On the other hand, you’ve been gallivanting around the world, living without the baggage that comes with being in an environment where your role is defined. You’ve stepped far outside of your comfort zone, had some philosophical epiphanies, some life-threatening escapades and a lot more travel added to your bucket list now. You’re looking forward to seeing those you love, but you’re not exactly the same person anymore.

How do you come back after so many months away (beyond just weathering the reverse culture shock)? And how do you find a place for yourself in everyone’s lives when you return? Here’s how you can reenter “normal” life gracefully after long-term travel:

#1: Not Everyone Wants to Talk About Your Trip

You’ll come back brimming with travel stories, only to find that a lot of your friends or family aren’t really asking. Either they want to tell you everything that’s happened while you’ve been gone, or they feel like they know it all through your blog or emails.

Maybe some of them don’t know how to start — how do you ask about eight months of travel? Maybe some are just glad you’re home safe and hope that now you’ll get around to grown-up stuff like finding a job again. Give them time to acclimate to having you back, let them comment on your tan or overgrown hair, and let the stories wait.

#2: People Want to Know The Bad News First

Fact: you’ll be asked more about the bad stuff than the good stuff. What was the worst thing that happened to you? Were people nasty to you? Did you fight with your boyfriend/sister/friend while you traveled?

It bothered me that nobody wanted to know about the most significant moment of my trip, or where I saw the most memorable sunset, or what it was like to live out of a bag. It’s possible that most people are afraid of all sorts of bad things happening when they travel, and maybe they’re asking just to confirm their suspicions.

I like to focus on the exciting/scary stories and save the bad stories (if any) for the closest friends. You don’t want to have to see that ”˜I knew it!’ face.

#3: Most People Are Not Comfortable With Long-Term Travel

Long-term travel upsets and unnerves many people – they just don’t get the “travel bug“. They don’t know how to respond to this unconventional behavior, and it comes out in different ways. We’ve had friends and family ask, “Now are you ready to settle down to a good job?”, “Is it out of your system now?” It bothers us, but we try to laugh it off.

Depending on how much you like the person who is asking, you could explain why travel is so fascinating for you, or tell them they’re damn right it’s an escape and what’s wrong with that? You’ve already ruffled their feathers anyway.

One Last Flight (Kansai, Japan) © Luke Ma

#4: You’ll Make People Want to Emphasize How Adventurous They Are

You meet a friend after months and settle down to have a chat. You’re expecting questions and have so many stories that you think will interest them. But there’s something about being faced with a long-term traveller that makes people want to assert how adventurous they are.

At the end of the evening, you’ve heard all about his family trip to a beach where they bravely tried a spicy curry. In these situations, give the gutsy traveller story due appreciation. If it really bothers you, segue into your story with a delicately timed, “That reminds me of the time I stayed with a local family and learned how to cook from them ”¦”

#5: Decide What You Want to Talk About

Before you get home, go through a mental list of the questions you’re going to be asked. You know your friends best, so you know what to expect. If you are not comfortable talking about how much you spent, or who you hooked up with, or how you worked out that visa snafu, make sure you have a few flippant replies up your sleeve.

#6: Understand How People Feel About Your Travel

While most people have envied you, there are some who think you’ve been irresponsible, some who think you’re just plain crazy and some who just don’t care either way. Their reactions will veer from admiring to downright dismissive, and you’ll be shocked because you’re not expecting it.

If you avoid bragging and take the time to explain why you chose to do what you did, you’ll have a better chance at getting them to see things from your point of view. You’ll also earn respect for being able to understand or at least listen to their point of view and maybe they’ll do the same for you.

Just listen … © hobvias sudoneighm

#7: Don’t Make Loved Ones Feel Neglected

You’ve been away for months. Maybe you’ve missed landmark occasions like weddings, 30th birthdays or new babies. Returning with only your own life in your head will make loved ones feel like you’ve lost interest in them.

When you start meeting people again after a long time away, take a minute to mentally review what has happened with them in the time you’ve been away. Get them to talk about that. It brings you back into the picture so you don’t feel like you’re still far away, and makes them feel loved.

Returning gracefully seems like it’s all about putting aside your own experiences and focusing on other people, and why not? It helps you move back into the space you left behind, and makes loved ones feel like you’re back in their lives again. And after all, that story about the time you stared down a bear can always wait awhile.

The post How to Return to “Normal” Life Gracefully After Long-Term Travel appeared first on Vagabondish.

So guys … tell us a little about yourselves. Where did you work in your pre-travel days?

We are a gay couple, Stefan and Sebastien. We quit our jobs and London life last year to eat our way around Asia and plan to make travelling a long-term lifestyle and career.

Stefan, 32 is a former lawyer, of Greek Cypriot origin, born and raised in London. Sebastien, 33, is an IT geek, originally from France but moved to London to work in the finance industry. London is where we met.

Leaving London to Travel the World (Seb left, Stefan right)

Has the travel bug always been there for you, or have you been bitten recently?

Stefan first got bitten when he was old enough to leave the nest and not travel with the family. As he is from the Greek family this happened in his early thirties. Sorry – that’s a very bad Greek joke. He was 18 when he first backpacked and started his travel experiences inter-railing around Europe with friends and later took a gap year in between university and starting law school in 2005 to volunteer and backpack his way around South America.

Sebastien always had a dream of being whisked away from his hometown in France by a Latin lover to exotic locations far, far away. He came to London initially to improve his English in 2006 and stayed for a few years. In 2009, he was so set on moving to Spain or Latin America to find said Latin lover, but he instead met Stefan. Initially, Sebastien thought Stefan could be this Latin lover, but he turned out to be a Greek (which was still ok) with a strong British accent (hmmmm …).

Sebastien nonetheless stuck with Stefan. Over the course of our 6 years relationship, we’ve done a lot of travelling throughout Europe and a few trips to Asia. A few years ago we agreed that long term travelling was a mutual long term goal, so we saved and planned for many years and in June 2014 we quit our jobs and lives in London to eat our way around Asia.

How long have you been on the road? Where are you now? And where are you going to be in the next few months?

We left London in June 2014 and entered Asia with the Trans-Siberian railway through Russia. Fifteen months on, we are in Malaysia Borneo and about to head to Indonesia for a month, then to Bangkok for a final stop, then back home to Europe for Christmas with the family.

What’s your travel style? Do you like slow travel or do you like to cover as many places as possible?

