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Travel Stories - My European Vacation Home Hostels Tours InfoZone Community Home » Community » Travel Stories » My European Vacation MyAccount | Support Centre | Site Map In the Community... Community Home Travel Diaries Start a new Diary Travel Stories Travel Gurus Message Boards Log In Log in to your account to review past bookings, change your profile, become a travel guru and much more. Email: Password: Forgot your password? Not a member? Sign up here The ULTIMATE backpacker information exchange Travel Stories • Backpackers! Adventure Calling.. • The Shrimp Tax • Sleeping in Pamplona • Chile, the country and Santiag.. • Road to No Man's Land • Run Through the Jungle: • Andorra's Box • Mexico - 48 hours in Puerto Es.. • More Travel Stories Our Price Promise We offer you the best internet rate made available by the hostel. We do not mark up this rate so you can be confident that booking here is as cheap as it gets! close window lowest prices guaranteed Read Our Price Promise We accept the following cards Travel Stories My European Vacation By Denise Cassino I finally finished reading the last page of Micheners novel The Drifters, a story about six young people traveling through Europe in the late sixties. I closed the book and bit my bottom lip. I simply had to find a way to go to Europe. My heart ached with a yearning to see the world. I had been an English major/history minor in college and had studied the continent for years. Now I was determined to see them first hand. I contacted my old college roommate, Ellen, and set a plan I quit my job, borrowed $500 to supplement my savings and flew off to Europe for a six-week sojourn. We were nearing the end of a near perfect trip with only a week or so remaining before I would head for home. We had driven The Romantic Road through Germany, partaken in the revelry of Oktoberfest in Munich, woven our way through the high peaks of the Alps in a VW bus, ridden a Gondola across the Grand Canal in Venice, stared at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and even had a brief romance with two American brothers. Ellen had been forced by the powers that ruled her pocketbook to return home two weeks earlier than me, and now I was traveling with an affable Australian girl named Robyn who we had met in Venice and had previously been a solo traveler. Now, the two of us stood on the port side of the huge ship and gazed out from the top deck at the starlit sky above the Port of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. A statue of Cristobal Columbo (Christopher Columbus) peered down at us as we swore to sate our wanderlust ever after and reveled in our high adventure. We were on our way to the Balearic Islands, the island of Ibiza, to be exact, (pronounced Ibitha to the well-traveled tourist) and had secured a cabin on the ship for the nights trip. The ship and cabin were Spartan, and at first light, we disembarked and set foot on terra firma. The island, which had been touted as the happening spot for young people, was tiny and, aside from the ancient fortress and village around a small seaport, was mainly dry, brushy and agricultural. We wandered down the narrow, cobblestone streets amidst the tourists and the locals who were going about the business of daily living, baskets on their shoulders and bicycles laden with goods. The smiling proprietors of small cafes beckoned weary wayfarers like us to partake of their fine wine and vittles Hola, Senoritas! As the day wore on, our backpacks grew heavy and we stopped at a hand-painted sign offering a room. A dark Spanish woman, swarthy and a bit thick through the middle, took us through a door that opened directly off the street and then up a steep staircase. At the top was a small, Spartan foyer with four or five doors presumably leading to guest rooms. She opened a set of flimsy double doors, which didnt quite meet in the middle due to some sort of chopping at the space between them. The gap was now about three quarters of an inch wide and would have revealed to anyone who chose to look, the entire contents and characters within (along with the content of their characters, perhaps). To prevent just such chicanery a faded piece of cloth was hung on the inside of the door - a curtain, as