Adrenaline Rush in Taiwan

By Judith Fein
Photos by Paul Ross

It may be the most macho adventure in the world. The running of the bulls in Pamplona is the most famous, but what are the odds of getting gored by a bull? At the Beehive Bottle Rocket Festival in Taiwan, you will definitely get hit….by bottle rockets. It’s guaranteed.

The event takes place every year on Taiwan, a thriving East Asian island nation of 26 million people, where passionate democracy is practiced. Lawmakers actually get into fist fights during legislative sessions.  Women even get into the fray. But they don’t launch bottle rockets.

That is reserved for l5 days after Chinese New Year, during the Lantern Festival.  The entire small town of Yan Shui, in Tainan County, literally explodes into an extreme sport. Anyone is welcome, but you participate at your own risk. It’s free, it’s insane, and it actually has a spiritual basis.

In 1885, the inhabitants of Yan Shui were battling the dual horrors of plague and cholera. There were no hospitals or effective medical treatments for the suffering, so locals turned to the God of War to help them. They set off firecrackers to honor him and, it is presumed, his divine intervention gradually arrested the two diseases and blessed the town.

The firecrackers became a tradition, and visitors began to gravitate to Yan Shui for the excitement. Today, millions of bottle rockets are set off in a single night and tourists are advised to bring their own protection in the form of clothes.

For starters, you’ll want a helmet and goggles so you leave with your head and eyes intact. A dust mask or bandana over your mouth is a good idea, so you don’t ingest any bottle rocket debris or fry your gums.  Around your neck, drape a wet towel, so the rockets don’t creep in under your helmet and explode your brains.

Moving down, you definitely need a protective jacket or coat, gloves, a thick pair of cotton pants (synthetics will burn faster that you can ask, “Am I nuts to be doing this?”) or two thin pairs of cotton pants, socks, closed shoes and a large dollop of faith.

As the moment of ignition approaches, the brave gather in a

large arena where large launch-frames stacked with hundreds of thousands of bottle rockets loom ominously. An announcer whips up the crowd and you don’t have to understand Chinese to know it’s foreplay to danger.

Suddenly, there is a crackling noise, rockets buzz through the air like angry bees, and they are aimed directly at the several hundred participants who have not run away in terror. The brave ones hide their cameras because a single bottle rocket can ruin a really fine lens.

If you are dressed to the nines in protective gear, you will most likely leave the event intact and wander through the town for food, festivities, a visit to a temple and a lot more rockets (although these are not necessarily aimed at you).

What will undoubtedly strike you is how friendly Taiwanese people are. They are, so to speak, the opposite of the beehive bottle rockets.

Wherever you go on the island, folks greet you in English, Chinese or Taiwanese, bidding you welcome or just saying “hello.” In Taipei, the capital, there are plenty of tourists, but once you get outside the city into the country, westerners are rare. That’s what makes Taiwan such an appealing and emerging destination. It’s safe, (except for the Beehive Bottle Rocket festival), affordable, offers great walks and hikes in spectacular countryside,

features finger-licking food from dim sum to banquets with ten courses, has rapid trains and busses for easy transport, and it’s unlikely that anyone on your block will have been there before you.

After you visit Taiwan, it’s a great launching pad for further travel adventures in Asia.

Recommendations if you go:
Taiwan Tourism Board is very helpful with information about the festival, transport and other attractions and sites on the island.
http://www.go2taiwan.net

EVA Airways has direct flights to Taiwan and many other Asian destinations. The airline is favored by Asians for its punctuality, friendly service and new B777 planes.

Our favorite guidebook is the Rough Guide to Taiwan. It offers comprehensive historical and background material and has much more meat than many other go-there-do-this guides.

Travel Ambassadors

There doesn’t seem to be any way to discourage people from traveling. The Wild Pair is delighted to discover that no matter how many annoyances and inconveniences travelers face, they don’t stop buying tickets. Even when the price of airline seats goes up and services go down, planes are flying at capacity and airports are jammed.

The benefits of travel are obvious to all of you–expanding your mind, having thrilling adventures, meeting people, changing your habitual environment, taking time out from work and responsibility, challenging yourself, enjoying life–but have you ever thought of yourself as an ambassador without a portfolio? Here are some tips from the Wild Pair about how to step into that role.

1. Being Label Conscious

None of us like to be typed, and certainly not stereotyped, but people do it all the time. They label you by your country of origin. “He is an American,” or “She is Brazilian.” It’s important to be aware of this, because your behavior helps others to determine what they think about your country. If they like you, they tend to generalize and think Americans or Brazilians as likeable.

2. To Err is Human

Everyone makes cultural faux pas. It is inevitable, even if you are well-meaning. So it always helps to find out about cultural norms in advance, and apologize if you make a mistake and are chided.

Instead of getting defensive, apologizing shows you are willing to learn. It earns you good will points, and makes people think well of the culture you come from.

