Canada's Adventure Couple

10 Expert Tips to Ease the Stress of Holiday Travel

Posted: 26 Oct 2015 02:00 AM PDT

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and it's the busiest time for travel. Whether you are going home to visit family or taking your family away from it all, holiday travel can be stressful. A vacation shouldn’t start only once you reach your destination; you want to feel relaxed from the moment you leave your house.

Tips to Ease Holiday Travel Stress

Take Away your Holiday Travel Stress

Our travel tips will help you east the stress of holiday travel and let you get on with what's important about the holidays. And that is enjoying the time spent with the ones you love.
Ease your holiday travel stress by also reading about how to stay healthy abroad

Use the right app like TripIt Pro

The key to having a pleasant trip is to be informed and up to date about any changes or surprises. Knowing when you are flying, where you are sitting, exactly when you can check in, or when you can choose or change your seats makes everything so much easier. The TripIt app alerts you of all flight information including delays, gate changes, and when better seats become available. Once you've given TripIt permission to access your travel information, it does the work for you letting you concentrate on what matters like, how many shoes you need to take with you.

Dave gets an update from TripIt

Arrive Early

It sounds so easy, but we see people all the time scrambling at the airport. We're frequent fliers and we still always arrive early. The more we travel, the more we realize that anything can go wrong at anytime. We've seen people standing at the parking lot complaining about waiting for the shuttle because their flight is leaving in less than an hour. All I want to say to them is "why are you here so late?" If they gave themselves the suggested 3-hours they wouldn't be stressed or worried.

We always arrive early

If you want even more convenience, utilize the valet service. We always use ParknFly (a popular airport parking lot in Canada) in Toronto (we see there is a U.S. ParknFly as well) and buy our parking online. For a low fee of $20 we upgrade to valet service getting us closer to the airport with more frequent shuttle buses. We never wait more than 5 minutes. It's worth it to us to have ease and convenience. Check with your airport parking service to see if they offer Valet upgrades.

Check in online

The TripIt app will alert you the moment you can check in, and checking in online will save you a ton of time at the airport. You can print out your boarding pass or upload it onto your phone and bypass the long lines at check-in. If you travel carryon only, you can go directly to security. If you do have luggage, many airlines now have a luggage drop-off desk for those travelers savvy enough to have already checked it. It moves faster and more efficiently than the regular checkin line.

Skip the security lane

ease the stress of holiday travel by arriving early

get through security fast to enjoy your day

There are many premium credit cards that allow you to use the fast lane. Or if you are like us and loyal to one airline, you will most likely have membership status that lets you go through a separate security lane. The regular holiday travellers will be standing in the long security lines filled with people who don't quite know all the rules thus slowing everything down. If you have the right travel credit card for your airport (ours is American Express Platinum for Toronto) you can bypass the pubic line and join the frequent fliers. Check with your credit card company to see which premium card gives you travel perks.
You can also apply for Global Entry (for Americans) or Nexus (for Canadians) and be granted access to the express security lane for frequent fliers. Believe me, every little bit of time saved adds up.
Find out How the TripIt App Makes Travel Easier

Be prepared for security

Going through security is the biggest hassle of airport travel. There are so many rules it's difficult to keep up and with each airport it changes. I am simply prepared for all situations. I keep a separate tote bag handy before going through security with my computer and liquids already separated. That way I don't have to rummage through my carryon roller looking for things. All liquids are less than 100ml and already separated in a plastic bag. When it gets to my turn, I whip out my computer and liquids, put them in the tray and then set my bag either in the bin or on the belt.
I prefer to wear slip on shoes for quick security checks and instead of asking if they need to be taken off to go through security, I just take them off anyway and put them in the bin with my sunglasses, purse, and sweater. It's just easier that way.
Once our bags go through, I put everything I had in my tote into my suitcase and conveniently roll it away.
Check out more travel tips at : 7 Steps to Stress Free Travel

Go to a lounge.

holiday travel stress made easy in a lounge

Enjoying the tranquility of the lounge

This is your holiday and time to invest a bit of cash to make your time at the airport enjoyable. Lounges aren't just for airline membership status members anymore. Anyone can pay a fee to stay in a lounge. Look for lounges that are not associated with an airline. We have Priority Pass through our credit card and have free access to more than 600 lounges around the world. If you don't have Priority Pass, you can buy a day pass. Lounge passes cost anywhere from $25-$40 and are worth every penny. There's unlimited alcohol (although we don't recommend drinking too much when flying) hot food, quiet areas, free Internet, charging stations and lounge chairs. Often times there's even a shower to freshen up between flights. While chaos is happening outside in the public part of the airport, you'll be listening to relaxing music or watching TV in a tranquil setting.

Create a Care Package for the flight

I love having everything I need at my fingertips. Before boarding the plane, I make sure to have a small tote filled with anything I may need during the flight. There is nothing worse than having to rummage through your carryon bag stuffed away in the overhead bin to search for an item you need. Instead, I have a small package containing must have items.

My care package consists of:

Headphones, eye mask, Advil, earplugs, Chapstick, small tube of moisturizer, a pen and a sweater in case I get cold. It fits conveniently under my seat and if I need anything, I can get to it easily.

Pay a extra for a Premium Seat

As a frequent flier I can attest that premium seats make all the difference. While it's difficult for people who don't have airline status (meaning you fly a lot) to get an upgrade, many flights offer premium economy seats that make your flight just a little more comfortable. The premium economy seats are located near the front of the plane, there's extra legroom, and seats are usually wider. That extra space makes all the difference during the flight and being near the front of the plane lets you be one of the first off the plane, so you can beat the lines to immigration.

Download your own Entertainment

Many airlines are now charging for entertainment and often times if they do offer inflight entertainment, it doesn't work of the selection is awful. We never rely on others for entertainment; we download our favourite TV show or a few movies on our iPhone and have hours on stress free entertainment.

