The mountains of Wudang (or Wudangshan) can be found in the northwestern area of the Hubei Province in The People’s Republic of China and is part of the larger Daba Mountain Range. Its best known for the ancient Taoist monasteries that reside there (the area is considered the birthplace of Taoism). Imagine Seven Years in Tibet with slightly smaller mountains and extremely unlikely encounters with Brad Pitt. Or check out the new Karate Kid, which features Jayden Smith climbing to the summit of Wudang Mountain during his training. For backpackers, it’s an interesting area to visit, not only for the beautiful landscape and rugged hiking terrain, but also because of the amazing history that can be found in the architecture, the traditions, and the people who live there.

Wudang sunrise by Kropell

There are two easy ways to travel to Wudangshan; you can fly or take a train from Beijing. While the train ride is about 800 miles (and 20 hours long) from Beijing, it’s substantially cheaper and probably more direct than flying. By plane you would have to fly to Xiang Fan City and take a taxi for the remaining 2.5 hours of the trip, whereas upon entering Wudangshan Station by train, you will only be twenty minutes away from the mountains and their temples (by bus or taxi). If you arrange to visit one of the martial arts schools located in the mountains, they can help you obtain your visa by sending a letter of invitation and they will even pick you up at the train station (although they may expect you to take some classes).

Wudang Shan | 120+ astet / 120+ steps by toehk

You can find lodgings in nearby Danjiangkou, but it’s an hour and a half by bus to the temples. There is, however, a hotel at the top of Wudang Mountain that can be reached via a three-hour hike up paved stairs (the path is notoriously steep, so the staircase is probably a better bet) or through the use of a cable car system. Many travelers choose to stay at the hotel in order to see the glorious sunrise. As a visitor, you can spend the day taking in a Kung Fu show, participating in a Tai Chi class, or simply hiking on one of the many trails that run all over the mountain. While the area has become somewhat commercialized, you should keep in mind that all of the buildings are still working temples in which meditation and martial arts are practiced just as they were in the 7th century when the complex was first erected.

Angry Monk by Matthew Winterburn

The mountains themselves are like something out of a fairly tale, whether they’re covered in lush greenery or a sprinkling of snow. The subtropical climate can be counted on to provide an almost constantly misty atmosphere, making the environment appear somewhat ethereal. But beware: the monsoonal climate ensures abundant rainfall throughout the year and average temperatures of about 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to 20-30 in the winter, although the temperature drops somewhat as you ascend the mountains. The best times to travel are spring and fall since the summer climate is hot and humid and there is snowfall in the winter. However, travel in the off-season will allow you to avoid the crowds of tourists that show up in milder weather.

After nearly a month traveling around Bolivia, I cannot tell you how relieved I was to be in La Paz with more options of food than the usual chicken and rice that seemed so prevalent throughout the country. The Star of India restaurant was recommended by a few hostel mates, listed in Lonely Planet, and popular for the worlds most dangerous Vindaloo.

The restaurant smelled delicious and its Indian flavored theme was very elegantly styled. It´s titled ¨British Indian Curry¨at the door. The table is candle lit and the service started phenomenally well. Most meals are priced 30 to 40 Bolivian. Reading the menu I see one curry that really sticks out called the Chicken Vindaloo. The long description provided warnings for this meal. With over 35 chili peppers and a serving to feed a family, it was a big food challenge. The prize is a free tshirt and pride of finishing one of the worlds most dangerous Vindaloo’s.

Feeling sick...

Knowing how spicy it’s going to be, I decided to have it with a milkshake and a bowl of rice to make the curry more edible. The bowl is about the size of the palm of my hand and as deep as my pinky finger. With a mix of rice, I go for my first bite. Flavor kicks in first and it’s quite good. Next the spice hits and surely its burning my mouth. Luckily I had the milkshake which made things much easier for me. A few bites in and my face gets a tingling sensation. My heart starts racing and I feel like I could be on speed. I could possibly run a marathon, although it would be a painful run. My legs are jumping up and down. The spicy taste gets worse for awhile and I’m already done with my milkshake and rice so I ordered a second round of both.

