The idea behind couchsurfing has been around for a very long time; the mutual agreement to host and be hosted when travelling to the home city of a friend or distant family member. Many of us with the travel bug today will remember going to stay with family interstate or overseas, or having friends of our parents stay at our house, or having distant relatives welcomed into the home, because the idea of having them stay in a hotel was, well, wrong. It's not that none of us can afford a hotel, there's just something about staying with real people who like you and aren't being paid to be nice to you and who show you around their home town with genuine pride, and the opportunity to strengthen a bond that stretches across oceans.
However only recently, with the magic of the interwebs, have people had the ability to network and arrange to stay with pretty much total strangers. This is the couchsurfing that most of us have heard of today; meeting fellow travellers on a specially built web forum and putting out a tentative enquiry before getting to know them and deciding whether to stay with them on your adventure. Instead of having a finite number of places you can stay for free because you already know people there, you open up a whole world of people to crash with, in return for promising to host people when it is practicable for you. Of course, with all this opportunity comes a lot of questions. Is it safe? What kind of person would agree to do this? What's it all about other than free accommodation?
Many of these questions are dealt with by for-profit couchsurfing facilitation companies such as CouchSurfing, a California-based organisation founded in the late 90's by a guy from Boston who was inspired when he took a chance on a cheap flight to Iceland, and found accommodation by randomly emailing 1,500 kids from the University of Iceland. Safety and security information, which features prominently on their homepage, emphasises the fact that the safety of the couchsurfing practise is based on the sense of community between members. There is also a review and verification function where you can check feedback from previous guests for your peace of mind. The official testimonial video, as well as news stories, will seal the decision for most budget conscious travellers looking for a new way to save money. But if you don't know someone who's already been involved, there's still that sense of risk. I spoke to some people who have hosted couchsurfers, and some people who have stayed on couches, to get a sense of what goes on beyond the 'oh yay, free place to stay, new international friends = peace, local experience' general love-in that the generic coverage portrays.
The host I spoke to, Aaron*, has been a couchsurfer for a year. He decided to get into hosting as soon as he could in order to build up good reviews so he could go stay with people when he had the chance to travel later on. He'd just moved to Amsterdam himself and saw a great opportunity to explore his new home with travellers who had the same new enthusiasm as himself, as well as to make some friends. Since then, he's hosted a number of people both there and at home in his native Canada. His favourite experience of couchsurfing thus far happened right at the start; "I guess because it was my first time hosting, it really opened my eyes to how cool CS could be. I was pretty skeptical that I might end up with some freeloaders, but (that) was not at all the case. We got along great, cooked together each night, shared French wine and delicacies [the guests were from France], exchanged languages, and explored the city together". He also noted that the atmosphere of couchsurfing made it almost impossible not to establish a lasting friendship; "A few months later one of the surfers was in Amsterdam again and we met up for some joints and coffee like old friends".
It's not all Champagne and lols though. Miscommunications can be bad for both parties: "I've had mainly positive experiences, but I guess once there was a miscommunication wherein since my phone was out of credit I gave some prospective surfers my address and directions to my place in hopes they could find their way. They kept calling me while I was in the library or in class so I couldn't respond. We never got in touch and I ended up with a bad reference". The most successful arrangements take a little planning; not only do you have to look at someone's profile and contact them in advance, you need to either know exactly when they're going to show up, or have contingency plans for communication. It also helps to be friendly, reasonably tidy and courteous, and to bring a small token gift of your appreciation for your host, the way you would when going to dinner at the home of new friends, or when borrowing a relative's holiday house.
As a hoster, Aaron reccommends couchsurfing as a non-money-centric travel experience for open-minded people. "CS is definitely for more outgoing people. If you want to be alone while you travel, stay in a hostel. If you are out there and travelling it probably means you are already an outgoing and openminded person, perfect for CS. CS is not for freeloaders; CS is more for people who subscribe to the concept of a gift economy".
People like Dani*, who has been couchsurfing for over a year now, across the world from Israel to the Netherlands, France, and the U.S. "I think it's the most genius idea ever. It seems a bit sketchy when you first think about it but it really isn't. You just gotta be careful when finding new hosts; sometimes it's not okay to just say yes to everyone. Usually I look for someone with references if I need to find a host". Dani also agrees that keeping in mind the spirit of the couchsurfing arrangement is important, and adds that being relatively independent and giving the host privacy when they need it are important for couchsurfers. "Couchsurfing opens your eyes to a whole new world while travelling. You see and experience the real culture of a city".
So. Summary:
- It's a Thing.
- Make yourself a profile, and get to know the protocol of the community
- For further peace of mind, do your own research on YouTube, forums and review sites
- Verify that a potential host or guest is legit by checking feedback on their profile. If possible, get in touch with them by email, phone or Skype before the deal is done
- Make backup plans for communication on arrival date
- Bring them a small, thoughtful gift from your part of the world
- Don't be a douchebag and annoy them or mess up their home
Happy surfing.
*Names not changed at all, cos really, who cares.
Tuesday 27 September 2011
Friday 23 September 2011
50 Things To Do in and around Adelaide, South Australia
The other day I saw a group on Facebook entitled 'That silent pause when a tourist asks you what there is to see in Adelaide'. Now, if I was a grumpy teenager with small town syndrome, I might be inclined to agree. However, I'm a grown woman with normal interests like food and wine and culture and partying, so I'm posting to tell you what there is to see and do in Adelaide.
1. The Adelaide Zoo: it looks pretty good since the renovations associated with the Pandas, which are friggin' adorable. The two Giant Pandas are the only ones in the whole southern hemisphere, and they are also the first pandas to live permanently in Australia. Plus, they've been introduced for mating, so soon there will be little panda cubs made of mind-blowing awwwwww.
2. The Art Gallery of South Australia
It's free and pretty. And it's working hard to attract the hottest touring exhibitions.
3. SA Museum
The museum, right next to the art gallery on North Terrance, has one of the biggest collections of Aboriginal and Islander artefacts in the world. Plus there's a giant squid in a tube.
4. Cleland Wildlife Park
You get to pet kangaroos, and it's one of the only wildlife parks where you can hold a koala and get your picture taken with it.
5. Botanic Gardens
Top place for having a picnic or just taking a break from walking around town, and one of the only places it's acceptable to nap in public.
6. Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary
This unique wildlife park is a haven for native creatures in the Hills, and is famous for its platypus pond. It's really cheap to stay overnight in an eco-cabin (cool little unit that looks like a tent from the outside but has normal beds and a bathroom and everything), which is definitely recommended if you want to take a night time tour and see some nocturnal animals.
7. Haigh's Chocolate Factory
It's free to take a 20-minute tour of the factory that produces Australia's best chocolate, and you can taste the finished product at the end.
8. Glenelg
Glenelg has recently been developed as a tourist area, and the Jetty Road shopping precinct is open for business when some other places aren't. There's the beachfront and the jetty to walk around and soak up the sun, the Beach House amusement... thingy, it's not really a whole park but it's still OK, heritage museums, and aquatics schools where you can learn to dive and sail.
9. Hahndorf
Hahndorf is only a half hour out of the city via the freeway, and is the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia. There are plenty of great restaurants, top pubs, and things to check out like art galleries, gourmet and craft stores, and the Hahndorf Farm Barn. Nearby is the Beerenberg establishment, famous for their jam and chutney, where you can pick your own strawberries during the summer.
10. Fruit picking
Speaking of wholesome summertime activities, you can pick your own berries and cherries at the right time of year at several farms close to Adelaide. Usually you either pay a small fee and pick as many as you can carry, or you pay a ridiculously cheap price per kilo you pick yourself. It's a fun and cute date idea, or something to do with housemates or family on a boring holiday afternoon- you can extend it by figuring out how many you can eat before they go bad, and making the rest into jam.
11. Morialta Falls
Public transport goes near here and there's a fair bit of parking at the entrance area. This is a great spot for hiking as there are a number of walking trails of different lengths and difficulties. Plus also there's a waterfall.
12. Victor Harbour
A convenient day trip from Adelaide, there's a whale watching centre where you can learn about and maybe even see wild Southern Right whales. Also, there's penguins on Granite Island. And OMG in the winter, a local team of nannas knits TINY PENGUIN JUMPERS for the orphaned penguins that are saved and looked after in the conservation centre.
13. Mt Lofty Summit
The highest point in the Adelaide Hills, it's not so much of a mountain, more of a really tall hill. Anyway, at the top there is a lookout where you can see the whole city from east to west, and out south to sea. A very romantic place at sunset, and there's a cafe and bar where you can grab something to drink as you watch the sun sink into the Gulf.
14. Windy Point
Known as make-out or smoke-out point to a number of local kids, it also has one of the city's very best restaurants, which has won several awards and has a great floor to ceiling window that wraps around it and shows off another spectacular view of the town. The cafe downstairs is just as special but a little more affordable.
15. Adelaide Central Market
Housed in a historic building, it's not just a great place to shop for affordable fruit and veg, it showcases some of the city and state's best produce and gourmet foods. A tip from some fellow poor students is to do your own mini food tour of the market and feed yourself off delicious free samples. It is bordered by two streets known for their great restaurants and sweet bars and lounges, which really come alive on Friday nights.
16. Chinatown
Partly integrated into the abovementioned Market is Adelaide's very own Chinatown, with its restaurants ranging from el cheapo noodle bars to well established classic Chinese restaurants. There are also a number of grocery stores where you can go to pick up hard to find ingredients, or yummy sweets; try a sesame ball if you can get one fresh, I don't even know what the stuff in the middle is but I swear it's one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. If you're on the lookout for a variety of less expensive souvenirs, this is the place to go.
17. Architecture walking tour
If you're keen on architecture or just design in general, you can take a free walking tour of the city's historical and innovative buildings, including the famous churches. Maps are available at tourist info centres where you see that blue and yellow 'i' sign- there's one in Rundle Mall.
18. Kangaroo Island
It's debatable whether K.I. can be seen on a day trip, but I've done one before and it was great. You can explore untouched bushland, fish on pristine beaches, see the wildlife like the famous seals (where you can go right on the beach with them), go on an eco tour or charter, or visit one of the famous food producers, such as the honey factories (I know honey is made by bees, but this is where they keep them and extract the honey and make the associated products... never mind). Highlights for me were Seal Bay Conservation Park and the cute and informative, if slightly tacky, wild bird flight display.
19. Himeji Garden
This Japanese garden, a gift from Adelaide's sister city, is located in the south Parklands and is free to enter and open every day of the year. Unlike many ornamental gardens, picnicing is encouraged and there's a sheltered area to eat in next to the zen sand thingy. I've been on photo expeditions here and it's a great place to practice.
