tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28886813392706581372024-03-13T14:35:14.062-04:00Solo Woman TravelerTips and advice from a solo woman traveler for women who want to follow their dreams and travel solo. Boldly go alone!K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-91557067399434972102023-04-17T19:00:00.007-04:002023-04-17T19:00:40.435-04:00Cruise Line Comparisons<p>This comes from a comment I made on someone asking to compare Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) to Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL).<br /><br />I'll let you know in 2025 after I cruise them all to see if I eat my words, but for the moment, these are my unfiltered impressions.</p><p>All of my cruises up til now have been on Carnival (I'm Gold level), but I am booked on Virgin, Royal Caribbean (RC), and NCL for my future cruises (plus another Carnival in there as well!).</p>From using their websites, participating in Facebook groups, and talking to people in general, here are some of my observations:<br /><br />Carnival demographic is more mixed class-wise and diversity-wise. I think people who look down on Carnival as a hobby are more likely to be extremely (religiously and politically) conservative, also more likely to be racist. <br /><br />I'm Canadian and there don't seem to be as many Canadians cruising Carnival.<br />But Canadians seem to LOVE RC, Disney, and NCL, from what I can tell. <br /><br />Virgin is 18+ and attracts a wide range of people, but mostly 45+ age group, also lots of 2SLGBTQ+ folk. It's a party, but it's a very gay party. So good food, champagne, and dancing. Their customer service line answers the phone very quickly. <br /><br />NCL itineraries are very port heavy and they put a lot of emphasis on excursions, which are really more guided tours. If you are at the point in your life that you don't want to walk everywhere and would rather have a bus take you around, this is the cruise for you!<br /><br />If you look at NCL's extras you can order to your room, the demographic is definitely interesting because while like Carnival, you can order chocolate covered strawberries, on NCL you can also order a whole sheet cake for 40 people, a $1600 bottle of wine, and a platter of assorted "funeral" sandwiches. I'm really unsure what people will be getting up to in their cabins on NCL. Sounds like a bizarre church luncheon. <br /><br />RC seems like a great family ship, but really overpriced for essentially the same stuff you would find on Carnival for free. But it's cheaper than a Disney cruise, so people like it. *shrug* <div>It has stuff like a skating rink and a rock climbing wall, which I am going to do simply so I can say I ice skated on a cruise ship. But I didn't go looking for that. <br /><br />I'm trying them all out because I don't like to compare. I feel like they all have something to offer and that's what makes it interesting. I don't think there's such thing as a perfect cruise line. </div><div><br /></div><div>I booked with Virgin because I wanted to try the 18+ atmosphere. </div><div>I booked with RC because it fit perfectly as a B2B with my Virgin cruise. </div><div>And I booked NCL because it has my bucket list destination (the Azores) that few other cruise lines offer.<br /><br />I haven't had to call customer service yet for RC or NCL, but I've had to for Virgin, so that might say something. Out of all of them, Virgin's site is the hardest to navigate for the booking info page. It's not as intuitive as the others. <br /><br />So those are my impressions so far. We'll see how I feel afterwards. </div>K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-13558070236259941982022-12-29T19:24:00.000-05:002022-12-29T19:24:46.937-05:00First Time Cruise Tips<p>I can't say I am the most experienced cruiser, and all of mine have been on Carnival, but I want to help alleviate some of the stress and unknowns many first time cruisers have. <br /><br />A few things to keep in mind: I have to fly to most cruise ports. My city is a major port city, but only a few (very expensive) cruise lines come here, and they tend to have itineraries I am not very interested in.<br /><br />All that to say, I have to plan and pack as one who is flying, and since I am going into a foreign country (I usually pick cruises that leave from US ports), I <b>have to</b> use my passport. <br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Please research your entry requirements for your citizenship and circumstances. </i></div><p></p><p>With that out of the way, let's get to the fun part!<br /><br /><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">You can do it yourself</h2><p></p><p>One question I see often is whether you should use a Personal Vacation Planner (PVP) or make the booking yourself. There are pros and cons to both, but I want to let you know it is not rocket science and you can do all the booking yourself, online. If you're like me and love to be in control of all aspects of planning, you'll enjoy the booking process. It is not any more complicated than booking a flight. <br /><br />That said, PVPs who are employed by Carnival see exactly the same deals you see online and they don't work on commission (they get a decent salary). So it will not cost you any more to have someone help you through the process. The drawback is that any time you need something modified in your booking, you have to work through your PVP - you will not be able to modify your booking online in your account yourself. <br /><br />This might work out for you as long as your PVP is easily reachable and responsive to your needs. My experience is once the booking is made, they tend to disappear. This is especially true of PVPs who are independent, and not directly employed by the cruise line. They may also take a commission, in this case, so your costs may be different. Or they may pressure upsell you to a higher room category. </p><p>On a similar note, I also avoid booking through third-parties. If compensation is given (missed port/fees refund), it goes through the third-party first and you may miss out. </p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Book the room you want</h2><p>I see people trying to save money and then waiting and hoping for a cheap upgrade. Sometimes you get lucky, but in general, all the highly desired cabins get sold out quickly. The likelihood of getting your dream upgrade by booking an interior room is not great. </p><p>Vacations are expensive. Your cabin is not a great place to cheap out on. If your preferred room type is not available, look at later/future sailings. People who get suites and balconies typically book further out. <br /><br />But absolutely spend the extra money to book the type of room you want, rather than hoping for an upgrade. Especially with many travel restrictions being lifted, cruising is back in high demand and cruises are booking up. <br /><br />All that said, the XL class ships are in higher demand (and more expensive) than the smaller ships, so you may be able to afford a suite on a small ship for almost the same price as an ocean view on a larger ship. Compare, compare, compare!<br /><br /><u>One side note</u>: many cruise lines offer a discount rate for them to choose your cabin for you. For the most part, people I have spoken to about this say they have always been assigned a great cabin and had no regrets. If things like location/deck or obstructed views are not important to you, this is a smart way to save money. </p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Don't bring so much stuff!