Southwest China is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life. I took this picture when I was en route to Shangri-La (Zhongdian).

Flipnomad’s Photo Thursday – Tibetan Town near Shangri-la is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Here’s a list of seven healing practices in Asia that I have seen being offered in the places that I’ve been to:

Reiki: Reiki is a spiritual practice that originated from Japan. It is said that it has been developed by a Buddhist practitioner who believes that transference of energy from one person to another through the palm can help boost the body’s ability to heal itself. This practice also believes to restore our state of equilibrium or balance which helps improve one’s health.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture is considered as one of the oldest healing techniques that are still being practice today. A lot of people from various countries from the East and the West believe in the healing power of acupuncture. Acupuncture is also being taught in some schools in various countries making this healing art accessible to a lot of young people. This practice is basically a variety of procedures using needles to penetrate various stimulations points in our body and then manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation.

Acupuncture is believed to be effective in healing depression, anxiety and some sleep disorders. It is said to have originated in China but it is currently being practice all over the world and in case you’re in Southeast Asia you can try to visit this Acupuncture Herbal Treatment and Cure in Kuala Lumpur.

Herbal Medicines: Herbalism or Herbal Medicines or basically the use of natural herbs and other medicinal plants to cure a variety of diseases is being practiced around the world. It is also known to be one of the oldest healing technique and most of our modern medicines originated from this practice. All plants have and continuously (in their life cycles) produce chemical compounds that are being use to cure a variety of diseases. The Tole Acupuncture-Herbal Medical Center also offers Herbal Medicine Treatment if you prefer this than acupuncture.

Cupping Therapy: This old practice also originated from China and it is still being use until now to help improve blood flow. This is very popular in Southeast Asia especially in the touristy areas and it’s commonly being offered in various spas. This technique involves creating a vacuum by placing a glass cup on top of your skin by means of heat and vacuum. It is said to be effective in reducing stress and body pain. If you’re interested to try Cupping Therapy, The Tole Center in Kuala Lumpur also offers this service.

Ayurveda: Ayurveda or Ayurvedic Medicines originate from India and it is still being practiced until today. Ayurveda gives emphasis on using herbal medicines to help cure diseases. There are difference branch in this practice and they also gives focus on the importance of meditation, yoga and various exercises.

Hilot: Hilot is one of the popular healing practices that is still being used today in the Philippines to heal body pains, common flu, muscle pains, arthritis and others. Hilot is basically just massaged and it’s not just being practiced in the Philippines but as well as in other parts of the world.

Meditation: You might be surprised why meditation is considered a healing technique but a lot of people feel and believe that a lot of our physical ailments are byproducts of the condition of our mental health. And meditation comes in to help maintain our self-equilibrium, reduce stress, speed up recovery and rejuvenation etc.

Some of the healing practices mentioned in this article are said to have a placebo effect on various patients thus facilitating healing. Some believes that they are really effective in curing diseases and some don’t. Growing up in the Philippines, I was exposed to herbal medicines and “hilot” to cure some of my basic illness, looking back it seemed to have had cured my sickness maybe because that time, I believed and trusted that it would indeed heal me.

Editor’s Note: This post is brought to you by The TOLE Acupuncture-Herbal Medical Center. One of the leading acupuncture and herbal treatment centers in Kuala Lumpur.

Photo Credits (Flickr & Wikimedia CC):Reiki by Luz/ Acupuncture Model by Thunderchild7/ Lemon Balm by Smoobs/ Cupping therapy by Alanna Ralph/ Indian Painting by colros/ Meditation by Bino Caina/ Massage by Lubyanka

Seven Healing Practices in Asia is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

The Wagah ceremony starts with the parade of soldiers from both sides. Since I was sitting at the Indian side, I could only see the Indian soldiers. But it would have been cooler if I could also get a clear view of what the Pakistani soldiers were doing.

The Indian soldiers were marching and doing some high kicks, some soldiers I think overdid it and hit their own head in the process (ouch!)

Here are some pictures and videos of Wagah Ceremony that I took:

Audience eagerly awaiting for the parade

Making the crowd excited!

Indian Soldiers

Indian Visitors Carrying the Flag towards the Pakistan Gate

Ladies first!

Gentlemen, next!

More marching!

Marching towards Pakistan Border Gate

How to Get Here

You can take a bus and go to the border or you can take the shared taxi that cost 100 Rupees per person (RT) near Jalianwala. You could also arrange book the shared taxi through your hostel.

