Peter Wik

Peter Wik has been traveling the world since childhood. He has visited over 60 countries and some of them up to a hundred times. Peter is the owner of Relasian Travel & Event based in Stockholm, Sweden but constantly on the road. Peter is a foodie and loves to try new food around the world. Here he shares his favorite gems from places high and low around the world to make you go local yet being global. Peter lives in Stockholm and Paris.

For contact please visit relasian.com

2013-10-09

Ha Long Bay - "Decending Dragon Bay" in North Vietnam

A visit to the Halong Bay a 3-4 hour drive from Hanoi is a visit to pure natural beauty. Here you find over 1500 islands all made of limestone during a period of 500 million years!
Most people that come here take a day tour were they have a nice seafood meal on the boat and listen to music in loudspeakers. That is not the ultimate way to visit this wonderful part of the world on the UNESCO world heritage list.
I suggest you to take a 2-4 day tour out in the archipelago and enjoy the solitude and clear night skies.
 Remember to heck that the boat has good life jackets etc before you leave the harbor and do choose a good boat company that you have selected by a travel agent for safety!
The best time to visit is during the summer months. During the winter it can be rather cold and the weather can change quickly. There are also many great caves to visit and they are usually included in the boat tours. 

2013-10-08

Machu Picchu in Peru is selected Number One on the travelers "wish list"

The wonderful Machu Picchu - meaning " old peak" in the original language quechua was built around 1450 but abandoned about a hundred years later when the Spaniards invaded the Inca Empire. Not until Hiram Bingham found it again 1911 did the western world know the existence of this marvelous lost city on the Inkas. Located on 2450 meters high up on the mountain top this was a place were people lived and used their terraces as greenhouses to increase the strength of the plants to be able to grow on higher grounds. The nature around it is stunning and the view is breathtaking.
Today 2500 tourists a day are permitted entrance and you have to book your tickets in advance. It does get quite costly to visit Machu Picchu as you have to take the train here from Ollantaytambo. There are not other ways if you don't want to make the 4 days walk on the Inca Trail. The train tickets are different according to the kind of train that you take. To book a ticket you can do it by the help of a travel agency or do it by yourself over the Internet. http://www.machupicchu.gob.pe/
I would suggest you to do as I do every time I visit Machu Picchu. I take the early train from Ollantaytambo in the morning and reach there about 10.00 in the morning. Then I take the bus up to the top of the mountain and spend the full day there. I then also take a walk on the Inca Trail up to the Sun Gate were I get the most stunning view of the site. I then stay overnight in Aguascalientes and early morning I go back to the mountain before all the tourist are there. In the late afternoon I then go back to Ollantaytambo with the train and stay in the Sacred Valley.
It is really difficult to do the visit under 200 US dollar per person with train, entrance tickets, bus up to the site etc.
Remember not to use shorts even on hot days as there are a lot of mosquitos in the grass, use repellent and sun protection. 

2013-10-02

Rush Hour in Tokyo!

The question as a tourist in Tokyo is if you should avoid the Rush Hour or try the Rush Hour!
I think that you have to join in at least once during your stay in Tokyo. Rush hours are early morning, early evening and midnight.
Buy your ticket to the JR Yamanonte Line that goes as a loop around central Tokyo. It does take 60 minutes if you would like to go all the way around. Follow the system and line up on the platform as locals do and you will be amazed how well everything works and how disciplined people are in Tokyo! After the fun experience you will be happy that you don't have to do this every day!