#conTIKI show

[kyndaris]

Celebrating Legacy

Music is an important element in most people's lives. They keep us entertained during long car rides, or can serve to denote important scenes as the orchestra sweeps in during an epic moment during a movie or a video game. Many can recall iconic soundtracks or albums that have defined moments in their lives. I know I have certainly appreciated many a composer from Hans Zimmer to Inon Zur, and even Jeremy Soule. But there is one composer who sits above the rest when it comes to iconic pieces in a long-running video game franchise. And that is none other than Nobuo Uematsu.

So, when I read on Facebook that he was coming to Sydney to do a show with his conTIKI band, I had to purchase tickets. And I harped on bleachpanda to get them as soon as possible.

The day of the event came: 8 September 2024. After a quick dinner nearby, bleachpanda and I headed for Sydney's State Theatre along with another one of my friends (although he was seated on the mezzanine level as he'd bought his ticket separately and wanted to be seated up close and personal). In, we went, and watched in amazement as all the seats were taken up by others.

Now that I think on it, this should not have surprised me. The show, only featuring on a single day, had long been sold out. I would know, of course, because after watching Hamilton right before my birthday, I'd informed Sorrengail Nobuo Uematsu would be coming to Sydney and she'd tried to see if tickets were still available - so she could pay obeisance to the man who wrote such iconic music that is even now celebrated in the Distant Worlds and A New World concerts that tour around the world (except Australia - please come back and play the Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth soundtrack for us!).

As 7:30 hit, the lights in the theatre dimmed and Nobuo Uematsu emerged on stage. He settled down at his keyboard, outfitted with a laptop, and he began to play. It felt almost intimate, sitting there, a face in the crowd. As if we had been drawn into his private garage or studio where he might compose his music.

In quick succession, he played through modulated versions of the Opening - Bombing Mission from Final Fantasy VII and Blue Fields from Final Fantasy VIII. After a quick introduction where he asked if members of the audience knew of his work, he wondered if we would like to listen to more iconic Final Fantasy music, this time from some of the older games.

Of course, being such a big fan of the Final Fantasy franchise who has enjoyed even the musical rhythm game spin-offs, the other modular pieces were still identifiable to me. The first one he played was from Final Fantasy III: Legend of the Eternal Wind. He then followed this up with the iconic Clash on the Big Bridge from Final Fantasy V. But, let's be honest, who could forget Gilgamesh's iconic theme and which has featured again and again in different games.

With those two pieces done, Uematsu introduced a talented voice actress to the stage. She was there to narrate three stories, as well as voice each of the characters. All of the stories were accompanied by a video shown on the big projector screen in the middle of the stage. And every time, Uematsu would pull out a piece of paper that said: Play the video, Rebekah!

It even became a bit of a running gag throughout the show. Especially when the video for the first story stuttered a little and there was some banter between Uematsu and the voice actress regarding the technical difficulties.

But the show must go on! And poor Rebekah managed to pull through.

The first story was a boy who was out fishing. He was chatting with, I had initially assumed it was a friend, a kappa. I don't recall much of the dialogue except they were talking about a girl in town who was a little down. It ended with the boy heading back home and telling his mother about the catch.

Shinigami-kun with its jazz background music was a cute story about an apprentice Shinigami who was persuaded not to take a girl's father with the promise of a big bag of chocolates. And the third story, The Rules of the Other Side, had a fast-talking mobster fish that was seeking compensation for wrongs made to the ocean.

Just like that, the first half ended. After a brief intermission, the show saw the rest of Nobuo Uematsu's band take to the stage. These included a guitarist, percussionist and also a singer. I don't remember their names too well but a video on YouTube indicates they might be: Yasushi Yokokawa, Chihiro Fujioka, Rie Tozuka and Xiao.

All I remember from the introductions was the singer saying she was an otaku who had managed to become the vocalist for a band run by Nobuo Uematsu.

With the pleasantries out of the way, the band played through Suteki Da Ne, Melodies of Life and No Promises to Keep. All songs from the Final Fantasy franchise.

And then, because Nobuo Uematsu isn't defined by just the music he has done for Final Fantasy, he and his band played through two original songs and then a combination song with story. They were: The Child Who Came From An Egg, Oni, and Doppelganger. Suffice it to say, the two songs, with their accompanying videos, were a little surreal and impressionistic with their imagery. Especially with the koala bear headed men dancing on the sidelines.

I even wondered aloud to bleachpanda if the songs had been written when they were all on shrooms. The visuals certainly were a bit strange and almost psychedelic in nature.

Not that I'm complaining. It just seemed a little out of left-field for me. Then again, I like things to make sense.

And with the closing notes of Doppelganger, the band bowed and left the stage. The crowd cheered, hoping for an encore. After several long minutes (presumably because the band was changing into the ConTIKI show t-shirts that were being sold for $50), Uematsu emerged once more on the stage. He played an excellent rendition of To Zanarkand from Final Fantasy X before the band returned to the stage to play one of my other favourite songs: Kiss Me Goodbye - although I did find it odd considering it was the ending for Final Fantasy XII, a game Nobuo Uematsu did NOT compose. Still, it was great piece to end the night as me, bleachpanda and my other friend scurried to the train station to return home after a late night out in the city.

