Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Wander.
Three Unique Spots in Australia to visit in 2021
Australia has a lot of natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef, The Outback and The Bush. It is also home to the highly urbanised cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Millions of tourists make their way into the country to have a good time and none of them goes back disappointed. One thing Australia doesn't lack is an opportunity to have fun! There is something for everyone.
By Evelyn Adam4 years ago in Wander
Traveling coach – the good, the bad, and the ugly
I was running around like mad. The airport was huge and getting around the massive terminal was no easy task. Despite all my efforts during the last thirty minutes, the Emirates transfer desk seemed out of reach. I was steeling myself to missing my flight to the United States. This was my first transcontinental flight, and I was still getting used to the system. The transfer desk was a chaotic place. I hope in the ensuing years, Emirates has been able to resolve this issue. Passengers were milling around trying desperately to get the attention of the two customer service personnel. Finally, I was processed and was able to take the train to terminal 3 at Dubai International airport (DXB) from where my US flight was taking off. My Flydubai flight from Kathmandu to Dubai had been suddenly cancelled. I had to fly via India leading to problems of connections and my not having a boarding pass for my flight to the US.
By Ravi Shankar4 years ago in Wander
La Rosa , Whitby
A long time back my friend Ange alerted me to a campsite in Yorkshire that was part of a fascinating Whitby Hotel called La Rosa. On the too floor is a suite of three rooms called The Crow's Nest , and we thought it would be great to hire for a weekend. It has never happened ….. yet
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 4 years ago in Wander
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour
Mount Everest (8848m) and it's base camp have been synonymous to glory and pride for travelers around the world. While trekking is the standard approach to conquer the base camp, Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour offers a different perspective to achieve the feat. This day tour to Everest Base Camp features a helicopter flight to the base camp over the esteemed mountains in the Everest range including the Mount Everest (8848m) itself.
By Adventure White Mountain4 years ago in Wander
199 Steps
There are a hundred and ninety nine steps up to Whitby Abbey and a lot is made of that. Whitby Abbey is now a ruin , but is the setting for Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” , and now is an imposing Gothic ruin on what must be termed East Cliff in Whitby.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 4 years ago in Wander
My Favorite Thing About BEing Finnish
So, Finland is the happiest country in the world, four years in a row. Amazing, right? There are many things I love about Finland. The amazing social security, the rye bread and licorice, the midsummer nights when the sun comes up at 3 am, and Finnish people’s honesty. The total lack of small talk and polite chitchat when you really want to be quiet. And the natural social distancing we’ve practiced since way before the pandemic.
By Taru Anniina Liikanen4 years ago in Wander
Love and passion in France
There has been many historic sporting achievements throughout my lifetime some of which I’ve read about and some I have been privileged to have witnessed, incredible feats that changed not only individual lives but changed the psyche of nations. Such events as the Australian Socceroos heroic performance against Uruguay in 2006 which finally saw them reaching the Football World Cup finals in Germany for the first time since 1974 after 32 years of failure saw their disappointment and heartache forgotten as they participated in and on the Worlds greatest sporting stage. Skeletons have been firmly put back in their closets and the late, great Johnny Warren can now rest in peace. The eyes of the football World will be firmly fixed on these conquering heroes from ‘Down Under’ and this great land of ours will experience nothing like it since the Sydney Olympics. A nation will be united, cultural differences will be put to one side and the nations heart will beat as one as we watch every ball kicked and every tackle made. Emotions will overflow and tears will be shed, but I doubt the love and passion I experienced at the 1998 World Cup finals in France will ever be felt from supporting our champions from the other side of the globe, experiences from the most controversial World Cup finals held, memories that changed my life forever. Witnessing Brazils biggest defeat in World Cup football, the celebrations on the streets of Paris after Frances historic win. The disbelief in reports of Ronaldo the world’s greatest footballer swallowing his tongue through pre-match nerves and how the hatred of a nation turned onto a young English player for being sent off after a moment’s loss of control. Not since USA 94 and the senseless shooting of Colombia’s Escobar has so much controversy surrounded the finals of a World Cup. But there was another story in France that was not reported on, not a story of “German Nazi Hooligans” or rampaging “British Lager Louts”. But a story of true dedication, a story of love and sheer determination to be part of one of the greatest show on earth, a story I’m sure that was bigger than anything to come out of Sydney during the Olympics or is likely to come out of Beijing in 2008. What story could be bigger than breaking Olympic World records? The answer is quite simple, I survived four weeks in a two-man tent! “Big deal” I can hear you mutter. “The man’s gone mad” how can this be bigger than Australia’s own Cathy Freeman winning the 400 metres or Thorpy and company breaking world records at the drop of a hat? Let me start by clearing up a misunderstanding, the term two-man tent is a loose interpretation used by what I can only describe as the psychotic descendant of a tribe of pygmies who was impersonating a Camping and Adventure Salesman, who assured me that the picture on the box was not and I repeat not the actual size. It soon became obvious to me that I actually owned a pair of underpants, which had more room in them. Therefore when contemplating living in a canvas jockstrap firstly take the contents out of the packet and examine prior to reaching your desired destination. Now for someone who hasn’t actually bonded with Mother Nature for over thirty years, spending four weeks in a pair of Y-fronts can be very traumatic, and the memory has a habit of twisting the truth. My head was full of distorted scouting memories, sitting around campfires drinking cocoa and singing “ging gang gilly gilly” and sleeping all feet to the pole! I now know modern tents don’t have poles, probably because there is nothing to hold up and having reached France with my accommodation such as it was firmly in place minus the pole and my sleeping bag unfolded it was time to catch up on some well deserved rest. Sleeping in a padded condom directly on the ground is like trying to sleep on top of a bag of walnuts and it soon became clear to me that sponge matting is highly recommended. The camping grounds in France are of a high standard and offer all the conveniences a camper could want, showers, toilets and a shop to purchase all your food supplies such as beans, spaghetti and soup. It soon became obvious that you should never go camping without plates, cutlery and a can opener or at the very least your genuine Swiss Army multi functional knife; it can be very embarrassing having to ask your fellow campers if they can open your dinner for you. So I made some basic mistakes and sure the tent was small and I should have known that terra firma is bumpy and that cans are difficult to open without the recommended tools, but there is one more lesson to be learnt if you are thinking of ever going on a camping holiday, never and I repeat never go camping without a toilet roll, campsites offer excellent clean amenities but do not supply toilet paper in the cubicles. Sadly sitting on the throne with only a pair of shorts hanging around your ankles is not the ideal situation to find yourself in as it is highly unlikely you will have your trusty French phrase book available at the time “parlez vous anglaise, parlez vous anglais” World records will continue to be broken at the next Olympics in China and new heroes will emerge in Germany.Yes Ronaldo’s fears were overcome, Beckham was forgiven and my lower back actually did eventually respond to treatment. But there is one thing I’m sure of, we will all be back with a passion supporting some great event in the future either from the luxury of our lounge rooms or actually in person but remember please whichever sport you decide on I hope you choose your accommodation wisely.
By Roy Travers4 years ago in Wander
How to learn to dive
The Maldives situated in the Indian Ocean is an excellent diving destination. It is surrounded by the deep blue ocean, has excellent weather all year round, and is home to a range of diving schools. If you are planning a visit to the Maldives, learning to dive is one thing you can check off your to-do list.
By Amie Ginendra4 years ago in Wander
