Ninh Binh Vietnam

Ninh Binh Province Is A Vietnamese Local Secret

A dream vacation for me includes fantastic photographic opportunities, wonderful culinary and cultural experiences, as well as something to keep the children engaged. That will generally involve some form of water or beach activity. I was watching a cooking show the other night presented by a locally well-known Vietnamese chef and restaurant owner who came to Australia as a baby with his family as a boat person in the 1970's. Luke Nguyen present's Vietnamese cooking in a way which demystifies the techniques and makes it look delicious and simple. He sets up in the street, on boats and high up on rock walls. This particular episode blew me away with the stunning beauty of Ninh Binh Province and lodged it firmly in number one position of places I would love to spend a vacation.




Boats at Sunrise, Limestone Mountain Scenery, Tam Coc, Ninh Binh, South of Hanoi, North Vietnam
Christian Kober
Buy This at Allposters.com

Ninh Binh - Why Does It Appeal To Me?

A Vacation In Vietnam

Vietnam is a holiday destination that has been slowly creeping up on me in terms of appealing to my travel curiosity. I have visited other South East Asian countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Bali (Indonesia) and India and what I love most about all of these countries is the colour and simplicity. It is often easy to become overwhelmed by the crowds and the noise, but then be immediately rewarded by open friendliness and helpfulness from someone who leads a very simple life.

My perception of Ninh Binh is of towering rock pinnacles surrounded by lush green rice fields. I can imagine gliding along the Ngo Dong river as I soak up the wonders of Tam Coc (“three caves”) being rowed in a small boat by one of the locals.

Image used under a Creative Commons licence from Wikipedia

 

Boating through the Tam Coc

A Tranquil and Peaceful Way To Spend An Afternoon

So Where Is Ninh Binh?

Northern Vietnam

Ninh Binh is both the name of a city in Vietnam and the province in which it is located in The Red River Delta of Northern Vietnam. The city itself has approximately 130,000 people. It is barely 100 kilometres from Hanoi and can be easily reached by bus. Apparently, a regular public bus travels between Ninh Binh and Hanoi almost hourly and takes around 2 1/2 hours. There are also tour buses which only cost about $4 USD and get there a little quicker.

Choose A Good Guide Book To Vietnam

Make The Most Of Your Visit To Vietnam

If I am going to undertake this journey I will definitely get a really good guide book. Internet resources are fantastic for travellers now but I still really like a good guide book that I can flip through, highlight, make notes in and bookmark with a real bookmark (or dog-ear!). I have usually leaned towards the Lonely Planet guides personally as I find the voice they are written in is really user-friendly but I have also used DK guides as well and find they are superior for the detailed illustrations of monuments. Other travellers have their own preferences and these are some of the more popular ones available.

Lonely Planet Vietnam (Travel Guide)

The Rough Guide to Vietnam

Would I Do Anything Else In Vietnam?

If I am to make this trip I think I would like to allow myself a reasonable amount of time to see what else Vietnam has to offer, after all I may not get an opportunity to return. From what I have read so far and the small amount of research I have done I think a trip along the coast from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City would be an excellent trip offering a good mix of culture, history and food experiences combined with ready access to the sea for downtime and leisure activities. I would love to visit Hue and Nha Trang as well as Hoi An.

Vietnam seems to be the kind of destination where you can make up your itinerary as you go along which means if I want to stay longer in one place or move on from another I can do so easily.

For this dream vacation I will allow four weeks. So now it is time to find a flight!

When Should I Go?

Best Time Of Year To Visit Vietnam

At first glance it looks like Vietnam is a pretty wet country but it seems that there is a chance of less rain over the winter months from November to April so that seems like the best time to go. Hopefully the further south we go the warmer it will get and there’ll still be a good chance of some swimming weather.

This image of Nha Trang beach is used under a Creative Commons licence from Wikimedia Commons

Organise A Vietnam Tour

Self discovery tours are great but they aren’t for everyone. If you would like to visit Vietnam on an organised tour visit these Vietnam Tours

Luke Nguyen's Vietnam

Sunset, Hill Top View, Tam Coc, Ninh Binh, South of Hanoi, North Vietnam, Southeast Asia

Christian Kober
Buy This Allposters.com

Find out more about Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam

Would You Like To Join Me On My Dream Vacation?

