Itchy Feet + Light Wallet = Innovative Travel

After a few long weeks of getting back in to the swing of my schedule, the sun is still shining, the birds still chirping and my mind is still wandering – where to go next? I never could figure out how people in warm climates ever got any work done? In my half-daydream / half-web search, I’ve found tons of neat concepts that help the average Joe wander the world on a budget.

First stop : CouchSurfing.org At first, I was a little put off by inviting random tourists to stay on your couch, but after reading through the details, I’m a little less hesitant. Basically, the site allows you to find locals in the places where you’re staying. It gives you the option to meet up and have a local take you around, have a coffee to practice your language skills or stay on the locals’ couch to save on hotel/hostel bills. The rating and feedback function lets you know others’ opinions of your surfer and helps you decide how much time you’re going to spend with the tourist. I like it, but I would approach it cautiously.

Next: I found an article about How to Swap Cities. Again, novel idea but I have my hesitations. Basically swapping is just as it sounds; you transplant yourself in to someone Else’s home and lifestyle for a designated amount of time. It’s a great way to get to really know another city for longer than just the 10-15 days that a holiday would take up and allows you to experience life in another culture/continent. It takes a lot of planning to make it work though – getting work to transfer you temporarily to another office location or convincing them to let you telecommute takes time.

Both of these options require a very high degree of trust between you an your guest and many would shy away from it, knowing since childhood to be weary of strangers. At the same time though, there’s recent studies to suggest that, in general, people are good. The Toronto Star’s experiment with stolen wallets is proof, but being cautious while abroad never hurt either.

Lastly, back to the ol’ faithful money saving tricks: Buy food at the grocery store, go camping, share toiletries, use your feet instead of transit and always, always have enough change to call home, just in case!

Pushing the Limits

I stood at the base of it, looking up and contemplating the outcome of what I was about to do. I hadn’t expected it, but now that I was here, I couldn’t turn back or otherwise face scrutinizing looks and a long trek back. What stood before me wasn’t a mountain or glacier, but instead a ginormous sand dune that formed a sort of cliff overlooking the sea, and which inevitably separated me from my vehicle. I know now, the accomplishment wasn’t so spectacular, but at the time it certainly was! I approached it cautiously, opting to take the slow route on a diagonal instead of the otherwise perilous path upward. Ten feet up, I noticed that my shoes that were meant to be supportive, were actually causing more distress to my climb than expected. I took a moment to untie them, take off my socks and let the sand rush through my toes and oddly enough, it’s my toes that made the journey easier. I glanced over at the sea, taking in the atmosphere, tying my shoes together and throwing them through my purse strap, and turned back to face the task at hand. With a few breaths and subsequent pauses, I finally made it with my friends cheering me along the way! A large bottle of water later and shoes safely back on my feet, I was able to take in exactly what I had done and enjoy the scenery from the top, thankful that I did it, but also relieved it was over! It was certainly a challenge and I’m not one to back down from a challenge, but in hindsight I can see why people push themselves to the very limit, despite the pain and agony that they put their body through, the result is exhilarating – something to tell the grand kids. Although my sand dune wasn’t the Iron Man or the Patagonian Expedition,  it was mine and something to use as a starting point – perhaps my next trek will include ropes and harnesses? Who knows, but anything is possible. And if amputees are known to have crossed the country and climbed mountains, then there is surely no excuse.

A Movement in the Making

I kayaked with a beluga whale! I saw a beaver in the wild! I climbed a sand dune! I could not have said that until a few weeks ago and the exhilaration of it spilled over to my blog – see posted about a week ago. I was truly awestruck and still am marveling that this was indeed my country – really, came at me from out of the blue. If anything, it’s made me even more eco-conscious and a great advocate for eco-travel and conservation.

Ironically, just as the thrill for the natural world subsides, my mood falls in to an abyss as word of wildlife destruction in the Gulf Coast starts to permeate the headlines. Not just any wildlife, but the whales that I had so fondly become accustomed to. Shockingly, these massive animals that fear none have found their match in deadly oil that slowly is killing everything it touches.  What an awful thought! I’m not surprised then that the tourism industry would be affected, not only on the Gulf Coast, but also in Canada where oil exploration continues throughout northern Alberta.

Prospecting for oil is big business, which regardless of good intentions and taking the necessary precautions, is driven by consumerism and is done at the expense of another reliable industry. Opting for greater investment in green technology and alternative energies just might save tourism, or save just about every other business out there. Business are waking up to the realities that consumers do not want to support products that are damaging to the environment, cause wildlife extinction or cause air qualities to deteriorate and alas, the CSR executives, Green PR Consultants and Tech junkies are finding more and more areas for work.

Most of the world is waking up to this reality and Canadian industry is well poised to lead the way. Bombardier was just awarded to created energy savings high speed trains for Chinese expansion (think China’s version of the TGV), but Canada’s National VIA Rail hasn’t yet upgraded. Is it that our politicians and CEO’s are simply too old to adjust in their ways of thinking? It seems counter productive to support oil exploration in the name of business development when it destroys others, while at the same time destroying our quality of life through the air we breathe, the water we drink, the animals we enjoy…the list goes on.