Our shared taxi at the drop off point near the border

At the drop off point, you could take a rickshaw or you can just walk one kilometer up to where the ceremony is being held.

Bring your passport or a copy of your passport and then proceed to Gate 3 where you the foreigners have some allocated seats. The guards are checking the passports before they let foreigners in Gate 3.

And, bags are not allowed by the way, not even camera bags and they’re very strict on implementing this. Just leave your bags in your respective hostels.

Enjoy!

Wagah Ceremony at the India-Pakistan Border is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Jonny write a lot of insightful tips that you will definitely find helpful. He also has a lot of articles about working along the way which I’m sure you’ll find interesting especially if you’re a budget traveler like me who’s always looking for opportunity to prolong our lives on the road.

Get to know more about Jonny and follow hi adventure at Don’t Stop Living.

But before you leave this page, check out my short interview with Jonny.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“It’s a good question as none of my family or friends were big travellers. I think it was three things that triggered
it off, the first was looking at maps of the world as a kid and thinking I wanted to go everywhere. The second was football, I loved looking at Panini football sticker books and thinking I’d love to go to places like Montevideo, Seoul and Moscow some day. The third thing that triggered my passion for travelling was just making my first step and leaving my home country of Northern Ireland 10 years ago. Once I’d made the first step, the rest fell into place.”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“There have been a few. I won’t mention the really personal ones, but being robbed in Prague, escaping a mugging and being ripped off in Caracas were horrible experiences. I’ve had loads of cancelled flights, trains and buses too but I see them all as part of the journey and experience rather than bad things. I also lost my wallet and camera in Laos.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

“Without doubt landing in Antarctica. It was my dream to visit the world’s most remote and coldest continent and I worked very hard to get there and did it. My first footsteps on Antarctica were just bewildering and mindblowing! Aside from that hiking near the Tibet border, the Inca Trail in Peru and staying in Soweto, South Africa were very inspiring moments.”

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

“That I can go anywhere, work anywhere and live anywhere. I have no restrictions. I hate being tied down to a permanent job or a flat. It seems crazy that anyone could work for the same company and live in the same flat their whole life. There’s a big world out there and I want to see it.

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“Seeing new places, meeting new people. I will never get tired or bored crossing a border into a new country, trying a new food or sightseeing round a new city. It’s just the sense that everywhere I go is new that keeps me going. I rarely return to the same place.”

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“Great question!! If it was another man it would be James Bond. I’d be able to go anywhere without fear! I wouldn’t care about bombs or wars going off, I’d have my own secret agent as my sidekick!If it was another woman it would be Kylie Minogue. She was my first crush when I was a kid and to have her singing The Loco-motion as we cross the border into Turkmenistan would be phenomenal!”

Where’s your favourite place in this planet and why?

“That’s a very very tough question but the answer has to be Northern Ireland. I was born and raised there and I’m proud of it – it’s my home. My friends, family and football teams are all there so it’s my favourite place. Even though I’ve only been back to visit twice in four years!But as a traveller, I’d have to say Antarctica again. Nothing compares to the sublime beauty of it. Bolivia, Paraguay and Taiwan are also contenders.”

What’s your best tips for newbie traveller?

“I’ll give you a few of my tips if that’s cool!- Book a one way ticket and don’t leave anything important behind. Pack
your bag and off you go into the wilderness.- Don’t go where all the other tourists are. Instead of heading to Bangkok, head to Shenzhen. Instead of heading to Rome head to Debrecen. Instead of heading to Rio de Janeiro head to Asuncion. You will get much better memories and experiences by getting off the beaten track!- Travel with 2 passports if you can. If you can’t, make sure you have the biggest passport possible, those stamps and visas will fill up the pages very quickly.”

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

“They are both related to water. My funniest is having a naked dip in the waters of Antarctica. My silliest is swimming in the Nam Song River in Laos with my wallet and camera in a green plastic bag over my neck. I waved goodbye to $1000 in an instant. Another silly thing I did was not getting a bigger passport first time around. I was refused entry to Suriname, Singapore and Thailand as my British passport was full, no problems at all, I just whipped out my reserve passport – an Irish one!!”

How do you keep yourself safe on your travels?

