Winter Vacation Information

Hawaii’s not exactly a cheap destination. Paradise never is. And that’s perhaps the problem. When we think of a place as paradise, we begin to have certain expectations of it. In Hawaii, that expectation is of pure luxury – gorgeous beaches, pristine hotel, infinity edge pool, tropical frozen drinks and butlers to bring them to us whenever we wish. Hawaii can certainly be like that for those who can afford it, but for the rest of us, there are other ways to experience the wonder and beauty of Hawaii on a smaller budget. One of the options is through WWOOFing . The acronym WWOOF stands for World-wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It is a program designed to link up hosts (farms) that are seeking short term volunteer labor (wwoofers) in exchange for room and board. In Hawaii, workers can help in the fields for a few hours a day, and then spend their off hours relaxing on the beach of exploring the rest of the island they’re on. There are many WWOOFing opportunities in Hawaii ; potential workers just need to fine the right one for them. The best way to do that is to talk to as many potential hosts as possible, asking about hours, living conditions, and location, and getting as many details as possible to make sure that what you’ve found is the right fit. Once you’ve done that, finding flights to Hawaii might be a breeze, but all that time and effort will be worth it. With the right host/worker relationship, your time WWOOFing can feel less like a week of manual labor and more of what it should be, and unforgettable and educational experience in paradise. Photo by Jeff Kubina

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It may seem odd to suggest that people already in Hawaii leave the beautiful islands, but anyone who’s tried going shopping in Hawaii quickly learns that it requires more money than you might be comfortable parting with. The logical solution, then, is to take a trip to the mainland with an empty suitcase and come back with all kinds of goodies. As fate would have it, you can get cheap flights to Portland from Hawaii – and since Oregon has no sales tax, it’s the ideal place to come for a shopping visit. Portland has a great mix of shops to choose from, too, including big national brands that you’ll find pretty much anywhere in the country (but typically with lower prices) and small local boutiques that you won’t find anywhere else. The quirky style of some of those great shops bleeds over into accommodation in the city, too, and even some of the best places to stay also fall into the category of cheap hotels in Portland . I won’t try to sell you on the idea of packing your suitcase with coffee to bring back to Hawaii (Portland does coffee well, but you’ve probably got them beat on that front), but a few shopping highlights that aren’t to be missed are: Powell’s Books – The nation’s largest independent bookstore sells both new & used books and takes up an entire city block (with several floors). It’s called the “City of Books” for a reason. Plan to spend a long time there. And because Portland is on the tech-happy side of things, you’ll find fun gadgets and even iPad accessories for sale there, too (check the gear in the travel books section). Northwest Portland – 21st and 23rd street up in the northwest section of downtown have long been known for having a great selection of small local shops and restaurants, including clothing, books, and home accessories. Pearl District – “The Pearl,” as it’s called, is a newer area of the city for shopping, and this is where you’ll find a mix of national brands (Anthropologie, Lulu Lemon, etc.) and some small boutique stores. It’s a high-rent neighborhood, though, so the small boutiques tend to be elsewhere in the city. Have you been to Portland? Do you like the shopping there? What’s your favorite shopping area of the city? photo by Jami Dwyer