it were. We surveyed the room with a jaded eye having already experienced the drill of expecting more from a room than we ever got during our extended tour of Europe. This one was a bargain at a buck and a half per night and was worth every peseta. The plaster was chipping and the chenille bedspreads were mismatched and worn. The curtains on the door that led to a small balcony overlooking the main street had seen better days, but we paid the small sum and dropped our packs to rest our travel-weary bodies while we sipped some local red wine. As evening approached our tummies rumbled so we changed into our other set of clothing and headed for the nearest restaurant for some more vino and una comida. Robin had discovered an interesting spot in Europe on $5 a day, so we located it and ventured in for dinner. A loaf of hot, homemade bread and a steaming bowl of succulent Paella filled with sumptuous shrimp, clams and rice were placed before us by a smiling Spanish waiter, and we ate with gusto, juice dripping down our chins. Soon after dinner, our explorations led us to an American style discotheque complete with black lights and flashing neon. We worked our way through the crowd looking for a seat and managed to squeeze into a spot near the bar to watch the tourists mingle with the locals. Scantily clad bodies gyrated to the beat of the outdated American tunes that blasted from the rickety jukebox. We Americans tourists stood out in a crowd with our sturdy walking shoes and nondescript clothing. I had packed two pairs of trousers, two sweaters, two tee-shirts, five pair of underpants, three pairs of socks and a down coat. My hair was cut as short as it had ever been for the ease of sink shampoos in cold water. Robyn looked like a Spaniard with thick, dark hair and tawny skin and a Rubenesque figure. Our apparel only seemed to draw attention to us, and we moved uneasily away from the gaze of more than one dark stranger who seemed to be assessing his prey. We mingled as only young twenty-something girls can do meeting an array of people ranging from strange to fascinating and by 2am or so my body begged for sleep. I said goodnight and left Robyn in the company of several young men and wandered back the short distance to the room (okay, maybe I staggered a little) and flopped into the lumpy bed for a deep doze enhanced by the abundance of red wine I had imbibed. Not long after, I was awakened suddenly by Robyns harsh Aussie whisper in my ear. Wake up! Wake up! Someones trying to break into our room! I jumped up rather unsteadily and approached the door with my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I beat against the door with my fist and hollered, Go away, get out of here! Who knows, in the heat of the moment, I may even have shouted Vamoose! Silence. We looked at one another and reluctantly crawled back into bed leaving the light on, hoping the would-be intruder had vanished into the night. But soon, I awoke to bloodcurdling screams coming from Robyn who sat bolt upright in her bed. I sat up and began screaming too, and saw a dark man turn and flee from the room leaving the two doors wide open and the curtain inside flapping between them. We continued to scream for a few more rounds until an Englishman arrived at our door dressed only in thin, cotton pants. What is the problem? he asked in his clipped British accent while rubbing his eyes. We saw . . . there was . . . someone tried . . . we panted breathlessly as we managed to reveal our plight and cause for such abject terror. He listened patiently and then said, It was probably just some Spaniard trying to rape you. Is that so terrible? We were stunned by his stiff upper lip approach to this whole scenario, but were deeply grateful when he offered to leave his two huge dogs with us for the remainder of the night. Stay, he said and they curled up between the two beds and went to sleep. However, we lay awake, eyes wide, contemplating who, why, when and where, terrified that the stranger would return to rape and pillage. We couldnt wait for morning when we quickly packed our belongings and departed. We ventured warily into the street, scanning each face wondering about the stranger who might recognize and be following us, but whom we would not recognize if we fell over him. We