WorldFriends Blog

Have you been to India? Where did you go while you were there? Did you know about the Indian beaches? Or does it surprise you that there are beautiful beaches in India?

If you ask someone about the best Beaches of India you’ll for sure hear of the most popular beaches of Goa like Anjuna Beach, Calangute Beach, Colva Beach or even the Marina Beach, Chennai or Kovalam Beach in Kerala. But has anyone given a thought that are they really the best in India? There are various un-explored and lesser known beaches in India which are equally beautiful and exotic. They are much clean then the other famous beaches of India.

For many the attracting features are crowd, hip and happening place, adventure sports, beach parties, food, people etc. But to me the best beach would be a place with secluded palm-fringed beaches with pristine golden sand, clear blue waters, beautiful sunset, no crowd, no rubbish thrown around, without a hoard of vendors following you around…..just you the sand and the mighty ocean.

Well let’s have a look at such beaches listed below and these beaches are apt for some secret escapes away from the crowd, hustle & bustle of the city life. I would love to call these beaches “The Top 5 Secret Beaches of India”

Varkala Beach, Kerala
The Kerala Beaches may take a backseat because of the backwaters as the main tourist attraction, but the true fact about the Kerala beaches is that, the entire 900Km stretch of Kerala Cost is lined with sandy beaches, beautiful rock formations and coconut palms swaying on the ocean and these key features definitely merit a visit. The Kerala beaches are renowned for the gentle surf and blue waters….and that’s exactly how Varkala Beach is.

Varkala beach is among the most popular beach resorts in Kerala , mainly because of the mineral water springs with medicinal properties that gush out of the high cliffs bordering the beach. It’s not a very secluded beach It is the best spot along Kerala coast for watching sunset. The sight of the sun melting into the sea would blossom your poetic sense.

Getting There :
Varkala is 51 kms (approx. 32 miles) north of Thiruvananthapuram. It’s an important hub and is easily accessible by road or Rail.

Benaulim Beach, Goa
The highlights of any travel to Goa are its beaches. These Beaches make Goa the Prime Holiday destination in India. Those who love surf, sand and Sun, Goa is the best beach destination for them. Apart from the busy and crowdy beaches of Goa, there are a few lonely and quite beaches for those who just want to enjoy and relax and rejuvenate. Goa’s 100-km long coastline gives an enthusiastic beach lover an opportunity to discover new secluded beach sites every day. One of which is Benaulim.

Named as Benaulim by the Portuguese, lies in the center of Colva Beach, 7-km west of Margao in South Goa. Benaulim is a quiet and pleasant beach lying at the end of Colva beach. The Benaulim beach is still undiscovered by the domestic tourists who further add to its charm. Being a fishing beach, it gets fairly crowded in the evenings and on weekends. Moreover, the sea is safe for swimming and being generally jellyfish-free. Further South of benaulim you can find the soft white sands, the black lava rocks of the Cavelossim Beach which is equally secluded and stunning.

Getting There :
7-km west of Margao (South Goa). Just 2km away from the famous Colva Beach.

Agatti Island, Lakshadweep
The Lakshadweep Island is a group of 36 coral islands and is about 450 kms away from the western coast of Kerala and is a part of the Maldivian Archipelago. These islands are small and flat and hardly 4-5 m. above the sea level. Lakshadweep is the smallest UT of India. Out of 36 coral islands of Lakshadweep only 10 islands are inhabited. These islands in the Indian Ocean are surrounded by lagoons, tall coconut trees, and crystal clear blue water. The coral formations underwater form an amazingly colorful garden and the variety of fish that inhabit these waters is truly exotic. It is a great tourist destination for Divers. A vibe that is both ancient and mellow prevails over these islands… a vibe that begs visitors from outside to slow down and soak in the marvelous beauty that the islands offer.

Agatti has one of the most beautiful lagoons in Lakshadweep. The Agatti Beaches are breath-taking with pristine white sands and an aquamarine blue lagoon. The airport is built on this island. From the aircraft, as you approach for a landing, you get a breath-taking view of the airstrip on the island.

