Mommy Packing and Birthday Thoughts
I'm still learning about packing light as a mama. Bump is exactly seven months old today, and I have very little figured out as far as traveling with or without him.
During those nights when I'm waking up every few hours to feed him, I long for a weekend getaway when I can sleep through the night. But I recently took one such weekend getaway, and the entire time I felt like I was missing a limb, or at least part of one, because he wasn't nearby. I wondered constantly how he was doing and if he was okay, even though I knew he was having a great time with Prince Charming. I also had to carry my rather large breast pump and its attendant bottles and tubes. I forgot to bring milk bags, but thankfully another breastfeeding mom on the trip had brought some with her. Mommy packing is why the top picture is not my bag, but the bag of a friend who is child free.
Mommy Packing with the Kid
- Diaper bag
- Car seat
- Baby carrier/wrap
- Patience
- Baby clothes
- Blankets
- Toys
- Patience
- Pack n play bed
- Mommy's stuff
- Patience
- Sense of Adventure
- Patience
- Patience
Mommy Packing without the Kid
- Mommy's stuff
- Breast pump and accessories
- Sense of disorientation/confusion/"something missing"
- Trust (in babysitters)
- Sense of freedom
Never, during any late-night talks in the dorm with these college friends did I ever imagine that our future would find us chatting over the hum of electric breast pumps. It's funny how dreams of the future never include the less-than-glamorous parts. I had that thought recently as I scrubbed my dog's ears free of the bits of rotting animal carcass she had rolled in.
But it's all part of this magical life. The highs and lows. The sunsets and the stink.
The View from 30
I'll be turning 30 soon, and of course it's got me contemplating the future, which is one of my favorite activities. I went with the friends mentioned above on a weekend trip to Charleston to celebrate our birthdays. We counted our blessings.
It's pretty amazing to realize that we all are living out our dreams, although of course life doesn't always look or feel like we imagined back in college, when we all met. But what a privilege it is to be alive, to have my beloved, my family, my little one, and an abundance of everything I need.
I don't know what the next decade holds, but hopefully more babies (whether for us or our friends), more writing, more travel, more learning, more laughing, and always, more love.
Packing List for the Next Decade
- Love
- Curiosity
- Sense of Humor
- Meditative Mindset
- Sense of Adventure
- Patience
- Confidence
- Gratitude
And a notebook to write it down!
Two Charleston Trips
There was a little flurry of road trips about 7-8 months ago, before Bump arrived, and one of them was to Charleston, SC. It was a quick trip. We saw my sister-in-law and niece, and we took one of the carriage tours that the city is famous for. We admired the old fancy homes, took a quick water-view selfie, and ate a beautiful meal.
Having been raised mostly in the South, I am used to the strong connection to Civil War history places like Charleston have, including the display of the Confederate flag and monuments to fallen Confederate soldiers. However, Charming, a California boy at heart, found it strange to be surrounded by what he was educated to view as "symbols of slavery and prejudice." I tried to explain to him that most Southerners feel a deep connection to a complex and painful history, including the Civil War, but it doesn't mean they don't condemn slavery and racism.
Seven months later, I found myself back in Charleston. This was last weekend and the city was reeling in shock and grief from the murder of nine of its African-American citizens who were killed in cold blood by a maniac who explained his actions by saying he wanted to start a race war.
In the aftermath three days ago, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called for the Confederate flag to be removed from the State House building in Columbia, South Carolina, saying it was a "deeply offensive symbol of a brutally offensive past." Hopefully this act will help create a more inclusive, unified state that can heal from the racially motivated act of violence that rocked the state and the country.
During this recent weekend trip, signs hung all around the city, declaring unity and thoughts of sympathy to the families of the slain and the church they belonged to. The photo at the top of this post shows one of those signs, displayed in the city market and signed by passersby.
I was there with three college friends to celebrate our 30th birthdays, which we did mostly by talking, relaxing by pool and beach, and by going out for fish tacos.
After tacos Saturday night, we walked next door to an outdoor art showing we'd passed by earlier in the day. The large, graffitti-inspired murals had been a backdrop for an inclusive community event earlier that was open to the public. We arrived after the event closed, but walked around the outdoor area to one of the murals that was lit with votive candles lined up under it.
We held hands and said a prayer for Charleston as dusk deepened. A fellow latecomer arrived to the art event on a bicycle and offered to take a group photo for us.
This second Charleston trip was just as beautiful as the first, but marked by a turning point that will hopefully bring good out of evil for the city.
30 Hours in Myrtle Beach
Prince Charming and I picked a weeknight earlier this month and went to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for two days and a night.
We said goodbye to Bump...
... who was in good hands with my mom caring for him, then escaped for some much needed couple time.
In Lumberton, NC (where we are now), if you say "I'm going to the beach" without further elaboration its assumed you are going to Myrtle Beach. Myrtle Beach is about a two hour drive (or less if you have a lead foot) from Lumberton. It's a kind of Atlantic City of the South without the gambling. The family-friendly getaway is populated with an abundance of mini golf courses, water parks, and theaters. Everything is given a fun theme, including most restaurants, all mini golf, and most theater productions (Medieval Times, pirates, etc). And then of course, there's the beach where you can relax between thematic experiences.
It was a fun little romantic getaway. We stayed in an AirBnB condo on the 11th floor of an oceanfront building and woke up to the beautiful sunrise in the top photo. We took sleepy selfies:
The night before we'd gone to see the The Carolina Opry, a musical variety show at the Calvin Gilmore Theater. A lot of the music was country-western type stuff I wasn't familiar with, but there were also some great covers, including a thrilling rendition of Dolly Parton's made-famous-by-Whitney-Houston I Will Always Love You. We also laughed that the ubiquitous "Let it Go" from Frozen somehow made it into the show as well.
Hungry after sitting in the theater for a couple hours, we made a pit stop at a hole-in-the wall pizza joint. A total gamble that paid off with some of the best pizza I've ever had. Check it out if you're craving pizza in Myrtle Beach. It's in this strip mall:
It's called New York Pizza. Trip Advisor displays love-it-or-hate-it reviews. Maybe they have off-nights. The couple that owns it is Lebanese, so Prince Charming chatted with them about his visit to Lebanon when we lived in the Middle East. I begged for the secret to the pizza, but they wouldn't reveal it, although there were some hints about fresh garlic, thyme, oregano, and how it's all in the crust.
Charming's favorite food experience during the trip was a fried oyster sandwich he had at Noizy Oyster. I was raving equally about my dish of raw oysters there.
