Buying Unconventional Souvenirs

When you think about souvenirs, you think about magnets, pins or postcards.  While there is nothing wrong with these items, they just sit around.  Sure, a magnet is practical in that it can hold stuff on your fridge or other magnetic surface but how often do you look at them Even the pictures you take, how often do you look at them unless you end up framing them and putting them on the wall or some other place that you see often.

A "Souvenir" store in London, England Photo credit: Wikipedia)

You may wonder what I am referring to but here are some examples that I have bought:

Gloves - When I was in New Zealand, the weather was cool.  While I had a hoodie, my hands were still a bit chilled.  I found a shop that was selling gloves and I bought a pair.  I still use them to this day, almost 10 years later.  And when I put them on, I think of New Zealand.

Clothing - Just like gloves, clothing is something practical that can remind you of your holiday.  When I was in Australia, due to all the cookies and other goodies I was eating, it was necessary to buy some new clothing.  I still have some of those clothes hanging in my closet; one pair of pants hit the bin as I wore them out.  You may also need to buy clothing because those items that you packed are not weather appropriate for where you are travelling.

Umbrella - I don't tend to bring an umbrella when I travel but I will take rain clothing.  But when I was in Australia, it seemed to rain constantly and I wanted an umbrella.  I still use it to this day as I like the way it folds down and gets very compact.  It stays in my work bag for that reason.

Toilet Plunger - This one is a little odd, I will admit that.  I recently went to Ohio to visit my friend and we were in Target.  I saw a colourful plunger that was on sale for $5 and I needed a plunger.  While its an odd souvenir, and not one I really want to use, I do see it when I go into the washroom and it makes me think of Ohio.

Luggage - I don't know about you, but I tend to shop a little bit more than I should while on holidays.  This was definitely true of my trip to New Zealand/Australia as well as my trip to Southern Ontario in 2010.  I ended up having to purchase an extra suitcase to bring everything home.  While I do not use these bags often, when I do see them or use them, I think of those trips.

I challenge you to purchase unconventional but practical souvenirs.  Share what you have bought in the past in the comments.

South Island Continues - Last Post 3

Roadside fruit stands.  These are all over the place!   Look at those bags of apples, you sure don't get those here.

Fox Glacier.  A glacier beside a rainforest.  First you hike into the rainforest and work up a sweat, then you walk the glacier and cool down.

Taking the train from Greymouth to Christchurch.  Had a quick stop here to stretch our legs.

Spent one of my last days in New Zealand at Hammer Springs.

More of the South Island - Post 2

I wish I could tell you where this picture was.  All I know is that it was somewhere on the south island.  I think the bus likely stopped or I got an awesome picture through the window.

These guys swam with us for a bit while we toured Milford Sound.

Another shot from Milford Sound.  I will have to tell about us being snowed in later on  :)

Queenstown, Adventure Capital of the South Island

South Island, New Zealand - Part 1

There was so much going on on the South Island.  This will be post one of two for the highlights

The ferry going from Wellington to the South Island.

Grapes growing for wine

Seal colony as we approach Kaikoura

Swimming with Dolphins in Kaikoura.  I will be putting up a separate post on this at some point.

Yellow eyed penguin, they are not friendly to each other.

North Island, New Zealand

There are some of the highlights from my journey in the North Island in New Zealand.

This was a tree I found when wandering around in Auckland.

Took a boat trip out to the Hole in the Rock, it was based out of Paihai.  The boat trip itself was about 3 hours.

The beach at Paihai.  The sand flies were bad though.

The Luge track in Rotorua.  It was great fun!

Geysers in an area called "Craters of the Moon" in Taupo

Wellington.  The round building is called the Beehive

Pictures are Coming!

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

I know when it comes to traveling, pictures are the best.  Everyone wants to see them.   But I haven’t gotten any ready quite yet but my next post should have a few.  But keep in mind I have a lot of photos and to sort them and find some to post is a bit time consuming.

• New Zealand/Australia/Fiji –  1250 pictures


• Thailand/Malaysia – 1900 pictures


• Mayan Riveria – 400 pictures


• Dominican Republic – 250 pictures


• Southern Ontario - 550 pictures

I will be sharing pictures from New Zealand/Australia and Fiji first.  Mainly because I am able to find the blog I had back then and with a few modifications, I can post those to start.   Be prepared for some heavy picture posts although I may limit myself to a dozen or so per post.

I plan to write some explanations and stories which I think are really important.  I know many times when I am looking at someone’s pictures I wonder why they took that picture or at least what it is of.  So that is what I want to share with this blog.  I know I have some great pictures that I love to show off – a koala with baby in its pouch, a waterfall and more.  And there are many I have to figure out where they were and what they were.

