Archive for July, 2007

On my way home from a recent trip to India I stopped off for one day in Singapore, and, unfortunately, it happened to rain for half the day. Since Singapore is a mere 85 miles from the equator, a warm rainy day is not a rare occurrence. Did rain ruin my one day? Absolutely not. Will it ruin yours? Not if you heed my top 5 things to do in Singapore when it rains.

1. Shop. Singapore is made for shopping. I count on my map around 30 malls on Orchard Road, with just about every kind of store, flip flops to couture. Even the window shopping and people watching are good if you aren’t going to take advantage of the tax-free shopping. And, the malls are so close that you can stay dry under their overhangs as you walk between (or pop across the street via the train station tunnels).
2. Eat. Singapore has more great food than you can shake a stick at, much of it in the malls mentioned above. I know, I know, mall food does not sound good, but it in Singapore some of the best restaurants are in the malls. My two favorite mall restaurants? My Humble House in the Esplanade and Din Tian Fung in The Paragon. Take an eating tour of a mall. Take a food tour of Singapore. Alternatively, take in the English tradition of high tea at one of the posher hotels, I prefer The Fullerton’s to Raffles’s, but darling that’s a matter of taste.
3. Get out of town. This is sort of cheating since its not in Singapore, but if you know rain is forecasted, book a trip to Malacca or Johore Bahru.
4. Visit the Asian Civilizations Museum.
   

   Esplanade Theaters

   A lovely museum with exhibits ranging across many Asian cultures. I was particularly into the Chinese snuff bottle exhibition - very cool.

5. See a performance at the Esplanade theaters. The Esplanade is an amazing theater and arts complex (and yes, it’s near a mall) featuring multiple world class performances in music, theater and dance at any given time. When I was in town, to my great chagrin, we missed scoring tickets to see Sir Ian McKellan in King Lear.

Don’t let a little rain spoil all your fun. And if you’re looking for more things to do check out Viator’s 45+ things to do in Singapore (in any weather). At a loss at where to start or just need a little inspiration? Check out Viator’s Singapore itinerary.

– Kelly G

Browse photos of Singapore over on the Viator Flickr site.

The goal? Los Angeles

High-rise Atlanta shimmered in the thick Southern summer. The Bank of America skyscraper’s pinnacle reflected in the lakes of Piedmont Park. And picnickers thumped to crunk and country, as I signed the title on my new (used) Acura. I was moving to Los Angeles, and my first car in almost five years would take me on my first road trip in as long.

I bid farewell to the ATL with a visit to a few of my favorite places: The Martin Luther King National Historic Site (Javaology, next door, has Altanta’s best coffee); The Cyclorama, a bizarre monument to the Battle of Atlanta; and finally a superb Southern feast at legendary Mary Mac’s Tea Room. And a long sigh.

Once rush hour dissolved, I hit I-75, wistfully declining to see Rock City, but allowing a quick stop in historic downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, where I savored a cup of Greyfriar’s Coffee while meandered past the famed Tennessee Aquarium and a most unusual riverfront walk commemorating the Trail of Tears.

After hitting the local fireworks superstore it was north to my hometown, the once-secret nuclear city of Oak Ridge, where tourists can choose between atomic trivia at the American Museum of Science and Energy or enjoy banjos and replica moonshine stills at nearby Museum of Appalachia.

Uncle Hubert in Virginia

Next on the agenda was Ripplemead, Virginia, home to my great Aunt Doris and Uncle Hubert, who at 92 years old still maintains a fine garden not far from Mountain Lake Hotel (of Dirty Dancing fame). Although I-81 would have been quicker, head north through the Appalachians on impossibly scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, which becomes campsite-lined Skyline Drive entering slender Shenandoah National Park

More relatives awaited Syracuse, New York, and after dinner at divine Dinosaur Barbeque, we caught a great game between the Syracuse Chiefs and Charlotte Knights, handily won by the local heroes 7-2. A Canadian flag flew over the proceedings because the Chiefs, it was explained, are a farm team for the Toronto Blue Jays. “You’ll love Toronto,” said the father of two tiny fans. “It’s the most cosmopolitan city in the world.”

Over the Border

Rounding Lake Ontario, I flew through the kitsch of Niagara Falls USA, crossed the border at the Peace Bridge, and hitting Queen Elizabeth Way to Toronto, where my old roommate from Costa Rica was living. “So how do people celebrate Canada Day, anyway?” I asked my friend Colin.

“Oh, nothing special, just family getting together, maybe a barbecue, some fireworks.” I had those.

We toured his city of ethnic neighborhoods and iconic head shops, finally ending up at the CN Tower, at 1815ft still the world’s tallest free-standing structure (in your face, Dubai!), bathed in tastefully patriotic red and white floodlights for the holiday. A bored-looking teenage girl swathed in strict Muslim garb waved me onto the final elevator ascending to the Skypod, the highest artificial overlook in the world. Oh, Canada.

Paige at Pinery Park in Ontario, Canada. Photo by Colin Plant

We headed west into wilder Ontario, stopping into the predictably quaint Village of Elora, for a simple dinner at Elora Mill, overlooking a cascading waterfall and 80ft Elora Gorge. After a night on the shores of Lake Huron, in beautiful, B&B-packed Bayfield, we spent Canada Day exploring the forests and windswept sand dunes of Pinery Provincial Park. The evening concluded with fireworks, including a sputtering desert-cami tank that rather failed to shock and awe. The next morning, I swam in chilly Lake Huron, which did both.

