Feature photo by angela7 Photo by wili

Common scams / scam-artists and how to recognize them

Unofficial “Moneychangers”

Changing money is an activity that should be confined to banks and licensed establishments, or ATMs, which will dispense cash in local currency. Avoid moneychangers who approach you on the street or in terminals promising you a better rate; these guys are skilled at counting out money and then palming some of it back as you conclude the exchange.

Finally, if you must transact business with these people, do it at a table or other surface where the money can be counted out into visible piles. Be prepared for them to balk at this suggestion.

Shortchanging

The most common scam is shortchanging, because it takes advantage of foreigners’ inferior knowledge of the language, abetted by lack of familiarity with the local currency. It works on every level, from cheating backpackers to fleecing the rich.

I knew one French traveler who financed his trips by routinely shortchanging drivers from the UK when collecting tolls in Calais. Take your tine and count your change carefully before walking away from the cash register.

The Bus Ticket Switch

A bit more sophisticated than the wrong change con is the bus ticket switch: you pay for a round-trip ticket but are given a one-way ticket. The first way to avoid this is to get to the station in plenty of time so you’re not rushing to buy a ticket and running to catch a departing bus. Secondly, as above, get into the habit of counting your change slowly and out loud after this (and every) transaction.

If you are victimized, don’t be shy about approaching the police, especially if the country has a Tourism Police Force (as Honduras does). Just be aware that following through could cut into your travel time.

The “Friendly” Local

Be slightly wary of friendly people who offer to be your guide. This is a tricky situation, because some of your best travel experiences can be spending time with local people.

If they suggest going to a restaurant, be prepared either to pay for them or explain that you can not afford a restaurant but you’d like to buy them a cup of coffee, or a beer, etc. If they offer to take you somewhere in a taxi, use your best judgment in deciding how far it is and if it is worth your time and money to go there (and back). If they’re genuine, you can always beg off and say you’ll meet them there the next day.

One of the best ways to prepare for these eventualities is to carry small souvenirs of your home city or country that you can dispense as little thank-you gifts to all sorts of people who show you kindnesses.

Taxis

Watch out when taking taxis. If there is a meter, insist on using it. If not, or if it is “broken,” negotiate an agreed fare in advance. It is inevitable that once in a while you will fall victim to an unscrupulous driver who takes the long way or pulls something else.

Border crossings call for extra caution: buses are preferable to taking taxis; some taxi drivers have been known to rip foreigners off by taking them to fake checkpoints, or to lie about border crossing hours of operation in order to snag an extra fare late in the day.

How to avoid getting scammed, or at least deal with it

1. Nothing takes the place of preparation.

I learned this from legendary basketball coach John Wooden, and it applies to every stage of life: school, work, marriage and of course, travel.

In the context of travel, preparation includes studying maps, routes, guidebooks and all other materials that give you as clear a picture as possible about traveling from Point A to Point B, as well as stopovers in between.

Remember that maps can be deceiving if you fail to factor in topography: what looks like a short city walk can take forever if it involves climbing a steep hill; differences in altitude between cities can mean tremendous variations in temperature. I remember a long, freezing night in a bus because I failed to take altitude change into account.

And remember that while maps indicate roads, they generally won’t tell you the bus routes that travel those roads, or give you information about border crossing points. If using public transportation, it is important to check and coordinate schedules as well. Getting stuck somewhere with few options makes you more vulnerable to rip-off artists.

It is always helpful to learn in advance a few words and phrases in the language of the country you are going to. This is especially the case when it comes to numbers and currency; if you have a total mental block in this regard, do what many merchants do when conducting transactions: carry a small calculator (most cellphones are equipped with them).

Finally, no matter how prepared you are, once in a while things are going to go wrong. This leads us to #2.

2. Go with the flow.

Your mental health is connected to your physical health and general well-being. One of the biggest energy drainers is ranting and fuming about things that are not under your control.

As trite as this sentiment may seem, try to make the best of a bad situation. If you are unexpectedly stuck in the same city a night longer than you’d planned and you liked the vibes in the hotel you stayed in the night before, go back and find the people you enjoyed talking to, or take the opportunity to make new friends.

Try a restaurant you didn’t have time for earlier. Or, make it a really early night and catch up on some probably much-needed extra sleep.

Meditation is a great coping mechanism when things do not go as planned. If there is anything I would do differently from when I started traveling 30 years ago, it would be to have learned to meditate much earlier than I did.

3. Carry proper identification, backup I.D. and supporting documentation.

Make sure your passport is not only valid and legible but has at least six months left before it expires, as well as enough empty pages left to accommodate several large visa stamps. Be aware of your destination countries’ visa requirements and any other rules for entry.

Some countries have the ridiculous requirement that you must have two facing empty visa pages; I have seen people denied boarding on their flight for not having their empty pages opposite one another — even though upon arrival and departure, the immigration agents paid no attention to this detail!

Make several photocopies of your passport’s front pages, your driver’s license(s) and your credit/ATM cards. Keep one copy with you or your traveling companion (separate from the originals) and one with reliable relatives or friends at home. Scanned digital copies stored online or on a thumb drive should work just as well.

This Backup Principle applies to all sorts of situations, not just data. For example, if you need to wake up at a certain time, try to arrange a wake-up call as well as setting your alarm clock. If you’re traveling in a non-English-speaking country and you have a medical condition, carry a translation of your condition and know the generic names of any medications.

In a previous article, I wrote about the advisability of carrying a letter from your congressman or senator to present to authorities in times of need. This is less important if you are not traveling in third world countries or crossing land borders.

Still, if you are planning on spending more than a month in one particular country, it is a good idea to register with the embassy or consulate of your home country.

4. Practice money vigilance.

Just about everyone knows by now that travelers’ checks are a thing of the past; with ATMs in every country now, the new money is plastic. I am in the habit of carrying three cards: two ATM cards (stored separately on my person, with precautions taken against pickpockets) and one credit card. (One does not need two bank accounts to have two ATM cards; you can get prepaid ones these days.)

Overkill, you say? Perhaps, but consider this: aside from the threat of one being stolen, my bank once temporarily suspended my card, “for my own protection.” While I was furiously running around India trying to get a machine to cough up enough money to buy a bottle of water, a letter was sitting in my mailbox at home saying that the bank had frozen my account because it had detected “suspicious activity.”

What had set off alarm bells at the bank? Sudden ATM withdrawals (my own, needless to say) from different cities in India!

The credit card is handy for larger or unexpected purchases, like plane tickets. It is useful not only in emergencies, but if you buy a ticket from a discount operation, you can later dispute the charge if the ticket turns out to be bogus in some way.

5. Know when to travel alone, and when not to.

This rule applies to couples traveling as a single unit as much as it does to those traveling solo. There are times when even those who prefer to travel alone are well advised to seek company, especially when walking at night in an unfamiliar city.

Whenever you’re crossing borders, a busload of people is a safer bet than going alone, since there will be locals traveling as well. Moreover, it is good to have someone who might be able to carry a message for you in case your crossing is delayed for some reason or other.

On the flip side, there are occasions when you will want to experience certain things alone, or shared only with a special someone. For example, you may want to rush through a museum in order to move on to other things, while others would choose to linger.

One experience I had would never have been the same had I been even with one other person. When visiting Tikal, a gentle rainshower began to fall. The lone group of tourists there ran for shelter. Suddenly, I was left all alone in the main plaza. As the rain abated to a fine drizzle, the silent place enveloped me in a magical way.

Don’t miss: for more on travel scams, check out BNT’s Top 10 Travel Scams (And How To Avoid Them).

Feature photo by wtlphotos Photo above by Panoramas

I hightailed it to Europe and found a job that was willing to sponsor my work permit. The first few months however, I was working “black,” which meant that I could not get paid because my work and residency in the country had not yet been approved.

I was approaching the end of my legal stay in Europe (wherein citizens of the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the UK are allowed to travel for six-months within the continent and three-months in one of the Schengen states. It was unnerving.

Getting a work permit was the constant topic of conversion amongst the expatriate crowd in Berlin. From exchanging visa horror stories to grand schemes of getting away with overstaying, we all shared the nightmare of being escorted to the Polish border by the immigration authorities.