For a delicious brunch the next morning we went to Johnny D's Waffles and Bakery where we had eggs Benedict, a large fruit plate, and some sort of banana coconut waffle the server described as "so heavy it kind of condenses on itself." Yeah.
I don't usually care what a restaurant looks like as long as the food is good and it's not too loud to have a conversation, but Johnny D's interior added icing on the waffle with charming hand-painted seascape murals on each wall.
I ate a lot since that morning we'd woken up early with the aforementioned sunrise and I'd gone for a run on the beach. Charming got a picture of the end of my run as I'm looking for him on our 11th floor balcony.
It was fun to show Charming around Myrtle Beach, a place I've visited many times growing up Lumberton, but that he'd never been to.
Dance of the Spring Moon
Prince Charming, Bump and I visited our first powwow as a family on May 3, which, not coincidentally, was a full moon.
The Dance of the Spring Moon is a well-known event hosted by the Lumbee Tribe here in the Robeson County, NC area. In an article about the powwow in the local paper, The Robesonian, an attendee said that he heard that this event was well known in the Native American community for having the best drummers.
The annual Spring event would be a great one for visitors to the area to attend any year. The environment is friendly and educational and all are welcome to enjoy the atmosphere and learn about the various ceremonial dances and traditions of the Native American Tribes who attend.
Book 'Em North Carolina 2015 Writer's Lessons
I attended sessions at Book 'Em North Carolina in Lumberton this year, and somehow finagled my way into speaking on a panel at the book fair and writer's conference.
Seated with me on the "Making Money Writing" panel were several other authors, including Terri Reid, who I admire for her prolificacy in writing (14 books in 5 years!) and in life (she has 7 children).
This powerhouse author has sold over one million books.
Her advice? You'll get to read a bunch of it in my upcoming book about habits of successful creatives, which she graciously agreed to be interviewed for.
My essential takeaway from what she said at Book 'Em was to write and publish regularly. Once you have an audience, they want to keep enjoying your work. So give them what they want: new books. She publishes hers in a series. Check out her site here.
My other lesson learned from the conference is that traditional publishing is in a state of chaos. Self-publishing is probably the way to go, especially if you have some skills in social media and marketing.
I wrote this blog post about my path to self-publishing on Kindle. It's remarkably easy. The part that takes time is writing, rewriting, editing, and proofing your book. But once you've written your book with the help of a supportive group of beta readers, you can self-publish for free (or almost free) very easily via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.
2014 In Review
I started off 2014 in cold water.
After feeling like just another member of the hoard of tourists that constantly pulse through Venice, Italy, we found a remarkably local-feeling celebration in the city on New Years Day, 2014. It was at Lido Beach, at an annual event of the Ibernisti club. I joined a bunch of other so-called "hibernators," mostly middle-aged men clad in Speedos and ladies in swim caps, in a celebratory plunge into the ice-cold Adriatic sea. (Anyone is invited.) Scroll down to the lower part of this blog post to read details.
During the ensuing adrenaline spike, I enjoyed a warm lentil sausage soup, and, improbably, the sounds of my Carolina upbringing as a live band played Beach Music there on that Italian beach.
In February we spent some time enjoying the not-so-dry season of the dry lands around Israel and Palestine, including the examination of an extra large hole in the ground.
As Spring came to Palestine, I spent a lot of time at Juthour, the arboretum nurtured into being by our tree-loving friends, American-Palestinian couple Morgan and Saleh.
Out on the land, I enjoyed long walks with Jelly Bean, getting away from the commotion that came with living in the city center of Ramallah, and picnics with a dear group of friends that we became close to and who made Palestine feel like home into our second year there.
As the year wore on, I started to feel the pangs of wanderlust.
In April, while celebrating our two-year wedding anniversary at the beach in Tel Aviv, we scheduled a visit to a doctor nearby and learned that the home pregnancy test I'd recently taken was correct.
I was pregnant! We'd been trying for what seemed like a while and had been discouraged and thought it might never happen. After we heard that little heart beat, we joyfully called our family to share the news.
In the first half of the year, we had the pleasure of hosting some friends in Palestine.
When Kimberly visited us, we had the usual Dead Sea shenanigans, plus some new explorations in Nazareth and Jerusalem.
In late June and early July we took a big trip to the USA that included a cruise with a stop in Canada. We saw New York City; Boston; Halifax, Nova Scotia; then Portland, Oregon; Los Angeles; and San Francisco. I had an inspiring bowl of Pho. We went on a cruise with family and I have a wonderful memory of soaking in a hot tub on deck with my dad and siblings as evening came on and Hurricane Arthur pelted our faces with cold sideways rain.
We arrived back to a summer of chaos and bloodshed in Gaza. In our home in the West Bank, we were never in danger, but our hearts went out to the people who lost so much during the escalation in Gaza, those whom Prince Charming served in his position with a large humanitarian aid organization.
August and September were bittersweet, as we prepared to leave our friends in Palestine and looked forward to giving birth in the U.S., surrounded by family and friends. My belly was growing, and I looked forward to being able to not worry about overcoming a language barrier with healthcare providers in the U.S.
Morgan spoiled me with a spa day that included an all-natural face mask that made me look like an alien.
I ate a lot of bananas and drank a lot of green smoothies.
We visited Armageddon (underwhelming) and the Bahai Gardens in Haifa (wow).
And we said goodbye.
We arrived in Lumberton, North Caroline where we've been staying with family. They have been so generous in giving us a place to land in the U.S. so that Prince Charming can take a sabbatical and enjoy new fatherhood.
Once settled, we set up the baby stuff and took some short trips: babymoons to the Richmond, Virginia area; to Holden Beach and Asheville, North Carolina and to Charleston, South Carolina. We met the medical staff who'd be attending the birth of our baby.
Then, just before we were scheduled to sit down for a Thanksgiving feast with lots of extended family, I started to feel the birthing waves begin.
Some fifteen hours later, he arrived. Our beautiful son.
We spent the rest of the holiday season lost in Babyland, the reason this blog post is so late. It's an enchanting place to travel to and get lost in. It's a hormone high every time he coos or caws. It's been so fun to get to know this little boy who gets bigger and brighter every day. Time is flying.
Packing Advice on Packing Lust
IN 2013, I posted only one packing advice article on packing lust. in 2014 I did a little better, and posted 5, with a little help from others:
I'm happy with the increase in posts about what to pack this year.