The American Heartland

Clearing customs and skirting Detroit, I sped across the barely-tamed Michigan landscape, stopping only to hear the fabled “singing sand” at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. My goal was Iowa City, where I would camp with my cousins on their 60-acre Yum Yum Farm, contemplating the price of corn (high) and worth of the wild prairie (even higher). They took me north to Decorah, Iowa, where Seed Savers Exchange collects heirloom plants from around the world to cultivate in Iowa’s preternaturally rich soil. Iowa’s legendary folksinger Greg Brown, was throwing his annual benefit concert for the exchange, and brought down a starry night over that precious ark in style.

We returned along the Great River Road, which follows the mighty Mississippi. A hike through hilly Effigy Mounds National Monument proved those baby tees reading, “Not everything in Iowa is flat,” then stopped at the oldest restaurant / bar in Iowa, Breitbach’s Country Dining, with classic Iowa cuisine made from scratch.

I set out at 3am for the longest driving day of my trip: Interstate 80, west through the relentless biofuel corn fields of Iowa, Nebraska and finally Wyoming, where I crashed in the cozy cowboy capital of Cheyenne. I was so glad, the next day, to see the Rockies rise the high, dusty plain.

Into the Wild

Thanks to incorrect storm warnings, I was able to score a campsite inside popular Rocky Mountains National Park, where sunset fell fast over my Alpine bliss. The next morning I hiked up to Flattop Mountain, joining a silent contingent of backpackers who watched the promised deluge roll late but powerful into the valley below. Stunning. My car complained quietly as I traversed the high-altitude park, but we’d both get some rest at Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa, with 24 natural hot springs (including one with a waterfall!) nestled in the chaparral just west of the park – and walking distance from a handful of cheaper hotels.

I exited Colorado at no great speed, stopping for a stroll (and free citywide wifi!) in famed Vail, and arriving at Utah’s Arches National Park just in time to pitch my tent on adjacent BLM land. A spectacular sunset through the North and South Windows was just a tease for the morning’s hike, through the searing spires and fragile natural bridges of the Devil’s Garden – watch out for falling arches!

Finally, I arrived at Utah’s Bryce Canyon, via scenic Utah Highway 12, a lonely road traversing at least a dozen protected areas. This would be my last hike before Los Angeles, so I chose to descend into the rose-hued hoodoos of Fairlyland – incidentally, the only major trail accessible from outside the fee gate, free but priceless.

And emerging from this tinted kaleidoscope of natural beauty, I began my final flight across the baking desert sands, with one eye on the hot, hazy asphalt and the other on the temperature gauge. I wound through the fiercely striated, undulating raw sandstone of Zion Canyon, passed the fragile pressboard mirage of Las Vegas, and arrived after dark, not in Los Angeles proper, but just east, where a friend was waiting.

I knew that I had to complete the drive, however, even if it meant procrastinating from unpacking everything. This was my mission. “What is the major cross street, anyway?” I asked.

“Whittier Boulevard.”

How could I resist? I jumped onto the most famous thoroughfare in Los Angeles (well, East Los Angeles, anyway), cruised under the iconic archway and crossed the Los Angeles River, entering the glass-and-steel canyons of my new home.

–Paige Penland

Just a quick note to celebrate the launch of a new attraction on Viator.com: the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland. Whether you call it stout, the black stuff or a pint of plain, Guinness is a wonderful brew. And the brewery at St James’s Gate in Dublin offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Guinness brand and legacy. Oh yeah, and you get a free pint of Guinness! (Even locals agree that the Guinness served at the brewery’s bar is among the best pints you can find — anywhere.)

So do yourself a favor and grab a skip-the-line ticket to the Guinness Storehouse the next time you’re in Dublin. Yes, Guinness really is good for you.

–Scott McNeely, Guinness enthusiast

Editor’s Note: The following blog post is by Don George from his recent trip to Kenya & Tanzania. Don, a pioneering travel writer and editor for 25 years, is the host and creator of the adventure travel web site Don’s Place and the editor of the literary travel magazine RECCE. His seven books include “Travel Writing”, “The Kindness of Strangers,” and “Tales from Nowhere.” You can read Don’s original post here.

A kiss is just a kiss…

My introduction to the wildlife of East Africa was a kiss from a giraffe. No, this isn’t a metaphor. We’re talking about a real wet lip-smacker here, a “come here big boy and let me give you a taste of my long black tongue” kiss.

But let’s back up a bit.

I arrived in Africa from London at about 8:45 on a humid Nairobi night. Almost immediately on exiting the plane, I was greeted by a smiling woman from the safari company that had organized my tour, and whisked through Immigration to the baggage claim area, where she introduced me to two fellow safari-mates who just happened to be on the same flight: Jennifer and Benjie, exuberant 30-somethings who, she explained, were celebrating their new marriage with a safari honeymoon. Ah, romance! We gathered up our green duffle bags and before long were rolling through the night toward the Norfolk Hotel, a grand colonial-era establishment on the outskirts of the city, where I tumbled into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning we met the fourth and final member of our party – Jill, a lively Southern Californian – and then gathered with Mrs. Pinto, who with her husband started and still manages the safari company; Duncan, the director of their safari programs; and our safari leader, Lewela. Pointing to a large map, Lewela presented an overview of our itinerary: We would spend the first day touring Nairobi and the surrounding area, then fly south the following day to Amboseli, where we would spend two days; in successive two-day stays, we would visit the Mt. Kenya Safari Club; Maasai Mara National Reserve; Serengeti National Park in Tanzania; and finally Ngorongoro Crater before returning to Nairobi.

Duncan then introduced a tall, thin man splendidly attired in bright red traditional Maasai garb, who told us in a soft voice about the history and culture of his people, and said that as part of our stay in Maasai Mara, we would be able to visit a Maasai village; he said the villagers welcomed this opportunity to teach us about their traditional ways of life.

