Where to travel in 2020: destinations and trends
More than ever, the year 2020 will be the year of inspiring tailor-made trips off the beaten track, to meet the unknown, in contact with nature. From the northern regions of Finnish Lapland to the World Expo in Dubai, we have selected the best destinations and trends not to be missed in the four corners of the globe.
Lapland
In the Finnish polar regions, sleddogs are an experience in their own right, to be practiced on the marked paths of snowy forests. As beautiful as your days, your nights promise unforgettable Northern Lights shows. You can observe these strange and magnificent natural phenomena from the surroundings of unusual locations, such as the intimate Beana Laponia, which gathers wooden cottages in the middle of an enchanting clearing.
Montana and Wyoming, United States
In 2020, you continue your quest for the American dream in the heart of the great unknown spaces of the West, in the states of Montana and Wyoming. A paradise for adventurers and nature lovers, the banks of the Yellowstone River guide your journey through the homonymous national park to its grand canyon and Geyser Country, the plain of 200 geysers. Also not to be missed: a visit to the ghost towns of the Wild West, an unforgettable rodeo session, and a hike in Grand Teton National Park, the natural habitat of grizzly bears, elk, and moose.
Tanzania
The best family safaris take place in the vibrant and colorful lands of the endless Tanzanian savannah. Inhabited by the Big Five, it is also home to the Great Fault of Africa, Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro caldera, not to mention the national parks of Tarangire, whose hilly baobab hill landscapes attract elephants, and Serengeti, famous for the great wildebeest migration. You end the trip with a seaside stopover on the most beautiful beaches of the Zanzibar archipelago, a former trading post on the India Highway, bordered by coral reefs. To your snorkels!
Jordan
After an unmissable visit to the heart of the eternal Nabatean city of Petra, you join the hot ochre dunes of the Wadi Rum desert for a sandboarding session. You spend the night in one of the transparent bubbles of the Wadi Rum Bubble Luxotel. The next morning, you leave by jeep to visit some of the emblematic places of the site revealed by Lawrence of Arabia, before having dinner around a fire in the company of a Bedouin family from the Gebel Burdah. Registered with UNESCO since 2011, Wadi Rum is home to rare and endemic fauna, such as the fantastic sand cat.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
In modernity marked by luxury, Dubai is multiplying audacious architectural projects where excess rubs shoulders with innovation. A show that appeals to lovers of contemporary art and design. It is in this futuristic setting that this year’s World Expo will be held on a 4.32 km² site! Entertain your teenagers in the many theme parks in the region, such as the Ferrari World, but above all, to climb to the top floor of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower and the site where the fireworks for the inauguration of the Exhibition will be held.
About Me Cecil Newman
Travel destinations to combine both science and discovery
For some, holidays rhyme with relaxation, sun, and beach. For others, it is an opportunity to develop a passion or discover new horizons. For these people, there are many possibilities for scientific stays.
All year-round, it’s subway, work, and sleep every day. And when it’s finally time for a holiday, more than just rest, you want to take a step back? Take advantage of this free time to broaden your horizons and enrich your life? Then scientific stays are for you. Especially since there is something for every taste and every budget. Discovery of astronomy or nature, computer science or history. In a highly organized group or in a more independent way. And even a few cheap stays, but which are worth their weight in discoveries.
Norway: the spectacle of nature
A little like that, but if you feel more contemplative about your soul, a stay in the Far North hoping to see the Northern Lights seems appropriate. Hopefully”, because, we must be aware that we will not admire the Northern Lights, it is the Northern Lights that come to honor us with their visit.
But between September and May, it is possible to surprise one or the other, on the northern Norwegian side, for example. And some cruises, in particular, allow you to put all the chances on your side and to attend this magnificent spectacle of nature, all in shapes and lights, in a hypnotizing silence.