Professionally
Professionally, 2014 saw me simplify my web business situation, combining my coaching practice with Packing Lust. I continue to learn and grow as a creative entreprenuer. I have some changes planned for 2015 to clarify what I do and make my site easier to navigate so visitors can find what they are looking for. Sales of Minimalist Living were strong in 2014 and the Facebook community continues to grow. The Minimalist Living page had around 6,000 "likes" at the end of 2014. I worked on my next book, which will be about the habits required to make a living as a writer or artist, in 2014, but did not make my goal to have it finished and published in 2014. Hopefully I will publish it in 2015. I want to share what I've learned about making money from my writing, but I want to test what I've learned before I do so. I want to earn more income myself through the application of the habits and practices I've been studying. Then I'll share what I've learned in the book since one of my professional goals is to help other writers do the work independent creative work they want to do and get paid for it.
Oops, Almost Forgot to Blog
It's 10:01pm on the final day of the one-week Your Turn Challenge and, after a weekend out celebrating a wonderful wedding, I almost forgot to blog today. I'll keep it brief with what I learned from blogging for seven days in a row. It was a valuable experiment. I learned that it takes dedication to blog every day, even for just one week. I learned that I do not want to continue, at least for now. I may revisit the idea of "shipping daily" later. For now, I'll return to keeping my daily writing private. It was a useful exercise to think daily about things you, dear blog reader, may want to read. My daily writing is self-centered. After all, it is personal; no one reads it except for me.
One thing I like the idea of doing in the future is a limited series of daily posts, perhaps on one topic or in one genre. Let me know in the comments if you have ideas for a future series.
Travel and Bring Back Courage as a Souvenir
What advice would you give for getting unstuck?
You feel stuck. You'd like to travel the world but you just can't get out of the situation you're in.
Everywhere you turn, you encounter another obstacle that makes it feel like you can't move.
There are two obstacles that are probably really at play:
Where We Are Now and The Birth of Our Son
Where In the World Are We?
The Ecstatic Birth of Our Son
The birth of our son was an incredible experience at the local hospital. We had competent and caring healthcare providers, including a nurse who told us she was leaving her job soon and wished our birth could've been her last because it was so touching.
Magic and Romance
Lumberton, The Ugly
Lumberton, The Love
Cheap Travel and Skipping the Souvenir Trap
Two travel tips for you today:
Save by Planning Ahead
According to a Wall Street Journal article published October 23, 2014, the best day of the week to buy a plane ticket is now Sunday, when prices tend to be lower. According to the Airlines Reporting Corp, you'll find the lowest price for a domestic ticket 57 days before departure, while you'll want to purchase your ticket for an international flight 171 days before departure for the best price. Those are specific numbers. You win by being an above-average planner and counting back from your intended trip dates to get your ticket on the cheapest day.
Avoid Schlepping Extra Stuff
I love this tip from one of my international traveler friends. She suggests taking pictures of souvenirs instead of buying them. Next time you're shopping abroad, pause before you hand over your cash. Take a picture instead. I snapped the top photo in a crazy flea market in Hollywood, California. This photo reminds me of the visit and takes up less space in my home than if I'd brought home one of those carafes, kettles, or bowling pins.
If you buy souvenirs as gifts, instead have someone take a nice photo of you standing in front of a landmark and give that away instead.
For more simple living tips, visit SimpleLivingToolkit.com
I Got Myself Into This
Last week I wrote about how some successful writers/creatives swear by posting daily. I mentioned a few examples. One I didn't mention is Seth Godin. He calls getting his thoughts published "shipping," and does it daily. Last night found me spitballing to my family about ideas I have for Packing Lust, and about how I was playing with this idea of posting daily. My sister said that Seth Godin had a daily challenge coming up soon.
I looked it up, and of course it was starting tomorrow. With such serendipitous timing, I couldn't say no. Or rather, I couldn't just imagine I would do it at some vague point in the future. So I got myself into this 7 day challenge led by Winnie Kao, the Special Projects Lead for Seth Godin.
This is what happens when you say your intentions out loud. People give you suggestions and opportunities. It happened last night and after tweeting my intentions out publicly, I was committed.
I'm doing this as an experiment to see how the rhythm of posting daily feels. I tried it years ago and I couldn't maintain it. Why'd I fail back then? Maybe I can explore that this week and figure out a way to avoid whatever the reason was.
It feels good to start following my own advice.
http://yourturnchallenge.strikingly.com/
Travel The World Indefinitely Packing List
To: Everywhere and AnywhereTrip Duration: Undefined
Originally Published June 2012.
This is the dream list, not the real list. I enjoy variety in clothes and shoes too much to be this minimalist, but I'm getting here one step at a time and one multi-use item discovery at a time.
The Two Bags
One carry on size back pack
One cross-body smaller bag, purse, or hip-bag for holding money, papers, small camera, etc.
Electronics
Small laptop/netbook, cables, extra battery
All necessary adapters and battery chargers
Small camera & case
Phone/Ipad/Iphone /kindle? For entertainment, reading, skyping?
Doorstop alarm (or plastic door stop)
Earphones/headphones
Kindle and charger
Random But Important
Passport (with copies of all documents with trusted folks back hom)
Credit cards/debit cards
Cash
ID
Travel documents
Paper notebook
Pencil, pen
Jumping rope or parachute cable
Can opener
Flashlight
Small matches
Granola bar
2-3 gallon ziploc bags
Very small cable lock
Small travel candle
Vitamins and/or emercenG
Scissors
tape
Toiletries
Deodorant
Toothbrush
Fingernail clippers (share)
Comb
Solid shampoo/soap from Lush
Razor for shaving
Sexessories
Lip balm - burts bees spf 8 (share)
Tweezers
Face/body wipes (share)
Solid perfume
Travel GLO brush
GLO basic makeup pressed powder
Solid eyeliner- brown
GLO quadri-color eyes and cheeks
Band-aids (share)
Advil (share)
Eyebrow comber/thin brush
Small, super-absorbent towel (share)
Lunette
Pantiliners
Liquids (limited)
Hair conditioner for hair and shaving
Nail polish
Jojoba oil (trader joes) for moisturizing
Toothpaste (share)
Waterproof Mascara
Face cleanser (share)
Acne spot cream
Small concealer
SPF (recomended riemann once a day spf 20) (share)
Neosporin (share)
Wardobe - Medium Climate
Underthings
One strapless bra
One sports bra that doubles as a bikini top
One regular bra (wear)
Four pairs of underwear, one that doubles as a bikini bottom (wear one)
Three pairs of light-weight socks
black stockings, one pair
Accessories
Inexpensive/hard to steal jewelry
Lightweight hair accessories/headbands
Hair bands
Hair pins
Watch
Running shoes
Ballet Flats (good for walking)
Medium weight scarf
One warm hat
Belt in the same color as my ballet flats
Sunglasses
Clothes
Black tee
Black skirt
Black icebreaker bodyfit crew top
Nightgown
Long colorful broomstick skirt (wear as skirt or dress)
Light-weight jeans
yoga pants - dark color
Black workout shorts
One quick-drying workout top
One spagetti strap tank top
One long (tunic-dress) tee shirt
One tank top
Light weight trench coat with waterproof coating for travel
Emergency rain pain poncho (plastic)
Cold and/or Wet Climate Alterations
Boots instead of ballet flats (boots with caribiners)
Additional two pairs of heavy socks
Waterproof jacket with hood or warmer rain poncho
Gloves or mittens
Heavier weight scarf
Additional vest like ExOfficia women's convertible vest
Switch out warm cap to a extra warm hat with ear area warmth
Thermal underwear (long johns)
Switch out nightgown for warm pajama set
Hot Climate and/or Beach/Tropical Alterations
Flipflops instead of ballet flats
Additional swimsuit
Sarong/scarf instead of medium weight scarf
Sun hat instead of warm hat
Skip long yoga/travel pants
For more fantasy packing fun, check out my Pinterest board, What to Pack to Travel the World.
