Blog - foXnoMad

A Time-lapse Tour Around The Balkans, India, Tunisia, And Istanbul

by | May 17, 2016 | | 2

The technology I travel with has changed quite a bit since I first started out on an endless journey with an iPod, random point-and-shoot camera, and little else. You can learn to take better travel photos with any camera, but certain device-specfic functions like time-lapse have opened up new ways for me to show you the places I’m traveling.

Here’s a look around several cities I have visited over several months in time-lapse, using two iPhones models, a 5s and 6s.

Sunrise At The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is one of 5 tourist destinations that won’t disappoint you, even after your third visit. Having been multiple times, I was able to take my time at sunrise, entering first by arriving in line at 5 in the morning. That’s the best time to queue up (get to Agra, India the night before) since as you can see, the Taj Mahal grounds fill up with tourists fast.

Views Of Tirana From The Top Of Dajti Mountain

Not having an cash with me at the base station of the longest cable car in the Balkans (and no ATM for kilometers around) the girl at the ticket counter negotiated a credit card payment at the Dajti Tower Hotel. One of the staff escorted me to the top, where I got a rooftop view of Albania‘s capital (above this rotating 360 degree cafe) as a bonus.

Action Outside Of Istanbul Ataturk Airport’s Gate 222

The gates numbered in the 220s of Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport in Turkey have some of the best airport watching, video, and photographic opportunities. The upper 220s give you a view of seemingly countless Turkish Airline tail wings in a row, while 222 has everything from takeoff to landing.

The Sun Setting Over Tatooine

You can see how I set up this shot here, browse through a photo essay of the vanishing Star Wars sets in northern Africa, and learn how you can visit the Star Wars sets locations in Tunisia to see for yourself.

National Palace Of Culture In Sofia, Bulgaria Lights Up

This massive building in the center of Bulgaria’s capital is where you’ll find orchestral concerts, plays, and film festivals, with cafes lining the bottom floor. A long row of fountains leads up to it in the park around NDK (the Bulgarian abbreviation) but without a tripod, you’ll need to get creative.

Takeoff From Istanbul Ataturk’s Airport

If I knew I was going to get away with it, I would have prepared my battery for the entire flight (which ideally was a short one). Unfortunately, although in airplane mode, I haven’t been able to arrange an entire flight.. yet.

Time-lapse Tips For Your Own Travel Photos

There’s a noticeable difference in the resolution between the two iPhones (can you tell which is which) and it’s preferable to shoot time-lapse with a camera rather than phone for better lighting plus resolution in general. Also, you want as much movement in the frame as you can get around a few or single stationary focal point. Vehicles (boats in especially) help give a flow to enhance a travel time-lapse as only clouds can be dull or focusing only on a small group of people distracting, as they move too quickly to establish a visible pattern.

A lot of basic photography rules apply as well. For example using stationary points as leading lines which will help you take better sunset photos when traveling not just time-lapses. Finally, play around with time-lapse and be patient, the longer you wait (especially at dawn or dusk) the more motion, thus patterns, you’ll be able to capture.

A Look Back At The Winners Of The Best City Contest: An Instagram Photo Essay

by | May 12, 2016 | , | 3

best city winners instagram foxnomad

The Best City To Visit Travel Tournament is an annual occurrence on this site, one I’ve hosted every March since 2009. It gets rolling around early February, when you begin nominating cities, with votes every week to narrow down the selected cities to one best city. Over the past few weeks on my Instagram @foxnomad, account I’ve been taking a look back as I look forward to visiting the 2016 winner, Lisbon.

Best City 2009 – Sydney, Australia

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Although The Best City To Visit Travel Tournaments began in 2009, I didn’t make it a tradition of visiting the winning city each year until 2011. However, I did make it to Sydney, which defeated Negril, Jamaica by a single vote, several years later. I still haven’t been to Zermatt, Switzerland, the 2010 winner though.

Best City 2011 – Porto, Portugal

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2011 was the year I began visiting the winning city and the Portuguese voters made my trip to Porto an incredible time. I discovered the heart of Porto beats art, got special access to Harry Potter’s birthplace, and heard the story of Eiffel’s battle of bridges.

