Getting ill or injured isn’t something you like to think about before
you head off on your travels, but it’s something you need
to prepare for just in case. Personally I was in the Girl Guides (motto:
Be Prepared!) and have a mother who’s ready for everything, so I’ve
always had (more than) enough supplies with me when I board that plane!
So from someone who’s been there and injured that, here are my top tips
on what you need to be packing in your first aid kit when you travel…
Paracetemol Useful for pain related ailments of many causes! Lions’
roars or children’s shouts given you a headache? Too many local beers
the night before? Aches and pains or sniffles? Paracetemol is your
friend.
Anti-bite I’d love to say that it won’t happen, but the likelihood
of you getting bitten by an insect of some sort is unfortunately very
high! Mosquitoes, ants, wasps – the little blighters are out to get you,
and a soothing cream will make the pain and irritation much less.
Antiseptic cream and wipes Scrapes and scratches are unavoidable
and to reduce the risk of a nasty infection you need to make sure you
can clean any wounds well, and keep them that way.
Plasters I strongly suggest the waterproof variety, and don’t
forget blister plasters too – especially if you’re doing any trekking!
Another tip if you’re volunteering with children when you travel – the colourful, novelty
plasters go down a treat!
Poo tablets Sorry to be slightly crass here, but you’re going to
thank me for this if you get a case of Delhi Belly on your travels!
Stock up on tablets of both types – the ones that make you stop, and the
ones that make you go – and cross your fingers that you won’t need
either!
Rehydration solution There are many reasons you might become
dehydrated on your travels, and these handy sachets are a great way to
rehydrate quickly. Stir them into a glass of water and you’ll soon be
feeling more like your usual, hydrated self.
Sterile needle kit If you need to visit a hospital and receive
treatment, carrying your own sterile needle kit means that you’re not
using the local resources, and also ensures your own safely if the
hospital’s equipment and standards aren’t what you’re used to at home.
This is particularly important if you’re planning some independent
travel off the beaten track.
This is by now means an exhaustive list, it’s always important to do
your own preparation too. These are just some of my "must-pack" items that I won't travel without! Anyone got anything to add to the list?
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Friday, 25 May 2012
Incredible India - My Adventures
I wrote this back in January 2011, after I got back from a two week trip to Kerala, Southern India...
I’ve just returned from a fantastic couple of weeks in India, where I took part in the Boats, elephants and community work in Kerala tour with i to i Volunteering. I travelled with my mom Chris, and we were part of a group of 6 people who’d signed up for the 2 week tour. We were staying in a homestay in Thoppumpady, a small town not far from the bustling tourist centre of Fort Kochi. Our homestay mum Leela, was lovely – she made sure we had everything we needed, and checked what food we did and didn’t eat so that she could let the kitchen staff know what meals we’d like. Nothing was too much for Leela and her team, and I remember them all very fondly.
Our first day kicked off with a tour of Fort Kochi, which took in St Francis’ church, the home of Kerala’s Royal Family and the town’s ornate Jewish synagogue. We also stopped off to admire the Chinese fishing nets, where fishermen were still using the traditional nets to catch fish for the stalls and restaurants nearby. Before we knew it, we’d been invited to lend a hand and were pulling ropes to reel in the nets. Our catch included a huge fish which was promptly taken off to market to be sold! After the tour ended, we enjoyed a lovely meal in a restaurant in Fort Kochi before testing our haggling skills in the local shops and stalls and making a weary return to our homestay by auto-rickshaw, the only way to travel in style in India.
The next few days in Kerala were to be spent volunteering at a special needs school, Cottolengo. We were accompanied on our journey by a member of the i to i team who was able to help us find the correct bus and learn the walk to school. Indian buses are crazy – totally jam-packed and everyone hanging onto each other so as not to fall over! We loved catching buses as it made us feel like real locals, and it was always fun to see the look of surprise on peoples faces when a group of Westerners jumped aboard! Although we’d been slightly apprehensive and unsure what to expect from the school, we needn’t have worried. As soon as we arrived and were introduced to the kids and sisters (Cottolengo is based at a convent and is run by nuns) they made us feel very welcome and accepted straight away. We were each assigned a class to work with and I went off to get to know Sister Sheila and the students in her infant class.