Do you have any other suggestions for things we could do?

The Beautiful Gardens of Leura

Photographing the Beautiful Gardens of Leura

Every year in Spring the beautiful gardens of Leura are open to the public to visit as part of the Leura Gardens Festival. Leura is one of the lovely villages in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia so when we're talking Spring we're talking October. Since Leura is at an altitude of almost 1000 metres or around 3,200 feet it enjoys cooler temperatures than nearby Sydney. It also means that the lovely plants and flowers that thrive in climates where seasons are defined do particularly well there.
A single pass lasts for the duration of the festival which runs for nine days. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit our local hospital and its supporting services. During this time you can visit any of the 11 beautiful private gardens which have been opened to the public for the event. The photos which follow were taken during the 2012 festival.

In 2014 the festival runs from October 4 - 12

Where is Leura?

Leura is a cool climate village located in The Blue Mountains west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Situated at an elevation of 985 metres (3,232 ft), Leura experiences definite seasons, something that much of Sydney and places north often don't. Danish architect, Paul Sorenson, recognised the potential for creating stately gardens in this favourable climate following his first successful commission at the Carrington Hotel in neighbouring Katoomba in around 1918. Sorenson fell in love with Leura while several of its wealthier citizens fell in love with his landscaping style. In 1933, Belgian Henri van de Velde retained Paul Sorenson to make his visualations for his estate reality on his Everglades property. Everglades is now owned by the National Trust and is central to the Leura Gardens Festival program.

The First Three Gardens

Davaar, Rustlings and Brabourne

The first three gardens we visited were within a very short walk of each other. At the first garden, called Davaar, we bought our tickets which were valid for the duration of festival. Each garden is ticked off as you enter it. This means we don't have to attempt to visit all the gardens in the one day and can stop and smell the roses so to speak.

Davaar is a lovely collection of alcoves and corners with different levels and little paths between beds of spring bulbs. Sectioned into spaces for different purposes, there is a thriving vegetable garden, ornamental fruit trees and large century old deciduous trees and conifers. We pause to admire fat tulips, daffodils, jonquils and ranunculas.

Next we walked around the corner and across the road to Rustlings where there is a definite oriental feel to the landscaping including small bridges over tiny streams and even what looks like a Japanese bath-house in the far corner. Japanese maples, which must be a riot of colour in autumn, abound; meandering paths lead past hidden buddha statues and rustic garden furniture. Azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons feature heavily, as do tree ferns and birds nest ferns bringing a lush rainforest feel to this lovely sanctuary.

Our next visit is to Brabourne, a total contrast to the previous two properties. This garden is more formal with terraces and mass plantings in colour groups. The focal point of this garden is a massive pinoak tree which branches out to all corners of the expansive grassed sloping rear garden. On our exit we popped in to the stall being held by volunteers and bought some home-made lemon butter.

Beautiful Gardens of Leura: Highlights of our Visit

...

A Photographic Excursion

Enjoying the Beautiful Gardens of Leura with my Daughters

I went to the Leura Gardens Festival with my two teenage daughters who are both just starting to really get interested in taking photos. They love to get up close and take macro shots whereas I look for textures, light and dark, and shape. Here are some of my favourites from the day enhanced and made available for sale on Zazzle products.

Garden Draughts Puzzle by ElleDeeEsse

Urn Stretched Canvas Print by ElleDeeEsse

Returning to the Festival

We hadn't planned to return the following day. We'd had a fantastic day and were pretty well satisfied but on the spur of the moment we decided to go back and explore the gardens we'd missed yesterday. We were so glad we did!

We only visited three gardens the second day but these were arguabley the most spectacular of them all. Situated behind modest street frontages, the common denominator was the expansive views overlooking the famed Blue Mountans escarpment.

All images are the property of the writer.