Enjoying our own entertainment

Stay over at the Airport Hotel

And finally, if you want to start your holidays a bit early, book a night at the airport hotel. Many hotels offer parking packages where you can book a night before your flight and leave your car for up to two weeks in their parking lot. You can then catch their free shuttle to the airport in the morning. It takes all the stress out of holiday travel and gives you an extra bonus night for your vacation. When we travel for short periods, we always use an airport hotel. Many times, the nights' stay is the same as booking a parking space for a couple of weeks.

Sign up for the TripIt app for your smart phone now and start making your travels easier. New customers receive a 30 day trial of TripIt Pro

This article is in partnership with TripIt but like everything on ThePlanetD, we would never endorse or recommend something if we don't use it and love it ourselves.

Read the original post 10 Expert Tips to Ease the Stress of Holiday Travel on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

What My Kids Learned from Living in the Dominican Republic

Posted: 23 Oct 2015 02:00 AM PDT

We are in our 5th year of living in the Dominican Republic with our two babies that were born here, on this beautiful island. I know, immediately you think we live the life of tropical dreams: kids with messy, salt-water hair that knew how to surf before they knew how to crawl, coconuts for snacks, and piña colada happy hours. While some days absolutely look like this, it hasn’t all been easy. Parenting never is. Parenting abroad is even trickier.

What We’ve learned Living in the Dominican Republic

With that being said, there has been a lot we’ve learned from living abroad and, specifically, a lot that our kids have learned as a result from living in DR, all by the tender age of 4.

The world is their playground

When you’re living in the Dominican Republic where there is no need to check the weather because the forecast is sunny and sunnier, there isn't much inside time. We spend our days at the playground or the pool or the beach or our courtyard or the basketball court or… well, you get it – and because of that our kids live their lives outside, endlessly playing in a continual summer. They live most of their waking hours exploring the outside world and it’s fabulous.

Living in the Dominican Republic

They Learn How to talk to everyone

Dominicans are a social culture. People hang outside and talk with their neighbours. Strangers chat in line at the supermarket. A gas attendant once stood next to my car window the entire fill-up time asking me about one of my dogs in the passenger seat. I wasn’t even sure one could talk that much about a dog to a stranger. This isn't a culture that shies away from interaction so when my daughter strikes up a conversation with a guard at the U.S. embassy I'm not all that surprised. My kids have learned that communication is an essential skill to connecting with others and they are outgoingly fabulous because of it.
Read: 8 Must Try Caribbean Water Sports

Living in the Dominican Republic has also taught them to see everyone as the same. They say hi to the Haitians working construction or the nanny with the umbrella walking in the opposite direction of us on the sidewalk or the businessman they pass in the mall- to them there is no difference. Manners, simple hellos and thank yous, are not reserved for the affluent families that they see everyday at my husband's school; they are for everyone they come in contact with. Living in Santo Domingo has showed them to accept people of all places and levels and statuses.
You can buy COCONUTS in the supermarket but why when they grow on trees?
I can’t think of a time when I was a kid that I just found a random apple tree whose apple I could eat, unless it was autumn and we went apple picking at an orchard. Not the case here. We have, our complex, several coconut trees, a Guayaba tree, a banana tree, and a mango tree. All with pick-able, eat-able fruit.
Check out: Why I travel for food and show should you!
Coconuts

Learn how to be kids

Living in the Dominican Republic, kids (and pregnant women) are mini gods, like cows in India but in human form. People stop their cars and let you cross the street when you’re pregnant. They let you cut lines in the bank and grocery store. And kids have the same right of way. Our kids get gushed over by older Dominican grandmas, 20-something-year-old skater boys, middle-aged Domino players, young mothers, or Catholic nuns alike. If they’re running or making noise, no one looks at them and rolls their eyes. They don’t look at us either and wonder why our kids are acting like kids. This is a culture that loves kids, that embraces children and it shows in mine. They are fearless in public, assuming that people will love them… and people do.
Need Inspiration? Read “Kids Who Inspired their mom to step out of here comfort zone”
Being Born

You say Hola, and I say goodbye

It was never a doubt that I wanted my kids to be bilingual. As the first generation, Cuban -American of my family, I wasn’t always confident in my second language of Spanish but I knew how important being bilingual was… and is. I made the decision to only speak to them in Spanish before they were born; living in Dominican Republic has made it easier, and since my husband works at an English school, learning both languages has been natural. Getting to watch them navigate between the two languages is – to put it lightly – freaking awesome. They know who to thank in English and who to give gracias to in Spanish and they don't bat an eye switching between the two. P-r-etty cool. Now, they’re working on mastering Spanglish.
Enjoy: 11 Fun and Not so Obvious Things to do in Cuba

You don't need a reason to celebrate

It's Friday afternoon so we have friends over with their kids. People bring snacks, we order beers from the colmado*, we play some YouTube playlist and it's a party. We do the same thing Saturday mornings for brunch or on Sundays afternoons… or on Monday because it’s the beginning of the week. It doesn't have to be someone's birthday or a special occasion to have a good time with friends here. Dominicans love getting together; they love music (the louder, the better) and rum drinks and laughter. There is no “right” reason to celebrate when everything is a reason to celebrate. Life is one big party if you keep dancing.
Celebrating and Dancing

* tiguere is Dominican slang for a hustler or street smart guy.
* colmado is a corner store, like a bodega, that is found everywhere in DR.