</h2><p>I'll never understand why people want to bring everything, including their kitchen sink on board. This happens more with those who drive to their port, as well as long time cruisers, it seems. <br /><br />But remember you are going into a tiny cabin! Cruise cabins are often much smaller than hotel rooms, plus you may be sharing a cabin with one to four other people. They can get cramped! </p><p>For my first cruise, I watched all the YouTube videos telling me all the gadgets I would absolutely need - I went and bought them all, and didn't use even 80% of them. So useless and unnecessary!<br /><br />I can tell you the items I use every time and the rest is not important (referral links I may earn income from):</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Reef safe sunscreen (get a high SPF. I use Fenty or <a href="https://amzn.to/3IaMhDb" target="_blank">All Good</a>) if you're headed to the Caribbean, Southern Europe/Mediterranean, or Asia/Australia, especially in the summer. </li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3G4dHb8" target="_blank">Non-surging multi-plug outlet</a> to charge phones/electronics</li><li>Lanyards for my cabin card (I have one that my phone hangs from as well)</li><li>Motion sickness medication, your preferred fever reducer medication, a small first aid kit, your regular daily medications or vitamins (if applicable)</li><li>Disinfectants (peroxide, lysol wipes etc) to clean surfaces in your cabin, as well as your phone. (I use a <a href="https://amzn.to/3Gscps0" target="_blank">UV sterilizer for my masks</a>, toothbrush and phone) </li><li>Clothing, including swim suit</li><li>My favourite skincare/hair products, lotion, make up (some ships don't provide hair conditioner or body lotion)</li><li>Menstrual products, if you need them.</li></ul><p></p><p>That's it! Anything else is extra. Many things can be bought on the ship or at a port of call (more expensive), but if you only had the above items, you can have a perfectly good cruise. </p><p>I always pack a <a href="https://amzn.to/3GrQxgn" target="_blank">small travel clock</a> with me that I keep on ship time and also tells me the room temperature, but I forgot to pack batteries last time, so we lived without it. </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Fly in the day before</h2><p>It's OK to fly out the day of your cruise <i>most of the time</i>, as long as you are booking a flight later than 12:30pm on debarkation day. But you really should fly in at least the day before to be on the safe side. Few things more stressful than trying to run for a cruise ship! (I've done it, I don't recommend it).<br /><br />Spend the money on a hotel room the night before and be there early, with peace of mind. I try to book a morning flight the day before so that if that one is delayed, there may be an evening flight I can catch. And failing that, one last very early morning flight the day of. This happened to us this summer, so if we hadn't been trying to fly out 24 hours before, we would never have made it. </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Get travel insurance</h2><p>Again, for peace of mind, get travel insurance. Check if your credit card offers it, or your workplace, but if not, cancellation and baggage insurace, at the very minimum, are really worth it. Shop around - you may get better deals by buying independently, or you can just take the insurance provided by the cruise line, if it's applicable for you. </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Dealing With Sea Sickness</h2><p>The motion of a ship is really simple physics. Staying low and midship will have the least amount of movement. Balance a pencil on your finger and see which parts bob up and down most. The ends do. Same as a ship.<br /><br />However, a ship also rocks side to side. All modern ships have state of the art stabilizers, but the fact is, you are still just a tiny vessel in a huge ocean and you will feel it move. Nature is unpredictable as well. It's just the cost of being out in the beautiful sea. </p><p>All that said, you can pick a cabin on a low mid-deck, but you are not likely to stay in your cabin the whole time. Entertainment and meals are often at either end of the ship and high up.</p><p>For me, I've noticed I do best when I can see outside. So I sit near windows if I'm inside. I don't stay inside the dark theatre for hours on end. Fresh air is also helpful, and making sure there is always some food in your stomach, even if it's just crackers or bread. I take one Bonine every day at dinner time and I'm fine. I've even cruised in storms and actually found it kind of fun and exciting. And I'm actually the type of person who get very sick, very quickly on small boats. <br /><br />I think a lot of it has to do with fear: I know that the captain is doing their best to steer us safely into calm waters and I trust the ship will do exactly as it's meant to do. I often find watching TV to distract myself, or just going to bed makes the anxiety pass and you usually find you wake up in calm waters the next morning. </p><p><br /></p><p>Let me know if you have more questions and I'll write a Part 2! </p>K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-71081070695152728112022-12-29T18:55:00.006-05:002022-12-29T18:55:39.809-05:00Carnival Liberty Review - Nov 2022 Sailing<p> My honest review:</p><p>Sailed Monday, Nov 28-Dec 2nd. (We are the sailing that arrived late on Friday)</p><p>This was my fourth cruise with Carnival, my first on the Liberty.</p><p>I brought my best friend along for his first cruise and I upgraded us to a suite. We were in cabin 7231. It was very quiet - probably my quietest cabin ever. </p><p>We got on the ship around 10:45am and were able to drop our bags off in our room and get changed into swim gear. We jumped in the hot tub pretty much right away. My friend went down the water slide (I'm too chicken).</p><p>Muster was the quickest ever: we walked over, they scanned us, asked us if we knew how to put on a life jacket, we both said 'yes' and they told us to go have fun. </p><p>I saw no issues with the condition of the ship or cleanliness. I didn't find it worn down or anything. I was just on the Horizon in June, so while there's no comparison there, I didn't see or smell any issues.</p><p>I love these smaller ships. Easy to navigate and find everything. Our cabin location was great. </p><p>I spent a lot of time in the steam sauna. It was never crowded, and there were always lots of towels and very clean. The showers there were also nice and hot and no one was ever in there. I feel like I was the only one who used them. My friend used the gym and running track. </p><p>We went to the Steakhouse the first night. It was excellent and the view of the sunset was magnificent.</p><p>Sea day brunch was a little wonky. They all seemed very rushed and they forget my friend's tea order. </p><p>I eat gluten free and never have an issue finding safe food for me to eat. Carnival does this well consistently, in my opinion. I enjoy the gluten free cake option every day at the buffet. </p><p>Only had one disappointing meal the whole time. It was in the main dining room. My ribs were extremely tough and dry. Couldn't eat them, gave up, and asked for a salad. I had that and the lava cake for dessert. </p><p>When it was announced we would be arriving to port late on Friday, I was able to sit back and relax because we had Fly2Fun. Carnival rebooked our flight home for the next day and put us in a hotel for the night. They emailed me all my changes and info before we were off the ship. </p><p>All in all, nothing to complain about, and would absolutely sail on the Liberty again.</p>K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-29420795103193839072015-05-31T23:35:00.003-04:002015-05-31T23:35:54.871-04:00Tedx Montreal Women<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I attended <a href="http://tedxmontrealwomen.com/" target="_blank">TedxMontrealWomen</a> yesterday and while this post isn't about travel, it's about women empowerment. The theme for this event was inspired by Brene Brown, <i>Daring Greatly, </i>and asked us to think about what we could dare to do.<br />
