100MIFG honoree, global citizen and blogger Joseph Alcantara is the man behind the Emirates group’s Marketing Communications for the Middle East region and southern Europe.

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Before you go

Before visiting any new country in general, travelers should prepare for a couple of things. For one, prepare for the weather. Ireland is called the ‘Emerald Isle’ by many because it’s so green – and this is because it rains pretty frequently. So, bring a raincoat. As for winter, pack some heavy clothing options, and lighter ones for summer. Jackets are always a must! Travelers should also know a little bit about the country itself. Being aware of Irish culture, customs, and rules comes in very handy.

Must do’s and must see’s

Coastlines, cliffs, mountains and long walks – we have it all! If you love nature, Ireland is the place to go! There are numerous walking/hiking/bike tours that allow you to explore the city and its natural wonders in a more active and surreal way (activities like this can be found here: www.visitdublin.com/). Aside from this, you can take the boat and visit quaint coastal towns like Dalkey and Howth in Dublin bay for a truly beautiful daytrip escape. Traditional pubs, small towns, and castles are definitely to not be missed.

What to be aware of

As a travel enthusiast, I’d say never avoid anything! As long as you are being a smart and mindful visitor, being open to new things by fully immersing yourself wherever you go helps you enjoy your stay even more. Do be aware however that it rains all year round.

Besides, Irish people are great craic (fun)! You will always be greeted with a smile, some of the friendliest and most empathetic people I have come across. I’ve never felt like I was an outsider to the country – they are an unreal bunch!

Traveling on a budget

Typically, city-center prices are more expensive. One tip for travelers on a tighter budget would be to visit smaller towns and villages near Dublin. So, hop on a bus or a train and visit a small town like Malahide, north of Dublin. Home to the picturesque Malahide Castle, you could definitely spend a relaxed day here getting lost in the lush green spaces. While here, you can also visit the waterfront part of Malahide by foot and get your grub at the local pubs and cafés. Alongside this, always compare prices, and make sure you get the best possible deals in hotels, food, tours, and even at pubs. You can save money by packing your own little nibbles when traveling.

How to get around

Dublin has a good bus system and a couple of tram/railway lines. However, walking brings you pretty much everywhere. Walking provides you with that authentic active Irish lifestyle, and brings you closer to the locals.

Best foods and places to eat

Spuds! Irish people have a great love for their spuds (potatoes). This is the number one ingredient for the best Irish stews, fish pies, and shepherd’s pies, along with bacon and cabbage. Traditional chippers (places that serve fish and chips), local pubs, and fresh food markets are aplenty in Dublin, and grabbing some food at these places is the best way to introduce yourself to the local palate.

Hidden Gems

One word – pints! Not a place, but an activity. There are many interesting nooks across the city that deserve to be explored, but having a pint is the absolute best way to socialize with the locals – an activity often left out of a visitor’s itinerary. You get to speak to anyone and everyone once you set foot in a pub.

Best time to visit

It all boils down to you, and your preference. Every season provides you with the opportunity to experience Ireland in different ways. If you’re a lover of the cold, autumn and winter, if you’re looking for milder temperatures, spring and summer.

Kabayan Comforts

In every city, town, and county there is a Filipino presence. You will never run out of activities, and home comforts as they still practice our ways. Communities are welcoming to new members and will never let a kabayan be left behind.

Gilbert Reid is a former Dubai-based resident who is now based in Dublin, Ireland. Working as a freelance makeup artist, he is also an avid explorer and fashion enthusiast.

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Finally, after years of procrastinating, I found myself on the way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, biking the whole 750km. route from Pamplona close to the the French border. With a backpack filled with some clothes, a camera, some Granola bars and a bottle of water, I pedaled away on a bright morning along the highway headed west.

Like millions of pilgrims dating back to 800AD, I would be making my way to a place aptly called “The Field of Stars” where, legend has it, St. James (the first of Christ’s disciples to be martyred) was believed to be buried.

King Alfonso II of Asturias declared him the patron saint of Spain and a church was built over his tomb. As his popularity spread far and wide in 11^th century Europe, people started going on pilgrimage along the route that became known as the Camino Frances. The whole length covers some 789 kms, and the traditional way of doing it is by walking, taking over a month. I did it by bike in twelve days. Many go on pilgrimage for various reasons and some may not even be religious in nature; mine was to fulfill a vow made 10 years ago on a visit to Spain.