Friends Who Travel

Le Cetinelle - Greve-in-Chianti

I was contemplating what to talk about today and realised I was actually stuck for a topic. I mean I could talk about the weather which has been stunning lately. It is usually our coldest month of the year and we are sitting here in t-shirts. I actually spent an hour in the garden which I can categorically state I never ever do in August normally. But who wants to hear about the weather? I thought as much.

I could talk about the trials and tribulations of having teen and young adult boys and the challenges faced as we navigate those treacherous waters. Not today. Perhaps some other time. There are certainly tales which could be told but I'm not quite ready to tell them yet.

So today might be a good day to share some of my friends' stories instead. To preface, if I could, I would happily spend the rest of my days traveling. My dream would be to take off by whichever mode of tranport is handy and arrive wherever it takes me. Perhaps I should have been born in a different era. I have had the good luck to travel somewhat and am glad that I can also journey vicariously through the writings of my friends.

My friend Kim spent time in Italy and actually married in one of my favourite places. I have been to San Gimignano twice and it's hard to imagine a more romantic place to hold a wedding. Read about Italy through Kim's eyes at Fattoria Voltrona.

Heather recently uprooted from California and relocated to Texas but she has bigger plans in the pipeline. Heather is planning a huge trip which will take in much of Europe, South America and the Australian region.  I am excited at the prospect of meeting a friend who I only know through our virtual conversations and I'm envious of her proposed journey. Here is a taste of it at Peace Love Travel Light.

Although she doesn't live there anymore, for a while Lesley was the person on the ground for everything you wanted to know about Disneyland. She still is an authority, I mean you don't just forget that sort of stuff but she just doesn't live nearby and visit regularly anymore. Luckily for us she wrote about the time she spent there and you can read about it at SoCal Disney Family.

Rhonda and her family spent the better part of a year traveling around the world. I was glued to her blog entries as she shared the fun and the quirky adventures her family experienced along the way. For a glimpse at Rhonda's adventures start at Albom Adventures.

Carolyn is not a regular blogger but she should be. She writes beautifully and her posts are always peppered with gorgeous photos. Two years ago Carolyn made good on her threats to travel to France and England, much of it solo. For someone who had never left Australia before, I thought this took a tremendous amount of courage. Experience Paris through Carolyn's words on her TravelPod blog.

Last year I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel to Italy. I was also lucky to follow in the footsteps of my friend Susanna who spent several months in the south of Italy a few months previously. Susanna recorded her love of food and cooking, local culture and history on her blog and I followed her travels as she went. For a sample of one of Susanna's experiences start with Spleen Sangers and Goats Guts and explore from there.

And finally, my own adventure in Italy is here. We spent a month there in July 2013, a week each in Sicily, the Amalfi area, Tuscany and Rome. I would return in an instant. Visit One Month In Italy for a taste of my travels.

Awesome Vacation Ideas

A World Of Vacation Ideas!

With so many amazing destinations on this incredible planet of ours, it can be difficult deciding where to spend your next vacation. Will you laze on a beach somewhere? Take a cruise? Base it around an activity like skiing? Or golf? Yes but where? Travel organisations around the globe have wised up to our more discerning requirements for travel stimulation and packages abound devoted to a miasma of micro interests.

It would be difficult for me to drill down to just one favourite destination. I have had some awesome travel experiences in many different places. Carnevale in Venice in a freezing cold February, a ski holiday in Czechoslovakia (before the division) when there was no snow resulted in a trip into Prague on the day that the Czech people reclaimed their democracy. But I have a very soft spot for France and Provence in particular 

This image of the old University mill on the Fyris River in central Uppsala, Sweden is used under a Creative Commons licence from Wikimedia Commons

Stonehenge Over-rated? Grand Canyon Over-crowded?

Alternative Attractions That Are Off The Beaten Tourist Trail

 Off the Tourist Trail: 1,000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives
If you are looking for alternatives to the well-known and often over-rated "tourist traps" this book takes 1000 popular sites and offers alternatives based on popular themes such as Ancient & Historical Sights; Festivals & Parties; Great Journeys; Natural Wonders; Beaches; Sports & Activities; Art & Culture; and Cities. Accompanied by beautiful photography this beautiful book will have your bucket list filled in no time

Travel News

The latest news from the world of travel. 