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The event was sold out and 800 women (and a few men) filled the Imperial Palace to capacity. The line up to get in was around the block when I showed up just before 9am and I got a seat in the first row of the second floor balcony.<br />
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A photo posted by K Bron John (@kbronjohn) on <time datetime="2015-05-30T13:21:35+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">May 30, 2015 at 6:21am PDT</time></div>
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I took notes for pretty much every talk, which covered everything from health and nutrition, to disability and the environment. Everyone was really inspiring. I can honestly say there were no bad talks! What I was also happy about was no one shied away from the "F-word" - and by that, I'm talking "Feminism"! It always annoys me when people declare they're not feminists for one reason or the other, but that didn't happen with anyone yesterday. Our feminism, our womanhood, our power - they were all embraced!<br />
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I want to leave you with a few key points from <a href="http://tedxmontrealwomen.com/3185/angela-lee" target="_blank">Angela Lee</a>'s talk, titled <i>Be A Bias Breaker</i>, because I think they can also be applied to travel.<br />
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1) Women need to <b>nudge</b> each other in the right direction. We need to encourage and inspire each other. Everyone needs a little nudge every once and a while to get moving or keep trying. Don't be the voice of doubt in someone else's head. Offer up possibilities and opportunities.<br />I hope that is something I accomplish with this blog!<br />
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2) <b>Pause and check our biases</b>. Is there something holding you back from achieving or going after what you want? Is there an unconscious bias at play where you think, "women can't/don't do that!" Sit and think about your beliefs. Are they valid? Are they true problems?<br />
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3) <b>Share stories of stumbles</b>. We all hear success stories, but rarely do we hear all the steps (or missteps!), attempts and failures along the way. Let people know where you messed up so they can learn from it. Also, let them see that the path isn't always easy, but it is surmountable.<br />
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Of course, these points can be applied to pretty much any situation, but for travel - especially solo travel - I think women have to do these three things to take the plunge and do it. We break down barriers and biases to do it and I think we should take a moment and acknowledge we have <i>dared greatly</i>.<br />
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K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-39628049460513030702014-11-07T11:35:00.000-05:002014-11-07T11:35:00.796-05:00Thanksgiving Roadtrip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm linking this up from my <b><a href="http://www.onequartermama.ca/" target="_blank">other blog</a></b> almost in time for American Thanksgiving, but rather late for Canadian Thanksgiving.<br />
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<b>>><a href="http://www.onequartermama.ca/2014/10/thanksgiving-roadtrip.html" target="_blank">Read all about our family adventures during our roadtrip to Toronto, Ontario</a></b>.<<<br />
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K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-18511396493531248192014-05-29T09:40:00.000-04:002014-05-29T09:40:06.298-04:00The Power of Social Media<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sunday I <b><a href="http://www.solowomantraveler.ca/2014/05/help-me-find-chris-pardee.html" target="_blank">posted a video appeal</a></b> to find someone on this great Earth, with very few details to go on. By Wednesday, I had a message from Mike, the travel blogger for <b><a href="http://nomadictexan.com/" target="_blank">Nomadic Texan</a>, </b>with an email.<br /><br />
That's testament to the awesome power of social media, as well as the amazing travel blogger community. I emailed right away and got a response back in the wee hours this morning. I'm really impressed and amazed.<br />
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I want to that everyone who watched the video, read my story and shared or retweeted it until he was found. I really appreciate it.<br />
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And a very special thank you to Mike for making it happen. If there's anything I can do for you, let me know. </div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-77504041740941662262014-05-25T17:57:00.000-04:002014-05-29T09:51:19.279-04:00Help Me Find Chris Pardee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Two years ago I wrote <b><a href="http://www.solowomantraveler.ca/2012/01/where-are-they-now.html" target="_blank">this blog entry</a></b> hoping to track down a person I met in Morocco back in 2008.<br />
That didn't amount to anything, so now I'm trying video. Now you can all get a good look at me and see me cry! That should be worth the view.<br />
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So if you can share this video with everyone you know, maybe we'll find him. Surely one of the wonderful travel community has met him. Or maybe I was just special :)<br />
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EDIT: I'm talking about the Chris Pardee listed here: <a href="http://www.vijayanagara.org/html/Participants.html">http://www.vijayanagara.org/html/Participants.html</a> and not the younger one from Virginia, who is much more notorious.<br /><br />
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<b>EDIT 2: <a href="http://www.solowomantraveler.ca/2014/05/the-power-of-social-media.html" target="_blank">We found him!</a> Thanks to everyone who helped! </b></h2>
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K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-87700381843822734302013-08-06T16:43:00.001-04:002013-08-06T16:43:16.734-04:00Getting Locked Out Of A Hotel Room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've forgotten my room key before. There was also one time I went out and my husband used the dead bolt to shut the door and went out on the balcony. He did not hear me knocking at the door or the front desk calling the phone in the room to let me in. I had to go outside to the pool area and yell up until he heard/saw me.<br />