Some contemplated proposing marriage to random Europeans, others gave up and returned to their home country, and then there were those who simply buckled down and dealt with the paperwork.

Acquiring a work permit in Europe is a challenge. It will make you feel like you’re perpetually banging your head against a wall, as you’ll often find that you can’t be granted a work permit without a job, but at the same time, most companies won’t hire you without this document.

Therefore, it’s important that you do your research and find the best kind of job for you. Check the companion piece to this article, last week’s How To Find Paying Work While Traveling in Europe.

You can also find out about the specific work and visa options and requirements by checking out the website Anywork, Anywhere and the Do it Yourself Expat site.

Key Aspects of a Work Permit

1) A work permit is a non-transferable legal document that allows a non-citizen to work in the country for a specific company.

2) Technically, it is illegal to enter the country to look for work without a permit. To get a permit, you must have a valid job offer.

3) The company that hires you must be able to prove that it has made an earnest effort to fill the position with an EU citizen. This is often the reason why foreigners have many opportunities in the TEFL field, but very few legal options within the service industry.

Applying from Home

You can save yourself a lot of stress and anxiety by applying for a permit before you leave for Europe. This document is country specific and not applicable for the entire continent. The first step is to find a job that is willing to sponsor your application for a work permit.

Ideally, it will be the company that will be applying on your behalf. However, if they are unable (or unwilling) to deal with all the paperwork, you can also go through an immigration agency, such as www.workpermit.com.

Remember to obtain the necessary documents from your home consulate, as well as check the employment regulations of the country in which you intend to work. A good resource is Yahoo’s directory of embassies and consulates all over the world.

Working Holiday

If you’re a commonwealth citizen between the ages of 17 to 30, and planning on working in the UK, you can apply for the Working Holidaymakers Scheme, which is valid for up to two years. This visa is issued under the presupposition that your main purpose for being in UK is for a holiday and work is an incidental aspect of your stay.

If you will be traveling as a student, you can ask your host institution if they can arrange for temporary work permits for specific countries. An excellent service is the British Universities North America Club or BUNAC which offers assistance regarding work and study programs in Ireland and the UK.

Residence/Work Permit

Getting a work permit if you are already in Europe is a difficult yet not impossible feat. If you plan on living and working in a specific city for the long-haul, bear in mind that the work and residence permit are tied together.

One of the most important steps is to register with the local district police within the first seven days of your arrival in the country. If you’ve already found a flat, have your flatmate or landlord write a letter to the authorities stating your rental agreement and the duration of your residence.

The next step is to open a bank account in the country and bring along the accompanying bank statement showing that you would have enough funds to support yourself (amount varies depending on the country). If most of your funds have gone towards beer or train tickets, you can also ask your parents to write you a letter of support which states that they would be willing to support you financially.

Most European countries also require that you have health insurance. It is important to make sure that the country where you’ll be living accepts coverage from your specific insurance provider. Another option is to get a student, travel or public insurance plan from companies like International Student Insurance or Swiss Care.

It is also important to note that most companies in Europe are required to provide public health insurance for their employees.

Once you’ve accomplished all these necessary steps, you can then head over to the city labor office (along with your passport, legal documents, diploma, work contract) where they will review your case which can be approved immediately or take up to three months.

If you can’t speak the language, bring a friend who can serve as a translator, as people in the labor office either don’t speak any English or will refuse to do so. Once it goes through, you’ll be charged a small fee and can live and work in the country for up to a year. Please note however, that the permit is bound to the company that hires you and cannot be used for a job elsewhere.

Though its tempting to skip the mountain of paperwork that comes with getting an EU work permit, it is lot less difficult than being deported (you pay for the flight back), being banned from the country and paying the hefty fine.

Of course there are other options to getting this sought-after document, such as putting up your own business, applying for a freelance work permit, getting a dual citizenship if your parent or grandparents were born in the EU, or putting ads out for marriage (its been known to happen), but these options entail their own issues and mountains of red-tape.

I’ve met many people in my travels through Europe who were intent on avoiding the legalities of acquiring a permit, but unfortunately, many of them either ran out of money or had gotten in trouble with the immigration authorities. If long-term work in Europe is your goal, there really isn’t any getting around a work permit.

Feature photo by desiitaly. Photo above by striatic

Podcasting is a quickly emerging medium. With the increasing bandwidth now widely available, people are spending more and more time online and demanding more multimedia content. This series is specifically aimed at travellers and field recorders (rather than home-studio podcasters) and will serve you well in submitting material to the Matador network or for starting your own production.

Hardware sounds simple: a microphone and a recording device are the basic ingredients. The key however, as you’ll hear below, is in the quality.

Microphones and computers

Most laptops have built-in microphones, but few are high quality. However with a little creative sound engineering, your built-in microphone can produce good enough quality sound.

The difficulty is that the computer makes all sorts of noise which is very close to the microphone: it’s impossible to eliminate this although it can be mitigated in post-production. Here’s an example using Apple’s 12″ G4 Powerbook:

[audio:http://thetravelersnotebook.com/wp-content/podcasts/TTN%20-%20Howto%20ex1.mp3]

Getting your microphone some way from the laptop is a good idea: perhaps a USB headset like you would use for gaming or Skype calls would do the trick. This is what a Logitech USB mic sounds like:

[audio:http://thetravelersnotebook.com/wp-content/podcasts/TTN%20-%20Howto%20ex2.mp3]

You can immediately hear the difference in background noise although there are a few pops caused by the microphone being too close to the speaker’s mouth.

Portable recorders

If you would like to get away from the laptop for more freedom and portability, then a “cheap” portable recorder might be what you’re after: unfortunately “cheap” starts at US$150.

Three popular field recorders for podcasters are the M-Audio Microtrack II, Marantz PMD-620 and the Zoom h2 Handy Recorder.

After extensive research — focusing on these three choices — I bought a Zoom H2 last month and can definitely recommend it as a great microphone for travel podcasters.

It’s light, runs on ubiquitous AA batteries, records to SD and can simulate surround sound thanks to the four microphones within its head.

Here’s an example of how it sounds:

[audio:http://thetravelersnotebook.com/wp-content/podcasts/TTN%20-%20Howto%20ex3.mp3]

Current matador podcaster Ryan Libre has been using a sony ICD-SX68DR9 Digital Voice Recorder with an external mic.

[audio:http://thetravelersnotebook.com/wp-content/podcasts/TTN%20-%20Howto%20ex4.mp3]

Drew Leifeit, of Budacast fame, uses a Sony Hi MD Recorder (MZ-M10) for use in the field. In the ’studio’ he uses a Audiotechnica AT835A shotgun mic, and in the field a generic stereo mic which came with the recorder. You can immediately hear the difference — as well as appreciate his great use of music.

Drew’s “shotgun” mic

[audio:http://thetravelersnotebook.com/wp-content/podcasts/TTN%20-%20Howto%20ex5.mp3]

Drew’s stereo mic

[audio:http://thetravelersnotebook.com/wp-content/podcasts/TTN%20-%20Howto%20ex6.mp3]

Matador writer and podcaster Julie Schwietert recommends using an Olympus digital recorder for making audio notes. In a pinch it can scrape by as a podcast-quality recorder.

[audio:http://thetravelersnotebook.com/wp-content/podcasts/TTN%20-%20Howto%20ex7.mp3]

Audio Editing Software

There are a growing number of good applications for podcasting on both the Windows and Mac platforms.

In the Apple world Garageband is undoubtably the easiest way to get started: it’s already installed on your computer, it’s user-friendly and it’s the only recording software which also allows you to create iTunes-enhanced podcasts.

Audacity is a free and open source cross-platform editor which is growing in stability and features. In the mid-price range, Adobe’s Soundbooth provides near professional-level control. This is probably overkill for beginner podcasters but could be an upgrade if you’d like to take things futher.

Skype

Skype is a very popular computer-to-computer and computer-to-telephone telephony system. Using it, one can cheaply record interviews with fellow travellers who are miles away. You can also use it to call your mum, but I don’t think you should put that on air.

1. Install and set up Skype

Skype is able to be installed on Windows, Mac, Linux and many portable platforms.

To download and install it, visit the site and follow the instructions there.

But you probably want to know how to record the conversations. Read on.