“I normally travel with my girlfriend and we generally keep each other safe. I lock up my important things in hostels and safes before I go out at night. I don’t acknowledge anyone who is trying to sell me anything, I don’t reveal much to strangers and I don’t approach people on the street at night.”

What do you think about yourself?

“I’m basically just a normal Northern Irishman from a small seaside town (Bangor) who saw the bigger picture and got out to see the world. I see myself as someone who wants to see the world and share it with others even if they don’t want to listen. I want more people to travel the world. I’d like to inspire others to follow in my footsteps and prove how easy it is to live a lifestyle of travel.”

“Don’t Stop Living is my one man, seven continent travel blog that I am passionate about. I live a lifestyle of travel and I write about places I’ve been, people I’ve met, beers I’ve tried, things I’ve seen, jobs I’ve had, food I’ve tasted and anything I want. I’m on an endless journey and I want to help fellow travellers with tips and advice on what to do on your travels. My blog began life in 2007 and I’ve written over 1,000 blog posts.” – Jonny Blair

Meet the Nomads – Jonny Blair of Don’t Stop Living is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

This was the nearest I got to Tibet. My flight from Chengdu to Kathmandu had a stop over at Lhasa Gonggar Airport in Tibet and I took this photo while I was at the smoking area.

Flipnomad’s Photo Thursday – Lhasa Gonggar Airport is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Istanbul Turkey is a wonderful contrast between ancient and modern ages. From its rich history of being the capital of the Ottoman and Byzantine empires comes many mosques and other religious buildings with such beautiful architecture that you will be enchanted for days. Next to one of these may stand a very modern skyscraper. The atmosphere runs from very conservative, religious people to bustling, chaotic bazaars, to a nightlife like none other. Being next to the sea also brings all of the fun any water-loving person could want. It is definitely a city you will want to spend a little extra time in and is of course featured as one of the entries in one of my post titled 100 Places To See Before You Die:

1. The Hagia Sophia is definitely at the top of the list of things to do. Its stunning architecture is symbolic of the Byzantine empire during which it was constructed. The historical significance of what was once a church adds to the mystique and charm. Its mosaic walls, vaulted chambers and interior views help make this one of the most visited sites.

2. The Blue Mosque is an active religious site that was built to rival the Hagia Sophia. Its myriad of domes, semi-domes and minarets make this a magnificent place to see.

3. The Grand Bazaar, with its thousands of shops, is one of the biggest and oldest indoor markets in the world. The noisy, chaotic atmosphere with vendors and customers haggling over the price of everything will mesmerize you into spending hours there.

4. The Istanbul Archeology Museum is another fascinating place you must see. It has more than one million antique objects in the three buildings. You will not want to miss the Alexander Sarcophagus or the Sarcophagus of the Crying Women while there.

5. The Topkapi Palace is next to the Archeology Museum. Built for the Ottoman empire Sultans, it too has amazing architecture. The courtyards are simply amazing, and all of the exhibits in it are a thrill to see. It does cost a pretty high admission fee, but if you spend half a day seeing it, it is worth the price.

6. Church of St Saviour in Chora is one more historical place you need to visit. Its famous mosaics, frescoes and Christian art from the Byzantine empire make this second only to Hagia Sophia.

7. After so much culture, it is time to relax and enjoy! The Ortakoy neighborhood is just the place to do that in. During the day it has many market stalls along the street. At night the restaurants and bars get hopping. It can get a little pricey, but it is a perfect place to see how the “real people” live and party.

8. Rooftop bars and restaurants are everywhere in Istanbul, and are the best way to see the city. These have been becoming more popular over the last few years and the competition is high, so they each have their “gimmick”, which makes them all fun to explore and find the one that suits your taste.

9. Hamams are Turkish massages meant to purify body and soul. Given while lying on a steamy slab, they are a perfect way to relax – or recover from trying out the last two suggestions!

10. Narghile, or hookah smoking is another Turkish cultural thing to try. It is flavored tobaccos, even fruity ones like cherry, which are smoked through the hookah, or water pipe. Also known as “hubbly-bubbly” it is one of those fun things that even non-smokers should try.

Editor’s Note: This guest post was written by Justin Carmack.

Photo Credits (Flickr CC): Hagia Sophia by Paul Keller/ Blue Mosque by Sev!/ Grand Bazaar by Alaskan Dude/ Istanbul Archeology Museum by azken_tximinoa/ Topkapi Palace by y entonces/ Church of St Saviour by Anosmia/ Ortakoy by amitd/ Rooftop Bar by Dave Proffer/ Hamam by Alazaat/ Hookah by dyakov peter/

10 Things to Do in Istanbul, Turkey is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Most people who go to Amritsar usually just go to one place, the Golden Temple.

