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Destination: The World

Continents, Countries & Cultures

    Table of contents of the subject

    The World

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    What is the world?

    • The world generally refers to the earth and everything that lives, grows and flourishes on it. The earth as the home of all animals and nature.

    What meanings does the world have?

    • Sometimes the world does not only mean the earth and everything on it, but also the universe in which the earth moves.
    • Sometimes the world only means the immediate environment of all people on earth, as with the expression 'in the current world', or when one wants to describe society
    • Sometimes the world and its existence are also given a religious meaning, for example when it concerns the origins of the world

    What is a scientific definition of a world?

    • A world is the whole of everything that is, what has been and what will be. The whole of reality, of all space and time

    What is a continent?

    Choose a country, drive online to your destination or wander over The World

    Specific countries in Africa

    Algeria - Angola - Benin - Botswana - Burkina Faso - Burundi - Cameroon - Cape Verde - Central African Republic - Chad - Comoros - Congo DRC - Congo RC - Cote d'Ivoire - Djibouti - Egypt - Equatorial Guinea - Eritrea - Ethiopia - Gabon - Gambia - Ghana - Guinea - Guinea-Bissau - Kenya - Lesotho - Liberia - Libya - Madagascar - Malawi - Mali - Mauritania - Mauritius - Morocco - Mozambique - Namibia - Niger - Nigeria - Rwanda - Sao Tome and Principe - Senegal - Seychelles - Sierra Leone - Somalia - South Africa - South Sudan - Sudan - Swaziland - Tanzania - Togo - Tunisia - Uganda - Zambia - Zimbabwe

    Specific countries in Europe

    Albania - Andorra - Austria - Belarus - Belgium - Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bulgaria - Croatia - Cyprus - Czech Republic - Denmark - Estonia - Finland - France - Georgia - Germany - Greece - Hungary - Iceland - Ireland - Italy - Kosovo - Latvia - Liechtenstein - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Malta - Moldova - Monaco - Montenegro - North Macedonia - Norway - Poland - Portugal - Romania - Russia - San Marino - Serbia - Slovakia - Slovenia - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - The Netherlands - Turkey - Ukraine - United Kingdom: England, Scotland to Wales - Vatican City

    Specific countries in North America

    Canada - Greenland - United States

    Specific countries in South America

    Argentina - Bolivia - Brazil - Chile - Colombia - Ecuador - Guyana - Paraguay - Peru - Suriname - Uruguay - Venezuela

    Specific countries in The Caribbean

    Antigua and Barbuda - Aruba - Bahamas, The - Barbados - Bonaire - Cayman Islands - Cuba - Curacao - Dominica - Dominican Republic - Grenada - Haiti - Jamaica - Puerto Rico - Saba - Saint Kitts and Nevis - Saint Lucia - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Sint Eustatius - Sint Maarten - Trinidad and Tobago

    Specific countries in The Middle East

    Abu Dhabi, Dubai & United Arab Emirates - Bahrain - Egypt - Iran - Iraq - Israel - Jordan - Kuwait - Lebanon - Qatar - Saudi Arabia - Syria - Turkey - Yemen

    Specific countries in The Pacific

    Australia - Fiji - Kiribati - Marshall Islands - Micronesia - Nauru - New Zealand - Palau - Samoa - Solomon Islands - Tonga - Tuvalu - Vanuatu

     

    Top 100: what are the best travel destinations in the world, the best trips and best travel times?

    Top 100: what are the best travel destinations in the world, the best trips and best travel times?

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    Top 100 destinations and activities abroad

    • Where to go on a trip?

    • Where to go on vacation in which particular period?

    • What are the best activities to do where?

    • What are the best destinations for a trip, trip, vacation or activity abroad do?

