On a recent trip to Sweden, I found myself in the city of Gothenburg with no map, no access to wifi, and no data plan that allowed me to use my phone to figure out where I was. I had the Lonely Planet Sweden in my bag, but the only map large enough to be of any use was of Stockholm. It was unbelievably frustrating to think that in this age of technology, I could still find myself completely lost with nothing to help me navigate the city I was in.
Read More24 Hours In Shanghai
Do you only have a day to spend in Shanghai? You've come to the right place! This is your 24-hour guide to the things you need to see and do in Shanghai!
Sometimes referred to as the "Paris of the East," Shanghai is one of China's largest and most cosmopolitan cities. While it doesn't have the epic historic sites that you will find in Beijing and Xian, the city has a lot of great spots to explore!
Read MoreWhat You Need To Know About Thailand's Official Year of Mourning
On October 13, 2016, Thailand's beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away at the age of 88. The government immediately declared that the country would be in a year of mourning, with the first 30 days (until around November 13, 2016) being especially somber. Thai's are expected to wear black and refrain from participating in any celebrations or festivals during that time.
Read MoreThe Best Travel Quotes From Around The World
"Travel today is ticking things off: ‘Whew, I’ve done Machu Picchu, now I can get drunk.’ It used to take three weeks to get people in the right frame of mind, to un-brainwash them. Now it would take three months to get people’s heads straightened out… It’s a real problem now—people don’t know how to enjoy life. They want hedonism, short-term thrills."
—from Chapter 28: When It Rains in “Turn Right At Machu Picchu” by Mark Adams
How To Survive a Bear Attack
Your chance of actually encountering a bear, even in the North American backcountry, is incredibly slim, and the best way to survive an attack is to avoid an encounter all together.
Read MoreTravel Quotes To Inspire Your Next Adventure
“Creativity is not a competition.”
—Autumn Sky Hall
“The cost of not following your dream, your heart, or your gut, is spending the rest of your life wishing that you had.”
—Unknown
“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of lands remote, to travel is to live.”
—Hans Christian Anderson
“If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.”
—Seth Godin
“Above all, try something.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
“Good things come to those who book flights.”
“the earth has music for those who listen”
—Shakespeare
“One of the great things about travel is that you find out how many good, kind people there are”
—Edith Wharton
“If you look like your passport photo, you probably need the trip.”
—Unknown
“I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again. You can’t read anything, you have only the most rudimentary sense of how things work, you can’t even reliably cross a street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses.”
—Bill Bryson, “Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe”
“Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport.”
—Unknown
“Better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times.”
—Asian Proverb
“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.”
—Rachel Wolchin
“My favourite thing is to go where I’ve never been.”
—Unknown
"Go out in the woods, go out. If you don’t go out in the woods nothing will ever happen and your life will never begin."
—Clarissa Pinkola Estes
“The Bhagavad Gita—that ancient Indian Yogic text—says that it is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.”
—Elizabeth Gilbert from Eat, Prey, Love
“It’s bad manners to keep an adventure waiting.”
—Unknown
“After all, one travels in order for things to happen and change; otherwise you might as well stay at home.”
—Nicolas Bouvier
“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.”
—Mary Anne Radmacher
Everything You Need To Know About Shopping For Unique and Meaningful Travel Souvenirs
It is inevitable (unless you have A LOT of willpower) that you are going to bring back souvenirs from your travels. But, you have to be careful not to let yourself get swindled or carried away.
Here are a few tips on how to find unique trip mementos and locally made gifts that will remind you of adventure every time you see them, rather than gather dust in the back of your closet.
Don't get lost in the novelty
When immersed in a market in Morocco, it is easy to think that buying a silver tea set with a beautifully etched tray is a fantastic idea. They are cheap, they are everywhere, and they are SO beautiful. BUT, consider this — do you drink tea? If you do drink tea, do you drink it out of tiny cups that will come with your Moroccan tea set, or do you like big, oversized mugs? Basically, will you use this tea set or have a spot in your home to display it, or will it sit in your cupboard? Ask these questions about every purchase you make. Are harem pants really something you will wear outside of Thailand? Do you really need a carving of a camel?
Shop around
Markets or street stalls may seem random and like they have completely unique items, but you will soon notice that a lot of the items sold are mass produced. Wander through the market a few times to get an idea of where you can find the truly unique items before making a purchase.
Check that you are getting what you are paying for before you hand over your money
There are no returns at market stalls, and often the seller will disappear to grab a bag or change for you while still holding your items. Don't leave until you ensure that what is in your bag is what you want. I made the mistake of forgetting to do this, and ended up coming home with two left shoes from Marrakesh.
Research prices
If you want to make sure you aren't getting swindled, do some research ahead of time to figure out the approximate prices for different items. Travel books are a great place to start, but blogs and Google searches can give you some general information as well.
Buy items that you will actually use
I know this sounds like common sense, but it is SO easy to get wrapped up in the novelty of a place when you are actually there. Do you collect art? Buy a piece to add to your collection. Do you read? Purchase some books. Jewellery, scarves, fabrics, lanterns (if you will use them), home decor items, etc are also great options if you have the space and use for them.
Try to buy from local artisans
For really authentic items, and to support local artists, look for stalls that are selling unique handcrafted items (usually the artist will be making them as he/she is selling them), or head out of the marketplace to local boutiques where you will find fewer mass produced items. Then, have a conversation with the artist you are supporting. This will connect your item to a memory, taking you back to that moment every time you see it once you are home.
Haggle, barter and bargain like a pro
Click here for my post about bargaining like an expert to get the best deal that you possibly can — and have some fun in the process.
