Girls' Travel Club

Sleep Easy with Girls Travel Club!

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:59:00 +0000

We all need our beauty sleep but sometimes sleep doesn't come as easily as we'd like it... Here at GTC we favour natural remedies and practical solutions that will help you on your way to a peaceful and well deserved slumber.

Tisserand ethically harvested lavender oil 9ml is essential; brilliant for insomnia and rumoured be one of the best ways of helping naturally prevent and treat jetlag. Smudge a couple of drops on your pillow at night and add a few drops to a warm bath to aid relaxation and sleep.

Make (and drink!) a cup of camomile tea, then throw a couple of camomile teabags into a warm bath. Lie in the water and be soothed by the calming scent and essential relaxing properties of the camomile, whilst placing the damp teabags over your eyes to soothe them.

Lavender oil is also just the perfect treatment for many of life's little knocks and bruises. A natural antiseptic, it's wonderful for burns; soak the burn (having run it under a tap for at least ten minutes) in a bowlful of water with a few drops of lavender oil to supposedly prevent scarring.

Use it on insect bites to prevent itching and infection or on spots to make them disappear faster. The scent of lavender is also apparently repellent to insects, so dab some on at dawn/dusk! Add a few drops to a cup of cool water and sponge over sunburn to soothe and relieve pain.

GTC also stocks the bestselling Quiet Zone earplugs (£6.99). These earplugs are invaluable for long flights or journeys, or even if your partner has a heavy cold and is snoring more than normal! Also very useful for noisy hotels or if you have to share a hostel dorm.

The Jet Rest luxury eyemask (£9.99) isn’t your average eyemask but instead a very reasonably priced luxury model. Normal travel eye masks tend to press down on the eyelids making it hard to sleep, while the straps tend to be elastic and non-adjustable, leading to the dreaded “hair-bulge” effect! Our blackout sleep eyemask has a contoured body, allowing you to blink and thus feel like you’re actually relaxing in the dark, rather than desperately trying to snatch a few minutes nap in a crowded plane or coach.

The straps are fully adjustable to ensure complete comfort (and it even comes in its own little carrying case) and your eye makeup won't get smudged. GTC says “This is by far the best of all the travel/sleeping eyemasks we have tested. Perfect for planes, it also allows you to have a good night’s sleep if your partner wants to read in bed, or if you’re staying in a crowded hostel dorm or chalet. It’s even been recommended to us as invaluable for those mornings when one is slightly worse for wear from all that après-ski!"

GTC also have a large range of high quality sleeping bags, eyemasks, accessories and many other natural remedies in their online boutique specialising in female travel and health accessories. Perfect for the female traveller and perfect for gifts! Come and visit us at http://www.girlstravelclub.co.uk/

Christmas Shoebox update

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:49:00 +0000

We've just been sent an email from Lisa, who, on behalf of the Mustard Seed appeal, collects childrens' toys and gifts and parcels them up ready to go to kids in orphanages or who are living in poverty in Romania and other Baltic states.

"Hi Becci, here are some photos of the shoeboxes and boxes before they were collected," she says. "Thank you once again for your help, it's very much appreciated. Without you we couldn't have helped so many people!"

Below is a picture of her hallway, just before the parcels were collected. She says she and her mum "did 40 shoeboxes for the Mustard seed, plus 25 bigger boxes for them as well. We also did 40 shoeboxes for the Rotary club, 55 bigger boxes,and 6 family boxes too!"

Congratulations from everyone at GTC to Lisa and her Mum for all their hard work; we were delighted to support you and look forward to doing so again in 2010!

Top tips for surviving cold weather at home and abroad

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:47:00 +0000

"There is no such thing as bad weather," goes the old Scandinavian saying, "just bad clothing," so here are a few hints and tips to keep you warm when you are out and about in the most chilly of conditions.

Many thin layers are more effective than one thick one. Long-johns aren't glamorous but they will keep you warm; if you don't have any then a pair of warm tights is just as effective (there are lots of builders who secretly swear by thick woolly ones in midwinter!).

Eat spicy foods. Chilli, ginger and garlic all stimulate a sweat response and keep the body's circulation working beautifully. Keep a little ziplock bag of crystallised ginger in your pocket to nibble on when you are out on a walk or on the piste to add a little heat. A cup of Indonesian-style ginger tea will not only warm you up, but help fend off colds as well; simply add an inch of smashed ginger root and a teaspoon of honey to a cup of steaming hot black tea.

Mittens are warmer than gloves as the air trapped between your fingers will add extra insulation. Yes, you might look like a four-year old but at least you won't get frostbite... and don't forget a hat either! A huge amount of bodyheat is lost through the top of the head, so wearing a hat in bed as well as in the day will keep you warm.

If possible have a hot shower or bath to warm you up, then apply a thick layer of body oil or lotion to act as an extra insulation layer.

Eat! Have a hot carbohydrate meal that will burn energy slowly and keep drinking hot fluids to keep hydrated and energised. Caffeine speeds up the body's circulation thus making you feel warmer. Avoid alcohol though (shame!), as it causes blood vessels to dilate, thus bring more blood up to the skin's surface where it will just cool quicker.

Hot water bottles aren't just for bedtime. Keep one securely tucked in the front of your clothing and you'll soon feel warmer... if you don't have one, fill a couple of plastic bottles with warm (not boiling) tap water and make sure the lid is securely fastened. Place in the end of your bed ten minutes before you retire for the night and your bed will feel a much more friendly place to be!
If you have cooked a hot meal in the oven, put a couple of bricks in to warm up as well. Wrap them in clean newspaper before putting them at the foot of your bed; not only will they provide heat for hours, they will keep the bed from getting damp in less well heated rooms. You can then leave the oven door open to spread a little more heat around the home or chalet!

Keep toasty warm during the long cold winter nights with a pair of knitted travel slippers (6.95) or one of GTC's bestselling mini hot water bottles. With a knitted cover and a cute heart design in either red or cream they are the perfect bedtime companion at just £6.99!

If you are able to venture of your house and jump in the car it's always wise to be prepared for getting stuck in the snow or even just a long delay in the cold. Here's a useful list of things to keep in your car as a survival kit, all available on the Girls Travel Club website.

Pop a Lifesystems emergency thermal blanket in the boot of your car. For only £2.99 this blanket will reflect over 80% of radiated body heat and keep you nice and warm in any weather.

Sometimes, a nice cup of tea is the best solution to an emergency. With a car kettle (18.99) you can rest assured that you can make a lovely warm drink wherever you are. It comes with two cups so just pop a few teabags in the glove box and you're ready to go!

