Rolf Potts's Blog, page 98

Don’t let fear prevent living and learning

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Yesterday I came across this article that addressed updating Child Labor Laws in America. And tried desperately to wrap my brain around a logical explanation, why restricting youths from agricultural involvement was a good idea. After a period of extreme frustration with the absurdity of the issue; I settled with the fact at its core, it has nothing to do with exploiting child labor; it had to do with fear–in this case, safety.

It makes a few moments of my past weekend more precious. After explaining the basics of horse psychology to a group of young girls (ages 6 & 10); the youngest and smallest one volunteer to carry a sledge hammer. This was a vital tool needed to loosen and re-sink an iron stake to relocate a pony stallion to a new spot for fresh grazing. The five girls did it all by themselves. As a teacher, I only verbally offered techniques, such as how to loosen the stake and pull it from the ground, and how to lead the stallion–who’d rather bee-line it for the barn—by turning him in a circle to redirect his focus. A slight drizzle fluttered down from sky, so the children took that into account and situated the pony where he could get shelter under the leaves of a deciduous tree. This simple action displayed empathy, follow through and accomplishment for these girls.

During sharing circle around the campfire later that night, many of the children said their favorite moments of the day included being around the horses. Such as, riding the draft horse mare bareback; watching me rescue a horse from a dangerous situation; and moving the pony to a fresh spot of grass. These experiences connected the children with a larger awareness of their surroundings and let them apply the horse psychology and safety I’d taught them at the beginning of our class.

Fear shouldn’t prevent us from living and learning new things. No matter what age.

Original article can be found here: Don’t let fear prevent living and learning

Icebreaker vs. EMU merino wool for travel – 2 months into traveling

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Merino wool has been touted as an ideal travel clothing material thanks especially to its breathability, odor resistance and fast-drying abilities. I stocked up on a few lightweight merino wool items before leaving for my trip two months ago, and I quickly gained a favorite among the brands and also learned some other benefits of the material.

There are numerous brands of merino wool products; Icebreaker, EMU Australia, Smartwool and Ibex are among the largest and most popular. My items are all Icebreaker and EMU Australia because I like their styles and fits. I found Smartwool’s pieces to be too itchy and mostly for cold weather, which didn’t suit my needs for Latin America.

These are the lightweight merino wool items I bought:

EMU Pambula Tee

EMU Dalmeny Shirt

Icebreaker Siren Tank (in two colors)

Icebreaker Villa Dress (in two colors)

After two months wearing these items almost daily, I’ve made several observations:

Itch factor

I’d worn merino wool sweaters and found them to be slightly itchy,  so I was curious how the lightweight merino wool would feel. At first, the shirts from both brands were a little itchy, but after just a wear or two, they felt fine. I find the Icebreaker version to be a bit softer and more comfortable.

Hot/cold

I’d always associated wool with coats and cold-weather clothing, so I was curious to see how the lightweight merino wool held up in the hot climates and during outdoor activities. It turned out to be extremely breathable – never got sweaty or hot. I found this to be especially true with the Icebreaker pieces.

Wrinkles

I always get a bit skeptical when clothing says it’s wrinkle-resistent – especially when it comes in a package and is wrinkly when I take it out. That was the case with these items, but I found that once you put them on, the wrinkles go away. They get wrinkly again after being stuffed in the backpack, but the issue is quickly resolved during wear. Again, the Icebreaker pieces overcame wrinkles faster and better than the EMU pieces.

Style

This is one area where EMU beats Icebreaker, in my opinion. While Icebreaker’s styles are more athletic and simple, EMU offers a wider variety of styles that can pass for everyday or even workwear, such as this t-shirt and this cardigan. This sets it apart from typical travel clothes.

However, a style downside of the particular EMU items that I bought is that they are see-through. This means I have to wear a cami under it, and since my cami isn’t merino wool it sort of defeats the purpose.

Icebreaker does have some non-athletic styles, such as the Villa Dress that I have, and they seem to be adding more.

Packing

All the items are lightweight and roll up small, but Icebreakers’ are significantly smaller and lighter.