The contradictions are astounding and in searching out solutions and sharing ideas, I’ve recently started to blog on another site : http://www.greeniters.com where I hope to continue to share my thoughts and also learn something new along the way about all things Green. Feel free to visit!

Memoires de la Belle Province

There are no words to describe the wonders that a good holiday can do to the psyche! I’ve just come back from a few days away and could not be more refreshed! Sunshine and salt water air did a world of good and I’m ready for anything the world throws  at me – well, maybe. I didn’t go far, I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, but was surrounded by good friends, good laughs and good food! I went to Montreal (so many memories!), then on to Quebec City, and then further on to the Saguenay region along the St. Lawrence river.

I can’t believe I’d never experienced this region before – absolutely breathtaking! Just outside of Quebec City, the roads turn hilly – maybe more than hilly, more  like moutain-esque – and our tank of a rental car made for interesting driving! Nature was beautiful, nothing but the green of the trees and the glare of the water to keep our attention on the way. Then as the highway nears the river, little towns dot the sea banks, tourists emerge from the hiking trails and stalls with fresh produce taunt the hungry driver.

The lure of the area is for the sea, the boats, the fresh fruits de mer and …. les baleines! This part of the river is unique for its buffet of underwater treats, attracting underwater creatures of all types, including whales! So beautiful and amazing to see from the coast and even more breathtaking to kayak with the whales! Our first attempt was delayed because of wind and cold, but the following morning at 5am (it takes something special to get me out of bed at that time!) off we went to suit up and get in the water and within 10 minutes, a beluga came our way and swam in between us and  under us and gave us a  little wink Unbelievable and so relaxing to sit in the boat, watch the sunrise on the water with whales  swimming below.

Our trip focused on the outdoors and all it has to offer. What an Adventure! Not for the weak at heart or bad shoe-ed as hiking, bike riding, rock jumping, sand/stair climbing and kayaking were major staples of the trip, and then was proceeded by scrapes, bruises, cuts, heavy breathing and a trip to the doctor :s  Despite the setbacks, it was worth it and my muscles are thankful in the long-run. The wildlife we saw – the belugas, the birds, the beaver – and the views from just about everywhere are unforgettable.

For the most part, traveling was easy. Driver’s and speed limits weren’t nearly as dangerous as in Montreal or Ontario, and finding a place to stay took just a few phone calls – during the summer, many houses turn in to Gites (B&B’s) where traveler’s get a good taste of local culture and cozy atmospheres that only Grandma’s know how to provide. French is widely spoken and my skills were sharpened to the Quebecois accent, though like most foreign places, hand signals and smatterings of English will always helpful.

On our way back, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad that our trip was coming to a close. I’m very nostalgic for the province which always has something new to offer and has captivated my heart for years and saying good bye to out-of-town friends is never easy. Every place I go that I’d like to return to, I always leave something behind that I haven’t done or seen for the next time, promising to return some day. Although I’ve been to Montreal and Quebec as a province more times than I can count, it never seems that I can get to the end of the list of new things to do and see. Can’t wait to starting planning the next one!

It’s all Personality to Me

My last post mentioned my passion for the environment and how much I enjoy traveling and marveling at the beauty that the earth has to offer, beyond the city-scapes and artificial-ness. So I was really excited a few months ago when BRAVO came out with a reality-show, PhotoExplorers, documenting a photographer’s journey into the wild to find the almighty ‘perfect shot!’ I was excited and knowing my own challenges in trying to do the same while travelling (the things I went through to get a photo!) made me incredibly intrigued and I promptly scheduled my recording device so I wouldn’t miss it! …. Talk about one of life’s disappointments :S It wasn’t that the cites were dull, the landscapes boring or the colours lustre – it was that the photographers were lifeless!! There were certainly interesting stories to be told, but done in such a monotone and uninteresting way a la retired librarian that made me want to hit the mute button! There was absolutely NO personality in any of these photographers! This was also a shock, thinking that their personalities would match the quality of their proofs, but no – mistakenly wrong. Come to think of it, cooking shows often do the same – loads of great info and tantalizing masterpieces, but none of the pizazz that brings a smile to your face or motivates you to watch the next episode.

Thinking of these two shows definitely shed a bit of light on the importance of PERSONALITY!!! It’s certainly not something that they teach you in school or that can even be learned, but it’s what draws you to them for conversation, for business, for interest and they inevitably become magnets to those around them – a likely asset to any firm or company! And it’s these personalities, whether on tv or in the real world, which bring a certain penache to life and keeps things interesting. Humour helps, actually it helps a lot and being able to not take yourself too seriously.  People are people no matter where you go, no one likes to scowl all day or brim with stress throughout their work breaks and, when used strategically, a  good laugh will get you a long way!

I’m always eager to meet new people, for the sheer curiosity of which personality I’ll uncover, hopefully one that doesn’t leave me snoozing and might even help to make my own more intriguing