Five Cool Things To Try On Your Gap Year
Article by Harriet Williams
Travelling around the world brings a whole host of new opportunities. This is your time to make the most of it and try all those new things you’ve been itching your whole life to try. Stuck for ideas? How about giving some of these ideas a spin on your backpacker travels?
Surfing
Been listening to the Beach Boys for a large part of your life and dreaming of distant shores and surfer boys and girls? Give surfing a try in the warm waters of Australia or Indonesia. Bali is the perfect place to get started with easy breaking waves and plenty of classes and instructors offering relatively inexpensive lessons. Surfing is also a great way to keep your fit on your gap year. A great way to counteract all those beers!
White Water Rafting
How about cranking those new activities you try up a few notches? Get extreme with a spot of white water rafting, just make sure you get insurance that covers you accordingly and please, please, please don’t forget to wear a helmet! India is a great, and rather unusual, place to try it. Check out the many raft companies that offer packages along the Ganges. A great way to meet and hang out with people too.
Bungee Jumping
Granted, tethering yourself to a really big elastic band doesn’t sound too appealing, but experiencing the sensation of a free fall drop is high on anyone’s do-before-you-die list. New Zealand is home to some of the world’s largest bungee sites and offers anyone looking for the ultimate gap year thrill food for thought at least. Don’t be surprised if you need a bit of a push off the ledge either.
Tubing
If extreme sports and activities really aren’t your thing there’s still plenty of low-impact, relaxing activities out there. Cruising down a river with a bottle of beer lounging in a large inflatable rubber ring may sound a bit odd, but is a hugely popular gap year activity in the Southeast Asian country of Laos. Imagine a Disneyland ride but a little more unpredictable and a lot more alcohol.
Yoga
A lot of people go to India in hope of a spiritual experience or, at the very least, to eat some very decent curry. Yoga, however, might be something you want to try to blow off some steam, improve your flexibility and simply just to relax. India is the yoga capital of the world and offers plenty of retreats and courses for you try on your gap year.
About the Author
Harriet Williams is an avid traveller and travel writer, who particularly likes writing about gap year travel.
Cool Places to Stay in Bali
Article by Lek Boonlert
Getting to Bali is not difficult, but is quite an extensive journey. Most international flights fly into the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. From there, many tourists take a flight on a budget airline to the capital of Bali, Denpasar, though there are other options.
For travelers interested in getting off the beaten path, try catching a bus from Jakarata to Denpasar now connected by bridge and ferry. The journey takes over 24 hours, but highlights the intense difference between the neighboring Javanese and Balinese people. Women should keep to themselves on this journey as any sort of contact with men may be considered an accidental invitation.
Once in Bali, many tourists opt to stay in Kuta Beach. Kuta is known for its nightlife. With clubs open until 2 am and late night rock bands blasting from the local Hard Rock Café, it is the most obvious place to meet fellow travelers and see the more youthful side of the island. Your hotel in Bali should be a suitable place to find out about the local scene as well arrange transportation for the evening.
Tourists that would like to stay at a resort in Bali often move away from Kuta to quieter locations such as Semawang or Nusa Dua. All around the island these luxurious, untouched beach locations can be found more suitable for those on a romantic getaway or yearning for time for peace and reflection. Resorts and hotels in Bali are all very affordable and any location that you choose will be a pleasant stay away from home.
Travelers that are looking to escape the fanciness or hustle and bustle of the beach might choose to stay in Bali’s ‘other capital’ Ubud. Ubud is know for it’s art culture and accommodations in this part of the island offer an endless view of perfect sunsets over the paddy fields.
Denpasar, the island’s capital, is also an interesting place to make your stay if you are looking to get a real idea of Bali life away from tourist central. Inexpensive shopping and authentic Balinese cuisine can be found here without the hassle of noisy vendors, though it can be a bit more of a challenge to found your way around.
Seminyak and Jimbaran are two other locations that are sure to please. With private beaches attached to fully staffed villas, these Bali destinations are truly made for royalty. Villa resorts, such as The Longhouse, also offer a spa room, private gym, cooking classes, Balinese dance lessons as well as an arts and craft course. Every whim of your desire can be met at the discounted Bali price.
Located in the mysterious mountain regions of the island is the breathtakingly beautiful Campuhan River. The heart and soul of the Balinese Aga lies here as well as a number of accommodating resort destinations. The perfect place for a mountain view and cooler experience of this equatorial location. Pools and gardens here are encased in green richness that both inspire and delight all that come to visit. It is one of the best locations in Bali to soul search at local temples or river raft through stunning caverns. Located near Ubud, it is a only a short drive to many tourist attractions such as the monkey temple and butterfly farm. Enjoy the slow pace of life here riding a bicycle through the peaceful streets. The local people will be sure to smile and welcome you to their island home.
About the Author
Lek Boonlert is an editor and content reviewer at DirectRooms and is responsible for all Bali Hotels content.