Was the ConTIKI show what I was hoping for? Not exactly.

Then again, it never said it would be a proper Final Fantasy concert. In fact, given it was a smaller setting, I wasn't entirely sure WHAT Nobuo Uematsu would bring to the table. Sure, his personal songs were a little strange and wacky, but given how well renowned he is as a composer, I'm sure people can offer him some leeway to do whatever he likes in his own private affairs.

The Reddit thread regarding the event, though, had a few mixed reactions from people attending. More than likely, they were expecting something a little more grand than an old guy sitting at a keyboard remixing his old pieces, but it certainly could have been much worse.

Here's hoping, though, that we DO get another Distant Worlds concert back in Australia in the not too DISTANT future.

EDIT: There was ALSO another story about a stone deity! When writing up this blog, I had the impression of four stories being told but could only remember three. BUT no, there was four.

[nintendont2502]

I was getting excited abt planning a trip to america next year before I realised that involves. Planning

[acespeon]

actually if the show has taught us anything, I doubt Bob would have actually liked it if Fischoeder had paid off their business loan in full rather than just for the month. he gave Warren back the money he invested in him in ProTiki ConTiki for example.

sure it would’ve meant less stress on the family but Bob likes accomplishing things on his own terms.

as someone that comes from a similar family structure (parents always struggling month to month, growing up on less money than other kids), it leads to guilt and overthinking. spending that much money in one go, even someone else’s, leads to uncomfortable feelings.

so even though Linda comments “he could’ve been more grateful” and Bob agrees with her, it would’ve eaten away at him inside until he would give most of the money back to Fischoeder with just enough to cover the loan payment

[simplicius-simplicissimus]

Australia - New Horizons - Neue Horizonte

Looking back, it was probably a work colleague who gave me the idea of ​​traveling to Australia - by talking to me about his travel plans. Sometimes enthusiasm is contagious. I was mostly traveling with an international tour group (provider “Contiki”) in Australia: Americans, Dutch, French, British, Japanese, Danes, Germans and of course “Aussies” aged 18 to 35. It can be quite stressful, if you are traveling with wild party people for a total of almost 5 weeks. The party highlight was certainly “The Woolshed” in Cairns, where it is customary to dance exuberantly on the tables when the music starts to play. Contiki is a provider that offers you the opportunity to try many leisure activities. I tried or dared to do river rafting, jet skiing, 4-wheel motorcycling, skydiving, ballooning and sailing. Trying new things generally makes us braver - it shows our subconscious that we can master such things. I didn't find this out until years later, when I did a little research into psychology.

I made two trips to Australia: the first trip was from the north along the west coast (please do not underrate the beauty of Western Australia!!!) - the second trip was from the north along the east coast and later along the south coast. On the first trip I met D. - with whom I later maintained a long-term acquaintance. She was a feminist and I loved to discuss and argue about this topic with her - and by that learned a lot from her about women's view on this world. I could still laugh today: I talked to her in English for almost half an hour until I realized that she was German - and even from my area. She spoke English fluently. It was because of her that I didn't climb Ayers Rock (Uluru) one year later because she told me that the rock is sacred to the Aborigines. The Aborigines deserve respect because they were there before us and we „white people“ simply pushed them away from the land where they had lived for thousands of years. D. later married a New Zealander whom she had met on a Contiki trip through the USA and I lost contact with her after she emigrated to New Zealand. There are so many stories, big and small, that broadened my horizons and my courage on these journeys.

Wenn ich so zurückblicke, war es wohl ein Arbeitskollege, der mich auf die Idee brachte, nach Australien zu reisen - indem er über seine Reisepläne mit mir sprach. Manchmal ist Begeisterung ansteckend. Ich war in Australien größtenteils mit einer internationalen Reisegruppe unterwegs (Anbieter „Contiki“): Amerikaner, Niederländer, Franzosen, Briten, Japaner, Dänen, Deutsche und natürlich „Aussies“ im Alter von 18 bis 35. Das kann ziemlich anstrengend sein, wenn man insgesamt knapp 5 Wochen mit einem wilden Partyvolk unterwegs ist. Das Party-Highlight war sicher „The Woolshed“ in Cairns, wo es Brauch ist, auf den Tischen zu tanzen, wenn die Musik zu spielen beginnt. Contiki ist ein Anbieter, der einem die Möglichkeit bietet, viele Freizeitaktivitäten einmal auszuprobieren. Ich probierte bzw. wagte mich ans River Rafting, Jet Skiing, 4-Wheel-Motorradfahren, Skydiving, Ballonfahren und Segeln. Das Ausprobieren neuer Dinge macht uns generell mutiger - es zeigt unserem Unterbewusstsein nämlich, dass wir solche Dinge meistern können. Das habe ich erst Jahre danach herausgefunden, als ich mich ein wenig mit Psychologie beschäftigt habe.

