Robyn's Wanderings

Emily's last photo taken in Hong Kong

Happy Thursday everyone! We haven’t heard from our wanderer, Emily Ross for a while as she transitions from traveling around Asia to returning home, but now she’s back!

And she’s back with a disclosure……a travel blogger, yes? Petrified of flying? Oh yes! Who would have thought a travel blogger afraid of flying, but Emily has found a way to deal with it and it has everything to do with….Akon. Huh? Read on:

Hello, bloggers!

I return, after a shameful month’s hiatus. I was sucked into the Bermuda Triangle’s hedonistic whirlpool, but now I emerge, ready to type once again!

Now, Asia is a distant memory, the skyscrapers of Hong Kong have evaporated as though they’d never existed. I ought to write a sappy love letter to Hong Kong…but instead I shall address a different but nonetheless prevalent issue in my travelling microverse.

Flying.

Necessary.

Unavoidable.

Terrifying.

Yes, travellers, I am afraid of flying.

Don't make me!

I haven’t always been: when I was a kid you had to wrestle me off the plane. But only once the kids meals and gift bags were gone did I see the plane for what it truly was – an unnatural, rickety death trap. Every bump my heart is in my mouth, every air pocket brings more stress than you can imagine.

I understand that it’s rather tragically comical for someone who comes from Bermuda to be afraid of flying. There’s no other way out. I will never, ever go on a cruise (I think if I’m unlucky enough to be eternally damned, Hell for me will be an eternal cruise. With cold showers) so sea travel isn’t an option. No, the plane is the only way off the rock.

Asia I pushed for ANY mode of travel other than flying. Bus, boat, train, hitchhike – sounds good! Let’s go! Anything to keep me below 30,000 feet. But of course, when flight was unavoidable, we were flying the budget airline. If you think I freak out on British Airways, you haven’t seen me on Air Asia. Lao Airlines? Cue hyperventilation.

How am I supposed to sleep on this death trap?

Thankfully, while I still have to fly in order to get to university this autumn, once I’m in the UK there’s no need for me to fly to experience the history and beauty of Europe. I can take the Eurostar, then travel round Europe by train! Oh, wait. The Channel Tunnel’s 250 feet under the ocean. Hmm.  Right. Well! I can go by coach! Catch the ferry from Dover to Calais, then free to roam about Europe!

Ack. So long as I don’t coach the whole way. I’ll never forget the 24 hour journey from Bristol to Prague….which could’ve all been so much easier if I’d just paid the extra 20 pounds for a 2 hour Easyjet flight.

So, yes, flying is the most convenient if still highly unnatural mode of transport.

Thankfully, though, the answer to my inflight terror was found in a pair of ill-suited headphones.

My brother gave me an iPod shuffle in 2010 for my 20^th birthday. Unfortunately, I lost many of the accessories to this iPod shuffle, including the headphones which allow you to pause, play and skip songs. Normal headphones work with the iPod, but you’re stuck with whatever pops up on shuffle. This unskippable feature and a serious of well timed musical manure became invaluable when tackling my fear of flight.

Man was not meant to be this high!

We’re flying over the Cambodian-Lao border. We encounter bad turbulence. I begin to panic…but then I realise that Akon and Kardinal Offishall’s ‘Body Bounce’ is playing on my iPod.

I am not going to die listening to Akon.

He will not be the last thing I hear.

The universe is not that cruel.

And I relax.

So pepper your playlist with awful, awful music. I can guarantee that it will come in handy.

Taboo in Thailand

“Good Afternoon”

“Oh, Hi. Could I….”

“Good AFTERNOON”

“Oh, um….Good Afternoon. Could I please find out….”

We certainly have our ways here in Bermuda. One of those ways includes our traditional greetings, which will require a Good followed by the appropriate time of day.

Should this social norm be ignored or brushed aside (“Oh, hi” is not going to cut it) it seems an affront and you are certainly getting nothing done without it.

Other taboos? Sure there might be some turned heads, but walking around our capital, Hamilton, in bathing suits…..it’s just not appropriate. Yes, our businessmen might show a bit of calf in their shorts, but tourists in their swim suits? Wrong.

Another taboo? Questioning the sacred Cup Match! Yes, another taboo. Are you American? Then you understand Thanksgiving….same thing.

And people say Bermuda doesn’t have it’s own culture.

The problem is, other countries have their own traditions and taboos that are completely different from ours. Sure, you could argue when you visit these countries that you’re a tourist and you should be given a pass.

