Writer. Funny guy. Knower of things.
When the shit hits the fan, it’s time to humble yourself, follow instructions and help keep things calm by listening to the people in charge. Don’t worry about your belongings, your gadgets or your pride. Put on your life vest, tighten up your helmet and do as your told. It could just save your life.
The best part of being away from your regular work-a-day life is that you can let yourself go. That’s why no man should shave when he sets out on an adventure (See Evans, Andrew – Antarctica). Let those follicles grow proudly. If it’s good enough for Conan, it’s good enough for you.*
* Ladies not included – sorry!
Even if you’re a health nut who would never eat something from a vending machine in the States, you should have fun with the myriad products that can be mechanically delivered to you overseas. From interesting beverages to hot foods, vending machines are there for you late at night when shops are closed, when you’re back at your hotel and need some drunk food or when you’re simply wandering around a city and feel like rolling the dice.
Don’t act like you’re too good for vending machines. If I can drink 26 different beverages obtained via vending machines during ten days in Japan, you can try out one or two oddities on your travels. Get off your high horse and keep some change handy. There are some gems to be had in vending machines.
What’s the best or most exotic delicacy that you found in a vending machine? Share in the comments.
There are nail clippings everywhere. There are tiny hairs on everything. It’s all covered in a layer of semen. Trust me, I reviewed the Dirtiest Hotel in America.
Wash your hands often, wear slippers or sandals when you walk around your room and resist the urge to lick the TV remote.
Before you depart for your adventure, be sure to pack clothes that are appropriate for your destination. Going to places of worship? Men should wear long pants. Women should have skirts that go well below the knees and keep their shoulders covered. Take your shoes off before entering homes in Asian countries. Basically, don’t stick out like a sore thumb and/or offend everyone around you.
Blending in with the locals is key to keeping tensions at a minimum and ingratiating yourself in the community.
Music helps pass the time. Music helps make the moment. Music helps you ignore someone else’s snoring. Before you hit the road, pack your iPod full of good music that can adapt to your moods and itinerary.
I put together a playlist for Gadling’s Travel Tunes series. Sure would be neat if you checked it out.
Without fail. your trip will not go perfectly. A hotel will lose your reservation. The museum you want to see will be closed for renovations. You won’t find that “perfect” paella. Rather than wallowing in self-pity and complaining about those “failures,” mange your expectations, expect a few things to go wrong and make the best of the situations.
Ask the hotel if they will give you a deal on a room. Use that free afternoon to check out another museum or exhibit. Buy all the ingredients for a great paella at the local markets and do it yourself.
Inevitably, things will go wrong. It’s up to you to keep feeling right.
People are connected more than ever before. Between Twitter, Facebook, foursquare, Flickr and all of the other social networking sites out there, you no longer need to leave your house to interact with friends and strangers (looking at you, Chatroulette). Social networking sites are also becoming key tools for travelers as they both plan and enjoy their trips.
However, like any new medium, there have been growing pains. Anyone who has seen their Twitter feed clogged by constant foursquare check-ins knows that some people overuse social networking. These sites (and the new ones that are launched nearly everyday) are here to stay and are valuable resources for travelers. That said, we all need to help the medium mature so that we can stop being so annoyed by people who are oversharing and start engaging in constructive, entertaining and educational dialogue.
With that goal in mind, I compiled a guide to using social networking as a travel tool. This should eliminate any confusion and help quiet down those who are abusing their newfound connectivity. Check it out now on Gadling.
