almost have the entirety of Africa to yourself. Depending where you decide to go to for your safari you may find that it’s a bit busier or quieter – with safari parks in and around the Serengeti being busy and quite popular. 

So if you’ve been looking for a unique travel experience, hopefully one of these great ideas will help give you some ideas as to where you can go to get the best adventure travel experience possible.