Montrealers celebrate EVERYTHING from construction (yes, we have a construction festival!) to snow during La Fête des Neiges.
We don't let wide variations in heat and cold stop us from getting out and having fun. There is always a festival happening year-round in Montreal, so whenever you plan to visit, you'll be able to take part in the celebrations.
As the summer starts to heat up, so do the array of great festivals.
Piknic Electronik runs from May to October and is held each Sunday in a family-friendly park where you can listen to electronic music. Bring a picnic, enjoy the warm weather and dance to the music. With a $10 entrance fee, you can't go wrong.
Similar to the Picnik Electronik, but for only one week in June is MUTEK, an international festival of digital creativity and electronic music.
If you're a beer drinker and connaisseur, the best can be sampled at the International Beer Festival. Coupons can be bought and exchanged for samples and you can even get a special souvenir tasting mug.
Not a festival, though the atmosphere makes it feel like one - don't forget Montreal hosts Formula 1. Crescent street downtown gets closed off for free concerts and to show off the cars. You may even be able to get your picture taken in one.
Just before the school year ends, you can find the Eureka festival in the Old Port. It celebrates all aspects of science and is especially geared to children and education.
The summer seems to make the city come alive after a long hibernation, but we'll still duck in for some movies at Image+Nation, an LGBT cinema festival. But we head mostly back outside for Les Francofolies, which celebrates French music from around the world with more than 1000 acts.
You never know what you're going to get when you take in a show at the Fringe festival. Anyone can submit an idea for a show and they're choosen by random lottery, so you can get anything from high-quality entertainment to something just a little zany. It's worth the risk!
Or if you're looking for something even more original, if that's even possible, there's the Infringement Festival which runs right after.
Fireworks light up the night sky during the International Fireworks Competition. This is one of my favorite free activities to enjoy all summer. I go to the Old Port to watch them and take a stroll by the river - it's a very romantic outing. You can buy tickets and get a front row seat at La Ronde if you really want to get up close and personal.
One of our most well-known fests, Just For Laughs, brings together the best in international comedy acts. I take in a show every year and always leave with my cheeks and belly hurting from laughing so much. Loads of fun and silliness!
Our biggest fest of all is probably the Jazz festival. This is one fantastic festival. If you're not a big fan of jazz, don't worry, there are tons of extra acts with different styles to please everyone. Just taking a walk and enjoying the free shows in the evening is a great way to enjoy the city.
Right on the tails of the Jazz festival is Les Nuits d'Afrique or African Nights in English. It's a celebration of African music and dance, with performances also including artists from the Caribbean, Central and South America. The influences of African music are far-reaching and this fest brings them all together again.
If you're a fan of films from Asia or anime, look no further than
Fantasia. Hugely popular, you need to buy tickets well in advance to catch a screening.
A relative newcommer on the festival scene is Osheaga, a festival of music and art, held outdoors at Parc Jean-Drapeau.
There is even something for the little ones at La Fête des Enfants, or Children's Festival. It's in August and totally free for families with children under 12 years of age. There's music and dance shows and everything one can think of to entertain children.
Autumn brings POP Montreal, yet another great international festival of music and the arts! Activities related to POP Montreal go on in the city year round; from a craft fair to stuff for kids, so check back on the site often to see what's going on.
Now we're back into winter, but that doesn't keep us hiding inside. We have the Montreal Highlights Festival. This is a celebration of the finest music and food. You can sample dishes from internationally acclaimed chefs. The lights stay on all night for Nuit Blanche, where everything stays open for everyone to enjoy for free. Free public transportation is provided and you can do anything from go to a museum, skate outside under the stars or take a tango lesson. There's always a brunch or pancake breakfast provided in the morning if you've managed to stay up all night.
In conjunction with the Highlights Festival are the Montreal International Music Initiative or MIMI awards, given to talented emerging artists in Montreal.
Oh my, are we done yet? Did I miss anything? I probably did, but that's ok, I'll catch it next year. That's the beauty of Montreal's famous festivals.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Traveling Alone in Morocco
Don't be scared to travel alone in Morocco if you're a female!
No doubt, you will be approached/hassled to buy a tacky souvenir, eat at a certain restaurant or asked for money just about every minute while walking through a busy market, but walk quickly and with confidence and you can still get by.
Moroccans are very welcoming people and in my experience, take a firm "no!" for an answer when you don't want to be bothered. I spent a week traveling solo from Agadir, to Marrakesh, to Essaouira and the Ourika Valley and never feared for my safety.
Yes, it is very easy to get lost in those windy roads of the markets and the crowds and chaos can be bewildering, but you can find sanctuary and beauty to escape to easily.
