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While at Victoria Falls between Zambia and Zimbabwe, we decided to do the Lion Walk, one of the tourist activities advertised by the different organizations around the falls. Participants are able to pet the lions and walk through the bush with them for an hour. This experience was incredible and definitely once-in-a-lifetime, but probably not the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Most groups don’t allow lions to come into contact with people after they’re 6 months, and these lions were 14 months of age. One lion, in the hopes of playing with one of the participants, reached out for her leg, but her skin was no match for his claw. This experience taught me to appreciate the beauty of the lions, but also to appreciate the fact that wild animals and people orbit separate spheres for a reason.

Read Laiah’s blog at: curlsonthecape.blogspot.com/

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Here I am in Cappadocia, a very touristy area, trying my hand at ”kilim” weaving — and staying far away from the men that are waiting to charm female tourists!

Turkish people are famous for their misafir pervelik, and pride themselves on this hospitality. Many times have I heard from friends traveling in Turkey about how a Turkish person they randomly met invited them back to their home for dinner with their family, or else spent the day guiding them around without asking for anything in return.

Nevertheless, for a woman traveling in Turkey, it helps to be careful. Not, however, because there are pick-pockets and other shady characters lurking in the shadows; but rather because there is unfortunately the stereotypical belief among Turkish men that all foreign women are looking for a one-night stand. To be fair to the Turkish men, many women do travel to Antalya and other tourist resorts looking for a good time; they hook up with local men and are happy to then return to their country, no strings attached. However, this is certainly not what the majority of foreign women traveling in Turkey are looking for, and so many women are perplexed by the harassment they experience.

Again, I must qualify here – Turkish men are on the whole extremely polite and respectful. But a few, particularly the ones in the resort regions, truly believe that the women travelers they meet there are looking for men, and so don’t think they’re being offensive. Rather, they believe everyone’s looking for the same thing. You see, in Turkish culture, a bride’s virginity is extremely important, and many modern women still want to save themselves for marriage. A Turkish man, therefore, doesn’t have the same opportunities for relationships and sexual experience that Europeans and North Americans do.

So a woman traveler has to discern between the hospitality of a well-meaning Turk, proudly wanting to show off the best of his country, and the Turk wanting to sleep with her. And for someone new to Turkey, it can be hard to know the difference.

My advice? Remember these simple truths:

-Accept hospitality from families, women, older men … but beware of young, single men’s ulterior motive
-Travel with like-minded friends
-No matter how intensely he may pursue and woo you, you have not found love

Read Cecile’s blog at: www.expatdiaries-cecileeugenie.blogspot.com/

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Backpacking through Thailand was always a dream I longed to fulfill since I was a teenager. Moving to Seoul, Korea a few months ago allowed me the chance to live this dream, as I decided to take my two-week vacation in the Land of Smiles. I moved cautiously, worried about all that I’d heard and read regarding the country and its treatment towards tourists. Being a woman traveling with two other female companions, I was that much more afraid of the problems we could encounter. However, some basic planning on our parts with regards to which hostels we would stay at, and research on dealing with taxi drivers and tour guides, made our two-week sojourn in this beautiful country a memorable and painless experience.

Though we visited quite a few cities, our biggest worry was Bangkok, because of the fact that it was a major destination know as much for its problems as its cosmopolitan nature. We learned very quickly that cab drivers were always on the prowl for unsuspecting tourists, so we took Bangkok’s modern public transportation as much as possible around the city (SKY train and ferry). It was a cheap and efficient way to travel, and it gave us a chance to really get comfortable with the locals. Another fact to keep in mind is that it’s a country where bargaining is part of their culture. They enjoy the give and take that comes with negotiating prices on everything from souvenirs to clothes. It’s definitely scary to do at first, but once you get the hang of it, it will become second nature and you’ll actually start to enjoy it. Challenge yourself to walk away with a treat, paid for with the lowest price possible.

Once you hit the islands, you’ll find yourself being drawn to boat trips that aren’t necessarily worth the bang for your bhat. There’s many to choose from and a few that are legitimate. It’s worth visiting one of the many travel agencies available on the islands to book tours, which can either be for a few hours or for an entire day. And if at all possible, try renting a cycle or a mini-moped for a day tour of the beaches and sights. Drive carefully, though, and be sure to ask for a helmet.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask questions… even if it means asking more than one person the same question. Generally, Thai people speak decent English, though their fluency varies across the board. However, it will definitely ease any anxiety you might have throughout your travels, when you find more than one local giving you the same information as the next.

