Identities

Gay Alaska – The Globetrotter Guys

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Gay Alaska - The Globetrotter Guys

Alaska is somewhere that has been on our bucket list for a very long time. Whilst our knowledge is limited to glaciers, snow-capped mountains, whales and grizzly bears, every photo we see of the incredible landscape and wildlife just makes us more eager to visit!

Whilst a lot of the states in America are well-known for being either very gay-friendly, or the complete opposite, ‘gay Alaska’ wasn’t something we knew anything about.

To find out more, we spoke to local gay guy Victor, from Anchorage. Here’s what he has to say about being gay in Alaska.

Hi Victor! Can you first please introduce yourself to our readers? Tell them a little bit about yourself – where you are from / your hobbies and interests etc.

Hi guys! I’m Victor. I’m 36 years old, born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, but I’ve also spent a significant amount of time at Alexander Creek. Alexander Creek is a tiny community off the road system, meaning you can only reach it by boat, sea plane or snowmachine (we don’t call them snowmobiles in Alaska).

I have been married twice. The 1st time was to a woman, and I have two biological daughters. I have been with my husband, Eric, for just over six years now. We were married in Alaska in 2016 and I’ve never been happier.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Alaska Gay Travel Resources

Gay Life in Indonesia – Nomadic Boys

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Gay Life in Indonesia - Nomadic Boys

“OMG you two: careful you don’t get caned for being gay!”

A rather extreme reaction by some of our friends when we told them we’re going to Indonesia, but one we understand.

On the one hand, when it comes to LGBTQ rights in Indonesia, there are none. The government heavily panders to religious extremists and in the ultra-conservative province of Aceh, homosexuality is punishable with up to 100 public lashes with a rattan cane, which also applies to foreigners!

Yet, on the other hand, this is (officially!) a secular country with no anti-gay laws in place (outside of places like Aceh), it has the right to change legal gender (with judicial approval) and don’t forget, this is the home to one of the LGBTQ hotspots in Asia: Bali!

That’s right, this small island in Southeast Indonesia is not only a pink haven in this very conservative country but also a popular gay holiday destination in Asia. When we visited Bali, we met local boy Joko who now lives and works in Bali. Originally from Java Island, Joko moved to Bali for a better life. In this interview about gay life in Indonesia, he tells us more about what it was like for him growing up and the gay scene of Bali. However, Joko has requested that he is kept anonymous for security, much like our article with Kaluu about gay Sri Lanka.

Full Story at The Nomadic Boys

Indonesia Gay Travel Resources

Gunnison Nude & Gay Beach

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Gunnison Nude Beach

The eastern shore of Sandy Hook is home to Gunnison Nude & Gay Beach, one of the most popular gay beaches in New Jersey. Gunnison Beach is clothing-optional and a fantastic place for a summer day trip. Locals from New Jersey as well as New York City frequent Gunnison. Ferry service from Manhattan makes the journey quite easy.

I found the crowd at the Gunnison gay nude beach to be quite open and friendly. Groups of friends mingle and passing beachgoers often say hello. People are much more relaxed here, similar to the vibe in New York’s cherished Fire Island Pines gay community. 

After you take your first trip to Gunnison, I’ll bet you can’t wait to visit again!

Getting to the Gunnison Nude Gay Beach 

If you’re driving, you can park inside of Sandy Hook’s Gateway National Recreation Area. For Gunnison Beach, follow signs for Lot G. The shore is only a five-minute walk from here.

If you’re traveling from New York City, then you also have the option of using the Sandy Hook ferry service. While it’s not as frequent, it can definitely be faster than driving on a weekend morning during summer. 

Full Gunnison Nude Beach post on wolfyy

Gay New Jersey Resources

South African Wildlife Sanctuaries – The Globetrotter Guys

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South African Wildlife Sanctuaries - The Globetrotter Guys

Without a doubt, one of the main draws of visiting South Africa is the native wildlife.

Almost as soon as you picture visiting South Africa – or Africa as a whole – images of iconic animals spring to mind – lions, zebras, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and cheetahs to name just a few.

Of course, the best way to view the local wildlife is in the wild. There are countless safaris to choose from, allowing you to see these animals in their natural habitat, such as Sanbona which we visited near to Cape Town.

However safaris can be quite expensive, span for a few days and there is of course no guarantee of sightings. So, for a lot of people, whether you are on a budget, or limited time, the next best alternative to see native wildlife is by visiting a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa. 

