A Quick Hello

We've made it to Tunisia! I dont have much time to write because we are about to go out to see the medina in Sfax but I'll quickly say it's beautiful and wonderful here so far! We actually haven't even done very much because most of yesterday was spent on a train from Tunis to Sfax and then when we got here pretty much everything was closed :(. All is well though. We're heading out for a big day today. I'll write more later!

Countdown to Camels!

Yes folks, the countdown has begun. If it weren't for Christmas distracting me, I'd already be in a tizzy about going on a trip in just 4 days! We've got our day trip in Germany planned out to deal with our 10 hour layover in Frankfurt. Yes, that's right. 10 HOURS. Oh well, we'll load up on schnitzel, gluvein, and maybe even some good German strudel before we head back to the airport to finish our trek to Tunisia.

I'm getting soooo incredibly excited about Tunisia. I really think it's going to be awesome. Everyone I've talked to so far says that it's great and is an absolute must see. And who could deny that with places like this!

Tunis

Dougga

Photos courtesy The Tunisia National Tourism Office

Absolutely amazing. Maya said she thinks she'll get to ride on a camel named Alice. My cousin's husband is thoroughly jealous that we might get to go to where they filmed some of the Star Wars stuff as he's a big Star Wars buff. I'm sure it will be one giant tourist trap but hey, anything for Star Wars!

Now I have to go wrap about 8,000 presents. OY!

Beauty to Go

Sorry it's been a while since my last post folks! It's the holiday season AND a presidential transition time so between working my day away for America's fine research universities and getting ready for the holidays I've been neglecting you guys. Sorry!

Today, though, I found something great that some of you moms out there might like. Ive been on a quest lately, a quest that has to do with my somewhat southern roots. There is an unspoken rule in the south that most southern women abide by. The rule is "Never step foot outside without makeup on." :D OK seriously, you don't do it lol. Anyway, because of this, I always have makeup with me. Im definitely not the prissy type and I dont mind if it wears off throughout the day, but I like it if, at some point during the day, I dont look like a hag. Not saying anyone who doesn't wear make-up does look like a hag, I'm just saying *I* look like a freakin lagoon creature in the morning. No one wants to see a lagoon creature.

For quite a while, Ive been trying to find good quality makeup that travels well. I found a great Bobbi Brown palette today that I think will work great! Now granted, it was a bit pricey but I thnk it's going to be worth it in the long run. I bought a cheap make up palette two weeks ago that I thought would work well but no matter how much I put on it looked like there was nothing there. So much for going cheap! No one in the drugstore price range had an all over palette so I had to call in the big dogs. Here's the palette

There's 3 eye shadows, a blush and 3 lip sheers and a giant mirror. Im pretty happy with it and being Bobbi Brown I know it will be good makeup. It rang in at a steep $58 but it should last me a while. I'll let everyone know how it fares when we go to Tunisia next week! Oh and only 5 shopping days left after today!

*As always my opinions about products are my opinion and are not endorsed by Trunki. Besides, I don't think mauve is Rob's color :D*

Trunki Christmas Carol!

I ride mass transit to work everyday so I usually have a lot of time to sit and think about aimless things (as opposed to shaking my fist at bad drivers). I came up with this diddy the other day and thought you Trunki fans would get a kick out of it

O Trixie (to the tune of O Christmas Tree)

O Trixie, O Trixie
You're pink as a pixie
O Trixie, O Trixie
I take you everywhere with me

There's Terrance and Towgo
On which I sit and go, go, go
O Trixie, O Trixie
You're pink as a pixie

*massive applause*

Im never driving on Thanksgiving AGAIN!!!!

That was horrid. No, beyond horrid. What's beyond horrid? I dont know. Maybe horrible in a Spanish accent for added emphasis. The drive down was quite nice. We made our best time ever at only ten hours and 55 minutes! We even beat Josh's parents there by an hour and they left the same time we did. Thanksgiving day itself was great. Loads of people, including Josh's 91 and 92 year old grandparents (I want whatever those two are drinking!). The drive to Oak Ridge wasn't even THAT bad, though there were some moments on I-40 when I thought I would lose my mind. Oak Ridge was, as always, a quick but nice stop to see my parents on the way back. We just stay over night and then head out the next day. Little did we know the evil that lurked in our path the next day.

Oh yes, we encountered....HOLIDAY TRAFFIC!!!! *gasp* *screech* *shutter* Yes, folks, what should have been an 8 hour drive back to DC took.......wait for it......12 HOURS!!!!!! 12! Two more than ten! Four more than eight! And to add insult to injury, Josh's parents left Kentucky, a full four hours away from Oak Ridge, at about the same time as us and they got home only an HOUR after us. That is just utterly ridiculous. Where the heck is Scotty?! I want my transporter!

On the good front, Maya was awesome and I would like to thank whoever thought putting DVD players in cars was a good idea. You have saved the sanity of many mothers. Oh yes, and despite the occasional ill placed sneeze right next to Maya's head, our dog Indie fared well too.

