Globe Trekker has recently released their Year Book – a small pocket guide to a truckload of events around the world with month by month Travel Tips – many of them sourced from their TV shows.

Actually, Globe Trekker produces a lot of great travel shows like Pilot Guides that keep feeding my travel addiction.   I’ve been watching Pilot Guides for years and it would be great to score a job there one day (hint hint!).

Anyway, the very nice Helen from Globe Trekker sent me a copy of this great little book to review.

So keep reading, and you can win a copy!

The Short Version: If you have the attention span of a goldfish, the one sentence review is that the Globe Trekker Year Book is a small, pocket sized publication listing a lot of events, places to see, and useful websites in a month by month layout.

Here is the more detailed version:

The Globe Trekker Year Book is small, Travel Tips guide of about 100 pages.  It’s pretty compact, and here is a photo of the book placed next to my passport:

Each month is neatly laid out over a number of sections, in a consistent format.

For example, each month contains the following sections:

• A brief introduction to what happens around the world during the particular month.
• A list of public holidays around the world.
• ‘Party The Planet’ – a list of events, festivals and other celebrations.
• ‘The Great Outdoors’ – a list of natural attractions that are great to experience at that particular month.
• ‘Sun, Sea and Sand’ – things to do that involve water that would entice anyone to leave their winterey abode.
• Useful Websites – a list of websites relating to the events mentioned in the other sections.
• ‘A Taste Of..’ – one recipe that is featured from a place mentioned in that particular month.

You can flick to the month of your potential travel plans and see what’s going on in the world.

What the Globe Trekker Year Book is great for is the initial inspiration of ideas of where to travel so you can do some further research later on.  It’s a good first port of call when one thinks ‘OK, I’m taking this time to go travelling, where can I go to?’.

It’s not meant to be a detailed travel guide, and doesn’t pretend to be either.

There is also some other useful information there, such as country telephone codes, a world timezone map and a list of Globe Trekker TV programs by region.

In summary:

What the Globe Trekker Year Book is: It’s great for initial travel ideas of where and when to go.

What the Globe Trekker Year Book is not: An in-depth guide.  You need to go to other sources to find out more information. Otherwise the book would be as big as your backpack.

So check it out (you can view a PDF sample of the book here), and there’s more stuff at the Globe Trekker TV and Globe Trekker store website.

Also, you can WIN A COPY of the Globe Trekker Year Book thanks to Globe Trekker!

All you need to do is leave a comment below, and I will randomly select one of them to be the winner!  Comments close at 12pm, Australian Eastern Standard Time on Monday 25 January 2010, which is GMT + 10 hours.

Here is a world clock to work out what time that is in your region.

Comment away, and the Globe Trekker Year Book could be yours!

Travel DK Guides are at it again.

Not only do they have another Guest Post, this time about Undiscovered Cities, they’ve got more stuff to give away!

This time it’s 1 Eyewitness Travel Guide , 1 Top 10 Travel Guide, 1 Pocket Map Guide of the winner’s choice.

So how do you win this cool prize?  Just like last time, after you have finished reading this post, just leave a comment at the bottom of this post to be in the running.

The comments will remain open for 2 weeks and will close on Monday 21st of December 2009, 12pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), which is GMT +10 hours (Use this clock to work out your local time).

The prize is open to all regions.

Once the competition is closed, I will then randomly select a comment to find out who the winner is!

Holly from Travel DK Guides will then send a copy to the winner once I grab the winner’s snail mail address!

Here is article, so get reading and leave your comment!  And send it around the Twitter-verse as well!

Undiscovered cities

Head off the beaten track and away from the tourist traps of the world’s big cities and you can uncover some amazing attractions. From little-known markets to hidden museums and secret gardens; look beyond the well-known sights to discover the less-explored side of popular tourist destinations.

Less-explored London

London is one of the world’s most touristy cities and for many visitors its emblematic sights are what a holiday here is all about. But there’s a whole lot more to the city than kings, queens, palaces and soldiers in silly hats. From pub theatres to small museums, hidden green spaces to myriad markets, and its maritime treasures to its international cuisine, modern London is one of the most extraordinary cities on the planet. As Western Europe’s largest and most vibrant city, it is a multi-ethnic cultural hothouse and bastion of the new just waiting to be discovered.