I started to get use to the spice and now I’ve moved on to new problems, I’m full and I have about 25% left to go and I’m feeling sick. The people at  tables around me all think I’m crazy and its already been an hour since we got there. I had to take a break and walk in circles to relax. My stomach is killing me and my body is telling me no more. I continue to take bites but every 10 minutes this time. I’m not sure how much more I could take of this. Every bite gets harder and harder to swallow. I can’t recall ever feeling like this over a meal.

The last 10% of my meal is left and I’m feeling closer to vomiting but somehow, I continued to push myself. I have a total of four bites left; which I must have been looking at  for a good 30 minutes. It seemed impossible and I nearly gave up but with only four bites left and 3 hours later, I couldn’t stop. I had to step outside for air every now and then. After about 3 hours with this meal, I had finally taken my last bite and declared victory. I could hardly walk at this point and I´m fully expecting many painful restroom visits.

Took a few videos and victory pictures. I couldn’t eat for the rest of the day. It took about a week to recover from this food challenge. I won’t go into details what I was recovering from. A t-shirt that says “I survived the world’s most dangerous Vindaloo” and having the privilege to write this article was my prize.

Watch Me Suffer

The quality isn’t the greatest because of the computer I was editing it with.

Well, I tried to be creative. Besides the few things they missed to tell us about the Salar de Uyuni tour, it was definitely one of the most fascinating places I have ever been to. I wish I was more prepared for what I was about to see. A search on Flickr shows that some people were a bit too prepared but were very creative.

School trip to the Salar?

The Traveler, a book by Daren Simkin

Super human Michael

Jeep tour

A local chilling on a small mountain of salt

Which way is up?

Whether you’re a lifelong backpacker on a grand journey, or you’re a total noob to this idea of budget travel, if you happen to be in the Philadelphia area, Meet, Plan, Go 2010 should be on your agenda! On September 14th, 2010, your Art of Backpacking guru’s will be hosting the first Annual Meet, Plan, Go event in Philadelphia. If you’re intrigued by the idea of breaking out of your routine and taking the road less traveled, you might want to stay tuned.

This Nationwide event sponsored by Briefcase to Backpack and Three Month Visa will celebrate the idea of people like us at Art of Backpacking, and other travelers to motivate and inspire others to travel.

The idea of backpacking in the United States isn’t as common as gap years, or time off before University studies in the UK and Australia. Therefore, the idea of Meet, Plan, Go is to provide stories, insight and information to reinforce these ideas. It’s to unite travel aficionados Nationwide on this day to socialize with others about what else? This life changing experience called travel!

Art of Backpacking will be hosting along with Keith & Amy Sutter of Green Around the Globe to discuss our personal travel experiences. We hope our stories, pictures, videos and thoughts on travel will get everyone to plan a trip abroad!

For our followers who have read about Michael’s plans to China, you must be wondering how he could be in two places at once. (Magic, right?) Since Michael will be in China, I’ll be representing as the Art of Backpacking host.

If you’re ever thought of the idea of taking time off to travel, feeling like your life batteries need to be recharged, or you want to meet and greet with other travelers, meet us and plan to go!

Information:

Update as of 7/22/2010

• Date: September 14th, 2010
• Location: Vango Lounge & Skybar on the rooftop - 116 S. 18th St, Philadelphia, PA (Google Map)
• Cost: Free! Because the best things in life are free.
• Time: 6:30-9pm
• GET TICKETS BEFORE THEY RUN OUT!

Get your ticket with Event Brite to guarantee your FREE spot at our first annual Meet, Plan, Go!

There are 41 tickets left, so make sure you sign up and don’t miss your chance to hear REAL LIFE travelers share their stories about how they were able to travel abroad.

If you’re not in the Philadelphia area, check out the list of other locations in cities like Chicago, Dallas and even San Francisco.

Staying Updated

• Register to our RSS Feed
• Follow us on Twitter for more up coming announcements.
• Follow the #MeetPlanGo hashtag on Twitter
• Most importantly, sign up for the Meet,Plan, Go newsletter

The White Lady only comes out at night, towed by a tractor to Commerce Street in downtown Auckland, just behind the train station and around the corner from Showgirls. With bright Christmas lights along her flanks like a beacon to the congregating barflies, the White Lady has been serving New Zealand’s late night crowd for more than 60 years, piling burgers high with pineapple, eggs, beets, and a series of accoutrement most would never consider atop on a beef patty.