    Where is the best place to go if you want to travel briefly in the fall for pleasant weather....and don't want to suffer from jet lag (leaving from Europe)

    • Spain : Málaga, Canary Islands
    • Madeira
    • Malta
    • Greece : especially the southern islands
    • Cyprus
    • Turkey : especially the south coast
    • Jordan
    • Egypt : Dahab / Sinai & southern Egypt
    • Cape Verde Islands
    • Morocco
    • Kenya combine the beaches at Mombassa or Malindi with a 'short' trip to nearby game parks
    • Tanzania : Zanzibar and/or Pemba, please note the visa application process and health requirements

    Where best to go if you want to travel short in winter for pleasant weather....and you don't mind a little bit of jet lag (departing from Europe)

    • Spain / Canary Islands
    • Israel (please pay attention to the political situation)
    • Iran (please note the political situation)
    • Oman
    • Egypt : the southern part along the coast and the Nile
    • Gambia
    • Senegal
    • Ghana
    • Kenya
    • Tanzania : including Zanzibar and/or Pemba
    • Seychelles : for those with a slightly larger budget
    • Mauritius: for those with a larger budget
    • Reunion: super green French-speaking paradise
    • Comoros: exclusive islands
    • São Tomé: special and pleasant island
    • South Africa: Cape Town and surroundings for one or two weeks

    Where is the best place to go if you want to travel briefly in the summer?

    • China: Beijing
    • Bali: ideal island for one or two weeks, but a short flight
    • Maldives: if you need rest or like diving or snorkeling
    • Thailand: the most southern beaches on the east coast, or a tour in the north
    • Sri Lanka: beautiful and varied island for a vacation of one, two or three weeks
    • China: the south coast of China and/or part of the west, Hong Kong (with day trips or a few days into the rest of China)
    • India: Goa for the real beach vacation, Kerala for variety

    Where best to go if you want to travel briefly in winter with cooler weather

    • Skiing in Turkey
    • Vancouver and environs (skiing in the Rockies)

    Where is best to go if you want a short trip in spring (departure Europe)?

    • Madeira & Azores: for hiking, whale/dolphin watching, diving and good food
    • Malta: after mid-April the average temperature is 20 degrees
    • Greece: on Crete, the average temperature is above 20 degrees from May onwards

    Where is the best place to go if you want to travel to a beach destination?

    • December / January
    • February / March
    • April / May
    • October / November

    December / January

    • Egypt: the coast is only really warm in the southernmost part. In the southern part along the Nile the temperature never drops below 23 degrees. The Red Sea area including Eilat is slightly less sunny.
    • Canary Islands: the average temperature is just above 20 degrees. The sun only starts shining properly in March.
    • Florida: the temperature is around 23 degrees, there are as many as six to seven rainy days these months.
    • Malaysia
    • Kenya
    • South Africa: around Cape Town
    • Mexico: in Yucatán on average only four rainy days, in March it gets even better!
    • Cuba & Jamaica: Caribbean Islands always have some rain but it remains warm: about 30 degrees.

    Risk:

    • Mallorca:
    • Malaga:
    • Bali: relative rainy season

    February / March

    • Egypt: the beaches in the Sinai and central Egypt are warming up.
    • Morocco: the south is already nice and warm, above 20 degrees in March
    • Canary Islands: number of rainy days goes from eight in December/January to five in February and March
    • Dominican Republic: rainy days from seven to eight in December/January to five to six.
    • Antilles: on Curaçao, it rains ten days in December/January, only five days in February/March.
    • Malaga: small risk, the temperature is 18 degrees but the sea water about 14 degrees and it rains seven more days in the month.

    April / May

    • Malta: after mid-April the average temperature is 20 degrees
    • Crete from May the average is above 20 degrees

    October / November

    • Egypt: the beaches in Sinai and central Egypt are still nice.
    • Morocco: if you stay in the south, you have the least risk of rain.
    • Brazil: in the north-east it is now great weather and there are beautiful beaches to be found
    • Madeira: still above 20 degrees on average, then just below that until April. As many as nine rainy days!
    • Crete, Cyprus & the Turkish coast generally stay nice until mid-October.
    • Tunisia, Malta: after mid-November still about 20 degrees.
    • Spain (Malaga) also still always about 20 degrees

    Where's the best place to go if you want a weekend getaway abroad (departure Europe)?