20. Adelaide Gaol
Do a tour of the old Adelaide Gaol; ghost tours and paranormal workshops are also available, as it's one of the most haunted sites in the state.
21. Adelaide Farmers' Market
This amazing farmers' market is on (nearly) every Sunday at the Adelaide Showgrounds, just outside of the city. Check out the produce the state has to offer, from flowers to seafood, fruit to honey, baked goods to fresh, unhmogonised milk straight from the cow. For a different Sunday treat, look for the icecream stall (inside) that sells unique Aussie bush tucker flavours.
22. Willunga Farmers' Market
An award winner and one of the original farmers' markets of Adelaide, this one is a little further out of town but well worth the trip. There are more than 50 stalls, and membership will get you even bigger discounts on the freshest, best local produce.
23. Stirling Market
Just off the main street of the sweet hills village of Stirling every fourth Sunday is the Stirling Market. It's more of an arts and crafts market, but there are also food and produce stalls, and stalls selling a variety of native plants. A civilized way to spend a hungover Sunday.
24. Coopers Brewery Tour
Take a tour of where the state's best beer is made. It's only $22 ($20 of which is donated to charity), and there are free tastings!
25. Festivals
It's not known as the Festival State for nothing. Any time of year there's bound to be a great arts or cultural festival going on, whether or not you're lucky enough to be in town for the Fringe Festival (the second biggest of its kind in the whole world). From the Cabaret Festival to Schutzenfest, WOMAD to SALA, the Festival of Ideas to the Royal Adelaide Show, there's something for everyone's taste.
26. The Reading Room
When you're broke and have nothing else to do in the city, go hang out at The Reading Room, on Hindley Street. It's like a loungeroom where you can chill out, listen to music, read books, have a cup of tea, and meet up with people, and nobody will make you pay money or join a religion and whatnot. There are also often screenings, open mic nights, readings and other fun events.
27. The National Wine Centre
As the home of Australia's (and some of the world's) best wine, it's only fitting that Adelaide should be home to the National Wine Centre. As per their webiste: "Here you can enjoy wine and winemaking from the ground up. Our interactive Wine Discovery Journey and exhibition showcases the complete wine experience. The Concourse Café offers fine Australian wines to taste and purchase or enjoy a meal from our seasonal à la carte menu while overlooking the stunning views of the Botanic Gardens"
28. Adelaide Oval
If you're a cricket nut, catch a game or take a tour of one of the world's famously well-kept cricket grounds.
29. Indie Cinema
In the city's west end, there's the Mercury Cinema, which hosts the Adelaide Cinematheque amongst regular screenings of classic films and hidden gems. In the east end, there's the Palace and Nova cinemas, which show a mixture of arthouse and mainstream films, and have the city's cheapest tickets: Mondays before 4pm is $7 and after 4pm is $8. On Wednesdays, students can get a ticket and some popcorn for just $10. It's also one of the only licensed cinema venues, so you can take a beer into the theatre! If you enjoy a meal and a sneaky drink while you watch your movie, and also viewing said movie from a beanbag or somesuch, and also outdoors, then you have to check out the Moonlight Cinema during the summer.
30. Beaches
There's a huge variety of beaches along the coast near Adelaide, from water sports destinations to nudie beaches and beaches you can drive your car right on to. Did you know that South Aussie beaches are some of the only beaches in the world where the sand is silver and not golden, due to the unique source materials (minerals, ground up dolphins and crap) in the environment?
31. Rundle Street Markets
Every Saturday, 9am-4pm, down the west end of Rundle Street. Mostly an arts and crafts market, it's a great place to check out local artisan talent.
32. Gilles Street Market
The Gilles Street Market, held twice a month in summer and once a month in winter, is an AMAZING fashion market, where you can pick up new and vintage bargains. Beats the crap out of Sydney's Paddington Markets in my opinion.
33. Barossa Valley Wine Region
One of the state's wine regions and only a short distance from Adelaide, it has about a bajillion cellar doors to explore, where tastings are usually free. To see many of these and get home safely, try a wine tour (from about $40) where you go on a minibus to a variety of wineries.
34. McLaren Vale Wine Region
The main drag in McLaren Vale has some cute stores and great restaurants, and the region in general has a number of well-known wineries which also have top-notch restaurants attached. If you prefer beer or are just getting a bit sick of wine, go to the Vale Inn and try their craft beer.
35. Clare Valley Wine Region
A little further out from town, but worth the drive for the scenery and adorable old winery and cellar buildings.
36. Fleurieu Wine Region
This is the wine region to head to if you want to combine epic food with the best wine. I did a wine tour with a visiting friend from Canada which included stops at several well known cellar doors with free tastings and gourmet snackies at each stop. There are a number of different guided options like this to suit your budget; you can do a group tour in a minibus with other fun, like-minded travellers, or you can do a private tour in a limo; you can even do a wine and cheese tour by bicycle, if that's your thing! Check the link for more details: look for the search and book tab at the top of the page.
37. Like, O.M.G., Outlet Shopping!
38. Bowerbird Bazaar
If you're lucky enough to be in town at the right time, or you're a native in the first place, definitely check out the Bowerbird Bazaar design market, which showcases Adelaide's amazing emerging fashion, art and design talents.
39. Port Adelaide
Tons of public transport goes here, and it's easy to waste a day down the Port as you check out the heritage areas, or the big trash & treasure market on Sundays. The Port River is also home to a unique colony of dolphins which you may be lucky enough to spot on a cruise.
40. The Parade, Norwood
Home to a mixture of heritage boutiques and chain stores, the Parade is a fun place to shop and get a cup of coffee. There are also pubs dating back to the settlement of the area, and the Parade is also host to an annual food, wine and music festival. It's about eight seconds out of the city by car or public transport. Check out the Mary Martin Bookshop branch in the old church hall, and the Bottega Rotolo gourmet store (which also has a cooking school).
41. Maggie Beer Farm Shop
While you're in the Barossa, or on a day trip of its own, go and visit Maggie Beer's Farm Shop. Maggie is an Adelaide icon, and if you haven't tried some of her verjuice, pate or jelly, you've probably seen her on ABC's The Cook and The Chef. There are daily cooking demonstrations, and you can pick up her entire range of gourmet goodies, as well as picnic fare. Her icecream is epic, the flavours are totally unique.
42. Rundle Mall
I know, I know- the aforementioned stupid teenagers hang out here. But it has all the chain stores and department stores in one very central location, and there's always the (debatable) artistic merit of the pigs, fountain, and Balls. Hehe, balls. Oh- and if you want to get a souvenir tshirt of the mall's balls, or some other unique souvenir, head down Rundle Street and turn left on Frome, and look for the Urban Cow Studio.
43. Monarto Zoo
Monarto is an open range safari style zoo 15 minutes out of the city by car- you can get a bus there too. They focus on African animals but also have endangered species from other continents and Australia, such as bison, bilbies and wallabies. You can do special tours, including a behind the scenes tour where you get 'within a whisker' of the big cats.
44. Cheese
This blog post, which I'm stupidly writing over lunchtime, has got me thinking about cheese. Oh man, I love cheese. Luckily in Adelaide you can get imported stuff at excellent prices, as well as amazing local products (Paris Creek is one of my favourites, and some of their stuff is even available in supermarkets). I bought my dad a cheese making class for his birthday at Udder Delights and I'm still waiting for him to roll me out my wheel of brie...
45. Penfolds
Speaking of the make-your-own experience, at Penfolds cellar door in the Barossa Valley, you can do a tour of their Winemaker's Lab, and then have a go at blending your very own wine. Penfolds is home to arguably Australia's best and most famous wine, the Grange, which you can learn more about at the Magill Estate cellar door, which is just outside the city.
46. Check out the city's vintage boutiques
Adelaide doesn't have the same problem as Melbourne and Sydney when it comes to op-shops being cleaned out of vintage and retro finds, which are then ridiculously overprices in boutiques. Not only can you find amazing clothing at the city's op-shops, there are a few very well curated vintage and retro boutiques within walking distance of each other in the city. Check out a few different blogs for details and reviews.
47. The Festival Centre
See opera, ballet or theatre at the Festival Centre. Sure, it's not as fancy a building as the Opera House, but it hosts the best theatre, opera and music that is produced in or tours to Adelaide. There are often free events, students always get cheap tickets, and you can save a lot with a seasonal subscription. Come on, get some culture up ya!
48. The Experimental Art Foundation
The EAF is pretty, pretty rad. There are always sweet exhibitions and there's a permanent bookshop too. The EAF is also right by the Jam Factory, where you can view the gallery, see artisans at work, or even take a class in ceramics, glass or jewellery yourself.
49. WEA
This is one for the locals. If you're always complaining that you're bored, and also complaining that uni sucks or that you don't have time to learn outside work or that your brain is done being challenged, go take a damn short course at the WEA. Courses are really cheap and it's the place to go to learn random stuff like Crochet and Patternmaking (and sexy stuff like massage and foreign languages).The reason I posted this is that courses are designed for workers (out of business hours), and they're short so there's not a massive commitment.
50. Eat Your Way around Adelaide
Adelaide is the kind of town where, if you know where to go, there's epic food and entertainment to be had. Stay tuned for an upcoming post about eating tours of cities including Adelaide; while you're waiting, check out Aroma Japanese Cuisine on Gouger Street for enough sushi for $13.80 that you won't want to eat again for a long, long time.
1. The Adelaide Zoo: it looks pretty good since the renovations associated with the Pandas, which are friggin' adorable. The two Giant Pandas are the only ones in the whole southern hemisphere, and they are also the first pandas to live permanently in Australia. Plus, they've been introduced for mating, so soon there will be little panda cubs made of mind-blowing awwwwww.
2. The Art Gallery of South Australia
It's free and pretty. And it's working hard to attract the hottest touring exhibitions.
3. SA Museum
The museum, right next to the art gallery on North Terrance, has one of the biggest collections of Aboriginal and Islander artefacts in the world. Plus there's a giant squid in a tube.
4. Cleland Wildlife Park
You get to pet kangaroos, and it's one of the only wildlife parks where you can hold a koala and get your picture taken with it.
5. Botanic Gardens
Top place for having a picnic or just taking a break from walking around town, and one of the only places it's acceptable to nap in public.
6. Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary
This unique wildlife park is a haven for native creatures in the Hills, and is famous for its platypus pond. It's really cheap to stay overnight in an eco-cabin (cool little unit that looks like a tent from the outside but has normal beds and a bathroom and everything), which is definitely recommended if you want to take a night time tour and see some nocturnal animals.
