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- 8 secret acupoints to cure travel ills
- Insider Guide: Best of Amsterdam
- 8 wild outdoor adventures in Dubai
- 8 dishes to try in Nanjing
| 8 secret acupoints to cure travel ills Posted: 01 Sep 2013 11:00 AM PDT Feeling nauseous, anxious or dehydrated? The cure is right in your hands  After stowing the passport and whipping out the phone, it's straight to the pharmacy bins at the airport market for some long-haul fliers, who slam all sorts of pills, tonics and remedies to alleviate aches and ills. But there's another choice -- acupressure. Acupressure is the practice of pressing or massaging certain points on the body said to stimulate self-curative abilities. For each of the points described below, you may need to press or rub the point in 20- to 30-second intervals for up to 10 minutes before the effect is felt. You may also need to use it repeatedly throughout the day. Play around to find what works best. Note: The author of this story is not a medical doctor. For serious medical issues, always consult a qualified physician.
1. Motion sickness and nausea: anti-vomiting point
This is also the first point I talk about with fellow travelers. Locate: Inside the forearm, two thumb-widths above the wrist crease, between the two tendons. The point is actually located below surface level, so pushing deep is most effective. 2. Neck and back pain: back-movement point
Rubbing this point eases these complaints. For a stiff neck, rub in small circles while slowly turning the head one direction and then the other. Locate: Make a loose fist and, looking at the pinky side, find the last crease (just below the biggest knuckle). The point is found along that line at the intersection of the two slightly different shades of skin. Also on CNN: Traditional Chinese exercises to help you live forever 3. Sore throat and lightheadedness: cold-relief point
Rubbing or pressing this point relieves symptoms associated with colds, including sore throat, cough, sneezing and body aches, plus lightheadedness. Locate: Loosely interlock your thumbs at the webbing -- both palms facing down, keeping your wrists straight, extend your index finger to the skinny edge of your wrist. Under the pad of your index finger in the prominent bone you'll find a small depression -- that's the point. Reverse the top position of the hands to find the point on the other side. Also on CNN: Is massage good for you or does it just feel nice? 4. Headache, constipation and fever: release point
When unfamiliar food or the poor diet of travel leaves you constipated, massage here. This point is also used to reduce fever. Caution: this point can induce labor, so don't use on pregnant women. Locate: Spread your index finger and thumb, then place the joint of your opposite thumb along the webbing and bend the thumb over. The point is just in front of the tip of your thumb -- search around until you find the sore spot. Also on CNN: The Japanese underpants that burn calories for you 5. Digestive issues: stomach-solution point
Use this point for abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, as well as accompanying fatigue and weakness. A harder massage may be required, but it should feel tender when you've found the right point. Locate: The point is on the outer shin, just below the knee. Relax the leg straight, place your four fingers on your knee with the index finger against the knee cap. Mark the horizontal level under the pinky finger. At that level, using the middle section of your middle finger, place the knuckle on the shin bone, where the second knuckle lands (going toward the outside of the leg) in a vertical line. The point is found at the intersection. 6. Insomnia and disturbed dreams: peaceful-sleep point
Locate: Find the styloid process muscle on the side of the neck, follow that up to where it meets the skull. There it forms an A-like depression with the skull going toward the back of the head -- that's the point. Also on CNN: World's 10 most exotic wellness retreats 7. Anxiety and over-thinking: spirit-calming point
Lightly rubbing or pressing the point reduces stress and aids sleep (combine with peaceful-sleep point). Locate: Look on the underside of your wrist and find the last tendon on the pinky side. The point is just inside that tendon on the wrist crease next to the palm. 8. Overall wellness: supplementary point
This point may also provide some comfort when you're stuck on a bus with no bathroom breaks. Locate: On the inside of the ankle, in the depression located halfway between the Achilles and the most prominent point of the ankle bone, rub or press here. For best resultsPutting pressure on acupoints, known as acupressure, encourages "qi" or energy flow, straightens out imbalances in the body, activates the immune system and aids proper circulation. When finding acupoints, follow the instructions provided, but always seek to find the sore or tender point, usually next to a bone or tendon, as that will be most effective. Points are symmetrical on both sides of the body, but applying pressure to one side may work better than the other. Some points and conditions respond better to massage while others to pressing. Sometimes lighter pressing works well, other times harder is better. Originally published November 2011. Updated September 2, 2013. Also on CNN: 18 yoga exercises for the plane      |
| Insider Guide: Best of Amsterdam Posted: 01 Sep 2013 09:01 AM PDT It's colorful, it's chaotic, it's Koninginnedag. Queen's Day in the Netherlands is your day too, best enjoyed in the capital  The biggest city in the Netherlands is a triumph of resourcefulness and lateral thinking. Space is at premium in Amsterdam, where much of the land has been reclaimed from the sea. The city's planners turned that to their advantage: Amsterdam's canals soothe rather than imprison the city. They provide its order, its calm. That calm is regularly disturbed by the trill of bicycle bells, but as long as you give the cyclists a wide berth, it's the perfect city for pedestrians. Now, with Koninginnedag upon us (April 30) and a new king being crowned, it's the perfect time to discover the best of Amsterdam.
