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2010-04-28T11:18:00.001-07:00

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National Geographic Traveler Rates Viva Venezuela Top 50 Tour of a Lifetime!

2010-04-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

With all the cruddy news surrounding flight cancellations as a result of our least favourite volcano, National Geographic Traveler's announcement of their Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime couldn't have come at a better time. :)

BikeHike Adventures News

Each year, the Editorial Team at National Geographic Traveler magazine scours the globe "for the most authentic, most innovative, most immersive, best-guided, and most sustainable tours" says Senior Editor Norie Quintos. "The outfitters we selected have responded to travelers looking for more meaning and context." BikeHike Adventures' 9-day Viva Venezuela tour has been selected by the team as one of the Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime for 2010. The complete Top 50 list can be found in the May / June 2010 issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine on newsstands now, or online at http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/tours/.

Venezuela - Viva Venezuela (9 days)
Activities: Mountain Biking, Hiking, Rafting and Horseback Riding
2010 Trip Departure Dates: May 15 - May 23, Jun 19 - Jun 27, Jul 17 - Jul 25, Aug 28 - Sep 5, Sep 25 - Oct 3, Nov 13 - Nov 21, Dec 11 - Dec 19

Trip Highlights:

Mountain biking across the dramatic backdrop of the Andean Mountains
Wildlife viewing at Los Llanos Wildlife Reserve - scarlett ibis, giant capybaras and crocodiles
Hiking to the San Jose de Mucuños Ruins along a network of back-country roads
Blasting through class III rapids on the Acequia River

Detailed Itinerary: http://www.bikehike.com/venezuela/venezuela_trip01.html

- Anny Chih

Meet Our New Intern: Mari

2010-04-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

Each year, we at BikeHike get a new intern from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. This year's intern is Mari from the Tourism Marketing program. She'll be with us every Thursday and Friday until the end of May when we'll be holding a special event in Vancouver (more details to come). ;) Random Factoids About Mari: If Mari was to describe herself as a country / region, she'd choose Kurdistan (because she's Kurdish); she was born in a refugee camp. Her most exciting memory is from skydiving last summer. And lastly, if she could go anywhere she would choose Morocco.

YWCA Women of Distinction Award Voting

2010-04-19T16:14:00.000-07:00

It seems like every contest and award has some sort of public voting involved nowadays, from the World Travel Awards to which new donut flavour is going to hit the shelves. The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards is no exception, but at least it's for a good cause!

When Trish was shortlisted for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award in Entrepreneurship & Innovation, she was asked to choose one of five worthy causes and provide a quote about why that particular cause is important to her. She chose 'Safe and Reliable Housing' and you can read her quote HERE.Each shortlisted candidate was asked to do this so that community members like you could support a cause of your choice by voting for a quote that you connect with. Voting begins April 26th and ends on May 28th at noon. You can vote once each day from now until then. The winning quote will be announced on June 1st, and the cause it supports will receive $10,000 from Scotiabank.

Please support safe and reliable housing in the Vancouver community by clicking HERE and voting for Trish's quote. By voting, you are also entered to win a prize pack that includes two tickets to the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards dinner and a two night stay at a YWCA hotel.

About the Safe and Affordable Housing Cause

“There is an affordable housing gap of 5000 low-income housing units and 300 transitional housing units in Surrey.” (Plan for the Social Well-Being of Surrey Residents, 2006)

Without a stable place to live, it’s hard to move forward in life. YWCA Vancouver is currently undertaking a campaign to build Alder Gardens, an affordable housing community for single moms and their children at risk of homelessness in Surrey. Rental rates will be determined using a pro-rated system where women pay no more than 30% of income. Income is the most easily measured indicator of being at-risk of homelessness. When housing cost exceeds 30% ofincome, adequate funds for good nutrition, appropriate clothing, and other necessities of life are often no longer available.

Alder Gardens will help each mother to build a healthier and more economically secure life for her children. A Community Development Worker will be available to residents and will assist them to develop networks in the community.

Please VOTE.

Thanks!

- Anny Chih

Trish is Shortlisted for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award

2010-04-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

Guess who's been shortlisted for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award? Yeah, I know, it's a silly question since the answer is in the title and Trish's picture is right there -->

BUT, I'm going to pretend it's a surprise anyways: TRISH! Trish was nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award last month by travel industry peers and members of the Vancouver community. The YWCA just released the list of shortlisted candidates this week, and Trish is one of the five finalists for the Women of Distinction Award in the Entrepreneurship & Innovation category.

For a full list of finalists, visit the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards website HERE.

Congratulations Trish!

- Anny Chih

The World in Your Supermarket

2010-04-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

When I come home from a trip, I like to bring back all sorts of edible treats that I found on my travels as souvenirs for friends and family. When I came back from Australia for example, I packed half my suitcase with limited edition White and Sweet Surrender Tim Tams, and new Nestle instant coffee mixes (I'm not exaggerating).

Imagine my disappointment then when I come home from each trip only to find that a month or two later these products are rolled out onto the shelves of my local supermarket!

Now that brands are becoming increasingly global, you can get your hands on just about any quirky product that was originally marketed and distributed to a specific country. Just this weekend as I was walking around Vancouver I stopped in the Japanese supermarket on Robson Street and saw a stockpile of different flavoured Japanese Kit Kats I'd never seen before including Matcha & Cherry, Milk Coffee, Strawberry, and Raspberry & Passion Fruit. There are 19 flavours in total, and they were only made available in Japan this past Winter.

What souvenirs do you like to bring home from your travels? Do you bring sweets and treats home too? And if so, how do you feel about the globalization of quirky eats?

