A Day in the Life of the Adventure Travel Industry

I truly feel blessed that I have one of the best careers in the world. People continuously ask "How did you get into adventure travel?" It's not the most common of jobs for many. So I thought I'd dedicate a blog topic to how I got into the industry.

From a very young age I had my nose in the travel section of the newspaper, even though I'd never been outside of Ontario until I was 17. My first trip was to the Bahamas, with a girlfriend. We booked on a two week soujourn, that turned into one month when we were invited to sail from Freeport to Nassau. From here, I became hooked.

Sadly my mother passed away very young, 46. She always wanted to travel the world, but never had the opportunity because she was raising children. Before she died she told me to see the world. She told me not to wait until tomorrow because one never knows what tomorrow holds. Those words of wisdom have made me what I am today. She was, and still is my inspiration.

At the age of 20 I set off for a 5 year trip, my goal was to work my way around the world. I started with a job in Vancouver, I'm originally from Toronto. I worked for 8 months at Expo 86. I had 3 jobs there, all tourism related, working day and night trying to make as much money as I could to fund my long journey as long as possible. It was here that I met so many interesting people who were heading to Asia and the Pacific and I got the inspiration to follow their tracks. I booked a circle Pacific ticket with 17 stops for $1500. Destinations included Tahiti, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and LA. I stayed for 8 months in Australia working and bunny hopped through the other countries, staying as long as I felt the need to.

From here, I was inspired to make it to Asia. My first destination being Japan. Now I heard that Japan was really expensive and for a backpacker, would have to find work quickly before the funds started to deplete quickly. My plan was to teach English. I bought second hand Levis from the Venice Beach in LA, and sold them to the first shop I found in Tokyo. The Japanese loved anything American in those days.

Japan was my first challenging destination because I couldn't read the street signs, the language was so very foreign from English and the emperor died when I arrived. The latter meant that the whole country stopped and it was impossible to find work during that time. I stayed one month, but my funds were depleting quickly so decided to head to South East Asia where my dollar would stretch further. I flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and arrived just as the Thaipusam Hindu Festival was taking place. Wow, talk about culture shock. This festival is a fascinating religious festival that occurs annually to cleanse the soul. It's too indepth to write about here, but I'll perhaps dedicate a blog entry to it at a later date.

I found Malaysia difficult because of the festival, and as a young 21 year old, was overwhelmed when the locals were trying to touch my hair and get into my personal space. I didn't realize at that time that people in Asia don't have the same sense of space that we have in North America. One of the many experiences one encounters from venturing outside of our comfort zones.

I took the bus through Malaysia up to the south of Thailand and landed in beautiful Ko Phi Phi. One of the islands that was devastated by the tsunami. I fell in love in Thailand, not only with the country, but with one of the locals. This is where the cultural side of BikeHike was born. I stayed for two years in Thailand, living with the local people, as a local Thai. I was the only white person on the island of Koh Yao Noi in those days, so it was challenging, yet culturally fascinating. I lived like a Thai and really got to know the culture and the language intimately. It was fascinating.

I worked in marketing and sales for a sea kayaking company in Phuket for a good portion of my time in Thailand, as well as part time guiding.

After 2 years in Thailand I decided I needed the west so ventured south to Australia again and then made my way to LA where I worked as a fitness instructor for awhile.

Finally 5 years later I returned to Canada with lots of travel experiences under my belt and decided it was time to return to school and get the piece of paper under my belt. I studied tourism and fitness leadership for 2 years and as soon as I graduated got picked up by a couple of companies asking if I'd be keen to guide full time. One offer was in Thailand and the other Costa Rica. Now since I'd never been to Costa Rica, that was very appealing to me and that was the one I chose.

Although I'd never been to Costa Rica, the company I worked for knew that I'd had plenty of travel experience, which made me a desirable candidate for a job as a tour leader. It came easily with all of my international experience.

I stayed in South and Central America for 2 years, bouncing between countries guiding in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Chile, Belize, Argentina and Peru. It was pretty heavenly while in my 20's.