We prefer travelling slowly for two reasons. Firstly, it’s cheaper if you stay long-term. Secondly, we need time to work on the blog, which has grown exponentially over the past year.

And – it’s just too damn exhausting packing in everything that you stop appreciating it after a while.

Room with a View – Stefan Working on the Blog in Kota Kinabalu (August 2015)

Do you work while you travel? Volunteer and earn locally, manage a digital business?

The dream is to continue travelling long term and make a career out of it. The blog has really taken off over the past year and we hope that this may one day be a source of income.

Otherwise, Sebastien is an SEO consultant and can work remotely and Stefan has always fancied teaching English as a means to continue long term travelling. Stefan also says that travelling with Sebastien is hard work because he has to fight hard to stop Sebastien stealing his food at every single meal.

What’s on your travel bucket list? Have you knocked off any destinations/experiences from that list yet?

Asia was up there and we’ve pretty much covered some really special places, which we want to return to, like Mongolia, Nepal, Malaysia and the Philippines.

North Korea and Bhutan are up there, but they need a chunk of money as you can only visit them via expensive tours.

Stefan’s dream is to go to Antarctica (again needs a lot of money) and Sebastien – a road trip through North America.

One dream we did accomplish on this trip was learning to dress up and swim like mermaids at Boracay in the Philippines. Now that was something else!

Do you believe that travel teaches lessons about the world, about mankind that we wouldn’t have learned otherwise? Can you tell us what your most valuable lesson has been?

There is one lesson we are still learning when it comes to eating – it’s quite a common one throughout Asia in fact – called “sharing”. At first this concept really confused and baffled us and even today we still struggle to understand it, but apparently it makes meal times more social? He he he …

Food Fight at the Kuching Food Festival in Borneo, Malaysia

From our perspective as a gay couple travelling in a continent where gay laws are stuck in the medieval ages, we have learnt that at the end of the day most people just don’t really care what your sexuality is! Most people only want to lead their lives, go to their jobs, have enough food for their family and pay their children’s schooling. Most people are just not bothered what you do in the bedroom, despite what the media and most politicians throughout Asian governments would have you believe.

Before we set out in Russia, we were terrified after seeing the growing antipathy to the LGBT community there as reported in our Western press. Whilst, of course, this does exist and we certainly don’t go walking hand in hand in public nor wave rainbow flags around, the reality, however, is quite different. We booked twin beds at the start of our Asia adventure in Russia purely out of fear and quickly realised we were being paranoid.

A year later and travelling in countries like India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Malaysia (i.e. where gay is technically illegal in the eyes of the law), we don’t bat an eye with booking double beds and no one queries it or has any concern with it.

In fact, some places absolutely welcome it, as they want to tap into the “pink pound” tourist industry. For example, The Four Seasons in Langkawi (Malaysia) were keen to promote their appeal to the gay industry and invited us for a day trip there.

After you’ve been on the road for days. What’s the first thing you do when you reach civilization?

This is really sad, but for social media addict Stefan, it’s updating our FB, Insta, Twitter profiles. For Sebastien, it’s shopping. He loves to update his Clarins moisturiser collection.

Some days, shit goes all wrong. What is your calm-down mantra on those days? Do you have a ritual?

Yes – we head out to the local market and eat lots of street food. Cooking also helps and then eating afterwards seems to soothe things nicely.

Any arguments or tantrums arise when either and/or both of us are hungry and/or tired. We’ve learnt to deal with each other’s mood swings when fatigue or hunger sets in.

Keeping fit is also a great stress reliever. We try hard to maintain a body weight exercise routine to keep fit and where possible use public swimming pools, go for runs, and join local gyms. It’s incredible the difference exercise makes when you’re feeling stressed or just feed up.

Since this is a couples-travel series, how do you manage alone time? Do you find you need it?

Alone time is important for everyone, most of all for couples.

Alone time is important for everyone, most of all for couples. Back home, we’d leave each other in the morning, go to work and reunite later in the evening. Now, we’re constantly with each other. But this has made us a lot closer and we’ve learnt to manage our tantrums when they happen.

We talk about travelling separately at times, especially after seeing how other couples struggle, but (and sorry to sound so cheesy) we just can’t stand the thought of being apart and travelling without the other.

During the days when we’re working on the blog, we each do our own individual things for it – Stefan does the photos, content and social media while Sebastien is behind the IT, videos, and planning for our travels. So this means we maintain a kind of healthy “separation”. Of course, dinner time then kicks in and all hell breaks loose …

We are both very excited about returning to Europe in November (Stefan to London, Sebastien to Lyon) as we will see our friends and family again after a long break. But at the same time, we are nervous about not seeing each other during this period of several months.

Stefan with Friends at Machu Picchu, Peru (May, 2005)

What has travelling together taught you about yourselves as a couple?

Travelling has brought us closer together and taught us how to manage the other’s mood swings, particularly when fatigue and/or hunger sets in.

What websites/social media platforms do you use most often to research/plan your travel?

Tripadvisor has become the new Bible for us and we swear by it. We love Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, but they are more social platforms rather than tools for planning.

What do you miss most about home, apart from friends and family?

For Stefan, it’s his bike (called Trek-inda) and cycling through London. Sebastien is French, so naturally his main gripe about travelling through Asia is the lack of cheese and wine.

What amazing food have you discovered on your travel? What food do you miss?

This trip has been about food and boy have we found loads of it. Asia is the best for it. Sri Lanka is incredible because they make a curry out of anything – like jack fruit, garlic, pineapple. Nepal dal bhats are delicious and always different. Sichuan food from central China is wow — spicy, but wow. Malaysia is a foodie’s wet dream due to the large variety available. And of course Thailand and Vietnam cuisines are world famous for a reason.

Stefan misses a good moussaka and halloumi cheese. For Sebastien, it’s the cheese (seeing a theme evolving here right?).

Sebastien on Annapurna Trek in Nepal

Tell us about the best moment so far? When have you stood in awe and thought, ‘This is my moment forever’?

For Sebastien, it was waking up at 5,000 metres high at the Annapurna High Camp at 3 am due to breathing difficulties due to the altitude. He went outside and was just alone with the mountain peaks around him and the clear (very cold) night sky. There, he felt that sense of wow as he breathed in the air and slowly overcame his altitude sickness.