We spent our days at Cottolengo working closely with the kids on a lot of different activities, which each of us tailored to the individual ages and abilities of our group. Cottolengo has older students (in their late teens and twenties) as well as children, as some of the older girls also board at the school My children were younger (from around 7 to 9 years old) so we spent time learning the names of animals and colours, playing outside, and making 2 huge murals which we proudly displayed on the wall of the classroom! Lunchtimes were spent helping the less able children and young people with their meals before retiring to eat ours (a lovely packed lunch provided by our homestay) and take a much needed break before heading back to the classroom for more afternoon fun!
The weekend arrived before we knew it, and we had a jam-packed schedule! Friday evening was spent at a traditional Kerala arts show, where we were treated to displays of dance, drama and martial arts. After that we’d been invited to a house party hosted by Rajeev, who’d we’d met earlier in the week via his mum Leela (our homestay host). Rajeev’s party was amazing and we stayed up far too late laughing, drinking and getting to know our new Indian friends. Saturday was an early rise for our backwater tour – just the relaxing day we needed to recover from the excess of the previous night! We were taken to relax on a lovely boat gently cruising the backwaters, passing waterside villages, beautiful wildlife and stunning scenery. We even transferred to a smaller boat, so that we were able to cruise down the smaller, less populated backwaters and see even more of this gorgeous part of the world. We were treated to an amazing meal in the village before heading back to the homestay for an early night – Sunday was to be an early start!
Sunday morning and our alarms woke us up for a 6am start to the day. No one minded however, as we were off to an elephant village to see their morning bath! This was the part of the trip that many of us (including my mom and I) had been looking forwards to the most, and it didn’t disappoint. We arrived just in time to see the mahouts bringing their elephants down to the river, and beginning to wash them. We were beckoned to help, and were able to get up close to the elephants, scrubbing their backs and tickling behind their ears! It was amazing to be so close to such big animals and was most definitely a highlight of the trip for me. As we waved goodbye to the elephants we wondered if anything could top what we’d just experienced, but little did we know what was to come! Back in our car and it was time to explore the Athirapally waterfalls. These waterfalls are stunning – crashing down amongst the green hills and surrounded by wildlife (a cheeky monkey managed to run off with my friend Shanu’s water bottle!) and the walk downhill to reach them was well worth it. We cooled off in the rock pools before heading to a restaurant for some much needed lunch. We were expecting delicious food by now, having become accustomed to the great cooking at the homestay, but the view from the restaurant blew us away. We were overlooking the waterfalls and were able to chill out in an infinity pool after lunch, soaking in the view and pinching ourselves to make sure it was real!
Monday to Wednesday signalled our last days as volunteers at Cottolengo. By now we’d become attached to the nuns and children, and were reluctant to say goodbye. We made sure to make the most of our last days, spending time with the children and trying to teach them as much as we could and ensure they enjoyed their days. We also taught some of the younger children the dance moves to “I am the Music Man” which was great fun for them AND us! We decided to perform the dance on our last day for the rest of the school, but little did we know what Cottolengo had in store for us!
Wednesday morning brought a packed schedule of song and dance, with the children performing for us! Some of the older girls had got dressed up in their traditional costumes to show off a dance routine they’d been practicing and we also enjoyed performances from children across the school, and a presentation to us of cards and necklaces made for us by the students! There wasn’t a dry eye by the time it was over and we all vowed to return as soon as we could to volunteer at this amazing school again.
Thursday and Friday were to be spent on a houseboat, a relaxing end to a jam packed 2 weeks. We drifted along the backwaters in our traditional Kerala house boat, where we spent the night drinking, laughing and reminiscing about our adventures. We even treated the boat’s staff to an impromptu rendition of “I am the Music Man!”
There’s so much more I could say about my time in Kerala. So many little stories and jokes, and heart-warming memories about the children and nuns at the school, or fantastic experiences on our weekend adventures. I can’t speak highly enough of Kerala as a destination, or this tour. If you’re looking for a trip that packs a whole lot into 2 short weeks then this one is ideal. Although I wish I could have stayed longer and can’t wait to go back, I also feel like I achieved and experienced a huge amount during my time in India. I’ve fallen in love with Kerala, and I’m sure that if you decide to visit, you will too.
www.i-to-i.com
I’ve just returned from a fantastic couple of weeks in India, where I took part in the Boats, elephants and community work in Kerala tour with i to i Volunteering. I travelled with my mom Chris, and we were part of a group of 6 people who’d signed up for the 2 week tour. We were staying in a homestay in Thoppumpady, a small town not far from the bustling tourist centre of Fort Kochi. Our homestay mum Leela, was lovely – she made sure we had everything we needed, and checked what food we did and didn’t eat so that she could let the kitchen staff know what meals we’d like. Nothing was too much for Leela and her team, and I remember them all very fondly.
