Being a writer can be a lonely profession. It’s you, your computer and your imagination. There are the occasional journeys out to conduct interviews or gather research, but for the most part writers spend a lot of time alone.

One of the best ways to expand your social circle—and receive feedback on your work or perfect your writing skills—is by joining a writers’ group, an organized group of writers who get together periodically to critique each others’ work or discuss the art of writing.

Before jumping in to the first writers’ group that comes along, though, take some time to ask yourself what your goal is in your writing career; then choose a group that best meets your needs. To get you started, here are the types of writers’ groups you may encounter and how each can help you advance your writing career.

Critique Groups

Critique groups offer writers the opportunity to share work and receive feedback on what they’ve written. A classic example is Zoetrope Virtual Studio , an offshoot of Francis Ford Coppola’s production company.

Some critique groups are highly structured, with specific time limits set on how long each person has to share his or her writing and receive comments in return. Others are structured so that a certain number of people have the opportunity to share work at each meeting. Be prepared to both receive and give feedback.

Workshops

Workshop groups are generally led by a facilitator about a specific writing-related topic during each meeting. Writers’ groups of this nature may or may not be in direct correlation with what you are working on at that specific time, but, instead, encourage writers to practice particular skills. Reading and receiving feedback on your work is not generally part of a workshop writers’ group.

Face-to-Face vs. Online

If you hope to connect with writers in your geographical area, then joining a face-to-face group may be up your best choice. Physically meeting with people to discuss the writing world allows you to connect with others who also deal with the ups and downs of the writer’s life.

These groups often have a set schedule when everyone in the group gets together. Face-to-face groups often offer a sense of camaraderie and friendship based on the shared love of writing, which can be welcome in this otherwise lonely occupation.

Online groups, such as Scribophile and SheWrites, are easily accessible anytime you have an internet connection. Some have a set time where all the members meet on a forum or chat board to discuss assignments or particular aspects of writing, but many are open for members to connect to the web when and where it is most convenient. The anonymity of online groups helps many to be more open in giving constructive criticism.

Genre-Specific vs. General Writing

Some groups focus specifically on a certain genre, such as young adult fiction. If you write within a particular niche, these groups can help you focus on the details that will allow you and your writing to stand out among the many others also tackling the same genre.

These groups can help answer specific questions related to your niche and may help you network with the movers and shakers in that particular area of writing as well.

If you dabble in a number of genres or are just starting out as a writer, you may find a writing group that spans a variety of writing types to be more appropriate. General writing groups also have the opportunity to open your eyes to types of writing you didn’t know you had an interest in or realize existed.

Local vs. National

Many writers’ groups exist because a few interested writers got together at their local coffee shop and started talking about the writing life. These grassroots groups have encouraged many people to take the next steps in their writing careers. After all, if your next door neighbor or mailman can tell their stories, why can’t you? These local groups often run based on word-of-mouth promotion and offer little in the way of “extras” to membership, but the real goal is to encourage your craft with like-minded people who also share your love for writing.

On the other hand, national groups, such as the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Romance Writers of America, have a sizeable membership that consists of award-winning authors, illustrators, editors, publishers and agents. These large, membership-based groups often have regional or local chapters; conferences, events and networking opportunities; and awards and scholarships. They also have tiered levels of membership, higher membership fees and sometimes an application process, but the expanded breadth of resources available is significantly greater than what writers may receive through smaller, local groups.

The beauty of writers’ groups—like writers themselves—is that they are all different from each other. Try them out to find that one that is right for you … and don’t be surprised to find that you’ll never be a lonely writer again.

Community Connection

What writers’ groups do you like? Let us know in the comments.

Time is short and so are our communications; emails are often non-grammatical bursts of information. Status updates are ephemeral and often trite. Blogs can help you express and communicate, but usually aren’t written for a specific person.

Nothing electronic is as intimate as a letter for personal communication. There’s the tactile sensation of the paper. The swirl of the script. Nothing will ever replace it.

Follow These few simple rules and write a letter anyone would be touched to receive.

a.drian

1. Take your time.

Writing a good letter takes time. Your recipient will value the thought and time you spend with your letter so allow as much time as you need.

2. Craft good salutations.

Be creative with your salutation, it sets the tone of what’s to come. Let your salutation describe the person to which you are writing i.e “My Dearest Mother.”

Accordingly, at the end of your letter describe yourself and your feelings toward the person you are writing ~ “Your Loving Son” or “Your Faithful Lover Who Waits with Passion Burning.”

3. Make it personal.

Your letter should come from the heart. Dig deep. Try to express your emotions and thoughtfully describe your thoughts and the journey you are on.

No one wants to get a letter that sounds like it could be to anyone, so go ahead, get personal.

4. Don’t make it all about you.

Ask your recipient how they are doing. Inquire about their circumstances as you last heard…how is the new baby? Did that nasty rash ever clear up? Make your letter a two way street, ask questions that beg a response. Don’t just have a monologue, begin a conversation.

5 Write it by hand.

Do not type your letter. Subpoenas are typed, not letters. And don’t email it! Then it is an email and not a letter! Write your letter by hand in the most legible, pleasant script you can muster. Find a good pen, one that writes smoothly and evenly. Don’t use a pencil. Pencils smudge and should your letter be the stuff of legends you don’t want it to fade over the years.

Community Connection

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter? Who are you going to write you letter to? What’s the best letter you ever received or sent? Let us know in the comments.

Walk. Photo by: Robert S. Donovan

We were waiting for the light to change at the intersection of Green Lake Drive and Wallingford. There were no cars, no traffic in either direction, but we still waited. It seemed dumb. I would’ve gone but I was with Lau and Layla.

There was a kid, maybe 25, standing next to us too. He wore paint-splattered Carharts and a t-shirt. He had one of those triangular-shaped pizza boxes that holds a single slice. I wondered why he didn’t go.

The kid didn’t seem to notice that Layla was asleep–or almost asleep–in Lau’s baby sling. When he started talking I could feel my face twisting into a look that was like ‘come on dude, can’t you see we’re trying to walk this baby to sleep.’

“This intersection is usually pretty safe,” he said. He said it loudly and in this tone that seemed to assume we weren’t locals, which seemed strange. Then he said, “But it’s good to be cautious. It’s a Saturday night, you never know.”

“Yeah man, you’re right,” I said.

The light changed and we crossed, leaving him as we turned up the hill. “Why did you answer him like that?” Lau said.

“I dunno. Was I being rude? Couldn’t he see that we were trying to walk Layla to sleep.”

“You don’t think like that until you’re a parent,” Lau said. “Besides, he was probably alone and just wanted to talk to somebody. Didn’t you see that little pizza box? He was going back home to eat by himself.”

Becoming a Better Observer

The lesson here is that while I just quickly ’scanned’ this kid, talked to him for a second, and then walked on, Lau had, in the same amount of time, picked up on certain details and was able to make observations and connections. Which brings me to the point: if you only see people on the surface, chances are that what you write about people will be superficial as well.

For writers then, learning to observe more closely–let’s call it active observation–means everything.

Active Observation

What we hear by accident often has more credibility than what is said to us directly.
–Ann Beattie

Active observation is trying to see the connections between what’s visible in someone (their expressions, clothes, what they’re doing) and invisible (their histories, upbringing, dreams, desires). This is key, because within the gap between what’s visible and invisible is often where the deepest, most credible, and most interesting stories are found.

Exercising Your Observation Skills

My wife Lau is a natural when it comes to listening and observing, but she’s also had training, both as a journalist and in film production. When we talked about this–how to become a better observer–she specifically mentioned 3 exercises.

Excercise # 1: Stories out of Photos

This exercise is more fun to do with a partner or in a group, but you can also do it yourself. Basically just find a photo with at least two people in it. Spend 10 minutes observing every detail in the photo and writing them down. Then spend 15 minutes writing a short paragraph or story on these two people, what they’re doing, what their relationship is.

Once you’ve written the story, an interesting follow-up is to go back sentence by sentence and question why you thought the way you did. This can lead to interesting discoveries about the way you think, or certain prejudices you might have that you weren’t aware of.

Excercise # 2: Analyzing how Relationships are Expressed in Film

Even before people begin talking, how is it that we ‘know’ the relationship between them?

Recently I alluded to studying scenes in film as a tool for narrative essay writing. Because movie scenes utilize specific visual cues to help show relationships between people, you can build observation skills simply by studying the way scenes are put together. The key is to look at them not as you typically would, but actively observing each detail and asking yourself:

• Why did the director choose to include this?
• How does this detail show relationships between the characters?
• What is being left out of the scene, and how does this affect our perception of the characters?

Excercise # 3: Active Observation in Daily Life

Once you’ve practiced with pictures and movies, move to active observation in real life. Bring a notebook with you. Good places to observe can be found anywhere. As you watch how people interact, note every detail you can, especially things that point to deeper stories, such as:

• Is their body language in contrast with what they’re saying?
• Are they listening to one another or just ‘talking over’ each other?
• Do they seem comfortable or uncomfortable in the situation?

Once you’ve taken notes, follow up with a story and then challenge yourself on what you wrote by asking why to each observation, similar to exercise 1.

Finally, it’s important to remember that the people you’re looking at are just that–real people. While you can empathize, you can never truly know what they’re feeling. Remember that when you’re writing. Observations and assumptions are very different things.

Community Connection

How do you observe people and write about them? Let us know in the comments.

Feature by ebotunes/ Above Photo by Marcus Crowe

Here’s your guide for eating for free in hostels, one thing we definitely might consider an ethically dubious way to save money on the road.

Schmoozing and Flattering the Staff

The standby technique. Lurking around the kitchen, nonchalantly reading the paper while making salutations to all who enter and complementing the aroma of their food. Sometimes a hungry stare is helpful, but for many charity is abhorrent. They’d rather feed a happy, healthy dog, than a desperate-eyed mangy mongrel.

The Grab and Go

If such groveling passivity is too distasteful (or slow) there are other methods. A box of wine sitting on the fridge top for a couple of days, half full, and an empty box sitting on the table in front of you, is an opportunity to enact the Indiana Jones switcheroo.

And when the proprietress leaves out a bit of yellow rice, a couple of drum sticks, chunks of moist potato . . . if she planned to eat it later then she’d have put it in the refrigerator, right? We’ve got to do our part to prevent waste in this world.

Hydration

When you can‘t afford clean water and the thought of boiling water is not appealing (or worse yet – the staff is threatening to lock up the kitchen), kneel down in front of the refrigerator and have a slam bam sampler of pineapple, orange, and apple juice, while the manager is busy text messaging.

Photo by Tom Gates

Pillage in the Caribbean

Sometimes sampling isn’t enough. And sometimes it’s not just the hunger that make you want to pillage the fridge, but the incessant noise and meatheadedness of frat boys and sorority girls, at certain Party Island type hostels.

Watching the door, while Silenus rampages through the fridge, “Not much here.” A gaggle of girls coming down the stairs. He tries to ram a half loaf down his tight pants. Hurry. He gets it down the front. The girls enter, giggling. They go into the next room. We join them, chat a little.

Silenus makes a sojourn to take the bread out from his bulging crotch. I slide a bottle of hot sauce out of my pocket and into his. I grab a couple of cold beers.

There was a sign, after all, warning, “Food not marked with name and date WILL BE EATEN.” It was our civic duty to enforce the rules.

Photo by Marcus Crowe

The Free Shelf

Some travelers leave prodigious rations behind. You may find a partial bag of pasta, an overripe mango, Tang, condiments, handful of rice and beans, crackers or chips. Sometimes a miracle: You’ve been salivating over the partial carcass of a pig, browned and succulent, waiting to rip a hunk off, when you watch someone nearly dump it in the garbage can. Egad!

Speak casually. Remember, nobody likes a desperate man. Hey, are you throwing that away? “Yeah, you want to try to get some more out of it.” Sure.

Soup, perhaps. Boil those shreds of clinging meat off the bone. Or just scrape it off with a knife, use a slab of lard to fry up the rice and beans, scrape the saturated onions from beneath the carcass, snag a chile pepper, mix it all together in a skillet.

Even if it turns out as a grey sludge, and what looked like meat was mostly ligament, tendon, cartilage . . . well, choke it down, and start scavenging again.

Community Connection

For more on hostel etiquette, please be sure to check out Tim Patterson’s classic Hostel Sex: A Practical Guide For Backpackers.

Image above: Remko va Dokkum / Feature image: cambodia4kidsorg

I’ve never lost any critical files myself (knock on wood). Lost a couple emails, maybe some MP3s, sure. But I’ve worked in the IT industry long enough and have had enough users whine to me about losing data to know that it’s common and it’s a major problem. The thing is, we usually only have ourselves to blame.

As Google rolls on with their Earth domination plans, many of us are becoming more and more reliant on their online services. We at Matador use Google Docs to store articles and to collaborate with other writers and editors.

But what would happen if Google just up and died? However unlikely that is to happen, it’s very possible. They don’t have an unblemished record. How about Gmail going down for two hours back in February? And this recent news item: “Google suffers major failure“?

If you’re a heavy Google Apps user, your eyebrows better be raised right now.

So what do I do?

We can’t rely on Google to keep our documents safe. It’s up to us. We need to get a copy of all those files onto our local hard drives and into our control. LifeHacker has some great tips in downloading Google data. I’m gonna share with you the method I used to get my Google Docs down to my computer.

It’s true you can save each file, one-by-one, but unless you have a lot of time on your hands or love monotonous work, you’ll prefer to do it all in one go. This may seem lengthy, but after the initial setup, each backup after will be a two minute job.

First off, get on the Firefox bandwagon

Firefox has some wicked and useful plugins, such as the ones we’re about to install. So, I’ll give you five minutes to download and install Firefox…..okay. Done? Let’s go.

Install the GreaseMonkey plugin

1. You can do this right at the Firefox GreaseMonkey plugin page

2. Click Add to Firefox, then Install. Restart the browser and you should now see a cute lil monkey face in the bottom right corner.

Next, install Google Doc Download (a GreaseMonkey script)

1. Visit the Google Doc Download page

2. Click the Install Now! link, then Install

3. After restarting Google Docs, you’ll notice a new option — Download Your Documents — in your Google Docs control panel:

Not done yet. We need to be able to download all the documents in one fell swoop. Keep reading…

Last, install the DownThemAll! plugin

1. Go to the DownThemAll! plugin page and click Add to Firefox, then Install.

2. Restart Firefox. That easy.

Now the cool bit

You’re now ready to back up your Google Docs. If not already, log into Google Docs.

1. Click on All Items to display all documents.

2. Near the bottom, click on Select All so that all your documents are highlighted.

3. Click that shiny new option I mentioned earlier — Download Your Documents — and choose as Microsoft Office Files.

4. A new tab will open up titled Google Docs & Spreadsheets Downloads and will list of all your documents. In Firefox, click Tools > DownThemAll! Tools > DownThemAll!

5. Choose your destination folder in the Save files in part and then click Start!

Now watch in wonder as all of your docs get downloaded into Microsoft Office files.

One last step

This is optional, but since computers are known to crash, a good idea. Now that you have all your docs on your computer, back them up to another medium such as CD, DVD, external hard drive or USB memory stick for safe keeping.

Since this is not an automatic backup process, you’ll have to make it a habit to manually do this every now and again. Obviously, the more often the better, but once is better than none.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Do you have any horror stories of losing precious documents? Or more tips on safeguarding our data?

Please share below!

Choosing your hammock

First you need to decide on the material. Depending on where you are, you may have locally-harvested materials / options (ixtle hammocks—scratchy but beautiful—are available in Chiapas, for example), but the most common hammocks are either silk, nylon, or jute.

A silk-thread hammock is the most luxurious—softest, coolest, lightest. But you’ll have to pay for that luxury—a silk hammock can easily run you over one hundred dollars.

Nylon-thread hammocks are most readily available in most areas. While the nylon thread can heat up uncomfortably in the sun, it’s much more affordable than silk—a nylon hammock should cost you around fifty dollars—but check the quality of the thread before you buy.

Run a fingernail over a single thread—if tiny threads pop out, it’s not high quality, and if your hammock is going to be a souvenir and not just a temporary bed while you’re on the road, you might want to look somewhere else.

If you’re in an area where jute hammocks are available, they’re an even cheaper option, and jute won’t heat up like nylon. However, they tend to come in more open weaves that give you less support when you lie down, so if you’re planning to get your eight hours a night in a hammock, they’re probably not your best bet.

When you’ve decided on a material, if you’re going with silk or nylon, you have to decide on the weave. There are many different local and regional designs, but be aware of whether the weave is single, double, or triple.

Look closely at the pattern—if it’s only two threads deep at any point, it’s a single weave, and should be somewhat less expensive. If you can find places in the pattern where three threads cross (one sandwiched between two others), it’s a double weave. More than three, triple. The thicker weaves give you most support and are most comfortable to sleep in, but they cost a little more.

Finally, consider the size and type. A double hammock will theoretically sleep two people, though that’s less sexy in practice than it sounds—especially in the heat. If you like to stretch out or spread-eagle in you sleep, a double can be worth the price, even if you’re sleeping alone.

Hanging your hammock

Because it gets you off the ground, a hammock is an ideal lightweight shelter when used with a tarp. Photo: Henri Bergius

Some hotels and hostels in costal areas have designated hammock areas. Otherwise, look for two trees or other sturdy objects about three meters apart.

Cam straps

If you’re planning on using a hammock while you’re traveling, a pair of Cam Straps can be very helpful. Cam Straps can be used for quick and easy hammock hanging and also for things like strapping your surfboard or backpack to the tops of buses or taxis.

Knots

There are all different ways of hanging hammocks with knots, but over the last decade, I’ve ‘evolved’ to the following method, which allows you to quickly adjust the height at which the hammock is hung. It uses two very simple knots, both of which are easy to untie even after putting a lot of weight on them.

The key is to have two ropes, each approx 3 meters long, and to tie loops into the ends of them. Here’s how:

1. Tie a Figure 8 on a Bight at the end of each rope. Instructional video below.

2. Wrap the rope around a tree or branch and then pass the other end of the rope through the loop and cinch it tight around the tree trunk or branch.

3. You can now use the free ends of each rope to connect with the hammock using simple sheet bends. [Note, in the video here, the thicker rope--the one in her left hand--represents the end of the hammock. The rope in her right hand represents the rope you'd have coming off the tree.]

Sleeping in your hammock

Keep in mind that even the hottest day can cool off significantly late at night—if you’re sleeping in a hammock, keep a sheet, sleep sack, or at least a towel handy to ward off midnight chills.

Sleeping two to a hammock—while a pleasant way to spend an afternoon—is only a viable all-night option if you’re a pair of extremely deep sleepers. Your every movement will send the hammock, and thus your partner, swinging. If you do go this route, try sleeping with your heads at opposite ends to give yourselves a little more room to maneuver. (Attempt hammock sex only if you’re willing to risk your neck for exotic nooky.)

Hammocks strung up on the deck of a boat on the Amazon. Photo: Bruno Girin

For ultimate comfort, get a friend to tie the long sides of the hammock together above you. Enclosed in a cool, breezy bubble, you can toss and turn as much as you like without worrying about falling out (though that’s pretty hard to do, anyway).

However, never (never never never!) sit down on a hammock without unfolding it under you. A hammock is not a bench. Try it, and you’ll go over backwards, land on your head, and no one present will ever let you forget it. Also, it will really hurt.

But—here I speak from experience—even that trauma will not sour for you the sweet, sweet sensation of swinging to sleep in a hammock on a warm tropical breeze.

Tourist telltale sign # 452: being a totally disconnected spectator. Photo: Jon Feinstein

Tuesday I was stuck on a bus for four hours. I say ’stuck’ because there was an American guy behind me yammering away at a very gracious Argentinean woman. I was embarrassed to be from the United States.

Offense #1

“My friends back home would not have been able to stand that. All that Spanish for two hours. No way. They woulda said, ‘I’m outta here,’ and took off after twenty minutes. No way. No. None of those guys back home coulda put up with that. . not that I’m complaining or anything.”

If you don’t know what’s wrong with what the prick said, maybe you should leave international travel for those who do.

First of all – not complaining? Oh yes he was, and in the most insipid way possible, by claiming not to be. The woman he was speaking to was kindly speaking his language on a national holiday that I’m sure she would have enjoyed spending in another way. His statement did more than point out his lack of interest in her language. It revealed his contempt for it.

At the same time he was congratulating himself for “putting up with” two hours of Spanish, he was revealing himself to be someone so dull he couldn’t be bothered to find anything interesting about other people who did not speak English based on their gestures, personalities or expressions.

He revealed himself to be someone who feels he should be catered to, translated for, and that any experience that isn’t set up explicitly for him to enjoy is a situation to be endured rather than appreciated.

He expected to be praised for this. He repeated this snippet of masturbatory self congratulation at least three times and he never got an agreement out of the woman. She was graciously trying to let it pass without comment. But that wasn’t good enough. He just had to be patted on the back, and much like spanking it to soft core porn, the experience of trying to satisfy himself was leaving something to be desired.

Offense # 2

A guy from California related the following story to me. By way of background, there is dog shit all over the sidewalks here in Buenos Aires. It’s not uncommon at all to see a genteel looking fellow walking his schnauzer, calmly watching the dog dump a load in the middle of the sidewalk and continue on his way.

People from here complain about it, sure. They also generally know how to avoid it. Back to the guy from California. Here’s what he had to say:

“The other day I saw a woman pick up her dog’s shit. I went up to her and I said, ‘Thank you! Thank you! It’s great that you picked that up! Good job!’”

Can you guess what’s wrong with this?

It’s so patronizing it almost makes me ill.

It implies he has some kind of stake in the city. The guy was here for three months and will probably never be back. It implies that he knows better than the majority of the people here how best to behave.

If I were that woman and some whacked out hippie came up to me with his Yanqui accent and said that, I’d probably be leaving my dog’s turds on the sidewalk from that day forward.

Offense # 3

My third tale comes from a blog of an acquaintance from Australia.

There is a lot of trash on the street in Buenos Aires. Some of this has to do with the fact that there are people who pick the trash (cartoneros) who pull recyclables out of the waste of the masses, leaving a swath of loose garbage in their wake. Also, people litter. That’s the city. It’s a dirty city and I like dirty cities, but not this son of a bitch.

His story went something like this:

He saw a woman throw a candy bar wrapper on the sidewalk. He picked it up and handed it back to her and told her that she’d dropped it, pointing out a nearby trash can.

This guy’s Spanish is rudimentary at best. The anti-litter-bug decided to make a correction. In so doing, he insulted a citizen, and made an ass of himself.

Here’s what his behavior said:

• I come from a superior culture that knows better.
• I’m going to instruct you in the ways of my superior culture.
• I find the appearance of your city distasteful and rather than leave, I will take my mild aggression out on someone I can identify as a culprit, and that’s you.

He was so satisfied with himself that given time for reflection, he chose to display his rude and arrogant behavior in a public forum. In this way he flaunted his shitty attitude and feeling of superiority while insulting Buenos Aires as being filthy at the same time.

Lessons learned / How not to be an obnoxious tourist

Here’s the thing. If you’re going to travel, please, please, pretty please keep in mind you are a guest. Here are some lessons from the offenses above:

Lesson 1: Don’t fish for compliments for putting up with another culture.

You are a visitor. The people who have allowed you into their country aren’t props in some little game you have in your mind. You are lucky to be there. Appreciate it and let people know you do.

Lesson 2: Make an attempt to learn the language.

Lesson 3: Be humble. Your country sucks, too.

If someone came to your country as a foreigner and all they did was bitch and complain, taking short breaks to brag about what a trooper they were for sticking it out or putting up with the way things were, you might be nice to their face, but you’d be thinking, “Why don’t you just go home if you hate it so much, you putrid bastard?”

The best way to behave, at least until you’ve gotten your bearings, is as if you are in the house of your friend’s parents. Be on your best behavior. Clean up after yourself. Mind your manners. Ask before taking. Listen when spoken to. Apologize if you do not understand. Treat the people with respect.

Photos Kate Sedgwick (unless otherwise noted)

Photo: Andrew Cisel.

When I returned home after a few years in Asia and met my parents at the airport, I knew at some point I’d have to convince them of my decision to get back out into the world. The travel gene, which had been dormant for a year following university, kicked in during my time in Japan; unfortunately, this particular one seemed to skip a generation in my family.

Although not quite ready to tell them everything, I decided there wouldn’t be any harm in at least laying a foundation of my thoughts. Immediately quoting Kerouac came to mind, but just as quickly passed – my mother and father were the two least likely people to check a travel philosophy book out of the library, even one from their time.

Telling friends had been so much simpler:

“Hey, I’m leaving the country in a few weeks.”

“Nice. Where ya headed?”

“Japan, for a year at least.”

“You are crazy. Well, send me a email.”

“Will do.”

I had a strange suspicion this explanation would not suffice for two people who struggled and suffered to pay my college tuition; traveling almost seemed like a betrayal of their expectations. How could I best justify my wanderlust to my parents? Here are a few things I’ve learned to help put things into perspective:

1. Brave New Job Market

Explain how taking a year “off” to travel can actually help your career rather than impede it. Employers are looking for graduates who are able to deal with unpredictable situations, are flexible with travel, and exhibit good interpersonal skills. The Traveler’s Notebook’s own How to Make Travel Look Good on a Resume sums this up quite nicely.

2. Safety First

This might be hardest sell of all… planning to live in parts of Africa, South America, or Asia? The only continents that might not cause your parents to instinctively guide you down to the old bomb shelter are Europe and North America (minus Mexico).

Only the cold hard facts will help you here: look at the US Department of State advisory notices on different countries; note which ones are safe and why. Find people in your hometown who have lived in the area you’re considering and have them sit down for lunch with you and your family.

Mention you’re probably more likely to be shot in the States rather than in… well, many places.

3. “When I was your age…”

Photo: docentjoyce

This can work for or against you: have your parents lived abroad? If they were some of the few in their generation to spend a year or two abroad, ask them what they learned from it, if they wish they had never gone (of course not), and whether they would want their children to experience some similar joy.

If they are the types who have yet to even acquire passports, press them for details: Do you wish you had ever left the country? Where would you have traveled? How long? Why? Why not me?

4. Doubt

Whatever you do, don’t tell them spending a year in foreign country is an opportunity for you to get a sense of direction and what you want to do with your life.

Although these things might be true for you, I have a sinking suspicion parents assume you could reach the same conclusions working an entry-level job or enlisting in the military – maybe they’re secretly hoping such a position would quell all this “travel nonsense”.

5. The Chance to Visit

I had spent over a year in Japan and my parents were still on my back about missed opportunities in the US, losing touch with family, and cost of travel. The first time I really got their approval was when I invited them to visit.

I took them to see the blooming of the cherry blossoms, sat them down on tatami mats for a traditional Japanese dinner, and performed for them as I spoke the native tongue while asking about a certain ikebana arrangement. Those seven days showed I possessed more than the means to simply survive abroad… I could thrive, and they knew how precious that was to me.

Now they follow my adventures more closely than my best friends.

6. Why Aren’t You Married Yet?

Photo: Ed.ward

I personally haven’t had too much experience in this area, as I left for Asia when I was still rather young. But I imagine it’s different depending on whether you have any older unwed siblings or younger wed siblings. Or if you happen to be a girl. Pressure, pressure.

Assuming you’re not with anyone at the time of your departure, parents might assume you’re giving up another year of possible soulmate-meeting, i.e. there’s no way you could ever encounter someone of substance on the road. Nothing could be further from the truth.

While growing up together strengthens relationships while both parties are going through the same phases in life, so too does travel by having you discover if two people can stay on the wavelength while their worlds are ever in a state of flux.

7. Mother Says

This can apply to other life lessons as well: eating cookies, playing Nintendo, doing your homework. She will always be the one to cry for you to come home every month, every week, every hour.

She will panic at a missed phone call (we need a Matador article for good travel excuses). She will be scanning news websites and frantically try to reach you if there is even a mention of inclement weather or terrorist activity – threat level fuchsia.

Do your best to stave off major concerns, but, in the end, make her understand this is your life. And you’re living it the only way you know how.

Tour buses can seem about as adventurous and educational as watching a week’s worth of infomercials. With the slumping world economy putting the squeeze on travel plans everywhere, however, many backpackers are starting to reconsider.

The steep discounts on lodging, food and transportation that tour operators offer can make traveling much more affordable. And it is quite possible to squeeze a memorable trip out of even the most brain-meltingly bland bus tour. To do it, you’ll have to go undercover: it’s time to enter the world of the tour bus ‘rebel.’

Photo by Paleontour

1. Get away.

Large groups don’t get far off the beaten path. Logistical concerns force them to limit their destinations to the biggest tourist sites and cut out everything else. However, if you’re interested in the uncut, 360-degree view, ‘everything else’ is just what you’re after.

Most tours offer occasional blocks of free time, usually for shopping in designated marketplaces or lounging around city squares. These breaks are ideal opportunities to get away from the tour bus regimen and peruse what the destination has to offer; just poking around the seams can yield some interesting results.

2. Do your homework.

Read up on your destination before you leave home. The more, the better – it’s the knowledge that you bring with you that enables you to function as a comfortable self-sufficient traveler.