3. There Is No Comparison

People want to think their city or country is admired by others. Even if they are plagued by poverty, crime, natural disasters or manmade disasters, they love knowing that you find good things about the place they live. Try not to make comparisons to “what we have back home.” A compliment to one’s city or country is, to many people, like a compliment paid to them.

4. Investing in Bonds

The more contact you have with locals, the more they have an opportunity to get to know something about your country. If you’re eating around a campfire at night, sit next to someone you don’t know. If you’re hiking with a group, don’t just stay with your mate or travel partners. Get to know people in the place you are visiting. They will really appreciate it.

5. They Like Me, They Like Me

There has been a lot of ink lately about the bad image America has abroad. It doesn’t matter what end of the political spectrum you are on–but you can be patient, explain your point of view, ask people what they think. Every time you engage, share your opinions and really, truly listen, you allow folks to look behind the headlines and see that Americans are real people, with awareness, conscience, patience, interest in others. If they like you, they will begin to see that they may not like American policy, but the American people are a different story.

6. Sharing is Caring

Wherever you go, you can’t assume that people know a lot about where you come from. They may know a lot about American music and movie stars, but your home town is probably off their radar. Bring photos from home. The more they learn about you, the more they are apt to like you and the country you come from.

7. Turn the Other Cheek

If you encounter people who are hostile to your country, don’t get angry. Listen. Listening is the most powerful tool you have, because it shows people you respect them. Present your views in a clear, reasoned way. Remind them that you may not agree, but it is good to hear each other out and learn from each other.

8. You’re Not Mrs. or Mr. Moneybags

Some people may assume that all Americans are rich, because America is a wealthy nation. You are never obliged to give handouts or cough up money because it is expected of you. You may wish to buy from people who really need money, or make donations to charities. You may choose to return home with souvenirs and gifts for friends that you purchase during your travels. What you can always give–whether you buy or not– is attention, fairness and respect.

9. Be a Blender

If people greet each other with folded hands, try to do the same. If they cover up, make sure you are not showing a lot of skin. If they don’t drink alcohol, try to forego it. If they speak quietly, adjust the volume of your voice. Your blending behavior is an unspoken way of telling people you respect their ways. It reflects well on you and your country.

10. So There You Are…

If you follow the tips above, you are already an ambassador for your country. You will create good will wherever you go, and show what generous, open-minded people your countrymen and women are. If enough of you are ambassadors, it can affect the way America is perceived in the world, and create opportunities for peace and cooperation.

The Wild Pair wishes you Bon Voyage!

ABOUT THE WILD PAIR: Judith Fein and Ellen Barone ,
They’re smart, sassy, savvy, award-winning travel journalists and photographers and now they’ve joined forces to become THE WILD PAIR, bringing you cutting-edge information and tips on how to turn your next vacation into a life-enhancing experience.

Tasty Adventures

The Wild Pair knows that the way to a great trip is often through your stomach. Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian, carnivore or omnivore, what you eat on the road sometimes lasts as long or longer in your memory than other trip adventures.

So here are some of our fave food tips for your culinary enjoyment.

1. THE PRICE IS ALWAYS RIGHT

It doesn’t have to be expensive to be good. Your lip-smacking adventure can be at a rib joint in Kansas, a street food stall in Thailand, a picnic in the south of France or around a campfire after a safari in Africa. Once you decide to have a foodie experience, look for options and don’t let expense guide your choice.

2. A QUESTION OF MOOD

Sometimes the key to great eats is to follow your mood and let it dictate your choice. Just because brochures and guidebooks recommend a dining experience, it may not be right for you on a particular day or at a specific time.

Do you want a long, lingering culinary experience? An intimate, romantic treat? Something noisy and exciting? Casual? Check your inclination before you make a decision.

3. GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Go to every dining experience with an open mind and palate. If you decide in advance what it will be like, you’re likely to be disappointed.

Select. Go. Order. See what happens.

4. THE RAW DEAL

If you are traveling abroad and do not want to take chances with your digestive tract, order cooked food. Don’t eat ANYTHING raw. Not even a sassy little sprig of parsley. No ice. No fruit without a thick peel. Nothing that has been standing out too long. These few rules can make a huge difference. You don’t want to spend all that hard-earned money contemplating the décor of bathrooms.

5. THE GREAT EXPERIMENT

Try food that is new to you. Travel is about broadening your experience. Order a plate of krill in South America. Try mushroom fungus in Mexico. Sip hibiscus tea in Egypt. Experiment with cheeses in Wisconsin. Sample eel. What have you got to lose? If you don’t like it–you can push it aside and order something else.

6. GO WHERE THE LOCALS GO

Ask your guide or cab driver where she or he eats. Write down the name and get directions. Go there. You’ll have an authentic dining experience.