France: head in the stars
For those who like stars, countless stays offer an introduction — or improvement — to astronomy. Whether you are rather observant, with your eye glued to the telescope, an engineer, with the desire to design your rocket or simply scientific, driven by the need to understand how our universe works, there is something for everyone. Without having to leave French soil this time.
Like many other themed trips, Astro trips can be aimed at children, even small children, adults or a family audience, with always the main objective: to dream!
Mexico: in the footsteps of an ancient civilization
Whether you like history or want to return to your roots, there are several destinations that you can’t miss. Italy, the cradle of Roman civilization, of course. Classic Egypt and its pyramids. Or Greece and its countless archaeological sites.
Some agencies also offer some stays in Mexico, in the footsteps of the Mayan civilization. It will be an opportunity to discover unique archaeological sites and one of the strongest and ingenious cultures that have ever lived on Earth. It may also be an opportunity, depending on the formula chosen, to marvel at the exotic fauna and flora in your eyes.
Canada: A wild country
If you are looking to get closer to wildlife, considering walking in the footsteps of the wolf may be right for you. Especially since some agencies offer, in this context, to integrate you into research programs: in Canada, for example, along the Saint Laurent River.
In the Mauricie National Park of Canada, it is possible to test animal monitoring techniques in the field. To monitor the wolf’s evolution from a distance, without disturbing it to share a little of its life with the highest respect.
About Me Cecil Newman
A trip to Indonesia: Java and it’s Amazing fragrances!
The most populated island in the Indonesian archipelago has a sense of power and serenity. Fuming volcanoes fertilize cascades of rice fields while the gods watch over the fabulous temples of Borobudur and Prambanan.
The rhythm of life and the landscapes are gentle, the richness, both natural and architectural, are apparent.
Borobudur at dawn
Despite great affluence from daybreak, Borobudur appears as a paradise in comparison. The great Buddhist temple nestled in the middle of the jungle was abandoned around the year 1000, two hundred years after its construction. It is due to the struggles with the Hindus, but also volcanic eruptions, especially the smoking Merapi illuminated by the first rays of sunlight.
The voices are silent to capture this moment of eternity and the awakening of the birds, the cameras crackle! As the call of the muezzins resonates, everyone seeks the perfect alignment between the meditating Buddhas, stupas, and light on the surrounding peaks. Who would suspect that this gigantic stone mandala with its nine superposed terraces was dismantled into 1.6 million blocks?
Miles of bas-reliefs
The operation, which began under the aegis of Unesco in 1973, did not succeed until ten years later. Borobudur collapsed under the weight of centuries and foundations undermined by infiltration. Here everything refers to the cosmos and the 9, the number of achievement: the terraces, the 72 openwork stupas (7+2), the 432 niches for the Buddhas (4+3+2).
Several kilometers of carved panels represent the sacred history and daily life, so close to current conditions. A visit to a village introduces you to the riches of this volcanic land. Everything grows: vanilla, pepper, manioc, green oranges, papayas. Then comes the time for weaving from pandanus stems. The day ends with a refreshing tea and the more or less harmonious sounds of gamelan, the typical orchestra based on metallophones (xylophones with metal blades).
With the Hindu triad
On leaving the city, the temples of Prambanan seem to be the Hinduists’ response to the splendor of Borobudur. Here, no single temple, but hundreds, eaten away by vegetation and earthquakes. The main ensemble dedicated to the Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu triad recalls Angkor’s most beautiful achievements.
At nightfall, stone arrows pierce the sky while the gods remain on the lookout in their chapels. Around the terraces of the three main temples, it is a debauchery of bas-reliefs that a week would hardly be enough to detail. Head east towards Bromo, star of the 17 active Javanese volcanoes. As in Borobudur, it is necessary to get up at dawn to see the sun’s rays dissipate the mists and gradually illuminate the lunar plain and volcanic cones.
Volcanoes and pumice stones
If from the lookout, the Bromo seems modest, the effort to reach it is not, through a sea of black sand, strewn with pumice stones and after a good climb. At the edge of the crater, fumaroles hypnotize and leave a bitter taste in the mouth.