While guidebooks are a great place to start, they certainly aren’t everything. Spending time reading the newspaper will help you understand what those campaign posters are really about or why everyone is putting straw-stuffed mannequins in front of their houses.

Who knows? Study up enough and you may even find yourself catching the guide’s mistakes.

Photo by dawvon

3. Power to the people!

When you’ve spent days watching the world through a bus window, it’s easy to slip into the role of spectator. The landscape on the other side of the glass starts to seem like a TV documentary. The people who inhabit that landscape are either background details or obstacles blocking your view.

Traveling to a country without paying any attention to the people who live there is like ignoring that country’s soul. Beyond broad cultural traditions and stereotypes, the subtle differences between people often explain a lot.

You’re not just interested in the clothes they wear or the holidays they celebrate. You want to know how important punctuality is to them, what kind of school they went to, how they perceive government. Get to know the people around you, and stay curious: Conversation doesn’t cost a penny.

4. Don’t get tourist trapped.

If the commission system is in effect, you may find your vacation getting less Discovery Channel and more Home Shopping Network. If your guide seems just a little too cozy with the store owners or too enthusiastic about the quality of their wares, be on guard.

Be wary of trips to visit “traditional textile workshops” or other handicraft galleries. While they are often advertised as free demonstrations, you can expect to face a hard sell afterward.

The fact that tourists are almost universally assumed to be wealthy doesn’t help matters, and merchants in heavily traveled areas such as Rajasthan often try to convince visitors to impulsively drop small fortunes on unnecessary luxury items like vases or hand-woven rugs.

Buy what you actually want and be on your way; if that fails, you can always try offhandedly remarking that you’re completely broke.

Hey, it may even be true. You are a backpacker, after all.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Prepare yourself for those authentic markets by reading up about how to evaluate and purchase traditional textiles.

Many people experience similar feelings before traveling. You’ve been looking forward to your trip for months. Now that it’s finally here you’re feeling unsure of yourself and your decision. Even an experienced traveler may get nervous before a solo trip or an extended journey.

Take a deep breath and follow the following suggestions:

1. Find a mantra.

Sometimes having a single memorable quote can be all it takes to stay focused and calm. In her article, The 50 Most Inspiring Travel Quotes of All Time, Matador editor Lola Akinmade writes, “Memorable travel quotes are like messages found on the beach; beautiful, timeless, and read at just the right moment.”

Find a quote that speaks to you. Write it down; put it in your journal or in your planner, reminding you of the reasons why you travel.

2. Peruse travel blogs.

Beyond just info and tips, good travel blogs provide inspiration and perspective and a sense that others are passing through similar feelings and experiences. Check out Almost Fearless and Euros Ate My Dollars. Search Matador for blogs that relate to where you’re traveling.

Photo by ckaroli

3. Set a game plan for healthcare, emergency contacts, mail, and taxes.

This is the part almost nobody likes to deal with, but if you get it out of the way early it can save you from more stress later on. Having a game plan for medical emergencies while traveling is key.

Similarly, taxes, mail, and other paperwork can be much more stressful if you have to deal with them on the road instead of at home. Here’s a great guide for tips on all of these.

Finally, if your anxiety comes from fear of the unknown, prepare numbers you can call. Look online to find the local emergency numbers of the place you are visiting, as well as having all of your personal contacts in order. Also, if you are traveling in affiliation with a school or business, carry contacts you can reach if needed.

4. Keep in touch.

Separation from family and friends is always difficult. One method of dealing with this type of travel-related anxiety is to create easy methods of communication. This could be something as easy as a Facebook or Myspace account. You could also set up a blog on Matador that your family can visit. Another good way of keeping in touch is sending weekly emails.

5. Remember how amazing your trip is going to be.

There is a reason you wanted to go: remind yourself of it now.

Photo by Mat Honan

6. Provide plenty of time to pack and remember last minute items.

There is no greater stress than realizing the day before you leave that you still haven’t gone to the bank, to the store for a few more pairs of socks, or called your credit card company to let them know that you are going to be out of town.

Give your mind a break and begin packing several days before your departure. There are entire articles dealing strictly with packing as well. How about a 2 minute video that shows how to get everything you need into a single carry-on?

7. Plan ahead for flight fears / boredom.

For most people, trips include a ride in an airplane. If the flight makes you edgy, Fodor’s offers some effective tips to beat airplane anxiety.

8. Remember: you can handle it.

Travel is messy and rarely goes according to plan. You just have to be flexible enough to deal with what is thrown your way. There is no greater asset to the traveler than the ability to adapt!

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

For more tips for nervous flyers, check out 5 Simple Ways to Conquer Your Fear of Flying.

What are your pre-trip calming rituals?

You know the feeling. You’re walking to the market, to the store, to meet a friend, all caught up in the plodding forward of your day…and then suddenly, you take notice of where you are. The light on a wall, the expressions on people’s faces, the feeling of the weather. A distinct sense of place creeps over you, and for a moment you feel like a traveler.

I love this feeling. It is a relief to me; ah, I haven’t forgotten what I learned on the road. How to be fully present in a place.

But it’s rare at home. We tend to get used to our surroundings pretty quickly, especially if they’re surroundings we’ve grown up in or lived in for years. And this familiarity isn’t all bad—our brains, freed up from paying acute attention to the unknown, can focus on other things—writing, school, relationships, work, projects.

And yet sometimes, the desire (Overwhelming! Insatiable! Get me on a freaking bus to Belize!) for that novelty and spark of travel is overwhelming. Sometimes a sense of sadness creeps into the everyday—why can’t I see and feel this place like I’ve seen and felt so many other places traveling?

So this is a guide to traveling at home–taking “home” to be a place you’ve stuck around for a while and grown accustomed to. A guide to seeing it through a traveler’s eyes and bringing it back to life again.

Photo by sanjibm

Walk.

As simple as strolling out the front door into the great beyond. Pay attention to detail as you go. The way the light hits buildings, the noises and conversations drifting out of restaurants, the sky, the view.

Roam without concern for routes and take advantage of the fact that you know this place’s geography well. Wander into neighborhoods you don’t usually explore and examine them as if you were stumbling across them for the first time.

See a city from different angles—how does it look from the top of a hill? From the bottom? Walking from the west, or east? Sometimes, when I feel my senses have been numbed by walking the same old routes around Oaxaca, I cross the city and go way out east, where the city starts dipping into the valley.

Then I turn around and start walking back, this time with a view of the narrow parallel streets stretching before me, and the arched back of a purple mountain in the distance. It feels like a different city.

Sometimes all you need is a fresh point of view.

Be a tourist.

Even if you are living in a village buried deep in the Nepali highlands or in, say, Columbus, Ohio, there are places a tourist (even if he or she just happened to get stranded overnight there) would go in your area. Investigate as if you were planning a trip—where would you go, where would the tourist lit take you?

Go as if you know nothing about your hometown at all. Imagine the tourist destinations were your first impression of it. What would they reveal to you? How would you interpret them? What would you write home about them?

Duck into a restaurant nearby, order a local delicacy (buffalo wings? Wisconsin cheese curd? Spaghetti and meatballs? Chilaquiles?), and eat it as if the flavors were a revelation, an odd local phenomenon. Imagine all of it is giving you new information about where you are and what this place is like.

Photo by Humanoide

Be a host and a guide.

Sometimes the best way to yank yourself out of your own stale vision is to exploit the viewpoint of a novice. Perhaps “exploit” is a tad harsh: offer a couch, a good meal, a ride, a long conversation, local insight, and in exchange throw yourself behind the fresh perspective of your guest.

Couchsurfing is an excellent way to travel at home. The rush of traveling rubs off, and having to think like a traveler and act like a guide illuminates your hometown as you don’t usually see it. You may, like me, end up surprised at how much you take the local for granted once you actually get to show it off.

Having family or friends pop in for a visit can make you appreciate all the little things you love about your home, the little things that are so etched into the everyday that you no longer notice them. And it can bring the big things—the local attractions, the feel and vibe of your hometown—back into focus.

Look for new perspectives.

Unless you’re living in a tent buried deep somewhere in the Andes, there are bound to be at least a few people from a few different places in your area. Hit up Chinatown if you’re in a major city, practice your Spanish at a Mexican restaurant, volunteer at a shelter for refugees, or work with immigrants.

Hearing about the experiences of a foreigner or an immigrant in your hometown paints it in a whole different light. You may be surprised, as I was roaming through a Mexican grocery store in Columbus, at just how different the place you think you know so well looks from this perspective.

Photo by Geoff LMV

Love your public transport.

One thing I do when I need a sense of escape is hop on a bus. And then another. And another. No, I’m not fleeing to Guatemala, I’m just riding around. One public bus after another, bumping and jostling ‘round Oaxaca.

Maybe this is intense nostalgia for all the buses I took crossing South America, or maybe I’m just a big baby who loves the gentle rocking motions of moving vehicles, but I’m willing to guess that many travelers find something soothing about being in motion.

The familiar feeling of looking out the window, trying to put the pieces together, absorbing the scenery. The bus transports me out of my neurotic consciousness, my obsession with whatever I need to do that day and the next, and makes me feel like I’m traveling.

Travel, I think, should not merely be the act of getting way the hell out there into the Himalayas or hitchhiking your way across Borneo. It can be that—but it can, and I would argue should, also be a way of seeing.

Thinking of travel as a particular type of vision frees you from the obligation to go fleeing from one destination to another, and liberates you to rediscover the places you think you know so well.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Need some more advice about planning an in-town vacation. Check out these seven steps!

Feature photo by Photocapy. Photo above by goosmurf.

As readers familiar to Matador know, no matter how savvy a globetrotter you are or how in-tune with the local culture you try to be, international travel is not without its risks. The fact is, there are people out there who make a living preying on folks who have the means to move about the globe.

Frequent travelers have heard all the warnings before: “Don’t leave your bags unattended! Always stick to well-traveled streets! Don’t carry too much cash!”

But what about some deeper insight? How can travelers get inside the mind of the international petty thief or pickpocket, understand what makes them tick, and think creatively to keep themselves from being victimized?

Dr. Barbara Oakley is an associate professor at Oakland University in Michigan, and is the author of Evil Genes, a nonfiction thriller that explores themes of morality, genetics, and brain research. The book was partially inspired by Oakley’s travel adventures, which include rubbing elbows with KGB agents as a translator on Soviet ships.

Recently I was able to connect with Dr. Oakley via email to gain some insight into the workings of the international criminal.

Photo by Matt Biddulph.

Nature vs. Nurture

Petty criminals are often regarded as folks who have suffered from a rough upbringing and, therefore, have almost been forced to turn to a life of crime in order to get by. However, Oakley contends that this passive attitude can be dangerous.

“Our schools and universities indoctrinate students with the idea that a poor environment is the sole cause of criminal behavior,” says Oakley. “This conditioning is used by criminals to their advantage.”

If a criminal has been caught in the act, says Dr. Oakley, they will try to appeal to your sense of altruism and empathy for you to let them go. They could accomplish this through crying, saying they’ve never stolen before, or telling a sad story about their life or family.

If you’re a reasonably nice person, you can completely let your guard down.

“Some thieves have been trained since they were children to think about robbing ‘rich Westerners’ as something that’s a fully justified activity,” says Oakley. “Knowing this kind of information can help you to be more alert to the kind of physical cues that can alert you in situations of possible immediate harm.”

Watch out for eagles and chameleons

So you think that scruffy looking teenager with a staring problem in the seat opposite yours is eyeing up your iPod? Maybe you should pay closer attention to the little old lady whose bags you helped load into the overhead compartment. According to Dr. Oakley, these two fit into two thief sub-categories: eagles and chameleons.

“Eagles are thieves in great shape, who swoop in to grab their loot,” says Oakley. “Poor countries generally don’t have expensive forensic luxuries like fingerprinting, so if caught, a teenager can give a false name, be released, and go right back to a train or bus station to steal again. (An example of an eagle in action in Chile can be found on YouTube – here)

The chameleon’s approach is more subtle. These are the con artists or masters of disguise, and they may victimize you without you even realizing it.

“The chameleon may be a very good-looking man in a nice suit that gently slips his hand in your pocket as he moves past you in the aisle, or a nice-looking young woman who trips and falls against you,” says Oakley.

Their methods are no less insidious. When caught, the chameleon will often try to employ psychological techniques to get themselves off the hook. They’ll appeal to your sympathy through any means available to them.

“They’ll even cry, which can get your mirror neurons going–you feel sorry for the thief because you actually feel the feeling that the thief is simulating,” says Oakley.

Photo by Kieran Huggins.

What Can You Do?

Here are some expert tips straight from Dr. Oakley to keep in mind in your travels.

• Security guards keep a wary eye on known thieves, who generally can’t be thrown off public property. Thus, it can be a good idea to follow the eyes of security guards in a train station or other public place, to see who the guards are watching.
• It can be a good idea to wear sunglasses if you are dozing on a bus or train. That way a thief cannot tell whether you might be observing him.
• Always look suspicious individuals in the eyes. There are neurological reasons for this–following the eyes means you are hyper-aware of someone. Looking at a potential thief in the eyes can scare him off, because he suspects you know what he’s up to.
• Thieves are often just looking for the opportunity to get close to you–perhaps simply by asking for the time. You mustn’t let them get close. Often thieves act in pairs–the first buddy will see where you look to ensure things are safe when approached by the other buddy, and as you are distracted by the other buddy, the first buddy will move in to grab your wallet.

Community Connection

For more on preventing dodgy travel situations, please reference How to Survive Dangerous Border Crossings, and for an emotional look at one traveler’s experience with tragedy on the road, read Jon Brandt’s The Great Bus Heist.

Feature photo by Donnaphoto. Photo above by orphanjones.

Ever spent your holiday mornings blundering around a tiny hotel room, trying not to wake your sleeping family and feeling claustrophobic? It doesn’t have to be that way. On your next trip, you could have a whole apartment—or even a house—to yourselves. While some people snooze, others can be far away, watching the sunrise from the terrace or whipping up café au lait in the kitchen.

And here’s the best part: in many cases, you can get an apartment or house for less than the cost of a hotel room. If you’re willing to do a home exchange, you can even stay for free.

Photo by Wolfgang Staudt.

Rent a vacation home.

You can rent directly from a property owner, but for peace of mind—especially if this is your first rental—consider working with a rental agency that provides a local contact person who can help you if you lose your key or break the dishwasher.

Here are a few other tips:

• Narrow down the type of property you want: urban or rural, apartment or house, luxurious or rustic.
• Pinpoint your destination. In a city, focus on a couple of neighborhoods.
• Find an agency that specializes in your destination or type of home. Ask friends for recommendations and ask companies for testimonials. In North America, check the firm’s record with the local Better Business Bureau.
• Identify your deal breakers. The fewer you have, the easier it will be to find a place, but be realistic. If you treasure quiet and space, don’t book a studio apartment in Manhattan.
• Ask lots of questions. Clarify what’s included—you may need to bring your own sheets or pay for local phone calls. Ask about nearby transit and stores.
• Be careful about payment. Most vacation rental agencies are legit, but fraudsters do exist. If possible, negotiate a small deposit and pay the rest only after you’ve seen the property. Don’t use wire services such as Western Union, which are popular with scammers. Use a credit card with a low limit, send a check drawn on an account with a small balance, or pay your deposit via PayPal.

Now that I’ve given all the scary caveats, I’ll end on an upbeat note: I’ve rented apartments from agencies on three continents— Aloj Argentina in Buenos Aires, Metro-Home in New York City, and Paris Best Lodge in Paris — and never had a problem.

Photo by brighterworlds.

Arrange a house swap.

You can also swap your house for another elsewhere. You’ll have less flexibility than with a vacation rental, as your options hinge on who wants to travel to your location and when.

On the bright side, you may discover a place you never considered visiting before. Stories abound of swappers who had their hearts set on London, only to have a fabulous time in York instead.

How do you find someone to swap with? The simplest way is through a swapping website. If you’ve seen the Kate Winslet movie The Holiday, you’ll know how this works: pay a registration fee, register your home, browse the list of available properties and make a connection. (Kate used a site called Home Exchange.)

Isn’t it a bit creepy to let strangers into your house? If you’re shy and extremely house proud, the answer is probably yes. House swapping does take a certain insouciance.

The key is frequent communication between you and your host. By the time you put your key in the lock of your temporary home, you’ll have probably exchanged numerous e-mails and phone calls. So, in essence, you’re not really “strangers” anymore.

Here are a few other tips for a successful house swap.

• As with a rental, be honest about your deal breakers and ensure you understand what’s included. (The range of inclusions and exclusions is even broader with a swap. Your host may give you the keys to his car, but may also want you to feed his cats.)
• Set the dates of the swap early– and in writing.
• Be honest about your home’s pros and cons, and check swappers’ claims. In particular, check the address. That apartment “in the heart of New York” may be halfway to Albany.
• Give your guests a warm welcome. Make sure your home is spotless and well maintained. Clear out some space for your guests’ clothes. Leave lots of soap and clean linens. Write a guide to your neighborhood.
• Lock away valuables and fragile items—off-site, if necessary.
• Tell your neighbors someone will be staying in your home, so they don’t suspect you have burglars. Nothing says “Welcome” less clearly than a visit from the cops.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Still not sure if a house swap is for you? Check out 6 Convincing Reasons to Try a Home Exchange.

Catch a cargo ship. Photo by Dave Minogue.

Lara and Tom are taking a 10 month trip around the world. . . without flying. You can do it, too—using the following lessons from the World In Slow Motion team as the how-to guide to get you started.

1. Plan your ocean crossings first (and well in advance!).

One of the first things Lara and Tom began investigating was how to cross the Pacific Ocean by ship. They discovered several tour operators who book passages on cargo ships; through these operators and their own Internet research, they came up with a plan.

They’d originally wanted to go from Asia to Central America, working their way up to the U.S. Shipping routes, however, follow international trade,and there aren’t many connections between certain places–for example, Shanghai and Tegucigalpa.

So they booked their passage from Hong Kong to Long Beach, and altered their route to do a loop down through the southwestern U.S all the way to Guatemala, then back up through Mexico to New Orleans and the East Coast of the U.S.

In planning an ocean crossing, you have to make a few executive decisions beforehand about departure or arrival points. If the Caribbean or Brazil are absolute musts on your RTW itinerary, you might need to nix a trip through Asia.

Keep in mind that certain routes are more popular than others, and as the number of passengers cargo ships can take is quite limited (usually topping off around 10), it’s important to book well in advance. The World In Slow Motion team recommends three to six months, depending on the route.

2. Know your public transport systems.

In Japan, it’s possible to purchase a rail pass which, while costly, allows one the freedom to travel almost anywhere in the country (in style!)

The Eurail pass and the USA Rail Pass (yes, this actually exists) also offer ways to save on large stretches of train travel.

Photo by Jennifer Feuchter.

Checking out these options beforehand helps both with route planning and saving money. It’s also a good idea to investigate the train/bus systems in particular countries. In China, for example, train tickets can only be bought from one’s departure city—that is, tickets leaving Beijing for Shanghai can only be bought in Beijing.

During holiday periods, trains will fill up beyond the grasp of human imagination. On popular routes, trains tend to be quite full all the time, and you might find that the only available seats are in “hard seat” (which is just what it sounds like) or standing classes.

Also, as most anyone who travels around the U.S knows, getting to certain places without a car can be quite an ordeal. What to do? Couchsurf, as Tom and Lara did ( in Elizabeth Taylor’s old house, no less), and use the power of Craig’s List and forums like Matador’s Travel Partner forum and Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree in order to hook up with rideshares.

The WISM team had luck with Craig’s List and even ended up scoring a 600 mile ride from Phoenix to El Paso from an enthusiastic American swept up by the idea of their trip.

3. Beware the bureaucracy.

Traveling overland can come with more bureaucratic hassle than hopping from airport to airport. For one, there tend to be more visa difficulties. This is particularly true where the U.S of A is involved.

Lara and Tom found that they were not qualified for the British visa exemption if they arrived in the U.S by ship, so they had to go through the whole (lengthy and costly) tourist visa application process. Many countries have similar visa regulations that apply to overland (or sea) arrivals only.

Make sure you double check the fine print and verify you have your paperwork sorted out beforehand.

4. Be flexible, and don’t cave in.

There came a moment in Beijing when all the train tickets were sold out, and Lara and Tom thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice to fly?” They stuck it out and ended up appreciating their extra time in the capital and their ensuing cross-country train journeys.

The idea is to balance careful planning with the roll-with-the-punches attitude necessary to navigate the messier, more local, less systematic world of overland travel.

Cram your head, notebooks, and laptops full of info, make sure you jump through the necessary bureaucratic/logistical hoops ahead of time, and then allow yourself that inch (or two, or three) of flexibility to take advantage of what travel fate offers up.

5. Tell the world about your journey.

Photo by Jill

Start a blog, write an article, e-mail your friends and family… the more information about local, sustainable overland travel, the better, particularly at a time when jet fuel is guzzled like water and a transatlantic flight is, for many, akin to a quick drive around the block.

Etch out the local, regional details, the differences and continuities between places as you bump and jolt and glide over the Earth. Not only will sharing your experiences open up new possibilities for other travelers, it might also open some doors for you along your journey.

People want to be part of grand ventures they can relate to and believe in.

And most of all, savor the feel of traveling at a human speed, seeing, as Lara and Tom have done, the world in slow motion.

Follow Lara and Tom at World In Slow Motion.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

If your interest in slow traveling round the world has been piqued, check out a guide to traveling by cargo ship or some detailed advice about planning rail journeys.

Paris is possible. You do not need a French relative or a dowry of millions. You only need ingenuity and thirst. If you’ve got those, this storied city, the matron saint of expatriation, will be yours.

This guide is for Americans with insufficient funds and little tolerance for endless preparation (or any preparation), for those who rely on that special brand of luck crossed with tenacity and patience. Here’s how to begin: Save no money. Make no plans. Just get on the plane.

Once you get there, as an American passport-holder you’ll have 90 days before your tourist visa expires, so you’d better hit the ground running.

1. Find a place to stay.

Start your sojourn with free accommodations through CouchSurfing. Beyond being completely free, CouchSurfing also guarantees that you’ll meet people who physically live in France, who have a roof, and who pay rent.

You’ll avoid the pitfall of befriending only transients and hobos. Not only will you emerge with a set of Parisian friends, you will gain passage behind the doors of the city and into the lives of its locals. You’ll dispel the stereotypes that keep the timid at bay and grow wiser for it.

Still, finding the right people via Couchsurfing is never guaranteed. Here is an in-depth guide to improving your odds.

Cheap transportation. Photo by austinevan

2. Make money.

For short term employment without papers, you’re restricted to working under the table. France respects its bureaucracy and finding work for cash will take some pavement pounding.

Check the bulletin boards at the American Church, American Library, American University in Paris, and the Real McCoy Cafe. They all post job opportunities for teachers, tutors, nannies, babysitters, and day laborers. For more stable income and to stay legally for more than 90 days, you’ll need a visa.

3. Get a visa.

Multiple types of visas enable you to work. You can become a student and get a student visa, which will allow you to work for 20 hours per week (full-time for an English teacher).

You can become a student by signing up for French classes at any of the many language schools, or you can take a regular course at one of the universities, many of which are surprisingly affordable.

If you don’t want to be a student, you’ll need a work visas.Normally, employers will not expend the energy to get you a visa. But, if you are an American between the ages of 18 and 35 and you want to work in the French private sector (including ESL teaching at a private language school), the French American Chamber of Commerce will sponsor your work visa.

Once you receive a job offer, the FACC will guide your visa application from start to finish. It’s surprisingly easy. Once you get this visa, you’ll be able to access the French national health system, too.

Note: Once you arrange a visa of any kind, you will have to fly to your home consulate to get them to stamp it into your passport. If you are from San Francisco, you’ll have to fly all the way there. Home consulate means home consulate. New York or Boston will not suffice.

4. Find long term lodging.

The bulletin boards are also great for lodging, especially if you want to work in exchange for a room. Otherwise, expect to pay an absolute minimum of 350 euros per month. FUSAC, both in its biweekly print publication and on its website, offers the most apartment listings aimed at foreigners.

The print publication is available for free at English speaking establishments across the city. By advertising to the Anglophile community, landlords are prepared for people who cannot provide multiple guarantors or a year’s rent up front.

Craigslist is a good source for international roommates, while Colocataire will connect you with French roommate seekers. Scared off by high prices? Sharing small spaces here is no faux pas. Get creative.

5. Minimize all expenses.

Lunch. Photo by malias

Lastly, make your dollar count, but stay healthy. The cheapest lunch in Paris is a 150 gram bag of peanuts and a carrot salad from Franprix (a convenience store with locations all over Paris). For about 1.50 euros, you’ve got over 1,000 calories, nearly 40 grams of protein, and all the vitamin goodness of carrots.

You won’t have to eat the poor man’s lunch for long. If there’s one thing you’ll do in Paris, it’s learn how to live right. No matter how broke you are, you’ll find a way to eat the food that perfumes the air and drink the wine that colors cheeks. Not sure how that’ll happen? Don’t worry. The city will help you. That’s why you’re here.

Bulletin Board Locations

The American Church of Paris
65, Quai d’Orsay
75007 Paris
Metro: Alma-Marceau, Invalides

American Library in Paris
10, rue de General-Camou
75007 Paris
Metro: Ecole Militaire, Alma-Marceau

The American University of Paris
6, rue de Colonel Combes
75007 Paris
Metro: Alma-Marceau, Invalides

The Real McCoy Cafe
194 rue de Grenelle
75007 Paris
Metro: Ecole Militaire

Community Connection

Looking for free cultural events in Paris? Check this guide. And for shorter-term travelers to Paris, here’s a guide on how to travel for $100 a day.

Photo above by Oldtasty

I have never seen a country with a more aggressive tourist industry than Thailand. You emerge from Hua Lumpong station and make your way to the southern exit. It takes a fraction of a second for taxi and tuk-tuk drivers to yell at the top of their lungs, “Hello sir! Taxi sir! Where you go!? Where you go?”

If you have a foreign face and need or want something, someone will try to take advantage of you at some point. Here are a few tips to getting what you want at the price you want, not just in Thailand, but across Southeast Asia.

Photo above by neal_mcquaid

Speak Thai, or make your best effort.

Even a few words in Thai can go a long way. Obviously this will work better if you are fluent and can prove to the driver that you’re not a ignorant tourist, but if you’re still learning, stick with the numbers.

Negotiate the price before you depart, or even get in the cab.

Most likely, if they peg you as a tourist, you’ll be asked for 3-4 times the rate given to a local. Here’s how to use “How much is it?” in Thai: Tao arai khrap (or kha, for women)?

There’s no such thing as a free ride.

Don’t ever accept a free ride from a taxi or tuk-tuk. Often drivers will drop you at their “friend’s” gem or gold shop and pressure you into buying something. You also might end up on a tour of the city, which was not included in the free fare.

Photo above by René Ehrhardt

Navigating the Markets of Beijing

Before traveling to Thailand, I had slowly made my way from Osaka to China. Beijing was as familiar as ever: so much pollution that you can stare at the sun for minutes at a time, streets filled to the brim with cars and people, and never-ending construction.

Situating myself in the Sanlitun area, I found a clothing market close to the Workers’ Stadium. Surely I could find decent, cheap backpacks here – one as a carry-on, one for the open road.

I found what I was looking for in the corner of the basement, next to a selection of women’s “brand name” shoes. What followed was…

Feigning apathy.

I made it seem as though I was just browsing, while looking at my watch and giving the impression I had something better to do than shop for cheap backpacks. In actuality, I was narrowing my selection. This didn’t stop the shopkeeper from giving her best foreigner sales pitch:

“Look sir, you want backpack? Look at the quality here! FEEL the material! This one from Hong Kong, not fake, good for you! Look sir!”

Don’t let them know exactly what you want.

Start asking about another item you have absolutely no interest in, then switch to the one you do want to buy. It’s a game, you see.

Listen to the opening price, then counter it.

The opening price will be more than ten times the manufacturing cost. You could buy it for less than cost, as the merchants really just need one ignorant foreigner to make a purchase at an inflated price.

Respond with your first offer. Name a price ridiculously lower than that requested. If they ask for 2000 RNB, suggest 50.

Walk away.

Photo above by Yan Pritzker

Naturally, they’re going to make some attempt to bring you back, most likely by gently grabbing your arm and acquiescing: “ok, maybe I can make a friend; you very smart, you must live in China.”

They’ll counter probably with something like what they said their bare minimum cost is for the item… 1200 or so.

Name a price slightly higher than that you previously requested… 55 RMB. “Are you joking? Not enough!”

Walk away again. Amazingly, the price which had been declared the “bare minimum” has fallen… 800.

Don’t stop now.

Keep right on raising the price in small, small increments… 60 RMB.

Keep going through this until you end up at around 100-200 RMB, which is reasonable given a starting price of 2000. Walk away as many times as it takes, and don’t waver – despite everything they tell you or try to guilt you into paying, they know exactly how much it costs and how much profit they’ll make if they can just get that one buyer who doesn’t want to go through the trouble of haggling.

Helpful Tips

In general, whether you’re passing through the aforementioned countries or spending time in Cambodia, Laos, or Vietnam, the same advice applies to not getting mugged abroad: don’t flash cash. Try to speak as much of the local tongue as you can.