If you ask the concierge in a hotel about food recommendations, ask him where he eats. Go there.

7. LEARN TO SAY NO

If you are served something you don’t like, don’t fuss. Push it around your plate with your fork and no one will know you didn’t eat it. You are never obliged to eat anything you don’t like. Ever. Even if your host is momentarily taken aback, a quick explanation about a food allergy or dietary restriction will smooth it over. This is one of the few cases in life where lying is okay. Better to lie than to lie in bed with a belly ache.

8. HIGHER UPS

If you are climbing a mountain, re-think the drink. Alcohol will affect you more strongly at higher altitudes. So watch how much you drink and know when to say no. Drink plenty of water.

9. SPLURGE

If you really want a special meal but are on the fence about spending the money on it, go for it. Order less alcohol with your meal to save money. Don’t order more than one appetizer. But don’t pass up the chance for a culinary experience of a lifetime.

10. QUESTIONS TO ASK

What is the special of the day? Of the house? What is the house cocktail? Is service included? What do most people order? Is there a chef’s tasting menu?

The Wild Pair wishes you bon voyage and bon appetit!

ABOUT THE WILD PAIR: Judith Fein and Ellen Barone

They’re smart, sassy, savvy, award-winning travel journalists and photographers and now they’ve joined forces to become THE WILD PAIR, bringing you cutting-edge information and tips on how to turn your next vacation into a life-enhancing experience.

This article was published with permission from Judith Fein and Ellen Barone.

Staying Safe On The Road

The Wild Pair believes that if you are aware and prepared, travel is not only safe but good for body, mind and soul. Most destinations in the world are so dependent upon tourism for their economies that they go to great lengths to protect their visitors. So, if you feel that someone is watching out for you when you travel, you are probably right.

There are, however, scams and lousy customer services that prey on the good nature and open-heartedness of travelers and are in the business of bait-and-switch. There are also crooks at home and abroad, and we are confident that the karma wagon will roll over their toes when it makes its rounds.

Here are a few insider tips on how to protect yourselves, your belongings, your wallet and your sanity when you hit the road.

1 ) EYES IN BACK OF YOUR HEAD

When you go through security at the airport, you are probably so busy taking off your shoes and tucking your lotions and liquids into zip-lock bags that you take your eyes off your personal belongings as they bump along the conveyor belt. Have your shoes and plastic bags prepared ahead of time, so you can watch your precious cargo when it leaves your hands. Sticky fingers can whisk away the things you need most—right under the noses of the TSA workers.

2 ) MORE EYES IN BACK OF YOUR HEAD

See “Eyes in Back of Your head.” The same is true when you retrieve your checked luggage after your flight. Set down your carry-on bag, attaché case or small duffle in front of you, not behind you, as you wait for your luggage to arrive. It’s much too easy for The Nasties to grab and run, especially since many airports no longer have officials looking at your luggage claim receipts as you exit the baggage claim area.

3 ) IF IT’S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

Howard Johnson is currently making an offer to travelers, and, in our opinion, it’s thumbs down all the way. If you are looking for a reasonably-priced place to stay and go to their website or call them, they offer to give you a free night’s stay if you can find a better price on the web. It’s not hard to do, and you’ll probably be eager to collect that free bed in a city of your choice. But what follows is a labyrinth of rules and regulations so that the offer is virtually worthless. No, no, Howard Johnson. You can do better than this.

4 ) CAMERA BLUES

When you buy a digital camera, it’s important to find out if it is “all weather” or is weather sealed. If it is not, you may find that water, snow, humidity or even a loose hair can get into your camera. And then, when you try to take a picture, you find out that the camera is dead.

Canon’s expensive 5D is a wonderful instrument–provided you don’t spill coffee on it, get caught in the rain, or try to use it when it’s too muggy outside. You may be lucky and have no problema, or……your camera may be irreparable. And Canon does not stand behind it. You will have to shell out money for a new camera or a refurb, and that means thousands of dollars squandered. So ask in advance: is it weather sealed?

5 ) PEACE AT ANY PRICE

If you want to sleep soundly at night, buy trip interruption/cancellation insurance, and get insurance in case anything is lost or damaged on the road. If you try to collect on a claim, it helps to have original receipts to prove the cost of your expensive purchases. You will probably never get back the full price of your belongings, but you will get compensated if you can prove the items were lost and have kept receipts for their purchase.

6 ) IT’S OKAY TO TELL THE TEACHER

Remember when you were in school and it was a no-no to snitch on other kids? Do you have a lingering distaste for denouncing wrongdoers? When you are traveling, it’s a MUST to report any yecchy behavior to authorities. Tell the hotel manager, the police, the airline representatives. If it involves theft, have them write down the incident and give you a copy (always report the incident to the police whenever possible; this will be helpful and sometimes mandatory for insurance claims). If it is a case of inappropriate behavior, report it. Travel is a service industry and professional are there to provide service. They will generally be sympathetic and helpful.

