Globaltrekkers Travel Articles, Travel Stories, Travel Blogs, Travel Photos, World Travel

Finding the Soul of Seoul South Korea

Irene Butler — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:09:43 +0000

Seoul South Korea By Irene Butler - Rick’s South Korea Photo Gallery/ - The mighty Han River runs through this skyscraper metropolis of mega conglomerates and massive condominium complexes. Mountains scale the sky far off in the distance. This is our first impression of Seoul as we breeze along at 80km an hour on the city’s excellent metro system for the 78kms between the airport and the subway stop, landing us a half block from our home-away-from-home – the GS Hotel. Just off a main thoroughfare the GS, new in 2012, is pleasing in its modernity and cleanliness. Speaking of cleanliness, in this city of over 10 million the streets are outstandingly litter-free wherever we walk – and walk we do – at least six hours a day in varying directions to absorb the culture. And no matter the direction taken, we are only steps from a cappuccino with the ubiquity of coffee shops (of familiar and new-to-us franchises); some blocks have as many as three or four. Korea’s history is long, dating back to 8000BC based on archaeological finds, and kingdoms from 2300BC. Our focus fast forwards through the millennia to the last major kingdom, the Joseon – the [...]

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The Melding of Modern and Traditional Mongolia

Irene Butler — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 02:51:32 +0000

Ulaanbaatar Mongolia – by Irene Butler - Rick’s Mongolia Photo Gallery - “Chinggis Khaan” in bright red neon affixed to the airport terminal is the first thing we see when landing in the capital of Ulaanbaatar – an apropos introduction to a nation that under Chinggis (1162-1227) and his descendants became one of the largest kingdoms ever recorded. Reaching its zenith in the 13th century Chinggis Khaan (who we in the west know as Genghis Khan) collected the tribes of the steppes, named them Mongols, and with an army of 100,000 skilled horsemen conquered the most powerful civilizations of the time (extending into today’s Russia, China, and Europe). His fierceness as a warrior was tempered by good – he introduced written script in the Mongolian language, religious freedom, and great wealth for the country, and sought to incorporate universal political and economic systems. Today he is a symbol of united strength, law and order to Mongolians. After stashing our bags at the Kharaa Hotel we walk down Peace Avenue, the main street of Ulaanbaatar (shortened to UB by locals). This crowded main thoroughfare is lined with shops, as well as vendors selling everything from apples to brown cedar nuts called [...]

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Siberia -Sensational Siberia & Wondrous Lake Baikal

Irene Butler — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:21:30 +0000

Lake Baikal, Irkustk Siberia by Irene Butler - Pics by Rick - Also Published in Europe Up Close Our Lake Baikal Photo Gallery – Our Irkutsk Photo Gallery - Our Siberian Wooden House Photos - Siberia has always conjured up visions of frigid winters, fierce snow storms, thick-coated animals, a tough breed of people able to survive the isolation and cruel whims of nature, and indubitably – the Gulag. The size of Russia hits-home when after crossing five time zones from St. Petersburg to Irkutsk Siberia, we had still only reached the middle of the largest nation in the world. If we had traveled from the east coast to the west coast the time zones crossed would have been eleven and the kilometres chalked up would be 10,000 (1/4 of the equator)! Having spent years north of the 55th parallel in Canada, we now joke about being allergic to snow and bitter cold, hence our choice of early autumn to visit Siberia with bright sunny days still in the plus 20-25 C range. “It just dawned on me”, Rick says a few days after we arrive, “the swarms of pesky mosquitoes we were expecting…there are none!” Our hotel clerk tells [...]

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Pleasantries of St. Petersburg

Irene Butler — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 04:10:14 +0000

St Petersburg Russia by Irene Butler – pix by Rick - Also Published in Europe Up Close Our St Petersburg Photo Gallery - With our first stroll down St Petersburg’s main street Nevsky Prospekt, Rick and I note the light-hearted relaxed atmosphere compared to Moscow’s brisk businesslike vibes. Locals walk arm-in-arm past side-walk cafes, buskers performing lively antics, and the calls of tour operators promising wonderful excursions. Jutting out from Nevsky Prospekt the many canals and rivers are sided by long rows of imperial classical architecture in hues of pale gold, aquamarine and coral. Three hundred and forty bridges bind the streets together, a dozen of which are raised for a time after midnight to allow large vessels access into the inner waterways. This charming city named “Sankt Peterburg” at its inception, was renamed Petrograd in 1914, then after Lenin’s death in 1924 it became Leningrad until 1991, and has since come full circle to its saintly name. Up early the next morning we begin the hour-long walk to Peter and Paul Fortress. We figure we may as well start where St. Petersburg itself began. Crossing the large bridge next to bumper-to-bumper traffic over the Neva River we set foot [...]