2. Skype recorders for Mac

There are several workarounds to record Skype calls on a Mac, but by far the easiest tool is Audio Hijack Pro from Rogue Amoeba. With one click this programme will “hijack” the audio and with one more click it will start recording.

The programme is currently priced at US$32, but there is a free trial version which allows 10 minutes of recording at a time. Budget-conscious podcasters can keep hitting start/stop to create several audio files.

3. Skype recorders for Windows

Once again there are a plentitude of options for recording Skype calls on Windows. The most popular seems to be Pamela, which also offers many more features. The free version gives 15 minutes of recording time.

Now you have some hardware and software choices to make. Come back next week for part two in this series on how to start travel podcasting, and learn how to use it.

Audio clips in this article have been supplied by Budacast, the Indie Travel Podcast and, of course, The Traveler’s Notebook. To hear some of Matador’s Podcasting talent, check out the Traveler’s Notebook podcast archive. Got something to add? Check out the submission guidelines, then get in touch.

Feature photo by muha. Photo above by stefan linecker

With most of our photos in digital format these days, photo sharing websites are competing for our attention by offering free accounts with a wide array of features. The following are six of the most popular, and all have something to offer. Read on to find the one that works for you.

Flickr

Out of all the photo sharing websites, Flickr’s community is the best. Most photos are public, and it is tempting to spend hours exploring the groups and reading discussions about photos .

The user interface is excellent, with drag and drop organizing, online photo editing, and easy linking. You can even plot your whole trip by dragging your photos onto a map.

Flickr limits you to 100 MB of uploads each calendar month. That can be frustrating if you want to upload your entire back catalog, but it allows steady portfolio growth. However, only the 200 most recent images will be displayed on your Flickr page.

Don’t expect to clear up your memory card by uploading on the road, unless you are satisfied with lower image sizes. You cannot download your photos in their original sizes. If you upload a large photo (10MB limit), the largest downloadable file is still less than 1 megapixel.

Picasa

Picasa has a simple interface with no ads cluttering the screen. Embedding slideshows and linking to photos is painless. Albums are organized by drag and drop. The only thing missing is the ability to edit photos online.

You get 1GB storage. A 20MB image size limit leaves plenty of room for most users. Unlike many other sites, you can download large photos at their original sizes.

Some of the newer features include uploading videos (100MB maximum file size) and mapping the location of a photo. If you use Blogger, your Picasa account is tied to it, giving you easy access to every photo ever posted on your blog.

Picasa allows you to browse and comment on public photos, but the sharing community isn’t as vibrant as Flickr’s.

Shutterfly

Unlimited storage, easy drag and drop organizing, and editing tools make Shutterfly a good choice. However, the actual photo sharing is frustrating. The community section allows you to browse slideshows, but not individual photos. You can only comment on the entire slideshow.

Even though there is no limit to the photo size that you can upload, it will be reduced and you will not be able to access the original file size.

Finally, Shutterfly has no features for creating links to a picture from another website.

Webshots

I like Webshots for many of the same reasons I like Flickr. It is easy to browse and search other peoples photos and comment on them to your heart’s content.

They also are very handy if you want to use your account as an archive for linking to your website. Beside each picture you can easily click on the size image you want and the html code is generated automatically.

The storage limit rewards long time members. It starts at 1000 images and adds another 100 each month.

Where Webshots falls behind is in excessive ad clutter. Also, there are few options for editing your photos. You can crop and rotate, but not much more.

Kodak Gallery

Unlimited storage makes Kodak Gallery tempting, but there are numerous catches. They only accept JPEG format and you have to make a purchase from them at least every 12 months to maintain your free storage. If you need a personalized mouse pad, then this is place is for you.

Kodak Gallery doesn’t have a sharing community. You can post your photos and invite specific people to look at them, but you cannot browse through groups of other people’s photos. And, of course, you can’t download your original high resolution images.

This is one of the websites that is offering video as well, but they are so restrictive that I wouldn’t use them. They only accept one format (mov) and they only promise to keep it available for 30 days.

Photobucket

Photobucket has some of the best online photo editing – useful for travelers on public computers. The site offers easy linking and the ability to send photos to MySpace, Blogger, Facebook, Friendster, and others.

On Photobucket, a free account has 1 GB of storage. The maximum photo size is 1MB or 1024 by 768. A few odd limitations – a maximum of 30 photos per slideshow and 25GB of traffic per month. If there are a lot of popular links to your photos, you might reach this limit and your photos will no longer display on those other websites.

Photobucket has also joined those sites that allow videos. The video must be less than 5 minutes and less than 100MB.

The Bottom Line

To get the best features, I have to compromise. From now on, I am using Picasa for my online photo storage. However, until Picasa’s community grows in features and users, I will be spending my free time roaming around the photo groups over at Flickr.

—————

A great way to start sharing your photos is to join the Matador Travel or the Brave New Traveler Flickr groups.

Feature photo by tunguska Photo above by 29cm

Although many travelers have notions of selling their poetry in French train stations or painting sweeping sunsets, these endeavors are not likely put many Euros in your pocket. And as the US dollar has lost its grip in the world market, travelers are finding their savings aren’t carrying them as far in their European adventures.

With some research, resourcefulness and a little luck, however, you can find a job that not only pays, but also culturally enriches your travel experience.

Preparation

When I left for Europe I had a return ticket to San Francisco but no plans of using it. Although a year later I find myself legally living and working in Berlin, things could have been a lot easier had I prepared to set myself up in Europe beforehand instead of spending money here sending out applications through overpriced internet cafes.

Here are several things to think about before you go:

1. Figure out how you want to work. Do you want to work short-term jobs that require little commitment, or something that would allow you to live in a certain city for an extended period of time?

2. What country do you see yourself working in?

3. If there is a specific place you’d like to work in then take a short language course?

4. Can you get a work permit for Europe before your trip?

5. Are you interested in teaching? Can you obtain a TEFL Degree? (It’s often less expensive outside Europe.)

Kinds of Work

Short-term/ Seasonal Worker

Short-term and/or seasonal work is a good bet for backpackers or those looking for the quick Euro. These jobs are cash in hand or “under the table” which is not legal in Europe, but you get paid straight-away and in cash.

One of the most popular examples is working on a farm or a vineyard. Check out placement agencies such as www.fruitfulfarms.co.uk, which offers to find you jobs if you are an EU citizen or have the necessary paperwork. They can place you in farms all over the UK, as well as other parts of Europe.

Other resources include www.pickingjobs.com, as well as online directories and classified, such as the Jobs Abroad Bulletin , the farm work section of Transitions Abroad, the Farmers Weekly Jobs, the links page on the Denmark’s Seasonal Work website, and the Family Farms Around the World site.

Summer Camp Counselor

Another option is to work in a Summer Camp. This can be really fun and rewarding if you like working with children and leading outdoor activities. It’s also a good deal since accommodation and meals are usually included.

The most popular companies that are eager to hire English speaking travelers are Super Camps , All About Visiting Earth (who is seeking camp counselors and trip leaders), PGL Tours, Eurocamp, and Action Quest.

On the other hand, if you want a more local experience, or if you’re already on the road, you can scour ESL job sites such as www.esljobsworld.com and www.teachabroad.com, which posts camp counselor gigs all over Europe. Another option is to look through the local classifieds, English language magazines (ex. The Exberliner for Berlin) or a local craigslist portal.

Au Pair

Working as an Au Pair is one of the most popular ways to live and work in Europe. An Au Pair refers to a young foreign person hired to do light domestic housework and caring for children in exchange for wage, room and board and the opportunity to learn the language and culture of the country.

These kinds of jobs are not hard to find as there are many European parents eager to hire English speaking workers. You could score these jobs through an Au Pair agency such as www.greataupair.com, through an international organization such as www.iapa.org or a European job database such as the Europa Pages Au Pair Centre.

Aside from listings in Transitions Abroad, check out the local English speaking newspapers, websites or city-specific craigslist site. If you’re already in the country, you could check out posts on a community bulletin board, local coffee shops and bookstores, and even by asking people you know for referrals.

Though not all jobs found locally may offer accommodation, they are significantly more lenient regarding hiring people without a work permit, and also pay in cash.