And, as anti-traveler an idea as it is, don’t try to make friends…

I’m not saying you couldn’t meet a potential friend in the Thai tourist industry, but there would always be that nagging question: is it me he likes, the internationalization I bring to his shop, or my wallet?

Unfortunately, it’s usually the latter.

Photo above by René Ehrhardt

Remember that haggling is more of a performance than anything else; you are playing the role of the poor hippie backpacker while the shopkeeper is playing the role of the poor-must-make-money-to-feed-my-seven-kids merchant.

But as travelers we must remember that this can be the truth. Don’t needlessly press those asking an extra 1 USD for a T-shirt, or quibble when a taxi hikes the fare by 30 cents.

Know when to walk away and how to play your part: if you’re sporting a $300 pair of Oakleys and arguing over the price of a 20 RMB dragon statue, you’re only going to make a fool of yourself and every vagabond following in your wake.

On the flip side, however, you shouldn’t cave to the bloated asking price without so much of a word of protest because you’re in a hurry or not in the mood for a good old-fashioned haggling; letting merchants believe they can get away with such deals will only drive up prices and could cause even more inflation.

Community Connection

Want more advice on haggling worldwide? Check out our guide, How to Haggle.

Photo by afgpa

A couple winters ago I was snowshoeing with my wife in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in Colorado. It was in the upper 20s with thickening clouds and upslope winds that carried a faint smell of cow manure–the odor whisked off the great stockyards down in the prairie. These are all signs it would be snowing at any moment. Five hours or five minutes, you could never tell.

We set off on a familiar trail up to Lefthand Reservoir. It would just be a short day. Maybe three hours. We had a thermos of hot Earl Grey and some powerbars. One extra layer apiece in our daypacks.

The snow was packed along the trail. We got into a rhythm, noting deer and and elk tracks, rabbits and squirrels. Foxes. You were always on the lookout for bobcat tracks. Or mountain lion. After about 15 minutes a light to medium snow started falling. We cut off trail, where the tree cover helped keep the snow out of our faces.

We meandered through deep powder towards a gulley. This was what we loved about snowshoeing–you could go anywhere that looks interesting. Here was one of my favorite kinds of places, a steep ravine where lichen-bearded firs grew dense along the edges.

We continued traversing along a direction I believed was paralleling the road to Brainard Lake. All we’d have to do was cut downhill whenever we got tired and that road would take us back to the car.

Photo by pfly

We stopped after an hour. The temperature had dropped and the snow was coming down heavy now.

We had tea, but the powerbars were frozen. I showed Lau how to put it inside her parka so it would thaw out later. We couldn’t stay long with our mittens off.

After traversing a while longer we came to a clearing. There was a lake I’d never seen before. On the other side was a small structure, an old abandoned cabin or hunting lodge.

Out in the open the snow was really coming down. I looked back and realized that our tracks were quickly filling. Our trail in was probably gone. I looked around some more. I couldn’t see the road from here.

Lau sensed my concern and asked me if everything was ok. I told her it was, but that we should begin heading back to the car. I knew that no matter what it was downhill.

We started breaking fresh fresh tracks alongside the creek draining the small lake. This led to another small gulch and wetlands that was thick with alder and willow. It was too hard to follow there so we began climbing a small rise and worked our way around.

On the way around I tried not to dwell possible scenarios. But several passed through my mind.

My main thought was that if we got trapped out in the open we didn’t have enough gear to survive a big storm We could maybe work back up to the cabin but it would only offer minimal protection (the roof and walls were halfway caved-in).

The snow was light and powdery and we didn’t have tools to build an snowcave. Without really thinking about it or meaning to I’d put us in the classic dumbass situation: staking our lives on making it back to a vehicle. And why? Because I knew the terrain. This was just a little hike in our “backyard.”

Only I wasn’t sure now. I still couldn’t see the road. It had to be there though, and after we’d climbed one more small rise, there it was. We hiked down the road, enjoying the hike again, enjoying what had turned into a full snowstorm now. But when we got back to the car we talked about how next time we had to be more careful. We’d gotten off easy.

Invest time in learning winter survival camping and survival skills, such as building a snow cave. Photo by iwona_kellie

Here’s what we decided to have next time we went out, even for a day hike:

• Map and Compass (or GPS). — In this case I knew the terrain intimately, but if I’d had my map on me (instead of sitting in the car) I would’ve seen that small pond and known exactly where I was. And if the visbility had dropped due to heavier snow, we might not have been able to reach the car without a compass or GPS. If you get in white-out conditions, all sense of direction disappears.
• Emergency Shelter — Had we gotten trapped out there, a lightweight shelter such as my megamid, or even just a tarp and a sleeping bag would’ve meant the difference between an uncomfortable but survivable night, and a potentially deadly situation.
• Extra Food — We decided to make always keep at least a couple extra chocolate bars, nuts, and other rich foods in a sealed container. Having a quick and easy supply of calories would’ve made a big difference as well had we been caught out.
• A different attitude — Again, part of our ill-preparedness was due to the fact that this was our “backyard” terrain. I’d backcountry snowboarded this area, hiked and camped it in every season. But what we need reminding sometimes is that familiarity can breed nonchalance, which is never the right attitude to have in the wilderness. It’s all about respect.

With the recent slew of deaths around the backcountry this season, this experience–one that could’ve been a lot worse–has been on my mind lately. Keep it safe out there everyone. Don’t stake your lives on making it back to a vehicle or ski lodge.

You owe it to yourself, your friends, loved ones, and crew: be prepared no matter what.

Feature photo by obLiterated. Photo above by Travel Aficionado.

As an expedition physician, one of my main responsibilities is pre-planning for medical emergencies. Depending on where my team is going, I research the condition of local airstrips, what types of evacuation aircraft can land on their runways, and whether local roads are drivable.

Knowing the conditions of local hospitals, the capabilities of local health care providers and the availability of equipment is vital should someone require advanced medical care.

You don’t need to be an expedition doctor to start thinking about what you would do in the event that you need serious medical treatment, however. Consider the following:

When and where to seek medical attention?

When we’re on the road, we often wait until some nagging symptoms have worsened and the matter becomes urgent. If you need to get some help and you need it soon, there are several options and places to seek medical attention.

The most important factor to determine your options is how quickly you need assistance. Any life-threatening emergency requires help as soon as possible. Calling the local ambulance service or taking a taxi to the local hospital is a first step to take when you’re seriously ill or hurt in an urban area.

The facility where you are treated may not be up to the standards of your home country, but it’s probably better than bleeding to death on the road.

Photo by uncultured.

A telephone call to your local embassy often yields advice on trusted clinics and hospitals that are used by embassy staff. Embassies do not have the responsibility of providing you medical care, but can point you in the direction of where to go. Plus, speaking with someone in your native language can often calm fears.

A list of international embassies for all countries can be found here.

Remember: internet access is often limited, especially when you are trying to get help as soon as possible.

Taking a few minutes ahead of time to write down the local address and phone numbers of the nearest in-country embassy can save vital time when you’re looking for health care.

Notifying the embassy of your situation also helps keep officials aware of your status; embassy staff can also help notify family or friends back home.

Travel health Insurance

The potential for serious illnesses or injuries is exactly why travelers purchase travel health insurance. Make sure to carry your insurance policy number, membership card, and a list of contacts. Travel insurance providers often have satellite offices around the world, so carry this information, as well.

Time zones, difficulties dialing out of country, and high costs are a few reasons why it is better to call the local number when seeking help.

If you’re new to travel insurance, factors to consider when making your selection include your medical history, the types of events you are planning for your trip, and repatriation (being flown home). Not all insurance providers are equal.

Photo by stenbough.

The International Society of Travel Medicine maintains a wonderful list of clinics and health care providers around the world. The ISTM list can get you in touch with a local doctor who has experience treating travelers and their unique health problems. These doctors can also offer advice on local hospitals, conditions, where to buy medicine, and how to navigate payment systems.

The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT) is another organization whose sole purpose is to assist travelers with staying healthy. Membership in their organization is free, although good karma is acquired by making a small donation for their effort and materials.

Membership provides access to an internet site as well as a member’s book of medical clinics specializing in treating travelers. This is an extensive list and offers resources for almost all locations on the planet.

Photo by Sailing “Footprints: Real to Reel” (Ronn ashore).

Health care providers who offer service to IAMAT members agree to do so at a fixed rate for consultation, helping avoid the mess of international payments, insurance, and concerns of “Does my insurance cover this, or do I even have insurance?” Addresses, phone numbers and email addresses are provided in their 70-plus page book. IAMAT also features useful resources for preventing disease, vaccines and other travel health information.

The most important thing to remember is that if you feel you need medical care, seek it! Do not delay in your search for health care. There are many resources to start solving your problem. Pre-planning for the unforeseen emergency can be vital for a safe journey.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

For more tips to stay healthy on the road, check out Emergency Travel Medicine: 5 Useful Remedies from Easily Found Ingredients.

Have you ever had a medical emergency while traveling? Share your story in the comments!

Photo courtesy lollyknit

Late fall bites at my skin. I’m a mile from the nearest house, but the air is so crisp I can smell wood smoke drifting from the outskirts of town.

Though a long-time area resident, I’ve never had reason to explore this tract of woods until now. A shame, because the modest elevation gain, the bare tree limbs, and the early autumn sunset along the horizon make for a beautiful landscape.

Soft beeps begin to emanate from the GPS receiver clutched in my gloved hand. “Arriving at destination,” the display reads. Following the compass arrow, I navigate the last 40 feet across a small clearing and over a dry stream bed to the coordinates of the cache.

It takes only seconds to sift through the crackling leaves, displace a couple stones, and the treasure hunt is over. There it is, a rectangular Tupperware container sealed tight against the elements. Popping the top, I’m greeted with the now-familiar note: “Congratulations, you’ve found a geocache!”

History

In early May of 2000, the Global Positioning System (GPS) was in essence “declassified” by the U.S. military, making it available for public use. The following day, a man in Oregon decided to test the accuracy of this new tool.

Dave Ulmer hid a small container of items—books, videos, and a slingshot—in the woods near his home. He recorded the latitude-longitude coordinates of its location with his hand-held GPS receiver and posted them to an Internet newsgroup, inviting others to try and find his “cache.”

In a matter of days, GPS enthusiasts had taken up the challenge, logging the results of their treasure hunts online. This was the spontaneous and creative birth of geocaching.

Since then, the activity has become an international sensation. The official website, geocaching.com, lists nearly 700,000 caches hidden in more than 100 countries on all seven continents.

Basics

Most caches include a stash of inexpensive, harmless items, along with a logbook. When you find the cache, you’re allowed to take an item as long as you replace it with something of your own. In addition, you’re asked to log your visit in the book.

Photo courtesy Dave ® (was: Buck!)

Some caches, especially those hidden in busy urban areas, are so small they contain nothing more than a tiny roll of paper for logging.

A database of the world’s caches is maintained at the website mentioned above.

Getting Started

Unlike many other outdoor activities, geocaching start-up costs don’t necessitate loads of disposable income. It’s likely that the only piece of equipment prospective cachers will have to purchase is a GPS receiver.

Entry-level units go for as low as $50, with accuracy and special features increasing with price.

In addition to a GPS, you’ll need a computer with an Internet connection. Create a free account on the geocaching website in order to access cache coordinates. Next, select a cache near you and input its coordinates into your GPS.

Photo courtesy shroomazoom

Take note of any clues or other information provided by the hider, which may come in handy during your search. Also, check to make sure others have found the cache recently. Sometimes caches are damaged or lost and the hider neglects to update the listing accordingly.

Step-by-step instructions, guidelines for beginners, and a glossary of terms are also available on the website.

Don’t forget to share your experience with the community—did you find it? what did you think?—once you return.

Implications

Some may view geocaching as a mere recreational oddity, a quirky hobby riding a fad wave. But look deeper and you’ll see the phenomenon has profound insights to offer—on the modern intersection of nature and technology, the potential of virtual communities, and the future of exploration.

Geocaching couldn’t exist without the cutting-edge, satellite-based positioning technology that is GPS. But at the same time, it’s centered on an activity as old as our species: exploratory walking.

This merger of old and new, high- and low-tech, is significant. It has the potential to expand horizons, sending techies out on forest hikes and introducing nature lovers to a beneficial technology. More abstractly, it suggests a model by which high technology and the natural world can coexist.

Geocaching is also a testament to the positive power of virtual, grassroots communities. Out of the simple desire to have fun, a handful of people produced something that’s now enriching the lives of countless others.

Photo courtesy shroomazoom

In doing so, they’ve given new meaning to a technology originally designed to help wage war more efficiently, steeped in the all-too-sinister prospect of global surveillance. If that’s not evidence of the creative potential of the Internet, I’m not sure what is.

And perhaps most importantly, geocaching redefines our understanding of place. For many, the sport is less about the act of locating a hidden object as it is about discovering a heretofore overlooked locale.

Most caches aren’t hidden in arbitrary places. The chosen location is special to the hider somehow, and more often than not the cache listing will include a personal anecdote or historical exposition introducing a backstory to the cacher’s destination.

Otherwise mundane locales are given unique value, embellished with meaning, forever transformed.

As the world grows smaller, as we run out of new places to explore, we need to learn to see ordinary places in a different light—in effect, to recycle a place and discover it all over again. Geocaching offers such an opportunity.

Community Connection

Do you participate in geocaching? Is your interest piqued? Share your thoughts below!

Interesting in getting started? Check out our picks and recommendations for 5 Hand-held GPS Receivers.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/geocaching-101-introduction-to-a-21st-century-sport/feed/ 1 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-drink-mate/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-drink-mate/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:26:04 +0000 Dominic DeGrazier http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=250

Photo above by Dominic Degrazier. Feature photo by juanpol.

Mate (pronounced Mah-Tay) is the national drink of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Also enjoyed in parts of Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile, mate is a tea-like beverage derived from Yerba Mate tree leaves.

Some say mate contains caffeine, others say mateine, but either way, after some sips you will feel more awake and not as hungry. And most agree mate has healthy attributes, such as easing digestion and reducing blood pressure.
Here are six tips for drinking mate:

Photo above by Dominic Degrazier

Share with People

The tradition of mate is about sharing time with others as much as anything else. Friends, family, and/or acquaintances form a loose circle while drinking, talking, and enjoying the relaxing session.

Understand the server’s role.

In a group of drinkers, one person is appointed the server and holds the thermos full of hot water. This person fills up the gourd (possibly with cold water if in Paraguay), drinks the first cup himself, refills and then passes the next full cup clockwise to the next drinker. So on and so on.

Saying Thanks – Don’t

If the receiver of the mate says, “Thanks,” he or she is understood to be having their last turn. Some places adhere to this rule more than others, but it is a safe bet not to say “Thanks” if you are looking to drink another round.

Touching the Straw

Some servers take offense to having their bombilla touched. They are serving the mate in the way they believe the recipient will best enjoy the flavor. This rule is observed in some places more than others, but in general, if something is wrong with the mate or the straw–pass it back to the server.

Photo above by maitse.tv

Addressing the Subject of Sugar

Customs vary throughout South America. Some people add sugar, taking their mate dulce. Others prefer it straight-up, or amargo. And still others add herbs such as mint.

Many people find mate bitter the first time they drink it, especially in early rounds when the yerba is freshest. Wait for the mate to make a couple more rounds, and it will be more lavado.

Drink with Caution

Be aware of the water’s temperature. Feel the bombilla’s stem before taking a sip and notice the heat (as at least the server should have drunk one gourd before you). No mate is a good mate when it scalds your mouth.

Photo above by Dominic Degrazier

Curing a New Mate Gourd

If you have bought your own gourd and are ready to start drinking on your own, don’t do it – not immediately, anyway. First, fill the mate with yerba leaves about ¾ full and pour in warm water. Let it sit for at least 12 hours in this state. Then, rinse out and begin your sessions.

Also, never clean your gourd with soap. It ruins the flavor. Simply rinse out the spent yerba each time after using.

Community Connection

Interested in learning more customs of the region? Check out Benny Lewis’s video on Learning to Dance Tango.

To read one Matador member’s story about mate, trout, and a perfect valley in Patagonia, check out Tim Patterson’s blog, Sharing One Trout with 23 Argentine Hippies.

Goods: Feel like knocking back some mate? Get your starter kit
here.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-drink-mate/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-deal-with-haters/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-deal-with-haters/#comments Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:48:29 +0000 Sascha Matuszak http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=249 Photo by uhuru1701

Now that we’ll soon have Obama as President, my advice may be less relevant. But there are still American haters out there and you might run into them on the road.

You can use several arguments to counter the haters; I usually just smirk and laugh at anyone hating on me because I am American, but now and again you have to put the smack down. Here are a few lines I have used with some success:

“America is diverse, fool!”

This is a good one to start with because it cuts right through the bland generalizations haters like to make.

Begin with a geography lesson: America is one of the biggest nations on the planet and has 300 million people. Bring up New York and San Francisco as paragons of multicultural virtue.

Mention the fact that the coasts tend to be beacons (and exporters) of some of the coolest things the modern world has, such as music, fashion, slang, organic stuff and other fine examples of enlightened and vibrant societies.

The great city of New York. Photo by Thomas Hawk

It is always good to blame the bad impression people have of America on Texas, and then counter that with a small description of Austin. Tell haters that, yes, the Midwest can be pretty bad in terms of tolerance and such, but Chicago and Minneapolis are metropolitan cities with influence over swaths of the milk-bread countryside.

I like to tell people that in most American cities, you can have eggs and bacon for breakfast, fish tacos for elevenses, injeera with stewed veggies and beef for lunch, some pho for supper, and finish it off a dinner of some organic pasta with cream sauce and fresh sockeye salmon.

See what the haters have to say about that.

“America is beautiful, punk!”

The great beauty we have here in the US is not our cities, but the land.

Keep that old “This land is your land” song in your head and talk about the redwoods, the Cascades, the Blue Ridge mountains of the east, New England in the fall, Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, Florida’s beaches, Cali, Alaska and Hawaii, Vermont, Colorado and the Rockies, Big Sky country, the lazy overgrown South filled with peaches and willow trees and the like.

And then say: “Look hater, this is what we love about our country! We can go camping anywhere and maybe even meet up with a bear. I can drink from many, many rivers. I pick berries just outside of town. Road trips … what now!”

“Americans are friendly, chump!”

Contrary to popular belief, you will not get shot, stabbed, robbed, made fun of or ignored by all Americans. In fact, Americans tend to go out of their way to be friendly and accommodating to people asking for directions, a smoke, a light for a smoke, info on the cool spots around town and what to take on a camping trip.

Photo by -12°C

This is always nice when facing someone from Germany. Germans LOVE to hate on the US and it is always nice to have a couple arguments ready for these guys, besides the obvious WWII references. I am German myself and have spent a lot of time breaking my fellow Germans off some concerning America.

I basically bring up the whole “Germans are unfriendly curmudgeons” generalization and what ends up happening is, I say “Yeah, Americans are superficial” (gotta give your opponent something to play with) and they say, “Yeah, Germans can be pricks,” but WE are cool and represent the large part of the globally aware and socially responsible community.

Works for me.

“You are a hater, hater!”

This is what it basically comes down to. It’s so easy to criticize someone from the safe vantage point of ignorant hating, but once intelligence and critical thought come into play, all hating becomes silly and boring.

If you are meeting a traveler on the road, chances are he/she considers him/herself to be pretty smart and worldly. Appeal to this aspect of the personality and find common ground. Make a couple relativist arguments (of course after using one or more of the above) and show the hater that he is being a hater and that according to his own ethos, hating is wrong.

If you find yourself in Germany or Country-x-that-suffered-under-American-Imperialism, knowledge of history and patience may be required to bring the hater around. Let people know that, when a big international problem pops up, say Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda or the Middle East, everybody looks to the cop to fix things, then goes and hates on the cop for failing to do so.

Photo by [bastian.]

But I tend to go the other way and appeal to universalism instead of nationalism. It’s always nice to link with people regardless of what nastiness our (arbitrary) governments might be doing.

Links across (arbitrary) boundaries spit in the face of fascist, imperialist governments and lead to a feeling of hope for the future. Universalism is the one love future; nationalism is clinging to a hater past. This, more than all descriptions of America’s positive side, will be your most successful tool when dealing with a hater.

If all else fails, drink the punk under the table.

Community Connection

For more on being American overseas, check out Erin Granat’s feature article, Heroes or Hellions? How Americans Are Perceived Abroad.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-deal-with-haters/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/6-tips-for-buying-traditional-textiles-this-holiday-season/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/6-tips-for-buying-traditional-textiles-this-holiday-season/#comments Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:54:19 +0000 Marie Cleland http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=246 Forget plastic pyramids or pan flutes you’ll never play. For holiday mementos that are lightweight, easy to pack, heirloom quality and distinctive, consider traditional textiles.

An Uros Islander stitches a blanket

Opt for antique.

Before the advent of high-tech machinery and mass-production, fabrics were made by hand.

Today, even in Third World countries, the textiles you most often see on sale will be machine-made and replicated around town.

If you want a one-off blanket, shawl or rug, antique is often the way to go, even if it means a bit of extra digging.

A souvenir vendor on a La Paz side street might be selling the usual Bolivian mementos at the door, but ask inside and they might have some blankets sourced from a rural Quechua community.

Third World countries are your best bet for readily available and reasonably priced antique stock – capitalism tends to breed throwaway societies where only the best is kept… and then probably in a museum.

Have a budget in mind.

The price of traditional textiles varies widely based on provenance, quality, size, and antiquity.

How much you pay may depend on how serious a collector you are. If you’re just after a special souvenir, you could start with a colourful scarf or machine-made blanket that you won’t be too worried about if you spill red wine on at a picnic.

If you want to make world textiles a hobby, start thinking about investment purchases.

Go for the more unusual pieces– say a Berber shawl– and then try and bargain down as much as you can – more so if you suspect it’s been heavily marked up, less so (if at all) when buying from the source.

If you are with a guide or know people locally, ask them what price you should be paying.

Know your limits. Even if you do manage to track down a Moroccan marriage belt like the one you saw in a book, it could turn out to be worth US$4,000, so it’s not a purchase to be taken lightly.

Buy from the person who made it.

Aside from antique products, if you want to buy handmade, you will either need to search for a craft collective in town, or visit the homes and workshops of people who still make fabrics using traditional methods.

This can be an inexpensive way to acquire a lasting memento, and it will hold infinitely more sentimental value if you buy it from the person who made it, rather than a seller far removed from the production process.

Purchase a hand-beaded, hand-woven Karen tunic from a Thai hill-tribe and you will forever remember the beaming face of the woman who put in the hard work and benefited directly from the sale of the item.

Hammocks in Otavalo market, Ecuador

Ask the story behind it.

The attractive patterns and colours that first caught your attention can often be about more than just aesthetics.

If you’re buying from the maker, ask him or her to explain the symbolism or story behind the design.

If you’re buying the fabric in its country of origin from a store or market stall, the seller will usually have a general idea of the tradition behind it, the meaning behind some of the patterns and the regions they typify.

Delve into the story behind the attire of Amantani Islanders on Lake Titicaca, Peru and you may be surprised to hear that it’s the husbands who compete to embroider the most vibrant designs on their wives’ black woolen shawls.

Meanwhile, the neighbouring Uros women stitch folklore and tales of life on Titicaca’s floating reed islands into their brightly coloured blankets.

The author with Amantani Islanders Olga and Joaquin and shawls embroidered by Joaquin

Consider how you will use the fabric.

Unless you are buying museum quality pieces, you’re likely to want to make use of the textiles you buy.

As well as the other aspects listed here, take into account whether you actually like the way the material looks. Do you want it to have a soft or hard texture? The stiffer the wool or cotton, the more durable it will be, suitable for decorating a chair or table. Silk or soft cotton is better for wearing as a scarf, belt or shawl.

The author buying fabric from a woman in Bansko, Bulgaria

Research before you travel.

If you’re serious about buying good textiles on your travels, find out beforehand what patterns, fabrics and textile traditions your destination is known for.

Internet resources vary hugely, but comprehensive sites include textileasart.com and textilearts.net.

Otherwise, these books are a good place to start: World Textiles: A Concise History (World of Art) by Mary Schoeser, and World Textiles: A Visual Guide to Traditional Techniques by John Gillow and Bryan Sentence. When you reach your destination, ask your guide or fellow travelers the best places to begin your search.

Community Connection:

For more tips on bargaining and market shopping, read How To Rock Foreign Markets and Bazaars Without Feeling Like a Schmuck.

All photos by author.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/6-tips-for-buying-traditional-textiles-this-holiday-season/feed/ 1 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-move-to-the-us-once-obama-is-president/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-move-to-the-us-once-obama-is-president/#comments Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:35:06 +0000 Robyn Johnson http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=232

Feature by Trey Ratcliff. Above photo by Tony.

A quick guide on how to emigrate to the US.

First Step: Pick a Procedure

The United States government allows immigrants to obtain permanent residency by five means:

Immigration through a family member

Immigration through employment

Immigration through investment

Immigration through the Diversity Lottery

Immigration through “The Registry” provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act

Second Step: Apply for a Green Card

Most people obtain their green card (which signifies permanent resident status) through family or employer sponsorship, so realistically, you’ll begin your application with a petition submitted to USCIS by one of these two parties along with the appropriate documents.

If approved, the applicant must wait for a visa number to become available through the National Visa Center. When one does become available, the applicant’s last step is to apply with the Department of State at their local consulate for a immigrant visa.

Here’s a decent overview of the process.

Third Step: Wait and Pray

Processing a visa application can take years due to long waiting lists and the limited yearly admissions.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-move-to-the-us-once-obama-is-president/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-choose-a-touring-bicycle/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-choose-a-touring-bicycle/#comments Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:22:52 +0000 Hal Amen http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=244

Photo by mtsofan

Adventurers have circled the Earth on all manner of bicycles. Joff Summerfield is currently on this third attempt to tour the world by penny farthing. Matador’s own Tim Patterson prefers to pedal a folding bike with 20-inch wheels, rucksack strapped to the back.

While acknowledging that the possibilities are endless, what follows is a summary of conventional wisdom for selecting a touring bicycle:

Models

Most bikes can be very roughly divided into two groups: mountain and road. Mountain bikes are built for all-terrain riding, road bikes for just that—the road.

Mountain: general, it’s easier to outfit mountain bikes for touring. They encourage a more comfortable upright riding posture, accommodate thick tires, come with low gearing for sweating up hills, and better withstand abuse.

Tourers in areas lacking paved roads prefer mountain bikes. In addition to their overall ruggedness, most mountain bikes have front-suspension forks to eat up the shock of bumpy terrain.

Road bikes are designed to be speedy and agile. They only fit skinny tires and are not constructed to bear the weight of a touring load. In addition, stock gears on road bikes are too high for many tourers.

For those seriously interested in cycle touring, it’s worth looking into some dedicated touring models. These combine features of both mountain and road bikes, along with others specially created for the task of touring.

Like mountain bikes, touring-specific models fit larger tires and fenders, sit riders more upright, and are built to withstand the rough and tumble. Like road bikes, they often come with drop handlebars to increase hand-position options and have no front suspension.

Unfortunately, these bikes are much harder to find than their more popular cousins, especially in the U.S., where touring has yet to take off. Trek’s 520 and Cannondale’s T1/T2 are the two best-known touring-specific models in the Western Hemisphere.

photo by magical-world

Material

For touring, your two options will be steel or aluminum. Titanium may occasionally crop up—most frequently in tandems and recumbents—but use of this ultra-durable, light-weight metal will spike the cost.

High-end road bikes feature carbon-fiber frames to lessen their weight. This material is unsuitable for touring, as it’s weaker than metal and could crumple under the heft of rack and panniers.

The steel vs. aluminum debate is a heated one among tourers. While steel is heavier and susceptible to rust, popular opinion says it makes for a smoother ride. Sheldon Brown does a good job of debunking this assertion, but according to a poll on crazyguyonabike.com, 79% of tourers prefer steel frames.

Geometry

When it comes to comfort, a frame’s geometry is probably more important than its material. Geometry refers to the ratios between the different tube lengths that make up the frame.

Touring-specific frames have a longer wheelbase; the linear distance between the two wheels is greater than that of traditional bikes. Longer chainstays and a raked fork make this possible, with the results being greater stability and comfort.

photo by cincinnato

Another thing to look for in a frame is wheel clearance. You want enough room for at least a 32mm tire (probably a 35 or bigger), plus a fender.

As with any bike, it’s important to get a frame that fits you correctly. Browse the endless theories on the issue here, or simply ask a professional.

Touring Frame Features

A touring bike has to perform—handle well under load, support rear and front racks and panniers, and possess a drivetrain you can rely on day after day.

You know a bicycle was designed with touring in mind if it has eyelets (threaded holes) on the rear dropouts, seat stays, and fork. These represent the easiest way to mount rear and front racks onto the bike. The installation of most fenders also requires special eyelets in the frame.

If your dream bike is missing the eyelets, don’t despair. Mountain bikes with front suspension, for example, aren’t going to have eyelets in the fork. There are ways to get around this, such as clamp-on racks or those that run a support skewer through the wheel axle. Alternatively, you could pull a trailer instead of mounting panniers.

