Journey & Adventure

Well, if we want to get technical, it's more putting fingers to a keyboard, but nonetheless, I've had some ideas, checklists, methods brewing in my brain for sometime and I've finally decided to do something about it.  What is "it", you ask? I've decided to create a digital, downloadable, fillable travel planner.  I know, it's been done - many times; however nothing out there will compare to mine (yes, that's my opinion).  My travel research methods, checklists, packing lists, etc. have been honed, tried and tested many times, with many destinations and for that, I think I've included insight that you might not find with the existing digital travel planners out there (once again, that's my opinion). Initially I'm offering it solely on Etsy, but who knows where it might lead.  There will be deluxe and basic versions, packing lists, budget templates, etc. - all in various color choices. Stay tuned...who knows what I'll start to c...

Where to begin?  I promised a full trip report from our trip to the Galapagos in March.  It’s now almost May and let’s be honest - that report isn’t going to get written.   I’ve been too busy at work to mentally process anything by the end of the day. Why have I been busy at work?  Well, while I was on vacation, they finally terminated a long-term, painful employee in our department that has been a thorn in the side of many for years.   Hence the reason for my busyness – I’ve been asked told to take on some “extra” work until they can “figure things out”.  So, in addition to my already busy contract portfolio, I now am responsible for our trademark and corporate portfolio.  Honestly, I’d gladly give up contracts for trademarks and corporate because there is WAAAY less drama and interaction with the outside world.  When did I become so anti-social?  Good question. Now, back to a brief synopsis of our Galapagos trip.  ...

It’s Canadian Thanksgiving today, so in the spirit of giving thanks, here’s what I’m thankful for: I’m thankful for my family and friends. They all drive me bat-shit crazy on a regular basis, but I appreciate their quirks – in small doses. I’m especially thankful to J for taking care of the majority of the household chores - cleaning, groceries, baking and margarita making. I’m thankful for my sense of humor and the margaritas because without them, I would have totally lost my mind by now. I’m thankful for The Boy and his sense of humor because without it, he would have made me lose my mind by now. I’m thankful my in-laws are hosting the turkey dinner this year for the whole family. I’m especially thankful for not having to have those people in my house for an extended period of time and being able to leave when I want. I’m thankful today is a holiday and therefore, I do not have to spend time with my boss or co-workers. I’m thankful for my job, but would be more thankful...

After a couple of years of wandering aimlessly through a couple of different college programs, The Boy has decided to take a year off from his search of post-secondary knowledge. In hindsight, J and I should have encouraged him to do this sooner, as it would have save a lot of time, money and frustration by everyone involved, but as parents, you want your children to succeed, have more and do more than you personally. During my generation, we finished high school knowing we were lucky to be heading off for college because many of our parents didn’t have that ability. They simply finished high school and entered the work force, got married, started a family, etc. A post-secondary education wasn’t expected from them, or in some cases it wasn’t even an option. In this day and age, we expect our children to be destined for greatness and when greatness doesn’t come exactly how and when we expect it – on our terms and schedule, we become overly concerned that there is something fu...

I have found the absolute perfect solution to many of my work woes.  Incentive travel.  Yes, instead of a monetary bonus, companies actually provide their employees with travel rewards. Incentive travel programs allow employees to work towards a tangible reward. Also, a program such as this offers the possibility to satisfy each human being’s inherit desire to see and travel the world. As an innovative way to motivate employees, the positive impact an incentive travel program within a company can bring is worth looking into. The following three steps will help you in launching an incentive program which can potentially show an increase in business, employee retention, and office place morale. I intend on putting this little tidbit into the "Suggestion Box"...

I’ve been a bit of a slacker in posting about our trip to the Philippines in March. Well, I’ve finally gotten around to taking a look at J’s pictures from the trip and they’ve managed to refresh my memory of the awesome time we had. Now, as you can imagine as with anywhere in the world, the Filipinos are wonderful people, with their own cultures, beliefs and ways of doing things. As tourists, it’s not for us to judge something different as being right or wrong. In my opinion, it’s simply best to sit back and observe what other cultures have to offer us. If you open your mind, you just might be entertained and you may even learn something in the process. One tidbit I’ve picked up from travelling to the Philippines is that they are creative with transporting their livestock and apparently do not have a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) chapter there. Why? Well, take a look at what we observed in our travels. .. I should point out that some of these methods...

This local organization – or should I say, a group of talented individuals have recently came to my attention. This is such a fantastic cause. I cannot tell you how many times in my travels that I’ve wished I could help those in need in some small way, but with a large impact. The founders of You Are Sew Gorgeous have done just that. The concept of You Are Sew Gorgeous is simple – turn donated pillowcases into beautiful dresses for little girls in need in underdeveloped nations. Their hope is that a handmade dress will make these girls feel special – the way they deserve to look and feel. Feeling special is something every little girl deserves regardless of where they come from or their social status.  I’m sure these dresses mean the world to them and I can only imagine the smiles on their faces.  I’ll be taking some of these dresses along with me in my next round of travels. If you would like, you can also look them up and "Like" them on Facebook here .