Getting There :
Agatti Aerodrome on Agatti Island is currently the only airport in Lakshadweep. Indian Airlines, the state owned carrier, serves Agatti and flies to Kochi on the mainland. Kingfisher Airlines has also started flight to Agatti recently. Kingfisher connects Kochi and Bangalore to Agatti. The other islands are linked by a helicopter or boat service.

Malpe beach & St. Mary’s Island, Udupi, Karnataka
At the mouth of the Malpe River, about 6 kms from Udupi in Karnataka is the natural harbor of Malpe, an important fishing centre that enriches Karnataka’s coastline with its fabulous beach. The endless stretch of golden sand, graciously swaying palm trees, clear blue sky and the gentle murmur of the sea set the perfect mood for an idyllic holiday.

St Mary’s island is a little slip of land about 30 minutes out into the sea from Malpe Beach in Udupi. The island is full of crystallized basalt rock, a unique rock formation found in very few places in the world, the most notable being the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. And, the sea between the island and the long curve of the beach at Malpe is placid and gentle.

Getting There :

• The nearest railhead is Udupi, which is about 4 km from Malpe

• The nearest airport is Bajpe, Mangalore which is about 60 km from Malpe

The only way of getting to St. Mary’s islands is by boat. Regular boats ply from the Malpe Harbour to these islands. The frequency of these boats may vary depending on the amount of tourists available.

Radha Nagar Beach, Havelock
The Located in the Bay of Bengal about 900km from India, The Andaman & Nicobar Islands have some of the Best and picturesque Beaches. The coastal areas of these islands are still untouched and unspoilt, making it an ideal beach holiday destination.

Radha Nagar Beach also known as Beach No.7 on Havelock in the Andamans has been described as one of the Best Beaches you can get to in the World by Time Magazine. This Beach is one of the few undiscovered gems that have escaped the clutches of mass tourism and untouched by commercialism and modern intrusions.

Getting there :
The quickest and most convenient way to get to the Andamans is to fly. Air Deccan, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Jet Lite (formerly Air Sahara), Spice Jet and Kingfisher all have daily regular flights to Port Blair from Calcutta & Chennai. Alternatively, you can choose to travel by ship – which takes 60-72 hours and is only for the tough.

To get to Havelock from Port Blair, you have to take the ferry departing from the Phoenix Bay jetty. There are 2 departures daily – a daily boat at 0630 hrs, and a second boat at 1400 hrs.

Source: indiamarks

At Boryeong City, South Korea, the 13th annual Boryeong Mud Festival promises to get  you very, very dirty. Smearing yourself with mud and slinging it on others are very much encouraged.

The Boryeong Mud Festival takes place this year from July 17-25, and draws the largest number of international travelers to Korea yearly, according to the Korea Tourism Organization. It’s not a surprise, since it has events like mud wrestling, mud sliding and swimming in a mud mega tub. Ooh! Sounds like fun already.

Care for your skin and have fun at the same time! The mud used in the festival is mineral-rich and is supposed to have great health benefits. There are also treatments there like mud body painting and mud massage. If you think you’re qualified, you can even participate in the mud parade to strut off your muddy body.

If you have qualms about getting dirty with mud, then this festival will be absolutely no fun for you. In fact, you will be put into a prison until you get some mud on your body at the festival!

This Boryeong Mud Festival sounds like a great reason to travel to South Korea this summer!

Have you gone for Boryeong Mud Festival before or are you planning to go? Or have you done crazy things like this in summer? Share with us in the comments!

The way to romance people is different all over the world. What may work with Americans may not necessarily (or would most probably not) work in Japan, where the culture is renowned to be unique. It is precisely these differences in dating preferences that the appeal of cross-cultural dating exists.

Here are some insider tips on navigating romance in some parts of the world.

Japan

On Valentine’s Day in Japan, girls buy boys chocolate. Boys buy girls … nothing. Sorry, that’s just the way it is. BUT, fellas, don’t think the Japanese chocolate industry is going to let you off that easy. Exactly one month later (March 14th) is White Day, when boys buy girls white chocolate. I once heard that the rule of thumb is that men should spend twice as much on White Day as the women spend on Valentine’s Day. If your budget’s tight, it might be a good time to plead cultural ignorance. Though the barrage of White Day advertisements might make that a bit hard to believe…

Laos

It is illegal for a foreigner to have sex with a Lao person, unless they are legally married. If you plan to, you risk being deported, or worse–spending time in a Lao prison. It is not unheard of for police to participate in extortion schemes where unsuspecting tourists are caught with a woman in their guesthouse room. Better not risk it, or make sure you know whom you are going home with after a night at the disco.