Some men will ask to talk to you and ask you out for a coffee. If you are not interested, just say "no" and keep walking. I also found they left me alone quicker if I said I was married (which I am) and showed my wedding ring. You also have the option of covering your hair with a hijab. I found I was bothered less when I did that, however during one afternoon prayer, someone tried to pull me into a mosque (and I regret not going in to see).
If you are already shopping at a stall and the owner invites you to sit and have mint tea, it's hard to resist and can be fun. In my experience, they were happy to show me pictures of their family and country, as well as ask me about my home life. Though I'll admit, I had so much mint tea while I was there, I started to get a heartburn just thinking about another glass!
Similarily, if you are invited to their home for a meal, I think you can feel safe doing so. Even when they do not have a lot to offer, they are very giving and love to ask questions about your life and travels. I always carry small souvenirs and postcards from my city to give to people as thank you gifts. Don't be shy to give a little bit of money to pay for your meal, or there may be an item you have and take for granted that they may want or need. For example, I gave a shopkeeper's wife who made me lunch my sunglasses. She liked them and almost cried with joy when I gave them to her.
I don't know too many other countries where you can get such insight into the daily life of the people in such an intimate way. They are genuinely curious to learn more about you, especially fellow women.
On the more negative side, I did have my arm grabbed once by an over-zealous shopkeeper trying to get me to look in his store. I turned around and loudly told him to let me go. When he did not, I raised my fist, threatening to punch him and he ran away. Do not be scared to cause a scene if you need to. He was the most annoying heckler I got, so he is not representative of the people. That was also in Marrakesh, which is a bit more busy and wild than the smaller cities, like Essaouira.
It helps and gives you better service and respect if you can speak French - and I'm sure you'll get even better deals if you can speak Arabic. Even without those skills, I have no qualms advising ladies to go ahead and enjoy the country alone. Dress like the locals and keep an open mind. Take the time to talk to and get to know the locals. I did not sense any danger taking buses, taxis or traveling at night alone. A visit to Morocco is well worth it!
No doubt, you will be approached/hassled to buy a tacky souvenir, eat at a certain restaurant or asked for money just about every minute while walking through a busy market, but walk quickly and with confidence and you can still get by.
Moroccans are very welcoming people and in my experience, take a firm "no!" for an answer when you don't want to be bothered. I spent a week traveling solo from Agadir, to Marrakesh, to Essaouira and the Ourika Valley and never feared for my safety.
Yes, it is very easy to get lost in those windy roads of the markets and the crowds and chaos can be bewildering, but you can find sanctuary and beauty to escape to easily.
Some men will ask to talk to you and ask you out for a coffee. If you are not interested, just say "no" and keep walking. I also found they left me alone quicker if I said I was married (which I am) and showed my wedding ring. You also have the option of covering your hair with a hijab. I found I was bothered less when I did that, however during one afternoon prayer, someone tried to pull me into a mosque (and I regret not going in to see).
If you are already shopping at a stall and the owner invites you to sit and have mint tea, it's hard to resist and can be fun. In my experience, they were happy to show me pictures of their family and country, as well as ask me about my home life. Though I'll admit, I had so much mint tea while I was there, I started to get a heartburn just thinking about another glass!
Similarily, if you are invited to their home for a meal, I think you can feel safe doing so. Even when they do not have a lot to offer, they are very giving and love to ask questions about your life and travels. I always carry small souvenirs and postcards from my city to give to people as thank you gifts. Don't be shy to give a little bit of money to pay for your meal, or there may be an item you have and take for granted that they may want or need. For example, I gave a shopkeeper's wife who made me lunch my sunglasses. She liked them and almost cried with joy when I gave them to her.
I don't know too many other countries where you can get such insight into the daily life of the people in such an intimate way. They are genuinely curious to learn more about you, especially fellow women.
On the more negative side, I did have my arm grabbed once by an over-zealous shopkeeper trying to get me to look in his store. I turned around and loudly told him to let me go. When he did not, I raised my fist, threatening to punch him and he ran away. Do not be scared to cause a scene if you need to. He was the most annoying heckler I got, so he is not representative of the people. That was also in Marrakesh, which is a bit more busy and wild than the smaller cities, like Essaouira.
It helps and gives you better service and respect if you can speak French - and I'm sure you'll get even better deals if you can speak Arabic. Even without those skills, I have no qualms advising ladies to go ahead and enjoy the country alone. Dress like the locals and keep an open mind. Take the time to talk to and get to know the locals. I did not sense any danger taking buses, taxis or traveling at night alone. A visit to Morocco is well worth it!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
How To Prevent Jet Lag
I've never been truly jet lagged.
I'm not boasting, it is a fact. A little tired, yes, but never to the point where my body was physically in one place and thinking it was still in another time zone. Call me lucky, or take my tips which were handed down to me from my best friend's dad, who is a pilot.