found some good American fellows we had met the night before and told them of our intruder. They quickly offered to share their room until the ship returned two days later, and we slept on the floor of their room, honest! Thoughts ran wildly through our minds as we relived the horrifying experience, but the only viable answer we found was that perhaps the man had followed Robyn from the disco thinking she was alone. When he burst into the room, hit the curtain and was assailed by two screaming banshees, he likely panicked and fled, forgetting his original intent. By the time the ship was ready to depart, we were exhausted and more than ready to say goodbye to the little island that had become little more than a frightening place. As I lay in my berth aboard ship that night chasing sleep, a tiny gnawing pain had begun to grow in the pit of my stomach. When we arrived in Barcelona, chills and fever had replaced the pain, but I persevered. We were anxious to board the overnight train to Paris but soon found ourselves sharing a small sleeping compartment with four other people of mixed race and gender. I was in the middle berth with my head near the door. As passengers entered the compartment, their faces were at my eyelevel, and I could smell their body odor and garlic breath, which only worsened my condition. I rotated from one end of the bed to the other where I could open the window and breathe a bit of fresh air. As the chills shook me, I donned all my clothing from my backpack only to quickly remove them as the fever and sweats returned. By the time we reached Paris, I had a full- blown case of the touristas, otherwise known as amoebic dysentery. Well, I wont go into the sordid details of the last few days of my trip. Lets just say, given the quality and texture of Parisian toilet paper, I was very glad when the morning came for me to board a train to Luxembourg for my flight home. I said goodbye to Robyn, descended the five flights of stairs at the Hotel Cluny on the left bank of the Seine and ventured out to hail a cab. I hailed and waved and shouted, but none stopped. Finally, I returned to the room where Robyn informed me that I must go to a cabstand, but now I had missed my train and, possibly, my flight home. My only choice was a plane. Low on funds, I borrowed the necessary amount for airfare from Robyn. Once aboard the transatlantic flight, I watched with empathy and pity a poor girl lying across three seats, literally green from her trip across the English Channel in a boat. With problems of my own, I dozed and dreamed of all the foods I couldnt wait to indulge in when I got back to the States, dysentery be damned. We played the food game with many of the Americans we met on our trip. Some wanted a grilled beefsteak with French fries; others craved bacon and eggs. I longed for my mothers juicy meatloaf and a crispy baked potato with butter. When my 8-hour flight finally landed, I was met by my mother and step-dad to whom I must have written at least two postcards during my six-week adventure. As we climbed in the car, my mom turned to me and said, I hope youre hungry. Ive got meatloaf and baked potatoes for dinner. I sighed with pleasure and snuggled happily into the back seat, wondering if it was just a fluke or a classic case of mothers intuition. 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Japan Travel

Japan Travel Information | Lonely Planet Destination Guide worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links : Explore Japan Japan Hyperbolic, kitty-cute, switched-on, serene. At a Glance Fast Facts WORLDGUIDE Introduction Background Info See Image Gallery Events Transport Money General RELATED Thorn Tree Forum Postcards Travel Links More Places Check out our other destinations: Within Japan Kyoto Nagoya Osaka Sapporo Tokyo View Map Click here Feature Attraction Mt Fuji Japan's highest mountain stands 3776m (12388ft) high. When it's capped with snow, it's a picture-postcard perfect volcanic cone. Fuji-san last blew in ... more Whether you end up taking photos of a reproduction Eiffel Tower, surfing an indoor wave, musing in a Zen temple, shacking up in a love hotel or kipping down in a capsule, you'll do best to come with an open mind and be prepared to be surprised. Somewhere between the elegant