Auckland, New Zealand is an amalgamation of cultures and foods. For backpackers, there’s excellent cheap Asian food on offer at one of the many food halls in the Central Business District. Cafes boasting outstanding coffee seem to be situated every hundred meters (tip: try the distinctive flat white). For classic New Zealand fare, any number of restaurants will offer lamb or green-lipped mussels.

But none of those are as intrinsically Auckland as a heaping burger, served in the wee hours of the morning from a trailer downtown, bathed in the neon glow of the night lights, mixing among the carousing revelers freshly emerged from the refuge of the area’s bars and nightclubs.

A word about New Zealand hamburgers: they’re probably different than what you’re used to. For starters, it’s not uncommon to find a slice of pickled beet tucked under the bun, tinging the bread pink and with a little juice running out. You’re also likely to find a bit of shredded carrot or a fried egg hiding in there. But it’s also likely to be surprisingly fresh, well-prepared and delicious. The lettuce will be crisp, the patty hand-formed. Exhibit A: The White Lady.

You’ll line up along the counter, likely behind a small group of tipsy travelers, and the first thing you’ll notice is the selection. You’ve got a choice of a dozen hamburgers, plus a selection of toasted sandwiches and even a few vegetarian options. A sign with pictures is a helpful guide for those calculating their hunger against progressively taller stacks of beef. The big one, The Aucklander, includes the works for $18.50; smaller ones, less ambitious ones are under $10.

The staff are also surprisingly helpful and friendly for a late night joint. Years of dealing with vagabonds and late night partiers can take their toll, but the crew behind the counter is patient, friendly, young and happy to have a chat between shouting out orders. They’ll even recommend a few good pubs in the area if your refueling stop is only a break in the action.

The burger will arrive carefully squeezed halfway into a paper bag. Leave it in there. You’ll need the bag as a backstop to keep all the good stuff together and from sliding out into a beefy, saucy mess. Tuck into it as best you can, adopting either the polite bites or ’shove and love’ approach. Sit on one of the upturned milk crates lined up against the wall and feel like a local.

The White Lady can be many things to Aucklanders and travelers. It’s been a source of artistic inspiration, a landmark, and much needed post-bar sustenance at only a mere stumble from a series of hostels. It’s a conspicuous and easy way for visitors to get a taste of the city’s distinctive late-night legend, and worth a pit stop on any visit.

It’s been nearly a month since the Travel Blog Exchange Conference was held in New York City and people are still talking (and recovering?) about it. It was more than just the conference and we’ve even highlighted that the top things TBEX attendes love besides TBEX.  Cailin O’Neil shows a glimpse of how good we had it in New York City.

Cailin O’Neil of Travel Yourself explores the city that never sleeps. In New York for the Travel Bloggers Exchange Conference (tbex10), she parties with fellow travelers, tweeters and explores some of the top tourist attractions.

Being my first backpacking experience; My South American Journey of 2010 was anticipated to be filled with great memories. Besides looking forward to Argentine steak, Bolivian salt flats and the glory of Machu Picchu in Peru; there would be more surprises along the way. When you meet other backpackers on the off beaten path; often do you get great recommendations about places you’ve never heard of. Suddenly, you find yourself extending your trip and spending an extra month in Peru.

Upon the last weeks of my trip in Lima, Peru, backpackers in my hostel kept talking about sand boarding in a nearby town. I couldn’t even imagine how this worked, nor possibly being able to do it. Huacachina, located in Ica, Peru is a backpacker hot spot. Known as the “Oasis of America”, the huge tourist attraction serves as a resort for locals and a thrill for tourists. The sport of sand boarding and dune buggy rides serve for one hell of a ride. (Literally)

Suddenly, I found myself intrigued by the idea of a new, unique sport. In the past, I failed at riding the slopes of Mountain Creek in New Jersey when I found myself falling on the snow snowboarding. But, backpackers found the thrill of riding the soft sand to be a soft landing when you crash on your derrière.