Tending a Hostel or Bar

The tourism industry is one of the best options for finding paying jobs. For short-term, you’ll most likely be paid cash in hand, most often in a hostel or a bar. For longer-term positions such as a ski instructor or a tour guide you’ll likely have to secure a work permit first.

Working in a hostel can be a sweet deal, as managers will often let you bunk in the place in exchange for work. Though much of the job may involve cleaning toilets or dealing with drunk backpackers, it’s a great way to put away some cash for your next destination.

Keep in mind that if you intend to work in the front desk or sell tour packages you’ll need at least a working knowledge of the language.

Working in bars, most likely the hostel bar, is also a great way to meet new people and score free drinks.

You can snag these jobs by going through online job directories such as www.hosteljobs.net, www.liveinjobs.co.uk and irishpubjobs.com.

Another option is to contact some of the most popular hostels that accept applications for staff and bartending positions, such as St. Christopher’s Inn, whose staff is mostly made up of backpackers and has hostels in Paris, London, Berlin, Amsterdam and throughout the UK.

Other options: The Circus Hostel in Berlin, The Clown and Bard Hostel in Prague, and the Picadilly Backpackers Hostel in London.

The most direct way to get started is to ask the your hostel manager if there are any openings available in exchange for cash in hand pay and/or a place to sleep. More often than not, hostels are eager to give travelers work. Or you can always call or email the hostels and bars ahead of time. Some of the more useful directories for European hostels are www.famoushostels.com, www.hostelguide.de and www.hostels.com.

Tour Guide

For those comfortable in front of crowds, consider finding a job in a tour company, such as Sandeman’s New Europe Tours, which operates in London, Edinburgh, Berlin, Munich, Paris and Amsterdam.

However, please note that if you’re not an EU citizen (or a member of its partner countries), they probably won’t hire without a work permit. Be wary if they are unable to sponsor you for a permit but are still willing to hire you, as there have been many cases wherein non-EU workers have been exploited and underpaid in even some of the most reputable tour companies.

Long-term

For those looking to put down some roots in Europe, there are plenty of work options available for you.

One of the most popular and lucrative yet competitive job options in Europe is Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). It’s often a great way to get to know the locals and gain deeper insight into the culture. You can either teach on a freelance basis or work for a language school.

Working as an independent freelancer means that you pound the pavement and find your own contacts. Freelancers can also join an agency which would make finding contacts a much simpler process.

Another possibility is teaching in a school. Nearly all institutions require some form of TEFL qualification. Getting yourself qualified in this field is a worthwhile investment; not only will it provide numerous career opportunities, but it will also give you a sense of security knowing that you can get a job almost anywhere in the world. Listen to this podcast for complete details.

Internships are a good choice, especially for those pursuing a specific field. Most commonly known as a “mini-job” in most parts of Europe, it’s a great way to get started. The downside is that like in the United States, many of these opportunities don’t pay.

As far as being granted a work permit: unless your skills are something they can’t get anywhere else, it’s unlikely you’ll be sponsored. There are many places specifically seeking foreign nationals to join their team however, such as in English language magazines, tour companies or website startups. Polish your resume.

One last note: be aware that exploitation of travelers or foreigners looking for work happens frequently, even from American-run companies that operate in Europe. Ask people who work there, especially foreign nationals, about the conditions and if they pay on time.

Even if you are a foreigner and/or a traveler eager to find work, remember that you have rights too. Don’t let yourself be exploited just because you’re grateful for the opportunity.

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Editor’s note: Look for the author’s companion piece, “How to Get an EU Work Visa,” forthcoming at the Traveler’s Notebook.

Feature photo by tatianasapateiro. Photo above by Fábio Pinheiro

As a fledgling travel writer, you are obviously familiar with publications such as National Geographic and Budget Travel, but you probably also know—or will soon learn—that placing a story in these publications is nearly impossible without years of experience and numerous polished clips.

So where can you begin?

In addition to the leads posted on Matador’s Bounty Board, check out the following magazines, websites and books which are known for seriously considering the work of talented but less-experienced writers.

Abroad View

This bi-annual glossy magazine, created for students by students, is aimed at fostering global awareness and cross-cultural understanding. It buys first-person articles, features, commentaries, reviews and opinion pieces—all related to adventures abroad, of course. Send your completed story. Payment for most pieces is $25.

Writer’s guidelines: http://www.abroadview.org/submit/

TransitionsAbroad.com

For over 30 years Transitions Abroad was the only magazine dedicated to working, studying and living abroad. Print publication ceased in January, but its mission continues through its award-winning website, which publishes informative articles. Both queries and completed pieces are considered. Payment ranges from $50 to $150.

Writer’s guidelines: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/information/writers/writers.shtml

Student Traveler

A quarterly publication, Student Traveler is the largest travel magazine for U.S. college students. Break into the “travel focus” section with a short, newsy article about a unique travel opportunity. Feature articles about student activities overseas are also considered. Query with your idea first. Payment is 15 cents per word.

Writer’s Guidelines: http://www.studenttraveler.com/mod-htmlpages-display-pid-2.html

Glimpse.org

Glimpse Abroad, supported by the National Geographic Society, is an online community for young adults devoted to cross-cultural learning and exchange.

It seeks first person narratives about studying, volunteering or living abroad—some of which will be reprinted in Glimpse Quarterly. Register as a contributor before sending your story. No pay.

Writer’s guidelines: http://www.glimpse.org/guidelines.php#

GoNOMAD.com

The GoNOMAD Network is a forum of independent and alternative travelers dedicated to sustainable and responsible tourism. Its website publishes informative articles and destination guides, as well as the occasional travel narrative. Their style is short and punchy, with subheads and photos. Query or send a finished article. Payment is $25.

Writers’ guidelines: http://www.gonomad.com/corp/writerguidelines.html

Travelers’ Tales anthologies

Want to see your byline in a book? Travelers’ Tales, which has more than 100 titles in print, releases six to eight special interest travel writing anthologies each year.

Send your completed travel narrative for consideration in a book such as The Best Travel Writing 2009 or Women’s Travel Humor. Payment is $100.

Writers’ guidelines: http://www.travelerstales.com/guidelines/

WorldHum.com

One of the most respected travel writing websites, now supported by The Travel Channel, World Hum is more difficult but not impossible to break into.

It accepts first-person travel narratives; rants or raves about any travel-related subject; “how to” stories about diving into foreign cultures and Q&A’s with travelers, writers and artists. Payment begins at $100.

Writers’ guidelines: http://www.worldhum.com/submissions/

Before you send off your pitch or draft, carefully study your target publication. Just as important as writing something good is finding the publication which will best appreciate it.

To learn more about pitching, read How to Get (And Keep Getting) Paid Online Travel Writing Gigs.

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Editor’s Note: For additional market leads, check out 50+ Travel Magazines That Want To publish your Writing.

Photo by photog-raph

Unless you’re a professional travel photographer on an expedition-style assignment, chances are you’re not dragging boxes of equipment around on your travels. Throwing filters, tripods, remote flash, and other equipment into the mix can be quite daunting for the novice photographer traveling with limited space.

But for those interested in doing more with their travel photographs besides sharing great memories with family, here are a few essential tips to get you started on that road.

Go digital

I remember glaring at the Aurora Borealis on a frigid winter night in Iceland and marveling at the continental divide the next day, knowing I’d captured it all on film. I also remember my look of bewilderment and helplessness when the clerk handed seven blank rolls of film back to me – which most likely had been damaged by the airport’s x-ray machine. I’ve been a digital photography convert ever since.

Besides fast shutter technology, instant gratification, and enough space limited only by memory card size, the advantages of Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) photography are numerous.

With a flick of a dial or press of a button to change settings, you can shoot rapid action shots or serene landscapes within seconds. In the past, this involved switching out film with the right type of speed to get the best shots or using multiple purpose film which rarely produced the desired effects.

Photographer Ryan Libre explores why buying a DSLR may be worth it for your travel photography.

Once you’ve decided to switch technologies and purchase a digital SLR, be sure to invest equal time in learning the controls and settings of your camera.

Pick your lens wisely

Lenses are the single most expensive and important gear you should invest in outside the body of your camera.

Memorizing and fully understand technical terminology such as focal length, aberration, barrel distortion, angle of view, and rectilinear are enough to deter novices from moving to the next level of photography.