Thanksgiving Haul

Ahh yes, the hour will soon be upon us. Like all good Americans, we celebrate life, love, and the pursuit of making the best time to a far off destination. Tomorrow we set off on a 13 hour driving extravaganza from Virginia to Kentucky! Ah yes, the books on tape, the highway rest stops, and, best of all, the Sonic Drive-Ins! I can taste the cheese tots now.

Once in Kentucky, we'll, like all good Americans, eat until we pass out of a food coma. All thanks to our nationally sanctioned day of over-eating, Thanksgiving. There will be turkey, ham, green beans, mashed potatoes, and maybe even a few pies decorated with cutesy pilgrim cutouts. If anyone wants to know why America has an obesity problem, I give you the months of October, November, and December as your answer. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas it's a veritable three month long food fest. With that said, I hope you too will have a wonderful food coma, er, Thanksgiving!

The Dreaded Lovie - Traveling with "Friends"

Ugh, Maya's got a new "blankie" only this time it's a full sized chenille monstrosity. She keeps trying to convince me to let her take it on trips but Im inclined to got the Michael Keaton woobie in the fire route. Seriously, she's got a bad blankie habit. This despite the fact that it's 3 times bigger than she is, it's coming apart, and it's probably about 10 years old. I think she needs help. Someone....please help. Please. Really, Im begging. Is there anyone out there in desperate need of a raggity old blanket because I've got one!

Making your life easier at the airport

Ive been seeing so many articles in the news lately about mothers being booted off planes or generally given a hard time while going through the security process. It's definitely maddening to hear these stories but someone made a comment on one of the articles I read that made a lot of sense. It was something to the effect of you can't control people being unwilling to help, but you can control how prepared you are for people to not help you. I hope that makes sense. Basically, you have to be prepared to go it alone and there are a few things you can do to help yourself.

For the baby bag
Rather than putting your baby bag together the way you usually do, it's helpful to separate out all the things you will have to remove while in security before hand. Remember my article about plane packs? You want to do something like that here. Anything that is a liquid, gel, paste, powder, etc. is going to have to be taken out and put through separately. Taking baby food? Put all of your baby food containers in a separate see through baggy and put them at the top of your diaper bag so you can get them out quickly. Same goes for formula packets, filled baby bottles, breast milk, and diaper changing sundries. Separate them all out into bags that you put at the top, that way when you get to the security table all you have to do is pull them out and put them in a bin with no digging required.

You can't take anything that can hold more than 3 oz. so all of your stuff has to be in containers that hold that much or less. Even if it's a half empty 5 oz. tube of rash cream it will get confiscated because it could hold 5 oz. This is one area where I see people have the most trouble because the rules can sometimes be ambiguous. My rule of thumb is that if it isn't something that can break or crumble (like cheerios) it's a liquid and thus subject to the rule.

Having a diaper bag specifically for travel is a great idea. This way you can keep it fully stocked and ready to go at all times with everything separated out.

Take only what you need for the flight and 8 hours after. I've mentioned this before but this is where it can be important. The TSA allows liquids for children in "reasonable" amounts. Reasonable would be what you would reasonably need for a flight so if your baby eats every two hours, you reasonably need enough food for that time plus extra. If your connecting and have a lot of travel time ahead of you, you can explain that to the security officer. Remember, as annoying as you may think they are, these people have kids too and a lot of them know what it's like to travel with kids in tow.

For the kids

Make a game out of getting their shoes off and practice it at home before you head to the airport. Maya nowadays just plops herself on the floor and whips her shoes off. In fact, she gets mad if I do it for her. If you can find a way to get them involved and interested in the process, you'll make it go faster and it will be more enjoyable (if that's possible) because it will be like a competition. I'm trying to find out if they would make you take off slipper socks like these. If they don't that would be an excellent answer to keeping your kids from having to remove their shoes.

Got a runner? The security line is definitely not the place to let kids mess around. If your little one loves nothing more than to run off and look at the ultra cool bomb detector booth, I highly recommend getting yourself a "kid leash" better known as a harness. I'm not talking about one of those wrist things either. I'm talking about one of these bad boys

Sure, it looks like you treat your kid like a pet but you know what, it will save you a lot of worry if you KNOW they cant go anywhere. I had a friend who even put one of these on her kid backwards so he couldn't unclasp it.

For the mom

If you travel once in a blue moon this may not apply, but if you're like me and travel often consider not taking a stroller with you through the airport and also consider investing in a safety vest rather than lugging your car seat with you. Both of those things will cause you more heartache than it's worth. I know it sounds ridiculous but there's better ways. If you have a baby, consider "wearing" them. I have many friends who swear by wearing their baby all the time and I agree that it's a great way to get around and even better for travel. For the slightly older child you can also travel with a backpack and carry them in that. For kids Maya's age Trunkis are definitely a great way to get around the airport.

As for on the plane, the FAA recommends but does not require children to travel in a child restraint system (AKA car seat). For $75 you can get the CARES travel vest for children between 22 and 40 lbs. It's the only FAA certified alternative CRS. If you don't travel often, it's probably not worth it. But, again, if you do it's probably worth the investment just to not have to lug a car seat. Your other option is to just not take anything. Even without a car seat, your child is statistically safer on a plane than in a car, so as long as they are at least buckled in they're fine. Maya's made it through probably over 100 flights and never had a problem so I think I can vouch for that.

