September 6, 2015

How to Pack – Part 2 of 2

In my last post, I reviewed what to consider when packing for a trip – weather, activities, and social expectations. Let’s get into some specifics. All of the recommendations below are items I have personally tried, except when noted. Also, I’m (sadly) not getting paid by any of these brands…but they can offer any time and I’d probably accept!

Shoes

Choosing shoes for travel is, in my opinion, the hardest pre trip choice you’ll have to make. I generally don’t recommend brining more than 2 pairs of shoes on any trip, unless it’s longer than 2-3 weeks. Not including flip flops if you’re staying in a hostel.

Unless you’re a complete fashionista, I generally recommend a pair of every day walking shoes and then if you plan on any hiking, then a pair of hiking shoes. Of course, you need to consider your activities. If you plan on a nice dinner out, then a pair of ballet slippers will generally fit into any size suitcase, but they’re not great for lots of walking around in.

I can’t recommend enough the Keen Sienna MJ Canvas shoes. They were my primary shoe in Turkey, and not only did I walk around Istanbul’s cobble stone streets in them, I hiked in the Cappadocian hills and never once had any foot fatigue. They do get a little stinky, so when I got home I used some baby powder in them. I now have 3 pairs…one for getting wet and dirty, and two in different colors for every day use.

Keens at the Beach

My Keens and I at the Oregon Coast

Base Layers

I’m allergic to the cold. You think I’m joking? I wish. I have a fairly rare condition called cold induced urticaria. Not only is it annoying, it can also be somewhat life threatening. As a kid, my only option for layering were those waffle long johns that I think were meant for sleeping in. They usually made me sweat too much, and I felt pretty ridiculous with them under all of my clothes. For a while as a poor graduate student, I bought leggings from Target or Ross, but they always seemed to pill or bulk up under my jeans.

Fortunately, I eventually found much better options. There are many types of base layers now, and what you decide to buy will depend on your activity as well as your budget. I really like Winter Silk’s long underwear. They come in different weights aren aren’t bulky, so won’t take up much room in your luggage.

Day Bags

For safety, I recommend cross body bags or backpacks. Shoulder bags and clutches are too easy to steal or lose along the way.

For cross body bags, be sure to get one that zips closed, it’ll be much harder for pick pockets to access. I purchased the Ogio Tablet Purse for my trip to Turkey because of the padded section for my ipad and the hidden pocket for my passport. It also has a long, thick strap that can be both cross body and over the shoulder. I loved it so much that I continue to use it to this day, and I constantly get compliments on it.

I also brought a small backpack because purses tend to hurt my back after too long. I can’t emphasize *small* enough – bringing a big backpack can be just as bad for your back if it gets too heavy. Mine was actually a small camelback style bag without the bladder in it. Here I am in it in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul!

Hagia Sophia Cat

Luggage

I recently heard that airlines were considering making the allowed carry on size smaller, which makes me think that luggage manufacturers are in on the deal since they know everybody will have to buy new bags. I did a TON of research on carry on bags because I prefer not to check luggage if I can get away with it. This ensures I won’t bring too much stuff and what I do bring won’t get lost somewhere along the way.

I love my Osprey Porter 46. It is the largest size carry on allowed by most major airlines. I especially wanted something that opens on the side as opposed to the top. I find traditional backpacks to be frustrating when you’re looking for something towards the bottom of the bag. Interestingly, it looks like they have updated it since I purchased mine. It now has an organization panel which is kind of interesting.

September 4, 2015

How to Pack – Part 1 of 2

Being accepted to study for a year at Queens University under an exchange program at my undergrad college was probably the highlight of my youth. Packing for said trip, however, was my downfall. I don’t remember exactly what I brought with me, but I know it involved two large suitcases, a trunk, and two carry ons. I looked ridiculous pushing all of that luggage on a cart through Heathrow, transferring to a domestic flight.