Our first day kicked off with a tour of Fort Kochi, which took in St Francis’ church, the home of Kerala’s Royal Family and the town’s ornate Jewish synagogue. We also stopped off to admire the Chinese fishing nets, where fishermen were still using the traditional nets to catch fish for the stalls and restaurants nearby. Before we knew it, we’d been invited to lend a hand and were pulling ropes to reel in the nets. Our catch included a huge fish which was promptly taken off to market to be sold! After the tour ended, we enjoyed a lovely meal in a restaurant in Fort Kochi before testing our haggling skills in the local shops and stalls and making a weary return to our homestay by auto-rickshaw, the only way to travel in style in India.
Local Fisherman show off their unusual catch
The next few days in Kerala were to be spent volunteering at a special needs school, Cottolengo. We were accompanied on our journey by a member of the i to i team who was able to help us find the correct bus and learn the walk to school. Indian buses are crazy – totally jam-packed and everyone hanging onto each other so as not to fall over! We loved catching buses as it made us feel like real locals, and it was always fun to see the look of surprise on peoples faces when a group of Westerners jumped aboard! Although we’d been slightly apprehensive and unsure what to expect from the school, we needn’t have worried. As soon as we arrived and were introduced to the kids and sisters (Cottolengo is based at a convent and is run by nuns) they made us feel very welcome and accepted straight away. We were each assigned a class to work with and I went off to get to know Sister Sheila and the students in her infant class.
We spent our days at Cottolengo working closely with the kids on a lot of different activities, which each of us tailored to the individual ages and abilities of our group. Cottolengo has older students (in their late teens and twenties) as well as children, as some of the older girls also board at the school My children were younger (from around 7 to 9 years old) so we spent time learning the names of animals and colours, playing outside, and making 2 huge murals which we proudly displayed on the wall of the classroom! Lunchtimes were spent helping the less able children and young people with their meals before retiring to eat ours (a lovely packed lunch provided by our homestay) and take a much needed break before heading back to the classroom for more afternoon fun!
Me with Adi
The weekend arrived before we knew it, and we had a jam-packed schedule! Friday evening was spent at a traditional Kerala arts show, where we were treated to displays of dance, drama and martial arts. After that we’d been invited to a house party hosted by Rajeev, who’d we’d met earlier in the week via his mum Leela (our homestay host). Rajeev’s party was amazing and we stayed up far too late laughing, drinking and getting to know our new Indian friends. Saturday was an early rise for our backwater tour – just the relaxing day we needed to recover from the excess of the previous night! We were taken to relax on a lovely boat gently cruising the backwaters, passing waterside villages, beautiful wildlife and stunning scenery. We even transferred to a smaller boat, so that we were able to cruise down the smaller, less populated backwaters and see even more of this gorgeous part of the world. We were treated to an amazing meal in the village before heading back to the homestay for an early night – Sunday was to be an early start!
Our Backwater Cruise boat
Sunday morning and our alarms woke us up for a 6am start to the day. No one minded however, as we were off to an elephant village to see their morning bath! This was the part of the trip that many of us (including my mom and I) had been looking forwards to the most, and it didn’t disappoint. We arrived just in time to see the mahouts bringing their elephants down to the river, and beginning to wash them. We were beckoned to help, and were able to get up close to the elephants, scrubbing their backs and tickling behind their ears! It was amazing to be so close to such big animals and was most definitely a highlight of the trip for me. As we waved goodbye to the elephants we wondered if anything could top what we’d just experienced, but little did we know what was to come! Back in our car and it was time to explore the Athirapally waterfalls. These waterfalls are stunning – crashing down amongst the green hills and surrounded by wildlife (a cheeky monkey managed to run off with my friend Shanu’s water bottle!) and the walk downhill to reach them was well worth it. We cooled off in the rock pools before heading to a restaurant for some much needed lunch. We were expecting delicious food by now, having become accustomed to the great cooking at the homestay, but the view from the restaurant blew us away. We were overlooking the waterfalls and were able to chill out in an infinity pool after lunch, soaking in the view and pinching ourselves to make sure it was real!