People say – “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” I say – “Absence makes you wonder why you didn’t stay away longer.” Yes, I’m back. It’s good to be home, but it’s not so good to be back at work and back to reality. Reality is overrated. I know, I know...enough of my bemoaning the fact that my vacation is over. We arrived home late in the evening on my birthday, March 31st. We left the Philippines on my birthday.  I had two whole days of birthdays thanks to the International Date Line. It was the longest birthday of my life, but thank goodness, I didn’t age twice.  That would NOT have been cool. This time around, jet lag caught up to me with a vengeance. It’s now Wednesday, April 04, 2012 and I’m just starting to function again. Thank goodness it’s a short work week – Good Friday is a Godsend (pardon that horrible pun). I hope to finally get some pictures downloaded from my camera tonight and put together some thoughts from our trip, which I hope to share w...

Just a quick update.  We are mid way through our Philippine vacation and have been having a great time.   We spent last week scuba diving in Dumuagete, Philippines (Negros Island).  The resort was unbelievable, the people, food, accommodations were beyond our expectations. Yesterday, we were on the road again...headed to Legazpi, Philippines to snorkel with the whale sharks.  This is where our trip took a turn for the unexpected.  Our flight was first delayed and then ultimately canceled.  We tried without luck to reschedule our flights for today, but were told all flights to our destination were sold out until March 30...the same day we are scheduled to fly home. So, long story short...here we sit in a hotel lobby in Manila, Philippines - waiting for our rooms to be ready.  This will be the same hotel we will be residing in for the next 3 days....until our flight home. As disappointed as we are about our disruption, travel is what yo...

I’ve posted these lyrics before, but they sum things up quite nicely, as we get ready to depart tomorrow… Changes in Latitude Jimmy Buffett - 1977 I took off for a weekend last month Just to try and recall the whole year All of the faces and all of the places Wonderin where they all disappeared I didn't ponder the question too long I was hungry and went out for a bite Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum And we wound up drinkin all night Chorus: Its these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes Nothing remains quite the same With all of our running and all of our cunning If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane Reading departure signs in some big airport Reminds me of the places I’ve been Visions of good times that brought so much pleasure Makes me want to go back again If it suddenly ended tomorrow I could somehow adjust to the fall Good times and riches and son of a bitches I’ve seen more than I can recall Chorus:...

Allow me to introduce…Stella…. “Stella” is what I am fondly calling my new photo backpack - my Tamrac Expedition 6X photo backpack. I know what you’re asking – why the hell do I need a photo back? Well, it seems that J thinks I’m getting off too easy when we travel and that I need to start sharing the “load”, so Stella is his way of passing over some of his 30 lbs of camera equipment to me (read: I’m being transformed into a pack-mule). I must admit that I’m a little sad to be saying goodbye to Juan (photo not included). Juan is a little tired from all of our adventures, but he’s still got it going on…and man he’s ruggedly handsome and holds a lot of stuff and none of it is camera related (read: 4 bottles of rum). If it wasn’t for J needing to carry an excessive amount of photo gear, Juan would be the one venturing to the Philippines with me. *sigh* Honestly, I don’t mind really since the backpack seems to be made to fit a female frame (read: shorter person). U...

In less than a week, we are off to the Philippines for two glorious weeks of scuba diving, snorkeling, eating, drinking, relaxing , more relaxing and maybe some shopping. I’m looking forward to everything - except the journey to get there. The first leg of the trip will see us depart Toronto for a 15 hour flight to Hong Kong. Then it’s another 2 hour flight from Hong Kong to Manila and then another 2 hour flight from Manila to Cebu and then a 2 hour bus ride to the dive resort. Estimated time in transit to get there, including flights, wait time at the airports and bus time = 25+ hours. A previous trip to Palau was 36+ hours of travel time, BUT we had an overnight stop over in Hawaii, which softened the blow a bit. All of our travel companions are pretty easy going, but I’m sure someone will have a meltdown before that excursion is over. My money is on one of the smokers in the group. Should be interesting. I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes. The suitcases are ...