Head off the beaten track in London and try…
Sir John Soane’s Museum
King’s Head Theatre & Bar
Highgate Cemetery
Columbia Road Flower Market

Less-explored New York

Scratch the surface of the world’s most iconic city and you’ll find another side to this diverse, culture-crammed metropolis. Even for first-time visitors, New York will seem as familiar as an old friend, but it’s when you go from the legendary to the lesser known that the city really stirs to life. The arts scene buzzes with off-Broadway independent theatre performances, poetry slams and indie music gigs. Downtown, SoHo, NoHo and NoLita are home to unique boutiques selling fashion with a twist. And when you need a rest, numerous green spaces offer somewhere to stretch out on the grass and forget you’re in a concrete jungle.

Head off the beaten track in New York and try…
Public Theater
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Kirna Zabete
Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Less-explored Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a vibrant east-meets-west destination with an appeal which reaches far beyond its showpieces. The food scene offers a sumptuous array of cuisines, from Chinese to pan-Asian and global fare, whilst tucked discreetly away from the melee of big names and their insatiable shoppers is a world of more refined retailing. An annual contemporary art fair has been launched and the long-running Hong Kong Arts Festival draws an eclectic mix of creative talents. With all this and much more on offer, it’s no wonder that Hong Kong raised its own bar, rebranding itself as “Asia’s world city”.

Head off the beaten track in Hong Kong and try…
Yung Kee for dim sum
Goods of Desire
China Art
Hong Kong Museum of Art

Less-explored Venice

Who can fail to be impressed by magical Venice? But it’s the backwaters where the real soul of the city lies. All it takes is a wrong turn or a detour from the tourist trails and the maddening crowds are left behind, as you wander into the real Venice, where the locals live, work and socialize. Further afield the lagoon islands are far-flung patches of marshy land transformed into fishing villages, monasteries, hospitals and market gardens. Finally, don’t forget to stop at a traditional osterie (watering spot); a convivial place for an ombra (house wine) at the end of a long day sightseeing.

Head off the beaten track in Venice and try…
Island San Servolo
Osteria alla Botte
Trattoria Giorgione
San Pietro di Castello

Less-explored San Francisco

San Francisco is everybody’s favourite American city and if you did nothing more than ride its cable cars, stroll along the waterfront and watch the fog rolling in around the Golden Gate Bridge, you would come away happy. Explore further however and this free-thinking town will reveal diverse neighbourhoods and vibrant communities, beyond which lie alluring green spaces boasting giant redwoods and impressive vistas. Victorian wooden architecture, immigrant churches and vintage streetcars all add to its historic charm and the city’s many peaks provide excellent vantage points to view the beauty which lies below.

Head off the beaten track in San Francisco and try…
Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitor Center
The Presidio
Mission Dolores
F-line streetcars

Less-explored Paris

Lauded for its dizzying array of monuments, sweeping boulevards and alluring cafés, the world’s most romantic city still has many surprises up its sleeve. Roam Paris’s serpentine backstreets, bustling bridges, quais and handsome boulevards and you’ll chance upon the haunts of artists, writers and poets, plus hidden squares and pretty gardens – the lesser-known side of this legendary metropolis. Explore the enchanting mansions of the Marais, the city’s richly coloured street markets offering an unrivalled taste of France, and the 19th-century Parisian passages couverts, where to this day people continue to shop and people-watch.

Head off the beaten track in Paris and try…
Atelier d’Artistes de Belleville
Hôtel de Retz
Passage du Grand Cerf
Galerie Vivienne

Less-explored Sydney

Images of Sydney’s iconic cityscape and harbour may be imprinted on the mind, but there are lesser-known – yet no less exciting – sides to this amazing city. The natural world is never far away, with miles of white, sandy beaches and national parks rich in astonishing flora and fauna surrounding the city in a vast wilderness of bush, verdant river valleys and magnificent mountains. There are many reminders of the history of the Aboriginal peoples as well as the city’s colonial past, and when it comes to partying, Sydney’s diverse multicultural identity ensures an array of fabulous festivals.

Head off the beaten track in Sydney and try…
Pittwater Beaches
Royal National Park
Cockatoo Island
Tribal Warrior Association

This piece was written by the editor of www.traveldk.com

Today, we have a guest post from Travel DK Guides about Alternative Travel Sites.

But there’s more!

Travel DK Guides are also offering a really cool prize – a FREE copy of The Road Less Travelled.

The cover is shown below:

So how do you win this book?

Well, you have to do a little bit of work!

After you have finished reading this post, just leave a comment at the bottom of this post to be in the running.

The comments will remain open for 2 weeks and will close on Monday 7th of December 2009, 12pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), which is GMT +10 hours (Use this clock to work out your local time).