Hindus worship the volcano and throw flowers as an offering. There is nothing to stop Muslims from doing the same. Fanaticism may have its followers, but respect and animistic syncretism remain the norm in the largest Islamic country. Those who are fascinated by volcanoes will continue towards Kawah Ijen with its lake of turquoise acid and its sulfur carriers. The others will have a hard time resisting the call of Balinese beaches and sirens.
About Me Cecil Newman
Why do you want to go to Mauritius?
Mauritius is a small piece of land lost in the Indian Ocean, a small island that could be described as a miniature world: 45 km wide (West to East) and 65 km long (North to South), a 320 km coastline, a new international airport, and a capital where people speak English, French, Creole and many other languages.
A small jewel of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius has an ideal climate with breathtaking landscapes. In Mauritius, you can gild yourself on the magnificent white sand beaches that surround the coast for 320 km, or discover the azure lagoon and its coral reef where anglers canoe. When you advance inland, you find out the second face of the island: its pronounced relief, where you can discover many mountains, fresh waterfalls, and ancient dormant volcano. The inland invites you to explore new and exhilarating colors and scents. The mixed population, a mixture of Europe, Africa, and Asia, will surprise you with its “joie de vivre,” supported by the many Indo-Mauritian festivals.
Here are some good reasons for taking a trip to Mauritius.
Scuba diving
If you are a scuba diver, you may already know this, but we cannot talk about Mauritius without praising the charms of diving in Mauritius: dives for all levels and skills, warm waters, training for beginners or those looking to reach the instructor, there is something for everyone all tastes around the island.
Tour the beaches in Mauritius
The beaches are beautiful, long, and elegant, ideal for sunbathing and relaxing. Drop the iPhone; there are so many things to observe and discover on a beach in Mauritius. Just the clumsy ballet of Mauritian families coming to picnic on the beach on Sundays is a scene to see, the Hindu rituals where women come to place flower offerings on the surface of the lagoon. The beaches are all around the island; you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting your next tanning target.
Mix with the Mauritian population
Mauritius is a multicultural nation, try to set your trip with one of the country’s many religious holidays. Hindu holidays are very rich in colors, flavors, aromas, and sounds (perfect time to take pretty souvenirs in pictures). Getting in touch with Mauritians is straightforward.
Try to get into Creole and don’t be surprised when you return home when you spontaneously let an “ayo” or “marie bon” escape. You will thus discover the strong influence of the French colonial period through the expressions and vocabulary of Creole.
It is by mixing you with the Mauritians that they will tell you where the unique sites are, the excursions to do, the cheap and tasty restaurants, the ones they frequent when they can. Strong is to bet that you will end up on a Sunday on a public beach to share a picnic and a moment of intense conviviality.
About Me Cecil Newman
CBD Oil and E-liquid: A Hot Topic in the Canna Industry!
CBD oil is an oil that contains cannabinoids, which is one of the products derived from the hemp, a variety of cannabis sativa which is grown for its extracted products. Initially, Cannabis was popularly known to contain just delta-9tetrahydrocannabinol(THC). THC is the most active ingredient and is known for its high effect. When THC is subjected to heat, then consumed to the human body, by smoking it or cooking then eating it, it alters brain functioning causing excitement, paranoia, mood change and other symptoms of highness. CBD oil, however, doesn’t have any mind-altering effects but instead, it has a lot of health benefits and is used to cure a lot of ailments.
CBD Explained
CBD works by attaching itself to the receptors in the body. The body, in turn, produces its cannabinoids. The body has two receptors for cannabinoids; CB1 and CB2 receptors. The CB1 receptors deal with movement and coordination, moods, emotions, pain, thinking, appetite and memories. CB2 receptors, on the other hand, affects the body’s general immune system: pain and inflammation. CBD doesn’t act on either CB1 or CB2 as earlier thought, but they instead influence the body to produce and use its cannabinoids.
