A few years ago, I decided I wanted to experience I totally different way of backpacking. So I picked a European Country, where I knew my British passport was valid to use for a work permit. I decided on Ireland, a country that was not yet under my belt. Once I landed there I knew I wanted to find a job within the industry of bartending or serving. But that was not the hard part; it was finding a place to l ...

Have you ever got stuck on a train or a boat?... resulting to no food and being extremely tired. Well sometimes backpacking can put you in those positions. As for me, well I got stuck on a boat! It was 7 am, July 28, 04 and I was getting on the train to Brindisi, in order to catch the ferry to Greece. I was so tired, but I had 6 hours to sleep until my destination. Once I arrived in Brindisi the first thing ...

Throughout my travel experiences I have encountered many situations that put me into difficult positions due to the language barrier. Even though I speak English and it is the most common language in the world, there were numerous circumstances where I have felt frustrated and sometimes stupid. This feeling can at times change an individual’s reason to avoid traveling. Since a language is the only way to co ...

Most people believe I am crazy when I tell them, “ so I just booked a trip and I am off backpacking for about a month.” The first question that comes to their mind is, “Alone?” Of course alone, it can be the best way to travel. I can not remember how many times people, especially women have told me that it’s unsafe, can be lonely, scary, and that I am crazy. The fear that runs across their face is always th ...

Traveling may be fun for the most of us, but for others, it may be a little more difficult. Traveling means being away from your friends and family, finding yourself outside of your comfort zone, struggling with communicating with others or simply trying to find yourself. No one ever said it would be easy! But that's the beauty of it all. Ever get those butterflies in your stomach when finding yourself in a ...

Traveling when you're a student is relatively easy. With 3 to 4 months off in the summer, you can take your backpack and travel to a few countries. This however becomes more difficult to accomplish when you work full-time. Sadly, in North America, we are limited to 2 weeks vacation per year (compare to 4 weeks in Australia or the U.K). When you  start with only 2 weeks of vacation time, you'll have to work ...

In April, during my three-week work/vacation trip, I purchased a few items abroad. Now this is like for anyone who travels, we always purchase something. Though do we ever think about customs and once we return back to our own country. Ya, I have tones of times, but on average most travelers don’t think about it while they are shopping. So when I was in Cannes, France I didn’t really go shopping and the onl ...

Who thought traveling accross a country to simply see waterfalls would be worth the money and time? Well, it is. When backpacking in Argentina a few years ago, I had to hop on a flight from Patagonia to Iguazu to spend only 2 days there before flying to Buenos Aires. It was easier (and cheaper) to skip Iguazu altogether. But let me tell you, it was well worth the time and money. Most of the Iguazu waterfall ...

Just as Tanya was hooked on the "Waving Flag" song by K'naan, I am presently hooked on a T.V show called ROME. I've already stated in past articles about my love for History and Politics but this TV show is a drug. It's so uncensored, brutal and realistic all at the same time. Most of us have already heard of or studied the Roman Empire. Just like the Greeks, the Romans are the true creators of ancient Demo ...

Anyone who does some online research will quickly find the 5 stages of dating: attraction, uncertainty, exclusivity, intimacy and engagement. Now, this is true when you meet a new "potential" candidate. But for all you single people out there, did you ever think about the way you act depending on where you find yourself in the dating lifecycle? Exploration Phase The first phase stands for all newly admitted ...