 

Take An Invigorating Short Break Or A Life-Changing Excursion 

Destinations

Deciding Where To Go

What kind of traveller are you? You will more than likely fall into one of the following travel categories. Cheap As Chips. The budget traveller is no longer an over-looked consumer in the travel market. Marketers now recognise their value as a significant component of a country's export economy. They choose to stay in down market digs but they spend a far greater time in a country than the majority of package tourists thereby contributing more to the local economy. This beautiful photo of sunrise in Fiji can be purchased as a poster from Zazzle

Fraser Island Airways Mousepad by ElleDeeEsse
Browse more Fraser island Mousepads

Two Weeks A Year. Whether due to demands of your job, time restrictions around family commitments or financial limitations, having only a limited time in which to take a vacation means careful consideration of how to make the most of that time. You may enjoy the simple life and return each year to a favourite camp-site or tourist park where you can be sure of seeing the same familiar faces. Many will have pored over tourist brochures for the past year and be ready to hop on a plane to an anticipated resort with nothing to do except get to meals on time. Two weeks is a perfect time to take that adventure holiday you've always wanted to - skiing in Japan, golf in Florida, scuba diving in The Seychelles. Or just packing the car and taking a road trip. Options are endless even if time isn't.

The Once In A Lifetime Grand Trip. Whether it's a gap year, after retirement or somewhere in between this is probably the most exciting of all travel experiences. It's never a single experience but a whole lot of experiences strung together like pearls on a beautiful necklace. From planning to budgeting, deciding on destinations, style of accommodation and how to get around the opportunities for disasters are numerous. This type of trip can be minutely organised by a tour operator or taken as a freestyle DIY excursion. Lay It On Me And Spare No Expense. For the fortunate few for whom money is no object, there are some extraordinary travel experiences to be had. The creativity surrounding the luxury end of the travel market is expanding constantly with new opportunities being added all the time.

 

KimGiancaterino -

"Just finding time to travel is hard any more. My husband and I sneak in a few road trips, but someday we hope to take a proper vacation again."

Awesome Travel Tshirts 

Let You Boast About Your Travels 

 World Cities T-ShirtBUY NOW Kilimanjaro T-ShirtBUY NOW Peace Love Travel T-ShirtBUY NOW

Understand And Respect Local Etiquette

Getting Along With The Natives

To really make the most of your travel experience you should try and get involved with the local people. Don't just be a sightseer. Immerse yourself in the culture as well. There's nothing more rewarding than an invitation to share a meal in a family home. But things can go bad very quickly if a gesture or comment is regarded as an insult.

Shoot The Breeze With An Aussie

What do Australians find funny? And what is off limits in the joke department? Why getting an insult from an Aussie is a sign of acceptance.

Modesty And Gender interaction In Egypt

It is very important to understand how to dress and interact with members of both the same and opposite sex when in Egypt. Know when to cover your head or remove your shoes, when to shake hands or offer a kiss.

Alcohol And Social Customs In The United Arab Emirates

The UAE is a Muslim country but on the whole, very tolerant recognising the wants and needs of its tourists as well as its large expat community. There are still, however, a number of rules and customs which should be observed to avoid mishap while travelling in this part of the world.

Destinations

Deciding Where To Go

Summer Palace, Beijing, China

If you are a budget traveller then typically you will have a swathe of destinations in mind. There are ways to narrow down your list by ascertaining what kind of traveller you are. What are your interests? What kind of food do you love? Or hate? You'd probably want to think twice about going to India if you're not a fan of curries. Consider countries where your funds will go farthest. Think about the exchange rate from your local currency. There may be times when it is better to avoid a region if the exchange rate is particularly poor. How well do you cope in stressful situations? How would you manage if faced with a dangerous situation? Find out the political situation before you go. How well do you know the language and if not, how well can you manage with a phrase book? Will you manage in a situation where there is no possibility of language translation?