My question to you is: “Good Afternoon, do we, as Bermudians, give our tourists a pass?”

“Uh….”

“I SAID, Good Afternoon!”

So you get my point. Now what travel etiquette should you know before you travel? How about shaking your head? Tip One is that in many countries including Bulgaria, Sri Lanka, Albania, Macedonia and India shaking your head from left to right means “Yes” or an agreement, while up and down means “No” or disagreeing.

Tip two: In Iran raising your head and eyebrows is considered a “no”! Yep, while eyebrows raised here might be surprise or even a form of agreement, it’s not in Iran!

I will let you sit for a minute and think about it. Don’t worry your boss will understand.

Think how tired you are at the end of the day after dealing with that boss! What do you do when you get home? Tip three is: while you might put your feet up on your coffee table or lie-down on your couch with your feet over your head, that’s a massive insult in many Asian countries. Yep, the soles of your feet are considered the lowest and dirtiest part of the body.

And so Tip Four is: your feet should never be above the head or be used to point, touch etc… (fair enough, really) in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, well most Asian countries and even Egypt. Of course on the other end, the head, then, is the container of the soul so you should never touch the head or point to the head of another person in Cambodia and other Asian countries.

You should als be careful how you do call someone over or point-out a direction. Tip Five: in Indonesia, India, Japan and China it is considered vulgar and inappropriate to scroll the index finger up to beckon someone over and you should never use the index finger to point. Instead in China put you palm downwards and make a scratching motion to call someone over and also use the entire palm to point in to particular direction. In India use your chin, whole hand or thumb to point.

Thumbs-up is not always appropriate!

Then there is trying to paying a compliment in another culture. Well Tip Six is our Thumbs-up and “Ok” signs we make with our hands (i.e. a thumb up and our thumb and index finger touching) are fine to use in France (except you will be communicating zero not “Ok”), but in other countries these signs are considered vulgar. In Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Argentina, Peru or Iran you might just start a bar fight not start good international relations.

Now of course, Tip Seven is: if you’re visiting Britain do NOT make the V sign with your index and middle fingers and show the back of your hand. You will have, again, just started a bar fight. Instead turn the palm toward whomever you are speaking to and ask for two beers.

Speaking of hands, Tip Eight is that your left hand is considered unclean (for reasons I cannot go into here. Let’s just say toilet paper is sometimes difficult to find) in India, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria. So never use your left hand to eat or receive objects.

Countries also managed to differ dramatically on the size of their…gestures! While tip nine is not to get offended in Italy, it is be careful in Japan with how loud and aggressive you are with gestures. When I sailed across the Atlantic on the Italian Naval Ship, Amerigo Vespucci, I thought the crew were always furious. I mean it was close quarters, but nope. Instead it is customary in Italy to speak loudly and make large hand gestures. In Japan, on the other hand, facial expressions are kept in check. A mere frown could be interpreted as a disagreement! So careful!!

Bali is beautiful, but don't try to argue!

Which leads to tip ten and: in many countries raising your voice to disagree with what is happening is disgracing not only yourself, but also the person you are speaking to. i.e. you will not get anywhere! Thailand is one country where this is the case. Another? Bali. No matter how much I tried, arguing was a waste of time. Smile, nod and move-on. They will never change their minds.

Want some more advice on a country you are going to? visit: www.expats-moving-and-relocation-guide.com and visit my blog www.robynswanderings.com and until next week I say as-salaamu ‘alaykum.

“If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul.”

Alphonse de Lamartine.

A view of the Turkish Coastline

All my friends were doing it. First it was my two girl friends. Then the boy I had met on my Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course in Prague.

Of course their migration had to be followed by a war in Iraq, but I was not deterred.

“Please, Robyn. Just think about it. They say Iraq has missiles that could reach Europe and you’re going to be on their border.”

I ignored my father’s pleas, I found two Swedish girls to continue my lease in Prague and I boarded a plane to….Istanbul, Turkey.

It probably was not the best time to move to Turkey (It was 2003 and Iraq War Two had just broken out), but more than one person has called me stubborn, so…..

Luckily Turkey, (Iraq provides the southern border) is a very big place; more than 1,000 miles long and 500 miles wide to be exact. It’s capital is Ankara (no, not Istanbul) and it has seven other neighbours that include Syria, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran.