A handwarmer is the perfect remedy after a morning of making snowmen! An adorable miniature version of GTC's classic Heart Warmer Hottie, the tiny knitted roll-neck cover contains a re-usable hot pack. Just snap the disc to activate; it will keep hands warm and cosy for hours for only £4.99.

Batteries not included! Our Design Go wind up torch (9.99) means that you can wind it up and have light anytime. It's very compact and has 3 LED functions and a cord so you can wear it round your wrist.

A GTC tried and tested tip for staying warm is to wear many layers of thin clothing rather than just a thick sweater. Tilley's Women's Coolmax Extreme Travel Tank Top (£15.75, available in black & white), will fit snugly under your winter warms and keep you nice and toasty.

Let it snow!

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:22:00 +0000

Gosh, it has been a chilly week here at GTC Towers. Below are a couple of pics of the front of the cabin, so you can see just how cold it has been... and yes, we had a two day powercut as well. My 18 month old was not happy about the lack of CBeebies but we kept warm by keeping the logburner roaring, and thanks to our obsession with camping equipment we had so many camping cookers and wind-up lanterns that we could have fed an army.

Thanks to all the lovely guys from EDF and Southern Electric who worked so hard to get our village back online again! Mind you, two days without a laptop, Blackberry or phone was quite liberating and we enjoyed our candlelit evenings so much we have decided to have a weekly word game tournament in the near darkness.

Right, it's snowing again so I'm off to put out more birdfood for our resident doves; keep warm!

A trip to visit Santa

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:15:00 +0000

Ever thought of taking the kids to visit Father Christmas at his home?? That's exactly what Kate Lavender did, and she kindly sent us this review of her trip. Happy Christmas!!

http://www.savalen.no/

We flew into Oslo and then rented a minibus as we were a party of eight and it made sense but you can take a bus or a train up to the resort. The flight is 2 hours but the transfer is 5 hours – which sounds long but the advantage is that even the most cynical child believes we have travelled far enough to find Santa.

The resort is delightfully simple. There is a variety of accommodation on offer – anything from hotel rooms to apartments of varying sizes – we stayed in one, which easily accommodated the eight of us. It was warm and comfortable without being over the top. Best of all it was on “ Santa Street” with his own house just down the road. The whole resort is quite compact so small children don’t find it exhausting to get around.

We went dogsledding. That was amazing – we helped get the very excited dogs into harnesses. The dogs are used to doing 6-day races covering 1000kms so this little 4k route was nothing for them – however they did have some fairly heavy people to pull! We ended up doing two laps, each having a go at driving, and it was brilliant – they could go at quite a speed and there were quite a few bumps, which left us all screaming with laughter.

One of the things the resort had was a sort of skate sledge so someone could sit on it, someone could stand behind holding onto the handle and skate the sledge along as needed. The boys loved that and always wanted to go “skating”!

You can do a skiing – there is a lovely nursery slope with a carpet lift and beginners mingles with sledgers quite happily. It is a great way for young children to get a taste of skiing, as it is all very low key and unpressurised unlike the Alps.

We also did a moonlit sleigh ride pulled by horses. It was really magical as we all snuggled under blankets and watched the stars as we glided across the snow. There were lots of stars too as there is of course no light pollution to get in the way. The horses were adorable with thick, curly coats – and so strong – there was no change of pace as they started to pull us up some pretty steep hills!

Then there was a trip to Santa’s house. It was amazing. We saw the toy-making machine where he takes wood from Christmas trees, turns that into toy dough, which in turn becomes toys that are painted and wrapped. Brilliant. He wrote your names in the good book and asked you what you wanted.

The resort had a lovely spa complex including a gorgeous pool – in the day time it looks over the lake (which was frozen) and at night they turn on “star effect” lights to create a very mellow atmosphere – there is even a pool bar.

The hotel is very nice and food is good. There are no real shops in resort so we bought supplies in the nearest town but you could have all your meals in the hotel and not bother.

Overall this was a fantastic way to see Santa and the boys (aged 5 and three quarters) enjoyed every single minute, as did we.

Highlights of Syria and the Lebanon, by Janet Syder

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:39:00 +0000

Fancy something a bit more exotic than a week in Majorca? Follow the advice of GTC customer Janet Syder, and take a trip to Syria and the Lebanon!

Baalbek, Lebanon. The most fantastic Roman ruin in the Middle East (my opinion!). Suggest you stay the night there in Baalbek. Treat yourself and stay at The Palmyra Hotel. Its wonderfully old world and you wouldn't believe who else had stayed in the hotel before you. If you can, stay in the new annex, just 30 meters down the road. The hotel is opposite the ruins and if you are lucky enough that the night you are there the lights are on the ruins (they have power cuts so lights are not always on) its just beautiful. The huge majority of tour groups visit the site as a day trip from Beirut, so the site gets busy from about 10.30am - 2.30pm then its lovely and quiet again and you can virtually have it to yourself until 5-6pm when it closes for the day.

Aleppo Citadel, Syria (below). I love Aleppo, its a wonderful city and the citadel is still so complete and to think its built on a natural hill is amazing. Stay in the Ramses Hotel, its within easy walking distance of the Citadel and over the road from the famous Baron Hotel (where you have to go for a sundowner). Suggest you eat at the Qasr Al Wali the food is unbelievably good, you will be truly wowed. From Aleppo visit the Dead City of Serjilla and St Simeons.

Palmyra, Syria. (3rd photo) Take a torch. Walk up the Arab Castle for sunrise over the site. The walk is not as far as it looks but the view is awesome. Suggest you eat in the Garden type restaurant opposite the Museum (can't remember what its called, but its outdoors). The staff are really, really helpful and can help with bus timetables etc. The food is what you would expect in Syria, fantastic, fresh and addictive. Loads to see in Palmyra, but would suggest all the obvious sites but also the Tomb of the Brothers as its so different from the other funerary temples.

Damascus, Syria. The photo below is of the Street Called Straight in Damascus. Its been a trading street since the Biblical times. Its bussling, you can buy anything and the atmosphere has to be soaked up, take your time. Make sure you have an ice cream from the famous ice cream shop in the covered part of the street (can't remember what its called, but its always stuffed full of people in the evenings, you can't miss it). Stay in the City Hotel, its a great location for the Museum which is an absolute must, it brings all the other sights in Syria to life as it has most of their best finds. Try to go in the afternoon as most tour groups tend to go in the morning. The City Hotel is also a fantastic location for the Tourist Souq. I think the Tourist Souq actually has the best range of jewellery, scarves and handicrafts if you are buying gifts and the prices are excellent too. Its well worth a look even if you arent buying. The silver prices are honest as they weigh everything (to be honest, we never felt like we were being ripped off with prices even in the main souq). Eat in the Jabri House restaurant. Again, fantastic food, the best mezze, fresh, plentiful and really tasty.