formality of Japanese manners and the candid, sometimes boisterous exchanges that take place over a few drinks, between the sanitised shopping malls and the unexpected rural festivals, everyone finds their own vision of Japan. When To Go Spring (March to May), with its clear skies and cherry blossoms, is probably the most celebrated Japanese season, but it's a holiday period for the Japanese and many of the more popular travel destinations tend to be flooded with domestic tourists. Autumn (September to November) is a great time to travel: the temperatures are pleasant, and the autumn colours in the countryside are fantastic. Mid-winter (December to February) can be bitterly cold, while the sticky summer months (June to August) can turn even the briefest excursion out of the air conditioning into a soup bath; on the plus side, major tourist attractions will generally be quieter at these times of the year. It's also worth considering peak holiday seasons when you plan your trip. Moving around and finding accommodation during New Year, Golden Week (late April to early May) and the midsummer O-Bon festival can be a real headache. Factoid Inking the King Japanese tattooing ( irezumi ) is often considered the world's best. The practice was banned under the Emperor Meiji, but revived after Prince George (later King George V) was tattooed, in 1881, by master tattooist Hori Chyo. SPONSORED LINKS Enquire Accomodation Reviews Find Lonely Planet author reviewed places to stay * Required Fields Country * Please select Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Brazil Canada China Cuba Czech Republic Denmark Egypt England Estonia Finland France Germany Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel & the Palestinian Territories Italy Japan Malaysia Mexico Morocco Netherlands New Zealand Poland Portugal Russia Scotland South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey USA United Arab Emirates Vietnam City * Please select Travel Services · Flights · Hostels · Hotels · Travel Insurance More Services › Disclaimer: We've tried to make theinformation on this web site as accurate as possible, but it isprovided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injuryor inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety,customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before youtravel. text & images © lonely planet 2005 about us | privacy | feedback | advertising FAQs worldguide | shop | thorn tree forum | travel services | travel ticker | theme guides | on the road | postcards | travel links

Asia Travel Newsletter :

Indonesia Hotels - Asia Travel Indonesia Hotels & Resorts Jakarta Hotels, Resorts & Travel Reservation Up to 75% Discount Pay on Check-Out Last Minute Rooms Instant Confirmation RECOMMENDED HOTELS Aston Rasuna Residence from Rp632.500 Borobudur Hotel Jakarta from US$90 Mulia Senayan Hotel from US$157 Jakarta Hilton International from US$81 Alila Jakarta from US$72 Nikko Hotel Jakarta from US$72 Quality Hotel Bandara from US$78 Grand Cempaka Hotel from US$40 JAKARTA HOTELS by AREA Blok M China Town Kuningan Senayan Slipi Sudirman Thamrin Jakarta Map (click "Area Name" to view detail map) ALPHABETICAL LISTING JAKARTA HOTELS Please select Alila Jakarta - (Jakarta) Arcadia Hotel - (Jakarta) Aston Atrium Hotel - (Jakarta) Aston Hotel Jakarta - (Jakarta) Aston Rasuna Residence - (Jakarta) Borobudur Hotel Jakarta - (Jakarta) Dusit Mangga Dua Jakarta - (Jakarta) Gran Melia Jakarta - (Jakarta) Grand Cempaka Hotel - (Jakarta) Grand Flora - (Jakarta) Jakarta Hilton International - (Jakarta) Mandarin Oriental - (Jakarta) Menara Peninsula - (Jakarta) Mulia Senayan Hotel - (Jakarta) Nikko Hotel Jakarta - (Jakarta) Quality Hotel Bandara - (Jakarta) Sari Pan Pacific - (Jakarta) Sheraton Bandara - (Jakarta) The Park Lane - (Jakarta) Twin Plaza Hotel - (Jakarta) HOTELS IN OTHER CITY IN INDONESIA Bali Hotels Bekasi/Cikarang Hotels Makassar Hotels Pekanbaru Hotels Sukabumi Hotels Anyer/Carita Hotels Bogor Hotels Malang Hotels Puncak Hotels Surabaya Hotels Bandung Hotels Bukittinggi Hotels Medan Hotels Semarang Hotels Tangerang Hotels Banjarmasin Hotels Cirebon Hotels Palembang Hotels Solo Hotels Yogya Hotels Batam Hotels Lombok Hotels Lake Toba Hotels ACTIVITIES SIGHTSEEING : Glory Morning Tour - Golden Jakarta Tour - Dreamland Tour - Kampoeng Tour - Jakarta Sunset Tour - Highland Up Country Tour - Bandung Volcano NEWS & iNFORMATION Population - Accommodation - Health - Transportation - Climate - Passport & Visas - Currency - Electricity - Time - Local Customs - Languages - Office Hours /Business Hours - Shopping - Food & Restaurant - Tipping - Clothing - Communications - Public Holidays Others Exchange Rate - Guest Book Asia Travel Newsletter : HOTEL NAME LOCATION CATEGORY RATE FROM BOOK HERE Aston Rasuna Residence Recommended Kuningan Apartment Rp. 632.500 Reservation Borobudur Hotel Jakarta Recommended Lap. Banteng US$ 90 Reservation Mulia Senayan Hotel Recommended Senayan US$ 157 Reservation Jakarta Hilton International Recommended Senayan US$ 81 Reservation Grand Cempaka Hotel Jakarta Recommended Cempaka Putih US$ 40 Reservation Alila Jakarta Recommended China Town US$ 72 Reservation Nikko Hotel Jakarta Recommended Thamrin US$ 72 Reservation Quality Hotel Bandara Jakarta Recommended Airport US$ 78 Reservation Grand Kemang Hotel Special Deal ! Kemang US$ 60 Reservation Dusit Mangga Dua Jakarta Special Deal ! China Town US$ 55 Reservation Grand Flora Hotel Special Deal ! Blok M US$ 69 Reservation Mandarin Oriental Jakarta Special Deal ! Thamrin US$ 84 Reservation Menara Peninsula Hotel Special Deal ! Slipi US$ 63 Reservation Sari Pan Pacific Hotel Special Deal ! Thamrin US$ 79 Reservation The Park Lane Special Deal ! Kuningan US$ 69 Reservation Aston Hotel Jakarta Sudirman Apartment US$ 90 Reservation Sheraton Bandara Hotel Jakarta Bandara US$ 96 Reservation Aston Atrium Hotel Jakarta Senen Rp. 475.000 Reservation Gran Melia Jakarta Kuningan US$ 153 Reservation Arcadia Hotel Thamrin Rp. 275.000 ++ Reservation Jl. Raya Pejuangan No. 21, Komples Ruko Sastra Graha Blok P&Q, Jakarta 11530, Indonesia TEL : (62-21) 532 8682 / 535 7573 , FAX : (62-21) 535 7853 / 536 4671 Asia Travel Worldwide Hot Line Numbers: Hong Kong +852-27360922 Indonesia +62-21-5328682 China +86-21-63223855 Dubai +971-4-2941405 +971-4-2941407 Thailand +66-2-6797187 Philippines +(632) 635-5099; +(632) 635-7499; +(632) 914-4970 up to 72 Call from the USA, Dial : 1-877-367-6577 (Toll-Free) Call from UK, Dial : (44) 208-792-6789 Singapore / Malaysia +65-6732 4183 Call from the USA, Dial : 1-877-367-6577 (Toll-Free) Call from UK, Dial : (44) 208-792-6789 Scenic Destinations and Places of Interest in Indonesia Browse and send electronic postcards to your friends Click here to send electronic birthday cards... Asia Travel Hotel & Resort Reservation Service || Indonesia Hotels and Resorts || Asia Travel

Japan Travel

Japan Travel Pictures | Japan Travel Photos Japan Travel resources, links and information for Japan. Click on the thumbnails to read stories and see travel pictures. Book your hotel Book a hotel in Japan Book a hostel Book Youth hostels in Japan Fly your way! Book your flight to Japan online - saving 40% or more! Other countries: Azerbaijan Bahrain Brunei Cambodia China Georgia Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Israel Jordan Kazakhstan Laos Lebanon Macau Malaysia North Korea Oman Pakistan Philippines Saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Syria Thailand United Arab Emirates Vietnam Yemen Sometimes apparently western, but not so deep down completely different. Stories and pictures: Niseko Skiing Hiroshima Sapporo Snowfestival Miyajima Mount Fuji Sumo Wrestling Naritasan Tokyo Subway Shakotan National Park Japanese people Sapporo Art Park Daisetsuzan National Park Onsen Sapporo Dome Sounkyo Canyon Path of Philosophy Useful travel links: Book your hotel in Japan Weather Lonely Planet Japanese Guesthouses Travelogues for Japan Currency exchange Many more links on Japan ! Suggest a site Go directly to: Africa Asia Europe North America Oceania South America Join our mailinglist: If you want to be updated about developments at Around the World in 80 Clicks, subscribe! Your E-mail address: Travel Forum Join others in discussions on Asia Also on this site: read and sign the guestbook send us your suggestions ! send this site to a friend read about the background of this site publications on this site meet new friends for travel, dating or just fun! Around the World in 80 Clicks All rights reserved - www.traveladventures.org - 1999-2005 Share your comments