But don’t let those names make you turn that page. Instead, book your ticket (like me) to Turkey in June (I thought you might have been struggling with vacation ideas this summer)! Why? Well here are your ten reasons to visit Turkey in June in your Rock Fever Column this week:

Reason one: unlike Syria, which has broken into one of the many uprisings in  this part of the world, Turkey is a fairly stable and secular democracy. Ok, every country has its issues and Turkey’s government can be heavy handed with the Kurds in the south and denying the Armenian Genocide, but Turkey is level headed and the uprisings that have occurred in neighbours will not happen here.

Taking the boat from Greece (in the background) to Turkey

Neighbours: can’t live with them can’t live without them. Which brings us to Turkey’s more famous neighbour, Greece. Reason two for visiting Turkey is about NOT visiting Greece. Greece is great, but Greece is also more expensive! And though these two countries don’t like each other (and I’m not going to help) it is easy enough to find a ferry between Turkey and various Greek islands if you really want to include both in your itinerary. But back to the price… Turkey has stunning coastline and fascinating fairy houses for a fraction of the cost of Greece. Why pay more? (ok probably never going to be their tourism logo, but heck it’s true!)

So why June? Because reason three is the heat that can engulf this country has not started to rise and yet the weather will be warm enough to dip your toes in the Med or the Aegean seas depending on which one you choose.

There is no one friendlier than a Turk, is my reason four. I know, I know, Bermudian hospitality, but I’m telling you, the Turkish people are above and beyond.

Example? Ok. While in Istanbul last year I was stopped on the street by a random Turk. Oh, boy, I thought, he’s going to ask for money. He didn’t. He just broke into conversation asking about where I was from, etc… and comparing it to Turkey. He then offered suggestions for food.

And food is my reason five for visiting Turkey. Along the coast and in Istanbul you will get fish for days, freshly grilled with a dash of vegetables, yoghurt and spices of which you have never tasted. If you head inland you will be amused by the tajines (meat or vegetable stews) that are served in clay pots that servers break open at your table. Of course everywhere you go breakfast will fill you with cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, eggs, honey and bread! If you’re really lucky watermelon too! Not a bad way to start your day.

Sunset at Butterfly Valley in Turkey

Of course if you’re starting your day in Turkey, I would start in it’s cultural capital (in my opinion) and reason six is to head to Istanbul. A city that stretches over two continents, there is more to do here than could fill a week so pace yourself. Filled from bottom to top with history, the Blue Mosque will dazzle while the Topkapi Palace will fill you with visions of sultans and harems. Visit the Grand Bazaar for your haggling and pottery, then mosey to the Spice Bazaar for your heady experience with figs, dried apricots and all the bedding you will need. Head to Taksim Square and Istiklal Caddesi for the longest pedestrian street runs on energy from the restaurants and shops that line it.

Heck Istanbul alone needs its own column (maybe next week? no kidding. Check here for various postcards from my previous trip).

From Istanbul stretch your legs and take a train or bus (or plane if your budget allows it) to the area in the middle of Turkey called Cappadocia.

Before you get to Cappadocia, however, you’ll have run into reason seven: Turkey’s transportation is beyond easy to use! Buses run around the clock to all destinations, trains are lovely and clean and the Turkish airlines cost nothing to take for internal destinations.

Reason eight? An area that could have been the backdrop for Star Wars (and almost became the set for Episode One), Cappadocia will give you breathtaking sunsets and a desert experience while living in a hollowed-out mushroom-shaped rock. How cool is that?!

The Rose Valley in Cappadocia

Well as cool as heading to the coast line in what has to be number nine. Turquoise waters give the sail boats you can rent yourself or join a group on a backpacker’s boat. Sail by the cliffside burials of former rulers and meander through a butterfly gorge before heading to the town of Ephesus and even Troy (not the story, well, they’re still trying to prove it).

Southern Turkish Coastline

Filled with history, beaches and more olives than you will ever need to see in your life, Turkey is the right place to book this June. Of course it won’t be cheap, which brings us to reason ten to visit Turkey: a flight to Istanbul, Turkey is about $1,600 if you fly between June 21 and June 29, but like I had said previously, once you’re there the prices of housing (a beautiful hotel in the tourist area cost about $75 a night for two) and food will be so affordable, that ticket will fly past you in an instant! Of course if you need more incentive, Amy Winehouse will be performing at the end of June in Istanbul. Need more entertainment? www.istanbul.com will help you.