Anny Chih

In the Community: Trish Speaks at BCIT School of Business

2010-04-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

Trish was invited to speak at the BCIT School of Business CEO Salon Series on sustainability yesterday with fellow panelists David Labistour (CEO of Mountain Equipment Co-op) and Meghan Spong (Publisher at Benjamin Brown Books). Each panelist provided insights into sustainable business practices in their respective industries, as well as what they felt needed to be addressed in business schools.

An interesting discussion took place about the concept of triple bottom line reporting, impacts of technology and regulation, and what companies have to do to remain competitive while maintaining sustainable business practices. The BCIT School of Business filmed the entire session at the Burnaby Campus, and will be making the video available to its students.

Left to Right: Lori McEwin (SIFE BCIT), Terry Fuller (BCIT), Robin Hemmingsen (BCIT), Meghan Spong (Benjamin Brown Books), David Labistour (Mountain Equipment Co-op), Trish Sare (BikeHike Adventures), & Frances Kirson (BCIT).

Destination of the Month: Costa Rica

2010-04-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Why Costa Rica?

April 22nd 2010 marks the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day! To celebrate the occasion, we’re naming Costa Rica our Destination of the Month.
As a country that has dedicated over a quarter of its land to national park and biological preserve, it should come as no surprise that the UN World Tourism Organization considers Costa Rica to be the role model for sustainable tourism in Latin America.

BikeHike Costa Rica Trips

Coast to Coast Adventure (15 days) 
Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rating
Trip Rating: Challenging

Ultimate Adventure Medley (10 days)
Activities: Hiking, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rafting, Zip-lining
Trip Rating: Moderate

Turtles and Trails (9 days)
Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rafting, Zip-lining, Volunteering
Trip Rating: Moderate

Women Only – Adventure for the Soul (9 days)Activities: Hiking, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rafting, Yoga, Zip-lining
Trip Rating: Moderate

A Costa Rican Adventure (8 days)
Activities: Hiking, Horseback Riding, Whitewater Rafting
Trip Rating: Easy

Family Adventure Playground (9 days)
Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rafting, Zip-lining
Trip Rating: Easy

Highlights of Costa Rica

Arenal Volcano
Arenal Volcano is one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world. Its red molten lava makes for a spectacular view on a clear night, especially when soaking in a nearby hot spring after a day of hiking along the beautiful trails surrounding the area.

Pacuare River
Rafting along the Pacuare River is an activity you don’t want to miss in Costa Rica! Its 108 km length is divided into approximately 16 sections, and has a range of rapids from Class II to V. This is one of the most thrilling rafting adventures you’ll ever experience.

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
It’s not called a cloud forest for nothing; the name originates from the fact that this rain forest sits high above the clouds. Monteverde Cloud Forest is home to approximately 100 species of mammals, 490 species of butterflies, 400 species of birds, 120 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 2,500 species of plants. You won’t know what to look at first while hiking or zip-lining through this jungle of life.

Costa Rican Beaches
Costa Rica boasts a coastline stretching over 1,800 km making it one of the best places to visit if you love (really) long walks on the beach. You won’t be the only one enjoying the coastal views though, as some of these beaches are frequented by leatherback and green sea turtles making their annual migration to lay their eggs.

Interesting Factoids

In Spanish, “Costa Rica” literally means “rich coast.”
At 7am every morning, every Costa Rican radio station will play the national anthem.
In case you ever get lost, note that almost all Catholic churches in the country face West.
Costa Rica has one of the highest life expectancies in the world (77 years).
A soda isn’t a fizzy beverage in Costa Rica, it’s a small informal restaurant that serves simple traditional dishes.
There are approximately 52 species of hummingbirds in the country, most of which live in the rain forests.
In 2009, Costa Rica was ranked first on the Happy Planet Index – an index measuring life satisfaction, life expectancy at birth, and ecological footprint per capita.
Over 25% of the country is dedicated as national park and biological preserve.
In the Western Hemisphere, Costa Rica is the only country without an army or military of any kind.

Semana Santa: Holy Week History and Traditions

2010-04-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

Starting today, many of our BikeHike staff members around the world (mostly in Central and South America) are on an extended weekend holiday for Semana Santa (aka Holy Week).

You probably already know that Semana Santa commemorates the last week of Jesus' life before his crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday. So, we decided we'd test your knowledge on other interesting factoids about how this week is celebrated around the world. If you answer all of these questions correctly, I'll be impressed! Answers are below.

Question 1
Lunes de Aguas (Water Monday) was first celebrated in 16th century Spain to...

a) clean the streets after a week long of partying.
b) show the purity of Christian beliefs through a ritual cleansing.
c) commemorate the return of prostitutes across the river and into the city.

Question 2
In Salamanca Spain, Los Oficios (Holy Thursday) is celebrated in the Holy Cathedral with...

a) hot chocolate and cakes.
b) cheese and bread.
c) fresh fruits and wine.

Question 3
In Chile, Semana Santa includes a celebration called "Cuasimodo" that extends a week beyond Easter. During this celebration, parish priests make their rounds accompanied by...

a) 12 nuns - one for each month of the year.
b) cowboys with guns.
c) unfortunate looking guys with humps on their backs.

Question 4
In Antigua Guatemala, what was used as a primary tool to convert the Mayans to Christianity during Semana Santa?

a) bread.
b) sculptures.
c) hot cider.

Question 5
Which of these statements is false?

a) In Cuzco Peru, there is a blackened statue of Jesus Christ called "Cristo de los Temblores" (Christ of the Earthquakes) that is rumoured to have been sent by Philip V of Spain to convert natives of the area.
b) In Mexico, a statue of Jesus Christ is always brought into the city on a horse to commemorate his entrance into Jerusalem.
c) In Guatemala, elaborate floats used in Semana Santa celebrations can weigh up to 7,000 pounds.

