Long Way Home By Any Means

Long Way Home is a journey of two ordinary boys from Hong Kong, Tim Cho (TJ) and Shawn Kam (KJ). As from July 1, 2014 the journey started from South America, Chile, in order to return home Asia by land and sea, without using an aircraft. They are travelling through four continents and 33 countries.

Long Way Home is a journey of two ordinary boys from Hong Kong, Tim Cho (TJ) and Shawn Kam (KJ). As from July 1, 2014 the journey started from South America, Chile, in order to return home Asia by land and sea, without using an aircraft. They are travelling through four continents and 33 countries. In order – Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, the United States, Britain, France, Monaco, Spain, Italy, the Vatican, San Marino, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China (Tibet), Vietnam, China (Guangxi), and finally back to Hong Kong via Lo Wu. The journey is expected to take about nine months to one year.

During their journey, TJ and KJ are making full use of local transportation, mainly trains, buses and small passenger ships, and when the conditions permit, they are self-driving a motorcycle, a bicycle or a car. As TJ and KJ are travelling on a budget, they are mainly using CouchSurfing. If couch-surf is not possible and the circumstances permits, they are camping. When none is possible, TJ and KJ are staying at budget Hostels, like Trip&Sleep or Hotels as their last option.

Why Chile? Why Long Way Home By Any Means?

KJ went to Santiago del Chile in December 2012 to fulfill his dream to attain proficiency in Spanish. Now for some reason he has forgone his return flight home and thus is stuck in the longest north-south country in the world. Having had enough of the best wine, seafood and fruit on planet earth, he misses home. Sure he has the 2000 bucks to get an ergonomically failing economy seat on a Boeing-777 heading towards Hong Kong and land himself on the Chinese soil in 30 hours, but he reckoned he might just as well spend that lump of money for having more stamps on his passport. Yes, this guy has a predilection for immigration stamps.

It has always been a dream of TJ’s to go on a journey overland since he stumbled across on TV the documentary Long Way Round produced by BBC featuring the Hollywood big name Ewan McGregor and the English TV presenter Charley Boorman. Now that KJ’s return ticket is gone, TJ figured that it would just be a perfect time for him to fulfill his ambition with his best travel companion whose Chilean temporary residency expires in August during the Brazilian World Cup year. He also finds it the most awesome way possible to give his bro a “welcome home”.

Europe’s Cheapest Cities This Year

Every year, PriceOfTravel.com updates its Europe Three-Star Traveler Index. It’s a snapshot of the current cheapest cities in Europe for budget-minded travelers, based on the daily cost of a well-reviewed 3-star hotel room in a central location, two cab rides, entry to a cultural attraction, and three meals and three drinks per day.

You’ve heard it a lot in the last few months: Europe is cheaper than it’s been in a long time. The time to go is now. But Europe is a big place. So where should you go to make the most of the strong dollar?

Every year, PriceOfTravel.com updates its Europe Three-Star Traveler Index. It’s a snapshot of the current cheapest cities in Europe for budget-minded travelers, based on the daily cost of a well-reviewed 3-star hotel room in a central location, two cab rides, entry to a cultural attraction, and three meals and three drinks per day.

Here are the cheapest European cities for budget travelers this year.

Bucharest, Romania

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $43.80

For an intriguing look at the political and cultural extremes of Romania’s history, check out Bucharest’s Palace of Parliament, Village Museum, and Cotroceni Palace, each of which will give you a different sense of the Romanian experience.

Sofia, Bulgaria

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $44.71

Sofia mingles urban charm with natural beauty. The architecturally-rich city is one of Europe’s oldest, with cobblestone boulevards and, in the warmer months, an al fresco cafe culture that invites travelers to stay a while.

Kiev, Ukraine

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $46.35

Now may not be the time to visit Eastern Ukraine (read the State Department’s latest warning for full details) but capital city Kiev–located squarely in the middle of the country–is still welcoming visitors with its incredibly good exchange rate and World Heritage Sites.

Cesky Krumlow, Czech Republic

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $49.10

Travelers looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination worth the extra effort of getting there will love Cesky Krumlow. The medieval river town is friendly, ultra-affordable, and full of fascinating historical sights.

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $50

East meets West in Sarajevo, where low prices reign in 2015. More than a decade after war, the city has been almost entirely reconstructed, and is once again a lively and welcoming place. And there’s no beating its proximity to gorgeous nature–nearby dense forests and alpine lakes make for an easy day trip.

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $50.48

For the last decade, Saint Petersburg has been earning a reputation as a pricey destination. But with the weakened Russian ruble, Russia’s most beautiful city has become a budget bucket-lister’s dream.

Budapest, Hungary

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $51.06

Budapest has long been a magnet for budget travelers, and it continues to offer an incredible experience at an affordable price. Get off the tourist track to find authentic and affordable food and hotels, and embrace coffee houses and thermal baths to discover the best of the city.

