1 . The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has picked some activities to help build confidence, independence and adaptability among youngsters.

Set yourself a physical challenge

Learn survival skills at Sani Resort on Greece’s Halkidiki coast. The activity is sponsored by the Bear Grylls Survival Academy. Lessons include ways of hiding outdoors, seeking routes, building boats and finding food in the wild.

Price: ￡33.50 per day, per person.

Spend time in nature

Head to Ecuador’s Mashpi Lodge to experience about 6,200 acres of cloud forest in an excellent reserve of this country, flying through the treetops on the Sky Bike and Dragonfly Canopy Gondola. The tour is guided by Mashpi’s team of local naturalist guides.

Price: ￡1,030 per room per night, including transfer from Quito and all meals and guided activities within the reserve. Out-of-Ecuador tourists need to pay for flying.

Travel somewhere new

It can be particularly rewarding for young people when they step out of their comfort zone. There’s nowhere better than the wilds of South Africa. Scott Dunn’s teen programme offers an African adventure with two unforgettable experiences to observe wild animals, including a trip to Marakele National Park.

Price: ￡6,000 a person.

Experience a digital detox(脱瘾)

Join Metropolitan Touring’s journey to the Galapagos Islands. Twin it with a digital switch-off, book day trips with expert guides, and travel around the active Sierra Negra volcano. Activities include heading to Santa Cruz Island on the hotel’s boat, diving and surfing.

Price:￡2,730 per person, double occupancy, including all accommodation, return inter-island flights, tours and meals.

In 2014, I was looking through a Facebook group when I spotted a post claiming $200 roundtrip tickets to Dubai, With little     1     (hesitate), I confirmed the deal, checked my calendar and     2     (book) tickets. No asking friends, no waiting     3     job approvals, and no overthinking. It would be my first trip alone.

I met Jibri during the layover. She got my attention and we started chatting about travel deals and groups. During our small talk, I considered     4     (put) my earphones back in or making up a reason to excuse     5     (I). However, I finally decided to continue interacting with the new person and see     6     it could lead, In fact, she left a deep impression on me. Not only     7     we exchange contact information to meet in Dubai, but we joined other travel group members who rented a boat for an afternoon trip.

It was totally outside of my comfort zone! Unexpectedly, I met amazing people and gained     8     (wonder) friendships. I learned     9     (trust) my abilities and instincts(直觉) even when I had to improvise(即兴做事). I learned that strangers were just friends who hadn’t met you. Most importantly, I learned that my suitcase was much     10     (light) when I didn’t fill it with fear.

My Online Travel

5 . Sydney is famous for popular attractions like Bondi Beach. With the lowest hotel rates in town, we offer many options a short distance away from the beach.

Hotel Bondi

Offering quality accommodations in the sightseeing, restaurants, beaches district of Sydney, Hotel Bondi is a popular pick for both business and holiday travelers. From here, guests can enjoy easy access to all that the lively city has to offer. With its convenient location, the hotel offers easy access to the city's must-see destinations. Top features of the hotel include free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, Wi-Fi in public areas.

Chee Bondi

Located in the heart of Bondi, just 2 minutes' walk from Bondi Beach and a variety of cafes, restaurants, bars and shops, Chee Bondi offers both free WiFi and free private parking. The accommodation is air conditioned and features a flat-screen TV and a seating area. Some rooms have a balcony. There is also a kitchen, equipped with a microwave and toaster. A refrigerator and kettle are also offered. There is a private bathroom with a bath or shower and a hair dryer in each unit.

Bondi Beach House

Just 3 minutes’ walk from Bondi Beach, this bed and breakfast features free WiFi and beautifully furnished suites and rooms. Guests have access to a lovely balcony with outdoor furniture. All rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, microwave, and refrigerator. Guests can prepare breakfast each morning in the dining room, homemade jams, tea and coffee provided.

7 . Whether you’re searching for a relaxing beach break, a cultural journey, or an active adventure, there are several must-see destinations offered to content you in 2024.

Cyprus

Cyprus is an attractive island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and has been noted since ancient times for its mineral wealth, superb wine and produce, and natural beauty. Cyprus is home to a number of ancient archaeological (考古的) sites, peaceful beaches and lively cities. With a diverse range of experiences, Cyprus invites you to uncover its cultural treasures.

Huludao

Located in the southwest coastal area of Liaoning Province, China, Huludao neighbors the Bohai Bay to the south, and is bounded on the west by Shanhaiguan Pass. The continuous coastline provides not only rich seafood but also many sun-kissed beaches. There are many cultural landscapes, including Xingcheng Ancient City and Jiumenkou Great Wall. Xingcheng Ancient City is one of the four most complete ancient cities from the Ming Dynasty with many ancient buildings.

