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March 24th

       Greetings from Vietnam! We arrived here tired, but excited. This is our first trip to Asia. We are looking forward to eating Vietnamese food for dinner tonight. Our hotel is cheap, but very clean. The owner gave us free drinks when we arrived, and has told us about some places that we shouldn’t miss. We plan to stay here in Ho Chi Minh City for a few d  ays and visit temples in the city, and then travel to the north.

March 27th

    Vietnam is fantastic! We visited a market in Cho Lon and saw many kinds of fruits and vegetables. Everything was so colorful, and we took hundreds of photographs! Later today we’ll take the train north. We’ll stay in Hanoi for two days, and then catch a bus to Sapa. We’re going to go hiking in the mountains.

April 4th

    Now we’re in the old capital city of Hue. Our trip to Sapa was long and tiring. From there, we took a truck to a small village in the mountains, and we went hiking for three days. This afternoon, we’re taking a walking tour in Hue. We’re going to visit the Forbidden Purple City, where the emperor lived.

April 6th

    Hueis really a special city with lots to see. I would  love to stay longer, but we’re both ready for the beach. Tomorrow we’ll take the train back to the south, and then we’re going to a town called Vung Tau. It has several beaches, and it’s famous for seashell crafts(手艺). Vietnam is an amazing country, with so much to explore. Three weeks here just isn’t enough.

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Here are some top cities to visit in the world.

Cape Town,South Africa

    Cape Town shines at the southern point of the African continent.Explore Table Mountain National Park，which spreads along the Atlantic coast from Signal Hill to Cape Point.At Boulders Beach near Cape Point,share the sand with nearly 3,000 African penguins.Within the national park is Lion’s Head peak.Walk up Lion’s Head for excellent views of the coast and Robben Island.

Zermatt,Switzerland

    This Alpine Swiss city is most famous for the Matterhorn,a huge mountain with one of the highest summits (顶峰) in Europe.In its shadow is tiny Zermatt,a car-free town of just over 5,000 people. While winter is the most popular time for world-class skiing,summer is a great time to hike the surrounding Alps.

Barcelona,Spain

    This magical city in the Catalonia region of Spain has everything from grand beaches to Antoni Gaudi’s imaginative architecture.Take an hour-long train ride to the mountain of Montserrat and see the amazingly shaped rocks that influenced Gaudi’s work.

Prague,Czech Republic

    This Eastern European city is the modern capital of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia Walk across the Charles Bridge and visit the John Lennon Wall to get a sense of the city’s quiet revolutionary(革命的)soul From the unique art of David Cerny——often hidden in plain sight——to the growing counterculture(反主流文化)scene，Prague is full of surprises.

Goreme，Turkey

    This city is home to Goreme National Park，an open-air museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.Visit the 10th-and 11th-century cave churches that display rare examples of Byzantine art.Goreme is a popular destination for backpackers——travelers often on months-long trips.The area is also an excellent place to enjoy Turkish food and wine.

Service Trips for High School Students

Are you a high school student who loves to be outdoors and is eager to experience new challenges, learn new skills and meet new people? WTA offers first-time participants country trips and returning students have the option to go on trips in the back country (边远地区).

Front Country Trips

Our front country trips provide opportunities for people to experience projects near the ocean, in the scenic Cascade Mountains and in northeast Washington. Our trips also provide you with experienced leaders, a great project, some camping tents, sleeping bags and all your meals for the week.

Advanced Back Country Trips

On these trips you will be backpacking to the work site and will have a chance to advance your trail and leadership skills under the supervision(监护) of a WTA leader.

Trip Details

In 2015, trip fees for WTA members will be $195 for the first trip and $145 for each additional trip. Non-members will pay an additional $40 for their first trip and can be qualified to be members in the second trip. Due to the popularity of our trips, please submit your payment and application within two weeks. If a trip is full and you would like to be added to the waiting list, please call us at 206/625-1367 or email trail-teams@wta.org.

Scholarships

We believe no student should have to stay at home this summer because he or she can’t afford to go outside. Thanks to donations from members and supporters, WTA is proud to announce that we are able to offer a limited number of scholarships. Application Deadline: May 1, 2016.