HotelsLuxurySeven One Seven
There's a strong fine arts theme, with plenty of paintings to browse in the public parts of the hotel and other artistic curiosities in all the suites. If the weather's fine there are two pleasant garden areas to have breakfast in. Book well in advance to be sure of a room. Prinsengracht 717, 1017 JW Amsterdam; +31 20 427 0717; from €250 per night; www.717hotel.nl
There's little trace of that now, with the emphasis on finery, although an eclectic mix of it, with antique art objects among the furnishings and bold color combinations on many of the bedroom walls. Keizersgracht 384, 1016 GB Amsterdam; +31 20 530 2010; from €325 per night; www.dylanamsterdam.com Mid-rangeSandton Hotel De Filosoof
Some of the rooms are on the small side of cozy, but it's a comfortable place close to the Vondelpark. Anna van den Vondelstraat 6, 1054 GZ Amsterdam; +31 20 683 3013; from €120 per night;
BudgetAgora Decorated in an art deco style, but with an unpretentious, warm ambience, the Agora occupies an old canal house near the flower market. There are no elevators, common to many of the cheaper hotels in the city, so be prepared for a climb if your room is on one of the upper floors. Singel 462, 1017 AW Amsterdam; +31 20 627 2200; from €75 per night; www.hotelagora.nl
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| 8 wild outdoor adventures in Dubai Posted: 30 Aug 2013 08:25 AM PDT Desert camping, skydiving, sea kayaking ... gold-leaf facials and Krug sundowners aren't the only exotic adventures in Dubai  We all know Dubai, right? Brash, high-rolling, seven-star -- a place to drop loads of cash and stay indoors against the heat. But Dubai is recently attracting adventure travelers. Between October and April, when the weather cools, Dubai offers countless opportunities for action on land and sea, or in the air. 1. Skydiving
For some, the best way to experience these 21st century landmarks is by jumping out of a Cessna and plummeting toward them at hellish speeds. Jumpers take off from Dubai Marina and, strapped to an instructor, tumble out of the plane above the Palm Jumeirah for an instant free-fall adrenaline rush. Once the chute opens its time to relax and concentrate on sprawling views that unfurl as you descend gently toward the purpose-built Palm Drop Zone. Skydive Dubai, off Al Sufouh Road, Dubai Marina; +971 50 153 3222; tandem skydives from $545 2. Mountain biking
Within the Hajar Mountains running east of Dubai through Ras al-Khaimah emirate and Oman, there's a labyrinth of big-time trails to tackle. A hardcore organization of expat mountain bikers, Hot Cog, has helped discover and maintain 70 kilometers of wild routes through craggy terrain around the Showka area, incorporating narrow trails, wadi beds and animal paths. You won't be alone: wild donkeys, mountain goats, lizards and snakes might all be encountered along the way. With steep climbs and rough ground, tracks are difficult and not suitable for novices, but offer a tasty challenge to experienced riders. Hot Cog has information on routes and joining a group ride. Bike rental: Adventure HG,Times Square, Sheikh Zayed Road; +971 4 346 6824; mountain bike rentals from $27 Guided mountain bike rides: Absolute Adventure, Absolute Adventure Center, Dibba; +971 4 345 9900; rides from $100 3. Desert camping
Beyond the city limits, the emirate's desert is basically one giant campsite -- albeit a bit light on the washroom facilities. Dubai locals like nothing better than to throw their gear in a 4x4 and head for the nearest set of dunes. Off the Dubai to Hatta road, Shwaib is a good spot. Within a couple of hours of leaving the city, you can be set up amid the dunes, ready for an evening of barbecuing beneath the star-rich desert night sky. With wadi beds and mountains to explore, the next day is often spent on 4x4 voyages or practicing dune sports, such as sand-boarding. You can camp even if you don't own the equipment. Companies such as Arabian Adventures lead guided camping safaris into the emirate's only national park -- the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, where herds of oryx and gazelle roam freely. Arabian Adventures, Emirates Holidays Building, Sheikh Zayed Road; +971 4 303 4888; Starlight Express overnight camping trip from $190 per person 4. Reef- and wreck-diving