Jen has been a storyteller since she was a kid, though at that time, she was telling stories to get her out of the principal's office. Now, she uses storytelling to author her ambrosial life abroad as an expat, island wife-mom. Jen writes at Drinking the Whole Bottle (a metaphor for life… and a confession) about savoring every moment, every last drop, of life. She has been featured on the Huffington Post, Matador Network, Elephant Journal and is a contributor for Women Who Live on Rocks.
Besides storytelling, Jen loves fireflies, her rescue dogs, and celebrating with fermented beverages. She hates cockroaches, bullies, and regret. In her next life, she hopes to come back as the Dos-Equis Man but as a bigger and badder woman version. Currently Jen lives “Somewhere,” that place where it's always 5 o'clock… You could find her drinking – metaphorically speaking – on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Antarctica Photography – 8 Easy Tips and Tricks

Antarctica Photography Tips for great photos

Giant ZipLock Freezer Bags

This may seem like an odd tip to be number one, but this inexpensive item will keep your camera gear safe from breaking down part way through your Antarctica Cruise. Condensation ruins cameras. After a few hours outside your camera gets really cold, I used really large ziplock bags to put all my gear in before I went back inside the ship. This allowed the cameras to warm up at their own speed without forming condensation. Make sure to put the camera in the bag and zip it up before going inside and dispell all of the air out of them. Your camera will thank you.

Bring 2 Camera Bodies

The last thing you want to do is change lenses outside in the elements. So be prepared for any situation with your 2 lenses of choice mounted on 2 separate bodies. I used Canon 5D MKII and Canon rebel T4i. That way I could shoot the massive landscape scenery, but quickly change cameras to capture a whale that unexpectedly surfaces or a penguin off in the distance.

Bracket your shots

Antarctica Photography Tip: Bracket your shots to help capture the right exposure and white balance.

Getting the right exposure in snowy locations can be tricky. Usually you cameras meter has a hard time reading snow and this can lead to the dreaded “grey snow”effect. In order to avoid this situation try bracketing your exposures. Usually 3 or 5 brackets at an interval of 1 to 2 stops will cover you so that you can get that crisp white snow. If you are unfamiliar with this process try and use you cameras spot meter. It will give you a more accurate reading.

Think of showing Scale

Antarctica Photography Tip: Show Scale.

With large icebergs and massive land formations showing a sense of scale can really give the viewer a sense of what it is like to be there. By placing kayaks, people or wildlife in the frame it will help to translate the sheer size of the environment you are in. You can also use the ship or zodiac to relay this information. This shot with the seal and the ship in the background really gives you a sense of how large those surrounding icebergs really are.

Get down low to photograph penguins

Antarctica Photography Tip: Get low to photograph penguins

You are going to see so many penguins that finding an interesting way to photograph them can be difficult. I found that getting as low as you can and placing them against the background works really well. Most people use a long lens to accomplish this but if you are patient enough and let them come to you then you are able to use your wide lens and capture more of the surrounding area and give the vier a sense of place. This is a perfect example of that where I was down on my stomach with a 16-35mm lens.

Bring a dry bag

Antarctica Photography tip: Bring a dry bag. You could face all kinds of conditions

Protecting your gear from the elements is imparative especially in Antarctica where weather can change in an instant. I remember heading out on the zodiac when the sun was shining and 45 minutes later is was snowing and then that turned to rain. Combine that with the salt water and it can ruin your camera. I made sure to bring a dry bag to store all my gear when I was on the Zodiac but also had my cameras in an Op/Tech rain sleeve which are very cheap and do the job. If you can’t find those then a Ziplock bag with a whole cut in it would do in a pinch.

Know your settings

Antarctica Photography tip: Know your settings. You don’t want to miss shots like this.

A little trick I always do is take some test shots in the environment I am in before the action starts. This means that while you are on the zodiac heading out for the day and before the humpback whales start surfacing, make sure you have your camera on the right settings. I used shutter priority mode at 1/200th of second or faster if I was shooting from the Zodiac or Kayak and used Aperture Priority mode when I was on land. The last thing you want to do is have that humpback whale show his fluke in front of an iceberg and the shot be blurry. Knowing your camera and how to use it in different situations will help you bring back the best shots possible.

Bring Filters

Antarctica Photography Tip: Bring Filters

I do recommend bringing 2 types of filters. A UV filter to protect the front of your lens from the elements and a polarizing filter which will help reduce glare on the water and can help saturate the colours as well. A word of warning is to make sure you know when and when not to use the polarizer. It can really over saturate the sky if you are not careful and give an unrealistic look to your photos. So test out how you are going to use it before you leave.
That should do it. These Antarctica photography tips not only helped me capture some great images but they have also helped me keep my camera safe when we are in all kinds of different weather situations.

Do you have any tips for polar travel photography? Share them in the comments below

Read the original post Antarctica Photography – 8 Easy Tips and Tricks on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

7 of the Best Mix and Match Travel Clothes for Women

Posted: 19 Oct 2015 02:00 AM PDT

It’s difficult to pack light and look good at the same time. While the cost of excess baggage goes up, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon to travel carryon only. There are many benefits to packing light, like not having to stand around waiting for your luggage to arrive when your plane lands, or not having to worry about lost luggage while in transit. But how can you pack everything you need into one small rolling suitcase? Well, the best way I’ve found to pack lighter is to mix and match my clothing. So I’ve rounded up my best most versatile pieces of travel clothes for women that I’ve been wearing the past few months of travel by TravelSmith.

best travel clothing by TravelSmith: Sporty Zip Skort with Voyager Knit Drape Neck Shirt

PlanetD Readers Save 15%Travel Gear by TravelSmith when you spend more than $50. At check out use PlanetD promo code Click here to start shopping.

Dave and I travel full time, so I want to give full disclosure that we do not travel carry on only. Our carryon bags are filled with camera gear and computers, but when you look in our backpack, you’ll see that the least amount of items we bring during our travels are clothing. We don’t have a lot of clothes because we like to pack other things to be prepared for any situation. Just a few shirts, pants, shorts and skirts and we’re good to go. We’ve received a lot of emails lately about our travel bags so we thought a good first post to address some of your questions would be to start with sharing 5 must have mix and match items that can be used for several situations during your travels and you’ll look great too!

Voyager Knit Short Sleeve Drape Neck

Best Travel Clothes For Women by TravelSmith

If you want to scale down your packing, think about items that have a duel purpose. I could easily go away for a week with just these 7 items in my backpack and be prepared for most travel situations.