Durability

This is the biggest downside of my EMU shirts. After one wash, the material pilled up (although this might have been due to being washed and dried in a machine), and I found that it stretched more easily and stains didn’t come out. Overall, the Icebreaker shirts feel more sturdy and durable.

Travelers, what have you found to be the benefits of merino wool? Do you have any favorite brands or items?

Original article can be found here: Icebreaker vs. EMU merino wool for travel – 2 months into traveling

Perks, perks and more perks: Travel in Southeast Asia

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Like many life changing experiences, we often realize just how lucky we are as the chapter begins to close. With one month left to my Asian adventure of “work” and play, I being to realize just how much I love this part of the world. I’ve become addicted to zipping through gritty city streets on motorbikes, late night chicken skewers from hawker stalls and I have fully embraced the hippie pants. Whether cruising the backpacker circuit, living as an expat or doing some independent travel of your own, most people who have passed through Southeast Asia can agree that there is plenty to miss when it comes time to leave! How will I survive without the following things? I’m not sure if it’s possible.

Hanoi transportation

1. Motorbikes: A 20 minute walk takes only seconds on one of these speed demons. It took me a few months to muster the courage to hop on, but the need for (affordable) speed has me cruising via motorbike on the regular. There’s a reason motorbike culture works so well here. They’re quick, incredibly affordable, and their ability to weave through stopped traffic will have you hooked. Need to cover a mile during Bangkok rush hour? Set aside 50 cents and hang on tight.

2.) Heat:  The scorching Thai sun and oppressive humidity will challenge even the toughest traveler. In the heat of April, daytime sightseeing in much of Southeast Asia is downright dangerous. Arrival to this part of the world had me initially pining for the wool sweaters and icy windchill back home. But as my friends and family were suffering through blizzards this winter I began to appreciate, even cherish, this overwhelmingly tropical weather. Airy summer dresses work for every occaision and the humidity acts as a free sauna, no gym membership necessary. When it’s so hot that even the toothpaste melts, a cool blast of AC is never too far away. Malls and movie theaters in big Asian cities make for a welcome refuge.

3. Massage: Why cheap massage hasn’t spread to the rest of the world is beyond me. One hour of relaxing bliss comes to seven dollars over here, about 1/12 of the price for the same pampering in the US. It’s sinful to visit Southeast Asia (Thailand, in particular,) and not indulge in this affordable treat.

photo from groupo

4. Cheap laundry: A pile of sweaty clothes is tough to avoid at the end of a full week in Southeast Asia. With laundry at 1 USD per kilo over here, you really have no excuse. Laundry shops that charge per kilo are everywhere, and make for hassle free washing and no excuses. If only New York City would catch on…

5. Street food: The closest I get to cooking these days is pointing to the curry I want at about one dollar per dish. It’s usually cheaper to eat out in Asia than to cook on your own, so eating on the streets is a no-brainer. My day usually consists of iced coffee and fruit in the morning, a noodle soup in the afternoon and a bigger Thai dish at night. I can get this all on the street (plus a few beers) at under 10 dollars per day. With such delicious affordable food around, what’s the point of stepping into a grocery store?

Does anyone have a tip or two about readjusting to life after Asia?

Original article can be found here: Perks, perks and more perks: Travel in Southeast Asia

How to live the life of your dreams

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

How?

In the end, I think the answer comes down to priorities.

We will make time and money for the things that are highest on our priority list.  I love to read and can curl up in bed and read until the wee hours of the night, but I haven’t hardly read at all lately.  Yes, I could make excuses and say I’m too busy or my boys demand all my time.  But the reality is that it isn’t high enough on my list.  In my free time, I choose to play with my beads or surf the internet rather than reading a good book.

The same is true about traveling the world.  We will find a way to do what’s important to us.  If new floors in our house is more important than a family vacation, we get new floors.  If a new couch is higher on the priority list than bicycles, we get the couch.  And if taking an extended family vacation is of the utmost importance, that’s exactly what we’ll get.

Our family bike trip to the ends of the world didn’t just fall in our laps one day – we made it happen.  We looked at our lives and at the limited amount of time we had on Planet Earth.  We looked at our sons and realized that they were growing fast and we only had one chance at this parenthood thing.  In short, if we didn’t do it now, we would lose the opportunity.