The Golden Temple would probably one of the most iconic and probably also one of the most photographed building in India. It’s actually a Sikh temple not Hindu but the temple welcomes visitors and worshippers from all religions and all walks of life.

As a tourist, you have an option to stay inside the temple if you want to. We initially thought about that staying in the temple but have decided to stay in a hostel instead.

There are some minor stuff that you need to know before you go to the Golden Temple. First, you have to leave your shoes or flip flops to keep the temple grounds clean and second, you have to cover your head with a scarf as a sign of respect. And also, there’s no entrance fee.

Upon entering, I immediately felt how holy this temple is for the people who go here. There’s a certain vibe that I just could not explain. Unlike some temples that I’ve visited in India, it’s a little quite and serene inside the Golden Temple.

I was planning to spend the whole day photographing but ended up joining the still silence and just observed everything that was happening around me.

I noticed that people are bathing, drinking and washing their faces on the water the surrounds the Golden Temple. According to the local man that we met inside the temple, the water is considered holy thus the word Amrit meaning “holy water” and “immortal nectar”.

We waited until night time to see the temple all lit up. And as soon as dusk fell, the place is surrounded by the echoing prayers coming from the temple. Everyone sat in silence including the local and foreign visitors. It’s such a surreal experience.

Go and check it out for yourself.

The Golden Temple of Amritsar is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Learn more about Adam and follow his adventure at Happiness Plunge.

Before you leave this page, check out my short interview with Adam.

How did you discover your passion for travelling?

“I was always curious about the rest of the world, perhaps because my dad is an immigrant to the U.S. from another country. But during my final year of college I took a class about Egypt and then did a 10-day group study abroad trip to Egypt. It had been a lifelong dream to see the pyramids, one of those things you think you’ll never do but always want to.

After that seal was broken, that travel isn’t as difficult as I thought and that it’s full of wonderful challenges and things to learn, I returned to the U.S. and interviewed for a job that promised an international career. I got the job and the genie was out of the bottle.

66 countries and nine years later, I still feel like I’ve just begun.”

What’s the most horrible experience that you’ve had on the road?

“I don’t see anything I’ve experienced as horrible, rather things to learn from and things to grow from. I’ve been robbed three times, once violently in Colombia. I get sick about once a month. I am often sleeping on the floor in not-so-ideal situations.

As I travel I often seek out the other side, the hidden side and the side tourism boards don’t want you to see. So I think the worst experience is seeing the worst of humanity. I’ve seen extreme poverty, homeless and parentless children, and more injustice than I ever imagined possible. It has shown me how much work there is to do out there to alleviate the suffering of humanity.”

What’s the best travel experience that you’ve ever had?

“There are too many to list. Experiencing Holi and Diwali in India have been amazing. Machu Pichu, the Pyramids, Angkor Wat, all amazing. Taking a safari in Southern Africa was mind-blowing. Being rescued from homelessness by Indians in Costa Rica on Thanksgiving was unforgettable. I’ll never forget independence day in Mexico, nor the villages you can’t find on Google Maps that took me in and taught me so much in Peru, El Salvador, Laos, and The Philippines. The Thai Buddhist Temple and Indian Ashram helped me connect with something bigger than myself, and all my volunteering experiences have helped me connect with humanity.

I guess that’s not a direct answer, but what can I do? ”

What’s the biggest realization that you’ve got out of travelling?

“Very few things are held in common among the far corners of the earth. Thus far, the only thing I’ve seen in common across all countries, cultures, and ways of life is love.”

What keeps you going? What keeps you motivated?

“Some fear the unknown. As an infinitely curious person, I look forward to exploring it. So that’s what keeps me going, discovering what else is out there, what new ideas I’ll stumble upon in some random village, what experiences will make me grow as a person. That keeps me motivated, as does my volunteering.”

This is a silly and hypothetical one. If you would be given a chance to travel with a popular person or a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“I’m currently in India and my first thought was Mahatma Gandhi, though he is not alive. If the person had to be alive, I would pick India’s most famous resident of today: The Dalai Lama. He seems to be an unending source of happiness, compassion, empathy, and positivity despite all he and Tibet have gone through in his lifetime. He seems like someone who would be fun to hang out with, and whose awesomeness is infectious.”

