The Best Comments Of The Month: September 2009
So many great comments, it’s hard to showcase them all. Here are just some of the best comments from this past September with a few from August I neglected to get to.
- Kim Kinrade has another great use for vodka, a mandatory accessory for the Trans-Siberian railway according to Renato.
- Moving your admin login page and changing your default database names are just two more good ways to keep your blog safe when you’re traveling Jack notes. Stevo‘s got a few more as well.
- John Bardos finds that distance can bring you closer to your family.
- Colin Wright has a creative way to overcome one of the obstacles to traveling the world.
- It’s never too late to travel, Sherry‘s 73 year old dad is joining her in Nepal!
- S.k.i.ing is a new sport I hadn’t heard of until Donna Hull mentioned it.
- Marina Villatoro‘s guest post series will have you hooked, like Barbara.
- Of all the words to learn before going to a new country, Quickroute points out I missed (an important) one…beer!
- Shannon‘s not afraid to look silly to stay in shape.
It’s getting tougher to list all of the insightful comments each month so I hope you enjoy this sampling. I do appreciate all of the comments I receive, thank you!
[photo by: Dr John2005]
Burn 50 Calories In 5 Minutes With This Hotel Room Workout
September 29, 2009 by Anil P.
Filed under Health and Fitness, Lodging
The frantic pace at which many travelers leave their hotels rooms is a source of anxiety and can encourage other unhealthy habits as well as increase your blood pressure. Rather, you can use this nervous energy and channel it for 5 minutes to burn a nice amount of calories without even leaving your hotel room.
It’s a simple workout that most anyone can do in the morning before hopping in the shower. For someone weighing 150 pounds (68 kilos) you’ll burn approximately 50 calories. The more you weigh the more calories (and stress) you’ll burn and get a great start to sightseeing.
Tips On Keeping the Pace Up
Before you get started here are a few things you can do to get yourself going for a full 5 minutes.
- Blast your iPod touch or find a good music channel on the TV. (India’s got loads of them.)
- Have an empty stomach (not even coffee)
- Remember, it’s only 5 minutes!
Minute 1 – Push Ups (9 Calories)
Do as many push ups as you can in 1 minute. As your arms get more tired you can switch from supporting yourself with your feet to you knees. If traditional push ups are too difficult just start on your knees and go as slowly as you need. The important thing is to keep moving for the entire minute and get your heart rate up.
Minute 2 – Jumping Jacks (9 Calories)
As soon as your minute of push ups is done, hop on to your feet and begin a minute of jumping jacks. Don’t stop! Keep moving and make sure your form is proper. That means keeping your back straight and your head up while at the same time keeping control over your extremities. Refrain from flailing your arms and legs about you wildly.
Minute 3 – Sit Ups/Crunches (9 Calories)
Lay down with your legs bent at a 90 degree angle (not under your butt or stretched out in front of you) and slowly lift yourself as far up as you can. You may get the feeling where – POOF! – you want to fall back down and lie flat. If that happens rest for a count to 3 and keep going for as long as you can. It’s only 60 seconds and you’re more than halfway done!
Minute 4 – Kick Your Knees Up (16 Calories)
Standing up straight, kick you knees up to your chest as high and fast as you can without losing your balance. You shouldn’t be stomping your feet so try to stay light on your toes. No matter what pace you maintain or how much you slow down, keep moving the entire time. It sounds easy now but on the 4th minute it can get tough. Find a good pace that works for you.
Minute 5 – Dance Your Heart Out (7 Calories)
Vigorous dancing in front of the TV or with your iPod touch on full blast is an excellent way to have some fun in the morning and burn a good amount of calories. Dancing around as silly as you want to be might also put you in a better mood for the rest of the day since you’ll be hard pressed to get your groove on without a smile. It’s even more entertaining if you’ve got someone to dance with.
Convert Your Energy
This is just one of the countless ways to get your heart rate up before leaving for a business meeting, a day of sightseeing, or before dashing out to the airport. You can add as much variation or duration to these exercises as you see fit to mix things up if they get boring.
Frequent flying puts a great deal of stress on the body and traveling can age you. Anxiety is a good source of energy if you know how to hone your stress to improve your travels and your health.
[photos by: ~ggvic~, practicalowl, apol-photography, bodhithaj, Marshall Astor - Food Pornographer, Chandra Marsono]
Bidet Basics
September 28, 2009 by Anil P.
Filed under Pictures and Video
Bidets vary all over the world but the concept is confusing to many travelers who haven’t seen one before. When I posted the video, how to use a squat toilet, Maggie asked me to post a video on how to use a bidet and this is a pretty good one that covers the basics.
There are many bidet setups all over the world (mostly in Europe and Asia) and Gourmantic has a nice wrap up of some when you’ve got to go. Essentially a bidets are used to clean your backside, genitalia, and not for drinking, washing your face or brushing your teeth.
How I Got Robbed In Guatemala and Other Hard-To-Believe Escapades: Part 8
September 25, 2009 by Anil P.
Filed under Guest Post
This is part of a true story written by Marina Villatoro who writes the travel blog Travel Experta about everything you need to know about Central America. Every Friday over the next two months I’ll be posting another chapter of this adventure. Catch up with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, and Part 11 in case you missed them.
Grapevines
Small towns grow large grapevines. My news, along with the four others traveled far and wide. The owner of the hotel appeared out of nowhere and sat beside me.
“I’m truly sorry what happened to you. It’s so devastating. I’ve been living here for four years and in the past year everything has gone to shit.”