Joy and Joff cycling the Americas

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:20:00 +0000

Remember Joy and Joff, the lovely couple who are cycling the Americas in aid of a charity supporting those with Duchennes syndrome? Well, here is their latest update! Happy Christmas to both of them from everyone here at GTC :O)

This is to let you know that it is now 7 months since we left home, and whilst we have not cycled 7000 miles yet, we thought we should remind you of our progress.....So: we have cycled 6601 miles and some of the significant numbers in the last month are listed below:-

430 miles sailed across the Sea of Cortez85 degree water temp!
55 foot sailing boat called Sea Dream has become the next mode of travel!
48 hrs of food poisoning.
41 children in the orphanage we have been helping at.
39 miniature T shirts ironed by Joff at the Orphanage in 2 hrs.
36 hrs of feeling sea sick.
17 nights spent in the same bed.
14 Dolphins swam on the bow of the yacht for 30 mins.Wow!
12am - The start of Joff's night watch!
9 Spanish lessons.... 'sin embargo, nosotros hablamos un poco Espanol.....'
7 hrs time difference with the UK.
4 foot waves have been fantastic for boogie boarding!
32 inch long bright orange and green Iguana seen on the footpath in 'the village'
1 scorpion seen at close quarters.....
100's seen squashed on the road!....and 100's of tarantulas on the road - also squashed.

and still NO punctures!

Photos of all our experiences can be seen at:http://www.flickr.com/photos/cycletheamericas/
and our lastest stories at :http://www.cycletheamericas.org/blog/?page_id=230
enjoy the run up to Christmas....much love
JOY and JOFF

Bex in the Daily Express!!

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:55:00 +0000

It is the Eve of yet another seminal moment in the life of http://www.girlstravelclub.co.uk/, for tomorrow there is a full centrefold spread interview with Becci in the Daily Express. The interview took place last week but yesterday a full complement of stylists, hair and makeup artists and photographer arrived to take pics of Becci looking languid over a carefully arranged stack of Lonely Planet Books. Oh yes, and dress her in clothes supplied by M and S for the occasion.

And after hours of being primped, dressed, preened and told to stand up straight, all we can do here at GTC Towers is wonder whether her bottom is indeed going to look big in that....

we'll let you know tomorrow!!

Espa at Slinfold Country Club

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:03:00 +0000

I am so relaxed I have just poured a glass of water down my front. Yup, I am so chilled and floppy that I'm not entirely sure that I'm safe to drive, I feel as if I have just had a lovely nap in a bed made of er, marshmallows.

This morning I was treated to an Espa holistic face, back and scalp treatment, one of Espa's signature massages, and one I was truly looking forward to following an over-optimistic gym session the day before that left me with a dreaful aching neck and niggling headache (well, I was watching the guy with the tattoo on the cross-trainer and wasn't concentrating as much as possibly I should have).

The Retreat is the new spa area at the refurbished Slinfold Golf and Country Club, a few miles south of Horsham. With its beautiful cedar clad pool, Turkish steam room and bubbling hot tub the urge to just splash about rather than actually try out the magnificent gym is overwhelming, but I managed to drag myself away from my coffee in the Member's Lounge and hobble to the Retreat, where I was greeted by Emily, my therapist.

Lest you think Emily is providing me with some sort of psychological support, she is in fact a fully trained Espa therapist who led me into a beautiful treatment room, decorated in a way that I wish my bathroom looked, but sadly doesn't.

Emily then gave me the choice of different oils for my treatment, before giving me a few minutes so I could get undressed before lying face down on a massage bed with my head facing through a hole, above a steamy bowl with one of my chosen oils in. For a moment I was unsure if the bowl was there to catch the dribble as I fell asleep, but nope, apparently inhalation is just another way of letting the oil's properties into the body.

Ironically enough, the oil I was drawn to was called "Fitness." Yes, if you have ever seen me indulge in any form of physical activity then you'll understand my point. Emily remarked that people were generally attracted to oils with properties that their body needed, but the heady blend of rosemary, clove and Indian Bay instantly had me thinking of a boyfriend I had when I was 19 and left me pleasantly daydreaming while my back was first exfoliated and then massaged.

I did withstand the urge to dribble before being turned over on to my back for a dreamy facial and then a thoroughly relaxing scalp massage (I did spend quite a lot of time wondering how many hot flannels were used during the treatment, and how they managed to keep the waffle towels so luxurious and fluffy when mine always end up slightly crunchy?). The facial in particular was excellent, tailored to each person's particular needs, in my case, dry and sore with a hint of leftover porridge.

Anyway, as soon as Emily left me to get dressed, I picked up my glass of water, not realising my arms were no longer accepting instruction from my brain and tipped the lot down my relaxed frontage. That woke me up a bit.

And the result? Well, the dreamy feeling lasted all day, despite a ton of emails to plough through when I got back to my desk, and no less than three people said how lovely my skin looked and was I having an affair?

The treatment costs £70 but would make a wonderful treat for someone who has just got back from a long trip, and we'd heartily recommend Slinfold Club as a wonderful place to spend some time, whether you lounge in the jacuzzi or have a drink on the beautiful terrace.

By the way, the first person to guess how many flannels were used during the treatment will win a little GTC gift, so email us!!

GTC and the Love In a Box Appeal

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:27:00 +0000

Blimey, it's heading towards the festive season at a rate of knots now, no matter how much we try and put it off, but one of the more fun jobs we do here at GTC is put togther a parcel of gifts to go to the Love In a Box Appeal.

This is an annual occurence, facilitated by the Mustard Seed Appeal. Every year we are contacted by Lisa Day, who along with her mother, works as a volunteer collecting gifts which are then put in beautifully wrapped shoeboxes. From the Mustard Seed's depot in Eastbourne over 50,000 shoeboxes are taken each year to underprivileged children in Eastern European schools, orphanages and hospitals, some of whom live in the most terrible poverty.

If you would like to send a gift or two, please contact Lisa Day at lisaandkeanu@yahoo.co.uk, I know they will be thrilled to bits with anything you can add, whether it's a pretty bar of soap or a sticker book!

Thanks!

Becci

Phew!

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:24:00 +0000

Well, it has been a busy couple of weeks here at GTC towers! Not only have we been to such glittering events as the Wanderlust Awards 2009 at the Royal Geographical Society, we have floated, been massaged, interviewed by national papers, networked (drank white wine and ate cashew nuts) at the Women In Travel event in London AND looked after all your orders.

Angie has been on a great trip to Norway (where it seems like it rains even more than Forks, Washington, for all you Twilight fans :O), and Bex has been all over the place sourcing lovely new travel gift ideas just in time for Christmas! We've got some wonderful new travel accessories coming in the next couple of weeks, but if you have anything you'd like us to find, or any tips you'd like to share, please let us know!!