Where’s your favourite place in this planet and why?

“In all honesty I don’t have one. When you live for the moment each place should be amazing. Still, when I visited Machu Pichu I couldn’t help but be amazed and think..for hours. It just brought together so much for me exactly at the right time. It’s still hard to explain how they built it and why the inhabitants disappeared, just like it’s hard to explain why we are here as a species, why I am here as a person, etc. If you’re traveling, and I had been for eight months straight at that point, it’s just a perfect place to stop and reflect about the deep stuff happening in your life.”

What’s your best tip for newbie traveller?

“I think the best tip I can offer is to know thyself. Being on the road will test your passion for traveling, your patience, your faith in humanity, and more. If you aren’t on solid footing with yourself, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, capacities and limitations, it’s easy to get swallowed up in something so much bigger than yourself. So take the time to figure out who you are, what you want out of traveling, and why you are hitting the road in the first place. Then listen to your gut the rest of the way.”

What’s the funniest and silliest thing you’ve ever done while travelling?

“I guess the funniest thing is all relative as I have done many silly things that would be funny to the local people in each place. But one universally silly thing happened without me realizing it. I didn’t feel well and went to the bathroom in Medellin, Colombia. Somehow my long shirt ended up picking up some of the toilet paper I used to mummify the public toilet seat. I walked around town all day after that, no doubt being seen by thousands of people. I didn’t find it until I got home, but there’s an even funnier twist to the story you’ll have to click here to read about.”

How do you keep yourself safe on your travels?

“Well, considering I’ve been robbed three times in the past 20 months, and one temporary companion of mine was robbed while with me, maybe I’m not the best person to ask. But yes, I avoid being out at night in places that are known to be unsafe. I don’t usually carry a wallet. I try to blend in wherever I am in some way. I walk with a purpose.

In the end, you have to trust your gut and I’ve learned to listen to mine. I’m sure it’s kept me out of trouble many times.”

What do you think about yourself?

“I think of myself as constantly evolving toward my full potential. I think I’m funny with a quirky sense of humor, humble, with few needs in life, and full of love.”

“My blog chronicles my adventures volunteering my way around the world as well as my own personal story of taking the plunge into happiness and my thoughts about happiness. I don’t hold anything back and there’s a little something there for everyone to enjoy.” – Adam Pervez

Photo Credits: All pics are provided by Adam

Meet the Nomads – Adam Pervez of Happiness Plunge is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

I took this picture at Clark Quay Singapore a couple of years back. This is by far the biggest Halloween party I have ever seen in my life. A lot of young Singaporeans and expats attended the said event wearing nice costumes ranging from cartoon and comic book characters and even biblical characters such as Jesus and some of his disciples.

Flipnomad’s Photo Thursday – Halloween at Clark Quay is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!

Luckily, in the past couple of years, there were no riots and the city has been relatively peaceful and flocks of tourists started pouring in.

Srinagar is famous for its gardens and of course the shikaras (water taxis) and houseboats on Dal Lake.

Most people flock here to experience what it’s like to live on the houseboats. Initially I thought that I’d like to try the same thing. But after seeing them I’ve decided to just stay in a regular hostel (Gulab Junaid Guesthouse at Dal Gate) instead. The houseboats in Srinagar unlike the ones in Kerala are stationary and does not cruise around the lake.

The lake itself is clean albeit of some few trashes that sadly some tourists just throw to the lake.

There are many small freshwater fishes that can be seen and also birds that feed on them. There’re eagles, kingfishers and some other birds that I’m not familiar with.

I was really fond of watching these kingfishers flying around looking for some fishes to eat.

Anyway, here are some pictures that I took in Srinagar:

View of the Fort from the lakeside boulevard

The Houseboats

The Shikaras

If you want to cruise around Dal Lake, the regular fare is 300 Rupees per hour as per their association’s published rate (as of the time of writing). If you want to stay in one of these houseboats, better negotiate once you’re there.

And for safety purposes, before you go to Srinagar, update yourself with the current situation.

Safe Travels!

Dal Lake of Srinagar is a post from: FlipNomad. You may also follow my food blog at Banana Roti and my photo blog at Streaks of Light. You may also get updates in Twitter and Facebook or get updates straight to your Email. Thanks!