Read: 8 Great Travel Organizers for Better Packing

Sporty Zip Skort

I love the sporty zip skort because I can go for a walk in the woods or a night on the town wearing this piece of clothing. If I put on a pair of running shoes I can go on a hike or I can dress it up with some strappy sandals and be dining out by candlelight in a fine restaurant. It’s comfortable, quick dry and light meaning it won’t take up a lot of room in your suitcase.
Zip Pocket Jeggings

They’re like tights, but thicker and more durable. You can wear them as jeans on their own, or put a long shirt or dress overtop for a more elegant look. This versatile piece of clothing is great for sightseeing at the Eiffel Tower or shopping at the market. I like wearing my jeggings on the plane. Their so comfortable and soft, I can sleep like a baby, but still look great walking through the airport.

Slim Fit Bermuda Shorts with Watercolour Floral Tie Front Top

Classic Fit Slim Station Pull on Bermudas

Perfect for a safari or a walk in the park. I love these shorts. They are stretchy, comfortable and slimming. I can dress these up or down. Little heals with a blouse and they look so cute. Hiking boots and a t-Shirt and I’m ready to hike. These lightweight shorts are durable and easy to wash too.
Indispensable Skirt

Since you have the skort already you don’t necessarily need this skirt in your travel bag, but I love it so much. I wear it everywhere. When I go out for a night of high end dining or a romantic walk on the beach, this is the skirt for me. I lounge in it, I live it. Hence the name Indispensable.

Watercolour Floral Tie Front Top

I use this top to dress up my skirts or leggings. I even wear it with shorts when I know I’ll be out for a day of sightseeing in museums or art galleries. It dresses up any outfit, but is ultra light and so easy to clean.

Enjoying my list of best travel clothes for women? Check out the Most Complete Travel Packing List You’ll Ever See

Cap Sleeve Easy Tee

Every wardrobe needs a T-Shirt and I like the Cap Sleeve Easy Tee because if it’s worn with a pair of shorts, it looks sporty. If I wear it with a skirt or my leggings, it dresses up. If I want to play some sports, go kayaking or just hang out, this easy tee is comfortable and looks great. Everything I have in my suitcase can be worn for many different situations. I never have one item that can only be worn in one situation.

Voyager Shirt

I like trekking in long sleeves and when traveling to many parts of the world, it’s important to keep your shoulders covered, that’s why something like the Voyager Shirt is an excellent choice for travel. Because it is lightweight, breathable and quick drying, it’s perfect for a mountain trek or jungle hike but it also looks great with a pair of jeans, or my jeggings for a night out.
Voyager Knit Short Sleeve Drape Neck

I wanted to add one more pretty T-Shirt. I love it because it’s wrinkle free and it can be dressed up or dressed down. It also scrunches into a little ball and I look very thin in this piece of clothing. It hangs well and the poly/spandex blend even makes it good for hiking. I just look like a fashionable hiker.

Ballet flats

The ballet flat is a new addition to my travel bag and I love them. I like wearing them on the plane because they slip on and off easily making going through security a snap, but I can also wear them sightseeing. Because of their non-slip soles, I wore them while exploring the rocks of Peggy’s Cove and felt very sure footed.

If you like any of my choices for best travel clothes for women travellers, make sure to visit TravelSmith where PlanetD Readers Save 15% off Travel Gear when you spend more than $50. At check out use PlanetD promo code Click here to start shopping.

Solo Traveller Confessions from Kyoto

Making friends when you’re traveling by yourself is extremely easy. Especially if you're staying at a hostel. Whether it's while sharing your life stories over a drink or brushing your teeth at the same sink, striking up conversations within a hostel is very easy. Yes, even for an introvert. And as an introvert, I usually have a game plan on how to make friends/strike up conversations. First is finding someone else who is traveling by themselves. Once found, invite said person or persons for a drink. Then, sit back and let the socializing and life-lasting friendships happen.
Interested in solo travel: Read how being a female solo traveller made Jessica Festa Stronger
First thing I noticed when I got to my hostel in Kyoto was that there were absolutely no solo travelers. Everyone was part of a big group. Huh—my game plan didn't take this variable into account. Okay, there might have been other solo travelers there but maybe they felt the same vibe and did exactly what I did, which was hide. With the realization I may not make any friends, the wheels of the loneliness train I call Ole Anxiety were oiled.

Left: Awesome hostel bunk. If you’re short like my I highly recommend asking for the lower bunk. Right: Groups of people, definitely not solo travelers.

Being alone and feeling lonely are two completely different things. One can feel loneliness while in a room full of people. One can also be alone and not feel loneliness. For me, it was a double whammy. I was alone and I felt lonely.
Worried solo travel? read: 8 Myths of Solo Travel and What Really Happened to me
The climax of this loneliness happened my first night in Kyoto while I was walking to a ramen place I found on TripAdvisor. It was late, it was dark, I was alone. This reads like the start of a horror/thriller story. It’s not. But the half-mile walk from the subway station to the ramen joint, partnered with my 40mph walking speed, made for a lot of internal monologue time. Boy, do I love internal monologues.

By this point I had been in Japan for four days. Not too long, but long enough for me to miss my family. And Mexican food. I also missed conversations in my native tongue. I missed the ocean breeze of home and the game of "will I stop by In N Out at 1am for a shake or won't I?" I always did. When I was younger I would spend my summers with my dad in Northern California. I was fine the first couple days, but by the fourth day, always the fourth day, I would be crying and begging my dad to send me back to my mom and brother because I missed them so much. I thought I had outgrown that. Apparently not. Only now, I miss my mom, brother, and Mexican food.

I made it to the ramen place. Ordered with my signature smile and awkward pointing to the photo of ramen they had on their menu. It was delicious. When I was done eating, I sat there, already dreading the walk back to the station. Dreading the loneliness. On my way out of the restaurant I turned back with the intention of snapping a photo. But I didn't. I was feeling so down I didn't even want to take a photo. That's how I knew it was bad. But then the woman who worked there came to the glass door and gave me the most genuine smile and hand wave ever. It hit me then. I could be alone and choose to let the feelings of loneliness and missing home overwhelm me, or I could be alone and enjoy the company of the new and exciting world around me. Wouldn’t it be great if I chose the latter? That would have made a great blog post. Yeah, I definitely didn’t do that. I definitely had myself a pity party all the way to the subway station. But then I took a photo of a McDonald’s and posted it to Facebook with the caption “eating authentic Japanese food”. And then I laughed because I’m HILARIOUS.