7 ) TOUTS

So there you are, in Tunis, walking out of your hotel, and a friendly guy comes up to you and addresses you in English. “Do you recognize me from your hotel?” he asks. You squint in the glorious sunlight, and can’t quite figure out if he’s one of the bellmen or waiters. “Sure,” you say open-heartedly. “There’s a great festival going on in the souks (market) today, and I’d love to take you there,” he offers. Wow. What luck. He leads you through the labyrinthine market for twenty minutes and finally ends up at a perfume stall. Where’s the festival? He smiles and says you just missed it, but this is the best perfume stall in the market. If you choose to buy perfume, he gets a cut. If you choose not to buy, he says you owe him money for being his guide. you hate a public scene and pay him off. But you feel really lousy afterwards. He does not work in your hotel. He is a tout.

Maybe you’re in Bangkok, and a young man approaches you and says he wants to practice English with you. You grin, and he falls into step beside you. You walk around the city, he points things out to you, and then he says he has to go and expects you to pay him for his guiding services. He, too, is a tout.

So how do you avoid being tout-ed?

First, make arrangements up front. Ask, “how much will this cost?” If you come to an agreement, fine. If he says it will cost you nothing, clarify by saying, “This is a lot of time for you to be spending with me. Are you sure there is no charge?” Or say, “I do not wish to pay for your services. Do you still want to accompany me?” If he agrees, and you have a pleasant time together, you will probably wish to tip him. If he agrees up front that there is no charge and then demands money, you do not owe him anything. If he makes a scene, you may want to ask a policeman or shopkeeper for help. If he leads you to a shop and waits as you make your purchase, you can be pretty certain he is getting a cut. Trust your sniffer. If something feels odd, it probably is. If it feels sincere and above-board, you may make a new friend. But no matter what the outcome, it’s rarely dangerous and the worst case scenario is that it may end up costing you money.

8 ) WHEN SKIES ARE GRAY

When you purchase electronic equipment from a dealer online or at an online auction site, always ask–in writing– if it is gray market. This is especially true if the price is lower than it would normally be. If it is a gray market product, it is being sold outside of normal distribution channels by companies which may have no relationship with the producer of the goods. What this means to you is that the warrantee and/or guarantee may not be valid in the U.S.A. Sometimes the product will be slightly different from the version normally sold in the U.S.A. If the price is great, you may decide to buy it anyway. But ask first whether it is gray market, so you have no unpleasant surprises later.

9 ) UNLOCKING THE PHONE SECRET

When you travel abroad, your cell phone provider probably has you in a stranglehold. They may offer you an international calling plan, but it’s most certainly very expensive–like 2 dollars a minute for airtime. This means your phone is locked, and you can only use it with a plan offered by your provider. The big secret is that you do not have to be bound to your cell phone provider. You can buy an unlocked phone at a phone store or online or from another provider (as of this writing, Alltel sells them). You can take the unlocked phone abroad and buy a SIM card at the airport or in local stores (your hotel will be able to tell you the nearest place). Insert it into your unlocked phone, and you can make calls for pennies. You will be charged the local rate. If everyone starts doing this, maybe U.S. cell phone providers will be forced to sell unlocked phones. Before you buy your next cell phone from your provider, be sure to ask if they sell unlocked phones.

10 ) BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

One of the greatest pleasures of travel is walking around the town or city you are in. When night falls, ask at your hotel if it’s safe to walk in the neighborhood. They will generally say yes, or tell you stay away from certain areas. They know the streets, and they can assure that your walk will be pleasant and without hassle.

The chances are that you will avoid most or all of these hassles if you are prepared and aware. So, bon voyage from the Wild Pair!

ABOUT THE WILD PAIR: Judith Fein and Ellen Barone,

They’re smart, sassy, savvy, award-winning travel journalists and photographers and now they’ve joined forces to become THE WILD PAIR, bringing you cutting-edge information and tips on how to turn your next vacation into a life-enhancing experience.

This article was published with permission from Judith Fein and Ellen Barone.

Luggage Lore

Here are a dozen suggestions on packing, luggage and what to do about the weight thing.

1 ) If the Shoe Fits, Wear It

When you go shopping for shoes, do you ever fall in love with the softness of the leather and the cool trim and say to yourself, “I’ll break it in?” We can almost guarantee that the shoe will break you before you break it. It is a very bad idea to buy new hiking boots or walking shoes right before a trip. You haven’t had time to check them for the blister factor. You don’t know if they are really water proof, or if they’re too tight when your foot expands from hot weather. If you want to avoid shoes blues, use your oldies but goodies or buy a new pair well in advance of departure.