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The word “summer” means different things to different people, but to anyone who’s recently gotten engaged it’s hard to not follow the word “summer” with the word “wedding.” Whether you plan your nuptials during the summer months or not, however, you can always schedule your honeymoon for the summer. And although there’s really no bad time to visit Hawaii, planning a summer honeymoon trip to Hawaii is high on many couples’ lists. Unfortunately planning a cheap honeymoon trip to Hawaii isn’t always easy. Hawaii is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations, especially for couples traveling from the United States, and the travel industry knows this. You’ll see countless trips advertised as special “ honeymoon travel deals ” to Hawaii that either aren’t any cheaper than if you booked a trip on your own or are actually more expensive than you’d pay if you skipped a few of the unnecessary extras. Having everyone at the hotel or resort know you’re on your honeymoon may seem like a great idea, but there’s no reason you can’t mention it here and there when you arrive – you don’t have to book a special “honeymoon package” to have people offer congratulations. Instead of booking something marketed as a honeymoon package, then, try looking for packages that aren’t specifically targeted at newlyweds. The main things every traveler needs will still be included, and you can always opt to buy a special floral arrangement, bottle of champagne, or romantic room treatment on the spur of the moment when you get there. Also note that before you buy any package trip it’s always best to investigate the prices on the individual components of the trip to make sure you can’t find them cheaper if bought individually. Finding cheap tickets to Hawaii in the summer might be tougher than if you booked a trip in the shoulder seasons, but sometimes there are special deals where flights are at bargain prices – and you can bet package trips don’t change their prices to reflect that. >> Here’s more information on planning a honeymoon in Hawaii , and – if you want to combine your wedding and your honeymoon – information on getting married in Hawaii , too. photo by ewen and donabel

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Bali is renowned throughout the archipelago of Indonesia and overseas for their handicrafts . You could say that Bali is a mecca for arts and handicrafts. You might browse what is on offer in the Kuta area, but if you want the genuine article and not just a ‘copy’ [as so often seen in the tourist strip] it is far better to visit the village of origin for the particular handicraft you re seeking. Of course there are handicraft centres located in the tourist strip which sell the genuine handicraft but I have so often found the products to be mass produced. Even so, these places are well worth checking out before you head up country. This way you can get an idea of quality. If you are an independent traveller then there are local buses to the villages that specialize in various products, but, it’s easy to get the places mixed up. Most organised tours to the major tourism objects in Bali travel through a majority of these handicraft villages and stop at these places so you can peruse the particular handicraft associated with the village. Batubulan : Here you will find stone sculptures of all sizes lining the street are there are many stone figures and statues. These include Buddhas, demons, and ornaments for family shrines. You can actually watch the carvers at work in certain places. Batuan : Known for traditional woven cloth, craftsmen in this village also create carved and decorated painted wooden panels. Celuk : Famous for its weaving, gold & silver. Celuk is a mile long street lined with silversmiths. You can buy ready made stuff in one of the many large shops or order custom work to suit. Bona : This is a place known for its traditional dance performances, however, there are places where you can purchase some excellent bamboo furniture. It is also a centre for plaited baskets, hats and sandles. Puaya : This place is located close to Sukawati and is renowned for its puppets made from old Chinese coins. Leather puppets also made here. Mas, Peliatan and Ubud : These villages are located in the cultural heart of Bali, Ubud. They are carving & painting centres. Some of the best carvers are found in Mas. Penestanan : Known for its paintings and beaded purses. Goa Gajah : Although the main attraction here is the Elephant Cave, this place is known for its baskets and shell carvings. Bangli and Tampaksiring : In these villages you will find handicrafts made from coconut, cattle-bone, and buckhorn carvings. Klungkung : Wood carvings, hornwork, bone carvings and fine woven silk is the major handicraft. Also there are shops selling Chinese porcelain, ornamental gold and silver jewellery. Take the time to walk around the small shops and down back alleys. Blaju and Gianyar : The famous weaving centre of Bali. There are many fine pieces of sarong in the various shops and weaving centres. Although a good place for textiles, you will find the prices a bit steep and in a lot of the places they are fixed price. The above are the main handicraft areas in Bali but there are smaller villages each with their own speciality. Take time to explore when you travel in Bali. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