For this to work, you *must* stick to it immediately. Don't try to do this the second or third day you arrive. It will already be too late!
From North America to Europe:
1) Sleep, eat and drink (water!) well in the days before you leave for your trip.
2) If possible, take an evening flight. If you haven't eaten supper before take off, eat supper on the plane (I know, it's not always appealing), maybe watch a movie, brush your teeth and get ready for "bed" as if you were at home.
3) Go to "bed" on the plane at a reasonable hour, around 10pm local time.
4) You may need a sleeping pill or melatonin pill to help this along. I highly recommend earplugs, a blanket, an eye mask and if you're lucky, lie down on any empty seats around you. If you are lucky enough to lie down, put your seatbelt on loosely around your waist so the stewards/esses won't bother you. You can even stick a "Do Not Disturb" sign to yourself. Trust me.
5) They always serve breakfast too early, but if you're hungry, eat it. If not, keep sleeping. I've often woken up smelling the end of service and discovered I've missed it (because of the Do Not Disturb sign, no one woke me up, HA!). No worries, you can eat something when you land.
6) When you land, it will be morning at your European destination. Have a healthy light snack (fruit, cheese, bagel) and don't forget to stay hydrated. I'll usually have some toast, fruit and a tea (especially if I've just landed in England. Gotta have my first decent cuppa!) and get right to bed.
7) Yes, that's right. Get to a bed and sleep! If you can't sleep, just close your eyes and relax for a few hours.
8) If you're like me, you'll wake up at around lunch time. I'll shower and have lunch and be totally fine for the rest of the trip. Seriously.
9) Go to bed that night at a reasonable hour again and you should wake up in the morning at the correct time for your location.
I'll admit, there could be some glitches with you waking up at 1am local time and confused, but STAY IN BED! Even if you don't sleep, relaxing in bed will help your body recharge and get the point that it needs to sleep now, at this new time. If you stick to this the first night, I promise there will be no more headaches the rest of your trip. Promise!
As you continue east, you'll have to repeat this procedure each time you go over a significant number of time zones. Stick to it! Don't give in to the temptation to run off immediately and see sights. Train your body first so that you can enjoy the rest of your time at your destination.
On the way back, from Europe to North America, it's pretty much the same thing, but I start "living" in the new time on the way back ie. if it's sleeping time in North America, I sleep on the plane. If it's awake time in North America, I stay awake.
-Once landed, eat or sleep based on the local schedule.
-This may mean you have to fight to stay awake until it's a reasonable bed time. If that's the case, go out and get fresh air, walk around. Do not head to bed too early!
-If you go to bed at a reasonable hour, you should get up just fine and rested the next morning.
Admittedly, I often get up a little earlier than I normally would that first morning back, but after that glitch, I'm totally back into my regular routine.
So essentially it's sleep more heading east and stay awake more heading west.
I hope this works for you, too! (Actually, I'm pretty confident it will :)
But if not, comment with your tips/criticisms.
I'm not boasting, it is a fact. A little tired, yes, but never to the point where my body was physically in one place and thinking it was still in another time zone. Call me lucky, or take my tips which were handed down to me from my best friend's dad, who is a pilot.
For this to work, you *must* stick to it immediately. Don't try to do this the second or third day you arrive. It will already be too late!
From North America to Europe:
1) Sleep, eat and drink (water!) well in the days before you leave for your trip.
2) If possible, take an evening flight. If you haven't eaten supper before take off, eat supper on the plane (I know, it's not always appealing), maybe watch a movie, brush your teeth and get ready for "bed" as if you were at home.
3) Go to "bed" on the plane at a reasonable hour, around 10pm local time.
4) You may need a sleeping pill or melatonin pill to help this along. I highly recommend earplugs, a blanket, an eye mask and if you're lucky, lie down on any empty seats around you. If you are lucky enough to lie down, put your seatbelt on loosely around your waist so the stewards/esses won't bother you. You can even stick a "Do Not Disturb" sign to yourself. Trust me.
5) They always serve breakfast too early, but if you're hungry, eat it. If not, keep sleeping. I've often woken up smelling the end of service and discovered I've missed it (because of the Do Not Disturb sign, no one woke me up, HA!). No worries, you can eat something when you land.
6) When you land, it will be morning at your European destination. Have a healthy light snack (fruit, cheese, bagel) and don't forget to stay hydrated. I'll usually have some toast, fruit and a tea (especially if I've just landed in England. Gotta have my first decent cuppa!) and get right to bed.
7) Yes, that's right. Get to a bed and sleep! If you can't sleep, just close your eyes and relax for a few hours.
8) If you're like me, you'll wake up at around lunch time. I'll shower and have lunch and be totally fine for the rest of the trip. Seriously.
