What Happens in Jordan...

A quick post from a small internet Cafe in Aquaba, Jordan, whilst waiting for the ferry to take my group across the Red Sea to Egypt. No pictures from the trip yet, I'm afraid. I'll be posting them when I get home and boy oh boy, do I have some stunners! You're going to love them.

SO. This entire trip has been entirely amazing. From Amman to Petra to the Desert Camp at Wadi Rum last night, I really couldn't have asked for anything more from this trip. It's been magical. More details about the days later.

This post is about an experience last night that was just too hilarious not to post as soon as possible.

Last night my group stayed in a Bedouin Camp in the desert of Wadi Rum. Our host was a Bedouin Sheik by the name of Sheik Zahid. Sheik Zahid is in want of a (another?) wife and for some reason decided I should be it.

We did some hard bargaining over the course of the night, but ultimately I was offered for my hand in marriage:

-3 Racing Camels
-1 Horse
-1 Gray Mule
-15 Goats
-Chickens
-1 Mercedes
-3 Jeeps
-2 houses (One in Wadi Rum and one at the seashore in Aquaba)
-Gold and Silver

Pretty good haul, eh?

Departure Diaries #6: Packing your Backpack

If all has gone as planned, I'm in at Petra today, enjoying the selfsame ancient structures used in the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."

Meanwhile, please enjoy the backpacking guide I've authored just for you. Also, my cruise guide is finished and headed your way on Monday.
Cheers!

--
Undoubtedly there are numerous travel writers who have guides on how to pack your travel backpack, what to bring and how to keep it all organized.

Well.

My way is better. (At least for me).

Here it is. Ready?

1. Subdivide and Conquer:
The trick to maintaining your sanity whilst living out of a backpack is organization. I like to categorize, compartmentalize and subdivide my packing space.

For instance, nothing in my pack is packed "loose." I don't just shove things in the pack. One of the best investments I made for backpack travel was a set of stuff sacks. About six or eight of them. Different colors. Divvy up your stuff however it makes sense to you. One stuff sack (or two) for shirts. One for pants, another for unmentionables, one for electronic adapters, etc. Like so:

The Toiletry Bag
Don't you just love my "C" bag? I'm not the type of girl to buy a bag with my initial on it, this one was a gag gift from a dear friend and has actually been used quite practically as a toiletry tote for a number of years.

And don't just fling things about in your toiletry bag either! Air pressure wreaks havoc on toiletries. You've all experienced the exploding shampoo bottle at one point. Avoid a repeat by not filling the bottles completely full, allowing room for the contents of your bottles to expand in high air pressure situations. Also,  ZIPLOCK BAGS ARE YOUR FRIEND. Seriously. It may seem a bit ghetto, but I can't tell you how many times packing containers with liquids or gels in a ziplock have saved my butt while traveling. I won't leave home without them.

See?

2. Pack heaviest to lightest.
It's a weight distribution issue. Frame packs are made to sit on your hips. Pack your heaviest items at the bottom of your pack and the lightest on the top - so the weight rests on your hips and not your shoulders. It will save you a lot on Chiropractic bills later. Yes, I go to a Chiropractor. I heart my Chiropractor.

3. Keep things like sunscreen, toilet paper (yes, you should take a roll with you to third world countries!), bug repellent, et al in a highly accessible compartment (or in your day pack).

4. Take a day pack.
I don't want to carry my huge frame pack with me everywhere, so I ditch it at every opportunity. On flights I check my frame pack and carry on my day pack. It can be a bit awkward when you have to carry both at the same time, but generally that's just through airports so it's not bad. If you don't need a lot of space in your day pack (if you don't carry your DSLR and three lenses with you everywhere like me) get a small day pack that can be clipped to your frame pack without a lot of hassle.

Pack in your daypack:
-Electronics (Camera, phone, laptop)
-Makeup (Girls)
-Socks (I'm a habitual sandal wearer, but airplanes are COLD)
-Your travel wallet, passport, money (Or wear this wallet on your person)
-Camelback bladder. I love my Camelback packs and bladder. 
-Copy of your Itinerary (Also keep a copy of this in your frame pack, along with photocopies of both sides of your travel credit cards and passport, to assist you in the eventuality of theft)
-Any other in-flight entertainment or luxuries you might want: Books, magazines, snacks, sweater

5. Get a lock.
'Nuf said. Nix that. I'll say more. For this trip I purchased both a combination lock (not to be used for flights as the type I purchased is not TSA approved) and a metal mesh security net made for my frame pack. I chose the security net because I'll be sharing rooms with strangers on this trip and want to secure my belongings.

