Things to consider before donning your special “I am a tourist” costume and waltzing your way out of the airport and smack into a foreign land.

Your budget. Never neglect to take into account the fact that the cost of living in the country you’re visiting may be a world apart from the cost of living in your own home. Refer to currency exchange rates and even as you get taken in by the beauty of the sights and the whole experience, try to put a tight grip on the hand that cradles your finances. Bumming cash from fellow tourists isn’t part of your vacation plans after all.

The language. Take the time to arm yourself with a few common words of the native language of the place you will be visiting. This is of enormous importance especially if you plan to travel around without a tour guide. Also, do not forget the universal language- smile!

Public transportation. If you will be going around on your own, make sure you are familiar with the system of public transportation. Not everything can be as convenient as a cab or bus ride. Be prepared for appallingly crowded trains and unconventional means such as boatrides, cars attached to bicycles or even animal-pulled carts. If you will be driving, be aware of any special traffic rules or conditions like bike lanes, speed limits and right-of-way.

The food. While it is your golden chance to be adventurous and try new things, be careful with the food you shall be trying especially if you have food allergies.

How far would you go (literally) to satisfy your cravings?

Chocolate. While it is true that one would probably see heaven in a ditch just as long as chocolate is present, there is no doubt that the best dark chocolate would be found in Costa Rica. If a more adventurous taste is sought, the tangy exotic chocolates all the way from Sri Lanka would definitely satiate the longing for chocolates with nuts and fruits.

Beer. At the risk of being too mundane, the best choice would still be the obvious choice in this case- the Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany! The most fitting place to drink the finest dark beer or a light weiss beer would be among respectable professionals who transform into rowdy crowds of beer-bellied men in Deutschland.

Sushi. Where else but at the sushi capital of the world?!

Spicy noodles. The Chinese and the Japanese have definitely taken the art of making noodles to the ultimate level but it is the Koreans who have perfected the art of blending the spices, mushrooms, herbs and other essentials to produce the unequaled flavor of a steaming hot bowl of the Korean ramen they call ‘Ramyun’.

Espresso. The origin of the coffee does not really matter, as long as it is strong, velvety and full-bodied. The craving that really needs to be satisfied is that of the alfresco cafes in Paris complemented by a delightful conversation, street musicians and warm sunshine.

Isaw with Dirty Ice Cream. In the Philippines and everywhere else, streetfood would most likely take the closest distance to travel in response to a certain appetite. You need only to travel one block and voila! Twenty sticks of chicken guts and a cone of street ice cream are waiting to be gobbled up.

Any soul who realizes the sanctity of liquor must not go on crisscrossing through the highways and by-ways of life without visiting at least the origin of their very own poison of choice.

Beer. Possibly dating back to the 6th millennium BC, it is one of the oldest beverages in the world. It has even been recorded in the written history of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The earliest known chemical evidence of beer dates to circa 3500–3100 BC from the site of Godin Tepe in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran. Alcohol content varies from 3% to 8% for the different types such as light beer also known as lager or pilsner, dark beer, ale, stout and porter.

Vodka and Gin. They are essentially redistilled alcohol (60 to 100 proof) with flavor added. The first documented production of vodka in Russia was the end of the 9th century, but the first known distillery at Khylnovsk was about two hundreds years later as reported in the Vyatka Chronicle of 1174.

Brandy. Made from grape wine, this is the oldest of all distilled spirits with alcohol contest from 50% to 55%. Armagnac is made from grapes of the Armagnac region in Southwest of France (Gers, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne). It was the first distilled spirit in France. Brandy de Jerez is the brandy from the area of Jerez. As such it is an essential ingredient to Sherry. Cognac comes from the Cognac region in France.

Whisky.It is distillate from beer stored from charred oak barrels. Whisky probably originated in Ireland during the 12th century and then spread to Scotland then to Canada and finally into the United States. Scotch, Irish, Canadian, rye and bourbon whisky are 80 to more than a hundred proof.

Rum. This 80 to 150 proof liquor is made from the distillate of fermented molasses later flavored with fruit extracts, a dessert wine or spices. Burnt sugar may be added for color. The first distillation of rum took place on the sugarcane plantations of the Caribbean in the 17th century. Tradition suggests that rum first originated on the island of Barbados.

See the world in a flying magic book ride by cuddling up with an endless flow of coffee as you flip through the works of your favorite authors.

The King’s Maine Court. A native of Bangor, Maine, Stephen King grandly presents his hometown not only as a dark background for the chilling stories he weaves right out of his imagination but also as an actual nature trip. In The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, the challenge posed by the Appalachian Trail on the nine year-old Trisha describes the raw beauty and sheer power of nature over man. His other works like Dreamcatcher, Stand By Me and Bag of Bones, the backwoods of Maine is shown to be a place for respite and the ever dependable soul-searching waiting to happen.

Austen’s  London. Amid the hustle and bustle of England packed with busy souls – from the professionals rushing off to work to the tourists prancing from museums to boutiques- lies the laid back town of Chawton. This quaint little town was the home of Jane Austen, where she was inspired to write Emma and Mansfeld Park. A quiet field trip in this place with fellow Austen enthusiasts would prove to be a pleasant trip through time.

The Real Yoknapatawpha. William Faulkner’s fictional town was no doubt inspired by his very own home- Mississippi. He dramatically bared the lives of his loved ones and neighbors through his fiction. His work spoke about the daily ordeals and triumphs of the farmers, the blacks, the outdoors men and the decaying rich men slowly turning into old drunks.

Surreal Japan. As if the complexity Japan is not surreal enough to foreigners, Haruki Murakami drapes a silken curtain over metropolitan Japan to create a dreamlike landscape. Seemingly normal scenes like the crowded subways, the endless strings of jazz bars, the high-nosed Akasaka district are all transformed into portals where one may meet ghosts, illusions, past loves and even a peek at the future.

Beaujolai Escape is a place where you can experience the different wonderful destinations without leaving the comfort of  your home. Discover how wonderful our world is through Beaujolai Escape.