Travel Tips: Words You Should Know In The Local Lingo

by Lindsay Shapka in ,

The reality is that most of us who travel know one language really well — our own. Well there are exceptions out there, most of us only know the basics of one or two other languages (if we are lucky), and often have no clue how to speak the local lingo in the country we are travelling to. 

I have found that with an warm smile and some body language, you can communicate almost anything, but I do make a point of writing myself out a cheat sheet of useful words and basic phrases in the foreign language to carry around in my pocket. 

Here's my list of words and phrases that you should try and know in the local dialect (or at least have written out for quick reference) no matter where you are travelling.

  1. HELLO
    It is good practice to note the polite form of a greeting. This will show that you respect the person you are talking to and will (hopefully) make them a little more willing to help you out. For example, in Korean, you might say "annyeong" to someone you know well, but the polite form would be "annyeong haseyo".

  2. NO
    The easiest way to drive away a persistent street vendor, scam artist, or unwanted tour guide is to say a firm "no" to them in their own language.

  3. YES
    On the other hand, you will need to say "yes" if you want to accept help or answer a question.
    NOTE: Nodding and shaking your head will not work universally for "yes" and "no". In some countries it means the opposite, and in others it means something totally different.

  4. HOW MUCH?
    Very helpful when bartering in foreign markets. Though, you will also need a cheat sheet of numbers so you understand the answer. If you are too worried about memorizing numbers, have a pen and a piece of paper handy so you can barter on paper.

  5. DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?
    I have found that just pointing at yourself and saying "English?" works too, but this is the more composed way to ask.

  6. THANK YOU
    Being polite will get you everywhere.

  7. EXCUSE ME/SORRY
    Good to know for when you inevitably make a cultural blunder.

  8. CHEERS!
    It helps to know what to say when clanking glasses together at the local watering hole!

FOR PEOPLE WITH ALLERGIES: I don't have allergies, so have never had to worry about this, but if you do make sure that you have all the things that you are allergic to written out in the language of the place you will be visiting. You need to be able to hand it to anyone at a restaurant so that they understand exactly what you can't eat. 

ALSO: It is pretty important to know the words for "men" and "women" so that you are able to tell which bathroom to walk into. Not everyone uses pictures — trust me, I know. 

Well this list is not going to get you through every situation that arises, in my experience, it is all you need for initial encounters and to show that you are attempting to communicate in a language that is not your own. I find that even an attempt will warm people to you, and they will be more patient when you haul out the actual phrase book and try to have a more in depth conversation. 

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How Do You Wash Your Clothes When Travelling?

by Lindsay Shapka in ,

How you wash clothes when travelling depends on the type of trip you are taking and the access that you have to services. But, it is an important thing to take into consideration — nobody likes a smelly traveller! 

  1. Let's start with the most obvious: washing your clothes in a common washer/dryer yourself. Most cities and towns will have a laundromat that you are able to hang out in for a few hours to do a load or two. It is important to remember though, that dryers are not common in all laundromats in Europe and Asia, so you may have to find somewhere to air dry your clothing after you have washed it. This also only works if you have enough dirty items to fill a washer.

  2. If you are staying in a hotel or guesthouse, you will have the option to have them do your laundry for you. This option can range in price pretty drastically. At a higher-end hotel, you are guaranteed to be paying a hefty price for the convenience, while at inexpensive spots you will pay mere pennies for entire bags of clothing. For example, I paid $25 for a dress to be washed while at the Fairmont Hotel in Sonoma, California, and $5 to have a huge bag laundered at my hotel on Ko Pha Ngan in Thailand. Remember though, that when someone else is doing your laundry, there is a chance that it could be shrunk or damaged.

  3. The shower method is one that has worked for me many a times. Here's how it works. You take your dirty clothes in the shower with you. You wash them with your shampoo. You get out of the shower with your clothes. You hang them up to dry. Not very complicated, but not great if you are in a rush, or don't have anywhere to hang them.

  4. I usually end up hand washing one or two items (underwear, a shirt that has gotten a spot on it, etc.) in the sink at night, and they are usually dry by morning.

