Despite all the time that I spend in the Travel section of the bookstore, I have never actually read anything by Bill Bryson.
Crazy, right?!
What made me pick up one of his books now?
Read MoreReads For The Road: A House In The Sky by Amanda Lindhout & Sara Corbett
I had heard that Amanda Lindhout's story A House In The Sky was a must-read (it has been hailed in Vogue, The Globe and Mail, Outside, The New York Times, and was a part of Oprah's Winter Reading List), but I was not prepared for the incredibly well written, shocking, heart-wrenching test of humanity that I would find within the book's pages.
I don't know if it is because she is from a town only a few hours away from where I grew up, but the way that Amanda writes about travelling (especially travelling solo as a female) feels like she has put into words every unarticulated thought that I have had about my own journeys.
That is until she describes being kidnapped.
“People would say to me all the time, “It must be so hard to travel by yourself as a woman.” But I was finding that it was easier. I was sure about it. If you smiled, if you showed people that you were happy to be there, you were met most often with warmth. The swindlers backed off easily. The tuk-tuk drivers and beggars eased up and became more human, maybe even a bit protective.”
Yup, I said kidnapped.
While working as a struggling freelance journalist, Amanda and her friend Nigel made their way into Somalia. On a trip outside of the capital city to take photos at a refugee camp, they were both kidnapped by a rouge group of men who immediately demanded ransom from their parents and from their countries, neither of whom who had any money to pay.
Kept hostage for OVER A YEAR, this is the story of what she went through, how she stayed alive through horrific abuse, how she managed to retain her humanity, and how she was saved.
A warning though, once you get started, you won't want to put it down.
5 Unconventional Travel Tips You Won't Find In Your Guide Books
These travel tips, which are not usually found in guide books, are guaranteed to help make your trip a lot more fun!
1. Fill a zip-lock bag with balloons, bobby pins, and temporary tattoos representing your country.
Rather than giving out money, the balloons and bobby pins are great little gifts for young children that you will inevitably come across in the course of your travels.
The tattoos are great to give as gifts too, but can also come in handy in countries where people knowing where you are from (instead of making incorrect assumptions) will keep you safe. It’s a nice alternative to having a huge flag sewn onto your backpack.
2. Bring a pillowcase, not a pillow
A pillowcase can easily be stuffed with clothing to create a make-shift pillow in emergencies and also makes a perfect laundry bag.
3. Even if you aren’t a journal writing kinda person, pack a small journal and a glue stick
It is the perfect place to keep the names and contact info for people you meet and to jot down hotel/hostel names and prices of things to pass on to friends and family.
The glue stick will keep you from losing ticket stubs, postcards or other bits that make perfect souvenirs.
4. BYOWB — Bring Your Own Water Bottle
Preferably a one liter Nalgene-style one with a wide opening. You could easily drop hundreds of dollars buying water while touring around all day, so having your own bottle will save you money.
And, when packing, it is the perfect place to put breakable items like perfumes, or delicate souvenirs, so they won’t get squished or break in your bag.
5. Buy postcards, but don't send them
Everyone is trying to get that perfect, tourist-free postcard-style shot of the well-known tourist sight, but that is easier said than done.
Sometimes, the best thing to do is to just buy the gorgeous postcard as your souvenir, and focus on enjoying where you are rather than taking pictures.
On my last visit to Oahu, I ended up at a University Men’s Volleyball Game and, before sitting down, was handed a long, slim green leaf. I was told it was a “Ti Leaf” and I was supposed to use it to cheer for the team.
What are these leaves, you ask, and why do ti leaves in Hawaii make an appearance at major sports events?