7. Haigh's Chocolate Factory
It's free to take a 20-minute tour of the factory that produces Australia's best chocolate, and you can taste the finished product at the end.
8. Glenelg
Glenelg has recently been developed as a tourist area, and the Jetty Road shopping precinct is open for business when some other places aren't. There's the beachfront and the jetty to walk around and soak up the sun, the Beach House amusement... thingy, it's not really a whole park but it's still OK, heritage museums, and aquatics schools where you can learn to dive and sail.
9. Hahndorf
Hahndorf is only a half hour out of the city via the freeway, and is the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia. There are plenty of great restaurants, top pubs, and things to check out like art galleries, gourmet and craft stores, and the Hahndorf Farm Barn. Nearby is the Beerenberg establishment, famous for their jam and chutney, where you can pick your own strawberries during the summer.
10. Fruit picking
Speaking of wholesome summertime activities, you can pick your own berries and cherries at the right time of year at several farms close to Adelaide. Usually you either pay a small fee and pick as many as you can carry, or you pay a ridiculously cheap price per kilo you pick yourself. It's a fun and cute date idea, or something to do with housemates or family on a boring holiday afternoon- you can extend it by figuring out how many you can eat before they go bad, and making the rest into jam.
11. Morialta Falls
Public transport goes near here and there's a fair bit of parking at the entrance area. This is a great spot for hiking as there are a number of walking trails of different lengths and difficulties. Plus also there's a waterfall.
12. Victor Harbour
A convenient day trip from Adelaide, there's a whale watching centre where you can learn about and maybe even see wild Southern Right whales. Also, there's penguins on Granite Island. And OMG in the winter, a local team of nannas knits TINY PENGUIN JUMPERS for the orphaned penguins that are saved and looked after in the conservation centre.
13. Mt Lofty Summit
The highest point in the Adelaide Hills, it's not so much of a mountain, more of a really tall hill. Anyway, at the top there is a lookout where you can see the whole city from east to west, and out south to sea. A very romantic place at sunset, and there's a cafe and bar where you can grab something to drink as you watch the sun sink into the Gulf.
14. Windy Point
Known as make-out or smoke-out point to a number of local kids, it also has one of the city's very best restaurants, which has won several awards and has a great floor to ceiling window that wraps around it and shows off another spectacular view of the town. The cafe downstairs is just as special but a little more affordable.
15. Adelaide Central Market
Housed in a historic building, it's not just a great place to shop for affordable fruit and veg, it showcases some of the city and state's best produce and gourmet foods. A tip from some fellow poor students is to do your own mini food tour of the market and feed yourself off delicious free samples. It is bordered by two streets known for their great restaurants and sweet bars and lounges, which really come alive on Friday nights.
16. Chinatown
Partly integrated into the abovementioned Market is Adelaide's very own Chinatown, with its restaurants ranging from el cheapo noodle bars to well established classic Chinese restaurants. There are also a number of grocery stores where you can go to pick up hard to find ingredients, or yummy sweets; try a sesame ball if you can get one fresh, I don't even know what the stuff in the middle is but I swear it's one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. If you're on the lookout for a variety of less expensive souvenirs, this is the place to go.
17. Architecture walking tour
If you're keen on architecture or just design in general, you can take a free walking tour of the city's historical and innovative buildings, including the famous churches. Maps are available at tourist info centres where you see that blue and yellow 'i' sign- there's one in Rundle Mall.
18. Kangaroo Island
It's debatable whether K.I. can be seen on a day trip, but I've done one before and it was great. You can explore untouched bushland, fish on pristine beaches, see the wildlife like the famous seals (where you can go right on the beach with them), go on an eco tour or charter, or visit one of the famous food producers, such as the honey factories (I know honey is made by bees, but this is where they keep them and extract the honey and make the associated products... never mind). Highlights for me were Seal Bay Conservation Park and the cute and informative, if slightly tacky, wild bird flight display.
19. Himeji Garden
This Japanese garden, a gift from Adelaide's sister city, is located in the south Parklands and is free to enter and open every day of the year. Unlike many ornamental gardens, picnicing is encouraged and there's a sheltered area to eat in next to the zen sand thingy. I've been on photo expeditions here and it's a great place to practice.
20. Adelaide Gaol
Do a tour of the old Adelaide Gaol; ghost tours and paranormal workshops are also available, as it's one of the most haunted sites in the state.
21. Adelaide Farmers' Market
This amazing farmers' market is on (nearly) every Sunday at the Adelaide Showgrounds, just outside of the city. Check out the produce the state has to offer, from flowers to seafood, fruit to honey, baked goods to fresh, unhmogonised milk straight from the cow. For a different Sunday treat, look for the icecream stall (inside) that sells unique Aussie bush tucker flavours.
22. Willunga Farmers' Market
An award winner and one of the original farmers' markets of Adelaide, this one is a little further out of town but well worth the trip. There are more than 50 stalls, and membership will get you even bigger discounts on the freshest, best local produce.
23. Stirling Market
Just off the main street of the sweet hills village of Stirling every fourth Sunday is the Stirling Market. It's more of an arts and crafts market, but there are also food and produce stalls, and stalls selling a variety of native plants. A civilized way to spend a hungover Sunday.
24. Coopers Brewery Tour
Take a tour of where the state's best beer is made. It's only $22 ($20 of which is donated to charity), and there are free tastings!
25. Festivals
It's not known as the Festival State for nothing. Any time of year there's bound to be a great arts or cultural festival going on, whether or not you're lucky enough to be in town for the Fringe Festival (the second biggest of its kind in the whole world). From the Cabaret Festival to Schutzenfest, WOMAD to SALA, the Festival of Ideas to the Royal Adelaide Show, there's something for everyone's taste.
26. The Reading Room
When you're broke and have nothing else to do in the city, go hang out at The Reading Room, on Hindley Street. It's like a loungeroom where you can chill out, listen to music, read books, have a cup of tea, and meet up with people, and nobody will make you pay money or join a religion and whatnot. There are also often screenings, open mic nights, readings and other fun events.
27. The National Wine Centre
As the home of Australia's (and some of the world's) best wine, it's only fitting that Adelaide should be home to the National Wine Centre. As per their webiste: "Here you can enjoy wine and winemaking from the ground up. Our interactive Wine Discovery Journey and exhibition showcases the complete wine experience. The Concourse Café offers fine Australian wines to taste and purchase or enjoy a meal from our seasonal à la carte menu while overlooking the stunning views of the Botanic Gardens"
28. Adelaide Oval
If you're a cricket nut, catch a game or take a tour of one of the world's famously well-kept cricket grounds.
29. Indie Cinema
In the city's west end, there's the Mercury Cinema, which hosts the Adelaide Cinematheque amongst regular screenings of classic films and hidden gems. In the east end, there's the Palace and Nova cinemas, which show a mixture of arthouse and mainstream films, and have the city's cheapest tickets: Mondays before 4pm is $7 and after 4pm is $8. On Wednesdays, students can get a ticket and some popcorn for just $10. It's also one of the only licensed cinema venues, so you can take a beer into the theatre! If you enjoy a meal and a sneaky drink while you watch your movie, and also viewing said movie from a beanbag or somesuch, and also outdoors, then you have to check out the Moonlight Cinema during the summer.
30. Beaches
There's a huge variety of beaches along the coast near Adelaide, from water sports destinations to nudie beaches and beaches you can drive your car right on to. Did you know that South Aussie beaches are some of the only beaches in the world where the sand is silver and not golden, due to the unique source materials (minerals, ground up dolphins and crap) in the environment?
31. Rundle Street Markets
Every Saturday, 9am-4pm, down the west end of Rundle Street. Mostly an arts and crafts market, it's a great place to check out local artisan talent.
32. Gilles Street Market
The Gilles Street Market, held twice a month in summer and once a month in winter, is an AMAZING fashion market, where you can pick up new and vintage bargains. Beats the crap out of Sydney's Paddington Markets in my opinion.
33. Barossa Valley Wine Region
One of the state's wine regions and only a short distance from Adelaide, it has about a bajillion cellar doors to explore, where tastings are usually free. To see many of these and get home safely, try a wine tour (from about $40) where you go on a minibus to a variety of wineries.
34. McLaren Vale Wine Region
The main drag in McLaren Vale has some cute stores and great restaurants, and the region in general has a number of well-known wineries which also have top-notch restaurants attached. If you prefer beer or are just getting a bit sick of wine, go to the Vale Inn and try their craft beer.
35. Clare Valley Wine Region
A little further out from town, but worth the drive for the scenery and adorable old winery and cellar buildings.
36. Fleurieu Wine Region
This is the wine region to head to if you want to combine epic food with the best wine. I did a wine tour with a visiting friend from Canada which included stops at several well known cellar doors with free tastings and gourmet snackies at each stop. There are a number of different guided options like this to suit your budget; you can do a group tour in a minibus with other fun, like-minded travellers, or you can do a private tour in a limo; you can even do a wine and cheese tour by bicycle, if that's your thing! Check the link for more details: look for the search and book tab at the top of the page.
37. Like, O.M.G., Outlet Shopping!
38. Bowerbird Bazaar
If you're lucky enough to be in town at the right time, or you're a native in the first place, definitely check out the Bowerbird Bazaar design market, which showcases Adelaide's amazing emerging fashion, art and design talents.
39. Port Adelaide
Tons of public transport goes here, and it's easy to waste a day down the Port as you check out the heritage areas, or the big trash & treasure market on Sundays. The Port River is also home to a unique colony of dolphins which you may be lucky enough to spot on a cruise.
40. The Parade, Norwood
Home to a mixture of heritage boutiques and chain stores, the Parade is a fun place to shop and get a cup of coffee. There are also pubs dating back to the settlement of the area, and the Parade is also host to an annual food, wine and music festival. It's about eight seconds out of the city by car or public transport. Check out the Mary Martin Bookshop branch in the old church hall, and the Bottega Rotolo gourmet store (which also has a cooking school).
41. Maggie Beer Farm Shop
While you're in the Barossa, or on a day trip of its own, go and visit Maggie Beer's Farm Shop. Maggie is an Adelaide icon, and if you haven't tried some of her verjuice, pate or jelly, you've probably seen her on ABC's The Cook and The Chef. There are daily cooking demonstrations, and you can pick up her entire range of gourmet goodies, as well as picnic fare. Her icecream is epic, the flavours are totally unique.