In my late 20's it was time to be a little more settled, and have a place I called home, rather than just a suitcase so I returned to Canada and found work in another adventure travel company, this time in the office. That lasted one year. I learned a lot but soon realized that I had too much of an independent streak to be able to work under someone else. With all of my years of travel experiences and contacts that I'd made I decided to give it a try on my own. That was in 1994. It's been an amazing ride and I know that there are many fabulous years to come.

For those of you who are interested in following this path, my advise is to get out there into the world, experience, taste, meet people, network, let the wind blow you in the direction you are meant to be. That type of experience is what it takes to make it in this industry, first hand, hands on, life-altering experiences. You will be very valuable to any adventure travel company if you can show that you have lived abroad and experienced the world and the many exotic cultures.

I hope this little bit of insight is something that can help lead you down a very exiting path.

In the spirit of adventure,
Trish Sare

Tips on Bargaining

One of my fears when traveling to the developing world is bargaining for souvenirs. One of these days I am determined to master and feel comfortable with this art form. The vendors must love me as I'm usually one of those suckers that pays the asking price (within reason, that is). When the asking price is $2.00 for a T-shirt, it doesn't feel right to get the price down when it already seems ridiculously low. But then again, I am probably disappointing the shop owners since bargaining is an expected custom and a way of life in many places. Every country has their own traditions for bargaining, my favourite being in Turkey where the shop owners always give you a little cup of tea. That was the one place where I felt comfortable bargaining, for some reason sitting down and having tea with the shop owners put me at ease. I left the Grand Bazaar with an assortment of spices, dishes, musical instruments, pillowcases, chess sets and jewelery. Anyways, I thought I would relay some tips to make your future bargaining experiences fun and easy:

1) Remember to smile and remain friendly. Don't argue or get angry with the vendors.
2) Don't take it seriously and have fun with it. Remember what is your savings is another person's shortage.
3) Unless you know the price of the item involved, always try to have the seller make the first offer.
4) A good rule of thumb is to offer 1/2 of the asking price, and then negotiate from there.
5) If you are not interested in an item, don't start bargaining for the sake of it. Once you start bargaining and agree on a price, you are expected to make the purchase.
6) Don’t pass up something you really like because the seller will not come down in price. The item may be unique and difficult to find elsewhere.

This isn't related to bargaining, but in my travels, I learned to use the phrase "maybe later" carefully. While in Vietnam several of the rickshaw drivers kept asking my friend and I if we wanted a ride, when we said no, they would reply with "maybe later". We would then agree and say yes "maybe later". In the city of Hue, the one rickshaw driver who we muttered "maybe later" to made it his job to find us everyday (and the city is not that small, over 1 million people) and ask if we wanted a ride. We finally gave in to his persistence, as it was just too hard to resist...not to mention the fact we were impressed that he could keep seeking us out in a city of 1 million people. We ended up just touring around the city for the fun of it, but at least we made the rickshaw driver happy.

Happy shopping,
Meghan

Toilets from around the World

Going to the restroom, whether we like to admit it or not, is something everyone around the world does. Until I moved to South America I had always assumed that a toilet was a toilet was a toilet, however I quickly learned this was not the case. The first public toilet I used was quite the experience. I didn’t speak any Spanish at the time so I didn’t know what anyone was saying to me. I walked past some people who I thought were just selling toilet paper (which didn’t make any sense at the time) and into the washroom and was thoroughly confused. There was no toilet seat for starters, and there was no toilet paper! It was after that I learned that public toilets were not free, hence the people selling the toilet paper, and an extra supply of toilet paper was well worth the space it took up in my bag. Once arriving at my host families home and having discovered a fairly normal looking toilet with a seat on it, I learned that in South America (and many other countries) you don’t put the used toilet paper in the actual toilet, but rather in the bin beside the toilet, also a bit of an adjustment to make.

