Stuff and Things

Recovering Writer

2011-05-26T11:01:00.003-07:00

For those who have followed this blog previously, it was live since 2007 and I closed it off in 2011. Now, I am ready to rock again, but somehow, my passion has disappeared at the moment.

Perhaps it’s due to the fact that I got so angry I lost it the other day- I mean literally lost it. Now, I just don’t feel like myself. Does this happen to any of you?

My writing has gone from fiery and fierce, to the same old…very unlike myself.

Where has my passion gone? Hmm…I need to get to the bottom of this….actually, let me put that differently- I need to get to the top of this.

Recovering Writer

2011-05-26T11:01:00.001-07:00

For those who have followed this blog previously, it was live since 2007 and I closed it off in 2011. Now, I am ready to rock again, but somehow, my passion has disappeared at the moment.

Perhaps it’s due to the fact that I got so angry I lost it the other day- I mean literally lost it. Now, I just don’t feel like myself. Does this happen to any of you?

My writing has gone from fiery and fierce, to the same old…very unlike myself.

Where has my passion gone? Hmm…I need to get to the bottom of this….actually, let me put that differently- I need to get to the top of this.

Filling the backpack- The girlie way

2011-05-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

This was no easy task for a number of reasons.

1. I couldn’t figure out at the time what clothes I would need and what I wouldn’t, where I would go, what activities I would end up doing

2. To fathom the thought of not having a shower for days grossed me out ( I was advised that this could happen), so I had to consider the room needed for my enormous toiletry and first aid supply

3. Would I need heels?

4. What about makeup?

5. What about laundry?

Its quite a daunting task to pack your first backpack, but it can be done and must be done- and it actually is easier than you think. As for me, trip two will be much better now that I know my personal travel do’s and don’ts.

What I do advise is have an idea of what you are going to do (hiking, swimming, walking, beach activities, etc). Taking one pair of all purpose sneakers, one pair of sturdy flip flops, two pairs of socks, one pair of thick socks for cold nights, one pair of leggings, one pair of nice walking pants/shorts…as for the jeans, I only wore them a couple of times, but if they can roll up really small, that’s even merrier. Items like sarongs and cover ups can be bought for super cheap on the roadside. As for heels, I needed them twice and bought them for really cheap. T o carry them around, I put them in a plastic bag, and then tied the bag onto my daypack and that’s how they moved around.

Next, well for girls, pack a lot of panties, I took a supply of 14 (mixtures of thongs, boy shorts and grannies) for all occasions.

If you want to save on renting a towel from your hostel, take one with you and make sure it dries quickly and rolls up really small.

As for tops, take things that can recycle into different outfits (skirts to dresses, tops to skirts, scarves to dresses, wraps to tops, etc)…you only need about five to six tops, mix them up and make sure they look cute- it’s really fun to mix up your outfits and dress them up with earrings and other cool accessories that you will definitely pick up along the way.

As for hair, I took my flat iron. I used it many, many, many times and am not ashamed of this. I also bought a lot of stuff along the way, so I ended up leaving behind a lot of clothes, replacing them with new ones.

With respect to the makeup- moisturizer (I got a moisturizer with a hint of colour), eyeliner and cream eyeshades in my favourite colour. That was it. When I wanted to dress up a bit, I just picked up a four-toned eye shadow at a local pharmacy. It depends on how you want to look and what suits you.

The most exciting part of stuffing the backpack, is not know what/where/who/why…but going with your heart.

At least once in your life, you should all try this. J

It works.

The Checklist

2011-05-25T10:50:00.001-07:00

Ok, so now that the plane ticket is bought, there are a few things that you forgot to do (as mentioned in previous posting). Let’s start at the top…how it happened for me.

1. Quitting job

Well, this was really easy for me. In a haste of youthful hormones and yearn for freedom, I wrote my job resignation letter and submitted to human resources. Many were perplexed as to why I would leave my permanent, stable job for a stink in South America. Others weren’t surprised, and the rest wished me well. I wasn’t bothered by anybody’s opinion, because I was ready to set off. OK, that’s one item down.

2. Go to Bank

This could have been a lot harder but it was quite a breeze for me, as my ticket was already bought and I hardly had money in the bank; just roughly enough to guess my way through the big old SA for a couple months…or so I thought. Got my VISA debit card, got my local debit card that would work in SA (watch out for bank charges for withdrawals!). OK, finished with the bank.

3. Get Vaccinated

So this was important yet entertaining. Seeing that I am from a Caribbean country (considered third world) and I was to enter South America I needed to have yellow fever vaccines (for entering the jungle of course) as well as some others, I went off to the health clinic. I don’t know about you, but the way the health system is set up here, you have o be designated to a health centre, based on where you live.

Mine, was a makeshift facility, with an excellent reception and the most informative nurse I had ever met. Never mind I had to repeat my story about five times in full length, by mid day, I was vaccinated for SA. Note to travelers from not to developed areas- if PAHO says vaccines are limited, you need to come with a real good story for a vaccine if you aren’t a child.

4. Get Excited

Well, I was excited for a trip to South America since, am…five? Having read book and seen commercials and brochures about the exotic lands and mystical ruins that Latin America has to offer, my excitement never faded….even until now.

Planning your Trip

2011-05-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

The most exciting part of planning the backpacking trip- is having no plan really. At least, that’s how it happened for me.

Well, ok that was a bit of an exaggeration.

I was frustrated, really really frustrated- with job stress, a crazy boss, life, adjustment issues from my return from London, family dysfunction. You name it, I swear I had it. What did I do? Save for two months and think of one place that I wanted to see since I was a child- MACCHU PICCHU!

It was pretty simple after that, I went onto the airline’s site and luckily it was still winter so the fares were low. It was also low season for tourists so I went with my gut feeling and just booked a flight. Of course the time in between was the hard part; spending day in, day out googling the life out of backpacking. I guess I never really took the time to ignore comments from my mother, who was suffering from severe paranoia.

But in the end, I went with my gut and just did it. I found a really cool hostel via couchsurfing. For those interested in the freeness lifestyle of backpacking, couchsurfing is also included here. So, anyways, I found a really nice hostel and prepared myself for my first hostelling experience.

I was a total backpacker virgin. Needed to borrow a backpack, sift through my clothes like there’s no tomorrow, separate my money from bankcards from emergency cash, yet somehow still left room for my magic bra and flatiron (hey, you never know).

The rest was pretty simple.

1. Quit job

2. Go to bank

3. Get vaccinated

4. Get excited

Backpacker Addictions

2011-05-23T07:11:00.001-07:00

So I recently came back from a 3 month long backpacking trip to South America. I only covered two countries, and didn’t even get to visit 60% of the places that I wanted to see, but overall, the trip was complete.

I saw Banos and I saw Machcu Picchu, with a LOT of amazing stuff in between throughout Ecuador and Peru.

As this was the second of my “quit my job and leave the country” adventures…I always seem to be plotting for another one.

The first was to London, the second to South America.

I know I am not alone in my travel addictions. Even worse, I know that I am not the only one who suffers the brunt of re-adjustment issues when returning home.

The ultimate question leads to the ultimate travel destinations- Where to next?...