9) Go to bed that night at a reasonable hour again and you should wake up in the morning at the correct time for your location.
I'll admit, there could be some glitches with you waking up at 1am local time and confused, but STAY IN BED! Even if you don't sleep, relaxing in bed will help your body recharge and get the point that it needs to sleep now, at this new time. If you stick to this the first night, I promise there will be no more headaches the rest of your trip. Promise!
As you continue east, you'll have to repeat this procedure each time you go over a significant number of time zones. Stick to it! Don't give in to the temptation to run off immediately and see sights. Train your body first so that you can enjoy the rest of your time at your destination.
On the way back, from Europe to North America, it's pretty much the same thing, but I start "living" in the new time on the way back ie. if it's sleeping time in North America, I sleep on the plane. If it's awake time in North America, I stay awake.
-Once landed, eat or sleep based on the local schedule.
-This may mean you have to fight to stay awake until it's a reasonable bed time. If that's the case, go out and get fresh air, walk around. Do not head to bed too early!
-If you go to bed at a reasonable hour, you should get up just fine and rested the next morning.
Admittedly, I often get up a little earlier than I normally would that first morning back, but after that glitch, I'm totally back into my regular routine.
So essentially it's sleep more heading east and stay awake more heading west.
I hope this works for you, too! (Actually, I'm pretty confident it will :)
But if not, comment with your tips/criticisms.
Monday, February 8, 2010
I Will Never Stop Traveling
Before I had a baby, people told me to get all my traveling done because I wouldn't be able to do it afterwards. I was always of the firm belief that my life should not stop because I'm a mom. After all, if I want to be a happy mom, I still need to be a happy person and part of what makes me happy is travel. I also believe (and now know for sure!) that babies are portable and washable.
So no, I will not stop traveling. I simply have a new travel companion now and when he is old enough to stay with someone else (he's still nursing and won't take a bottle) then I'll go off by myself if I want. Does it mean I won't miss him? Of course I will! But sometimes a mommy needs to go off and recharge her batteries. Then she can come home with stories and pictures and be a more happy mom.
It shows your child a wonderful independent side of you. Not only does it show that women can go off on their own, but that mommy can go away and come back and the world is ok - not just ok, but fun and there is so much to explore, to learn about, and be curious about!
Besides, as long as he still fits in my lap, I don't pay a thing (or very little) to have him come with me, so really, it's the best time to travel! He won't remember these trips, but we'll have pictures to look at and all those stamps in his passport.
I can only hope that I inspire him to grow up with the same curiosity about the world that I have and a zest for travel. But he has to promise to always write or call and come back to see his mommy regularly :)
So no, I will not stop traveling. I simply have a new travel companion now and when he is old enough to stay with someone else (he's still nursing and won't take a bottle) then I'll go off by myself if I want. Does it mean I won't miss him? Of course I will! But sometimes a mommy needs to go off and recharge her batteries. Then she can come home with stories and pictures and be a more happy mom.
It shows your child a wonderful independent side of you. Not only does it show that women can go off on their own, but that mommy can go away and come back and the world is ok - not just ok, but fun and there is so much to explore, to learn about, and be curious about!
Besides, as long as he still fits in my lap, I don't pay a thing (or very little) to have him come with me, so really, it's the best time to travel! He won't remember these trips, but we'll have pictures to look at and all those stamps in his passport.
I can only hope that I inspire him to grow up with the same curiosity about the world that I have and a zest for travel. But he has to promise to always write or call and come back to see his mommy regularly :)
How To Enjoy Solo Travel With an Infant
I guess this isn't strictly a solo-travel experience, but close since it was just me and my little guy.
I recently took my four month old baby with me to Barbados. We drove two hours to the States and took a jetBlue flight from Burlington to JFK, then switched planes to get to Barbados. Once landed, it's an hour's drive to my house in the north of Barbados. So it comes to about ten hours of transit time in total.
It was slightly more complicated on the way back because jetBlue made us change terminals at JFK and transfer my luggage myself, so that made me feel like I walked ten miles, along with taking the monorail and numerous elevators. Anyways, enough about those details. Here are my tips!
I should have remembered my own advice and halved the amount of clothing I brought for him. After all, we were able to do laundry there. I'm an expert packer for myself, but it seems when it comes to son, no luxury was spared. My luggage was overweight both ways, even though I left stuff behind (clothes that no longer fit were donated to victims of the earthquake in Haiti, along with the unused diapers).
Before leaving, I'd read many a message board about travel with young ones and there was a divide over whether to bring two carry-on bags (one for me and one diaper bag for baby) or not. I ended up bringing two and don't regret it. One was our regular diaper bag with the regular essentials and a few added items. The other was both our changes of clothes (we changed from winter clothes into summer stuff before landing in sunny Barbados). I stowed the one with the extra clothes in the overhead and kept the regular diaper one at my feet. I only carried that one to the bathroom for diaper changes and didn't fuss with two bags.