42. Rundle Mall
I know, I know- the aforementioned stupid teenagers hang out here. But it has all the chain stores and department stores in one very central location, and there's always the (debatable) artistic merit of the pigs, fountain, and Balls. Hehe, balls. Oh- and if you want to get a souvenir tshirt of the mall's balls, or some other unique souvenir, head down Rundle Street and turn left on Frome, and look for the Urban Cow Studio.
43. Monarto Zoo
Monarto is an open range safari style zoo 15 minutes out of the city by car- you can get a bus there too. They focus on African animals but also have endangered species from other continents and Australia, such as bison, bilbies and wallabies. You can do special tours, including a behind the scenes tour where you get 'within a whisker' of the big cats.
44. Cheese
This blog post, which I'm stupidly writing over lunchtime, has got me thinking about cheese. Oh man, I love cheese. Luckily in Adelaide you can get imported stuff at excellent prices, as well as amazing local products (Paris Creek is one of my favourites, and some of their stuff is even available in supermarkets). I bought my dad a cheese making class for his birthday at Udder Delights and I'm still waiting for him to roll me out my wheel of brie...
45. Penfolds
Speaking of the make-your-own experience, at Penfolds cellar door in the Barossa Valley, you can do a tour of their Winemaker's Lab, and then have a go at blending your very own wine. Penfolds is home to arguably Australia's best and most famous wine, the Grange, which you can learn more about at the Magill Estate cellar door, which is just outside the city.
46. Check out the city's vintage boutiques
Adelaide doesn't have the same problem as Melbourne and Sydney when it comes to op-shops being cleaned out of vintage and retro finds, which are then ridiculously overprices in boutiques. Not only can you find amazing clothing at the city's op-shops, there are a few very well curated vintage and retro boutiques within walking distance of each other in the city. Check out a few different blogs for details and reviews.
47. The Festival Centre
See opera, ballet or theatre at the Festival Centre. Sure, it's not as fancy a building as the Opera House, but it hosts the best theatre, opera and music that is produced in or tours to Adelaide. There are often free events, students always get cheap tickets, and you can save a lot with a seasonal subscription. Come on, get some culture up ya!
48. The Experimental Art Foundation
The EAF is pretty, pretty rad. There are always sweet exhibitions and there's a permanent bookshop too. The EAF is also right by the Jam Factory, where you can view the gallery, see artisans at work, or even take a class in ceramics, glass or jewellery yourself.
49. WEA
This is one for the locals. If you're always complaining that you're bored, and also complaining that uni sucks or that you don't have time to learn outside work or that your brain is done being challenged, go take a damn short course at the WEA. Courses are really cheap and it's the place to go to learn random stuff like Crochet and Patternmaking (and sexy stuff like massage and foreign languages).The reason I posted this is that courses are designed for workers (out of business hours), and they're short so there's not a massive commitment.
50. Eat Your Way around Adelaide
Adelaide is the kind of town where, if you know where to go, there's epic food and entertainment to be had. Stay tuned for an upcoming post about eating tours of cities including Adelaide; while you're waiting, check out Aroma Japanese Cuisine on Gouger Street for enough sushi for $13.80 that you won't want to eat again for a long, long time.
Friday 16 September 2011
Using your sexy accent whilst abroad
After my last post, one diligent reader pointed out I'd forgotten to mention one of the best parts of travelling abroad: being the unique foreigner amongst all the natives. We don't really think of our own culture as interesting until we're in amongst a different one, and people are asking us questions and acting all fascinated about stuff we take for granted. It feels good to be the centre of attention without even trying, and once you've got someone's attention, you can reel them in with the 'sexy accent' you never even knew you had until drunk, giggling members of the opposite sex were pointing it out to each other and making you say certain words over and over.
There are a few benefits to this little contextual boost in sex appeal. First, if you're on a working holiday, it can help you get a job (who cares if you're playing to a stereotype if it makes you fat stacks of cash). A friend of mine moved to England a couple of years ago and got work in a pub without the owner even asking about his work experience or testing him on pouring beers; it was just assumed he knew what he was doing, as an Aussie. Then, there's just the fact that being 'exotic' is seen as an asset when it comes to sales work; how many times have you walked into your favourite restaurant, boutique, gadget shop or convenience store and been greeted with a 'hello' that makes you automatically turn your head and actually look at your server?
Then, there's pulling. A recent-ish study by a polling company about the world's hottest accents also discovered that 60% of women have been seduced by someone on a sexy accent alone (The same company also surveyed for the quality of the lovin' from people with these accents, but really, once you've sealed the deal who cares?!). I would say my hotness quotient went up at least three points when I lived in Canada; I was picking up guys who were totally out of my league in looks and coolness. Friends and acquaintances have gone to work or study overseas and gleefully reported similar results via Facebook and constant twitpic streams of them with random hotties. I bet there's something psychological or biological behind it; maybe it's easier to keep someone interested when your voice sounds unusual to them, or maybe the sound of an attractive accent is some kind of biological signal of a sweet new set of genes to mix with one's own in the form of adorable bi-racial mocha babies. Whatever, I'm happy to accept the better customer service, special treatment, and extra attention from the menfolk.
Of course, not all people in the country you hit up for an adventure will even be able to tell where you're from. An adorable little gay cashier at Old Navy once asked me if I was "from, like, the South or something?". I LOL'd, 'cos I'm from the south of the entire world. It can also be pretty infuriating when people tell you you're not from where you're from, just because your accent doesn't match some terrible stereotype. People I know from Adelaide have told me that when they go abroad, they're mistaken for English people because of their neutral, non-nasally accents. Americans are especially bad at telling where you're from, and imitating your accent. Oh, and when people don't understand you unless you pronounce something with their accent- that also sucks.
So next time you're travelling, believe people when they act like they're attracted to you and interested in what you have to say (or keen to employ you), but don't abuse it and ruin the, er, reputation of your country(wo)men.
There are a few benefits to this little contextual boost in sex appeal. First, if you're on a working holiday, it can help you get a job (who cares if you're playing to a stereotype if it makes you fat stacks of cash). A friend of mine moved to England a couple of years ago and got work in a pub without the owner even asking about his work experience or testing him on pouring beers; it was just assumed he knew what he was doing, as an Aussie. Then, there's just the fact that being 'exotic' is seen as an asset when it comes to sales work; how many times have you walked into your favourite restaurant, boutique, gadget shop or convenience store and been greeted with a 'hello' that makes you automatically turn your head and actually look at your server?
Then, there's pulling. A recent-ish study by a polling company about the world's hottest accents also discovered that 60% of women have been seduced by someone on a sexy accent alone (The same company also surveyed for the quality of the lovin' from people with these accents, but really, once you've sealed the deal who cares?!). I would say my hotness quotient went up at least three points when I lived in Canada; I was picking up guys who were totally out of my league in looks and coolness. Friends and acquaintances have gone to work or study overseas and gleefully reported similar results via Facebook and constant twitpic streams of them with random hotties. I bet there's something psychological or biological behind it; maybe it's easier to keep someone interested when your voice sounds unusual to them, or maybe the sound of an attractive accent is some kind of biological signal of a sweet new set of genes to mix with one's own in the form of adorable bi-racial mocha babies. Whatever, I'm happy to accept the better customer service, special treatment, and extra attention from the menfolk.
Of course, not all people in the country you hit up for an adventure will even be able to tell where you're from. An adorable little gay cashier at Old Navy once asked me if I was "from, like, the South or something?". I LOL'd, 'cos I'm from the south of the entire world. It can also be pretty infuriating when people tell you you're not from where you're from, just because your accent doesn't match some terrible stereotype. People I know from Adelaide have told me that when they go abroad, they're mistaken for English people because of their neutral, non-nasally accents. Americans are especially bad at telling where you're from, and imitating your accent. Oh, and when people don't understand you unless you pronounce something with their accent- that also sucks.
So next time you're travelling, believe people when they act like they're attracted to you and interested in what you have to say (or keen to employ you), but don't abuse it and ruin the, er, reputation of your country(wo)men.
Thursday 15 September 2011
Studying abroad
Going on student exchange to Canada was one of the best things I have ever done with my life. Not only did I get the opportunity to do some topics at a prestigious law school which never would have been offered at my existing school, but I had an amazing time partying, exploring and making new friends, and it changed me pretty deeply. I think every uni student should be able to take advantage of opportunities to study abroad on exchange, which is why I'm writing the following lists for your motivation and planning benefit.
Reasons to go study abroad on exchange:
- Travel
- Adventure
- Absorbing a new culture
- Study topics you can't take back home
- Learn from the world's best researchers and textbook authors in their universities of residence
- Getting out of your small town into a big city with diversity and distraction everywhere
- Getting out of your big city to the fresh air and beautiful scenery of a rural campus in another climate
- Meeting friends for life
- Professional networking with new international colleagues
- Get an edge over other graduates
- Experience another country as a local, not just as a tourist
- Get some independence from your family and communities back home
- Learn a new language
No more lame excuses!: Why your reasons for putting off an exchange are dumb
"I'll have to spend an extra year/semester at uni!" - Not true. You get credit for the topics you do on exchange, and the units are carefully converted by your faculty administration so you get the most credit for the time and work you put in overseas. Usually, you can't do core topics overseas, so make sure you have enough elective (or 'breadth' units) left in your degree; if you want to do an exchange, don't use up all your electives at home while you're applying or waiting to go.
"I can't afford it" - The idea behind an exchange is that universities swap equal numbers of students, and each student pays fees at their local tuition rate, not the international student rate. This is great for Australian students on HECS, and students in other countries where tertiary tuition is free or paid at a token rate. In terms of airfares and living costs, your university's scholarships directory will list all the free money you can apply for as a potential exchange student. Myself, I got a scholarship which covered half my airfare, and a loan which went on my HECS, called an OS-HELP loan. These are worth about $5K per semester. Depending on where you are and the type of support you get, you may also be eligible to continue receiving student benefits when overseas; check with your Centrelink/social security/student welfare person. Another great option is self-driven fundraising; you can sell unwanted valuables, have a party to raise money, or use a commercial fundraising scheme. I wish I'd known about wine fundraising when I was going on exchange. Some countries will also allow you to work while you study; this is usually limited by time or location, for example international students in Australia can only work 20 or so hours, and in Canada international students can only work on campus unless they get a separate work permit.