(see below for answers)

Answers
1 c) In the 16th century, King Filipe II was disgusted by the prostitutes that roamed the red light district "practicing" on university students hoping to make it to the royal courts. He banned them for the 40-day duration of Lent. On the Monday following Easter, the prostitutes were allowed to cross the river back into the city - an occasion that the university students celebrated with great parties, and that eventually became known as "Lunes de Aguas."
2 a) The Holy Cathedral began the tradition of serving hot chocolate and cakes on Holy Thursday in an effort to encourage visitors to the religious ceremony.
3 b) During Cuasimodo celebrations in Chile, priests are accompanied by cowboys with guns for protection through the crowds of shouting observers.
4 b) Religious sculptures played a principal role in the conversion of many Mayans in Guatemala to Christianity because they were able to relate these sculptures with their own deities.
5 b) The statue of Jesus Christ is actually always brought into the city on a donkey, not a horse.

Happy Semana Santa!

-Anny Chih

Photo Credit: http://www.cartayaweb.com/fiestas/semanasanta.php
References:
http://semanasantaonline.com/
http://www.whatsalamanca.com/semana-santa-salamanca.html
http://www.questconnect.org/guat_semana_santa.htm

BikeHike Makes Much Better Adventures

2010-03-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

We were surfing the Twitter waves a few weeks ago and noticed that some of the tweeps in our sustainable travel stream were talking about this new online directory: Much Better Adventures.

"Hey" we thought "We're sustainable, we provide sustainable adventures, and we think we're much better than some companies at being sustainable. So why aren't we on here?"

We filled out an application to be listed, set sustainability goals for 2010 (one of the requirements), and went through an interview process over the phone with one of the founders, Alex. He'd actually heard about BikeHike before when he was living in Vancouver and already thought we'd be a good fit with Much Better Adventures. Still, the interview lasted about an hour and included a heap of questions about BikeHike Adventures, our history, our trips, our guides, our sustainable practices, what we do specifically in the office as well as around the world to promote sustainable tourism etc. I think he asked me more questions than Trish did in my interview for this job! haha

I guess that just added to the excitement of finally being listed on the site. BikeHike Adventures: we make "much better adventures" ;)

Check out our profile at www.muchbetteradventures.com/profile/bikehike

-Anny Chih

Peru's Grand Re-Opening

2010-03-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

(drum roll please)... Dun da-da Dahh!

Peru has some good news for travellers headed their way: Machu Picchu partially re-opened today, and their official re-opening on Thursday, April 1st is a-go!

If you want to visit this historical site, you have a couple options:

Trekking the Inca Trail
The first of these options involves a four-day trek along the ancient highway that connects Cuzco to Machu Picchu, "The Inca Trail." This trail isn't the only Inca trail around, but it is the only one that connects the two cities directly. In an effort to preserve the route, the Peruvian government has set limits on the number of people who can take this journey at any given time. This is great for conservation of the area, but it also means that travellers must book their entrance tickets three to four months in advance.

Taking the Train
Your second option is to take the train up to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. At this time, the main train linking Piscacucho and Machu Picchu is operational, but has set a limit of 1,500 passengers per day. This will gradually increase to 2,500 per day.

Happy Travels!

Anny Chih

Picking Out the Perfect Hiking Boots

2010-03-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

We went down to Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) in Vancouver last week to film an interview with their shoe expert Paul Dywelska about how to pick out the perfect pair of hiking boots for your upcoming adventure.

Sadly, MEC is way too popular to film an interview during store hours; the camera was picking up sales conversations, the rumble of the stock cart, the background music and probably even the Green Peace volunteer outside. Powerful mic eh?

So, here's a transcript of part of our conversation instead for your reading pleasure and boot-buying needs:

Anny: Thanks so much for meeting us today Paul!

Paul: My pleasure.

Anny: So what makes you the shoe expert at MEC?

Paul: Well I’ve been working for Mountain Equipment Co-op for 15 years. I have a lot of experience hiking and trail running, and I’ve also taken a fit course down in the states.

Anny: What are the most important things someone should look for when they’re purchasing a boot?
Paul: The 3 most important things to look for are fit, comfort and price. If the shoe doesn’t fit you or if it’s not comfortable, it’s not going to work for you. It’s got to fit in your budget and be affordable too.

Anny: How much should people expect to pay for a decent pair of hiking boots?

Paul: You can get a decent pair for about $100.

Anny: And when it comes to fit, how much room should there by in your boot?

Paul: You don’t want much room at all. The closest the boot fits to your foot, the better you are. If there’s any movement in there, that’s what creates a heat-rub or a blister.

Anny: What about when you’re choosing the cut of the boot – what’s the difference and when do you choose a high cut, mid cut and low cut boot?

Paul: Mostly the coverage / protection it gives you to your ankle, but that doesn’t translate into support necessarily because support is always in the sole.

For scree slopes and wooden passes that are wet and mushy, a higher cut boot is going to provide more protection and warmth.

Lower cut boots are for high activity, offer more breathability, and the feel of more freedom.

Anny: Is there a compromise between breathability and waterproofing? How important is waterproofing?

Paul: There are fabrics out there that offer breathability and waterproofing but they tend not to work as quickly as your body works. So in my personal experience I’ve found there is always a compromise between breathability and waterproofing. As soon as you make a boot or shoe waterproof it tends to makes that boot a much warmer boot to be in; in the same way it’s keeping water out it can also keep moisture in. It all depends on what you’re using [the boots] for.