Lion cubs having a nap… cute but where’s momma?

After that we scrambled into a minivan for a day-tour of Nairobi and surrounding towns. On first impression, Nairobi is a daunting city, a big, bustling, car-crammed and pedestrian-crammed, choking-air capital that seems to uncomfortably combine elements of the first and third worlds. On the one hand, there are shining skyscrapers, headquarters of international corporations and organizations, and businesspeople striding in sleek suits as they talk urgently on cell phones; on the other hand, there are potholed streets, broken-up sidewalks, and endless strings of people walking, walking, walking along the roadways, crossing haphazardly in the midst of perpetual-rush-hour traffic or threading a ragtag path between cars. In some places we passed small plots of lovingly tended community gardens and bright brand-name boutiques; in others, trash fires burned where sidewalks should have been, and muddy, tin-roof shanty towns sprawled and spread. While experience tells me that a sustained stay would open up the idiosyncratic wonders of the city, on first glance Nairobi seemed an intimidating, impenetrable place.

Soon a very different Kenya revealed itself as we drove into the suburbs of Karen, past posh mansions and rambling walled estates to the gracious former farmhouse of Karen Blixen. A Danish aristocrat and coffee planter who settled here from 1914-1931, Blixen wrote the passionate memoir Out of Africa, which has probably introduced more Westerners to the country than any other single tome. On her expansive estate Blixen lived what was considered a life of luxury, but it’s illuminating to tour the farmhouse, now a museum, and see what kinds of cooking and cleaning contraptions constituted luxury in those days. (more…)

In this era of global warming it’s preferable to catch trains than planes whenever you are able. Apart from the whole carbon footprint thing, train travel lets you see this wonderful planet and the people who live on it. So even if it takes a bit longer, “the journey is the destination” as Dan Eldon wrote. Also, when you take into account all the time it takes to check-in and go through security at airports, trains can often be quicker door to door in Europe.

I have had three really memorable train journeys in the last year, all of them highly recommended: St Petersburg to Moscow (overnight), Zagreb to Venice, and Lake Como to Zurich.

St Petersburg to Moscow

After an hilarious and slightly nerve-wracking Friday night commuter Aeroflot flight from Moscow to St Petersburg, it was a relief to be heading back on the Sunday night train. Much to the bemusement of the locals, we had booked a first class sleeper cabin – why would we pay that much when you could sit up all night for half the money? You’d still get there. But with our dollars, the price was still cheap and we got a private compartment and beds.

Private sleeping compartment on Russian train

Our first joy was the train itself. Obviously old, it had the communist star on the front of the engine and the Russian double-headed eagle crest on the carriages. The guard who checked our tickets was magnificent; a heavy dull green coat and matching hat which she later shed to reveal a uniform mini skirt, ankle boots with spiky heels and lots of fabulously blond hair. Our compartment was all wood paneling, flowers, magazines (in Russian but the pictures were intriguing) and a breakfast pack of oddly plastic meats, cheeses and bread. I didn’t want to waste a second of it on sleep, even so I got the best 7 hours shuteye of my life.

Re-entry to Moscow was the big shock. Arriving at a busy metropolitan station in morning rush hour, just awake, was challenging enough but I had to go to the toilet and found them to be the hole in the ground with foot plate type – nasty. Although watching a regal woman in fur coat use the same facilities was diverting.

Zagreb to Venice

Anytime you have the opportunity to catch a train through Slovenia, take it. Despite the Croatians making unkind jokes about how small it is, Slovenia is one of the prettiest countries I know. All castles and churches clinging to mountains, and winding river valleys, it has so many trees it gives you hope for the future. Truly it must act as the lungs of Europe. If you’re lucky you can see wild deer gamboling around, but the numerous bears are shyer. Slovenia has so many bears it relocated some to France after they managed to kill all their own. Do animals get culture shock?

I have been through Slovenia several times, going from Zagreb to Venice, and from Zagreb to Graz in Austria. In fact, pretty much any trip north from Zagreb will take you through Slovenia, and Ljubljana is worth a visit in its own right, although don’t judge it by its station. Which goes for most places really. Oh, and don’t be alarmed when buying a train ticket at Zagreb station – it will be handwritten, yes, handwritten. Still gets you where you’re going though.

Slovenian mountain country

On one trip, from Venice to Zagreb, I had been issued the wrong ticket in Italy and should have been on the train via Rijeka in Croatia, not via Ljubljana in Slovenia. The conductor’s English went as far as ‘Wrong ticket. I will see,’ before he disappeared with my ticket and my passport. It’s not a happy thing to be without your passport. But then, it’s how I met the lovely Italian mother and daughter in my compartment. They assured me it would be all right and distracted me with stories of their 20 hour trip from a small town south of Naples to Zagreb. Too many connections, too much time waiting on stations. They were exhausted. The mother spoke no English but was keen to chat and, when her multi-lingual daughter went to the toilet, we managed to have quite a good chat without one common word. Reaching the Croatian border, the conductor suddenly reappeared with my passport, shrugged about my ticket and disappeared. I was mightily relieved – I had the recent memory of seeing people taken from the one-carriage Bratislava-Vienna train, marched into a tin shed by the tracks and the train then leaving. I did not want to end up in a tin shed on the Slovenian-Croatian border with no passport, no language and no train.