Of course, that brings me to my next point, which was carrying my baby. With jetBlue, I was able to gate check both a stroller and car seat, but did not get them back right outside the plane (unlike Air Canada - all airlines are different). I carried him to and from the plane in an Ergobaby carrier and by then he was usually asleep, so I just plopped my carry-on bags into the stroller and pushed it. When he was awake, I was still able to fit him in the stroller along with my bags, so I didn't have an issue with carrying bags, which was the argument many had for only taking one with them. It's not much fun to carry bags AND a baby. And in light of new rules, it looks like it may be getting harder to carry ANYTHING on board!
Your individual needs are most important, but my opinion is don't be shy to take advantage of whatever the airline you're flying with has to offer - if they allow a separate piece of luggage for the baby, by all means, use it!
When traveling alone with my baby by both plane and train, I found train and plane employees to be exceptionally accommodating and helpful. Listen to their tips and let them take your baby when you need to use the bathroom - they are trained in CPR if anything goes wrong and it's better than asking a complete stranger.
As with any time I use public transit, it's really touch and go if I get any help from strangers. Sometimes I'm surprised how people can watch a mother struggle with a stroller trying to get through a door or up stairs, but in general, there are more good people than bad.
When it comes to your baby crying, so be it. I make no apologies. Babies cry and parents do whatever they can to try and stop it, but babies have little minds of their own, so everyone just has to deal. It was most horrible for my baby when we were on the runway (or in a bus, car or train) and not moving. Once the vehicle starts moving, he's fine, but while waiting on the runway, he had a good long scream. Yes, I got looks from other passengers and I look right back with the same look they give me. If the seatbelt light is on and I cannot stand up to walk around and soothe him, unfortunately he will wail. C'est la vie. Looking at me will not help.
My last bit of advice is to arrive early (I missed a train being late, thinking I could run as fast with a baby as without) and take your time. If you start to get stressed, so will baby. Give yourself plenty of time to get around and try to plan your day while sticking as much to your baby's schedule as possible.
Happy travels and feel free to comment with more tips or questions!
I recently took my four month old baby with me to Barbados. We drove two hours to the States and took a jetBlue flight from Burlington to JFK, then switched planes to get to Barbados. Once landed, it's an hour's drive to my house in the north of Barbados. So it comes to about ten hours of transit time in total.
It was slightly more complicated on the way back because jetBlue made us change terminals at JFK and transfer my luggage myself, so that made me feel like I walked ten miles, along with taking the monorail and numerous elevators. Anyways, enough about those details. Here are my tips!
I should have remembered my own advice and halved the amount of clothing I brought for him. After all, we were able to do laundry there. I'm an expert packer for myself, but it seems when it comes to son, no luxury was spared. My luggage was overweight both ways, even though I left stuff behind (clothes that no longer fit were donated to victims of the earthquake in Haiti, along with the unused diapers).
Before leaving, I'd read many a message board about travel with young ones and there was a divide over whether to bring two carry-on bags (one for me and one diaper bag for baby) or not. I ended up bringing two and don't regret it. One was our regular diaper bag with the regular essentials and a few added items. The other was both our changes of clothes (we changed from winter clothes into summer stuff before landing in sunny Barbados). I stowed the one with the extra clothes in the overhead and kept the regular diaper one at my feet. I only carried that one to the bathroom for diaper changes and didn't fuss with two bags.
Of course, that brings me to my next point, which was carrying my baby. With jetBlue, I was able to gate check both a stroller and car seat, but did not get them back right outside the plane (unlike Air Canada - all airlines are different). I carried him to and from the plane in an Ergobaby carrier and by then he was usually asleep, so I just plopped my carry-on bags into the stroller and pushed it. When he was awake, I was still able to fit him in the stroller along with my bags, so I didn't have an issue with carrying bags, which was the argument many had for only taking one with them. It's not much fun to carry bags AND a baby. And in light of new rules, it looks like it may be getting harder to carry ANYTHING on board!
Your individual needs are most important, but my opinion is don't be shy to take advantage of whatever the airline you're flying with has to offer - if they allow a separate piece of luggage for the baby, by all means, use it!
When traveling alone with my baby by both plane and train, I found train and plane employees to be exceptionally accommodating and helpful. Listen to their tips and let them take your baby when you need to use the bathroom - they are trained in CPR if anything goes wrong and it's better than asking a complete stranger.
As with any time I use public transit, it's really touch and go if I get any help from strangers. Sometimes I'm surprised how people can watch a mother struggle with a stroller trying to get through a door or up stairs, but in general, there are more good people than bad.