Another nice touch to look for is an extra pair of eyelets on the down tube for a third water bottle cage.

Wheels

The weight of your entire touring setup is going to rest on your bicycle’s two wheels. They must be able to shoulder the load.

Again, you’ll likely be presented with two choices: 26-inch wheels (the standard for mountain bikes and most bicycles around the world) or the slightly larger 700c (common on road bikes). The former are by physical definition stronger, and tires for them will be in stock worldwide.

More important for strength, however, are the quality of rim construction and the number of spokes. Dedicated-touring models should feature at least 36 spokes per wheel, four more than an average bicycle.

photo by magical-world

Components

Generally, tourers like a gear ratio closer to that of a mountain bike than a road bike. In other words, they want a fuller range of slow-speed options when grinding up a steep incline.

Unfortunately, many touring-specific models come stocked with road-bike cranksets. If yours does, and you want to swap it out, do so before the purchase. Bike shops will often exchange components for free to close a sale; after the deal is done, you’ll have to buy any new parts yourself.

Touring necessitates strong brakes that can effectively slow the heavy weight of a loaded bike. Cantilever brakes, such as those on most mountain bikes, are your best bet, the V-brake system being most common.

Overall, a good rule of thumb is to keep it simple. Opt for the tried and true component over the flashy trial model. Complex shifting, suspension, and braking systems will be more difficult to repair on the fly.

On the road, reliability is priceless.

Manufacturer

Racks, panniers, front and rear fenders, cantilever brakes, strong tires, plenty of gears, and even a front suspension are a few of the essentials that can make a bike a dedicated touring machine. Photo by vikapproved

Whoever builds your bike, you want their reputation to be solid. But even here you have options.

Brand name: Bikes sold by the big boys come with a proven track record and, hopefully, a lower price tag. In addition to Trek and Cannondale, Fuji and REI make popular touring models.

But because bigger corporations cater to the center of a large demographic, your precise needs as a tourer might not be fully addressed. Remember to factor any costs for new accessories into the price of the bike.

Custom builder: Nothing could be sweeter than sporting your very own custom-built touring machine. Have the frame constructed to fit your body, then add components as you like. You’ll pay more, but you’ll get more.

Waterford, Rivendell, and Bruce Gordon are a few well-known names in custom building.

Accessories

Saddles, tires, racks…these are important elements of your touring rig as well. However, most manufacturers assume you’re going to change them out to suit personal preference, so stock accessories are often of lesser quality than the bike. It’s easy to mix and match once you’ve found the ride that’s right for you.

Community Connection

For an in-depth purchasing guide to the makers and manufacturers of various bikes and components, check out Bicycle Touring: a Solid Setup.

And for a little inspiration, check out Matador contributing editor Tim Patterson’s blogs about his own bicycle touring adventures: give Crossing the Chic Choc Mountains or The Blue Side of Lonely a read.

Also be sure to check out Hal’s 8 Steps for Successful Self-Supported Bicycle Tours.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-choose-a-touring-bicycle/feed/ 3 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/10-ways-to-pimp-your-journal-for-less-than-5/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/10-ways-to-pimp-your-journal-for-less-than-5/#comments Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:33:06 +0000 Bonnie Caton http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=241

There’s something about a physical journal—putting ink to paper—that’s more intimate than a blog.

After all, your journal travels with you.. When you get soaked in that surprise downpour… it does too.

And it’ll be there a year later when you’re working your new job, aching for a travel fix. You’ll pull out your old journal and there you’ll be—the you you’ve come to miss—staring back at you.

So gussy it up a little. Here’s how:

1. Collages

Armed with nothing but a cheap glue stick, you can make collage pages in your travel journal by ripping images out of glossy brochures you find in hostels, tour offices, airports, bus depots, and train stations.

Things to use: tour brochures, post cards, photos, fliers, maps, shopping bags, postage stamps, beer labels, magazine pages, and anything else you can get your hands on for free.

Idea: Each time you get to a new country, leave a blank page in your journal where you can make a country-themed collage to mark the beginning of that section.

2. Fold-out maps

Mark where you’re going and where you’ve been on a map and glue the back of it into your journal. This is a great journaling tool for travel writers. If you need to reference something later, it’s right there in the maps you glued into your journal.

3. Quote pages

One fun thing to do with your journal is keep a running quotes page, where you write down funny things your travel companions say, foreign language phrases, or things you hear around you.

Another thing you can do is write large, travel-wise quotes in the front of your journal, so you’ll always see them when you open it.

4. Pop-up destinations

This one takes a little more work, but if you have time to spare on the bus or in your hostel, the end result is worth the extra effort.

Using images from brochures, magazines, sketches, photos, post cards, or whatever else you find on the road, create pop-up pages in your journal for a 3-D image of where you’ve been.

5. Stolen story illustrations

Making prints of your trip photos can be expensive, time-consuming, or even be impossible, depending on where you’re traveling. So find a few brochures with photos of the places you’ve been and rip images out to illustrate your journal. Finding good images can help inspire you to keep writing, too.

6. Sketches

Each time you meet someone new, you ask him to make a sketch of himself or something you did together.

Or, pick only one theme and sketch it everywhere you go. Like different means of transportation, for example… a tuk-tuk in Bangkok, a grass canoe on Lake Titicaca, a camel in the Sahara…

7. Rubbings

If you’re still not sure about your art skills, you can forgo the sketching altogether and make rubbings of objects instead. Just hold a page of your journal against a sculpted tile, a plaque, a relief, or anything else you’d like to capture, and lightly rub the page with a pencil or crayon.

Be sure not to make rubbings at ancient temples like Angkor Wat, where the rule is always look but don’t touch.

8. Found objects

Glue into your journal all of the things you’d otherwise lose, like foreign candy wrappers, tickets, receipts, currency, things written in different languages, beer and wine labels, wrappers with misspelled English words on them, things your friends write on a napkin, and everything in between.

If it means something to you, include it and write a story about it. You might forget you glued it in there and surprise yourself with it later.

I’ve got shells hanging off the outside of my journal, collected from beaches in Mexico, Ecuador, and Thailand.

9. Stamps/stickers

Passport stamps in your journal make a nice transition from one place to another, though some border guards might not be too thrilled about the idea. But you’ll likely find stickers and other kinds of stamps to embellish your journal pages, too.

10. Tie one on

If you’ve got a spiral-bound journal, you can tie things to the binding with ribbons or thread. Mine is leather-bound, so I tie things to the inside thread binding. I have a feather from Crucita, Ecuador hanging in one page, and a flower from Cambodia on another.

One year after returning from a trip around the world, I think back on the things I saw and did and they feel unreal. But when I flip through my journal and see and touch remnants of the trip glued into its pages, the memories are clearer. And that helps jumpstart plans for the next trip.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Check out another Notebook post, 10 Reasons To Keep A Journal or Travel Blog. Not blogging yet? Join the Matador community and start your online travel journal today!

GOODS:

Of course, you can use any old blank notebook to keep your journal in. But there are some tempting products on the market if you’d like something a little fancier.

Lonely Planet puts out a specialized journal complete with time zone wheel and glossy travel photos, while the always-popular Moleskine also offers a notebook designed especially for travelers.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/10-ways-to-pimp-your-journal-for-less-than-5/feed/ 2 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-travel-the-world-by-crewing-on-yachts/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-travel-the-world-by-crewing-on-yachts/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:08:49 +0000 Ben Keys http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=239

Photo above and feature photo by sharkbait.

If you can get some hardy sea legs, you could be seeing the rest of the world.

I could have flown to Europe.I could have hopped a budget long-haul and touched down in Cyprus a day or two after leaving Australia.

Instead I found myself diving the Maldives, dodging pirates off Yemen and sailing up the Suez Canal. Some extreme cruise ship? Nope, this was a yacht delivery.

Sailing the seas beats being crushed into cattle-class airline seats every time, especially if you’ve got some time up your sleeve and an eye for adventure.

But hold on, I hear you say – sailboats, not to mention yachts are freaking expensive.

So here’s a little tip: the best yachts are other people’s yachts. Most private yacht owners prefer to spend their downtime anchored up in the company of wives, husbands, partners or good buddies, or day-hopping along the coast.

But for those grueling trips between continents that make up a large part of circumnavigation, more help is required.

Photo by zeandroid.

Smaller private yachts in the 25-70ft range regularly engage delivery crew for longer passages to help share the workload and for the savvy traveler, this same voyages represent a fantastic way to put some miles under your belt.

Often you’ll be asked to contribute nothing more than a keen attitude and a willingness to learn.Other captains ask for a donation toward food or fuel, but even this is pretty reasonable when compared to the cost of an airline ticket.

Some more prosperous yacht owners will even fly you to where the yacht is located and home again afterward.

The trick to picking up a trip across the ocean is to locate yourself where yachties embark from

The trick to picking up a trip across the ocean is to locate yourself where yachties embark from. Several destinations around the world are established jumping off points for cruising sailors, such as Panama, Phuket, Gibraltar, Fremantle, St Maarten, San Diego, Cape Town, Auckland and Darwin.

If you find yourself in such a location, head down to the local yacht club office. Each spot has established seasons each year when sailors depart, depending on the weather and they can often put you in contact with boats seeking crew.

The key to landing a successful delivery position is to make yourself a desirable crew member.
Don’t know how to sail? Yacht clubs around the world offer introductory classes and are often thrilled to have new members join their weekend races.

There’s no quicker way to learn sailing than having a captain screaming at you from the cockpit while you slip about on the bow. A couple months of racing will have you jibing the spinnaker pole like an old salt.

Photo by freefall alpha.

At the very least, learn the basics of boating online or at the library, including how to tie real knots.
Yep, your life will occasionally depend on the quality of your knots. Learn‘em.

Alternatively, offer your new crew a unique skill. Mechanics, chefs, electricians, dive instructors, masseuses, carpenters, heck, even hairdressers, will always find themselves welcome on board.

As delivery crew you’ll almost certainly be expected to knock up some meals in the galley too, so learn a few specialties.

On board, crew can expect to help out with day-to-day sailing tasks such as maintenance, navigation, cleaning, cooking and sooner or later, unblocking toilets.

Sailing’s not always pretty and those anticipating daiquiris in the cockpit at sundown everyday might be disappointed.

But what a way to travel. Riding the wind into bays you could never access overland.Diving hidden reefs, catching your dinner, navigating across entire oceans. Watching the sunrise after a night-watch with the best tea you’ve ever tasted warming your hands.

To ensure a good time is had by all, it’s important to check out your crew, because they’ll certainly be wondering about you.

Crew harmony comes above everything else on board, particularly on smaller boats. There aren’t many spots to hide on 15m of yacht when folks don’t get along.

Almost every captain would gladly hire an inexperienced sailor with a positive attitude over a know-it-all whom no one can stand to be around.

Photo by sharkbait.

The best piece of advice I have for anyone considering a yacht delivery is just learn how to get on with people.

Throw in a handful of herbal seasickness remedies and you’re away.

Get on board.

Community Connection

For available crew positions, check:

www.findacrew.net

www.crewseekers.net

www.crewfile.com

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-travel-the-world-by-crewing-on-yachts/feed/ 6 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-keep-sober-while-traveling/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-keep-sober-while-traveling/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:35:35 +0000 Bill Wilson http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=238 Photo by Gytis

For various reasons, I avoid drinking on the road. Perhaps this is why I am frequently asked if I am a friend of Bill Wilson.

“Well,” I tell them, “I am Bill Wilson.”

Here are 11 suggestions for travelers trying to stay sober while traveling.

Photo by Kevin

1. Find and Attend local meetings.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide organization with local chapters in cities across the world.

Before traveling, check to see which of your destinations have chapters and then contact the chapter for information about locations and meeting times.

Meetings provide a space to discover locals who can open the doors to other social events that do not include alcohol. Your new friends will help strengthen your commitment to sobriety while far away from home.

2. Travel with a confidant.

Friends and family are invaluable in the battle against addiction. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to travel with loved ones. Solo travelers should keep an eye out for other members and travelers sympathetic and understanding of their cause.

3. Ready contact information.

Keep the phone numbers of your sponsor and other helpful friends close at hand. If you are traveling to a country where your mobile device doesn’t work, consider purchasing a local phone with enough minutes to get in touch with your support network back home.

4. Choose friendly hotels.

In places with an established tourist infrastructure, keep a lookout for hostels or hotels that do not have bars and are not keen on alcohol. If you know you will be staying in a room with a mini-bar, ask the hotel in advance to remove the alcoholic beverages from your fridge.

Photo by Ewan-M

5. Stick to schedule.

Try to maintain the same meal schedule and exercise routine from home while on the road and keep busy.

The more activities you have planned throughout the day, the less time you will have to think about where to get a drink.

6. Learn a couple of key phrases.

There are many potential situations where custom will dictate that locals or fellow travelers offer you a drink. A few simple phrases in the local tongue are sure to come in handy.

Learn how to say, “No thank you, I am an alcoholic.” Or even, “I am allergic to alcohol.” This should satisfy a friendly stranger.

7. Pack self-help books.

Living Sober is a classic from AA filled with helpful advice for maintaining a sober and healthy lifestyle. Any number of self help books for recovering alcoholics may suffice, provided they have reasonable suggestions presented in a readable fashion.

8. Pack sweets.

Many recovering alcoholics suggest traveling with a pocket full of candy. When the urge for a drink arises, reach for a shot of sugar instead.

Photo by ragz1138

9. Imagine the pitfalls.

Before you travel, visualize the scenarios where you may be tempted when offered a drink. Imagine, for example, the clinking of all those little bottles in the beverage cart as it creeps up the aisle on the airplane.

Practice how you might respond to your server when offered a drink with dinner. Conquer temptation by keeping one step ahead of potential surprises.

10. Make a reminder list.

Write down a list of all the positive things that have happened in your life because you have stopped drinking. In a time of temptation you’ll be able to review your positive reinforcements for sobriety.

11. Turn off the television.

The last thing a person in recovery needs to see is his drug of choice glamorized by a product placement or advertisement right before bedtime. If you must watch the tube, keep your thumb on the mute button. Advertisements are much less engaging without the sound.

Community Connection

Interested in furthering the discussion about addictions and travel? Please post a new thread in our forums, or leave comments below.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-keep-sober-while-traveling/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-take-the-bus-in-london/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-take-the-bus-in-london/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:50:47 +0000 Hal Amen http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=237

Feature photo by Route79. Photo above by litlnemo.

The bus is a great alternative to the underground in London. You just have to know how to best use it.

Strands of red lanterns crisscross the narrow alleys of Chinatown. Neon lights proclaim the latest offerings of historic West End theatres. Camden Market stalls overflow with exotic foods and fashions.

Alas, you don’t see any of this. You’re buried deep underground in the tube.

A better world waits on the surface! Those iconic double-deckers plying the picturesque avenues aren’t there simply to spice up your vacation photos. Becoming familiar with these functional and accessible vehicles is a must for the savvy London visitor.

Save Some Quid

Taking the bus is tip #1 on Eva Holland’s list of tips to enjoy London on $100 a day…and with good reason.

You could pay as much as £4 for a tube ride in Central London. Opting for a bus will cut this by half, if not more.

Though operated by multiple private firms, all of London’s 8,000 buses sport the fire-red color scheme and follow the same flat-fare system. Paying cash for a single journey costs £2, regardless of distance traveled.

Think that’s still pretty steep? £3.50 lands you an all-day ticket, and Bus Saver packs of 6 tickets (available at street-side newsstands) sell for just £6.

Photo by Mirka23.

Go Oyster

To further expand the savings, pick up an Oyster card. Introduced in 2004, these electronic stored-value passes work on all manner of London transport and provide hefty discounts. Flat bus fare for Oyster users is £0.90.

What’s more, with the Oyster daily price capping system, you’ll never pay more than £3 per 24 hours.

Cards are available online, at most tube stations, and at dedicated shops throughout the city. A refundable £3 deposit is collected for all pay-as-you-go cards.

To avoid the deposit, long-term users may choose to purchase weekly, monthly, or yearly plans for their cards. No topping up is required, as all travel within the specified period is covered.

Photo by *Muhammad*.

Single Out Your Route

Thousands of buses, hundreds of routes…a pain to navigate? No. Most routes zigzag through popular areas, meaning there’s often a single bus that can take you from A to B.

Download a simplified map showing major routes here, or grab a copy of the real thing at a tube station. They may not be displayed as prominently as those for the underground, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Some routes are more scenic than others. The 24 will whisk you from Victoria Station, past Parliament and Trafalgar Square, through the Camden High Street markets, all the way to Hampstead Heath.

The 14 connects ritzy Chelsea with Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, and the Theatre District, while you can ride the 118 all the way from the British Museum to Greenwich.

Two routes cutting through the center of town (9 and 15) still employ the old Routemaster double-deckers. Though much more cramped than their modern counterparts, they make for an authentic London experience.

London’s transport system is constantly evolving; routes can change suddenly due to maintenance work. Before you head out, browse the “Live travel news” section of the Transport for London website for the latest updates.

Photo by suburbanslice.

Decipher the Signs

You’ve picked your pony and are raring to go, but don’t get too cocky! There are still some rules of the road to absorb.

On the street, bus stops are marked by a red and white sign featuring a circle with a line through it. If the background is white, the bus will stop automatically. A red background, on the other hand, signifies a “request stop;” you’ll have to flag the driver.

Beneath this is the name of the stop and the route numbers that service it. A detailed timetable for each is also provided.

For route numbers set against a yellow background, purchase a ticket prior to boarding the bus. Machines at the stop dispense single-ride and one-day tickets—exact change required. If you have an Oyster card, no worries; simply swipe as you board.

Pre-pay buses are common in Central London. Elsewhere, you can buy your ticket from the driver.

Photo by donjuanna.

Ride Like a Pro

The model of the bus will determine how you board. Chances are you’ll be hopping on a modern, low-floor (wheelchair-accessible) double-decker. For these vehicles, you enter through the front door and exit by the rear.

Also in service, though not for much longer, are articulated or “bendy” buses. Board these through any door.

During rush hours, buses on well-used routes may be crowded, but more often than not you’ll be able to sit. On double-deckers, passengers seeking a cheap thrill head for the forward-most seats of the upper level. Depending on your susceptibility to vertigo, viewing oncoming traffic from this angle is either mundane or terrifying.

If unfamiliar with the city, check the bus’s progress against a road map, as it’s easy to become engrossed in the scenery and lose track of your position. Either way, you’ll learn the layout of the area much faster on a bus than in the tube.

As your destination approaches, press the button on the handrail to request a stop, and cautiously make your way to the exit door. Take special care when descending the staircase of a double-decker; it’s an embarrassing (and bruising) fall should you lose your balance.

Photo by Cheddarcheez.

Burn the Midnight Oil

Unlike the tube, which shuts down around midnight, London’s buses can get you home after a wild night at the club.

Some popular routes operate 24 hours, while a host of new ones swing into action at the stroke of twelve, giving you around 100 nighttime route options in Greater London. Many begin at Trafalgar Square and trace the paths of tube lines.

Night routes are marked with an “N” before the route number. Service is less frequent than during the day, and flagging is essential if you want the driver to stop. Similarly, make sure to push the “stop” button when you’re ready to disembark.

Happy riding!

Community Connection:

While you’re at it, why not learn to ride the bus in NYC, too?

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-take-the-bus-in-london/feed/ 1 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/10-ways-to-improve-your-couchsurfing-odds/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/10-ways-to-improve-your-couchsurfing-odds/#comments Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:42:24 +0000 Turner Wright http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=233 Photo by Betsssssy

Although the number of surfers seems to be growing exponentially, hosts have to be particular when choosing who to allow in their homes.

During a brief stint in Thailand, I had the opportunity to meet up with various people from different backgrounds: an Australian who divided his time between home and Phuket province, a couple from Ireland doing a backpacking tour of Asia, a middle-aged German woman who owned a house near Chalong Beach.

Together we chartered a long boat and set out to snorkel in some of the bluest waters and relax on powdery sand beaches.

One of the best days of my life.

Oh, and the people? Couchsurfers.

I came across Stefanie’s profile while looking for a place to stay in Phuket Town over the weekend. What I’d stumbled upon, however, was more than just a couch to crash on, but a guided tour of Thailand’s best islands, some great conversation from a diverse group, and a delicious lunch (my stomach still not quite used to spicy chicken and rice).

Couchsurfing, a website that links travelers looking for convenient and free places to stay with willing locals, is one of the better resources on the web. If you’ve done any major traveling you’re probably familiar with Couchsurfing, but have you set up your own profile, offered to host international guests, or slept on floors half the world over?

Although the number of surfers seems to be growing exponentially, hosts have to be particular when choosing who to allow in their homes. If you wanted to arrange for a guest to stay at your home, where would your attention lie? What information would concern you the most? Shared language? Interests? Age?

How can you best present your Couchsurfing profile, as both surfer and host?

Photo by blmurch

10. Get Verified

Yes, Couchsurfing does require you to pay $25 to get level three verification, but this is a small price to pay; you’re donating to an excellent cause and ensuring people know you’re genuine.

9. Post Plenty of Pictures

It’s always suspicious when your CSing (CouchSurfing) profile lacks any kind of personal touch; where are the pictures of you smiling with friends, family, coworkers? Let other travelers know you’re social, and capable of having fun when the occasion calls for it.

8. Couchsurf with Friends if you have no References

Plenty of people on Couchsurfing won’t take anyone who doesn’t have at least one glowing reference. Granted, we all have to start somewhere, so get your friends to show the world you are capable of crashing in unfamiliar surroundings without incident.

Ask people you know to sign up with CSing and add you to their friends list. An even better choice might be to try surfing locally. Although you certainly have a place to stay in your hometown, there’s no reason you cannot learn from the perspectives of other locals, and since you don’t live thousands of miles away, they might be more inclined to let you stay and build your reference list.

7. Allude to Exciting Travels Abroad

Sharing at least one preview of your travels on a CSing profile can go over well in finding a place to stay. Those offering to host may want to hear how the story goes.

Have you traveled where others have only dreamed of going? If not, do you know someone who has been there, or could share a story for you to tell in your first contact emails?

Photo by re-ality

6. Offer Your Couch at Home

Even if you don’t have a place for a fellow wanderer to stay the night, it’s important to make the offer; say you’re willing to meet someone for coffee and travel talk. Offer to connect them with your local CSing friends who do have decent floor space.

5. Don’t Use Couchsurfing to Hook Up

Maybe I’m off base here, but I just assumed that Couchsurfing was better than your average Match.com. Don’t post that you’re only willing to host members of the opposite sex and have only your single bed to share.

If you meet someone great by circumstance, that’s wonderful, but don’t actively seek it on a site like this.

4. Join and Follow Groups

True, you can just search for couches doing randomized searches under “Couchsurf!”, but another useful method to find or offer lodging is located in the local group listings. Each city should have its own official Couchsurfing group, assuming it doesn’t have ten.

Photo by blmurch

3. Don’t Lie

Don’t want smokers to stay at your place? Say as much. Not gay-friendly? Be honest. Uncomfortable with people staying more than one night? You’d better tell them straight-away, or you could be stuck with The Man Who Came To Dinner.

Couchsurfing is about expanding your horizons, but, when you’re staying with someone, it’s also about compatibility. Don’t put someone out by saying you’re a morning person and then party till 3 AM. Be honest as to who you are and what you want in a CSing experience.

2. Tell People When You Leave the Country

I cannot count the number of CSers I’ve emailed who haven’t gotten back to me; although their profiles mention the possibility of leaving in the near future, they forget to update that they have already been gone six weeks and are unable to host.

And the number one tip…

1. Don’t be Afraid

Couchsurfing is about goodwill, bettering the lives of travelers, and international understanding; the people are not out to beat and rob you. I can understand some people being hesitant about staying in a stranger’s house in a foreign country (especially single ladies), but CSing is not the “Casual Encounters” section of Craigslist.

These people are real, and others will attest to them. Don’t let any fears you might have show through your profile words.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/10-ways-to-improve-your-couchsurfing-odds/feed/ 8 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-move-to-canada-if-mccain-wins-the-election/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-move-to-canada-if-mccain-wins-the-election/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 06:21:21 +0000 Robyn Johnson http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=231

Photo by Lone Primate. Feature by dmealiffe

A quick guide for those thinking of emigrating to Canada if McCain wins the election.

Enter the four horsemen, one of whom bears a striking resemblance to Karl Rove, and Obama doesn’t win the election. Now what? No matter how conservative the newly-elected Canadian government might be, it pales in comparison to a McPalin free-for-all market, war-mongering theocracy. Time to high-tail it up north.

First Step: Pick a Program

The Canadian government offers six immigration programs for permanent residency:

Skills workers and professionals

Canadian Experience Class

Investors, entrepreneurs, and self-employed persons

Sponsoring your family

Provincial nominees

Quebec-selected skilled workers

Second Step: Apply for a Visa

After determining which requirements you meet, you’ll have to fill out an application and send it along with documents (such as language tests results, sponsor letters, proof of educational degrees, and so forth) specific to that program to the visa office in Buffalo.

At the very least, however, every applicant must provide a medical certificate and criminal record check, pay the application fees (here’s a rough estimate of what you might have to pay), and, later, interview with immigration representatives.

Third Step: Wait

Paying the fees doesn’t guarantee your residency and there’s quite a long line ahead of you to get into the country (Canada is one of the two top countries for immigration—second is Australia for those looking for a Plan B). The application finalization process takes anywhere from 7 to 21 months.

Editor’s Note: Please stay tuned for a companion guide we’ll be publishing tomorrow, “How to Move to the US if Obama Wins.”

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-move-to-canada-if-mccain-wins-the-election/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-protect-yourself-from-vampires-around-the-world/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-protect-yourself-from-vampires-around-the-world/#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:19:02 +0000 Robyn Johnson http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=228

Feature photo by Movimente. Above photo by Josh Berglund.

Lonely Planet and Fodor’s don’t prepare you for quite everything.

Garlic, check. Holy water, check. Crucifix, check. So you’ve packed for every contingency, even encounters with Nosferatu, and now you’re ready to go?

Think again, intrepid traveler. More than one kind of bloodsucker haunts the far reaches of the earth. Here’s the globe-trotter’s guide on how to avoid becoming the midnight snack of some of the world’s creepier ghouls.

Malaysia

Whizzing through the hot and humid Malaysian night air comes the horrific penanggalan, a flying woman’s head complete with hanging entrails. Once a beautiful midwife who made a pact with the devil for supernatural abilities, the penanggalan is cursed to detach from her body each night in search of the blood of newborn infants and expectant mothers.

Possessing the ability to float through walls and squeeze through the cracks of floorboards, the penanggalan also has prehensile intestines that leave constant sores on whomever it grasps. It’s pretty darn gross.

How to protect yourself:

Place thorns around the windows and doors of your hostel to snare the penanggalan’s entrails. If you want to get really gung-ho and make a preemptive strike, follow the creature back to its abode and wait for the next nightfall to place broken glass in the neck of the decapitated body. When the penanggalan tries to squeeze back into its body, its guts will be shredded to bits.

Brazil

Throw away your Anne Rice-inspired notions of dark, seductive bloodsuckers lurking in your boudoir, and say hello instead to the lobishomen, the hobo of vampires. Hairy and squat with a hunched back, jaundiced skin and rotten-black teeth, and frequently described as looking like a monkey, he’s not going to win any Lestat look-alike contests soon. Ironically, or maybe not, lobishomen primarily preys upon women, who become raving nymphomaniacs after his bite.

How to protect yourself:

The lobishomen’s one easily exploited weakness is the intoxicated state he enters after a nip or two of blood. Once he’s passed out, feel free to give him a stab—or crucify him if you’re feeling particularly energetic.

Feature and above photo by Brett Fernau.

Northern United States and Canada

An evil supernatural being associated with famine, winter, and desolation, the wendigo is said to resemble a sasquatch, only with an emaciated frame, sunken eyes, bloody and ragged lips, and (of course) a ravenous appetite for human meat. It also carries the odor of decay wherever it haunts.

People typically fall prey to possession by the spirit after resorting to cannibalism during a time of starvation. Then they’ll be driven insane by an unstoppable impulse to continue the bloody carnage, even killing family members and friends.

How to protect yourself:

Preventive measures are the preferred method, with ritual dances warning people of the dangers of cannibalism, since the only way to stop a victim already under the influence of the wendigo’s bloodlust is immediate execution. Always packing enough to eat for everyone, or not visiting in the winter, might also be wise decisions.

Southern Africa

A witch’s familiar handed down the matrilineal line, the impundulu inflicts an insatiable blood-thirst upon its mistress’s enemies. To the witch, the impundulu takes the appearance of a handsome, sexually receptive young man (you can see why they keep it in the family), but when out running errands it transforms into the lightning bird, a roughly human-sized rainbow-feathered bird that casts electric bolts with its wings.

How to protect yourself:

Effectively immortal, the impundulu is impervious to many customary methods of protection, except being set on fire. You just have to catch it first. Other than that, a local healer might have a magical salve created from impundulu fat that will help stave off an attack.