Norway

If you want to buy a drink for the girl at the end of the bar, know that it is an investment. With the price of alcohol so high, the gesture implies you’d like more than a wave and some small talk. Dole out your gifts carefully because, in Norway, a free drink is not a frivolous gesture.

Malawi

Displays of affection are common in Malawi, but you’re more likely to see them among members of the same sex than between men and women. Men hold hands while walking down the street or strolling through the market. Women are demonstrative as well, exchanging high fives, braiding a friend’s hair, and slapping each other’s shoulders genially while laughing. Do not, however, misinterpret these displays — homosexuality is illegal in Malawi and punishable by a maximum 14 years in prison. Men and women who hold hands or kiss in public won’t meet penalty, but such behavior is unusual and probably best to avoid.

Egypt

For many Egyptians, the concept of a group of girls and guys being close platonic friends is beyond foreign. You’ll have to repeatedly explain to your friends that none of the guys are “yours.” Meanwhile, you might want to let some people assume you’re together. You’ll generally be left alone if you are (or claim to be) married. When traveling alone in Cairo I switched my ring to my right ring finger, indicating that I was married or seriously spoken for. Once strangers noticed this, they usually didn’t persist with unwanted advances.

Mongolia

It’s not uncommon for a Mongol and a foreigner to go on a date, but be forewarned. If you’re a guy and a Mongol sees you walking with a Mongolian woman at night, it wouldn’t be a total surprise for him to give you a hard time and maybe even throw a punch. If you get pushed around for being with a Mongolian, show that you’re not messing around and they should leave you alone. Just keep it civil.

So now that you know a little more about dating habits of people from some parts of the world, does it intrigue you?

Source: MatadorAbroad

Breaking out of the regular routine, sipping cocktails on a beach, hiking mountains in far-off lands – most of us tend to equate vacation getaways with happiness.

But according to a recent study in the Applied Research in Quality of Life, it’s the vacation planning that makes us happiest, and not the actual vacation itself.

The happiness boost not only occurs when clicking away on different travel sites or thumbing through Lonely Planets, and plotting your adventure. These researchers from the Netherlands (aren’t people generally happier there anyway?) found that the act of mapping out that time off increased happiness for up to eight weeks – two whole months – ahead of the trip. That’s certainly a lot longer than most vacations I know about.

Guess it makes sense in a way. In reality, vacation or travel tends to be more stressful than we anticipate, what with the little annoyances like lost luggage and improperly booked hotel rooms. Or the bigger ones like dropping your camera off a mountain cliff in Tasmania (check) and forking over $1000 for a last-minute flight to London from Zambia when you thought you were going to Niger for about $100 (check check).

Then as soon as the vacation is over, most of us have to get back to work, which immediately negates any possible happiness we did derive on that Carnival cruise…I mean, eco-friendly work-trip in Honduras.

Relaxing Or Barf-Worthy?

After reading this article in the New York Times, pointed out to us by Milos Trylon, I thought back to some of the trips I’ve taken in my life that were supposed to be “relaxing” – i.e. sitting on a beach, sipping daiquiris, checking out oiled-up men.

Ok, I’ve never really been on a trip like that, but I did participate in the requisite Spring Breaks in the Bahamas and Cancun in college, attended a wedding in Hawaii, even – sigh – jumped on one of those cruises.

I must admit, I’ve never had the kind of fun on these trips that it seemed I was supposed to have. For these types of vacations, which are ones I think the general public tends to fantasize about, it becomes a competition to drink and eat the most for your money. “Oh, alcohol’s included? Just go ahead and bring me four pina coladas now!” “All day buffet on deck 4? Sweet, it’s been over 45 minutes since we last ate, let’s go grab a nibble!” Ugh, that’s not relaxation, that’s food/alcohol-coma-nightmare.