Side Note: If I was the headmaster of a wizarding school I would give Social Media 10 points. Having family and friends (and that one guy from high school I never talk to) comment and like my post gave me a small sense of the familiarity I was missing. Social media, if used correctly, is a great tool.

Yes, I was lonely. And yes, I chose to wallow in it for a bit. But during my trip I was also amused, excited, scared, cautious, tired, and a bunch more adjectives I can’t think of because Thesarus.com isn’t working right now. I experienced a multitude of feelings while in Japan and I wallowed in every single one of them.
check out: Solo Travel in India – Tips from an Indian Female Traveller
Growing up we are constantly told to be happy but not too happy. You can be sad but not sad enough that it makes other people sad. We’re taught to control our feelings. Not necessarily a bad thing. But should we have to control our feelings when we’re with ourselves? Should we have to censor ourselves to ourselves? I don’t think so, and this trip to Japan was a big lesson in that. I hate to use the word ‘self discovery’ because it sounds like something they would say in a trailer for a Hallmark movie, but, man, I can’t think of a better word (Thesaurus.com is still down). Okay, how about this. This trip wasn’t really about me discovering myself, but instead me realizing there was a ‘self’ to discover. Kind of like, “Oh, wow, adult Sam is very different from ten years ago Sam. Hi, it’s nice to meet you”. And maybe a little bit of “Hey, it’s been awhile. I’ve missed you”. I bet some of you who are reading this (Hi Mom!) can relate.

Traveling is awesome. That's not an opinion; that's a fact. I spent thousands of dollars to go to grad school, so you can trust me on that. Traveling is awesome. Traveling by yourself is life-changing. But, with our world full of Instagram accounts and blog posts full of the excitement and adventure found in traveling, it's easy to overlook the emotions on the other end of the spectrum. Fear, loneliness, anxiety, tiredness. All that plus more is experienced when traveling. Isn't it great, though, that we can experience all that? That's what makes traveling the absolute best. You can live so much in such a short amount of time. Go out there and live!
Much Love. Always
-Sam

Samantha Jeet is an aspiring travel photographer, writer, and storyteller. She was raised on islands in the Pacific and currently resides in San Diego, California where she works as cartographer and lifestyle photographer. Samantha holds a B.S. in Health Care Administration and an M.S. in Geographic Information Sciences. She promised her mom she would mention that.
Check out her website samanthajeet.com or follow her on Instagram @samjeet

Travel Helped us Live a Full Life

When Abbott approached us to ask how we learned to live a full life, we went back to our travel roots. Travel changed our lives and it was through our travels we fulfilled our dreams.

Thailand changed our lives

It was during our trip to Thailand that we discovered our passion for adventure and exploring new cultures. We had lived sedentary lives working long hours in the film business and for the first time in years we were outdoors enjoying all nature had to offer. We had been unhealthy living on four hours of sleep, while working extremely long days. We had been consumed by our jobs and our health had suffered because of that. Through travel, we realized that adventure could be not only exciting, but a fun way to keep in shape.

Travel also helped us discover jobs we were passionate about. Dave learned that he loved taking photographs of the scenes and people he saw each day, and I loved writing about our experiences in my journal and sending long emails home to family and friends. This time alone on the road gave us the peace and solitude we needed to look deep into ourselves. We knew we wanted something more.

It was during that trip that we realized life isn’t only about making enough money to sock away a few thousand dollars a year for retirement. We’d never get ahead at our rate of savings and would end up working well into our golden years at jobs that made us feel empty inside. There had to be something more. We needed to feel complete. That trip to Thailand showed us that we had to start focusing on living rather than just working.

We had to focus on living rather than working

When we returned, everything changed, we started to focus on living rather than working. We looked at our film careers as a way to make enough money to do what we loved rather than just living for work. We joined a rock climbing gym, and signed up for scuba diving lessons. We bought mountain bikes and started going for weekend rides out to the country. We were in the best shape of our lives, we were the healthiest we’d ever been. Plus we had more energy than ever before. Even after long hours of work, we could now suddenly find the time to do things on our days off. Travel inspired us to get fit and live a fulfilled life outside of work.

We spent time traveling the world

The next few years were spent splitting our time between work, adventure, and travel. We no longer scrambled for the next job once our contract was over; instead, we said, “Let’s take some time off to explore the world.” We sold our house and kept our expenses at a minimum to have more money for travel and adventure. Our relationship had never been stronger. We found each other inspiring and exciting. We had so much to talk about and we wanted to be together every spare minute we had.

When we weren’t traveling, made sure to do something exciting every weekend. We joined an outdoors club, and we tried every new sport we could think of. We tried our hand at orienteering, kayaking, and adventure racing. Even in the winter we didn’t slow down. We went snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and got a snowboarding membership. We didn't have to be travelling to find fulfillment, we could find it anywhere at any time. Plus, we didn’t know it yet, but we were honing our skills for our future careers.

Read more about how to live a full life at our tips to getting started

Dave with School Children

We were slowly realizing that in order for us to live a fulfilled life we needed to take doing what we love and somehow turn that into a career. That way we never feel that we are working a day in our lives. We had always yearned for a career that made us happy and left us feeling that we were making a difference. Having a purpose in life is important to us and our purpose is to do something meaningful.

But what does a fulfilled life mean to others around the world? A full life could be very different to someone else from another country or culture. There's no right or wrong answer, everyone has a different view of what it's like to live life fully.

That's why Abbott has made it their mission to ask a million people around the world, "what does living fully mean to you?"