What About You?
Is there anything I left off that you think should be on there? Could you travel with this list? Need more? Need less?
The Power and Difficulty of Connecting Daily
How to Get Rich Quick(er)
It's Too Hard
Don't Do What I Do
Adventures in the Antarctic (and what to pack)
Note: This is a guest post by Christine Bernasconi, a professional photographer, blogger, avid traveler and people lover. I'm really excited she's sharing her 2013 adventures in the Antarctic with the Packing Lust Community. I hope you enjoy! --Genevieve
Going to the Antarctic was always a dream of mine since I was 5 years old :) I'm not exactly sure why I had this dream at such a young age. I just remember looking at books and giving my Dad the 'Scott' book {not sure which one} for a birthday one year.
It obviously started something for me.
It way exceeded my expectations and I feel humble and blessed that I've had the privilege of experiencing this awesome part of our planet.
It really was the trip of my dreams. Whales, seals, penguins (lots of them) birds, beautiful landscapes and icebergs – I really, really loved the icebergs.:)
_MG_8730
We organised our trip through Quark (click here if you’re in the States) or Peregrine in Australia (click here).
We booked the ‘Crossing the Circle’ Tour which was 14 days aboard the ‘Sea Spirit.’ – a beautiful ship. Well appointed spacious rooms, an open bar :), dining room, theatre lounge, a library, gym, a hot tub, gift shop and lots of deck areas to relax and take in the sights. The service? Seamless. Nothing was a chore for the staff and everything was done with a smile.
A zodiac heading back towards the Sea Spirit
A zodiac heading back towards the Sea Spirit
The Sea Spirit
The Sea Spirit
The ship carried 114 passengers of which 49 of them were Australian. Being such a small group meant great friendships were formed early. We were all linked by the same thread – an adventurous nature and the desire to experience the Antarctic. I met people from all over the world. I know I will remain friends with some of them forever. We all shared something very special.
Our voyage left from Ushuaia (the bottom of Argentina) and it was a two day trip to the Antarctic Peninsula across the Drake Passage. I loved watching the mainland of Argentina disappear behind us. To me it felt like a true adventure. We explored many bays, islands and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula over the 14 days of our voyage.
Leaving Ushuaia and the South American Continent behind
Leaving Ushuaia and the South American Continent behind
The most amazing part of the trip however (besides the scenery) was the service and professionalism provided by the expedition leader and her team. Cheli is a true leader and a wonderful, passionate individual. All of her staff have an expertise, whether it be birds, whales, glaciers, photography or history. They have all done many similar trips and their experience and knowledge is second to none.
Each day in the Oeanus lounge, one of them would present a lecture on a particular aspect of the Antarctic – marine mammals, the great Antarctic explorers or sea birds – just to name a few. There were even some documentary movies about this fascinating part of the world. It was wonderful to be educated and to hear them speak so passionately.
Most nights one of the expedition staff would sit at your dinner table to get to know you and mix with the passengers. This really personalised the trip and within a few days, they were also friends.
Each day we usually had two zodiac expeditions to an island or part of the Antarctic mainland. Getting everyone in and out of the zodiacs plus keeping everyone safe and informed was handled brilliantly by the expedition staff.
Each disembarkation and embarkation meant going through a disinfection process (you had to step in a solution) to protect the fragile environment.
These outings were fantastic. Whilst you saw lots of scenery from the ship, getting out on the water, feeling the wind in your face and observing the scenery and wildlife from this low perspective was awesome :)
Hootin along...
Hooting along
Every single island or mainland excursion offered something individual. The landscape was always vastly different, and yes, there were always penguins :)
_MG_0556
I never tired of looking at the endless beauty that surrounded us. I loved being on the shore and exploring. Lots of the islands had relics from days gone bye – old whaling boats and whaling stations, whale bones and huts that would have housed the brave people that spent part of their lives living here.
An old hut - Deception Island
An old hut – Deception Island
The wildlife was spectacular. Albatross flying at the back of the ship, humpback whales, Minke whales and even Orca’s! Wedell, Leopard and Crabeater seals and of course, penguins. Sometimes these animals were seen from the decks of the Sea Spirit. At other times you were up close and personal with these animals in the zodiacs.
Imagine being in a zodiac – drifting through the brash ice – icebergs all around you and a humpback surfaces around 50 metres away? What a scene. Absolute magic.
This humpback whale was so close to our zodiac...
This humpback whale was so close to our zodiac…
_MG_8260
Look at the size of him…
So close...
So close…
The Albatross. What a magnificent bird
The Albatross. What a magnificent bird.
The staff organised trivia games, we danced the night away a couple of times , met the Captain at the ‘Cocktail Party’ and I got ‘over enthusiastic’ in an auction to raise money for the penguins (I really wanted that Antarctic water.)
Other nights we sat in the bar talking to our new friends over a glass of wine (or two) – well, you couldn’t go to bed early as there was up to 18 hours of light per day!
We celebrated Australia Day on board with a BBQ up on deck and one patriotic Australian had our flag – I certainly won’t forget Australia Day 2013 in a hurry!