CBD has some known benefits:
1. Relief of inflammation and as a natural painkiller: Cbd oil is considered by people to offer a more natural Relief to pain, unlike most OTC drugs. Researches done have concluded that CBD could be the best new relief for chronic pain and stiffness.
2. Treatment of epilepsy and other mental disorders: CBD oil is suspected to be able to cure epilepsy and other neurological dysfunctions, and this is still being researched on. CBD has a low risk of side effect on people with epilepsy. It also has an anti-seizure property which makes it useful in the cure of epilepsy. A study done on CBD oil’s effect on neurological disorders have suggested that it may cure disorders linked to epilepsy such as neurodegeneration, psychiatric disorders, and neuronal injury. CBD oil may also be effective in the cure of schizophrenia.
3. Fighting Cancer: research shows that CBD may be an anti-cancer agent which works by blocking cancer cells from spreading and taking over the whole body. This compound suppresses the growth of this cancer cells and instead promotes their death. CBD oil has low toxic levels.
4. Withdrawal from drugs and smoking: CBD helps people to quit smoking as shown by research done and posted to addictive Smokers. Smokers who use inhalers containing CBD did not have nicotine cravings and in return smoked fewer cigarettes. CBD oil could also be used to help in withdrawal from abuse of opioids.
5. Relief of anxiety disorders: CBD oil reduces anxiety in disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorders, general anxiety disorders, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Unlike other medications that cure these disorders, CBD oil doesn’t show adverse side effects.
6. Treatment of type-1 diabetes. Type-1 diabetes comes about when the immune system attacks cells in the pancreas. CBD oil eases this inflammation in the pancreas.
7. Treatment of acne: CBD lowers production of sebum, which is the cause of acne when it causes inflammation of the skin.
8. Prevent Alzheimer’s disease: CBD can prevent social recognition deficits from developing in the users. In this sense, CBD could help people in their early stages of Alzheimer’s disease from failing to recognize the faces of the people they know.
Side effects
There are no significant side effects in the use of CBD oil. The most common is tiredness and some reported cases of diarrhoea and changes in appetite and weight.
Warning
There are long-term safety data available, but no research, however, has been done on effects of CBD on children. A patient should discuss the use of CBD oil with their medical practitioner before using it. Find more on this Facebook Post!
About Me Cecil Newman
Elisa and Max, professional globe-trotters
In 2013, Elisa Detrez and Max Coquard got the best job in the world in Australia. They come back from this adventure with a super-well-put together book, which just came out. They are promoting it this week end in Lyon (France) through a public meeting.
She was born in the Jura (France North East); he was born in Tarare. She worked in tourism; he worked in photography. They met in Paris, in a studio, during a fashion shoot. That was in 2010. Elisa Detrez and Max Coquard never left each other again. Maybe their names mean something to you. In 2013, they got the best job in the world with the Australian National Tourist Board, hitting some 330,000 candidates from 196 countries at the post. Not bad, isn’t it?
“But at first it was just for one person,” says Elisa. That was my delusion. I’ve always loved speaking foreign languages. I had lived in New Zealand, Germany, Spain. I’d been dreaming of Australia since I was 6: the koalas, Uluru… Max was the man in the shadows, the little photo/video genius. The one that allowed him to make a 30-second clip so effective, that he made him pass the preselections.
From stage to stage, Elisa takes on the trophy. Even better, she negotiates the arrival of her partner in the adventure. In August 2013, they flew to Brisbane, Queensland. In front of them, 100 000 dollars and six months of a dream to embrace the wonders of the island-continent, from East to West, from North to South… and to make them known to the largest number of people.
And here you are. The Bestjobers are gradually bringing together a global community that makes them reflect on their individual goals in life. And if they extended their skills to the whole world.” In Australia, the USA, travel bloggers could make a living from their activity. Why not us? “she says.