And next week it will be about helping others! Volunteering vs. traveling…..why do it? Well visit here next week and my travel blog www.robynswanderings.com in between.

Adios.

Open Road

Question for you today? Study abroad? Exchange student? Semester abroad? Field trip? International student? International volunteering? Backpacking Europe/Asia/the Americas? Road trip? Home stay? Host family?

How do you travel? when are you going to travel? Is it too late to travel? Are you done with the questions? Yeah well me too so Nicola (our weekly blogger) what do you think?

Simple: It’s never too early or too late to visit the world. You might contemplate an exchange programme near/after graduation from high school. You might go backpacking after university, before you face “the great, wide world”.

You may go on a trek to Nepal or volunteer in a rural town in Guatemala for a few weeks/months. You may spend a summer road-tripping from country to country, or from coast to coast.

Bermudian students? Well we (cause I’m Bermudian) especially may look into attending university in Canada, the US or the UK. Despite the fact that these 3 cultures are much like our own (English-speaking, right?!), there are of course those moments when you realize you have acquired some new vocabulary along life’s journeys… What’s a ‘toque in Toronto? What’s “the T” in Boston? What are “quid” in London…and I don’t mean calamari!

Study in Bos(t)on?

Need some reasons to study abroad? See if the following 5 reasons strike a chord within your travelling soul…

1. Language: The myth about exchanges is that it’s all about a foreign language – it is not – but it can be a great way to break language barriers. Whether you head to Europe to further your knowledge in German, Spanish, or Italian, or you venture to Asia for a semester in Japan or India and do not know the lingo, you will pick up the language… perhaps it will cause a brain-drain at first, but you will pick up the basics and keep improving from there if you put the effort into it!

And don’t underestimate the value of hand gestures or non-verbal communication! After all, a smile transcends language barriers

Are foreign languages not one of your strong points? And English is your first language? Then consider studying abroad in Australia or South Africa!

[As a moderate French-speaker, I was delighted to spend nearly a whole year beefing my French skills up to “advanced”. *Bonus: Your CV could include “bilingualism” or “overcame language barriers in a foreign environment”. With globalization in the workplace, international experiences help to create a tip-top CV*]

2. Culture: Study in India in the fall and learn about Diwali, or study in India in the spring and take part in Holi. Each country, or even region, will have it’s own traditions, customs, festivals, habits and mannerisms. Integrating into a group of natives can be a nerve-wracking, but why not step outside of your comfort zone? Learn through experience – not purely through theory and books in the classroom!

Seeing India first hand!

Why not study abroad and have a front-row cultural encounter? Better yet, take part & crowd-surf!

Bermuda example? of course the Easter traditions of Good Friday – flying kites at the beach, fishcakes on hot cross buns. You know about raft-ups at Cupmatch in August. For foreigners in Bermuda, they learn about those things by taking part in the festivities!

3. Friendships: Travel in a school group… travel with a few buddies… or embark on your own adventure. Any which way you go, you will be taking lifelong friends with you or making friends along your journey. Relating exciting stories back to friends and family can leave you stumped – the famous “You had to be there!” comes to mind – but the friends who experienced these unforgettable moments with you will understand exactly what you mean.

While I studied in Paris for a semester in university, I was able to revisit a friend I knew in Sweden, and she came to Bermuda to visit me a few summers go. Bonus: Travel opportunities!! A free bed and a personal tour of the city/town/country where your international friends live… thanks to Skype, Facebook or even ‘snail mail’, keeping in touch is easy!

4. Expecting the unexpected:  School strikes happen. Trains get cancelled. You meet fellow backpackers, which modifies your plans. You do not understand directions given to you in a foreign language. You order a beer and you receive a coffee instead. You realize on your way to the airport for a weekend trip that you forgot your passport in your bedroom.

When you study abroad, you have the chance to break your routine and try new things… one of those things is independence! But have no fear – learning to be flexible, overcoming challenges and adapting to a more spontaneous lifestyle can pay off…

A natural “weekend trip planner” during my study abroad experiences, some of my most unforgettable travel experiences came out of last-minute decisions: taking a 7-hour ferry to the Greek Islands for a 36hr visit, or dancing in a graveyard in small town in Wales, with friends I made after a wedding set in a medieval castle.

Fly Ryan Air!

5. Travel: You are abroad… so why not take advantage of the opportunity? Within Europe, low-cost airlines like Ryanair and easyJet can herd you onto a plane and a few hours later you could be in Athens, Berlin or Lisbon. For example, from London Gatwick, easyJet has 92 different destinations!