When it comes to your baby crying, so be it. I make no apologies. Babies cry and parents do whatever they can to try and stop it, but babies have little minds of their own, so everyone just has to deal. It was most horrible for my baby when we were on the runway (or in a bus, car or train) and not moving. Once the vehicle starts moving, he's fine, but while waiting on the runway, he had a good long scream. Yes, I got looks from other passengers and I look right back with the same look they give me. If the seatbelt light is on and I cannot stand up to walk around and soothe him, unfortunately he will wail. C'est la vie. Looking at me will not help.
My last bit of advice is to arrive early (I missed a train being late, thinking I could run as fast with a baby as without) and take your time. If you start to get stressed, so will baby. Give yourself plenty of time to get around and try to plan your day while sticking as much to your baby's schedule as possible.
Happy travels and feel free to comment with more tips or questions!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
How To Use a Squat Toilet
(Probably the cleanest squat toilet ever - found in Essaouira, Morocco)
1) Decide how much you have to piss/poop and if it can wait til you get to "home" base or not. MUST you go now?
1b) Decide if you just want to do it for the "cultural" experience.
If yes to both, read on.
2) Is it a public squat toilet or one inside a restaurant? Public ones are worse. How much do you want to do this? Consider carefully.
3) Do you have a strong stomach? Can you take an over-powering scent of excrement without losing your lunch? Or do you mind losing your lunch? Yes? Walk on in! But first...
4)Hike your pants/skirt up as high as possible. Are you wearing fairly waterproof closed-toed shoes? If not, good luck.
5) Don't look in the hole!
6) Do you have toilet paper? Are they selling toilet paper? Decide if you want toilet paper and act accordingly.
7) Pick up a bucket at the door and bring it in with you (or check if there is a bucket in the stall already).
8) Lock the door behind you, if possible. Maybe say a little prayer.
9) Secure bags/jackets on hook provided or hang on to them for dear life. Dropping them is inconceivable.
10) Hike clothing, pull down necessary parts. If you are going to squat, ensure clothing is far enough from your body that you will not piss on yourself in the process or get any splashback on yourself.
11) Remember: Don't look in the hole!
12) Try not to gag, continue praying as necessary.
13) Position yourself on the foot rests, without looking into the hole. Really. Just don't.
14) Do your thing, keeping your nose in the air to stay away from the stink as much as possible.
15) Wipe, but throw toilet paper in garbage provided. If there isn't one, throw it in and run away as quickly as possible after in case someone wants to yell at you for clogging the toilet.
16) Organize clothing. Save time by turning tap on and filling bucket whilst.
17) Use the water to rinse toilet area and "flush" things down. Again, try not to look into the hole!
18) Rinse your hands under the tap - sometimes there is even soap in the stall!
18b) Often, the sink and soap are outside. Wash hands there.
19) Pay attendant and be happy you don't have that job.
20) Feel satisfied having survived a "cultural experience".
21) Try to get the image of the hole out of your brain - you looked, didn't you?
Sunday, December 21, 2008
I took this photo while traveling alone and it ended up in the Schmap guide :)
For those who don't know, Schmap.com gives you free .PDF maps of destinations. They use photos from fellow travelers. In this case, my pic of St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto was selected :)
I also had one of Stonehenge selected for their Salisbury guide.
I also had one of Stonehenge selected for their Salisbury guide.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Pictures For One
Unless you can find someone around to take your picture, traveling alone makes you very good at self-portraiture :) Here are some of mine from Morocco.
The Importance of Telling People Where You Are
There's no doubt that traveling alone has the asset that you can REALLY get away from it all. You can leave your cell phone at home and there's no way for anyone to know what time you've left your hotel room (or if you even checked in), where you went or where you're going. That in itself can be a freeing experience, depending on what goes on in your personal life at home. BUT BUT But, there should be some precautions you should take. I think at least one trust-worthy person back home should have an idea of your itinerary and even possibly a way to contact you in an emergency.
Smart Tip #1:
If you don't do this already (and you really should be!), take photocopies of your passport before you leave. Leave one copy at home with someone you trust. Take one with you in your luggage. Take an extra with you for when you're walking around town in the foreign country. This is because in some places, authorities have the right to stop people on the street and ask for identification. Understandably, you may not want to carry your passport with you at all times (leave it locked at the hotel). You can provide the photocopy and if they have further questions, they can follow you back to your hotel.
Or, if you lose your real passport, a photocopy *may* help you get out of the country or help you at your country's consulate. Having a copy at home means that a friend can possibly fax you a copy (if you lose everything) and also provide identification to authorities in the event of a disaster and you go missing. Sounds horrible? I know, but plan for the worse, I say.