2 ) Two is Better Than One

More folks than ever are traveling, and the airlines are misplacing or losing luggage at a startling rate. The groans of missing luggage are louder than ever before. You can almost assume, if you are a frequent traveler, that sooner or later you will arrive but your bags won’t. If you are traveling with a friend or mate, a real insider tip is to mix and match your clothes–between two suitcases. Put two of your shirts in her suitcase. Let her put a pair of pants in yours. Give each other a few pairs of socks and underwear. This way, if one of you loses a suitcase, the other isn’t stuck looking like Lady Godiva. Sadly, the chances of you and your bags being separated is increasing. To be on the safe side, you can avoid the baggage blahs by shipping your luggage ahead. More and more travelers are opting to do that. You can choose from a burgeoning list of luggage delivery companies like LUGGAGE CONCIERGE, VIRTUAL BELLHOP, FIRST LUGGAGE, BAGGAGE QUEST, LUGGAGE FREE and UNIVERSAL EXPRESS.

3 ) There’s No Place Like Home

If you are on the road and your luggage hasn’t shown up, most airlines will give you a minimal amount of money to replace essentials after the first 24 hours. Be sure and keep the receipts for anything you buy. Generally speaking, your luggage will show up after a few days. If not, the airlines will tell you what your daily allowance is as you continue to buy essentials. It really helps if you put a copy of your itinerary inside your suitcase. When they find your suitcase, they can arrange to have it catch up with you on the road. However, if you arrive back home and your suitcase doesn’t, most airlines will not reimburse you at all for your immediate expenses. If you have to buy makeup or replace your electric toothbrush, you won’t get anything. In the long run, if your suitcase never shows up, they will reimburse you, but it’s no shoe-in. You have to provide receipts, lists, prove what is lost and its worth. You can’t count on getting full value back.

So even though it’s a horrible inconvenience, it’s better to have your luggage missing when you’re on the road. If your luggage is really lost, fight for your rights but know that it can take months to be reimbursed and you will never get back all that you paid for the contents of your luggage. Now pour yourself a stiff drink or lace your mineral water with strong cranberry juice and read this: it is estimated that 30 million bags are mishandled each year. The culprits are airport congestion, reduced flight availability and mounting baggage volume. One way to protect yourself and your belongings is to purchase travel insurance; it’s possibly your best bet for recouping any losses. Companies that offer policies which cover incidents of lost, delayed or damaged luggage include TRAVEL GUARD AND INSUREMYTRIP.COM, ACCESS AMERICA and TRAVELEX.

4 ) Lists, Lists, Lists

You get an A plus if you have a list of what’s in your suitcase. If it is ever lost, you just pull our your list and submit it. One way of doing this is to make a list each time you depart. Another way is to have a general packing list for all trips on your computer–and just print it out and modify it each time you travel. If you don’t have a list, and you make one up when your luggage is lost, you can be very embarrassed when it shows up. You’ve claimed a rolex watch, but inside your bag is a Timex.

5 ) Speaking of Timex…

Travel with inexpensive jewelry. That black jade necklace you just bought looks great, and it’s very tempting to itchy fingers on the road. Leave it home. Buy a nice beaded thingie for travels. Timex watches have glow-in-the-dark features that allow you to tell what time it is when you wake up in your tent or hotel room, or want to check the hour during an opera. On the road, cheaper is better. Another option is an Oakley D5 watch–basically indestructible, waterproof to 100 meters, with dual times zones, a large backlit LCD display, and an alarm that will wake you so you don’t miss your flights or sights. And why not buy something unique and inexpensive from local vendors? It will look great on the road and make the perfect gift for your cat sitter.

6 ) The Fateful Moment

As soon as you realize your bag hasn’t arrived with you, go right to the airline you’ve been traveling on and make a claim. Sometimes they will tell you to wait until you get home to make a claim, but this isn’t always good advice. A paper trail will serve you well. Have the airline personnel note the loss, and give you a copy to keep. Be sure to ask for a complimentary overnight kit from the airline rep when you file your claim. Too often, the airlines only offer these kits to those who ask for them. You’ll appreciate the toothbrush, deodorant and other goodies when you want to flop into bed and not scour the streets looking for an open pharmacy.

7 ) Weighing In

When the airline says you have a 50 pound limit, they mean it. If your luggage weighs in at 51 pounds, they can either charge you $25 or more for excess weight, or ask you to take out a pound of clothes at the airport. Weigh your luggage at home before you leave to make sure it is under 50 pounds. Take a large enough bag with you as carry-on luggage to stuff in the extra pound…or five..or twelve. Or pack a duffle in your suitcase. Pull it out and stuff the extra items in it. Ship it as an extra piece of luggage. We have done this many times.

8 ) Why a Duffle?

On the eighth day, God created the duffle. You can lay it flat on the inside of your suitcase and it makes an extra piece of luggage when you are traveling back home with acquisitions and souvenirs. Duffles are made in sturdy, lightweight material now, so they don’t add much to the weight in your suitcase. Be sure to put luggage tags on your duffle before you leave home so that if you use it, it’s ready to ship through. We love Eagle Creek duffles.

