5 Tips for Writing a Travel Journal

One of the best mementos of a trip is keeping a travel journal. It doesn't have to be elaborate or fancy, just something that will help you remember the little things from your trip you might have otherwise forgotten. I used to write my journal in full sentence form, but found that can be more daunting and time consuming. Now I find the best method is jotting down one line sentences, something that will help trigger my mind back to the event. I was looking over my notes from Costa Rica and had to chuckle over the lines " It's nice if you like Tapirs" and "Little bird". The first referring to a response from a tourist in the Osa Peninsula after seeing a Tapir up-close. I found the statement funny! When would I have ever had the chance to see a Tapir before to know if I liked one? I think it was a special moment and that there was nothing not to like about the experience. She seemed so unimpressed. As for the "little bird", this was our guide's response to most birds we encountered. We would ask him what type of bird it was, and he always said "little bird". I wonder if we asked what the heron was if he would have said "big bird". Anyways, my point being, you don't need to write anything elaborate. You should write it for yourself and your own memories. it doesn't have to be for anyone else's eyes, unless you want it to be. All you need is a sentence or quote to trigger your memory.

Here are some tips for keeping an interesting travel journal:

Take notes with your senses. Try to capture the smells, sounds, views, etc around you. What sounds are coming from the city? (motorbikes, call of prayer, fog horns, etc). What does the market smell like? What did your most memorable meal taste like? How did the orangutans sound coming through the trees?

For example, my last trip to Morocco was really a trip for the senses. I will never forget the taste of the lemon chicken tagine; the sounds of the camels chewing beside my tent; the sunsets and full moon; holding the leathery hand of Fatima; and the smell of the mint tea brewing.

Take notes with your emotions, good or bad. For example, how did you react to your first glimpse of Machu Picchu? How did you feel after riding on a camel that spit all the time? How did you feel after bartering in a market? or after eating something you normally wouldn't (seagull, in my case)?

Take notes on the specifics. This will help you remember what hotels to recommend? Which museums are a must see? What was the name of your guide? Taking notes on the little details gives depth and authenticity to your writing.

Be creative. As I said above, you don't necessarily have to write full sentences to remember your trip. You could write poems, draw pictures, simple blog entries, compile your own top ten lists, etc. I also found it fun to bring some colour pencils, scissors and tape with me to liven up my journal and make it more interesting. I taped in stubs from museums, menus from a restaurant, beer labels, etc.

If you don't feel like it, don't write every day Have fun writing the journal. Write an entry only when you feel like it. If you try to write every day, it could begin to feel more like a chore and then you will avoid it all together. You can leave out all the little, boring details that in 5 years from now you won't care to read. Who wants to read a journal that is a day to day account of what you did? "I woke up at 7:00am in the morning, had breakfast of tea and scones and then took a shower. After that, I got dressed and walked 1/2 an hour to the Tower of London, blah, blah, blah". You get the gist.

So next time you're going on a trip, don't forget to pack a travel journal.
Meg

10 items you should consider packing on your next adventure

I would have to say my least favourite part of travelling is packing. I find it painful. I always pack at the last minute, generally an hour before I have to leave for the airport. My method seems to work so far, as I have never forgot anything important, and it seems to help keep my luggage a reasonable size. It's always easier to travel light, so next time you find yourself packing consider taking items that have multiple uses. Here is a list of 10 multi-use items you should consider packing next time you are taking off.

1) Shampoo - There is no reason to carry four or five bottles of cleansing liquids such as body wash or shampoo. When you get down to it, it’s all soap. So consolidate by choosing a mild shampoo for all your cleaning needs.

2) Dental Floss - This waxy string is not only great for getting food out of your teeth, it also has other practical uses, such as a clothesline, thread and a knife to cut through cheese, bread, etc.

3) 5-in-1 Survival Tool - Weighing in at just 50 grams, this superlight tool is great in emergencies. It contains the following: Waterproof matchbox, Safety whistle, Compass, Signal Mirror and Fire starter flint.