Best City 2012 – Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

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The nomination of Sarajevo in 2012 ignited the Best City Travel Tournaments to come. Mentions on local news media, talk shows, I was touched by the passion of the people who brought me to Sarajevo. Saying a place has “a lot of history” is often overused but in such a small area, few can match Sarajevo – including the bridge where World War I bizarrely began.

Best City 2013 – Sibiu, Romania

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A massive social media campaign by Sarajevo’s supporters was thought to be insurmountable, until the Romanians showed up in numbers to the Best City tournaments. Appropriately, the surprisingly optimistic Sibiu whose Christmas market transforms the town, was the first of three Romanian back-to-back wins.

Best City 2014 – Craiova, Romania

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When Craiova, a small industrial city hoping to turn itself into a tourism hub in southwestern Romania won the Best City Travel Tournament in 2014, many who didn’t vote for it were upset. I can easily say that’s because they never made a trip to visit the people who brought me there in the first place. Here’s more of what Craiova looks like, and it may surprise you.

Best City 2015 – Targu Jiu, Romania

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Returning back to Romania was a pleasure, especially to explore a new city in the country. Targu Jiu is a tiny town that lights up during Christmas, with many good places to eat and a strong artistic heritage.

2016 – On To Lisbon

At the end of the 2015 Best City Travel Tournament, many thought the Romanian cities were unstoppable but then, a country with winning experience returned: Portugal. Ending the three-year Romanian streak Lisbon won Best City in 2016. I’m currently making plans to visit later this year to, among other things, donate $1,000 to a local charity in person.

Several things still hold true after a 7 years of best city contests: no city has ever won twice nor has any one person won more than one tournament. Sign up for my free bi-monthly newsletter so you don’t miss best city 2017 but for now, this year is all about Lisbon.

You can find and follow my travels on Instagram @foxnomad and let me know if you have any tips on things I shouldn’t miss in Lisbon in the comments below!

Travelers Will Notice The Globe On Facebook’s Header Changes Based On Your Location

by | May 10, 2016 | | 0

facebook header globe

Travel enough and you’ll notice this subtle change in your Facebook header. Depending on your location, the globe icon in the upper right of Facebook’s website changes to show you the side of Earth you’re on.

Limited Locales

The changes however are only limited to three continents, Africa, Asia, and Europe, so if you’re anywhere else you’ll see the default Americas icon. (Sorry Australians.) These changes rolled out in the middle of 2014 but I personally didn’t notice it until several months later – but you don’t need a travel schedule like mine to test it out for yourself.

new delhi chandni chowk

VPN Around The World

Of course, Facebook can only use what it knows about your location digitally so using a virtual private network (here are the 3 best VPNs for travelers) you can set different locations to make the tiny globe spin. There isn’t much use to this Facebook feature, other than it’s a cool little travel acknowledgment, but there’s a reason for the change:

“As of April 2013, the United States still clung to a thin lead for the most Facebook users of any single country, but India was closing fast. Brazil, Indonesia, and Mexico rounded out the top five. More importantly for Facebook’s business and mission, Africa and Asia represent the company’s brightest prospects for future growth and are the focus of its Internet.org push to bring more of the world online at low costs.”

Facebook’s changing globe should also be a reminder that websites, apps, and governments all track your online location with a number of intentions. Even the best airline search engines often show different airfare for the same routes depending on where you book from. Remember, a VPN can help you score cheaper airfare and get around local censorship when traveling plus get your around regional blocks on sites like Netflix.

This Bridge In Sarajevo Is Where World War I Started And Nearly Didn’t

by | May 5, 2016 | , , | 2

latin bridge sarajevo

History flows like a river but most of the time we concede we’re only privy to a small section viewed from the shore. But along the small Latin Bridge in Sarajevo over the shallow waters of the Miljacka River, history happened all at once and almost not at all.

It Begins With An Act Of Indecision

The 28th of June, 1914 began with Archduke Franz Ferdinand along with his wife Sophie, visiting the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo; then a province of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Ferdinand had went to Bosnia a few days prior to observe military operations, sent by his uncle Emperor Franz Josef. Bosnia and Herzegovina was annexed from the Ottomans in 1908 by the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Ferdinand was there to wave the flag (in the face of Serbian nationalists who made claim to the territory.

The Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Romance That Changed the WorldThe Assassination of the Archduke: Sarajevo 1914 and the Romance That Changed the World

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Ferdinand was to inaugurate the new state museum in Sarajevo, accompanied by his wife Sophie who worried for his safety. On the morning of June 28th, Ferdinand was touring the city in his motorcade. He passed Muhamed Mehmedbasic, one of several Serbian nationalist conspirators who had planned to assassinate Ferdinand. Fearful, Mehmedbasic never used the grenade in his possession. The motorcade passes unmolested until coming across Nedjelko Cabrinovic, who did toss a grenade at the Archduke’s car. Bouncing off the vehicle it exploded behind Ferdinand’s car (since the driver sped up upon seeing it) injuring several members of Ferdinand’s entourage seriously.

latin bridge sarajevo bosnia and herzegovina

One Failed Murder, One Botched Suicide

Cabrinovic tried to kill himself by jumping into the Miljacka River which is often shallow. Only centimeters deep that particular day, Cabrinovic probably thought the expired cyanide pill he swallowed would finish him. As it were, the pill only made him ill and he was arrested.

latin bridge sarajevo

So, Ferdinand is still alive, having cheated death twice and a number of Serbian nationalist assassins have time to contemplate how it all went wrong. And wrong again. Plus some. One of Cabrinovic’s co-conspirators, Gavrilo Princip, frustrated with the morning of failed killing, went to a cafe on nearby Franz Josef Street, sulking at having missed all assassination opportunity.

latin bridge sarajevo

Elsewhere in Sarajevo, after some time passes, Ferdinand decides he wants to visit Sarajevo Hospital where the injured have been taken. Military officer General Oskar Potiorek, traveling with Ferdinand, advises the caravan avoid the city center. For unclear reasons, Potiorek never told the driver that. So, Ferdinand’s convoy continues across the Latin Bridge, makes a right turn… right on to Franz Josef Street.

Serendipity In Reverse

To Princip’s surprise Ferdinand’s car rolls towards him. The driver by now has been made aware of his mistake, tries to reverse, stalling the car’s engine in the process. Car stuck and seizing the opportunity, Princip opens the door shooting Ferdinand and Sophie. Both die within an hour; mobs attack Princip, disarming him. He’s later arrested. Austria-Hungary blames Serbia for the plot, declaring war one month later. Allied nations jump in to support both sides and World War I officially begins.

ferdinand assasination spot

Today, you can walk across the Latin Bridge, built in the 1550s by the Ottoman Empire, and see the plaque noting where Ferdinand and Sophie were killed on the corner of Franz Josef Street. Their assassination story is one of my favorites from history for the sheer amount of circumstance and implication of fate. Visiting these sites during a HYH City Tour (whom I highly recommend) was one of many highlights from my visit to the city you voted best to visit in 2012.

Backpackers Not Spending As Much As Other Travelers Is A Myth And Why That’s Important To Local Economies

Backpackers Not Spending As Much As Other Travelers Is A Myth And Why That’s Important To Local Economies

by | May 3, 2016 | , , | 8

istanbul cafe laptop

One of the biggest travel myths is that backpackers are cheap tourists who don’t provide economic incentives for tourism boards to focus on catering to them. At first glance, it’s easy to see why many make this assumption, most backpackers take great efforts to spend as little as possible, trying to stretch every cent efficiently at the cost of numerous comforts. The opposite perception is that luxury travelers pay top-dollar for resorts, dumping loads of cash into local economies over packed weekends at seaside resorts.

For a long time, backpackers weren’t really studied in terms of their spending habits but growing evidence shows budget travelers spend as much as luxury ones. Additionally, figures indicate a larger percentage of backpacker money spent goes to benefiting local economies. Tourism boards around the world: take note.

Time Versus Money

Many people in sectors of the travel industry often harbor a slight disdain for backpackers, complaining they are practically useless for their overall bottom lines since they “don’t spend.” According to researchers from MIT, people around the world tend to spend the same percentage of their overall time, and budget, traveling. Called the “Time Travel Budget” Theory, anthropologists have determined that the more free time we have – the more we travel; independent of our economic class.

kosovo clock tower pristina

Spending The Same Over A Longer Period Of Time

Even in the most liberal of European nations, vacation times around the world for full-time workers tends to top out at around a month. The average backpacker travels for nearly twice that time – about 58 days. Although these figures vary from country to country, it’s estimated the average American spends about $3,251 for a 12-day vacation.

bogota journalist park

According to budget travel expert Nomadic Matt, $50 a day for a backpacker is a reasonable goal. (Keep in mind all of these numbers include transportation, meals, lodging, etc.)

