Off the Beaten Path

Sometimes, by taking a path less traveled while on vacation, treasures can be discovered. Whether traveling locally or internationally, finding an out of the way spot that highlights a magical yet local venue is normally one of the most memorable experiences a traveler can have while traveling.
 

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Even in your own backyard there are special and astonishing venues that can offer a local flavor that is overseen by most residents. A neighborhood pub or jazz club will often highlight or promote a local group that really makes its mark as truly homegrown and vibrant. Sometimes, finding a small little eatery with almost family styled meals can open one’s eyes to the hidden treasures that our own cities tuck away in unexpected corners.

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The same holds true while traveling. Sometimes by stepping off the path of popularity and obvious tourist attractions you can end up in a special spot that glitters with its own magic and inspiration. And you become part of that moment, etched forever in your memory as well as the memories of every other attending person.

Of course, when traveling, there is great value in touring well-known and popular establishments. Walking across famous bridges or entering an ancient and well-known building can also etch permanent memories. But whenever a traveler stumbles across an unknown but honestly authentic diner or club, those are typically the experiences that hold a place front and center in our memories of our trip.

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In essence, whether at home or abroad, trust the adventurer in yourself. Discover places you cannot pronounce or remember how you came across it. Travel is always magical, but when you find a true paradise that even the locals often overlook, you can and will hold such an experience forever.

Never forget that a place that is off the beaten path is not less special than the spots where everyone who wants to be seen gathers. Sometimes, it is even more special!

Take a Vacation in Your Home City of Los Angeles: Part II

In Part I of this series, you learned ways to appreciate your own city by taking weekend vacations exploring the colleges and universities of the area, as well as visiting downtown. Part II of this series will give you a wider appreciation for some of the destinations in the area that may be familiar, yet unexplored.

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Venice Beach: The boardwalk along the beach is about 1.5 miles long. Spend weekends exploring it three different ways: By foot, by bicycle, and on inline skates. Walking by foot, you will be able to view the interesting people and sights. On one side of the boardwalk is the ocean and beach. On the other side are buildings that look like they could be at home in Miami Beach. In front and to the side of you are people with painted faces, bathing suits, parrots on their shoulders, and folks performing juggling and feats of strength. And make sure you visit Muscle Beach, the outdoor gym where Arnold Schwarzenegger and other body builders worked on their physiques.

The Strand: On the day that you decide to bike the Venice Beach boardwalk, make sure you continue on the 20 mile strand that runs along the coast from Torrance Beach to Pacific Palisades. During your ride, you will pass plenty of places to stop for a bite or a beer. If you are riding with one other person, consider renting a tandem so that you can easily talk during your ride. College students often schedule a pub crawl along this route, which means that they walk, bike, or skate from one bar to another, meeting up with friends at each one.

Louis Habash is a travel writer based out of Los Angeles. He will be the first person to tell you that he, Louis Habash, does not appreciate his fair city often enough.Visit this Facebook page for more.

Take a Vacation in Your Home City of Los Angeles: Part I

The greater Los Angeles area is such an interesting blend of cultures, landmarks, diversions, and types of entertainment that people visit from around the world for their vacations. Those who live in this city do not consider the fact that they spend every day in a location that others choose as a vacation spot. If you live in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, you can create vacations for yourself every weekend.

The College Weekend: Los Angeles is home to USC, UCLA, Whittier College, Loyola Marymount, Pepperdine, and many more. Spend a day walking around the expansive and beautiful UCLA campus, watching students throw Frisbees and relaxing in the sun. Walk into some of the old and new buildings. Visit adjoining Westwood for lunch. Check out the Pepperdine campus, which overlooks the ocean at Malibu. Walk around the USC, urban campus. Get a feel for the differences in cultures and student bodies at these institutions.

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The Downtown Weekend: This part of the city holds great interest for its art, Asian and Latino cultures, its Red Line and its architecture. You can see multicultural murals in many locations, including parts of the subway. Visit the Central Library and gasp at the painted ceiling in the lobby and the Ivanhoe paintings around the building. Get lunch in Little Tokyo, then take a ride up Angel’s Flight. On a different weekend, visit the Jewelry District to find a special ring at discount prices. Then top off your wardrobe at the Fashion District. On a third weekend, visit Olvera Street, the birthplace of the city and home to a Mexican-style plaza and buildings dating to 1818. And make sure you run across the street to Union Station to sit in the lobby and look up at the ceiling.

Louis Habash is a travel writer based out of Los Angeles. As a person, who understands the appeal of vacation spots to visitors, Louis Habash also appreciates the appeal of his hometown.Visit this blog site for more about him.

Kathmandu: The ancient city of wonder

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If you love ancient cities, then you’ll love Kathmandu, the capital of the kingdom on the roof of the world—Nepal. The city is more than 2000 years old and is located 4,600 feet above sea level. Enclosed within a valley, Kathmandu is a sight to behold.

