These are not large-scale by any means; they are a way to spice up the week and interact with fans on a more regular basis. The first is a standard Trivia contest, that many companies do on their Facebook pages. The second is a picture contest- one that we think is unique and interesting!

The prize for both of these is a $5 Amazon gift card to the lucky winner.

Trivia, on Wednesday

Every Wednesday, we aim to ask a question on Facebook that our fans will answer. Many may answer correctly, so we will randomly select a winner from those who did. We will try to make this process as fair as possible. Since there will be many such contests, anyone who didn’t get picked once has the same opportunity to win the next  one.

The questions are not meant to be too tricky, yet they will pertain to ComFi’s main interest: travel! Of course we will ask about travel. Do we think or breathe anything else? One look at our blog will tell you that no, in fact, we do not.

Guess That Destination, on Monday

We will post an image of an interesting destination, from anywhere in the world, on our Facebook wall. The trick is that we will not name the destination, but ask our fans to guess what it is. Simply name the city and country of the image, and we will again randomly select a winner from those who guessed correctly.

This week’s image is already posted here.

Good luck to all, and keep checking in for more from ComFi’s Fan Page!

At Kruger National Park hosts the classic safari Big 5- this is a term that refers to the popular group of five animals that tourists want to see on safari. These include elephants, buffalo, lions, rhinos, and leopards. The park is also home to even more diverse wildlife, from giraffes to cheetahs to different kinds of birds.

There are a variety of packages that you can choose from when visiting Kruger National Park. You can opt for a self-guided tour where you drive yourself around the park at your leisure. Or you can buy short, three-day or one-day tours.

Kenya

The great thing about visiting Kenya is that you can see tons of animals, and you can visit the country’s stunning beaches! Sign up for the famous Masai Mara tour, which features some great animals in their natural habitats. Animals included in this tour are wildebeests, zebra, and gazelles. Kenya is also known as a place for honeymoons and family-friendly safaris.

Rwanda

Rwanda is known for its beautiful landscapes; it called the land of hills for a reason! The scenery itself is breathtaking. Also, there are volcano exhibits, if you are into geography and natural sciences. You can see these at the Volcano National Park. But the best thing about visiting Rwanda is seeing the gorillas. Sign up for a Gorilla Trek, which is not for the faint-hearted traveler. It is expensive, and known to be a difficult hike through the jungle. But you can see gorillas in their natural habitats.

New York has everything you could ever imagine wanting. Designers, boutiques, chains, and the newest trends. Here are couple of neighborhoods that every fashionable person should visit when in New York.

SoHo – This famous shopping district of New York City used to be littered with diverse boutiques and small shops. Now, however, it is the home of big-name chain stores and internationally famous designer brands. This is not a bad thing, however. Go to SoHo to shop at H&M, Zara, Ann Taylor, and more famous fashion labels.

East Village- Like the old SoHo, East Village houses small boutiques shops. The style in this neighborhood is known as hippy or bohemian. It is definitely a young scene, and this is where the new trends will pop up. Hipsters abound in this area of the city, so if you are looking for unique and different, East Village is the place to be.

Hong Kong

The island is famous for shopping. Because of all the expatriates in Hong Kong, who go there from all over the world to work, the island has developed into a very diverse place. As a result, it has developed into a shopper’s paradise where you can find any type of clothing, electronics, and other consumer goods. There is a plethora of local brands and designers, as well as the traditional luxury ones like Prada and Gucci.  Also, Hong Kong is home to the famous APM mall, some of its stores being open 24-hours a day.

Buenos Aires

This Latin American city in Argentina is known for being beautiful and exciting. It is also a great place for designer shopping. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Dior are just a few of the names you will find. But where these can be expensive, the leather goods are cheap. Buenos Aires is also known for its fine leather products. Go there to buy high-quality boots, jackets, bags, and more at a fraction of the price of leather in the United States.

There are certain phrases you need to know before visiting the beautiful Italy! You should go prepared, learning the basics of conversation. And ComFi is here to help!

For international calling card rates from Italy to the U.S, check out our website.

Greetings and Basics

Yes – Si

No – No

Hello/Goodbye – Ciao

Good Morning – Buon Giorno

Good Evening – Buona Sera

Thank You – Grazie

Excuse Me – Scuzami

Please – Se Prega Di

Nice to Meet You – Piacere di conoscerti

Necessities

How much is… Quanto Costa…?