On Saturday, March 2 from 1 0：30 a．m．to 3 p．m.— the Hudson Highlands Nature Museum will  be hosting a Maple Sugar Festival(枫糖节) to celebrate the opening day of Maple Sugaring season．  The Festival and Maple Sugar Tours take place at the Outdoor Discovery Center, on Muser Drive,  across from 174 Angola Road, Cornwall．At the Festival，visitors will join Museum Educators for  games，tree tapping(在树上切口)competitions and Native American story telling at the outdoor  campfire．Maple Sugar Tours through the forest run every half hour beginning at l 0：30 a．m． Not  all visitors can join the tours so visitors are advised to sign up for their tours as soon as  they arrive．Food and maple products can be bought．

On the tours, visitors will learn that what began as an exchange of ideas and practices between  early explorers(探险家)and Native Americans has become one of New Yorkers’ best-loved treats  and an important industry in the state．Visitors will learn the history, how to tap a maple tree， how to collect the sap(树液)，and how the sap boils down to become maple sugar．The walking tour  experience lasts about 45 minutes and ends at the Museum’s farmhouse， where maple sugar and  gifts can be bought．This is a wonderful family outdoor activity．

The Festival on March 2 takes place at the same time as the tours are running with no more  money． Admission(票价)for Tours： $10 for adults,$5 for children ages 3-11． Members： $6 for adults． $3  for children ages 3-11．

For more information, call 845-534-5506．ext．204 or visit /．//www．hhnaturemuseum．org/．

On the first day of the New Year, I flew to Hong Kong, one of my dream cities. I had imagined Hong Kong as a city surrounded by the blue ocean, covered by large greenery and with lots of natural and artificial beautiful scenes. I expected it to combine the cultures of both the East and the West since it is well-known as a global fashion centre. When my plane landed over the bridges connecting the islands in the evening, I saw that the city was dotted with millions of lights, just like stars shining in the sky. This first impression was not bad. But next morning it became a disaster, as I walked out of my hotel located in North Point. I was frightened by the scene of the city before me. I could only think of one word in my brain: mess. I was prepared for Hong Kong to be very crowded since every big city is. I had thought that I would be able to stand it because I am from Shanghai. But I was wrong. I was totally shocked by the mess and breathlessness of this city.

Every street was jammed with shops and every shop was jammed with goods, let alone (更不用说) the crowds of stalls on the roadsides. The whole city looked like a grocery. Streets were narrow and I didn't find a two-way road all day. People struggled to throw themselves into the buses and cars could hardly move in the downtown. This city is absolutely over-constructed. People should have realized space was limited when seeking more living facilities. The overloaded land endangers the prosperity (繁荣) of the city. Nobody will prefer living or sightseeing in such a crowded city. I think there is an important lesson for Shanghai to learn from Hong Kong, for Shanghai is undergoing speedy development and massive urban construction. Careful planning is essential not only because over-heated urban construction brings economic risks but also because it could lead to the same embarrassing situation as now in Hong Kong.

   Fortunately, Shanghai is not an island city like Hong Kong, so we have opportunities to do better in 20 years' time -- roughly the same period that Shanghai is now believed to fall behind Hong Kong in its level of urban development. Think ahead.

Trip 1  Black Bear Count

There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Bookings necessary.

Cost: Free                                                    When: May 8

Trip 2  Garland Valley

Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Bookings necessary.

Cost: $ 15                                                    When: May 8, May 15

Trip 3   Flashlight Adventure

Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.

Cost: $ 12                                                  When: May 8, May 15, May22

Equipment to be needed:

•  Please bring enough water and food for all walks.

•  Wear good walking shoes—no high heels.

•  Wear a hat for day walks.

•  Dress warmly for night walks.

•  Children must be with an adult.

•  Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.

•  Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a dangerous place.

Bookings:

•  Bookings for the above trips can be traded by telephone (893 — 4847) or on the Internet at www. Bluemountaintour. com

People who like travelling have their reasons. They believe that travelling can help them expand their field of view, especially in the geographical and historical sense. They also think that touring will give them more chances to enjoy different kinds of food and experience new things that would never be brought by other activities. But those who dislike travelling also have some reasons.

  Travelling, in my opinion, does more good than harm. Most importantly, it broadents(使扩大) our mind. We can get in touch with other civilizations(文明), cultures ,customs and ideas.

  Through history ,most people travelled because of necessity(必要性)-not for pleasure. People travelled just in order to remain alive. They searched for food to eat or places to live in. They sometimes away from enemies. This is not to say that no one ever travelled just for the fun of it. In ancient times, for example ,rich Romans travelled all the way to Greece to take part in the Olympic Games, and festivals. Of course ,some people decided to travel just out of curiosity (好奇心), They wanted to find out what it looked like beyond the horizon(地平线). Also business travel has been going on for centuries. Traders could not only make money but also learn to speak several languages and be introduced to different cultures.

  So, travelling does enrich our mind and draw new ideas to us. There is no doubt that we can get much from it.

The porter brings your bags to your room and helpfully explains all you want to know. Then he points to the phone and says: “If thereˈs anything else you need，just call.” All this time you have been thinking one thing：“How much should I tip(付小费) him？” To make your next trip a little easier，hereˈs a guide to tipping across some Asian countries.