For Stefan, it was in the Gobi Dessert in Mongolia, staying with one of the nomadic families and watching a fiddle player put a camel to sleep (the sound soothes them and makes them cry) all to a stunning sunset backdrop. That was an unforgettable moment.

Do you talk to other travellers much? Has someone said something insightful that you’ll remember?

Of course all the time, both in person and via social media. We met Dani of Globetrotter Girls in Bangkok who was probably the most influential we’ve met in person. She inspired us to take our blog to the next level, to use the gay following we’ve developed and grow it further. It has really changed our travelling experience and now we’re getting invited as media to cover events like the Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching or to stay in plush places like Mandala Spa in Boracay who want to broaden their reach to the gay community.

Follow Nomadic Boys:

• Blog: http://nomadicboys.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomadicboys
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/nomadicboys
• Instagram: @nomadicboys
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC99ODSH8UaA1JAIrQmxXTig/videos

The post Traveling Couple: An Interview with the “Two Greedy Boys” Behind Nomadic Boys appeared first on Vagabondish.

Which is why, in this age of short attention spans and big-name brands clamoring for our attention, Instagram is one of the best ways to build a fan base. That’s what makes it so great for travel bloggers and travel photographers. Take your Insta-game to the next level with these quick tips:

Find a Focal Point of Interest

You’ll often see recommendations to get a human being in your picture, whether it’s you, your travel partner, or a local. And that’s a valid point – it adds an element of interest and helps to tell a story. But, then again, what if you’re taking a photo of that gorgeous Japanese bowl of ramen or a panorama shot of the Grand Canyon?

So let’s tweak that tip to say: find a point of interest, human or otherwise. Include those intricately carved chopsticks next to the bowl of ramen, or wait till a bird or a plane (or Superman) flies into the frame above the landscape.

Another great trick is to bring some perspective into your photograph by showing how you are interacting with the shot: a sliver of the dashboard of your car, the far edge of your dinner table, etc.

See these pics:

• @roundtheworldgirl
• @colerise

Ripples in the Sand © Hamdan Mesfer Al Amimi

Use an Unusual Angle

Instead of your average beach photograph, hunker down and place your camera close to the sand. You’ll get the interesting texture of the sand, the approaching froth of the waves, and a sliver of sky, instead of a boring photograph that could be a stock image.

See these pics:

• @treyratcliff
• @a_girlwhotravels

Get the Gadgets

You don’t have to travel with a fanny pack of lenses, straps, and tripods to get a good picture, but there are a couple of tools that can widen your repertoire. A waterproof case is my favorite, because underwater pictures are fascinating, even if it’s just of your toes amongst the coral.

You’d do well to get a GorillaPod too. With those bendy legs, you have a tripod that wraps around fences, iron railings, and branches, or sits pretty on a rock, and you can set your timer to get pictures of yourself, your travel group, or the scenery behind you. They’re also great for doing time-lapses without having your hands tremble from holding steady for so long.

Cliff Jumping in Malta © Jon Rawlinson

Experiment With Timing

Photographers know of the ‘magic hour’ or the ‘golden hour’ – it’s the time before sunrise and after sunset during which the light is softest. It’s regarded as the most flattering light for photographs, (although I know if I’ve woken up before sunrise, no amount of golden light is going to flatter me …) and is recommended for landscapes and interesting structures. The shadows are more interesting, and the lighting is more of a glow, so you have a good chance of taking pictures that look like they’ve already had filters applied.

Timing also means catching the perfect action shot at just the right time. If you know someone’s diving or jumping, you could try using the continuous shoot mode or action/burst/sports mode so that you’re sure you catch the moment you want.

See these pics:

• @chrisburkard
• @adventurouskate

Make the Most of the Weather

If you’ve got bright sunny days and blue skies, your photographs are bound to be beautiful. But a rainy day with storm clouds gathering can be much more dramatic and moody, especially when you apply filters. On dark or rainy days, look for interesting contrasts of grey streets and bright rainwear, or reflections in puddles.

See these pics:

• @jaredchambers
• @parisinfourmonths

© Jesse Freeman

Composition

Instagram encourages you to upload square pictures (although, thankfully, that’s recently changed). If you’re taking pictures, compose them with the most interesting parts in the centre, so that when Instagram crops it, you still have a perfect image.

See these pics:

• @lucylaucht
• @mattbg

Plan Your Contrasts

If you’re photographing yourself or your travel companion, wear something that will stand out where you’re going, if possible. If you’re hiking Sri Lanka’s tropical forest, a red tee or jacket will stand out in vivid contrast against the green of the trees. Black or white looks great against the reds and browns of a rocky landscape. You see where we’re going with this. You could also carry a bright bag or a neon umbrella, or wear a pair of interesting shoes.

See these pics:

• @kimijuan
• @hirozzzz

Under a Blood Red Sky, Norway © Bjørn Heidenstrøm

Social Media Basics

And finally, when you Instagram your travel photographs, make sure you’re doing it right. Put your blog link into your profile when you set it up, so people can find and follow your other work. But most importantly, use the right hashtags. Tagging your pictures makes it easier for people browsing, and you’ll find that you get more followers like this.

A good formula for hashtagging is: name the location, name the mood or object, and name the theme. For example: #manila #philippines #cafe #delicious.

Use a couple of travel-themed tags as well: #travel, #instatravel, #trip, etc.

There are a few basic Insta hashtags you should know:

• #latergram – picture posted much later than it was taken
• #instagood – pictures that you’ve taken that you love
• #nofilter – for when your picture is so good, you don’t need to use a filter
• #instamood – pictures that convey a mood
• #instafood – no prizes for guessing this one!

You could use tags that are universally used, or well loved: #summer, #beach, #holiday, #beautiful, #running, #airplane, #love.

Before you travel to a new place, do a little research. Find out if there are interesting architectural elements in the city you’re visiting, look for tips on catching a sunrise or sunset at the beach you’re going to be at, or ask if there are great viewpoints or landscape shots to be taken at your next hike. Is there going to be a vintage car rally or concert while you’re there? You can thank us when your photographs become infinitely more ‘Grammable!

The post How to Take Kickass, Instagram-worthy Travel Pics appeared first on Vagabondish.

When you’re travelling, you’re prepared to miss your friends, your family, your pet, your home – the usual stuff. But here are a few things that you’ll be surprised to find yourself missing.