In retrospect, brining that much stuff was absolutely overkill, even for a 10 month trip.
To be fair, I had never been a really great packer. At the end of every year of college, I would pack all of my stuff until the following year. Most would be stored at my best friend’s house, the rest would be shipped home with me to Oregon and then back again at the beginning of the next year. Inevitably, after my best try at packing, my best friend would come in and redo the entire job for me. She always managed to get more stuff into less space.
Packing for a 1-2 week trip (or even 3) is admittedly much easier than packing up your life every 4 months, but it’s still a challenge.  There are a lot of things one needs to factor in such as weather, activities, and social expectations.
Let’s break that down a bit.
Weather
Yes, weather is unpredictable, but you can at least try to anticipate what you’re going to need. Clearly, if your destination is warm, you don’t need as many layers for warmth. However, if you anticipate rain or snow, it’s important to bring layers. I’m a fan of base layers because they aren’t bulky to pack. Sometimes, you just get stuck in bad weather. When I was in Istanbul, my friends and I were drenched in a sudden downpour as we made our way to the Chora Church outside of the city center. Of course, right at that moment, the price of umbrellas soared, so we just got wet and dealt with it. If we had foreseen rain for the next few days, of course we would’ve paid the price.
Activities
Unless you’re just going to the beach to lay out and relax, you’re probably going to be doing a mix of activities. This can sometimes make packing a challenge as you want to be properly attired for different scenarios. When I went to Turkey, I knew I’d be doing a whole lot of walking around the city, but I also wanted to be prepared for a nice dinner out. So I brought a dress that was on the casual side but could be dressed up with a simple necklace and earrings. Shoes were the hardest for me because comfortable shoes that are also not dowdy can be hard to find. Shoes also take up a lot of space in your luggage, so you don’t want to overdo it there. It took some time, but I settled on a pair of keens (see next post for more info). The only thing I didn’t factor in, because I didn’t expect it, was hiking. Fortunately my keens worked out, but a good pair of tennis shoes would’ve been better.
Sadly, this sign exists because people are stupid.
Embed from Getty Images
Social Expectations
This is something that women need to consider more often than men, but that doesn’t mean men should just wear whatever they want. I feel that it’s best to blend in with the culture as much as possible, especially in more conservative countries. It’ll be important for you to do your research, and I recommend reading travel books and using google. For example, for men and women, wearing shorts for just walking around is not acceptable in Indonesia. Just a quick google search came up with these suggestions.  Does this mean that I always 100% follow the social norm? No, but sometimes I regret it. For example, when I was in Istanbul, I brought a dress that showed my shoulders. It definitely brought me some unwanted attention. I might’ve gotten that attention anyways, but it made me feel a bit more visible than I would’ve liked to be.
In the next post, I’ll focus more on specific gear that you should/shouldn’t bring and how to pack.
April 30, 2015

Solo Travel for the Lonely

When I was 20, I was fortunate to be able to study abroad in Belfast, Northern Ireland for my Junior year of College. There, I lived in a flat style dorm, sharing the kitchen and living space with 9 others. Unfortunately, my relationship with my flat mates was tenuous at best (save the times I made apple pie, then I was their best friend).

One day, I couldn’t handle their snark anymore and decided to journey on my own for the weekend. So I took the train down to a little town on the coast of Ireland, arriving just around 5pm. I imagined a hike followed by a lovely meal out where I would visit with locals and be invited to their home for tea and crumpets.

It didn’t work out that way.

My hike was cut short due to darkness, the one cafe was closing in about 20 minutes, and there was nobody around to boot.

All was not lost. I thought, I will go back to the hotel, enjoy my book and some television and perhaps catch up on my emails to home.

The hotel had no tv and no internet access. So there I was, 7:00 at night, just me and my book that I was suddenly not interested in. I panicked. I was alone. Literally. There was nobody but me and the thoughts that I could conjure. And boy was I good at conjuring thoughts.

That’s the problem with loneliness. When we are alone, we often become our own worst enemy. I ended up panicking, checking out of the hotel, and catching the last train back to Belfast.  The trip was a shambles. I was embarrassed, ashamed, and disappointed in myself. My perception of myself as an independent world traveler was destroyed. I couldn’t even handle one night on my own.

Over ten years later, I was reminded of this failed journey when a friend recommended this blog post to me: “How and Why to Travel Alone.”

As I planned my solo trip to Turkey a couple of years ago, I dreamed of an experience like this bloggers, but I also feared a repeat of my Irish jaunt. Being alone is a skill that some people just have to learn and practice to be good at.

I wish I could say I knew how to learn to be alone. My personal journey of learning to enjoy it came out of necessity – moving to new cities and having no friends, roommates moving away, being dumped, etc. Slowly, I figured out that my own company was pretty great. So great, in fact, that when people asked me if they could come with me to Turkey, I flat out said no. It’s just like the blogger above said, I wanted all the WTF time I could have.

The best thing, I met other travelers, was never lonely, and still got my own WTF time. So find your bliss, and do it…alone.