9 ) Not Your Mama’s Polyester

All the well-known travel clothiers like Magellan’s, Travelsmith, Patagonia, Royal Robbins, Ex Officio and Sierra Trading Post offer clothes from synthetic materials that don’t have you sweating like a boxer. The key word is BREATHABLE. Make sure you buy fabrics that allow your skin to breathe rather than sweat. Also make sure they are fast-drying. If you have to sacrifice style to breathability and rapid drying, do so. These are garments you can rinse out at night and wear the next morning. Sometimes they dry in two or three hours. And, unlike the rest of us, they don’t really show their wrinkles. Remember to wear your washables when you travel. If you arrive in Bali and your bags are in Boston, you’ll be happy to have fresh clothes when you wake up the next morning.

10 ) Sunny Side Up

We all love the sun. If dermatologists weren’t breathing down our necks, we would probably lie in the sun all day. But they are, and we don’t. Sunscreens with a high SPF are helpful, but the latest research says you have to re-apply them every few hours. Companies like Solumbra and Coolibar sell hats with 4 inch brims, and Ex Officio has clothing with a high SPF factor. We are noticing that the styles are getting better, so you don’t have to feel like a sunproof geek. Wear your SPF clothes proudly. They are often wrinkle-free or wrinkle-resistant –which makes them very packable. The jury is out on the clothing saturated with insect repellent. It may not be a good idea to have such intense exposure to repellents hour after hour. Repellents you apply yourself can be washed off. But a shirt stays on your back after the bugs are gone.

11 ) The Light Side

Everyone tells you to pack light, but do you listen? If you’re a smashing dresser, it’s hard to wear the same rags day after day. Even if they are washed and drip-dried. So make a joke out of it. Announce to your traveling companions that they will be seeing the same you over and over. Laugh, and let it go. What everyone has told you is right: lighter is better. And here’s a toe tip: Onesole’s lightweight, fashionable line of interchangeable shoes. Each Onesole shoe features tops made of soft, stretchy neoprene that can be snapped on and off to change the shoe’s look.

12 ) Like a Scout, Be Prepared

It can be 90 degrees outside, but the inside of the plane may be freezing. And the airlines are not so generous with blankets and pillows these days. In your carry-on bag, pack a shawl or jacket that can double as a body-warmer in a cold plane. Always try to pack things that do double duty when possible. Your camera’s monopod makes a wonderful walking stick. The ziplock bags you use to pack your vitamins can make a laundry bag for your clothes when the vitamins are gone. And when you have read the book you took along with you, give it to someone you meet on the road. It will leave more room in your luggage for newbies you buy on your trip.

ABOUT THE WILD PAIR: Judith Fein and Ellen Barone,

They’re smart, sassy, savvy, award-winning travel journalists and photographers and now they’ve joined forces to become THE WILD PAIR, bringing you cutting-edge information and tips on how to turn your next vacation into a life-enhancing experience.

This article was published with permission from Judith Fein and Ellen Barone.

How To Have A Memorable Trip

1 ) Thanks for the memories

Are you one of those blessed people with perfect recall? You can remember what happened on September 14, 1986 and what you ate for dinner three days ago? If you are not, then you know how elusive memory can be. Sometimes your long term memory lets you down, and sometimes it’s the shorty that is just out of reach. While you are traveling, you think you will remember the moments forever. But, trust us, you won’t. So you can start by making a commitment to really imprinting your trip.

2 ) A picture is worth a thousand words

If you are a photo hound, you already know this. If you are a technophobe, there is a three-word solution: Point and Shoot. There are digital cameras that are really digital servants–they do all the work for you. You decide what you want to capture, you point the camera, it makes adjustments and calculations for you, and all you have to do is click. When you get home, you load the photos into your computer. You can save them, send them to friends and family, print them out and put them in an album. But, once you get home, there is something you cannot do: shoot things you missed on your trip. So always shoot more than you will need and always travel with more than one memory chip. One of the beauties of digital cameras is that you can look at the photos after you have shot them, and decide what’s a keeper and what needs to be dumped. It’s as simple as selecting “delete” on your camera. We’ll be dealing more with photography in future months, but for now we’ll address the 500 pound beast that may be hiding in your closet: should you use your old, trusted film camera? Our answer is–nope. Film takes up more space in your luggage, it can be damaged when you go through repeated scanners, it costs much more. So make the digital leap. And what if you don’t want to take pictures at all? Of course that is an option, but photos are a wonderful memory aid, and looking at them can make you relive your favorite trips.