© jeffreyww

#1: Your Pillow

You’ll miss this one pretty soon into your trip. You could rest your head on a dozen different pillows when you travel. Some of them may be fancier than the old one at home, but you’re going to think of your own bed longingly a few times when you’re thousands of miles away. That faded old blanket, or that soft downy quilt that you love – you’ll miss those too.

#2: Your Regular Coffee Shop

It’s not about the coffee. It’s about the routine. It’s about the barista who greets you and knows how you like your caffeine fix. If you’re not a coffee drinker, or you haven’t been lucky enough to find your own favorite coffee joint yet, substitute this with the local frozen yogurt shop that you visit every weekend.

© David Neubert

#3: The Day Your Salary Comes In

When I quit my job to travel, I knew I wouldn’t regret it. But I missed the comfortable knowledge that a sizable sum of money was going to be transferred to my bank account on a regular basis.

I missed planning the first big spend of the month. I missed going out for a celebratory drink with office colleagues on the first Friday after our accounts suddenly bloomed. Here too, it’s not about the money – it’s about the feeling of security and sudden, relative luxury that a paycheck gives you.

#4: The Changing Weather in Your City

When you travel for a long time, you’ll skip a couple of seasons that change back home. That means that you miss all the fuss around the first day of spring, the unpacking of summer sandals, the sudden appearance of pumpkin spice in everything. You could be enjoying far better weather on the other side of the world, but you’ll feel a little left out when friends post pictures of the first snowfall of winter.

Spring Sunset in Montevideo, Uruguay © Vince Alongi

#5: Not Worrying About Your Stomach

When you travel, you probably think twice before ordering ice for your Coke. You use hand sanitizer almost every hour. You’re carrying what seems like a lifetime supply of antacids, diarrhea tablets, and more. You ask your waiter complicated questions about the way your meal is going to be prepared. All for the sake of your stomach. It can be exhausting, and you’ll miss being able to just drink the water at a restaurant without worrying.

#6: Your Neighborhood Pharmacy

When you’re feeling ill, the last thing you want is to have to deal with a new doctor or pharmacist. You’ll really miss going to someone who knows your history, shakes his or her head in resignation at your carelessness, and prescribes your medicine in a comforting manner.

#7: Chocolate

This is a strange one, but the same brand of chocolate tastes different in different countries. You’ll buy yourself a bar of Snickers as a treat, bite into it, your taste buds already knowing what it tastes like, and you’ll find yourself pausing for a minute to figure it out. The different quality of chocolate or peanuts or caramel makes all the difference, and you’ll miss the familiar.

© hobvias sudoneighm

#8: Your Bedtime Ritual

I’ll tell you what you won’t miss – the old You.

We all have a ritual before bed. Some of us tuck in to read a few chapters. Some like to play a few rounds of Candy Crush. Some indulge in an elaborate spa-like procedure with lotions and serums. Some of us browse through our favorite websites just before bed.

But when we travel, those routines are replaced by new ones: planning tomorrow’s activities, totting up expenses and worrying about your budget, updating your blog, making calls and writing to family, or thinking about the day you had. Some days, you’ll miss being able to climb into bed and just switch off.

#9: Geeking Out Over Your Favorite Television Shows

Why would you miss a television show when you have a new place to explore? Why would you wonder what your favorite character is doing when you are doing such cool stuff?

That’s what we asked ourselves too. But you do. You miss rushing through your shower and planning dinner around the new episode that’s about to air, and discussing it the next day with your fellow enthusiasts. That applies to your favorite television channel too, the one that plays those unbelievably bad reality shows, the most frivolous fashion makeovers and the trashy celeb-spotting news. We all need our small fix of utter nonsense.

But I’ll tell you what you won’t miss – the old You. The You from before the travel, who worried about money, about finding the perfect new color for your new sofa, the You who lay awake some nights wondering when your life would be closer to your dreams. I bet you won’t miss that at all.

The post 9 Things You Don’t Expect To Miss When You Travel (But You Will) appeared first on Vagabondish.

We’ve all filled cases and drawers with all sorts of shades and brands of cosmetics. I even had a brilliant collection of Halloween make-up, complete with fake blood capsules and all! But when you travel, you’ll need to pare it down. It’s simply not possible to maintain your usual grooming routines when you travel – you won’t have the space and time to do all your usual beauty rituals, and often you won’t have the privacy either.

But you want to look good for the road, for the possibility of handsome strangers on hikes, and for the photographs you’ll be taking. So what’s a girl to do?

Pack the Necessities

Tweezers, nail clippers, a tiny pair of scissors, deodorant – these are essentials. If you use a hair removal device regularly, take that along, but carry a pack of disposable razors too, for days when you can’t find an electric outlet or need to slip into a bikini in five minutes.

Choose between a hair dryer and a flatiron. I usually let my hair air-dry, but I like to have the iron for special occasions or when my hair refuses to cooperate, so the choice was easy.

Choose Make-up Wisely

Be practical about carrying ‘just in case’ items. Stick to the basics plus one or two items that are important to your personal style.

Your skin tone will change when you tan, so the only skin make-up I took was a BB cream, rosy blush and concealer/highlighter. I use eye pencils even on days when I’m staying home, so I took about three of my favorite pencils and waterproof mascara.

© derriel street photography

Stick to Classics

When it comes to choosing colors, think pretty, fresh and neutral. Shades of lipstick or nail color that are fashionable back home might look weird in another country, so the classics are always a good bet.

Multitasking make-up is great, and there are so many good options available. Switch lipsticks for tinted balms and pencils for anytime, anywhere touch-ups that won’t look out of place on a beach or in a city.

Travel Size Isn’t Always Best

Travel sized toiletries are great for short trips, but if you’ll be away from home for more than a week, stick with the regular sized bottles. If not, you’ll be running around looking for replacements every few days.

If you’ve found multi-purpose shampoos, body washes or moisturizers that work for you, then you’re even luckier than I’ve been.

Choose Brands Wisely

This one was a bit of a debate for me: expensive brand that is effective or drugstore brand that may not be as awesome? Imagine your Chanel eye-shadow cracked and damaged by Customs at a strange airport, or your Dior mascara disappearing after one night in a hostel or campsite, and the debate is resolved. Find the drugstore versions of what you need, and stick to those.

© Katie Tegtmeyer

Choose Routines Wisely

You shouldn’t go to sleep with the day’s make-up and sunscreen still on, no matter how tired. A pack of cleansing wipes will go very, very far when you travel. And if you can only manage a quick swipe over your face, it’s better than nothing.

