Where is Gallipoli?

Anzac Cove, Gallipoli

The Gallipoli peninsula is a slender peninsula across the water from Canakkale in Turkey. The narrow strait is the gateway to Istanbul. Winston Churchill organised a naval assault in order to capture the Ottoman capital and Allied troops were sent in during April 1915. After 9 months of fierce combat and little progress, the Allied forces withdrew. The number of casualties was extremely high and memorials are dotted around this moving landscape.

I visited Gallipoli during August of 1996. It was a travelling experience filled with lots of mixed emotions. I was travelling alone, going solo for the first time, and probably under circumstances which made me slightly vulnerable to feel awfully alone and isolated. This was never truer, than the visit to the quiet, secluded area of Gallipoli.

I wanted to experience Gallipoli by myself. To hear and feel the Aussie soldiers that were there and what they would have been confronted with as they arrived on the very shore I stood on in this photo. I didn’t want to hear tourists accents; English, American, German, etc complaining of the heat. I wanted to fully take in the harsh surrounds and … pay my respects!

Lonely Planet Turkey

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Gallipoli

One Great Reason to Visit Gallipoli

One great reason to visit this travel destination iespecially if you are an Australian or New Zealander, is that it is part of our history. The rugged landscape and steep cliffs, are a reminder of what the young officers were confronted with on arrival to that beach. It’s an extremely moving experience.

Gallipoli – ANZAC Legend – Free Heroes Remembrance Song

For More Information

Wikipedia

Anzac Day

Gallipoli and the Anzacs

When it comes to staying safe, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell you whether something is dangerous or not. When it comes to most accidents that take place overseas, it is more likely than not a combination of a) alcohol and/or b) stupidity. The best way to protect your life while on an adventure in Asia, travellers need to use a little common sense, before attempting to drunkenly recreate that scene from Titanic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslett on the bow of a banana boat. It’s also important to read up on local laws prior to travelling. Police at home may give you a slap over the wrist for a small amount of drugs, but in Asia could see you come face-to-face with a firing squad or spending the rest of your life behind bars. Not a good way to end a holiday, right?

Carrying or using drugs is very, very risky and the laws on both trafficking and the use of illegal narcotics are worlds apart from those at home. While the laws of most Western countries take the ‘harm minimisation’ stance and aim to protect the health of drug users, all countries throughout Asia have the death penalty in place as an option to sentence would-be traffickers. Do what your mother says and stay away from drugs, and do not carry drugs for anyone else! Even if they pay you enough to buy your own Jetski! When you carry drugs for someone else – even if you do not profit out of it – that’s called trafficking, and Asian countries don’t let traffickers off too lightly.

The first thing that will save your life/get you out of trouble/prevent you from losing wads of your well-saved money is – common sense! If things sound dangerous, they generally are. If things sound risky, they generally are. If things sound too good to be true, nine-tenths of the time, they generally are! Scams don’t just happen in Asia, but all over the world. In Asia, scammers generally target tourists as they are often viewed as easy targets. Many scams involve gaining the trust of the potential victim, so if a fairly random person begins to act super nice to you – remember that no one is invulnerable to scammers, especially you.

Always be wary of other people and make sure you do not cause offense. Across all Asian cultures, the concept of ‘face’, ‘saving face’ and ‘losing’ face relates closely to what we refer to as ‘Dignity’. Dignity is of course important to westerners, but not compared to the complete and utter seriousness of the consequences of losing face in Asia. It is important when dealing with authorities, police or anyone to treat them with respect, and do not question their authority, as this could potentially make them feel like they have lost face – ultimately creating a worse set of consequences for you.

If you use common sense and logic while when travelling throughout Asia, the biggest cause for concern should only be minor interruptions, such as having the runs, sunburn, or that splitting headache from drinking too much Tiger Beer!

This is a guest article from Andrew Wang who blogs about saving money.

Where is Menorca?

Menorca, the smaller neighbour of the Balearic island of Mallorca, lies off the coast of Spain and draws in thousands of visitors seeking sun, sea and sand every year. It is a great place for a traditional beach holiday – many of the most popular hotels in Menorca are dotted along the coastline – but for the more adventurous traveller who wants to do more than dip their toes in the water, this island is home to some of the best snorkelling hot spots in the Mediterranean.

In 1991, Menorca became a UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) designated Biosphere Reserve, which means Menorca has been recognised as an area of natural beauty and conservation and is now protected as such. This is great news for visitors, as the landscapes, ecosystems and features which helped Menorca gain its reserve status have been protected during the surge in tourism over the years.

The lagoons, marshes, wetlands, caves, dunes and islets are just some of the features which have been preserved, and it is here where snorkelers and divers will find real the gems. Some of the top snorkelling spots are Cales Coves, Es Grau, Macarella and Cala Galdana and it’s these areas which are home to hundreds of exotic fish and sea life.

Whether you’re an amateur snorkeler or avid diver, you will find the underwater wildlife surrounding Menorca incredible. Damsel-fish, Perch, Sea Bass, Cardinal fish, Barracuda and Octopus are just some of the species which call these waters home and with sea temperatures barely dropping below 20c in the summer months, you can swim with these fish in just your swimsuit or speedos – no wetsuit required!

If it is beaches which float your boat, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Cala Pregonda. This bay, which lies completely unspoilt, is surrounded by woodland and can be quite difficult to get to. For those that do venture to this part of the island however, why not pack a picnic of local delicacies and make a day of it? Sparkling blue waters and pristine sands are your reward and it would be a shame not to make the most of them.

This post is part of a monthly Spanish Series sponsored by www.hotels4u.com, where you’ll find plenty of Menorca hotels suitable for all tastes and budgets.

The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca

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TravelTipsPlus Google Map of Menorca

One Great Reason to Visit Menorca

One great reason to visit this travel destination is for snorkeling and diving the hideaway inlets of the island offer.

Menorca Holiday Guide – My Travel

For More Information

• Wikipedia
• Guide to Menorca

 

Travel Photo of the Week: Johnston Ice Canyon

Johnston Ice Canyon is located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. My English friend Lavinia was fortunate enough to have her first trip to Canada recently and shared with me a couple of fabulous shots she took of the area. I particularly liked the photo below, with the angle of the canyon displaying icicles hanging in place of water-falling and in the background, the pines towering upwards.

Photo courtesy of Lavinia from Dorset.