Remember that some people will be fuzzy/blacked out due to not having their permission to post their pictures.  I figure this is the easiest method for me, now to figure out how to do that in a program as I am not very good with those types of things.

Toilets from Around the World

One thing we can all agree on, at some point, we need to find a toilet/washroom/bathroom/water cooler/whatever you call it.  But toilets definitely vary depending on where you are in the world.  So I thought it would be fun to create a post that shows the various toilets that I have encountered.

Western Toilet

If you live in North America, or in a big tourist area, you are familiar with these toilets; pretty basic design, a lever or a button to flush.    In Australia and New Zealand, I encountered toilets that allowed you to use less or more water depending on what you were flushing, which I thought was great and they are now making their way into North America.

Toilet with flush water tank (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]


Thailand Toilet

I encountered this particular toilet in Thailand but I know that you can find them all over Asia.   This one is one of the nicer ones I saw which is why I took its picture.   To flush, there is a pail with a dipper and you fill the toilet with water until it is flushed.   In the more touristy areas, we found these types of toilets along with Western toilets.

Train Toilets in Thailand

I’m not sure if this is true of all toilets on trains in Thailand or just the ones that I ended up on.  But essentially, the rule was to only use the washroom when the train was stopped.   The reason was not obvious at night time but during the day, you quickly realized that the train did not have a holding tank, all material went outside.  I would not want to be a person who had to work underneath the train.  I sure hope they were washed down first!

Narita Toilet

I’m only naming the toilet that as that is the only place I encountered them; at the Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan.  I thought this toilet was rather neat as the arm on the toilets side has a variety of buttons for different functions.  I did not examine it in depth though as others were waiting but I know that at least one button plays music for the person with the shy bladder.  (In looking for a picture I discovered that one button is for washing and one is for deodorizing)

Chicago Toilet

Again, this toilet has gotten its name due to its location, nothing else.   When I first walked into the stall, I wondered what the heck, why would you use a toilet with plastic wrap, how sanitary was that?  But then I realized how it worked.  You waved your hand over the blue light (you can see it in the back of the picture) and fresh plastic wrap comes out.  Voila!   Still not too sure on the sanitary aspect but it was neat.

It is HOW cold?!?!

When I was traveling in 2004, I stayed in hostels.  Quite often, people would end up meeting each other in the kitchen and dining rooms during meal hours as many people were cooking for themselves.  The discussion quite often involved where everyone was from and tended to go back to the temperatures at home.

It is how cold? (Photo credit: smile4camera)

When it was my turn, I tended to tell people they really did not know how cold it got at home and then I would proceed to win the coldest temperature prize.  I would then tell them that in winter we could and would get down to -40C.  Granted, it typically only lasted a week or two at most, but still, it was cold enough.  The Canadian Prairies get cold as we do not have mountains to give us Chinooks and the wind is free to blow everywhere which it does.

Many then asked questions about did we shut down due to the cold (no, but many issues with water main breaks and equipment not working properly), how did we survive the cold (many layers and many people staying home if possible) and then what is summer like (we will get into the +30 Celsius range).

It was quite interesting watching people try to fathom what -40C feels like as many of the travelers came from places that would not get much below 0C, maybe – 10C,  so anything colder was very alien to them.   While many of those who live here wish we would shut down and hibernate in the winter (myself included!) it does not happen.  The other travelers were just grateful that they live where they do.  Personally, it is not the snow that bothers me but the temperatures.   I tend to look like a snowman or some shapeless blob when I get all dressed for the low temperatures.

Changes to Habits and Routines

I find it interesting how habits and routines change when you travel.  Of course, it makes sense that some items would change such as the time you wake up or when you have your meals as some things are not in your control, but other, little things change.


A big one for me is getting to sleep.   At home, I have a multitude of different tricks I can employ to help me sleep.  My electric blanket is the first step as I need to be warm, then music and cuddling my teddy bear.  Yet, if I am not home, I usually can sleep without any difficulty.  While I still need to be warm, I don’t have to be toasty like when I am in my own bed.    That said, I find I cannot sleep with socks on when I am home, but in a strange bed, not a problem.

Eating is another item that changes.  Depending on where you are and how you are travelling, you may be eating at times that you find odd, you may be eating more often than you normally do or you may eat less.  When I did day trips in Australia and New Zealand, we would sometimes have a small morning stop for a snack and one in the afternoon as well.

Spending is a huge one as you do not have the conveniences that you have at home and you spend more in general.  For instance, I am not a fan of bottled water due to the taste and the cost.  But depending on where you are travelling, it is not an option.  In Australia/New Zealand I drank tap water but in Thailand I drank bottled water (the tap water is not safe to drink and using water tablets all the time was not convenient).