6. Take a towel
Just do it. You can thank me later.

7. Love your backpack; buy a travel cover for it.
Use it for flights, bus rides, etc. It will save unnecessary wear and tear on the body and straps of your pack. Because we've all had shredded luggage at one point or another.

8. I know it sounds extravagant, but truly: Take half as much stuff as you think you'll need and twice the cash.

Got it? Hopefully you've found some helpful tips amongst those. As an added bonus:

Some things I ALWAYS Pack for international trips.
-Flashlight (torch) and spare batteries. Usually I use a headlamp.
-Voltage Converter
-Plug adapter kit
-Extra ZipLock bags. Gallon and Quart sized.
-Power strip. (Seriously, think about it: you've got four things to charge and one plug adapter.)
-Two pairs of shoes. Usually a pair of hiking boots and a pair of Chaco sport sandals (LOVE them!). I generally walk as much as possible when I explore and this is hard on the hoofs. Changing shoes really helps keep my feet happy. Well, that and a foot massage.
-Tide pen (I'm clumsy and accident prone. The Tide pen was a game-changer for me.)
-Tide travel packs.
-Antibiotics
-Excedrin
-Poncho (To cover my frame pack in case of wet weather)


Happy Packing!

Giddy Like a Kid at Christmas

You know that feeling you get on Christmas eve? You know the one, right? Or am I the only one that feels it?
That excited nervousness that starts in the pit of your stomach and spreads like butterflies up through your chest and out to your arms? Yah, that one.

That's how I feel right now.

And Christmas isn't for eight months.

Can you guess why I'm feeling this way?

It's the travel giddies. I get them before every big trip.

And now that Heathrow is officially open for business again and my flights are on schedule, I'm pretty well set to go. Yesterday, both my long-haul flight and my flight from Heathrow to Rome operated on schedule (The airlines fly the same flight numbers and schedules daily/weekly). That is a very good sign, indeed.

Last night I finished up my packing. Despite the fact that I'd already refilled and packed my toiletries, last night was a blitz of laundry, checking and double-checking. And then it was a flurry of prioritizing as I'd laid out far too much to take with me. I really could use a backpack that does what Hermoine Granger's purse did in the Harry Potter books. I mean, every girl could use an infinitely packable bag, right? Right. Hermoine and Mary Poppins were two lucky chicks, I tell ya.

This morning I'm headed to work with my large travel pack and smaller day pack and will go directly to the BART train at 3:30pm. The train will take me to SFO and I'll await my British Airways departure there.

Because I don't have an iPad or a laptop, I'll be hand-writing out my adventures. And unless I find accessible computers along the way I won't be posting. BUT, fear not, I've got a couple of things stored up and scheduled to post to keep you busy while I'm gone.

Cheerio Y'all!

Love,
Christy

Volcano Sale!

Sounds random, I know. But Lonely Planet has temporarily made their city guide apps for iPhone free until Thursday 4/22 for the following 13 cities:

• Amsterdam
• Barcelona
• Berlin
• Budapest
• Copenhagen
• Istanbul
• London
• Moscow
• Munich
• Paris
• Rome
• Stockholm
• Vienna

Just follow this link:
http://inside-digital.blog.lonelyplanet.com/2010/04/19/lp-volcano-rescue/

Click on the city guide you want and it will open up iTunes. Download your app and load it to your phone!

Get 'em while they're free!

Five Websites

Yours truly is scheduled to fly into LHR (London, Heathrow) this very Thursday (arriving early Friday morning). And then from LHR to FCO (Rome) on Friday.

Guess which major international airport is completely socked in by a volcanic ash cloud right now? Well, several are, actually. But most important to me is: LHR. Yup.

Right now there are several websites that I am keeping a close eye on.
-BA.com: My flight to London
-EgyptAir.com: My Flight to Jordan from Rome
-BBC.co.uk: For the latest, accurate information about the general situation
-My email

and lastly:

tripadvisor.com: To research Fiji, Australia and Bali: Three places unlikely to be affected by the ash cloud that I could hop a plane and fly to instead. I guess I could consider South Africa or Spain as well. Hmm.

BUT, overall, I'm really not worried about it. Sure, I was a bit worked up for a couple of nights, to the point of not sleeping hoping that the cloud would leave so I can do my planned trip. But, hey, I called my travel insurance provider and the whole blasted situation is covered. Period. If my flight is cancelled, I call my trip cancelled, book a new one and the insurance will reimburse the whole lot. Brilliant.