Relieve your jetlag and float free!

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:06:00 +0000

I am floating, blissfully calm, drifting freely like a spaceman who has had his cable to the mothership accidentally disconnected and is now sliding through space. Though not as panicky, obviously. And without such big boots on.

Actually it is rather lovely. I am at the Floatworks centre, a short stroll from London Bridge, and have been invited by Tim and the lovely team to come and have a try; I have never floated in a spacepod-type environment before but you know us here at GTC, always willing to have a stab at something just to keep you guys informed...

Upon arrival you are ushered through reception and into your own private room, and given comprehensive instructions on what to do. Basically there is a large pod-type tank filled with water and a huge concentration of Epsom salts in suspension, (enough to support the body's weight and fool it into thinking it is weightless), and once you have had a quick shower you can climb straight in and enjoy it.

From a purely practical point of view, the pod is very easy to use. I had my lid closed and the light switched off, but you can leave a pleasing blue light on if you prefer if you do get a bit claustrophobic; there is also a panic button and a bottle of freshwater in case you need to spray the saltwater out of your eyes.

From a therapeutic side of things the benefits are astonishing. All the stresses and strains on your body are relieved, your brain enters a state where it/you can relax thoroughly and all the tension just leaves your body as you drift, comfortably supported by the warm water; I just wish I had known about this when I was pregnant and suffering from restless legs and insomnia! In fact all morning I had been suffering from an achey neck as a result of over-confidence at the gym, and the pain just disappeared in a truly wondrous fashion. And no Nurofen!

In addition to pure relaxation there are also a multitude of genuine health benefits, including improving blood flow and circulation, reducing jet lag, blood pressure, back pain and muscular tension. I have to say I loved the experience; it took me a while to unwind as the journey to London had been a bit of a 'mare so my mind insisted on running round in circles, rather than just shutting up and letting me sleep, but apparently the more you float the easier it becomes to switch off and let go. It was utterly, utterly pleasurable....

A couple of points of note; when inserting the earplugs provided, make sure you put in two the same size. Like a complete numpty, I didn't, and had one squeaky ear for the first half an hour. Secondly, do not whatever you do get water in your mouth or eyes as it stings like anything and tastes horrendous. In addition make sure you don't shave or pluck anything the day you go as the saltwater will sting beyond measure.

Fluffy towels cost £1 to hire, and there is shampoo, conditioner and showergel in your own shower; once you are dressed there are little hairdressing areas with comfy chairs, water, hairdryers and various toiletries to make yourself more human again, plus a great fishtank in reception if you feel like just sitting and staring blankly into space.

And no, you don't need a swimming costume......

So next time you are going to London, pop in and see the lovely Sarah and Babou at Floatworks and treat yourself to a truly stress-free trip.... and if you mention us they'll give you a whopping 25% discount! Thanks chaps! :O)

A Book of Travellers' Tales, by Eric Newby

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:44:00 +0000

Oh, I love Eric Newby. He was born in 1919, and following a period as a POW spent his life in the fashion business and book publishing, writing such classics as "A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush" (one of my favourites), and "Slowly Down the Ganges."

In his travel writing he veers from the poetic and evocative to the downright hilarious, but in this travel compendium he has gathered some of the funniest and most poignant snippets I've ever read.The book covers over 2000 years of travel writing and over three hundred different authors, as disparate as Queen Victoria, T.E. Lawrence and Shackleton. It is, put simply a gem.

Read it cover to cover or dip in and out of its cool, refreshing waters on a hot, sticky day; what will strike you most is the fact that the experiences of travellers for the last two millenia have hardly changed at all. You'll find this reassuring next time you are being fleeced in Egypt, lose your baggage or are heartily seasick.

Of particular value are some handy phrases from Murray's Handbook of Travel Talk; the usefulness of the German phrase for "the coachman is drunk and impertinent" is only rivalled by that of "'tis is quite a hurricane. I am really much alarmed," the latter obviously coming in more pertinent in this time of global warming.

There are also a multitude of tips from a Rev. Tatchell, who dispenses many words of wisdom.."A llama has but one method of attack or defence and that is to spit in your eye, and the ploughing buffaloes of Siam, though driven with ease by a tiny native child, resent the smell of a white man."

"There are few beds more comfortable than a dry ditch in England in June. The law is that you must not sleep within fifteen yards of the middle of the road."

"Should you be attacked by a mob in the east, hurt one of the crowd and hurt him quickly. The others will gather chatting round the injured man and you will be able to slip away. However.. you are much more likely to be attacked by a dog."

Beauty tips for lazy backpackers

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:14:00 +0000

A random diet, an excess of carbs and lack of vitamins, plus a tendency to sleep at strange hours are contributing to my new look, which I can only describe as raddled.

This is a far cry from the scruffy backpacker chic beloved of summer Sunday supplement fashion shoots, where bronzed and scantily clad beauties lounge by roadside foodstalls, pouting glossily. In reality, I notice a certain tendency in travellers to slump with bad posture, stare sullenly with tired, bloodshot eyes and have unfortunate breakouts of acne and sunburn, so below I have put together a few beauty tips. Some of them are gathered with hindsight.

If you are leaving in the dead of British midwinter, it may be advisable to get a fake tan before you go. I cannot guarantee it, but it may go some way to avoiding the heckling one may suffer at the hands of Aussie labourers.

My make-up regimen consists entirely of black eyeliner and black mascara. However impromptu swims and afternoon downpours can leave you looking like a panda with a hangover, so get your eyelashes tinted before you leave home. Predictably I didn’t, as I didn’t know the procedure even existed until informed by a kindly beautician from Leeds.

Vaseline is a wonderful thing. Leave your lipstick at home, as it will melt in the heat; instead take a little tin of Vaseline which will melt, but will be less annoying. Use as a lip gloss, then smear a dab on your cheekbones for a healthy radiant glow. It can also be used to secure windswept eyebrows, on cracked heels and toes and to soften cuticles.

Slap on sunscreen, as the English girls I have seen with vast expanses of exposed red and peeling skin look like partially completed hog roasts and are always a topic of conversation amongst locals.

A hat is also a very good idea, as not only doea it prevent sun damage and wrinkles, but it also only takes a couple of days for a white squinty frown line to appear between one’s eyebrows. This I say from experience.

Take advantage of all the beach pedicures you can, as after a few months of sand, grit and filthy roads your feet may start to suffer, and if your toes and heels start cracking they can hurt quite a bit.

Your skin can also dry out very quickly, thanks to all the sun and sea, so mash up a ripe avacodo and plaster it thickly all over your face for 15 minutes. You will smell like a chicken salad but your skin will feel enriched and revitalized.