The first day was hard. I had trained for six months but nothing prepared me for the challenging route over the low-lying hills of the beautiful Navarre province. I struggled doing 44 kms. until Estella, my first stop for the night. There are pilgrim hotels in every town called albergues. Check in for about 6-8 Euros per night and get a bunk in a 4 or 6-bed dormitory room with shared toilet/shower facilities which are cleanly maintained. Most have restaurants serving a pilgrim’s meal of soup, a main course of grilled fish or meat and a jug of wine. For the same amount as your room, you can eat well, albeit simply.

Most days, I woke up before daybreak, and headed out at 6:30am after a quick shower and light breakfast.  I would pedal for about 8 hours with rest stops along the way, and stop at the next town at about 2 to 3pm. I usually visit the nearest church to give thanks and pray for a safe journey for the next day. Depending on the terrain, I averaged 60 kms per day. The longest I biked was 110 kms from dawn till dusk on the flat plains of the Meseta between Burgos and Astorga.

I passed through all kinds of terrain from plains with wavy grass, corn plantations, vineyards and wheat fields to high mountains with heavily-wooded forests and exposed bare scrub. The towns and cities were beautiful and interesting and it would’ve been nice to spend a couple of days more exploring each one. The exquisitely-designed towering Gothic cathedrals in Burgos and Leon built in the 12th century were a sight to behold while Astorga’s and Logrono’s Baroque facades were selfie-worthy.

I usually biked on the two-lane roads which had a meter-wide space on the side allotted for cyclists (the motorways are prohibido) but sometimes joined the walking peregrinos on the narrow gravel pathway exchanging greetings of Buen Camino! They all came in different nationalities – men, women and children carrying backpacks and pitching tents on the grassy knoll as if having a picnic on a weekend. Sometimes I joined fellow cyclists and we biked together then swapped stories during rest stops over a glass of wine or gelato bought from a roadside restaurant. Many had come biking from as far as Genoa, Prague and even Wales!

The weather was fine most of the time but there were three days when the heavens gave way to uninterrupted rain while I was out on the road. I had some bad spills, which made me wonder what I was doing out there – wet, cold and miserable. There were times when I wanted to give up especially in the hard mountain climbs from Villafranca to O Cebreiro when I thought it would be my last outing. But somehow – even surprising myself – I found the strength and determination to go on.

It was quite anticlimactic on the last day when I arrived in Santiago de Compostela.  The rain was pouring white sheets, so could hardly see a thing in the horizon. The muddy road plunged downward from the last hill and save for my luggage covered with the black plastic garbage bag, the bike and I were drenched to the bone. It was difficult to read the signs so I tried to find my bearings through what I remembered from the map.

I entered the Obraidoro (the main square) and there loomed Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in all its baroque glory. Ah, mission accomplished! This must’ve been how all the millions of pilgrims who came before me felt as I gazed at the twin steeples: joy, sadness, relief.

I parked the bike outside near the imposing staircase, removed my backpack and carried it with me into the magnificently-lit interiors of the church. As I knelt and started my prayers, I felt a surge of mixed emotions. Maybe it was the sheer exhaustion or perhaps just the relief that I made it safe and sound after 750kms, but I did what I had not done in a long, long time… I cried.
TRAVELER’S NOTES:

To bike the Camino, I ordered the 10-speed bike through www.tournride.com. They delivered the bike to my hotel on the day of my arrival. Take just few clothes (preferably with quick-dry fabric), to lighten your load. A good pair of shoes and socks are important for comfort and to avoid blisters. I used a lot of petroleum jelly to keep my feet lubricated. Protect your face with a hat and have a light plastic poncho in case it rains. Don’t worry about food and water which can be found in restaurants and stores along the route. Keep an open mind and take each day as it comes. Buen Camino!

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Sri Lanka is one of the largest producers of tea in the world. They were colonized by the British before and their country was called Ceylon. colonized Tea was introduced to the country by the British who called the country “Ceylon”. It’s a 4 hrs flight with Emirates Airlines. There are other flights too such as Sri Lankan Airlines, Fly dubai and others.