This led me to further investigate toilets in other countries. Since having embarked on this mission to discover how the rest of the world does their thing, I have learned that there are a wide variety (and I mean a very wide variety) of facilities. I have seen photos of everything from glass urinals shaped like flowers, to ones with heated seats, with an automatic air freshener and armrests, to ones set up like an actual throne, to a small hole in a cement slab (good aim required please). And for the environmentally aware and sustainable folks out there, composting toilets are becoming more and more popular these days. The technology has advanced to the point where you’d hardly even notice the difference, minus the water in the toilet bowl of course.

So in the end, I have realized that before heading off on an adventure in a foreign place, it is probably wise to investigate the style of facilities to be expected so you won’t be caught off guard in an unusual situation. Also remember to keep small change and spare toilet paper in your bag, and if you see a small bin beside the toilet, it’s meant for the toilet paper. And in case anyone was curious, the most expensive toilet I used in South America was at the bus station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Also, a new date to note in your calendar is November 19th – world toilet day! This day is dedicated to the celebration of the wonderful toilet (any and all styles of course) while bringing awareness to the global sanitation crisis affecting 40% of the world’s population.

Enjoy!
Meghan G

Tips for Getting Over Jet Lag

Travelling the globe is always an exciting adventure, with the exception of jet lag of course.

Jet lag is a temporary condition that causes fatigue and insomnia from air travel across multiple time zones. It occurs because of the inability for the human body to adjust immediately to the change in time, throwing off your body’s internal clock, or body clock. There are many factors that play a role in the extent of jetlag, including age, direction of travel, number of time zones crossed, dehydration, and the amount of time spent travelling between places.

Below is a list of suggestions to help prevent (or at least lessen) the onset of the uninvited, and all too common, jet lag.

• Be as healthy as possible before departure by eating well and getting exercise. The better physical condition you are in, the less susceptible to jet lag you’ll be.
• Avoid flying with a hangover or while sick, and get a good night’s sleep before departure.
• Speak with your doctor before the trip if you have any health or medical conditions.
• Change your schedule in advance (little by little) to match the destination you are heading to, this way the adjustment won’t be as extreme upon arrival. This will also help you to prepare in advance and avoid last minute stress.
• Don’t drink. As appealing as the free alcohol can be on international flights, it is a bad idea because it aids in dehydration.
• Avoid caffeine for the same reasons as above because it causes disruption in sleep patterns, which also contributes to jet lag
• Drink lots of water! It is the best medicine for combating dehydration.
• Take off your shoes and walk around during the flight. This small amount of exercise can help to revitalize and refresh your body while also helping to prevent blood clots.
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and dress for the destination.
• Bring sleeping aids such as ear plugs, blow-up pillows, and extra socks for walking around. Avoid using sleeping pills, and try not to sleep for more than an hour at a time.
• If you land during daylight hours, go for a short run or brisk walk.

With these tips in mind, your next adventure should be a breeze!

Happy Travels,
Meghan G

The Essential Personal First Aid Kit

Most travellers these days seem to have a story or two about various injuries incurred around the world. I even have one myself. A few years back, (and by a few I mean eight) I tripped over a rock while hiking the Inca Trail and cut the front of my shin and knee open. There I was, amazingly unprepared, in a lot of pain, and not really sure of what had just happened. I had had little training in first aid and had no idea what to do. Luckily for me, our guide had a pretty nice first aid kit and hooked me up with some iodine, band-aids, and ibuprofen and I was ready to hike again.

I’ve put together a list of essentials for a basic first aid kit below. Many places sell first aid kits containing most of this in them so all you have to do is add a few more, and you’re good to go.

• Band-aids (various sizes include butterfly ones)
• Gauze
• Multi-tool (such as a Leatherman Juice)
• ACE bandage
• Multiple Ziploc bags (irrigation, waterproofing, disposal)
• Moleskin (you can add an extra anti-blister kit if footwear is a concern or questionable)
• Duct tape
• Safety pins
• Ibuprofen
• Imodium A-D
• Water purification tablets (such as Pristine)
• Iodine
• Tweezers
• Latex gloves
• Pocket mask
• Krazy Glue
• Some kind of mild non-antibacterial cleanser (like baby shampoo)

It is important to also take into consideration the destination. If you are heading somewhere hot and humid, you’re going to want to have some bug repellant, if you’re venturing into the desert, you’ll want to bring some oral re-hydration salts, and if you’re heading to the mountains, it’s a good idea to pack some altitude sickness pills. A good thing to keep in mind while packing your kit is the flexibility of the contents. The more multi-purpose the contents are the better the kit will be.