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Anyway, nothing as embarrassing as this guy who decided to put his food tray out while naked and got locked out. His naughty bits are blurred out. Watch the security cameras as they follow him from his room, into the elevator and finally to the front desk:<br />
<a href="http://www.break.com/video/naked-guy-gets-locked-out-of-hotel-room-2418798" target="_blank"><b>Naked Guy Gets Locked Out Of Hotel Room</b></a></font>
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K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-1472868584447205372013-08-01T10:52:00.000-04:002013-08-01T10:52:21.111-04:00What's This City Like?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've often come up with colourful descriptions of cities for those who haven't been so they can get an idea of what it's like. I love to land in a new place and feel the <i>vibe</i>: What are the people like? What is the energy in the city? Are people laid back or rushing around? Are they stylish or don't care about appearances?<br />
There's a lot you can take in based on just how people are conducting themselves.<br />
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I realize this might end up being a controversial post, but hopefully you'll also get a laugh.<br />
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This is how I describe some places I've been:<br />
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<b>Las Vegas</b>: It's like a really weird acid trip or bad dream. It's kind of like someone picked up a piece of NYC and stuck it in the desert, then replaced all the cool people with dazed, drunk and glossy-eyed people. <br />
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<b>Montreal</b>: (this one came from <a href="http://kellyedwardsinc.com/" target="_blank"><b>Kelly Edwards</b></a>) It's like Chicago and NYC had a baby and Europe is the auntie. (I agree!)<br />
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<b>Marrakesh</b>: It's like NYC on speed.<br />
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<b>NYC</b>: Artsy, electric, eccentric, fast.<br />
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<b>Paris</b>: Paris embodies love - love of life, architecture, food, style, everything.<br />
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<b>Tokyo</b>: Organized crowds with class and refinement.<br />
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<b>Beijing</b>: Pollution and chaos with amazing food.<br />
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I could add more, but I'm curious to see what you think or what you'd like to add to the list.<br />
I'll update it if we get some really good ones.</div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-900385266372374362013-04-25T09:00:00.000-04:002013-04-25T09:00:03.531-04:00Culture Shame<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ItXPD4psaOw/UXiW9GBGf5I/AAAAAAAABAw/4iud2aDm0Cc/s1600/P4050076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="welcome to Japan Narita Airport by solowomantraveler.ca" border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ItXPD4psaOw/UXiW9GBGf5I/AAAAAAAABAw/4iud2aDm0Cc/s320/P4050076.JPG" title="welcome to Japan Narita Airport by solowomantraveler.ca" width="320" /></a></div>
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I arrived in Japan from China much later than expected since I missed my original flight. I was tired from what had become a long day and the first thing I noticed as I walked away from the plane was how quiet everything was. Despite hundreds of people walking through the terminal, it was extremely quiet. I stepped onto an escalator and unlike China, it did not start talking to me, telling how and where to stand. Instead there were just arrows indicating which was the standing side and which was the walking side. Silent, but clear directions.<br />
<br />
The only noise I heard next was a sole woman bowing and saying something in Japanese that I can only assume was, "Welcome to Japan." She could have been saying, "everyone stay quiet" though and I wouldn't know the difference. But it was nice, welcoming...and I wondered how much she was paid to stand there all night bowing at arriving flights.<br />
<br />
I also noticed how clean everything was, but not too out of the ordinary since Frankfurt airport is extremely shiny and I wasn't surprised to see a bright clean airport.<br />
<br />
Still in a bit of a daze, my friend met me and we boarded the Narita Express train to Tokyo Station. The train seat had a little hook to hang your jacket and a little cup holder. The leg space was more than ample. I had never been on such a well-thought out train. It seemed so civilized. There was even a little ledge on the window to rest your arm and fall asleep comfortably.<br />
<br />
We got to our hotel and the bathroom amenities included a razor with shaving cream and disposable toothbrushes. They even provided pyjamas. They thought of everything - in fact, I could have arrived at the hotel with nothing and would have been comfortable. This sort of thing was standard everywhere I went in Japan. I wondered what the Japanese must think when they come to North America and check into a hotel. "Where is my toothbrush? Where are my pyjamas? What will I do?!"<br />
<br />
My friend and I went out for a walk to the nearest mini mart to get some snacks. The streets were spotless and the roads smooth. Everything seemed to have a place and a purpose. There were specified ways to do everything, from simple payment transactions, to how to board a train. I loved it. Once you knew what to do, it was easy. <br />
<br />
I experienced something upon arrival in Japan that I had never experienced before. It was not culture shock. It was a mix of awe and maybe envy. It can only be described as <b>culture shame</b>. <br />
<br />
We (North Americans) are so loud and aggressive. We don't take the time to do simple things. We go where we want, when we want, however we want and it causes chaos. We don't really respect other people. When a Japanese person comes here, I can only imagine they think us to be wild barbarians and I found myself embarrassed by my birthplace.<br />
<br />
I usually return home grateful for all I have, but this time I was humbled in a different way. I saw so many ways my society could improve and just ashamed of how things are. </div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-68561439996743628372013-04-24T22:02:00.001-04:002013-04-24T22:02:55.748-04:00#CrazyBad Beijing Air Experienced First Hand<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Now I don't like to speak ill of places I visit. Obviously, we're all going to like some places more than others. There were many things I liked about Beijing and Tianjin - the food was awesome, the people were nice, the Engrish was hilarious, the architecture was cool, the speed trains and subways were comfortable, the drivers were badass and I felt very safe. <br />
<br />
But one thing that didn't feel so safe was the now infamous #crazybad air. It was bad in Tianjin as well, but worse in Beijing, I think. Hard to say because ALL my pictures came out with a nasty smog haze cloud in them, and it had nothing to do with my photography skills or my camera.<br />
That's just not right!<br />
<br />
If it did that to my pics, I can only imagine it took a year off my lung's useful lifespan!<br />
<br />