I also participated in ‘The Polar Plunge’ – yes, you could dive into the Southern Ocean (with a rope tied around your waist) to experience the ‘coolish’ waters of the Antarctic. Yep, I did this too. Click here to read about that adventure.
I slept a night on the ice – yes, I did. You can also read about that here :)
I also also slid down a mountain at Neko Harbour (it was so much fun, I felt like a 5 year old)
Yours truly...
Yours truly…
One of the highlights (there were so many) was Crossing the Antarctic Circle. That was a great day. The weather was really cold (-2) and it was a fantastic to think we were at 66 deg 33’44′ S. To mark this occasion, the crew organised a fantastic event called ‘Kiss the Fish’. We all grouped outside on the bow of the ship to Cross the Circle and the crew dressed up in various ‘fishy’ style outfits. King Neptune was there and we all had to ‘Kiss the Fish’ before being given a red mark on our foreheads which denoted ‘Crossing the circle.’ One word – hilarious – especially kissing a frozen fish!!
Me, taking a pic and kissing the fish
Me, taking a pic and kissing the fish
The most common question I’ve been asked since being home is ‘How cold was it’? On the warmest day it was 8 degrees and the coldest -2. Nowhere near as bad as I thought. The only time I felt really cold was on the ‘crossing the circle day’ and at times in the zodiacs when we were going a little faster than the normal trawling speed. Quark supplies you with a parka (yours to take home) that really does the job. They also lend you ‘boots’ for the duration of the trip. These are used every time you leave the ship.
For anyone that's going on one of these trips, here is what I took with me…..
All the sea sick medication I could find (travel calm, the wrist bands, ginger tablets) – It worked for me, I took one travel calm the first night – just in case and a couple of other ‘rougher’ sea days wore the wrist bands – all good.
2 sets of thermals – bought from the Kathmandu store – black bottoms and pink/black/white and blue/black/white long sleeve tops.
2 really warm zip up hoodies – one from Kathmandu and the other from the gift shop on the ship.
4 pairs of super warm socks (Kathmandu store.)
2 pairs of warm track suit pants.
A warm hat.
2 pairs of water proof gloves (only ever wore one pair) and they were too cumbersome to take pics with, so I bought a fingerless pair from the gift shop on the ship.
A warm sleeveless vest (bought from a shop in Ushuaia.)
Waterproof pants – if you're an Aussie, you will pay a fortune at home for these. I bought them in Ushuaia the day before we left at around $50AUD – bargain – (there were plenty of sizes and choices and plenty of shops selling this gear in Ushuaia.)
Check out the sunny weather...on this day I just had a tshirt on under a hoodie...
Check out the sunny weather…on this day I just had a tshirt on under a hoodie…
Each day when we went on a shore excursion off the boat I wore…
A thermal top and bottom and trackpants over the thermals.
Waterproof pants over the track pants (the track pants tucked INTO the boots.)
A warm sleeveless vest over the thermals or, if I felt a bit colder a long sleeve hoodie.
2 pairs of socks (always.)
The parka, hat and gloves.
Here I am in one of my 'thermal tops'
Here I am in one of my ‘thermal tops’
On the ship (which was as warm as toast) I wore…
Jeans and a tshirt and sometimes a hoodie. I dressed up one night for the Captains cocktail party (if you call a skirt and top seriously dressing up.)
Closed in shoes (my rockports.)
Back in Buenos Aires and Santiago I wore….
shorts and tshirts (super humid.)
So if you’re interested in going and want to know more – I'm gonna have to come with you to show you the ropes :)
Please feel free to contact me in the comments section below or on Facebook , twitter or pinterest.
Me in action...
Me in action
![Best [Travel] Bags of 2014](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/577597e1e3df28df00127955/1485982395600-E9N50M3HLWUI05KICS2Z/image-asset.jpeg)
Best [Travel] Bags of 2014
Prince Charming and I both have a love affair with finding the perfect luggage. Of course, the perfect bag doesn't exist, which makes the pursuit an endless one. There's always a better bag out there, and that makes it fun to keep looking. It also means we love our almost-perfect bags because, well, they are almost perfect. Here are the best bags of 2014 as recommended by me, Prince Charming, and two other expert travelers:
1. Convertible Carry-on by Rick Steves
In a phrase: Classic, affordable, and dependable.
This is my go-anywhere bag. I've been traveling with it for about two years. I own it in graphite (a dark grey) but wish I'd purchased the same bag in a lighter color - something easier to notice on a luggage carousel on the rare occasions I need to check it. Something like this color would have been nice:
bg-xts_03
I love this bag. It seems indestructible. I've never had an airline tell me to check it due to luggage size restrictions. Things I love about it:
It has a easy-access mesh water bottle holder on the side.
It has back back straps and a waist belt that offer lots of support but can fold away if I want to carry it like a suitcase.
I can easily put it in most overhead bins.
It has lots of roomy exterior pockets.
It can expand past carry-on size when necessary.
The bag has very no frame or wheels, so it's very lightweight.
It's affordable, making it the only thing on this list good for travelers with a luggage budget of less that $150.
My only major issue with this bag is that it doesn't have wheels. Sometimes it would be nice to roll in airports. I do feel that carrying backpack style is safer than rolling with less risk of the bag being stolen. Also, the bag is just a little too big, making it too easy for me to over stuff it. (Yes, sometimes I'm guilty of over packing despite writing a blog about living with less baggage.)
In a phrase: The toughest, ruggedest, manliest, locally handcrafted luggage money can buy.
You guessed it, this is Prince Charming's preferred luggage. He has an entire set. It was one of the first things he introduced me to when he was wooing me.
91017-Red-Oxx-Tres-Hombres-bag-hero
He loves how these bags are made to last. They will probably outlive our great great grandchildren, unless by then we are all traveling with only Replicators - that's the thing that instantly makes whatever you need in Star Trek, right? Anyway, Red Oxx bags are made by hand in the U.S.A. They have really big zippers and these wonderful shoulder straps that are thick rubber so they never slip off your shoulder even if you lean over to give someone a hug goodbye at the airport.
Here's Prince Charming with the shoulder strap of one of his Red Oxx bag's visible. Even though it's twisted and definitely not centered on top of his shoulder it's not slipping around.
strap stays in place
Personally, I prefer backpacks or rolling bags to one-shoulder carry bags. I sense that carrying weight evenly will prevent back and shoulder injuries. Many Red Oxx bags, including those Prince Charming owns, are one-shoulder carry, but the company does make some back packs. No rolling bags though, obviously because rolling a bag creates a loss of manliness points. Seriously. Picture a man rolling a bag in the airport. Now picture the same guy carrying a sturdy shoulder bag like it's nothing. See what I mean? Just for the record, Prince Charming has a racked up such an abundance of manliness points that he could roll a bag for the rest of his life and still keep his man card.