Another good step is to take a first aid course. Having a sound knowledge of first aid will only help you out in unpleasant situations. For adventure travel, a good course to take is Wilderness First Aid. It’s offered in most places and is an excellent way to prepare you for the unexpected in pretty much any situation imaginable.

Enjoy the weekend,
Meghan G

Trip Report from Vibrant Vietnam

I've just landed back into Vancouver from Vibrant Vietnam. I'm still pretty jetlagged, but the memories are very vivid in my mind, so I have to capture them in words now before I fall back into western life too quickly.

We were just a small group this time, a journalist from Flare Magazine, who will be writing a story on our BikeHike Adventures Paddle and Play Vietnam trip this coming October, and 2 other solo male travellers. In total, there were 6 of us, 2 guides, 1 driver and 3 clients, not a bad guest to staff ratio is it?

We started our adventure in Hanoi, in the northern part of Vietnam. I absolutely love Hanoi. It's a chaotic city where just crossing the road is an adventure. There are hundreds of motorbikes and rickshaws on the streets in no orderly fashion, no lanes, no rules, they just drive forward. I was impressed to see that there is a new helmet law in place and also a maximum of 2 people on a motorbike at one time, unless they are young children. Then you're allowed up to 4.

Crossing the road in Hanoi is one of the first things you must learn upon arrival. You just have to walk into the thick of it and the motorbikes and rickshaws will maneouver around you. You can't run, or hesitate, you just have to walk with confidence. I actually enjoy it now, it's a sense of accomplishment to get to the other side and see how they weave around you.

We spent our first day in Hanoi exploring the city on rickshaw and visiting the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh and managed to get a foot massage in before we got onto our night train up to Lao Cai. Massages are one of the big highlights of Vietnam, they are everywhere and I managed to get 6 of them on a 12 day trip. That's traveling in style.

Upon arrival into Lao Cai it was pouring rain and I told the group that we'd have breakfast and by the time we finished the sun would be shining for us. Low and behold, the sun came out just as we were sipping the last of our very strong Vietnamese green tea. We jumped on our bikes then set off for a 3 day bike trip from Lao Cai to Bac Ha.

Our first day of biking concluded with a boat trip down a peaceful river that cuts through a rugged canyon. We ended up in a small village where we spent the night with a Tai family in their home. The accommodation in a homestay is basic, but the experience is completely authentic. They cooked a delicious meal for us on a wood fire on the ground of the kitchen floor. There were at least 7 different dishes, and the group was amazed how our local host could whip up so many special dishes with such basic amenities. Everything we ate was fresh and organic.

We wandered through the village and met the local people herding their water buffalos and pigs, and even helped a guy who was stuck in the mud on his motorbike. We visited a few family homes and went to the local store to by some warm beer. There is no electricity in this village, so warm Tiger beer was the best we could get and it tasted so good.



The next two days of biking were equally rewarding with loads of cultural encounters along the way. Everyone rides bicycles here and the local people truly love to ride up beside us and pedal along side. We had so many cultural encounters. Around every bend in Vietnam is an interesting site. Tourism is growing here, as their economy is doing very well, but we stay well off the beaten track and have authentic cultural encounters.

We were invited into a family home where they were making fresh sticky rice cakes, of course we got to try them. We went to the Sunday market in Bac Ha. Now if you want some interesting dishes to try, this was the place. Some of the specialties were monkey brain, all of the insides of a horse, python fat, dog, bee syrup, fresh blood of a pig, amongst all sorts of other things that I couldn't even recognize. I personally am not that adventurous when it comes to food, but one must remember that this is real life of the indigenous groups of Vietnam, so it's fascinating to see, even if it's a little hard to stomach.

