So Not Lost!

The inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will officially begin tonight, 14 August 2010, right here in Singapore. 3,531 athletes from 204 countries and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will be participating in the first ever Summer YOG.

For the past month or so, all of Singapore has been decorated with all sorts of YOG stuff. Flags bearing the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games logo have been flying or hanging along almost every street. Countdown clocks have been slowly ticking away towards the opening ceremony. Logos, Olympic rings, and even the official mascots Lyo and Merly can be found almost everywhere in Singapore.

YOG arch at Orchard Road

YOG promotions on Cavenagh Bridge

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Christ Church - Click to View Hi-Res Image

The Christ Church in Melaka (Malacca), Malaysia is a Dutch colonial Protestant church. Construction began in 1741 and was completed in 1753 (as inscribed on the face of the church). Originally built by the Dutch, it was re-consecrated with the rites of the Church of England (and renamed Christ Church) in 1838, following transfer of Melaka from the Dutch to the British. In 1911, the white Christ Church was repainted to its current red color.

I hope you enjoyed the TravelTuesday Picture of the Week! Enjoy the rest of TravelTuesday on Twitter and follow me @hyperren. Come back next week for another PotW!

It’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, which means it’s time for people to pack up their backpacks and go to an “exotic” destination of their choice. Americans head to Europe, Europeans head to Southeast Asia, and Southeast Asians… generally stay in Southeast Asia. It’s also that time when the classic debate comes up, either online or in hostels around the world: Are you a traveler or a tourist?

Much has been said about what typifies a tourist, and what distinguishes a traveler from them. There always seems to be a sense of pride from those who identify themselves as travelers that they’re not like every other backpacker holding a Eurail pass or following the Banana Pancake Trail.

In some ways, I agree with their point-of-view, and if at all possible, I try not to be so “tourist-y.” But there are some things that “typical tourists” do which I do as well. Sometimes, it’s a bit unavoidable, but generally, I made a choice to do them. And even if it marks me as a “tourist” instead of a “traveler,” I’m not ashamed to admit that I do these five things.

(Before you proceed, note that this is not an indictment of any style of travel, whether it’s as a “tourist” or as a “traveler.” I believe that each person traveling has his or her own personal travel style, and that there’s no one “right” or “proper” way to travel. That said, feel free to poke fun at me for these things I do!)

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Seaside at Rizal Boulevard - Click to View Hi-Res Image

Dumaguete is the capital city of Negros Oriental, a province in the Visayas region of the Philippines. The city is a laid back college town, anchored by Silliman University, the first Protestant and American private school in the Philippines. The seaside city has a sizable expat community, and is a popular launching pad for destinations such as Apo Island, Bohol, and Cebu.

Rizal Boulevard is the main thoroughfare in Dumaguete. It also makes for a nice seaside stroll, and this photo shows how calm and peaceful that walk can be.

I hope you enjoyed the TravelTuesday Picture of the Week! Enjoy the rest of TravelTuesday on Twitter and follow me @hyperren. Come back next week for another PotW!

Boating on Tonle Sap - Click to View Hi-Res Image

The Tonle Sap is a large combined river and lake system in Cambodia. It is also the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. On my last day in Siem Reap, I made a trip to the Tonle Sap to see the community living on it. There was everything from floating homes to floating schools and churches, and even a floating basketball court. This photo shows one of the common sights on the Tonle Sap, ferrying goods on the lake through a boat.

I hope you enjoyed the TravelTuesday Picture of the Week! Enjoy the rest of TravelTuesday on Twitter and follow me @hyperren. Come back next week for another PotW!

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