I'm saying this, not because I didn't like those cities or those people, and not to discourage people to visit, but because before I experienced it, I simply could not fathom that it could be THAT BAD.<br />
<br />
Look, Montreal has smoggy days in the summer now and then and they tell people to stay inside. I've seen it. I've had problems breathing in it even. <br />
I've visited NYC and I've seen their smog. But you know what? NYC ain't got nothing on Beijing! I didn't want to believe it was possible, but it is. My brain didn't have the capacity to understand the badness. I brought masks, yes, I was prepared, but I didn't wear them because I was STILL in denial while there.<br />
<br />
I now regret not wearing masks outside because I ended up with a smoker's cough for the time I was there. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fj0RTrWjVRQ/UXiNyLRSGgI/AAAAAAAABAY/V6yLIb9Ob7U/s1600/P4020024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="china crazybad air pollution by www.solowomantraveler.ca" border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fj0RTrWjVRQ/UXiNyLRSGgI/AAAAAAAABAY/V6yLIb9Ob7U/s320/P4020024.JPG" title="china crazybad air haze pollution solowomantraveler.ca" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both of these pics are from Tianjin...on a bright sunny day! lol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XqnvjpUdjQA/UXiN0xVv8dI/AAAAAAAABAg/SRUP8cbRY04/s1600/P4020026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="china crazybad pollution haze by www.solowomantraveler.ca" border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XqnvjpUdjQA/UXiN0xVv8dI/AAAAAAAABAg/SRUP8cbRY04/s320/P4020026.JPG" title="china crazybad pollution haze by www.solowomantraveler.ca" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While trying not to choke on the air, don't fall asleep at the wheel</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-56535681829151038852013-04-19T12:34:00.001-04:002013-04-19T12:34:42.526-04:00All That You Can Leave Behind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RX4QhZUAYac/UXFx2f6q8nI/AAAAAAAAA-8/VvKQYZeVjFE/s1600/u2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="u2 all that you can't leave behind" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RX4QhZUAYac/UXFx2f6q8nI/AAAAAAAAA-8/VvKQYZeVjFE/s1600/u2.jpg" title="u2 all that you can't leave behind" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys have all their bags</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you know me, you'll know I'm a HUGE U2 fan. I have all their albums - some even in vinyl and cassette format. Oh yes!<br />
<br />
No surprise that on the way out the door to my most recent trip to China and Japan, I was thinking about leaving my family behind and humming, "Walk On" by U2.<br />
<br />
<i>The only baggage you can bring<br />
Is all that you can't leave behind<br /><br />You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been<br />
A place that has to be believed to be seen<br /><br />Leave it behind<br />
You've got to leave it behind</i><br />
<br />
Except that, I'm not a person who usually leaves things behind anywhere. I'm not the type to lose stuff. Ok, well there was that one time I left my passport on a restaurant table in Heathrow airport, but um, let's not talk about that right now. So aside from that, I had a good track record for keeping it together. All that failed with this trip.<br />
<i> </i><br />
I left sort of cocky. Oh yeah, this is old hat! I've traveled so much before, this was nothing. I wasn't even nervous.<br />
<br />
Everything was pretty good until I left my iPad charger at the hotel in Beijing. I'm pretty sure I left it plugged into the wall. I'm happy I wasn't so out of it that I left my iPad, so it could have been worse, but still! Grrrr.<br />
<br />
Then I got to the Beijing airport and missed my flight. Oh yes! That's a pretty BIG error. So I did what any reasonable adult would do in my situation - I went into a bathroom and cried a bit. lol<br />
Eventually, I found internet access and booked a new flight using Travelocity.<br />
<br />
At the same time, I also realized I had lost my departure card for China. Right. I had successfully hung onto it ALL week and somehow lost it on my last day! Luckily, they provide extras when leaving - I wasn't sure how strict China was about things like this. The back of the card says <b>not to lose it</b>!<br />
<br />
Next day, I was in Tokyo and it was raining so I bought an umbrella. I later left that umbrella in a taxi cab.<br />
<br />
I swear, there was some sort of strange <i>lost-items karma</i> that was attacking me for getting through childhood and half of adulthood without so much as a lost mitten. I mean for real, I never lost <b>anything</b>! I can proudly boast at having gotten my own child to the age of three without losing one tiny item of clothing also. <b>This is how on the ball I am! </b><br />
<br />
Oh man. So this trip was all about making me humble or something and leaving everything behind. At least I didn't lose myself :)<br />
<br /></div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-68502048302777285142013-04-01T19:19:00.004-04:002013-04-01T19:19:59.351-04:00In Beijing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Internet is spotty and I'm trying to update from my iPad mini, so it's not the best interface, but I'm here, in Beijing! Off to the Great Wall today and hopefully some pictures up soon!</div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-15835046372358079682013-03-28T12:43:00.001-04:002013-03-28T12:43:12.167-04:00TBEX<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Even though my <a href="http://www.solowomantraveler.ca/2013/02/one-woman-three-currencies-and-10-days.html" target="_blank">Asia trip</a> is more immediate and for some reason @TBEX stopped following me on Twitter (what gives? lol), I still have every intention of going. So here's my fancy new badge:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tbexcon.com/canada" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Join me at TBEX solowomantraveler.ca" src="http://tbexcon.com/canada/files/2013/03/TBEX-Toronto-Badge-JOIN-ME-250px.jpg" title="TBEX solowomantraveler.ca" /> </a></div>
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I'm also looking for peeps to share a room with me at the Canadiana Hostel. Let me know! </div>
</div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-34794168870677445582013-03-04T16:05:00.000-05:002013-03-04T16:05:28.327-05:00Travel Quote of the Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">“</span><span class="quote" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;">When setting out on a journey, do not seek advice from those who have never left home.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">”</span><table class="quote_source_table" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: 10px; outline: none 0px; width: 500px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;">
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;"><td class="quote_source_mdash" style="border-width: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 20px; width: 1px;" valign="top">—</td><td class="quote_source" style="border-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; max-width: 450px; outline: none 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;" valign="top"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: none 0px;">Rumi</strong></td></tr>