Ich machte zwei Trips nach Australien: der erste Trip ging von Norden die Westküste entlang (bitte unterschätzt nicht die Schönheit von Western Australia!!!) - der zweite Trip ging vom Norden die Ostküste und später die Südküste entlang. Auf dem ersten Trip lernte ich D. kennen - mit der ich später eine längere Bekanntschaft pflegte. Sie war eine Feministin und ich liebte es, mit ihr über dieses Thema zu diskutieren und zu streiten – und habe dabei viel von ihr über die Sicht von Frauen auf diese Welt gelernt. Ich könnte heute noch lachen: ich unterhielt mich mit ihr fast eine halbe Stunde in Englisch, bis ich feststellte, dass sie Deutsche ist - und sogar aus meiner Gegend. Sie sprach fliessend Englisch. Wegen ihr bin ich auch ein Jahr später nicht auf Ayers Rock (Uluru) geklettert, weil sie mir sagte, dass der Fels für die Aborigines heilig ist. Die Aborigines verdienen Respekt, denn sie waren vor uns da und wir „Weissen“ haben sie einfach von ihrem Land verdrängt, in dem sie bereits seit Jahrtausenden lebten. D. heiratete später einen Neuseeländer, den sie auf einer Contiki-Reise durch die USA kennengelernt hatte und der Kontakt zu ihr verlor sich, nachdem sie dann nach Neuseeland auswanderte. Es gibt so viele kleine und grosse Geschichten, die meinen Horizont und meinen Mut auf diesen Reisen erweiterten.

Itinerary (Reiseroute):

Trip1: Darwin - Litchfield NP - Kununurra/Lake Argyle - El Questro Wilderness Park - Purnululu NP (Bungle Bungle) - Geiki Gorge NP - Broome - Karijini NP - Ningaloo Reef - Shark Bay/Monkey Mia - Kalbarri NP - Nambung NP/Pinnacles Desert - Perth

Trip2: Darwin - Kakadu NP - Katherine NP - Uluru (Ayers Rock) - Kata Tjuta - Kings Canyon - Alice Springs - Cairns - Great Barrier Reef - Magnetic Island - Airlie Beach/ Whitsundays - Hervey Bay/Fraser Island - Brisbane - Surfers Paradise - Byron Bay - Sydney - Blue Mountains - Melbourne - Great Ocean Road/ Twelve Apostles - Adelaide

-Simplicius Simplicissimus

[the3o5flyguy]

pics to impress mom with!

[scifiphan]

Would you consider meeting your followers at the brisbane show?

people wanting to meet me? what alternate universe have i fallen into? but yeah like i’m probs going by myself so hanging with ppl would be nice (i have friends who r probs going but also we’re not close enough to buy tickets together). be warned i am awkward and will probs still have pink hair so i’m easy to spot

[victimhood]

TOG Exchange Student AUs

Randomly thinking about the time my friend told me about the Erasmus program and how…although it’s lofty aims are to break down cultural barriers between European nations, the program duration is generally of a length that only reinforces the cultural stereotypes Europeans have. In other words, the program is not long enough, so it only allows for surface level cultural immersion.

Anyway I just thought of modern day AU! Erasmus program Joe and Nicky… Northern European (well I’m thinking Dutch) Joe goes south to Italy…..and……assumes he’s found his people: chronically late Joe is the outlier back home. He’s the guy who’s always told to show up one hour before the real appointment time if you want him to be punctual. Here, in sleepy Sardinia, he can kick back and relax…

Unfortunately, Joe goes on Grindr and finds himself what he thinks is a cute Italian boy but is actually a compulsively early kinda dude. Tell Nicky to meet at 11.30 and he shows up at 10. He’s not Sardinian, that’s his grandma. He’s Genoan and has a borderline, dare we say it, Calvinist work ethic.

The first date is a complete disaster. With over two hours by himself, Nicky eavesdrops on this other couple having what also seems like a first date.

This is Booker and Nile. On their first date Booker shows up in a UCLA hoodie and Nile shows up in a Breton striped top and beret and they’re both like…..actually that’s very cringe in my culture

Booker is obsessed with all things American. Nile, in classic American style, has these…inexplicable Francophile notions, except Nile is also cool and grew up on anime with her brother, which is what makes her bond with Booker…both are in Sardinia for some Contiki type trip and secretly split from the group

[katiepontone]

Barefoot Show Jumping

Sentower 8/6/20

1.45m previously shod transitioned to barefoot Alibi de la Roque takes the win by over 3 seconds out of 92 starters, previously shod transitioned to barefoot Usual Suspect d’Auge with an easy clear.

1.30m previously shod transitioned to barefoot Safari d’Auge easy clear

1.20m previously shod transitioned to barefoot Beefeater d’Auge double clear for the win out of 36

1.20m 6 yr olds previously shod transitioned to barefoot Eureka de Joan clear with one time fault

Saint Lo

1.35m previously shod transitioned to barefoot Vanille d’Aragon clear for the win by over 2 seconds & Chrisca de Thurin clear for 7th place & Contiky des Forets clear for 11th place of 81 & Asticot des Roches 4 faults & Cavalotta d’Ick 4 faults

1.25m Basilic d’Aragon 4 faults

Sentower 8/7/20

1.45m Alibi de la Roque clear for the win out of 100 entries!!