That trip taught me that when in Italy buy train tickets from the easy-to-use machines whenever possible. Or at least check them really, really thoroughly. Although I think the whole Italian train system, Trenitalia, has improved a lot in the last couple of years. From past experiences of having been allocated a seat in Carriage 8 to find the train went straight from Carriage 7 to 9, to the wrong ticket fiasco, to being unable to get from Rome to Naples because rain had stopped all the trains, to finding the 22.57 train left before the 22.30 train… this year I found Italian trains logical, reliable, and easy to buy tickets for. Big notice boards at the stations have yellow lists of all that day’s trains with all the stops named so it’s really easy to get the right train. But bless the Italians because, despite any problems, their charm makes you forgive them. And when an Italian man spends the whole journey checking you out, at least you know he will be gracious in carrying your suitcase off the train for you.

Lake Como to Zurich

Swiss railway

My final favourite journey was in June year, Lake Como to Zurich. Such a pretty journey and I have to confess to getting tears in my eyes at seeing the Swiss landscape which truly does look like the chocolate box lids of my childhood. For so long those views had been a part of my imagination and suddenly they were right there, just out the window. Magic. There was still snow on the peaks in mid-summer, amazing to an Australian. Unfortunately I wasn’t on one of the panorama trains which have windows stretching half way around the roof but the windows were still big enough and clean enough for seeing everything.

And in Switzerland my whole view of train travel was jolted. Everything was completely on time. All the trains connected with one another. All the clocks at the stations were synchronised. Wow. Impressive.

There are lots of websites where you can buy train tickets but I always end up doing it at the station on the day. Having said that though, I did just book online tickets from Munich to Salzburg - my next trip and, I’m told, spectacular scenery - mainly because I know with my tight flight connections I’ll be running to get those trains. It can also be cheaper to book ahead online. This is especially valuable advice for train travel in Britain which can be prohibitively expensive and, if you don’t book ahead and get an allocated seat, you can end up standing for five hours – not fun.

–Philippa Burne

The towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg, situated on the snaky asphalt ribbon of Highway 1, represent the Yin and Yang of the Northern California coast. Whether you’re there for the sea or spa, shopping or nature walks, or to simply do nothing, a trip to the Mendocino coast is most memorable in the spirit of the place.

Mendocino, CA

Perched atop an outcropping of craggy rock overlooking the Pacific, the pristine town of Mendocino rises out of the ocean mist and coastal fog. This tiny settlement of well-preserved Victorians carves a clean edge out of the seascape beyond, the white church steeple reaching high into the sky. It’s a town made for strolling. Everyone walks at a languid pace in the middle of the street. Oddly enough, the streets are lined with cars–a bit of a disappointment, as their presence reminded me that I had not actually traveled back in time. Upon first entering the town of Mendocino, I felt like I’d jumped into an old black and white photo, the kind you find in the basement of an eccentric, rich Aunt.

‘Mendoland,’ as I’ve heard it called for its chichi shops and upscale restaurants, is picturesque and slow-paced. Narrow, windy alleyways with opulent hidden gardens and shops are nestled between the main streets. A horse drawn carriage meanders along the central thoroughfare, the driver waves hello to people casually hanging out on the steps of historic buildings. Ducking into stores selling things that could consume an entire paycheck and perusing menus of restaurants offering lunch entrees at $20+, I began to feel like Mendocino was less inviting than it’s postcard perfect image, at least for my wallet.

Mendocino’s Masonic Building

It wasn’t always so froufrou - in the 70s, Mendoland wasn’t a place to shop and dine in elegant venues. It was a place to get back to nature. Mendocino was a magnet for bohemians escaping their urban lives to resettle in a rural environment. The back-to-the-land movement, as this migration was called, has stood the test of time. Walking the streets of town, I came upon homespun art galleries, shops selling herbal remedies, dread-locked hippies, and ramshackle buildings bedecked with artistic graffiti.

Fort Bragg, CA

8 miles down the way is the timeworn Fort Bragg, once a thriving city built around the milling industry. Hobos guide scruffy dogs by rope leads along the highway. Downtrodden buildings dot the streets of the town’s historical district. Fort Bragg is like an old pair of favorite shoes, polished and polished to maintain an illusion of newness, only to show off the cracks of use and time. But the town has character, and its charm is in some unusual attractions.

Having a predilection for the more bizarre experiences of a place, I found my dreamland at Glass Beach. In the past, Glass Beach was used as Fort Bragg’s public dump. Today, the oddly picturesque trash landscape makes an excellent place to walk the dog, collect souvenirs, or picnic in the afternoon sun. Glass Beach is like a monstrous exhibition of modern art, rather than the resting grounds for discarded china, household trash, and automobile parts. Years of the ocean’s pounding waves have polished discarded glass bottles, encrusting the sand with brilliant gem-like remnants of the man-made world amongst nature’s contribution of seashells, moss, and rocks. A walk along the beach reveals rusted scraps of metal, old tires, warped plastic bottles, rubber tubes, a twisted dish rack, and even shoe soles protruding from black beach rocks, looking like the unfortunate products of a science experiment gone awry.

Fort Bragg’s Glass Beach

With the spectacular beauty of the Pacific on its side, the dumping ground of Glass Beach is enchanting. I had to tear myself away from its unusual allure to check out Fort Bragg’s other main attraction, Noyo Harbor. Here, sightseers can go sea fishing and kayaking, and during winter months, get a look at gray whales that pass by on their yearly migration between Baja California and the Bering Sea.

If the town of Mendocino is a pair of white gloves, Noyo Harbor is a pair of rubber boots. Its business is based on the sea, and as with all things of the sea, Noyo Harbor is salty, weathered, and rough around the edges. After two hours on the ocean in search of whales, I followed my nose to The Fish Market, guided by the aroma of garlic and onions sautéing in butter. I enjoyed a beer on the patio, people watching and savoring the stillness of dry land. Locals come here to buy the fresh catch of the day for their evening meal while tourists suck crabmeat from its shell and shake off the motion of the sea.