4) Sarong - Sarongs are meant to be worn, but can also be used as a towel, a privacy curtain, picnic blanket, a sheet, or protection from the intense sun.

5) Swiss Army Knife - This small gadget is a must for travelers. Swiss Army makes pocket knifes that range from extremely simple to a 34-use mega tool. Attachments for travelers include: Corkscrew, Bottle opener, Thermometer, Toothpick, Scissors, Flashlight, etc.

6) Safety Pins - Safety pins are a lifesaver when it comes to holding fabric together. But they have a few other uses as well. For example, after stringing up your dental floss clothesline, hang your socks up to dry with a safety pin. You can also use a safety pin to connect your pack’s zippers for a little added security (if not using a lock).

7) Trailguide Compass Watch -This does more than check the time! Additional features include an alarm, altimeter, thermometer and timer.

8) Rain Poncho -Unless you’re heading to a rainy destination, you might pass up the poncho while packing. However, before you do, think of other ways it can be used. E.g: Picnic Blanket – Lay out the picnic spread over your poncho which will keep things dry and is a breeze to clean. Bag Liner – Empty your bag and line it with your poncho to keep wet clothes from seeping through.

9) Waterproof Pelican Dry Case - Pelican makes a line of cases to keep your valuables from getting wet. Higher end cases are tailor-made for cameras and electronics. Smaller micro cases are great choices for backpackers.

10) Credit Card Survival Tool - The ultimate multipurpose tool, it is the size of a credit card, made of stainless steel, cheap, and has 11 different uses listed (Can opener, Knife edge, Screwdriver, Ruler, 4 position wrench, Butterfly screw wrench, Saw blade, 2 position wrench, Key chain hole, Bottle opener, Direction auxiliary indication).

(List provided by the Matador Network blog)

Happy packing,
BikeHike

Winter's Fast Approaching: Avalanche Safety in the Outdoors

Winter is almost here! It's one of my favourite times of year. I love the snow, sitting in front of a fire, warm rum drinks, snowshoeing, watching holiday movies, skating, hot chocolate, skiing, wearing toques...What's not to love!

However, like with anything related to the snow and cold, it’s smart to be prepared. Especially if heading outdoors to play in mountainous terrain. Preparation helps you think about and ready yourself for the unexpected. The Canadian Avalanche Centre (http://www.avalanche.ca/) has a comprehensive website with sections on pre-trip planning, gear, events in your area, training courses and a library with research articles.

Below is some trip planning advice to follow when planning your next outdoor adventure. Remember, trip planning is only the first step in avalanche risk management!

• Brush up on rescue skills. Beacon practice, reviewing shoveling techniques and first aid classes are good preparation for the upcoming season.

• Check the weather forecast. Be aware that avalanche hazard can dramatically increase with changes in weather. Remember that limited visibility can make it difficult for you to assess avalanche hazard during your trip.

• Choose routes that are appropriate for the conditions. To do so, you first need to gather information on current and expected avalanche danger to determine what areas are more susceptible to avalanches than others during that particular time period.

• Make it a habit to print out the avalanche bulletin and bring it along. This way you can be sure not to forget any important details.

• Consider who is going on the trip and what their capabilities are. Things to consider include group size, individual experience, fitness levels, and purpose of the trip.

• Always run through an equipment check before departing. Ensure everyone you are traveling with knows how to use their gear.

• Before you go, leave a detailed trip plan with a responsible person

• If you live in BC or Alberta, use the online trip planning tool on the Canadian Avalanche Centre's website: http://www.avalanche.ca/avaluator/

Have fun and remember, stay safe!
BikeHike

Wildlife Photography Tips

1) Focus on the eyes. Getting the eyes in focus is key to capturing a photo of an animal. Since it's human nature to look at the eyes, an out of focus picture can have great appeal if the animal's eyes are in focus.

2) Use a telephoto lens. With a telephoto lens you guarantee the appearance of up-close photography without scaring or endangering the animals. Remember to keep your distance when appropriate.

3) Adjust your shutter speed. For great action shots you will want to shoot at 1/500 or faster, although if you want to create the illusion of movement, try shooting with a shutter speed of 1/4 to 1/8 and follow the subject with your camera.