"I'll miss my friends and family"- Boo fucking hoo. It's not like you'll never see them again, and with the newfangled magic of telephones and mail (not to mention Skype, international text messaging, FaceTime, email, social networking etc), you can keep in touch with them as much as you like- although you'll probably find you're busy with so much new and exciting stuff you barely have time to upload all your jealousy-inducing photos, let alone miss randoms back home. On a deeper level, from my understanding, some people are worried that if they move overseas for six months or a year, their friends will forget about them and they'll lose their hard earned place in their social circle. My response to that is, if they forget about you or stop liking you after that short a time, they were probably pretty shit friends to begin with. Sure, they might develop new traditions and in-jokes while you're away, but if they're real friends they'll welcome you back with open arms and start inviting you to stuff again. Plus, you'll make even awesomer new friends overseas- indeed, I know one guy at my old uni who met his gorgeous girlfriend on exchange in England, and they've been in love ever since. Imagine if your One was sitting in the class you could have been taking on exchange, and you never met them, cos you were an epic wimp! So yeah, do it.
Planning checklist:
- Check your university's website for exchange program information; see whether your degree is eligible for it, which universities in which countries your university has an exchange agreement with, what topics you can take on exchange there, what the application process is (you may need to fill out two separate applications, one for the exchange program itself and one for the partner institution). Most importantly, check application deadlines.
- When you have decided on a partner university, research its location and details such as housing availability, and general living costs; don't forget to research the cost of groceries and utilities, as many applications will require you to draw up a rough budget to prove you have planned out your living expenses appropriately.
- MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE CHECKLIST OF APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND THEIR DUE DATES. You may wish to organise this by category, such as 'exchange program', 'partner university', 'passport', 'housing', 'visa', etc.
- If you have questions, make an appointment with the co-ordinator of your uni's exchange program.
- Begin preparing your application:
* Research the topics you want to do overseas, and get approval from your faculty- this is one of the most annoying and time consuming parts of the process
* Get academic, professional and personal referees to back up your application
* Begin drafting your personal statement as to why you want to go on exchange and why you would be a good candidate/representative of your university and country
* Start gathering your financial evidence- statements and proof of how you will fund your exchange, i.e. bank statements, parental support, declarations of intent and eligibility to apply for loans/OS-HELP/scholarships
- Submit your completed application before the due date; this way, if there's anything missing, the program administrator can let you know and you can fix it before the deadline
- Get a passport if you don't have one already; these can take months to process
- Wait for both your letter of acceptance into the program and your offer of admission from the partner university overseas. You will need these, as well as other evidence and materials like extra passport photos, to apply for your student visa, and to apply for bank loans, student loans, and scholarships.
- When you have your passport, book an airfare as soon as possible in order to get the best deal: see my post below about creative planning. Make sure you arrive a few days before orientation, or longer if you're looking for your own accommodation.
- Apply for a student visa; make sure you read the information on your host country's immigration website carefully, so you don't waste time applying for the wrong visa for your situation.
- Apply to live in college/on campus as soon as possible; these places fill up fast. If you want to live off campus, book temporary accommodation for an appropriate period of time, so you can look for places to live once you land (booking private accommodation whilst still at home is impractical as it is expensive and can be legally dodgy)
- By this stage, you'll have a passport with a student visa in it, letters of admission from the host university to show to immigration when you get there, a place to stay, and information about orientation and your upcoming classes. Now is the time to plan little things like vaccinations, airport transfers, packing your luggage (take the bare minimum with you and buy everything there), and the all-important insurance. Most countries will have an official cover scheme for international students; in Australia for example, it's OSHC Worldcare. You should also buy travel insurance for your time in transit; in fact, there are several excellent travel insurance products out there which will provide comprehensive cover, including medical cover, for the duration of your exchange. Some countries have it better than others; I remember hearing a story about a guy who went on exchange to a European country which shall not be named. He went on a weekend bender in the neighbouring country, drank so much alcohol he poisoned himself and needed urgent medical attention- he was helicoptered out at the expense of his host country.
- Pack your suitcase, and organise currency for your first few days in your new country; you can open a bank account with your passport, visa and proof of residence in most countries, and it's something you should do to avoid the astounding fees your bank will charge you for withdrawing cash overseas or using your credit card overseas.
That's all I can think of; of course the key with organising something like this is to start early, make to-do lists, and keep it all in perspective. Enjoy your amazing study abroad experience, or if you've already been so lucky, encourage a friend to do it!
x
Reasons to go study abroad on exchange:
- Travel
- Adventure
- Absorbing a new culture
- Study topics you can't take back home
- Learn from the world's best researchers and textbook authors in their universities of residence
- Getting out of your small town into a big city with diversity and distraction everywhere
- Getting out of your big city to the fresh air and beautiful scenery of a rural campus in another climate
- Meeting friends for life
- Professional networking with new international colleagues
- Get an edge over other graduates
- Experience another country as a local, not just as a tourist
- Get some independence from your family and communities back home
- Learn a new language
No more lame excuses!: Why your reasons for putting off an exchange are dumb
"I'll have to spend an extra year/semester at uni!" - Not true. You get credit for the topics you do on exchange, and the units are carefully converted by your faculty administration so you get the most credit for the time and work you put in overseas. Usually, you can't do core topics overseas, so make sure you have enough elective (or 'breadth' units) left in your degree; if you want to do an exchange, don't use up all your electives at home while you're applying or waiting to go.
"I can't afford it" - The idea behind an exchange is that universities swap equal numbers of students, and each student pays fees at their local tuition rate, not the international student rate. This is great for Australian students on HECS, and students in other countries where tertiary tuition is free or paid at a token rate. In terms of airfares and living costs, your university's scholarships directory will list all the free money you can apply for as a potential exchange student. Myself, I got a scholarship which covered half my airfare, and a loan which went on my HECS, called an OS-HELP loan. These are worth about $5K per semester. Depending on where you are and the type of support you get, you may also be eligible to continue receiving student benefits when overseas; check with your Centrelink/social security/student welfare person. Another great option is self-driven fundraising; you can sell unwanted valuables, have a party to raise money, or use a commercial fundraising scheme. I wish I'd known about wine fundraising when I was going on exchange. Some countries will also allow you to work while you study; this is usually limited by time or location, for example international students in Australia can only work 20 or so hours, and in Canada international students can only work on campus unless they get a separate work permit.
"I'll miss my friends and family"- Boo fucking hoo. It's not like you'll never see them again, and with the newfangled magic of telephones and mail (not to mention Skype, international text messaging, FaceTime, email, social networking etc), you can keep in touch with them as much as you like- although you'll probably find you're busy with so much new and exciting stuff you barely have time to upload all your jealousy-inducing photos, let alone miss randoms back home. On a deeper level, from my understanding, some people are worried that if they move overseas for six months or a year, their friends will forget about them and they'll lose their hard earned place in their social circle. My response to that is, if they forget about you or stop liking you after that short a time, they were probably pretty shit friends to begin with. Sure, they might develop new traditions and in-jokes while you're away, but if they're real friends they'll welcome you back with open arms and start inviting you to stuff again. Plus, you'll make even awesomer new friends overseas- indeed, I know one guy at my old uni who met his gorgeous girlfriend on exchange in England, and they've been in love ever since. Imagine if your One was sitting in the class you could have been taking on exchange, and you never met them, cos you were an epic wimp! So yeah, do it.
Planning checklist:
- Check your university's website for exchange program information; see whether your degree is eligible for it, which universities in which countries your university has an exchange agreement with, what topics you can take on exchange there, what the application process is (you may need to fill out two separate applications, one for the exchange program itself and one for the partner institution). Most importantly, check application deadlines.
- When you have decided on a partner university, research its location and details such as housing availability, and general living costs; don't forget to research the cost of groceries and utilities, as many applications will require you to draw up a rough budget to prove you have planned out your living expenses appropriately.
- MAKE A COMPREHENSIVE CHECKLIST OF APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND THEIR DUE DATES. You may wish to organise this by category, such as 'exchange program', 'partner university', 'passport', 'housing', 'visa', etc.
- If you have questions, make an appointment with the co-ordinator of your uni's exchange program.
- Begin preparing your application:
* Research the topics you want to do overseas, and get approval from your faculty- this is one of the most annoying and time consuming parts of the process
* Get academic, professional and personal referees to back up your application
* Begin drafting your personal statement as to why you want to go on exchange and why you would be a good candidate/representative of your university and country
* Start gathering your financial evidence- statements and proof of how you will fund your exchange, i.e. bank statements, parental support, declarations of intent and eligibility to apply for loans/OS-HELP/scholarships
- Submit your completed application before the due date; this way, if there's anything missing, the program administrator can let you know and you can fix it before the deadline
- Get a passport if you don't have one already; these can take months to process
- Wait for both your letter of acceptance into the program and your offer of admission from the partner university overseas. You will need these, as well as other evidence and materials like extra passport photos, to apply for your student visa, and to apply for bank loans, student loans, and scholarships.
- When you have your passport, book an airfare as soon as possible in order to get the best deal: see my post below about creative planning. Make sure you arrive a few days before orientation, or longer if you're looking for your own accommodation.
- Apply for a student visa; make sure you read the information on your host country's immigration website carefully, so you don't waste time applying for the wrong visa for your situation.
- Apply to live in college/on campus as soon as possible; these places fill up fast. If you want to live off campus, book temporary accommodation for an appropriate period of time, so you can look for places to live once you land (booking private accommodation whilst still at home is impractical as it is expensive and can be legally dodgy)
- By this stage, you'll have a passport with a student visa in it, letters of admission from the host university to show to immigration when you get there, a place to stay, and information about orientation and your upcoming classes. Now is the time to plan little things like vaccinations, airport transfers, packing your luggage (take the bare minimum with you and buy everything there), and the all-important insurance. Most countries will have an official cover scheme for international students; in Australia for example, it's OSHC Worldcare. You should also buy travel insurance for your time in transit; in fact, there are several excellent travel insurance products out there which will provide comprehensive cover, including medical cover, for the duration of your exchange. Some countries have it better than others; I remember hearing a story about a guy who went on exchange to a European country which shall not be named. He went on a weekend bender in the neighbouring country, drank so much alcohol he poisoned himself and needed urgent medical attention- he was helicoptered out at the expense of his host country.
- Pack your suitcase, and organise currency for your first few days in your new country; you can open a bank account with your passport, visa and proof of residence in most countries, and it's something you should do to avoid the astounding fees your bank will charge you for withdrawing cash overseas or using your credit card overseas.
That's all I can think of; of course the key with organising something like this is to start early, make to-do lists, and keep it all in perspective. Enjoy your amazing study abroad experience, or if you've already been so lucky, encourage a friend to do it!
x
Wednesday 14 September 2011
Eurotrip for physics folks
Day 1: Arrive in London. Get a taxi to your hotel. Have a snooze and a nice cup of tea. Go out to the pub, work the accent and chat to the locals like so.