In a phrase: Ready for any adventure.
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Here's a bag that withstood a cat peeing on it in a closet in North Carolina and the multiple washings that followed (which did get the smell out). And then it happily traveled South America. This is the bag my friend Kimberly owns and used as a weekend pack during her trip to Colombia. She loves its "Airspeed Suspension," which I think refers to a lightweight frame and special features that make carrying it less sweaty and more fun than other, less air speedy packs.
Other features of the bag include:
Hip belt
Hydration Sleeve
Sleeping pad straps
Loops and ties for holding tools (such as an ice pick for those icy climbs).
4. 2nd Generation Wknder Wide by Spencer Divine
In a phrase: So pretty, can I touch it?
BC_WW_camel_2
For non-vegans, there's nothing quite like smooth, buttery Italian leather. This bag is a splurge, and a favorite with my stylish sister who got it on sale on Bottica.com. She carried this bag when she visited us in December and it was amazing how much warm winter gear she was able to fit in it while still looking like a free-spirited bohemian sprite. The term "schlepping" could never apply here.
sister bag
Things I ooh and aah-ed over:
It's not just pretty, but strong and practical.
It can carry as a shoulder bag, suitcase, or bacpack.
Okay, back to the pretty. There's a colorful cotton lining that's like a special party for your eyes only in the bag.
IMG_5052
Okay, those are my top four bags for 2014.
Have you found your almost perfect bag?
If you have a tripped planned, which bag will you be traveling with? Let me know in the comments please.
5 More Packing Tips from a Long-Term Missionary
This is part two of a guest post by Thomaida Hudanish, a writer, blog reader and traveler whom I met when she came to Palestine as part of a long-term volunteering/mission trip. Make sure you check out part one of the post here. Enjoy. - Genevieve
Type of Trip:
Extended Volunteer/Mission Trip/Pilgrimage a.k.a. Around-the-World-to-Help-Children
Length of Trip:
Indefinite
Destinations:
India, the Middle East, Western Europe
5 More Tips
1. Guidebooks
During trip prep, I love reading guidebooks for historical and cultural insight, maps, and background info about top sites. I thought I would easily find guides as I went, but this wasn't the case. Airport bookstores or large, chain bookstores(where you could find them) were the most reliable places to find guides.
2. Bearing Gifts
Previous volunteers clued me in to what gifts I could bring for the orphanage at my first destination, such as mosquito nets, coloring books and printer ink cartridges. You may also consider some easy-to-pack items unique to your home region. For friends at my second destination, I purchased gifts in India. For hosts at my third destination, I brought something from Turkey and so on.
3. Excercise
I walked a lot and used the stairs more, but let's face it, I wasn't active in the same ways that I am at home. I packed two exercise bands and although I didn't do as many bicep curls as I planned, I was thankful for my occasional mini-workouts.
4. Final Preparations
In the 10 days between my last day of work and take-off for my trip, here's what I did: took a private 1-hour camera lesson, picked up leather inserts to boost the support in my well-worn walking shoes, purchased an international driving permit at AAA, distributed copies of my itinerary, financial info and contact information to trusted friends, drafted a power of attorney, requested a PIN code for my credit card and alerted them of my travel plans, renewed my drivers' license (which was due to expire while I was gone), and purchased travel insurance.
5. Teachable Moments
Although I made a few "mistakes" in my packing, I don't regret anything because it all worked together to make a memorable trip.
• Too many shoes? I packed 4 pairs of shoes + flip flops; seems like a lot for a light packer. I was glad to have extra shoes after I accidentally left my trusted walking shoes on a bus.
• Consider a Global SIM. I found out that in some countries it takes 3 or more days to activate a local SIM card. I think I should have had my phone unloacked and purchased a global SIM (from companies such as gosim.com or worldsim.com) so that I had an emergency communication option available at all times. I ended up purchasing a phone in India and local SIM cards as I went. Now I have a phone loaded with fun Indian ringtones that I can use anywhere.
• Bring a nit comb and favorite lice treatment if you're going to be working with children. I didn't wear my hair back, gave lots of hugs and got lice. What's the positive side? I bonded with one of the older girls while she picked nits out of my hair for two hours and after two weeks of combing and searching, multiple home remedies and lots of washing, I was nit-free! I'll know exactly what to do when facing lice in the future.
• Be Prepared for Air Pollution. India and Palestine have poor air quality for different reasons. I wish that I'd packed a nasal rinse system to help alleviate the coughing and sinus issues I had. Instead, I learned how to rinse with a cup and now I have a new survival skill!
• Brush Up on Driving a Manual Transmission. Not only will you be ready to help out with driving anywhere in any car, but in many cases you may find that stick shift cars are cheaper to rent and more readily available.
For Further Reading:
Two books that I referenced in preparation for this trip were Ron Wolf's Vagabonding and Lonely Planet's First Time Round the World. Although my travel style is less vagabond and more volunteer/pilgrim/tourist, I found practical advice and inspiration in both of these books. One great suggestion they made, for example, was to ship souvenirs home as you go, so you don't have to carry the extra weight in your suitcase. Additionally, I read packinglust.com and travelfashiongirl.com, among other girl-written travel blogs, to keep my naturally functional style balanced with a little bit of fabulous.
While on the road I met up with two other writers whose blogs and travels inspired me prior to departure. Whatever you take away from what is written here about packing and traveling, I hope that you'll also consider that the Internet is a window revealing just a small view of the amazing relationships and places out there to discover. I challenge you to move from the virtual and the vicarious to the rewarding experience of meeting each person and destination with all your senses.
May your journeys be blessed!
Thomaida wrote a series of articles about her 7-month volunteer pilgrimage covering India, Turkey, Israel/Palestine, France, Germany and England at www.honeybeebuzz.org. She lives, writes and dreams up new ways to make the world a better place in Portland, Oregon.
8 Tips for Creativity + Stress Management During Pregnancy
Prince Charming and I, adventurers that we are, created a perfect storm of stress by following this recipe:
Take 5 of the unofficial list of the top 10 most stressful life events you can undergo:
- Having a baby.
- Leaving a job.
- Moving to a new continent.
- Writing a book while launching a separate product.