Bangkok

In general，the more Westernized the place is，the more likely you will be expected to leave a tip. Some top­end restaurants will add a 10% service charge to the bill. If not，waiters will appreciate you tacking on(附加)the 10% yourself. However，if youˈre eating at a lower­end(低档的)restaurant a tip is not necessary. If youˈre staying at one of Bangkokˈs many five­star hotels，expect to tip the porter 20 to 50 baht(泰国货币单位)，depending on how many bags you have. Taxis are now metered in Bangkok. Local custom is to round the fare up to the nearest five baht.

Hong Kong

Tipping is customary in this money­mad metropolis(大都市)．Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill，but the extra money often ends up in the pocket of the owner. If the service is good，add another 10% to the bill，up to HK $100 in an especially nice restaurant. For HK $10 hotel porters should do it at all but the nicest hotels where a new HK $20 bill may be more acceptable. When in a taxi，round up(凑整数)to the nearest dollar.

Kuala Lumpur

Tipping in Malaysia is limited to the expensive Westernized hotels，which often add a 10% service charge to your meal or hotel room. If you are at a hotel restaurant，expect a 10% service charge. But at local restaurants，thereˈs no need to add a tip. At five­star hotels，one or two ringgit(马来西亚货币单位)will content a porter. At lower­end buildings donˈt feel you have to tip. Like Bangkok，many taxis are now metered so you can just round up to the nearest ringgit.

Seoul

Tipping is not part of Korean culture，although it has become a matter of course in international hotels where a 10% service charge is often added. If youˈre at a Korean barbecue joint(烧烤处)，thereˈs no need to add anything extra. But a nice Italian restaurant may require a 10% contribution. If youˈre at a top­end hotel，so expect to pay 500～1,000 won per bag. Taxi drivers donˈt accept a tip. Keep the change for yourself.

Traveliing Brochure

Travelling Information in Melbourne, Australia

Tour Name: Phillip Island, Penguins, Koalas and Kangaroos

Price: Starting from AUD $115 per person

Time: 9---10 hours

I．Introduction

Get close to the remarkable penguins and wildlife of Australia．

The little penguins provide a wonderful sight as they break free of the surf and waddle home across the sand at night at phillip Island．Nature is on stage and we are the audience to these fishermen of the sea as they feed their families．Philiip Island is home to the amazing animals including Australia’s largest fur seal colony, the Little Penguins and lovely koalas．

Tour Highlights:

* Visit Warrook, a working cattle farm. Enjoy the opportunity to pat and feed kangaroos, wallabies and host of farm animals.          

* Watch koalas in their natural habitat at the Koala Conservation Centre．

* View impressive coastal scenery at Nobbies. From the walkway, see Australia's largest population of fur seals living along the southern coastline.

* Visit the educational and interesting Philiip Island Visitors Information Centre.

* Viewing Platform Penguin Plus （Tour Option V)------More personalized wildlife viewing limited to 130 people with ranger interpretation providing closer viewing of the penguin arrival than the main viewing stand.

II．Additional information

◆ This tour must be booked at least 24 hours in advance of your travel date.

◆ Confirmation for this product will be received within 24 hours, subject to availability.

◆ Please remember to bring warm, waterproof clothing on this tour. You may also wish to bring a towel or a rug to sit on at the Penguin parade viewing platform.

III．Pricing Policy

* Children aged between 3 and 14 years inclusive qualify for child rate.

* Kids aged 2 years and under travel free of charge, providing they are not utilizing a coach seat.

Prices are in AUD and are listed as a guide only.

Extra paid:  Food and drinks are not included in the cost of the tour.

IV. Travel Voucher （凭单）:

Please download Travel Voucher from this website．For every confirmed booking you will be required to print a voucher which is presented at the destination．You will receive a link to your voucher by email once your booking is confirmed．

Now many young people are traveling around the world on their own, not because they have no one to travel with, but because they prefer to go alone.

Kristina Wegscheider from California first traveled alone when she was at college and believes that it is something everyone should do at least once in their life. “It opens up your mind to new things and pushes you out of your comfort zone.” Wegscheider has visited 46 countries covering all seven continents.

In foreign countries, with no one to help you read a map, look after you if you get ill, or lend you money if your wallet is stolen, it is challenging. This is what drives young people to travel alone. It is seen as character building and a chance to prove that they can make it on their own.

Chris Richardson decided to leave his sales job in Australia to go traveling last year. He set up a website, The Aussie Nomad, to document his adventures. He says he wished he had traveled alone earlier. “The people you meet, the places you visit, or the things you do, everything is up to you and it forces you to grow as a person,” said the 30-year-old man.

Richardsondescribes traveling alone like “a shot in the arm”, which “makes you a more confident person that is ready to deal with anything”. He said, “The feeling of having overcome something on my own is a major part of what drives me each day when I’m dealing with a difficult task. I walk around with my head up because I know deep down inside that nothing is impossible if you try.”

The great 19th century explorer John Muir once said, “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.”