However, understanding lenses need not be complicated. There are a myriad of lenses out there but the three common ones are: Wide-Angle (great for landscapes), Telephoto (great for portraits), and Zoom (great for snapping lions from a safe distance).

While most digital SLR cameras come with classic telephoto lenses which are great for depth of field photographs and portraits, most professional photographers use wide-angle lenses. These types of lens pull you right into the middle of the action, and cover a lot more field of view.

Macro lenses get you right up close to that caterpillar chewing a leaf, while Fisheye lenses give you the illusion of staring through the peephole of a door.

According to All Things Photography which provides a solid introduction to camera lenses, “…a quality lens will last….cameras come and go!”

Stock up on memory

Fast shutter speeds mean you can easily amass hundreds of photographs in a single day. Having extra memory cards provide you with more flexibility without having to delete older pictures to make room for newer ones in the field.

The most popular cards are SanDisk 2GB SD memory cards which can be bought for as low as $6.81, a 92% drop from its original price of $89.99.

If you envision snapping a couple thousand photographs during your travels, I would suggest buying 1G to 2G cards so you can space out your photographs in the event that you lose your camera or a card. This allows you to accrue the least amount of image loss.

Make sure you store your photography safely once your travels are over.

Learn a few basic editing tips

While using certain polarizing and UV filters can help adjust composition in the field, remember you’re still contemplating whether or not to take travel photography more seriously as a hobby. Also, investing in the latest photo processing software may be overkill at this stage.

Instead, consider Free Photo Editing Software to enhance your travel photography.

By learning a few editing tips such as adjusting contrast, lighting, and saturation, you can improve the visual impact of your photographs.

The example below illustrates before (left) and after (right) results of increasing contrast in a simple landscape photograph.

As you become more comfortable with working your base equipment and minor editing, you can begin including add-on gear such as filters as well as shooting images in a RAW image format so you can fully post-process them later.

Get a sturdy bag

Digital SLR cameras are much heavier than your classic point-and-shot cameras, and as such, are more difficult to carry around and conceal.

While most cameras come with the heavy duty black cases that let everyone know you’re carrying a camera, you could consider investing in a bag that not only protects your equipment from the elements, but also protects it from potential theft and allows you to move more freely.

Bags such as the Vituri Fashion SLR Camera Bag (also available in rugged brown for guys at Wal-Mart for almost 50% off) look great, are sturdy, and camouflage you as a traveler.

Check out more Cool, Funky & Unique Camera Bags.

For more on getting started, Google provides a great list of Digital Photography 101 resources.

Photo by Ross. Feature photo by groundzero.

Back when legendary climbers Royal Robbins and Warren Harding were hammering pitons into cracks on Yosemite’s big walls, climbing gear was pretty much do-it-yourself. Climbing pioneers fashioned harnesses out of ropes, used rubber-soled shoes or leather boots, and scavenged scrap iron to make carabiners and bolts.

As climbers became more and more ambitious, innovative athletes took matters into their own hands, inventing the tools, footwear, and safety gear that allows modern climbers to perform at their best.

The following guide will help you select the gear that’s right for you.

Getting Started

If you’re just getting started rock climbing, you can rent the basic gear at an indoor climbing gym. But once you get hooked on the sport, there are a few considerations when buying your own gear.

First, what kind of climbing do you plan to do?

If you’re interested in bouldering, (climbing on low routes without rope protection), you’ll need a different set up than if you plan to use “trad” or traditional climbing techniques. While bouldering requires only shoes, hand chalk, and a crash pad, trad gear is a weighty combination of hardware of all sizes and shapes.

For the purposes of this guide, the recommendations will be based on a style of climbing called “sport” which is growing in popularity all over the world.

Sport Climbing Gear

Sport climbers use a rope, harness, belay device, sticky rubber shoes, a helmet, and a series of carabiners and webbing (called quickdraws) to secure themselves to permanent bolts in the rock. Sport climbers use dynamic ropes with a little stretch to cushion falls.

Ropes

Ropes come in many different diameters, and they’re carefully tested to ensure safety under extreme circumstances. Leading rope manufacturers include Blue Water, Metolius, Mammut, Sterling, Petzl, PMI, and Edelweiss.

Ropes can be expensive, with most retailing for approximately $200, so many climbers will share a rope with their climbing partner or use those handy seasonal sales to outfit themselves.

Harness

Harnesses are considerably less expensive than ropes. You can get a top of the line model for around $80.

Petzl, Mammut, Singing Rock, and Black Diamond are all top brands.

For women we recommend the Petzl Luna, which is reviewed on Matador Goods.

Fit is very important for safety, so be sure to try on a few models before settling on the one you like best (because of this, I don’t recommend purchasing your harness online).

Also, never wear a worn-out or heavily-used harness. One of the world’s top big wall climbers, Todd Skinner, was killed in 2006 when a loop on his old harness broke.

Be sure to replace your harness if you notice any wear and tear.

Shoes

The right climbing shoes can make all the difference when it comes to improving your performance. You want your shoes to fit snugly, with very little airspace in the toes and heel.

Some advanced climbers wear their shoes so tight that their toes curl up in the end!

While I would recommend trying on many different models from brands like FiveTen, Scarpa, Evolv, and La Sportiva, there are innumerable options out there which many stores do not carry.

If you find a particular brand fits your foot well, Zappos.com offers free shipping both ways which allows shoppers to return shoes that don’t work out. You can get a great pair of shoes for between $75 and $130.

Hardware

Manufacturers have used a number of different techniques when designing climbing hardware to make the safety techniques easier and faster to execute under pressure.

Quickdraws usually have a straight-gated carabiner on one end and a curved-gated or wire-gated carabiner on the other. The curved or wire gate allows climbers to clip the rope through quickly and easily while still preserving the strength of the quickdraw.

Black Diamond, Petzl, DMM are the best-known hardware companies, and their products are popular with climbers all over the world.

Quickdraws and carabiners are inexpensive individually, but you will usually need about 12 draws for sport climbing outdoors.

Belay devices are also a matter of individual preference, though auto-locking devices such as the Trango Cinch and the Petzl GriGri can help absorb the impact of a fall.

Many beginning climbers will climb with more experienced friends before investing the $200 in hardware.

Helmet

Climbers of all ability levels should invest in a helmet to protect themselves from falling rock and unanticipated outcroppings.

I’ve bumped my head a number of times on overhanging rock, and my helmet has prevented some nasty falls and painful bruises.

Both the belayer and the climber should wear a helmet, and they’re relatively inexpensive. Choose one that fits well and is lightweight so it won’t inhibit your movement on the rock. Petzl and Black Diamond are the two largest helmet manufacturers, and they offer a variety of styles and price points.

Resources

Finally, get the most use out of your gear by researching the cliffs near you. Mountainproject.com and rockclimbing.com both offer a wealth of information about climbing locations all over the country. These helpful sites also offer gear recommendations, climbing partner profiles, and fantastic photos from crags around the world.

Once you have assembled your gear, learned how to properly use it, and found a solid climbing partner, you’re ready to venture out into the vertical world.

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela has been a popular pilgrimage since the Middle Ages. During the last 20 years it has experienced a huge re-awakening with tens of thousands travelling it each year. In this podcast Craig Martin offers a brief, practical guide to the Camino, covering route choice, guidebooks, packing tips, credencials, accommodation and some extra suggestions for the end of your pilgrimage.

As you listen, check out the fantastic photos of the Camino by Irene Schmidt. For more background and an audio tour of the trail, listen to the author’s companion podcast, An Audio Tour of the Camino de Santiago. We’d also recommend reading up on the various Camino organisation websites: the Confraternity of St James, American Pilgrims on the Camino, and the Canadian Company of Pilgrims. While you’re visiting the Confraternity site, you should pick up a copy of their guidebook, published each January with updates on the site. Check out the traveler’s notebook on iTunes.

To make the list, each item had to meet at least four of the following criteria: (1) lightweight; (2) compact; (3) affordable (preferably $100 or under); (4) durable; (5) easy to use; and (6) require a minimum of add-on accessories to be usable.

10. A loaded laptop

Several of Matador’s frequent contributors only recently began carrying laptops on the road, but most report that their laptops are the essential piece of gear. It’s not only the laptop itself that’s important, though; it’s the software loaded onto it that’s also essential. One must-have program is Wavepad, which is audio editing software for Windows. It’s available online for free and is fairly straightforward to understand and use once it’s downloaded.