Pinch a cupful of porridge oats or muesli from the breakfast buffet if there is one, then tie it up in a sock. Float the sock in a bath full of hot water, then use as a moisturizing puff and massage all over your body. The sock will be a bugger to wash but your skin will feel wonderful.

Keep a couple of those little sugar sachets in your washbag, then when your skin is feeling dull, mix one with a squirt of shower gel for an invigorating body scrub. If you are swimming on a sandy beach, sit in the shallows and give yourself a scrub with a couple of palmfuls of sand to make your skin feel great.

Ditch the perfume as not only can the heat make it smell dreadful, but it also attracts mozzies and insects.

How to make damper, bannock and BBQ bread

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:54:00 +0000

Whether you’re off to a BBQ or heading for Oz, damper or bannock bread is a sure fire winner any time there’s a Barbie or a fire alight. It’s incredibly easy to make, and you can mix up all the ingredients in a ziplock bag and store somewhere dry until you’re ready to make it.

Simply mix together
2 cups of flour
a pinch of salt
a teaspoon baking powder
a teaspoon sugar
a tablespoon milk powder

When you feel like making it, simply add cold water a little at a time until the mixture forms a stiff dough. Now you will need to find a green stick as thick as your thumb (willow and hazel are best, though at this time of year you're not going to find a very green one!). Scrape away the bark to get the worst of the dirt and bacteria off, then pinch off a good sized lump of dough. Roll it into a sausage and pinch one end onto the stick. Now wrap it round the stick in a downwards spiral, pinching on the other end to finish it.

Now hold your stick over the embers (but not in the flames!), and keep turning so it cooks evenly and is golden all over. It should sound hollow when tapped when it is properly cooked. Fill the hole with butter or golden syrup and enjoy. You can even mix fruit and nuts, or even a little bit of sage and onion stuffing in with the dry mixture to add variety.

Free tickets to the BBC

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:45:00 +0000

Last night we had a GTC works outing to the BBC TV centre to see an episode of a new sitcom being filmed. No, this is not strictly a feature on travel, but it was a free night out and everyone likes one of those so we thought we' let you in on it!

Our tickets were to see "Miranda" being filmed, a new comedy starring Miranda Hart with Patricia Hodge and the brilliant Sally Phillips, and very funny it was too. I've never understood how sitcom audiences can be heard to laugh so very hard at jokes that don't seem that funny (see My Family as a classic example of that), but a) they tell you to laugh out loud and b) between takes another comedian chats to the audience and keeps you giggling, (about swine flu and his affair with the floor manager).

If you do go, a few points of note..

We drove in, a very easy journey along the A4 and you can park in the massive new Westgate shopping centre opposite.
The petrol station over the road cannot be guaranteed to supply you with a good picnic. We had to make do with Tictacs, a tube of Hobnobs and a bag of suspiciously re-processed chicken lumps.
We got there at 6, and the queue was huge already; you are marshalled through security and into a cafe where you have to wait around until you are directed to the studio. If there is a table free near the Tardis outside, grab it as it is much cooler sitting there than indoors, and someone will come and let you know when you need to get in line.
Take a cardigan, it can get a bit nippy in the studio as the aircon is on.
You can take a drink in with you but it has to be in a screwtop bottle, I'd just got a cup of tea when we were called in and had to leave it behind :O(
Nobody tells you off for eating Tictacs when they are filming.

Simply go to http://shows.external.bbc.co.uk/, pick your show and then they email you free tickets! As far as I can tell, the available shows change very regularly so it's worth checking fairly frequently... and watch the show when it comes out, if last night was anything to go by it should be good!

Easy Meals for Campers

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:47:00 +0000

We've just returned from a weekend camping, and whereas we had the teamaking equipment, wine, bottle opener and soft drinks very well organised, when it came to knocking up a quick and tasty supper on the first night our options were quite limited. Rather than the proffered baked beans on marmitey fried bread, my husband decided he'd rather go out for dinner. And breakfast. And in fact lunch.....

It worked out to be quite an expensive little trip in that regard, so I've done a little bit of research and found a great recipe where not only can you cook it all in one pot, you can mix all the spices, chopped veg and chopped chicken in ziplock bags before you leave, so all you have to do is add to the saucepan as required once you've got your tent up. Keep all ingredients chilled in an icebox until you are ready to use.

Easy Chicken Pilaff

Yield: 4 servings
Ready in: 40 mins (15 mins Prep - 25 mins Cook)

Ingredients

Bag 1

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 red pepper, seeded and diced

Bag 2

340 g (12 oz) skinless boneless chicken breasts (fillets), cut into thin strips

Bag 3

170 g (6 oz) button mushrooms, halved
2 courgettes, sliced
300 g (10½ oz) basmati rice, rinsed
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon

150 ml (5 fl oz) coconut milk
400 ml (14 fl oz) hot chicken or vegetable stock
salt and pepper

Heat the oil in a saucepan and add the onion, garlic, red pepper and chicken. Cook, stirring, over a fairly high heat for 4–5 minutes or until the chicken has lost its raw look.
Add the mushrooms, courgettes, rice, ground coriander, cumin and cinnamon. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Pour in the coconut milk and hot stock, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to the boil, then cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 10–15 minutes or until the rice is tender and has absorbed the liquid.
Remove from the heat. Stir in some chopped coriander, then cover again and leave to stand for 5 minutes. Serve hot.

How to manage your fear of flying!

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:38:00 +0000

We all know that statistically flying is by far the safest means of transport, but that doesn't stop even the hardiest of passengers suffering a fleeting jolt of panic every time a slight bump of turbulence is felt.
To this end I have compiled a few little facts that might explain all those unpleasant sensations and noises, and a few tips to keep you more comfortable and jet-lag-free!
To start with, anxiety is perfectly understandable; after all, it's not often in our daily lives that we give complete control over our personal safety into the hands of a stranger in such extreme circustances. However, just look at the faces of the stewardesses. They're completely relaxed and, even when busy and tired, still manage to walk about the cabin perfectly calmly without the need for a large stiff gin and two valium. They are completely at ease with being on an aircraft day in and day out, so I always think, if they can do it, so can I!
All planes will make odd thunking noises (when the landing gear retracts or comes down), or changes in engine noise that make it seem like the plane is decelerating. All this is perfectly normal so try not to pay any attention to it; sitting there listening anxiously to the sound of the engines won't help your general state of comfort! Put on the earphones and listen to some music instead.
Turbulence is also completely normal. Most planes fly above extreme weather conditions, and the pilot will know if there are any patches of turbulence coming up and will advise you accordingly; planes are built to withstand these sorts of pressures, so once again, keep an eye on the faces of the stewardesses! They don't panic when turbulence happens, so you don't need to either!I find the homeopathic remedies aconite and arnica to be excellent for pre-flight anxiety, but by far the best remedy I have found is Rescue Remedy. A couple of squirts is incredibly helpful and will ease those dreadful butterflies.
Sit upright, place your palms on your thighs, and push hard with your feet against the floor; you should breathe slowly in through the nose and out through the mouth then you will feel out the fear and tension go out of your body!In addition, if you start to hyperventilate, breathe slowly in and out of the paper bag in your seat pocket.Make sure you know where your nearest exit is just in case of an emergency landing; smoke is the biggest danger if this should happen, and visibility may be poor, so always count how many rows away the doors are so you could do it in the dark if you had to.As to the effect on your body, well, you are in a very artificial situation, and it's no wonder that you feel a bit disorientated as a result. When you are flying at an altitude of 12,000 metres, the cabin is artificially pressurised to around 1500-2000 metres; most people live at around sea level so to be rocketed to this altitude in a very short space of time is going to take its toll.

