5 reasons why you need travel, not Christmas

Mark Pawlak    ash     camping, kitesurfing, Kitesurfing Egypt, New Zealand, RTW, Spain, Travel, trekking, Walking, Xmas

If you’ve a travelling gene, every holiday is a chance to get away and Christmas is no exception. Now, if you’re living in the UK or northern Europe, it’s likely you’ve been waiting all year for that skiing or snowboarding holiday.

Can you spot Santa?

But, if you’ve needed thawing out since October and are dreaming of feeling the sun on your neck, you’ll be teasing yourself with trekking somewhere warm – or just going ‘random’ and rocking up at departures with half-baked plan and a dream…

So, here are 5 reasons why you need travel, not Christmas.

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How Howard Marks trekked Pakistan and didn’t get a deal…

Mark Pawlak    trekkingholidays     Adventure Travel, Howard Marks, pakistan, Travel, trekking

There was a time when trekking holidays for Howard Marks were  more about sorting out supply lines and delivery dates than developing a deeper cultural understanding of the countries and peoples he ‘dealt’ with.

Howard Marks

Well, several years on, he travelled to Pakistan with an independent tour operator known for its pioneering adventures and got a new perspective.

If you’ve never read Mr Nice or spotted Howard on the stand-up circuit, you’ve missed out: his face and anecdotes are evidence of several lives lived! And while for many years he was on the wrong side of the tracks, he’s a captivating speaker, with a genuine love for the undiscovered.

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Travel Laptops and Data Storage: How to keep those files safe.

Mark Pawlak    ash     Apple, cloud computing, data storage, iCloud, Overlanding, portable hard drive, RTW, Travel, travel laptops, travel technology, trekking, USB stick

Having a problem at home with your computer is frustrating, but having one on the road is truly troubling. Where did those files go? Which version am I looking at? And worse of all, where the hell is my backup? Having one of the best travel laptops of 2011 won’t help you, and taking a tablet on your travels is no protection against a virus.

Here’s three ways to keep your files save when travelling.

Backup on-line

iCloud, the cloud solution from Apple

Travelling with a cloud over your head need not be a bad thing… If you’ve still to get to grips with the concept of cloud computing, then here’s where the penny might drop. The cloud is online space. It’s a place where software can be hosted which ‘is in the cloud’, but more importantly it’s where your data can live. Google Docs works well, we love Dropbox (looks like any other folder on your computer) and there’s iCloud from the ever clever Apple people, to name just a few.

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Travel smoking: why smokers love the open road

Jonathan Tait    trekkingholidays     backpacking, RTW, rtw trip, Travel, trekking, Walking

The cigarette, for smokers, is a metaphor for travel. And, whether you like it or not, it’s inextricably linked to the world of backpacking and the flow of adventure.

Smoking a hookah - all part of the experience? Image: Flickr/ timsnell

We can divide travel smoking into the tangible and the abstract. There are two instantly tangible or recognisable reasons for ‘travel smoking’: it’s cheap and it kills time [kills more than time].

In some, less health-conscious nations, 50 pence will get you a 20-pack of cigarettes – great if you smoke, but not so great if you are trying to give up.

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The 10 worst things about travelling (we love)

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Adventure Travel, airlines, airports, flights, hotels, Travel

If, like us, you love travelling, then you’ve probably grown used to many of its quirks and discomforts. In fact, it’s some of these very same moments that have now come to define our experience – so as much as we might hate everything on the list that follows, in some way they are all moments that signify the very things we love most about travelling.

Rolley cases, love 'em.

Early Starts

Essential if you are to get to the cheaper flight and avoid the rush. No one likes getting up at dawn o’crikey, but there’s something special about being up before the world, as black skies turn inky-blue.

Odd Coffee

We’ve all got used to good coffee. Still, there’s something about the cheap, instant, sachet stuff – especially when it comes topped with UHT milk.

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Well Travelled? 10 countries you haven’t visited

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Adventure Travel, Countries of the World, exploration, International travel, round the world, Travel

The world has got a lot smaller: Not true. We like to think that with the help of modern technology – including airplanes – we’ve been there, seen it all, or are at least aware of every country and place there is to care about.

However, just a little research reveals parts of Earth long discovered and named that most of us know nothing about – it shows that even though we think it revolves around us, the world remains ‘out there’ ready for adventure travel.

So, here are ten countries to get travellers Googling…

Think you've seen it all?

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

When the CIA Factbook doesn’t even have a picture of it, you know you haven’t been there. In fact, the only people who visit  are Indonesian fishermen. To find them, head due south from Timor, halfway to Australia.

Ross Dependency

Antarctica from 160˚east to 150˚ west, that’s the Ross Dependency. So bleak, only scientists go there. It’s long been claimed by New Zealand and it’s massive! Most of the 413,540 sq km is permanent ice shelf – good for lichen, moss and 18 species of penguin. The waters here are nutrient rich, and loved by seals who share their home only with icebergs and the occasional boffin.

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Top 5 surf travel necessities

Jeff    ash, surfingholidays     Baja, Canary Islands, Surf, Surfing, surfing holidays, tips, Travel

Whether you’re trucking down to Baja, hopping on a flight to Indo, or setting sail for the Canaries, there are a few things you’ll absolutely need for a successful excursion. And I’m not referring to the obvious essentials like passport, cash and toilet paper. I’m talking about five, small, easily overlooked items that are going to make or break your surf holiday. Forget one of these and risk a sour mood on the beach in place of bliss on the epic waves you spent an entire paycheck getting to.

1.       Leash Strings – The little cords that connect your leash to your board are easy to take for granted. But lose or snap one and they’re harder to find than a French girl who will actually talk to you. Buy a metre or two of strong nylon string at a sporting goods or hardware store and never worry about attachment issues again. It’s not dumb to carry an extra leash either.

2.       Sun Cure – Dinging your board abroad shouldn’t mean wasting time and money getting it patched at the nearest surf shop. A tube of Sun Cure fills cracks and dings in minutes, and a square of sandpaper helps smooth over the new resin. Nothing is going to help if you snap your board, but mending minor dents on the run saves cash and scores you more time in the lineup.

3.       Wax – Obviously. What could be worse than finding a perfect, deserted wave and not having enough wax to grip your board? Don’t let this happen to you. Bring plenty of wax from home so it’s one less thing to forget to buy when you arrive. And if you have enough, be generous with it to those less prepared. Kindness is not forgotten and you’ll probably get the nod on a wave or two. Wax combs are high-return investments as well.

4.       Fin Key – Don’t forget this tiny tool on your car keys at home. Break a fin without a key and chances are slim you’ll be able to help yourself out on location. Stash it in a pocket of your board bag so you’ll know where to find it. If you can, bring extra fin screws too; you won’t find that loose one that fell out somewhere on the beach yesterday…

5.       Duct Tape – Versatile. Strong. Easy to apply and remove. Duct tape is the traveler’s best friend regardless of objective. For surfing, use it to patch dings Sun Cure can’t fix. Its seal is waterproof and will prevent any exposed foam from getting wet. Use it to tape your board bag shut in preemption of any tampering. Use it to secure your gear to the roof rack of a crowded bus or taxi. Use it to close a nasty wound or as an emergency sling for a busted arm. Build and furnish a small home with it, but for God’s sake, man, just be sure to bring it!