for independent travelers
Editor’s Note: The follow story about Patpong contains language and sexual content that some readers might find offensive. Although we typically don’t publish these types of stories at GoMad Nomad, I thought it was important to show the “other” side of travel and a peek into the realm of sex tourism. If you don’t want [...] Read more »
To some, Kuala Lumpur is a shopping destination with stylish malls and international brands. It’s a city of skyscrapers and one of the few public transport monorails on earth. Home to one of the most impressive and once-tallest buildings on earth. But there’s more to it. I wanted to present you with as many [...] Read more »
To only see Seoul on a Korean vacation is an absurd task. Like an all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue, you simply can’t experience all the city has to offer in the unfortunately short time you have. (And, also like the barbecue, you leave feeling bloated and confused, wondering where all your money went.) Enter Busan. Busan is [...] Read more »
Seoul is a city of four distinct seasons. I spent one August in the city and it was hot and humid. Winter is cold. If you don’t mind the cold, it’s worth it to visit for the winter atmosphere. Here are some great ideas of things to do in Seoul if you find yourself here [...] Read more »
Tokyo and its greater metropolitan area form the largest urban conurbation on earth. That’s more than 30 million souls crammed into one of the few flat areas in Japan. Unsurprisingly, space here is at a premium and town planning was given up a long time ago. Function and fit, by necessity, have taken [...] Read more »
Why Napoli (Naples) is the Real Deal While other cities have transformed their historic downtowns into either a touristified Disney Land or one long stretch of expensive designer brand shopping, Napoli, or Naples, Italy has done neither. True there are a few kitschy souvenir shops, but for the most part it’s as authentic a city [...] Read more »
Anyone with a desire to comprehend the Renaissance, has to make Florence, Italy a part of their Italy trip itinerary. No other place in Europe packs in so much Renaissance art, sculpture, and history as Florence, not to mention its being the epicenter of the movement that spawned Europe’s rebirth in culture. If you want [...] Read more »
Krakow is Poland’s top tourist destination. While there are other destinations to put on your Poland tour which are also beautiful and less touristy (namely Wroclaw), you shouldn’t miss Krakow. It was the only major city in Poland to survive World War II undamaged. Our Poland trip also included a stop in the capital, Warsaw [...] Read more »
Riga Latvia is very much different from its neighbors: Estonia and Lithuania. Don’t be misguided by people who say they are too similar. Tallinn’s old city is very much a medieval one, while Riga impresses with its Art Nouveau architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Historic Center. Riga is bit more cosmopolitan and well-connected by its [...] Read more »
Riga Central Market is one stop you’ll want to make on your walk around the city. First, a little about the setting. The market is located in and around the five main pavilions which were constructed by reusing old German Zeppelin hangars. It was finished in 1930 incorporating Neoclassicism and Art Deco styles and remains [...] Read more »
Tallinn Estonia is a city known for its well-preserved medieval old town. It’s just a 3-hour ferry ride from Helsinki, a popular stop for cruise ships, and not too far from St. Petersburg, Russia. Its port location has added to its significance over the years, but has also led to a number of foreign powers [...] Read more »
Keeping it Cheap in New York New York City can be a shockingly expensive place for those of us who travel in from different economies. Even coming from neighboring Pennsylvania it’s a big step up. I paid $16 for pastrami sandwich at the legendary Katz’s Deli. Granted, it was tasty, quite large, and paired with [...] Read more »
By Stephen Bugno Spokane, Washington is the forgotten city of the Pacific Northwest. As I discovered last summer in Albany, New York, sometimes it’s the unsung hero towns that give you the best memories. Spokane is an excellent gateway to the northwest Rockies, Glacier National Park, the Colombia Valley Wine Region, and even the Canadian [...] Read more »
Dali is one of those places that I really hoped I wouldn’t dislike. Its description in the guidebooks made it sound so pleasant a town—except for one thing—the growing number Chinese tourists. Well, there were tons of tourists, but Chinese tourists seem to stick together in group tours and don’t drift very far from the [...] Read more »
I started a series last year to try to describe to readers what it’s actually like in selected cities worldwide. Too often travel writers highlight points of touristic interest or glamorize a destination only to elevate it beyond its reality. That is their job: to sell destinations. I wanted to go beyond that and tell [...] Read more »
One of the iconic images of all of Asia, the Hong Kong skyline is certainly one of the city’s highlights. There are a few ways to go about getting the best view. I’ll give you my top four picks: 4) From the ICC Tower in West Kowloon. This is the tallest building in Hong Kong [...] Read more »
Quebec City has long been a destination I‘ve wanted to visit. Old Quebec, or Vieux-Québec, has a well-known reputation of rich history being the only city north of Mexico that has retained its fortified city walls. I would further say that along with Guanajuato, Mexico, Quebec City is the most European of cities in [...] Read more »
Since its founding, New York City has been crowded. NYC real estate is such a commodity that disposing of the deceased has posed some unique challenges. In many of the city’s cemeteries, the departed haven’t gone so quietly. St. Paul’s Chapel Churchyard NYC’s oldest public building in continuous use (George Washington prayed here), St. Paul’s [...] Read more »
By Stephen Bugno Getting Oriented A great way to get oriented with Albany is by taking a tour with the Albany Aqua Ducks. Popular with both locals and visitors, the tour takes guests first by driving through the streets of the city and second on the Hudson River taking advantage of the dual nature [...] Read more »
A few years ago I spent a couple months in Israel and the West Bank. For one of those months I volunteered in the city of Nablus for a month, teaching English and participating in other community projects. Living in the region was an invaluable way to understand the current events in the region and [...] Read more »