    • While in the past you could only go to Antwerp, Brussels, London or Paris for an affordable weekend getaway, these days Nice, Barcelona, Rome, Budapest, Vienna and Istanbul are also among the affordable, and feasible options. Even it is no longer unthinkable to fly to New York for a weekend bit jet lag!)
    • Also consider Marrakesh, Seville, Malaga, ....

    Where is the best place to go if you want to travel for a week to ten days (departure Europe)?

    • These days it is increasingly easy to choose a destination far away even for short vacations: taking the car to Italy to go skiing takes as long as a flight to Thailand. Moreover, because of the many new impressions you gain during that time, and the certainty of heat or sun, the return on a short, distant vacation can be a lot higher. In addition, cheap, short vacations to Mediterranean and Canary Island countries have increased dramatically. The danger with these latter vacations is that you go at a time when the water is still freezing cold, the temperature is disappointing or the rain is pouring down.
    • Taking into account the possibilities of seeing a lot in a short time and traveling little, the flight time and the temperatures, you will get an overview of the best destinations for the “short” vacation below:

    Top:

    • Madeira (hiking/diving/eating) - Dahab/Sinai in Egypt (snorkeling/diving/beaches) - Malta - Jordan - Cape Verde Islands - The “green” Caribbean islands like Guadeloupe, St. Lucia and Martinique

    Tip:

    • Azores (archipelago west of Portugal) - Maldives (if you need rest or like diving or snorkeling) - Zanzibar - Jamaica - Seychelles - Mauritius - Israel (in quiet times)

    Where is the best place to go if you want to travel for two weeks ?

    Top:

    • Yucatan (East Mexico) - Southern Thailand - Zanzibar and Pemba - Fiji - Cuba - Senegal - Jordan - Costa Rica - East Coast Malaysia - South Africa (East or West) - Ghana - Sri Lanka

    Tip:

    • Kerala (South India) - Reunion (green French-speaking paradise) - Comoros (Island group between Madagascar and Mozambique) - São Tomé (island west of Central Africa) - Iran - Oman - Panama - Cape Verde Islands - Benin - East coast of China - Goa and Hampi (South West India) - Vancouver and environs

    Where is the best place to go if you want to travel away for three weeks?

    The ideal time for exploring a country or part of a somewhat larger country is three to four weeks. Even world travelers usually don't spend much longer in the same area. In that time you can both travel around, visit cities and rest for a while. Do try to pick destinations where you don't have to travel three days to get from one highlight to the next.

    Top:

    • Nepal - Sri Lanka (with or without the Maldives) - Zanzibar and other Tanzania - Malawi - Bolivia -Peru - Ecuador - Southern China - Southern Philippines - Northern Brazil - Panama and Costa Rica - Northeast Australia - Laos - Trans-Siberia to Mongolia (fly back)

    Tip:

    • Darjeeling and Sikkim (Northeast India) -Sulawesi - Eastern islands of Indonesia - Mali and Burkina Faso -Ethiopia - Cameroon -North Argentina - Sumatra -Kerala and Tamil Nadu (South India) -Guatemala and Honduras - Alaska

    Where's the best place to go if you want to travel for four weeks?

    Top:

    • Laos and Cambodia -Tibet and Southwest China or Nepal - Combination between Peru and/or Bolivia/Ecuador -North and South India -Kenya and Tanzania -Ecuador and the Galápagos -Madagascar -Trans-Siberia to China (fly back)

    Tip:

    • Mayan Route (Yucatan/Guatemala/Belize) - Northern India and the Himalayan region - Argentina and Chile -South Africa (West and East) - Route 66

    Where is the best place to go if you want to travel for a few months to a year?