Caribbean

An old woman who has made a pact with the Devil for — you guessed it — supernatural powers, the loogaroo must appease her dark lord with the blood of a victim every night. If she can’t supply the Devil with the agreed-upon payment, he will take her own life’s essence in turn. Before her nightly sojourn, the loogaroo anoints her body with a magical potion that allows her to slip off her skin, which she leaves under the Devil Tree. Transforming into a glowing, sulfurous ball of light, she then searches out her next unsuspecting victim.

How to protect yourself:

Apparently this vampire has one bad case of OCD. To thwart the loogaroo’s attack, place a pile of sand outside your door and she will be compelled to count each grain. Once the sun begins to rise, she’ll flee back to her hidden skin and an unhappy Satan.

Feature and above photo by Shawn Allen.

India

Hell has no fury like a woman scorned, and this Indian vampy presents no exception. A malevolent sorceress who takes a disliking to a certain man, the chedipe disrobes, hops onto a flying tiger to the offending male’s house, and puts the inhabitant into a deep trance. While the unconscious man lies unaware, she siphons his blood through his big toe.

She will return every night until the man wastes away and eventually dies. If the man is particularly unlucky, the vampire will simply lick the victim, killing him instantly.

How to protect yourself:

Two fail-safe precautions would be to wear steel-toed boots to bed, or to be a woman. Barring that, if you feel you might be a victim of a Chedipe (symptoms include uneasiness and intoxication—kind of like you smoked too much ganja), see a local healer. You’ll be cured within ten days.

Australia

You might think that the country with the most venomous snakes in the world would catch a break in the monster department — but you’d be wrong. The yara-ma-yha-who, a small red man-like creature with an oversized head and no teeth, waits it in the upper reaches of a fig tree for its victims, descending upon them to drain their blood though suckers on its feet and hands.

After letting the weakened victim languish a bit, the manikin returns to swallow the person and then, after a short nap, regurgitate them. Usually, the person lives through the ordeal, minus a few inches of leg.

How to protect yourself:

Don’t hang out under fig trees. Other than that, it’s best to ride out the digestion process and reconcile yourself to getting all of your pants hemmed.

Mesopotamia

One of the oldest bloodsuckers of them all, Lamashtu has terrorized people since 4000 BCE. A rogue goddess described as having a head of a lion with donkey ears and teeth, and bird feet, she kidnaps children for the fun of it, gnawing on their bones and drinking their blood. Other claims to fame include causing miscarriages, polluting bodies of water, carrying pestilence, and generally being an evil pain in the ass.

How to protect yourself:

In this case, two wrongs do make a right. Pazuzu, chief rival of Lamashtu and the bringer of famine and drought, can be invoked to chase off the baby-eating goddess. What you then do to expel Pazuzu isn’t quite clear.

Photo by Marshall Astor.

Japan

You really, really don’t want to encounter a kappa. A frog-like river monster roughly the size of a small child, the kappa pulls its hapless victim into the water and then sucks the entrails out of… the poor bastard’s anus. Erk. If the person is lucky, they might drown beforehand.

How to protect yourself:

Surprisingly, the kappa possesses a deep sense of etiquette. If you have the presence of mind before being dragged to a watery and grotesque death, bow to the creature. The kappa will be obliged to bow in return, spilling the water in a special cavity on the top of its head and thus dying. It’s safe to say this guy was late when the vampire jobs were handed out.

Germany

The alp is an odd little fellow. With a jaunty cap that imbues him with magical powers, the alp sneaks into sleeping people’s bedrooms and commits various acts of scandal — causing nightmares, putting dirty diapers back on babies, and sucking blood through men and children’s nipples. It’s also not opposed to imbibing a bit of breast milk here and there. In one of its more adorable aspects, the alp can transmogrify into a cat, dog, pig, or butterfly—but only while still wearing the little hat.

How to protect yourself:

While not life-threatening, an alp attack is fairly annoying and can be easily avoided. Placing a broomstick under your pillow or shoes next to your bed should do the trick. If you happen to wake up to find an alp in the bedroom, ask him to come back for a morning cup of coffee and he’ll kindly oblige.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-protect-yourself-from-vampires-around-the-world/feed/ 4 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-survive-an-avalanche/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-survive-an-avalanche/#comments Sat, 25 Oct 2008 04:34:59 +0000 Hal Amen http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=229

Feature photo by flicksta. Photo above by wsdot.

Avalanches kill numerous people every year, but the danger can be lessened with proper knowledge.

A Mack truck of snow, cascading at 100 mph, bears down on you. The ground shakes, thunder fills your ears, and everything goes white.

What do you do?

Each year, avalanches claim 150 lives worldwide. The majority of victims are backcountry recreationalists—skiers, snowmobilers, climbers, and snowshoers who venture into unpatrolled terrain.

The good news: Most avalanches are triggered by the very people they ensnare, and can therefore be prevented with the proper mix of know-how and caution.

Photo by wsdot.

Practice Avoidance

An avalanche is easiest to survive when avoided altogether. Knowledge and experience are essential here, so before you take on the backcountry, take in an avalanche safety course.

You’ll learn skills like identifying suspect terrain. While an avalanche can occur at any grade, 30–45-degree slopes are most susceptible. Bowls and gullies are always risky.

Signs of past avalanches, such as a treeless chute cutting through an otherwise wooded pitch, are telltale. If an avalanche has run once, another is inevitable.

Slides begin on slopes, but standing complacently on the valley floor can put you in even greater danger. Pick out likely runout zones, where all the snow and debris will end up after a run, and steer clear.

Visual clues alone are not enough to assess avalanche risk. Much depends upon the makeup of the snow itself.

Snowpack is composed of different layers, some cohesive, others loose and light. A dense slab resting above a weaker layer requires only the slightest trigger to slide. Know what’s under you—perform snowpack tests frequently during an outing.

Every backcountry trip should begin with a thorough investigation of current conditions. How much snow has fallen? What temperatures can be expected? Which direction is the wind blowing? Have avalanche warnings been issued?

With links to avalanche centers throughout the world, avalanche.org is a great resource.

Don’t get bogged down by jargon in your research. This handy encyclopedia will help you keep those terms straight.

Photo by T.M.O.F.

Gear Up

Next comes the hardware. A comprehensive gear list for backcountry excursions can be found here.

Most important is the beacon, a device capable of emitting and receiving a pulsed radio signal. All beacons function at a frequency of 457 kHz, regardless of manufacturer.

If you’re buried by an avalanche, a transmitting beacon represents your best—perhaps only—chance of rescue. Those searching for you, with their beacons set to receive, can pinpoint your location to within a couple feet.

Obviously, beacons only function when used together. Make sure everyone in your party carries one, and NEVER go into the backcountry alone.

Once the beacon has done its job, long, skinny poles called probes are stabbed into the snow to determine your exact position. Finally, a shovel is the most efficient method for extracting you.

Other backcountry tools, including slope meters and snow saws, assist in your analysis of avalanche risk. None of these specialized devices are self-explanatory; practice makes perfect. Your safety course will lay the foundations, but it’s up to you to hold refreshers throughout the season and prior to any trip.

Photo by wsdot.

Worst Case Scenario

Even the best prepared and most experienced can fall victim to an avalanche. The documentary A Dozen More Turns chronicles one such story.

How should you react to the worse case scenario?

During any precious seconds before the avalanche hits, ditch your gear, which will only weigh you down. (Your beacon should be attached to clothing beneath your jacket.) Crouch low facing downhill, cover your mouth and nose, and brace for impact.

Around half of all avalanche deaths result from blunt trauma—being smashed against a tree or rock. Controlling this factor is impossible. Instead, concentrate on preventing the other killer: suffocation or hypothermia from burial.

Remain at the surface of the slide. Move your arms and legs as if you were doing the backstroke in a pool. Your muscles will meet much greater resistance in snow than in water, so don’t hold back. Use all your strength to avoid getting pulled under.

Too often, the torrent of snow is inescapable. But even buried within it, there are ways to increase your odds.

As the slide slows, punch your hands out in front of your face to create an air pocket. This must be done quickly, for immediately after the snow stops it will harden.

No matter how large the air pocket, your oxygen is limited. Remain as calm as possible, taking slow, measured breaths. Shout only if you think someone is very close, as the snow will muffle the sound.
All you can do now is wait and trust in the competence of your companions.

Photo by Lt. Pancake.

To the Rescue

Just as you’d want a capable rescuer to come to your aid, you must be prepared to do the same for a victim in your party. In the backcountry, miles from civilization, you are their sole hope of survival.

As the person tumbles with the avalanche, maintain visual contact, carefully noting their last visible position if they go under. This will mark the upper boundary of your search area.

When approaching the slide zone, be wary of triggering a second avalanche. You can’t help anyone if you become buried yourself.

Scan for visual clues first: a backpack, a ski pole, a hand sticking out of the snow. Lacking these, it’s beacon time.

Your search pattern will depend on the size of both the rescue group and the search area, as will your probing strategy once you’ve homed in with a beacon. A skilled, properly equipped team can find a body in under five minutes.

After 15 minutes of burial, fatality rates skyrocket. However, survivors have been pulled from avalanches hours after being covered, so don’t give up unless exhaustion is endangering your own safety.

Once the victim is located, dig downhill from them, exposing the head and chest as quickly as possible.

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Headed to the backcountry? Check out A First Timer’s Guide to Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding, and 8 Pieces of Gear To Keep You Warm and Safe in the Backcountry.

GOODS:

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-survive-an-avalanche/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-pack-as-much-as-you-want-into-your-carry-on-bag/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-pack-as-much-as-you-want-into-your-carry-on-bag/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:45:19 +0000 Benny Lewis http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=226 How to get your laptop, video camera, clothes for 5 days, book, and even your towel all in your carry-on, and avoid getting charged for checking a bag.

How to take as much as you like in your hand luggage from Matador Network on Vimeo.

Feature Photo by: bmfckr.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-pack-as-much-as-you-want-into-your-carry-on-bag/feed/ 4 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/13-tips-for-safer-travel-in-tough-times/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/13-tips-for-safer-travel-in-tough-times/#comments Thu, 09 Oct 2008 05:46:24 +0000 William Moss Wilson http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=220

Feature photo by lindyireland. Photo above by McPig.

When times are tough, travelers make easy targets for criminals. These precautions will help keep you and your belongings safe.

Keep your possessions in view

Photo by Oona Fay.

When you must keep important things on you, stash cash and vital documents in front pockets. Make sure you can see your bags when on the bus or train. When stowing bags in overhead compartments, place them across the aisle and a row or two in front of your seat so that they are within a comfortable sightline.

Distribute your valuables

The more you can spread out your valuables both on your person and in your luggage, the less likely it is you’ll lose everything in the event of a theft.

The Go wallet

Consider carrying an extra wallet filled with a couple notes in the local currency. If you get mugged, you can hand over the decoy. Your assailant is likely to be in a hurry and might run off with this first offering. If successful, this strategy will spare you the loss of your bankcard and other hard to replace documents.

Don’t sleep on the job

Though it might be tempting to party all night and sleep it off on the ride to your next destination, you might wake up relieved of your belongings. Unless you are in a compartment that you can safely lock yourself into, avoid sleeping on public transportation. If you must sleep on the road, travel in a group and take turns staying awake to guard one another’s bags.

Photo by numberjuan2.

Put the map in your head

Even in a new place, it’s a good idea to at least appear like you know where you are going. Stopping on the sidewalk right outside the station to thumb through your Lonely Planet guide might draw unnecessary attention.

Take the time on the bus or train on the approach into town to study a map of your destination. If possible, figure out the street names on your route and the number of blocks to your hostel so you can make your way from the terminal with confidence.

Use the hostel safe

Accommodations that meet Hostelling International standards are required to have lockers or a safe for your valuables. Use them.

Photo by Squirk.

Booze wisely

Many travel horror stories begin with a protagonist who had one too many drinks before stumbling along unfamiliar city streets onto the scene of a robbery. If possible, save your heavy drinking for the safer confines of your hotel or hostel.

Place a bill under your shoe pad

This tip comes from a veteran traveler who experienced a humbling end to a late night of club going in Havana. He was drunk, on foot, and a bit lost. His assailants blindsided him on a dark street and stripped off his jeans. They did not bother taking his old shoes. If stripped of everything else, with a few bucks under your sock you’ll at least have the cash to get a room while you sort out your next move.

Don’t walk at night

A cab ride back from the late-night spot might save you money in the long run. Most big city hostels and hotels will provide you with an address card you can hand to your driver at the end of the evening.

Photo by Ross.

Beware of crowds

If the nightmare mugging takes place in a dark alley or deserted street, you are more likely to lose your money in a crowded place and it might take you hours to realize something is missing. Pickpockets are rife in crowded urban markets, at street festivals, and on packed buses and trains because all the jostling and commotion aids the thief’s sleight of hand. Become extra alert when someone knocks into you, and try to keep your hands over your pockets in crowded areas.

Be suspicious of new best friends

One of the pleasures of travel is meeting the locals. Unfortunately, the world is full of false guides who prey on your desire for authentic experience. If approached out of the blue, be on guard for hidden agendas.

Photo by Oona Fay.

Take wide turns

You never know who might be waiting for you on the other side of a corner. In a similar vein, use peripheral vision to keep track of what’s going on around you.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide

The same cardinal rule to interstellar travel applies just as well to pedestrian globe trotting—Don’t panic. Easier said than done, of course. One strategy to help maintain composure involves periodically running through a worst-case scenario in your mind, the more detail the better.

Imagine getting mugged at knifepoint, how you calmly surrender that decoy wallet, giving your assailant every opportunity for an easy escape.

Community Connection!

Matador member Jon Brandt recently experienced a nightmare robbery on a bus in Ecuador. Read his eloquent and riveting account of the event here: The Great Bus Heist.

AMAZON LINKS:
Dopp Regatta 88 Series Front Getaway Pocket

XScream Personal Alarm

Shoe Wallet for Walkers, Runners & Travelers (Undetectable on the shoe).

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/13-tips-for-safer-travel-in-tough-times/feed/ 1 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-take-the-bus-in-nyc/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-take-the-bus-in-nyc/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:09:50 +0000 Alexis Wolff http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=221 All the tricks for getting across town like a native New Yorker.

Zabars photo by Ed Yourdon

The situation: After a morning feast of bagels and lox at Zabar’s, the
famous Jewish grocery store on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, you want to view the Wang Hui exhibit at The Met.

The museum, however, is on the East Side, and you’re nowhere near the cross-town subway. You didn’t budget enough money for a taxi or enough time for a walk through Central Park. If only you knew how to take the bus!

The background: Don’t let your days of yellow school-bus riding inflate your confidence. No matter how savvy a traveler, taking the bus in New York City is hard. The city, after all, is home to the world’s largest fleet of public buses (4,373), which run about 200 local and 40 express routes.

They’re ubiquitous, whizzing past you every which way. If you know what you’re doing they can be quite convenient, but where are they headed, and how do you catch one?

The route: Maps aren’t available at bus stops like they are in subway stations, so print out a copy beforehand, or do what many New Yorkers do: buy a credit-card sized route map, which is available at most city bookstores.

photo by picture taking fool

Although some bus routes run north to south, and others squiggle around the city in no particular pattern, buses are arguably most useful (and also most manageable) when commuting between Manhattan’s east and west sides.

North of 42nd Street there’s no subway that runs across town, so the only way to get, say, from Zabar’s to the Met, is by bus. In this instance you would take the M79—the “M” being for “Manhattan,” and the “79″ for 79th Street, across which this route runs. Likewise, the M72 takes you across 72nd Street and the M66 across 66th Street, but lest
you think you have the system mastered, the wheels of the M4 never touch 4th Street.

Always check your map.

photo by Fredo Alvarez

The bus stop: So now that you know what bus you need, you need to find your stop. If you’ve walked two blocks without seeing either a bus shelter or a tall, round blue sign with a bus emblem and route number,
you’re probably on the wrong path.

Once at the stop you’ll find a schedule (at eye level on the sign’s pole), whose times are good estimates but not to be taken too seriously. What is more useful is the time between arrivals (usually 10 minutes, but longer or shorter depending on the route and time of day). This should be the longest you’ll have to wait.

Getting on: As the bus approaches, get out your Metrocard. Yes, the Metrocard you bought for the subway can also be used on city buses.

But here you’ll dip rather than swipe it, and to avoid letting everyone know you’re from out of town, have your card ready, with the front yellow part facing toward you, the black stripe on the right-hand side and the cut-off corner on the top left-hand side. (If you don’t have a Metrocard, buses also accept cash—but change only. Another rider may also let you “buy a swipe” if you only have dollar bills.)

Riding: In the afternoons and evenings, uptown cross-town buses (like the M79) will be filled with prep school students whose conversations are sometimes as entertaining as a scene from Gossip Girl. Anywhere you ride there will be plenty of phone calls on which to eavesdrop, but if you actually want to talk to a New Yorker your best bet is in the front of the bus, where seats are reserved for elderly riders; they are less likely to be clicking away on a Blackberry.

photo by Darny

Getting off: As you snoop, chat or watch landmarks roll by the window, remember to also pay attention to where you are. Bus stops are not marked as clearly as are subway stations, and driver announcements, when they are even made, are not always comprehensible.

A block or two before your stop, check to see whether the “stop requested” sign up by the driver is lit. If it’s not, push the yellow tape running along the wall or one of the red buttons on the polls marked “stop.”

It’s most courteous to exit through the back door (as it expedites the process of people getting on in the front), but you should know that the door won’t open automatically. You must push the yellow tape, which signals to the driver that you want to get out; a bright green light is your signal that the driver has unlocked the door.

If you’ve pressed the tape and the door still hasn’t unlocked, yell up to the driver, “Back door!”

photo by Campbellism

Advanced bus taking: Once you’ve mastered bus-taking basics, you may wish to try your hand at a few more advanced tricks of the trade.

While most buses stop every two blocks, some—labeled “limited” or “LMD”—stop about every 10, making for an expedited journey. The signpost schedule will tell you approximately when limited buses arrive and where they stop.

You can also get the most of your Metrocard by taking the subway and then the bus, or transferring from one bus to another—all for one fare. As long as you swipe and dip within a two-hour window, you get two rides for the price of one.

Proud of your New York City bus expertise? Skip the $40 taxi to LaGuardia for your flight home. Catch the M60 (which runs up Broadway, and then across 125th Street) and ride it right to your gate.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-take-the-bus-in-nyc/feed/ 1 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/guilt-free-air-travel-a-guide-to-carbon-neutral-flying/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/guilt-free-air-travel-a-guide-to-carbon-neutral-flying/#comments Mon, 15 Sep 2008 05:18:14 +0000 Spencer Klein http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=212

Feature photo by Spencer Klein. Photo above by jetalone.

Flying allows travelers to go anywhere in the world, but has a big impact on carbon emissions. Here’s how to reduce your carbon footprint.

Flying is often the best option to get where we want to go. It’s quick, it’s cheap, and—depending on the airport—it can be easy. But we might not be aware that it comes with a tremendous environmental price tag.

According to environmental scientist and alternative fuel specialist, Dr. Mike Anfinson, “As far as measuring our own carbon footprint goes, it [flying] is the single-most detrimental choice we can make as travelers.”

That’s something not all of us realize. When you’re on one continent in the morning and another continent by the afternoon, there’s not so much time to think of what all those sky miles mean. “It’s a modern luxury that is too often taken for granted,” adds Dr. Anfinson.

What does that spell for the common traveler?

The reality is that people are not going to stop flying, just as they are not going to stop driving. Our transportation habits are too deeply rooted in the network of human culture.

Fortunately, airline companies around the world are beginning to take notice, offering new ways to clean up the mess.

Photo by maveric2003.

Leading the charge is Costa Rica’s Nature Air. In 2004, Nature Air became the world’s first carbon neutral airline, at a time when other airlines were only beginning to consider their impact. And they did so with no added cost to customers.

By flying Nature Air, passengers are directly supporting reforestation and conservation within what many see as the country’s crown jewel, the Osa Peninsula.

It seemed like a fitting move in the country that virtually invented ecotourism.

In 2007 alone Costa Rica hosted 1.9 million visitors, fueling a $1.9-billion-a-year tourism industry—an industry based almost exclusively around the country’s treasured natural ecosystem.

Nature Air has chosen local “conservation and reforestation efforts [within the country] as their method of compensation,” looking to protect the very lure that brought their customers to Costa Rica in the first place.

By flying Nature Air, passengers are directly supporting reforestation and conservation within what many see as the country’s crown jewel, the Osa Peninsula. In addition, all company vehicles are run on 100% biodiesel.

Silverjet, a British airline launched in 2007, came onto the scene claiming it was the first major carbon-neutral airline in the world. Silverjet reservations included a mandatory carbon-offset contribution in the ticket price. But luck ran out quickly; funding for the project fell through by May 2008.

The airline offered direct flights between New York and London before its collapse.

Photo by Cubbie_n_Vegas.

But other European carriers have taken note, including British Airways and Scandinavian Airlines System. Both have implemented voluntary carbon-offset programs so that the choice to offset the footprint of your flight is now a step in the reservation process.

In general, European carriers seem to be taking more initiative to clean up the skies than their U.S. counterparts.

In June 2007, Delta became the first U.S. carrier to offer a voluntary carbon-offset program. The program, GoZero, is hoping to capitalize on the growing market of environmentally-conscious consumers to aid a bottom line that only recently emerged from bankruptcy, in April 2007.

In addition, GoZero provides a useful carbon calculator that can measure the carbon footprint of various lifestyle choices, such as how much we drive, how many kilowatt hours we use per year, or how often we mow the lawn.

Photo by Andrei Dimofte.

So what does all this mean in terms of our own pocketbook? Probably not as much as you would think. According to Delta’s website, “On average a contribution of $5.50 would offset one person’s estimated carbon emissions associated with a 1,320-mile roundtrip flight.”

That means a roundtrip flight from coast to coast in the U.S., roughly 5,600 miles in all, would cost about $13 in addition to the ticket price. That’s not too much to ask.

How do we know where all the money goes? Well, every airline program compensates for its impact differently, but in Delta’s GoZero program, every $5.50 contributed translates to one tree planted in a protected park or national wildlife refuge—a nice answer that gives concrete results.

The Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. By flying Nature Air, passengers are directly supporting reforestation and conservation of this area. Photo by Spencer Klein.

For those who prefer the do-it-yourself method, websites now allow you to calculate and compensate your personal carbon-footprint. Among them is the well-designed CarbonFootprint.com, which will have you treading lightly in no time.

For your own consideration of what angle to take, search “carbon footprint” on any search engine. The benefit of this method is that you have the choice to decide exactly where your money will go.

One way or the other, it’s a simple choice with a minimal cost—and it can go a long way in keeping airline travel a guiltless method of getting from point A to point B. As travelers and consumers, it’s time to face up to the bill and take real measures to lessen our personal impact.

Responsibility means making real changes by voting with our dollar. Why not begin with that next flight?

Community Connection:

Not all Matador members are convinced that carbon-offset credits are adequate means of reducing travelers’ environmental impact. For alternate opinions, check out “The Truth About Carbon Offsets” and “So what’s the deal with carbon offsets?“

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/guilt-free-air-travel-a-guide-to-carbon-neutral-flying/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-get-a-knock-out-soundtrack-for-your-travel-film/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-get-a-knock-out-soundtrack-for-your-travel-film/#comments Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:38:42 +0000 Aaron Humphrey http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=210

Feature and above photo by shapeshift.

A good soundtrack can make the difference between a travel film that is a snooze and one that is stunning.

The days of sharing vacation memories though boring slide shows are long past. Turning hours of camcorder footage into something more watchable than a dull slide show, however, is another matter. The key to a great travel film is music.

Here are a handful of ways to get the music you’ll need for a killer soundtrack:

Copyrighted Music

Does it seem like the easiest way to score your movie might be to drag a few choice tracks from iTunes or a CD into your video editing software? Well, hold on a second there, Michael Bay — do you have permission to use those copyrighted tunes?

Without diving too deep into the nebulous waters of international copyright law, it’s best to assume that you can’t get the rights to recorded music unless you are willing to pay handsomely for it.

There are, however, two possible exceptions. The first is private home use, which means you’re just making the movie for your own entertainment and aren’t going to show it to anyone except maybe your grandma and cousins. In the United States, home use is considered fair use of copyrighted material, and most other countries have similar provisions.

Photo by Square Eye.

You Tube

The second possibility is YouTube, which has negotiated deals with the world’s “Big Four” record labels, Warner, BMI, Universal, and Sony BMG, to allow its users the right to use those companies’ songs in their videos. Since the Big Four have swallowed up most smaller record labels, this includes 71% of the music sold each year.

However, the record labels only hold the licenses for specific recordings of songs, and the National Music Publishers Association, which represents songwriters and composers, is involved in a class-action suit against YouTube for copyright infringement. So you’re cleared to use major label recordings, but without permission to use the songs themselves, it’s still copyright infringement. See how quickly this gets convoluted?

But even if copyrighted music was totally good to go on YouTube, there are plenty of other places you might want to show your travel movie. If you ever plan on entering it in a film festival, showing it at a conference, getting it on television or even just distributing copies on DVD, you’ll need to clear your music licenses.

Covers Of Copyrighted Songs

If you’ve ever bought a budget CD titled something like “Best Classic Rock Songs!” only to be disappointed that they weren’t the original, famous recordings, it’s because it’s cheaper to license a song than a specific recording.

The same goes for a filmmaker who records her own acoustic version of “On The Road Again” to play under video of hitchhiking across Alabama — she only has to get permission from the record company and the songwriter.

If she wanted to use Willie Nelson’s version of the song (or Bob Dylan’s), she would need permission from the recording artist as well, which is usually far beyond the budget of a backpacking filmmaker.

Photo by Rabble.

Make Your Own Music

Of course, the filmmaker who performs and records her own cover of a famous song is only one step away from being totally free of copyright concerns by writing the songs herself. It fits in with the Do-It-Yourself culture of backpacking, but big Hollywood filmmakers like Clint Eastwood and Robert Rodriguez score their own films, too.

Windows users can download the free program Acid Xpress, and Mac users can turn to Apple’s Garage Band to help create original music for a movie score.

You don’t need much musical know-how to work either of these programs, which are based around creating songs out of sequences of short sound files called loops. Each comes with a library of ready-to-use, royalty-free loops, and plenty of others can be found online.

Stringing loops together is easy as using drag-and-drop video editing software like iMovie or Acid Xpress, so filmmakers should feel right at home, and adding your own vocal or instrumental track is also a piece of cake.

There’s no reason you need to score your travel film with the music you listened to on your trip — instead, why not use the music you created while you were there?

Photo by Leo Prieto.

Some tips to consider:

- If there’s a specific song you really want to use, consider putting it into your video editor first and cutting the video to fit the rhythm of the song rather than trying to shoehorn the song in after the film is edited.

- You know you’ve immersed yourself in a culture when you’ve found the local music scene … or at least chatted up some street musicians. Ask them if you can record some of their music to really get an authentic soundtrack. Just be sure to tell them how you’ll use it.

- Why not make a music video about your time overseas? Check out these examples from Korea and Germany

.

community connection

There are dozens of talented filmmakers from amateurs to professionals in the Matador community.

Interested in learning more about how to become a Backpack Filmmaker? Check out this article.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-get-a-knock-out-soundtrack-for-your-travel-film/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/know-before-you-go-visa-and-immunization-problems-that-could-leave-you-stranded/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/know-before-you-go-visa-and-immunization-problems-that-could-leave-you-stranded/#comments Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:51:29 +0000 Buzzy Gordon http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=208

Feature photo by Kai Hendry. Photo above by betta design.

Get your head around these visa and immunization details to keep your travels flowing smoothly.

While I was on safari in game reserves all over Kenya, I was informed by my tour operator that my visa for India (which she had kindly offered to procure for me in Nairobi ) was ready, and I was all set to catch my cheap flight from the UAE to southern India.

Two rude surprises greeted me in the capital after my return however. One was a bill for $60.00 in taxi fares for repeated trips to the embassy’s consular section (which for some reason took 11 days to issue a $75.00 visa that should have been granted in 28 hours).

The second was far worse: an ominous rubber-stamped notice appearing at the bottom of the pasted-in visa:

Possession of a valid yellow fever certificate is necessary for entry into India on this visa.

With no time to do anything about this obstacle before my flight took off from Nairobi, I did the only thing possible under the circumstances: I panicked.

Then I convinced myself I could talk my way into India without getting the certificate. I decided I would try and get the certificate during my morning layover to change planes in Dubai.

English is widely spoken among the Indian medical personnel that staff most of the UAE’s hospitals, and luckily I was able to obtain my proof of vaccination with plenty of time to spare to catch my $160 flight from Sharjah to Kochi.

But since the shot costs $50, I ended up being penalized a total of about $125 for getting my visa in Nairobi instead of the U.S. The lessons learned from my brush with near-disaster are what follows:

Photo by Jeffrey Beall.

1. Plan way ahead!

It is important to know the visa requirements of all the countries you intend to visit on your trip outside your country. American citizens will be happy to know your tax dollars are at least paying for a good resource where you can find this out (and rightly so, since it is your U.S. passport, issued by your government, that determines what visas you will need).

This page will also let you know about any travel advisories (warnings about unrest where you are traveling, etc.) and immunization requirements.

2. Be ready to pay up front.

Americans have been quite spoiled, since there are agreements with so many countries that require either no visa at all, or allow you obtain one on arrival at your destination (such as the airport in Nairobi, Kenya, for example).