No matter where or how I'm travelling though, I always bring the following items with me: 

  • a shampoo size container of laundry soap for hand washing

  • yarn or thin rope to use as a clothes line if necessary (TIP: The bottom bunk in a hostel is the perfect spot to string up a clothes line for quick, overnight drying)

  • fragrant dryer sheets to keep your bag smelling fresh (also handy to put in shoes)

  • a large ziplock bag to hold smelly or wet clothes so they stay separate from the clean ones

Remember that if you are backpacking or travelling for a long time, you will need to bring clothes that will dry quickly, not get overly wrinkled, and wear well. (NOTE: That doesn't mean ugly, it just means that you shouldn't bring your favourite silk shirt and delicate lace shorts for a 7 month trip and expect them to last). Multiple washes will break down fabric pretty fast, and you don't want to have to keep replacing clothes that wear out quickly. 

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Visiting Cambodia: Monkeys, Temples & Khmer Rouge History

by Lindsay Shapka in , , ,

A trip to Cambodia can be pretty intense.

Monkeys run through ancient temples that seem to grow out of the jungle. There are no conventional traffic rules. In fact, sometimes it seem like there really aren't any rules at all — at least not the ones that we follow in North America. 

It isn't rare for an elephant to try and steal your lunch while you dine on an outdoor patio, and there are still land mines everywhere making it unsafe to wander off beaten paths. 

Khmer Rouge History

In order to make the most of any trip to Cambodia, you have to understand the not-so-pleasant history of the Khmer Rouge (aka why there are land mines everywhere).   

The Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia from 1975-1979, and was one of the most lethal regimes of the twentieth century. Through their methods of agrarian communism, they had the entire country working on collective farms, or forced labor projects, growing food that they were not allowed to eat and watching their families die around them.
The regime killed anyone in connection with the former government, professionals, intellectuals, anyone wearing glasses, non ‘pure’ Cambodians, homosexuals and people who had come from urban communities. They even regularly purged within their own organization. No one was safe under Khmer Rouge rule.
People were divided into two categories: the Old People who had grown up on farms and never left them for the big cities, and the New People who they ruled using the motto “To keep you is no benefit. To destroy you is no loss”.

After four bloody years in power, they were removed in 1979 by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

More than 2 million people were killed. 2 million. There is no exact number yet. They are still counting the dead.

Pol Pot, Brother Number 1 (the leader of the Khmer Rouge), died on April 15, 1998 and was never put on trial.

In 1997, Cambodia appealed to the UN to set up a genocide tribunal, but it wasn’t until 9 years later, when many high ranking officials were dying of old age, that it actually came into being. In 2007, Nuon Chea, Brother Number 2, was taken into custody for “alleged crimes against humanity”.

The country is now in the midst of rebuilding itself socially, economically and most importantly, psychologically. Like many countries in South East Asia, Cambodia is turning to tourism as a financial way to rebuild their nation, and it seems to be working.

Spots To See

Angkor.jpg

The temples at Angkor make up the largest freestanding religious complex in the world, and are visited by thousands of people every year by boat, plane, bus, car and tuk-tuk. There is nothing like walking through a ruined temple being both held together and torn apart by the jungle growing on, over and through its walls. At the end of the day monkeys run by as the air cools, and monks in saffron robes walk slowly and thoughtfully down the ancient stone corridors. It is definitely a sight to see, and one of the most incredible spots I have ever travelled to.

But, there are other things to see in Cambodia too! 

The Mekong River is one of the largest in the world and is the home of some of the world’s only freshwater dolphins and floating villages that are a photographers dream.

Phnom Pen is a mecca of colorful markets selling clothing, fabric, shoes, jewellery and anything else you can imagine (and things that you can’t) for pocket change.


A trip to Cambodia could not be complete without a trip to the beach! Shianokville is the main beach town with great access and wide range of accommodation. The sand is white and the water is the perfect temperature. It shares its coast with Thailand, and the beaches are much the same, but underdeveloped. 

Other (more serious, yet important) attractions draw attention to the Khmer Rouge era.  

The Tuol Sleng Museum sits innocently amongst narrow side streets, apartment buildings and houses. Once a high school, it was converted into the largest centre of detention and torture in Cambodia. Named Security Prison 21 (S-21), it now houses a collection of photos of the both inmates, and floors of cells that have been left relatively untouched. Photos of Khmer Rouge leaders are also on display covered in graffiti, with cigarette burns for eyes. The space on the wall where the photo of Pol Pot should be lies empty. The photo was stolen and no one bothered to (or wanted to) replace it. 

The Killing Fields, located just outside the city, are an unexpectedly small area that is covered in lush green grass. A massive glass pagoda stands at the entrance, piled high with skulls, femurs and other bones of the dead. The fields themselves are just that — fields. Crude signs mark the mass graves, listing the number of dead that have been found there. But not everyone has been removed. Bones protrude from pits and pathways, and the clothes of the dead become visible as the ground erodes away.

