Climbing the north face of the Eiger has always been a challenge for experienced mountaineers. If you are looking for a similar gut wrenching challenge in Australia, look no further than the South West corner of Australia.

Only it’s not a mountain, it’s a tree. A frightening monster, one of the tallest in Australia with a summit sometimes disappearing into the clouds. Even on a clear day, those on the platform at the top disappear from view.

The rewards and the fears.

If you manage to tame the 75 metre beast and reach the summit, you will be rewarded with some of the finest views in Australia.

The South West corner of Australia spreads before you like a map, from the pristine rain forests below, to the majestic Southern Ocean in the distance.

But you have to climb to the summit first and when you reach the top, the hard part starts. The return journey to the ground can be even more difficult.

Therein lies the challenge. Your open air staircase is 130 thin steel bolts winding around the trunk and the only protection you have from plummeting to the ground, is a thin wire cage.

Only the brave and intrepid reach the summit. Many succumb to fear and the sheer physical challenge. On a windy day, the tree actually sways and on a wet day, the steel rungs are cold and as slippery as ice.

Have I climbed it?  Read more...

South Korea occupies the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and is between the Yellow Sea and the East Sea. Koreans trace their history back to Gojoseon kingdom in 2333 BC and has seen the vicissitudes of time to emerge as what one sees in the present. The country is homogenous with the population with Korean ethnicity and the rest few as the foreign migrant workers. South Korea today is one of the worlds technologically and scientifically advanced nation.

The country has hosted the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and FIFA World Cup 2002 that has displayed the culture and modernity of the nation. South Korea is a land of ancient traditions that is reflected in various forms. Here there are the ancient ruins, the scenic beauty, and the modernity all in a tranquil blend.

The tourist attractions include the Korean peninsula region with the mountains that is a treasure trove for the traveler who wants to be away from the crowded destinations. The capital Seoul is the most visited area and is the 10th largest city in the world. The city also has got to offer the tourist a variety of attractions to bring them back again. The nightlife that is vibrant and the variety of popular Korean cuisines is nothing but the many unforgettable experiences.

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First things first: summer in Australia is the direct opposite of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Yes, you heard right. In Australia, summer actually happens from December to February. Which means Aussies celebrate their Christmas at the height of summer. Which means they get to do more things they otherwise couldn’t do if they were in the wintry, arctic regions on the Northern Hemisphere. Blessed be the Australian summer.

But watch out: the Australian summer can be very hot and unforgiving, but this is just fine as long as you keep a handy bottle of sunscreen with you and arm yourself with a good pair of UV-proof sunglasses. For Aussie families, summer generally is the time to hit the beach and frolic in the waters. Summer also marks the mid-year break for students; instead of springbreak, they enjoy summer holidays or Christmas holidays. And for backpackers who roam and travel Australia, the Aussie summer can be a liberating experience. Even businesspeople who like to keep busy with work even during the holidays prefer to leave their freezing homelands and travel Australia to seek its cosy warmth.

Before you get any misplaced ideas about Australia as being just pure hard summer, you have to realise that Australia is such a large country that each region experiences different weather patterns. Up north where the tropical rainforests reign, it’s mainly high temperatures and high humidity and distinct wet and dry seasons. In the centre of the country, where the Outback sprawls, it’s dry, desert regions with high daytime temperatures and occasional bursts of rain. In the south are the temperate regions with moderate rainfall and temperatures ranging from hot to cold.  Read more...

For organised tours, you should contact your travel agent. For general information and brochures which will help you plan your Australian vacation contact the Australian Tourist Commission or the appropriate state tourism bodies for the states you’ll be visiting.

Generally speaking (unless you don’t drive) the best way to see the country is to hire a car, which can be combined with inter-state hops by plane e.g. you could combine any of the trips described below with a flight to another location such as Ayers Rock (NT), Kangaroo Island (SA), Tasmania, Melbourne (and Great Ocean Rd) or Cairns (Qld). If you’re used to driving on the right, and are apprehensive about driving on the left, don’t worry unnecessarily. If you take it slowly, have a good map, and only use the car for getting out of major cities (rather than driving in them), your Australia vacation should work out fine.

One technique is to leave Sydney as soon as you’ve got there. The airport is south of the city, so pickup an airport rental car and head south to Berry and Jervis Bay without having to go through the CBD. When you’ve practiced driving in the country, you’ll be more confident, and ready to head back to Sydney, where you can leave the car and use public transport. If hiring a car, it’s best to do circular trips that take several days than day trips, because with day trips at least 50% of your time will be spent just getting in and out of Sydney each day.  Read more...

Backpacking Wondering what backpacking really is? The definition is varied but the bottom line is that Backpacking is low-budget, independent, round the world, off-the-beaten-track traveling. It is for those travelers who are averse to lots of luggage and conventional package holidays.

Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. Backpacking is slowly but surely turning into a subculture of generally youthful travelers exploring the planet on a limited budget. The name connotes travelers that travel with a rucksack (a large backpack) instead of the usual holiday suitcase. They may go hiking and camping, backpacking in the other sense, but they more often explore more urban settings.

This is an infectious sub-culture attracting enthusiastic and intrepid travelers everywhere. The determining factor is to see as much of the world as possible on slim wallets; a passion for exotic places at the least cost.

The adventure is all about low-cost options such as sharing lifts, last minute flights, relatively cheap round-the-world air ticket which permits numerous stops, youth hostels, free hospitality services and buying food at supermarkets abroad instead of going to restaurants. Some backpackers get free accommodation by teaching the local people in return for their services. Some simply volunteer their time and skills as they travel.

The most popular backpacking destination is undoubtedly Australia. The key advantage of backpacking in Australia is that, if you’re aged between 18-30, you qualify for a working holiday visa. Other attractive destinations include beautiful places with low costs of living such as Africa, South America, India, Morocco and even Thailand.  Read more...