Next-door is Carine’s Fish Grotto, the quintessential sea shack restaurant of peeling gray paint and a nautical themed décor. Located on waters shared by the coast guard, fishing boats, and a resident sea lion, Carine’s provides the authenticity I look for while visiting a new place. Here you can dine among locals, belching as they suck lobster off their fingers, while you feast on house specialties such as burgers, clam chowder, and fish ‘n chips. Seated at a picnic table covered with a faded gingham tablecloth, I gazed at a tear in the deck umbrella, and was reminded of the contrast between the polished town of Mendocino and the unrefined atmosphere of Fort Bragg. My experience of the Mendocino coast had taken me from a Martha Stewart paradise to its blue collar equivalent.

While there is much to see and do in both Mendocino and Fort Bragg, some people come here with a clear schedule. And although I’d packed my weekend get-away with a facial, hot rock massage, and a whale watching tour, it’s also a place to relax and do nothing but soak in its beauty. While there, save some time for a roadside picnic, a stroll along the beach, or simply pick a spot along the scenic highway to stop and gaze at the sea.

- Cheryn Flanagan

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s list of things to do in California, from visiting California with kids to tours along coastal California to everything that’s popular to see & do in California. And did we mention San Francisco tours and attractions… and San Diego… and Los Angeles…

Editor’s Note: This is part of Viator’s ongoing series of posts about the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Ian has been tipping his favorite teams in Pools A & B and Pools C & D, and will report on matches live from France later this year.

Every sport has them, those characters that seem larger than the game itself. You could be in a pub somewhere talking to a total stranger, and all they would have to say would be, “How about that Michael Schumacher?”, and you would instantly know that the topic of conversation has turned towards Formula One racing. Other names ring similar bells, and you can instantly associate David Beckham, Lance Armstrong or Mike Tyson with soccer, cycling or boxing…

Viator’s intrepid rugby expert, Ian

So who will be the Superstars of RWC07? Read on and familiarise yourself with some of those players who will be showing their wares at this year’s tournament. Some of them you may already know, some of them may just be new on the scene with a long career ahead of them, but whoever they are, you can guarantee they will set stadiums alight with every touch of the ball this September and October.

Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) - “In BOD we trust”. You’ll see this motto splashed on the front of Irish supporters shirts at any of the Ireland games. The talismanic captain of Ireland is considered one of the best rugby talents Ireland has ever produced, and he can turn the flow of the game in the blink of an eye.

Sébastien Chabal (France) - “The Caveman” will be one of the instantly recognizable faces of France’s campaign, with his long hair and beard. He has a cult following both in France and also in England where he plays his club rugby. Don’t get in his way when he is running with the ball (as Ali Williams of New Zealand can readily attest, having received a broken jaw after colliding with the “Caveman’s” shoulder last month).

Bryan Habana (South Africa) - Habana is lethal. He has been timed as the fastest winger in South African rugby, and with his ability to score long-range tries, he will be one of South Africa’s most potent weapons in the RWC07. He is my tip to be the top try-scorer in the tournament.

Victor Matfield (South Africa) - Considered one of the best locks currently playing for any country in the world. His skill in the lineout will be a major asset in South Africa’s campaign to win the tournament.

Dan Carter (New Zealand) - Regarded as the best five-eighth in the world for the last few years, his form has been a little off in his last couple of games this month. It is a testament as to just how good he is when the All Blacks can still win and win well, when he is having a bad day at the office. A big hit with the female fans as well, but I suspect that is just because of the underwear modeling that he does on the side…

Jerry Collins (New Zealand) - Jerry “The Hitman” Collins is known for his fierce physicality, and many an opposition player has been knocked out after one of his bone-crunching tackles. Seeing his peroxided blonde head coming at you on the rugby pitch would strike fear into most players. And it is not every rugby player that gets a cocktail named after them either. The “Jerry Collins” is a New Zealand variation on the “Tom Collins”, and is made from “42 Below” Feijoa vodka (45 ml), Elderflower Cordial (15 ml), Fresh lime juice (20 ml) and Soda water.

Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand) - One of the Flying Fijians in the All Blacks, Josevata Rokocoko is FAST. He has broken all sorts of try-scoring records since he started his international career, and I’m predicting that “Go Joe” will be setting new records in this years Rugby World Cup.

Lote Tuqiri (Australia) - Lote has the capability of lighting up the stadium whenever he gets his hands on the pill. Personally, I think he is a bit over-rated as a winger, and is probably more well-known for the massive contract he signed with the Australian Rugby Union this season, rather than any recent sparkling form on the paddock. Still “Costa-Lote” could go well at the RWC, if his wallet doesn’t weigh him down.

Matt Giteau (Australia) - They call him “Kid Dynamite”. Known for his ability to create something out of absolutely nothing, Giteau is an exciting playmaker, whether he is playing at halfback, five-eighth, or his preferred position of inside centre. As Wallabies backs coach Scott Johnson said, “Matt could beat you in a phone booth!”

Gavin Henson (Wales) - The pretty boy of the Welsh backline gets his name on the list here, mainly because of his hair (entire hair product companies owe their profit margin to Gavin). And with his good-looking pop-star girlfriend, Charlotte Church, they are like the Welsh version of the Beckhams… Plus, he is a pretty handy rugby player…

James Hook (Wales) - James Hook is an up-and-coming player to look out for. This will be his first Rugby World Cup, but judging on his performances so far since he has emerged onto the Welsh rugby scene, he will be around for a long, long time…

Lawrence Dallaglio (England) - One of the elder statesmen of English rugby, hard-man Dallaglio has come out of international retirement to have another crack at making England’s squad. A lot of commentators are saying he is past his prime, but having been part of England’s 2003 World Cup winning team, his experience as to what it takes to win the tournament will be invaluable.