There are some routines you shouldn’t give up, and some, like bi-weekly nail color changes, that can be sacrificed.

Find Alternatives

If you’re lucky to be going to a country like Thailand, where spa and beauty treatments are affordable, make the most of them. I’d recommend sticking to hair masks, massages and pedicures, unless you’re sure your skin won’t react to a stranger giving you a facial with unknown brands of creams and cleansers.

Get Creative

You might have left your cooling eye mask back at home, but holding a cold can of Coke to your eyes can de-puff them just as well.

I missed my face masks and body scrubs when I was travelling, but I’d grab a couple of sachets of sugar and honey from a coffee shop or a tub of yogurt from the breakfast buffet and DIY it back in the hotel room.

Looking and feeling pretty is important when you travel — it gives you a shot of confidence and makes you feel ready to take on anything — but it’s not the most important thing.

You’re seeing places you may not return to, experiencing a world that is completely new, and using precious time and money to get around. Don’t let your worries about looking perfectly groomed get in the way of seeing the world.

Besides, I think travelers look amazing with haphazard tans, hair knotted in careless buns and their eyes sparkling with excitement.

The post How to Stay Cute on the Road: 8 Beauty Tips for Girls on the Go appeared first on Vagabondish.

We spend more time reading about our hobbies than actually doing them, and looking at other people’s lives on Pinterest. We track our weight loss, our bad habits, our body clocks and our daily lives on apps on our phones. Our lives are carried out in the white light from our multiple gadgets, devices, charging cables, and cases that express our individuality.

And then comes camping, or as I like to call it: life detox.

Camping at Monument Valley, Utah © Bhanu Tadinada

It’s a whole different game when you’re out camping. You go way, way back to your roots, to when we all walked the earth without electricity or mobile networks. It’s a time to connect to nature again, and to sit back and look at our lives, without the distraction of Candy Crush.

First, here are the biggest reasons NOT to go camping:

#1: You Don’t Have Your Own Bathroom

Most of us make our bathrooms into personal havens. We read in there, we practise our best rockstar moves, we fill it with pretty things, and we perform a whole bunch of embarrassing, almost-surgical experiments upon ourselves. When you’re camping, the bathroom is a common area, and it’s not always pristine.

When we camped in Yellowstone National Park, this queen on her throne was checking under the cubicle for a bear sauntering in at any minute. Not the most conducive atmosphere to what is otherwise a peaceful morning ritual.

Timed showers, spiders hanging from the shower head, sharing a drain with ten other showers, and plenty of other unappetising moments await.

Helpful tip: Keep your slippers on at all times and don’t put your toothbrush down on the sink. There’s all sorts of creepy crawlies out there.

#2: You Never Really Get a Full Night’s Sleep

Spend all you want on the most expensive air mattress and sleeping bag. You can spend the whole day out hiking and come back just waiting to fall onto your pillow. But you’ll never really sleep as well as you do back at home. There are strange noises in the night, mysterious bumps under your air mattress, and it’s always too cold or too hot.

Helpful tip: Every night, take the essentials into your tent: a flashlight, wet wipes, a hat and gloves if it’s cold, and bottle of water. If you’re clean, hydrated and warm, you’re more likely to sleep well. And the flashlight is just for peace of mind.

#3: You Can’t Just “Pop Down to the Store”

Camping is all about planning. You think you’re going to live simply, but it takes a surprising amount of equipment to go back to the basics. And you’re likely to be stuck in the middle of a massive national forest when you realize you’re out of toilet paper.

Living at home, you can just order it or drop by the grocery store on the way home from work. At a campsite, you’ll have to rely on the goodwill of other campers, or simply make do.

Helpful tip: Download a checklist before you go, and spend some time adding to it. Take a mental tour of your day and write down all the stuff you use, then stock up. There are lists for camping equipment, kitchen requirements and personal stuff you need, and they’re all available online.

Camping in Arches National Park © Srikanth Jandhyala

But it’s not all bad. Not at all. If you have a little bit of a can-do attitude, and a hankering for the outdoors, this is why camping will be the best thing you’ve done in ages.

#1: You’ll Remember What is Important

You’ll discover that you absolutely cannot do without 6-ply toilet paper, but that you’re okay if you have to go without your fully loaded cappuccino with almond milk, chocolate curls and cream on top. But that’s just the small stuff.

When you’re stripped of all entertainment, you’ll miss your weekly dose of Netflix, but you rediscover how you loved to write, read, paint or play music. Those three people you can’t wait to tell your camping stories to? Those are the most important to you and you’ll find yourself missing them the most.

#2: You’ll Discover Unknown Facets Within

We live in a society where we all specialize in one or two skills. We generally employ those skills the most in our jobs and regular lives. But you’ll realize you’re also great at motivating yourself or a group of friends to finish the hike that seems neverending. You find that you actually like making up a meal from a random assortment of ingredients.

Camping kinda wipes the slate clean and it doesn’t matter if you’re a CEO or an intern. In the campsite, the true king is the one who can get a fire going.

#3: Your Body Will Remember

Even if you do yoga or go for a morning run, you’ve fallen into a routine, and your body doesn’t have to think to perform these physical tasks. But remember back when you were a small, unimportant kid, how you could climb trees like a boss? Those physical memories start to twitch somewhere deep inside, and you’ll find yourself looking speculatively at a gnarled old tree one day while you wait for the campfire to brew your coffee, wondering which branch will give you the best foothold.

Maybe you’ll climb the tree, maybe you won’t. But the monster has been created, and you’ll tell yourself, this time you won’t forget.

The post 3 Reasons You Absolutely Need to Go Camping (… and 3 Reasons You Shouldn’t) appeared first on Vagabondish.

But if I don’t visit these places and do these things, I’ll be one cranky old lady. Here’s my secret travel bucket list, out in public for the first time, for you to steal.

#1: Japan During Cherry Blossom Season

Cherry Blossom (Sakura) in Tokyo, Japan © Yoshikazu TAKADA

The cherry trees in Japan burst into riots of flowery pink and white during March through to May, depending on where you are. The cherry blossom, or sakura, is the national flower of Japan, and one of the most iconic symbols in Japanese art. During sakura season, locals and tourists alike stream outdoors to celebrate the arrival of these delights, with parks and gardens becoming central attractions for those months.