Even if the vacation is less inclined toward booze and more inclined toward say, nature, hiking, and sightseeing, we often pack as much as possible into 7-days roundtrip. This leaves us so exhausted that first Monday back at work, we end up complaining about needing a vacation after our vacation.

Beyond whether or not vacations end up actually being as fun as we think they will be, it’s interesting to think about the mindset of travel and time-off.

We crave time away so much when feeling over-stressed at work, and researching different packages and options gives our bottomed-out adrenaline a little jolt.

Yet, since it turns out the actual vacation isn’t giving us the happiness we think it will, maybe giving our brains some time off could have the same affect?

Reality is what we see, think, and believe. Our thoughts are what bring us happiness, and the anticipation of something good gets those endorphins going. Can we use this knowledge in order to build in more daily escapes to look forward to, even if that’s just walking through a different neighborhood in our town, or taking ten minutes for the ultimate mind-trip meditation?

This is not to say that I think travel, taking time off, and even island-hopping college vacations aren’t valid. The point of travel is not only to achieve a high return on happiness – it’s also to learn about ourselves, other cultures, and even to be challenged to grow via those pesky annoyances.

And I think there is a distinction between the mindset of those who travel for longer periods of time vs. those who are taking a short vacation, due to the fact that long-term travelers usually know they’re in for some rough patches. That’s almost a part of the purpose.

Still, when we can’t get away, whether that comes from a lack of funds, time, or dealing with life issues, it’s good to be reminded that mindset is the name of the game. We have the power to get away in the here and now.

Which just prompted me to head out the door to a personally-uncharted little town nearby to get the rest of my work done today.

Do you derive more happiness from vacation-planning or the trip itself? Share your thoughts below.

Source: Brave New Traveler

Many who are active in social networking sites and forums can vouch for the fact that they meet many like-minded friends through these channels more readily than if they were to go to a networking event in meat space. There’s only so many people you can meet at a networking event, you’ll be really lucky if you even have the chance to brush shoulders with anyone whom you can really click with. However, online, we can handpick the people we find interesting and share interests with, as well as get to know them further before meeting up to develop the friendship. However, just as in meat space, there are online social behavior best practices as well to achieve the best results.

Join forums or social networking sites based around your interests

The key to being able to make friends online is to focus on finding people that share the same interests as you. You are keen to be a freelance writer, for instance. There are a myriad of writing forums out there that you can join to meet people that are also writers. You will want to join just two or three forums at the start, and stay focused in building your relationships with others and your own reputation. Similarly, if your interest is in travel, you might want to meet travel friends online through social networking sites that facilitate sharing of trips, photos, and travel tips.

Join in conversations

To make friends online, you need to participate in the conversations that are going on. Many people join forums and just remain a lurker. This will not add value to your group of people that you know, right? You want to contribute to conversations and ask questions of your own to show that you are interested in becoming a part of this community. People are very welcoming to those that they feel have a genuine interest in being able to make friends online through their forum.

Start discussions

Once you have gotten comfortable adding your two cents into the already existing conversations, it is time to start some of your own. This final step to being able to make friends online is one where you will begin to see the work pay off that you have already done. People will come to the discussions that you have started and join in the fun. This is how you build a wonderful Internet based community around yourself.

Show interest in the other person

It will be extremely pleasing to the other person when you take interest in what they have shared. Say the other person loves dogs. Asking about whether he/she rears dogs; what kind; for how long generally works as a great conversation starter and the rest of the conversation will develop naturally.

So these are just a few tips on making new friends online. Do you have any? Share with us in the comments!

We are looking into making WorldFriends even better for you! Now that you can sign in on WorldFriends using your Facebook account, we’d like to enhance your experience on WorldFriends by further integrating Facebook on our site! But before we do so, we’d like to hear what YOU have to say!

Have you seen the “like” button on our city pages? Take a look at the Tokyo city page, for example. The next feature we’d like to add is the “like” button on group profile pages, forum topics, and personal profiles. What do you think?

Drop us a note here in the comments; enter your comment after you click on “like” at the end of the post; or just have your say on WorldFriends Facebook page or @WorldFriends on Twitter!

