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The Thinking Traveller

Activity Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Fun History Inspiration Meditation Mixed Categories Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

It all comes out in the washi

Every summer, giant warriors roam the Japanese city of Aomori. Lit from within by lanterns, these formidable paper floats are the centerpiece of the Nebuta Matsuri, a weeklong evening festival in August and one of Japan’s biggest seasonal events. Accompanied by taiko drummers and dancers, the floats depict scenes from kabuki and Japanese mythology. Each…
2021-06-300Comments

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Activity Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health History Nature & the Environment North America Partytime Relaxation Special Interest The Thinking Traveller

I like my tortugas dry

The United States of America has its fingers in so many pies in the world.  And there are still remnants of the country's founding that give us a glimmer what it must have been like those hundreds of years ago, as the country was taking shape. One of those remnants that often is undersung is…
2021-06-300Comments

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Activity Caribbean Central & South America Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health LGBTQ Life of Luxury Lifestyle Oceania Outdoors Pacific Partytime Relaxation The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

Right, said Fred

We're happy to announce that Matouring is now an affiliate of Fred Olsen cruises. One of the things we like about Fred Olsen is the playful approach they have to cruises and touring.  They're a not the biggest name in the cruise industry, but being family-run, they can do things the way they want, and…
2021-06-300Comments

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Activity Adventure Central & South America Design and Art Do Something Different For Women Only Fun Health LGBTQ Meditation Nature & the Environment Partytime Relaxation Special Interest Special Offers / Deals Spend Wisely Sustainability The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Yes, you get the Holbox to yourself.

https://matouring.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Palm-Trees-Ocean-Breeze-Square-Video.mp4 Flamingos and pelicans and herons…oh my! Holbox Island is beloved by bird nerds for its population of exotic avian life. Perched near the Yucatan Peninsula, the island is also a hot spot for whale shark viewing, and kiteboarders love the shallow waters and wide beaches. The white sand streets are relatively unspoiled, as most tourists…
2021-06-290Comments

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Activity Adventure Caribbean Central & South America Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Outdoors Partytime Relaxation Special Offers / Deals The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Things could get Messi

Can you believe this?  On June 14, 2021, the Hard Rock venues turned 50 and that doesn’t happen every day. To mark this day, they want to share with you their new campaign. It is built on the principles that have guided Hard Rock since the beginning – providing a fresh approach and a call…
2021-06-290Comments

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Activity Adventure Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History Lifestyle Partytime Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

Bay Watch 101

Alert:  don't expect to find David Hasselhoff, nor Pamela Anderson here.  But, who can say?  With the world's infatuation with South Korea, you never know.  Those who do (or have) visited really enjoy the sites, sounds and flavours of The Bay 101 in Haeundae.  Haeundae became a division of Busan Metropolitan City in 1976 and attained…
2021-06-290Comments

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Activity Adventure Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun LGBTQ Life of Luxury Partytime Special Offers / Deals The Thinking Traveller

¿desigual?

We're very excited to welcome a new affiliate friend, one who has always been a favourite of not only much of Europe, but also of the smarter half of the Matouring.com team. We are, of course, talking about Desigual.  As they say themselves, "In reality, Desigual isn’t a brand. It’s a group of people who believe…
2021-06-290Comments

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Adventure Africa Do Something Different History Mindfulness Special Interest Spend Wisely The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Nice! Azman

It's always nice to see new (or old) airlines bring themselves back to life, especially if there is sufficient desire and cash to make it work.   One example is Nigeria's Azman Air.  They have  been given approval to fly the airline's only plane, a Airbus A340-600 on international flights. After a string of recent affirmation…
2021-06-280Comments

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Adventure Asia Do Something Different History Nature & the Environment Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

ああ私の (Oh my)

If you feel like you have visited almost every place on earth, you might want to give this a try.  You can tour the Fukushima disaster zone - where the simultaneous, earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant melted down and devastated the Fukushima  area, and the ghost town Namie itself. It is safe enough for…
2021-06-270Comments

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Activity Design and Art Do Something Different Europe History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Lifestyle Mindfulness Partytime Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Italy: back in black

You may not think of Italy as a particularly diverse country, but its history includes a Black Roman emperor, Septimus Severus, and, in the 19thcentury, colonies in the North African countries now known as Eritrea and Ethiopia (from where Italians’ beloved caffè originates). I arrived here from New York two years ago, and have found…
2021-06-270Comments

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Activity Design and Art Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun Health History LGBTQ Life of Luxury Nature & the Environment Relaxation Sustainability The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Brescia refresher

Raise your hands, those of you who have visited Brescia, Italy. If you haven't, let us assist you in exploring this rich and varied place. Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo. With a…
2021-06-260Comments

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Adventure Asia Design and Art Do Something Different Life of Luxury Special Interest Spend Wisely Sustainability Technology The Thinking Traveller Travel Solo World Culture

China: rail on a roll

China is a country that doesn't mess around.  With almost 1.4 billion people living in the country, things have to function smoothly, or chaos will inevitably ensue. Evidence of this is that almost 700 km of new metro and tram lines and extensions were opened in 15 Chinese cities during the closing weeks of 2020.…
2021-06-260Comments

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Adventure Design and Art Europe Food and Drink For Women Only Fun History Outdoors Partytime Romance The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Come and see a’ the hypogea

Ah, Roma.  No matter how many times you visit, something pulls you back again and again. The Italians are never shy in sharing their singular country and its thousands of splendors.  But, one sight-seeing treat has - mysteriously - always been off limits:  the "basement, or the hypogea of the Colosseum as it's correctly known.…
2021-06-260Comments

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Activity Alternative Lifestyle Design and Art Do Something Different Europe Fun LGBTQ Partytime Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual

God’s Own Junkyard

Art is always something that should be celebrated, especially if it breaks new ground, or reinvents itself.  Or maybe, in this case, it is art that accumulates purely from the artist's love of art. God's Own Junkyard is the baby of Chris Bracey, who has  been the Neon Man for 37 years creating iconic art…
2021-06-250Comments

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Adventure Do Something Different History Nature & the Environment Outdoors Special Interest Technology The Thinking Traveller Unusual

What does ʻOumuamua say?

There’s an iconic moment, filmed in the shadow of the Very Large Array in New Mexico, that many people who visit this giant telescope try to duplicate. A young astronomer sits cross-legged on the bonnet of her car, the towering line of radio dishes vanishing into the distance behind her. With her laptop in front…
2021-06-230Comments

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Adventure Central & South America Design and Art Do Something Different Food and Drink Fun History Nature & the Environment Outdoors Partytime Special Interest The Thinking Traveller World Culture

Have you seen Medellín?

Medellín, Colombia (pronounced medi-jeen) is yet another eye-opening, mind-blowing, mind-opening world city that is recognised as a must-do adventure, but often bubbles under in people's minds. Why not surprise yourself and put it on your list?  There's loads to do in Colombia's lively Medellín, but to help you get started, our affiliate friends Tiqets have…
2021-06-230Comments

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Activity Do Something Different Europe History Special Interest The Thinking Traveller Unusual World Culture

An Englishman, a Scotsman and an Irishman walk into a bar….

....The Englishman wanted to go so they all had to leave. Yes, we're talking about the UK's Brexit again.  As of this the time of this article, this week marks five years since the Brexit referendum shocked Europe. Despite forecasts that Britain’s withdrawal would trigger other departures by countries with similar Eurosceptic urges, the response from member…
2021-06-230Comments

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