EZTravelpad

Vietnamese Coffee

 

by Becca Smith

I have an absurd coffee habit. Always have & always will. Growing up it seemed weird to most people that this tiny 12-year-old girl was addicted to coffee, but luckily now that I am in college it seems to be slightly more socially acceptable. However, it was a habit that I had to break during my 5 month stint living in Bangkok. Instant coffee was in abundance, and around every corner were street vendors selling the sweetest iced coffee known to man- thanks to the always reliable cans of condensed milk that rule Southeast Asia. But what I craved was a wonderful hot, strong mug of drip coffee. My trip to Vietnam brought so much more.

I fell deeply in love with Vietnam, as most of the visitors to country do (e.g. Anthony Bourdain). I loved everything about it — the food, the people, the culture, the Asian-meets-French architecture, but mostly I loved the coffee. I had at the very least 3 cups a day. (I had to make up for what I would be lacking when I returned to Bangkok.)

There was one cafe in Hue that I loved visiting. It faced what is known in English as the Perfume River. It looked to be fairly popular with the Vietnamese in the area and it was packed full. I found a seat at the very edge of the cafe at a bar-like structure looking out over the Perfume River. The waiter brought me out a small glass with a line of the ever-useful condensed milk filling the bottom and a small Phin filter on top. The coffee in Vietnam was a robusta-which is insanely dark and bitter coffee. It is the most available in Vietnam. 

This is why the condensed milk is so perfect 1)Vietnam is located in Southeast Asia where condensed milk can be used in anything and everything. Ice cream is even topped with condensed milk to make it that much sweeter. It is cheap and it is everywhere. 2)The intense sweetness of condensed milk is the perfect balance to the bitterness of the coffee. It is the perfect concealer to how strong the coffee you are enjoying is. 

But soon enough my body was always aware of just how much caffeine I had consumed. Between the sugar from the milk and the caffeine from the coffee, I had more than enough energy to explore all of Vietnam in one day. It was a great feeling. 

I purchased a few phin filters from tourist shops in Vietnam. I suspect that the quality was subpar, but nevertheless every once in awhile I attempt to make Vietnamese coffee at home. I drink it and pretend that I'm back exploring Southeast Asia instead of stuck in real life - working and getting ready for summer to end and another year of school to start.  

Next time that you are out at a Vietnamese restaurant, try some Vietnamese coffee after enjoying a bowl of Pho (oh what I wouldn't give for Pho right now.) 

ScottOr better yet talk to about planning your own trip to Southeast Asia to get the most authentic (and energizing) cup of Vietnamese coffee. 

 

We All Make Mistakes (Especially in Traveling)

By Becca Smith 

On my eight month journey to Spain and Southeast Asia, I spent time in six different countries, and went through customs 12 different times- so there were sure to be some bumps along the way. I feel like it is not a successful trip unless something a little cooky happens- like the time in Madrid when I dropped my full suitcase down an escalator, nearly taking out an entire family. Anyway - I made some mistakes when it came to getting through customs and continuing my journey in the smoothest way possible.

 

For instance, I switched airlines in Milan on my way to Madrid and I guess I did not get the memo that I was supposed to pick up my suitcase and recheck it in with my new airline. So of course, when I landed in Madrid - my suitcase was not there to greet me. Definitely talk with stewardesses if you have a short layover, especially if you have to go through customs. I thought that I knew what I was doing - and I was wrong. So a week later - I received my luggage. Always make sure that you pack a change of clothes, toothbrush, comb, soap or anything that you might need in the case of lost luggage.

I would always look up any information that I would need to cross a border before I left on my trip- like the exact requirements for obtaining a visa (documents, money, length of stay that was allowed.) And then I would always double check the requirements for getting back into the country to which I would be returning.  I found that embassy’s websites are usually the best sources. However, I once made a huge mistake.

It is important to pay attention to if visas can be issued upon arrival or if you need to apply for it beforehand.

There was one morning I woke up at 5 in the morning in Bangkok, gathered all my luggage, hailed a taxi, and took the long drive to the airport only to be told that I was not allowed on my flight to the city of Hanoi in Vietnam. I had applied for my visa too late and the paperwork had not gone through (I forgot to take into account that the weekends were not business days- rookie mistake.) So $200 to change my flight and two days later - I made my way to Vietnam with the proper paperwork in hand.
I made another silly mistake of overstaying my visa by just a couple of days. Well... it was a continuation of my first mistake of not buying a multiple entry visa. If you are going to one country for a long period of time, I would definitely buy a multiple entry visa because you are going to want to travel to other countries in the region. 