Anny: The MEC website has a page about different hiking boots and mentions things like single and double boots. What is the difference between single and double boots? When does someone need to consider this difference?

Paul: ‘Double boot’ as a term is really only used when it comes to mountaineering boots and involves a plastic outer and insulated inner. It’s used for high altitude hiking or very cold weather hiking.

Anny: What about boots made from a single piece of leader versus one with multiple seams? What’s the difference and how important is this when you’re a novice hiker?

Paul: You can tell the difference very easily just from looking at it. More seams means more holes which means there’s more opportunity for water to seep through. Single seams are not as necessary nowadays with Goretex treatments but it’s definitely something to look for since less holes means more durability.

[We then went onto picking out boots for specific trips like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, trekking the Inca Trail, and shorter weekend trips]

A Summary of Paul’s Recommendations:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Just because it’s a big mountain, doesn’t mean you need big shoes. Climbs up mountains like Kilimanjaro are often slow and the slopes aren’t steep, so you could actually climb it in dayhiking boots. [Sidenote: We at BikeHike do recommend that you wear mid to high cut boots on a climb up Mount Kilimanjaro for the ankle support - particularly because there is no hospital on route if you sprain an ankle, and also for the large sections of scree.]

Inca Trail
For multi-day trips you want to be comfortable, so again dayhikers and maybe even trail runners might be preferable over higher cut backpacking boots. [Sidenote: While you can do the Inca Trail with low to mid cut boots, we would recommend a mid cut for the steeper sections of the trail.]

Weekend Trips
The shoe you choose depends on where you’re hiking. If it’s going to be raining and the ground is going to be wet, you might be better off with a higher cut boot, or at least a mid-cut boot with gaiters. If the weather is not an issue, you can probably do with a low-cut trail runner with high breathability and comfort. [Sidenotes: Trish prefers low-cut over high-cut boots on multi-day hikes unless it’s the Kilimanjaro climb; Meg recommends mid-cut boots for trips like the Inca Trail but does weekend hikes in low-cut trail runners; Anny has never owned a pair of hiking boots and used to snowshoe in sneakers before she bought snow boots - she's still looking for the right pair of hiking boots for her BikeHike Adventure in Peru this May :P]

A big thank you to Paul at MEC for taking the time to answer all our questions! :)

Anny Chih

US Passport Day: Saturday March 27

2010-03-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

So it might not be as big as the passage of Obama's Health Care Bill, but for American travellers, it's still noteworthy: US Passport Day is this Saturday March 27th!

Dozens of national offices will be open to take your applications for passport books and cards; no appointment necessary. A passport will typically take 4 - 6 weeks to process, or 2 - 3 weeks with an expedited service. Normally the expedited service requires an additional fee, but in 2009 they waived those fees for US Passport Day and hopefully they'll carry on the tradition this year.

If that's not incentive enough to get your bum to the office, keep in mind that the US Government announced earlier this month that passport fees will be increasing "as soon as practicable" (State Department).

Current & Proposed Passport Fees
Passport Book: Currently $100, proposed increase to $135
Additional Pages to Your Passport Book: Currently free, proposed increase to $85
Renewal Fee: Currently $75, proposed increase to $100
Passport Card: Currently $45, proposed increase to $55

Annoyed with the price hikes and want to renounce your US citizenship? That'll cost you too. It's free right now, but it could soon set you back a whopping $450. Ouch.

More information available on the US Department of State Official Site.

Anny Chih

BikeHike Adventures Nominated for World Travel Award 2010

2010-03-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

We've got exciting news folks: BikeHike Adventures has been nominated for a World Travel Award in the category 'North America's Leading Tour Operator 2010'!

There are nine nominees in this category and as much as we love Mickey Mouse, we don't want Adventures by Disney to win again. So help us out and click HERE to vote for BikeHike Adventures. Thank you!

Voting Instructions:

Click on the following link: http://www.worldtravelawards.com/award-north-americas-leading-tour-operator-2010
Register to vote
Select the 'North America' category
Select the 'North America's Leading Tour Operator' category
Select BikeHike Adventures :)
Log out (you don't need to vote for every category)

And you're done!

Destination of the Month: Morocco

2010-03-12T16:08:00.000-08:00

Why Morocco?

The sun is always shining somewhere in Morocco, and we can always use a bit of sun! Our destination for the month of March is Morocco not only because we're fans of alliteration, but because Morocco is one of the best destinations in the world if you want to escape to another place and time. March also marks the beginning of the ideal season to visit Morocco.

BikeHike Morocco Trips

Morocco Mountain Biker’s Dream (10 days)
Activities: Mountain Biking, Camel Riding
Trip Difficulty Rating: Challenging
This is the ultimate adventure for the mountain biking enthusiast; tons of biking, stunning scenery, and a challenge on the quads.

Morocco – Walking with The Nomads – Part 1 (10 days)
Activities: Trekking
Trip Difficulty Rating: Challenging
Live the life of a nomad on this 10 day trek through the mountains and valleys of Morocco. This adventure is slightly more challenging than Part 2, but includes an extra day of culture.

Morocco – Walking with The Nomads – Part 2 (9 days)
Activities: Trekking
Trip Difficulty Rating: Moderate
This trip is recommended for anyone who needs to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. The most difficult part of the journey back in time will be learning to live without internet, your cell phone, and regular showers. You'll come home with appreciation for both the little conveniences of city life, as well as the unique nomadic lifestyle.

Highlights of Morocco

Ait Benhaddou
It has served as a backdrop for many well-known films like Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, and Gladiator. But even before it went Hollywood, this complex of adobe Kasbahs was well known as a stopping point along one of the busiest trade routes across the High Atlas. Ait Benhaddou is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is the most popular village in Morocco.