Ma and I with one of the elephants
Monday to Wednesday signalled our last days as volunteers at Cottolengo. By now we’d become attached to the nuns and children, and were reluctant to say goodbye. We made sure to make the most of our last days, spending time with the children and trying to teach them as much as we could and ensure they enjoyed their days. We also taught some of the younger children the dance moves to “I am the Music Man” which was great fun for them AND us! We decided to perform the dance on our last day for the rest of the school, but little did we know what Cottolengo had in store for us!
Wednesday morning brought a packed schedule of song and dance, with the children performing for us! Some of the older girls had got dressed up in their traditional costumes to show off a dance routine they’d been practicing and we also enjoyed performances from children across the school, and a presentation to us of cards and necklaces made for us by the students! There wasn’t a dry eye by the time it was over and we all vowed to return as soon as we could to volunteer at this amazing school again.
Thursday and Friday were to be spent on a houseboat, a relaxing end to a jam packed 2 weeks. We drifted along the backwaters in our traditional Kerala house boat, where we spent the night drinking, laughing and reminiscing about our adventures. We even treated the boat’s staff to an impromptu rendition of “I am the Music Man!”
There’s so much more I could say about my time in Kerala. So many little stories and jokes, and heart-warming memories about the children and nuns at the school, or fantastic experiences on our weekend adventures. I can’t speak highly enough of Kerala as a destination, or this tour. If you’re looking for a trip that packs a whole lot into 2 short weeks then this one is ideal. Although I wish I could have stayed longer and can’t wait to go back, I also feel like I achieved and experienced a huge amount during my time in India. I’ve fallen in love with Kerala, and I’m sure that if you decide to visit, you will too.
www.i-to-i.com
Thursday, 24 May 2012
My Top 5 Travel Hit List!
So me and my friends at work have been pretty much everywhere and anywhere across the globe and we’ve learnt a thing or two about travelling! If you’re making a must-do list before you set off on your adventure here’s our top 5 ‘hit list’ of the things that we think should be on every explorer’s list!
Eat the local food Whether it’s fried snake in Vietnam (that’s me!) crocodile in Australia (Tom) or grasshoppers in Uganda (that’s Katie’s snack of choice) there’s a local delicacy wherever you go. It might be the most disgusting thing you’ve ever tasted (sparrows don’t come recommended I’m afraid) but you might just find a new favourite snack! Whatever happened, it’s a great travelling tale to share with your friends and a golden photo opportunity!
Conquer a fear Terrified of spiders? You should be aiming to hold a tarantula by the end of your trip. Don’t like deep water? Go diving. Snakes make your skin crawl? Have one slithering around your neck before you head home. The exhilaration of having done something so out of your comfort zone will leave you on a high for days, and you’ll be ready to face anything. I conquered my fear of heights by climbing the massive Sydney Harbour Bridge, and although I fainted halfway up (there’s another great travelling tale!) I came back down ready to do the whole thing all over again! Heights? No problem anymore =)
Spend time with the local people There’s a great quote from a traveller that I love: “just enjoy what the people have to offer you and listen to their advice, they might just know what’s best.” The people you meet in far flung places will be very different to those you know at home, but they’ll open your eyes to a whole new way of life and can give you invaluable inside information about what to see and where to go. Stay in local places, go to cultural events and get to know the “real” country from the people who know it best. You’ll have a much more fulfilling and awe inspiring experience!
Teach a local person some English phrases You can make a positive impact in someone’s life just by talking to them! Even if you’re not participating in an English teaching project or job, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to help someone local learn some English. As it’s a global language, if a person can speak English they have much better job prospects – being able to communicate with tourists opens up a whole new range of employment options for somebody, and they’ll be keen to learn as much as possible from you. Take the time to help someone master some basic English and you’ll not only help them, but also get that warm “feel good” feeling for yourself!
Learn to say more than just hello and goodbye Picking up a new language is always a highlight of any of my trips, and the locals really appreciate you making the effort to integrate into the community. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the surprised look on people’s faces when I hopped on a bus in Vietnam and asked for “1 adult’s return to Mai Dich please” in near perfect Vietnamese! Communication is key to the enjoyment of any adventure, so the more local lingo you know, the better. Don’t be shy, give it a try!
