Gray Line Wanderings Travel Blog

Author Teaching English in Thailand. Photo by Will Hoberg

Travel addicts usually have seen a long and impressive list of cities and sights. Whether Machu Picchu or the Eiffel Tower, it’s hard to uncover a world wonder that some people haven’t seen. So, the question is, after many years in the business of international travel, what’s next? Long-term travel! Whether for just a couple weeks or an entire year, staying and living abroad is perhaps one of the most satisfying life experiences that someone can give him- or herself. If you’ve got the time and the interest, here are five ways to keep busy during an extended journey abroad!

1. Work: If the bad economy paired with student loans or a mortgage are holding you back from fulfilling your international wanderings, working abroad could be a viable option. Remember that great trip you took to Costa Rica, or the wonderful experience you had in Vietnam? Live it out all over again in a whole new, extensive way, all while still earning an income and having a purpose. Examples: ESL Teacher, Hotel Receptionist, Camp Counselor, Freelance Writer, Au Pair, Web Designer, International Business(wo)man, Piano Teacher, etc.

2. Work Exchange: Work exchange is a relatively popular trend emerging amongst budget travelers around the world. How does it work? In exchange for answering phones or milking goats, hotels or home stays will hook you up with a free place to stay and meals. If working on a farm just isn’t your thing, get creative! If you’re willing to lend your professional skills, create a persuasive cover letter and send it out to some hotels in the city of your next destination. They might just be looking for a web designer or consultant around the same time you’re planning your trip! Examples: Farm Hand, Hotel Receptionist, Nanny, Barista, Bartender, etc.

3. Volunteer: An issue you’re passionate about becomes much more real and powerful when you spend some time working in the field. Arrange in advance, or if you’ve got extra time, just show up and get the feel of different organizations upon arrival. Whether you volunteer in a new city, state, or continent, volunteering is undoubtedly one of the most meaningful ways to dedicate your time and connect with local community. Examples: Health Clinic Worker, English Tutor, Editor, Orphanage Volunteer, Trail Cleaner, Guitar Teacher, etc.

4. Learn: Yoga enthusiast? Cooking wiz? Salsa dancer? What better way to hone your favorite skills than to practice them at their point of origin? Jump into an intensive week-long course or get your professional certification abroad. Often, the course itself is cheaper, and allows you to step out of your normal life and focus your efforts closely on your new trade. You’ll come home with a newly developed talent and knowledge of the local context. Now that’s expertise! Examples: Learn Yoga in India, Study French Cuisine, Get your Scuba Certification in Indonesia, Study Spanish in Argentina, etc.

5. Document: Whether you consider yourself a creative or not, everyone can wield a point-and-shoot digital camera, a FlipCam, and a pen. If you want a memorable way to document your vacation for friends and family, or even the world, spending some extra time abroad can be a fun opportunity to create a final project. Pick a topic, get to capturing moments and be prepared to work until it’s finished! Examples: Make a Video, Create a Slideshow, Print a Photo Book, Keep a Blog, Freelance for Magazines, etc.

If you’re planning your next short-term vacation or hoping to get away for a while, keep in mind that there are always opportunities to connect with locals and learn, no matter how long you have! Start off with some fun Gray Line sightseeing tours to get the lay of the land, enjoy the local food, explore the museums, experience the natural beauty, and then set aside some time to learn a new skill or volunteer your time, even if you only have a day. It will give you an interesting new perspective on a place and make for a vacation you’ll never forget.

And that’s a vacation worth my time and money!

What’s the coolest job abroad you’ve ever heard of? Let us know in the comments below! (If you can’t see Facebook comments, click here: Live & Learn [Abroad]: Five Ways to Live and Work Abroad)

Photo by Author. Spicy, Crispy, Street-Side Samosas in Myanmar

Crispy empanadas stacked and sprawling emit fragrances that could make even the most finicky of travelers scarf down a plate. Pad Thai is twice as flavorful and half as expensive in Thailand, and street Kebabs after a night out in France have a higher turnover than their restaurant counterparts anyway!

Traveling offers an abundance of opportunities to sample local favorites and imported flavors. How could you turn that down? As long as you have a discerning eye, you can sample some of the best food in the world like a mad man without even losing a day to stomach grumbles.