Authentic Cultural Encounters with Nomads
There are few places on earth where you can live the life of an authentic nomad. Morocco is one of those few. On either of our Walking with the Nomad adventures, you’ll live with and walk alongside a tribe of Berbers to discover their way of life.

Vibrant Markets and Alleyways
If you’ve ever wanted to take a travel photo worth printing in National Geographic, this is the place to try! The famous souks (markets) and alleyways of Morocco offer a feast for the eyes. You can lose yourself wandering from stall to stall sniffing the vegetables, examining hand-crafted souvenirs, and going snap-happy on the locals (remember to ask for permission first though if you’re planning on taking a close-up).

The Jebel Saghro (aka Jbel Saghro)
This remote and dramatic mountain range of Southern Morocco will leave you breathless. The region is best visited in the cooler season between October and April, and takes a full week to hike across the entire area.

Interesting Factoids:

Morocco is one of two countries in Africa that are not part of the African Union, the other being Eritrea.
Morocco has both a King and an elected parliament.
The name ‘Berbers’ originated in 440BC when Romans gave them the nickname, which means ‘those who speak noisily or confusedly’.
In Islamic teaching, Allah is sometimes embodied as a stranger, so for this reason unknown visitors are often given preferential treatment.
In Muslim countries, the left hand is considered the dirty hand because it is the hand that is used after using the loo. For this reason, only use your right hand when eating, touching money, or shaking hands.
It is impolite to decline meat at a Moroccan home, since meat is a luxury and the concept of vegetarianism does not fit into Moroccan culture.
The window handles in taxis are often removed because of a commonly accepted myth that the wind makes you sick.
Some superstitious Moroccans believe that the chameleon possesses magical powers. But unlike cultures that provide preferential treatment of magical creatures, Moroccans throw chameleons in wood-fired ovens and add chameleon meat and bones to food in their efforts to ward off misfortunes and restore fidelity (respectively). Poor chameleons...
Camels (which are found in Morocco) have 3 eyelids to shield their eyes from sandstorms.
In the southern Sahara, locals eat camel, gazelle and hedgehog meat.

Anny Chih

5 Photography Tips for the Rest of Us

2010-03-09T15:34:00.000-08:00

Trish sent me a link to some tips for photographing people, and while most of the 10 tips provided were great, some were really only meant for people with fancy DSLRs (in my mind all DSLRs are fancy). I decided someone ought to write a list of photography tips for the everyday traveller. Here they are:

Never take a picture of someone or something with the sun in the background unless you want a picture of a silhouette. Silhouette shots can be very pretty, but not ideal if you want a picture of yourself.
If you have a digital point-and-shoot (ie a pocket camera) that cost more than $100, you have a force flash option. You might have to push a few buttons to change your settings from 'automatic' to 'manual' and then choose the option for flash, but it's there. It's sad but true that I've missed out on many potentially fabulous photos because I didn't bother reading my manual.
If you are taking pictures of someone in front of a snowy background, turn on the force flash option. The sunlight will reflect off the snow and make the subject look very dark in comparison if you don't.
Avoid zooming unless your camera has 'optical' zoom (as opposed to 'digital' zoom). Optical means it's actually zooming in on the subject without compromising the quality of the photo whereas digital zoom is the equivalent of zooming in on a digital picture on your computer and cropping out what you want.
Take more than one shot. In the age of digital cameras, it's ok to take a series of pictures and I'd recommend it if you're trying to get a group shot. Someone will inevitably be blinking in the first picture. You can always delete the extras later on. Or, if your super tech savvy, you can Photoshop two group photos together in the event that different people are blinking in two different group shots. This only works if everyone is standing very still inbetween shots though.

Bonus Tip Inspired by Trish (hee hee): If you're filming a video, don't flip your camera on its side as if you're taking a vertical photo. Your camera might not register that it's on its side and you'll end up with a sore neck trying to view your vids.

If you've got a DSLR or a hankering to get one, you might be interested in Craig Fergusons's website that has all sorts of tips for the travel photography enthusiast.

Anny Chih

The 3 Rs of Being Green

2010-03-09T15:30:00.000-08:00

In grade school you were probably taught that the 3 R's are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. At BikeHike, we like to venture off the beaten track. So, we made up our own 3 R's:

Read
When purchasing goods and services, make sure you read the fine print. Is the packaging recyclable? Does the company do what it can to support the environment? Hopefully, the answer is yes.

BikeHike proudly supports sustainable tourism practices. You can read more about our dedication to sustainability HERE.

Roar
Did you just spot a litterbug on the trail? Kindly let him / her know that even paper takes up to 6 months to decompose, plastic bottles take between 5 to 10 years, and aluminum cans between 200 and 400 years. Littering isn't just unsightly; it causes harm to local wildlife that can mistake it for food, or get trapped in containers and plastic packaging.

BikeHike follows a strict "leave nothing" policy. All of our garbage leaves the trails with us for disposal in city waste centers. If we see other groups littering, they might just get a tap on the shoulder from one of our guides.

Rectify
We know it can be irritating, but sometimes people don't care enough about the environment to throw their garbage in the can. If you see litter on your streets, Mother Nature and your neighbours would appreciate it if you would toss that waste in the basket.

BikeHike staff members regularly take action to keep our cities clean by recycling that used newspaper on the street and putting garbage where it belongs.

Another Chance for a New Year

2010-03-02T09:28:00.000-08:00

So you made a few New Years resolutions in January and you might not have kept them all. No biggie, you still have the Thai New Year coming up in April for a re-do!