4 Things You Need to Know Before Flying

When you are getting ready to board a flight to go somewhere, there is some information that is helpful for you to have.  Without it, you may have issues with getting on your plane or come home to some big surprises that you did not expect.  It is always best to be too prepared than not prepared at all.

Photo credit: wikipedia

Destination Address 

If you are flying within your country, this is not likely too important.  But if you are flying to another country, you will want to make sure you have the address and phone number of your destination.  For this reason, it is always good to have your first nights accommodation booked if you are not sure where all you are going.  It makes going through customs a heck of a lot easier!

Packing Rules

These days, there are limits to what you are allowed to bring on the plane with you.  Liquids is a pretty big one with restrictions on anything that is more than 3 ounces.  Those have to go into your checked luggage.  If you aren't checking anything, then leave these items at home and buy them at your destination.  If you try to take them on, they are just going to make you toss them out at security.

Luggage Size

Be aware of what size of luggage you are allowed to bring on the plane with you.  Depending on the size of the plane, you may have to gate check any carry-on bags you have.  Checked luggage usually doesn't have too many restrictions in regards to size but there are limits to how heavy the bags can be.  Typically it is 50 pounds but it is always best to check with the airline that you are flying with.

Limits

Again, if you are flying out of your country there are limits to how much you can bring back from other countries.  If you have left Canada, you can bring up to $800 worth of product back to the country if you were gone for 48 hours or longer.   You can also bring a certain amount of alcohol and tobacco back duty free which goes against the $800.  It is always best to check the limits when you travel as they can change and every country is different.

Learn a Bit of the Language: Locals Appreciate It

There are many things that you can do to make your travel experience a wonderful one.  I think one of the best things that you can do is learn a few words of the language.  You do not need to become fluent within a few weeks but knowing the basics is always helpful.  People are likely to be much friendly if you can greet them and say a few

Montage of languages. . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

words in their language.  It also helps to avoid some confusion.

Great terms to learn are the following:

• Hello


• Goodbye


• Thank you


• Please


• Where is the bathroom?

Depending on where you are going and the language they speak, you may already know some of these.  In Canada, many people took French at some point in their school career and likely remember at least those words.  We also learn some of them the various languages that we hear on television but many guide books will provide a few terms for you to learn as well as how to pronounce them.

Even though many of the people in tourist areas will speak some English (assuming that is your first language), it is always nice for them to hear someone attempting their language.  Chances are your accent will be horrible and you won’t say the words correctly, but it is definitely a case of “what you don’t try won’t hurt you.”.  In fact, you may even get rewarded for your efforts by a dessert at a restaurant or a nice souvenir.

Find out if there is a gesture that is expected as a method of greeting as well.  In Thailand, you would greet a person and give a little bow in a gesture of respect.  I’m sure that if a tourist forgot, they were easily forgotten, but as we are guests in their country, it is only right we do our best to abide and follow their rules and traditions.

Traveling and Electronics: How it has Changed in my Eyes

When I went to Australia/NZ in 2004, not many people were carrying personal electronics with them.  Sure, a few people had music players and some had cell phones, but they were pretty basic, texting only.  If you wanted to send an email, you had to find an Internet café or some other location that had Internet access.  I know I went to some pretty shady seeming places to use the Internet to contact home or others.

Internet Cafe when Travelling in 2004 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Fast forward to 2012 and my trip to Thailand.  Everyone had some sort of electronic device and many of the hotels that we stayed in had free Wi-Fi for the guests to use.   There were computers and Internet café’s but not to the degree that I had found years ago.    I think of the two dozen people I travelled with, two had a netbook/laptop, three or four had iPads and probably a half a dozen had a cell phone or a small device.  Personally, I had an iPod with me as I had wanted something that had Wi-Fi access for contacting home.

Overall, I’m not sure if electronics when travelling are good or bad.  You feel a bit more of a slave to them when you have them as you feel that you should go on the Internet and do something.  But, it was also nice to keep in touch with those at home as I was gone a month to Thailand.   If I had only been gone a week, it would be different.    Not only that, but if you were wondering about something you saw, or needed to check further travel plans, it was handy to have access.

One advantage was that it was easy to keep up the appearance of being home.  I didn’t post to my Facebook that I was gone as really, people don’t need to know that.  My nearest and dearest knew that I was gone but those casual acquaintances didn’t.  And I preferred it that way.

7 Tips for Packing Light

One of the hardest things about traveling is packing and determining what you really need to take with you.  It is possible to travel with just a carry on but it can be difficult, especially depending on how long you will be gone.  But, if you have to really watch your pennies, it can be worthwhile.

Luggage (Photo credit: nhanusek)

Here are some tips to help you keep your luggage light, even if you cannot get down to only having a carry on.