Bandaranaike International Airport (also known as Colombo International Airport and Katunayake International Airport) is the main international airport serving Sri Lanka.

WHAT TO SEE

Kandy

Kandy is a large city in central Sri Lanka. The city is surrounded by mountains, which are home to tea plantations and rainforest. In the heart of the city is the scenic lake called the lake called Bogambara Lake. People stoll around the lake. Kandy is a religious city and known for sacred Buddhist sites, including the Temple of the Tooth (Sri Dalada Maligawa) shrine. We have witnessed the grand Esala Perahera annual procession. We stayed in Earl’s Regent Hotel. It is situated in a hill surrounded with other hills and greenery. Nestled within the lush green surroundings, showcasing the heritage Kandy.

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage

Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is about 40km (25 miles) west of Kandy. The orphanage cares for almost 100 elephants, many of whom were either orphaned or injured in the wild. We witnessed the elephants led over to the river to take a bath. We rode the elephant named Raja. We visited the Botanical Gardens to see gardens of herbs and spices We got to visit Ranweli Spice and Herbal Garden. I saw how spices and herbs like Turmeric, Pepper Corns, Cloves, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Aloe Vera, etc. are grown in their natural and organic environment.

Nuwara Eliya

Nuwara Eliya is a city in the tea country hills of central Sri Lanka. The tourists called it as “Little England.” We visited Pedro Tea Estate, about 3.5km east of Nuwara Eliya on the way to Kandapola and took a half-hour guided tour of the factory. Nuwara Eliya is a city in the hill, often called city of lights. It’s cold out there in which 11 deg cent when we stayed in that city. It was raining during nights and fair weather during day.

I loved and enjoyed the New Zealand Farms in Nuwara Eliya. This farm is located at Ambewela which is a few Km away from Nuwara eliya. The New Zealand Farm is a part of the Ambewela Farm which are both dairy farms. New Zealand Farm is located only 3-4 Km away from Ambewela farm. New Zealand farm produces fresh milk and cheese.

Bentota

We visited the town of Bentota. It is a resort town on Sri Lanka’s southwest coast. We stayed in a hotel along Bentota Beach which stretches north, where it becomes a sandy strip known as Paradise Island.

Bentota River Boat Safaris start at the last section of the broad River Bentota (The Bentota lagoon), and cruises inland. The Bentota lagoon is scattered with small islands, natural landscapes, and tangled mangrove swamps. The boat men will meander through the islets and mangrove swamps located haphazardly on the river. It is mysterious and beautiful at once as you cruise through shaded waters beneath huge roots. The longer you need to explore, the further upriver you want to cruise, the more unspoilt the scenery becomes.

It’s a 2 and a half hours boat trip. Along the boat cruise, you’ll get to visit a small cinnamon factory and fish spa. The cost of this tour ranges from 3000 to 4000 Sri Lankan rupees, which is around AED75 to 100. We also paid a visit to The Turtle Hatchery Project at Bentota Beach. A visit to the turtle hatchery is a must for nature lovers and environmentalists.

TIPS

• Dress appropriately and modestly. I wore light track suits and my usual shayla for my hair. Others wear walking shorts and summer tops. Others wear jeans and t-shirt.
• Bring an insect repellant. There are lot of mosquitoes. I mean insect repellant creams, lotion or spray.
• The expenses depends on the preference of the traveler.I saw some tourists staying on travel lodges, bed and breakfast accommodation, from 1 star to 5 stars Hotel. Hotel fees are as low as 75 aed to 500 and above
• Food is very cheap. They use coconut mainly in their food. Their food is a lot similar to Indian food.
• Their mode of transportation are buses, train, boat and tuk tuk. Some of the places have 2-way zig zag highways. It’s bit scary but you’ll get used to it.

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By Kylene and Chino Batin

Destination:  Easter Island, Chile

What the place is known for

Easter Island is one of the world’s most isolated inhabited island located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, a remote volcanic island in Polynesia. It was on Easter day when the Dutch discovered this tiny island, and that’s how it was named.  We found it very mysterious and interesting. It is known as the resting place of 887 Moai statues with the original settlers called Rapa Nui.

How to get there

From Santiago, Chile we took the 5 hour flight on LAN Airlines. Note that there is only one flight per day, so you need to book in advance as flights are always full. The flight cost during spring is AED2600 return.