Pack your bags smart. Travel light, take only what you need, and familiarize yourself with the TSA security regulations BEFORE you go to the airport. Also, give yourself time to get to the airport, through security, and to the gate. If it's a holiday, add even more time. There's nothing worse than cutting it close when you've got two kids and a ton of bags. All you'll do is guarantee a stressful time and increase the chances that you're kid is going to have a major freak out followed by you having a major freak out. Believe me...I've been there.

Hope this helps!

Are we in for it? - Holiday travel to get worse

Ugh, that's all I have to say. I read an article today about how, due to the current FANTASTIC economy, airlines are increasing fares and cutting out routes they deem to not be fuel efficient. That means the flights still left standing will be to capacity all the time making for uncomfortable travel in flight, backups on the tarmac, and less options for people who miss a connecting flight. Ouch.

I don't think the airports will be much better. The airport in Orlando was h.o.r.r.i.b.l.e. I mean it's generally a nice airport in terms of looks but that's where it ended. The security lines were badly laid out; there was no one around to help the many, many families who very clearly rarely traveled (as evidenced by what seemed like every single bag going through the x-ray machine getting hand checked), and they changed the gate for our flight and told no one about it. It wasn't until a different flight came up on the board and all the passengers on my flight went crazy that they finally told us. Thanks a lot!

I dont mean to be all doom and gloom about air travel. It's still generally a good way to travel but, then again, that doesn't mean I have to be happy about this kind of stuff becoming the norm. I can only hope that the airlines also realize they can't treat their customers like the baggage they put under the planes.

Epcot - More Food and Fun Than You Can Shake A Stick At

I think it probably goes without saying that the World Showcase at Disney's EPCOT Center is my most favorite part of the Disney experience. With places like Mexico, China, Morocco, and even Canada there's so much to do and see there that it really deserves a two day stint. One day for the World Showcase and another day for Futureworld located at the front of the park.

According to Josh's research, Walt Disney's father was a construction worker for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and so that was Disney's inspiration for this park. In fact, Disney wanted EPCOT (which is actually an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow) to be the main point of entry for Disney World as a whole. It was the board of directors who decided that Magic Kingdom should hold that title. In the end though, Disney's dream of a perfect "city" came true and 18 years after debuting four pavillions at the New York World's Fair in 1964, EPCOT opened to the public. Even though the EPCOT that opened was a slightly revised one of Walt's original plan, the basic premise of a World's Fair is still there and, boy, does it show! There is everything imaginable here.

Futureworld has a couple of great rides like Test Track and Soarin. For the kids there is Under the Sea with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk with Crush, and the 3-D movie Honey, I Shrank the Audience. You can also tool around the Innoventions, Imagination!, and Imageworks Pavillions for some hands on fun and glimpses into the future.

Even though the World Pavillion is a bit of an exercise in stereotypes it gets the point across and I was actually quite amazed at the authenticity of the architecture of each country. The replica of China's Temple of Heaven was actually really good. Even the restaurant in the Mexico showcase had real deal Mexican food complete with mole (pronounced mol-ay) sauce. I dont think there was one taco to be found on the menu! My favorite showcase is France and I especially loved the 360* movie Portraits of France (though admittedly because of the GORGEOUS music they used for it).

All in all, there is a good time to be had by all at EPCOT. As I said before, a good two full days is needed to enjoy everything so be sure to plan your time wisely. Oh, and be sure to plan ahead to eat at one of the world showcase restaurants so you can enjoy all the glorious yummy ethnic food. MMMMMM so good.

Get Your Grrrr at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is Disney's youngest park but is also arguably the best. With a wide variety of rides, shows, food, and, yes, animals, there's something for everyone to enjoy. I was particularly impressed with their very important message of conservation and sustainability as well. Of course, the highlight of a trip to Animal Kingdom is their safari ride through the reserve where you get to "wander" amongst the animals while riding in a safari truck. I was amazed at how close you came to the animals and how they all seemed to think nothing of it. In addition to the safari, there are several walking trails where you can see many different animals from different regions of the world. Maya's favorite by far was the bat room along the asian animal trail where she got to see Flying Foxes dangling from branches above.

Overall the park is well designed though the addition of Dinoland seemed a bit odd. I guess they needed something to anchor the ride Dinosaur, which, by the way, is NOT for little ones. One ride that is great, though, is the Kali River Rapids. You can never go wrong with a wild rapid ride where everyone gets wet. We rode it three times in a row at Maya's insistence and also because it was a bit on the cold side that day so no one was waiting to get on. We just stayed in our boat and kept on going. Maya loved it!

For those of you who are trying to teach your kids about being green, be sure to check out Rafiki's Conservation Station. It's a great place to visit and get them some hands on learning about how to keep our Earth bright and beautiful for future generations.

We're back!

Whew, Disney does take it out of you which is why I didnt post after that first day. Every day after that we were up early and back late and I just didnt have posting in me. So where did I leave off? Ahh yes, dork paradise!