    • How long should your world trip be? Do you need a year, or is a month or four enough? Of course, this depends largely on your itinerary and your budget. In practice, hardly anyone manages to make a real world trip in a year. Often whole continents have to be skipped in order not to run out of time or money.
    • Anyone who wants to make a trip from Australia through Southeast Asia to India and/or China can basically do it in three to five months. You will then be in a country almost as long as most other world travelers who also have other continents on their schedule.
    • When you skip expensive countries like Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and some South American countries, it is a lot more financially attractive to go for a year instead of a few months. After all, your biggest expense, the flight, is already done by then.
    • The advantage of going away for a year is that you can totally rearrange your itineraries and stay in one place for a long time more easily without throwing your schedules into too much disarray.

    Where is the best place to go if you want to travel for three to four months?

    Top:

    • Around Southeast Asia - South and East Africa or Madagascar - India, Nepal and Tibet, Trans-Siberia and China - Around the Andes (Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador)

    Tip:

    • Hippie route (overland to India) - Pan-American highway: Mexico to Panama - around the Middle East - simple “Round-the-World”
    • Backpacking and traveling around the world

    Where's the best place to go if you want to travel for six to eight months?

    Top:

    • Round Southeast Asia with India/China/Myanmar (Burma) - Madagascar and Southeast Africa -, Trans-Siberia + China and Southeast Asia

    Tip:

    • Gringo Trail in South America, hippie route with Southeast Asia - a mean “Round-the-World”
    • Backpacking and traveling around the world

    Where's the best place to go if you want to travel for nine to 12 months

    Top:

    • Round Southeast Asia -India and or China and Australia and/or New Zealand - Africa overland (Tip: hippie itinerary with Southeast Asia and Australia - an extended 'Round-the-World'

    Tip:

    • Trans-Siberia / China / Southeast Asia / Australia - the Silk Route

     

    Africa: country bundles

    Africa: country bundles

    Congo DRC Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Asia: country bundles

    Asia: country bundles

    Country bundles of Asian countries

    Afghanistan Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Brunei Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Macau Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Pakistan Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Sri Lanka Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Central America: country bundles

    Central America: country bundles

    Bundled content, suggestions, stories and tips about countries in Central America

    Honduras Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Nicaragua Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Europe: country bundles

    Europe: country bundles

    Country bundles of European countries

    Poland Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Romania Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Middle East: country bundles

    Middle East: country bundles

    Country bundles of the Middle East

    Abu Dhabi, Dubai & United Arab Emirates - Bahrain - Egypt - Iran - Iraq - Israel - Jordan - Kuwait

    ........Read more
    North America: country bundles

    North America: country bundles

    Northern America: country bundles

    Oceania & The Pacific: country bundles

    Oceania & The Pacific: country bundles

    The Australia & Oceania/Pacific continent consists of many small island countries and islands territories.

    List of countries:

    • Antarctica (continent)
    • Australia
    • Fiji
    • Kiribati
    • Marshall Islands
    • Micronesia
    • Nauru
    • New Zealand
    ........Read more
    Antarctica Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    South America: country bundles

    South America: country bundles

    South America: country bundles

    The Caribbean: country bundles

    The Caribbean: country bundles

    Country bundles of Caribbean countries

    Cayman Islands Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Cuba Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Dominican Republic Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Saba Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
    Sint Eustatius Country Bundle: suggestions, stories and tips
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    SPOTLIGHT

    Themes: main theme pages for travel, living and working abroad in favorite countries

    Themes: main theme pages for travel, living and working abroad in favorite countries

    Selected theme pages with blogs and contributions of WorldSupporters about travel, work and living abroad per country

    Travel, living and working in China and Hong Kong - Theme
    Travel, living and working in Costa Rica - Theme
    Travel, living and working in Curacao - Theme
    Travel to Guatemala to backpack, study, intern, volunteer, work, or live as a digital nomad, expat or emigrant?

    Travel to Guatemala to backpack, study, intern, volunteer, work, or live as a digital nomad, expat or emigrant?

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    Travel, living and working in Guatemala

    Guatemala, land of Maya people, mysterious traditions and amazing landscapes.