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<br />
This times 1000!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-24998529739852502752013-02-20T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-20T09:00:02.794-05:00A Drink With A Stranger <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I recently had <b><a href="http://adrinkwithastranger.tumblr.com/post/43423440042/trust-and-travel" target="_blank">a drink with a stranger</a></b>...from the comfort of my own home, in front of my iPad mini screen. Actually, I didn't get a chance to grab anything since I'd actually forgotten about our date and scrambled to get on Skype in time. Oops!<br />
Luckily, Phil waited for me and we had a great chat. <br />
<br />
Contact him if you want to have a drink with him, too. He's a pretty cool dude. </div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-58518809208354835252013-02-19T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-19T09:00:07.396-05:00Married Women Do It. Do You?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I read this great post by another <a href="http://www.eurotriptips.com/married-women-traveling-solo" target="_blank">married solo woman traveler</a> (and I think she's even a Québecoise native also!). There must be something in the water here. <br />
<br />
In the comments of that article, someone questioned, "what's the point of being married if you're going to be independent?"<br />
<br />
What's the point of anything? LOL<br />
<br />
Why wouldn't I suddenly want or need my autonomy? Why would I want to lose myself? Why would I want my husband to dictate where or when I leave the house? Why would I want to be with a man who doesn't allow me to live out my dreams or support me in that? Why would I want to be with a man who has no desire or ambition to follow his own dreams? <br />
<br />
Why are women going along with this idea that they must stop desiring anything for themselves the minute they get married? <br />
<br />
Men go off alone every day. They travel alone all the time. Why is it acceptable for them and not us?<br />
<br />
<br />
To add another element, I have a kid. I didn't lose myself in motherhood anymore than I lost myself to marriage. So not only do I leave my husband when I travel (and he's a grown man, he can take care of himself!), I choose to leave my child also.<br />
<br />
I choose to teach my son that women can be strong. I choose to teach my son that woman can live their dreams. I choose to teach my son that women can be independent. I choose to teach my son that even though someone he loves may leave him now and then, she will come back refreshed and with new ideas and things to teach him. I choose to be a role model to teach him to trust himself. To inspire him to explore the world on his own and discover new things about himself.<br />
I cannot always be with him and at some point I will have to be left standing at the airport, watching him go off on his own, tears in my eyes. <br />
<br /></div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-42732628836342870802013-02-18T09:00:00.000-05:002013-02-18T12:06:35.105-05:00One Woman, Three Currencies and 10 Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
uh, I *think* I made a reservation for this place: http://9hours.jp/<br />
Not sure because the site was all in Japanese and didn't ask for a credit card, as far as I can tell. I don't know what the hell is going on half the time. Not sure if I booked a hotel or if I'm trying to sleep in an Apple Store.<br />
<br />
It's only $10 more than the hostel (which is all booked now!) and I feel that I need the capsule experience in order to truly appreciate Japan.<br />
<br />
I decided to skip the breakfast rate after reading this description:<br />
<br />
<i>the bread chunks with coffee and drip authentic, "and Motchiri" "plump" </i><br />
<i>original used ♪ Please Come savor toast ○ ○ contents breakfast -drink (all eight species. blended coffee, and orange juice) , green salad (you can choose from a type. 3 pizza toast, tuna onion toast, bacon and eggs toast) Toast</i><br />
<br />
They have toast I take it? And I can drink all eight species!<br />
<br />
I have all nights booked now except for one because I haven't decided if I will spend it in Tokyo or Kyoto. It will depend on a mix of Dfly and how much I like Tokyo after one night. I am presuming we can wing this and not end up sleeping in a subway.<br />
<br />
So now my trip goes like this:<br />
<br />
Montreal-Toronto-Beijing-Tianjin-Great Wall-Beijing-Tokyo-Kyoto-Kurama-Kyoto-Osaka-Seoul-Narita-Toronto-Montreal<br />
10 days of insanity and adventure!<br />
<br />
I got my visa pic taken at the CAA and spent way too much time and money there. I bought 2 pairs of those high-tech undies. I know, undies don't take up a lot of space, but any little bit helps these days. I just can't and won't do the 30lbs backpack mistake again. It's minimal all the way now! I think maybe 3 shirts, 1 jacket, 2 pants and maybe a change of shoes. I bought a fancy hanging toiletries bag also. My fancy high-tech travel towel fits in it, so that's all that really matters. I checked and can get all my liquids in those stupid TSA baggies, so all should be good. I might go back and buy a special anti-theft over-the-shoulder bag.<br />
<br />
Still looking for a <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0000YNR4M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=390961&creativeASIN=B0000YNR4M&linkCode=as2&tag=kaco07-20">door stop alarm</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.ca/e/ir?t=kaco07-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B0000YNR4M" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B001CZT4L8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=390961&creativeASIN=B001CZT4L8&linkCode=as2&tag=kaco07-20">inflatable hangers</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.ca/e/ir?t=kaco07-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B001CZT4L8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> at a reasonable price.</div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-1176434040111214392013-01-19T16:54:00.001-05:002013-01-19T16:54:32.066-05:00Immersion Water Heaters Are Not Just for Tea and Coffee<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is an <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000VK0DRY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B000VK0DRY&linkCode=as2&tag=kaco07-20">Immersion Water Heater</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.ca/e/ir?t=kaco07-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B000VK0DRY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<b>Here's what it looks like</b>:
<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000VK0DRY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B000VK0DRY&linkCode=as2&tag=kaco07-20"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.ca/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B000VK0DRY&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=CA&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=kaco07-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.ca/e/ir?t=kaco07-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B000VK0DRY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</div>
<br />
If you've never seen one before, either you weren't raised by an army dad, like I was, or I'm showing my age. Oh dear!