Anyway...  I’ll never forget handing my passport to the customs officer as I departed Thailand - feeling like my heart was going to pound out of my chest. Of course I knew that they were not going to throw me in jail for staying two days longer than I was supposed to, and all that I could expect was a fine. But still, it was scary. There’s a certain amount of corruption that occurs in Thailand so I use that to justify my fear. Luckily, for whatever reason, I did not even get fined (but I paid with years off of my life, let me tell you.)

So I guess my general advice to you is to

•Careful when carrying a heavy suitcase on an escalator

•Make sure you know what to do and where to go when your layover is only an hour

•Pack some essentials in your carryon

•Check with embassies about visa requirements and be prepared

•Make sure you purchase the proper visa for you & know its limitations

 Of course, you can always use a travel agency to help with some advice, advance planning, and to be there as a back up when things do go wrong.... EZTravelPad is here to help in advance planning and consultations - all without any fees!

Beauty in Ruins - Angkor Wat on a Glorious Morning

by Becca Smith

 

There is a very limited number of things that I have in common with Angelina Jolie, but a new, deep love for Cambodia is something that we could bond over with a bottle of wine. There are so many reasons why Cambodia is so special, but one thing that I am going to remember for the rest of my life is the sunrise at Angkor Wat.

 

We woke up at 5:30 in the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, climbed into the tuk tuk that we had rented for the day, drove through miles of rural Cambodian landscape in the darkness until we arrived at the ancient sandstone Buddhist temple that was built in the 12th century and has been abandoned since the 15th century. All of my research has come up with different dates, but all sources have stated that it was inhabited for 300-400 years, and that’s longer than United States has been in existence. That was a thought that kept chilling my bones - a place that was thriving for that long (longer than the United States thus far), is nothing more than a tourist destination now.

After finally getting there, I found a spot on one of the on-looking temples as the silhouette of Angkor Wat was illuminated into life by the most gorgeous sunrise I have ever witnessed. It was as if a higher-being was atoning to Cambodia for all the ugliness of war and horrific violence with breathtaking sunrises- a promise of hope for the future for these wonderful people. I remember the whole thing happening in slow motion and in silence. I’m sure that the hundreds of people that were with me were talking and marveling at the beauty as they snapped pictures - but I might as well have been completely alone in peaceful silence.

 

My entire experience at the ruins in Cambodia was amazing and indescribable, but nothing compared to the sunrise at Angkor Wat. To think of people over a thousand years ago seeing a sunrise over the exact structure that I was looking at was a life changing experience for me.

 Angkor Wat - UNESCO Site

 

Meet Becca - Butler University Student Intern

    A quick note from Scott @ EZTravelPad.... Meet Becca, one of the Butler University interns working with EZTravelPad this summer - Welcome Becca - what do you think?

 

    As you read through EZTravelPad's blog you might start to notice an odd obsession developing with Southeast Asia and everything to do with it. This can only be explained by the addition of one Becca Smith. I am now a senior at Butler University. 

    I spent the fall semester of my junior year studying in Bangkok, Thailand. To say that I fell in love with Southeast Asia is an understatement - the people, the culture, the food, the architecture. I had so many different experiences that I can't wait to share, and I spent a majority of my time plotting how I will return to Southeast Asia upon graduating Butler. 

    Before my time in Bangkok, I spent three months in a small village in Spain living with a family and teaching their young boy how to speak convesational English. I did not get to travel as much in Spain and learned mostly about Spanish culture in everyday life at home. I have lots of stories to share about Spain as well! 

    I'll try not to write too compulsively about the same regions all the time and want to explore all the different places that I am interested in going - Mexico, Central and South America, Africa, and Australia. 

    I love everything about traveling - from the planning to  actual transport to learning all about other cultures, as well as relaxing and just enjoying the scenery. Maybe writing about it will be enough of an outlet to get me through the rest of my time until graduation! 