4) Use your flash appropriately. During the day, using a flash can fill in shadows and provide more detail in your shot. However, be aware that some animals may be frightened by a flash.

5) Anticipate behaviour Taking home a great picture of the wildlife from your trip is important, but make sure you also take time to observe the animal's behaviour - not just from behind the lens! If you can anticipate what the animal will do, you could set up for and get that fantastic shot!

6) Don't limit your shots. With technology advancing so quickly, shooting with a digital camera is cheap! Before you travel, invest in some spare memory cards for your camera so that you can take as many photos as you need until you get the perfect shot.

(Tips are from Henry's camera store)

Cheers,
Meghan

Places worth travelling to for Coffee!

I love coffee! Sometimes there is nothing better then relaxing in front of a fire with a good book and a strong cup of coffee on a cold winter day. Coffee is one creature comfort from home that can be found in most places around the world, some delicious and some not so good.

Here is Lonely Planet's opinion on the best cities to enjoy a cup of coffee to help kick start your day of sightseeing.

Addis Ababa
Some claim that Ethiopia is coffee’s birthplace, so it’s not surprising that the good stuff is ubiquitous here. If you’re invited to an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, don’t miss it: it’s a unique and elaborate ritual you’ll never forget.

Havana
Cubans love their coffee, which is served strong, black and sweet in small espresso-sized cups. Homegrown in the Escambray and Sierra Maestra Mountains, a fresh brew will be brought out as an icebreaker wherever you go. Coffee houses are sprouting by the minute in Havana, but you can’t go past local classic, Café de las Infusiones.

Istanbul
Surprisingly, Türk kahve (Turkish coffee) isn’t as widely consumed in its homeland as çay (tea). But don’t worry: you’ll have no trouble getting your caffeine fix in Istanbul. Traditional coffee houses such as Etham Tezçakar Kahveci serve a brew thick and powerful enough to put hair on your chest!

Medellín
Colombia is famous for its rich, aromatic coffee. Unfortunately, it exports most of its best beans, leaving a mainly mediocre brew for its own citizens. One exception to this rule is groovy Le Bon Café in Medellín. You can also visit plantations in the Zona Cafetera and purchase coffee directly from the growers.

Melbourne
Coffee in Melbourne is often trumpeted as the world’s best, lovingly prepared with both Italian and supreme local roasts. The café scene is integral to much of the city’s socialising; lingering over a coffee is sacred, whether with a newspaper or with friends. Try Pellegrini’s for a quintessentially Melburnian experience.

Rome
As befitting the land of espresso, Italians take their coffee seriously. Do as the Romans do, and be precise about what you’re drinking: will it be un caffè, un caffè macchiato, un caffè lungo, un cappuccino or un caffè corretto? Famous throughout Rome, Caffè Sant’Eustachio is the perfect place to practise your newfound vocabulary.

Santa María & Valle de Dota
Coffee is probably Costa Rica’s most popular beverage - you’ll be offered cafécitos everywhere you go. Aware of its energizing qualities, the country’s government even decreed in 1840 that all labourers building roads should receive a free cup every day. Visit Santa María & Valle de Dota for an insight into the Tico coffee industry.

São Paulo
Brazilians like their coffee strong as the devil, hot as hell and sweet as love. In the morning they take it with milk (café com leite). After that, it’s cafezinhos, regular coffee served in either a glass or an espresso-sized cup. Thanks to its Italian heritage, São Paulo boasts Brazil’s best cafés, with Café Floresta being one of our favourites.

Seattle
It’s hard to complain about Seattle’s weather when one of the best forms of rainy-day solace, coffee, is available in such abundance. Trust us, this is one inviting city to get a buzz on. Though Seattle is where Starbucks originated, there’s no need to go the chain café route: not with one-off gems like Caffé Vita to choose from.

Vienna
Vienna has a strong claim to the ‘Coffee Capital of the World’ title. Its Kaffeehäuser (coffee houses) are as famous as its classical music, and an attraction in themselves. The sheer number of coffee houses is staggering, but each has its own flair and flavour.