Dave and I want to hear it too. Have you ever really thought about that question? I think many people don't take the time to be still and think about what a meaningful life means to them. For us, travel gives that stillness we need to truly find what we are looking for. But whether your passion is traveling or XXX (painting, jogging, etc), it’s so important to make time for the things that help you live fully.”

Take the Quiz: How do you Live Fully?

We have never regretted following our dreams. It was difficult at first, It took time to build a travel blogging career. But unlike our careers in the film business, we could both see ourselves doing this until we’re 90 years old. If it took years to find success, so be it. As long as we followed our hearts and pursued our passion, we could manage to make things work.

Making the dollar stretch in India

Stretching our dollar in places like India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia, allowed the odd advertisement sold on our blog to get us through another month. We kept focused and worked harder than we ever worked in our lives, and over time, we started to make a living out of a job we knew nothing about when we started. It was because we focused on our passion and strengths that we found success. We pulled from personal experiences and let people realize they weren’t alone. We only have one shot on this planet and we should make the most of it.

What is a meaningful life to you?

Are you living a fulfilled life? Head over to LifetotheFullest.Abbott to tell your story, and take the quiz. Tell us your Mission to live a full life, and show us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #Fullosophy. We vow to work on fitness again. After Dave broke his back in the Amazon, we've let ourselves go again, and need to get back into optimal shape. This post has inspired us to start today!

The thought of taking solo holidays can be like scary, uncharted waters for many travelers. There is not only comfort and assurance by traveling with others, but the ability to share memories and experiences with people from our circle. Remove these known factors, and an individual might become quite terrified of travel.

Solo Holidays, a Personal Journey

But travel, especially solo travel, is a personal journey. And even the smallest steps can turn into giant leaps for an individual. Which is why we often push ourselves to do unsettling things.
Solo holiday benefits

I personally craved the ability to go abroad alone; To wander the streets and cities and (try) to blend with the crowd, to have to figure everything out by myself, and to meet new people and connect with other travelers.

Time for Balance and Focus

See, I have no problem being alone. I actually relish in alone time. I like the distance from other people’s energies to achieve balance and focus. I find I often feel recharged after a little time by myself.
theAMZ

I planned a short solo holiday for myself this summer. I spent three weeks in Europe, traveling around Italy, France and England. It was my very first solo adventure, and I learned a lot. So I’m here to share my honest reflections and stories from the “other side” for those of you interested in your own solo trip!

Read: 10 Easy Tips to Manage Work/Life Balance

Honest Reflections: The Truth About Solo Holidays

If you’re unsure if it’s right for you, have your doubts or worries about various aspects, or are just curious about traveling alone, here are 10 tips that will shed some light on a solo trip and help prepare you for your own adventure!
solo holidays pinterest image

1. You’re going to be okay.

You’re not going to get “taken”, robbed, or worse. If you’re smart, organized and prepared, you will be okay. You might even have some fun! I wasn’t all that nervous that something terrible would happen to me, but I’ve seen the movies, and I watch the news, and some of those stories like to stay in the back of the mind just to toy with us. Follow your innate instinct and trust that you WILL be okay.
Inspiration: How Solo Female Travel Made me Stronger

2. If something feels weird, tell someone.

There’s no shame in alerting someone that you’re uncomfortable or nervous. When I was in Paris, I noticed a man following me. He was watching my every move and following me from store to store. I’m not going to lie, it really creeped me out and made me uncomfortable and a little frightened.
But I used my head and made my way toward the closest touristy area: Notre Dame. I got on line and started talking with a family behind me and the couple in front of me. I made it look like I was not flustered. I even told them I thought I was being followed. And you know what? They stuck around and chatted with me until we were ready to part ways and I felt like I’d spent enough time dodging my follower. It worked!

3. You might make friends, you might not.

It depends where you go looking!. Restaurants and touristy attractions will often be filled with couples, families and people apart of groups. Not to say you won’t meet some friendly travelers here, but it’s the hostels, pubs and local spots where you’ll make friends with other travelers looking for companions!

4. You will change.

I heard a lot about how traveling alone would change me. I thought I was going to have a crystal clear “A-ha!” moment while embarking on my solo adventure. One where I suddenly realized so much about myself and who I was going to become in life.
Maybe that does happen for some people, but that wasn’t the case for me. It wasn’t until I was home and settling back into my old way of life that I felt the differences that my trip had imposed on me. I understood the subtle ways I had changed. For me… it was about feeling more wordly, more exposed, and more appreciative. I felt like I had a vast new sense of knowledge just from immersing myself in different cultures. I even felt kinder, and more open to new ways of doing things.

Enjoy: 8 Myths of Solo Travel and What Really Happened to me.

I can’t say these are the exact things you will experience, or feel, or become. But I can say that you’ll leave a little piece of yourself behind, and you take a new-found piece of yourself home.

5. You’ll learn the type of traveler you are.

We think of ourselves as travelers, but have we ever sat back and thought about the type of traveler we are? Luxury, adventurous, budget, fast-paced, laid-back, partier, minimalist, over-analyzer… I guess this boils down to knowing who we are as people.
Check out: Normal to Nomadic – How One Girl Built a Life of Travel
You might like to dive right into tours and sites, or steer clear of the touristy areas and head for the local’s neighborhoods. You might like to move fast, or perfect the art of slow travel. You might prefer to observe rather than join in. Or to experience through food rather than through art. The beauty of solo travel is being able to find out what type of traveler YOU are.

6. You might get homesick.

Whether this is your first solo trip or your 31st, we all get a little nostalgic for certain things we’ve left behind. If you start feeling homesick, it’s important to just remind yourself that you will soon get back home! It’s even more important to not let this homesick feeling affect your experiences and adventures. There’s tons to see and explore wherever you are. So if you catch the homesick bug, get outside and do something awesome in this new destination you’re exploring! It’s the best cure.