 

 

 

Top 4 Must-Visit Places in Thailand

Top 4 Must-Visit Places in Thailand

by Marcela Dias

Thailand is one of the world’s favorite tourist destinations. Busy, bustling Bangkok is only part of the story. This is both a very ancient and very modern country. The legacy of Siam lives alongside modern Thailand, one of the success stories of Southeast Asia. Anytime’s a good time to see Thailand. Grab a ticket, grab some easy online travel insurance, and come and explore!

 

The Must-Visit places

 There’s a lot to see in Thailand, so you’ll need to do some advance planning to fit in a good schedule that lets you look around properly. It’s a good idea to plan by regions, so you can organize your trip from each place to the next systematically. A lot of the best places are quite close together, and it’s easy to create your own pace for seeing this fascinating country.

 

Bangkok

 Bangkok is famous for being a fun place, with good reason. This is one of Asia’s most modern cities, and also a major cultural centre. This is Thailand in microcosm, and if you’re planning to travel through the country, it’s a good idea to get oriented in Bangkok, see the sights, do some shopping, and pick and choose your itinerary.

 

Ayutthaya

 If you want an artistically jaw dropping experience near Bangkok, Ayutthaya will do the trick. This is a real cultural gem, full of ancient temples that would give the Valley of the Kings something to think about. This is real ancient Buddhist art, and it’s pretty incredible. This place has a history, and includes some of Thailand’s incredibly beautiful, usually overlooked scenery. If you’ve got a camera, get a recharger for your batteries, because you’ll need one.

 

The south: Phuket region

 In the south is Phuket, one of the few places on Earth that can compete with the Pacific islands and Queensland’s incredible beaches. This place has the distinction of being both a famous tourist destination and incredibly beautiful, as well as very well organized for tourists. You can laze around, or go exploring around Andaman White Beach, which looks like it came out of a movie about tropical paradises. There are quite a few special places in the south of Thailand, and everyone has their favorite.

 

The north: The elephant hills

 In the north west, around Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Lampang, you find wild Thailand. The Thais have made a good job of not trashing their country in the name of development, and the result is spectacular. You can meet elephants, go bush walking, do motor bike tours, camp out, go caving, and even live in a luxury tent.   “Sight seeing” takes on a very different meaning in Thailand. This is a very diverse country, with a lot of very different environments and types of things to see. From the fantastic beaches to the equally stunning inland is a true workout for the mind. This isn’t the sort of place where you can just zip through with a camera. Allow a bit of time for being surprised and not wanting to leave.   Remember to click on to some cheap travel insurance, visit, experience and explore Thailand.

Marcela Dias is a contributing travel writer-Thanks to Marcela for bringing a slice of Thailand into our world!

Teaching in Thailand, Seeing the World, Living YOUR Life

Experience a new culture, Help a child, Reward YOURSELF by Helping OTHERS

The following is a reprint from a special email I received today from i-to-i "meaningful travel"

Please remember that EZTravelpad can offer a price that is LOWER than what this indicates, so please feel free to click through, look, call them if you like, but come back to EZTravelpad to save even more money!
Email [email protected] or call 574-825-8079 or 919-624-2293
EZTravelpad is proud to offer the products and services of i-to-i, they are a fantastic company offering a superior product that can change YOUR life for the better, while you help others around the world...

Live The Thai Life! See And Work in Thailand With Flexible, Well-Paid and Hassle-Free Jobs - Enrolling Now

Limited spaces - Book today! 120hr + Teach English in Thailand Support Package from $1275 Call us on 800-352-1793

How Does 5 Months Living And Working In Thailand Sound? Announcing our new 'Teach English in Thailand Support Package'! Get your all-important first job and TEFL certification with no hassle and all the support you need during your contract in Thailand. Perfect for anyone who is new to working abroad and would value an easy start and friendly guidance overseas!

Here's what you'll get:

• You can choose from a 5 month or 11 month contract - Starting Oct 2009
• Your first job, expect to get paid a minimum of 27,500 Thai baht per month, that's $8,900 for an 11 month contract- the equivalent salary in the US would be around $38,000 in terms of a standard of living comparison (incredible but true!)
• This income is easily enough for you to see the country and experience the culture independently
• We'll organise EVERYTHING for you with our specially designed support package, starting with a friendly face at the airport!
• Risk Free Guarantee within 7 days - if you're not happy, we'll refund you, plain and simple

Learn more

The support package includes:

• Friendly meet and greet at the airport with transfer to orientation accommodation
• Your first 2 nights accommodation in Bangkok in a great guest house that even has a swimming pool
• Welcome dinner (and breakfast, lunch and dinner on day 2!)
• 3-day orientation including advice on how to get the most out of your students and a Bangkok city tour
• FREE Thai phrasebook - giving you a great headstart
• Mobile phone SIM card and top up - allowing you to call home and make your friends jealous
• On-going personal support throughout your contract
• FREE Thailand Lonely Planet guide
• FREE 20% discount voucher that can be used against any i-to-i travel package - a great way to treat yourself after you've finished teaching
• Full support during the application process
• 120 hour TEFL certification - ensuring you are ready for day 1 in the classroom

Get started here>>

This package will give you vital teaching experience and a fantastic opportunity to start (or continue) your TEFL career. More importantly, you'll get to see Thailand on your terms from the perspective of someone actually living there.

Only 50 spaces available and you must register before 18th Sept 2009 to depart October 2009 - Book today!

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What says Father's Day like a 3 week Elephant experience in Thailand?

It's Father's Day, and what says Father's Day Present like a 3 week Elephant Experience in Thailand?

Actually, quite a few things - a new tie, family cook-out, new ipnone, cute card, an afternoon on the golf course with Dad, yes - quite a few things actually....BUT
What cooler gift could you imagine than sending Dad to Thailand for 3 weeks on the experience of a lifetime? I can't think of a more unique AND rewarding gift - the gift of experience- the gift of volunteering - the gift of helping make the world a better place!

What does an elephant eat for breakfast?

You’ll find out when you spend 2 weeks working side by side with elephant keepers in Surin province, Thailand. Feeding elephants a hearty breakfast full of leaves and branches will be just one your daily tasks. Then you are off on an action-packed adventure through northern Thailand. You will trek through the breathtaking mountains of Chiang Mai, board a bamboo raft for some awesome wildlife viewing, ride an elephant through the jungle and then even spend the night in a remote hill tribe village where you will have a chance to really bond with the local community and experience their uniquely peaceful way of life.

Trip Highlights:

Feeding elephants their breakfast!

Floating down the river on your bamboo raft

Trekking to a hill tribe village hidden deep in the mountains of Chiang Mai 

Greeting the tree branches at eye level from the top of an elephant

Touring the bustling capital city of Bangkok

Fast Facts

Project Information

• Project Duration: Min 3 weeks
• Project Costs: US$ 2195.00 for 3 weeks
• Location of project:Surin, Thailand
• Arrival Airport:Bangkok (airport code BKK) 
• Activities:Trekking, rafting, elephant ride, working with elephants and their keepers and touring Bangkok 
• Working Hours:Flexible; usually Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm at the project and full days on the tour 
• Getting to the project:on site
• Requirements:Minimum age 18

What's Included

• Accommodation:Shared room in guesthouse, bamboo huts, basic home stay
• Food: All meals while trekking and at the home stay, some other meals as per itinerary
• Airport Pickup:Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
• Training:In-country orientation
• Support:Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

What's not included

• Flights, Insurance, Visas
• Meals not mentioned on itinerary (budget approx. $5 USD per meal)

For more ideas for volunteer tourism, affordable getaways, honeymoons, just about anything you can think of that involves planning a trip - contact [email protected] your friend in the travel business

Asian combo plate - pick 2 for $999

Is it time to be cautious - or be aggressive?

I was talking to a friend of my mother's yesterday about the savings available in the travel industry today. About the seats that airplanes have to fill, and the rooms that hotels need to fill....Telling her about the aggressiveness with which local tourist bureaus are promoting their destinations, in short - that she can't afford to wait, if she wants to go somewhere - now is the time.

She related to me that she was on a fixed income, and is concerned, as are many of her friends, about what will become of the economy. It's scary.

I asked her - that given her stable income, and a portfolio consisting mostly of bonds and annuities, does it make more sense to buy now - while prices are down - or wait until things get better - and prices go back up, as they naturally will?

Doesn't it make more sense to buy low? Doesn't it make more sense to take the DREAM vacation now, when you can literally save THOUSANDS - rather than taking the frugal vacation, and save hundreds - then pay full price for the DREAM vacation later? Aren't you, in effect "buying high and selling low"?