- Moving back in with the parents as an adult.
Stir. Then bake under an oven set at 350 degrees of jet lag and reverse culture shock.
My pulse is racing just listing out this recipe for stress.
So what's the recipe for serenity?
I've had an extra push of creativity these past few months, probably because I'm anticipating being completely and happily lost in baby-la-la land for a while once the little elf gets here sometime in early December. Stress stifles creativity, so it's important for me to keep those stress levels as low as possible. (Oh, and that's right, it's good for the baby too.)
These tips might help you even if you aren't pregnant, but just going through a stressful time, as all of us normal human beings tend to do from time to time.
Here are some things that have worked for me to keep stress levels at bay so I can stay creative and keep working on the latest book and finish the 30-Day Map to Get Rid of Your Crap. I'd be lying if I said the following keep me in a state of queenly serenity 100% of the time, but they do keep me royally calm at least 3% of the time. Or maybe I just do them 3% of the time and it would help if I...
Do These Things More
1. Marrying well.
Well, this is actually not a habit I do regularly, but something I did once, and did well, even if I do say so myself. He recently asked me "what do you want for lunch, baby?" And I said, "Hmmm... I think Shrimp. Lime Cilantro Shrimp." This exchange happened in front of my mom, and she immediately laughed and said something like "If you can give that answer, you know you married well."
Besides keeping me well-fed, Prince Charming is incredibly supportive about all my creative endeavors. And even my eccentric pregnancy plans, like studying hypnosis for a more comfortable birth.
2. Yoga
Somehow it feels like cheating to call it yoga, because it's mostly stretching and deep breathing for me since I don't know the names of any of the poses. (Except for shivasana, my favorite.) I've taken a lot of yoga classes, so I just do a lot of yogic stretching of any part that is soar or tight. It feels great and seems to help everything in life.
3. Sleeping a lot and taking naps.
I have always slept a lot, and of course now I'm sleeping for two, so I take as much horizontal time as my body wants. For a while in Palestine my sleep pattern was bimodal. According to Wikipedia, "Along with a nap (siesta) in the day, it has been argued that this is the natural pattern of human sleep. A case has been made that maintaining such a sleep pattern may be important in regulating stress."
My body naturally started bifurcating my sleep when I was worried about our friends in Gaza during the ethnic cleansing massacres there this summer, worried about Prince Charming working in Gaza, and anxious about where and how I would bring our baby into the world. Now that I'm back in the US and feeling that my family is safer, I've been sleeping through the night and not needing naps so much.
4. Ability to work on the floor of a closet.
I'm writing this while squatting in front of my computer on the floor of a large walk-in closet. I love it. All I need to write is a private space, even if it's small.
5. Writing every single appointment down in Google Calendar.
I love Google Calendar. It did take me a while to get used to checking it and adding everything to it. But now that it's habit, it helps so much because otherwise I wouldn't be able to keep track of appointments, travel plans, and birthdays. Even if I'm not in a particularly busy phase of life, I rely on Google Calendar and tend to forget things when I don't use it.
6. Eating tons of fruit and vegetables.
I have our nugget to thank for this, because the little monkey loves bananas and other fruit. I wake up craving a big fruit smoothie that I often add greens to like spinach and kale. I still eat plenty of pizza, I just try to load up on fresh produce as well. I polished off a watermelon this morning.
7. Meditation.
This one is so hard for me to do regularly. I skip days all the time. But if I can sit down in a quiet place for even 10 minutes, it seems to help. I don't really follow a particular technique. Sometimes I sit and breath and clear my mind. Sometimes I pray. Sometimes I meditate on things I'm grateful for, or do a forgiveness meditation. I just got an email from Charming's mom about this free meditation series. Maybe I'll do it.
8. Just doing it. (The creative work.)
Have you heard that the concept of will power is a myth? People who are able to stop procrastinating have learned skills to get the work done. I sometimes think of those skills as tricking myself, or turning things into a game. I don't sit down to write books because I have more will power than all the other people who want to write books, but don't. I sit down to write, probably because I told myself there might be chocolate involved, or that maybe after writing I'd get to belt out "Let it Go" with Elsa from Frozen one more time. (I don't even have a kid I can blame that on yet.) Or, like right now, that I'll just START this blog post and it will be just a few words then I'll get up. And here I am at the bottom of the post. Ha ha, Genevieve. Tricked ya again!
What do you do in stressful times to stay serene? Please share in the comments so everyone on the internet can learn from your experience.
5 Reasons to Have Hope for Palestine
By the time this blog post publishes, we will, if all goes according to plan, be back in the U.S. and our time in Palestine will have come to an end. It's been a challenging and adventurous 28 months here. With the ongoing conflict and occupation, it can be hard to stay hopeful about Palestine's future, but there is hope. I want to leave Palestine with hope that the people here will one day be free, and that the conflict will come to a peaceful and just resolution. To share that hope with you, I've compiled a brief list of links and reasons why I have hope for Palestine. These five (mostly non-political) things give me reason to be optimistic about this place.
1. The Arc
Many people in Palestine hope for a one-state solution to the conflict: a single, democratic state where all people can live freely in equality no matter their race or religion. While I think that idea is wonderful, I see it as unlikely. I think a toxic amount of racial injustice would result if the two countries were to become one and it would be very difficult for everyone to have equal opportunities because of the history here. However, perhaps it's better to try and face those obstacles than not try at all. A second-best and still hopeful option would be a two-state solution, with a free and independent Palestine living in peace with Israel.
Enter the Arc. The Arc is part of a plan for the physical infrastructure a successful Palestinian state would need. Created by the Rand Corporation, The Arc gives an important and inspiring vision for a thriving Palestine. Check out the 9-minute overview video here. It's worth a watch. More resources on the Arc are available here.
2. Occupied Pleasures
Photographer Tanya Habjouqa is capturing some amazing images of Palestine and Palestinians. From photos of the head-to-toe covered women of Gaza to images of belly-dancing Palestinian drag queens in East Jerusalem, her work is diverse and fascinating. Most importantly, the images reveal the deep humanity of a much-misunderstood group of people.
3. An Israeli Soldier Speaks
This compelling talk by former Israeli soldier Eran Efrati will give you an inside view into what it's like to be an Israeli soldier occupying Palestine and having the earth-shattering realization that you're "on the wrong side of history." His emotional, heart-breaking, and at times funny speech allows us to see what the conflict is like up close on the ground from both sides. It really is a must-watch, revealing talk. To read more soldier testimonies, check out the book Our Harsh Logic.
