Quokka_Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Adorable Quokkas

Quokka_Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Australia is home to one of the most photogenic and selfie-friendly animals around, the Quokka. You can find them on Rottnest Island, which is located close to Western Australia’s coastline. One reason Quokkas are popular among people looking to take photos, is that they look pretty cute. They’re a kind of wallaby and have some similarities to kangaroos, though they’re smaller. It’s important to note though that, while Rottnest Island is home to more than 10,000 of these animals, Quokkas are designated as Vulnerable animals, as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

How to Find Quokkas

One rather amazing thing about Quokkas is that you pretty much don’t need to look for them at all. Instead, once you arrive at Rottnest Island, there’s a good chance that a Quokka or two will already approach you. In a way, they’re utterly fearless when it comes to humans. This is another reason selfies with this animal are popular. You can simply sit tight near a Quokka, prepare your camera or phone and extend your selfie stick, and then sooner than you expect, a Quokka will amble within selfie-taking distance.

Precautions Around Quokkas

The friendliness of Quokkas, however, means that it’s important to be aware of relevant conservation rules, so that you don’t inadvertently break them and get punished. For example, people aren’t allowed to feed these animals, and there’s an immediate fine for doing so, as well as potentially further prosecution. So, even if they’re cute, and even if you’re in a hurry to have one approach you, don’t use food or even water as bait. The problem is that being fed by people can result in problematic behaviors, poor nutrition, and even the death of the Quokka. Also, people aren’t allowed to touch or play with Quokkas. This is for the safety of both people and the animals.

If you’ve seen a Quokka selfie on the internet, you’ll have an idea of just how cute these animals can be. Pictures with them are allowed, and their friendly behavior makes taking snapshots even easier. Just be sure to follow the rules so that your time on Rottnest Island will be enjoyable and problem-free.

2 Common Travel Mistakes That You Should Avoid

travel destinations ipswichTravel writers mostly discuss what to do when you travel, but you rarely find discussions about what you should not do when you are on the road. There are even times when travellers make a lot of mistakes that lead to lost time, wasted money and even missed opportunities.

Here are two common travel mistakes that you should avoid:

Avoid eating near a major tourist site

Of course, there are a lot of restaurants where you can eat while you are on a major tourist site. However, the price near those major places is mostly double the price and half the serving and flavour of what you’ll find elsewhere. When food establishments know that visitors are not coming back, then they do not have any problems with consistency and quality.

So instead of trying to eat near a major tourist spot, walk at least five blocks away from one. The further you are from the tourist spot, the cheaper and tastier the food would get. You can also search through websites like OpenRice, Foursquare or Yelp and see the locals rating.

Avoid exchanging money at the airport

Exchanging your money at the airport is a very bad decision because they mostly give customers the worst exchange rates. The safest way and is mostly close to getting an interbank rate is when you just use an ATM or credit card. Simply using your plastic will avoid getting ripped off in money exchanges.

Never exchange money unless you need it. And in some cases, you may really have to exchange cash, then go to the nearest bank to get better rates, otherwise stick to plastic.

Notable Places To See In Myanmar

travel and leisure redbankAre you planning to visit Myanmar? Then you may want to know more about this mysterious and remarkable destination in Asia. The country offers some of the most notable historical sites that can easily attract travellers to tour this country in South Eastern Asia.

There are many touristic attractions travellers can enjoy in Myanmar. Temples, gardens, and museums are some of the great places to see for many travellers.

One of the most popular touristic destinations that attract many travellers to spend their holidays in Myanmar is the capital city of Yangon. The city is highlighted with many statues of Buddha in different sizes.

The City Of Gardens

Nicknamed “the city of gardens,” Yangon city features many gardens, natural parks, and diverse tropical trees. There are also several museums and temples around the city and many of these attractions are usually included in travel packages.

The Golden Pagoda

One of the city’s popular tourist destination is the Shwedagon Pagoda. This spectacular architectural masterpiece is highlighted with a wonderful dome that was built in the Stupa style of building. Its dome was elegantly coated with 800 slots of gold, jewellery, and diamonds.

This 2500 years old pagoda is one of the most significant Buddhism religious foundations in Myanmar. Written all over the dome of the Pagoda are Buddhism verses, which is why the dome symbolizes knowledge. It stands at 1600 meters and surrounded by wonderful ornaments, the dome is truly majestic and highly regarded by many travellers touring Myanmar.

Hlawga National Park

This national park in Yangon stands as one of the most favourite touristic spots in the country. So if you love gardens and parks, then you should not miss this enchanting location. Located around 30 kilometres away from the centre of Yangon, the park features its large impressive lake that was built in the 1920s. The 800 acres of land also houses more than 70 rare kinds of animals and more than 85 kinds of birds.

Travel Cheaply – Things To Consider For Travelling On A Budget

travel cheaply ipswichNot because you want to travel the world does not mean that you should spend most of your savings. If you are a wise traveller, you will know that going to expensive destinations may not be a good idea.

While you can definitely travel to expensive cities in Europe but if you are aiming to travel for a year or more and you are not that rich, well, you can find more countries that can allow you to travel to different great locations without actually breaking your bank.

Here are some things that you should consider to travel cheaply

Are you a city person or can you stay anywhere?

There is a huge difference in prices between staying in the city and small town countries. Whether you are in a third world country or a developed one, the prices are always up if you stay in the city.

In many cases, the prices are doubled if you stay in the city like if you are going to stay in London vs Nottingham, Mumbai vs Hampi, Buenos Aires vs Cafayate, Prague vs Mikulov, Budapet vs Eger, and so on.

If you plan to stay mostly in the city, make sure to double your budget. Otherwise, stay there for a couple of days, then move to a less crowded place.

Can you put up with a little discomfort?

Along with your travels, you will encounter some challenges in places where you might stay and the prices for them. You need to asses if you can settle without hot water while showering or if your room is not that comfortable.

There are ways to cut your budget for lodging such as couchsurfing, housesitting, and crashing with a friend or with friends of friends, but if you do not have these, better plan this in advance. And better to test the water if you can live without some not so necessities such as hot water for showers, a comfy bed, an air-conditioned train rooms and so on. If you think you can handle without them, then you will be able to save more.