There's few things in this world that make me literally squeal with girlish glee. One of them is Hostess Sno-Balls. Another is anything with star in the title. Ever since I saw haley's comet growing up...oh and that movie classic Space Camp...I've loved space and astronomy. So, for me, Kennedy Space Center was AWESOME. When we finally got to where I could see the launch pads from the road I clapped my hands and in a high pitched voice went "oh! Oh! There they are!!!!" The Center is a bit on the pricey side but TOTALLY worth it for the space enthusiast. There's an actual orbiter that you can walk through, a gallery of Hubble images, chances to meet and speak with real astronauts, a shuttle launch simulator, and, of course, the launch pads. The picture above is me about a mile away from Launch Pad A complete with Endeavour and its solid and liquid rocket boosters. I was in absolute heaven. The Apollo/Saturn V center at the end of the tour was awesome. They had a full on Saturn V rocket suspended from the ceiling that was also broken out into it's stages. Maya took this awesome picture of me in front of it.


You can't really tell but Im actually slightly crazy eyed in this photo. I thought she was just taking a goofy photo. I had no idea she had me perfectly lined up under the engine cones. Awesome. Later I'll fill everyone in on the rest of Disney!

Disney is for Fairies!!!

Well the Young family has finally descended upon the greater Orlando area. Watch out for fairies!!! We went to the Magic Kingdom yesterday and Maya spent the whole day dressed up like Tinkerbell which was a big hit. Sure, there were lots of little girls dressed up as princesses but not one was dressed up as Tinkerbell complete with wings! It was kind of funny sometimes. Id have to help her adjust her wings every now and then so she could fit on a ride. Overall, she loved it and, despite my disdain for the mouse, I had a good time too. And we made it out only spending $25! Wow!

Today is the part of the trip I've been desperately waiting for. The Kennedy Space Center! I.cannot.wait!!!! I need mroe exclamation points! I have loved space since I was a kid. When I started at my current job I assisted someone who worked on NASA issues and ate it up like Thanksgiving dinner. I love NASA. The history, the technology, the science. I love it all. This, for me, is seriously a dream come true. I have always, ALWAYS, wanted to go to Cape Canaveral and now Im going! SQUEEEEEE!

Happy Halloween Trunki fans!!

I illegally stole this from Trunki's facebook page (sorry Rob!) but Happy Halloween everyone! Maya is dressing up as Tinkerbell and I've been told Im dressing up as a "fashion girl."

Doesn't Trixie look cute?!!! If you have a Facebook account you can become a fan of Trunki to get all the lastest and greatest Trunki news and updates. Oh yeah, and cute little pictures like this one! Frieda, Towgo, and Terrance are dressed up for Halloween too! So sign yourself up and add them by visiting the Trunki product site: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trunki/33565445854


I hope everyone has a great night trick-or-treating!

The International Friends Club

One of the coolest things about traveling for us is definitely meeting new people and keeping in touch with them. Take our friend Bill for instance. Bill left today to go back to England after spending ten days with us. It was a great visit and we got to do all kinds of cool things that we normally dont think to do like go to the new Air and Space museum and chilling out at a winery. We actually met Bill a few years ago through his friend Robin who is the son of Ollie and Lynn, the couple we met in Italy 5 years ago. Did ya follow that?! Anyway, since meeting Bill we've gone on a few trips with him and gotten together with him when we've gone to England along with a whole slew of other English friends. It's really awesome to have this whole other place in the world that has a whole group of people that I honestly consider family. At least once on our visits there we have a huge dinner out somewhere where there's like 15 of us. It's just so much fun and has created so many memories. Everyone there is such a joy to be around, including Bill. The man did my dishes every night after dinner for pete's sake! Oh and he loves sci-fi/fantasy stuff too so he's extra awesome in my book lol.

Then there's our good friends in Spain who hosted us for a week last summer Xavier and Lourdes. We met them in Argentina at La Bombanera stadium about 3 years ago. They are just some of the nicest people I know. I think Xavi is quite possibly the happiest man on Earth. I dont think I've ever seen him not smiling. Lourdes is great too and now they are the parents of a beautiful little girl. I can't wait to see them again and introduce Maya to their daughter.

When Josh was in Peru a few weeks ago, he met a Brazilian couple that he's kept in contact with that we may go visit. We also have a friend with family in India and she's been telling us we're welcome to come out sometime. The list just keeps growing! It's so much fun though. Honestly staying with someone in their home in a foreign country is just the best. The experience is completely different and it's so much more fun. So, go on a trip and get yourself some new friends!

Me and Mr. Mouse

Well the countdown has begun to our big vacation in Orlando. If you've been reading this blog for a while you may know of my disdain for the mouse. I know, I know, my daughter loves it so that should be enough. I just can't get past the $25 mouse ears and $10 hot dogs. OK, maybe the hot dogs aren't that much but the mouse ears are!

I have to admit, though, Epcot looks pretty cool. I mean really who doesn't love seeing a mariachi band and then walking a few minutes to chomp down on Chinese food. It looks like they've also got a lot of cool stuff about energy and natural resources conservation which we're trying to teach Maya about. She already gets onto me when I leave the faucet on because I once told her about how there are people in other countries that don't have access to clean water. "Mommy, your wasting water for the people in Egypt!" Oh dear!