From salon to salon, from contact to contact, Elisa and Max finally convince. Today their bosses, they travel around France and the world, in search of good plans, essentials, unusual places… according to an economic model that works. With the Net, people have access to a lot of information. We advise them, we inform them. It happens, for example, that some people take inspiration from our travels for their honeymoon! It’s sharing the experience.”
Nomads, they are no less sedentary. Next month, they will settle permanently in Lyon. We need a place to relax, recharge our batteries, work. You can’t imagine the time spent editing videos, processing, choosing photos, writing. To do what you do, you have to be passionate. Despite a busy schedule, Elisa and Max have finally managed to put their Australian adventures on paper, where it all started (read more).
This Wednesday, they will be in Lyon for an evening of meetings and exchanges around this book. Not to be missed.
About Me Cecil Newman
A new type of themed trip offers to “get lost” in the jungle.
People looking for adventure can now test their determination with a new type of theme trip. The theme in question?
Survival in hostile environments. Travellers are being sent to remote parts of the world and have to find their way out.
6Designed by the custom-made travel agency Black Tomato, this itinerary, entitled “Get Lost,” is not for everyone.
If you are a fan of fresh air, addicted to adrenaline and with a strong personality, you are part of the target market! On the other hand, if you fear change and open spaces, if you are afflicted with a list of phobias as long as your arm and if you need all the modern comforts, the trip is probably not for you.
A secret destination kept secret until arrival
The programme is not designed for small children. The proposed places are hostile and offer little reference points: jungle, pole, desert, mountain, wild coast, etc. The idea is to enable people saturated by social networks, and under pressure in the face of the demands of daily life, to disconnect and discover their “inner steel.”
These very special travelers are only able to choose the type of environment they want to explore, but their exact destination is kept secret until they arrive. People who are ready for anything can even rely on the Black Tomato agency’s wheel of a chance decision.
These tourists have to tap into their resources.
To begin with, travelers must complete a questionnaire and are referred to a travel expert to determine how much they want to feel “lost” and what personal goals they want to achieve. If necessary, they follow specific training sessions. They arrive at their destination via a private route and are then given the necessary equipment to make a successful shipment.
Under the remote surveillance of a task force that remains hidden, and thanks to offline navigation technology, these extreme tourists are forced to tap into their resources, intelligence, and survival instincts to reach a series of crossing points. It is possible to register as a group or alone.
About Me Cecil Newman
Working Holiday Visa Experience in Australia
It’s been already one or two weeks that I received the message in my mailbox, but I didn’t have time to shoot you guys an update. I will be flying soon to Australia with my Visa Vacances Travail Australie as we say in French Canadian aka the land of crazy animals and beautiful sunshine.
Thus, my application for a Working Holiday Visa has just been approved by the Australian immigration department!
The working holiday visa (or Working Holiday Visa) allows young people to go, live, work and study for a year in Australia.
It allows to work for the same employer for a maximum period of 6 months and a four months maximum study period.
The working holiday visa explained:
Conditions for obtaining this visa
– Residing outside Australia at the time of the request
– Having between 18 and 30 years included
– Not having dependent children
– Being able to justify 5,000 Australian dollars of resources
– Having a valid passport
– Not having already used a VVT
– Not having submitted a visa application more than 12 months before the scheduled departure date.
The process
The application must be made directly online on the website of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of the Australian Government.
In June 2015, the cost of obtaining a visa is 420 Australian dollars.
Delays in obtaining and the period of validity of the working holiday visa
The lead time of the visa can vary between 48 hours to up to four weeks after lodging the application (depending on the information provided by the applicant).
After being granted a working holiday visa, you have up to a year to enter the Australian territory.
Once your visa is “activated”, it is valid for one year.
Renewing your working holiday visa for a second year.
You must prove that you have worked at least three months in rural Australia (Regional Australia)
N.B.: the States located in the South – including the capital city Adelaide is categorized as part of rural Australia. This is a big advantage compared to the States from the East Coast of Australia!