You don't see them much anymore, but can still buy them from Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000VK0DRY/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B000VK0DRY&linkCode=as2&tag=kaco07-20">here</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.ca/e/ir?t=kaco07-20&l=as2&o=15&a=B000VK0DRY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.I'm hoping with this post, they're come back in style because when it comes to travel, <b>they are handy little gadgets</b>!<br />
<br />
Why do I like them so much? Well, <b>they're fast</b>, first of all. If you need a cup of hot water in a jiffy, they do the job faster than a kettle. While I've seen some adorable little travel kettles and most hotel rooms have a coffee maker in them, sometimes you don't want to even touch the coffee maker in the room without gloves and bleach. This thing is compact and easy to travel with, so why bother with anything else?<br />
<br />
Also, believe it or not, but <b>you can boil an egg or pasta using an electric immersion water heater</b> (you'll also need to a ceramic mug or bowl to do the job - don't use a styrofoam cup!) Think of anything that can be boiled - tea, coffee, hot dogs, stew, soups, porridge - there are tons of cheap and easy meals that can be made in the comfort of your hotel/hostel room while travelling. This will save you tons of money.<br />
<br />
If you need more cooking tips or just want a laugh, check out my first on-screen performance as The Real Iron Chef:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/o3mSwNlWDpk" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-40535891256393592312013-01-15T12:34:00.000-05:002013-01-15T13:07:01.184-05:00Money and Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpb_Kl6M-rc/UPWQ5Uy94AI/AAAAAAAAAxE/Cr1XNpjgTls/s1600/time-and-money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="money and time time and money solowomantraveler" border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpb_Kl6M-rc/UPWQ5Uy94AI/AAAAAAAAAxE/Cr1XNpjgTls/s320/time-and-money.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Nothing like planning travel with other people to make me
appreciate why I usually go alone</b>. With the exception of my hubby, who
is easy to travel with as long as he has a bottle of Dramamine and
special ear plugs, I just lack patience for waiting on other people.
Timing is always an issue. <b>Money and time - the big travel killers or
enablers</b>. It's rare to get everyone on board at the same time with that
special mix of money and time.<br />
<br />
<br />
I've been trying to maximize my
time with my friends, while maximizing my time in each country and I
think one thing will have to give. Which means time in each country will
end up taking precedence over the friends. Sorry dudes! Luckily, these
aren't guys with giant egos. I think they both understand I'm there to
get certain things accomplished and that's it. <br />
<br />
But really, I can
only humanly do so much. Dfly has already been to Korea, so I will
likely go alone. However, he may come with me to Kyoto and then stay
there longer, which is a great idea. I am looking forward to the idea of
a 3-hour train ride with him - catching up and shooting the shit. (For those who don't know, Dfly and I traveled to Yemen and Paris together, so we have experience with this)<br />
<br />
I
guess distance and 13-hour time differences don't help when it comes to
planning either, but we are messaging, emailing, Skyping,
Facetiming....I laugh because not all of that existed when Pt left for
China over 10 years ago. Phone calls were the most amazing thing (I
actually got a special long-distance plan to include China). <br />
<br />
Even with me offering to pay for certain things, time still remains an issue. At the same time, it's because of these friends that I'm venturing out there in the first place. I see it as a once in a lifetime trip - the stars will probably never align quite the same way again to give me two amazing friends in two amazing countries, who can both speak a bit of the language there. <b>Not everything will be perfect, but it will still be worth it!</b> </div>
K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-945633414651473692012-12-08T04:00:00.000-05:002013-01-11T10:43:56.089-05:005 Ways to Immerse Yourself in Local Culture<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Time for another Blog Carnival!</div>
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Carol at <b><a href="http://nycitymama.com/" target="_blank">Girl Gone Travel</a></b> is the host this time around, so please also check out the <b><a href="http://girlgonetravel.com/2012/12/10/embracing-the-destination-5-ways-to-immerse-yourself-in-local-culture/" target="_blank">other carnival posts</a>!</b> </div>
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I used to teach English as a Second Language and these tips pretty much overlap with what I recommended for my students because the best way to learn anything is to just jump right in and immerse yourself!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Rule #1 - Get Over Yourself</b></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BD5U_2c5pGk/ULfUfrGHluI/AAAAAAAAAr8/1dP6Nr5DxA4/s1600/fezx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BD5U_2c5pGk/ULfUfrGHluI/AAAAAAAAAr8/1dP6Nr5DxA4/s320/fezx.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in a fez in Marrakesh, Morocco looking ridiculous</td></tr>
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Yup, you're going to have to drop your ego off and<i> be prepared to look silly now</i> and then. You're learning/trying new things so you won't fit in right away. However, if you have a really open attitude and not worry about how you look or sound, people recognize and reward effort. You stand a much higher chance of being accepted if you are not uptight or sensitive about everything. Don't try to be perfect - the fact is, no one else is really caring or watching. It's true!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Rule #2 - Watch TV from that culture</b></span><br />
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I always told my students to listen to the radio and watch TV (that's how I won the favorite teacher award! Joke) because not only is it in the target language which helps for learning, but because it provides valuable insight to how those people think. You can learn a lot about the values and humor of a people from their media. Yes, some is over the top and stereotypical, but it still gives you some clue (and it's easy and fun!). Not only that, but you can most likely get a head start by watching from home (on the Internet maybe) before you go, and keep the memories alive after you return.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Rule #3 - Find a lover</b></span><br />