Let me first start by saying that I have no experience in this area, but am slowly gathering some knowledge through my research while trying to help The Boy “discover himself”. Truth is - I’m trying to get him out of my house and into the world… Although, I joke about his wasted college days, I don’t see anything that helps you decide the things you DON’T want to do in life as a total waste. Yes, money has been spent on school that could have been better spent elsewhere. Enough said… I’m not dwelling on that. Moving forward… So, The Boy is once again at a crossroads of what he wants to do with his life. He’s tried three separate college programs (broadcast television, business marketing and most recently, culinary management) and none seem to be fulfilling a need in his life. While he enjoys culinary, it’s not something he can see himself making a long term career out of. He’s a hard worker, but just doesn’t have the passion for it. With all that being said, it’s been di...

Back to travel basics...  When traveling always remember, that you are a merely guest in someone else’s village, city or country.   You are visiting their home.   Stop and ask yourself - how would you want visitors to behave in your home?  Making responsible choices before and during your vacation can help protect communities and the environment around the world. Know Before You Go Do your homework before you go.  Know where you’re going, what to expect, acceptable practices and most importantly, the cultures you will be experiencing.  It doesn’t hurt to learn a few words of the local language – words like “please” and “thank-you” will go a long way in any culture.  The internet is a vast source of travel-related information – use it.  Ignorance is not an excuse. Go Green Remove all excess packaging before you leave home.  Understand that proper waste disposal can be difficult or non-existence in remote places a...

So, I feel sort of ashamed of myself and I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve just booked another vacation. I know, I know, I haven’t even left for the one in March, so what business do I have in booking another one? Well, I don’t have any business going anywhere after my complaining about how much the March one is costing me. Well on the topic of cost…cheap airfare is the reason I do EVERYTHING!!! I live for cheap airfare and literally receive daily updates from all of the major airlines and booking sites. I’ve been watching flight prices since last October for my favorite place on Earth (Bonaire by the way) and airfare has been averaging $1,000 pp. Well, $1,000 airfare is just too much to pay for something in the Caribbean when I also have to consider accommodations, vehicle rental and scuba diving. This morning, there is an e-mail in my inbox saying my watched flight to Bonaire has gone down by $250. Hmmm, that’s still a lot of money but I decide to take a peek at the f...

Only 28 more days until my journey to the Philippines begins. I can’t believe it is getting so close. To be honest, I haven’t thought much about it with everything else that’s been going on with my life at the moment. I know it seems insane, but I’ve already started to pack. Packing for a scuba trip is a completely different form of packing and because we take all of our own gear (with the exception of tanks and weights), we need to start early to make sure everything is still in working order. Believe me, there is no such thing as “packing light”. With all the scuba gear, including regulators, suits, boots, BCD’s, mask, fins, snorkels, underwater flashlights, batteries for the flashlights and underwater camera equipment, my “gear” suitcase is usually just shy of 40 lbs and then when the first aid kit, sunscreen, medications (decongestant, Pepto Bismol, Dramamine, Tylenol, toiletries and anything else we think we might need that won’t be readily available) is added, I’m push...

I used to think every day was a good day to travel, but that is not the case today.  J and I are headed to New Brunswick, Canada to attend my grandpa's funeral tomorrow - we fly out tonight. I think this is the first time I've had to pack sweaters for a trip - usually I travel light because I'm headed south, but it's slightly impossible when headed to the east coast in February. Although, it's a sad occasion I'm sure they'll be some laughter.  My family is entertaining and I'm sure I'll get more than enough family antics material to fill at least a week's worth of blog posts.  If you've ever watched the show "Swamp People" - you'll understand. Thanks to everyone for your kind words yesterday.  I appreciate it.

As I type this post (which won’t likely get posted for another day), I’m waiting for news from J. He’s at the hospital with his immediate family (mom, brother, sister) where his Dad is undergoing open heart surgery today. I decided to come to work instead of being with the family because I thought “one more cook” might be too much for the kitchen to handle…if you know what I mean. Needless to say, I’m distracted.   UPDATE:   The father-in-law came through his triple bypass surgery just fine and now the recovery begins. There are times like this when I wonder about leaving for Ecuador. I realize 5 years is a long way off, but I still worry about the “what ifs” of having aging parents and The Boy still in Canada. On the “getting ready to escape to Ecuador” front, J and I have made a list of things that need to be done around the house before we can sell it. Once again, I know 5 years is a long way off, BUT it’s a big list. About 5 years ago we completed a major...

Don't get excited, I'm not leaving permanently, just departing on a little vacation to Hawaii. I hope to actually have some time stop in and say hello. See you soon!

This article recently appeared in one of our local newspapers.  I just had to share...enjoy!    A recent survey from Thomas Cook and the Association of British Travel Agents revealed 20 of the most ridiculous complaints by holiday-makers made to their travel agent.   1. “I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts.”   2. “It’s lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during ‘siesta’ time — this should be banned.”   3. “On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don’t like spicy food at all.”   4. “We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swimming costumes and towels.”   5. A tourist at a top African Game Lodge overlooking a water hole, who spotted a visibly a...