9. Skype and a headset

Most of Matador’s writers stay connected to their editors, colleagues, and one another via e-mail, and others, like Tim Patterson and myself, keep running tallies of how much money they’ve lost in pay phones around the world. As Jacob Bielanski noted, “cell phones are inconsistent, unreliable, and easily broken or stolen.” Phone cards can be cryptic and frustrating. For travel writers who still want phone contact but don’t want to use a cell phone or pay phone, Skype or another voice over internet service provider is a viable and affordable option. Software can be downloaded for free and a $20 headset available at any electronics store can get you talking to anyone in the world in a matter of minutes. Calls are free to other users of the same service, and rates for calls to landlines are competitive.

8. A small digital camera

While a larger and more expensive camera may capture the best images, it can be a burden to carry and the size can be intrusive, especially for capturing candid shots. As freelance travel photographer and writer Lola Akinmade shared, “Even though I carry around a larger SLR for better travel photography, it is the small one that always lays the foundation for the stories.” Lola uses her smaller digital camera as a way to take what she calls “visual notes.” These photos help “capture your story sequentially (and visually) so you can piece it together later in writing if you can’t type on location or scribble something down fast enough.” Lola recommends the Panasonic Lumix for a camera that fits our criteria: small, reliable, and affordable (around $179).

7. A handheld digital audio recorder

Just as Lola uses a camera for “visual notes,” a digital audio recorder can capture “auditory notes.” At a recent bull fight in Mexico, I recorded the sounds of the event that I would not have been able to put down quite the same way in writing: the set the orchestra played before the show, the vendors selling soup, coffee, and Corona, and the crowd’s collective gasp when a torero was toppled and trampled by a bull, followed by their sigh and cheer when he gallantly rose to his feet and dusted himself off as blood coursed down his face.

I’ll definitely use these “audio notes” to write an article, but I may also transfer the files to my laptop and create an audio clip to accompany the written piece. I use an Olympus handheld digital audio recorder that can capture up to 120 hours and which transfers files with a standard USB cable to a Mac or PC. It’s smaller than a cell phone and costs between $40 and $60.

6. An MP3 player.

Travel writers often trade new music when they’re on the road, which serves as inspiration for writing and reconnecting to one’s memories of a place. A low cost option is the Creative MuVo2TX. For about $50 you can store up to 1 GB of documents in addition to audio files. It comes with a standard USB cable, allowing for near universal connection. But if you’re really serious about having music and even video to power you through long bus rides, there’s the 80 GB iPod Gen 6, a piece so useful it earns a rank of “Ultimate Travel Companion.”

5. A standard USB cable

Once you’ve assembled your gear, see if it’s possible to winnow down the collection of cables you’ve amassed to a single standard cable that will fit all of your gear. If not, REI sells a universal cable for $12.00

4. Solio solar charger

With all this digital gear, you’re bound to need a recharge at some point. This tiny but powerful solar charger may be one of the pricier items on our list at just under $100, but it saves money over the long run. Plus, it’s more sustainable.

3. Flip camcorder

The Flip meets every single one of the criteria on our list. In addition to being light and compact, the Flip comes with its own soft carrying bag to protect the screen and lens. It’s affordable, ranging from $100 to $160, depending on the model (there are currently 30 and 60 minute models). The Flip requires no add-on accessories; it plugs right into your USB port for smooth transfer of files. Finally, it’s so easy to use that you probably don’t even really need to read the directions.

2. A good pen and notebook

While some of Matador’s contributors are self-confessed gearheads, others do a lot of writing with minimal tech support. Eva Holland writes, “My only essentials are a little notebook and a pen. I never ever go anywhere without them.” I agree with Eva. If your personal preferences or your budget simply don’t allow for gear, just be sure to never leave home without a notebook and a pen.

1. A good gear bag

All of the gear on our list (minus the laptop) can fit in a small bag that’s just 10″ by 8.5″. But if you really want to go all out, the National Geographic Earth Explorer backpack is a bag that could store not just your writing gear, but everything you need to pack. The pack, which comes in two sizes, has a spacious padded compartment for lenses and other loose equipment, and it’s got plenty of pockets for organized storage of other gear, too. It’s simple and rugged, and though it falls pretty far outside the affordability criterion on our list, it’s a must-have…at least on our wish list.

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For more on gear, electronics, and all the best stuff for travel, check out Matador Goods, our new blog highlighting the good stuff for every traveler.

photo by Eric Brochu

The Camino de Santiago de Compostela has been a popular pilgrimage since the Middle Ages. During the last 20 years it has experienced a huge re-awakening with tens of thousands travelling it each year.

Click the play button below:

For more historical background plus tips on walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela check out the Check out Adrea Kirkby’s Walking the Camino de Santiago, and Laurie Pickard’s 4 Lessons Learned from the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage.

Stay tuned for Craig’s follow-up podcast: A Practical Guide to Walking the Camino de Santiago, coming soon.

Check out the traveler’s notebook on iTunes.

Photo by flavouz. Cover image by Magalai Veldhuis

Bad gadgets are universally bad, however, the “most useful” plaudit is a contentious one: everyone has their favourite. A penknife you can use to remove stones from horses’ hooves or an MP3 player with a back catalogue of eighties disco classics; I can’t say they won’t find a use by somebody somewhere. The following are my humble suggestions.

1. Sarong

A sarong is not just for girl travellers. Trust me. If the idea of a large, extremely lightweight towel that dries in minutes costing next to nothing sounds like a mythical travel accessory, you’ve yet to discover the benefits of a sarong. And no, it needn’t be brightly coloured and flowery; mine is rainforest green with turtles on it. How manly can you get?

2. Combination Lock

If you keep valuables in the pocket of a small rucksack, you can discourage the wandering hands of a pickpocket by locking the zips together. A lock and key will do the job, but it’s far too easy to lose the key (the logical conclusion being a date between the redundant lock and a hacksaw). A combination lock set with a memorable code is the answer. Just remember to change the code before you travel, I can assure you thieves will guess “0000” pretty quickly.

3. Earplugs

There are some sounds you really don’t want to hear while travelling: the rasping snores of a fellow passenger on a long haul flight; an all-night sex marathon in a hostel with paper-thin walls; cockerels at 4 am; Bollywood films at full volume on an overnight bus journey. Take a few pairs of earplugs and your auditory equipment will be saved from abuse and corruption.

4. Money Belt

At times you will be carrying more cash than you wish to. The only place to keep this is somewhere inaccessible to pickpockets. This usually means touching bare flesh and below the waist. If a thief is scrabbling around your nether regions, you’ll know. Rather than stuff everything into your underwear, a money belt is the practical approach to storing valuables on your person. Don’t ever be tempted to wear the belt outside your clothes (looking stupid would be the least of your worries).

5. Duvet Cover

This may seem an odd thing to take travelling and is not a suggestion to remake the bed linen upon checking into your room. This is invaluable if you need to sleep in a public place – Indian sleeper trains in particular – and want to have a cocoon where you can snooze, hide valuables and use as a physical barrier to the outside world. Whereas a sleeping bag would be impractical in a hot country, a thin duvet cover is perfect.

6. World Band Radio

No matter how much fun you are having on an extended trip away from home, you will inevitably feel homesick at least once. One way of keeping this in check is with a world band radio. The friendly voice of a world service announcer telling you how things are back home will help you through your melancholy until your next bungee jump or white water rafting trip.

7. Binoculars

“Oh how I wish I’d brought binoculars” wasn’t what I thought I’d be saying on my last trip, until I was in a national park using the maximum zoom on my compact camera trying to see the vague shape of a tiger. Modern binoculars take up little space and you’ll be able to say “Oh, how glad I am to have brought my lovely binoculars. Is that rhino charging straight towards us?”

8. Multi-Tool

A good multi-tool will make life on the road a great deal easier. Aside from the equine-related stone-remover (which I can’t say I’ve ever used), the possibilities are endless. Not all beer bottles come with twist-off caps – the bottle opener attachment will save the heartache of sitting down to an al-fresco brew at sunset only to be thwarted by the cap. Sawing the top off a coconut to drink the milk inside will always appeal to your inner hunter-gatherer.

