2008-07-28

OurExplorer用户评价

OurExplorer是基于用户评价的私人导游平台,所以看看我们的旅行者们,说了些什么——
Gavin in London (伦敦,五星)
Certainly gets the full OurExplorer endorsement of quality. On a wet London day I had a superb tour by Gavin. Deep insight and knownledge with a passion and excitment that is inspiring. A must book tour guide for a London walking tour! (By David) 完全获得OurExplorer的资质认可。在一个伦敦的雨天,Gavin带给了我顶级的旅行。他有深入的见识,广泛的知识,以及令人鼓舞的热情。如果去伦敦旅行,一定选择他做导游。


Entices in Lijiang (丽江,五星)
This easy-approaching and out-going guy has arranged almost everything for us, including the humorous driver Mr. Cheng, the beautiful typical tibetan hostel, interesting Naxi-songs and the breath-taking scenery along the road. (By Xiaoyu) 随和、外向,他帮我们安排好了所有的事情,在我们的旅途中,有幽默的司机陈师傅,漂亮又典型的藏式旅馆,有意思的纳西歌,还有一路上让人窒息的美景。


Irene in Bangkok(曼谷,四星)
Irene has been very nice and helpful during my whole trip in Thailand. She speaks perfect English. I learned a lot from her guiding in Bangkok, the grand palace, temples, local life...... And, I love the fruit shakes in the market. (By Jean) Irene 在我整个的泰国旅程中,都很友善且帮助极多。她的英语非常流利。在她带我游览曼谷的过程中,我获益匪浅,了解了泰国的大王宫、庙宇、当地生活......而且,我非常喜欢市集里的鲜榨果汁。


Kikuko in Tōkyō (东京,二星)
Guide was very knowledgeable about Asakusa (old area) of Tokyo but English wasn't brilliant and struggled getting round Tokyo transport system. (By Anne) 导游对东京的Asakusa(旧区)非常了解,但是英语不是很好,而且对东京的交通系统不是很熟悉。


那么你呢?为自己找一个合适的导游,让下一次旅途变得与众不同。

2008-07-21

Travelling? Travelling.

FW: Travelling? Travelling.
By: Tracy Lee
Date: 20th July, 2008

Do not travel to escape life, but travel so that life does not escape from you.
Travelling is to pursue life, feel life and make life better. When the passion and enthusiasm of your life are waning, it's time to take a rest and go a nutritious travelling, in and after which you feel at large , your mind gets free, and you find your motivations back.

Got it? Sure you do. So you run off the street, rush into a travel agency, read through its brochure, "This", and there you made your decision. Wow~ A 10 days trip to 8 european countries and on discount~ Cool~ But Wait! Look at that man opposite the street with his hands covering his stomach , he runs off the street, rushes into a drugstore, reads through the shelves,"This" and there he made his decision and bought an all-effect painkiller with a yellow label on the priceboard, which means he gets 15% discount. Does it look familiar? :P

Yes, no rush plz. Give yourself a second, to think what kind of travel you want. Is it to be a cultural experience, a seaside vacation or a package tour? Talk with the staff there, share your thoughts with him, and ask about the details of the routes. Well done! Now look at the man opposite the street again. He's doing good too. He finds the painkiller for stomachache, reads the instructions and make sure it fits his situation. Then he goes to the counter. But Wait! He puts it back after talking to the shop assistant and is leaving the store. What happened? What was he told? Let me tell you, the shop assistant said"Sir, you dont look good. I suggest you see the doc, as I don't think this medicine helps you indeed." Yeah~ Lucky him~ He went the doc's, and was given an exclusive prescription of the hospital which cannot be found in drugstores.

NOW, what do you think? Your agent does not give you a better choice, and you yourself, as I can tell, can hardly find an authorised person to point out a way for you as a doc can do for his patient.

Tatahhh~Why don't you ask me~~~I have a nice suggestion for you, www.ourexplorer.com. There you can find your doctors——licensed professional personal tour guides who diagnose your sickness right away and give you the most suitable cure.

Quoting the recent advertisement for travelling "Where the bloody hell are you?" Go there and find your personal touguide, make your next trip unique and nutritious. I would probably make a reservation for my trip to Europe this time. See you there? Sure~~~

2008-07-14

licenses of guides

We had a small discussion about guides license on http://www.hikingforums.net/. It's about whether hiking guides are with general license. I was wondering if hiking guides had general global-standard license, or regional license as tour guides.

Thanks to natchez's reply - "It would seem that a hiking guide of a specific area would only need to have thorough knowledge of the area he is employed in as a hiking guide, but on the other hand it doesn't make sense either.... "

My general impression has it that a tour guide relates to culture while hiking guides to nature. Culture is diversed but nature has something in common. E.g. A tour guide of New York is probably unable to guide in Beijing. But hiking in Chiangmai mountains might be similar with that in Shangri-la. Same about fishing guides, diving guides etc. etc.

There are currently heat discussions about "Tour guides sue over history test requirement" (Associated Press, updated 8:33 p.m. ET July 2, 2008)-
"PHILADELPHIA - Citing their free speech rights, three tour guides filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging an ordinance that will require them to pass a history test and get a license before speaking to groups about the history of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and other landmarks..."

Whichever licenses, they show only that one passed some exams and had certain knowledge. What really makes a good guide is his real skill and the client's feedback after the guided tour.

2008-07-06

台湾游


照片来源:taiwan.net.tw

7月4日,大陆对台湾旅游首发团抵达,开始行程。最近,对大陆首次开放的团队台湾游,媒体的报道热闹非凡。从报名的火爆,到航班机票销售,从大陆旅行社的准备,到台湾当地旅社的接待,从大陆登记的兴奋,到台湾着陆的热烈欢迎......我认为目前的台湾游,政治和经济的意义多于旅行本身,何况个人自助游也尚未可行。但相信,将来会一步步开放的。台湾有一定的文化底蕴和自然风光。难怪有报道说,台湾可能成为欧洲游后的有一个热点。我们中国人的旅游热情和能力,实则不可小窥。