The prize is open to all regions.

Once the competition is closed, I will then randomly select a comment to find out who the winner is.  I will do this by a placing the names in a hat, and asking my dog to pull one out with his rather large tongue.

No seriously, I’ll find some random number generator to work it out!

This isn’t a game of wit – it’s a game of chance!

The very nice Holly from Travel DK Guides will then send a copy to the winner once I obtain the winner’s snail mail address!

Here is article, so get reading and leave your comment!  Oh, and sent it around Twitter and Facebook as well!

Alternative travel sights

If you’re searching for inspiring sights and fascinating experiences on your travels, but don’t want to go with the crowds; these alternatives to well-known wonders are sure to make for a rewarding and revealing trip beyond the tourist trail.

If you like The Acropolis; try Agrigento and Selinunte, Sicily

The Acropolis in Athens is a potent symbol of the classical world, but the temples of Sicily – built 100 years before – can offer an amazing alternative, more evocative of the power and majesty of ancient Greece. Travel to Agrigento for a glimpse of the ancient acropolis and its stunning Doric columns, then spend at least a day exploring the Valley of the Temples and its treasures. Don’t miss seeing the shrines, museums and catacombs, plus make sure you visit the ancient villa, agora and church.

The vast archaeological site of Selinunte had a short life, but it flourished long enough for an acropolis and seven temples to be constructed. Although not as well preserved as the ruins of Agrigento, these magnificent structures, by a dazzling blue sea, are still a spectacular sight.

Find out more about Sicily

If you like the Basilica San Marco; try Haghia Sophia, Istanbul

Haghia Sophia in Istanbul was built to proclaim the might and majesty of the Eastern Roman Empire, and it dwarfs Venice’s Basilica San Marco in age, scale and artistic achievement. Built 500 years before Venice’s basilica, Haghia Sophia is one of the great religio-historic wonders of the world and has withstood earthquakes and countless wars. The building’s spectacular soaring dome and four minarets dominate the city skyline and enclose one of the largest interiors in the world. Travel here for a quieter alternative to the Basilica San Marco, which may attract more visitors, but when it comes to atmosphere and architectural splendor, Haghia Sophia wins hands down.

Find out more about Istanbul

If you like Waikiki; try Hulopo’e, Lana’i: Hawaii

Travel to Hulopo’e Beach in Hawaii to discover everything from gorgeous sands and idyllic swimming, to abundant marine life. For a peaceful alternative to the crowds of Waikiki, this beach is ideal: a gentle curve of deep, thick sand sloping into the ocean. An offshore reef ensures that the surfing conditions are relatively tame, making it the perfect place to learn to surf or simply play in the clear water. The whole bay forms part of a marine reserve and pods of local dolphins can often be seen swimming by. The snorkeling at Hulopo’e is excellent, and in winter, humpback whales are frequently visible if you travel out to sea; snorkelers are also able to hear their underwater songs.

Find out more about Lana’i

If you like the Sydney Opera house; try the Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA

A classical music venue in step with the 21st century, the Walt Disney Concert Hall provides a captivating modern alternative to older venues like the Sydney Opera House. Designed by Frank Gehry, this gleaming metal-clad building is full of odd angles and yawning windows that draw in the California sunshine. As much as its architectural splendor, the Disney is also admired for its amazing acoustics which cannot be matched by the Opera House – completed 30 years earlier. Free guided tours are offered nearly every day and the public are encouraged to tour and study the building, making it a cheaper and more accessible alternative to Sydney’s concert hall.

Find out more about Los Angeles

If you like Musée de Louvre; try smaller Parisian museums

The Louvre is an undisputed crowd-puller but, if you prefer a little breathing space with your culture and are prepared to travel around, Paris has a host of alternative lesser-known art museums with equally commendable credentials. Beyond the walls of the Louvre’s incredible, but daunting, 35,000 works collection, lie smaller more accessible museums. Some of them, like the Musée Cognacq-Jay, are housed in mansions that also permit you a glimpse of long-vanished lives and lifestyles. The Musée National du Moyen-Age is an extraordinary museum dedicated to the art of the middle ages and the Institut du Monde Arabe, housed in an ultra-modern building, showcases Arabic history and culture.

Find out more about Paris

These attractions are all taken from Travel DK Eyewitness Travel’s new book The Road Less Travelled.

I've been back home in Brisbane for the last few days thinking about the awesome trip to Indonesia I have just experienced.

The 4 week trip felt like it lasted for 4 days!  I had such a blast, and I'll never forget it!