3 ) It’s In The Cards

When you are traveling, you will fall in love with certain hotels, restaurants, parks, museums, inns, canoe paddles in a sports store, songs, dishes, shops, bikes. You think you will always remember the name of your new fave, but….it’s that memory thing again. Wherever you are, when you like something, take a card or a brochure. Have one place in your suitcase where you keep all the information from the road. When you get home, put it all in one envelope which you label with the place and date of your trip. Then, in the future, when you want to give information to a friend or make a purchase…it will all be right there, in one place, waiting for you.

4 ) A Crib Sheet Always Comes in Handy

Always have a small pad and pen or pencil handy. If you’re chatting away with someone on a kayak trip and she recommends a book, you’ll want to write it down. If you’re in the Galapagos and you want to remember information about iguanas or blue-footed boobies, make a note. If you eat a fabulous dessert on a biking trip and score the recipe, you will want to record it in your pad. If you ask a Jordanian how to say “thank you” in Arabic and want to remember how to say it a few hours later, your pad is your crib sheet. They sell very small pads now. Scan the shelves at Office Depot or any of the other office supply stores.

5 ) The Write Way To Do It

Not everyone is a great writer. There’s only one Faulkner, one Shakespeare, one Moliere. But everyone can write. Even if you have never scribed anything other than a company report, believe us when we say that there is a writer hiding inside of you. Make a commitment to writing something about your trip. You don’t have to be specific. Just agree to befriend your pen.

6 ) The Joys of Journaling

Maybe you kept a diary when you were a kid. Maybe you scribbled down things you wanted to remember on the backs of cocktail napkins in noisy bars. Maybe you always wanted to keep a record of your life, but didn’t get around to it. Traveling is the time to start, to continue, or pick up an old habit that somehow went missing. A journal is just for you. Maybe no one will ever see it. Maybe you will choose to share it with people. Maybe you will select portions you want to send to friends when you get back home. There is always down time on a trip–waiting for meals, resting under the shade of a friendly tree, after dinner, flying or driving. You already have your little pad. Now all you have to do is write. It doesn’t matter if it’s in full sentences or short phrases. Just write down what you saw, how you felt about it, what you want to remember. The entries can be short. Or long. A few words. Or pages. Just. Write.

7 ) A Bump On A Blog

Some folks have caught blog fever. They have found out that they can be published writers by recording their experiences and their feelings and anything else about their lives. Travel blogs are a fabulous way of taking your friends along with you on your trips. You can write blog entries on a bumpy bus or in the quiet of your hotel room. You can think about your blog entries as you hike, bike, eat, engage with people, visit sites, paddle on the water. You can even think about your blog when you dream. We hope you’re not traveling with your laptop (unless it’s really necessary), but you can find internet cafes or internet access in hotels always everywhere. Or, you can choose to stay fully immersed in the travel experience and blog in your note pad–to be transferred to your computer when you get home.

8 ) Traveling Through Life

When you get back home, your trip is obviously over, but you don’t have to leave your travels behind. If you are a minister, you can incorporate what you learned or observed into your sermons. If you are a teacher, you can pass on the experience to your students. A doc? Maybe you’ll want to tell patients about healing modalities you encountered in exotic cultures, or extol the benefits of exercising on the road by taking an adventure trip. People love to learn, and love to hear first-hand about travels. If you select trip details to suit the folks you are talking to–rather than just give an I-went-there-and-did-this rundown of your trip, you are sure to have a captive audience.

9 ) Talk Is Cheap

While you are traveling, talk about the trip with your fellow travelers. Discuss what you like, what you are learning, questions that come up, the value of what you are experiencing. Not only does it provide a great way to bond, but it also helps to imprint the memories and impressions by verbalizing them.

10 ) Padding Through Life

That little notepad is, along with your photos, your best memory aid. Label it with the name of your trip and the date (i.e. Egypt, January 2008). Don’t use it for anything else when you get home. When are 150, take out the pads and the photos and experience your trips all over again.

Bon voyage!

ABOUT THE WILD PAIR: Judith Fein and Ellen Barone ,

They’re smart, sassy, savvy, award-winning travel journalists and photographers and now they’ve joined forces to become THE WILD PAIR, bringing you cutting-edge information and tips on how to turn your next vacation into a life-enhancing experience.

This article was published with permission from Ellen Barone and  Judith Fein .

How To Be A Traveler and Not A Tourist

1 ) The Glass is Always Empty

A fellow travel journalist once remarked that most travel is calculated to keep tourists separate from people who live in the country they are visiting. In fact, tourists generally see the destination through glass. Either they are riding in a tour bus, staring out through a restaurant window or observing the village or city through the well-cleaned windows of a hotel room.

The key to becoming a traveler is to see the world directly… not through glass. When there is glass, there is separation. When there is no glass, it’s the beginning of integration. You can touch, smell, hear, feel and interact with the environment and the people who live there.