Days later, I found myself in Huacachina, looking forward to a beautiful view, a vigorous workout and lots of bruises. If you’ve ever wanted to see a landscape that looked like a Photoshopped computer image, take a look at the gorgeous views of the Peruvian oasis.

Huacachina Oasis by dwhaynes2214

Huacachina Oasis: By the docks by Teresa Gotay

Teresa enjoying the Huacachina Oasis by Teresa Gotay

Finally, it was time to strap on board (Literally) and get down. The ride up the dunes is a thrill in itself. Drivers often speed up and down sand dunes like a roller coaster. With the adrenaline running through my veins and a huge smile on my face; it was finally time to let go.

After realizing I am a bit unbalanced, I decided to go head first (Literally!) by strapping myself stomach down right down the hill. Ready, set, go. I took a deep breath and felt the push of the instructor as I glided down the warm sand and felt the wind in my hair and the sand  in my face.

Nothing can describe the feeling of going head first down the sand dunes. This sport should be an olympic game! (Although I’m not sure how it could be a competition, it should just be for its awesomeness in itself.)

Sandboarding in Huacachina by Teresa Gotay

After going down a few more hills; I found myself in love with this new sport. It is one of the top experiences in my travel life. Many people thought I wouldn’t be able to handle the crazy sand dunes for a girl who finds herself previously scared of some heights. But, in life, just like travel, its always best to keep an open mind and sometimes, you need to just let go!

If you find yourself in Peru, do yourself a favor and visit the sand dunes in Huacachina. You will instantly get addicted to the thrill of the ride. The city in itself is also a warm friendly place with locals who bond together with tourists to party after a long day in the Peruvian sun.

Some information about Huacachina:

• Located 5 hours south of Lima, Peru.
• Make sure to bring lots of sunscreen; the Peruvian sun will fry you!
• Wear a long layered shirt and bottom.Even though the sun will be hot, it will prevent you from bleeding and bruising. (A lot less at least.)
• Note that the Huacachina oasis is located on the 50 sole Peruvian bill!
• Keep balance on your feet by staying low.
• Hold on tight when going down on your stomach. Letting go can easily send you on a tumbling fall.
• General information about Huacachina.

Have you ever been sand boarding or fell in love with a sport while traveling? Have you been to Peru and done this awesome activity?

I love inspirational quotes. I’m frequently posting quotes I’m inspired by on Art of Backpacking’s Facebook Page that may relate to travelers. These signs were spotted in Chiang Mai, Thailand. There were plenty of these signs at this particular park but I took shots of my favorite ones.

Eat to live but live to eat.

Anxiety shortens life

The skilled man does not show off, but the man without knowledge usually show off.

Clean, Clear, Calm; these are the characteristics of a noble person.

Don't escape when you have a problem because there always is a way to solve it.

The legendary Southeast Asia Buckets; the backpacking trail just wouldn’t be the same without it. Perhaps for the same reason Goon is to Australia. Who knew the same bucket we used as children to build sandcastles with would be used again to go into oblivion with on the other side of the world?

Thailand Buckets

Instead of a bucket set of a shovel and fork, these come with a flask of alcohol, two cans of soda, and a Redbull. It’s the adult version. Most buckets are about 150 to 200 Baht (~$5USD). The amount of straws shoved in a bucket is about a dozen with the idea that you’ll be sharing. The quantity can be overwhelming for one person and is often shared. One bucket will certainly get you there but who’s counting? The Thai version of Redbull does not give you wings and instead gives you a jet-pack. It’s a highly concentrated version of the more popular version.

Thai Bucket Vendors

The vendors are heavily competitive with their marketing campaigns. There’s a trend to adding the word ‘fuck’ to as many things as possible. The less sense it makes, the better. Trying to make any sense out of it will only make it worse.