    Tikal, the Mayan center, in the jungle full of howler monkeys, together with the very colorful Guatemalan population, is the main attraction. Antigua is the place where many Spanish courses are given and where it is pleasant to stay. Chichi has

    ........Read more
    Travel, living and working in India - Theme
    Travel, living and working in Laos - Theme

    Travel, living and working in Laos - Theme

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    Moving and living in Laos for work, internships, volunteering, study, travel or backpacking

    Laos is the epitome of tranquility, beautiful nature, friendly people and many monks in orange and yellow robes. Although the country is increasingly being discovered by tourists and travelers alike, it has retained its authentic character for now. You imagine yourself back in time in Laos and........Read more

    Travel, living and working in Spain - Theme
    Travel, living and working in Thailand - Theme
    Travel, living and working in The Netherlands (Holland) - Theme
    Travel, living and working in The Philippines - Theme

    Travel, living and working in The Philippines - Theme

    philippines flag

    Moving and living in Philippines for work, internships, volunteering, study, travel or backpacking

    The Philippines consists of 7,107 islands, of which only a part is inhabited. You will find many Bounty beaches and an amazing underwater world where you can snorkel with whale sharks, for example. Visit one of the small uninhabited islands and imagine yourself in paradise

    ........Read more
    Travel, living and working in Vietnam - Theme
    Themes: main theme pages for activities abroad (intern, study, travel, volunteer, work or emigrate)

    Themes: main theme pages for activities abroad (intern, study, travel, volunteer, work or emigrate)

    WorldSupporter Theme pages for activities abroad

    Intern, study, travel, volunteer, work or emigrate

    Best travel time for weather, climate and activities abroad, and the worst time to go!
    Backpacking and travel your way around the world - Theme
    Emigration and moving abroad - Theme
    Gap Year, Time out and Sabbatical - Theme
    Internship Abroad - Theme
    Learning languages and language courses abroad - Theme
    Remote working abroad and digital nomads - Theme
    Study Abroad - Theme
    TEFL: Teaching English as a Foreign Language and learning English - Theme
    Travel insurances and insurances for long term abroad - Theme
    Travel gear and packing lists for going abroad - Worldsupporter Theme
    Volunteer abroad - Theme
    Work abroad and working holidays - Theme
    Health care abroad: main content and contributions - Bundle

    Health care abroad: main content and contributions - Bundle

    Content and selected contributions about health care abroad

    How to avoid malaria, diagnose malaria and what to do during a long stay in a malaria area?

    How to avoid malaria, diagnose malaria and what to do during a long stay in a malaria area?

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    What do you have to know about malaria, mosquito's and prevention?

    • Mosquito stings spread the malaria disease.
    • Malaria is one of the most common causes of death in the world and exists in any (sub)tropical area.
    • Malaria is caused by parasites, plasmodium, which are being spread from human to human by a mosquito sting (it can also be spread by blood to blood contact of blood transfusion). These parasites first multiple in the liver and then in the red blood cells.
    • Not all forms of malaria are equally dangerous. Malaria tropica is the most common form of malaria and, in general, the most serious form. It is caused by a parasite, called the Plasmodium falciparum. If malaria tropica is treated properly a person will recover completely. If this disease is not treated on time a person can die in a couple of weeks (depending on the time of diagnoses, in some cases a person can die within a few hours)
    • If you take anti malaria tablets it will reduce the chances of getting malaria dramatically.
    • There are no malaria tablets that offer full protection. The chance that you get malaria while taking tablets is still there.
    • Avoiding mosquito stings will reduce the chance of getting malaria dramatically. You still have to take anti mosquito measures when taking malaria tablets.
    • Malaria is becoming more and more difficult to fight as mosquitoes are becoming resistant to anti-malaria means.
    • Cases of malaria usually occur with travelers (and people who mostly stay abroad) who take no (or insufficient) malaria medicine.
    • Most fatal malaria cases among travelers are caused by an incorrect or late diagnoses.
    • Malaria is extremely dangerous to pregnant women and children. Pregnant women are advised not to go to malaria areas.
    • Malaria does not occur above 2500 meters.
    • In certain countries there can be different malaria recommendations in different areas (such as Thailand, coastal areas much safer than the northern part)
    • Malaria mosquitoes are mainly active at night (although dengue mosquitoes are active during the day).
    • If you take a malaria tablet do keep in mind that you will have to take another dosage when you vomit within an hour.
    • For more information about Malaria please check the WHO, Malaria en de CDC website.
    • Don’t panic; almost every traveler will return home safe and healthy. Take the right precautions and enjoy your trip!