It’s a short window in which to plan a trip, and many go back disappointed because the delicate flowers have such short life spans, but it’s the challenge that makes the reward so much sweeter. Okinawa is said to be one of the best places to walk down pathways lined with blooming cherry trees. Maybe you’ll see me there next year!

#2: The Sky Lantern Festival (Thailand)

Sky Lantern Festival in Thailand © Takeaway@Wikimedia.org

Thailand, with its gorgeous beaches and lush greenery, delicious food and beautiful people, is one of my favorite places in the world. If there’s one time of year to visit, in my opinion, it’s during the festival of Lanna which usually falls in November.

Monks and locals light candles to fill up beautiful sky lanterns that wobble slowly upward into the indigo night. I’d go to Chiang Mai, where they celebrate both Lanna and Loi Krathong together. During Loi Krathong, the Thai release decorative floats into the rivers, and you’ll also see sky lanterns rising up into the night sky. This is a dying tradition, so it’s best to go while it’s still there.

#3: The Chadar Trek in Leh (India)

Chadar Trek on River Zanskar, India © Pradeep Kumbhashi

The Chadar Trek is one of the most adventurous treks that a mountain buff can undertake. The furious Zanskar river turns into a sheet of ice for a couple months in winter, forming the only path connecting villages that have been isolated by snow. The trek takes you along a spectacular corridor between canyons, alongside completely frozen waterfalls and beautiful snowscapes, but it’s a tough one.

I don’t know how it would feel to hike on ice, while a river rages beneath my shoes, but I aim to find out. This is another one of those places that has an expiry date – a road is being built to connect those villages that were previously unreachable and will make the trek obsolete.

#4: The Sunken City of Pavlopetri (Greece)

That scene from Waterworld, in which Kevin Costner takes Jeanne Tripplehorn underwater in a bubble to see the buildings that are submerged? That’s always been my favorite part of the movie. I don’t know if it’s the tragedy, the mystery, the untouched unchanging world, but there’s just something about underwater cities that fascinates me.

Pavlopetri is unique because everything is intact, including buildings. Can you imagine swimming along streets that were once walked upon? I would have to learn how to dive to do this one, but it’s on the list.

#5: The Great Sphinx of Giza (Eygpt)

The Great Sphinx of Giza, Egypt © ALhanouf AL- abdollah

There are canyons and sinkholes and rock formations and mountains that make you feel tiny and insignificant, but few manmade structures can do the same. The Sphinx of Giza would be one of those.

Crouched majestically on the sands, watching as all of us scurry past, in our tiny worlds with our tiny worries, inducing gasps from everyone who sees it – there’s a reason why the sphinx makes it to this bucket list.

#6: Hot Air Ballooning Over Cappadocia (Turkey)

A Starry Night in Cappadocia, Turkey © Nuparb Papapan

I saw a photograph once, of a slew of brightly coloured balloons floating serenely over what looked like a moonscape. Ever since, images of blue seas, mystical mosques, magical souks and spiced food have pushed Turkey higher on my list.

Cappadocia looks like a faraway land straight out of a fairy tale, with caves and spires and turrets all formed out of rock. When covered in snow, it looks even more surreal. I can’t imagine a more perfect way to examine the territory than a leisurely float high overhead in a big balloon.

#7: Unexplained Mysteries + Monsters Tours (Everywhere!)

Loch Ness, Scotland © Dave Conner

And this one is just for fun! I’m a sucker for unexplained mysteries, so they feature highly on my bucket list. One of the primary reasons I love travelling is the awe and wonder I feel. How often do your local haunts do that for you? And I think an unexplained mystery or a legendary monster would just add to that.

The Loch Ness area is one big attraction, with the museums and local legends and lake outings to spot Nessie. Dracula themed tours in Romania or Bulgaria are supposed to be a bit corny, but they’re a must-see for me too.

So there you have it – a bucket list you can steal and add to your own. It covers natural miracles, manmade wonders, endurance-testing treks and disbelief-suspending mysteries. What destinations do you have on your must-see list?

The post 7 Travel Experiences to Add to Your Bucket List Right Now appeared first on Vagabondish.

But then … wham! You’ve picked up the flu, your body aches and your spine feels like its melting into the mattress. That’s when all you’ll want is to be safely ensconced in your comfort zone, in your old apartment with your ratty blanket, a fridge full of familiar food and a friend or family member to fuss over you. It’s horrible being sick on the road, and even worse when you’re travelling alone and on a budget.

Which is why it’s imperative to arm yourself first! Here’s how to take care of yourself as well as possible.

Remixed from original © Rodrigo Basaure

Seek Professional Advice

Evaluate the seriousness of the episode: If you think you’ve got a simple flu, fever or bad stomach, you should be good to travel in a day or two. If it’s possibly food poisoning or malaria or something more serious, make the right moves (while you can) to get yourself the treatment you need.

Make sure someone at home knows where to find you. Leave the phone numbers of your hotel with your family, and tell the concierge at the hotel whom to call in case of emergency.

Find a good doctor and get yourself checked into a hospital if necessary. You don’t want to be lying on your hotel room floor trying to explain to the cleaning lady that you need to be taken to hospital.

Park Yourself for A While

You might be on a super tight schedule and maybe you need to keep moving to stay within a budget. But this isn’t a time for considerations like this. When you’re ill, you’re going to need all your energy for healing and not for hefting backpacks onto your aching back. This is that emergency situation, that rainy day that you accounted for.

Tell your friends and loved ones that you’re going to stay in one place for a while, and then nestle in as deep as you can. This would be a good time to splurge on a hotel or motel room instead of camping. This is when you need heated (or cooled) rooms, a clean, easily accessible toilet, and a bed with a real pillow and mattress. You don’t want to be trying to light a fire from damp wood on a cold night when your head is splitting and your hands trembling from weakness.

© makelessnoise

Arm Yourself

This is a proactive tip, which means: do it before you fall ill. Make sure you have a fully-equipped medical kit, with not just Band-Aids and heat spray, but lozenges, rehydration salts, energy bars and menthol balms or rubs.

If you can, opt to stay in a place with room service, or at least a microwave, so you can heat up soups and tea for yourself.

Take the Essentials

When I have the flu at home, I’m usually perfumed with Vicks, dosed with my favorite cold meds, and hopped up on lemon tea, with a flurry of tissue trailing behind me.