1.30m Beefeater d’Auge clear & Safari d’Auge clear

1.20m YH Eureka de Joan clear

Deauville

1.10m El Ninio de la Roque 4 faults & Energy de la Roque clear & VOL OVENT D L ROQUE Z(not sure if they put that name in right?) 4 faults & Dikkenek du Riol clear

1.20m Duncan de Jibi clear & DJ de la Roque clear & El Ninio de la Roque 8 faults & Donatello d’Auge 4 faults & Fantasy de la Roque Z clear & Dolce del Colle clear & Devinette de la Roque clear & Brooklyn de la Roque clear & VOL OVENT D L ROQUE Z clear & VIP de la Roque(new owners, but still barefoot, awesome!) clear & Eagle Eye de la Roque clear & Energy de la Roque 4 faults

1.30m Badiane de la Roque 4 faults & Confetti d’Auge Z clear & Devinette de la Roque 4 faults & Sorbier Blanc clear & Caracole de la Roque clear & Bretzel d’Auge clear & Catapulte de la Roque 8 faults & Defi de la Roque 4 faults

Saint Lo

1.20m Basilic d’Aragon clear for the win out of 74 entries & Devil du Paty clear

1.30m Corail Rose clear with 2 time & Dune des Roches clear for 7th out of 103 entries & Desir du Chanu 8 faults

1.40m Asticot des Roches 4 faults & Vanille d’Aragon 4 faults & Cavalotta d’Ick 4 faults & Chrisca de Thurin 4 faults

[c3photo]

Just some of my favorite shots of the beauteous Bronagh from when I visited Belfast over the summer on my vacation to the United Kingdom and Ireland. Just took a walk around town, meandering about finding cool spots to snap some shots at. Big thanks to this model for showing me the way around her city. I also was able to catch up with someone from my previous Contiki trip that is from Belfast which was amazing!

[literarystorm]

time for my random life rant of the month

SO first of all, how is everyone? feel free to send me some life rants of your own because I want to get to know some people and I know everyone likes to just get things off their chest sometimes!

I’m in the middle of Week 10 of the semester which means I have two more weeks of classes and then we hit exam season! I’m doing 4 subjects this semester instead of the regular 3 and am feeling very overwhelmed. I received two marks back over the last two days, one 34/40 and then 28/40 (-2.5 for being late) so really it’s impacting a bit on my marks because I’ve definitely put more weight on some subjects than others... I have a report due on Friday worth 60% of my grade which I’ve done 0 work on and I’m STRESSED.

Also, we had the Federal election this week. That was a shit show. My country doesn’t care about climate change and lets their greed take over and I’m so disappointed. I’m also annoyed at a lot of my friends and people I follow on social media from Australia. I see a lot of outrage over the abortion laws in the US (rightly so) but then I see no one commenting on the state of our own country?? For example, I’ve never seen a single person who commented on the American abortion laws talk at all about the fact that abortion is still in the Crimes Act in NSW and is the last state/territory in Australia to not regulate it under medical practices legislation. I think this has a bit to do with young peoples consumption of media. So there’s a lot of alternative media (Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, YouTube etc) which is very US-centric and I think that takes a lot of focus away from things in our own political space. 

In terms of work, I’ve picked up an extra lunch cover shift at the bookstore which is fabulous! I’ve struggled to find time to do work for my university role, particularly transcripts, it feels too much like uni study itself that I find it hard to separate my time. AND I got a call to go back to State Parliament for two days to cover the Staffer (only took 6 months of silence from them) but all I did was sit and stare at the wall for 8 hours x 2 because the MLC was away and there was a total of only 2 phone calls. Bleh. BUT the money is incredible which I need to save up for my trip!

As of today, there are only 39 days until I leave for my solo Europe trip!!!(does ‘solo’ within a Contiki count?) I’m very nervous and I have no idea who is on my trip and I need to work out how much money to take and what to pack ugh. Luckily my exam timetable worked out well so that I have a week between my last exam and my departure day so I can stress pack then. BUT SO MUCH EXCITEMENT TOO.

[amirsethi-blog]

Trips of a Lifetime

Cruise Western Africa in Senegal and the Gambia

Tour the lesser-known part of the African continent with Peregrine’s eight-day Cruising the Rivers of West Africa tour. You’ll see wildlife like dolphins, crocodiles, manatees, and more while aboard the company’s small cruise ship. Then you’ll head inland for a visit to The Gambia National Park to see chimpanzees and make a humbling stop at the island of Kunteh Kinteh, where the American slave trade began. lead with reason A new airport in Dakar makes travel even more accessible this year.

RELATED:

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Witness the Great Elephant Migration

For another amazing wildlife experience, book Wilderness Travel’s new trip, The Great Elephant Migration. This 11-day tour takes you through Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Victoria Falls. It’s timed with the elephant migration (July and August departures only) that takes place in Hwange National Park. You’ll also have the opportunity to find leopards, lions, spotted hyenas, jackals, giraffes, buffalo, antelope, and sable, and even participate in night drives for some nocturnal animal sightings. Accommodations include luxurious camps like Camp Kuzuma and Zambezi Sands.