We ended our biking with a transfer up to Sapa, a beautiful town nestled in the mountains. Some of the group commented how the setting could have been the Swiss Alps with the misty clouds hanging over the mountainside carved with rice terraces.

We set off on foot from Sapa for 2 days of trekking and a second homestay with another family. This area had a few other indigenous groups, Red Tzao, Tai and Hmong. We hiked along the rims of the muddy rice paddies and past water buffalos plowing the fields. We visited a couple of schools where we dropped off some supplies. We soaked in steamy hotsprings and feasted on sweet potatoes baked in a fire, provided by a hospitable woman who lives in the area. I think all of us lost our balance at one point trying to walk the edge of the rice paddies and landed in the thick of the mud. But when we got back to Sapa we got our shoes cleaned in 2 hours and they looked almost brand new.

The last leg of our adventure was a 3 day soujourn to Halong Bay where we paddled sea kayaks to the many limestone karsts rising out of the sea. There are villages on the water where people live with their many dogs. They survive on fishing in this area and tourism provides many jobs as well.

Two of the big highlights that stand out for me here was a night paddle to view the phosphorescence. It was magical. Dipping our paddles into the sea was like waiving a wand into the water with magical dust. With the stars up above and the phosphorescence below it was a heavenly experience.

The other moment that was priceless was stopping our kayaks on a small stretch of whitesand beach that we knew would be taken in the high tide. We went for a dip in the Red China Sea and Mike said, "oh how I'd love a cold beer in the Red China Sea". There was nothing around us and all of a sudden, a woman appears out of nowhere, with a boat full of beer and snacks. Ask and you shall receive, isn't that the power of attraction.

Our journey ended back in Hanoi where we had a final evening to get massages, pedicures, enjoy the night markets, shop until we dropped and feast on great Vietnamese cuisine.

I really love Vietnam, but I do see it changing rapidly as the economy is booming. If you're considering a trip to Vietnam in the near future, try to get their soon as it still has the gentle and wonderful authentic experiences and on BikeHike Adventures we ensure that we stay well away from the mainstream tourism areas. For details on our Paddle and Play Adventure, visit http://www.bikehike.com/vietnam/vietnam_trip01.html

Until next time,
Trish Sare

Inti Raymi: Festival of the Sun

One of the joys of travelling is being able to truly see the culture of the places you visit, and what better way to do that then to go to a festival!

I’m talking about the Inti Raymi, or Festival of the Sun, which takes place in Cusco, Peru. This festival is an ancient Inca tradition that dates back centuries and honours the God of the Sun, Wiracocha. The Inti Raymi symbolizes the eternal consecration of marriage between the Sun and his sons, the human beings. This was the most important festival of the Inca Empire, which based its religion on the cult of the sun. The Inca considered the sun to be a divinity of the highest rank and built their temples in honour of the sun. During the days of the original festival llamas were sacrificed, which was believed to ensure a good cropping season. In 1572 the viceroy Francisco de Toledo banned this traditional ceremony.

The festival is now the second largest festival in South America. More than 200,000 people come and more than 500 actors proudly bring alive the past. Inti Raymi takes place during the month of June in Cusco, Peru. It lasts for a week, but the actual day of the festival is June 24th, which marks the winter solstice and the beginning of the sun’s new year in the southern hemisphere.

Inti Raymi starts in Qorikancha (or the Santa Domingo), which was the centre of the Inca Empire until 500 years ago. It then proceeds as a procession to Sacsayhuamán, an archeological complex also known as the Sacred House of the Sun. Some of the main events include: fire, live music, street fairs, and plays representing historical figures, namely Sapa Inca and his wife Mamma Occla.

Inti Raymi is also known throughout Peru as Peasants or Indians Day. Entry is free for the all day event, but seats can be reserved at a price. This modern day festival has been taking place since 1944 and is a must see if you are in Peru at this time. We offer trips to Peru during this time, both the 12-day Andean Mountain Medley and the 8-day Trek the Lares Trail, that can be customized to allow you to stay longer to see the festival and take part in the activities. Visit http://www.bikehike.com/ for more details about these trips.

Happy Travels
Meghan G