I've talked of my love for train travel before and there may be no more epic of a trip then on the Trans-Siberian Railway. The Beijing to Moscow portion stretches almost 5,000 miles. Starting off in northern China, through Mongolia and the Gobi Desert, you then pass into the Siberian wilderness of Russia.
Filmmaker Dennis Schmelz really takes care to show the vastness and the many differing cultures you will encounter along the fabled route in his short film Transsiberian Dream.
Looking for perfect gift for the wanderluster in your life? Whether you want to make their trip easier or inspire future adventures, we've got you covered with five gift ideas under $50 for the traveler in your life.
A great way to keep track of where your adventures have taken you, the World Scratch Map is a great keepsake for a world traveler. Show off all your adventures for visitors to see and spark conversation!
Electronics are a part of life now and when you leave home, cords are a necessary evil. Give your traveler a way to keep things organized in a minimalist fashion with a Travel Cord Roll. Not only will everything stay in one place, it'll decrease space for carry-on travelers.
Finding yourself bored in a new city shouldn't be a thing. Instead, take the Anywhere Travel Guide with you for instant adventure inspiration. A deck of 75 prompts for a good time, no matter where you find yourself. Sure to illicit adventure from even the most basic of travelers.
Keep all your things neat and tidy with Pack-It Cubes from Eagle Creek. Made from ultralight silnylon ripstop, the Pack-It cubes add organization without all the weight. Your muscles will thank you in the long run.
Getting to your destination is half the battle and showing up tired can really throw off the first few days of your trip. With the Convertible Travel Pillow Infinity Scarf, you get the best of both worlds while saving space in your luggage.
Motion Designer and Music Producer Cee-Roo has beautifully captured the lush sound and landscape of Kenya in his short film "Feel The Sounds of Kenya." Shot on a Panasonic GH4 (stabilized by a Zhiyun Crane 2) with sound via the Zoom H6, the immersive experience makes you feel like you're standing in the room with the Kenyan people, living life alongside them.
See more from Cee-Roo here.
Some people make travel films. Others make travel documentaries that really dig into what the sensation of being in a new place feels like. Not only do you get to see the sights, you feel the mood, as if earth was crunching beneath your very own feet. Memories of Tokyo by filmmaker Miguel Santana is one of the latter.
Produced in conjunction with Carrie from wishwishwish.net, be prepared to be immersed in Japanese culture. Carrie's simple voice-over really helps the viewer dive into the footage and experience the world.
Shot on a Canon 5D Mk III using Magic Lantern RAW with a Canon 50mm 1.2L and a Canon 24-105mm f/4 IS, Santana manages to convey the otherworldly feel that Tokyo can give to westerners.
I've long been fascinated by Japanese culture, the reverence of nature and ancestry and how fast everything seems to move in the city. By using natural sound to highlight the soft, subtle soundtrack, Santana creates a sensory experience that brings Japanese capital to life.
It's no secret. London is an expensive city. Like, really expensive. But that doesn't mean you can't travel there on the cheap. Here's five tips to experience London without breaking the bank.
London is a town of many museums and the larger, more famous ones boast of having no entrance fee. Just simply walk in and enjoy some of the greatest works of art and design the world has to offer. There is a suggested donation price to which I always drop a few pounds in, but this isn't necessary if you're on a tight budget. Great options for non-museum goers are the Victoria & Albert Museum, which offers more design and culture focused exhibits, and the Imperial War Museum. For art lovers, the National Gallery and the Tate Modern are must sees.
Hotels in London can be rather pricey, especially considering that even the costlier ones can be small and cramped. To keep a few quid in your pocket, opt for a rental service like Airbnb and get a room or a flat in a part of town you'd like to explore. At a hotel you pay for the convenience of being near major attractions, which tends to keep you in more expensive touristy areas. By using a rental service you can find a neighborhood location that offers cheaper eats, less crowded transportation hubs and a sense of how real Londoners live.
The new Visitor Oyster Card offers a cheaper alternative to buying a Day Travelcard. By capping how much you spend each day at £6.60, you spend roughly half of what you would on a Day Travelcard (£12.30.) You can apply online and have it shipped to your house before your trip, ready to use as soon as you step off the plane! Make sure to order your card in advance to get the lowest prices!!
Okay, this is going to sound lame, but I'm in love with the simple little British sandwich shops that are pretty much ubiquitous in the capital. Whether it's a M&S or Pret a Manger, little sandwich shops offer a quick pick me up and a pretty cheap food option in an expensive city. Instead of eating in, grab your sandwich to go and sit in front of a museum or attraction for prime people watching. By avoiding the cafes at tourist attractions, you can save a lot of cash.
Kim and I have stuck to carryon travel for a while so we never really have room for a lot of souvenirs. On our latest trip we followed some suggestions from Ashlea at a A Globe Well Travelled and took pictures of thing we would have otherwise bought. Not only do we have great memories of some pretty awesome stuff, we don't have to find a place for said stuff in the house. It's like winning twice! London is packed full of souvenir shops, most of which are the exact same touristy stuff. So next time you're in London, skip the standard souvenirs by taking a picture of yourself gawking at them. Not only will you have less to carry, you can save your hard earned money for more adventures or for one big splurge souvenir at the end.