I'm definitely looking forward to dorking out at the Kennedy Space Center. There's a tour you can take there that lets you go out to the Saturn launch pads. I gets the shakes just thinking about it! Oh yes and the lunch with an astronaut, and seeing the Titan missles, ooh and maybe we can catch a glimpse of Atlantis! OK I'm way too excited now.

Oh yes and there's always the being lazy at the resort. MMM lazy. I so rarely get to be lazy just like all the other moms out there. There is no lazy time when you're a mom. Something ALWAYS needs to be done. Hmmmm I feel a spa treatment coming on. I'll get the cucumber slices.

Rethink that luggage tag

I have a subscription to Real Simple magaizine which I luuuuuurrrrrvvvvv with all my heart. If you dont have a subscription to it get one! Seriously it's awesome. But, I digress. Anyway, today I was drooling over this month's issue when I came across a little teaser telling me to check out the section on their website for travel. So, being the dutiful read that I am, I did and I picked up two very valuable tips that I had never thought of (among other things).

Tip 1. Call ahead to order room service

I can't count the number of times I've arrived at a hotel late at night "hangry" (yes hangry...that would be the raving lunatic stage when I get so hungry Im angry). Seriously, Im like the Incredible Hulk when it comes to food. I keep telling my husband "Don't make me hungry. You won't like me when I'm hungry" right before my skin turns green and I destroy the nearest physical object. Apparently you can call ahead to your hotel and order room service to be delivered to your room once you arrive. Not all hotels do it so be sure to call before you leave on your trip to make sure they do but holy fagioli, who knew?!

Tip 2. Be smart with your luggage tag

I, like everyone else, just slapped my address and phone number on my luggage tags thinking "Great, now if my bag gets lost they'll know where to send it!" According to Real Simple this is a no no and I agree with them. Putting your full name on your luggage 1. is a big neon sign saying "Hey this person isnt at home, go steal their stuff" and 2. can identify you as a female making it more likely that unsavory types would pick your bag to rifle through. Hey, it happens. Also, for contact information it's much better to list your hotel's address and a number you can be reached at while you are gone as opposed to your home address and home phone number. I mean, really, what are those going to do for you anyway? You're not there!

For more tips from the good people at Real Simple, check out their Travel Advice section

Oh and P.S. yes, I know I havent posted in 20 days. Im preparing for my wet noodle lashing now. :(

World's Scariest Runways!

I had a good chuckle when I saw World's Scariest Runways on Travel & Leisure's website today. Maya's favorite part of plane rides is "blast off" better known as take-off. She also likes landings though those are my least favorite. Im always reminded of the joke some comedian did that goes something like this

Guy 1: Hey! If one of the engines go out where do you think the plane will take us?!

Guy 2: All the way to the scene of the crash

*Badoom-chhhh*

I've had a few white knuckle landings in my day but these all take the cake. Even funnier is that one of our local airports, Reagan National Airport, which we use regularly, is listed. Oops lol. Actually, landing at Reagan at night is truly one of the most beautiful sights you will ever see. You zoom along the Potomac banking left and right, all while looking out the window at the beautifully lit downtown area. Most of the other runways, though, look terrifying. Like the one in Lesotho where you have to fly off a cliff and pull up until you start flying. Talk about buckling your seat belts. And remind me never to go to any beaches close to Princess Juliana International Airport on St. Maarten because the only thing worse than a cloud blocking the sun is a giant four-engine jet airplane...

If you want to see pictures from the other hair raising runways check out Travel and Leisure's slideshow

Baggage Claim

So one of my guilty pleasures is luggage stores. Yes...I'm that lame. I don't know if you've ever been to a luggage store or not, but I feel sorry for the weary traveler who walks into one. There's usually easily over 100 different options and not all luggage is made alike in quality or purpose. Then there's all the various things that go in the luggage. Oh and don't forget the 200 different kinds of carry-on bags.

Josh and I put quite a bit of thought into our last luggage purchase. We got the Heys 4 wheel 360 Spinner set made of lightweight carbon-fiber laced plastic. WHEW! Honestly, if Trunki made a grown up version of Trixie, I would have bought that. Sadly, I had to settle for adult luggage. But the Trunki is a good example of buying luggage that serves many purposes. It's hard-sided making it a good option for kids as they really could care less about how much wear and tear their luggage gets. It's relatively light weight and Towgo has more than one way of holding the bag. The inside is somewhat compartmentalized allowing you to open it without stuff getting everywhere. Finally, there is, of course, the fact that kids can ride on it which makes it fun for them and gives them something to do.

With the exception of riding on your luggage, these are all the kinds of things you should look for in your own luggage. Hard sided vs. soft sided is a bit of personal preference but if you travel a lot, I'd recommend a flexible hard-sided bag. They're like a Timex. They take a licking and keep on ticking. You'll also want to have more than one way to carry your bag. Our Heys luggage has 3 handles and I use all of them. And, again for our frequent flyers, lightweight luggage is a must especially now that they are cracking down on bag weights and increasing fees. The biggest mistake you can make is assuming that any old suitcase will meet your needs. That's the surest way to drop a wad of money on something you'll end up hating. Take some time to think about how you'll use it, where you're going to take it, what you're going to put in it, and how long you want it to last. If you do that, you're sure to find luggage that will last you a while.