From April 13 to 15, Thai people around the world will be celebrating Songkran, the Thai New Year. Take part in your own Songkran by immersing yourself in the customs of buying new clothes and doing a bit of Spring cleaning on the 12th.

Celebrate a fresh start on the 13th by wearing your new threads and greeting friends! Now that your home is clean, you can invite them over for dinner.

The 14th is the day when Lord Buddha statues in Thailand are washed with scented water. This tradition has evolved to include scented water fights in the hot April weather in Thailand. Have some fun with your own water fight or take a nice relaxing scented bath as your personal contribution to your New Year. It feels good to be worldly! ;)

The last day of the New Years celebrations are a day to pay homage to ancestors and elders. You’ve done a few things for yourself over the past few days, so its time to do something for others. A kind deed is the perfect ending to a brand new start.

Happy New Year!

Anny Chih

PS If you’d like to celebrate the Thai New Year in a traditional way, BikeHike has a special Thailand Adventure Siam trip departing April 10th, 2010. The adventure will follow the regular itinerary but will also incorporate Thai New Years traditions throughout the journey: http://www.bikehike.com/thailand/thailand_trip01.html

Photo Credit: Thai Blogs

Behind the Scenes in the International Broadcasting Center

2010-02-23T09:58:00.000-08:00

Each of us at BikeHike gets a day off to enjoy the 2010 Winter Olympic events here in Vancouver. Meg is on her Olympic day today, and I (Anny) had mine yesterday.

I had the opportunity to take a private tour of the International Broadcasting Center (IBC) where CTV, NBC and all the international television stations are filming their 2010 Olympic coverage.

The IBC is just one big building of impressive! At first when you walk into the large open hall it feels like any other corporate building with wide walkways, information and accreditation booths, and a set of flat panel screens showing all the current Olympic coverage. Then you begin to notice the little things like how the walls are made of intricately woven wooden blocks that conceal doors to massive ballrooms and storage areas, and that every Winter Olympic flag from 1924 to 2010 have been hung from the ceilings that are a good four or five meters high.

Look outside the floor-to-ceiling windows towards the white sails of Canada Place, and you’ll notice a barrier of logs floating in the water surrounding the IBC. There’s a little grey boat patrolling the area no bigger than a tin can from where you’re standing. It’s the diving team patrolling the area for uninvited guests looking to crash the Olympic party. I wonder if they’ve ever caught anyone?

CTV

Up the escalators, you’ll find the CTV floor. Over a thousand workers are busy taping, reviewing footage, editing, and eating between shifts. You walk past the front desk with your temporary guest pass and wonder if anyone will stop you. Nah, you’re standing next to a guy with Norwegian curling pants. Between the glances and the “cool pants” comments, nobody notices you or checks your badge. You’re cool.

You walk through a narrow corridor with large makeshift cubicles lining the entire side. There are about six to a dozen seats and computers in each large cubicle station, and it’s obvious people are here to work. The temporary walls are covered in notices, schedules, highlighted segment lists, and Olympic paraphernalia. It’s crazy to think that all of this was put up just for the Olympics and all of it will be gone by the end of March.

One lonely desk sits at the end of the cubicles for the girl who distributes pins. It looks like they’re all gone now, and she turns to see who you are. A long list of names is hung beside her computer with all the workers who need to exchange their CTV jackets for larger or smaller sizes. The list has grown so long she’s taped several sheets below it as people continually write and cross off their names once they’ve traded outfits.

It smells like food. You start to see why as you pass the pins girl and walk towards the end of the floor. It’s the Cafeteria and it’s loaded with free food. Outside food is not allowed in the IBC, so they’re providing everyone at CTV with food around the clock including ice cream bars, and all the Coca Cola beverages you can drink. The smell isn’t that great and even though you’re a guest, you’re technically not allowed to consume any Cafeteria food so you turn around and head towards the studios.

On your way down, you pass a long set of tables with dozens of tired workers with their eyes glued to their monitors. They’re the “Loggers.” Their job is to watch everything that goes on in the Olympics and take note of what happened, where it happened, and when it happened. They input the information in codes to the main database so that when a journalist needs to know what time Team Canada scored, they get what they need with a stroke of a key.

You reach another narrow hallway. There are windows in this hall that look into the sets and control rooms. It feels almost like you’re in bizarro world because so many of the sets look identical but with different names above the Olympic rings. CTV. RDS. You take a non-flash picture through a window of a live broadcast. The host notices you and you hope you haven’t annoyed her. You walk away quickly.

There’s a studio open and the guys inside invite you in to take pictures. How awesome! A guy named Pascal offers to pose for you. They’re all super chill between segments and you chat a bit about who’s got dibs on the Olympic set props once they’re done filming.

In the control rooms, the seats are surprisingly empty and the keyboards look intimidating. There are so many buttons! Everyone works in shifts and another one will start soon so most of the workers are grabbing a quick bite in the Cafeteria.

The Basement

The tour of the CTV floor is over and you’re on the longest escalator ride of your life down to the IBC Basement floor where everyone who’s not CTV is working. It really is the longest elevator you’ve ever seen.

You enter through a set of double doors and feel like you’re about to enter a gigantic ballroom. It would be one, except the entire floor space has been taken up by temporary blocks of rooms containing mini sets and production houses from every participating country.

You sneak a peak into the open Korea house. It looks like a student lounge complete with couches, a fridge, and a guy reading a paper. You sneak a peak into the doors to the Russian television stations. A man sits at a desk as if he’s security and looks at you as if to say “what do you want?” The Russian room is sectioned off into smaller rooms all of which are closed so you quickly move on.