But you may think, “I’m studying abroad… money is tight”. Yes, as a struggling student or recent graduate, you know the drill… live on peanut butter and pasta, and only pay for absolute necessities. So while on exchange, try to get transportation discounts for buses and trains (flash that students card and you will reap the benefits!).  Take your free time to explore the city or area you will call home for the next few weeks or months. Find out how local cheese is made, go wine-tasting and stomp on grapes, or meet up with your parents’ friends from college who now live in Australia… conveniently near where you are studying abroad!

Study abroad in Hungary - taste some hearty goulash

Bottom line: You will never learn more about yourself than when you are 18,000 miles from everything that is comfortable.

Hong Kong

From mountains to villages to beaches, Bermudian Emily Ross who is studying in Hong Kong this semester, decided this week to tackle the rough terrain of Hong Kong. And no we’re not talking the bright lights and hard concrete of the city life.

Nope. This week she decided to clean the lungs and head for the hills where she discovered a hiking paradise!

If you’re anything like me when you think of Hong Kong you picture a bustling metropolis: filled with smells of street foods, sounds of traffic and blindingly colourful night lights. And you’d be correct…to an extent. I had no idea before coming here what range there was in terrain in Hong Kong – you can go from skyscrapers to traditional villages to mountains to beaches in a matter of minutes. So this weekend, in need of some fresh air and an escape from the city, I headed off to hike.

Markers so that we don't get lost!

Hong Kong is actually an amazing hiking destination. The city is surrounded by mountains, and as they are on the outskirts you often find small villages along the trail (great for a beer break!). Before heading out check out Hong Kong’s best hiking website (as far as I’ve seen): http://www.hkwalkers.net/eng/index.htm. It describes a variety of trails and warns you if any have been closed due to landslides or bad weather.  You don’t have to go on a super arduous trek to find spectacular views of the coast and city, and this website will help point you in the right direction depending on what you’re looking for.

Ocean View

We chose the Hong Kong trail – it’s a 50km hike so we just did a section of it. We climbed Pottinger Peak and headed towards the beautiful Dragon’s Back Ridge. The whole route had gorgeous views of the sea and the option to walk down to Big Wave Bay. It was definitely surreal considering how close we were to urban madness!

View from Dragon's Back

At the end of Dragon’s Back Ridge we tackled one of the more difficult sections of the Hong Kong trail – a small rocky path climbing up Shek O peak, only reassured that we were actually on a genuine path by the occasional ribbon tied onto a tree. The transition from rocky mountain to jungle to bamboo thicket was fantastic though – there’s variety everywhere in Hong Kong.

Sleepy Dog at Shek O

After getting to the bottom of the mountain we found a small fishing village and beach. From there we decided to take a bus to Shek O – known as the ‘last real village in Hong Kong’ it was a quaint seaside residential area. There were a few brides walking about getting their photos taken and the beach was packed with hostellers and hikers drinking beer and iced coffee. We finally discovered where all the dogs in Hong Kong have been hiding: on the mountains and the beaches.

Shek O Beach

All in all, a fantastic and cheap day! There’s so much variety and so many things to do in Hong Kong. If you’re not cut out for the city life, it’s easy to escape.

Next week I’m heading to the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant in the world: Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum! Expect a lengthy food review as I undo all the exercise I did on the weekend. Hasta luego!

Street Meat in Macau

It’s Monday so welcome to Macau. What?

Ok yeah everyone and their mom is writing about Valentine’s Day today, but that’s boring. Yeah it is! Every year smug couples make singles feel silly and card stores finally complete their card quota!

So, instead of that, Robyn’s Wanderings is taking a trip…..needless to say that’s kinda the point of this website anyway!

Where are we going? Well didn’t you see the headline? We’re heading to Macau? Me….how? Macau a 28.6 square km island that sits about 64 km West of Hong Kong and was the last hold-out of the Portuguese until 1999.

Why visit there? Well, that’s where we pass this little shindig over to Bermudian Emily Ross who is studying in Hong Kong and just needed a break:

I went for the day (caught the ferry at 10am, booked a return at 10pm) and the first thing people said was ‘But what will you DO? You go to Macau for gambling!’

An ex-Portuguese colony, neighbouring Hong Kong and also a special administrative region (it is technically part of the People’s Republic of China and is defended by the Chinese army, Macau has autonomy over its own legal system, police force, currency and immigration).