Johnny Wilkinson, MBE, OBE (England) - Famous for “that drop goal” in the 2003 World Cup, where he broke the hearts of 20 million Australians in extra time, Johnny has been plagued by injuries ever since, and has only played a few minutes or rugby here and there since the last 2003 world cup. However, his dedication and persistence to overcome these injuries has seen him named in England’s preliminary squad for this year’s tournament. England will be hoping he can capture some of the form that he showed four years ago.

Felipe Contepomi (Argentina) - A brilliant attacking five-eighth or centre, Contepomi has racked up more than 50 test caps for Argentina. He currently plays for the Leinster club in Ireland, and if Argentina go well in this tournament, a large part of their success will be because of his kicking boot.

Brian Lima (Samoa) - If he gets selected for the Samoa squad for this RWC, then “The Chiropractor” will be setting a record by becoming the first player to have played in five World Cups (spanning sixteen years), a feat which no other player has ever accomplished. And why to they call him “The Chiropractor” - just check out this video to find out why.

So, what do you think? Are any of of the above Superstars going to be your Player of the Tournament? And who have I missed that you think should be on this List of Legends?

- Ian Frentz

It’s been said over and over, but it remains a truism: Melbourne is a secretive city. Unlike glitzy cities like New York, Paris or even Sydney, Melbourne is your classic ‘second city’ best experienced from the inside out.

There’s no internationally recognised monument in Melbourne to capture the imagination of tourists. There’s no epic history. But the city remains one of the great places to be. Art, sport, food, wine… these are Melbourne’s drawcards. A stunning city in spring and autumn, Melbourne has a bad reputation (especially among Sydney-siders) for its winters (June-August). Mild in comparison to many big city winters (average temperatures are around 15C (60F), they can still be pretty bleak.

Promenade along the Yarra River in Melbourne

But winter is also when Melbourne becomes more playful and secretive than usual. With the grey skies of winter folding over the grey architecture, the bars and cafes clear the roadside chairs and tables and the action moves inside. That’s when the city really comes to life.

There are two winter highlights in Melbourne. The first is the football. Australian Rules footy was born in Melbourne and the city remains the sport’s spiritual home. Yes, spiritual; even local religious leaders admit that footy is Melbourne’s premier belief system.

Nine of the sixteen teams that make up the national league are Melbourne-based; so on any weekend through winter, you can see four or five games played at the two major venues. Forget the high-tech, closed-roof stadium at the docklands, though, and head to the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Despite its name, this 100,000-seat arena is all about football. See one of the big-name suburban clubs, like Essendon, Collingwood, Carlton or Richmond, and get a taste of the fun and fervour that makes an arvo at the footy such a popular Melbourne family activity. If you’re visiting from overseas (or even out of state), check out an Aussie Rules footy match with an expert host who will talk you through the rules of the game.

The Melbourne Film Festival is the other big ticket item in winter. Hosted across multiple venues in the heart of the city, the festival, in its 56th year, is one of the oldest and most well regarded film festivals in the world. And Melburnians love it; around 200,000 people attend over three weeks, typically grabbing an espresso on the way and then downing a couple of reds or a local beer after the show. This year it kicks off on 25 July.

There’s lots of other events to keep locals and visitors entertained (and warm) throughout winter. The best way to find them is to nose around the streets and laneways of the city and listen out for the tell-tale muffled sound of a crowd having fun.

–John Ryan

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Melbourne, Sydney and Australia. And if you’re even –> <– that much interested in going to the Melbourne Cup race in November, you really need to read this.

Reindeer - the Finnish Icon

I was drawn to Helsinki by tales of an art lecturer about the wild and wonderful world of Finland, and a childhood love of Tove Jansson’s stories about the Moomintroll family. Their adventures included a summer floating in an abandoned theatre, the strange things that happened after a comet landed nearby, the entire family moving to a lighthouse on a tiny island, hibernating for winter after drinking pine needle cordial, and the arrival of spring which was marked by the return of Moonmintroll’s best friend Snufkin, a wandering musician.

Moomin characters such as the Fillyjonk (who believed in disaster), the mournful Hemulen and feisty Little My also enchanted my childhood, while the wonderfully philosophical Moominmamma’s Finnish pancakes (with strawberry jam and cream) provided an added enticement to visit this other world.

I have still never seen a comet, or lived in a lighthouse, but something about the Finnish people, landscape and worldview keep me returning.

Lake walking around to Linnunlaulu gothic mansion

The closest I have come to a floating theatre was the ISEA Symposium, which took place on a ferry between Helsinki, Stockholm and Tallinn. This spectacular elegant ship-hotel was complete with disco, sauna, casino, restaurants and three spas including one located on the deck where you could watch the archipelago slowly drift by while soaking with an assortment of artists, curators and musicians. The highlight for me was watching a sea of people dancing on the ships TV and realising that it was happening live, getting up out of my cabin and joining the party with VJ Charles Kriel. The ship itself was also creating music as it navigated the Baltic Sea, like a giant record player with the ocean floor as the groove of the record. Created by Finnish/Hungarian artists Tuomo Taamenpaa and Tamas Szakal ‘FLOAT’ played a mesmerising series of minimalist tones, slowly changing in pitch and texture with the direction, depth and speed of the ship. Another key moment was having my genetic material sampled for the ‘Lifeboat’ project by Symbiotica members Oron Catts, Ionat Zurr, Guy Ben-Ary and Nigel Helyer. Part of their biotechnology tissue culture work dealing with concepts of sustainability, survival and notions of biological, cultural and ideological re-generation, and its obverse, the degradation of life and all its manifestations.