He lifted a long muscular, tanned arm (not bad for a sixty year old) and pointed to the adjoining hotel. “Not even two days ago, the same thing happened. It was during our communal dinner hour, two rooms were stripped of all of their belongings. An American girl’s backpack, passport and money were taken, and a British boy suffered the same fate. I hear the young girl flew back to the States yesterday, completely distraught and destroyed. But the Brit wasn’t as lucky. He didn’t have anyone to call and ask for help. So, now he’s working at some dingy restaurant in Pana, saving up to fly back home.”
He shook his head in remorse and sighed to the heavens. His green-blue eyes watered, slightly, and I thought he would burst into tears any second. But he picked himself up and continued, “We all know who it is. Everyone knows, including the police. But what difference does it make? Ever since Chico started to pay them they are backing him up. He is getting reckless, but who cares. No one will do anything about it. As a matter of fact, the whole judicial system’s livelihoods depend on him. I wish we can do something.”
He walked away with a tail between his legs. Helpless. Broken. I wanted to hug him and tell him everything will work out. But I wasn’t sure myself.
A Plan of Action In The Chaos
I buried the notion of ever wrapping my body in my Celtic-sarong purchased in Puerto Rico; or writing my secret desires in my favorite banana-leafed journal with the wood-carved quill I found during my volunteer week at a kibbutz in Israel; or to snap the once-in-a-lifetime photo op of a howler monkey jumping on top of my head with my twenty-first birthday present: Nikon point-of-shoot-35mm camera. I had to put the past behind me and move on.
I was a compulsive planner, even after extensive travel, I wasted hours upon hours arranging the perfect itinerary. However basic it may be, within minutes of execution, it was altered. This time was no different. I created the full-proof plan: arrive to Panajachel by two p.m.; collect the money transfer; hop on a bus back to the capital; and be at my embassy bright and early Monday morning. Perfect. The only thing between my brilliant plan and implementation: Money; or lack of it.
The downside of borrowing is the payback. Janka agreed to lend me the money on one condition—I pay for my one-way trip and her round-trip ticket as well. Sifting through my wide-range of alternatives, this was definitely the best one.
Part one was achieved: Boat to Panajachel.
Part two: Two p.m. arrival time.
Part three, four and five: never to be attained.
Just Another Manic Sunday
It was Sunday. The entire town, with the exception of a few café’s and one restaurant, was closed, including the Western Union with a huge “CERRADO” sign in the window.
Was all this part of my ‘everything happens for a reason’ scheme? Because it certainly wasn’t what the all-knowledge-I-have-completed-my-one-month-yoga-and-mediation-cleansing-cycle guy, who sat next to me the entire boat-ride back into town, meant when he repeatedly voiced: ‘You must find the answers to the WHY, by choosing between the two paths given. Always follow the one less traveled’. In that case, what words of wisdom would he pick out of his all-purpose-quotation-reference-bank, when the only path I can take is the too-familiar way right back to San Marcos?
Maybe this was my retribution for all the rebellious shoplifting sprees my buddies and I engaged in during pubescence? Whatever the reason: Karmic debt, lessons-to-be-learned 101 or just plain-old bad luck, I surrendered to the inevitable return. But first I used my charm and implored Janka to stay in Panajachel with me until the last ferry (with the promise to pay for her dinner.)
To kill some time, before eating, we headed to an Internet café. It was full. Of course! So we waited…
A Beautiful Stranger
We sat on the curb and engaged in a profoundly philosophical discussion: what I will do next—for the millionth time. Too wrapped up in the “Why me?” syndrome, I didn’t notice the beautiful woman sitting next to us. She flung her hair from one side to the next permeating our airspace with the scent of gardenias. My nose twisted in her direction, eyes following and rested on her gaze. She smiled at me. She had one of those tender smiles that made your eyes flutter and filled you with a warm fuzzy feeling.
“Hello,” she said softly.
I looked to the right and left to make sure it was me she addressed and not her great friend standing behind me. But it was me.
I mumbled, “Hi.”
Age and beauty were definitely on her side. She was in her mid forties with an inborn elegance. If she threw a white stained sheet over her body it would come off as the newest couture design of the year. Naturally, the purple summer dress she wore radiated femininity and style. There was something different about her. She didn’t fit into this dreary setting or this story.
“I overheard your conversation. I normally don’t interfere. But I am very sad for you.” Each word was accentuated with a slight ‘O’ of the lips adding a melodic flow from one word into the other, dissipating my problems one by one.
“Yeah, thank you, but…uh…oh…” I forgot the action of speech. What could I do? I was captivated by her presence. Not romantically, but maternally. With her by my side I felt special. Worthy.
She didn’t notice my dopiness and continued, “I was wondering… I won’t take up too much of your time… but you said you don’t have any clothes. I live in San Marcos and I have clean clothes that are too small for me. Would you like to have them?”
“Ah… yes…I would love it. Thank you.”
Leaving us with directions to her home, she glided off into the night. Her gentle nature resulted in my own realization: how much I missed comfort and kindness.
I couldn’t wait to see her again.
[photos by: flora.cyclam, *Tom [luckytom], Danny Key, Jelle..]
Bio
Marina has been living in Central America for over 7 years and her site Travel Experta is all about traveling in Central America. Marina loves to help people plan the perfect vacation to this amazing part of the world! You can sign up for her RSS feed and join the fun on her Facebook fan page and follow her on Twitter at @MarinaVillatoro.