Macanese Architecture

Renowned for its casinos and subsequently a tourist destination, the Portuguese architecture and cultural influences in Macau are far more obvious than British influences in Hong Kong.

And I can assure you, there are plenty of things to do in Macau other than gambling! Here are some of the things I got up to:

1.       Ate egg tarts. Nom. The Portuguese egg tarts in Macau are phenomenal. You can get them in Hong Kong but…well, let’s just say, I didn’t know what an egg tart WAS until I came to Macau.

What a true egg tart is: You can get them at pretty much every bakery in Macau, but the famous ones are from Lord Stow’s Bakery on Coloane Island and Margaret’s Cafe and Nata on the peninsula. The owners of the bakeries used to be married, but after the divorce Margaret opened her own rival cafe…the citizens of Macau are highly polarised as to who’s are the best. We only had time to make it to Margaret’s but…seriously. Heaven. On. Earth.

The most important temple of Macau: Kun Iam Tong. In 1844 it was the sit of the signing of the first treaty of trade and friendship between the United States and China .

2.       The architecture of Macau is fascinating. I consulted my trust Lonely Planet (never go anywhere without a Lonely Planet!) and set off on a historical walking route. It was strange – I’d forget I was in Asia! The European influences are amazing.

3.       Go see the ruins of St. Paul’s. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and is stunning. It’s a beautiful stone facade of what was once the 16^th century St. Paul’s College and Cathedral. Certainly worth a visit.

Emily (on the left) and the Ruins of St. Paul's (in the background, of course!)

4.       Climb up the hill to Mount Fortress for a spectacular view of the city.

5.       There’s lots of information on the different churches around the city – for a brief escape to Europe step inside. Contrastingly, there’re also beautiful Hindu temples dotted about the city. Go to both. It’s amazing to see the coexistence of cultures within the city.

6.       Street meat! This cured meat is amazing. Try it for free. The sellers will cut a piece off with scissors and hand it to you. I don’t know what it is, but it’s delicious. And different at every stall. Just close your eyes and go for it!

Almond Cookies

7.       They also give out free almond cookies! I lucked out and got some fresh out of the oven. Melt in your mouth. They’re still delicious when they’re not warm but stalk the baker so that you can experience a hot almond cookie. Yummy.

There’s plenty to do in Macau other than the casinos – it’s a beautiful city, with yummy food and well worth the day trip. Get out there and go!

Are you looking for a new job? Are you a keen cook? Do you enjoy a decent meal? Well I have found another dream travel job for you.

Yes these travel gigs are starting to look better and better with each new exciting job offer. Last week it was diving in Bali.

This week? This week the job of the hour is eating your way across Asia. No, I’m not kidding.

The Pei Wei Asian Diner has launched an international search for someone who will travel with their Executive Chef Eric Justice across Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, China and Japan and blog about it.

In two weeks you will cover five countries, eat more noodles than you ever thought possible and help find inspiration for the Pei Wei Asian Diner’s menu.

For this “work” you will receive a $10,000 stipend.

Wanna sign-up? What do you need? According to the Diner’s website you need: A talent for writing, a boundless appetite and willingness to experiment with the unknown, an eye for the unforgettable image and the ability to capture it, comfort both on-camera and behind the lens, a spontaneous spirit but a grounded work ethic, and a passion for Asian cuisine.

Sweet. But it’s not just a writing campaign. As the blogger you will also be required to take photos and video. The entry process, as you can imagine, is no easy task.

To enter you must upload a photo, bio, and sample blog post, but can also add four additional posts, five more photos, and one YouTube link. Entries will be accepted between now and December 20, 2010, and the winner will be announced during the week of January 17.

The trip will take place in late February 2011 so what are you waiting for? Food? Well why not go to the best places possible to try it! Check out the application.

That’s your Friday inspiration. Now bring-on the weekend!

Where's my travel buddy?

It’s Monday, which means…..well if you haven’t caught-on yet it’s when my weekly column makes its way into The Royal Gazette’s pages as Rock Fever.

What is it this week? What else? Traveling Solo as a Female. Here it is:

“You walk like an Egyptian.”

My eyes rolled.

“Hey .. hey … you walk like an Egyptian. Where are you from? Are you married?”

This is not a new rendition of The Bangles’ 1980s hit. Nope. This was the soundtrack for my walk from the Karnak Temple (the largest religious complex in the world) back to my hostel in Luxor, Egypt.