So we made it happen.

We quit our jobs.  We packed up our house.  We bought new bicycles.  We headed out to see the world with our sons.

Traveling with our boys had become our number one priority and we made it happen.  Yes, there were a million reasons not to take our trip – we didn’t have enough money, our house needed work, our careers would suffer, a trip like this wasn’t what society expected us to do. But all we really needed was one good reason to take the trip – and time with the boys was that reason.

So how can you live your dreams?  Make it your highest priority.  Make the decision to do it and let people know what you’ll do.  Then take steps to get there.  It’ll happen – if you make it happen.

Nancy Sathre-Vogel is mom to Family on Bikes, a family of four who recently rode their bikes 17,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina. She blogs about lessons learned from their journey at www.familyonbikes.org

Original article can be found here: How to live the life of your dreams

Is travel how you “make it count”?

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Travel is like life, amplified.  Your senses are heightened, experiences are vivid, and time becomes your biggest asset.  In that spirit, you can watch the inspirational video by Casey Neistat.

The story in the video was that Nike hired Casey to make a promotional film.  Instead of doing the job, Casey took the money, enlisted a buddy, and did a round-the-world trip.  Personally, I think the prank aspect is being played up for street cred.  Still, an effective viral video nonetheless.

For more “behind the scenes” details, check out this interview with the filmmaker: A million views and counting: the making of ‘Make It Count.’

What did you think of the video? Have started a similar adventure by dropping everything to travel?  Share your stories in the comments.

Original article can be found here: Is travel how you “make it count”?

Doug Mack on the drawbacks of over-planning one’s travels

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

“But where’s the fun? Where’s the adventure? It’s not just “If it’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium,” it’s “If it’s seven o’clock, this must be the Café Le Petit Obsessive-Compulsive, this wine must be the Pinot Noir that I read about on Wines.com, the server must be Yvette, who got high marks on TripAdvisor, and I have to be done eating by eight o’clock so that I can follow the Google Map instructions to the subway station and use the Paris Metro app to catch a train to Montmartre, where I will snap a photo exactly like the one I saw on WikiTravel, which I will then upload to Facebook at the Internet café recommended on the bulletin boards at Yahoo! Travel because they accept American credit cards.”

–Doug Mack, Europe on 5 Wrong Turns a Day (2012)

Original article can be found here: Doug Mack on the drawbacks of over-planning one’s travels

Vagabonding Field Reports: Couch surfing in Sydney

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Cost/day: $40

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen lately?

Still a bit jet lagged from the flight into Sydney, I awoke to the sounds of a giant dragon fly bouncing off the window as it sought freedom from my sparsely furnished single room cottage house that I was couch surfing.  I opened the door and stepped out into the morning with the gleeful dragon fly and stretched my legs.  The scene that greeted me was pure Australian hippie farm joy; ducks waddling across the grass past the garden while a family of Alpaca enjoyed their morning stroll.  One of the house dogs was already awake and was busy peeing on the wheel of the camper van parked in front.  ”Welcome to Australia” I thought to myself.

Out for a stroll

Describe a typical day:

Couch surfing is all about going with the flow.  In this case, the flow involved a fruit breakfast of an apple or orange.  A visit to the nearby national parks is a great free activity and provides lots of Kangaroo spotting fun.  Note to future travellers: they are deceptively fast.  If the weather is nice, a swim in the river and a go at the homemade swing are called for.  Just mind yourself of the black funnel web spiders and fire ants nearby.

A classic Australian dinner of bbq including some Kangaroo (or skippy as often called around here) and local wine is cheap and great fun for dinner.  After dinner entertainment usual involves story telling or circle drumming.  And if all of that isn’t enough for you, then you’ll need to head out a little bit away from the lights and take in a star filled southern hemisphere sky.

Describe an interesting conversation you had with a local:

I couch surfed for one night with a lovely retired lady in Sydney who was actively involved in her community.  Our conversation turned to retirement and the stress that retiring puts people under.  Beyond just the money, the biggest stress is often mental.  What role does one play in society after retirement?  How do you redefine yourself outside of work having invested so much of yourself in your job for so long.

