Sometimes we're exposed to things we're unaware are detrimental to our health. While traveling, we often don't have the same control over our environment as we may have in our native countries. Eating in restaurants, buying medicines manufactured in areas with questionable standards, among any number of other situations may effect our bodies in ways we couldn't have foreseen. Sometimes those effects remain in the body and sometimes, those effects can be lessened, even healed through the cleansing our livers. Think of your liver as an air filter that traps all the dust, dirt, and other germs that circulate through the air. Imagine what an air filter looks like right … [Read more...]
TRAVEL TIPS FROM ALONG THE WAY
Everything I wish I knew about travel but no one told me.
How To Avoid MSG In Thailand
Eating MSG free in Thailand can be a difficult task. Most restaurants and vendors use it and deciding to cook for yourself can prove to be additionally difficult as most sauces and condiments contain the additive. Few labels list ingredients in English. The following is the result of years of trying to not be poisoned and often not succeeding. Some pointers: MSG In Grocery Stores Assume anything savory contains MSG. Should a food label list ingredients in English, any ambiguous word for flavouring added should be assumed to include MSG. When in doubt, the safest course of action is to only buy savory products (i.e. sauces, potato chips, shredded pork, nori) and other … [Read more...]
How To Declutter And Make Money To Travel
My first trip to Thailand in 2007 lasted six months. Previously I had traveled twice to Cuba in addition to number of other North American locations, mainly in the U.S.. I predominately traveled to see bands. I was the person that would get a call and be asked, "Hey, we're playing in Whatever City next month. A bunch of people are coming out. You should come." And off I'd go with a crew. Sometimes we slept on someone's floor, if I was lucky I got a couch or an extra bed. A number of additional trips were to visit people I'd met in various locations. I wasn't well traveled in the traditional sense. Deciding to spend six months in another country was the result of … [Read more...]
Liquid Free Packing To Help You Roll Through Airport Security
I love flying through airport security checkpoints. Packing solids rather than liquids helps expedite the process. In addition, solids may be cut down to custom travel sizes. For shorter trips, meaning three weeks or less, I aim to bring two carry-ons, maximum. I pick up products that aren't allowed in the carrier, such as razors, at my destination. Here's a list of quality and affordable options to throw into your bag. (I'll assume you figured out to bring solid soap without me having to list it). 1. Facial Wipes Or A Multipurpose Soap A multipurpose soap is great for both your face and body, particularly when you're … [Read more...]
Travel Tip No. 10: Hitting The Heat? Powder Up.
Know how to tell if someone's a just-stepped-off-the-plane tourist in Bangkok? They're the ones that look freshly dipped. The ones that are uneasy in wet clothing. Acclimating can be not so fun, so here's a tip for those of you getting ready to skip to hot climates: Embrace your inner baby and powder up. Baby powder, dusting powder, call it whatever you like, but use something and use it liberally. Powder will keep you dry, odour free and keep heat rash turned itchy-weird-tropical-topical-fungal-cooties at bay. … [Read more...]
5 Tips to Book a Hotel, Guesthouse or Resort in Thailand
1. Book Ahead Through Agoda Agoda.com is widely used throughout Thailand. You'll find Thai hotels, guesthouses and resorts that aren't advertised on other English language booking sites. 2. Read A Lot Of Reviews Ideally locate independent blogs that have reviewed the hotel / guesthouse / resort you're interested in. Typically they're more in-depth and include photos of the establishment's current amenities (not promo pics that may be a decade old, or Photoshopped). 3. Understand Thai Transliteration Inconsistencies Many cities share the same name as the province they reside in. Should this be the case, the city will be listed as Amphoe Meuang (Ampeur Muang). Note, as there is no unified … [Read more...]
Are You A Woman Traveling To Thailand? Some Basic Things You Should Know.
In July 2012 a Dutch woman was allegedly raped and beaten in the Ao Nang district of Krabi by her Thai tour guide. In October the victim's father published a music video entitled Evil Man From Krabi to confront the issue. Local Thai police and Thai Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa responded that the incident is not being considered rape as the woman had consented to dinner with the man. Read more here and here. The situation provoked me to publish the following in an effort to educate you on some very basic realities in Thailand that may influence your time there. Feminism In Thailand Feminism hasn't hit Thailand. Neither … [Read more...]
Travel Tip No. 8: You Deserve More Than A Dollar Store Lock
Traveling to a developing country? Bring a lock from your home country. One that isn't the standard dollar-store-made-in-China variety. (If you're reading this in China, I don't know what to tell you...? But feel free to give us your opinion in the comments section). Those budget friendly locks seem to be exported all over the planet. Or perhaps just my bubble version of it. I've come across them in Canada, the U.S. and Thailand. I've spotted them in The Philippines. I see people from all over the place using them on their travels. Locks that look like this one in conjunction with cheap locks made locally (in developing countries where there isn't a large selection) are a horrible … [Read more...]
HOW TO TRAVEL LIGHT FOR MODERN NOMADS, TOURISTS AND THE DISCERNING MINIMALIST WEIRDO. Part 3 of 3
In 2009 I packed a suitcase, a small backpack and a carry-on and left my native country to live a life with no fixed territorial boundaries, indefinitely. In 2010, I realized, maybe two suitcases would be a good idea. Essentially what those suitcases and carry-ons contain is all that I own, other than some remnants in my parents' basement and that which I buy / need at any given location and that which can be disposed of / given away before I embark onwards. I believe in contemporary airport terms, this could be expressed as, at any given point in time, I have to condense the belongings of my life to approximately 66 kgs or 144 lbs of stuff. More on that, including … [Read more...]
Vegan? Vegetarian? Here’s How to Do It in Thailand
Although not easy, particularly when one ventures out of cities heavily trafficked by Foreigners, eating both vegan and vegetarian are possible in Thailand. The following refers to traditional Thai food and culture, not Western restaurants. Often the latter will employ English speaking staff which will render your request of omitting ingredients much simpler should there be no available options on the menu. Traditionally Thai food doesn't contain dairy, this includes desserts. Dairy is usually consumed as sterilized milk, yogurt, ice cream and other forms of Western confectionery (i.e. chocolate). From my experience, your average roadside … [Read more...]
9 Survival Tips For Long Distance Travel By Bus In Thailand
Walking into a bus terminal as a Foreigner in Thailand you can assume you will leave with a purchased ticket, however, the ticket may not necessarily be the most convenient, comfortable or sane route to your destination. The following list has been tailored to increase your odds and/or help preserve your cool. 1. Red buses are the slowest. In Canada, we would refer to taking this sort of bus as taking The Milk Route, they're scenic, they're slow, and they're cheap. If you have time on your hands, meaning, any random amount of hours because chances are, they differ slightly day to day, a red bus can be fun. Often they're not aircon equipped, but the windows open and the … [Read more...]
Burn Your Guidebook
The following is a guest post by Justin Samuel Martin of Off The Path Travel and the band Automata. Dear Reader, I do not know you, but I am writing this under the assumption that you travel or intend to do so at some point in your lifetime. I also have taken the liberty to presume that you or someone you know uses or will use guidebooks while abroad. Though it is plausible – likely, in fact – that our personal trajectories are wholly dissimilar, I was hoping that you might allow me to persuade you into doing something somewhat out of the ordinary. I would like you to burn your travel guidebook. I know that you just spent $19.95 on it. Burn … [Read more...]