Eat the local food Whether it’s fried snake in Vietnam (that’s me!) crocodile in Australia (Tom) or grasshoppers in Uganda (that’s Katie’s snack of choice) there’s a local delicacy wherever you go. It might be the most disgusting thing you’ve ever tasted (sparrows don’t come recommended I’m afraid) but you might just find a new favourite snack! Whatever happened, it’s a great travelling tale to share with your friends and a golden photo opportunity!
Conquer a fear Terrified of spiders? You should be aiming to hold a tarantula by the end of your trip. Don’t like deep water? Go diving. Snakes make your skin crawl? Have one slithering around your neck before you head home. The exhilaration of having done something so out of your comfort zone will leave you on a high for days, and you’ll be ready to face anything. I conquered my fear of heights by climbing the massive Sydney Harbour Bridge, and although I fainted halfway up (there’s another great travelling tale!) I came back down ready to do the whole thing all over again! Heights? No problem anymore =)
Spend time with the local people There’s a great quote from a traveller that I love: “just enjoy what the people have to offer you and listen to their advice, they might just know what’s best.” The people you meet in far flung places will be very different to those you know at home, but they’ll open your eyes to a whole new way of life and can give you invaluable inside information about what to see and where to go. Stay in local places, go to cultural events and get to know the “real” country from the people who know it best. You’ll have a much more fulfilling and awe inspiring experience!
Teach a local person some English phrases You can make a positive impact in someone’s life just by talking to them! Even if you’re not participating in an English teaching project or job, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to help someone local learn some English. As it’s a global language, if a person can speak English they have much better job prospects – being able to communicate with tourists opens up a whole new range of employment options for somebody, and they’ll be keen to learn as much as possible from you. Take the time to help someone master some basic English and you’ll not only help them, but also get that warm “feel good” feeling for yourself!
Learn to say more than just hello and goodbye Picking up a new language is always a highlight of any of my trips, and the locals really appreciate you making the effort to integrate into the community. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the surprised look on people’s faces when I hopped on a bus in Vietnam and asked for “1 adult’s return to Mai Dich please” in near perfect Vietnamese! Communication is key to the enjoyment of any adventure, so the more local lingo you know, the better. Don’t be shy, give it a try!
Wednesday, 23 May 2012
200 Word Travel Reviews
A while back at work, we were tasked with writing travel reviews of 200 words or less. Not as easy as it sounds! Anyhoooo, I thought I'd share my efforts here, so here goes...
Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Helsinki, Finland
Suomenlinna is a small island off Helsinki, and during the 18th century work began to turn it into a Sea Fortress. Today the island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts visitors from around the world, as well as being a popular destination for Helsinki residents looking for a fun day out.
The island is easily reached by a short ferry ride from Helsinki harbour. It is small enough to walk around and home to several interesting museums, a church, visitor centre, a working dry dock and numerous cafes, restaurants and a brewery. The beaches are popular during the Summer (I enjoyed a paddle in the sea!) and you can stay overnight in the island’s Youth Hostel. Weddings are also held in the church so if you’re lucky like I was, you’ll be able to throw some confetti with celebrating Finns!
I’d definitely recommend visiting Suomenlinna if you’re in Helsinki – the relaxed atmosphere is a nice contrast to the bustling city. There’s plenty to interest and amuse visitors of all ages and my family and I had a highly enjoyable day exploring the island and learning about it’s history.
Pretty isn't it?
Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, Australia
The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb was one of the highlights of my trip to Australia. Breathalysed, thoroughly briefed and fully kitted out in a climb suit and harness our group started the ascent with guide Bruce – a typical Aussie guy full of facts and friendly banter. The views of Sydney are stunning, and the sense of achievement (and souvenir photo) when you reach the summit makes the effort worthwhile. Walking across girders high in the air above a busy road was a little nerve wracking, and as someone with a fear of heights I did feel uneasy as we got higher and higher, but Bruce and the rest of my group were encouraging and we all supported each other and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I’d highly recommend that anyone who’s physically able to climbs the bridge, it’s somewhat of a “must do” when in Sydney and I loved it.
Hope you enjoyed :) I might have a bash at some more 200 word or less travel reviews over the next few weeks :) It seems a nice, concise way to summarise a place! Being honest though, it’s more likely that I'll just write some more of my usual rambling blogs!
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