However, there are ways you can minimise the discomfort.
Wear loose clothing, as your body swells in the thinner air of the cabin.
Take your shoes off, and have a blanket ready as the temperature can rise and fall quite a lot.
Cocoon yourself with an eyemask and earplugs and try to rest comfortably (bring your own as many airlines don't provide them any more).
Drink lots of water; I know there is a temptation to avoid drinking, just so you don't have to get up to go to the loo but it won't help you feel better in the long run!
Seats in the middle of the plane are best if you suffer from motion sickness.
Suck a sweety on takeoff and landing to help your ears adjust. They don't seem to provide them onboard anymore so make sure you've got some in your bag.
Avoid spicy foods before takeoff and on the plane, as your body is struggling enough without having any extra strain on the digestion!

Jetlag occurs because the body's Circadian Rhythms are out of sync with the time zone of the new destination, and can lead to tiredness, disorientation and bad temper; it can even effect the body's immune system.Normally hormones and seratonins are released into the bloodstream and govern our appetite and sleep patterns; when we change zones these are affected and it is thought it can take one day for every time zone crossed to recover our health and energy.

The dry air on board can also make passengers more susceptible to all the bacteria breathed out by their fellow travellers, and even the efficiency of the digestive system can be affected.So what can we do? Well, travelling to the east is worst than the west symptomatically. If heading east, eat as little as possible and try to get as much sleep as you can. If going west, you are lengthening your day so try and avoid sleeping until you get there.
When you get on board change your watch to the new time zone to help get accustomised to it.

Exercise. Keep walking about and wiggling your toes and even try some simple stretching; many airlines now have instructions for some exercises in their inflight magazine. You might look like a bit of a womble but it will help your circulation and make you feel better; it will also help reduce to risk of DVT so keep wiggling about!

A celebrity we know who flies all round the world frequently swears by putting a piece of brown paper in each shoe; apparently it really works, though we have no idea how!
Lavender on your travel pillow or a tissue helps you to sleep and is very good for alleviating the symptoms of jetlag; add a few drops to your bath when you get there and put a couple of drops on your pillow as well. Arnica is very good for restoring sleep patterns, while our Pulse Point Gel contains lots of essential oils to refresh and revive.

How to make a passable Tinto Verano

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:12:00 +0000

Gosh, it's quite humid isn't it? Not having all the right stuff in the house to make a Pimm's (ie. a bottle of Pimm's, for starters), I have just knocked up a Tinto Verano to remind me of those lovely, long Spanish summer evenings....

All you need is a bottle of red, and some not-too-sweet lemonade (in Spain they use Casera, I reckon Sainsbury's Diet Lemonade isn't too bad). Simply mix half and half in a tall glass with a couple of cubes of ice and a slice of lemon.

Drink six, sleep heavily :O)

Pad Thai Noodles Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:22:00 +0000

Pad Thai noodles, as any backpacker knows, are the staple food of anyone travelling through Thailand and Asia, and are available from the highest class restaurants through to roadside stalls.

Naturally nothing ever tastes as good as it does when you are on holiday, but I reckon these are about as close as you can get without going long-haul!

4oz rice noodle
8oz king prawns, or chicken
2 tbsp finely chopped shallots or red onion
3 cloves finely chopped garlic
6oz beansprouts
2 beaten eggs
2 chopped spring onions
1 lime juiced
2oz dry roast peanuts
2tbsp Thai fish sauce
1 tbsp white vinegar
1tbsp sugar
1tbsp water
2 red chillies, seeded and chopped
cucumber slices
lime wedges
prawn crackers

Soak the rice noodles in warm water for an hour (or use those ones that are ready cooked from Sainsbury's). Heat a spoonful of oil in a large wok; fry half the chillies and garlic for one minute, then add the prawns and chicken and cook.
Add the sugar, vinegar, lime juice, water and fish sauce and mix, then add the noodles, bean sprouts and half the peanuts. Cook until warmed through.
Now push all that lot over to one side of the wok, then pour in the beaten eggs and cook; when its nearly done, shred it a bit with your spatula and mix into everything else.
Put the pad thai into two dishes, then garnish with chopped onion, the rest of the peanuts and chilli, plus cucumber and lime wedges. I also like to eat a bag of prawn crackers simultaneously.

A wet weekend in Wales?

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:18:00 +0000

Lumpy beds. Congealed bacon and porridge like wallpaper paste. Sullen service and overpriced crisps. Oh, and endless dripping rain. Yes, this is your average holiday in the UK; expensive, gloomy and grey. Or is it? We often tend to have a Spring break in Spain, where in latter years one was guaranteed Sangria, sun and very good value for your sterling, but at the mo’ with the pound so low you just don’t get, ahem, much bang for your buck anymore.

We have therefore decided to spend all our holidays for 2009 exploring the UK; already this year we have been to Dorset and Somerset for little jaunts, but we have just spent a few days in Wales, and rather lovely it was too.

First up was a rather gruelling drive to the Brecon Beacons. I’d been there as a young and enthusiastic Venture Scout and had hiked my way up Pen Y Fan in the company of equally enthusiastic boyfriends, but as we checked into Peterstone Court Hotel, nestled quietly in the foothills below this lovely cloudswept mountain, I wasn’t even sure I was going to make it up the flight of stairs to our room, such was the mound of equipment we were carrying. Travel cot, assortment of nappies, suitcase full of toys, decaf teabags, Dan’s nocturnal supply of Minstrels, books and snacks, plus, oh yes, the baby. The room couldn’t have been nicer actually, with plenty of space to put up the cot in lovely surroundings. Each room here is decorated individually, and ours had a rather lovely red and gold theme, along with a huge flat screen TV, bathrobes, slippers and even jars of lollipops and home-made biscuits, plus a wonderful view of the mountains wreathed in grumpy looking clouds.