Day 2: Go to the Science Museum. Try to keep your kid-like enthusiasm/Sheldon-like derision under control.
Day 3: Stare at shiny rocks for as long as you can. Or alternatively, take this excellent free walking tour (you get to use an app!) and scavenger hunt, London Science Uncovered.
Day 4: Get the train to Paris. Explain to fellow passengers (whether they ask or not) how the train goes underwater. If you have time when you get there, go hang out on campus at UPMC.
Day 5: Go to the Cité des sciences , and fly through space. Wheeeee! ^_^ It's the biggest science museum in all of Europe. At night, crash a party for one of the constant streams of symposiums on neat stuff like particle physics: google for more info.
Day 6: More trains, this time to Geneva in Switzerland! The travel time is only three hours, so if you leave early enough, you can make it in time to take a tour of the CERN.
Day 7: Come back the next day and check out the exhibitions as well. At night, if you're there at the right time of the month check out the astrophysics observation parties at the Geneva Observatory.
Day 8: Now for a change from the big cities, travel by plane to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland (via Copenhagen), with Air Greenland (average fares are $550 return), the best place to see the Northern Lights. Or alternatively, you could go to Jukkasjärvi in far north Sweden; it's slightly cheaper to go there as budget airlines compete on this route (you'll need to connect in Oslo or Copenhagen, and then catch a bus from Kiruna airport). Plus, in Jukkasjärvi you can stay at the epic Ice Hotel, and party at its vodka bar and stuff. There's only one connection to get back from Kiruna to London, where you can get your returning flight home.
Day 2: Go to the Science Museum. Try to keep your kid-like enthusiasm/Sheldon-like derision under control.
Day 3: Stare at shiny rocks for as long as you can. Or alternatively, take this excellent free walking tour (you get to use an app!) and scavenger hunt, London Science Uncovered.
Day 4: Get the train to Paris. Explain to fellow passengers (whether they ask or not) how the train goes underwater. If you have time when you get there, go hang out on campus at UPMC.
Day 5: Go to the Cité des sciences , and fly through space. Wheeeee! ^_^ It's the biggest science museum in all of Europe. At night, crash a party for one of the constant streams of symposiums on neat stuff like particle physics: google for more info.
Day 6: More trains, this time to Geneva in Switzerland! The travel time is only three hours, so if you leave early enough, you can make it in time to take a tour of the CERN.
Day 7: Come back the next day and check out the exhibitions as well. At night, if you're there at the right time of the month check out the astrophysics observation parties at the Geneva Observatory.
Day 8: Now for a change from the big cities, travel by plane to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland (via Copenhagen), with Air Greenland (average fares are $550 return), the best place to see the Northern Lights. Or alternatively, you could go to Jukkasjärvi in far north Sweden; it's slightly cheaper to go there as budget airlines compete on this route (you'll need to connect in Oslo or Copenhagen, and then catch a bus from Kiruna airport). Plus, in Jukkasjärvi you can stay at the epic Ice Hotel, and party at its vodka bar and stuff. There's only one connection to get back from Kiruna to London, where you can get your returning flight home.
Sunday 11 September 2011
Creative flight route planning
A lot of people planning an adventure on a budget make the mistake of thinking that they can't afford a particular destination because of the cost of the airfare. Or, they put very little effort into finding the best fare, and end up with not a lot left over for nice accommodation and touring experiences. This post lists my top tips for airfare searching in order to get the lowest price and best value possible.
1. No-frills airlines
Sounds simple, but in my experience many don't consider this a genuine option, for a number of reasons. They may fear that a no-frills airline couldn't possibly be as safe as a full service airline, or else they've heard horror stories about late flights and uncomfortable service.
The first one is a reasonable concern, but all airlines in Australia (and all developed countries: check your local regulations for more information) have to pass rigorous safety standards before they are allowed to fly; mechanical safety, pilot expertise and other basic standards are just as high for budget airlines as they are for fulls service ones. If there are even slight problems, CASA (the Civil Aviation Safety Authority) will suspend the airline; the recent Tiger incident is probably still fresh in everyone's mind at this stage.
The second concern can be totally dismissed with a 'you get what you pay for' argument. No-frills airlines are just that; there are no plush add-ons, it's just a service designed to get you from A to B. It may be helpful to just think of it as a giant flying bus; you've never had your own personal capsule or snacks handed out by smiling beauties on your daily commute, yet it gets you where you need to go just fine, and there are a number of ways to make it more comfortable by yourself. I have read in a number of forums some very snarky bad reviews of cheap airlines; the image that springs to mind when reading them is that of a consistently cranky fat-cat businessman who expects five star service just for continuing to exist and thinks they're more important than anyone else. The only time I feel bad for these aforementioned reviewers is when they're families on a budget who are flying no-frills in order to see family or get medical treatment or something, but that's a whole other story.
There are a number of no-frills airlines all over the world, flying both domestic and international routes. Personally, I've had good experiences with Jetstar (http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/home) and Tiger (http://www.tigerairways.com/), and would like to try AirAsia (http://www.airasia.com/au/en/home.html) some time soon. A comprehensive list of the world's no-frills airlines (usually referred to as low-cost carriers, or LCCs) can be found on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_low-cost_airlines).
In terms of online search and booking functions, like most airline pages, fares on dates either side of your chosen dates will also be displayed, and you can choose from other airports at your destination in order to investigate cheap alternatives.
2. Be flexible with dates
Not everyone has this luxury; many of us work in jobs like retail or finance where available holiday times are pretty strictly limited. But if you have any choice, take advantage of it; airfare prices fluctuate according to 'seasons', and there are definitely cheap and expensive times to travel to any given destination. The three seasons are low, shoulder, and peak, low season being the cheapest time to travel, and peak season being the most expensive. Keep in mind that depending on the length of your trip, you may be leaving in low season and returning in peak season, so this will compromise your airfare price.
The two hemispheres' summers/official holiday periods are the most expensive in which to travel (early June to late August, and early December to early January). The low season is usually mid January to late March, and then September to November. Periods in between are known as the shoulder season, and there are still a number of cheap flights to be had in this time; airfares will often be at sale prices on random dates in the shoulder season, to help fill up flights that fall either side of peak holiday time and traditional cheap times.
The seasons can vary from country to country, so for more information google the name of your country and 'airfare seasons'.
3. Travel on less busy days of the week
This is a micro-level strategy of the abovementioned date planning. No matter where you are in the world, there are certain days of the week which are more expensive to fly out on than the days around them, because of regular demand from passengers such as business people and commuters. For example, you'll find it's more expensive to fly out on a Friday afternoon or evening, because that's the time when many people are finished work for the week, and they all want to fly out as soon as possible to maximise their getaway time or their time back at home. It can also be expensive to fly on a Sunday night for the same reason. In my experience, the cheapest days to fly are Wednesday and Saturday.
When booking online, click the 'flexible dates' option in the search box, to show you days of the week around your preferred date. The fare difference can be hundreds of dollars (based on a random selection of domestic and international flights from Australia) between different days of the week at the same time of year.
4. Travel to an alternative port in your destination
Many major destinations have more than one international airport, and sometimes choosing a different port of arrival in your search for the best fare can make a difference. Your online flight search should ask you to pick between airports when you put in a city name; alternatively, check out Wikipedia's list of airports by city (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_with_more_than_one_airport).
I tested this out by searching for flights on an aggregator site (sites that resell and represent all airlines, much like a travel agent) from Melbourne to Paris, using the same dates for each flight; the difference in fares for a return fare was nearly $200. I then did a similar search for flights to London, and the difference was around $400. In addition to this, many budget airlines only fly in to the secondary airports; this is one of their ways of saving money.
5. Creative route planning
This is absolutely my favourite way of saving money on getting to a destination, and something I consider rather a speciality of mine. It's possible to save money with alternative routes for most trips, and is well worth the effort of putting in several sets of data to airfare search engines, or calculating the cost and timing of a combined plane and rail, or bus and plane trip.
My latest foray into creative route planning happened mid last year, when I had just finished up a Christmas casual (summer) job, and was desperate to visit friends in Canada in the limited time and on the small budget I had. My first move was to go online to an airfare search engine and put in my preferred dates, my home town, and my destination (Toronto). It told me it would cost $2300 to make that trip. I had about a $2000 total budget, so I looked into what similar routes were cheap or on sale, what seemed to be the cheapest places in the world to fly to and from, and what the public transport networks were like in North America.
What I ended up doing was taking a no-frills flight from my home town to Melbourne (the closest big city), a sale flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles, a no-frills flight from Los Angeles to Buffalo, and a bus from Buffalo to Toronto. This set of flights and buses cost me $1400, and I didn't spend much extra time at all in transit, although I did decide to have a stopover for a couple of nights in Los Angeles.
Ideas for creative route planning:
- Check out what routes have really good sale prices, and how far each port is from your location and destination
- See if you can save by doing a portion of your journey on a train or bus
- Consider breaking up your route from a direct or one-stop flight, in order to cut down on the airfare (the most expensive part)
- When your route is going to be broken up anyway, consider going a different way, i.e. stopping over in a different country, or if going halfway around the world, go the other direction
- Rather than thinking of your route as between two cities, look for different fares between the two countries or continents, and then cheap domestic fares between the cities
I hope I've explained these principles clearly; good luck on finding the best value route and fare for your next adventure.
1. No-frills airlines
Sounds simple, but in my experience many don't consider this a genuine option, for a number of reasons. They may fear that a no-frills airline couldn't possibly be as safe as a full service airline, or else they've heard horror stories about late flights and uncomfortable service.
The first one is a reasonable concern, but all airlines in Australia (and all developed countries: check your local regulations for more information) have to pass rigorous safety standards before they are allowed to fly; mechanical safety, pilot expertise and other basic standards are just as high for budget airlines as they are for fulls service ones. If there are even slight problems, CASA (the Civil Aviation Safety Authority) will suspend the airline; the recent Tiger incident is probably still fresh in everyone's mind at this stage.
The second concern can be totally dismissed with a 'you get what you pay for' argument. No-frills airlines are just that; there are no plush add-ons, it's just a service designed to get you from A to B. It may be helpful to just think of it as a giant flying bus; you've never had your own personal capsule or snacks handed out by smiling beauties on your daily commute, yet it gets you where you need to go just fine, and there are a number of ways to make it more comfortable by yourself. I have read in a number of forums some very snarky bad reviews of cheap airlines; the image that springs to mind when reading them is that of a consistently cranky fat-cat businessman who expects five star service just for continuing to exist and thinks they're more important than anyone else. The only time I feel bad for these aforementioned reviewers is when they're families on a budget who are flying no-frills in order to see family or get medical treatment or something, but that's a whole other story.