Being quite young myself, I never considered the challenges of retirement in such a light and it got me thinking about unexpected benefits of vagabonding.  Long term travel can be a great trial run at retirement living.  It forces you to experience life outside of the traditional working world.  For people that define themselves significantly through their employment (myself included), the shift from corporate world junkie to vagabonder can be significantly disorienting.  Questions such as “What do you do?” used to be easy to answer.  Now it’s more difficult.  This takes a while to get used to and the effect on one’s ego shouldn’t be ignored.

What do you like about where you are? Dislike?

Australians are open and forward people that love to have a good time.  They are often great story tellers as well.  Simple tours can become hilarious and memorable affairs when lead by a jovial Australian.

Australians are extremely outdoors oriented and this is reflected in their environments.  Water fountains are plentiful and always work. Public washrooms are clean and well maintained and gardens and parks are usually well kept.  You’ll find there are electric outdoor bbq units that you can even rent if you are tired of cooking at your hostel.

Australia is an extremely wealthy country and while this means it’s generally clean and safe, it does come with a high price tag.  Prices in Australia can be intimidating. To combat high prices, you should take advantage of your flexibility. Be on the lookout for shared rides or discount flights further out on your schedule.  In short, don’t force a schedule or you’ll find your costs rise quickly.

The opera house

Describe a challenge you faced:

One of the biggest challenges I faced when I arrived in Sydney was honestly the financial shock of moving from South East Asia to Australia.  While I had budgeted accordingly, overcoming the mental block of moving from a developing nation to a developed nation was something I was not expecting to have to deal with.  I found myself honestly frustrated at some points simply because I hadn’t mentally left Thailand yet.  I kept comparing the financial costs and my mental valuation of the experiences and it detracted from my enjoyment of Australia.

What new lesson did you learn?

The first practical lesson I learned was that staying flexible in your plans can significantly save money.  Sometimes transport costs can be cut by a third if your schedule is flexible.  Take advantage of your flexibility if you would like to move about and save some money at the same time.

The second lesson I learned is that shifting from a developing nation to a developed nation is more than just a physical act.  It’s also a mental one.  After four months in South East Asia, first world prices are scary.  You need to relax and allow time to adjust your mind so that you can enjoy yourself without the prejudice of your prior experiences.

Where next?

We are climbing north along the east coast, heading towards Cairns.  Going to get some diving and snorkelling time hopefully as well as take in some of the beautiful beaches that Australia has to offer.

Original article can be found here: Vagabonding Field Reports: Couch surfing in Sydney

Have You Had a Transformational Travel Moment?

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

The love of travel usually starts somewhere. Some grew up in a family that traveled all the time, and it seems like second nature to many to make travel a part of their lives. Others may not have traveled much as kids, and maybe that first trip with friends in college was memorable and planted a seed. Those who decided to take advantage of study abroad opportunities probably had their lives changed by the experience. Then there are those travelers who got a really late start. Perhaps they married someone who was a big traveler, and that person instilled their love of travel into you.

I’m guessing that if you are reading this site, you have a story about what got you into travel. Maybe it was how you were raised, or maybe it was one specific moment where you realized, “Yes, this is something that I want to prioritize in my life.”

Over the last couple weeks, BootsnAll has published a few transformational stories from people whose lives have literally been transformed to make travel a major part of it. In the first one, the author had an epiphany at her grandmother’s funeral, and now she and her family are traveling full time.  In the other, the author had a moment of clarity while on a second honeymoon with her husband.  They decided to forgo the American Dream and let travel transform their lives.  Now they are in the middle of driving from Alaska to Argentina with their family of five.

I grew up in a family that didn’t travel much, so it was a road trip in college to a music festival in northern Maine that got me hooked.  We all have our own stories about why and how we got hooked on this whole travel thing.  And BootsnAll would love to hear yours.  You can take part in our Indie Travel Challenge - a year long blogging challenge where we give you one prompt a week to write about.  A recent prompt asked travelers to write about their own transformational moment.

