Treveliving 80 Level: tough life hacking by the experienced traveler

Travel and Life - travel and extreme sports

In English, there is a term travel. On Russian it is most often translated as "travel". This implies something extreme, full of adventure. For many, travel - then look for the lost Atlantis, constantly struggling with the dangers.

But travel - a more relaxed concept. Often it is simply a trip and just life. When you come into the country and try to understand its culture, local people.

My first trip took place in 2009. I lived in Moscow, rented an apartment and worked as a freelancer. Friends offered to go to Goa to work with Russian tourists. I agreed, because I had nothing to lose. If something did not work in India, I would easily come back to the usual way.

I never thought that I would treveliverom.

But in Goa, I met my future husband - Brian. This began my, or rather our, travel.

Asia: in search of spirituality

It all started with India. Before meeting with me, Brian has been there several times. My acquaintance with this country was in Goa. But just as Moscow - not Russian, and Goa - not India. It is a Christian state, a former Portuguese colony, and it does not look like the other Indian regions.

We were four times in India. Every time I came with some kind of dream. And every time it came to pass. They say the gods in India closer to the ground. But despite this, I am skeptical about the people who go to Asia for spirituality.

I think everything is much more prosaic. In Asia go, because:

• there is cheap (the man six months living in Bali, can not afford to spend as much, for example, in Germany);
• where you can feel like a "white man" (no matter how you're dressed, "Rolex" on your hand or Fenichka of macramé, you still smile and are treated with respect);
• it is fashionable.

To attain enlightenment, to find answers to the major questions of life, it is not enough just to visit one of the Asian countries, the national dress in clothes and shaved bald.

Also in Asia, many sacred things turned into an attraction. For example, there is a city - Varanasi. One of the oldest cities in the world, has for the Indians the same meaning as Mecca for Muslims. In Hindu cosmology, is the center of the Earth. For Hindus die in Varanasi - a great honor. The body of the deceased are cremated there - this is a special ritual. But because of the huge number of tourists all this has turned into a farce. It should be in a place where ceremonies are held as soon flies to you people and offers to attend the burning of his aunt. Of course, for the money, and he is not a relative.

strange New Zealanders

Pokolesil around the world (after Goa was Russia, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and then Russia, then India, then Nepal, Thailand ...), we arrived in New Zealand. It is the birthplace of Brian. It's an amazing country!

It affects not only the beautiful nature, but also the attitude to life of New Zealanders. They all somehow just limit. For example, to record a child in kindergarten, you go and record. No references and queues.

By telephone and the Internet, you can do almost everything: to connect the new company for the electricity to the house, pay bills, transfer the Internet, telephone and TV dish on the new address.

In the city where we live now, only five thousand people, but here, two big supermarkets, four kindergartens for children 0 months, seven or more bars, three banks, several restaurants and a dozen cafes, even a travel agency there is!

Simplicity and communication between people. Will you come to the store - surely ask, how are you, talk to you about the weather or the last match of the Rugby. All with a smile.

After the birth of his son Jasper few months we lived in Belarus (this is my home country). There I helped my mother. Then we returned to New Zealand, and many people asked me: "How do you cope with the baby?". But here it is possible to raise a child without anyone's help, and everything in time, because everything is much simpler: do not waste your time on the line at the bank, walking inquiries or to "come back tomorrow".

In my blog a series of posts about "strange New Zealanders." I am talking about a pretty household items. For example, about how they throw and recycle garbage. I hope readers understand that the word "weird" in relation to the New Zealanders I say with love!

I was once reproached for worshiping the West. But when I write a blog about how well in New Zealand, I do not want to say this, that life in the countries of the former USSR is terrible. I just want to show how you can and, in my opinion, should live. I want my mom was going with friends in a cafe just for a chat, but not on some special occasion. I want to grandmother did not consider shameful to leave the house, if it is to walk on their own can not. I want a decent life for all human beings on the planet.