Still, quite a few want their visa money up front: India, which charges a basic fee of $73 for U.S. passport holders, is a prime example. (This is for a six-month visa; longer ones, or multiple entry ones, cost more.)

3. Study every detail of the visa requirements.

Photo by wallyg.

Your passport may need to have at least six months’ validity remaining before it expires; or you may be required to have two completely blank facing visa pages in your passport.

Case in point: I once saw a couple denied boarding on a SAA flight to South Africa because the check-in clerk noticed their two empty pages were not facing each other; it made no difference that the South African visa only took up one page!

Some countries, notably Brazil, have started to retaliate against U.S. citizens to protest what they consider unfair treatment of their own citizens.

Brazil officially insists that there is no fee for a tourist visa for U.S. citizens, but their website also says: “American citizens must pay US$130.00 processing fee per visa in reciprocity for an identical fee charged to Brazilian citizens applying for a U.S. visa.”

4. Get your visas lined up before you go.

Obtaining visas in the U.S. is usually more straightforward than in other countries. They are more likely, for example, to have reliable office hours. (When I was in Kenya, the Indian consulate in Nairobi suddenly simply stopped processing visas for a couple of days; during Semana Santa in Latin America visa sections may close for a whole week.)

Even in the U.S., getting a visa can take a while. In a big city like Los Angeles, for example, India requires that your passport be mailed to their office in San Francisco; you have to wait for it via return mail. That is the reason I never got mine in the U.S.; I did not want to be without my passport for that long.

If you are in a big hurry, there are travel document services that can get you visas on an expedited basis – usually for a hefty fee. And as I found out in Nairobi, even a “free” service can end up being expensive, if the expenses add up. So the advice bears repeating: get your visa in a first world country, and do it yourself.

Photo by TangoPango.

5. Make sure your medical travel documents are in order.

With smallpox now eradicated, cholera off the International Health Regulations list for some time, and most other immunizations a matter of personal choice, really the only one that matters is yellow fever. But it can be a big hassle.

As I discovered, it makes no difference whether you have been in a geographical area with yellow fever or not: Kenya – as is most of sub-Saharan Africa, and some of South America – is on a list of nations designated by India and many other countries as requiring proof of yellow fever inoculation in order to be permitted entry.

In fact, even if the proviso is not stamped in your passport, you can be denied entry: had I had an Indian visa issued in the U.S., for example, and flown into India directly from Kenya, I still could have been denied entry.

You know that question on customs and immigration forms innocently asking which countries you have visited on your current trip? If you naively put down Kenya or Uganda or anther suspect country, you could conceivably find yourself in a sudden heap of trouble.

Moreover, the taboo list can extend back a few months. You know that question on customs and immigration forms innocently asking which countries you have visited on your current trip? If you naively put down Kenya or Uganda or anther suspect country, you could conceivably find yourself in a sudden heap of trouble.

My advice? If you have Africa or South America on your travel radar (even though Asia has similar climate zones, it seems to be immune), get a yellow fever shot from a duly authorized immunization center when it is convenient for you. The good news is that the official World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccinations is valid for 10 years.

So even though the seemingly high price of $50 for one measly shot seems to be standard the world over, the amortization rate (only $5 a year) is favorable. And they throw in the yellow (coincidence?) “medical passport” for free!

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/know-before-you-go-visa-and-immunization-problems-that-could-leave-you-stranded/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/asides/how-to-rock-foreign-markets-and-bazaars-without-feeling-like-a-schmuck/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/asides/how-to-rock-foreign-markets-and-bazaars-without-feeling-like-a-schmuck/#comments Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:34:20 +0000 Meredith Linsey Kitchens http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=206

Don’t be afraid of checking out foreign markets. Great deals can be had, all while learning about the locals.

Stall stands tell stories: what grows, what people eat, how they dress, talk and spend their money. Budget travelers need not shy away from the bustle simply because they’re not planning to buy. In fact, going penniless to the bazaar usually proves more interesting than wandering with a wad of cash. Not sure what to do besides shop? Consider one of the following agendas:

Get the Goods on Your Goods

Go ahead, eyeball the abalone necklace you can’t live without. Yet instead of asking its price, discover who made it, where and how the abalone was harvested, how it was cut and carried to the market. Does it have a singular origin or will you see this same piece of jewelry throughout your travels? What should you look for in a good piece of abalone?

Query as much as you can, and do so from several vendors; answers might vary, which makes finding the truth more challenging. Later, when you are ready to purchase your necklace, you’ll be armed with information and guaranteed to grab a fair deal.

Practice Bartering

Attempt two kinds of bartering during your penniless walk: first, “get off my back” bargaining, where you try to rid yourself of unwanted hawkers. Low ball your first offer and when the vendor counters, toss out a figure lower than the first. For example, go from five shillings to three, then down to two. The salesperson won’t know what to do with you, and is likely to become frustrated and give up.

Second, practice “I gotta have this” bartering. Choose an item you have no interest in: say a Peewee Herman coaster set. Because you’re sussing out prices for something you’d never buy, your emotions won’t play a role; you could haggle all day long and not care.

See how low the vendor will go, but be careful not to agree on a price; otherwise, the expectation is that you’ll buy the item. Use the final price as an indicator of fair market value for other items. As a general rule of thumb, let the salesman declare the first price; work down from there.

Meet the Locals

Gossip, recipes and village news sell faster in the market than on the street. Take advantage of shoptalk and chat it up with a friendly looking salesperson. Inquire about his or her family, home, and work life. Ask for their favorite place to eat or how to make a local dish (don’t be surprised if they show you how to make it right then and there).

Have a well-dressed vendor explain traditional dress; ask about good hotels and must-see alleyways. If time is on your side, find a particularly welcoming local and visit him or her several days in a row. You’ll brighten their day and broaden your cultural experience.

Learn the Language

Purchase a local lexicon without spending a Lincoln: bring along a notebook, a pen and your best ear. At one stall, or many, inquire about common words and phrases in the local dialect. Start with ‘please’ and ‘thank you.’ Add ‘My name is’ and ‘How much?’ Write down the turns of phrase and practice them with your new local tutor. Both of you are bound to share a good laugh.

If they are interested, reciprocate by teaching the vendor a few of your own words they might use in their business. Enhance your vocabulary as you wander through the market: learn the word for “daisy” and “water” at the flower stand; “eggs” and “meat” from the butcher.

Set Out on a Scavenger Hunt

If traveling with others, devise a list of items you may find at the market. If traveling solo, ask people back home to email suggestions. Bring along a digital camera and capture the items on your list, one by one (be certain to ask for permission before taking a photo). Deem one person responsible for organizing the judging and a prize, be it a handmade certificate, a beer at dinner, or a group high-five.

Award points based on creativity, time spent, and quality of photos. To spice it up even more, dole out bonuses for including locals or a Where’s Waldo type of character in each picture.

Trade Trinkets

Ready to ditch your Levi’s because they take up too much space? Bring ‘em to the market. Establish their value beforehand, and what you’d like to acquire in their place. Surely, the abalone necklace will take up far less room, and since you already know the worth of the necklace, you’ll know if the trade will be fair.

Keep the item to be traded out of sight as you begin to barter and whittle the vendor down as much as you can. After acting disappointed at his lowest price, feign an epiphany, whip out your 501’s and negotiate a trade. This trick works wonders at street-side book and clothing stands. Remember though, not everyone is interested in your faded denim, so don’t throw a tantrum if your swap doesn’t suss out.

Finally, if headed out to the shops with friends, designate a central meeting place, as someone is bound to get lost. And as you walk away from the dizzying, colorful madness that is the market, count your memories—not your goods or your pennies—to validate an afternoon well spent.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/asides/how-to-rock-foreign-markets-and-bazaars-without-feeling-like-a-schmuck/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-fund-your-travels-playing-online-poker/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-fund-your-travels-playing-online-poker/#comments Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:11:53 +0000 Aaron Humphrey http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=207

Feature photo by Tiago Daniel. Photo above by nathangibbs.

Need to raise money to travel the world? Online poker might be the ace up your sleeve.

Photo by Midnight-digital.

Though I knew nothing about poker when I quit my suit-and-tie desk job, I quickly picked it up on my travels around the world. Since then I’ve played hundreds of hands of Texas Hold ‘Em and met plenty of poker players, many of them fellow globetrotters.

I guess there’s something about taking a calculated risk that links both travelers and poker players because there seems to be a lot of crossover.

Although illegal in the United States, it’s quite possible to earn an income playing poker online almost everywhere else in the world as long as you have an Internet connection, knowledge of the game, and willingness to take a calculated risk.

Is it worth it? Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons:

Good News: You can play anywhere, from Bali to Siberia

Well, anywhere that you can get an Internet connection that isn’t in the United States. In today’s globalized, wi-fi world, that’s not much of a problem.

Sites like Poker Stars, Paradise Poker and Party Poker are easy to use and offer free software that you can download and use to play against hundreds of thousands of poker players all over the world. Some companies even let you play via cell phone.

Photo by -RobW-.

Good News: Anyone can learn to be a pro

While poker involves big elements of luck, so does just about anything. In the long run, skill will trump luck in poker.

Unlike most gambling games, in poker, the axiom “the house always wins” does not apply because cash flows from player to player rather than in the direction of the house. Most casinos make very little money from poker tables; instead, the most poker skilled players are the ones who rake in the dough.

This means that poker is actually something you can learn to do well, and there are plenty of books and websites devoted to teaching you just how to do that.

Bad News: You can’t pick it up in a day

The reverse side of this is that if you want to make money, you have to actually know what you are doing. That means putting the legwork in – playing lots of free or cheap poker to practice, reading poker guides and refining your strategy. Trying to jump to the big leagues too quickly is the fastest way to lose money.

Photo by m00rango*.

Good News: You just have to win 51% of the time

Once you are able to constantly break even or turn a small profit at the virtual table, you can turn poker into a reliable source of income. You can’t expect to do it by winning a few big hands a day, though. Big hands don’t always come.

It’s a much better to aim for long-term profits by playing as many games as you can, with an expectation that you won’t win every single hand, but you’ll come out ahead more than half of the time. Fortunately, most poker sites let you play multiple tables at once, giving you lots of chances to maximize your profits.

Bad News: You have to put in the hours, just like a real job

In order to milk the most out of that 51%, you’ll be spending hours in front of the computer playing half a dozen poker tables at once. If you really love the game, that’s probably fine.

If you don’t, it can seem like a lot of number crunching, not that different from processing spreadsheets or balancing budgets. You might as well go back to the cubicle.

Good News: It doesn’t take a degree

Sure, not everyone will want to put in the legwork or be comfortable taking on some of the risks it takes to become a good poker player, but those willing to spend the time and do the work can turn poker into a reliable source of income.

You don’t need a killer resume, letters of reference or a college degree. You can set your own hours and work from a couch. And you never have to wear a tie.

Photo by stenbough.

Bad News: All you get is money — yes, that’s bad news!

So you don’t need a resume to play poker, but you can’t exactly put it on a resume either. Most “real” jobs offer some degree of professional development, career opportunities or social networking.

Some of these things do exist in the world of online poker, mostly through satellite tournaments, where players compete for a trip to play in a high-stakes game at an actual bricks-and-mortar casino, usually somewhere exotic.

The chances of winning aren’t high, though. Besides money, all you can get out of playing poker is the ability to play better poker. Considering all the other opportunities available for travelers around the world, that’s not necessarily a great investment unless you never plan on doing anything else with your life. But no one said you had to make it a career.

In the end, many globe trekkers may find it more rewarding to work their way across a country, earn their way doing volunteer work or even simply saving up for a year before taking a big trip.

On the other hand, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of turning over pocket aces.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-fund-your-travels-playing-online-poker/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/21-ways-to-save-money-on-the-road/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/21-ways-to-save-money-on-the-road/#comments Sat, 09 Aug 2008 06:22:26 +0000 Matt Scott http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=201

Feature photo by Al_HikesAZ Photo above by: Wolfgang Staudt

Most of these tips are common-sense, but it helps to be reminded. Follow these guidelines and your trip will last longer, guaranteed.

1. Be realistic.

If you want to stay on budget, the most important thing you can do is to be realistic about what you’re going to spend.

While there are always those unexpected occurrences and days when you have to let loose, sticking to your daily allowance will see you sail through your journey.

Looking after the pennies, rather than looking at individual ways of saving hundreds, is the key to making your money, and your travels, last.

2. Plan Ahead

From planes, trains, and automobiles, to accommodation and day trips, booking even a few days in advance can save you hundreds.

Always ask if a ticket is cheaper on the following, or previous day; it can sometimes work out cheaper even with the cost of an extra night’s accommodation.

3. Buy an ISIC Card (Under 26 or Teachers Card)

Accommodation, transport, museums and other attractions, restaurants, coffee shops and many more establishments give discounts to the money starved. Check www.isiccard.com.

4. Always ask for discounts

If you’re staying in a hostel for a few nights, or there is a group of you, always ask for a better rate. Bartering is a valuable skill to acquire.

Photo by Wolfgang Staudt

5. Find a good credit card.

If you’re going to resort to credit, get a card with a low (or even better–0%) rate to start you off. If you’re spending a lot if could save you a small fortune in interest repayments. ‘If you find a card with cash back,’ explains money saving expert Martin Lewis, ‘you’re earning a 1% or 2% discount on everything you buy.’

6. Check your bank.

Open a bank account that lets to withdrawal money overseas without a penalty. Many can charge transaction fees of $4 or $5. Think how many times you’ll be taking cash out while you’re abroad (now times that by ten; it’s sadly, much more than you always think) and that’s a lot of Pesos given away for nothing.

7. Use plastic.

Use your ATM card instead of changing currency and you’ll save on commission fees. Credit and ATM cards generally have a better exchange rate than at a money exchange, so you’ll be saving double.

Be careful however as ATM cards are frequently not insured if they are stolen or copied. Check your bank or insurance provider.

Photo by Fort Photo

8. Go overnight

Travelling on overnight buses or trains can be a lot cheaper and you’ll also save on the cost of accommodation and if you’re on a tight schedule you won’t loose out on a day’s sightseeing.

www.sleepinginairports.net gives invaluable advice if you’re looking for a cheap night before you jet off.

9. Camp out.

If you want to enjoy the delights of Paris a tent isn’t the most appropriate choice, but if you’re out of the city it can be a life saver. A campsite costs next to nothing (and actually nothing if you make your own) and you don’t have to worry about curfews.

www.camptheworld.com is a good start if you’re looking to escape the city life.

10. Volunteer.

Give up some of your time and you could enjoy free food and accommodation. Willing Workers on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is one such organisation; it works in dozens of countries and asks for a days work in return for full board and lodging (this may be in a barn though). Check our First Timer’s Guide to WWOOFing.

11. Shop around.

Whatever you’re buying, from flights and insurance to a new backpack, have a look at a few options before you hand over you hard-earned cash (or not so hard-earned credit).

12. Take a book, leave a book.

No backpack would be complete without a good novel, but buying the latest bestseller before every long journey quickly adds up. Look out for book swaps at hostels and you could have free reading for the rest of your trip.

Join www.bookcrossing.com and you can even find out where your latest read has got to.

13. Get Online.

Not only do you need to email home occasionally but the internet is one of the easiest and cheapest places to book your tickets and accommodation, as well as do research on your next destination.

Visit local libraries or other places with free access, and you won’t even have to pay for the time.

14. Avoid airport shops.

That goes for shops in bus and train station, hostels and hotels and while you’re on board; the prices are inevitably marked up. Buy your snacks from a local shop and it will probably taste better as well.

If you’re changing foreign currency, head into the city and avoid the airport banks.

Photo by Trey Ratcliff

15. Get inclusive ticktets to multiple events.

Many big cities offer some kind of combo ticket; either on transport, to the attractions or both. If you’re looking to see a lot in a city ticket prices can soon mount up.

‘When I was in New York’ explains Lina Vilus, an English Teacher in Colombia, ‘it cost me $50 to get into 4 museums, the Empire State Building, and on a cruise round Manhattan. I also brought a one day pass for the subway and saved well over $40.’

16. Get air miles.

Or a frequent flyer card. Not so good if you’re inter-railing but if you’re on a round-the-world ticket you’ll have more than enough miles for a weekend in Rome when you get back.

Collect Freenites points from YHA youth hostels and you can also get free accommodation while you’re there. Many hotel chains also have similar schemes.

17. Look after your money.

There’s no better way to lose all your money, than to actually lose it or have it taken from you. To avoid carrying wads of cash, rely on travellers cheques and ATM/credit cards. Carry a second wallet / security pouch to keep some of your cash and cards separate, so if the worse does happen, you won’t be totally stuck, or skint.

18. Double Up

If you’re in a group it can often be cheaper to get a hotel room between you than a few hostel beds. A rental car can often cost less than the price of a few tickets on a bus or train and you should never catch a cab alone.

Some day trips/ tours also offer discounts if you book together, so start chatting up the person next to you!

19. Avoid peak season.

Travelling at certain times can be considerably more expensive than others. Avoid travelling the day before a weekend (in many countries this isn’t a Friday) or public holidays.

When you’re flying avoid the beginning and end of the school holiday season. If you’re booking a round the world ticket consider when you want to leave; ‘Waiting just two weeks after the Christmas holidays could save you almost $500’says Jenna from STA: ‘A ticket worth $1, 680 for a departure at the beginning of January drops to $1, 110 after the 15th.’

20. Look up old friends.

Drop in on friends and relatives that live in those far-flung places and take up those offers of ‘you must come and stay.’ Just make sure you return the favour.

21. Have fun.

: A realistic budget it there so you can get the most out of your money, but don’t take it too seriously, if you want to treat yourself occasionally, go for it.

‘I spent my first month in Europe eating super noodles and never going out’ explains Marcelo Vidales. ‘It wasn’t exactly the highlight of my trip. You’ve got to remember why you came away in the first place.’

Better to have six months of fun filled, action packed adventure, than 18 months of low points and boredom.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/21-ways-to-save-money-on-the-road/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-make-travel-look-good-on-a-resume/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-make-travel-look-good-on-a-resume/#comments Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:59:32 +0000 Matthew Kepnes http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=197

Feature photo by John Wardell (Netinho). Photo above by h.dot.

Turn your travel adventures into an edge over competitors in your search for a job.

You’ve just gotten back from a year away and now you need to get a job. You’re nervous and have to figure out how getting drunk at hostels, lying on beaches, and photographing churches can be classified as “experience.”

First, breathe. It’s not that bad. You’re lucky, not only because you got to travel, but because current events have turned in your favor.

Businesses need experienced people who know other cultures, have a desire to learn, are motivated, speak another language, and are willing to move around, all of which are qualities you possess.

It was only five years go that taking a year off was considered career suicide, but now, it’s often considered a career boost- a sign of independence, motivation, and ambition. Employers won’t throw away your resume anymore because of a gap year.

But how do you turn that year into tangible experience to showcase in a resume?

1. Don’t put everything on your résumé

90% of your travels aren’t really “experience,” but soft skills you picked up on the road: people skills, confidence, and independence. Though you may be tempted to write that stuff on your resume, don’t. You’ll sound cheesy and as though you are just putting in useless filler.

2. It’s not the resume, it’s the cover letter!

Your travels are a story and the details don’t translate well as bullet points on a resume. Talk about them in the cover letter, where you can give more detail.

Explain why you left, what your experience taught you, and how it makes you a better employee. This is also where you want to mention those “soft skills,” as they require more detail than a simple bullet point expression. Discuss your travels in depth here using only a small section of the resume as support.

Photo by SOCIALisBETTER.

Tip: Regale interviewers with funny (but not over the top) stories. It will make you stand apart from everyone else. Those willing to take a chance are the type of leaders businesses look for. They want people who lead them into new directions, not waste away behind a desk.

3. Step by step instructions for articulating your experience.

Step One: Call it what it is. Many people put their trip under work experience, but since it’s not work, it’s not work experience. At the bottom of your resume, create a section called “Other Experience” and title it “(Your Name) Gap Year” and include the dates.

Step Two: Pick tangible skills. Skills that translate into any job. Like everything on a resume, this will be all about how you word things. Choose your wording carefully. For example:

Haggled over a dollar with a tuk tuk driver or tried to save a few thousand Dong off a shirt in Vietnam? Negotiation Skills.

Got stuck in an airport because you forgot your plane? Adaptability.

Had to plan, finance, and organize your trip? Budgeting and Planning.

Got stuck in a jungle at night because you explored off the trail? Self-reliance and independence.

You get the idea. It’s all about wording your experience correctly. Notice how those are all skills you can use in the business world. I didn’t put any of those “soft skills” down.

Writing “I’m good with people” is generic and makes you sound full of crap. Choose only job related “hard” skills for the resume because what you are doing is showing how your life experience makes up for your lack of practical experience.

Photo by psoup216.

Step Three: Know your audience! Only put travel on your resume if it helps explain an extended work gap (i.e. a year or longer), is relevant to the job, or unique. If all you did was live in Thailand on Phuket and got drunk then it is useless filler that will only hurt you. If you volunteered in an orphanage in Cambodia, then keep it on. If this job requires extended travel, definitely put it here.

So what would this all look like? Here’s how I would put it on my resume.

Other Experience

Matt’s Gap Year 2007-2008

• Developed negotiation skills through daily contact with sellers in markets and vendors throughout Asia.
• Learned how to adapt to unanticipated situations and improvise new plans due to periodic travel mishaps and unexpected events.
• Developed budgeting and planning skills by financing, planning, organizing my year around the world. This involved using various spreadsheets and keeping a record of expenses.
• Cultivated language and communication skills through contact with people from around the world. Learned to use non verbal and verbal communication to overcome communication and language barriers.

That sounds professional, actionable, and tangible. It explains each skill and how I developed it. Remember that the employer is going to ask you to explain these points just like they would any other part of your resume.

It’s important you have anecdotes supporting each bullet point, especially since these have no boss to confirm any of this- just your word. If you can’t explain it well, keep it off.

Use your travel experience to differentiate yourself. That’s why in the beginning, I said put it in the cover letter. It allows you more time to explain the story behind it.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-make-travel-look-good-on-a-resume/feed/ 16 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/travel-medicine-5-useful-remedies-from-easily-found-ingredients/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/travel-medicine-5-useful-remedies-from-easily-found-ingredients/#comments Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:46:19 +0000 Tamia Dowlatabadi http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=196 Being sick sucks. Here’s how to feel better even if you don’t have immediate access to medicine. Photo by: Maria Alejandra Feature photo: Rowshan Dowlatabadi, All Rights Reserved.

Remember these 5 simple but effective remedies if you get stuck somewhere without easy access to medicine.

It was 10:30 PM and the only pharmacy in the village was closed. My husband was suffering from heat exhaustion and couldn’t keep any food or liquid down.

I was beginning to worry we would have to find a way to get him to the nearest city for an IV drip. He called his brother, a pharmacist, who recommended a simple re-hydration drink made from common household ingredients: water, salt, and sugar.

The drink worked. My husband stopped vomiting, and by the next morning felt well enough to go hiking.

This episode reminded me of several other useful natural treatments made from ingredients found in households or the corner market in countries all over the world. Although most of them treat ailments that aren’t as serious as dehydration, they have all made my bouts with illness a bit lighter and my travels that much easier.

1. Emergency Re-hydration

If you are in a cosmopolitan city, you can grab a sports drink, but if you are in a tiny village, or an out of the way place, mix 1 teaspoon of salt and 4 to 5 teaspoons of sugar into 1 Liter of purified water. Use in case of vomiting or diarrhea.

Photo by Rowshan Dowlatabadi,
All Rights Reserved.

2. Honey-Lemon cough syrup or soothing tea

My mother used to give us a cup of hot water mixed with a tablespoon of honey and the juice of 1/2 a lemon when we had coughs and sore throats. A cough syrup can be made by omitting the water.

3. Salt water gargle or sinus cleanser

To treat a sinus infection, mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt with 1/2 cup of water (some people add a little baking soda as well). If you don’t have a dropper, you can just pour it into your nostrils (one at a time) and snort it into the sinuses. It’s not comfortable but it works. Salt water can also be used as a gargle to treat a sore throat.

4. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Baking soda has many uses. I thought of it recently because I knew it could be used as an antacid (and is often used as an ingredient in commercial antacids). Mix 1/2 teaspoon with 1/2 glass of water.

You can find baking soda in the baking section of markets, often in little single serving packages under names like karbonat or biocarbinato.

You can also look for the chemical formula, NaHCO3.

It is worth keeping some on hand since mixed with water into a paste it can relieve insect bites or bee stings (remove stinger first), or be used as toothpaste in a bind. Pregnant women should not drink baking soda and water.

5. Mint tea

So far I seem to have encountered some form of mint in most of the countries I’ve been to. Boil a handful of leaves in hot water (or use the dried herb). This is a great treatment for an upset stomach as well as a refreshing drink.

All of the above treat fairly mild ailments. Should the problem continue or worsen, one should seek medical attention.

Sometimes, your illness just requires rest, often a difficult thing to achieve as one races from activity to activity and place to place. Remember, rest a day now and recover sooner rather than delay and spend a week in a hospital.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/travel-medicine-5-useful-remedies-from-easily-found-ingredients/feed/ 3 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-handle-gettin-a-visa-when-youre-already-living-abroad/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-handle-gettin-a-visa-when-youre-already-living-abroad/#comments Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:30:16 +0000 Turner Wright http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=195

Photo by pauldavidson

Feature photo by brunogirin

Already living abroad or traveling long-term? Heres how to handle getting a visa in a country far from your native land.

When I decided to end my residency in Japan and travel to Thailand to work with a volunteer program, I knew the requirements for securing the proper visa, a non-immigrant type O:

One designated application form signed with the same signature as appears on passport

Passport (original & copy) with validity over 6 months

One photo size 4.5 x 4 cm, color or black & white

Airline ticket or flight confirmation sheet (original & copy)

Recommendation letter from institute in Japan (original in English)

Invitation letter from institute in Thailand

Registration document of an institute in Thailand

What I failed to understand, however, was just how opposed the Royal Thai Consulate-General of in Japan was to me getting a visa into Thailand.

As an American citizen, I could buy one on arrival for 30 days, but if I chose to stay with the volunteer program for longer, I’d either have to leave and reenter the country or extend my visa with a local immigration office.

This being the less favorable of the two options, I needed to travel from Kagoshima to Osaka (five hours by train, and quite expensive), stay overnight for processing, and return the following day.

I arrived in Osaka and, within twenty minutes of stepping off the train, applied with the consulate. Having presented all documentation, I was told everything was in order, with the exception of the registration document.

I contacted my organization, and had them fax a different registration document to me. The next day, I applied again, only to be told that all the documents were in order, with the exception of the “corrected” registration document, which apparently was not the correct format: the copy my organization had provided was the official notification from the Thai government, but did not contain a statement of purpose.

I later found out such a document never existed.

Photo by liveu4

Lacking the paperwork to even have my application accepted, I returned to Kagoshima and was informed, upon consultation between the Royal Thai Consulate-General Osaka and the manager of my volunteer organization, that it would be in my best interest to forgo the traditional volunteer visa and just apply for a two-month tourist visa.

A few weeks later, I returned to Osaka (again, expensive train fare) and applied for a two-month tourist visa, only to be told that my recommendation letter from a Japanese institute, which had previously been deemed acceptable by the consulate, was now unacceptable for some reason (the reason being a different consulate officer was working that day and had his own ideas of what was necessary).

When it comes to Japanese bureaucracy mixed with the paperwork usually associated with government visas, you should always be aware that, regardless of location, you may not get what visa you want on the first attempt.

Upon learning this, the visa section receptionist suggested I again return to Kagoshima and have the document rewritten… at whose expense, I might ask?

Long story short? I applied for the same visa at the Thai consulate in Beijing and had it processed in three days for a lesser price, and with no hassles.

When it comes to Japanese bureaucracy mixed with the paperwork usually associated with government visas, you should always be aware that, regardless of location, you may not get what visa you want on the first attempt.

Or the second. Or the third. There are some consulates and embassies that are rigorous about having you dot every last “i” or leave no ink outside the black boxes. Others might behave differently according to the day, the person working, the weather, your clothes, your breath, the political situation, even a butterfly flapping its wings.

6 Tips for obtaining visas when you’re living abroad.

1. Consult the embassy or consulate website to obtain a list of precisely what you need.

Better yet, find someone who has gone through the procedure – a friend of the same nationality or a detailed blog writeup.

Most foreign embassies and consulates provide English instructions when it comes to visa procedures, but there are some that don’t – if you’re unclear as to what’s required when you walk in that door, you should…

2. Bring every single piece of government-issued paperwork you have on hand.

When you’re dealing with bureaucracy, expect the unexpected. I don’t think you’ll have to send for anything in particular from home, but if you have it with you, bring it: diploma; copy of diploma; passport and copy; alien registration card; travel documents; regulation-size photos; any information you have received about where you’re going and what you’re planning to do.

Photo by electrostatico

3. Consider location a major factor.

Not all of us live in capital cities or even urban areas. Just as I had to pay thousands of Yen in travel expenses, so might you have to commute for hours or even days when applying for a foreign visa.