Leaving the country.
You are free to get out of Australia as many times as you want during your working holiday visa. This is the perfect opportunity to make a tour to Bali or New Zealand, for example!
Health insurance
Regardless of the type of visa you have, tourist visa, working holiday, student visa, it is necessary to subscribe an international health insurance prior to your departure.
It will cover your medical expenses, repatriation, liability during your stay in Australia.
International driving license.
It is required to drive in Australia. To obtain such a licence, contact the closest Australian Embassy.
About Me Cecil Newman
Graffiti in Melbourne Australia
Hello Guys,
I just got back from Australia last week where I spent a month traveling along the East coast from Cairns down to Melbourne.
This is such a vibrant country and I wanted to share this documentary teaser about the evolution of graffiti in Melbourne
About Me Cecil Newman
Visit Paris and Discover The City With Paris Tours
Just landed in Paris and want to visit the capital, awesome!
Taking a guided tour and do the “10 best places of the capital”? No please do not do that!
Obviously Paris without the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre is not really Paris. But be confined only to these places would be too simplistic and you would miss a lot trust me.
The main error of a tourist or a traveler passing through Paris is to concentrate only their visit in the capital to famous monuments and neighborhoods which lists the main attractions. Visit Paris in 2CV, not only visit the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. Immerse yourself in Parisian life, it is also exploring its picturesque neighborhoods and to meet Parisians. The mound quail, the Marais and Place des Vosges, the district of Place Monge and Rue Mouffetard, Maubert neighborhood, docks Saint-Martin, the Indian district of “Little India” around the Passage Brady or Chinatown of the 13th district are places not to be missed if you want to see Paris otherwise. Do not forget to take a tour of the major parks and gardens that make up the capital. (Jardin du Luxembourg, Parc Montsouris, Buttes Chaumont, Bois de Vincennes, Bois de Boulogne)
In summer stroll in the evening on the Quai Saint-Bernard near the Arab World Institute and participate in a session of salsa on the esplanade Jussieu. This is the best place to meet and chat with Paris in the summer. Conducted from early June to late August, the salsa nights docks seine occur free every day from 19h to 23h30 in an idyllic setting and atmosphere “good child.” The event takes place outdoors, the salsa evenings the Seine are canceled in case of rain. Paris live otherwise is to also experience life in neighborhoods of the capital.
Thanks to the presence of unique sites, Paris every year hundreds of film shoots in more than 5000 sites and natural scenery. Among the best known films that were shot in Paris include: Amélie Poulain, Le Petit Nicolas, Rush Hour 3, The Devil Wears Prada, Midnight in Paris, the scum of Days, Cookie.
Visit Paris differently
Visit Paris differently and discover the filming locations of your favorite through pedestrian strolls through Paris films. These walks and cinema journey you will visit the neighborhoods and unexpected places in Paris. We have gathered the filming locations of the major films shot in Paris to discover during a trip to the capital. Other courses film more focused on the theme of a particular film are available on the Golf theater in the city of Paris site.
There are a thousand and one ways to visit Paris. While most tourists or visitors passing through Paris opted for classic Paris tours (including the main monuments of Paris), be aware that there are many ways to explore and discover Paris otherwise. Paris has many neighborhoods and a multitude of monuments more or less unknown to the general public that richly deserve to be discovered with a walk or a weekend in Paris.
The mode of transport plays a major role in the approach visits Paris. Opt for a visit of Paris on board an original Citroen 2cv change your viewing angle different neighborhoods and landmarks of the capital.
Visit Paris in “deudeuche” will give you the unique opportunity to discover Paris otherwise. So, take cyclo to Paris will allow you to soak up the atmosphere of the streets of Paris with the added explanation of a private guide. Even if they are not tour guides in the proper sense of the term, 2cv drivers are above all Parisians. Everyone knows in outline the history of the monuments of Paris and the nooks and crannies and atypical areas of the capital.