Visas and itinerary

Every journey begins with visas and documents. Moreover, sometimes the visa availability is determined by the following country to travel. For example, we went from India to Nepal, where I was trying to get a New Zealand visa. It did not work - go to Thailand. Once we decided to go to Istanbul to issue the Indian visa.

For information about visas and documents required to check on the official website of the Embassy.

No forums and blogs in this case can not be a reliable source. Information is changing faster than updated posts. In addition, an article in the blog - it is a personal experience of the traveler. You may have other conditions, and yet there can be completely different.

Country visa-free for Russians in 2015

When the issue of visas is solved, we can plot a route. Where to go, what to see, when it starts and ends with the tourist season - information about the country we draw from Lonely Planet, Wikitravel, and other online resources.

Include in the route as a tourist and non-touristic places.

Many shun popular attractions. But I think that to go to India and see the Taj Mahal - it is silly. This is a really big place. Therefore, paving the route, we alternate tourist cities with more calm.

Do not try to grasp the immensity.

A time to travel around Thailand and Turkey all you can, but you need it? Our trips usually last a few months. We are not trying to go round the whole country at once. On the contrary, we choose a region, state or county. For example, we have two months traveled to western Ukraine. We do not like to travel fast. At least in one place - for three days. I come, rest, spend the night and then calmly issleduesh city. It seems to me, just so you can feel the atmosphere of the area.

Flight and accommodation

Flights are usually the most expensive part of the trip. But there are several ways to save.

1. Buy round-trip tickets. It is always cheaper than one-way ticket.
2. Buy tickets in advance. Optimally - 2-3 months before the trip.
3. Vary the departure date (sometimes the best offer falls not on the selected day and 2-3 days later or earlier).
4. Use loukost. In Asia, especially a lot of them.

All you need to know about loukost

Gradually, you also learn how to navigate the various airlines prices. So, in our experience, Lufthansa is never cheap - we do not even look at the tickets from her.

With regard to flight search engine, it is better to use different (Skyscanner, Kayak, etc.) and to compare offers.

But book accommodation through web services is not always rational. Descriptions of hostels and hotels can become obsolete or does not correspond to reality.

In addition, a lot depends on the country. In India, we never book the accommodation in advance. Guesthouses in Indian cities are usually located on the same street. We come and look at the site, suited us the number or not. In the Carpathians, I book accommodation by phone on the eve of departure for the new city. On the South Island of New Zealand, we were traveling in a car with a tent. We stayed in camping if the weather was good, spent the night in a tent - if not, take a house.

Luggage and food

We travel with backpacks so, collecting things, I always keep in mind that I have to wear them myself.

If you do not put a "gorgeous dress" in a previous trip, do not be fooled - you do not wear it in the next.

Even if you do not have something useful out of clothes, you can always buy on the spot. In Asia, things are cheap, and in countries such as New Zealand, many second-hand.

Indispensable in our luggage laptop, camera, flashlight and compass. The latter is not to navigate in space, and so, choosing housing, to determine whether in the sun room.

How to pack a small backpack
I find it difficult to understand people who come, for example, in Thailand and eat in Russian restaurants and cooked his own soup. Neither in that, nor in the other there is nothing wrong. But!

Full immersion into the culture of the country is possible only if there is a national cuisine.

Rules of selection of place to eat in Asia.

• Go to the local food gradually. For European stomachs Asian food is often too sharp.
• Do not neglect health insurance. She will gain if, God forbid, happen to food poisoning.
• See how many people inside the institution. The more visitors, the better the food.
• Notice how the institution is clean. "Litmus test" compliance with hygiene standards - toilet.

Of course, after a few months of curry in India like sausage and black bread.

What food is not enough Russian abroad

But there is, so to speak, "international" products. For example, a pizza. Her cook everywhere, besides good. If you get bored of the "home" food, eat a similar product - feel better.

When we live in New Zealand, I cook the local food. I ask her husband about the traditions and looking for recipes on the Internet. New Zealand's cuisine is simple: steaks, sauces, vegetables, bread, wine, meringue with ice cream and so on. Everything is ready and just quickly. Sometimes I bring variety to our menu with the Belarusian and Asian dishes (after spending so much time in Asia, we liked spicy food).

