desert Photo by Gabriella Fabbri

The mere mention of the word vacation would make the kids jump with joy; adults would look forward to the chance to unwind and relax. But along with the excitement comes the last minute preparations that if not done could take the joy out of the much awaited vacation. The excitement plus the many other chores to be done can make you forget the things that have to be taken cared of before travelling. Below is a list you may want to check off before you leave.

1. Turn off the lights inside but leave some outside light on. Unplug all appliances, lightning and storms could damage the TV, the stereo and most especially the computer. You surely wouldn’t want to lose important data. Turn the water heater to a low setting. Washing machine hoses break easily. Unplug them to avoid flooding that can extensively damage the house. Be sure though to leave a radio on. This will deter robbers as it will indicate that somebody is in the house.
2. Disconnect the system that opens the garage door by remote control. This is another assurance against thieves.
3. Remember to cancel paper, milk and mail deliveries. Mails and newspaper that are piling up outside the front door is a sure sign that the house is unoccupied.
4. Board your pets in a kennel or ask somebody to feed and to check on them daily.
5. Check if you have locked all windows and doors through out the house. Double check the list. This will assure that you have done all the necessary tasks.

Enjoy your vacation!

Walking with the clouds Photo by santigwar

“Backpacking” some of you might not be familiar with this word. Basically backpacking refers to an international low cost travel; this travel is often even referred to as independent or budget travel. These terms are associated with backpacking because of the independent nature of the backpacking culture. These trips or backpacking is rapidly growing at a faster rate and is now becoming a way of life.

The best or we can say the most beguiling feature of backpacking is the independency factor. These trips are independent of the traditional touring factors such as the use of any public transport, any preferential means of conveyance or any kind of hostel or lodging facility. These trips are low budget trips so there are as such no preferred destinations or travel or hotel services available that the backpackers predetermines before traveling. They just search and lookout the cheapest services available and use them.

The main reason of backpackers to go on a backpacking trip is sight seeing or traveling and while doing so, exploring new destinations. Reading-through history we won’t get any proper details of as when and how backpacking started. The backpacking generation is sometimes linked to as the hippie generation. Unlike early days today backpacking is on a verge of rise because of the low cost airlines and cheap travel and staying places available across the globe.

Today backpacking has come a long way from the hippie culture and it is far more famous and far more accepted widely. Many people mostly of younger age tend to move towards the backpacking culture. As today everyone loves to face new adventure into unchartered places and unknown territories, the anticipation and risk involving the entering in a new country for first time is a feeling that is nearly impossible to explain and this is the feeling that is making backpacking a way of life today.

Ben Silhouette Photo by Angela Granger

Backpacking mostly appeals the one who is curious and thrills seeking. It needs a personality that requires stepping outside a person’s comfort zone, but once a decision is made then it promises you a whole lot of fun excitement and adventure. Backpacking a standardized holidaying experience that the majority of travelers are undertake, but it’s more about a feeling of contentment and fulfillment that one gets after taking such an adventurous trip, this is why people and mostly youngsters are so much drifted towards backpacking trips and have started accepting it as a way of life.

It’s a very common misconception these backpacking trips are suitable for the younger generation only and they are the ones attracted to it. It is true that majority of backpackers are younger in age but for as a matter of fact, there are plenty of opportunities for the older generation to go along the youngsters and get on with their wild side of adventure.

Backpacking is gaining popularity and craze among people because of the less cost of travel, its adventurous nature and excitement factor. Today youth is fast moving towards backpacking and people have really started growing with it. So today we can really say that backpacking has been accepted as a way of life.

Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. One of the central tenets of backpacking is the sense of community. Whether this takes the form of staying at in a dormitory in a hostel with a self-catering kitchen and communal TV room, sharing rides with other travelers, purchasing a bus/train pass or something else, what matters is the shared experience. This allows backpackers to learn from one another while saving money at the same time: the first-hand account of a fellow traveler can often be more up to date than what was published in a recent Lonely Planet, the long cited bible of backpacker travel.

The Backpacking Site is another community that you should know about whether you are planing to go to trip alone or with friends. This community offers information on every aspect of backpacking and low cost travel which would perfectly fit for students or for those would like to see all around the world.

This site has been set up as a comprehensive resource to collect information for a variety of countries as well as gap year advice, preparation, thing to pack and travel-transportation tips.

Wikimedia

The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt Photo by Christopher Chan

As well as being a writer here, I also design websites as hobby. That is why, Colorlovers has a place in my bookmark list to check different color pallets. Untill here everything is OK, but today while I was checking their site, I noticed a link to their blog.

When I hit the link I came across an amazing page that is entitled 1,000 (Colorful) Places to See Before You Die.

Even if you haven’t yet been able to travel as your wildest dreams may desire, put these locations on your list of places to see in life. I hope you enjoy the pictures in our color-centric version of the series, and we regret it can’t contain every one of the world’s gorgeous locations. If you want even more, Read the book of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die or visit the Flickr 1,000 Places Group.