9. Flashlight

A little obvious, perhaps, but highly recommended. If you ever need to find your way to an outdoor toilet in the pitch dark, this is very difficult without a flashlight. Hazardous even. When your primary urge is to urinate, stumbling through the undergrowth of a rural village without seeing what you are stepping on is a recipe for disaster. As is doing all of the above while inebriated, but I’d rather not expand on that.

10. Photos From Home

It’s surprising the number of times local people ask to see photos of your family. There is an innate curiosity in everyone and people you meet want to know about a different way of life as much as you do. It doesn’t matter if you have a picture of your wedding day, your three year old nephew or Uncle Frank’s 60th birthday party, have some to hand just in case. A cultural exchange goes both ways.

I would never presume to call this list “the top ten greatest travel items of all time” as everyone will have their preferred can’t-leave-home-without something. I have also knowingly omitted life-saving items such as insect repellent, mosquito nets and water purifiers as these are essential rather than simply useful. These ten represent the things I find enhance my travels – whether I am drunkenly peeing in the dark or blocking out the coital cacophony of my fellow backpackers.

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Check out Stephen’s round-up of: The 5 Worst Travel Gadgets.

Photo by Woodley Wonderworks.

There are almost 80,000 dams in the US. In nearly every case, they isolate fish populations, collect sediment, alter water temperatures, lower oxygen levels, and disrupt flow cycles. The riverine habitat is completely changed or destroyed.

The good news is that rivers can recover, and quickly, if given the chance. Dam removals across the country are showing us how the environment reacts when the dam is taken out. Natural flow conditions develop quickly after the majority of the sediment is removed and species diversity often doubles.

Beyond the rivers, floodplains and wetlands in the surrounding landscape are revitalized by the restored flow. The new vegetation growth helps the animal populations. In addition, local economies are finding that the removing dams creates new sources of revenue via tourism.

According to a 2007 report, 273 dams in the United States have been removed since 1999. Most of these dams are so old that ripping them out is cheaper than the maintenance bills. Many don’t even provide power anymore.

If you live in the United States, chances are good that a dam near you has been removed recently. Some of the places–such as the 5 listed here–rank among the most interesting and inspiring destinations of 2008.

1. Cove Dam, Bear River, ID

When PacifiCorp removed the Cove Dam in late 2006, it was a worn-out hydroelectric dam that no longer generated electricity.

The removal reconnected 29 miles of Bear River (which is the longest river in the U.S. that doesn’t reach the ocean) and restored fish-spawning tributaries. Fish habitat and water quality have improved. Native cutthroat trout are thriving and native plants have reclaimed the formerly flooded areas created by the dam.

Bear River is a whitewater boating and fishing destination. You can also find all the hiking and camping you can handle in Cache National Forest and Caribou National Forest.

Sadly, the Bear River is threatened with the proposal of a new dam on the Oneida Narrows section. This dam would destroy trout habitat and flood a wintering range for elk. Join Idaho Rivers Unitedin fight this proposal.

2. Whittlinger Dam, Yellow Breeches Creek, PA

Yellow Breeches Creek in Pennsylvania is widely known as an excellent trout fishery. In late 2007, the Whittlinger Dam was removed in an effort to restore Yellow Breeches to a free-flowing state. The old dam was not economically beneficial and had been deemed a hazard.

The dam removal has opened options for paddlers and habitat for migrating fish. This area is especially popular due to its proximity to the Appalachian Trail. Lower Allen Community Park in Mechanicsburg provides camping spots and creek access. More access points and maps are available here .

3. Marmot Dam, Sandy River, OR

This dam removal has been well documented. Oregon Public Broadcasting has a short video of the removal. The Marmot Dam website also has a great time lapse video.

The sediment was not removed during demolition. It was expected that the river would wash it away in the following months or years. It took one day. Within three days, salmon were migrating past the former dam site.

Part of the dam’s former power output is being replaced by current and planned wind farms.

When the Little Sandy Dam, the next dam in the project, is removed this year, the habitat for the salmon will be extended even more. The land recovered from the dam removals is being donated to form part of a nature refuge and recreation area.

With Mount Hood nearby, the area is a popular outdoor recreation destination for every activity you can think of.

4. Hersey Dam, Hersey River, MI
This dam, which had not produced power since the 1940s, was near the mouth of a cold water trout stream – completely blocking the Hersey River off from the fish in the Muskegon River.

Dam removal in Michigan is rare, because the state has trouble approving the cost for removing obsolete and unsafe dams. The removal of the Hersey Dam was funded mostly by private organizations interested in the fishing and environmental improvements.

With the dam gone, trout and other fish are able to move freely between the Muskegon and Hersey Rivers.

There are plenty of activities available in this area. Hike and bike the Pere Marquette Trail, and paddle and fly-fish the Muskegon River .

5. McCoy-Linn Dam, Spring Creek, PA

This dam had been known to breach during storms and had not provided electricity since 1950. After its removal in late 2007, a riverfront recreational area was created, downstream water quality improved, and fish habitat was extended.

With part of it named Fisherman’s Paradise, it isn’t surprising that Spring Creek is considered by many to be the best wild trout stream in Pennsylvania. Fishing conditions, boat accesses, and maps can be found here.

Hiking and camping opportunities can be found nearby at Bald Eagle State Forest and Rothrock State Forest.

The Future

As people become more aware of how our actions affect the environment, many are realizing that green energy is much more than just avoiding coal and oil. We must be careful to not disrupt natural habitats. For example, don’t cut down trees to make room for solar panels . Don’t clear forests to create biofuel plantations. Don’t dam our rivers for hydroelectric power. There are better ways to do this.

Spend a little time at one of these rivers, bring your family, and you’ll see why.

This year Craig Martin attended ANZAC day services in Gallipoli, Turkey. Listen to this podcast for a brief background to New Zealand and Australia’s version of Memorial Day and why people are making the journey to Turkey rather than attending services at home.

Arrive in Turkey by island-hopping through Greece or into Istanbul by train or flight. No visas are required for New Zealand citizens and are available, at varying rates, on the border for most other countres.

If you are interested in attending Gallipoli services, I would highly recommend booking a tour — at least for the 24th and 25th of April. The infrastructure surrounding ANZAC cove is limited: hostels and hotels are packed and public transport does not run in the service areas. Furthermore the security services only allow registered vehicles into the zone, leaving the few taxi-takers with a long, late-night walk.

While in the area you may wish to visit the ruins of Troy or catch an overnight bus to Selcuk to explore Ephesus or the coast.

Cover image by Janomie Leah.

Cubicle hell. Photo by Steve Lyon. Working here makes you grow old fast.

No sooner than framing my college diploma on the wall, I found I was on my own, broke and nestled in the corner of a cubicle just to pay my bills. Yes, living in the city was swell, sort of. As for a desk job? I quickly figured out that wasn’t my thing.

The future looked bleak from behind my cubicle walls. Hadn’t I grown up in a place where powder mornings off weren’t just a luxury? I needed to escape my cubicle and fast!

I began to entertain the idea of telecommuting, or working remotely from home, so I could use those extra hours (usually reserved for traffic or playing Solitaire on my computer) to get outside and make the most out of my day.

It turned out to be a lengthy process of trial and error to convince my boss I wanted to telecommute. Ok, it took me a few jobs and bosses to get it right. So in an effort to save you some time, I’ve summed up the five steps I took to convince my boss I should telecommute.

1. Assess the situation.

Ask yourself some simple questions. Do you cherish an office environment? Or do co-workers and other office distractions easily annoy you? Is there a reason why you take 1.25 hours at lunch instead of just one?

I found myself pondering these things on a regular basis. It wasn’t a matter of not being productive. I always did my work, but found there were several times throughout the day when being in the office irritated me. I tried to make excuses or blame other people for my predicament, but that didn’t make me feel better. Think about what works best for you and where you’ll be the happiest earning your paycheck.

2. Accept and embrace your job for what it is.

When I realized that a cubicle wasn’t right for me, I became claustrophobic in my workspace and instantly abhorred my cell mates. But it wasn’t their fault. It was time to come to terms with my situation and accept it. So I work in a cubicle from 9am to 5pm or 7pm or 8pm and I suffer anxiety picking out a pair of pressed pants and a sweater vest in the morning before work. So what?