I was amazed at the variety of experiences I had on this trip.  Each place was just so different in character, feel, and food!

When I originally thought of this trip idea, I wanted to experience the real Indonesia – not the tourist one. 

The only way to do this is to stay with the locals and have them show you their world.  That’s exactly what I received – and so much more.

I was shown the very best of Indonesia.  And I saw the very best of the Indonesian people.

So to all of Indonesia – Thanks so much for everything.

Unfortunately, Indonesia does receive some bad press, but the hard reality is that 99.9999999% of their people are extremely wonderful, hospitable and caring human beings, and I have definitely been grateful to receive this hospitality.

My job was to show all the good in Indonesia, and I think I've accomplished that!

Thanks to the local blogging communities, there were so many things that I experienced that would have been almost impossible as a solo traveller. 

Things such as drinking Teh Telur (Tea With Egg), Kacang Memet (Shaved Ice with Red Beans), eating Cow’s Nose with Peanut Sauce.

Experiences such as an Indonesian Wedding, the off the beaten path areas of Banda Aceh, and Muara Takus temple.

These are experiences that money cannot buy.  I am so grateful that I was able to be part of your lives.  I consider myself very lucky.

And I think I’ve made a few more friends in Indonesia!

Thanks so much again, and I hope to see you again soon!

I would also like to thank Air Asia for their support for flying me to and from Australia.  Hope to to this again sometime!  

For other bloggers out there in cyberspace, the websites of each Blogging Community I visited are listed below. 

Drop an email and say hello – I'm sure the Indonesian bloggers will be happy to hear from you, and follow each other on Twitter.  They're a friendly bunch and love to have a good time.

Here are the websites:

Banda Aceh – AcehBloggers.org

Pekanbaru – Bertuah Blogging Community

Palembang – Wongkito Blogging Community

Bandung – Bandung Blog Village, Batagor, and RumahBlogger.

Semarang – Loenpia

Surabaya – Tugupahlawan

I had such a good time this year. I might have to try and swindle another trip next year!

Anyway, normal service at The Travel Tart will be resumed from next week! 

Keep an eye out for a return to the crazy, wacky and downright absurd aspects of world travel today!
 

I'm now back home after my fantastic trip throughout Indonesia in October 2009. 

This culminated with the Pesta Blogger 2009 conference on Saturday 24 October. 

Basically, Pesta Blogger means 'Blogger Party', and conference is a loose interpretation.  The whole day is related to all things about blogging, and sharing new and interesting ideas on the direction of blogging within Indonesia.  I was even involved in a panel on photo blogging and using photos to back up the writing.

But I mentioned I was a writer that takes photos, not a photographer who writes!

The previous night was spent having dinner at the United States Ambassador's residence – as the U.S Embassy was the major sponsor of Pesta Blogger.

This dinner was somewhat swish for me, as I'd spent the previous few weeks eating the excellent food off the street. 

But this was still nice!  I was even allowed to take this shot of the main boardroom without being interrogated!  Seriously, it was pretty relaxed.

Saturday involved about 1200 participants from throughout Indonesia in the Blogger Party.   The atmosphere, like last year, was buzzing and I had a chance to meet loads of fantastic people.

Here are some photos from the conference:

The main conference room.

Even a Storm trooper turned up to celebrate.  I'm not sure why.

Just imagine wearing this plastic suit of sweat in 30 degree Celsius heat and 80% humidity.

This photo was taken with Tristram from the U.S. Embassy.  The Storm Trooper even managed a shot with the newly appointed Indonesian Minister for Technology.

Like last year, I had many interviews with the press – here is one with Tito from Radio Australia.

I caught up with old friends that I had previously stayed with throughout my trip.

And I had my photo taken with loads of Pesta Blogger participants. Just Google Image 'The Travel Tart' and I'm sure there will be approximately 200,000 results from Indonesia posted in the next couple of weeks.

Like last year, everyone is genuine and passionate about whatever the like blogging about.  And this year's Pesta Blogger was another good excuse to network with like-minded people and add another tonne of people to Facebook and/or Twitter.

I could see complete strangers helping each other out throughout the day, which is pretty much reflective of my entire trip here to Indonesia.

You can see more about the conference at the official Pesta Blogger site.  You might need to use Google Translate to see what's going on.

Anyway, one more post about the trip is left, so stay tuned.

Oh, and you can fly Air Asia to get to Indonesia from many places in their ever expanding network. Check out their website for a cheap airfare somewhere!