Pack clothing that goes together

While black pants and jeans go with almost anything that may not be true of everything else you pack.  The more outfit combinations you can make with the least amount of clothing, the less you need to pack.  Two or three pairs of pants with 6 or 7 matching shirts can get you through an entire week.

Do laundry

This is especially true if you are going on a longer trip.  If you are gone for a month, there is no need to pack 30 different outfits.  Do a bit of research before you leave to check into laundry possibilities.  Many hotels will have facilities or can direct you to a service.  Even if it costs a bit more, it can be worth it for carrying that much less stuff.  Things like socks and underwear can be washed in a sink if need be.

Divide by half

A fun tip I have heard is to pack everything you think you will need and then take out half.  How many times have you come home from a trip and you realize that you did not even touch a bunch of the items you packed?  I know I have come home with a few clean shirts or socks that did not get worn.

Share some toiletries

If you are travelling with a partner or a friend, discuss with them the possibility of sharing toiletries.  Maybe you can share a tube of toothpaste or shampoo.  You may need to make a small compromise to make this work and hopefully they will do the same.

Travel size items

There are a lot of items that you can purchase in travel size such as shampoo, toothpaste, hand lotion and others if you are travelling solo or can’t share.  Consider purchasing these for your trip to keep your packing light.  If you cannot justify the price, go to the dollar store and buy empty containers and put your product into them.

Purchase there

Depending on what you need, consider purchasing it at your destination.  Take an extra bag with you and then buy at the other end.  Be aware that where you are going may not have the exact item you want and you may be out of luck.  When I went to Thailand, a lady I knew was looking for face moisturizer; everything she found had a whitening agent in it which she did not want.

Stuff Items in Others

While this tip will not make your bag lighter, it will maximize space.  Roll things or fold them so that they fit into others.  If you are packing shoes, ball up socks or underwear and place them inside the shoe.  Don’t waste that space that could be working for you.

Deciding Where to Travel To

When it comes to planning a trip, no matter what type, there are a few decisions that will help you figure out where you are going to go.  You may end up having to go through the decision making process a few times before you can come up with a viable option.

Making Decisions (Photo credit: _Hadock_)

Where Do You Want to Go?

The first question is, where do you want to go?  Sometimes you know exactly where you want to go and other times, you aren’t really sure, which is where the other factors come in.  Usually, when I decide I want to go somewhere, I am stuck on the destination and then I look into the other factors to see how I can make it into a reality as there are always a variety of decisions to make which can affect the outcome.

Budget

Sometimes where you go is dictated by what you have to spend.  When I have gone to an all inclusive, I am not usually picky about the destination but I have a budget in mind and want to stick to it.  If your budget is flexible, then this may not be the best option to make your decision.

Length of Time

How long are you going to be gone?  If you are going somewhere for a weekend your options are going to be drastically different than if you are going for a week.  If you want to go somewhere that it is going to take you 24 hours to fly to, then you likely will want to be able to spend a few weeks th ere instead of just a few days.

Timing

Another consideration is when you plan to go.  For some people, they can just pick up and go at the spur of the moment but for others, there are work schedules, deadlines, kid’s activities and other commitments that can limit the choices.  This may affect where you can go as you may not want to go to the Caribbean in October due to Hurricane season or to Europe during the rainy season.

These are the main factors that I use when I am making a decision in regards to where I want to go.  Have I missed any that are important for you and your situation?

What is the Traveling Canuck About?

Well, it is about a  Canadian Gal and her adventures around the world and everything to go with it.

Canadian Traveler (Photo credit: Torsten Reimer

I have been lucky that I have been able to travel a few different places in the world and I wanted a place to share my knowledge and of course, my pictures.  For that reason, I decided to create this blog.  Not only will it be a blog about the places that I have been but it will be a blog to share the adventure of planning my next trip and hopefully inspiring or helping others in the same process.

You may see some blacked out faces in pictures, that is because I do not have the person’s permission to post their picture on the blog but I still wanted to include the picture.  For this reason, it was easier to just black them out.

In my excitement to get this blog started, I do not have any content yet.  So I will work on that and get something posted in the near future, I hope.  Meanwhile, here is what you can expect to see:

• New Zealand, Australia, Fiji – I spent 3 months exploring this area of the world back in 2004.


• Thailand, Malaysia and a touch of Singapore – I spent a month here in 2012.


• Planning for Africa – This is my next major trip planned, probably in 2015.

There will be pictures and information on other places that I have travelled to as well over the years.  They may not be quite as exotic as the above locations, but they are just as important and special.

• Cuba


• Dominican Republic


• Mexico


• Southern Ontario – London, Stratford


• Various Locations in the United States – Yellowstone, Grand Canyon

I will be accepting guest posts from others at some point so it may not be exclusively my Canuck Adventures, but the majority will be.