They say multicultural people tend to be creative, and multicultural experiences make people more creative. Would you say you have multicultural experiences? Do you have friends from different cultural backgrounds as yourself?

There are many popular celebrities who possess multicultural backgrounds. Names like Maggie Q and Daniel Henney come to mind when we think of multicultural celebrities. Today’s feature is on Korean-American actor and model, Daniel Henney.

Daniel Henney has a Korean-American mother and an American father of British descent. Henney started modeling in the U.S. in 2001 and has worked in countries like France, Italy, Hong Kong and Taiwan while he was still in college. His debut was in South Korea with an advertisement for the Amore Pacific’s cosmetic “Odyssey Sunrise”. After which, he became a spokesperson for commercials with Jeon Ji-hyun for Olympus cameras and Kim Tae-hee for Daewoo Electronics’s Klasse air conditioners.

Despite speaking no Korean, Daniel Henney became a household name through the South Korean hit TV drama, “My Name is Kim Sam Soon”. He later adapted a bit of the language and appeared on a few variety shows, such as “Family Outing”. Multicultural celebrity Daniel Henney was a part of an academic scandal in which many sources stated that he had an Economics degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago to bolster his image, while in actuality he had no college degree.

In 2009, he portrayed Agent Zero in the film “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”. In the fall season of 2009, he was playing “Dr. David Lee Cox” in the CBS television drama, “Three Rivers”.

Daniel Henney is one of the many multicultural celebrities that we come across in small and big screens alike. Are you able to name a few more?

Today is an exciting day! WorldFriends Networks is integrating Facebook into our sites!

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Intrigued by Japanese culture? Love Japanese food?

Everyone is always full of chatter when it comes to all things Japanese — the sashimi, the highly advanced technology, the Japanese language, Japanese mannerisms, cute Japanese men and women and so on.

So what do first-time travelers to Japan need to prepare themselves for?

Japanese Language

Surprisingly, despite Japan being the global economic hub, English is not used in daily life. You’d probably find more English speakers in China than in Japan. Nevertheless, the Japanese are keen learners of the English language, and would gladly be a language exchange partner with you. When traveling to Japan, however, it would be most helpful if you learn up the common phrases, and maybe even learn how to read Japanese.

Japanese Mannerisms

We’ve all heard how the Japanese value their manners and are extremely polite with visitors. ‘Tis true and reciprocation is most definitely welcomed. The way we use our handshake is equivalent to their habit of bowing, so it’s good practice to bow when you meet someone new.

Japanese Food

It’s Japanese food galore in Japan! Sushi, Sashimi, Tokatsu, Bento, Teppanyaki,… all those food you hitherto can only enjoy in Japanese restaurants (and probably at a high price)! In Japan, delectable Japanese cuisine is at every corner you look, and waiting for you to tuck in!

Japanese Sizes

Remember the movie “Lost in Translation”? Bill Muray was considered two sizes too tall for things like the Japanese shower in his five-star hotel room. So if your size is above average that of the Japanese, be prepared for instances where you may be a couple of sizes too big for things around you in Japan. Buying clothes there are probably not an option for you.

Want to know more about Japan or heading there soon? Meet travel friends who may even be available locally to help enhance your Japan experience!

Do you have friends with a different cultural background from yourself? Whether your friend is from a different country or a different ethnic background, getting to know each other will prove to be beneficial to both parties as it opens your eyes and perspectives.

The media has promoted multicultural relationships via the power of role models. Celebrities, such as Tiger Woods and Mariah Carey (products of mixed race relationships) are popular role models that support the beauty and talent of multiracial people. Movies are also contributing to the social acceptance of multicultural relationships. “Jungle Fever” and “Guess Who?” are trendy movies that demonstrate the humorous side of interracial dating. While the films do poke fun at cultural differences, they effectively show that interracial friendship and dating are okay.

People from multicultural backgrounds are said to be more creative, simply because they have been exposed to different cultures and can therefore think in different perspectives. Of course, this is not limited to people who have parents of different ethnicity or nationalities. Instead, this applies to all who have had exposure to cross-cultural relationships.

So have you made a friend from a different country or ethnicity yet?