Maldives

In the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a dream destination with greenish-blue waters and pure white sands. Whether you’re in search of relaxation or romance, the Maldives has it all and more. Be sure to explore the colourful coral reefs (珊瑚礁) and the amazing surroundings, or simply just relax on the sands.

Dubai

On the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula, Dubai has grown to become a global centre for tourism, business, and cultural experiences. Home to a typical skyline with the tallest building in the world, Dubai has world-class attractions and inviting shopping malls. Head to the untouched beaches to relax or be shocked at futuristic architecture and design. You could even take a bit of a risk in the desert.

8 . My family and I had set out on a day trip from Shillong to Cherrapunji, a town known for being one of the wettest places on Earth. However, after we had been stuck in traffic for more than four hours, one of my sisters proposed going back to the city as a last attempt to save whatever remained of the day. A quick online search revealed other must-visit spots around Shillong. Most were familiar, but one caught our attention—Nartiang with its mysterious monoliths (独石碑). The photo showed tall stones piled together in a strange formation, appealing to us to explore further despite the lack of details provided.

That is how I found myself standing in the shadow of the huge monoliths of Nartiang, which is home to the thickest and largest collection in the region. Curious to uncover their history, I approached Maryo Symblai, a village elder I met later that day, who told me the story of the monoliths that has been orally passed down over generations. She said, “Back in the day, Nartiang didn’t have a bazaar (集市) and the nearest one was at Raliang. On one such bazaar, a giant named Mar Phalyngki was caught in heavy rain on his way back. He requested to borrow an umbrella from the Raliang chief’s youngest daughter, but she wanted to test his legendary strength instead. ‘Why don’t you go lift that huge stone in the bazaar and use it as an umbrella?’ she said dismissively. Emboldened by her challenge, he just did that, but before reaching Nartiang, he placed it in a forest when the rain had stopped.”

“There is a certain overlap of ancient story and memory in the case of the Nartiang monoliths. The locals’ account of how the place came to be is based on ancient stories or folk customs. But they also remember it because it served their ancestors as a weekly marketplace, a memorial, and a place for political gatherings. That is how oral history works. It mixes fact and fiction into collective memory”, said Dr Reeju Ray, a local writer.

Today, even though the traditional customs and more confirmed historical accounts offer some insight into the site, the mystery(奥秘)of the stone giants lasts.

10 . With Heavenly Lake as the center, the Heavenly Lake and Tianshan Mountains Scenic Area consists of four mountain landscape belts, which covers a total area of 380.69 square kilometers. In the mountains by Heavenly Lake, there live many precious plants and animals, such as snow cocks and roe deer. The tops of the mountains are even home to contemporary glaciers and rich in resources such as copper, iron and mica.

Ideal Sightseeing Season: August and September

Opening Hours: 09:00 - 19:30 in peak season, 10:00-18:00 in off season

Ticket Price:

● Admission fee: 95 yuan from April to October, 45 yuan from November to March.

● Temple of Queen Mother of the West: 10 yuan.

● Eco- museum of Heavenly Lake: 10 yuan.

● Cableway: 20 yuan/one-way, 35 yuan/round-trip.

● Other fees: sightseeing bus (60 yuan/round-trip), accumulator car (5 yuan/person each time), painted pleasure boat (50 yuan/person each time), speed boat (35 yuan/person each time), yacht (205yuan/person each time).

Note:

● There is an obvious difference in temperature from day and in night in Xinjiang and temperature in some scenic spots is probably lower due to the high elevation or weather change. Therefore, it is still necessary to take along a coat or woolen sweater to keep warm during the summer.

● Located in the northwest, Xinjiang has a lower average temperature than that in most areas of China, but ultraviolet irradiation in it is commonly higher. The highest temperature in some cities such as Turpan can reach above 40 degree Centigrade, so it is suggested to take along effective sun block and some medicine in case of sunburn and sunstroke prevention.

● Xinjiang is a region of an ethnic minority with a common belief of Islam. Pork is one of the biggest taboos for Muslims, so please do NOT bring porky food into a Muslim restaurant or talk about pork in public areas.

● Although most areas of Xinjiang are located in UTC+6, Beijing Time (UTC+8, national standard time of China) is officially used in Xinjiang. Due to the time difference of two hours later, sightseeing in Xinjiang is usually arranged between Beijing Time 09:00 and 20:00.