For her, like many - and quite understandably, the jury is still out on that question - there is room for concern - but there is also reason for optimism, and great savings available - consider your options-

We're not talking about the Kung Pao Chicken and Pad Thai combo...we're talking about REAL savings to Asian lands

9 Countries - You Pick Combos- from $999 -

Getting to Asia may never be this easy - and affordable again!
Fly to any of these combinations of Asian destinations from just $999

Taiwan & Japan
Japan & China
China & Hong Kong
Hong Kong & Taiwan
Singapore & Thailand
Malaysia & Singapore
Vietnam and Cambodia

For more information contact [email protected]

Riding the elephants in Thailand

The Best Place in the World

Many years ago while on vacation in Jamaica, I met a couple of your gentlemen. World-wide travelers, they were. Beautiful specimens too - the women loved them...athletic, smart, handsome, if I were a girl.....but I digress.
Anyway, over the course of a few days they became friends with our small group of travelers, and I learned much - about many things, but what I remember most is their insistence that their favorite vacation spot in the world was Thailand - it had it all (assuming you like beautiful beaches, exotic culture, gorgeous women, excellent foods, etc.)

For comprehensive info on Thailand click here

While it may not seem like the typical summer vacation with the kids (because it's not) - why not blow it out this year with a trip to Thailand?
You know that travel prices are low - and by the looks of the economy these days, I really don't think they're going to stay this low for much longer....
As soon as the kids get out of school this spring, get your friends and their kids - 10-12 people in all, and arrange for your own private tour - 6 days in Thailand, for example - from around $499 pp (not including flight) - before June airfare is still quite low....

Sample Itinerary-

DAY 1 Depart Los Angeles to Bangkok Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey. DAY 2 Bangkok Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to your hotel. Hotel: Rama Gardens Hotel or equivalent 4 star hotel DAY 3 Bangkok – Pattaya This morning is at leisure. Afternoon, head to Pattaya by coach or van. Pattaya is one of the largest and most colorful resort areas in Asia, known as the "Hawaii of Orient". On the way, we will proceed to the Elephant Park for you to experience an elephant ride. In the evening, we will arrange a 2-hour traditional Thai massage. (B) Hotel: Nusa Playa Hotel or equivalent 4 star hotel DAY 4 Pattaya - Coral Island After breakfast we will take a speedboat ride to Coral Island. On the way to the island, you can enjoy the underwater world by snorkeling, experience the parasail or riding a banana boat as your optional programs. Lunch will be served with seafood, fresh Thai fruits and soft drinks. Afternoon, we return to Pattaya for refreshment. Tonight, you will enjoy the famous “Tiffany” cabaret show. (B,L.) Hotel: Nusa Playa Hotel or equivalent 4 star hotel DAY 5 Pattaya -- Bangkok In the morning, we will en route to Bangkok, we pay a visit to a world famous jewelry factory. Enjoy an afternoon tour to the Grand Palace, Thailand's finest example of an ancient Siamese court. For centuries, the Grand Palace was used as a royal residence for the Kings of Bangkok and their administrative parties. Here, you'll tour the beautiful courtyards and various palaces within the complex, including the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House and the Emerald Buddha Temple. This evening, you might enjoy an optional dinner cruise at "Chao Phraya Princess" in the sights of glittering lights of the river banks. (B) Hotel: Rama Gardens Hotel or equivalent 4 star hotel DAY 6 Bangkok - USA Morning at leisure, then transfer to the airport for the flight back home, or you can choose to take an extended tours to Phuket or Chiang Mai or stop over in Taiwan or Hong Kong. (B)

Included Features

Economy Class, round trip plane ticket from Los Angeles to Bangkok, if you purchase all inclusive tour package. First Class hotel accommodations include twin beds in rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges, tips, and local taxes included. Buffet Breakfast, lunch, dinner mentioned in the itinerary. All transfers as per itinerary. Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach or van. Professional English speaking tour director on tour. Travel wallet with comprehensive tour documents. Pre and post tour hotel are available on request.

You know that you should probably extend with another few days in Phuket or Hong Kong, after all, you cam all this way....or not, and just enjoy the amazing week long vacation to a faraway land!

Imagine your children's first day back at school after their summer holiday-
So Tristen, what did you do on your summer vacation? I went to Grandmas farm...
What about you Britney? We went to Thailand and rode Elephants and saw Buddhas and went snorkeling and went to Hong Kong and....
Needless to say, Britney is going to be the cool kids for awhile....

For more information please email [email protected]