I found my smile in the Land of Smiles, and I hope you do too!

Happy Travels!

You can read Simone’s blog at www.straightfromthecurls.blogspot.com

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Despite the fact that Ghana is considered “Africa for beginners,” it tends to be off the beaten track for most Africa-bound tourists. Ghana is extremely hot, so I recommend bringing light-weight clothes, but also realize that Ghanaians value dressing nicely and conservatively. You may not feel very comfortable in very short shorts or skirts, and it would possibly draw some unwanted attention from men (and even women). Ghanaian people are some of the nicest that I have ever met, always asking, “how are you?” to complete strangers. However, as a woman traveler, you will certainly attract men who want to be your “friend” or want your phone number. My advice would be, if you do not want this attention, to wear a ring on your wedding ring finger and just point to that when men approach you. Also, I really would not recommend giving your phone number out to just any Ghanaian man unless you know him very well, because they will call you ceaselessly.My time in Ghana has been spent mostly in the capital, Accra at the University of Ghana. Accra is a hot, dusty, and busy city. If you are only going to be in Accra for a few days, I would recommend checking out Makola Market (the largest market in Accra) and Osu (a neighborhood- great for nightlife). Getting around Accra is easiest in a taxi, but drivers will try to charge you more because you are not Ghanaian. Never get into a taxi without negotiating a price first- and try to know a reasonable price before you even approach a taxi driver. If you want to be a little more daring (and save a lot of money) you can try a tro-tro, which are vans that serve as the main form of public transportation. If you are only going to be in Accra for a little bit, I wouldn’t even try the tro-tros because it took me weeks to actually understand where each one goes. But, if you ask a Ghanaian, they will always tell you which tro-tro to get on, and where you need to get off. Accra is a safe city, during my three months here I have traveled around by myself with no problem. However, at night, do not go out by yourself- always travel in a group.

Outside of Accra there are a number of amazing places to visit. If you are looking for a great beach, check out the Green Turtle Lodge in Akwidaa Village, a few hours outside of Takoradi. This is a small eco-lodge on a pristine and isolated beach. I would not recommend staying in the tents- try to get a room, because I stayed in the tents and they are stuffy and I had trouble sleeping. Also, another pro- the food is excellent, get the French toast for breakfast.

If you are looking for a cultural experience, head to Kumasi (4-5 hours from Accra), which is the capital of the Ashanti Region in Ghana. The Asante people are famous for their strong cultural ties and Kente cloth weaving. Another great location is Cape Coast (2-3 hours from Accra). At Cape Coast you can visit the slave castles that were departure points for African slaves during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Also nearby is Kakum National Park, where you can do a rainforest canopy walk, which is a bit terrifying, but also really fun. As far as getting to these places from Accra, the best way is taking a coach bus from the STC bus station near Circle in Accra.

Ghana is beautiful and friendly country, and I know that anyone traveling here will fall in love.

You can read Courtney’s blog at: courtneyesmith.blogspot.com/

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In Tokyo, it’s sakura season! Bursts of pink and white are softening the city’s hard edges and obscuring the dismal architecture — even the drabbest apartment building looks positively cheery with a cherry tree out front in full bloom. Of course Tokyo has green spaces and other pockets of beauty, and they provide great escapes from the congestion, concrete and steel at all times of year, but these gems are made more precious with the appearance of the cherry blossoms. The best part is that Tokyo is one of the safest places to be a tourist (or resident, for that matter) on the planet. Women can travel alone without fear of harassment, theft or worse. Obviously you should be sensible and take the usual precautions. Many hanami — literally “flower viewing” — parties in the various parks are basically drink-fests on blue tarps, and can get pretty rowdy. This weekend’s scene at Yoyogi Park should get interesting as some revelers set up sound systems and the dancing gets underway. For more peace and quiet, take a stroll along the canal in Nakameguro, or bring a picnic lunch to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden (which doesn’t allow alcohol). If you’re headed to the temples in Asakusa, consider taking a cruise up the Sumida River to get there, stopping at Hama-rikyu, one of the city’s best public gardens, along the way. Kichijoji, a suburb 25-min. away from Shibuya by train, has beautiful cherry trees in its fabulous Inokashira Park, and makes a great day trip.

You can read Maryanne’s blog at: mtokyoblog.blogspot.com.