If I’m travelling, I’ll make sure I carry the medicines I’m used to, the supplements and the ‘props’ I like to have that I’m not likely to find easily.

Go Local As Much As Possible

You might miss the chicken soup from your local deli and the mint-chocolate chip ice cream from the grocer next door to your house, but when you’re ill on the road, open your mind to other healing foods. (Yes, I count mint-chocolate chip ice cream as a healing food!).

A tasty chicken soup with lemongrass oil will open your breathing up just as well, and an exotic coconut ice cream will heal you just as fast.

A good trick is to find a wise old man or motherly old lady from amongst the locals, make your most pitiful puppy face and ask for their tips. Home remedies from back home may not work in the new climate and country you’re in, but a local remedy can usually be counted upon.

Just don’t go overboard with the spicy curries and fried cockroaches – you want to heal your stomach, not shock it into submission.

Eat Your Spinach, Popeye

Get your friendly doctor back at home to recommend a good, strong multivitamin to make you invincible. If your immunity is boosted all the way up, you’re less likely to fall prey to viruses picked up from the cute baby you sat next to on a train.

And ladies, they say that a woman’s immunity drops just before menstruation. It’s probably best to be extra careful at that point, whether you believe it or not.

© Sean McGrath

Guard Yourself

Don’t be a hero. If you see someone sniffling or coughing, or you think that wobbling green mystery meat is going to upset your stomach, get yourself out of harm’s way.

I’ve found that by cracking a joke about my own weak immune system, I avoid hurting feelings and get most people to laugh and understand when I tell them that I can’t share cutlery or accept a local delicacy.

Be a Good Patient

If you’re the kind of person to forget taking a dose of medicine after lunch, or if you think you might sleep past the time for your morning round of tablets, set an alarm on your phone. Make sure you finish a course of prescribed antibiotics, even if you feel better half-way through. Take the vitamin supplements that give you strength, even when you’re feeling as strong as usual.

Don’t tell yourself that you know better than the doctor – listen to him and you’ll be back on the road soon.

… But Don’t Trust Blindly

If your instinct tells you the medicines are not working right, if you think the language barrier got in the way of the doctor understanding what your ailment is – it’s okay to question it. Do a little research locally and find another doctor for a second opinion.

I would recommend reading up a little on the internet, but only if you can be practical and tell yourself you aren’t dying of all the diseases with the same symptoms you just typed in. I can’t, and usually spend my sick hours composing a tragic goodbye mail to my loved ones, until I feel better.

The rest of it is up to you. Change into your most comfy clothes, use your softest tee to blow your tender nose, pile the pillows up behind your head, order room service and watch a silly movie on TV. Whatever makes you better.

What do you like to do when you’re ill on the road? Share your tips with us below!

The post I Think I’m Dying! 9 Ways to Handle Being Sick on the Road appeared first on Vagabondish.

There are always signs and, here, I’ll show you how to spot six of the most annoying stereotypical travelers …

#1: The Ones With the Prince(ss) Complex

They’re traveling in this country because it has nice beaches, but, ya know, it’s just so hard to get good service here. They’ll place orders impatiently and refuse to repeat themselves or speak clearly if language is a problem. They’ll ask for complicated customizations that don’t exist on the menu, and then get annoyed when their food isn’t exactly as they ordered.

Nothing’s ever good enough — the food is too spicy, the weather is too hot, the sand is too fine, the people are too friendly — and they just want to go back home.

They’ll complain every step of the way during a hike, and expect others to sympathize with them, if not carry their bags for them. The good thing about these precious darlings is that they make you look wonderfully relaxed and easy-going in comparison and shop-keepers, hotel managers and waiters are more likely to appreciate you.

How to recognize them: There they are, sitting on a beautiful tropical beach, sipping an overpriced cocktail, their faces marred by a permanent scowl because the sun is all wrong for the selfie they have to Instagram right freakin’ now. There’s usually a harried waiter or hotel manager orbiting around them.

#2: The Ones Who Only Came To Party

Remixed from original © andrew_mc_d

They could be just about anywhere in the world, because they sure as hell don’t care about learning about the place or understanding the people. All they’re looking for is a new place to party. They party five times a week at home, and they’re not about to change while on holiday. Every restaurant becomes their own private bar, and every beach their own night club.

They’ll play music on their phones without headphones during the breakfast buffet, or on a nature walk, and wonder why everyone is staring at them with disdain. They’re the ones who ruin your quiet romantic dinners because they have such awesome stories from last night.

The good thing about these travellers is that you don’t typically spot them during the day, because they’ve been up drinking and dancing on bar counters till dawn.

How to recognize them: The girls are decked out in high heels, body glitter, long manicured nails, hair extensions and slinky synthetic dresses, all for a walk on the beach. The guys have spiked hair, big shiny belts, snakeskin shoes and waft clouds of aftershave behind them, just to catch a drink at a local bar.

#3: The Ones Who Shouldn’t Have Left Home

Drunken Douchebags in Fort Worth, Texas © Neff Conner

These travelers are the toughest to deal with. They talk down to the people who serve them, make fun of the country they’ve traveled to, disrespect every tradition and ignore public norms. They’ll try the local food, but make faces at it. They’ll tell everyone how much better things are back home and worst of all, they treat everyone else as inferior.

There’s not a lot good about them, but they do make you feel lucky – lucky you’re able to see so much more value in the places you go than these louts.

How to recognize them: These are the ones arguing to get into places of religious or emotional significance, the girls in hot pants and the guys without shirts. They’re the ones cracking jokes about the place they’re in and sniggering to each other not-so-discreetly.

#4: The Ones Who Are Wayyy Too Relaxed About Personal Hygiene

You know these ones: the Earth Mothers and Fathers. They haven’t seen a bar of soap in weeks, their hair is matted and dusty, and they don’t believe corpse-like body odor is a bad thing. You’re allowed to look like this when you’re camping or trekking, but if you’ve just stepped out of a ho(s)tel (with a functioning shower), that’s another thing.

They’re guilty of walking about barefoot in airports and public places and you definitely don’t want to be seated next to them on a long-haul (or any other) flight. T

The good thing is they usually know the cheapest places to stay for the night. If you’re behind them at airport security, prepare for a long wait. Because they’re going to be searched and questioned more than the average traveler.

How to recognize them: You’ll smell them before you see them. They’re probably wearing stained clothes and carrying bundles of clothing instead of backpacks.