7. Learn to deal with feeling overwhelmed.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re traveling alone. You now have to do everything by yourself, for yourself. But that’s part of the experience! Learning how, why, where, when and who.
Great Solo Holidays Tips: Solo Travel in India, Tips from a Indian Female Traveller
For me, it was best to tackle everything I needed to do, one at a time, in order to not get anxious or overwhelmed: Locate metro station. Look up the stop I needed. Determine how to buy metro ticket. Find the right track number. Get off the right stop. Find hotel.
My brain worked best when I looked at each task individually and worked my way down the list. I never felt overwhelmed, but I did feel incredibly accomplished!

8. You’ll push yourself outside of your comfort zone.

Isn’t that the reason we travel, after all? Whether it’s eating alone at a restaurant, trying to learn a new trade, sampling different†foods, attempting to speak a foreign language, or doing a new activity… kiss your comfort zone goodbye.

9. You’ll make beautiful memories and see beautiful things.

Need I say more! Travel is an enriching experience, and the things you see and experience will stay with you always.

Check it out: I Have Faith, My Quest to Find the Perfect Travel Partner

10.You will truly accept yourself.

From all of your weird and quirky traits to good and bad habits, you will find acceptance of all the things that make you you. You might learn new things, or resurface old things… but whatever you find out about yourself along the way, you will come to accept, love and feel proud of.
Buano_theAMZ

Author Bio:
Angelina is a travel writer + blogger from New York. When she’s not daydreaming about her next destination, you can find her sipping a margarita, on a yoga mat, or on Instagram sharing her current adventures. Get to know Angelina from A to Z on her blog www.the-AMZ.com.

Blog: www.the-amz.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/the.amz

Twitter: www.twitter.com/theamzcom

East Coast Road Trip: Nova Scotia

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Nova Scotia, South Shore

We focused on the South Shore of Nova Scotia starting in Peggy’s Cove. We went kayaking in Lower Prospect just a half hour from Peggy’s Cove or Halifax. Staying at Oceanstone Resort made for the perfect point to make a base.

We then moved on to the artisan town of Mahone Bay. It’s a lovely town set on the water with the 3 churches as the main attraction for photographers.

It was then on to Lunenburg to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of only two urban centres in North America to have that honour.
lunenburg nova scotia

The other urban UNESCO World Heritage Site in North America goes to Quebec City.
Blue Rocks is just a few minutes outside of Peggy’s Cove and is another excellent spot to go kayaking or to catch early morning sunrise.

From there we went on to the La Have Ferry to cross the river and enjoy delicious treats at the La Have Bakery. Our road trip continued to Crescent Beach, the only beach in Nova Scotia you can drive on where we spent a wonderful afternoon. Our tour took us to Liverpool: home of the Privateers and then on to Birchtown to visit the very first black loyalist settlement in Canada. Birchtown played a huge part in the Underground Railroad and after gaining their freedom many former slaves made Birchtown their home.
nova scotia road trip

Thanks to Geoff Matthews of Wandertooth for the sweet map and motion maps in our video.
Our final night was spent in Argyle where we enjoyed lobster poutine at Ye Olde Argyler before heading over to Yarmouth to see another iconic Nova Scotia lighthouse.

lighthouse stop on nova scotia road trip

Cape Forchu Lighthouse in Yarmouth

It was an excellent 8 day road trip that took us to the southern end of Nova Scotia. The South Shore is filled with activities and after our road trip to the South, we spent 2 more days driving up along the North Shore and the Bay of Fundy before heading back to Halifax…but that’s another story.
Stay tuned for more stories from our East Coast Road Trip through Nova Scotia.
For now read more at:
Nova Scotia Accommodations: Where to Stay on the
Kayaking in Nova Scotia with a Lobster Feast
Peggy’s Cove: The Famous Landmark from land and sea
Nova Scotia Logo

Our East Coast Road trip is in partnership with Nova Scotia tourism, to find out more about travel to Nova Scotia, visit NovaScotia.com

Photos of India

Tipu Sultan’s summer palace, Bangalore

The happiest children in India; a short walk down the street turned into photographing these kids (and their seemingly never ending supply of siblings) for over an hour as they clamoured to get 'single' and 'together' shots

The happiest children in India; a short walk down the street turned into photographing these vibrant kids (and their seemingly never ending supply of siblings) for over an hour as they clamoured to get ‘single’ and ‘together’ shots

Women in Bangalore

Crowds gather to bathe in and worship th Ganges, whilst some bottle up the water to take home to ill family members

Crowds gather to bathe in and worship the Ganges, whilst some bottle up the water to take home to ill family members

Men enjoy chai at a stall in Haridwar. The cheeky chai walla here tried to charge us double the price; luckily I’d learnt to count in Hindi by then!

Check it out: India and Mexico, more similar than you think!

One of my favourite things about India is that despite the hurry, strangers are never too busy to help each other out, whether it’s by hopping into the front seat of an auto rickshaw to help a driver find their destination, or by lending a hand squeezing a scooter through a cramped alley

A neighbouring family in Rishikesh

Locals bathe in the Ganges, Rishikesh

City palace, Jaipur

Hawa Mahal; taken from a rooftop where I sat and drank chai peacefully for a couple of hours as a young man (unsuccessfully) attempted to flirt with my mum

View of the old city from the Hawa Mahal

Enjoy: The Many Faces of India, A photostory

Amer Fort, Jaipur; taken during Eid (the end of Ramadan/breaking of the fast), so hundreds of Muslims had come here to celebrate wearing new dresses

Taj Mahal; probably the most overrated place in India, but a one time must see nonetheless

The ghats at Pushkar lake

See Our Favourites from India: A Photo Story

The blue city (Jodhpur’s old city)

Mehrangarh fort, Jodhpur

Read: India Pakistan Border Ceremony: Theatre in Politics

Jodhpur; whilst the origin of the many blue houses remains ambiguous, this woman was paid to allow a film crew to paint her house blue

Jodhpur; whilst the origin of the many blue houses remains ambiguous, this woman was paid to allow a film crew to paint her (formerly cream) house blue

Rajasthani man plays the Sarod whilst the woman sings

Gadisar lake, Jaisalmer

See: India’s Holi Festival

Venkatshwara temple, Bangalore

Photographer Bio:
Tanisha is a naturopathy (BHSc) student and vegan health, lifestyle and travel blogger from Sydney (her website is tanisha.co).
Follow her on instagram at @ttanisha_ for travel photos, and @taniangel7 for vegan food and health inspiration.