Asia

Be a Nomad in Mongolia

Experience nomadic life in Mongolia on G Adventures’ 10-day tour through the northern part of the country. You’ll ride horseback through the countryside and stay overnight in a homestay at a nomadic camp where you get to sleep in a ger(similar to a yurt). Visit Mongolia now while it’s still a relatively untouched tourist destination; the government recently said it wants to increase tourist visits to 1 million per year in 2020.

Trek the Hidden Himalayas

Head to Dolpo, a part of the Himalayas that’s only accessible by foot. Wilderness Travel’s 13-day trek takes you to the untouched trails and villages of this part of Nepal as you see how ancient Tibetans lived (this part of the region is culturally Tibetan). Highlights include Phoksundo Lake, Kathmandu’s temples, and of course plenty of mani (prayer) walls and chortens (shrines).

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View Japan in a Different Light

Many visitors flock to Japan’s tourist hot spots in spring (to see cherry blossoms) or fall (to enjoy the vivid foliage), and with the country drawing increased attention thanks to the upcoming 2020 Olympics, these times of year are even more crowded. Instead, opt for something different and take a tour of Japan in winter with Topdeck’s seven-day Japan Winter tour. You’ll get the chance to ski at the country’s famed resorts, visit a historical theme park, enjoy sulfuric hot springs, and take a city tour of less-touristy Sapporo.

Central America

See a Different Side of Mexico Than You Did on Spring Break

Mexico’s heartlands are literally the heart and soul of authentic Mexican culture. While the coastal beaches are breathtaking, opt for a more immersive experience on Intrepid’s 15-day tour throughout central Mexico. You’ll visit a pueblo magico, explore the trendy city of San Miguel de Allende, taste tequila in Guadalajara, take a walking tour of Mexico City, and see the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan up close.

RELATED:

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North Africa/Middle East

Explore Undiscovered Oman

SmarterTravel named Oman an emerging destination two years ago, and the country is starting to see more visitors for its blend of culture, beaches, and natural landscapes. G Adventures offers an eight-day tour that takes you through highlights like the Wadi Kakar (Oman’s version of the Grand Canyon), desert camping in the Wahiba Sands, a visit to a turtle reserve, and a tour of the capital, Muscat.

Oceania

Discover Australia Without Going to Sydney

While Sydney is an amazing part of Australia, there’s so much more to the country than just its East Coast. G Adventures’ affordable North to South trip includes the unspoiled national parks in the Northern Territory and makes overnight stops in the Outback at Alice Springs and Uluru before heading down to South Australia’s urban hot spot, Adelaide. Most of the accommodations on this budget-conscious trip are basic, but they include experiences like camping in the Outback and sleeping underground in an opal-mining town.

Europe

Eat (and Hike) Your Way Through Italy’s Boot

If you’re an Anthony Bourdain fan, you may remember the season 10 finale that aired in late 2017, Southern Italy: The Heel of the Boot, which has inspired travelers to get off the beaten path in Italy ever since. Wilderness Travel’s new tour this year, Hiking Puglia and Calabria, visit some of the same mystical towns Bourdain did in what’s sure to be the next popular tourist spot in Italy. Activities range from culinary experiences like wine and olive oil tastings to excursions like cliffside hiking and cave exploring. You’ll also see two UNESCO World Heritage sites: the cave dwellings of Matera (also a European Capital of Culture this year) and the famed Trulli houses in Alberobello.

Float Down the Danube on a Reinvented River Cruise

A river cruise is one of the best ways to see Europe, and U by Uniworld is shaking things up for the industry. With ships and itineraries designed for the “young at heart,” this isn’t your grandparents’ river cruise. My pick for 2019 is the Danube Flow cruise, which covers three countries in eight days: Germany, Austria, and Hungary. There are also departure dates with special itineraries that overlap with Oktoberfest, Sziget Festival, and the holiday Christmas markets and New Year’s Eve celebrations.

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Walk England Coast to Coast

Sleep in cozy countryside inns while you cross England by walking 192 miles over nine days. REI Adventures’ England Coast to Coast Hiking trip takes you through three national parks: Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, and North York Moors, where you’ll see grazing sheep, storybook villages, and stunning landscapes. Along the way, you rest at local pubs and teahouses, and the tour includes stops at the home of William Wordsworth, Richmond Castle, Easby Abbey, and more.

Bike the Causeway Coast

The adventurous and active can take a weeklong, self-guided tour through Northern Ireland. Viator’s Causeway Coast Cycle Self-Guided tour is ideal for travelers who want to go at it alone but need some help planning. The itinerary starts with a city cycle tour in Belfast, where you’ll explore iconic sights. You then bike along the coastline with stops in villages and castles to rest and sleep at small inns. The tour includes a ferry ride to Rathlin Island, Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Bushmills Whiskey Distillery, an optional trip to the Dark Hedges, and return transportation to Dublin.