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Indonesians are renowned the world over for their textiles . Balinese traditional textiles are much more than simply decorative pieces of cloth. In Bali , the Balinese produce textiles for a variety of markets and, one of them the tourist trade. Various forms of cloth are produced on the island of Bali and each one beautiful in its own right. Batik is a textile is manufactured mainly in factories these days but there are some smaller places in the outer lying villages where the batik process is still as it has been for centuries. The two main styles of Batik are batik tulis and batik cap . The art of Balinese textile decoration is best expressed in skirt, chest and head cloths. There are three main categories of Balinese textile and these are Prada , Songket and Ikat . The main batik manufacturing town on Bali is at Gianyar where many factories can be found and visited. Be warned though, the price you pay at the factory is inflated and you would be better of checking the street prices in markets such as Sukawati first. Be warned though that purchasing traditional cloth in the markets along the tourist strip will not give you the quality you will find in the places of origin. There are other traditional weavers in other places across Bali that weave stunning pieces of cloth and it is to these places you should visit. There is one special place on the island which will accommodate all your needs; Threads of Life . This place is well worth a visit for top quality traditional textiles. Grinsing is one of the rarest weaving techniques practiced and you will find this textile in the traditional village of Tenganan , East Bali. Gringsing is also known as the ‘flame cloth’ and in this elaborate dyeing process both the warp and weft threads are carefully bound before dyeing. This creates numerous patterns that once finished seemingly fit together perfectly and harmoniously. Tenganan is the only place in the world where the double-ikat process is practised. There are not many women left in Tenganan who know this practice of weaving but it is being handed down to the next generation. To weave a piece of gringsing could take up to three days but the finished product is superb. When you visit the village you are welcome to have a look at this weaving process and of course for a fee!. Endek is a tie-dyed woven textile popular with most Balinese. Wooden hand-operated looms are used in the process of the weft-ikat method. This is where sections of the cloth are tied and then wrapped before immersing them into tubs of dye. The basic designs are irregular and soft wavy patterns. Also created are diamond designs and a zigzagging pattern. Endek is a versatile cloth for the Balinese because it can be worn for both daily use and ceremonial purposes. Songket is a brocaded silk that has interweaving patterns of silver and gold thread and is classified as the ceremonial dress of all Balinese. Worn mainly on religious occasions, it is also worn to weddings, tooth filings and other important ritual events. The cloth is tapestry in appearance and has various motifs including wayang figures, birds, butterflies, flowers and leaves. The process of weaving is done on back-strap looms. Because of its thread and quality it is generally accepted that it is a wealthy man’s cloth. Interestingly, the kain songket is bought in two pieces and then sewn together. The men wear the songket saput. This is a narrow piece of cloth worn over a sarung. Together with a songket udeng or head band this is for more formal and ceremonial occasions. Decorated with silver or gold thread, kain prada is a lustrous fabric woven of cotton or silk. A ceremonial cloth, it is generally two meters in length and can take up as long as three months to weave from start to finish. Various patterns include lotus blossoms with swastikas as border decorations. These are however the most common motifs.

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Leave early at least an extra hour - As you prepare for your winter vacation , perhaps longer than usual in order to anticipate the edge of the delays that may occur. Remember to bring some reading material while waiting or the security …

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What are your plans for this winter vacation ? It is almost near and by now you should already have a carefully laid out plan so that you can enjoy your vacation to the fullest. If you are looking for excitement, nothing is more fun than …

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How many of you can remember your very first time to Bali ? Before you even left your home shore, what images of the island did you conjure up in your mind? No doubt a lot of first-time Bali travellers have these embedded images in their minds of white beaches lined with coconut palms being lapped by crystal clear blue waters. Maybe even rich, luscious, green jungles bordering tapestry-like rice fields with a background of mountain ranges. Then there are those folk who have images of stunning temple structures with colourful ceremonies being performed. Or, maybe a delightful and peaceful people who are welcoming and accept you into their lives. Whatever your pre-conceived images of Bali are, there is one certain thing; Bali is beautiful and will always be this way.

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How many of you can remember your very first time to Bali ? Before you even left your home shore, what images of the island did you conjure up in your mind? No doubt a lot of first-time Bali travellers have these embedded images in their minds of white beaches lined with coconut palms being lapped by crystal clear blue waters. Maybe even rich, luscious, green jungles bordering tapestry-like rice fields with a background of mountain ranges. Then there are those folk who have images of stunning temple structures with colourful ceremonies being performed. Or, maybe a delightful and peaceful people who are welcoming and accept you into their lives. Whatever your pre-conceived images of Bali are, there is one certain thing; Bali is beautiful and will always be this way.

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