4. Juthour Arboretum
From the website "Juthour Arboretum in Ramallah offers a natural reserve where we preserve native trees and plant species, working through educational programs and eco tourism to model and encourage greater individual and communal responsibility towards our threatened natural environment and heritage in Palestine." This eco-park was started by our friends and neighbors in Ramallah, Palestine. I've visited and hiked its terraces many times with Jelly Bean. They've put an incredible amount of work into saving trees so that Palestine's natural heritage will not be forgotten or destroyed by the many threats to it such as the occupation, violent extremist settlers, over-development, construction dumping, and littering. Check out and support what they are doing, especially if you care about preserving the natural beauty of Palestine.
5. The People
I've met some incredible people here, resilient people who have an amazing ability to keep going and maintain hope in the face of an under-occupation experience ranging from the utter monotony of three hours of checkpoint traffic to the overwhelming brutality of missile strikes on civilians in Gaza. To read more about the people we've met here, check out some of the posts in the Palestine category.
How to Write and Publish a Non-Fiction Book in 17 Weeks
I thought I'd share with you my plan to complete and publish the book by the end of November, 2014.
The Plan
- Week of August 4: Draft The Beginning (first chapter)
- Week of August 11: Draft Chapter 2 and organize interviews
- Week of August 18: Draft Chapter 3 and title research/testing.
- Week of August 25: Draft Chapter 4
- Week of September 1: Draft Chapter 5
- Week of Sept 8: Draft Chapter 6
- Week of Sept 15: Draft Chapter 7 and begin cover design
- Week of Sept 22: Draft Chapter 8 and ask for Beta Readers
- Week of Sept 29: Draft Chapter 9
- Week of Oct 6: Draft Chapter 10 and continue cover design
- Week of Oct. 13: Draft Chapter 11 and ask for Beta Readers
- Week of Oct 20: Draft Chapter 12
- Week of Oct 27: Draft Chapter 13
- Week of November 3: Draft Chapter 14
- Week of November 10: Re-write and send to Beta Readers.
- Week of November 17: Complete cover design, write book description and any other sales copy or launch copy needed. Set up/spread the word about hard launch via Author Marketing Club.
- Week of November 24: Incorporate the thoughts and edits of my beta readers and soft launch the book! (Hard launch will be December 30, 2014.)
Eating the Elephant
Drafting to Soft Launch
Research Time
Word Count Goal
The book will likely hit somewhere between 42,000 and 60,000 words. This is enough to get the point across without being too much of a time investment for busy readers. Each chapter will be around 3,000 to 4,300 words, so that's less than 1000 words a day. Hey, that's a pretty easy bite of the elephant!
P.S. FYI I would probably never eat a real-life elephant.
Publishing
Your Project
Top 5 Packing Tips for A Long-Term Mission Trip
This is part one of a guest post by Thomaida Hudanish, a blog reader and traveler who I met when she came to Palestine as part of the trip she talks about in this post. Stay tuned for part two which will be published in early November. Enjoy. - Genevieve
Type of Trip:
Extended Volunteer/Mission Trip/Pilgrimage a.k.a. Around-the-World-to- Help-Children
Length of Trip:
Indefinite
Destinations:
India, the Middle East, Western Europe
Overview
In November 2013, I set off for a trip to volunteer with Orthodox Christian ministries in various places, beginning with an orphanage outside of Kolkata, India and continuing to a school in the West Bank, Palestine. While I packed with the intention of continuing to volunteer after these first two assignments, instead I returned to the United States via a 5-week tour of France, Germany & England, to seize a job opportunity in line with the same goals and mission that inspired me to take this journey.
Tips
1. Two Kinds.
Rick Steves says that there are two kinds of travelers: those who packed light and those who wish they had. I agree and I'm still in the second camp. As much as I wish that I could throw everything on my back and jump onto a moving train, that's not the kind of trip I planned and let's face it, that's not the kind of traveler I am. So, yes, PACK AS LIGHT AS YOU CAN. Then read on to learn why I'm still glad I brought more than I wanted to.
2. Tell Your Story.
I packed a letter-size laminated US/World map and an inexpensive, 20-pg photo album with pictures of friends, family members and everyday happenings in my life at home. These are two tools that helped me to share about my life and relate with new friends, in many cases across language barriers. Alternatively, you might consider making a little slide show to flip through on whatever electronic device you bring.
3. Compartmentalize
I'm a huge fan of packing sacks, regardless of brand. They help me to stay organized even after I settle into a location. The other thing I did was to create designated Ziploc bags for my office, first aid & medications and electronic accessories. For example, the "Office" bag held pen refills, a permanent marker, binder clips, a highlighter, sticky tack, post-its, and a glue stick. The "First Aid" bag had Bandaids, anti-diarrhea medication, vitamin-C packets, hydrocortizone cream and so on. Another Ziploc held chargers, plug converters, cords, and extra batteries. This way, even on the road, everything had a place. I also packed a few extra Ziplocs in varying sizes.
4. Fashion vs. Function
Knowing that my travel destinations could involve the beach, a formal event or a professional work setting, I had to plan for variety, but focus my packing on the known activities: playing with children and going to church. Long skirts were a must for the conservative cultures and monastic environments that I intended to be a part of, so I brought three. Additional favorites were: a merino wool pullover, a cream-colored long- sleeve shirt with some lace detail to help dress up some outfits, a lightweight henley with adjustable sleeve-length, black leggings, and a pair of comfortable, sturdy mary-jane style Privos. A daily moisturizer with SPF was the MVP of my cosmetics, but I also used a little makeup, sparkly hair accessories and earrings for special occasions.
5. Technology on the Road
I didn't want to lug my laptop around the world--what a hassle! As a writer, however, it's the one tool I used every day. I brought along an extra hard drive for biweekly backups and packed it in a separate bag from the laptop in case of theft. In addition to writing a blog, editing photos and keeping up with my family and friends via Skype, I used the laptop extensively in each volunteer position. I purchased a new camera for the trip because documenting my experiences for readers at home was a priority. My older point & shoot camera came along as backup for excursions involving sand, water or questionable security.
Another gadget I like for journeys big and small is the humble headlamp. It's great for reading in bed after you've crawled under the mosquito net for the night.
Thomaida wrote a series of articles about her 7-month volunteer pilgrimage covering India, Turkey, Israel/Palestine, France, Germany and England at www.honeybeebuzz.org. She lives, writes and dreams up new ways to make the world a better place in Portland, Oregon.