Choosing a South African Wildlife Sanctuary

When it comes to choosing among South Africa wildlife sanctuaries to visit, there are a few things to take into consideration.

  • First, where is the sanctuary located – is it easily accessible to where you are based or staying?
  • Secondly, what can you expect to see there? Does the sanctuary have permanent residents, or do the animals change?
  • And for us, most importantly of all, is the sanctuary ethical – and how so?

As we were lucky enough to spend 3 months in South Africa during 2019, we managed to visit quite a few different sanctuaries.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

South Africa Gay Travel Resources

Arab Street – The Most Colorful Street in Singapore? – Keep Calm and Wander

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Arab Street Singapore - Keep Calm and Wander

Is Arab street the most colorful neighborhood in Singapore? For me, I think it is. I went there once during my trip – and boy – the street is as colorful as the rainbow!

It brought me back to the times I was in the souqs (markets) in Marrakech, Fez, Jeddah, Cairo, Beirut, and Istanbul.

Well, this street is not exactly what it’s like in the Middle East, but there are familiar scenes and things that reminded of getting lost in the souqs.

Arab Street in Singapore is just a tiny neighborhood. In fact, if you go in there just for your Instagram photos, thirty minutes will be enough. That, of course, if you are that kind of traveler who came for the colorful shots and not for the destination.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Manchester Gay Bars – The Globetrotter Guys

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Manchester Gay Bars - The Globetrotter Guys

Before leaving the UK we lived in Manchester, the gay capital of the North, for 10 years and absolutely loved this city we came to call home.

Manchester has been named amongst the Top 10 most exciting cities in the world, according to a recent poll by Time Out and is an incredibly gay friendly city.

Manchester has been one of the top gay destinations in the UK for a long time. It has one of the UK’s largest gay prides and one of the best gay scenes (Canal Street).

Here is our mini guide to the best gay bars in Manchester (and gay clubs).

The Gay Village Manchester

One of the things we love the most about Manchester and why it is one of the best gay cities in the UK is Manchester’s Gay Village.

Manchesters Gay Village is made up of Canal Street and a few surrounding streets. This is in the very centre of the city, minutes away from the main train station (Manchester Piccadilly).

Canal Street is full of gay bars from the start to the very end of the street.

We love the fact that everything is so close together and that you can easily do a bar crawl and not have to travel or get taxis between bars like you need to in some other cities.

Read on for the best gay bars in Manchester:

G-A-Y Manchester

Every time we have been to G-A-Y we have had the best night. The music varies on each floor but you can always guarantee the best of pop, 90’s and current chart toppers will be played somewhere (which we love).

Drinks are reasonably priced here too and the crowd is typically quite young and trendy.

Full Story at The Globetrotter Guys

Lancashire Gay Travel Resources

Bellatrix- Lesbian Owned Bed & Breakfast in Castletownbere, County Cork, Ireland

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Bellatrix - Lesbian Owned Bed & Breakfast in Castletownbere, County Cork, Ireland

WOMEN-ONLY B&B ON THE BEARA PENINSULA

Bellatrix is a bed and breakfast exclusively for women on The Beara Peninsula, West Cork, Ireland. It’s the place where women from all over the world can meet and relax in Ireland’s stunning Wild Atlantic scenery. Bellatrix is a nature lovers paradise on The Beara Way.

We specialise in walking and hiking holidays. A short walk through the forest will take you to a beautiful little cove which is safe for swimming. Bellatrix is set in mature gardens with a super view of Gour Mountain.

Rita who is a Mountaineer offers great advice on local hikes and also offers guided hikes to suit all levels of ability.

We are an Eco friendly b and b and your shower is powered by the sun.

We have a variety of room options to choose from, all suitable for women travelers of every description.

See the Bellatrix Expanded Listing on Purple Roofs Here

Castletownbere Gay Friendly Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and Vacation Rentals

Sunrise at Bali’s Mount Batur

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Mount Batur at Sunrise - Keep Calm and Wander

My adventurous trek to Mt Batur volcano to watch the sunrise was all worth it! 

“Sunrise trek to Mount Batur? Why not? Ok, sign me in!” Those were the words I uttered when a tour agent asked if I’d be interested. Of course, I paid the tour right away without qualms. You see – I love a mountain climb. I always do. At my age right now (I’m not really that old hag yet), I know, I’d be slower than I used to be.