So get some travel insurance everyone.

I'm headed to work now. Just three more days.

Also, I need to find my glasses sometime before Thursday. Because I lost them somewhere in my house between my room and the bathroom and I'm going to need them on my trip, no matter which plane I decide to hop on.

Volcanic Ash!

Did you hear?
Well. Did you?

Iceland had a volcanic eruption not too long ago. And guess what happened yesterday?

I can't believe you haven't heard.

Ash.

Ash everywhere. Iceland's ash made it to Europe yesterday! Dark, thick, billowing clouds of it. Flights were cancelled from London to Paris and beyond. International flights crossing Europe were cancelled.

This is big stuff.

Here's what Reuters shared:

Thu Apr 15, 5:59 PM ET

Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano sends a plume of ash and steam across the North Atlantic prompting authorities in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and Scandinavia to close airspace over their countries in this image provided from NASA's Terra satellite and taken April 15, 2010. A huge ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano turned the skies of northern Europe into a no-fly zone on Thursday, stranding hundreds of thousands of passengers.
 --
Whoa.

Ahhhh, Florida!

Do you remember? Do you remember a while back when I told you about my birthday trip?

The beach house is settled. The car rental is booked.

And today I finally had enough frequent flier miles to book my flight. It cost $10 in taxes.

My heavens I love frequent flier miles.

This year I've collected enough miles for:

-1 roundtrip ticket to Rome (in two weeks!)

-1 roundtrip ticket to Pensacola

-1 roundtrip ticket to my Grandma's farm (December)

And there's enough mileage leftover for another international trip, to be taken next year.

Suh-weet.

Last year I had enough miles for two domestic flights.

Do you have mileage credit cards? If you don't, you should look into them. My system is to put all of my expenses on them and pay them off monthly. The miles add up very, very quickly.

Happy buying & flying! And Happy ____ Birthday to me!
(Disclaimer: Kids, don't try this at home. Use credit wisely.)

Meeting Point Paranoia

I sometimes suffer from overstimulus of the brain region. In other words, sometimes I overthink things too much!

Today my overthinking has got me all worked up in a huff about meeting my tour group in Jordan. I mean, for the love of Pete and his dog Sparky! Just how ginormous is this world? Just how many gin joints in all the world ARE THERE, really? Tons.

Think about it. I have a small, tiny window of opportunity to meet up with a group of people I don't know in a place I've never been. Isn't that a bit daunting to anyone?

It's thinking like this that makes me read and re-read directions on shampoo bottles, assembly instructions for electronics and trip notes for this very trip over and over and over again. I memorize until it's a smooth, polished process in my mind's eye, until I've prepared everything I possibly can and feel that I comprehend everything that is comprehendable about the situation.

But. The wild cards and variables completely outweigh the preparation in some situations.

And that's what makes travel so blasted exciting! As much as my neurosis demands that I overthink, my inner wild child demands the exhilaration of the unexpected.

Do you ever worry that you'll "miss the bus," as it were?

I have no idea what that text says on the picture. Is that German?

Packing Already

10 days and counting until that big, beautiful airplane leaves SFO for Heathrow (where I'll connect to Roma).

I'm a pack-the-night-before-you-go kind of girl. But everything about this trip is a bit unusual for me, from the amount of planning time I've had to the amount of details I've tied up prior to leaving. I usually fly a bit more by the seat of my pants. But this trip is different, partly out of caution, partly out of necessity and partly just because I had the time.

After all, a year is a looooooonnnnng time to plan a trip.

But I digress. Back to my packing habits.
Against my long-held, self-imposed tradition of late night, last minute packing, I started packing last night. I generally wait, not because I like to scramble to pack and arrive at the airport exhausted, disheveled and sleep deprived, but because I hate UNPACKING. I hate and LOATHE unpacking of any sort. It reminds me that my trip is over and I have to go back to reality. But I especially hate the type of unpacking done because a bag has been packed too early and the packer needs to use something that's already carefully packed. It's THE WORST.

So last night, when I was just so excited that my trip is fast approaching, I pulled out my trusty (and massive) frame pack, along with my toiletries bag and started pulling old stuff out, updating ziplock baggies full of essentials like a tiny first aid kit and feminine products. I filled up travel-sized shampoo and face wash bottles and replaced razors and batteries. And I made a list of everything else that needs an update that I have to run to the store for. I need sunscreen and ibuprofen and travel-sized toothpaste. I must get travel-sized contact solution. And I must remember to pack a poncho. (After all, it's been unseasonably wet around the world this year.)