Nova Scotia Accommodations

Accommodation in Nova Scotia is so diverse.

Our road trip started in Peggy’s Cove. This is one of the most visited sites in Nova Scotia located just a half hour outside of Halifax. You should spend more than just a day at this beautiful fishing village. Besides the lighthouse there’s plenty to see!
Read: Kayaking the South Shore of Nova Scotia

Oceanstone Seaside Resort

The OceanStone Resort near Peggy’s Cove

What a great way to start our Nova Scotia travels. Oceanstone Seaside Resort is located just 10 minutes from Peggy’s Cove. The private cabins are located right no the shore with private beaches in front of each space complete with fire pit, and adirondack chairs perfect for sipping coffee while watching the sun come up. There are kitchens in each cabin and you can have them bring you snacks, breakfast fixings and coffee or you can stock up on your own. With free Wifi and on sight restaurant, there’s everything you need for an extended stay.
For accommodation bookings and information visit the Oceanstone website

Atlantic Oak Island Resort

The Atlantic Oak Island Resort

Changing pace a bit, your next stop for South Shore Nova Scotia accommodations is the Atlantica oak Island Resort & Marina. The Atlantica Oak Island is a conference centre and spa. It has all the amenities you could ever need for your vacation including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, and fitness centre. Located directly on the water it’s part of a marina and you can rent kayaks or take a guided kayaking tour, play tennis, basket ball or simply sit by the bon fires at night as you munch on heavenly smores melting in your mouth. The restaurant is divine and we enjoyed a 3 course meal complete with local wine.
For more information visit the Atlantica Oak Island Website

Lunenburg

The beautiful Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Chances are if you are visiting Nova Scotia, you will visit the picturesque town of Lunenburg. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s one of only two urban centres in all of North American to have that distinction. So if it’s not on your list of things to do in Nova Scotia, add it!

Lunenburg Arms Hotel

The Lunenburg Arms Hotel

The Lunenburg Arms Hotel is located right downtown with waterfront view suites that take you back in time to another era. It’s like one of the Grand Dame historic hotels that you find in every city that everyone wants to stay in. This heritage property has an elevator, (important when you normally have to go up 5 flights of stairs in heritage homes), wheelchair accessibility (something we found to be a rarity in many places around Nova Scotia) and a Spa. It’s the perfect blend of heritage with modern amenities. While our room felt fit for a Duke at the turn of the century, we also had a flat screen TV, fluffy duvet, and air conditioning with a beautiful view of the harbour. We could walk everywhere in town so we didn’t need our car, but if we did, there is free parking (for residents) right across the street.
Visit Eden Travel for more on the Lunenburg Arms

For more information on Nova Scotia Accommodations check out Nova Scotia Tourism for suggestions all around the country.

Lane’s Privateer Inn

Lane’s Privateer Inn in Liverpool

Making your way along the lighthouse route to Liverpool, home of the original Privateers and the historic Fort Point Lighthouse, the place to stay is at Lanes Privateer Inn. This family owned Nova Scotia accommodation has all the East Coast hospitality you could hope for. You immediately feel at home when you check in. It’s newly renovated rooms are as inviting as they are comfortable.

The rooms were beautiful in Lane’s Privateer Inn

What we loved was their dining room. It’s a laid back feel in an English Style pub, but the food leans more towards fine dining with everything prepared by hand with only local ingredients. It was our favourite meal of our entire trip and that says a lot! We ate in some pretty awesome places while in Nova Scotia. Breakfast was the best we had in their delightful coffee shop.
You can use their canoe and go for a paddle on the river and they can set up excursions like kayaking or paddle boarding.
If you make it to the southern part of Nova Scotia be sure to check out Lane’s Privateer Inn

Ye Olde Argyler Lodge

Ye Olde Argyler Lodge in Argyle, Nova Scotia

As we make our way through our list of Nova Scotia Accommodations, Ye Olde Argyler is our next stop on the South Shore. Located about 45 minutes from Yarmouth, this quiet heritage house stands on the shores of Lobster Bay. They offer kayaking excursions or you can simply sip wine as you watch the sun go down over the picturesque bay as a fire blazes in the pit. Dinner is a delight with East Coast musicians playing lively tunes and don’t forget to try the local specialty, Lobster Poutine.
To book your accommodation, visit Ye Olde Argyler Lodge

Blomidon Inn

The rooms were opulent at the Bloomdin Inn

The rooms were opulent at the Blomidon Inn

Alas our South Shore Nova Scotia Accommodations have come to an end. We’ve nearly reached the southernmost point of the province, but like all great road trips, you need to turn around and come back. While making your way back to Halifax, take a pit stop and stay in the town of Wolfville. Blomidon Inn was a beautiful blend between a hotel and bed and breakfast. Our bed was so big, we needed a step to get up to it and our room was so inviting, we ordered room service to bring us a glass of wine so we could sip it in our sitting area. We don’t do that often, but this was a room we never wanted to leave.
However, I’m glad we did because we had the chance to eat in their award winning dining room. Our server offered the perfect wine pairing with our meals as we enjoyed the ambiance of the grand old dining room.
Read more at the Official Blomidon Inn Website.
So as you can see, Nova Scotia accommodations vary greatly from city to city. There are heritage homes, small B&Bs, family size cabins and full on resorts. Whatever you are looking for, you’ll find it in Nova Scotia. Now all you have to do is choose!
TourNS Canada CMYK ENG Blu FLAG

Our trip to the province is in Partnership with Nova Scotia Tourism. For more information on visiting Nova Scotia visit their website.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015