Wondering how to eat street food without getting sick? Here are 4 essential tips for eating smart on the street:

1. Choose your Food Wisely: Sure a street ceviche and an already-cooked pork skewer look tasty, but only if you’re willing to gamble upon the food’s freshness. Typically, a smart street-eater might steer clear of meats and fresh fruits and vegetables in favor of something fool proof– fried, boiled, and seared are always good! Pick something that is stored and cooked to order for the least chance of contamination.

A couple options include Vegetarian Pad Thai, Churros, Chow Mein, Samosas

2. Follow the Crowd: Step down trendsetters, this is the time to do as the locals do. If a crowd of Mexican diners are vouching for a burrito stand, chances are it’s not only safe, but delicious. Also, the more people blowing through, the quicker the food turnover… which means less chance of a yucky stomach bug for you.

Eat at the standard local breakfast or lunch time to see the most popular places in action.

3. Screen for Sanitation: Food cleanliness is part of a huge realm of subjectivity and you’ll have to set your own standards when you see it– flies are a serious reality in many parts of the world and a quick rinse is considered “washing” at particularly busy food stalls. Use discretion and ask questions about water or cooking methods if necessary. Soon enough, you’ll develop a new standard for “clean” and knowing what to look for will make is not so scary anymore.

Watch them clean up the previous order to see if they’re using clean water and soap.

4. Eat it Anyway: Sometimes the best food comes from an establishment that looks flat out shady. If you’re brave, it might be worth taking a risk on a mango lassi or an agua fruta, as long as you know basic precautions (ie. purified water) have been taken. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and enjoy every last sip. Usually, you’ll have no problems at all!

Theres too much to sample in the world of cuisine to always stick to restaurants. Flavors emerge in an entirely new way and the breadth of local food is broadened significantly if you’re willing to experiment. If you’re new to street food, take it slow, but I’m confident your first trip won’t be your last! Enjoy!

Interested in experiencing the local cuisine? Check out one of Gray Line’s foodie tours on GrayLine.com!

Where and what was the best street food you have ever eaten? (If you can’t see Facebook comments below, click here to go to the full version of the Street [Food] Smarts: Traveler’s Guide to Eating Street Food Blog Post. 

South Africa’s Garden Route is a stretch of tarmac that snakes through the southern tip of Africa and stands in stark contrast to the office-bound sameness of our working lives. It is a place where the rotation of our tires leaves behind more than melted traces of burnt rubber – anxiety, angst and doldrum-monotony are all discarded in equal proportions. It is a place where the trumpet of an elephant serves as the soundtrack to a rugged landscape –where the warm fingers of the Indian Ocean are interlinked with those of the mighty Atlantic – and, where intermittent stops, not destinations, matter most.

Flying to South Africa

Getting to South Africa isn’t difficult, but it can be expensive. For a garden route trip, you’ll want to get to Durban on the east coast and start from there. To save money, you should book a flight to Johannesburg. If you set Durban as your final destination on Expedia, Travelocity or Orbitz, the price of the ticket will be much steeper. From Johannesburg, you can pick up a ticket to Durban for under US$100 with one of the country’s low cost airlines: Kulula, Mango, Fly Velvet and 1time all offer cheaper rates than traditional carriers. Regional low cost airlines do not feature in the search engines of online travel agents, so always ensure to check each website separately.

Getting wheels

To start your African adventure, you are going to need a car. Rentals can be arranged online before you arrive, or at the airport. Online car reservations are a much better idea, because you will be able to compare prices and find a cheaper deal. Airport stands are more expensive and they come with the additional risk of an unscrupulous clerk, who might charge you a higher rate. The South African roads are good enough for any small vehicle, so you won’t have to fork out extra Rands for an SUV or some monstrous gas-chugging behemoth.

Accommodation

Camp. It’s cheap and there are a multitude of camp sites strewn throughout the Garden Route. If camping isn’t really your thing, then you could also look into a Bed and Breakfast along the coast. Many older South African couples are willing to rent out a room to travelers passing through. Most of these establishments aren’t listed on the net, but there are often sign posts along the road indicating their presence.