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That sounds cliche, doesn't it? But it works! Sure, a local friend is good, but nothing makes learning about another culture more fun than a romance! You also automatically get a whole new group of friends to hang out with as well!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LghjUVcXMyU/ULfUbRu9yoI/AAAAAAAAArs/ygiVoFKJvo0/s1600/morocco+drinks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="morocco arabic coke and sprite by solowomantraveler" border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LghjUVcXMyU/ULfUbRu9yoI/AAAAAAAAArs/ygiVoFKJvo0/s200/morocco+drinks.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These aren't hard to figure out!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Rule #4 - Go OUT</b></span><br />
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<i><b>Don't be shy, be a social butterfly!</b></i> Go out and ride local transportation, get lost, get out of the tourist zones (consider safety) and try a little of all the local foods you can find. I love going to grocery stores and looking at the products. The less I understand about what it is, the more likely I am to buy it.<i> I'm not even sure what I've eaten and I'm still alive!</i> You don't have to like everything, but you should at least <b>try</b> everything!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Rule #5 - CouchSurf</span> </b><br />
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Nothing immerses you more in a local culture than actually living with a local family. I highly recommend <a href="http://www.couchsurfing.org/" target="_blank"><b>CouchSurfing</b></a> for that (tips <a href="http://www.solowomantraveler.ca/2012/05/couchsurfing-tips.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> and <a href="http://www.solowomantraveler.ca/2012/05/couchsurfing-good-fun-and-smelly.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>). On more than one occasion, CouchSurfing has made my travel experience WAY better than anything I could have accomplished on my own. Locals help you avoid the tourist traps and get immersed in the authentic side of daily life.<br />
Even <b><i>if you're not comfortable staying on a stranger's couch, you can join just to attend public activities/meetings and you'll meet tons of people that way</i></b>. Often tourists will get together and check out sites as a group, so if you get tired of being a <b><a href="http://solowomantraveler.ca/" target="">solo woman traveler</a></b>, you can always join up with a CouchSurfing group for a day.<br />
(One caveat: don't just join Couchsurfing to score a freebie. See if you agree with the whole philosophy and then decide if it's for you or not. Us Couchsurfers really care about our community!)<br />
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K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-20945942450574024892012-11-28T13:35:00.001-05:002012-11-28T13:35:56.857-05:00Will I See You at TBEX?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TU9UhlZuO7o/UGOn2qeK7XI/AAAAAAAAAhw/GHLvtIYboTM/s1600/tbexlogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://tbexcon.com/canada/registration/ TBEX" border="0" height="107" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TU9UhlZuO7o/UGOn2qeK7XI/AAAAAAAAAhw/GHLvtIYboTM/s320/tbexlogo.png" title="TBEX 2013 Toronto" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hey, <a href="http://www.solowomantraveler.ca/2012/09/tbex-2013.html" target="_blank">I'm going to TBEX Toronto</a> but are you? <br />
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Early Bird pricing (a steal at $77!) is ending November 30th, so <a href="http://tbexcon.com/canada/registration/" target="_blank">hurry up and register</a>!<br />
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Let me know because it's fun not to always be a Solo Woman Traveler :)<br />
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K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-39559920842497681362012-11-24T22:56:00.001-05:002012-11-24T22:56:41.849-05:00Tokyo, Kyoto and Kurama Advice Needed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Back in September, I put it on my <a href="http://www.solowomantraveler.ca/2012/09/virtual-travel-vision-board.html" target="_blank">vision board</a> to visit China and Japan. Well, I bought the plane tickets to China just a few weeks ago and I just have to buy my flight from China to Japan, but I consider it a done deal. Just goes to show you the power of setting good goals :)<br />
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Now that I'm going for sure, I'm looking for advice on Tokyo, Kyoto and Kurama: namely where to sleep and onsen that accept tattooed people (this could be a longshot!).<br />
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Any other tips you want to give me on Japan are appreciated, so fire away!<br />
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K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-87001584494883591712012-11-06T13:54:00.001-05:002012-11-06T13:54:38.875-05:00Double Your Donation Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
If you are an <a href="http://www.aircanada.com/" target="_blank">Air Canada</a> <a href="https://www3.aeroplan.com/home.do" target="_blank">Aeroplan</a> miles collector, today only, November 6th, you can donate your miles to a charity and have it doubled! <br />
<br />I support <a href="http://msf.ca/" target="_blank">Medicines Sans Frontieres</a>.<br />
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Go<a href="http://beyondmiles.aeroplan.com/eng/partners/7" target="_blank"> here</a> to donate.<br />
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K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2888681339270658137.post-53936799133676646302012-10-31T09:00:00.000-04:002012-10-31T09:00:10.629-04:00Happy Halloween<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A little blurry, but here is my Halloween costume this year. My hubby was a pilot and I was a stewardess...for Mile High Airlines! </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: x-large;">Happy Halloween everyone!</span><span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></div>
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K Bron Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15568810726327536470noreply@blogger.com0