Where can I find… Dove posse trovare…?\

Why – Payr-kay?

Do You Have… Ha…?

Can I Have… Mi porta?

Language

I Don’t Speak Italian – No parlo italiano

Do You Speak English? – Parli inglese?

Learn more useful Italian phrases from 1 to 101.

For international calling card rates from Costa Rica to the U.S, let ComFi set you up.

Location

Costa Rica is located in Central America. It is situated between the countries of Nicaragua and Panama. The small and thin country is bordered both by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Wildlife

As a result of this geologic placement, it is temperate enough, and surrounded by enough water, to foster luscious vegetation. The jungle in Costa Rica is known for its beauty, and it variety of rare and endangered species.

For example, the country is home to endangered sea turtles, who find themselves under the protection of the Costa Rican government. It is called the leatherback sea turtle, and it resides on the Caribbean coast of the country.

The animals come in all varieties. The Costa Rican jungle is full of lizards, snakes, iguanas, and hundreds of more reptiles. There are insects, such as thousands of butterfly species. If you are a bird-watcher, you can see such rarities as the Scintillant Hummingbird.

Government Protection

The Costa Rican government makes a large effort to protect the wildlife of the country. There are hundreds of parks that house all sorts of wonderful and special creatures. One program by the government is the Foresta Project of the Foundation for the Development of the Central Volcanic Mountain Range.

There are programs that offer tours through the country’s parks and rainforests. Tourists from all over the world go to Costa Rica to hike, trek, and explore.

We’ve all been on those crazy plane rides where the baby is screaming, your neighbor is chatting, and the person behind you insists on pushing on your seat. As a cruel cosmic joke, these flights are always seem to be six hours long, without the layovers. So, what do you do when you are on the plane ride from hell?  You take advice from the international travelers at ComFi, of course!

Speak Up!

Don’t be afraid to turn around to that obnoxious seat-kicker and letting him know just how annoying he is being. There is nothing wrong with politely reminding him that it is, in fact the back of another chair in front of him, and not just a short wall to house his tv screen.

There is also the question of the person in front of you leaning their chair back all the way it allows, practically laying horizontally on top of you. Do not feel rude by asking him to lift his chair a bit; he should have the tact to understand that his comfort may come at a cost to others’.  If he refuses to lift his seat, then slightly lower yours back to make up for lost room, enough not to extend the same (un)curtesy to the person behind you).

Opt for Magazines over Books

It is typical to see people reading on planes, and many people bring novels with them. However, spending nearly six hours reading the same novel is not always doable. It may seem like a good way to pass the time, but in reality, it can get tiresome.  People are not programmed to be able to focus on one  subject for a particular long period of time. This is why most school subjects tend to be only 45 minutes to an hour.

Instead, bring two or three magazines which deal with different subjects. For example, one can be on politics and current events, one can be about celebrity gossip, one about scientific discoveries, etc. You won’t get bored by having a variety of subjects to switch amongst. You will hopefully find that you are so lost in the perusal of the magazines that hours have passed without your realization.

Skip the Alcohol

On most transatlantic flights, alcoholic beverages are free, even in economy seats. Having a glass of wine might seem like a good idea in the beginning; you want to take the edge off. However, alcohol dehydrates your body, and the high altitude of the plane already irritates your body. You may find that you develop a headache even faster by drinking alcohol on a plane.

Opt for typical (yes, we know, boring!) water. This is your best bet to stay relaxed in the long run because it will keep you hydrated and therefore clear your head.

Bring Head Phones, Skip the Music

You may spend a little while listening to your iPod on the plane, and that is fine. However, think about how much time you are actually spending- you cannot listen to music for over six hours, especially if it is pressed so close to your inner ear. This is a sure way to get a headache and become irritated on the flight.

Headphones are a great way to block out the sound of the plan around you, however.  Keep them in silent, and you will muffle the horrible baby screams happening to your left. Or invest in true, sound-blocking headphones that will emit wavelengths that battle those coming in. In effect, you hear…. silence.

Check out this picture of Hong Kong! It is one of the most beautiful city picture we have ever seen here at ComFi (and we see a lot of international cities, being a calling card company…..)

We found this picture in a Magaine Timepass article about the world’s most beautiful cities. It sparked our interest to learn a little bit more about Hong Kong. More specifically, why is it so shiny and pretty?