Things to Remember

If you need a reminder of the dangers of living in South Africa, then visit a local news website and read a few headlines. Murders, robberies, car-jackings and kidnappings are common occurrences, which can only be avoided if you are lucky or vigilant. This does not mean that you need to approach every South African with trepidation – you just need to trust your gut when it tells you to walk away.

Places to Stop

Transkei – As you leave Durban you enter the Transkei – a rugged landscape comprising natural beauty and iconic African images in equal parts. Here you will stand on the grainy sands of the Wild Coast and see friendly locals going about their business in the subtropical heat. It is imperative to be cautious when driving here, because various hazards – including trucks, cows and makeshift vehicles – make these windy roads very dangerous.

Addo Elephant Park – This small reserve, home to over 300 elephant, is one of the few places where you are guaranteed to see wild animals from the comfort of your car. There is no need for a Safari, because the old dirt roads that wind though the park will take you within in touching distance of these mammalian giants.

Bloukrans Bungee – When it was opened in 1998, Bloukrans Bridge, with a height of 216m (708ft), became the world’s highest commercially operated bungee jump – a position held until it was usurped by Maccau Tower. If you prefer not to jump off bridges, then you can stop here to admire the Tsitsikamma Mountain region, which is renowned for its greenery.

Cape Agulhas – Although it would be impossible to calculate an exact point, Cape Agulhas is often accepted as the place where Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet. The area is speckled with small restaurants that offer excellent seafood for dirt cheap.

Gaansbaai – In recent years, this small town has grown notorious as the place where people come to see great white sharks. Daily cage-diving cruises are organized for the crazy few who want to swim with these great beasts. The price of a cage-dive normally depends on the tour company that you choose, but the rate is often negotiable.

Knysna – Knysna is unquestionably the highlight of a garden route road trip. From the Knysna Heads to the Outeniqua Mountains, it seems unfair that one place should be adorned with so much natural beauty. When you see Knysna, it comes as no surprise why so many writers, poets and artists call this place home.

Cape Town – Although Cape Town isn’t officially a part of the Garden Route, a trip to South Africa would be incomplete without a visit to the Mother City. Table Mountain, the V&A waterfront, Camp’s Bay and Boulder’s Beach are just some of the fantastic tourist attractions, which you will find here.

S.Africa President - J. Zuma

In English writing we seldom speak of tradition, though we occasionally apply its name in deploring its absence. – TS Eliot

If we deplore the absence of tradition, then the sensible response should be to hold it dear – to preserve and honor it at every opportunity. However, the age of mass media implores us to cast aside our idiosyncrasies and adopt the ready-made mold designed in the likeness of our television idols. The American dream has shifted from the geographical constraints of North America and it has become a ubiquitous entity, which overpowers our urge to retain tradition. Tradition and culture have become money-making pantomimes, illustrative of our bygone backwardness.

What Eliot overlooked was the pervasive effect that globalization would have on culture, identity and aesthetics. The impact of air travel, and later the internet, would result in a cultural amalgamation that left most people uncertain of their identity.

Through mimicry – that annoying child habit, even worse in adults – we reshaped our identities and played our new roles to perfection. We abandoned the past and adopted the hedonistic philosophy of the fashion industry, which told us that beauty was limited to fads and moments.

In following our television tutors, we dropped our leopard skins and rushed to Gucci, Prada and – for those of less-refined taste – Burberry. But within a few short years we would rush back to our leopard skins, because there was a buck to be caught – and it was greener and more important than cultural authenticity.

When air travel became cheaper, droves of tourists left their air-conditioned comforts to visit the furthest reaches of the world. They expected to see Africa, Asia and South America with the glamorized charm represented in books and TV shows. What they found instead was westernized dress sense, poverty and desperation.

It didn’t take long for the locals of these tourist destinations to realize that what their esteemed visitors actually wanted was traditional dress, traditional dance and traditional food. The leopard skins were dusted off and the tourist industry quickly became a major job provider.

So, next time you see a Zulu dancer, Thai snake charmer or poison dart-blower remember that they don their facades to entertain and that they don’t actually live like that!