Tidbits for Your Travels

Whether you are a new travel enthusiasts or old pro, you can never stop learning better ways to enhance your experience. Following are some of the things I have learned over many trips.

1. Street Food - Ah, who doesn't love trying the mystery food on a stick? Well, the mystery can land you in bed or the bathroom for a few days. Be careful, particularly if you've also been trying the local alcoholic beverages.

2. Stupid Foreigner Tricks - Locals sometimes like to have a joke at your expense. It usually has to do with food. Don't eat strange stuff unless others are.

3. Packing for Europe - If you are packing for Europe, pack light! Europe is not another planet. They have soap, books, clothes and so on. You can buy it there. Trust me!

4. Garbage Bag Pants - Despite it being roasting in the summer, many historical sites will require you to wear pants to enter. You can usually rent garbage bag pants around these areas. They look like pants, but are made of the garbage bag material.

5. Is Spicy Food Safe? - There is a belief among travelers that spicy food will not cause stomach issues. Umm, no. It just adds a little heat to the misery.

6. Really Cheap Flights - If you have the urge to travel, but little money, there is one really cheap flight option. Charter flights are usually dirt cheap. On the downside, you get what you pay for and there are limited flights.

7. Sweet Sorrow Traveling - If you are on a long trip, you will inevitably get tired of those traveling with you. To avoid this, go solo and hookup with others through hostels and such. When you get sick of them, move along.

8. Laptop Charging - When traveling, it is vital you know what the ampage is in the country you are in. More than a few laptops have been zapped by being hooked up to a 220 outlet. Take a regulator to make sure this doesn't happen.

9. Seeing Europe with Children - If you are traveling to Europe and are taking kids, hotels and hostels can be a pain. Try renting a villa and exploring the area around it. They are much cheaper than you think.

10. Japanese Rice Etiquette - When eating rice in Japan, never stick your chopsticks in the rice such that they are standing up vertical. It is a symbol of death.

I have to admit I am addicted to travel. Experiencing another culture and way of life is just tremendous. Of course, you need to know how to laugh at yourself as well. Have a great trip.
by Richard Chappoe
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