And all of that is just the beginning. But I won't bore you with any more trivialities.

I suppose it's a good thing that I pulled out the pack and began to prep so early. But at the same time, I'll be double-checking everything the night before I go all the same. Just for peace of mind, you know?

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Over prepare. Then go with the flow.

PS, I'm just about finished with my guide to picking the perfect cruise.
And stay tuned for my guide to packing a backpack for travel.

Bugs

I made the mistake of calling my healthcare provider and asking for a prescription for antibiotics.

Well then.

It wasn't really a mistake. It was a good, responsible thing to do.

Except.

Now I have to go in for blood work and vaccinations (MMR, Polio, TB, Hepatitis A & B and Tetanus!) AND on top of all of those deadly plague thingers, I have to take Typhoid pills.

Have you ever taken Typhoid pills?

Doesn't that just sound deadly?

Typhoid. Pills.

Suspect. Highly suspect.

Do you know what's in a typhoid pill? LIVE TYPHOID virus. That's right. I am, in fact, placing my life and wellness in the hands of healthcare professionals, trusting that in taking a pill containing live viruses, I will not get Typhoid in Egypt.

My tour company didn't say that I needed Typhoid pills. Because I don't like doctors or medications containing live agents of viral plague, I'm more prone to believe my tour company when they told me that I would need to complete the following medications for my trip:__________.  _________ means NONE, in case you wondered.

Did you know that I have a cold right now? I do. And I'm just happy that it's happening now and not in say, two weeks. Nevertheless, (haven't you always wanted to use the word nevertheless?) I don't think it's a good idea to take live death pills (AKA Typhoid pills) while my immune system is effectively down for the count.

Do you? 

But I really don't want to catch Typhoid fever on my trip, because google health says this:

 Typhi Bacterium

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection characterized by diarrhea, systemic disease, and a rash -- most commonly caused by the bacteria Salmonella typhi (S. typhi).

Symptoms

Early symptoms include fever, general ill-feeling, and abdominal pain. A high (over 103 degrees) fever and severe diarrhea occur as the disease gets worse.
Some people with typhoid fever develop a rash called "rose spots," which are small red spots on the belly and chest.

Other symptoms that occur include:

• Abdominal tenderness
• Agitation
• Bloody stools
• Chills
• Confusion
• Difficulty paying attention (attention deficit)
• Delirium
• Fluctuating mood
• Hallucinations
• Nosebleeds
• Severe fatigue
• Slow, sluggish, lethargic feeling
• Weakness

Ewwww. So let's save it for the next trip, okay? Or preferably for never.

So I think I'll wait a couple of days and then subject my immune system to further torture by death pill. I can do that because I only need to finish my round of Typhoid meds one week before my trip. That gives me until Sunday to start.

Fair enough?

Have you ever had to take suspect medications?

Through the Lens

My daydreams gravitate of late towards the desert. The carved stone arches of Petra, The Egyptian sands blowing gently by the Nile, a galloping horse ride from Giza to Sakkara.

I lust after the pictures I will take.

In my mind's eye I see them, specifically styled and perfectly framed. An antiqued, distorted shot of Corinthian columns; long sepia toned Camel eyelashes; a frame of the triangular pyramids looking for all the world as if it were 1940, in the heyday of cavalier archaeology, newspaper empires and Indiana Jones.

It's a drive, a need for my photos to slake a creative thirst. And so, a while back, I embarked on a journey to find the right equipment. The right tools. The enablers for the style I'm after.

Of course, I could try photoshopping the heck out of my images. I am pretty darned good at Photoshop, if I say so myself. There's a possibility that I might get what I'm after.

But don't you think it's so much better to start off with an image that is closer to what you want?
I think so.
Sometimes you just can't push images to do exactly what you want in Photoshop because you didn't start out with the right image.

I love the internet.

I was, at first afraid that what I wanted might not be attainable except at the cost of thousands of dollars and having to tote much more photography equipment than is prudent. I wasn't really willing to spend thousands of dollars or tote lots of equipment actually. So when I came upon this fantastic website: www.lensbaby.com, I was floored! I ordered my Lensbaby Composer this past weekend and should have it soon.

Just so you know, Lensbaby has in no way sponsored my blog or paid me to endorse them. This is a blog born of sheer love, excitement and anticipation for the photos I will take. Gorgeous, styled, soft-focus and golden. I can't wait to share them with you.

 I didn't take this image. But isn't is gorgeous? It's taken with a Lensbaby. Aren't you excited?

Departure Diaries #5: Thoughts on the Euro

 Dear foreign currency market: You suck.