Think Before You Pack

This week's theme is Packing! Since I didnt get a chance to make my video last week about packing your carry on I thought I would dedicated this week's posts to packing bags of all sizes! I may not be able to get a video done and I'm without a regular camera this week because Josh is in Peru but I'll try to paint pictures with my words :D.

Today we're going to talk a bit about packing and how to plan for packing. Yes, I said plan for packing. There's a lot to consider when you're going on a trip, especially if you're taking small ones along. It's easy enough for you to make it without your favorite shirt, but that might be a devastating blow to a child. OK maybe not devastating, but enough to make the little ones unhappy and no one wants that.

When you're thinking of wardrobe choices keep in mind that taking coordinating separates with maybe one or two pairs of shoes (and this applies to children as well) really is the essential thing. So for a 10 day trip you can take say 4 shirts in the same color range and 3 pairs of pants, also in that color range. Then take two pairs of shoes that will look good with all of those items and that's all you really need. Unless you're going someplace where you're going to sweat more than Elvis giving a concert in the 70s all of your items can be worn more than once. The caveat to this kind of planning is that kids get their clothing dirty much faster than adults do. Maya, as with many other kids, loves to wear her meals. In this case, you may want to take a few extra outfits just to cover your bases.

Other things to consider when you are planning your clothing choices is not only the temperature but also the elevation of your destination and whether or not you'll be someplace windy. I dont know how many times Ive been caught freezing my behind off because I didnt bring a sweater with me on a day when we ended up going up in the mountains or on a cruise with the wind whipping around me. When you pack your day pack you may want to take a quick glance at the things you know you will be doing or the things you are considering doing so you can be sure to get everything in.

Going Down in Flames

So I just thought I would write a note about my fine country's current economy...or lack of one. It's pretty doom and gloom here in the States. I was talking to Josh, who is currently in Peru, and was saying that Im currently trying to calculate how long it will be until we dive into a depression, arms flailing. I was only halfway kidding. It's looking pretty bad here. The stock markets plunged again with the word of another failed bailout. Everyone is pointing the finger at the other side and no one is solving anything. I think Josh and I will weather this fine but there are so many others out there who can't.

So what does all this mean? I think a lot of our Trunki traveler friends here in America are going to go on travel lock-down, which is a shame. I hate it that the greed of some people is taking the opportunity to experience the world from the rest of us. Hopefully, we can find a way to fix this but it will be a long time before we can claw our way totally out.

In the mean time, I will still stress the importance of trying to find ways of spending time away from the trials of daily life with your family. Even if it's just for a night. Pack up that Trunki like you're going to go on a trip and camp out in your backyard. Pretend, for one night, that your house is a hotel. Have your kids pack up their bags and "arrive" at your front door while you pretend to be the doorman. Check them in and take them to their "room." Maybe even post pictures of foreign lands in the windows so you can pretend you are in Paris or Rome. These are definitely scary times for Americans but we can't lose sight of the importance of family and finding ways to spend some special time together. Even if we can't afford to pack up the car and head out or take a plane trip to someplace, we can always travel to the furthest reaches of the world in our imaginations. So put some clothes, a few books, and your favorite teddy in your Trunki and go on a "trip" to someplace amazing.

When things go sour

Sour stomach that is! Yes my friends, I'm talking about air sickness. Even worse is air sickness in kids because kids love nothing more than to say "I feel sick" which is always instantly followed by proof that they do, in fact, feel sick. One of the worst culprits of air sickness is getting over heated. In planes where there's lots of people and even less air circulating, it's easy to get overheated. For children, whose bodies haven't fully developed the ability to regulate their temperature well, getting overheated is an easy task. Here are some tips for keeping that queasy feeling at bay:

• Keep a t-shirt in easy reach if they aren't wearing one already for a quick change if your child starts to get too hot.



• If they start getting that special feeling, put a cold, damp paper towel or wash cloth on the back of their neck.



• Look for warning signs of dehydration which can lead to nausea and overheating. Flush cheeks, sweating, and dry lips are all signs that your child needs more fluids.



• Keep some mint or ginger flavored items with you, both of which have been shown to help with nausea.

If the worst happens and your child gets sick, try not to despair. It happens to the best of us. Try to calm them down, take them to the bathroom if you can and try to cool them off. Check with your child's doctor beforehand to see if you can give them any over-the-counter medications in the event your child is suffering from food poisoning. If you can give them medication be sure to pack it in your carry-on so it's available. If food poisoning is the culprit, it is essential to give your child as many fluids as they can take as they can very quickly get dehydrated.

You don't need the kitchen sink...really

I was recently talking to a friend of mine who was stressing out a bit about taking his young son on a long international flight. One thing I told him about was my 8 hour rule. Take what you will need for the length of the flight plus eight hours and THAT'S IT. I'm also a big proponent of not taking too many toys and things. If it's your child's first flight they will probably be more interested in exploring their surroundings than playing with a bag filled to the brim with their toys. Toys are old, planes are new and everyone knows that new always trumps old with kids. Even if it's their second or third flight, they are probably still going to be more interested in the novelty of flying than in anything you take.