Although it’s unwise to put off applying for visas until the last possible second, doing so might save you something; if you have to travel to a large city to fly out anyway, you might as well time your visa run for a few days before departure.

Check to see if mail-in applications are accepted, or if a legal representative can present your passport and apply for you.

This includes the physical location of the embassy or consulate, which can be in some obscure areas; the American embassy in Beijing is located just behind the silk market, the Thai consulate on the 15th floor of an office building. They’re not always in plain view or readily accessible.

4. Consider processing time.

Whether you’re in a tight crunch between layovers, or you have plenty of days to locate the embassy and go over what’s needed, be careful. Say you’re planning a flight to Washington DC and have exactly three days to obtain your visa to Vietnam… what if the flight is delayed by 12 hours?

Can you still travel if your application is delayed or rejected? Can you pay extra to have the visa processed on the same working day?

5. Find out if there are other options.

Visas on Arrival

Depending on your nationality and where you’re headed, some countries do not require visas (for example, most people can enter Hong Kong for 30 days without a visa) or will allow you to purchase one when you land.

Online Visa Applications

Not a bad idea, but I can understand if you’re a bit weary about giving out so much personal information online. Services like this will always cost more than you simply doing it in person.

Legal Representatives

If you’re unwilling to travel 1000 km to the nearest embassy, you might be able to appoint a legal representative to present your passport on your behalf.

This can be a friend whom you’ve given legal authority, or a paid service by a law firm.

6. Use the political muscle of your Senator or Representative.

Have a friend who holds some kind of elected office back home?

Even if not, you can still request a letter of assistance from your US representative. Contact the office of your favorite Congressperson.

An endorsement, or even a letter showing some kind of loose support from someone in office can reduce processing times and open doors.

It’s all about presenting that official government letterhead. Now the emassy isn’t just dealing with you; someone from your government is watching as well.

Community Connection

Interested in getting more information about visas from travelers living in different countries around the world?

Contact them directly and ask about their experiences by searching for travelers in the destinations page at Matador.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-handle-gettin-a-visa-when-youre-already-living-abroad/feed/ 0 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/featured/top-31-travel-scholarships-fellowships-and-grants-to-fund-your-next-trip-abroad/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/featured/top-31-travel-scholarships-fellowships-and-grants-to-fund-your-next-trip-abroad/#comments Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:11:17 +0000 Emma Jacobs http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=191

Feature photo by Zador Spanish schools Spain. Photo above by Mike Rollinger.

If you’re a student, it can pay to travel! Opportunities abound to fund all kinds of journeys.

Do your have a worthwhile project or field of study that involves traveling? If so, consider having your travels funded through a grant, fellowship, or travel scholarship.

Begin by contemplating where you want to go and potential projects you could build around those destinations. (Or vice versa.) Always wondered how sustainable agriculture works in Guam? How about local conservation practices in Central America? Once you have a clear vision of a travel / research project, begin looking for funding possibilities that give you the most freedom to pursue your goals.

When applying, take advantage of the resources and support systems you have. Your school, present or past, will have an adviser who can help you navigate the application process.

Writing grant proposals can take a lot of time, but good advice can help focus your efforts. Your school or area may even offer their own scholarship opportunities–talk to your department or your study abroad office.

Finally, even if funding from your school or other org close to home isn’t an option, you’ll find lots of other opportunities out there to fund your travel / project.

Major Grants

These are highly sought-after, competitive post-college grants that offer a full ride for a year or two of graduate study overseas.

Marshall Scholarship fully funds 2-3 years of graduate study in the UK. Open to US students finished with or finishing college.

Rhodes Scholarship funds two years of graduate study at Oxford. Includes full tuition and expenses and living stipend.

Fulbright offers year-long fellowships to American graduating seniors, grad students, young professionals and artists for study abroad or to teach English abroad. Program requirements vary by destination.

Posing at the Louvre. Photo by marshlight.

Watson Fellowship funds one year of independent research. $25,000. Open to graduating seniors from participating, small American colleges.

Program-based funding

These include grants tied to participation in the giver’s program, and can take various forms.

Institute for International Public Policy Fellowships is a five year program with study abroad component to prepare underrepresented minority undergrads for careers in international affairs. Open to US citizens or permanent residents who apply sophomore year.

Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships multi-year program also for women and members of minorities underrepresented in foreign service. Open to US citizens to apply by Feb. of sophomore year. Foreign service commitment.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a State Department program supporting study abroad. Up to $5000 offered to enrolled students with financial need.

Rotary Ambassadorial and World Peace Scholarships fund study and language training abroad for undergraduates and masters degrees for graduate students in international studies, peace studies, and conflict resolution to be completed at one of seven Rotary Centers. Ambassadorial grants from $11000 to $24000 depending on duration of study.

Fogarty-Ellison Overseas Fellowships in Global Health and Clinical Research from the NIH funds one year of clinical research training abroad. $25,000 plus $6000 for additional travel and materials expenses. Open to graduate students in health professions.

CIEE Scholarships offers several grants to participants in CIEE’s study abroad programs. Certain grants fund study in particular regions. Essay required upon return. Must demonstrate financial need.

AIFS Scholarships offer a variety of grants covering up to full tuition and airfare for individuals in AIFS programs.

SIT Scholarships fund participation in SIT program. $500 to $5,000. Based on financial need.

Buenos Aires. Photo by Rob Paetz. –Do you have a beneficial project in mind but can’t afford traveling? Find the funds. They’re out there.

Hispanic Study Abroad Scholars reduces costs of Global Semesters programs. Open to students attending member institutions of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

Institute for International Public Policy Fellowship is a multi-year program of summer institutes and study abroad. Funds up to 1/2 of junior year study abroad tuition. Open to underrepresented minorities.

Regional Grants

These grants are tied to study or travel in specific regions or countries of the globe.

NSEP David L. Boren Scholarship pays for undergraduate students to study in understudied areas of interest to national security. $8000 to $20000 depending on duration of study. Comes with federal government service requirement.

NSEP Boren Fellowship for graduate students. $12000 to $30000 maximum award. Federal service requirement.

Critical Language Scholarships for Intensive Summer Institutes funds study of a list of lesser-studied languages. Covers all program costs. Open to US citizens enrolled in a college or university.

The Killam Fellowships Program fund semester or academic year study in Canada. $5000/semester plus a travel allowance. Open to US or Canadian undergraduates.

George J. Mitchell Scholarship sponsors one year of graduate study at an Irish University. Funded by the US-Ireland Alliance. Includes tuition and stipend. Open to American citizens, ages 18 to 30.

Slovakia, Bratislava. Photo by Rob Paetz.

BUTEX Scholarships offer $1000 for US students accepted to study at a member University of the British Universities TransAtlantic Exchange Association. Simple application due by September 1.

American-Scandinavian Foundation Awards for Study in Scandinavia offer fellowships of up to $23000 and grants of $5000 to fund study or research. Open to college graduates.

DAAD Fellowships from The German Academic Exchange offers a range of study and research grants to undergraduates and graduate students for summer or school-year study in Berlin.

Kress Travel Fellowships in the History of Art funds research in Europe towards dissertation. $3500 to $10,000. Open to American pre-doctoral students in art history

IREX Short Term Travel Grants Program Fellowships for researchers holding graduate degrees for up to eight weeks in Eurasia. Research must be broadly related to policy concerns.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia supports study in Asia for students demonstrating financial need. $3000-$7000 based on the duration of study. Open to undergraduates with little to no experience in country of travel.

Bridging Scholarships are offered by the Association of Teachers of Japanese , to fund travel and living expenses for academic study in Japan. Grants range from $2500 to $4000.

Monbusho Scholarships available to current and graduated students between 18 and 30. Funded by the Japanese government. Short term exchange program of particular interest to current undergrad and grad students.

Huayu Enrichment Scholarship for Mandarin language study in Taiwan. Stipend of approx US$790/month. Open to overseas students who apply through their local Taiwan representative.

Halide Edip Adıvar Prize For current undergraduates who have not studied Turkey. $1000. Open to American and Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Other funding

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants towards study abroad. $1000. Open to all students of universities with a Phi Kappa Phi chapter.

NSF: Developing Global Scientists and Engineers offers funds for international research and study to undergrads, grad students and doctoral students in science and engineering fields. Grant

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/featured/top-31-travel-scholarships-fellowships-and-grants-to-fund-your-next-trip-abroad/feed/ 4 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-become-a-canal-boat-captain-in-europe/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-become-a-canal-boat-captain-in-europe/#comments Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:01:49 +0000 Craig Martin http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=190

Photo by ptomlins

Feature photo by abmiller99

Ever wanted to try floating 50 tons of steel down a narrow canal?

Summer is the time to hit the waterways of Europe and here is how to do it.

Listen to this short podcast to find out what qualifications you need to put a boat in the water.

ICC training centres in Britain can be found through the Royal Yachting Association.

Testing in a foreign language is difficult, but if you are multilingual you should be able to find a CEVNI/ICC testing centre in a canal near you!

If, like most of us, you can’t afford the rental costs associated with canal boating, gather some ideas for working along the canals of France and the rest of Europe. Why not try finding work on the water by working as a lock-keeper or working on a hotel barge?

This can be a great way to meet new people, hone your language skills and still enjoy the slow, relaxing life of a canal boat.

Enjoy more podcasts by checking out the traveler’s notebook on iTunes.

]]> http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/how-to-become-a-canal-boat-captain-in-europe/feed/ 1 00:01:01 Photo by ptomlins Feature photo by abmiller99 Ever wanted to try floating 50 tons of steel down a narrow canal? Summer is the time to hit the waterways ... Photo by ptomlins Feature photo by abmiller99 Ever wanted to try floating 50 tons of steel down a narrow canal? Summer is the time to hit the waterways of Europe and here is how to do it. Listen to this short podcast to find out what qualifications you need to put a boat in the water. ICC training centres in Britain can be found through the Royal Yachting Association. Testing in a foreign language is difficult, but if you are multilingual you should be able to find a CEVNI/ICC testing centre in a canal near you! If, like most of us, you can't afford the rental costs associated with canal boating, gather some ideas for working along the canals of France and the rest of Europe. Why not try finding work on the water by working as a lock-keeper or working on a hotel barge? This can be a great way to meet new people, hone your language skills and still enjoy the slow, relaxing life of a canal boat. Enjoy more podcasts by checking out the traveler's notebook on iTunes. How,To,,Podcasts Matador Podcasters no No http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/easy-riding-how-to-travel-by-motorcycle-and-escape-the-crowds/ http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to/easy-riding-how-to-travel-by-motorcycle-and-escape-the-crowds/#comments Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:00:21 +0000 Rhys Stacker http://thetravelersnotebook.com/?p=158

Photo by Rhys Stacker

Motorbikes and freedom are synonymous. In films like Easy Rider and The Motorcycle Diaries, they’re not just two wheels taking the characters from point A to B, but vehicles propelling them on a journey of self-discovery.

Which is why they make such an attractive option for travelers. After all, independence, getting off the beaten track and self-discovery are much of why we’re traveling in the first place.

Motorbikes give you access to places that may not be on bus routes. They allow you to sidestep the chore of negotiating with tuk tuk drivers for every little trip.

You can take them far away from the usual tourist bus routes and therefore far away from the tourists. Best of all, there’s nothing quite like blatting down a deserted road with the wind in your hair.

Obtaining a bike

For most travelers, renting is the easiest option. Depending on the country it could be as simple as showing your passport details and handing over a fistful of US dollars (Vietnam or Cambodia) or a more thorough process of proving you have both an international drivers license and, in the case of a proper motorbike, the relevant license from back home for the class of bike you’re renting.

In most cases renting a clutchless scooter will only require a regular car license. Check over the bike thoroughly and record, in writing, any damage already on the bike.

Photo by Rhys Stacker

At the controls

Never ridden a motorbike before? If you can ride a bicycle you can probably handle a scooter. These 50cc or 100cc machines are light, relatively low powered, stable and easy to learn on. Automatic models are the simplest as you only need twist the throttle and go.

If you’re learning, avoid the big cities and instead try the smaller towns in rural and coastal areas as there’ll be less traffic to worry about.

For first-timers interested in riding a traditional motorcycle, a pre-trip motorcycle safety course is a wise investment. In the US, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers intensive courses that take you from never having ridden a bike to mastering the maneuvers you need for passing the state license test, and beyond.

Rules of the road

You’ll probably be familiar with the rules of most Western countries (apart from perhaps getting used to driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road) but its the developing world that can be tricky.

In brief: small gives way to big. On the pecking order motorbikes are just above bicycles and pedestrians but below cars, trucks and buses.

Anticipation is also essential. In many places (yes I’m looking at you, Indonesia) you may have to give way to traffic pulling off on a side road. Don’t be afraid to use your horn.

Rather than an act of aggression, its seen as a friendly warning in Asia. It feels a bit weird at first, but it soon becomes reflexive.

Photo by Rhys Stacker

Safety first

Just because you’re away from home it doesn’t mean the rules of physics, fate or just plain bad luck don’t apply. Riding a motorbike can be dangerous. But it’s also a lot of fun.

To ensure it’s the latter take it slow, anticipate the traffic and always wear a helmet. If you are going to be doing lots of highway riding then consider bringing your own helmet from home.

If you’re riding long distances in the tropics it may be too hot to wear full leathers, but consider wearing some sort of body armour.

When things go wrong

Flat tires were the most common problem I encountered in four months of riding in Asia, but that was mostly my fault for going off road on a 100cc scooter. It was simple enough to get it fixed by a roadside mechanic.

Anything more serious enters a bit of a grey area. If you’ve rented the bike, you shouldn’t have to pay for major mechanical repairs, but if you get stuck in the middle of nowhere it may be better to pay a local mechanic to get you going again rather than leave the bike.

The best advice is to have the contact details of the bike owner handy and agree in advance what to do if the bike breaks down.

Hitting the open road

An extended motorbike tour is the ultimate if you really want to escape the crowds. Renting a bike is still the easiest solution for short to medium term tours and with a reputable hire shop you’ll benefit from their experience and recommended routes.

Weight is the biggest enemy of the touring motorcyclist but in many countries with an established bike culture, such as Italy or Thailand (or even Laos), both accommodation and repair shops are available on the main touring routes.

It’s only if you’re getting off the beaten track that you’ll need to pack a tent, spare tubes, tires, spare parts and more. And if you’re not confident enough to go it alone, there are plenty of options to take a guided tour or even ride pillion.

The Easy Rider motorbike guides in Vietnam’s central highlands are one of the best, taking travelers on multi-day trips north from Dalat along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Great motorbike touring routes in Asia

Koh Lanta, Thailand

Who said motorcycle touring has to be a hardcore, pan-American Highway deal? Short can be sometimes sweet and riding the length of Koh Lanta’s western coastline is certainly great fun.

The newly cemented road is wide and relatively free of traffic. From the port town of Saladan in the north the road takes you past the white sand beaches and then into swooping turns up and down the forested cliffs that cover the southern part of the island.

The only difficult part if deciding which beach bar to stop at for lunch and fruit smoothies.

Photo by Rhys Stacker

Hoi An to Hue, Vietnam

Separating these two historic, picturesque Vietnamese towns is the legendary Hai Van Pass, a steep, forested mountain range that, geographically, divides tropical southern Vietnam from the slightly cooler north.

At just 120 kms its an easy day’s ride. Be sure to stop in at the Marble Mountains south of Da Nang (you can’t miss them) to check out the temple caves and the panoramic view of the area. Da Nang itself isn’t the most picturesque city so keep moving until you reach the beginning of the Hai Van Pass.

The recent construction of of the Hai Van Tunnel through the mountain means the mountain road is mostly free from trucks and buses, leaving you to enjoy the scenery and the sweeping turns on the downhill run into Lang Co.

While not essential, the bike will be handy for sightseeing in Hue as the city is quite spread out on both sides of the Perfume River.

Community Connection

Various members of the Matador community travel by motorcycle. Check out Salcar’s blog about a Che Guevara-inspired tour of Latin America combining motorcycle access to super remote areas with a broad investigation of healthcare (or lack thereof) available to local peoples.

One of the best resources for those interested in touring is the forum at advrider.

Finally please stay tuned to MatadorTrips.com for an upcoming offering of the best motorcycle tours through Asia.

Brazilian boys dancing Capoeira in Norway. Photo: Children At Risk Foundation – CARF. Great podcasts opens windows to people’s lives through audio. What if you could hear these children’s voices, the music they are dancing to?

Successful podcasts are personal, entertaining, informative and engaging. Are yours? Here are some things to think about:

Overall Tone

A personal, and sometimes informal tone differentiates most podcasts from commercial radio. As with any publication, it’s important to know your audience, and some of the most commonly-heard pieces of feedback Linda and I receive on the Indie Travel Podcast is that people appreciate our laid-back, informal style.

Music

Many podcasters use music to good effect. It adds lift and energy to your show. However it can be a annoyance if it’s too loud in comparison with your speech: make sure you balance it well.

Too much or poorly mixed music (common mistake: the music is mixed too loudly) can be a serious deterrent to people listening to your show: people are more likely to skip the track rather than fast-forward through it. When using music during the show think about how it helps you communicate: linking, expanding, adding emotional value.

Theme

Creating a theme for your show gives a professional touch and a familiar point of entry for listeners. This can either be taken from an existing song or, like the Amateur Traveler, custom made.

A common added-value touch is introducing your audience to a new song or new band each episode. A popular marketplace for this is the Podshow Podsafe music network where, after registering your feed and details, you can listen to and download music with creative commons copyright licenses.

Stock sound effects are available for download and use from numerous websites. When choosing them you may have to pay a download fee, but ensure that the sound is “royalty free”. This means you don’t need to pay each time you use it.

When adding music to your show, think about the extra time it will take to produce the show and always respect copyright.

Matador Podcasts: A style guide

The following style guide is aimed as a help for producing podcasts for the Matador Travel network. These are just the basics, however. Many points are worth considering when creating podcasts for other markets.

1. Length

Matador podcasts should be between two to five minutes in length. If you feel you need more time to treat a subject, please check with your editor beforehand.

2. Intros and Outros

Thanks to syndication technologies, media portals and content theft you never know where your podcast is going to end up. Because of this we recommend beginning and ending each episode with your name, the episode title and a mention of the website you’re producing for.

An example introduction:

“Hello and welcome to my third travel photography podcast here on the traveler’s notebook. I’m Ryan Libre.”

An example outro:

“This has been Craig Martin with how to drink wine like a pro for the Traveler’s Notebook dot com.”

2. Informative

Whether you are creating an audio tour, a profile or a how-to, the Matador network aims to connect listeners to people, places, organizations, information, and opportunities that will affect positive change around the world. Make sure your podcast invites the listener to explore new places or communities and gives him or her the resources to do so.

3. Green

Matador is dedicated to promoting and protecting local communities and to drawing attention to issues threatening the health of their watersheds, ecosystems, and overall sustainability. Whenever appropriate, please give green and/or local options for transport, lodging, restaurants, activities, etc., and, if possible, celebrate positive changes taking place in the areas your are covering. Help us protect and preserve the places we visit.

4. Personal

Above all, Matador is a community of travelers. Make sure you engage with us! Ryan Libre does a great job of this in his photography series by making us jealous of where he is whilst giving some background on the places he’s recording from.

5. ID3 Tags

As a minimum requirement, please fill in the following fields:

Name: The track title
Artist: Your name
Year: Year of production
Album: Name of the site you’re producing for. E.g. The Traveler’s Notebook
Comments: Notes on the show. At least:

Produced by [your name] for [site URL].

Genre: “Podcast”
Artwork: Save the icon below and use it as your art (400×400px please):

This is part three in a series on beginning travel podcasting. Part one deals with hardware and software options, whilst part two gives tips for improving the quality of your recording.

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.

Photo by Mark Shea

Being paid to travel the world with your camera, filming exotic locales and meeting interesting people sounds great. But what is the reality of travel film making?

We talk to Mark Shea of overlander.tv, one of the new breed of filmmakers exploring the internet as a medium for displaying work.

Can you tell us about your own videos Mark, what you like making?

I’ve always enjoyed documentaries, real life, knowing how things work.

I was sick of seeing celebrity driven travel programs that were nothing more than ads for the hotels etc featured in them. I wanted to get under the surface of a location, so I devised the ‘Meet a Local’ concept, whereby I interview a local person.

I think the media portray certain regions of the world with unfortunate stereotypes. “Poor, war-torn” Africa. The Middle East, “full of terrorists.” What I want to do with my ‘Meet a Local’ concept is show viewers the wonderful diversity of the world’s cultures, but also how we are all still the same, and travelers can find hospitality anywhere.

You call your style ‘backpack filmmaking’, a one-man crew who does it all. How do you go about finding your stories?

I arrive in a location, and usually set myself a challenge of finding a story within 3-4 days. Sometimes I might have a theme related to the location, but other times I have no idea what I am going to do a story about. I really love this aspect of my work, leaving it up to chance, just seeing what eventuates.

But your work is based so much on meeting locals, how do you go about meeting people in locations where you don’t know anybody?

I get out there, in the bars and on the streets. I talk to as many people as I can, trying to get a feel for what story would best represent the location I am in. I also use the internet, sites like couchsurfing.com and hospitalityclub that encourage friendships between locals and visitors.

This is particularly handy in countries where I don’t have a good grasp on the local language. Because people on these sites list the languages they speak, so I can seek out bi-lingual locals, to help me in my search for great stories.

Photo by Mark Shea

Your concept is quite unique. Do you think there are opportunities for wannabe travel filmmakers to do their own shows?

There is probably no better time to try your hand at travel video or any video endeavors for that matter. Technological advances have made it easy, all you need is a laptop and a video camera, an internet connection, and you can upload your work to YouTube or other online video sites, and you have an instant worldwide audience.

Be creative, follow your passion, if fishing is your thing, try your hand at doing stories about fishing; if it’s food, do stories on local cuisine.

The hard question, how do people make money from their films?

Remember online video is all fairly new, a developing market. YouTube is the king of online video with the biggest audience. They like serial content providers, and are willing to support them by featuring their work.

If you take a holiday and film hours of footage, and then edit it into short 3-5 minute films, uploading a video once a week. It won’t take long until people notice you.

Once you have a bit of a following, you can join the partner program where you share in advertising revenue from the ads featured on your video channel.

As an independent, it is then really up to you to take it further, sponsorship deals, free trips, providing your content to other websites or mediums (e.g. television).

And the best thing about Youtube, is that straight away you will know whether people like your work or not, by their comments, ratings etc.

So you use Youtube as a litmus test for your videos, to work out what people like?

Certainly, I usually know within 24 hours whether a video sinks or swims. And sometimes the comments people make about a video, will lead to me making subtle changes.

As a filmmaker I have always been envious of musicians, who can perform live, and really interact with their audience. The Youtube community now provides this for filmmakers, feedback on your work.

I love watching creative user generated content on Youtube. At first the technology lead to people doing webcam vlog style content in their bedrooms. But thankfully people are leaving their bedrooms and doing stories on their neighbourhoods, and the natural progression of this, on their holidays.

What about video gear? Can you give us any recommendations?

Basically, you get what you pay for. For me, I try to get the smallest, lightest broadcast quality kit available.

I don’t want to recommend any particular brands but my current kit includes a Canon XH- A1 High Definition camcorder, a MacBook Pro laptop using the Final Cut Pro editing suite software.

I’ve used a Sennheiser ME66 XLR professional shotgun microphone for sound, a lightweight Velbon CX-586 tripod and a small on camera light kit, the paglight C6.

Photo by Mark Shea

Work out what you want to do, and get a kit to suit your needs. My kit isn’t the be all and end all, but it currently suits what I am doing.

Biggest tip I can give up and comers is to not forget that filmmaking is an audio-visual medium. Don’t forget the sound, even if you have a small video camera, if you are doing interviews, it might be wise to invest in a hardwired lapel microphone.

I imagine filming around the world, you have found yourself in some hairy situations. How do you keep out of trouble?

I think it is important to be aware of local customs before pulling your camera out and filming. In some countries you can get in trouble for filming government buildings, for example.

I try to be discreet. If I’m filming street scenes I want them to look at natural as possible, so generally I don’t want people knowing I am filming them.

To do this I use the tripod and my camera’s long zoom lens, and if I see something interesting, I’m ready to put the camera to the shoulder quickly, and record, and sometimes, just as quickly move on.

Have there been any times you have had difficulties filming a story?

On numerous occasions, I remember when I did my Nimbin Story, Australia’s Alternative Capital, a current affair program had just done a story on the town, looking at it’s drug problems. There was one part of the street where dealers sold drugs. I was informed in no uncertain way, that if I filmed anything, my camera would be smashed.

I approached the biggest, meanest looking guy–who had his shirt off and was covered in tattoos–and told him what I was doing, that I wasn’t interested in filming any drug deals. He appreciated my honesty, and agreed to act as my body guard while I filmed, stipulating I don’t film the laneway where the drug dealers congregated.

So I got my shots, but I couldn’t use the audio, there were a few choice words being thrown my way, by the dealers in the laneway!

Video on Nimbin

Are there any legal requirements filmmakers should consider when doing travel videos?

If you interview someone, get them to sign a release form. A release form states that an interviewee has given you permission to use their interview how you see fit. There are some standard release forms floating around the internet, so just do a search and make any changes depending on what you need.

Also, if you use any music in your videos, you should have permission from the artist to do this. It is also handy to get a release form if you are filming in a special location, like a museum, or at least ask whether they have restrictions on you using your footage.

Programs like Garageband allow one to make their own music. It is great fun to use, and sometimes a video segment may only need 30 seconds of music, so worth playing around with. (For an indepth tutorial on working with Garageband to polish audio clips, check here.)

Photo by Mark Shea

Any final words Mark, advice for budding travel filmmakers.

Like anything, the more time you put into your films, the better they will become. But if you are going on a holiday, be aware, your travel videos may become all encompassing, taking up all your time and energy. This is not always the best formula for a happy holiday, especially if you are traveling with your partner or spouse!

Travel filmmaking sounds quite glamorous, but it is a bit like those who work in hospitality: you are working, when everyone else is having fun. When I’m traveling, I don’t really get much time to just relax, I am constantly working.

The best part is returning home and having a video reminder of my trips, the people I met, and the places I saw. Because of my work, I have to learn and the culture of the country I am filming in, so it pushes me to meet locals, which is really what the true essence of travel should be, to understand the other, the tribe over the hill.

Thanks for your time Mark.

You can view Mark’s video’s on his website www.overlander.tv or see his youtube channel by searching his username, overlander.

It seems as simple as plugging in your microphone, hitting record and letting fly with your insight. That can be the case and, if you’re lucky, will work first time.

But if you’re like most mortals the recording will sound flat or muddy, be filled with loud pops and snaps and have a soothing background hiss. Not the best.

These annoyances can be minimised by using some of the following tricks. Please remember that we’re not talking about setting up a full home studio here; this is travel podcasting right? (For software and hardware needs, reference part one of this series.)

When everything you own is in a backpack you can’t afford to carry several kilos of pro-am studio equipment. However, you can still make your podcasts’ sound quality almost as good.

Removing hiss

Words like gain, reverb and echo don’t mean a lot unless you’re an audiophile. Fortunately, basic knowledge and good software go a long way in helping us use them. Let’s look at creating a “podcast voice” profile using Apple’s Garageband which aims to minimise hiss and avoid vocal flatness.

After some fine-tuning this will ensure that all your recordings sound similar. Unfortunately it’s impossible to achieve true consistency when you’re changing location all the time.

Open Garageband and create a new project. Get rid of the piano floating in the middle of the screen and create a new track by clicking “Track > New Track…” or using the keyboard shortcut ⌥⌘N. Choose “real instrument” and “vocals > no effects”; this gives us a clean palette to work from.

Make sure you click the “Details” drop-down arrow and you can see several options for changing all sorts of technical things. Drag the sliders to approximate the screenshot below and “Save instrument.” I called mine “podcastvoice.”

Now it’s time to record something. Have a listen and play around with these settings until you have something you’re happy with. You can edit and save your new “instrument” at any time by double clicking the head-shaped icon.

Still got hiss? As far as this software goes the only thing you can do is nudge the “gate” higher and higher: beware of raising it too high and cutting out your voice!

Audacity provides an effective method for tackling intensive hiss which is well covered by Deepak Morris.

I’ve used both of the above methods to minimise hiss over the last year, but the best way to deal with hiss is in the “studio” itself, even if it is a hostel laundry at three in the morning. A room that sounds deathly quiet to us has background noise and (obviously) inbuilt microphones will pick up the sound and vibrations from a recorder.

Sound deadening must be done with some kind of sound insulation foam, but I’ve also used a couple of books to good effect in creating a “cave” for my microphone. Your mileage may vary.

Popping

Another shock in early recordings are the pops and splutters that appear in the recording. These are caused by “plosives” — sounds made by certain letters such as P and T.

In order to avoid plosive pops, professional broadcasters use a mesh-like filter between their lips and the microphone. I can’t imagine any traveller wanting to carry that!

Experiments with a t-shirt have proven unsuccessful so far. Moving the microphone a little further from your mouth, however, can produce the desired effect without you resorting to talking to your clothing. It certainly doesn’t hurt to practise saying the target sounds without that sharp breath which comes with them.