No matter where you go in Cambodia, one thing stays consistent, the children. They are everywhere. They surround you at the temples trying to sell you anything and everything in perfect English. They flirt like adults and they are so confident and straightforward, that sometimes it is only their size that can remind you that they really are children. They walk the streets hanging off your arms, looking up at you with big brown eyes, begging for food, money or anything. They are heartbreakingly cute. 
Whatever you do though, don't give them money. It won't help.  

There are few places in the world that truly surpass expectations, and Cambodia blew all of mine out of the water. I felt all my senses heightened when I was there, and found the adventure exhilarating. I hope you feel the same way — happy travels! 

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Travel Quotes To Inspire Your Next Adventure

by Lindsay Shapka in , ,

“Creativity is not a competition.”
—Autumn Sky Hall

“The cost of not following your dream, your heart, or your gut, is spending the rest of your life wishing that you had.”
—Unknown

“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of lands remote, to travel is to live.”
—Hans Christian Anderson

“If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.”
—Seth Godin

“Above all, try something.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Good things come to those who book flights.”
— Unknown

“the earth has music for those who listen”
—Shakespeare

“One of the great things about travel is that you find out how many good, kind people there are”
—Edith Wharton

“If you look like your passport photo, you probably need the trip.”
—Unknown

“I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again. You can’t read anything, you have only the most rudimentary sense of how things work, you can’t even reliably cross a street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses.”
—Bill Bryson, “Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe”

“Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport.”
—Unknown

“Better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times.”
—Asian Proverb

“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.”
—Rachel Wolchin

“My favourite thing is to go where I’ve never been.”
—Unknown

"Go out in the woods, go out. If you don’t go out in the woods nothing will ever happen and your life will never begin."
—Clarissa Pinkola Estes

“The Bhagavad Gita—that ancient Indian Yogic text—says that it is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.”
—Elizabeth Gilbert from Eat, Prey, Love

“It’s bad manners to keep an adventure waiting.”
—Unknown

“After all, one travels in order for things to happen and change; otherwise you might as well stay at home.”
—Nicolas Bouvier

“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.”
—Mary Anne Radmacher

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Adventure Tales: Exploring The Ancient Moroccan City of Ait Benhaddou

by Lindsay Shapka in , ,

The thin, two-lane road cut into the Atlas Mountains in Morocco wound at almost impossible angles amongst red earth, mud brick homes, parched looking olive trees, and orchards. We were careening around every corner, barely missing the small children draped in white robes leading skinny cows down the side of the road.

Passing a slow moving car would have been a suicide mission. 

The small, 13-seater bus was stuffy, hot, and full of fellow travellers half asleep from the heat and half sick from the drive. I could feel gritty red sand mixing with the sweat in my sandals. I didn’t think I would ever stop sweating — It serves me right for visiting the Sahara Desert in July. 

When I signed up for the tour (Note: I am normally not a fan of tours, but I was alone in Morocco in the middle of Ramadan and wanted to spend a night in the Sahara. The only way for me to do that safely was by taking a tour), that would eventually take me to a caravan of camels, the tour operator had mentioned something about a stop at a historic town that had been in many movies. I had basically ignored what she was saying — I am used to tour "stops" being cheesy tourist traps, souvenir shops, or horrible restaurants — and focused that at the end of the drive a camel would be waiting for me. 

So, when we pulled over in a small town full of mud-brick homes and spilled out of the bus happy to be on solid ground, I was amazed at what was in front of me. 

A city that looked like it was straight out of a Hollywood set crawled up a hill that rose on the other side of a dry riverbed. It was about 45 degrees Celsius out, and our guide handed us full bottles of water as he began picking his way across the riverbed, telling us about the history of the city we were approaching. 

Called Ait Benhaddou, the fortified city sits along the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakesh. There are still four families that live in the city, maintaining some of the buildings and selling their wares to tourists, while the rest of the citizens of the area now live in more modern buildings (though not that much more modern) in the village that our bus had parked in. 

Frozen in time, it looked like something straight out of Aladdin, and I wasn't far off. It turns out that some MAJOR Hollywood movies were filmed in this UNESCO World Heritage Site and sun scorched desert village — The Mummy, Gladiator, Prince of Persia, Indiana Jones, Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia, and scenes from the TV show Game of Thrones just to name a few!!