Traveling with children

Our son Jasper 15 months, we travel with him almost from the moment of his birth. When we went to the South Island with tents, he was only three months.

The most important thing when traveling with children - do not be afraid. First, the world is quite kind to the children. I think a lot of annoying children before birth Jasper. But this is not the case.

The button "Turn off the child" is the parents.

If the airplane parents want to drink whiskey, watch movies and play computer games, the child will demand attention and disturb others.

Secondly, the likelihood that the baby will pick up any infection, slightly higher than the sick in his hometown.

Traveling with a child, put his interests first.

My dream is to see the whales. When we went to the South Island, it had such an opportunity: they sell tours, where ships carry whale watching. But children take only three years, and Jasper was three months... I could go alone, but decided to wait until his son is three years old.

If the kid is naughty, it means he needs something: have, change a diaper, sleep, play. It is you, the adult, can tolerate a couple of hours until the end of tour. Child needs to be met in the here and now. And it's not about to indulge, it's about the fact that the baby is five months is difficult to lie in a wet diaper, a child in a year is difficult to sit quietly in a wheelchair and within an hour had a book, baby. Be flexible and move freely with Jasper helped us a good stroller: it is easy to fold, do not take up much space and can travel anywhere. For example, you have come to the cafe, the child wanted to sleep. Baby Sling not save, will either have to keep on hand, or to go to the hotel, and the stroller will help you solve the sleep problem.

16 useful tips traveling with children

Freedom and Travel

Travel and freedom - related concepts.

I believe that travel around the world on the parents' money - is wrong. If you wish to travel to work. By whom? The mass of options. I quite successfully engaged in travel-journalism, independently came to the Discovery and other famous names. Now have a blog, lead groups in social networks.

You can work remotely: freelance web design, with Skype lessons and stuff; as well as on site (massage, dancing, guide and so on). But, in my experience, to combine work and active travel difficult. Sit on the beach with a laptop and sip a cocktail, as in the picture - it does not happen. So either kopish and leaving for several months on a journey, or settle somewhere and work there, gradually exploring the surrounding area.

Therefore, any journey begins with financial freedom.

In this journey and give freedom. First of all, freedom of thought and expression. Broadens the mind and refuse from the stereotypical thinking. But I think travel offer something more ...

Regain your children's emotions!

Once in school, we were laughing loudly with his girlfriend, one of the adults shouted at us for it, and a cleaner, watching the scene, said:

Laugh, laugh, girls grow up - do not be so poured.

As a child, all the emotions are bright and sharp. All the first time, all sincerely. Time passes, and laugh ceases at 100% to 100% marvel, enjoy 100%. Blunted emotions. You look at a beautiful sunset and think, "Yeah, cool ...".

Travel enliven emotions, regain their sharpness.

Again notice how beautiful sunset or mountains covered with snow. Re sincerely rejoice like a child.

Therefore, I wish you all not to be afraid to travel. Regain your children's emotions!

In this case, go to this or that country without his mental baggage. Hindu or Thais who pours you a beer or cleans your room, do not care how much you are cool (or cool) at home. Embark on a journey with a purpose to learn, not to impose. Relax and be yourself.

10 life hacking from Olga Kostjuk

1. Do not confuse the adventure and travel. Enjoy the ride itself.
2. Do not look for spirituality in a certain place. Look for it inside yourself.
3. Check the information on the documents (visa, passport, etc.) through the embassies.
4. Walk on trodden tourist routes, but do not forget from time to time to turn from them.
5. Country-specific: housing and food are very different.
6. Use every opportunity to save on airline tickets.
7. Do not take a lot of things.
8. Do not be afraid to travel with the kids, but put their interests first.
9. Do not sit, no one in the neck, if you want to travel.
10. Leave your house foundations - to explore the world with a clean slate.