Reefs are sparse along Dubai's sandy coastline, but there are some good wreck dives a few miles offshore. Sunk in 1998, Anchor Barge forms an artificial coral-coated reef at a depth of 25 meters -- it's a popular haunt for color-changing cuttlefish. Nearby, Mariam Express is a cargo ship bottomed in 2006. There's much more to see in the Gulf of Oman, off the Arabian Peninsula's eastern shores, a 90-minute drive from town and offered as a day trip from most Dubai hotels. The waters of Fujairah emirate are warmer, with abundant reefs and islands to explore. Likely sightings include black-tipped reef sharks, parrotfish, moray eels, scorpionfish and turtles. Further up the coast, off the Omani territory of Musandam, has some of the region's best drift diving. It's a popular location for multi-day, live-aboard trips -- whale sharks are frequent visitors. Al Boom Diving, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah; +971 4 342 2993; from $95 per person for two-dive trip, with equipment 5. Climbing and hiking
The Hajar Mountains rise to 3,050 meters (10,000 feet) at their zenith. The towering limestone crags offer a range of challenges -- from 3,000-foot routes up the higher peaks, such as Jebel Misht, to numerous shorter climbs and bouldering opportunities. Around Dibba, on the east coast, you can even try deep-water soloing -- cliff climbing above the sea. For non-climbers, there are challenging hiking routes in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. The area is best explored on a guided hike; barely decipherable paths edge up cliff sides to high plateaus and mountaintops offering spectacular views across the plains below. High above the desert in these upper reaches are hidden tracts of fertile farmland, wadi pools and remote villages. Arabia Outdoors, +971 55 955 6209 6. Sea kayaking
On the west coast, kayakers can explore accessible mangroves in the emirates of Um Al Quwain and Abu Dhabi, where they can see turtles and flamingos. Over on the east coast is Khor Kalba, a protected 1,500-hectare area of mangrove forest that attracts important local wildlife. White-collared kingfishers and Socotra cormorants, both endangered species, make their home here -- paddlers can easily enjoy half a day gliding around calm waters trying to spot the rare bird life. Still on the east coast, more adventurous kayakers can spend anything between two days to a week traveling around the Musandam coast from Dibba, checking out coves and inlets and camping on isolated beaches. Absolute Adventure, Absolute Adventure Centre, Dibba; +971 4 345 9900; half-, full- and multi-day kayaking trips from $135 per person 7. Kitesurfing and wakeboardingPrime hotel and residential real estate occupy large swathes of Dubai's city coastline, meaning much of it is in private hands. One stretch of beach that isn't off limits is in Umm Suqiem, a relatively quiet area of villas in the shadow of the luxury, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel. In recent years this enclave has become a magnet for wakeboarders and kitesurfers. Introductory sessions in both, from $55 per person, can be booked through: Dukite, +971 50 758 6992; or Mark Andrew Kite School, +971 50 886 0874 8. Off-roading
Local operators take tourists out for stomach-churning dune bashing, with passengers gripping tightly as experienced drivers treat (or subject) them to a couple of hours of tearing up and skidding down steep sands. If you want to take the wheel of a 4x4 yourself, there are good resources at hand. Armed with a copy of the essential UAE Off-Road Guide and a decent GPS, you can choose between rocky trails following a course of wadi beds, tracks winding up into the mountains and trails snaking across the sands. Arabian Adventures, Emirates Holidays Building, Sheikh Zayed Road; +971 4 303 4888; Morning Dune Drive trip from $53 per person Offroad Zone, Street 8, Al Quoz 1; +971 4 339 2449; off-road vehicle hire from $272 per day    |