Image credit: this is one of my own photos from my trip to China

Interesting And Unusual

If You're Looking For Something A Little Out Of The Ordinary

Just because a location is well travelled shouldn't put it on the crossed off list but there are certainly some destinations which have appeal simply because of their uniqueness. Take for example, Jellyfish Lake in Palau, one of the truly unique and amazing wonders of the world and swimming with its harmless inhabitants is an awesome experience. Palau is an island nation located in the Western Pacific surrounded by The Phillipines to its west, Guam to its North East, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Find out more about Jellyfish Lake

Find out more about Palau

Interesting and Unusual

Brand New Travel Experience For The More Discerning Adventure Traveller

Due to open in early 2010, this Fijian resort offers a whole new travel experience for elite travellers. Located 40 feet underwater, the world's first seafloor resort offers guests incredible luxury combined with an amazing water world experience. As if the accommodation experience isn't enough, there is also a range of unique activites to choose from such as pilotting a personal Triton submarine, or kitting out in a hi-tech diving helmet with surface supplied air and walk along the lagoon floor. Posidon Underwater Resorts will begin taking reservations on September 15.

Find out more about Poseidon Underwater Resorts

Get Ready To Trek

Grab Some Great Travel Gear And Get Packing 

When choosing luggage consider the type of vacation you will most likely use it for as well as how you will get around. These two-piece sets consist of a medium size suitcase and a carry-on bag.

 U.S. Traveler Fashion Zebra 2 Piece Carry-On Luggage Set (Purple Zebra) American Flyer Quattro 2 Piece Luggage Set - Black US Traveler Rio Two Piece Expandable Carry-On Luggage Set, Green, One Size

Top Travel Tips

Useful Sites For Travel Advice

The Times: 50 Essential Travel Tips

This is a must read. Broken down into the sub-categories of Planning, Booking, Flying, Lodging, Cruising and On The Ground. Topics include negotiating discounts on room rates, how to make your flight more comfortable and checking for bedbugs.

How-To Handbook

More great tips - research is everything!

Funding Your Trip

Ideas For Working Overseas

There are many ways to earn money as you travel. It pays to check on the rules concerning working in the country you are visiting before you go. Visit or contact the consulate and find out about work visas. Many working abroad programs will arrange the visa for you once you have been accepted into their program. If you have teaching, nursing or secretarial skills your qualifications will be well regarded in many countries. One idea is to teach English as a foreign language.

In Praise Of The City Of Angels

One Of My Favourite Places

Los Angeles is a city that often divides people - they either love it or hate it. I have to admit I rather like L.A. The first time I was there I had broken my ankle two days before arriving, on the road trip down from San Francisco. It was the seventies and I fell of my platform shoes. What struck me was the friendliness of everyone we encountered. I was seventeen and travelling with my parents on our first trip overseas. We visited all the usual haunts, Disneyland, Universal Studios. one of Los Angeles's hospitals to get my cast put on, you know, standard tourist places. I met my childhood penpal for the first time. The second time I visited was with my husband on his first visit to the US. We flew in from London and this time, twenty years after my first trip Disneyland had much better attractions. No that's not the only reason to go to Los Angeles but you have to admit, if you are going to go it's hard to ignore going. My penfriend was now married as well and living in a granny flat in her parents backyard with her husband and his two kids. Not only did they welcome us into their home, they gave us the use of their car as well. Los Angeles is not a city of beauty but it is a city of colour. The best way to learn her secrets is with the help of a local and if you can do that you will discover a warm and friendly city, not the one most visitors first encounter.

RubyHRose - "I love California, and L.A. does have some awesome tourist attractions, but it isn't my favorite Cali destination. I keep going back there to find one, I love them all so far. Mount Shasta I love in the Summer, Malibu in the Spring and Lake Tahoe in the Winter. Thanks, this (page) got me planning a sunny Cali vacation again."

Follow Great Vacation Destinations for More Great Ideas

The Quintessential Eurail Pass

A Great Way To Get Around Europe