Explore Portuguese and Spanish Islands You’ve Never Heard Of

Portugal was 2018’s hottest destination, and tourism growth shows no signs of slowing down in 2019. Avoid the overcrowded spots with a 15-day cruise throughout the Portuguese and Spanish islands. Hurtigruten’s Atlantic Exploration itinerary is new this year and covers the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. The journey begins and ends in Lisbon, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore the capital. Stops include three areas of the volcanic archipelago—the Green Island (Sao Miguel), the Blue Island (Ilha Azul or Faial), and the Purple Island (Angra), as well the islands of Porto Santo and Madeira of Portugal, and two islands in the Canaries: Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the less-visited San Sebastian de la Gomera.

North America

Visit a Rainforest in Canada

Home to fjords, rare wildlife, and, yes, a rainforest, is Canada’s British Columbia province. Maple Leaf Adventures’ Great Bear Rainforest trips are sailing-based and include tons of wildlife excursions with opportunities to see grizzly bears, spirit bears, black bears, baleen whales, orcas, gray wolves, and bald eagles. The itinerary also includes cultural experiences with First Nation villages, a trip to hot springs, and kayaking.

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Go on a Snow-for Adventure

If you’re into snow sports, then this trip should be on your bucket list. Topdeck’s 10-day Great White North tour takes you to Whistler, Big White, and the Big Three ski resorts in Banff.  You’ll also experience some of Canada’s epic drives and sights, like the Sea to Sky Highway, Fraser Valley, the Coquihalla Pass, Kicking Horse Pass, and the Continental Divide.    

South America

Tour Chilean Wine Country

Chile is a hot destination in 2019 with Patagonia’s popularity and the 2019 solar eclipse, but you should visit this destination for another reason: the Casablanca Valley. The area is known for its Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir, but has distinct microclimates that growers are learning more about to produce other varieties, like Malbec and Merlot. This trip of a lifetime is just 90 minutes from Santiago by car. Use Upscale travel to plan your perfect trip through the region; activities can include cycling, a helicopter ride, dining with winemakers, and more.

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Backpack Through Bolivia

Bolivia’s salt flats are otherworldly, and the country as a whole is on its way to becoming the next South American hot spot. Contiki’s 13-day Bella Bolivia tour covers tons of ground, starting in La Paz, the capital, and ending in Chile’s Santiago—the first nine days are spent in Bolivia with an included flight to Santiago on day 11. You’ll truly see it all: the cathedrals of La Paz, the Witches’ Market, the white stone buildings in Sucre, Salar de Uyuni (salt flats), Avaroa National Reserve, the Salvador Dali desert, and plenty more to make this trip of life worthwhile.

Go to the Remote Falkland Islands

Getting to these remote and almost-polar islands isn’t easy—or cheap—but this year marks the first new flight route to the U.K. territory since the late ‘90s. Though no date has been set, the flights will go from Argentina to the islands with LATAM Airlines. Intrepid is offering a new-to-2019 tour for eight days, Falkland Island Expedition: Past & Present, which will take you to beaches, nature reserves, and the battlegrounds from the war of 1982. And don’t forget about the wildlife; a king, Magellanic, and gentoo penguins all call this place home.

Polar

Spend a Night on a Glacier in the Arctic Fjords

If Norway’s Arctic fjords are on your bucket list, take your vacation to the next level with a trip to Svalbard. Off the Map Travel’s summer trip to the archipelago includes dog sledding, kayaking, a glacier climb, and the once-in-a-lifetime chance to sleep on a glacier at the Nordenskiold Lodge. Note that you won’t see the northern lights this time of year, but rather experience the “land of the midnight sun,” which also happens to give you the best chance to see polar bears. If you’re looking for a northern lights experience, the tour company has a four-day All Day Aurora tour to the same region.

[surviving-the-hiatus]

Ok, but one thing: Its soooooo hard to say Melbourne correctly without an Aussie accent. I went on a couple Contiki tours to NZ with a bunch of Aussies and they were trying to show me how to say it correctly and I couldn’t do it. Its all in the accent, and if you don’t have the accent, you can’t say correctly.

Its like the Michigan accent and how we always drop the end of our words. We don’t realize we’re doing it, but that’s just how we say things.

Thrillophilia, an online marketplace for tours and activities, compiled a list of countries, cities, and destinations that many of us may have been say incorrectly all along. Each graphic features a side-by-side comparison of the common, incorrect pronunciation juxtaposed with how the locals say it.

[nomiijane]

I know there's all the controversy behind Victoria's Secret fashion show but I still enjoy watching it so here's me just casually enjoying it not aware that The Struts were performing there and then they play my contiki day song and it's fine I'm not crying you are

[joenvs3000-2018-blog]

How to Plan a Trip

In August, I travelled the north and south islands of New Zealand for 3 weeks with my sister and mom, and I wanted to take this opportunity to free write to talk about it! 

 After being thousands of kilometres away from each other for over 7 months, suddenly, my sister, mom, and I found ourselves squished every night on a two-person mattress in the back of a van. Fortunately, it was winter in NZ, and as I lay cocooned between the two of them, I was quite thankful for the body heat. Not to point any fingers, but my mom had chosen a non-self containing vehicle (aka not the best winter home). 