Or if you think you can offer a little more than a blog post, pitch us your transformational travel story.  If it’s good enough, your story can be published as a feature article (and you can even get paid for it!)

 

 

Original article can be found here: Have You Had a Transformational Travel Moment?

Vagabonding Field Report: Mykonos, Now I Know Why They Built Windmills Here

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Cost/Day- 60 euros

After a few months on the road, it takes something fairly odd to catch a vagabonder off-guard, but seeing a man herding sheep from the back of a scooter certainly threw me for a loop. The sheep didn’t seem flustered by the portly man zipping in and out of the herd, hurrying them along the hilly roads of Mykonos in loud Greek, all the while trying to weave around potholes. However, I on the other hand almost ran my beat-up red scooter into a fence as the road took one of its many curves and my eyes were locked on this episode of “Sheep: Hell’s Angels”.

More…

A typical day on Mykonos starts off with being woken to the howling of wind through the hills. Every morning the worry sets in that it will be a dreary, stormy day and yet, every day by the time breakfast is over with the wind has calmed and the sun is shining down on the crystal blue water and never-ending coves and beaches.

No reason to shower when you’re headed straight for a dive into the sea. The crisp waters are so clear, fish can be seen from the sand twenty feet away. There is no real wave action to speak of on Mykonos this time of year, so everyone from old women to toddlers refusing to wear swim trunks lounges in the calm, shallow water.

After the morning’s fill of sea and sun, the crowds swell into old Mykonos Town, the iconic white houses with blue trim all packed together, with tourists and locals bustling about their business. Well, as much as anyone can really bustle in the Greek Isles, things move at a noticeably slower pace out here.  Lunch can be a bit tricky for those looking to eat out as Mykonos is notoriously expensive. Not to worry though as traditional Greek gyro shops abound, selling Greek salad and lamb and chicken on pita break with Greek yogurt and fries for only a few euros.

Depending on how much sun you got in the morning (pacing is key in Mykonos in all aspects of life) it’s either back to the beach or a little afternoon siesta, curled up in the shade with a book. It would be a crime to waste time watching tv with so many postcard-perfect views set in panorama every which way around the island.

Afternoon slips into evening and it’s time to pull a Mythos lager out of the fridge, a local favorite, probably because it’s so refreshing after a day of sunshine and walking the rocky hills. Dinner is usually a cook at home affair for me, typically Greek; olives and fresh vegetables. Usually some hamburgers or pork chops as well. Olives and veggies are very cheap on Mykonos so it’s easy to load up on them, other groceries can get more expensive because so many things have to be brought onto the island by ferry.

An after-dinner walk is always pleasant as the twinkling lights of the small houses start to come on, dotting the hillside, but not so bright as to block out the view of all the stars. Before you know it’s time to head to bed as the wind starts to howl again and you smile knowing the exact same thing is coming your way tomorrow.

It’s always a treat to have a conversation with my landlord, Nassos, whom I rent my apartment from for 40 euros/night (the bulk of my expenses on Mykonos). Nassos owns a beach bar, but with it being April it’s still to early in the season to open so he has to find other diversions, Greek-style.

I sent Nassos a text around 2 p.m. asking to use his internet. I heard nothing back but figured he had gotten busy and hadn’t had time to respond. At 5 I was reading in my bed and heard someone walking around outside.

“Travis?” In Nassos’s perfect English, with just a hint of a Greek accent.

“Do you want to use the internet now?”

I responded that I had already stopped by a cafe and used it there, thanks anyways, and what had he been up to all day?

“I had the rough night of drinking and just woke up,” he said wearing sunglasses in the shade and holding a large water bottle. This did not seem too out of the ordinary on Mykonos.

Well, a man has to stay busy I suppose. Life on Mykonos can be one never-ending party, that is after all what the island is know for. There is still the quiet beach-town lifestyle as well, much easier to find in April than during the height of the summer season, when the island doesn’t stop partying from May through August. Many of the houses here are summer homes that are rented out for very cheap the rest of the year, so if you’re willing to come off-season deals abound.

