Hands-On Holidays

I've never been a fan of the beach holidays that everyone I know seems to prefer. I'm sure that for them sitting by the beach and perhaps diving in occasionally is paradise. For me, though, I prefer to do something a little different, and luckily my husband agrees. I'm an active person and I prefer to be engaged with the culture I'm visiting, not cut off by resort walls and confined to a compound. So I began doing a little research into holidays that would allow me to learn new things and explore new places. There are museums almost everywhere, but I prefer to try things for myself, and so I looked for hands-on fun. As it turns out, there are a wide variety of places that have unconventional activities to bring a new couple together. I only had to look in two locations to find a variety of things to do that may not be possible anywhere else.

Since Laos is among the least modernized of all Asian countries, perhaps it isn't entirely a surprise that there are many traditional activities that a couple or even a single person can engage in, depending on the time of year. Rice is still cultivated the traditional way, and in more remote areas guests can try their hand at either planting or harvesting in the rice paddies. Experience for yourself the way that Laotian rice farmers have lived and worked for hundreds of years. I'd also have fun digging for gold in the nearby river. Finding a real gold nugget is unlikely, but would be so exciting! In that same river, you can spend a day fishing and have your day's catch prepared for your dinner. I'm not a fan of fish so I'm not sure I'd be thrilled about that, but certainly anyone who likes fresh, sustainably caught fish will delight in the day.

Thailand is more popular with tourists, and perhaps as a result many traditional Thai activities are available to experience. You can spend half a day learning a skill that will remain with you for the rest of your life, or experience historic Thailand for yourself. One of the best ways to do this is with a canal ride through Bangkok, seeing places that ordinary tourists rarely get to visit. There is plenty to visit in the city, of course, but once you leave, there is even more to do. If you've ever seen the film Bridge over the River Kwai, perhaps you'd also like to go over it yourself. You can also take a trip on the railroad, known as the "Death Railway", that took so many lives in construction during World War II.

There are a few more hands-on activities in Thailand as well. My favourite would be learning how to give a traditional Thai massage. This massage keeps the recipient fully clothed, but the masseuse tends to use elbows and even knees in various ways! Surely all the skills can't be imparted to me in just half a day, but I'm certain it would improve my current massage technique and provide a lot of fun in the meantime. Exciting and perhaps a little terrifying is the prospect of spending the day learning to be a mahout, or an elephant trainer. These huge animals are majestic and beautiful, but I'm not entirely sure I'd want to ride one. That, however, is entirely up to you! It's also possible to visit the Lisu Lodge and experience Lisu culture for yourself, enjoying a traditional steam bath or ox cart ride. Sadly I haven't found a place to learn the Lisu dances, but I'm sure a tour company will offer it eventually.

In short, there is a lot more to do on a luxury holiday than just sit by a beach, which you might as well do closer to home. There are a lot more ideas provided by Turqoise Holidays. If you spend a lot of money travelling to an exotic location, why not experience local culture to the fullest extent?