(Our noble steed/kitchen/bedroom) 

 My mom had always dreamed of going to NZ, but she’s not the best at planning trips (she’s really indecisive and also sucks with maps), so I knew it would be up to me to plan everything out (I love planning trips). For months my mom would send me videos of seals and penguins, and I read blogs and asked friends who had gone for tips. The advice and recommendations I got from people were indispensable. I knew we had only 3 weeks to see as much of both islands as possible, and began creating a plan almost down to the hour of the activities, driving times and which campground to sleep at. However, talking to my friend Virginie changed my mind. She had planned out her entire trip, but her first day a local warned her of a snowstorm that would ruin her trip, and recommended that she do her trip backwards. She followed the advice and had great weather the entire time! I decided to plan out the first 2 days, and have a rough idea for the rest of the trip. Every night I would plan out the next day, and I used an offline map to plan out where we stayed at night (an app called CamperMate; it shows you the price, utilities, and reviews!) 

My first approach was to browse through the Contiki tours available in NZ. Someone had done the research on what the best tourist spots were, and how to see them all in 2 weeks. Then I added all the recommendations and ideas from friends, blogs, and my moms research. Then, I read a guide book. This is something I had never done before; it felt like an outdated method of travel. But my friend Laurent (who lived in NZ for 3 years) sent me the pdf version of the best guide book I have ever read. And I’m not just saying that because it’s the only one I ever read. It’s called NZ Frenzy by Scott Cook, and its well organized, easy to read, and puts each spot on a scale of obscure to popular. This guy has been travelling NZ for years, and after reading the book I felt like I knew as much as he did. He had such a detailed and honest way of describing each spot that I was inspired to keep a detailed log of our trip, something I hadn’t tried before. I wrote how many hours the map (an offline map called Maps.Me that works all over the world and has all the features of an online map) said it would take to get somewhere vs how long it actually took, what we ate and where we slept (and my opinions on that), how much things costed, what we did, what we did right and recommend, as well as what we should do instead next time. I’m always pretty terrible at keeping my travel journals updated, and this time I finally did it & it felt great! 

The attractions that are popular are popular for good reason. There wasn’t any natural landscape in NZ that hadn’t taken my breath away, but the obscure ones were extra special, maybe because they felt like a hidden treasure. Our favourite spots were all one’s I had read about in the guide, rated obscure. Amongst them was Abel Tasman National Park (north western part of the South island), with attractions like Rawhiti Caves (pronounced Ra-fi-ti) and Wharariki (Fa-ra-riki) Beach.  

Some pictures from my phone:

(Moeraki Boulders, south-west on the South island)

(A yellow-eyed penguin at the Katiki Point Lighthouse; I saw over 15 there, plus a bunch of cute seals!)

(A campground on the way to Milford sound, the building you see was a 4 star vault toilet)

(we waited around at the completely empty Monro beach in the hopes of spotting the world’s second rarest penguin; the Tawaki/Fiordland-crested penguin. No luck + we got absolutely chewed by the sand fleas, but we saw a breathtaking sunset which I captured much better on my DSLR)

(We hiked a hidden trail to find the obscure walk-wire bridge, and walked down this beautiful tree root staircase that made me feel like Snow White)

There were so many beautiful spots and I cannot wait for another chance to see them again. Has anyone else used a guide book to plan a trip? Do you have any recommendations? Do you keep a travel journal? 

 **(Re-reading my post, I feel like I’m really ragging on my mom & I just want to say that I love her to bits. She’s a crazy lady and a great person to travel with since she’s super adventurous and down for anything). Plus she had done all the research on which campervan would be best. We had an Apollo, but I would recommend the self-containing one)

[scifiphan]

I’m planning to do some travelling in Europe at the end of the year and I was just wondering some things :) 1)which places did you go and where would you recommend? 2) did you travel alone? And did you prefer that to travelling with friends if you did? Did you wish you brought friends if you didn’t? 3) How long did you go for? Was that a good amount of time? 4) was it difficult with all the different languages? 5) what was your fave thing you did ❤️

as someone who has only been during winter i 10/10 recommend europe is stunning in the lead up to christmas.

1) i’ve been to a lot of places! i feel too self-conscious listing them off  (feels to show offish for me) but the south is so damn beautiful. southern spain, italy, the french riviera are all things i put at the top of my list of fave places i’ve been to. i’d recommend thinking of the type of trip u wanna do (whirlwind see as many cities as u can or just  focus on a handful of countries and take the time to explore and immerse urself). each part of europe is so fkn beautiful and bc idk who u r or what u like i can’t give u anything but general advice

2) i’ve done a mix of solo (around the uk), and groups (contiki w/ strangers, and study tour w/ uni). tbh both have their pros and cons. pros of  solo:- get to do ur own thing!- going to places as 1 person is super easy and convenient- meet heaps of new ppl in hostels!- if ur an independent person it’s the best form of travel bc !! don’t have to deal with other ppls shit!!