For me, it’s all about proper breathing when trekking/climbing/hiking a mountain. And of course – keeping a distance from the person you are following with. I find that if I hike closer behind someone, I’m pressured/forced to keep up – and I won’t enjoy the journey anymore. So, I want to be the last one in a group.

Mount Batur Volcano Trek Tour

Based in Ubud, I was picked up at my accommodation at 2:15 AM. Then, they served us a pre-breakfast food: banana pancakes and coffee/tea. Right after that, we’re off to the base of Mt. Batur. When we arrived there, two guides met us (a group of 9) and briefed us about safety. They then each gave us a small flashlight for the trek.

At 3:40, we started our trek in the darkness. Under the star-filled skies, the adventurous climb was off to a good start.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Bali Gay Travel Resources

Gay Panama – The Nomadic Boys

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Gay Panama - The Nomadic Boys

…and God said, “Let there be sexy people”, so he created Panamanians!

Wise words from the Bible itself according to our gay friends Luis and Mario from Panama City…

Panama City is often nicknamed The Dubai of Latin America because of its immense economic growth in recent years and impressive dense skyline. But unlike Dubai, this mighty Latin American metropolis has a far more welcoming gay life, in a country where although culturally conservative, is constantly striving for LGBTQ equality.

Most will associate Panama City with the famous canal, which is a reason alone to visit. The city is also the gateway to some gorgeous tropical beaches within gay Panama, like San Blas and gay friendly Bocas del Toro. We stayed in Panama City for a week and loved it. It’s full of things to do, plenty of trendy bars, but most importantly, we left with a thirst to return for more. It’s also a useful destination because it’s one of the major transport hubs in Central America.

This is our complete gay guide to Panama City following with a focus on the gay scene, our pick of the most gay friendly hotels, our favourite things to do, and more.

Is Gay Panama safe for travellers?

Overall, yes, Panama is safe for LGBTQ travellers, but assuming you stick to the touristic areas of Panama City, Bocas del Toro and San Blas. If venturing beyond, into more local areas, we recommend taking extra care and avoid all PDAs.

Panama is a very conservative country. It a strong influence from the Catholic Church. Any attempt by the government to pass any progressive LGBTQ laws in Panama almost always gets blocked! As a result, Panama does not recognise same-sex unions and has no anti-discrimination laws to protect the LGBTQ community!

For example, a 2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling required Panama to recognise same-sex unions and allow gay couples to adopt. Sadly, the response was a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage by the Panamanian National Assembly in October 2019. The LGBTQ community of Panama has quite a long road ahead of it…

By Stefan Arestis – Full Story at the Nomadic Boys

Gay Panama Travel Resources

Hidden Budapest Gems – Our Taste for Life

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Hidden Budapest Gems - Our Taste for Life

If you are looking to get off the beaten path in Budapest, you have come to the right place. After spending almost a week in the Hungarian capital and having covered all of the main attractions, we went in search of some of Budapest’s hidden gems. In this article, we share what we discovered and our top 14 unusual things to do in Budapest.

Budapest is a diverse and beautiful city, bursting with life, culture, history, nightlife, and awe-inspiring architecture. Naturally, if it’s your first time in the city you’ll want to cover all the major landmarks. Attractions such as the Fishermans Bastion, Hungarian Parliament Building, Thermal Baths and Ruin Bars are quintessential Budapest experiences. However, if you’re spending longer than a couple of days in the city, I suggest checking out some of Budapest’s hidden gems as well.

As it turns out, there are many quirky and unusual things to do in Budapest. You might not find them on your average Budapest travel guide or blog, but that’s what makes them so appealing. Getting off the beaten path in any touristy destination allows you to see the city through the eyes of a local. We had a wonderful time exploring an alternative side to Budapest. And to help you plan your own offbeat adventures, we’ve collated this list of the most weird and wonderful things to do in the city.

So let’s get to it, it’s time to break the silence on our favourite hidden gems in Budapest.

Unique Hotels in Alternative Budapest

Unsurprisingly, there is no shortage of accommodation options in Budapest. You can click the link below to search for hundreds of hotels, hostels, and guesthouses in the area. But while we are on the topic of unusual things to do in Budapest, I thought it would be nice to share some of the more unique hotels in Budapest – the hotels that reflect the cities alternative side.

By Charlotte & Natalie – Full Story at Our Taste for Life

Budapest Lesbian Travel Resources