And my own personal favourite: Hanoi. Nothing like a coffee as thick as mud with some condensed milk poured in. This might seem wrong for you coffee affectionados but trust me, its really good.

If you have any favourite coffee haunts, whether in some random place in the jungles of Brazil or as close as your hometown, let us know.

Cheers,
BikeHike

Typical Breakfasts Around the World

One of the things I look forward to the most when travelling is sampling the local cuisine. I am a foodie, can talk about food for days on end, and wish I could have Anthony Bourdain's job at times (except when asked to dine on a beating snake's heart or a certain nasty part of a warthog). Trying new foods is part of the travel experience and at times can take me out of my comfort zone, but at other times it makes me wish I could eat spicy noodle soup for breakfast every morning. Yummy!

Here are some typical breakfasts around the world:

Ireland - Not a breakfast to consume everyday unless you want to see your cholesterol go up drastically. Traditionally, the Full Irish breakfast consists of bacon, sausage, fried eggs, white pudding, black pudding, potatoes, and fried tomato. Some might also include mushrooms, baked beans and soda bread.

Turkey - One of my favourites. The standard breakfast includes bread, butter, jam, honey, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, salty cheese, yogurt, hard boiled egss, strong coffee and fruit juice.

Thailand - Many varieties of spicy noodle soup. So good....

Costa Rica - The ubiquitous rice and beans (gallo pinto), eggs, bread, fresh fruit, and coffee. And sometimes those suspect cocktail sausages.

Morocco - Fresh baked bread, and more bread and more bread with jam and honey. Mint tea with copious amounts of sugar.

Russia - A mix of eggs, hot cereals, sausages, cheese, blinis, rye bread, butter and jam.

Brazil - Breakfast is generally simple with bread and jam, sometimes served with cheese and ham, and fresh fruit. Baguettes, brioches, cheese buns, sweet and salted biscuits, yogurt, and cereal may also be eaten in the morning.

Switzerland - Typically includes bread, butter, marmalade, honey, maybe some cheese or cereals, plus milk, cold or hot chocolate, tea or coffee. The hot chocolate was always my favourite.

Belgium I respect any place that uses Nutella as a staple for breakfast. Yum. They also snack on bread, coldcuts and cheeses.

Hawaii - Not on every menu, but you can order Loco Moco, a traditional hawaiian dish, at several places. There are many variations, but the basics are white rice topped with a hamburger patty and a fried egg and then doused in brown gravy. I wasn't brave enough to try this.

I'm going to go eat now. This blog has made me hungry. I'm going to cook up a savory omelette and have breakfast for dinner!

Until next time,
BikeHike

Bike Sharing Programs

Last time I was in Paris I noticed there were bikes parked all over the city that looked the same. Three years ago they launched a bike program throughout the city; a program designed to cut traffic, reduce pollution, improve parking and enhance the city's image as a greener, quieter and more relaxed place. The program has been successful and is a great way as a tourist to explore Paris and get from A to B without taking the usual method of boat, train or bus. You can pick the bike up in one location and return it at one of the other hundreds of bike stations in the city.

Here are some other cities that also have bike sharing programs:

1) Montreal - largest in North America

2) Boston

3) Berlin

4) Barcelona

5) Washington D.C

6) Stockholm

7) Rome

8) Boston

9) Dublin

10) Vienna

Next time you are tavelling, check to see if the city offers a bike sharing program. It's a cheap way to explore the city and cover a lot of ground in one day.

Happy biking,
BikeHike

10 Inspiring Travel Quotes

Below are some of our favourite travel quotes that inspire us to get out and explore the world.

1. "The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

2. "We are all travellers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend". -Robert Louis Stevenson

3. “Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac

4. “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

5. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

6. “I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher Hershey

7. “Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quiestest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” – Pat Conroy

8. “When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” – Clifton Fadiman

9. “We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world the glories of our journey.” - John Hope Franklin

10. "Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind." -Seneca

Do you have any favourite travel quotes? Feel free to share with us.

Until next time,
BikeHike