Or maybe it's the American market that sucks. Or both. Probably.

Either way, traveling to Europe is a fiscally irresponsible thing to do. That's what I thought today for about two minutes as I ordered my foreign currency. Then I promptly put those thoughts from my mind. Because Rome, Jordan, Egypt and Malta are SOOOOO worth it. Besides, do I strike you as the type of person who lets fiscal responsibility stop her from traveling?

Blast. I totally am. I'm fiscally responsible. I totally saved for this trip. That's not irresponsible. Ugh. I'm a grown-up. (Kind of)

A few words of advice on the purchasing of foreign currency: 
Sure, you can buy your cash at the Cambios in the airports, they are very, very happy to take your money and rob you blind. If you want to buy money at reasonable rates, buy it from your bank at home. If you need more while on the road, the cheapest way to get it is with your debit card. You get the cash rate. If you change out traveler's cheques or credit cards you get charged larger fees. I've tracked the Euro, Dinar and Eyptian pound exchange rates now for a couple of months. They're at an all-time low. As in the base rate of exchange for the Euro is nearly 1Euro to $1.30 US. That's really danged good! It had been hovering around $1.50 for years. So once everything is said and done and the bank added it's fees, I paid around $1.40 for each Euro I purchased. Not bad. Not bad at all. If I wait until I get to the EU to buy Euro, the cambios will add larger fees and I'll end up paying nearly $1.80 per Euro. That sucks. Big time.

Well. At least the Euro isn't as bad as the British Pound. Those'll do some serious damage to your budget.

Testing out the iPad

Im in the apple store right now. Typing on an iPad. Pretty cool. I'm testing it out to see if it would be a good travel companion. I think yes.

Sweet.

Except I just tried to upload a picture and no dice. No bueno.
So I asked the handy-dandy, highly-trained in all things iPad and he offered me a solution that will actually work for me.

Another minus is that punctuation is a bit annoying, as in properly getting words punctuated on this touch-screen keyboard.

But I could get used to it. And touch screen typing could still be much faster than writing (by hand).

The biggest purchase preventer for me right this very instant is the fact that I can't yet buy the camera adapter or the wall-plug adapter. They won't be available until "late April." What does that mean? Late April???? I leave April 22nd. Does that Mean April 21st or does it mean that if I buy this iPad now, I won't be able to plug it in and charge it, neither will I be able to upload photos to it??? It very well could mean just that. Which would render the (lovely) thing useless for the very purpose I want it for.

Blah.

Hmmm. I'll have to mull this over.

My inner Veruka Salt is screaming at me "JUST TAKE IT HOME NOOOOOOOOW!"

---
It's a few hours later and I've mulled it over. I didn't take home an iPad. Instead I purchased a sweet new lens for my camera and intend on taking the gosh-darned best photos you've ever seen of my upcoming trip. I'm pretty excited about it.

BUT, I will be purchasing an iPad. Maybe for my next trip, after the technology is all worked out and all of the applications and plugins that I could ever wish for are readily available. Sigh. I hate waiting. But Veruka will be locked back into her closet and it looks as though I'll be hand-writing my trip notes in a couple of weeks.

A Rain of Foreign Objects!

It's raining cats and dogs here. And I'm not just talking about the weather.

I've stopped hyperventilating, which can only mean one thing: I've got my passport back! It arrived Wednesday afternoon!

Talk about quick service.
I'm very impressed.

The Cairo Consulate sent back my travel book in under a week. I was not expecting that. Were you?
And to top it all off, I have a pretty swankified Egyptian travel visa now.
See:

Those are real, actual stamps. Like postage stamps, but for visas. Crazy, huh? I really like this page in my passport, thank you very much.

In case you were wondering, this is what a normal stamp in a passport looks like:

Just plain-jane.

Isn't that the coolest passport stamp you've ever seen? It's the coolest one I've ever seen. Until now, my five St. Petersburg stamps held the place of high esteem in my opinion file. Because, well, who goes to Russia? It's one of those interesting places that everyone puts on their "someday" wish list.

Also, my foreign currency arrived today.












Aren't Egyptian Pounds absolutely fabulous?
I mean, really.
Who wouldn't want to have the SPHINX on their money? For real.
(And yes, that is a PINK keyboard cover that note is sitting on.)

But. Do you see what I mean about today? It's pouring down travel gifts today!

Kind of makes the rain less bothersome.


PS - I'm really not sure if I can post pictures of stuff from my passport. So I photoshoped bits out of the pictures. If anyone knows if this is Taboo, let me know.