Where to stay

There are a lot of cabanas, the local term for resort or lodge near the beach. You will never find any well-known 4 star hotels like Holiday Inn, Ibis, Novotel, etc. so you can just choose any cabana listed in booking.com. Expect a pricey rate per night due to fewer options. Again, always book in advance. Cabanas only offer a simple room with toilet. The internet connection is very weak anywhere even in internet cafés, so it’s difficult to update your FB, TWITTER or INSTAGRAM unless you have the data roaming plan.

Must do and see

Rent a car if you want to roam around the entire Island, which you can circle in just two hours. This is true if it you don’t do stopovers for picture taking, of course. For us it took us two days to finish our itinerary, as we enjoyed everything this island has to offer including –

RanoKau Volcano, where we were mesmerized by the beauty of the crate lake which stands at 100 metres above sea level, surrounded by fresh water. We enjoyed panoramic photos here.  This is the perfect place to bring out your selfie stick.

Orongo, as you drive alongside the volcano, you will see the ceremonial villages were chiefs of different tribes or their “hopu” (representatives) competed to obtain the first egg of the “manutara” a seabird that arrived every spring to nest. The trail will give you the most mystifying view of the island as you will find some curved stones in different images made by the Manu Taru and some small rock houses along the cliff.

RanoRaraku, was our first stop to see the Moai statues. Here you will encounter different sizes, shaped and carved faces of the Moai starring silently out from the hillsides. We were puzzled by the numbers of these statues located in different points and bewildered by the fact that all of them look to one direction. According to the tour guides, the main reason for this is for the Moai to look over the village.

You will hear different stories on how these Moai were made and transported to the different parts of the island. One thing we are sure of is that the Rapa Nui must have super strength as the statues can weigh an average of 20 tons. It was quite a hair-raising experience as there was a very palpable sense of unexplainable spirituality in the air.

AhuTongariki, is the only place where you will find 15 different Moai statues standing in a straight line. The right time to go here is either sunrise or sunset.

AhuNaunau – time to bring out your swimwear! These Moai are standing just in front of Anakena beach, which was the perfect place to chillax after a long tiring drive. A lot of tourists spending their time here before heading home.

These are just a few of the popular places to visit in the island. You can also do mountain biking, diving and surfing.

Their best kept secret

While heading toward RanoRaraku you will enjoy the lovely Pacific Ocean coastline. Take a few minutes to dip your feet in the crystal clear water with a distinctive aquamarine color.

Do it like the natives

Never leave this Island without experiencing “UmuPae” an ancient Rapa Nui cooking practice involving hot volcanic stones in an underground pit.  Traditional Rapa Nui dishes wrapped in banana leaves are cooked in the pit, giving way to some mouthwatering aromas.  After having a feast, watch folkloric performances and learn to dance the Rapa Nui way.

How to dress

Trekking wear! Use suitable clothing and shoes, and please walk carefully when you go to the hills. But of course don’t forget to bring with your swimwear if you want to enjoy the beach, though water is a bit cold in this part of the world.

What to bring

When we landed at the airport, we were amused to see most tourists carrying their ‘Coleman’ filled with food and water. Then we realized that food here can be quite pricey since everything is imported. So if you can, bring some goods from Santiago, Chile like cold cuts and snacks.

Also, don’t forget sunblock.

What to avoid

If you have a choice, avoid having meals in the restaurants as the food are not really worth the price. Instead buy from bakeries that offer local sandwiches like the famous empanada, then go to the beach and enjoy your meal! It is more fun.

Rental cars are not available online, as well as at the airport.  Still try not to arrange cars from the locals at the airport as they are quite pricey. Instead, you can take a lift to the center of HangaRoa which is just a few blocks away, where you can rent a car in a better price.

Trip budget

Visa Cost: AED 110 per person

Roundtrip Flights per head:

Dubai to Santiago, Chile: AED5,724; Santiago to Easter Island: AED2,397

Car rental: AED191 per day or 35,000 Chilean Pesos

Hotel:  AED303 per night at HostalAcapu thru booking.com

Fuel: full tank AED60.

Park entrance fee: AED164

Rapa Nui dinner show includes buffet: AED300

Food and others: You may consider AED250 per day

Souvenirs: From AED10

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