Holidays of a Lifetime(a) | 创意旅游，任你遨游(a)

by Jeremy Beacock

For many people, holidays are more than sun and shopping.

对很多人来说，假期不只是享受阳光和购物。

Everyone likes to travel, and more and more people are now spending their holidays in all kinds of exotic locations. As people have come to embrace travel and tourism, a whole new range of holiday activities have sprung up. If the thought of sitting on a beach for a week or two bores you, why not consider some of the more adventurous options available?

Many people see holidays as a chance to learn new skills or practice old ones. For example, cooking holidays are becoming wildly popular. One of the main appeals of travel is the chance to try new foods, but these new holidays allow you to take the recipes home with you. In countries all over the world, training courses in local cuisine are being offered. People spend the day learning about and cooking exotic foods and then eat their creations in the evenings.

Another vacation to consider is a yoga retreat in India. After developing an interest in yoga at home, many people want to go to the birthplace of this physical and mental discipline. In India, enthusiasts can visit unspoiled beaches, experience a rich culture, and discover inner peace all while learning advanced yoga techniques.

Alternatively, you can choose to do something even more valuable with your time. Rather than choose a holiday that suits your personal needs, you can volunteer to help other people. These days, many charities operate work camps in underdeveloped countries, such as Nepal. Travelers spend two or three weeks helping the locals with development projects like building new schools or digging wells. It's hard work, but it can be a more rewarding experience than just buying a souvenir.

每个人都喜欢旅行，而现在有越来越多人跑到各种充满异国风情的地方渡假。当大家开始懂得享受旅游和观光的同时，一些新兴的假期活动开始崛起。如果在海滩坐上一、两个星期听起来很无聊的话，何不尝试市面上其他更具冒险性的旅游选择呢？

　　很多人把渡假视为一种可以温故或知新的机会。例如，烹饪假期就变得越来越热门。旅行吸引人的特色之一，就是可以尝试新美食，但是在这种新兴假期中，你还可以把食谱带回家。世界各地有许多国家现在都提供在地美食的训练课程。学员在白天认识和烹饪异国美食，晚上则品尝自己的成品。

　　另一个可以考虑的假期是印度的瑜珈营。很多人在自己国家培养出对瑜珈的兴趣后，接着就会想来到这个讲究身心修行的运动诞生之地。在印度，热中瑜珈者可以造访未遭受破坏的海滩、体验丰富文化，并在学习各种进阶瑜珈技巧的过程中找到内心的平静。

　　另外，你可以选择从事更有价值的活动。与其选择个人喜好的假期，你还可以当志工帮助他人。现在，有许多公益团体会在尼泊尔这样的未开发国家发起志工营。旅人可以花 2 到 3 个星期参与盖学校或挖井等发展计划，以帮助当地人。虽然劳心劳力，却比买纪念品来得更有价值。