Downstairs is even more interesting, with a comfortable library with DVD's to borrow, a morning room and a small bar, plus the friendliest and most charming staff I've met in a long time. Nothing was too much trouble, and I even got a guided tour of the other (empty!) bedrooms from one of the chambermaids.

There is also a small spa offering treatments along with a jacuzzi and relaxation room; I had a very soothing aromatherapy massage, but didn't manage to convince Dan that he too would benefit from one, even after six hours of the SatNav taking us around the countryside in its own convoluted way and him still not knowing the difference between left and right....

The full Welsh breakfast was great, with the baba getting a very tasty bowl of porridge and syrup, plus some delicious (and I imagine home-made) muesli bars; the waiter all smiles even when confronted with a cornflake covered carpet and everything within a two foot radius of the baby being smeared in crumbs/porridge.

Apparently it gets fully booked at weekends and during the wedding season, but it felt to us like we had the whole place to ourselves. It made a great base to explore the area; there are some amazing waterfalls to the south, with amazing drives and walks over the mountains, and we can also recommend both the George Hotel in Brecon, and the Ford Inn just down the road for really good food with lovely friendly service. In fact, that pretty much sums up our stay really; friendly, relaxed and a great little break. Not quite the same as Spain perhaps, but not an airport check-in sight!

Fancy a dip?

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Sat, 23 May 2009 11:23:00 +0000

The sun is shining and a chill wind is blowing round my bare knees. It's mid-May and I am about to plunge into the sparkling and surprisingly clear sea at Mwnt, a fantastic little cove just north of Cardigan. Oh, and it's about 14 degrees. My husband wisely decides to opt for the child-care option and sits there with the baby, slightly aghast as I splash into the water and then run out screaming.

"It's brass monkeys," I gasp, desperately trying to fill my lungs with air, my chest seeming to have imploded upon contact with the icy water, "b-b-b-bb-blimey!"

But I stagger shivering back into the waves, then launch myself into the surf and get my shoulders underwater, before performing a very fast and comically desperate breast-stroke/butterfly manoevre in the hope of getting my heart started again.

We have had a lovely drive through country lanes, verges bursting over the road with wildflowers and butterflies in the sunshine; Dan driving, baby playing with his favourite dustpan and brush and me clutching my already treasured copy of Wild Swimming Coast, by Daniel Start, and a tin of travel sweets. (I do not like the red or orange sweets, preferring green and yellow. Fortunately Dan does not have a preference).

I loved flicking through this book when it first arrived just for the amazing pictures, evoking long heady summers and picnics, paddling and rockpooling, but now I've actually used it properly I can fully appreciate all the hard work that has gone into putting it together.

Each region has a map identifying the top locations for wild sea swimming, then individual sections for each swim provide OS references and, ideally for us, (whose road map was published before the onset of motorways), postcodes for the SatNav. The walk to each site is graded for difficulty and length of time to get there, and the details are clear and accurate. What also makes the book really good fun is all the extra information Daniel provides on seaside games, cooking outdoors and useful stuff to take with you, plus an excellent section on water safety.

We also visited the Blue Lagoon near St David's yesterday; in Daniel's photos the water looks emerald green and very enticing, but as I stood on the black cliffs above it, wind whistling past my cold damp ears and the clouds skating low overhead, I thought I might give it a miss and come back another time......

This is a great book for armchair swimmers, but I'm really looking forward to exploring some of the beaches near us on the South Coast which I had no idea existed; the joy of Wild Swimming Coast is in taking you to some of Britain's most wonderful places which you would never find otherwise! Go and take a look at the website too, http://www.wildswimming.co.uk/, for lots more swims, tips and events.

Wild Swimming Coast, by Daniel Start

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Sat, 16 May 2009 09:22:00 +0000

Here at GTC we love a spot of outdoor swimming, so Becci was chuffed to bits when a copy of the new Wild Swimming Coast by Daniel Start came through the office letterbox. She had the pleasure of catching up with Daniel, who kindly answered a few questions for us (and we'll be trying a couple of the swims in the next few weeks and reviewing them for you so you can stay nice and warm indoors with a cup of tea :O)

How long have you had the urge to fling yourself into our freezing native wetspots? And as a child, was your mother permanently pulling you out of drains and puddles?

There is a picture of me at three, standing naked in a bucket of cold water in the garden. It was the drought of 1976 and apparently I had downed tools and insisted it was too hot to do anything else. I've never been a good swimmer, but I have always loved taking a plunge in a clear waterfall or beautiful stream. I spent part of my childhood in Herefordshire, near the river Wye, and were always building rafts and rope swings. The books are partly about rediscovering the joys and freedoms of childhood again.

I particularly remember a wonderful twilight swim at a lovely spot called Josephine Falls in Australia that always brings me a little happy frisson of pleasure when I think of it; do you have any particular swim that stays in your mind as A Top Life Moment?

I remember an exceptionally hot summer of 1989. I was back packing in north Wales with school friends and we were aiming for a high mountain tarn on Snowdon to camp. We arrived early evening, boiling hot, the sun still scorching the bracken and our burnt faces. The tarn appeared and I remember running down to it, stripping off and plunging in, the water quenching my skin, and the sun sinking over the mountains, the whole lake shimmering with golden light.

One of the lovely things about your books is the amazing photos, did you take them all yourself? And have you swum in every single one of the locations you recommend??

Yes and yes! I love photography so this has been great fun - asking my friends to dive in one more time until they have hypothermia. But I always swim too - that's the best bit! I've swum in every one of the 600 locations n the two books - and in the same number again that didn't quite make the grade. Thank God for waterproof skin!

Whenever I throw myself in a river for a dip I always seem to get someone going on about the amount of pesticides in the water and how there are always dead fish floating just upstream. Do you worry about water quality or is it just a matter of making sure you don't swim along with your mouth open? (I've always dreamt of doing that in the river of chocolate from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by the way).

Fresh and marine water quality is better than at anytime in living memory and there have been amazing improvements in the last 15 years - so you won't find pesticides and poisons. Occasionally there will be cow poo, but any river or lake that has good fish stocks is clean enough to swim in. Fish are very fussy and the fisherman are always on the guard against bad farmers. That said, you should always be more careful in larger, lowland rivers, and never swim in cities or just downstream on a city. Our website http://www.wildswimming.co.uk/ tells you how to check your local water quality online.

Do you have a wild swimming kit in the boot of your car, and if so, what is in it?