    What is Malaria tropica?

    • Malaria tropica is the most dangerous form of malaria. If not treated properly it can lead to death in a couple of weeks. Malaria tropica is caused by a parasite, called Plasmodium falciparum. The fever attacks are unpredictable.
    • If you take the malaria tablets as prescribed, chances of getting malaria tropicana are very slim. When traveling through resistant areas you have to be aware that that malaria can still strike.
    • Malaria tropica is very common in areas such as tropical Africa, South East Asia and South and central America.

    What is Malaria tertiana?

    • Malaria tertiana is a form of malaria caused by a parasite, called Plasmodium vivax and/or Plasmodium ovale. This disease is characterized by fever attacks that occur in frequent peaks of 48 hours. The parasites can stay in your liver and cause a “delayed first attack” months or even years later. Malaria tertiana can only be prevented by taking profylaxe.
    • Malaria tertiana can mainly be found in South East Asia, Central and South America and Ethiopia.

    What is Malaria quartana?

    • Malaria quartana does not differ from malaria tertiana, except for the characteristic fever attacks that occur every 72 hours (instead of every 48 hours.) Malaria quartana is caused by a parasite called Plasmodim malariae and is a very rare disease.
    • At the moment Malaria quartana is prevented by decent malaria tablets.

    What are the symptoms of malaria?

    • Malaria can occur as a severe attack of cold shivers and fever, but also as a feverish feeling with headaches, but without any clear fever. It usually starts as a fever attack, cold shivers, muscles aches and headaches. This symptoms will return frequently every few days, if the infection is not treated. It can also be accompanied with vomiting, diarrhea, coughing and jaundice.
    • It is very important to know that Malaria can spread to different parts of the body in as short as 24 hours!!! Any cold or fever that lasts longer than 2 days should be considered as malaria, until the contrary has been proven. If you think that you might have malaria you have to get your blood tested in the hospital or by a doctor. Malaria can be treated very well as long as it is discovered on time.

    What are Malaria tablets (Profylaxe)

    • Which malaria tablets are most suitable for you depends on your destination and the period of your stay. There are different forms of malaria in each area and in some areas mosquitoes can be resistant to anti-malaria tablets.
    • Main Malaria tablets
      • Paludrine (Proguanil-hydrochloride
      • Nivaquine (chloroquine
      • Lariam (Mefloquine)
      • Malarone: (Combination of Atavaquon-Progunail)
      • Doxycycline:
      • Other
        • Fansidar: Not prescribed against malaria because of the serious side effects, but is still used to cure malaria.
        • Maloprim: Due to the heavy side effects only used as a spare remedy.
        • Halofantrine: Due to the side effects it is not used very often any more.
        • Quinine: Used as a treatment against malaria.
        • Artemesia annua (sweet wormwood) natural product available in many tropical countries. It has very little side effects, but it is not tested enough to pass western tests.
        • Qinghaosu: A natural product
        • Arteflene
        • Artemether
        • Artesunate

    What to do during a long stay in a malaria area?

    There are two options:

    • Keep taking malaria pills, especially Lariam is suitable for longer periods, if you don’t suffer from any negative side effects. This can be expensive.
    • Stop taking malaria tablets. If you do this you have to make sure to: avoid getting stung by mosquitoes. And make sure that you know where to find a doctor or hospital in case you get a malaria attack.
    • PS: Be aware that no matter how long you stay in a malaria area, you do not become immune to malaria. You always run the risk of getting malaria.
    How to solve and prevent the 9 most common health problems during backpacking, living, studying, traveling or working abroad?