cons of solo:- can get lonely! especially if u dont have phone data to contact ppl throughout the day- if ur not super social in hostels u will get homesick- nobody to help get u out of sticky situations- ppl don’t say this often but it can suck having no one to share experiences with

pros of groups:- shared experience!!!!!!!! this is like the only biggie that i like about groups bc u can always reminisce w/ ppl bc trust me,,, no one but ur travel buddies care about ur ‘that one time in europe’ convos (ppl suck)- going out at night in countries where going out solo doesn’t feel safe for u- having conversation tbh.- if ur independant u can fuck the group off and do ur own thing for a day

cons of groups:- u get fucking sick of them real quick- sheep mentality always happens (ppl hate doing their own thing?? why??)- might get into fights- sightseeing in a group larger than 5 ppl is annoying as fuck

i obvs haven’t gone overseas w/ just a friend(s) so i can’t give u that imput but like,,, it’s a hit or miss. no matter what kind of travelling u do there r pros and cons. if u do wanna go solo, europe is honestly the best continent to try that out bc travel is super easy. idk if u have ever considered doing a contiki but like u should look at the winter wanderer trip bc it was actually p good. looking back,,, i don’t rly like contiki’s whirlwind sightseeing style but for ur first time in europe it’s pretty decent.

3) first trip i went for 2 months! (1 month solo, 1 month w/ contiki), and the trip i just got back from i was away for a month! (i was only in europe for a week but shh it counts)

and i’m just gonna say it.,,, doing europe for less than a month isn’t worth it unless ur only going to  only a few countries. #andthatsthetea

4) honestly,,,, compared to the language barrier i faced in north africa, europe is easy. france is the hardest bc the locals will avoid speaking english but like,,,, as long as u know the basic greetings and how to say  “do you speak english” in their language,,, u should be fine!!! also google translate is a v v v v helpful thing!!! if u have that u wont find europe difficult

5) um making me choose a fave thing is cruel bc i can’t do that,,, however i went skiing the other week in granada and it was the first time i’ve ever done that so it was cool. it  wasn’t the fave thing i’ve done in europe bc choosing is impossible but it was the first that came to my mind

[fleen89]

London, Paris & Rome May 2017

I had been wanting to return to London for years since my first trip back in 2007. Out of fear of traveling solo I was trying to talk some friends into going with me but my patience was disappearing as I really wanted to travel. So I began researching tour companies especially ones for solo travelers. I came across Contiki during my research and found they had a trip that visited two cities I really wanted to go to, London and Paris. After further research and debate I decided to do their 10 day London, Paris and Rome trip. It was still nerve wracking because I am an extreme introvert so meeting new people is hard for me but I knew this was going to my only option if I wanted to travel. Before the trip began I got to talk to some of the people doing the same trip on Facebook which helped make things a little easier for me.

London

I landed at Heathrow Airport and made my way to the tube station to get to the hotel. I was nervous about the walk from the tube station to the hotel so I made myself memorize from Google maps how to get to the hotel so I wasn't distracted by looking at my phone the whole way. After I checked into the hotel I made plans to meet up with a couple of girls from the trip and we went to King's Cross to visit the platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter. That night we met up with the rest of the tour group and our trip manager.

The next day we spent the day exploring London. We started at Trafalgar Square then made our way to Buckingham Palace for changing of the guards. Then we headed down to Parliament to see Big Ben. We took a ride on the London Eye. Then we took a taxi to Tower of London to meet up with the rest of the tour group. At night we did a Jack the Ripper tour and went to pub afterwards.

The last day in London me and a couple of the girls went to the Harry Potter studio tour. This was one of my main reasons of returning to London so I could visit the studio. It was such an amazing experience getting to see all the props and sets from the movies and my Harry Potter loving heart was happy. That night after returning back to London we attended a musical, Kinky Boots.

Paris

I spent 6.5 years learning French and all about France so finally getting to go to Paris made me so happy. We took the ferry across the English Channel. After we arrived at the hotel in Paris we were served duck for dinner which was very interesting. After dinner we went up the Eiffel Tower. Seeing the sun set from the Eiffel Tower was beautiful.

The next day we went back to the Eiffel Tower to get a group picture in front of it and then we started a bike tour of Paris. The bike tour was the worst experience of my life. One, I am short so trying to find a bike for me was difficult. Two, I hadn't riden a bike since I was a kid. Three, about 20 minutes into the bike tour I thought I had lost my phone so I spent the next few hours internally freaking out. The views we saw on the bike tour were great but I didn't really appreciate them. Long story short I for whatever reason put my phone in a different pocket of my purse and didn't think to check that pocket because I had never put my phone there before. After the bike tour we shopped on the Champs-elysees. We returned to the hotel to clean up and change and then we went to Moulin Rouge for dinner and a show.

The last day we visited the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre. Then we had farewell dinner in Monmarte as some of us were going on to Rome, some to Amsterdam and some ended in Paris.

Rome

Our bus driver dropped us off at the airport in Paris but at the wrong terminal and everything was in French so we had no idea where we were supposed to go. We eventually found our way with only a few minutes to spare before boarding. After landing in Rome and checking into the hotel we decided to go eat. Afterwards we walked around Rome seeing some major landmarks including the Trevi Fountain.

The next day we visited Vatican City. After dinner we went back to the Trevi Fountain to see it at night.

On the last day we did a tour of the Collesium. Afterwards we had lunch and walked around some more. For dinner we decided to eat my the Collesium so we could see it at night.

I really enjoyed my first Contiki trip and loved that I had made new friends.