Doing some minor research, we learned that Hong Kong has some of the best nightlife in the world. The city is lit up every weekend in a rainbow of colors. Bars, clubs, and restaurants are all lively and diverse. You like jazz? You like hip hop? Pop? Dubstep? You will find it all here.

Why is there so much nightlife diversity in this city? We think it has something to do with the thousands of expats living and working on the small island. With people from literally all over the world residing in one place, there is sure to be a mix of culture and people’s idea of nightlife.

Ever wanted to try using a phone card, but not sure if it is the right option for you? Test out ComFi’s international phone cards before committing, and see if they solve your communication needs.

We are offering a free trial to potential new customers. Fill out the simple online form to receive your free calling card today.  We will give you up to 30 free minutes just for testing our service.

Phone cards are a great way to keep in touch with family and friends internationally. The unique thing about ComFi’s cards is that they are virtual, meaning you get the PIN and access number all sent securely to your e-mail. You customize your card by choosing which country you are calling, and which rate you like best.

If you have a smart phone, you can easily use ComFi service through our iPhone or Android Apps. Also, use our Facebook app for even more convenient service.

There are hundreds of these world-wide parties; celebrations that started as some ethnic tradition and have ended up becoming famous (or infamous, as is the case of The Running of the Bulls). Chasing these festivals is a thrilling travel experience that thousands of people undertake. We have listed and outlined a few of the most famous parties from all over the globe.

When traveling among countries, use a ComFi calling card to stay in touch with family and friends. Our calling cards are perfect for country-hopping, because they can be refilled online automatically, and the pins and access numbers go straight to your email. Virtual cards are perfect for travel, especially in this technology age.

Holi “Festival of Colors”

Country: India

Then: The tradition behind the festival comes from the Hindi story about Prahlad, who could not be burned by fire. The antagonist king at the time wanted to punish Prahlad for worshipping a false God, so he attempted to burn him, but Prahlad stood alive after the fire went out. It is a story of hope and triumph in Hindu religion.

Now: Millions of people take to the streets to celebrate this colorful holiday. They have paint in the form of powder, paste, or liquid. Every color of the rainbow is present. People celebrate by throwing these colors into the air or onto each other. Everyone is doused in a variety of colors, until skin is no longer visible. In order to stay true to the original story, there is usually a huge fire made as well, to symbolize the triumph of Prahlad.

See more images here: The Atlantic

Chinese New Year “The Spring Festival”

Country: China

Then: Chinese legend has it that in ancient times, there lived a terrible monster called Nian. He would fly into villages every new year and eat all the crops and generally terrorize everyone. One year, the Chinese realized that Nian was terrified of the color red, so they hung red lanterns everywhere in order to keep him away. He never came again.

Now: The legend has been rendered into a beautiful festival. Nian is represented by giant dragons and serpents which men parade through the streets. Lanterns are hung everywhere, and people celebrate the New Year together. Exchange red envelopes, have lavish feasts, and set off fireworks. The festival and celebrations altogether last fifteen days.

See more images here: China Pictures

La Tomatina

Country: Spain

Then: The origin of this festival is disputed, since it is not actually known.  One story says that a long time ago, the men of a village in Spain got into a huge fight in the village square. One of the men saw a stand of vegetables nearby, and he started throwing tomatoes at the other men in the fight. Eventually, it turned into a huge food fight.

Now: In modern day Spain, millions of people worldwide come to Valencia, Spain to participate in the festival. So many tomatoes are thrown that tomato juice is literally pouring down the streets fo the city.  The festival begins as early as ten in the morning, when a young man is chosen to retrieve a cut of ham from a large pole. As soon as he is able to climb to the top and retrieve the ham, the food fight begins.

See more images here: Time Photo Essay

Oktoberfest

Country: Germany

Then: This world-famous beer-fest actually started  in 1810 as a wedding celebration for the nuptials of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. The celebration included with different games and events taking place in Munich, Germany. The events, typical of that age, included horse racing, carousels, athletic competitions, and lavish feasts. The reason it turned into a festival at all is that it was repeated every year in October. Beer wasn’t even a factor until the later 1800s.