The Norwegian room is packed. They’ve flown in some last minute hosts and had to create a mini set within the tight space they’ve been given. It’s hot inside with so many people and you marvel at how warmly they’re dressed. They obviously didn’t get the memo about Vancouver’s warm winter climate.

You turn a corner and find the largest section of them all: NBC. They even have their own security station! You spot the moose that Stephen Colbert rode on his show last week. His production team left it in Vancouver and NBC didn’t know what to do with it so it’s just sitting in the hall without its antlers (they wouldn’t fit through the doors). You ask the security guard if you could please take a picture with it. He says he’s technically not supposed to let anyone except NBC personnel in, but since it’s for the moose he double checks with his boss. They approve. Yay!

The Olympic Flame

Finally it’s time to visit the flame. You walk outside and see the crowds covering the entire glass wall surrounding the viewing area. Thank goodness you don’t have to be part of that mass. Sadly though, spectators have been complaining about how IBC workers were allowed to walk right up to the flame, under and around it while visitors had to stay several meters back and behind a fence. They’ve since erected a short black fence around the flame that keeps IBC workers away from the flame too so your picture isn’t as nice as you had hoped it would be. That’s ok, you got a behind the scenes tour of the IBC. And you even managed to get a picture with CTV Anchor Lisa LaFlamme (even IBC workers don’t get that privilege).

For more pictures and Olympic coverage, visit BikeHike's Flickr page.

Anny Chih

Mittens!! Mittens!! Who Wants Mittens?

2010-02-18T10:03:00.001-08:00

Olympic fever is still going strong and The Bay's online store has already sold out of those red Olympic mittens!
Want a pair? BikeHike is giving away six pairs of Olympic mitts from now until the end of the games. All you have to do to enter is either:

*If you leave a comment, be sure to include your e-mail address so we can let you know if you won!

Each comment, tweet, and message counts as an entry into our random draws. Our first winner will be announced at 11am today! :)

Anny Chih

An Olympic Commute

2010-02-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

Vancouverites have been speculating and worrying for months about what kind of an impact the 2010 Winter Olympics would have on their daily commutes. It wasn’t until today though that we at BikeHike saw a dramatic change in how we got to work. Here are two very different versions of our morning commute:

Anny

I got on the train at Metrotown Station and was surprised to see how many people had their noses buried behind a giant photo of Quachi and “Attack of the Olympics” headline on the free 24Hrs newspaper. Normally there are only one or two readers per train car, but today at least half of the commuters were consumed with snippets of Olympics news.

I got off at Granville Station to catch my bus to Granville Island (where the BikeHike Adventure office is located). As I walked past the new igloo decorations of Pacific Center, I realized that there was no way my bus was going to arrive on time. The streets were teeming with enthusiastic Olympic supporters, proud Canadians, trigger-happy bystanders with cameras, tripods and cell phones, and even some pets decked out in Olympic gear. It was still over half an hour before the Olympic torch was going to go past, and traffic was already at a standstill as people began to spill out onto the streets in hoards.

A team of police officers on horses paraded past, as did the Coca Cola bus, the RBC bus, a bus of people with red mittens waiving enthusiastically through the windows, and finally the torch bearer. There were so many people on the streets, on the sidewalks, and even in the trees that the torch bearer had to pause every once in a while to squeeze past.

I stood on the corner for about 40 minutes before my bus finally arrived, but it felt as if barely a minute had passed. There was so much spirit in the air and just being part of the crowd (as lame as this sounds) was exciting.

I was 10 minutes late for work. :P

Meghan

My experience was the complete opposite to Anny. My commute is from Marpole to South Granville (for those of you who live here). The roads were so quiet and the line-ups that are normally really long for the bus were non-existent. I am not sure where everyone was? I have several theories why my commute was stress free this morning:

All the Vancouver people have fled the city for the Olympics or are on vacation
Everyone was at Stanley Park watching The Terminator run with the Olympic Torch
Everyone was so panicked about the commute that they left for work earlier than normal
People left for work earlier than normal in anticipation of leaving work early to not miss any of the Opening Ceremonies that begins at 6:00pm. After all, we are all curious to see who will be the chosen one to light the Olympic Cauldron!

Regardless, my commute to work was so quick. I felt like I was riding through a ghost town. I wonder what next week will bring?

(Anny: Meg arrived 10 minutes earlier than normal)

Click HERE for more BikeHike Olympic Photos via our Flickr account (bikehiketravel).

Meghan Burton & Anny Chih

Google to the Rescue

2010-02-11T13:52:00.000-08:00

2010 Winter Olympic alpine ski training runs have been cancelled for the day due to weather changes. According to Olympic alpine rules, all athletes must have at least one trial run before competition can begin. Canadians might be secretly hoping that this will give Vancouverite skiers an advantage, but I think everyone will agree it's just a little bit unfair.

Worldwide alpine skiers, fear not! Google is to the rescue with their new Olympics Street View which starting yesterday maps out all the Whistler Mountain ski slopes:

A Sense of the Olympics

2010-02-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

We’re only two days away from the 2010 Winter Olympics and you can really start to feel it in Vancouver! With national houses beginning to open to the public, guest lists for clubs and events quickly filling up, road closures and a swarm of smurfs on the streets (our term of endearment for Olympic volunteers), get ready to overload your senses!

See it
You can’t look around without being exposed to some form of Olympic paraphernalia. From the red Olympics mittens to the patriotic Canadian flags hanging from every building (and the Aussie Boxing Kangaroo too), it’s hard not to feel the pressure to get some gear of your own. But then you’ll arrive at The Bay (the official Olympics clothing suppliers) and see the long lineup of new tourists and think twice about reliving the nightmare of last Boxing Day. Tip: If you want Olympics gear without the lineup, try Zellers (also owned by The Bay Company).