The only real knock on Mykonos is the relentless wind up in the hills, but even this becomes part of the island’s charm after about a week. The loud aunt that deep down you really love, but sometimes you just wish she’d go away for awhile. Thankfully, the wind is calmer at the beaches during the day and in Mykonos Town.

The best thing about Mykonos, aside from the beaches and beauty, are the people. English is widely spoken and everyone always has a few minutes to stop and chat (there’s that island pace of life). It’s easy to get caught up wondering if the ferry to Delos will go today over coffee with the cafe proprietor and next thing you know she’s asking if you want lunch because it’s been three hours.

The greatest challenge I’ve faced is handling my roguish little scooter, nicknamed Zorbie after “Zorba the Greek” the famous novel and Anthony Quinn movie. Zorbie is a finicky little creature, even for me who owns a scooter back in the Bay Area and rode one throughout my college years in Berkeley. The high winds in the morning, the possibly leaky gas tank, and the bad starter have me cursing Zorbie every morning. The companies renting scooters on Mykonos know demand never drops in summer, so they rent them cheap and don’t make any repairs. But hey, worse case scenario, one day Zorbie doesn’t start and I have to walk to the gorgeous beach rolling out below me. Things could be worse.

The lesson I have imparted from Mykonos is not a new one by any means, but I’m reminded of it everywhere I go. Eat and drink as the locals do. Don’t look for your favorites, even if they have them they will not be the same. I once ordered a margarita in Herceg-Novi, Montenegro and was served whiskey and grape juice in a styrofoam cup. After that, I’ve always followed the above lesson. Foods and beverages become popular in places for a reason, they fit well with the climate and local temperament. Guess what? You’re in the same climate and surrounded by the same temperament, so you’re probably going to like them too, plus whatever is local is almost always cheapest.

So for the rest of my time in Mykonos I’ll be eating gyros and drinking Frappe coffee.

 

Original article can be found here: Vagabonding Field Report: Mykonos, Now I Know Why They Built Windmills Here

Fail-proof breakup therapy: buy a last-minute airplane ticket!

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

Several years ago, the relationship I was in ended abruptly when the guy in question dumped me over the phone. Even though we’d only been dating for several months, the breakup was unexpected—and it hurt. I felt the overwhelming urge to escape from everything. I called a travel agency specializing in last-minute tickets (here in Israel, it’s daka90.co.il) and inquired about their cheapest fares.

“Nothing today,” said the guy on the phone. “But tomorrow morning you can go to Venice. Two hundred and fifty dollars, roundtrip.”

I envisioned amorous couples holding hands over candle-lit dinners and kissing on the moonlight canal bridges.

paragliding in Transylvania

“What about something in Eastern Europe?” I asked.

“We have flights to Warsaw, Kiev and Bucharest.”

That sounded more like it. I purchased a ticket for the next morning to Romania. That evening, instead of moping around and feeling sorry for myself, I brushed up on Romanian history, read about the Carpathian mountains, and learned a bit about Romanian cuisine.

The days immediately following a breakup are often the most painful, but my trip was the perfect way to weather the week. In Bucharest, I met a gorgeous Frenchman named Parfait and attended a Couchsurfing party where I met some exceptionally cool Bucharest locals. I took a beautiful train ride to Brasov, a town in the Carpathian Mountains, and spent a day hiking with two Austrians in the nearby mountains. The next day I went tandem paragliding and ate wild bear for dinner at a hunter’s lodge. I finished off the week with a visit to the famous Dracula’s castle.

Travel is a great therapy for any situation—it takes you out of your usual setting, gives you a new perspective, and allows you to clear your head—but it’s especially helpful after a breakup. Of course, this breakup therapy has its limitations: it doesn’t work with every job or financial situation. If you’re living in say, Chicago, it’s a bit more expensive to get somewhere exotic than it is when you’re living where I am, in the Middle East. But Central America and the Caribbean aren’t far off, and American Airlines often has great last-minute deals.

So next time you’re trying to get over a breakup, buy a last-minute ticket to some place new—and travel!

Original article can be found here: Fail-proof breakup therapy: buy a last-minute airplane ticket!