The Beginners Booklet of Bargains

Part 1: How to Haggle in China

During the three years I lived in Montenegro, I discovered great places and activities in this hidden Mediterranean country.  I’ve compiled the top ten things to do, from my teen perspective.  This list includes skiing in the mountains, climbing a castle on the coast, ascending to the top of a mountain, and zipping along a ropes course.  Most of these things I did several times, and all of them were very fun.  I hope you enjoy my top ten!

For adventurous people that enjoy the outdoors, you are going to love the Road to Hana, Hawaii.

The dry sand crunches under my feet as I walk across the beach. Little crabs skitter out of the way, racing amongst the scattered fragments of coral and seashells long abandoned to flip into the sea. For once, the ocean is calm. There’s not a ripple to be seen, as far as the horizon. A glassy mirror, the water reflects the cerulean sky above. Besides the wind dancing through the trees and my bare feet softly padding over the sand, a blanket of peaceful silence has settled over the beach.

Thailand is one of the best destinations in the world for foodies, known for its’ fragrant and spicy cuisine with flavours of sweet, sour, salty, and hot found perfectly balanced in every dish. You'll find curries, stir-fries, noodles, and yummy deep fried goodies with chili, tamarind, palm sugar, and fish sauce in almost everything.

I remember tripping over myself in my dash through the automatic doors that separated Narita airport and the outside world for that first breath of Japanese air – of the late spring/early summer cool that I had romanticized for the last 6 years. Strangely, it was the first time that, when landing in a foreign country, I didn’t feel like I was out of place, but rather, surreal – like an explorer who finally steps off the shaking waves onto the home he had been dreaming of.

Top Ten Off the Beaten Path Summer Activities on Cape Cod

1.    Take a sail on a whale watch.

What are the first things you think of, when you hear Lake District? If you’re anything like me, you think poetry, literature, art, Wordsworth, Windermere, Beatrix Potter, long walks on the fells, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.  As well, you think of long, romantic vacations with your loved ones, walking in the footsteps of both the great literary stars and nature lovers who have flocked to the towns and villages of Cumbria for centuries.

Notorious for its nightlife and lazy days by the beach, it’s fair to say Cyprus has all the components for the ultimate beach break abroad. But it’s not all drinking, dancing, and daydreaming in this pocket of the Mediterranean. The Greek Island also offers a wide range of activities to sink your teeth into. So whether you’re sampling the local wine, crawling through prehistoric tombs, or exploring the diverse landscape, there are plenty of ways to soak up the Cypriot culture outside of the pubs - all while being easy on your wallet.