There are a number of no-frills airlines all over the world, flying both domestic and international routes. Personally, I've had good experiences with Jetstar (http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/home) and Tiger (http://www.tigerairways.com/), and would like to try AirAsia (http://www.airasia.com/au/en/home.html) some time soon. A comprehensive list of the world's no-frills airlines (usually referred to as low-cost carriers, or LCCs) can be found on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_low-cost_airlines).
In terms of online search and booking functions, like most airline pages, fares on dates either side of your chosen dates will also be displayed, and you can choose from other airports at your destination in order to investigate cheap alternatives.
2. Be flexible with dates
Not everyone has this luxury; many of us work in jobs like retail or finance where available holiday times are pretty strictly limited. But if you have any choice, take advantage of it; airfare prices fluctuate according to 'seasons', and there are definitely cheap and expensive times to travel to any given destination. The three seasons are low, shoulder, and peak, low season being the cheapest time to travel, and peak season being the most expensive. Keep in mind that depending on the length of your trip, you may be leaving in low season and returning in peak season, so this will compromise your airfare price.
The two hemispheres' summers/official holiday periods are the most expensive in which to travel (early June to late August, and early December to early January). The low season is usually mid January to late March, and then September to November. Periods in between are known as the shoulder season, and there are still a number of cheap flights to be had in this time; airfares will often be at sale prices on random dates in the shoulder season, to help fill up flights that fall either side of peak holiday time and traditional cheap times.
The seasons can vary from country to country, so for more information google the name of your country and 'airfare seasons'.
3. Travel on less busy days of the week
This is a micro-level strategy of the abovementioned date planning. No matter where you are in the world, there are certain days of the week which are more expensive to fly out on than the days around them, because of regular demand from passengers such as business people and commuters. For example, you'll find it's more expensive to fly out on a Friday afternoon or evening, because that's the time when many people are finished work for the week, and they all want to fly out as soon as possible to maximise their getaway time or their time back at home. It can also be expensive to fly on a Sunday night for the same reason. In my experience, the cheapest days to fly are Wednesday and Saturday.
When booking online, click the 'flexible dates' option in the search box, to show you days of the week around your preferred date. The fare difference can be hundreds of dollars (based on a random selection of domestic and international flights from Australia) between different days of the week at the same time of year.
4. Travel to an alternative port in your destination
Many major destinations have more than one international airport, and sometimes choosing a different port of arrival in your search for the best fare can make a difference. Your online flight search should ask you to pick between airports when you put in a city name; alternatively, check out Wikipedia's list of airports by city (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_with_more_than_one_airport).
I tested this out by searching for flights on an aggregator site (sites that resell and represent all airlines, much like a travel agent) from Melbourne to Paris, using the same dates for each flight; the difference in fares for a return fare was nearly $200. I then did a similar search for flights to London, and the difference was around $400. In addition to this, many budget airlines only fly in to the secondary airports; this is one of their ways of saving money.
5. Creative route planning
This is absolutely my favourite way of saving money on getting to a destination, and something I consider rather a speciality of mine. It's possible to save money with alternative routes for most trips, and is well worth the effort of putting in several sets of data to airfare search engines, or calculating the cost and timing of a combined plane and rail, or bus and plane trip.
My latest foray into creative route planning happened mid last year, when I had just finished up a Christmas casual (summer) job, and was desperate to visit friends in Canada in the limited time and on the small budget I had. My first move was to go online to an airfare search engine and put in my preferred dates, my home town, and my destination (Toronto). It told me it would cost $2300 to make that trip. I had about a $2000 total budget, so I looked into what similar routes were cheap or on sale, what seemed to be the cheapest places in the world to fly to and from, and what the public transport networks were like in North America.
What I ended up doing was taking a no-frills flight from my home town to Melbourne (the closest big city), a sale flight from Melbourne to Los Angeles, a no-frills flight from Los Angeles to Buffalo, and a bus from Buffalo to Toronto. This set of flights and buses cost me $1400, and I didn't spend much extra time at all in transit, although I did decide to have a stopover for a couple of nights in Los Angeles.
Ideas for creative route planning:
- Check out what routes have really good sale prices, and how far each port is from your location and destination
- See if you can save by doing a portion of your journey on a train or bus
- Consider breaking up your route from a direct or one-stop flight, in order to cut down on the airfare (the most expensive part)
- When your route is going to be broken up anyway, consider going a different way, i.e. stopping over in a different country, or if going halfway around the world, go the other direction
- Rather than thinking of your route as between two cities, look for different fares between the two countries or continents, and then cheap domestic fares between the cities
I hope I've explained these principles clearly; good luck on finding the best value route and fare for your next adventure.
Wednesday 7 September 2011
How to pack for your trip
I've been lucky enough to receive advice from a range of well travelled people as to what packing practices are the most efficient. Of course, every type of trip will be different; your suitcase for a skiing minibreak will look a lot different to your suitcase for a month in Thailand. However, there are basic principles which work well for 99% of trips.
First, it's important to keep in mind what you're aiming for when packing your suitcase efficiently, namely:
- Space: you want to take with you as little as possible, to keep room for new purchases
- Weight: all commercial carriers have a weight per bag limit which you will be notified of when you book
- Efficiency: you want to take shoes, clothes and other items which will be able to be used in a number of situations, and have a high usefulness to space-they-take-up ratio
- Laundry requirements: you don't want to spend your whole holiday doing laundry
- Security: 'nuff said
Keeping in mind those principles, this is my typical list of stuff to pack for a trip abroad:
- Copy of insurance policy
- Passport and copy of passport/details itinerary (stored separately for security reasons)
- Cash passport: modern version of traveller's cheques, saves on international ATM transaction fees
- Regular phone switched to international roaming; I have an iPhone, which with all its applications, saves time on packing things like phrasebooks
- International power adapter
- One good pair of walking shoes (can be worn on the plane to save space)
- One pair of flip-flops, especially if you will be using communal showers at a hostel or pool facility
- One pair of going-out shoes
- Towel if staying in a hostel or going to the beach
- One going-out dress (formal/cocktail), or lounge suit as the case may be
- The whole trips worth of knickers, to avoid doing laundry
- Approximately three days' worth of clothes, to be reworn
*I should note here: pick sensible clothes that can easily be spot cleaned or Febrezed. Don't worry about fashion. Nobody cares what you wear, you're travelling and you're never going to see them again. Just worry about weather and practicality.
- Pair of bathers
- Prescription medication
*Just for safety and legal security, always carry your prescriptions with you, especially when transporting large quantities of your prescription medication. Some countries get very fussy about this.
- Hairbrush and ties/bobby pins
- Toothbrush, medication, more expensive toiletries decanted into travel sized bottles
*Especially when it comes to toiletries, it's difficult to know what to take with you and what to buy on location, especially with most countries now having regulations regarding the total volume of liquids you can pack in your carry-on baggage. My advice: only take with you the things you will want to use on the plane and immediately after landing, buy the rest when you get to your destination. For example, I'd take a pack of all-in-one face wipes, my toothbrush, deodorant, and a mini toothpaste on the plane. The only exception is makeup, and if you use expensive products; decant expensive shampoos and conditioners into travel size bottles, and as long as your makeup and perfume doesn't take up too much room, pack that in your checked luggage, as you wouldn't want to spend money buying a whole new set of stuff just for your trip. First aid supplies, body wash, big bottles of sunscreen, shaving cream etc. will be readily available at supermarkets and convenience stores in most destinations.
What NOT to pack:
- Hair dryers: hotel hair dryers have had a bad reputation as being tiny and weak and taking forever to dry your hair, but things have improved a lot, even in budget accommodation. My hairdryer is massive and would take up too much room in my suitcase, and most 'travel-sized' dryers I've checked out just don't have the same power as a regular one. Depending on your destination (and level of vanity), you might even get a cheap wash and blow-dry on your first night in town and just try to make it last- I did this while travelling in Nha Trang, Vietnam, and it worked great.
- Planned outfits for every single day: If you're going away for more than a weekend, this just isn't feasible. As I mentioned before, your holiday is not a fashion show.
- More than one guidebook for your destination: It can be hard to choose between reference materials, but you only need one book, if one at all; unless you're travelling rurally, you can probably just plan ahead and look up information on the internet as you go. If you're travelling on an organised group tour, you don't need a book at all.
How to pack:
- If not wearing your walking shoes on the plane, place them together in a plastic bag to avoid getting dirt on your other stuff
- Clothes made of thick, less flexible fabric (jeans, thick jumpers etc) should be folded as usual and laid flat
- Underwear and thinner shirts etc can be folded in half and rolled tightly to save on space
- Toiletries should be packed in secure containers and placed in bags within your toiletries bag, to avoid any nasty breakage surprises on landing
- Socks and stockings can be rolled and stuffed inside shoes to save on space as well
- Take your passport and cash passport with you in your passport wallet or carry-on bag; pack copies inside checked luggage
- Once everything's securely packed, make sure all expander zips are closed and cross straps secured, and join together zippers with tamper-proof security tags. These little inventions are available wherever luggage and travel supplies are sold, and there are a number of brands. Basically, they are little plastic strips that you attach after you're finished packing, and they can only be removed by cutting or breaking them; it helps to make sure that your luggage isn't surreptitiously tampered with (very useful in this post-Schapelle Corby age).
Just another quick note on carry-on baggage vs. checked baggage; remember the restrictions about liquids in carry-on baggage. You really can't get away with anything over the limit, or anything packed improperly; I've seen grown men and women throw tantrums at the airport because they can't keep their special bottled water or their $200 bottle of bulk SK2 Miracle Cream or their huge bottle of scotch.