 

April 4, 2015

A Tale of Two Trips

I’m turning 35 in December, and for some reason I’m having some anxiety about it. My gut is telling me to go on a grand adventure for the occasion.  So the question is where?

My family and friends have been very helpful in providing me with lists of options that don’t involve the Middle East. Much to their chagrin, however, I’ve narrowed the options down to Iran or Egypt.

Sorry family and friends (not sorry).

Iran has provided a unique challenge in that it’s really a very inexpensive place to visit, but because Americans are required to have a tour guide, the prices have been pretty ridiculous. It’s taken a good 3 months for me to figure out that sometimes you just have to be persistent.  The whole experience has been frustrating and discouraging, honestly. The American and British tour companies are exorbitantly expensive, and the Iranian companies are hard to work with because of cultural differences/language barriers. But, with lots and lots of sleuthing and some pushing, I may have found a tour that works with my budget.

There are clearly some obstacles to going to Iran. I’m closely watching the political situation, and there’s no guarantee I’ll get a visa, but I am currently feeling hopeful.

My second option is Egypt. Truth be told I haven’t done much research on this option yet, mostly because I just came up with the idea this week (after weeks of trying to find a suitable alternative to Iran). However, I have a friend who has spent a lot of time there and has already supplied me with a great starting point for my research. It’ll be much less expensive than Iran (or it should be) and it’s easier to get to but still has all of the ancient history that I’m interested in.

So I think that as far as adventures go, it’s looking pretty good for me!

Now, who wants to come with me?

March 2, 2015

The Thousand Mile Journey

It takes just one step to start, right? The journey of your dreams, you only get there by taking steps. Sometimes small ones, other times large.

The last couple of years, I’ve had in the back of my head the desire to go to Iran and see Ancient Persia. Maybe it will be this year, maybe it will be in 5 years. It’s hard to say. But it’s important to me to start taking steps on the journey.

Why Iran? You ask. I’m sure it’s not everybody’s dream destination. But for many of us, it embodies everything one could ask for in an adventure:

1. Ancient History, specifically the history of the cradle of civilization. When I was in Graduate School, I had the opportunity to take a class at Harvard on Zoroastrianism. I had previously done some independent study on this ancient religion while in college when I wrote a paper about the effects of Zoroastrian apocalyptic on the Israelites. I dream of seeing the ancient Fire Temples and burial towers. If this isn’t quite your thing, remember that Peresepolis, built in 518 BCE by Darius the Great as the seat of the empire is in Iran.

2. Culture. I’ve always been drawn to cultures that are misunderstood by our own. I see a trip to Iran in some ways as an act of defiance against our perceived notions of Iranians. I say, “Iranians are no more their Government than we are ours here in America.” Remember, when Bush declared Iran part of the so called “Axis of Evil,” many were surprised (even analysts) because the Iranian people are so warm and welcoming.

3. Off the beaten path. When I was in Turkey, another solo traveler said, “when I’m old, it’ll still be easy to go to Europe.” The thought is that while he was young, he should travel to places that aren’t as easy to get around when your knees are creaky and you want a nice bed at night.  He had a really good point.

So what’s my first step? Research. Figure out how much time I’ll need…and more importantly, how much money.

February 24, 2015

What Do You Want and Why Do you Want It?

When I was young, my parents would schlep my brother and me from Western North Dakota to Northern California to visit family. The fact that we made this 24 hour journey every 2 years or so is testament to my mom’s love of our relatives. This isn’t because the road was dangerous or the trip expensive, but more so that my brother and I spent the entire time fighting. I’m not sure how it is that any of us survived those hours together.

As children of the 80’s, we were some of the first to see the advent of car television systems. These were in no ways the media players of today. They were big boxy squares with VCRs. My brother and I coveted them every road trip we took, and we made our desires for one very well known. That TV, in our eyes, would have saved us all (never mind the fact that we probably would have fought over what to watch).

I had truly hope that this would be our savior.

My mom’s reaction was always, “No, you need to see the cacti!” She was probably right, but truth be told, I usually had my nose stuck in a Box Car Children book anyways, so it’s not like I really saw any. Plus…I’m not sure there’s a whole lot of cactus in the long stretches of Montana, Washington, Oregon, or Idaho that we traversed. But regardless, Mom always wins.