I'm a minimalist! So that means a pair of trunks, some goggles and a light wieght cotton sarong for a towel (which also doubles as picnic table cloth, a man skirt, for carrying sea shells etc). Also a small plastic bag for the wet trunks afterwards. And if I know I'm going to do some swimming around rocks, a pair of plastic sandals to swim in. I never use a wetsuit - they're for wimps! And if I don't have trunks and towel, then I'll skinny dip and sacrifice an item of clothing to dry myself on.

Any tips for how to warm up following an icy swim?

10 press-ups - if you can do them. Otherwise 20 star jumps and a walk up a good hill. Plus a big jumper, a thermos of hot chocolate and a visit to a pub with a roaring fire.

And lastly, my husband has just come in and asked if you have any advice on blowing up armbands, and whether you do it on site, or take them pre-blown. I have just confiscated his elevenses biscuits as a result.

Ha! We often take rubber rings and lilos with us on summer missions and people always want to blow them up in the car on the way, which causes all manner of navigational problems.

Thanks for taking the time to chat to us, and good luck with the new book!

Happy swimming!

A Trip to Nepal...

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Mon, 11 May 2009 11:08:00 +0000

Well dear readers, this blog was kindly sent in by one of our customers who generously gave us her feedback on some of the girlstravelclub.co.uk gear she had bought from us. Makes fascinating reading, and also makes you value the fact you can go and make yourself a nice cup of tea whenever you want!

Greetings travel bloggers, I've just returned from Nepal. This trip was the third in three years with the purpose of running courses in Biblical counselling.

Since last year there have been big changes that affect all travellers. Then, with load shedding you enjoyed 16 hours of electricity a day, now it’s down to just 8 hours in 2 x 4 hour blocks which often come in the middle of the night. Thus, though my travel kettle is still my favourite travel accessory, many was the time it was not useable.

It’s not the only shortage. Water is scare now, as well as being ALWAYS poisonous. The winter rains in January did not arrive and the rain we had at the end of the March was the first since October. My friend Tanka and Rita with their 9 year old daughter and 8 month old baby had just moved into a new third floor flat (the stairwell was lethal) and the landlord in the ground floor controlled the water turning it on for 15 minutes morning and evening. They are lucky, standing pipes are common.

Bottled water is not always around so the Aquapur water bottle is essential kit for ensuring I always have pure water to hand or mouth!

As ever, when eating out you depend on other people’s hygiene and diligence in iodizing fresh foods. My companion did some suffering. I on the other hand have never on my travels had tummy troubles. I put this down to taking cider vinegar every day whilst I am abroad. Last year it was the cause I think of my suitcase being opened on the way to Nepal as, of course I could not have the vinegar in my hand luggage, so this year I took priobotics. You can get a version that does not need refrigeration … a bit pricey ₤9.99 for 40 BUT it's wonderful not to feel rough when you are on your feet tutoring for 7 hours a day.

Nepal is a country where tourists are now beginning to return but BE PREPARED as interruptions to daily life are constant.

AGAIN there were petrol shortages which are pretty constant. All petrol comes up from India, so days can go by without petrol and often there are shortages of kerosene which is the major cooking fuel. The most frequent cause of disruption is when someone calls a strike, or bandh. Nepal then verges on anarchy as strikes can be continual and random, and if you do not get off the road and close down your business, whoever called the bandh is likely to conduct violent reprisals.

In 3 weeks we had 2 local bandhs that affected people’s ability to get to and home from the courses and one national bandh that was called for a three week period which brought the country to a standstill. Life has to be flexible and the locals have to adapt their lives to put up with all these interruptions. Expect delays when travelling and if you are elsewhere other than Khatmandu, allow 24 hours in the capital when you are flying out of the country to be sure of making your flight. If you are in the capital some taxis will run as long as they are carrying tourists and you will get to the airport.

We flew with Qatar Airways who only allow 20 kg of luggage so travel gear has to be both efficient and compact. Essentials were the Design Go travel kettle, the wind up dynamo torch, my tiny LED lamp, my head torch and the Tisserand lavender rollerball for moments of fraughtness (oh, and my MP3 player with audio books)!!

Trials and Tribulations of a Travel Writer

noreply@blogger.com (girlstravelclub) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:57:00 +0000

It’s in Cancún, that rather large, scary resort on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, that I realise there’s a fine line between a travel journalist and a travel journo lost. Here I am researching a brand new guidebook to Mexico and no sooner have I arrived before I’m hopelessly entangled in lotes, manzanas, calles and other bizarre parts of addresses, dragging a one-wheeled suitcase behind me – a spur of the moment buy in nearby Playa del Carmen, to rest my backpack-weary shoulders, a plan that backfires as soon as I step off the bus in Cancún and said wheel irredeemably comes off. This does not bode well.

I finally find somewhere decent-ish to sleep and the hotel owner looks at me like something the cat dragged in – it’s hot and I’m all bedraggled after my suitcase struggle. “You can have a room on the top floor,” he says with a nasty, greasy smile, showing off just what tequila and chillies without a toothbrush can do for you and off I scamper obediently, up eight flights of rickety stairs, while the owner just grins and doesn’t lift a finger. Sigh!

Oh well, Cancún here I come – time to start the real work. Being a guidebook writer may sound like a dream job and true, getting paid to travel the world doesn’t suck, but there’s a lot of legwork involved – literally. Walking up and down the streets of Cancún, checking out everything from hotels, restaurants and bars, to banks, cultural centres and tourist boards, I remain irretrievable lost and no matter how many times I attack the same street in search of no. 35, I can’t find it. In despair I turn a corner, only to find the same street again! This is when it dawns on me that there are two of every street in the centre of town – two “Margaritas street”, two “Tulipanes street”, both one-way in opposite directions and with different house numbers. Phew, mystery solved – for now.

Cancún is a challenge for the budget traveller, geared almost solely towards the package tourist and the mid to top-end of the market and it’s my job to seek out exceptions to this rule. Budget places, though, have a nasty way of disappearing from year to year, or moving, or changing names, or – well, you catch my drift. It’s good exercise, I tell myself after a long hike to the tourist information office, only to find it’s now the Polish embassy. Exhausted I slip some pesos into a drinks machine, which happily munches my coins, but refuses to spit out the drink. I almost start howling in misery there and then, when a kind security guard bashes the machine so hard it finally coughs up the can and my faith in humanity, if not Cancún, is momentarily restored.

Some eight hours walking the streets and I almost feel like I’m plying my trade, but at least the hotel touts near the bus station now recognise me and have stopped trying to show me their cheapie hovels. Thanking heaven for small mercies I slowly stagger up the eight flights of stairs to my own hovel and collapse in a heap. Tomorrow is a another day...

By Anna Maria Espsäter

First UK Rights

The Footprint Guide to Mexico will be published in November 2009, http://www.footprintbooks.com/
Contact details: amespsater@googlemail.com