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Russia – Milling through Moscow

Irene Butler — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:20:07 +0000

Moscow Russia By Irene Butler - Pix by Rick - Also Published in Europe Up Close - Our Moscow Photo Gallery - Red Square – how surreal it is to be standing on this sizable stretch of cobblestone that is synonymous with the Russian capital! My heart flutters as my eyes become glued to the sight of St. Basil’s Cathedral. Its onion shaped domes and exterior in as many colours of the most elaborate artist’s pallet dazzle the senses. The grey stone GUM Department Store is an imposing structure along another side of the square (which is really a rectangle), and on the remaining sides are the State History Museum and the Kremlin wall, the latter incorporating the Lenin Mausoleum. For most of my life Russia has been a country considered off-limits to North American travellers, and it is a euphoric feeling to be in this country that has intrigued Rick and me for so long with its complex history. We are ready to delve first hand into its current atmosphere. The whole of the middle section of the square is a clanging bustle of workmen assembling bleachers and fences for the upcoming annual International Military Music Festival, where a [...]

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ZOOMER Magazine Book Review May 2012

Irene Butler — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:32:52 +0000

Trekking the Globe with Mostly Gentle Footsteps Budget Bucket List In Trekking the Globe with Mostly Gentle Footsteps, author Irene Butler and her husband, Rick take on 12 countries in 12 months – for about the same cost as being a couch potato for a year. The couple, who after 35 years in the work world peppered with the odd holiday (sound familiar?) that only served to stir up wanderlust, decided it was time to retire – but not from travel. With Rick’s budget, taking into consideration things like exchange rates, cost of living in Canada over a year and the need for at least mid-range accommodations, they set off. In the process, they covered four continents, covering countries as diverse as India and Slovakia and as familiar as Australia and the U.S.

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Remembering Sensational Syria

Irene Butler — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:56:31 +0000

Syria Video by Irene and Rick Butler- Syria “wowed” us with its rich culture, its fascinating history, its ancient sites, and its gracious and friendly people. We had the good fortune to visit Syria about a month before the conflicts began, and our hearts go out the people in this incredible country. We would like to share by way of the following slideshow, the wondrous sights of Damascus, as well as the further reaches of Syria.

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Manila Multifarious Manila

Irene Butler — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 06:50:43 +0000

Manila Philippines by Irene Butler - Pix by Rick – Published at What Travel Writers Say E-Zine - Our Philippine Photo Gallery - What’s immediately different than anywhere else we have ever been? “Jeepneys!” The roads are chalk-full of these Technicolor elongated jeeps screeching around corners and flying-low on the straight-a-ways. The originals were converted US army jeeps left over from WWII. Millions of Filipinos depend on these open-sided vehicles with seats along the sides to get to work, school and about the city. Whether almost ready for the junk-yard or a splashy newer model, each has its unique name emblazoned on a board above the windshield and a distinctive paint job ranging from vividly coloured abstract designs, to faces of celebrities, religious icons, images of Jesus and saints. Some appear to have halos with the amount of chrome glinting in the sun, some are strung with fairy lights, but all have a dozen or more rosaries and crucifixes swinging from the rear-view mirror. For a ride to a mall we choose one with “Jesus Saves” on the name-board, and the face of Christ amid red and yellow swirls painted on the sides – for extra insurance, given the jeepney-accident-rate. [...]

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Bountiful Bohol Island

Irene Butler — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:48:07 +0000

Bohol Island Philippines by Irene Butler – Pix by Rick - Published at What Travel Writers Say E-Zine - Also Published in Day Trips Travel Guide Our Bohol Photo Gallery - Deciding on another island to hop to is difficult being that the country is made up of 7,107 islands with exceptional sites on many. The Philippine archipelago is divided into three, with the top group of islands called Luzon (which is the largest Philippine Island on which Manila is located). The middle group of islands is known as the Visayas, and the bottom group is the Mindanao. We fly to Bohol in the Visayas, drawn by the geographical phenomenon of the Chocolate Hills and a desire to see the endangered Tarsiers. The capital of Tagbilaran is a village-like port with low buildings, the highest being the churches and a mall that locals call “Mickey Mall” because of its McDonald’s Restaurant. The Sun Avenue Hotel is perfect. The staff is super friendly and we find out, after visiting several tour operators, that our hotel offers the best tour rates and we can even customize our excursion inland. A day later with our driver/guide “Lino” we breeze in an air-conditioned Toyota [...]

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Ultimate Bali High

Irene Butler — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:06:52 +0000

Bali Indonesia by Irene Butler - Photos by Rick – Our Four Seasons Sayan Photo Gallery - Our Four Season Jimbaran Bay Photo Gallery – With our Wedding Anniversary and Valentine’s Day in the same week, Rick and I decide to lavish ourselves in a bit of luxury…heck, sumptuous even, at a facility renowned as the pinnacle of uber-pampering – Bali’s Four Seasons Resort and Spa. We further enhance our experience to encapsulate the best of both Bali worlds, and divide our week between Four Seasons Sayan- deep in lush jungle terrain, and Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay nestled beside the Indian Ocean. Our mouths drop at the sight of our Sayan Villa; a private pool jutting from the embankment, lush gardens edging the outside comfy sofas and dining table, and inside the villa another deluxe lounging space, a canopied bed, a huge soaker tub, a shower, plus a rustic outdoor spout for a cooling spray amid leafy surrounds – in total over 2152 sq ft of spaciousness that has Rick commenting, “Hey, we almost need walky-talkies.” We can not even begin to imagine the Royal Villa where Julia Roberts puttered around in between her jaunts into Ubud to sit in [...]

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