Now: Millions of people now attend Oktoberfest for 16 days in Munich. Beer is the main staple and attraction to this event. It is probably the most well-known and popular festival in Europe, judging from the attendance rate alone. As part of the fun, people dress in traditional German costume, with women wearing “beer-girl” dresses. Millions of gallons of beer are consumed annually.

See more images here: The Big Picture

The Running of the Bulls

Country: Spain

Then: The celebration did not begin as a celebration at all but as a necessary bull-fighting event. Before bull fights, the bulls in Pamplona, Spain had to be brought into town from the farms outside of the city. As young men tried to prove their bravery by jumping on the bulls and riding them while they marched through town, the event turned into an annual celebration.

Now: The Running of the Bulls is just one event of the bigger celebration called San Fermin. Many animal rights activists find fault with this traditional celebration, arguing that it is cruel towards the bulls. But the main reason this event is infamous is that there are about 300 injuries annually, and there have been about 16 deaths since the beginning of the tradition. However, it is still a lively, if not rowdy, event that attracts visitors from all over the world.

See more images here: CBS News

But it’s not all bad! Luckily, there are plenty of free or inexpensive things to do in London and still have fun. For one thing, you can use a ComFi calling card to call home from London payphone, which are scattered practically everywhere around the city. In fact, they are part of the London charm with their bright red paint and charming non-industrial feel.

ComFi has researched the best (cheap) attractions, just for you. Use this list as a starting point to plan your trip. You will find that although your US dollars will not go as far, you can strategically plan your site seeing in order to maximize your spending power. Once you see all the great options available to you, you might book that trip, after all.

Number 1: Free Walking Tours

There are all types of services that offer you tours of the historic city of London, but many of them are overpriced. They think that you haven’t seen this guide and educated yourself on all the other options out there! So don’t pay fifty pounds for an all-day pass that gets you into few desired sites and many, many mediocre ones. That is a waste of money, and you can see London absolutely free.

So instead of getting on a tour bus, opt to take a scenic walk instead. Most walking tours are given for free because the extra cost of fuel and transportation are taken out of the equation. One of the best companies we have heard of is Sandeman’s New Europe. They have a Royal London Tour that takes you past 14 historic and famous sites, which include Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben. Whether you get to go inside is improbably, but you get an informative description and historical insight to the site from your guide. Hey, if you are trying to save money, we think this is great option since it is absolutely FREE! You just sign up on the website to get the booking information, and you show up to the tour! The guides get paid only on a tip-basis.

Number 2: Free London Attractions

It may surprise you that some sites are completely free to begin with! No entry charge, no fees, just sign up and walk through. The best list we found online is the Visit London: Official London Guide’s Free London Attractions. All you’ll need to pay for these sites is the transportation you will take to get there, and you can usually take the metro or bus for cheapest option.

To be honest many of the attractions on this list include parks (which are probably very beautiful in their own right!), and we know you want to see more than flowers on your visit to the city. One or two parks yes, but unless you are an avid hiker, you will want to visit a museum or two. So we filtered through this list and pulled out a few great options, with totally FREE ENTRY!

MUSEUMS:

The British Museum hosts famous treasures, and you can see them all at no cost. Check out the Rosetta Stone, which was the first tool that allowed modern people to read hieroglyphics by juxtaposing the ancient Egyptian written language with that of ancient and modern Greek. There are also Parthenon ruins belonging to the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, and Egyptian artifacts.

The Geffrye Museum shows you the way the middle class of seventeenth century England lived. This is great for those of us who read Jane Austen novels and want to see real-life sets as they would have existed in Austen’s time. It shows interior room decorations, gardens, paintings, and more.

The National Portrait Gallery holds paintings of very famous people throughout history, some of which date back to the Middle Ages! See the Kings and Queens of the world as they looked in real life, or at least as they were depicted in these stunning portraits.

The Natural History Museum has hundreds of exhibits for you science and biology enthusiasts. Some offerings are on dinosaurs, earthquake simulations, human body and biology, and mammals. If you go during the winter months, between November and January, you will even be able to ice skate at the museum itself!

Some freestanding historical sites are the remains of the Wall of London, Princess Diana’s Memorial Fountain, and Abbey Road (made famous by the Beetle’s crossing!)

We hope you enjoyed this article, and we hope it helps you in your site seeing. Watch out for more London and travel articles, especially budget-saving ones such as this! And never forget your ComFi calling card on all your travel adventures!