【推荐1】Traveling to a new country you have little knowledge about can be a recipe for awkwardness. However, if you do your homework before you travel, you prepare yourself for the unknown, spend less, and enjoy more.

Traveling to areas where civil unrest (骚乱) or natural disasters are occurring can put you at risk, so research current events in your destination. Set an alert on Google Alerts for your destination at least two weeks before your trip. This will provide you with relevant news stories about your destination on a daily basis. You can also:

√ Check your government's travel advisory website.

√ Ask local residents via social media or online forums.

√ Contact the hotel's manager or the owner of the place where you are staying.

Before traveling, know the weather you’ll encounter there. Poor weather upsets travel plans every day. For international trips, that impact can be more far-reaching. Take this situation for instance. A thunderstorm delays your international flight. That delay causes you to miss your connecting flight to your destination city. Now, you won’t be able to arrive until a day later, which means all of your reservations, hotel, rental car, event tickets, etc., must be changed or cancelled. However, since these reservations are often non-refundable (不可退款的), you could be stuck paying for things you cannot use.

Luckily, a travel insurance plan can allow you to be compensated for covered expenses you are not able to use, protecting your wallet from the uncertainties of international travel.

Tourists are easy targets for thieves. Carrying originals of your important documents can allow them to get stolen or lost. Keep scanned versions of these documents handy: photocopy of your passport, proof of financial support for your trip, your plane tickets, details of the purpose of your trip, application fee and travel insurance.

【推荐2】Ever wondered about the inner workings of the Two Oceans Aquarium (水族馆)? Perhaps you have questions about how our life support systems work, or how and what the animals in our care are fed? Join a guided Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Aquarium and find out!

Meet some of our staff as they carry out their duties; feeding, cleaning and monitoring are all in a day’s work for them. See the animals and exhibits from a completely different point of view, all while our experts share fascinating information about how we make the aquarium magic happen.

● Behind-the-Scenes Tour details:

Guided tours take place at 10:00 and 13:00 daily and last up to 75 minutes. Please arrive 15 minutes early to complete an indemnity form (保证表).

Your Behind-the-Scenes Tour booking includes general access to public areas of the aquarium for the day.

A maximum of 8 persons can join a tour.

Price:

·R620 per adult (aged 18+)

·R495 per child (aged 8-17)

The Behind-the-Scenes tour is not suitable for children under the age of 8.

Tours must be booked at least 24 hours in advance, subject to availability.

● How to book a Behind-the-Scenes Tour:

Book your Behind-the-Scenes Tour on the official website.

Alternatively, email experience@ aquarium. co. za or call us on +27 (0)21 418 3823 to book your Behind-the-Scenes Tour, or book in person at our Visitor Centre.

Remember — aquarium entry is included for all participants in a Behind-the-Scenes Tour. Anyone accompanying you, but not participating in the tour, will need to book a day ticket to enter.

● Terms and conditions:

Please wear your face mask, comfortable clothes and soft-soled (软底的) shoes appropriate for the beach (no high heels).

Payment is required at least 24 hours prior to secure your booking.

Report to the Visitor Centre at 09:45 for the 10:00 tour or 12:45 for the 13:00 tour to complete your indemnity forms.

Failure to arrive for your tour will result in cancellation and you will be liable (负有偿付责任的) for the full fee.

【推荐3】Travelling plays an important part in making us feel relaxed and happy. It also brings good changes in our life and keeps us alive and active. Travelling gives us practical experience of things we have studied in the books. So a person who does not travel at all does not find any meaning in the name of Ganga River. However, if he has travelled to this place, he can truly relate everything he has studied and will always remember each and every detail of that place.

Nowadays, many people like travelling as they want to explore the world and watch everything they have read about. And this seems to be quite true as practical knowledge is more important and effective (有效的). People like to visit historical places present in different parts of the world and collect information on the same to write books and stories.

Travelling has become easier due to (由于) advancement in technology and transportation (交通). Earlier people used to travel by road or sea and it took many days to travel from one place to another. However, now the situation has changed and people travel to far off places within hours and minutes — thanks to well-built roads and airplanes.

People travel for different purposes, some travel for further education while others travel to relax and enjoy. Many people take a break from their busy schedule and go for a vacation, which makes them feel pleased and energetic (充满活力的).

Many writers and painters travel to different places to experience some of the best things of nature and express them in the form of paintings or books. People also travel for business purposes so as to make money from their business. Students travel for educational purposes. Everyone has a unique reason to travel. Therefore, travelling is an important part of human life and it provides knowledge and offers all kinds of benefits (好处) to mankind.

【推荐1】Teen volunteer opportunities are the best way to learn the values of responsibility and enhance problem-solving skills. Here are a few volunteer opportunities for you to take up.

Animal shelters and homeless shelters are the best places for animal lovers. A typical day volunteering at an animal shelter would involve helping with the adoption process, feeding animals and cleaning up after animals.

Teens can associate with a local environmental organization for a beach preservation. This is a great way to learn about ecology and contribute to its improvement in a hands-on manner. The opportunity involves outdoor activities and is a good platform to connect with green advocates.

A job as a ‘Counselor-in-Training’ is a great fit for teens. It teaches them organization skills by training under experts. Teenagers can learn communication skills and benefit from the real-time feedback from children and parents. It is also an excellent opportunity to learn outdoor support skills, such as CPR and first aid.

Local hospitals are always on the lookout for a helping hand. Whether it’s chatting with residents, greeting visitors or transporting patients to the cafeteria, a little help goes a long way! A few hospitals may have an age limit and require volunteers to get basic training and commit their time each week.