2 ) The Teacher Isn’t Looking

When you were in school, you were subjected to a form of torture known as grammar rules. In French, you probably squirmed through the subjunctive. In Latin, you sweated over whether a word was masculine, feminine or neuter. In German, you watched in horror as a simple verb became a concatenation of unpronounceable syllables. You took tests, your papers came back splotched with red ink, and maybe your teacher had a disapproving look when you squeaked out an ungrammatical phrase or–if luck was on your side– a sentence.

Here’s the good news: on the road, there’s no teacher, no tests, no grades. When you travel, the goal is to communicate, not to perform or be perfect. You can cobble together sentences formed by words plucked from Mexican soap operas, Rilke’s poems, world music lyrics, Dostoevsky’s novels, bumper stickers, signs, dictionaries, menus or vague classroom memories. The only failure is not to try. A simple “thank you” uttered in a foreign tongue can evoke a smile, a nod, or even lead to a dinner invitation.

3 ) A Rude Awakening

Ask your guide, waitperson, concierge or just about any local to tell you what is considered rude in his or her country…or in his or her part of your own country! If showing the soles of your feet or patting someone on the head or arguing in public is frowned upon, don’t do it. Cultural sensitivity engenders respect and trust. Knowing the inside skinny on a culture deepens and enriches a travel experience.

4 ) A Whole Lotta Taking Going On

When we travel, there’s a lot of taking involved. We take pictures. We ask questions. We expect answers. We take advantage of the sites.

A real traveler knows the pleasure of giving something back. If you snap a photo, offer to show the subject what she looks like on your camera’s screen. One travel writer we know shoots children with a small Polaroid camera everywhere she goes; then she gives the kids the photos.

Maybe you can bring pencils for students, or show pictures of your city or your family. How about a few small tokens from your home town?

It’s great to receive on the road, and it’s great to give back.

5 ) Travel Globally, Eat Locally

If you are in really exotic climes, you know the maxim: nothing raw, nothing that can’t be peeled, no ice cubes, no tap water, nothing that’s been standing around since the 20th century.

Beyond these caveats, be adventurous. Munch on a fried grasshopper. Dine on krill. Hold your nose and sample durian. Say yes to caribou chops. Sample eel. You’ll either have a fine culinary experience or a fine story to tell when you get back home. Don’t forget to photograph what you are eating and the fact that you are eating it.

6 ) Silk Is Smooth, Traveling Isn’t

Things go wrong on the road. Planes are late. Air conditioning fails. Attractions are closed. Travel mates and bugs can be annoying. There’s a downpour as you set out on a hike. Complain once, if you must. You’re allowed one unexpurgated curse, wail, sigh, frown or gesture of frustration. Then move on to solutions and adaptations.

A tourist expects everything to work. A traveler is flexible and knows that part of the adventure is NOT having things work as planned. It gives you a chance to test your resilience and deep yoga breathing.

7 ) Pack A Laugh

When you travel, take along your sense of humor. Humor transcends language and nationality. Humor can come from a look, a mime, a comical gesture, a funny noise, a pun, or any spontaneous act that creates a smile or shared laugh with people in your host country. No matter how foreign a culture is, a bridge is formed by open-hearted (never mocking) humor.

Somewhere along the life line, we were taught to stifle our laughs, behave like adults, act professionally. On the road, laugh and enjoy and be your funny, creative, kid-like self.

8 ) Wonderwoman and Wonderman

A real traveler is full of wonder. She marvels at the smorgasbord of life, beauty, nature, culture and art on our little blue planet. She looks, listens, observes, feels and appreciates the riches of the road.

It is not cool to be blasé on the road. People with a been-there-done-that attitude are definitely tourists.

9 ) Permission Slip

A tourist takes things for granted. A traveler asks. May I take your picture? Is it okay if I ask questions about your religion? May I sit at the back of the Zodiac? Have a second dessert? Give your kid candy? Is it all right to look inside your tent? If the answer is no, accept it. if the answer is yes, you have been graceful and respectful and you can be sure it is appreciated.

10 ) E.T….. Call Home

You have given your family and friends emergency contact information, and of course you can call or check e-mail if you’re worried about or missing someone at home. But, to the degree possible, unplug when you travel. Try to be where you are. Try not to be at the office. Every trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Every trip is a chance for adventure, learning, exchange, immersion and challenge…where you can be moved to tears or gasp at the beauty of the natural world and the people who inhabit it.

When you get off the plane, put away your iPod, Blackberry, spreadsheets and deadlines. Just be where you are. You deserve the total experience.

Bon voyage!

ABOUT THE WILD PAIR: Judith Fein and Ellen Barone ,

They’re smart, sassy, savvy, award-winning travel journalists and photographers and now they’ve joined forces to become THE WILD PAIR, bringing you cutting-edge information and tips on how to turn your next vacation into a life-enhancing experience.

This article was published with permission from Ellen Barone and  Judith Fein.