Krakow, Poland

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $52.36

PriceOfTravel.com says Krakow is “easily among the best bargains in Europe,” sighting its historic center and “weirdly low” prices as perfect excuses for making the journey. One of the first world heritage cities to be designated by UNESCO, the 13th-century merchants’ town is home to Europe’s largest market square and a hilltop palace.

Belgrade, Serbia

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $53.52

Belgrade stands out for the relatively high quality of accommodations, even in lower price ranges. The city’s architecture–which ranges from Byzantine to Art Nouveau–tells the story of its past, while its beach and nightclub-river-barge culture gives it a youthful edge.

Split, Croatia

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $62.08

Cheap, easy to reach, and flourishing with a rich local culture, Split is where anyone looking for a Croatian slice-of-life should go for vacation. Its seaside location makes it an ideal jumping-off point for exploring the country’s famed islands.

Zagreb, Croatia

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $64.92

Another Croatia gem, Zagreb’s inland location shelters it from the surf-and-sand crowd, and keeps prices low. Its charming old city center and thriving arts and culture scene means there’s plenty to do, even on a budget.

Vilnius, Lithuania

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $65.88

While most of the destinations on the Three-Star Traveler Index require extra effort on the transportation front to visit, Vilnius is a rising star for European budget airlines, which deliver people directly to the city from other major European airports.

Bratislava, Slovakia

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $68.39

Just a stone’s throw from pricey Vienna, Slovakia’s Bratislava offers plenty of historic charm without inflated prices. Cobblestone streets and a thriving cafe scene keep things quaint, while the city’s towering UFO Observation Deck gives it a futuristic spin.

Santorini Island, Greece

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $69.49

Santorini–and indeed the Greek islands in general–is a great deal this year as long as you’re not visiting in July and August, when prices jump to take full advantage of the high demand. Gorgeous scenery, affordable food and drink, and reasonable accommodations rates make it worth the ferry ride.

Riga, Latvia

Daily 3-Star Traveler Index: $69.94

Riga is finding its way into the mainstream with the introduction of low-cost flights from budget European carriers. Even so, this UNESCO-recognized city with its famed Art Nouveau center remains among the most affordable spots in Europe.

More Affordable European Cities this Year

The Europe Three-Star Traveler Index includes 56 cities. Here are the destinations that round out the top 20:
Tenerife, Spain
Prague, Czech Republic
Istanbul, Turkey
Warsaw, Poland
Moscow, Russia

Vilnius, Lithuania/Shutterstock

This article was originally wrote by Christine Sarkis on The Huffington Post

These Cities Will Soon be Havens for the Super-Rich

While many of the world’s multimillionaires and billionaires live in the financial capitals of London, Tokyo, and New York, many have begun migrating to cities with emerging markets and untapped opportunities to make even more money.

With their emerging markets and rising regional influence, the cities of Belgrade, Panama City, Addis Ababa, and Yangon may soon become global financial capitals and havens for the super-rich, global real estate consultancy Knight Frank predicted in its annual Wealth Report last week.

The report documents the patterns of high-net-worth individuals — those worth over $30 million — to predict how global wealth will evolve in the next decade.

While many of the world’s multimillionaires and billionaires live in the financial capitals of London, Tokyo, and New York, many have begun migrating to cities with emerging markets and untapped opportunities to make even more money.

Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade, Serbia
Belgrade, Serbia

Panama City, Panama

Panama City
The Panama City skyline at night

Panama has benefited immensely from its strategically located canal that bridges Latin America and North America. Since 2007, its capital, Panama City, has nearly doubled its population of high-net-worth individuals.

Compared with its Central American neighbors like Honduras, Panama is economically stable. It’s also growing all the time. High-quality transport, healthcare, and a competitive tax environment are expected to draw in over 7,000 super-rich residents by 2024.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Addis Ababa’s skyline provides a backdrop for Meskal Square, site of military parades and rallies during the Communist era which ended in 1991.
Addis Ababa’s skyline provides a backdrop for Meskal Square, site of military parades and rallies during the Communist era which ended in 1991.

Ethiopia is Africa’s fastest-growing economy, and the super-rich have taken notice. The population of high-net-worth individuals in the country’s capital, Addis Ababa, has nearly doubled since 2007 and is expected to double again by 2024.

Home to the African Union headquarters, the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and a number of other continental and international organizations, Addis Ababa is often referred to as the political capital of Africa.

Yangon, Myanmar

Two male monks at the Shwedagon Paya, Yangon, Myanmar.
Two male monks at the Shwedagon Paya, Yangon, Myanmar.

Myanmar’s former capital and largest city, Yangon, is a “classic example of emerging market wealth creation,” according to the report. Now a tourist destination for the super-wealthy, Myanmar and its economy have benefited from democratic reforms and the gradual opening up of its economy. Yangon accounts for more than a fifth of Myanmar’s total economic output, and its number of high-net-worth individuals is expected to double over the next 10 years.

Flicker/Dominique | Flicker/Dennis Jarvis | Flicker/Thibault Houspic | Flicker/David Stanley | Flicker/Trevor Mills

This article was originally wrote by Natasha Bertrand on Business Insider.