When Maya was a baby my carry on looked a lot like this

• One diaper for each hour of the flight plus 5 more (hey this is one area where less is NOT more)


• Two changes of clothes


• Three or four small soft toys (soft because they can be squished into small spaces)


• Toiletries for me (in case my bags got lost)


• A baby first aid kit (baby Tylenol, teething gel, band aids, itch cream, alcohol wipes, q-tips, Neosporin, etc.)


• A few bibs


• Pre-measured formula packets (each packet made 2 ounces of formula); enough for the flight plus 8 hours


• Unopened jarred baby food


• One feeding bottle with disposable bags, two nipples

This was pretty much it. Surprised the list isn't longer? That's because the thing to remember is that anything you need for your trip can be procured when you get to your destination and there's no reason to take everything on the plane with you. If you want to take more toys than this for your trip, pack the rest with your checked luggage or, if you all your bags are carry on, put them in the bag you don't plan to get into. You just don't need a lot of stuff because all it does is weigh you down and make everyone, including your child, miserable.

It's Survive a Plane Ride Week!

First, wow I have fans! Sometimes I thought I was writing into the great ether, but Im so glad to hear that at least some of what I've written has helped! Sorry it's taken me a bit to get back but things have been a changin here in the Young household. Soon after my last post we packed up and went to a wedding in Seattle, then Maya started kindergarten and my brain went to mush adjusting to having to actually think about fixing food for someone a day before they're going to eat it and making sure she hasn't squirreled anything away in her backpack. Darn you mommy brain!

In an effort to make the blog a bit more coherent Im trying out a new idea which is theme weeks. This week is Survive a Plane Ride Week because it is indeed something you have to survive through to get to where you're going, sometimes barely surviving. I've heard and experienced all kinds of horror stories about traveling so hopefully this week I can help you survive a few of those horrors.

My first tip of the week is a little something I like to call a "plane pack." One of the tips I always give to other parents is to put together a pack of toys, games, etc. into a small, mesh bag or other kind of bag you can quickly take out of your carry on and put underneath the seat in front of you. This keeps you from having to get into the overhead constantly which is both annoying and a safety risk. The size of your plane pack will depend on the length of your flight. Something like the one pictured below would be good for a flight of several hours...well for Maya at least lol.

This is Maya's plane pack closed up. I prefer to use mesh zipper packs so I can see exactly what I'm looking for. This is a small version. Maya has a slightly larger one that she takes on international flights that holds more but this will give you an idea of what Im talking about. This pack is about the size of a 5x10 photo so it's small but it has a lot in it.

As you can see, these plane packs can pack quite a bit. I can fit Maya's dolls (and yes, I have great personal shame for the brand of dolls *sigh*), a zippered bag of markers and crayons, a mini watercolor set, and a small pad of construction/scribble paper. It's enough to give her several different things to do while not taking up a lot of space.

Obviously, now that she's 5, Maya's needs are different than a smaller child but you can easily fill a plane pack with toys appropriate for any age. The key is having them in one pack that you can quickly take out of your carry-on. Believe me life is much easier when you dont have to have stuff all over the floor at your feet or up in the overhead where you have to scoot in front of the guy snoring away in his seat.

Later this week I'll have a video on packing your carry on and some more tips and tricks to get you through so keep reading!

Happy Birthday Once Upon a Trunki!

It's Once Upon a Trunki's first anniversary! I hope at least a few of you out there have gotten some help from this blog. I enjoy writing it immensely and I really hope that it has encouraged others to do the unthinkable and travel with their kids. I want to thank Rob, Jon, Dave, and all the other great folks at Trunki for helping me set this up and for all their support. In honor of the occasion, I've created my first video for the blog! Enjoy!

Shipping bags? Really?

I keep seeing article after article suggest that people pay to ship their bags rather than pay to check them. Now, I agree that paying to check bags stinks but really...shipping? I've got several problems with this but mainly it's the cost. Using my trip to Tunisia as an example, to ship a 30lb bag (the average weight for an international trip for us) it would cost $667.84 ONE WAY and it would take 6 days to get there. Being a bit more realistic I tried seeing how much it would cost to ship it to Seattle for my brother's wedding. The cheapest option is $126.83. The big bad airline United charges $15 for your first bag and $25 for your second for a whopping $40 if you check 2 bags. Hmmmm which one will I pay.

Cost aside, who wants to have to send off half their clothes up to a week ahead of time to a destination? And if it gets there early will the hotel accept it? What happens if it gets stuck in international quarantine? There are just way too many ifs and, frankly, way too many decimal points for me to justify doing this. Maybe this will be a good reason for everyone to learn to do my favorite thing...pack less!

A Tale of Two Humps

So our trip to Tunisia is starting to take some shape. I dont know why but I always think of North African countries as this weird entity in and of themselves. Everytime I stop and think about the fact that they are in Africa I say "Wow, Im going to AFRICA!" So it looks like we'll spend some time in Tunis, then take a train to Gabes to dork out on Star Wars stuff, then head up to Sousse and back to Tunis.

Maya is very excited about the prospect of riding a camel. She seems to be not at all phased by my warnings that they are, in fact, gross animals. She just wants to ride one. We watch a lot of Discovery channel so she's constantly seeing camels on TV and is completely enamored by them. We'll see how she feels about the reality lol.

