TurnipseedTravel is thrilled to welcome back Jo from Frugal First Class Travel for a second guest post. Her first contribution, Beyond Bondi Beach: An Insider's Guide to Sydney, gave us a behind-the-scenes look at this iconic city. Now Jo helps us explore a topic dear to my heart....

AUSTRALIAN SWEET TREATS TO SAVOUR

Anyone who reads Turnipseed Travel regularly will know Vanessa has a sweet tooth.  I doubt she’s met a brownie she didn't like.  Now down here in Australia, we don’t have a strong brownie culture, so to stop Vanessa going into withdrawals I’ve come up with a list of true Aussie delights to tempt her taste buds.  As always, I’m conscious of her coffeecan budget, so everything I've chosen won’t break the budget.  Oh, and by the way, they are all easily found in supermarkets, cafes or bakeries (except the Haigh’s chocs, which are well worth the trip!)

There's nothing like a spine-tingling ghost story! Growing up on Cape Breton Island, dramatic tales, often touching on the spirit world, were an intrinsic  part the cultural fabric of the island,  which combined rich oral folklore with some of the best music and literature in the world. The swirling Scottish, Acadian, and Mi'kmaq traditions of storytelling complimented each other well and contributed to the island's legendary ceilidhs. 

No doubt this cultural background contributed to my love of seeking out ghost stories when I travel.  Already a big fan of walking tours of all shapes and sizes, I discovered that ghost tours were my perfect form of evening entertainment. Affordable, convenient, entertaining, and fun, ghost tours combined light exercise and a bit of light history with the chance to meet new friends and discover new parts of town. And if they ended at a pub, so be it! They were a great way to relax and let someone else worry about directions for a change, and as a female solo traveler, I appreciated the chance to part take in a safe evening activity.

So do I actually believe in ghosts? Belief is a bit of a strong word, but I DO stand by my ghostly story - and I'm sure these other bloggers do as well! Here's my story of a visit to Herstmonceux Castle in England when I felt I wasn't entirely alone.

"I could never do that."

"I like options."

"I want to look nice." 

As an obsessive ultralight backpacker, I've heard every excuse in the book. Most of the time, people find it absolutely unthinkable that anything less than 52 outfits will serve their needs while they're on the road, so they won't even bother trying to cut things down, or paying attention to those who have.

What is a girl who obsesses over ultra-light packing doing with stuffed animals in her travel pack? Unnecessary waste? Space stealer? Not in the least! I’ve never been one of those too-cool-for-school travelers. I’m still goofy me, happy to bring along my best friends as I travel. After all, stuffed animal travel companions are the best! So what if they’re made of cotton and polyfill? I’m thrilled to have my pals along for the ride and, as you'll see, I’m not alone! Traveling with teddy bears is the best. Read on for a look at what fuzzy companions other travelers bring along for the adventure, starting with me and my two bunny buddies! Plus - we're answering a critical question from readers: Are teddy bears allowed on airplanes?

First, meet my own two travel buddies! 

“Purple Bunny” (the small one) is actually a key chain, and I’ve attached a flashlight, nail file, and bottle opener to him – all of life’s necessities. Originally, the little white bag he holds between his paws contained lavender scented beads that have long gone flat. Before a big trip, I douse him with some lavender oil – I think he appreciates being spruced up a bit. Originally from the gift shop at the International Study Centre in Herstmonceux, East Sussex, Purple Bunny was procured just before my first solo trip through Europe has been with me for every single trip I take, from weekend camping to 4 months in Africa.

“Big Bunny” (who - confusingly - is also purple) has a slightly more limited travel life. I only bring him out for the big trips! Incredibly soft and stuffable, he’s a bit too small and flat to be a pillow but has proven infinitely useful for absorbing tears and making hostel beds, guest houses, and hotel rooms feel more like home! Big Bunny is originally from a gift shop on Cape Clear Island, the southern-most part of Ireland, and was a rare impulse purchase, along with a few other choice items that and together they help me remember my months traveling through Ireland. 

Although I (purposely) never checked a thermometer, I have never been hotter than when I traveled to India in September 2012. The hot season tends to be more in April, May and June, but average temperatures are still in at least the mid 30s (not including immense humidity) in September. 

This photo is taken at the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur India, where--as you can tell by my hair--I am experiencing a welcome reprieve from the heat via the breeze at the fort. 

Guest post courtesy of Christie Esau.

For better or for worse, being stuck in an airport is an inevitable part of most vacations. Whether you have arrived several hours early for an important international flight, have a lot of time to kill between connections, or – worst of all – are stuck because of a delay, chances are you’ll lose anywhere from a few hours to a few days of your vacation staring at an arrival board, eating stale pretzels, and tapping your toes. 

Here are some suggestions from top travel bloggers on how to make the most of that wasted time and get the best value for your vacation time.

I travel from time to time for business, whether to do work in the field or attend meetings and conferences. No two business trips are ever the same, but there are definitely similarities for all of them, which can make planning and traveling a bit easier. If you're looking for first time business travel tips, this is the place.

Traveling for business is more work than it is vacation (whether we want it to be or not!) and as such, you need to be prepared when you hit the road so that you make sure you arrive as prepared as possible to hit the ground running when you arrive.

Vanessa is visiting Sydney later this year on her Around the World trip and I’m keen to show her my adopted city has much to offer beyond the well worn tourist path.

Sydney is notoriously expensive (even for those of us who live here), and I know she’s on a coffee can budget, so I’ve found Vanessa a range of great activities that won’t break the budget.  I’m recommending activities and locations that are all easily reached by public transport (using a mixture of buses, ferries and trains) and that can be enjoyed regardless of your budget.