How To Make a Thai Bucket

• First get a plastic round sandcastle bucket.
• Sangsom rum flask + one small bottle of a Thai energy drink (M-150 or Redbull) + Two cans of Coca Cola, Pepsi, or Sprite + a ton of ice
  OR
• Mekong whiskey flask (Thai Whisky), + one small bottle of a Thai energy drink (M-150 or Redbull) + Two cans of Coca Cola, Pepsi, or Sprite
  There are ton more variations.
• They do sometimes add lime.
• A ton of ice.
• About a dozen straws. Even if you’re only using one of the straws.
  

My personal favorite is the Mekong whiskey, Coca Cola, and Redbull mix. A few buckets of those and I’m good to go (for a week)! Party on!

Thai Bucket Vendors

Thai Bucket Vendors

Quoted area is from Good

One shop in particular, I’m told, is a clearinghouse for drugs. Armed with the proper introduction, in I went. In lieu of a traditional greeting, the owner simply asks me what I’m looking for, and how much of it I’ll need. “And, yes, we have cocaine,” he adds as an afterthought…

He quizzes me, asking where I live in the city, if I have the cash on me, and if I’ll need assistance getting it back home from Ciudad del Este. Satisfied with my answers, he reaches under the counter to produce a narrow tan brick of densely compressed Paraguayan Brown (marijuana), barely softer than a rock. It looks like AstroTurf.

He asks me again how much I’m looking for and I stutter, blurting out that 50 kilos should do it for now. He chuckles. “We usually sell more than that, 200 or so, but we can do 50. One second.”

He leaves the room to make a phone call, and a moment later returns: “It’ll be $20 U.S. a kilo,” he says. “And are you sure you don’t need any help getting that to Argentina?”

Original and full article on Good and found on Boing Boing

The streets of ciudad del Este in Paraguay by www.thousandflavors.com

This is Cuidad del Este in Paraguay. Conveniently, just across the bridge from Brazil and a few minutes from Argentina.

For Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, the black market is legal and there’s is no taxation on any of the goods. People buy what they need in Paraguay and then go into Brazil or Argentina with it. For example, Argentina’s electronics are over-priced and taxed to an unbelievable amount. If you want to bring purchased electronics across the border, it needs to look used as if it wasn’t bought in Paraguay, otherwise it’ll just be taxed to the same amount as if you bought it in Argentina.

Widely open, people are buying dozens if not thousands of electronics from Xbox360’s, laptops, and TV’s and illegally bringing them into other countries to sell. For this to happen there are many underground passages that lead into Brazil and Argentina. Another way is a boat that drops off most items on an island that’s owned by Paraguay and at night picked up to bring to the Brazil side. Again, at 6pm, shifts change between security with a 15-minute gap and during that time everything is rushed over into Brazil. You’d think that perhaps they would stop this from happening but the reality is Paraguay lives off of this and maybe if it wasn’t for this – the country would collapse. People are paid off in Brazil and Argentina as well. It’s a big business. Could Paraguay survive without the black market?

Ciudad Del Este - Paraguay by Fausto Barros

It doesn’t stop at electronics though. They have cologne, toys, drugs, guns, and whatever else your heart desires and easily accessible to find. How convenient, you can buy a Barbie doll, a Matchbox car, an AK47, and a kilo of cocaine within a few minutes. Want it delivered? No problem, the store will smuggle that in to your address for a few extra dollars.

The city itself is a slum. Not very appealing at all. The electrical wires by the apartments is a fire just waiting to happen. The layout of the city didn’t make much sense to me (I don’t think anything is suppose to make sense here). High profile malls across the street from broken down apartment buildings. The malls and streets are filled with security men holding shotguns and semi-automatics though surprisingly most are not even cops and merely hired security to look tough near stores.

This was in the electronic shopping mall. Everyone is repackaging their items to condense the shipment to smuggle it into Brazil or Argentina.

The hassling of people reminded me a lot of China and SE Asia. Ten year old children hassling you to buy socks that even when you say no, they still won’t go away.

Needless to say, if you’re going to visit Iguazu Falls anyway – you may want to consider visiting Ciudad del Este for it’s unbeatable shopping prices. It’s only a thirty minute bus ride from Argentina’s Iguazu Falls. I don’t suggest going back to Brazil or Argentina with any grenades though.