Smart Tip #2:
While I was traveling, I discovered two things:
1) I actually wanted to communicate with the people who worry about me most, more than I valued the idea of freedom/independence. My mother, who is usually over-bearing, respected my desire to be left alone and DID NOT call me this time. It did the opposite and worried me. At the same time, I realized I like hearing from her and it was nice to chat on my cell phone with her while wandering around alone.
2) I had a few vulnerable moments (lost in the dark, feeling ill) where I realized how alone I was and if I fell and died on the street at that moment, NO ONE would know where I was or even WHO I was. It would be days before I would be found or reported missing...who knows? It was at those moments that I realized how important it was for people back home to know I was alright and where I was. Obviously, you can't tell them every minute, but at the very least, the name and address of where you plan to sleep at night and the next plane/train/bus you plan to take.
For my own comfort, I bought a cell phone at my destination so that I could call people and they could call me. I also made a point to email daily. Do what works for you and do it responsibly.
Smart Tip #1:
If you don't do this already (and you really should be!), take photocopies of your passport before you leave. Leave one copy at home with someone you trust. Take one with you in your luggage. Take an extra with you for when you're walking around town in the foreign country. This is because in some places, authorities have the right to stop people on the street and ask for identification. Understandably, you may not want to carry your passport with you at all times (leave it locked at the hotel). You can provide the photocopy and if they have further questions, they can follow you back to your hotel.
Or, if you lose your real passport, a photocopy *may* help you get out of the country or help you at your country's consulate. Having a copy at home means that a friend can possibly fax you a copy (if you lose everything) and also provide identification to authorities in the event of a disaster and you go missing. Sounds horrible? I know, but plan for the worse, I say.
Smart Tip #2:
Leave a copy of your itinerary with a trusted friend. These usually have confirmation numbers and they may be required to board a train or plane. In the event you lose your papers, you don't want to have to guess what time your plane leaves! A quick phone call will get you the info you need. Also keep copies of departure times and confirmation numbers in your email.
Smart Tip #3:
Smart Tip #3:
Agree to email or call your trusted friend at agreed times or dates, just to let people know you're alive. It's nice to go where the wind takes you and to email from a different location everyday saying, "oh, I'm in Egypt now!" but people do worry and it's nice to make sure they don't worry too much. It's for you and your friends and family to work out what works best for everyone's comfort and feelings of freedom.
While I was traveling, I discovered two things:
1) I actually wanted to communicate with the people who worry about me most, more than I valued the idea of freedom/independence. My mother, who is usually over-bearing, respected my desire to be left alone and DID NOT call me this time. It did the opposite and worried me. At the same time, I realized I like hearing from her and it was nice to chat on my cell phone with her while wandering around alone.
2) I had a few vulnerable moments (lost in the dark, feeling ill) where I realized how alone I was and if I fell and died on the street at that moment, NO ONE would know where I was or even WHO I was. It would be days before I would be found or reported missing...who knows? It was at those moments that I realized how important it was for people back home to know I was alright and where I was. Obviously, you can't tell them every minute, but at the very least, the name and address of where you plan to sleep at night and the next plane/train/bus you plan to take.
For my own comfort, I bought a cell phone at my destination so that I could call people and they could call me. I also made a point to email daily. Do what works for you and do it responsibly.
How To Pack Light and Stay Healthy
I got back from a solo trip to Morocco just over two weeks ago, so I have lots of fresh advice to offer from my experiences.
1) Half the clothes, TRIPLE the money!
You've probably heard of the travel advice: spread out all the stuff you want to take with you, half the clothes and double the money. Well, I'm changing that to half the clothes, triple the money.
I bought so many clothes, I had to buy a new suitcase! (Yes, I was trying to "rough" it and backpack, but I had to cave. So many great deals!)
Clothes can often be part of your souvenir collection from a trip and they're often cheaper in developing countries, making them enticing. For me, I really wanted to fit in with the locals and their clothes were suited to the climate.
Also, when it comes to packing, leave home with a few choice shirts and one pair of pants. NO MORE! Honestly, the clothes I wore the most were the ones I spent the most on - tops and socks I invested in that were easily washable and fast-wicking. They were all made from merino wool - very thin, yet can keep you very warm or very cool, depending on the situation. For a two-week trip I had two pairs of the good socks and two good tops. I brought some cheaper socks and tops with me and left them in places along the way to decrease my load. Next time, I will go with four good tops and maybe two or three pairs of good socks AND THAT'S IT! I found it very easy to get my washing done in sinks and baths. Add to that the local clothes I bought and I had enough clothes to last my trip. I only did two "loads" of laundry.
2) When it comes to medication, always take more than you think you'll need.