Just because you don’t like your office environment doesn’t mean you’re not gaining valuable work experience. Accept that–for the time being–you work in a cubicle and the initial decision to do so wasn’t a mistake. Embracing reality will put you in the position to figure out what you really want and move forward.

3. Create a game plan.

If you’ve decided that telecommuting is perfect for you, don’t go public with your decision until you’ve set up and are already following a game plan. Convince your boss that you’re indispensable to the company, whether you have a physical presence in the office or not. Get your boss to invest in YOU. Here are some suggestions:

* Be eager to take the red-eye and attend the company seminar in Ohio.

* Out-perform your co-workers.

* Prove that you execute all aspects of your position to the point where it will be difficult for your boss to replace you / train someone new.

* Take a few sick days (cough, cough) but continue to work from home and WOW your superiors with your unparalleled skills even under duress.

* Subtly hint that the commute is killing you and you waste precious hours sitting on the freeway everyday.

* Maybe throw it out there that you’ve re-vamped your home office.

Note: Whatever tactic you use, be sure to elaborate on how much you love your job, how skilled you are after having attended the seminars (that your company paid for) and that you wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.

4. Commit to the plan with your boss.

Once your boss is all buttered up, you’re ready to drop the T-bomb. Schedule a time to meet with him or her for a review. Prepare a list of all your positive attributes (you attended the seminar, you worked from home when you were sick), acknowledge any legitimate concerns your boss may have and then explain to him/her with absolute conviction that telecommuting is the best and only option for you.

Failing an initial, “Go for it!” from your boss, offer to set up a trial period so that both of you can follow your progress working from home. Make sure during this time to document every single aspect of your productivity.

5. Go all out.

The key to this whole exercise is performance, and the only way you’ll get your boss to bend over is if you commit to your promise and actually work. Be a monument of productivity. Follow through with every minutiae of your job (always stay signed into iChat, CC your boss on every email) and show your boss you are more than capable of working efficiently from home and that you both made the right decision.

Say goodbye to those dreary office walls! Telecommuting is a win-win situation for everyone. Not only will your boss be tickled that he/she’s hired such an outstanding employee, but you’ll be racking up extra hours throughout your day that you can use however you like.

The bottom line is this: no one but you has the power to decide what’s in your best interest and if working from home will help you make the most out of your day, then make it happen. Technology has enabled everything to be only a click away. With internet, email, Skype, iChat, Central Desktop, etc. we can be almost anywhere in the world and still manage to get our work done.

Even now I’m writing this article from back home in Idaho, waiting for the bus so I can catch a couple late afternoon runs on the mountain before the day is through…

Converting VW bus. Photo by Emerson. Cover photo of the author beside his veggie rig.

Wouldn’t it be great to pack-up the car or the SUV for a weekend excursion without fretting over the cost of fuel? Or take that road trip you and your friends keep talking about? All with no concern about pumping all of your hard-earned cash into the gas tank. Heck, it would be great just to drive around town without that concern. Here’s how you can do it.

1. Commitment

This will not happen overnight. Nor will it work if you just want something for nothing. There are some up-front costs, but more importantly, it’s the dedication of your time and energy that puts the money back in your pocket. You’re going to give up the quick convenience of the express station, so you have to truly believe in the value of what you’re doing. But once you make this determination, the hardest part is already done.

2. The technology

The technology has existed for almost 100 years. Rudolf Diesel designed his engine to run on corn oil that he had collected on his Iowa farm. He wanted a more efficient way to run his farm machinery because gasoline had reached a staggering $0.05 per gallon! Look it up yourself – the diesel engine was intentionally designed to operate on vegetable oil, not toxic petroleum byproducts. And that’s all you’re going to do.

3. Sourcing your vegetable oil.

In your local supermarket, vegetable oil retails for about $10/gallon, almost three times as expensive as regular unleaded gasoline these days. You want free vegetable oil. Well, every restaurant and probably most bars in your community are currently paying somebody else to come and haul away their waste vegetable oil from the fry-o-laters.

That’s your source. Develop a relationship with the manager or owner of local establishments. Tell him or her that you’re interested in collecting their waste vegetable oil. Offer to do it for free.

Make sure they use NON-HYDROGENATED oil. You do not want that creamy based oil. You may have to supply them with a collection barrel, and you want to make sure the manager can depend on you to collect at regular intervals so he doesn’t have to worry about it.

4. Processing the oil.

The oil that you collect is not ready to burn. It must be heated and filtered. You will need a couple of barrels’ worth of space in a garage or basement where you can set-up your little processing station. If you don’t have the space, consider getting a co-op going with friends or other people in your community who do.

In any case, the system is not complicated, it just requires a little bit of money to set-up and then a regular bit of attention to generate usable oil. There are many different methods for this process, but they all essentially involve heating the oil in one tank, then pumping it through some filtration device to a second tank.

The whole point is to remove any water and particles that have collected in the oil during use. Lots of people have posted their processing plants on YouTube or other veggie forums such as Fryer to Fuel. There is not ONE way to do it, and you will have to devise the best way for you to do it with regard to your space, time, and budget.

5. Lining up your vehicle.

Now you need the vehicle to utilize all of this wonderful, free oil. Hopefully you aren’t terribly attached to whatever it is that you’re driving now. The decision to run on veggie oil limits the type of vehicle you can drive because only certain models are produced with a diesel engine.

The good news is that these models are quite nice. Volkswagen has offered diesel versions of the Golf and the Jetta for years, and the list now includes the Passat. And Mercedes has several sedan models and even a wagon with the available diesel. And fortunately for the checkbook, you don’t want a new one anyway. The older models make better conversion candidates because the engine is less complicated. A little bit of research (check greasecar)will turn-up a car you like that fits your budget.

Maybe you’ll decide that, since you’re going to be driving for free anyway, you might as well drive the biggest, baddest rig you can find. The Big 3 American auto manufacturers produce diesel powered trucks and SUVs that also make excellent conversion candidates. Again, the slightly older models offer a little more ease of conversion. The bottom line is, you should be able to find a ride that makes you happy.

6. Conversion

Now you have to tweak the fuel system to accommodate your veggie oil. The major issue is temperature. There are all kinds of conversion kits for sale from different companies on the internet. They can cost as much as $4000.00. And they all insist that if you can read instructions you can install the kit yourself.

Or you can go to one of their authorized installers and drop another G for them to do it for you. The money saves you the hassle of doing it yourself and buys you peace of mind and presumably customer service, should a problem arise.

The truth is that most of these kits are just a compilation of parts and pieces – hoses, gauges, valves – that you can buy cheaper from a direct source. And if you or someone you know has any degree of comfort around an engine, then yes, you can convert your car yourself. Just research. Again, there are lots of community forums about converting to veggie oil, and even a bunch of videos on uTube. It’s the commitment issue again. Understanding how the process works will give you the ability to address it.

7. Notes on cost

Nothing is truly free. Assuming that you trade your current vehicle for one of equal value, the start-up cost for your alternative fuel program, including your processing plant and the conversion, will likely top $3000.00 even if you do it all yourself.

Again, a co-op is a good idea: you can gather people you trust to help curb the initial cost of the plant and to share collection duties and split time actually processing the oil.

If you spend $50/week on fuel, it will take one year and two months for your program to pay for itself. And of course there’s your time to collect and process the oil, plus the bit of energy needed to operate the plant. Be sure to find out if your state has an alternative fuel road tax provision on the books too, so you can jump that hurdle.

And thereafter you’re driving for free! And in the meantime that’s 50 bucks each week to take your girl out to dinner or contribute to your IRA or whatever. Plus it’s better for the environment, recycling oil and no carbon emissions. And when you want to take that trip, the WVO Network, a nationwide community of veg-heads, will propel you around the country.

8. Drive!

This might all seem like too big a deal. Well, putting several thousand dollars a year back in your pocket is a big deal. Forgetting the major cost of road travel is a big deal. Conserving resources and protecting the environment is a big deal.

Converting to veg allows you to contribute to softening a global crisis and improves your personal bottom line significantly over the long term. The first time you flip that switch and you’re running on straight veg, the headaches and expense of converting blow right out the tailpipe!