#5: The Ones Who Are Way Too Over-Prepared

Remixed from original © Pedro Ribeiro Simoes

They have pedometers, walking sticks, compasses, gadgets for all sorts of things, waterproof trousers, clunky hiking boots, two cameras strung around their necks, and maps and guidebooks floating around in their pockets – just for a walk in the local woods.

They make you feel like a hippie in your sneakers and tees and will take forever to get ready in the mornings. You’ll be waiting behind them in the airport too, as they unhook and unpack all their myriad gadgets to pass through the scanners.

They’re the best ones to talk to if you need information or tips though, because they’ve done enough homework for themselves and everyone else at the airport/hotel too.

How to recognize them: They’re the ones stocking up on free brochures at the tourist stall. They have tripods, binoculars and weather charts somewhere in their bags, and they’re standing earnestly and talking to the guides for hours.

#6: The One Who Are Lenient Parents (… and All Their Horrible Kids)

© Mindaugas Danys

They have a hundred kids or just one really terrible brat, and they’re sitting there smiling as their little angel(s) tears up the menus, drops chocolate milkshake on strangers and leaves sticky fingerprints on the walls of the cafe. They’re immune to the utter disruption a temper tantrum can cause for everyone else.

We hope you’re never sitting close to their kids in an airplane, because you’ll be kicked in the back, your tray will be jiggled and the kids will want your earphones or dessert too. And you certainly won’t get any support from the parents.

The good thing is that they usually have Band-Aids, juice, snacks and medicines on hand to borrow.

How to recognize them: They bear a constant look of harassment and will utter soft but ineffectual murmurs to discipline their children. They blissfully change diapers on restaurant tables, and smile at their little trolls when they rip past you in the queue for the public restroom.

What types of travelers have you spotted lately? Or perhaps you’re one of them? =)

The post 6 Really, Really Annoying Types of Traveler appeared first on Vagabondish.

But a roadtrip is no small task if you factor in long hours behind the wheel, possible bad weather, and getting lost in a strange country. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your next open road adventure:

#1: Communication WILL Be A Problem

No matter how many maps you carry or how much you trust your navigation system, you’ll end up asking locals for directions. It might be to find the best shortcut, determine how to avoid tolls or get directions to the nearest petrol pump or supermarket.

Download or print out a few key phrases in the local language and keep it on hand for those moments you need it most.

Blissfully Lost in Wyoming © Pierce Martin

#2: Networks WILL Fail You

No internet or phone connection is 100% reliable, especially when you’re traversing states, going up mountains or into forests. You don’t want to be stuck late at night, trying to get to your hotel or campsite without an address, maps or directions.

Download all the important numbers and addresses you’ll need, and cache your Google Maps to be usable offline. Cafes, restaurants and malls may offer free WiFi, so keep your mobile charged and SIM in, even if you’re not using your number.

#3: There WILL Be Emergencies

Cars break down, weather predictions can go very wrong, and the route to your next stop could be longer than you expect.

Carry enough clothes for cold weather, and enough food to get you by a couple of meals. And always keep your phones fully charged.

#4: You NEED An Emergency Medical Kit

We hope you won’t ever need to use it, but carry one all the same. Don’t rely on that old one you have lying about in the back of your cupboard. Check that all the creams and tablets haven’t expired, and that the sticky plasters are all still sticky. Bug bite ointment, pain-killers, anti-allergy medicine, burn treatments, and emergency medications for bad stomachs, fever, flu, nausea and headaches are good additions to the kit.

If you’re prone to heartburn, skin rashes, menstrual cramps or other ailments that you think might creep up, carry the medications you’re most comfortable with. You don’t want to be driving around a strange town at 1 a.m. with a toothache, praying for an open drugstore.

#5: Being On The Road WILL Be Tiring

It’s best to share the driving duties, so be sure to travel with someone whom you can trust to drive if you need to grab a quick nap. Plan your route so that you’re driving only a few hours a day, and always in daylight. Things just get so much harder in the dark, and you’ll start to worry if the sun is setting and you’re nowhere close to your next stop.

If you’re on your own, make sure you don’t drive if you’re sleepy or unwell.

Road Closed, Arizona © Randy Heinitz

#6: Things WILL NOT Go According To Plan

You can have the best route, the best navigation system, and the most efficient vehicle ever made. But you’ll still have to give in to fate when things go awry. From iced over roads, cows crossing the highway (yes, that happens!), local fairs causing traffic jams, or a broken down vehicle, you’ll have to be mentally prepared for anything.

#7: You WILL Have “Off” Days

No matter how much you love driving or being away from the routine, there are gonna be days when you just want to stay in bed and read, watch TV or stare blankly at the ceiling.

Give yourself a day off when that happens. Look at those days as mini-breaks, when you get to laze about or not look at a guidebook. Wander around town, sit at a local cafe and enjoy a coffee with locals, or lie down in the grass outside your tent all day. You don’t have to be perky and gung-ho all the time.

© Robert Couse-Baker

#8: You WILL Have To Learn + Follow New Rules and Laws

Driving in a different country, or even in a different state, means dealing with new laws. Don’t tell yourself that you’re a tourist and don’t need to know those rules — you’ll be putting your own life and someone else’s at risk, or at least incurring heavy fines.

Spend some time online to read up on the laws of driving where you’ll be going. If you’re driving on the opposite side of the road from what you’re used to, put up a Post-It or a sticker or something to remind you every time you climb into the driver’s seat. Yes, it sounds silly but it may just save your life.

#9: You WILL Need Entertainment

Get your music sorted out, keep your Kindle stocked up and download movies onto your laptop when you have network. When you’re driving, it’s probably best not to have audio books playing as it could distract you, but your favorite music keeps the tempo going.

And the books and movies are a great way to unwind when you turn the ignition key off for the night.

#10: You NEED Your Comfort (… and Your Junk Food)

Take your time, stop and stretch, take some pictures, grab something to eat, buy yourself a coffee — do whatever you can to make the most of your trip. Have a bag of munchies ready to nibble on while you’re driving, with a mix of healthy stuff like granola bars, fruit and trail mix, and all your guilty sweet and salty pleasures. Don’t forget the water and soft drinks too.

And now you’re ready to get set and GOOOO!

The post 10 Travel Truths to Know Before Your Next Great Roadtrip appeared first on Vagabondish.