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Kathmandu is the best place to experience Nepali culture and tradition. I found many Hindu and Buddhist temples just by walking around, which is, by far, the best way to experience Kathmandu. The famous Pashupatinath Temple can be found in Kathmandu, near the banks of the Bagmati River. You can also visit the Durbar Square, which is one of the oldest squares in the world; walk around Thamel, the city’s bustling tourist city; climb the 365 steps to the Swayambhunath, the so-called monkey temple; and visit the King’s palace, which is now a museum.

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However, despite the abundance of things to do and places to visit, the best thing to experience in Nepal is the food. Food here is cheap and plentiful, and most of those I tasted were heavenly, to say the least. My favorite was the Dal Bhat, which is a meal that consists of a lentil soup, mixed vegetables, chili, pickled vegetables, more vegetables, and mutton. Notice the amount of vegetables? It’s no wonder why Nepalese people are so slim. Food in Nepal has a little bit of Indian influence, which means that people with really sensitive stomachs should be wary.

I love Kathmandu. I think it is a great city with so much to offer, and I will definitely come back—if I get back from Mt. Everest alive, that is.

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Sadhus: The wandering holy men of Nepal

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In my travels, I have often searched for something different—something extraordinarily inspiring. This time, that search led me to the kingdom on the roof of the world, Nepal—one of the two last homes of the Sadhus.

The Sadhus, or “good man” in English, are wandering holy men indigenous to Nepal and India, where Hinduism is widely practiced. They are highly revered because many see them as the embodiment of all that is good in man. Most of them are also practitioners of Yoga--thereby called Yogi-- and meditation. Almost all of them are ascetic, living simple lives, and have left behind all material attachments to live beyond the fringe of normal society.

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It is said that talking to a Sadhu is deeply inspiring and moving; however, I did not find it so, probably because I don’t speak a word of Hindi. Some Sadhus do speak English, but sadly, I wasn’t able to meet one who does. My tour guide however, was helpful enough and answered a few questions for me. He said that in order to become a Sadhu, a man must leave everything behind and look for a “guru” who can then teach him the ways of the Sadhu. Throughout India and Nepal, there are different Sadhu sects, and each has its own set of rituals and traditions. Women can also become Sadhus and are called Sadhvi.

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While walking around Nepal, I noticed that these holy men have nothing and want nothing, satisfied with just simple donations of food and clothing. I chuckled inwardly, remembering the day when my mother said to me, “Louis Habash, material things won’t do you any good when you die.” I realized then that she was right.

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Go for the road less travelled

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Being a travel writer like me, Louis Habash, is not really as glamorous as most of you think. Sure, you get to see the world, have your own adventures at your own pace, and write about them. However, after the novelty of traveling wears off and the weariness kicks in, travel writing tends to get tedious pretty quickly. To prevent that, you need to get off the tourist trail and go for the road less travelled.

Although visiting famous tourist places like the Taj Mahal in India, the bustling city of Bangkok in Thailand, the Bali beaches in Indonesia, or the majestic Ankor Wat in Cambodia while going through Southeast Asia is somewhat obligatory, going for less popular tourist attractions in these countries took me on unforgettable adventures.

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I, Louis Habash, remember being pelted with colored powder by children and adults alike during the Festival of Colors in Gujarat, one of the least visited but most rewarding places in India; dining with the locals in Isan, which is often labeled the poorest province in Thailand, to experience the “real” Thailand; walking through the pristine beauty of the Jatiluwih rice terraces in Bali; and listening to the sounds of wildlife while breathing in cool, fresh air at the Kep National Park in Cambodia.

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Taking the obvious tourist path can sometimes be rewarding, but the stress of dealing with huge, unruly crowds that usually dot the tourist trap landscape is, most of the time, not worth it. There are always hidden gems out there, waiting to be discovered.


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Louis Habash: A life of trips, not traps

“Louis Habash is a realist,” as I often tell people. I’ve almost spent half of my adult life in the road writing about the world, but I never bore illusion that what surrounded me at various moments of my journeys were pure ugly or beautiful.

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Life could be a trap or a trip, and what falls on our lap at the end depends on how tight and often we’re willing to wear travel boots and write our life in the road. Just as what American novelist and poet Jack Kerouac once said: “Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” I could tell you, Louis Habash here has learned that the hard way. Indeed, life is a long journey I’ve learned to anticipate every waking hour either on my desk or in my car.

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If there’s anything I learned as a travel writer, it’s the fact that my job come in ebbs and flows—no dry run, yet no dry spells either. So I keep hitting the road and exploring life. In many ways, realism has taught me to accept some things as they are while taking others with a grain of salt. This is my journey.

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