Even without the media artists on board, the one or two day cruise on the Baltic is a fantastic experience, looking out at the ice through glamorous polished wooden portholes, sampling the flavours of a magnificent buffet dinner, or watching the sea lap at tiny rock islands.

Crispy fried herrings at Hakaniemi Market

I finally got to taste the Finnish pancakes at the Sea Horse, my favourite home-style Finnish restaurant after a particularly raucous artist’s dinner there for Pixelache Electronic Arts Festival. They were everything I had imagined and more, a huge stack of piping hot crepes piled high with whipped cream and strawberry jam. The dinner started with a vodka shot – apparently a traditional aperitif – and continued through a main course of crispy fried Baltic herrings, Finnish traditional meatballs, or breast of chicken with blue cheese sauce. At some point a friend decided to collect money for his continued stay in Finland, and we made up some truly abysmal performance poetry and passed a hat around the two tables.

Pixelache festival has grown into a fixture on the international media art circuit, and continues to support experimental works and grassroots media culture, with offshoots in Colombia and Paris. The program ranges from VJ performances, to short films, music and installations, with the intriguing Placard Festival taking place next to my Transit Lounge for Conversation in the lobby Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. French/Finnish musician Erik Minkkinen started this festival in 1999, with the entire audience listening through headphones, to enable 24 hours of performances to take place in his tiny Paris apartment. It has now grown to a worldwide platform and he encourages anyone who is interested in hosting a Placard to set up their own space, giving technical advice on the problems and program.

Each year the organisers throw a party for all the artists, usually around 100 people at the youth hostel on Suomenlinna Island. These are friendly affairs, giving the artists a chance to meet and mingle before the four days of presentations, workshops and performances, and help to create the unique atmosphere that makes Pixelache one of the best festivals around. Even without the party, the island is a beautiful day trip or overnight stay, only a 15 minute ferry ride from Helsinki, the ruins of a historic 17th century sea fortress can be explored as you walk around this lovely community. Try the ‘Blueberry Soup’ from the vending machine onboard the ferry, I guarantee you will never taste anything like it again (unless you mix hot straw with Curacao).

Whenever I visit Helsinki I spend as much time as I can in hot water. Well, steam actually, but the Yrjönkatu swimming hall also provides a gorgeous indoor swimming pool with ornate marble columns, and charming private cabins upstairs for 11 euro, or communal change area with ancient wooden lockers for around 4. The steam room is satisfyingly hot and wet, while the wood-fired sauna is second only to Kallio the largest surviving public sauna in Helsinki. Here you can sit outside in the snow, drinking a cold beer in between bursts of extreme heat, wearing only a towel to fit in with the locals. Take your own honey for extra silky smooth skin, and purchase birch branches from the attendant, used all over the body in a quick flicking motion to stimulate circulation and release toxins. The most glamorous sauna I have ever been to is the private club on Uunisaari Island, at the after party for ISEA. This can be reached by walking over the frozen sea in winter, or on a tiny wooden boat in the summer. The sauna is housed in a rustic wood shack, features the classic dip in freezing seawater to cool you down between steams, and an old wooden house with restaurant and bar in the nearby clubhouse.

Helsinki, Finland

For a spectacular view of Helsinki’s many ports, go to the rooftop bar at the Hotel Torni. Specialising in Apple Martinis, they also have delicious snacks. The port areas around Helsinki are fascinating, and you can find a series of guides to interesting walks written by locals and artists on Locating Helsinki. This wonderfully unique site offers a series of quirky tours and places to visit, form art to beer and clothes to romantisch or not romantisch, for example: “Hernesaari : If you follow the boulevard along the coast direction west from the Kaivopuisto park you will suddenly find yourself in a significantly less pleasant environment - at least according to common standards. The Hernesaari peninsula is entirely covered with huge industrial halls, warehouses, cranes and building sites. It is here that Kaurismäki has build slums for his movie The Man Without a Past (2002), obviously out of lack of real slums in Helsinki.”

Fans of Aki Kaurismäki can visit Zetor, the notorious restaurant featuring a tractor in the centre of town, famous for being owned by the Leningrad Cowboys, and hosting performances by old times singers featured in his films.

Anyone who grew up in the seventies probably used Arabia crockery at some point in their lives, and can now visit the place it originates. The old Arabia factory was transformed into UIAH Media Art and Design school, but the new factory is just down the road, and has a discount shopping centre – for those souvenir moomin cups – and piles of chipped crockery out the back, useful for anyone who needs a moment out of their busy itinerary for venting spleen or cathartic plate-throwing. If you continue walking along the lake behind the factory, you will get to the lovely Maatinkaari pedestrian bridge. A gorgeous dark green pylon bridge with 12 strings on one side and 4 on the other, according to the Helsinki City Building Office: “The minimum frequency of the bridge’s natural vibration is ca. 1.3 Hz. This ensures that crossing the bridge is a pleasant experience.”

A lovely outdoor market is found most mornings at Hakaniemi, with more authentic pancakes and herrings, and truly dreadful filter coffee. You can listen in wonder to authentic Finnish tango at the music stalls, and find some great bargains in the piles of clothes and electronics. Walking around Eläintarhanlahti Bay to the right brings you to Linnunlaulu, the imposing gothic mansion with hand printed wallpaper, which hosts artists visiting Helsinki and has a very small museum and antique shop downstairs. If you take a left at the bay, you will find a number of cozy restaurants serving decent pizza until late in the dark stone buildings along the water.