After recording

Now that the recording is done I have two more tricks to polish your recording to perfection. Export your sound file from the programme you’re working with as a .wav or a .aiff (.aiff and .aif are the same). Now drag and drop that file into the Levelator.

This baby can work magic on an audio file, especially where there are different people speaking. It attempts to make the entire audio file the same level and is remarkably successful.

After the programme’s finished you’ll have two files: podcast.aiff and podcast.aiff.output – listen to them both and choose your favourite, for me it’s normally the Levelated output file.

Mp3 is the industry standard, so convert your .wav or .aiff using iTunes> or lame. Now it’s time to adjust the volume of your track. I prefer to use mp3Gain to do this (windows, mac).

The programme allows me to set a standard volume for all of my audio files ensuring I don’t blow people’s ears out or people’s speakers up (sorry Chris!). The settings I use are shown in the following screenshot.

ID3 tags

Now your voice is ready to be broadcast around the world, but before we go there, let’s tidy up the packaging.

I hate downloading audio files, chucking them into iTunes and losing them. To make sure your listeners don’t have the same problem it’s important to set the correct ID3 tag for each one. This can be done easily in iTunes, but other software options include Multi ID3 Tag Editor (Windows) and ID3 Editor (Mac).

To change ID3 information in iTunes, locate the file and open the information panel by clicking File > Get Info or ⌘I. Click on the “Info” tab and enter as much information as is helpful. Work your way through the different tabs: many podcasters add show notes into the “Lyrics” field.

It’s increasingly important to include an image as this is what shows when using iTunes’s Coverflow or list view, as well as on iPods and other mp3 players.

This is part two of a three part series in travel podcasting. Part one talks about recording software and hardware options, whilst part three will cover content hints and tips plus a style guide for Matador podcasts.

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 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.

Photo by -just-jen-

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.

Photo by fabbio

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.

Photo by papalars

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.

Photo by gaspa

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.

Photo by angstdei

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.

Photo by aloshbennett

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

Photo by H.E.D.I.

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.

Photo by timwilson

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 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.)

Photo by tenerife

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.

Photo by Phillie Casablanca

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.

Photo by jonrawlinson

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.

___________________________________________________

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

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…

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

Conversion kit. Photo by Cody Simms.

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!

Photo by Gina

World travel is cheap and easy. In fact, with a little practice and effort, you can travel the world for free.

The idea that travel is expensive and difficult is bullshit peddled by tour companies, hotel chains and corporate media.

The tourism industry wants you to buy cruise packages and stay at all-inclusive resorts.

They want you to choose a travel experience the same way you would choose a new jacket at the mall. They want your Credit Card number.

The tourism industry doesn’t want me to reveal the simple secrets of free travel, but I’m going to share them with you anyway.

It can be scary to venture into the world with nothing more than optimism and good-will, but personal freedom begins with a leap of faith.

1. Embrace the Simple Joy of Travel

Travel frees you from the grind of daily routine. You will explore new places, meet new people, try new foods and learn things about the world – and yourself – that you never imagined were possible.

The joy of new experience is the most wonderful thing about travel – and new experiences are free. Walk the streets of a city. Stop and chat with a local. People watch in a public park. Climb to the top of a hill and watch the sun set over the ocean.

The simple joy of being in a new place is just a matter of…wait for it…going someplace new. No tour package required.

2. Keep Your Needs To A Minimum

The modern American economy is built on the false premise that people need to buy new goods and services all the time. Again, I call bullshit.

People need fresh air, healthy food, clean water, exercise, creative stimulation, companionship, self-esteem and a safe place to sleep.

All of these things are simple to obtain. Most of them are free.

For fresh air, go outside. For exercise, take a walk. For creative stimulation, go somewhere new. For companionship, make a friend. For self esteem, turn off your TV, breathe deep and open your spirit to the basic goodness of the world.

Things like food and shelter are much cheaper once you get outside the United States. See # 5 below for ways to obtain food and shelter for free.

3. Go Slow

Cambodian Coast . photo by Ryan Libre

If you live in New York and want to take a 2 week vacation to Africa, it will be very difficult (though not impossible, see number eight) to travel for free.

Indeed, as long as you believe that time is money, you will spend money all the time.

Time is not money. Time is free. You have all the time in the world.

Instead of buying a plane ticket, catch a ride out West, or remodel an old sailboat, or just hop on your bike and ride away from town. The slower you travel, the less money you will spend.

4. Leave Your Possessions and Obsessions Behind

When you travel, you don’t need to pay rent. You don’t need a car. You don’t need an oven, a washer-dryer, electricity, Cable TV, a gym membership, a sofa and loveseat or a closet full of clothes.

You don’t need a suit and tie to wear to your job because you don’t need a job. You don’t need to worry about paying the bills, because there are no bills to pay.

You are free.

5. Trust People and you will Receive Free Food and Lodging

Many people are willing to open their homes to travelers. Chip in with a few chores, and they will give you a free meal, too.

CouchSurfing and WWOOF are two phenomenal online networks that help travelers connect with local hosts. CouchSurfing members are willing to give travelers a place to sleep for a night or two. WWOOF connects travelers with organic farmers who want to trade room and board for an extra hand.

Many members of both CouchSurfing and WWOOF are seeking an alternative to high-impact consumer culture.

6. Learn a Useful Craft or Skill

If you have a skill, such as cooking, animal husbandry, massage, musical ability or basic carpentry, you can barter for free food and accommodation as you travel.

Universally appreciated skills like cooking are best, though niche skills that are in high demand, like website design, are also useful. Native English speakers can often travel the world for free by teaching language classes in each destination they visit.

The slower you travel, the easier it will be to work out a mutually beneficial arrangement with a local community or host.

7. Get Out of the City

Although it’s possible to travel for free in a big city, it’s damn difficult. Cities are built on money, and necessities like fresh air, clean water and a safe place to sleep are difficult to come by in cities.

Go to the country, where people are more relaxed, food is plentiful and there’s ample room for one traveler to lay out her sleeping bag under the stars.

8. Find A Job You Love That Entails Travel

If you need an income in order to pay off loans or support a child, find a job that calls for extensive travel. There are millions of jobs available in the global economy that demand travel.

Of course, some jobs are easier to love than others, and much work that involves travel also involves the destruction of local ecosystems and traditional ways of life. Avoid unethical work if at all possible – it is bad for your health and worse for your soul.

For job ideas, check out the Travel and Adventure jobs section here at the Traveler’s Notebook.

9. Embrace Serendipity

Traveling the world for free requires a blend of advance planning and the willingness to seize opportunities and go with the flow.

Does your new CouchSurfing friend want company for a drive across the country? Grab your pack and ride along! Does an organic farm in Thailand need a farm sitter for the rainy season? Get in touch with Christian Shearer!

As Kurt Vonnegut wrote, “Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.”

Go Dancing.

UPDATE: How does $1,200 per month to travel in summer 2009 sound? There’s no catch – check out The Roads Scholarship, which Matador is co-sponsoring with The Digital Vagabond.

UPDATE: Read a response to this article at Brave New Traveler – The Tao of Vagabond Travel

What are your tips for cheap or free round the world travel? Share in the comments!

Make sure you hit the comments and tell us some of your best wine stories.

Check out the traveler’s notebook on iTunes.

Otavalo, Ecuador. Photo by Theodore Scott.

I wasn’t always comfortable haggling. The first time I tried it was in Marrakesh. I wanted a Berber drum but had no idea how to haggle. The only reason I didn’t pay too much was that I didn’t have much money to start with.

Since then I’ve haggled in many places around the globe. It is a useful skill for every traveler. Haggling can get you cheaper taxi rides and discounts on hotel rooms. Although, I think it is the most fun when done at the local market.

If you are new to this sport, the following advice will give you a good chance of getting what you want at the right price:

1. Don’t get too attached.

A common mistake is convincing yourself that you must get a certain item. A worse mistake is letting the seller figure that out. If they see that you have fallen in love with something they are selling, then you are in a very weak bargaining position.

Even if the item is a one-of-a-kind piece that you will never find again, that doesn’t mean you can afford to pay a high price for it. There are plenty of other unique pieces that you can afford. Always be willing to find something else if the price isn’t right.

2. Set a ceiling price.

Before you start to haggle, figure out how much you can pay. This isn’t the price that you would prefer; it is the most you will let yourself pay. This stops you from getting caught up in the experience and regretting how much you spent.

Marketplace in Dubai. Photo by Theodore Scott.

3. Walk away.

Everyone knows this and yet most don’t do it. Walk out the door. The seller will probably yell at least one lower price as you leave. If not, the item will still be there in an hour – after you have looked for similar items elsewhere. You can come back. Don’t believe the shopkeeper if they tell you it will be sold by then.

4. Learn the language

You don’t have to be anything close to fluent, but learning a few phrases helps. Simple phrases can help you state your case without relying entirely on the shopkeeper’s English. Get a phrasebook or have someone teach you. Learn how to say “too expensive”, “how much”, “you are crazy”, etc.

Practice your numbers. You will feel much more comfortable if you can name your price and can recognize the numbers they are saying. Spend five minutes reviewing them before falling asleep each night to make them stick.

Ankara vendor in Lagos, Nigeria. Photo by Lola Akinmade

5. Bargain backwards

Bargaining in reverse sounds crazy, but it works. Haggling over a figurine in Peru, I offered 20. He was trying to rip me off at 100 and wasn’t coming down at all. I countered with 15, because he was being greedy and inflating his tourist price. I was getting even further from the asking price. He quickly lowered his asking price.

This tends to shock them into realizing that you are not going to come anywhere near what they are asking. If they want to make a sale, then they can start by being reasonable.

6. Ask for a bulk discount.

Another favorite is to buy multiple items and ask for a discount. Typically, you should haggle over one item until it is down to a reasonable price. Then, pick up a second and ask how much for both. You can get a little extra knocked off, so it won’t cost twice as much. I use this on simple gift items for friends and family back home.

7. Be reasonable.

Sometimes travelers lose perspective. If you find yourself close to an agreement, but can’t make them budge that last little bit, then ask yourself if another dollar really matters. You don’t need to spend your whole afternoon making sure you got the absolute best price on a Machu Picchu shirt. Save your energy for the more expensive items.

Community Connection

For more on haggling, check out Lola Akinmade’s beautiful blog on the marketplace in Lagos, Nigeria.

It’s so simple to buy a cheap vintage travel trailer and experience a whole new way of living that I’m stunned more folks haven’t figured it out. Is it a big secret? Too intimidating? It is considered kooky? Well, if you’ve ever dreamed of ditching it all and heading south of the border, here’s a handy guide to get you started on the road to freedom.

1. Acknowledge the Beast Within

Oh, you know what I’m talking about. That little sing-song voice inside calling out when you least expect it. It’s saying, “Are you kidding me, this is my life? Is this all there is? And, I pay how much rent for this dumpy apartment?” If you can just answer with “It’s time to change things” the next time the monster kicks in, you might find yourself calling a tin can box home. And, trust me, you will be the envy of everyone you come into contact with.

2. Research Galore

There are a bundle of websites out there with vintage trailers for sale. You can buy one already restored or you can buy a way old-school one and put your own flair into it. I opted for my own flair. Going this do-it-yourself route allowed me the opportunity to explore options I might not have run across. Things to think about: Do you really need a bathroom? How important is a fridge vs. icebox? Is a shower imperative? For me, none of these things mattered and by not giving a hoot about luxuries, I managed to save loads of money.

3. Time to Drop the Dough

Once you’ve determined what your exact specifications are, it’s time to lay down some dinero. I didn’t want to spend a wad of cash and my deciding budget was based on this simple premise: If the shit hits the fan down a back road in El Salvador and I have to abandon the trailer, what amount of dough will I not miss? I settled on $1,000 for the trailer alone and for this pittance, I managed to get this glorious little 14’ looker. 1967, baby!

4. Get Hitched

Ah, the hitch. I have an old, 2-door Ford Explorer and it was a bit hectic trying to figure out what I needed to be able to lug around 1500 lbs. Turns out that U-haul can install a sturdy trailer hitch ($350) in less time than it took me to down three frosty cold beers at my local cantina. Whatever you do, don’t go to a dealership to get the install done. They will charge much more and babble on and on with warnings, your nerves will be shot before you even pull out of the driveway.

5. Assess Your Needs

Once I had my trailer safely parked in my parents’ front yard, I tore her apart. I got rid of all the previous owners paraphernalia and took a good look at her from top to bottom. I knew some mad decorating was in order, but first I tried to imagine a/ where I would be parking this trailer and b/ what I wanted to come home to once she was parked. My thoughts leaned toward unexplored beach villages throughout Central America, so a cute awning and the ability to generate my own power were in the cards. When you’re dead alone grilling some fish on a deserted beachfront in Veracruz, the last thing you want is an annoying generator to kill the moment.

6. Go Solar

There was a very brief moment in time when I thought my dad and I could just install the solar panel I’d ordered ($400). But once I opened the box and pulled out all the cords and wires and mounts, I took a quick trip down to my local RV center to get some intel. Thankfully, those boys hook up solar panels all the time and they were able to sling the whole kit together on my roof in just a few hours ($200). I used two marine batteries I already had from my sailboat and tucked them away in a closet so they were out of sight. Make sure you put a vent wherever you hide your batteries since you don’t your home to burst into flames while you’re out exploring. In the end, I made sure I was covered for all possible camping scenarios: propane gas, 110 volt power, and solar.

7. Decorate on a Dime

My needs were simple. I wanted a funky global feel with lots of vibrant colors, soft candles, and eye-catching fabrics. I also needed some 800-count bed linen. After painting the interior walls (from station wagon brown to soft eggshell), I did a massive Ikea shop for kitchen supplies, storage containers and rugs. I also recovered the cushions with some old curtains and safety pins. I ended up with a cozy vibe and not a soul would know that I barely spent $100 decorating.

8. Where Ya Wanna Go?

The best place in the world to RV has got to be Bahia Concepcion, a remote getaway on the Sea of Cortez side of Baja. The minute you cross the Mexican border, it feels like you have gone rogue. You can park directly on the sandy beach for a few bucks a night and kayak, swim, fish and drink cervezas to your hearts delight. And, the good thing is that most folks down in Baja are like-minded and trying just as hard as you to get off-grid. Make sure to get Mexican insurance for both your vehicle and your trailer though (1 year $300), since insurance generated in the USA does not apply once you cross the border.

9. Hit the Road

Hauling around a 1500 lb mini-beast is way more doable than it sounds. In fact, these little tin cans are so light, it’s easy to forget they are attached to the back of your vehicle. I’d be hauling down the highway at midnight, texting away and guzzling a Red Bull when I’d glance in my rear view and freak out thinking a blue and white squad car was on my tail. Then I’d realize it was just my little trailer keeping time with me. Driving in a straight line is cake. Hairpin curves are too. Backing up is a different story. But, it’s like a boat. You move the wheel one way and the trailer goes the opposite way. As soon as you make that connection, you could almost pop wheelies with your baby and not think twice about it.

10. Set Up Camp

Your first night camping out will be pretty wild. Once you unload the trailer off your vehicle, all you have to do is put some support under the wheels (rocks will do) and sling up your awning. The sun glazing over your solar panel throughout your trip will have loaded up your batteries to capacity and you’ll be able to power up pretty much anything you might need. Things like microwaves, AC’s, and blenders require way too much amperage for a small solar panel, but that’s what hand-cranked blenders and swamp coolers are for! Time to crack a cold one, gaze at the stars and make some new friends.

Helpful Websites:

The best vintage trailers can be found at Tin Can Tourists.

Community Connection

Cuba seems to be one of the world’s few forbidden destinations. The decades-long embargo all but prohibits travel to Cuba, and the limited opportunities for legally sanctioned travel decrease every year. But Cuba is by no means off-limits, and a trip is much easier than you might think, especially with careful planning.

1) Know before you go.

The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is responsible for sanctions related to the embargo, and the specifics of the law, including how it affects travel, are available online. Although it’s unlikely that you will be detained for questioning upon return to the US, you need to know the law, understand your rights, and be prepared to accept the possible consequences of your travel.

Spend some time visiting online travel forums to read about other Americans who have traveled to Cuba.

2) Choose your gateway country.

Photo by Brayan Collazo

The only direct flights from the US to Cuba are reserved for Americans who have travel licenses and Cubans returning to the island who had official permission from the Cuban and US governments to visit the US.

If you don’t fall into either of these categories, you will need to travel to Cuba through a third country.

The Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, and Panama are some of the most popular gateway countries.

Prices and flight schedules vary considerably, as do local practices of immigration officers willing to forgo stamping your passport upon return from Cuba.

Mexico is among the easiest of the gateway countries, with flights departing daily from Cancun and Mexico City on Mexicana and Cubana airlines. How do you choose the gateway that’s best for you? Research. As you’re planning your trip, consider the following:

Flight availability and prices

Determine which airlines offer service from the gateway country to Cuba (Havana’s airport code is HAV), how often, and at what times. Follow pricing trends to determine whether certain days of the week are more affordable than others.

One tip: When checking flight schedules and prices online, be sure to enter the country of origin as the gateway country; otherwise, you’ll quickly learn that you won’t retrieve any information.

Frequency of flights

Flights to Cuba from any gateway country and on any airline are often delayed or canceled, so consider countries that offer more flights and flexibility. Make room in your budget for lodging and meals in the gateway country in case you are overnighted.

Photo by sami73

3) Prepare for the ticket process.

Americans are accustomed to booking most of their flights online, but you cannot use a U.S. credit or debit card to purchase a flight to Cuba, even if you are buying the ticket from a gateway country’s airline (such as Mexicana or Air Jamaica) by phone or over the Internet.

You may be able to convince a phone agent to hold a reservation for you, but the more likely scenario is that you will purchase your ticket after landing at the airport in the gateway country. Once you know what airlines offer flights, and what their schedules are, you can plan your arrival flight into the gateway country.

Once you land, you will go to the counter of the airline with cash to purchase your round-trip ticket to Cuba. Don’t forget to budget $15 for a tourist visa, which the airline will sell to you directly.

4) Prepare your paperwork… and your pesos.

U.S. passport and border crossing regulations became more stringent in January 2008. The more identification you carry with you (passport, birth certificate, driver’s license), the better, but do not offer all of your identification unless asked.

About those pesos… they can facilitate your return trip considerably, especially in Mexico. When you enter and leave the gateway country on the way to Cuba, your passport will be stamped.

When you return to the gateway country on your way back to the U.S., your passport is likely to be stamped again unless you make a polite request—accompanied by pesos folded inside the passport—otherwise.

Photo by malias

5) Prepare for Cuba’s entry and exit requirements.

Cuba does not stamp Americans’ passports upon entry or exit. Cuban immigration will stamp your tourist visa, which is not affixed to your passport, upon entry and exit. Cuban immigration officials will often ask where you are planning to stay during your trip.

You should have the name and address of a hotel or casa particular prepared to offer up to Cuban immigration officials, who can decide whether they want to confirm your reservations. If you don’t have a reservation, they can compel you to make one before leaving the airport, though this is uncommon.

Do not lose your tourist visa, as you’ll need it upon exiting Cuba, and don’t forget to set aside 25 CUC (the Cuban currency) for the required exit tax, which you’ll pay at the airport on your day of departure.

Photo by topyti

6) On the ground basics

There are two currencies in Cuba: moneda nacional (also referred to as the peso) and the Cuban convertible (also referred to as CUC). Tourists use the CUC, and money can be exchanged at Cadeca booths throughout the city or at hotels. American issued credit and debit cards cannot be used in Cuba, so be sure to carry plenty of cash.

Community Connection

For more resources to help you plan your trip, please see Matador’s Before You Go Guide and the guide to the 10 Best Nightlife Spots in Havana.

Shipping companies travel nearly everywhere. Photo by Josh Sullivan.

I have always wanted a collection of brown leather trunks with brightly colored stickers from all the world’s corners. They remind me of travelers in the early 1900s who spent days on the ocean in order to reach their destinations. Back then, arriving at the destination was as much a part of the trip as the destination itself.

So when I needed to get from Guadeloupe in the Caribbean to France I asked myself, “is it still possible to travel by boat?” A few months later I was on a CMA-CGM cargo ship headed from Pointe-à-Pitre to Dunkerque.

My nine days on the Atlantic included gourmet French food, duty-free Porto and hours spent mesmerized by the blinking lights of the GPS. Yes, you can definitely still travel to many locations in the world by boat.

Here are some pointers for researching and planning your own adventure on the high seas:

1. What exactly is traveling by Cargo Ship?

Most of the major global shipping lines CMA-CGM, Canada Maritime, and Bank Line offer paying passengers to hop on one of their lines. As a paying passenger you are accommodated in guest cabins and have access to most areas of the ship.

Captains and crew spend a lot of time on the water, and they are usually happy to have a fresh face walking around their workplace, meaning that they may even invite you to eat with them, give you tours of the ship and maybe even have you over for an Officer’s happy hour.

2. Where can I go?

You can travel almost anywhere by cargo ship.

The global shipping industry is huge, and many ports like New York, Shanghai, Los Angeles, and Sydney welcome several ships everyday.

Shipping companies have certain lines covering specific routes, and many of them will allow you to buy a ticket for one of these lines and disembark and board as you please as long as there is a ship leaving on your chosen day.

This is often how round the world routes work: book your freighter ticket and then plan in a few weeks in every major port. With freighters, the possibilities for your adventure are almost endless. Just think: anywhere global commodities are shipped are places that you can disembark and spend time soaking up the local culture before re-boarding.

3. What will it cost?

A common misconception is that if you are willing to spend an extended amount of time on open water you can score an inexpensive mode of transportation to your next travel destination.

Although there are possibilities to work on boats, traveling as a passenger is in fact more expensive than your average airfare. But before you scoff at the price – plan on an average price of $80-140/day – consider this: your ticket pays for room, meals, and a plethora of experiences that cannot be had anywhere else.

4. Life on a ship

As a passenger you are surrounded by the everyday life of the vessel and her crew. Schedules revolve around mealtimes, which can be extravagant events depending on the chef.

If you are a gourmet traveler, consider traveling with one of the French companies which are known for their high quality cuisine and table wine.

Besides meals, the rest of the day is spent as you please. Make your way up to the bridge and chat with the captain about sea navigation or schedule a tour with the head mechanic to see the vessel’s impressive technical insides.

You will quickly find that the freighter environment is a rough but enjoyable one; think lots of steel and salt water. Before the evening meal, meet for a pre-dinner drink with your co-passengers in the guest lounge area and discuss the events of the day.

You may think that a week on open water can give you a case of cabin fever, but a slower pace of life can be much welcomed and enjoyable.

5. Planning

So you’ve decided that freighter travel is for you, what now? Do your internet research, there are several websites maintained by individuals seduced by traveling on the high seas with great tips and long lists of different routes around the world.

Go to the websites of the freighter companies and send them an email asking about passenger fares. Another option is travel agencies that specialize in freighter travel like A la Carte Freighter Travel based in Montreal.

Some helpful websites to get you started:

www.hamburgsued-frachtschiffreisen.de

>www.cma-cgm.com

www.aws.co.uk

www.geocities.com/freighterman.geo

Photo by Ed Schipul

There are certain types of minor travel disasters that travelers figure go with the territory: the occasional bag going missing, a lost reservation, nonstop rain at a beach resort, or a bad stomach from eating street food. For most of these, we have backup plans or can easily improvise a solution.

But for many travelers, the most significant type of travel disaster is the one for which we’re the least prepared: a natural disaster that occurs during a trip. I learned firsthand the importance of preparing for disasters while traveling when I was on vacation with a friend in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit.

Although no one could have been fully prepared for Katrina’s wrath, we quickly learned that as travelers we were even more in the dark about what plan of action to take.

Next time you’re planning a trip, consider putting together a basic disaster plan and disaster supply kit so you’ll be prepared if the unthinkable happens. Below, I’ve incorporated a few suggestions from the “Family Disaster Plan” developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross, as well as my own experience.

1. Prepare a disaster plan.

What to do if you’re separated from your traveling partner? Most formal disaster plans are geared for preparing for the natural disasters at home, but they can easily be altered to fit your travel needs.

2. Meeting Places.

The Red Cross suggests picking two places to meet up with your traveling companions if you’re separated during an emergency. One of these can be obvious, like your hotel, but be sure to have an alternate location in case your hotel is directly affected by the disaster. Don’t forget to also pick a reliable contact back home who you each can call to check in with if you get separated. After the tsunami in Asia, many friends and families became separated and had no way to easily reconnect.

3. Communication.

Even if all of your traveling companions have a cell phone, chances are the service might go down in a disaster. Also, after a disaster it’s often easier to make a long distance call than a local call. If you’re traveling solo, keep a contact back home updated on your situation so they can fill in others with the latest information.

When I was in New Orleans the day before Katrina hit, I realized that cell service would soon disappear and gave my parents a list of people to keep updated since I knew I didn’t have the time – or battery juice – to call them each directly. I also discovered mass text messages were effective for quickly sending out information without wasting my battery. This only worked until the actual hurricane hit, though, when all communication came to a halt.

4. Emergency info.

Have a hard copy of important phone numbers and keep it in an obvious place. Chances are, many of your frequently dialed phone numbers are carefully saved in your cell phone rather than your own memory. Which is fine until a disaster-related power outage happens and suddenly turning on your phone wastes valuable juice.

A hard copy list of important numbers serves two purposes – it’s an additional resource for you, and it’s helpful in case you’re injured and someone needs to know who to call. Write “ICE” – which stands for In Case of Emergency – next to your emergency contacts. If you’re hurt, this will help English-speaking emergency personnel who are trained to look for this information know immediately how to contact the right person.

FEMA has a ready-made card that you can cut out and personalize. If your traveling companion has a cell phone or if you have friends in the area that you’re traveling, specify that clearly next to their names and numbers. When you’re abroad, know the number for emergency services in each country you visit.

5. Carry cash.

Travelers often avoid carrying extra cash because they’re worried about theft. But if you’re stuck in a natural disaster and a power outage occurs, your ATM cards and credit cards may be completely useless. Trying to finding anyone who will exchange a traveler’s cheque during a crisis may be even more challenging.

Carry change for a few phone calls in case you can find a coin-operated phone that works – land lines often continue to work when cell service goes down.

6. Learn about your surroundings.

If you’re staying at a hotel or hostel, learn what their emergency plan is, if any. The Red Cross suggests determining the best escape routes and finding two ways out of each room.

Get to know the general area as well. If you had to leave town quickly, what are your options? How could you get to a train or bus station? Carry hard copies of a city map along with your hotel or hostel’s address with you at all times. Learn as much as you can about evacuation routes by listening to news reports and speaking with knowledgeable locals, when possible.

7. Keep important documents and extra medical supplies handy.

Important documents can include passport, emergency contacts and numbers including you travel insurance.

The Red Cross suggests including special needs items such as prescription medications, extra eye glasses, and contact lens solution in your Disaster Supply Kit. This is imperative if you want to stay as healthy as possible during a disaster.

If you take a certain medication regularly, plan to bring double the supply, if possible, than you’ll actually need for the length of your trip. That way, if you’re stranded because of a disaster you won’t have to worry about missing doses.

Also, have extra copies of your prescriptions in case you need an emergency refill. Even if you’re not able to fill them abroad, it will help give local doctors information on what you need. Keep photocopies of your itineraries, travel insurance information, passport, etc. in each of your bags. Large, clear bags are great for these, and help protect them from water.

You can read the full Disaster Supply Kit list here. Keep in mind however that it’s geared toward people at home, not on the road, so you’ll need to make a few adjustments based on your particular travel situation.

New York-based freelance writer Carly Blatt has extensively traveled, studied and worked abroad, covering 23 countries on five continents. Her travel adventures include swimming in Antarctica, bungee jumping in New Zealand, paragliding in the Alps, caving in Belize, mountain boarding in Colorado, camping with locals in the Australian Outback, and helping confused-looking tourists find their way in Manhattan. She has also written for Student Traveler Magazine, GoNomad.com, JohnnyJet.com and Bootsnall.com.

Photo by Judy Baxter

There are a confusing amount of options for the novice, but in this step-by-step guide the author’s choice of best services are showcased along with their strengths. If you can use email and a word processor, you know more than enough about computers to blog. In fact, you only really need step two…

1. Email

The first thing you’ll need is a way to keep in touch with friends and family while you’re on the road. If your current email provider isn’t going to be good to you while you’re away, I’d recommend switching to Google’s gmail because of its fast searching, large amounts of space and reliability of access. Promote your new email address early, but you can still check your old accounts in gmail! You don’t have to visit several sites to read your mail. Either set up forwarding to your new address in your old email client or use Gmail’s tools for collecting them.

Once you are set up with an account you can have an infinite number of email address by adding “+”. For example, if my email address is “spam@gmail.com” I can also have “spam+blog@gmail.com” without changing any settings. This can help you quickly identify where an email is coming from. You can also set up filters to keep your blog email separate from your primary email address.

Advanced tip: When visiting the site use https://gmail.com or https://mail.google.com. This will encrypt your login details as well as the content of your emails.

2. Blog platform

Now we need somewhere to write. WordPress.com is a free blogging platform that’s easy to use and has a very good set of features. If you ever want to move to another blogging platform it’s easy to export all your posts and comments.

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