Taste it
Even if you don’t get the gear you can at least experience the national houses and taste all the foods they’re bringing in. The Swiss national house opened last Friday on Granville Island serving cheese, chocolate and raclettes. The Aboriginal Pavilion will open this Friday night and serve aboriginal cuisine (there are rumours of some bison sliders). And even if you don’t make it to the houses, heaps of restaurants and cafes have put together special Olympic menus and dishes for your dining pleasure.

Hear it
Much to the dismay of the sleep deprived Vancouverites living near the new Irish House (normally referred to as Doolin’s Irish Pub), the Olympics are bringing in more sound than many hoped for. Dozens of irritated Vancouverites called the police last night to complain about the loud music blasting from the pub.

Once the games start though, these Vancouverites will hardly have an excuse to stay at home at night. Every night of the Olympics, there will be fabulous not-to-be-missed concerts including Les Cowboys Fringants at Place de la Francophonie (the Francophone House), Feist at the Orpheum, and much much more.

Smell it
This might be the only sense that won’t have a reason to be pleased during the Olympics as it brings in hundreds of smokers to the city and attempts to squish everyone into already congested skytrains and buses. Even smokers won’t be pleased as they realize that there are very few places in the city where smoking is legal.

Ah well, the Olympics doesn’t come around all that often. I heard a good quote the other day about it: It’s like your roommate decided to throw a party you didn’t approve of. You can either sit in your room and sulk about it, or you can go out and enjoy the party.

I hope you enjoy the party!

Anny Chih

Destination of the Month: Panama

2010-02-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

For the lovely month of February, our Destination of the Month is the amazingly diverse country of Panama.
Why Panama?

Apart from being absolutely gorgeous during the dry months of February and March, Panama also offers culture, an abundance of wildlife, and convenience for the adventurous traveller.

Culture

Though Spanish is the country’s official language, you might hear Japanese, Cantonese, Arabic, Panamanian Creole, Kuna, or even Eastern Yiddish along your travels through Panama. The country has an unusual mix of cultures as a result of its turbulent past. Despite Panama’s history, indigenous traditions have thrived throughout the centuries and have in some cases influenced the imported customs from around the world to create the eclectic experience you’ll still remember years later.

Creatures

The name ‘Panama’ means “abundance of fish, trees and butterflies” in indigenous cultures. It’s not difficult to understand how they came to that definition.

As a country with both rainforests and mangroves, bordering two seas and sandwiched between North and South America, Panama is practically the definition of diverse wildlife. The country is home to jaguars, pumas, crocodiles, nearly a thousand species of birds, various swamp creatures, unique neotropical rodents and many more varieties of animals you probably haven’t even heard of!

Convenience

For travellers that hate the idea of losing money through fluctuating exchange rates and fees, Panama is the place to be! The country technically has its own coins, but Panamanians use the American greenback for all paper currency and will accept US coins as well.

Panama has made it so convenient for its friends up North, that many Americans also flock to the country for their medical needs and made it the number one medical tourism destination in 2008 (eTN). With all the experience Panamanians have had treating visiting American visitors, you don’t have to worry about your experience in the event that you need medical attention (knock on wood).

Upcoming BikeHike Adventures in Panama

Rumble in the Jungle – Panama (10 days)
April 15 - 24, 2010 Guided by BikeHike Owner & Founder Trish Sare

This is the ultimate adventure for the adrenaline junkie. In 10 days, you’ll traverse the country from Pacific to Atlantic on your own sweat and steam. You’ll bike along twisted trails in deep fertile valleys, hike and zip-line through lush rainforests teeming with exotic wildlife, bounce down thumping rapids on a frothy world class river, snorkel in translucent seas filled with tropical marine life, and sea kayak amongst twisted mangroves and coral reefs.

Note: Because this trip is guided by Trish, places will fill up faster than normal. To reserve your spot, call 1.888.805.0061 or e-mail info@bikehike.com asap.

Other Interesting Factoids About Panama

The closest living relative to the dinosaur (aka the crocodile) can be found in Panama.
In 1999, Panamanians elected their first female President, Mireya Moscoso.
Panama is one of the world’s top producers of collectors stamps.
The Panama Canal is man-made and was created by Americans in the early 20th century.

Test Your Travel Vocab

2010-02-05T10:36:00.000-08:00

The world is-a-changing and it seems as though our vocabulary is trying desperately to catch up. Over the past few weeks, I've been exposed to some interesting new travel terms and thought I'd share my new found knowledge:

Bragabonding: boasting about travel
He couldn't stop bragabonding about his BikeHike trip to Costa Rica last month.

Deflydrated: descriptive term for dried-up post-flight skin
I need moisturizer - the flight completely made me deflydrated.

Flashpacker: a backpacker who travels in style or with a larger budget than most backpackers
He's staying at a three star hotel; what a flashpacker.

Gastro-tourism: travel undertaken to experience the food and drink of a region
She took a tour of Italy to indulge in gastro-tourism and came back 10 pounds heavier.

Jetiquette: the hospitality / manners of flight and airport staff
My flight attendant had fabulous jetiquette.

Puddle-jumper: a small regional airline
I'm taking a puddle-jumper from Lima.

Shock Tourism: tourism to war zones
BikeHike does not promote shock tourism due to safety concerns.

Sluggage: luggage that comes out of the baggage claim last
I'm sorry I'm late! I had to wait for my sluggage.

What new travel terms have you learned? If you have an interesting new travel term, add it to this post as a comment. :)

Anny Chih