First, it's important to keep in mind what you're aiming for when packing your suitcase efficiently, namely:
- Space: you want to take with you as little as possible, to keep room for new purchases
- Weight: all commercial carriers have a weight per bag limit which you will be notified of when you book
- Efficiency: you want to take shoes, clothes and other items which will be able to be used in a number of situations, and have a high usefulness to space-they-take-up ratio
- Laundry requirements: you don't want to spend your whole holiday doing laundry
- Security: 'nuff said
Keeping in mind those principles, this is my typical list of stuff to pack for a trip abroad:
- Copy of insurance policy
- Passport and copy of passport/details itinerary (stored separately for security reasons)
- Cash passport: modern version of traveller's cheques, saves on international ATM transaction fees
- Regular phone switched to international roaming; I have an iPhone, which with all its applications, saves time on packing things like phrasebooks
- International power adapter
- One good pair of walking shoes (can be worn on the plane to save space)
- One pair of flip-flops, especially if you will be using communal showers at a hostel or pool facility
- One pair of going-out shoes
- Towel if staying in a hostel or going to the beach
- One going-out dress (formal/cocktail), or lounge suit as the case may be
- The whole trips worth of knickers, to avoid doing laundry
- Approximately three days' worth of clothes, to be reworn
*I should note here: pick sensible clothes that can easily be spot cleaned or Febrezed. Don't worry about fashion. Nobody cares what you wear, you're travelling and you're never going to see them again. Just worry about weather and practicality.
- Pair of bathers
- Prescription medication
*Just for safety and legal security, always carry your prescriptions with you, especially when transporting large quantities of your prescription medication. Some countries get very fussy about this.
- Hairbrush and ties/bobby pins
- Toothbrush, medication, more expensive toiletries decanted into travel sized bottles
*Especially when it comes to toiletries, it's difficult to know what to take with you and what to buy on location, especially with most countries now having regulations regarding the total volume of liquids you can pack in your carry-on baggage. My advice: only take with you the things you will want to use on the plane and immediately after landing, buy the rest when you get to your destination. For example, I'd take a pack of all-in-one face wipes, my toothbrush, deodorant, and a mini toothpaste on the plane. The only exception is makeup, and if you use expensive products; decant expensive shampoos and conditioners into travel size bottles, and as long as your makeup and perfume doesn't take up too much room, pack that in your checked luggage, as you wouldn't want to spend money buying a whole new set of stuff just for your trip. First aid supplies, body wash, big bottles of sunscreen, shaving cream etc. will be readily available at supermarkets and convenience stores in most destinations.
What NOT to pack:
- Hair dryers: hotel hair dryers have had a bad reputation as being tiny and weak and taking forever to dry your hair, but things have improved a lot, even in budget accommodation. My hairdryer is massive and would take up too much room in my suitcase, and most 'travel-sized' dryers I've checked out just don't have the same power as a regular one. Depending on your destination (and level of vanity), you might even get a cheap wash and blow-dry on your first night in town and just try to make it last- I did this while travelling in Nha Trang, Vietnam, and it worked great.
- Planned outfits for every single day: If you're going away for more than a weekend, this just isn't feasible. As I mentioned before, your holiday is not a fashion show.
- More than one guidebook for your destination: It can be hard to choose between reference materials, but you only need one book, if one at all; unless you're travelling rurally, you can probably just plan ahead and look up information on the internet as you go. If you're travelling on an organised group tour, you don't need a book at all.
How to pack:
- If not wearing your walking shoes on the plane, place them together in a plastic bag to avoid getting dirt on your other stuff
- Clothes made of thick, less flexible fabric (jeans, thick jumpers etc) should be folded as usual and laid flat
- Underwear and thinner shirts etc can be folded in half and rolled tightly to save on space
- Toiletries should be packed in secure containers and placed in bags within your toiletries bag, to avoid any nasty breakage surprises on landing
- Socks and stockings can be rolled and stuffed inside shoes to save on space as well
- Take your passport and cash passport with you in your passport wallet or carry-on bag; pack copies inside checked luggage
- Once everything's securely packed, make sure all expander zips are closed and cross straps secured, and join together zippers with tamper-proof security tags. These little inventions are available wherever luggage and travel supplies are sold, and there are a number of brands. Basically, they are little plastic strips that you attach after you're finished packing, and they can only be removed by cutting or breaking them; it helps to make sure that your luggage isn't surreptitiously tampered with (very useful in this post-Schapelle Corby age).
Just another quick note on carry-on baggage vs. checked baggage; remember the restrictions about liquids in carry-on baggage. You really can't get away with anything over the limit, or anything packed improperly; I've seen grown men and women throw tantrums at the airport because they can't keep their special bottled water or their $200 bottle of bulk SK2 Miracle Cream or their huge bottle of scotch.
The New Budget Travel Destinations
Wherever you live in the world, there's a destination nearby you which is well known as a locale where an international adventure can be had on a shoestring budget. However, many of these places are looking a little tired and touristed out these days. You may have even seen them all before. Here's a short list of alternatives:
OLD: Backpacking in Western Europe
NEW: Backpacking in Eastern Europe
When you're planning a trip on a budget, it's often not so much about how cheap you can get a holiday for, but how much you can get for your money. If you want to absorb the history and culture of the great continent of Europe, your money will go a lot further in the East than in the West. For example, a cheap hostel bed in London or Paris will cost you at least $10-$15AUD, whereas in Prague you can get a bed for $4AUD a night; this means you can afford to stay longer, or save your money towards fun experiences rather than essentials like accommodation. Another example is beach holiday destinations in summer; if you want to pay for a holiday and actually relax, your best bet is not the crowded beaches in the south of France, it's the undiscovered gems of the Dalmatian Coast. $50 on the Cote d'Azur will get you a sun lounger chair for the day on a crowded beach front. $50 in Split, Croatia will get you a bed in a hostel, a visit to the museum, lunch out at a restaurant, and drinks that night.
OLD: Contiki tour of Thailand
NEW: Gecko's tour of Cambodia
Due to proximity and affordability, many Aussies have travelled to popular destinations in south-east Asia such as Thailand and Bali. Well, if you've been to Kuta or Phuket lately, you'll notice they're stuffed with chubby bogans abusing the local people and refusing to engage with the culture. The beaches, hills and grand archaeological sites of Cambodia are a perfect compromise between over touristed destinations and the totally undiscovered, when keeping budget in mind. There is enough existing infrastructure and tourism business there that you don't have to organise everything yourself and you have a wide range of choices, but you can still get away from the crowds on a budget. For example, Phuket gets in excess of five million tourist visitors a year, while the beautiful Sihanoukville receives only around 100,000 per year.
OLD: Ecotourism in the Amazon
NEW: Voluntourism anywhere in South America
Travellers with a conscience have long had more ethical options available to them in terms of choosing destinations, tour operators, and accommodation with an environmentally sustainable focus. Tourism development has been promoted as a reason and a way to save large swathes of natural environment in South America, particularly in the Amazon basin. These days though, you can go one step further and not only contribute to saving an area's natural history through visiting as a tourist, you can help to rebuild it or its local community. Fully paid volunteer programs are comparable in cost and usually include homestay accommodation, sightseeing, and the opportunity to work on programs such as reforestation or community development.
I hope this has given you the inspiration to check out a better value alternative when planning your next adventure on a shoestring.
Cheers,
Eva.
OLD: Backpacking in Western Europe
NEW: Backpacking in Eastern Europe
When you're planning a trip on a budget, it's often not so much about how cheap you can get a holiday for, but how much you can get for your money. If you want to absorb the history and culture of the great continent of Europe, your money will go a lot further in the East than in the West. For example, a cheap hostel bed in London or Paris will cost you at least $10-$15AUD, whereas in Prague you can get a bed for $4AUD a night; this means you can afford to stay longer, or save your money towards fun experiences rather than essentials like accommodation. Another example is beach holiday destinations in summer; if you want to pay for a holiday and actually relax, your best bet is not the crowded beaches in the south of France, it's the undiscovered gems of the Dalmatian Coast. $50 on the Cote d'Azur will get you a sun lounger chair for the day on a crowded beach front. $50 in Split, Croatia will get you a bed in a hostel, a visit to the museum, lunch out at a restaurant, and drinks that night.
OLD: Contiki tour of Thailand
NEW: Gecko's tour of Cambodia
Due to proximity and affordability, many Aussies have travelled to popular destinations in south-east Asia such as Thailand and Bali. Well, if you've been to Kuta or Phuket lately, you'll notice they're stuffed with chubby bogans abusing the local people and refusing to engage with the culture. The beaches, hills and grand archaeological sites of Cambodia are a perfect compromise between over touristed destinations and the totally undiscovered, when keeping budget in mind. There is enough existing infrastructure and tourism business there that you don't have to organise everything yourself and you have a wide range of choices, but you can still get away from the crowds on a budget. For example, Phuket gets in excess of five million tourist visitors a year, while the beautiful Sihanoukville receives only around 100,000 per year.
OLD: Ecotourism in the Amazon
NEW: Voluntourism anywhere in South America
Travellers with a conscience have long had more ethical options available to them in terms of choosing destinations, tour operators, and accommodation with an environmentally sustainable focus. Tourism development has been promoted as a reason and a way to save large swathes of natural environment in South America, particularly in the Amazon basin. These days though, you can go one step further and not only contribute to saving an area's natural history through visiting as a tourist, you can help to rebuild it or its local community. Fully paid volunteer programs are comparable in cost and usually include homestay accommodation, sightseeing, and the opportunity to work on programs such as reforestation or community development.
I hope this has given you the inspiration to check out a better value alternative when planning your next adventure on a shoestring.
Cheers,
Eva.
Welcome!
Hi, all you travellers out there on the internet!
My name is Eva, and I'm a 23 year old student from Australia who has seriously caught the travel bug. I have a wide range of travel interests; I can't think of anywhere I wouldn't like to check out at some point. I've done a lot of travelling already, on a very tight budget, and I've given advice to friends on travelling on a shoestring. It was during one of these advice sessions that the idea came up for me to share my accumulated random knowledge with more people through a blog.
Adventures on a Shoestring will be a blog consisting of news and views on how to have, well, adventures on a shoestring. I'll pretty much post whatever I feel like, but if you have any particular aspect of budget travel you'd like to know more about, please feel free to leave a comment; if I don't know the answer already, I'll do the research and write a post for you .
Thanks for reading, and happy travels!
x
Eva.
My name is Eva, and I'm a 23 year old student from Australia who has seriously caught the travel bug. I have a wide range of travel interests; I can't think of anywhere I wouldn't like to check out at some point. I've done a lot of travelling already, on a very tight budget, and I've given advice to friends on travelling on a shoestring. It was during one of these advice sessions that the idea came up for me to share my accumulated random knowledge with more people through a blog.
Adventures on a Shoestring will be a blog consisting of news and views on how to have, well, adventures on a shoestring. I'll pretty much post whatever I feel like, but if you have any particular aspect of budget travel you'd like to know more about, please feel free to leave a comment; if I don't know the answer already, I'll do the research and write a post for you .
Thanks for reading, and happy travels!
x
Eva.
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