I don’t remember actually seeing any cacti on those trips, but I know now that my mom was trying to get us to understand the importance of seeing new places and experiencing travel. The television was always there, but the mountains and deserts of the Western US aren’t always available to enjoy when you live somewhere else.

Have you ever wondered why something is so meaningful to you? Those road trips didn’t actually make me love travel, but something did. My core being loves it and can’t understand why it’s not a priority for everybody. But even for those whom travel is a priority, what is it that draws us to certain places? I for one, find that the more exotic a place, the more interest I have. Others may love travelling here in the US, but I need international intrigue and cultural differences.

What is it that makes us want what we want? Does it matter? I suspect it does. The more we understand what we want, the more we’ll actually appreciate it once we get it.

February 11, 2015

Context Creates Life

My friends and I went to the Oregon Symphony recently and I was extremely pleased that the Conductor explained some of the background and history about the artists. Richard Strauss’ Metamorphosen was suddenly more meaningful when set in the context of WWII and the destruction of the Munich Opera House. It was a nice reminder to me why context matters in everything.

As a Biblical Historian, I know that context is key when reading ancient tests. In order to really understand a text, you have to know as much as you can about the author, the audience, the sociopolitical situation, even the language and its nuances. The text holds more power when read in its correct context.

Context isn’t only relevant to ancient history. Mashable has printed an opinion piece on why context matters when judging images here. An image taken 5 minutes ago and tweeted can easily be taken out of context.

I can’t imagine travelling without understanding at least some of the context of the places I’m visiting. This can happen both prior to and during the trip.

When planning my trip to Turkey, I read news articles, histories, and travel books to understand more about the country.

While I was there, I learned the most from a private guide who I hired for a day in Cappadocia. From him, I learned that the gorgeous geological formations were formed from volcanic activity over a period of about 65 million years. Each of the unique formations and colors were created during a different eruption.

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“Fairy chimneys” were formed when lava covering the tuff (consolidated volcanic ash) gave way along preexisting cracks of sloping areas and became isolated pinnacles. They can attain a height of up to forty meters, have conical shapes and consist of caps of harder rock resting on pillars of softer rock.

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Each layer of rock was created by different volcanic eruptions over time, one on top of another.

Cappadocia was gorgeous, but with this information, it became both gorgeous and interesting. Have you noticed how context has made your life richer?

January 26, 2015

Beyond Being

When I think back on my trip to Turkey, now well over a year and half ago, I don’t necessarily remember all of the little details that I noticed in the architecture. I don’t remember the taste of the hot tea and how it cooled me despite the warm temperature outside. But what I do acutely remember is how alive I felt. Because I was actually noticing those little details, I was 100% in the moment, taking in every smell and sound. My eyes were wide open.

Last night, I took a bread baking class at Portland’s Culinary Workshop (a place I can heartily recommend). I was paired for the class with a gentleman who was probably in his 50’s, an Engineer at Hewlett-Packard who made a great conversation partner in between bread risings. Well traveled himself, we discussed his work trips to Asia, particularly Taiwan which he loved, and of course, we talked about my own travels and my desire for more. We also talked about career paths and in the end I kind of felt like I was talking to somebody who was a mentor, he was so intent on listening to me, and I thank him for that kindness.

Toward the end of the night, he said to me, “have you ever considered a job that involved traveling? You light up when you talk about your journeys.”

Hearing those words, “you light up when you talk about your journeys,” brought back a flood of memories of how alive I felt in Turkey. I was momentarily heartbroken to think that I’m not living every day lit up like that. It’s my best self, the person who I want to be. The person who is aware and in love with everything that surrounds them. I want more than to just Be for my life.

I’m going to try to start noticing things more. To slow down and actually SEE where I am currently. It seems a shame to only be “alive” in far aways lands when I live in such a beautiful place now.

“Maybe, she thought as she fastened her cloak, there was some middle ground to be had, a resting place between passion and practicality.”

-from “The Golem and the Jinni” by Helene Wecker

January 23, 2015

Travel Insurance – An Interview

When I started traveling abroad a few years back, I scoffed at the idea of travel insurance. It sounded like a scam, just a way to lose money. But, with time and hearing the merits of travel insurance, I finally broke down and really looked into it prior to my trip to Turkey in 2013.

Travel insurance is generally considered to be just extra medical insurance when you’re outside of the country, but it can be much more than that. It’s often used for trip cancellations, baggage loss, theft, and even acts of terrorism. I’ve interviewed my friend Jeff Banks who’s professional experience in the travel industry has taught him much about what’s important when purchasing travel insurance. Thanks to Jeff for being the first interviewee on my new blog!