To find more specialised music, such as the famous melancholic tango singers Olavi Virta and Markus Allan, take the 3B/3A tram to visit the music shops at Viiskulma (Five Corners) on Laivurinrinne. Walk back up the hill towards Fredrikinkatu or Iso Roobertinkatu to find a range of contemporary design shops.

For a truly divine music experience, find out what is on in the Temppeliaukio Rock Church at Lutherinkatu 3, built in 1969 into the cliffs with a stunning copper domed roof. The concert I saw there was Kaffi Matthews and the Pink Twins, but you may find something more liturgical or choral to suit your taste.

Finally, make sure you try the Salmiakki, extra salty Finnish licorice, and take in some of the local ambience watching the Goth teenagers meet at Central (Rautatientori) Railway station on the weekend. The 1st May and midsummer are calendar highlights, and don’t be surprised to see hundreds of drunk Finns take to the streets. Moi Moi.

- Jodi Rose

Planning a trip? Browse tours and activities in Helsinki and Rovaniemi, Finland.

With its breathtaking scenery, fascinating culture and turbulent past, Cape Town and its surrounding environs has enough sightseeing opportunities to keep a curious traveler busy for at least a month. But for those of us who aren’t fortunate to be blessed with unlimited vacation days, I have compiled a list of the top “must sees and must dos” in one of South Africa’s most fascinating cities.

The view from Table Mountain, Cape Town

• Cape Town Hop-on Hop-off Bus. Normally I’m a huge proponent of hoofing it through a city (sans map, of course!) to get the lay of the land. And while it is possible to navigate certain areas of Cape Town on foot, quite often poorly maintained sidewalks and crazy drivers make this an uncomfortable (and sometimes dangerous) option. Fortunately, the hop-on hop-off bus is a perfect solution, with great views from the top level of the double-decker buses and stops at must-see museums, attractions & lookout points throughout the city and peninsula. Hop on at the Clock Tower at V&A Waterfront. You’ll feel like a local in no time!

• Shark Diving. If you’re the sort of traveler whose vacation typically includes adrenaline-packed activities, then here’s one to add to your list. Imagine: you in a cage, submerged in water, with great white sharks swimming around you chasing food. It’s a real rush. Of course, if above-water is your preferred vantage point, you can stay on the boat and still maintain excellent views of these surface-feeders.

• Township Tour. The Group Areas Act in the 1950s prohibited blacks from living within the cities, forcing them into the outlying areas, known as townships. Even today, post-apartheid, many blacks still live in the townships simply because they cannot afford to live in Cape Town. People here still are forced to live in shacks, sometimes without electricity or running water. Visit a township, not to gawk, but to gain some understanding of the tragic effects of apartheid. You’ll meet and be guided by locals and learn about the history of the townships.

• Whale Watching. If you trip takes you South Africa between July and December, head on over to Hermanus for some spectacular whale watching. During the last half of the calendar year the Southern Right Whales come into Walker Bay to mate, calve and play in the warm water, and whales can be spotted from the coast, coming as close as 20 meters from the shore! Hermanus even boasts its very own Whale Crier, who blows his horn to indicate where and when the whales can be seen in the bay. If you’re fortunate enough to be visiting in September, don’t miss the city’s annual Whale Festival, which is a (are you ready for this?) whale of a good time!

• Robben Island. Once used to house political prisoners during the Apartheid Era, Robben Island is now a symbol of hope and freedom from human rights abuses. Learn about the history of the island and apartheid, and visit the cell that held political activist Nelson Mandela. Tours to the island include both a bus and walking tour, with a little bit of free time to walk around or check out the bookstore. This tour is key to learning about South Africa’s past political strife and understanding the healing process the country is working through today.

• Wine Tours. Admittedly, I’m a bit of a wino, and I rarely pass up the chance to take a wine tour no matter what city I’m visiting, but this is one tour that should not be missed. Half-day and full-day tours depart from Cape Town to wineries in nearby Stellenbosch and Paarl Valley. The scenery alone makes this trip worth it, and there’s time to explore the quaint village of Franschhoek or tour Stellenbosch before visiting a couple local vineyards for some tasting. South Africa boasts some wonderful and reasonably priced New World wines, which make perfect souvenirs and gifts. Be sure to taste the pinotage, a red, smoky varietal native to Stellenbosch.

• Day Trips to Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope. The Cape Peninsula has so much more to offer than just Cape Town itself, and a tour of the region is a great way to get your feet wet. Be sure to find a tour that takes you on Chapman’s Peak Drive, for some of the most breathtaking views imaginable, on a road that weaves through mountain and coastal terrain! Make stops to enjoy the stunning views at Cape Point and to see the penguins at Simon’s Town. Don’t forget to eat some seafood in Muizenberg on your way back to Cape Town.

• Safari. A safari is pretty much a no-brainer on a trip to South Africa. Although most safari opportunities are easier to take advantage of from Johannesburg, Aquila Game Reserve, less than two hours from Cape Town, makes it easy to see the Big Five if you are in the southern region of South Africa. Open 4X4 vehicles allow for incredible close-up views of giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards and more.

• Table Mountain. This is quintessential Cape Town. The flat-topped mountain creates a stunning backdrop for your coffee or beer break in touristy V&A Waterfront, and also offers unsurpassable city and ocean views from the top. A few brave souls hike the mountain, but due to the area’s sudden weather changes, it’s best to hop a cable car to get to the top quickly when you have a clear sunny day. A thick, low-hanging layer of clouds (called the “tablecloth”) frequently obscures views and even shuts down the cable cars. This is actually a tour I would not suggest booking ahead. Instead, play it by ear and head up immediately when you notice a break in the clouds!

–Jessica Kruse

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Cape Town and South Africa. Safaris? Yup. Wine tasting from Cape Town? Of course. And a whole lot more.