Adding it all up, backpackers and regular travelers spend about the same amount on traveling annually; just over different periods of time.

Spreading The Wealth

There’s also growing evidence that larger percentages of money spent by backpackers goes to local economies. Most resorts and international hotel chains in third-world countries are owned by foreign companies. The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) estimates that only 20-60% of first world income makes it back to local economies from traditional travel expenditures. Studies like these on the tourism leakage effect are why nations like Malaysia and South Africa are focusing more on enticing backpackers.

bogota fruit vendor

Getting off the beaten path is also a backpacker trait and when they do, they also spread the money they’re spending outside of large cities and traditional tourism hubs according to this study of Australia. (Backpackers add 3.2 billion U.S. dollars annual to the tourism industry there.)

Why It’s Important

Backpackers are often under the perception of being economic leeches. Such misconceptions have lead tourism boards globally to dismiss catering to this growing portion of travelers; plus all the money they spend locally. Like the myth that Americans travel less than other people around the world, backpackers not having a positive economic impact has lead many poor countries to focus on luxury travelers – a group of visitors who might spend a bit more in less time but whose cash goes a little further out of local range.

Immediately Take A Photo Of Boarding Passes Before Flying To Ensure Proper Mileage Credit

by | Apr 28, 2016 | , | 3

turkish airlines boarding pass

Airlines are making it increasingly difficult to earn frequent flyer miles and one particularly nasty way is by creating a cumbersome system to claim miles you weren’t rightfully credited. You’re often required to provide details from your boarding pass – with long waiting times before you’re allowed to do so.

It’s very important, if you want to ensure you get frequent flyer miles you’re due, to immediately take a photo of your boarding pass after it’s printed, here’s why.

You Fly But Don’t Get Miles

In my experience, this happens about 20% of the time, particularly when flying on partner airlines of these three major alliances. Some airlines (*cough Turkish Airlines*) also seem to habitually neglect crediting miles. All of the airline programs have some system where flyers can request miles not credited. The difficulties come in the long waiting periods to actually realize, then claim, then follow up on missing miles.

copenhagen kastrup airport

Airlines Keep You Waiting In Hopes You’ll Forget

Perhaps I’m being a bit cynical but in order to get miles you weren’t credited, the airlines impose long waiting periods, all the more chance you’ll forget about the missing miles in the first place.

  1. Time Airlines Have To Post Miles: Varies between around 2-15 days after a flight, meaning you can’t notice or claim missing miles until this period is over.
  2. First Claim Waiting Period: The airlines give themselves around 2-3 weeks after a claim to post (or not) miles.

cat playing with clock

So the total amount of time you have to potentially get miles back is 1 month – and that’s for the first claim. Personally, I’ve had to go back and claim miles twice for about 40% of my un-credited miles; essentially adding another two weeks to the month it already takes. Keep in mind the airlines never follow up with you – the burden of checking, claiming, and verifying is all on you.

Get In To The Habit

It used to be that many airlines would require you to physically mail in boarding pass stubs, why I recommended keeping them for at least a month after flying. Although that’s still not a bad idea, snapping a photo of the complete boarding pass with your phone as soon as it’s in your hands works just as well.

space grey iphone 6s

I even go a step further a create a special ‘boarding passes’ folder on my phone, not deleting any of them until I see miles for those flights credited to my account. Much like keeping a digital travel budget, you can even use some of these travel reminder tools to ensure lost frequent flyer miles don’t slip your mind.

Finally, it’s important to take a photo of the entire boarding pass – not just the stub. Airlines require the complete ticket number which sometimes overflows from the boarding stub on to the ticket itself; or sometimes it’s not on the stub at all. Even though claiming frequently flyer miles online is tedious, don’t let the airlines discourage you out of getting them. Uploading boarding pass stubs to claim miles (when they’re not properly credited) only take a few minutes and even the occasional flight can get you free upgrades.

About Anil Polat

foxnomad aboutHi, I'm Anil. foXnoMad is where I combine travel and tech to help you travel smarter. I'm on a journey to every country in the world and you're invited to join the adventure! Read More

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