Before I left, I thought I might be being a little paranoid. I truly planned for the worst. Here's what I took with me:
-one pack of travel-sized Aspirin
-one small bottle of Dramamine
-about 20 Pepto-Bismol tablets
-4 sachets of Gastrolyte
-one round of Cipro (prescribed by my doctor in case of traveler's diarrhea, UTI or other infection)
-my regular daily vitamins (B100 complex)
-three hypodermic needles
-a small first-aid kit
-sleeping pills
-one Diflucan pill
-condoms
-my regular daily prescription medications.
I did not actually follow my own advice and travel with a Plan B this time. Out of all that, what did I actually use? The Dramamine, the daily vitamins/prescription and the Gastrolyte. But I'm glad I was prepared.
I did actually catch an intestinal virus while in Morocco, which made me exceptionally happy to have the Gastrolyte, an electrolyte-replacement drink. It comes in a sachet, in powder form, making it very easy to carry around. You just have to add fresh drinking water and drink it. It did not taste great, even though I had the "fruit punch" flavor. However, after having been glued to the toilet bowl and the bed all morning, it definately helped wonders. I was happy I was "paranoid" enough to have brought it. I still felt sick and weak, but because of it, I felt that I would be strong enough to leave the safety of the guesthouse I was at and head out for real food.
What do I now think I should have brought with me that I didn't? Laxatives.
After getting rid of the virus, I was left with the opposite issue :(
You can't win.
I also had to buy more adhesive bandages because I got blisters (all those new shoes I bought!)
Just goes to show, each trip is different and you never know what will happen or what you'll actually need. Because of that, I think you should always prepare for the worst. Besides, medical supplies don't take up very much room. It's always nice to come home and unpack it all, thinking, "gee, I'm so glad I didn't have to use those needles or something worse."
1) Half the clothes, TRIPLE the money!
You've probably heard of the travel advice: spread out all the stuff you want to take with you, half the clothes and double the money. Well, I'm changing that to half the clothes, triple the money.
I bought so many clothes, I had to buy a new suitcase! (Yes, I was trying to "rough" it and backpack, but I had to cave. So many great deals!)
Clothes can often be part of your souvenir collection from a trip and they're often cheaper in developing countries, making them enticing. For me, I really wanted to fit in with the locals and their clothes were suited to the climate.
Also, when it comes to packing, leave home with a few choice shirts and one pair of pants. NO MORE! Honestly, the clothes I wore the most were the ones I spent the most on - tops and socks I invested in that were easily washable and fast-wicking. They were all made from merino wool - very thin, yet can keep you very warm or very cool, depending on the situation. For a two-week trip I had two pairs of the good socks and two good tops. I brought some cheaper socks and tops with me and left them in places along the way to decrease my load. Next time, I will go with four good tops and maybe two or three pairs of good socks AND THAT'S IT! I found it very easy to get my washing done in sinks and baths. Add to that the local clothes I bought and I had enough clothes to last my trip. I only did two "loads" of laundry.
2) When it comes to medication, always take more than you think you'll need.
Before I left, I thought I might be being a little paranoid. I truly planned for the worst. Here's what I took with me:
-one pack of travel-sized Aspirin
-one small bottle of Dramamine
-about 20 Pepto-Bismol tablets
-4 sachets of Gastrolyte
-one round of Cipro (prescribed by my doctor in case of traveler's diarrhea, UTI or other infection)
-my regular daily vitamins (B100 complex)
-three hypodermic needles
-a small first-aid kit
-sleeping pills
-one Diflucan pill
-condoms
-my regular daily prescription medications.
I did not actually follow my own advice and travel with a Plan B this time. Out of all that, what did I actually use? The Dramamine, the daily vitamins/prescription and the Gastrolyte. But I'm glad I was prepared.
I did actually catch an intestinal virus while in Morocco, which made me exceptionally happy to have the Gastrolyte, an electrolyte-replacement drink. It comes in a sachet, in powder form, making it very easy to carry around. You just have to add fresh drinking water and drink it. It did not taste great, even though I had the "fruit punch" flavor. However, after having been glued to the toilet bowl and the bed all morning, it definately helped wonders. I was happy I was "paranoid" enough to have brought it. I still felt sick and weak, but because of it, I felt that I would be strong enough to leave the safety of the guesthouse I was at and head out for real food.
What do I now think I should have brought with me that I didn't? Laxatives.
After getting rid of the virus, I was left with the opposite issue :(
You can't win.
I also had to buy more adhesive bandages because I got blisters (all those new shoes I bought!)
Just goes to show, each trip is different and you never know what will happen or what you'll actually need. Because of that, I think you should always prepare for the worst. Besides, medical supplies don't take up very much room. It's always nice to come home and unpack it all, thinking, "gee, I'm so glad I didn't have to use those needles or something worse."
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