Who Should Buy Travel Insurance?
I strongly recommend anyone who is traveling anywhere to purchase insurance

Why Should Anyone Buy Travel Insurance?
For any type of international travel (including Mexico and Canada), your medical insurance probably won’t cover you. I like to tell my clients that even for the most simple emergency evacuations you can be looking at a bill of $20,000.00 or more. If you are covered, most insurance companies have a service that will put you in touch with a local, English speaking doctor that you can trust.

Besides medical, Travel insurance covers many other areas. You have Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Missed Connection, Lost Baggage, Baggage Delay, Rental Car Damage just to mention a few. If your flight is late getting you to the port for your cruise, the ship is not going to wait for you. You would be responsible to pay for another flight and hotel accommodation to get you to the next port of call. That is money out of your pocket.

How Does One Choose a Good Travel Insurance Company and Plan?
You want to go with well-established company like CSA, Travel Guard, Allianz, or Travel Insured. Don’t go with the lowest price. Look at all the coverages and make a decision based on your needs. Some companies offer Cancel-For-Any-Reason while others cover pre-existing condition. The best company may be different from person to person depending on their needs. To make this easier, I strongly recommend contacting a Travel Agent who can go over your needs and find a plan that most closely matches what you want.. It doesn’t cost any more to have them do it then for you to do it.

I STRONGLY recommend that you don’t purchase insurance from the tour operator/cruise line/airline etc. that you are booking your travel with. For instance, if you are booking a cruise, don’t buy insurance from the cruise line’s web page. You may notice that the policies are from well-known insurance companies. What you don’t know is that these policies usually very basic and don’t offer much protection at all. The restrictions are greater and the amenities are less. Some are written in such a way that you can’t ever use it no matter what happens to you.

What are the Most Important Products or Features a Plan Should Have?
Trip Cancellation and Medical Coverage are the most important features of an insurance Policy. Make sure you read the fine print on these. Each company covers different things.

Are there any Red Flags to be Aware of When Reviewing Plans?
You will be safe if you stick to the major companies listed above. There are a few more out there as well. I can’t stress enough that you should never go with a tour operators insurance. Purchase insurance through your travel agent as a separate item.

Can you Recommend any of Your Favorite Travel Insurance Companies?
 My favorite company is CSA Travel Pro. They have great policy that will allow you to add the Cancel-For-Any-Reason option. With that being said, they do not offer coverage for pre-existing conditions. If that is something you need, I would go with Travel Insured.

Jeff in Winnipeg

Jeff Banks has been in the travel industry for the last 7 years specializing in both Leisure and Corporate Travel. He is currently a Meeting and Events planner for one of the top corporate travel agencies in the country.

January 14, 2015

More on Choices

When a friend of mine returned from the Peace Corps, she experienced more culture shock than when she first moved to a remote village in Eastern Europe. It took her a couple of weeks to be able to go into a grocery store due to anxiety – there are too many options. (There is even a blog post dedicated to how to choose yogurt…).

Her anxiety is exactly what I feel when I’m trying to plan a trip and don’t know exactly where I should go. Just look at my previous blog posts. One day I’m focused on Morocco, the next day Prague and Vienna. Then I’m considering going to Greece or even back to Turkey. Then a friend suggests South Africa, another says New Zealand, and my mom says Spain.

It’s so overwhelming.

My brain churns through the data- “the weather here will be better, but there’s not as much ancient history. This location isn’t as safe and my family and friends will freak out; I really want to go here, but it’s too expensive.”

Decision fatigue sets in and I end up spending the evening eating pizza rolls and watching terrible television.

I’m a pretty organized person, so I’m tempted to start a list of the places that I’m considering and weigh the pros and cons, which as LifeHacker points out, can help eliminate decision fatigue.
But when it really comes down to it, I think the best way to make a decision like this is to stop thinking about it for a few days and wait for your gut to tell you what to do.
Interestingly, this is an email I received from The Universe this morning:
 
“Confusion, indecision, and uncertainty, Jessica,
often mean that if you wait a little longer before deciding,
an even better option will emerge,
with such clarity it may bite you on the nose and sweep you off your feet.
The nice kind of bite.
I’d say wait a little longer,
The Universe.”
Postscript: Not an hour after initially pushing this post live, I came upon this interesting App that helps you decide where to travel to. Can’t hurt to try it!