My ring quickly moved from my middle finger to my empty “ring” finger.

“Yes. Yes I am. I am going back to my husband now,” I said, but my crooner persisted tripping over himself to follow.

“Where is he? Where are you from? Do you want a tour?”

“NO. I am married. Good-bye.”

I hadn’t told my travel buddy, but he was now with me till death did us part so I could navigate my way out of a possible threatening situation. So women out there looking for a ring on your finger? Try the Egyptian marriage route.

Or failing that, experience it as a travel tip for solo females: wear a ring on your “ring” finger. Unfortunately in a number of cultures women are still not respected unless they have a man by their side. So fake it and wear a ring on your finger to deter possible suitors.

Women, like at home, have to be more wary than men when travelling (hence this week’s column), BUT … and this is a big but that you would not get from sitting on the couch at home – don’t let it discourage you from travelling solo.

One of the questions I always got when I returned from travelling around the world last year, was: “Were you ever scared?” And the answer is: “No.” I took precautions and honestly sometimes, no often, travelling as a female was actually easier. Women are less threatening than men. That means both men and women travellers are more likely to trust a female before they would trust a man. And if you think I am being biased … well just ask a Swede I met in Argentina. He complained during an hour-long hike about how hard it was to be a single man travelling. Perhaps being male wasn’t his only problem, but he had a point. A single man is a danger for women and therefore limits the pool of travellers to meet.

Solo in Argentina

So friends are easier for women to make, even ones we don’t want, which is why in Egypt where even the wedding ring doesn’t discourage a Bangles crooner tip two is: duck into a shop. I did and it was a fair trade shop run by women. A scarf, ring and empty wallet later, my harasser left and I continued to walk back to the hostel.

Tip three: failing a fair trade shop try a hotel and tell the people working there what the problem is. Nowhere in the world will a woman be told to get out or not taken care of. That’s the beauty of our sex too!

But beauty is not always something you want to advertise, which leads me to tip four: dress conservatively. This applied for me in India, the Middle East and some places in Asia (i.e. Vietnam), but it could be anywhere if you don’t want to draw attention to yourself. In Egypt the men salivated over the buses of Russian tourists. Why? Because the women walked around in short-shorts, bathing-suit tops and heels in the middle of Cairo. Equivalent? Women walking through Hamilton topless. Can you see how this would cause problems? So dress appropriately no matter how hot it may be. Loose dresses and light pants will help.

But don’t think that because you have dressed appropriately you lose your tenacity! So tip five is: appear confident wherever you are even when lost (insert man joke and not asking directions). In Chiang Mai, Thailand I decided to walk to a temple outside of the walled city. I got lost, but I didn’t let on. If I needed time to think I would pretend to cross the road and I eventually found a park. I stopped and could casually take a map out to figure out where I was. Never show weakness, because someone preying on women will notice.

Which makes it easier if you are with someone. Tip six: stay in hostels, preferably dorms, and relax in the inevitable social area to meet other travellers. While a dorm room means you have to worry about your bag it also means you are not alone and nothing worse can happen.

But if you’re not a hostel person nor do you want to stay in a dorm then tip seven is: join activities where you will meet other people. I met a great travel buddy while trading spring rolls over a Thai cooking class. It helps to have someone who will worry if you don’t come back at night.

Which leads to eight: women, unfortunately, we are the anti-vampires. When the sun sets we should ensure we have a way home if we are not already home. Once I didn’t adhere to this rule and I kicked myself the entire walk through Chiang Mai, Thailand. I was fine, but you never know. Take a cab or ensure you are with friends to go home with when it starts getting dark.

Cusco at night....not the safest place for single females to wander

But number nine: never let a man into your room (or lady man as one hostel door instructed me in Chiang Mai). This is obvious, but too often, I think, overlooked.

Most importantly, though, after all this advice is tip ten: to trust your instincts. I know this sounds ridiculous, but as women we have spent years honing our sixth sense so use it! Be smart, listen to Jiminy Cricket (your conscience) and enjoy your travels.

I know most of the travel experts/writers out there seem to be men, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go out there and do it too. And it doesn’t have to be the Eat, Pray, Love scenario (i.e. a woman going to find herself and finds a soulmate). I did it. I survived a year that saw trekking up Machu Picchu, camping in Thailand and kayaking in Vietnam. I didn’t find Prince Charming, but I loved it.