We were given 40 minutes to wander and so I let myself get lost in the maze of narrow brick alleyways, stone staircases and hidden archways until I found myself at the top of the complex where a ruined agadir (a fortified communal granary) sat surrounded by an incredible view of the surrounding rocky desert. 

Though my water was gone, and I was melting from the heat, I was elated! This stop was not what I expected at all. Not only did we get to eat some pretty great food in the end, I got to visit a gorgeous, genuinely historic site that has made appearances in some of the biggest Hollywood films — not bad for just a "stop" in a tour! 

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6 Things You Must Eat In Hawaii

by Lindsay Shapka in ,

When it comes to food, Hawaii is a culinary adventure. It is part of the US, which means that American food and culture can be found in abundance. But, it also has a huge Polynesian population and a growing population of people from different parts of Asia, which bring their own cultures and flavours to the mix. As a result, the islands are full of restaurants, food stands, cafes, and grocery stores that have delicious treats from all over the world!

Here are six delicious Hawaiian treats that you definitely need to try on your next visit.

1. Mochi Ice Cream
Mochi is Japanese glutinous rice that is pounded into a paste and wrapped around small balls of ice cream. I know that the idea of rice and ice cream together sounds a bit strange, but the rice is flavoured and prevents the ice cream from melting all over your hands. It is a surprisingly delicious and satisfying treat! 

2. Malasada
Essentially Portuguese donuts, these confections are made of balls of yeast dough that are deep fried and then coated in sugar. Traditionally they are made without holes or fillings, though some now contain cream. Leonard's Bakery in Honolulu is always packed with people buying these melt-in-your-mouth treats by the dozen. 

3. Pineapple
I know, I know, pineapple isn't that exotic anymore. We can easily find it at pretty much any grocery store year-round. But, pineapple tastes entirely different in the place that it was grown then it does after it has sat in a ship or airplane for hours. Trust me, you'll understand what I mean after your first bite. If you are in the area, the Dole Plantation serves pineapple in pretty much any form you can think of — my favourite is the chocolate dipped slices. 

4. Udon Soup
Fresh and traditional Japanese udon noodles are made from a thick wheat flour. The soup is made of a flavoured broth and is filled with vegetables, tofu, and sometimes prawns, fishcakes, or beef. It's a great, light, and healthy meal after a day at the beach. 

5. Shave Ice
Like the name implies, this dessert is made by shaving a block of ice (unlike snow cones that are made with crushed ice). The fine texture causes the added syrups to be absorbed by the ice rather than to just surrounding it. Common flavours in Hawaii include pineapple, coconut, lychee, kiwi fruit and mango, and often come with a scoop of ice cream on the bottom or sweetened, condensed milk on top. 

6. Shrimp Truck Shrimp
They may not look like much, but shrimp trucks will serve you the best shrimp that you will EVER have. The shrimp is always fresh, comes in flavours like lemon butter, garlic coconut, and spicy, and is usually served with rice and vegetables. A plate will run you about $13, and the trucks are usually cash only. 

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Why I Always Go For a Run In a New City (and you should too!)

by Lindsay Shapka in , ,

Some of my favourite travel memories have come from runs that I have gone on in foreign countries.

I'm not talking about organized races with thousands of participants. No, I'm talking about a solo jog that forces you to wake up early before the crowds take over the street and shows you a side of the city that you would never see if you were just walking around. 

Why is running in a foreign city so great?

Well, first of all, you are usually up earlier than normal, which means that the streets are empty giving you an unobstructed view of the city. The warm morning light illuminates stonework that you never saw before and you can almost imagine what it would be like to live there.

And that moves me to my next point — if you are running in a country where physical activity is normal, you become almost invisible, you are now looked at as a local, part of the place, and not a tourist. (On the other hand, if you are visiting a country where going for a run isn't normal, it will be painfully obvious. In some countries I was completely ignored when I ran by, in others I was stared at, and in others I have been yelled at and whistled at. But, I have never felt threatened.)

Not bogged down by cameras, guide books, and bags full of miscellaneous items that you would normally take out on a day of touring around, you are truly free to just take in the sights and sounds of the new would around you.  

Running has taken me past Frances Mayes' house in Tuscany, through the royal gardens at the Schonbrunn Palace in Austria, over cobblestone streets in Amsterdam, and past ruined buildings and over white sand in Phuket. 

Give it a try — you never know where your feet might take you! 

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