| Posted: 29 Aug 2013 06:03 AM PDT As the ancient capital of a nation obsessed with its food, Nanjing maintains a royal culinary standard  The emperors may have left town, but their chefs appear to have stuck around. That's the best explanation for the delicate and delectable options found on tables across Nanjing. Jiangsu Province -- Nanjing is the capital -- is home to one of the most influential cuisines in China. More on CNN: Nanjing mini-guide Typified by exquisite shape and cut, Nanjing's own homegrown dishes provide some of the tastiest examples of Jiangsu cuisine. Here are 8 essential orders in Nanjing. 1. Sweet and sour Mandarin fish
The fish is de-boned and sliced in grids before going into the wok. Boiling sweet and sour sauce is combined with ingredients such as shrimp, nuts and mushrooms and poured onto the fish, creating a squeaking sound. The result is a plate of fish shaped like a squirrel, hence it's common name, "squirrel fish." Best at: Ma Xiang Xing, 32 Yunnan Beilu, Gulou district, Nanjing; +86 25 8328 6387/6388; 6:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. 2. Salted duck
As the local saying goes, "Without duck, it's not a proper meal." Salted duck is a cold dish usually served as an appetizer or snack with alcohol. More on CNN: Around China in 31 dishes Plum Garden's salted duck is marinated in a special brine that keeps the meat tender and imbues it with a slightly salty flavor. Best at: Plum Garden, 2/F, Jinling Hotel, Xin Jie Kou Square, Nanjing; +86 25 8471 1888 (ext. 4204); open daily 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 6-10 p.m. 3. Pan-fried beef dumplings
Pan-fried beef dumplings are considered one of Nanjing's eight traditional Qinhuai treasures, as designated by government-sanctioned experts in 1987. The original dumpling mentioned as a Qinhuai treasure comes from Jiang You Ji restaurant, which is still located in an alley in Nanjing's Confucius Temple area. Liji Halal Restaurant is another popular local choice for the dumplings. For the complete experience, pan-fried beef dumplings should be accompanied by beef soup, or niu rou tang. Best at: Jiang You Ji, 313 Qin Hong Lu, Qin Huai District; +86 25 5262 2265 Liji Halal Restaurant, 1 Dading Xiang, Pingshi Jie, Baixia District; +86 25 5225 7736 4. Tangbao (soup dumpling)
The sight of chicken broth and pork wobbling inside a paper-thin wrapper -- assuming a chopstick hasn't accidentally pierced the tender wrapper -- is sheer heaven for many locals. The most famous places for the dish is Yinshi Jishi Tangbao restaurant, though the flavor can be too sweet for some. If you prefer your dumplings less sweet, Liu Changxing restaurant is recommended. Best at: Liu Changxing, 506 Zhongshan Dong Lu, Baixia District; +86 25 8441 1031 5. Duck blood vermicelli soup
It's said that duck blood vermicelli soup was brought to Nanjing by a traveler from Auhui, a neighboring province. But the dish has become a Nanjinger favorite cheap eat. You can find duck blood vermicelli soup as easily in Nanjing as you can find kebab stands in Berlin. Best at: Yadebao, 11-12 Chaozhi Xiang, Baixia District; +86 25 8452 4820 6. Jinling roast duck
According to one legend, Ming Dynasty emperor Zhu Di brought his favorite roasted duck chefs with him from his Nanjing palace when he moved the capital to Beijing. Though less celebrated internationally, Jinling duck is hardly inferior to its northern counterpart. Crisp and greasy duck skin with juicy and tender flesh is the standard formula of the satisfying dish. Best at: Chen Lin, 5-1 Diao Yu Tai (Near Zhonghua Gate) 7. Hairy crab
This makes sense -- about a third of the county's area is occupied by Gucheng Lake, one of the country's top breeding grounds for hairy crabs. The crabs are meaty and sweet, with a paste inside that has a rich, buttery texture. The best season for hairy crab is autumn. Chinese believe that the ninth month of the lunar calendar (usually mid-September) is the best time for female hairy crabs and the tenth month (mid-October) is best for male hairy crabs. Best in: Gaochun county in mid- to late September
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