Hopefully, Tunisia with Maya will be better than China. China was just too much for her I think. Too much of everything. Today she told us that she didn't like it because we talked about it too much. I've been pretty mum about Tunisia (mostly because I want to avoid the horrified looks of others who can't believe we'd go there) so hopefully she won't be tired of it when we go there. I think it's good for kids to experience things that are far outside of the realm of their known world but, as everyone knows, sometimes too much of a good thing can be bad.

Feeling the Pinch

The economy is a big issue here in the states right now and for good reason. The dollar just isnt what it was a few years ago and people everywhere, even us, are having to tighten the ol spending belt. For many, traveling is the first thing to go off the list, but at the same time vacations are often the very thing families need to relax and forget about their troubles at home even if it's just for a few days. There are lots of things you can do, from having staycations to changing hotels, to have a great vacation while still keeping costs low.

Stay at hotels that offer free breakfast: Hotels are doing a lot to woo people to stay with them. One thing I see a lot of hotels doing now is offering a free hot breakfast buffet. This is great because it cuts down on your food costs, you usually get a quality meal, and you can load up at breakfast for free allowing you to have smaller meals throughout the day and cut down on other meal costs

Stay at "residence" hotels: Places like Marriott's Residence Inn and Extended Stay Hotels offer apartment style rooms for great rates. Most locations also have pools, exercise areas and are centrally located making it easy to get around. Staying at places like this gives you the option of cooking your own food rather than eating out. Also, these locations tend to be more family friendly making it more comfortable for the whole family.

Use miles to fly and hotel points to stay: One of our secrets of travel is that we have two credit cards that we use to earn hotel and airline miles. Now I'm not encouraging anyone to just go out and get a credit card but, handled correctly, they can be a great asset. We use our mileage cards for the majority of our purchases and then pay them off at the end of the month. This way we can rack up the miles and points but not rack up debt. You often get one mile per dollar but many times you get two or three miles per dollar so it can add up quick. Josh and I are often able to use miles to pay for one, even two, tickets for a trip and also get our hotel using miles. These are huge costs for any vacation so it's great to "pay" for them using miles we've earned doing everyday things.

Plan your trips well in advance: Many people don't do this but we've found that it's the best way to spread out your costs. As an example, we pretty much know what trips we're going to take next year and are already starting to budget for them now. This gives us lots of time to save up for spending money while we're there and spread out the times when we buy tickets and pay for our hotel. It can be tough to fork over a huge chunk of money at once and can often be the reason why families just dont go anywhere but if you can plan for it, it takes a lot of the pain away.

Have a staycation: "Staycations" are gaining popularity here. A staycation is when you go on "vacation" but dont go out of the local area. People all over are pitching tents in their backyards or taking advantage of their local museums and parks. For those who really have to rein in their costs these are a great way to get away. Kids are often happy with anything that's different from their daily routine so even having a campout in the backyard can be fun for them. If you live close to metropolitan areas, like I do, take advantage of low cost or free museums, parks and county planned activities that take place at parks. Check the paper for festivals and local events. You'll be surprised at how much goes on right in your hometown and for free!

Unpacked Goes to the Potty

Alright, Im going to deal with a "smelly" issue but one that strikes fear into the hearts of even the most hardened traveler: weird bathrooms. This is all brought on because I kind of chuckled the other day when a friend of mine posted a picture of a "gross" toilet in Hong Kong and it looked just like the one in my house. The toilet bowl half filled with water weirded her out. Conversely, when she showed me a picture of her toilet at home I told her how we hated those toilets. She couldn't believe it. To each their own we decided.

It's always a bit of a harrowing experience when you are on a trip and come across facilities that are, well, less than stellar. If you're traveling with little ones it's even worse because they don't always understand that this is IT. (Actually, it may potentially be worse with teenagers because they are more prone to be grossed out but seeing as Maya s only 4 I have ten more years to desensitize her. ) Maya and I had some "fun" times in China dealing with their public bathrooms as 90% of the bathrooms there have squatting toilets not to mention they usually left a lot to be desired in the cleanliness department. If you think changing a diaper on an airplane is hard, try getting a wriggly preschooler to squat over a toilet and not hit anything!

Sometimes the bathroom may have normal fixtures but be dark as a cave. Ive gone in ones where you practically needed a flashlight to find your way around. I wont even talk about the most evil of all evils, the port a john. That would just be too much for you tender readers. Then there are the ones that have no working sinks or where you have to pay just for the pleasure of having toilet paper. Those are awesome

I know this isnt the most pretty of topics to write about but hey, Im here to help. I'm suffering for YOU! OK, maybe not but I'm sounding the warning call at least. Be prepared for ANYTHING when you're on travel, especially weird bathrooms.

Meet Freida and the Teddy Tee!

Ah! I hadn't been on the Trunki site in a while (oops, sorry guys!) but Im so happy to see Frieda AND the new Teddy Tee up and available. Frieda is beyond cute. Maya loved her when she saw her at Trunki headquarters back in February. She seriously wanted to take her home. I think the bell was her favorite part. Maybe we'll have to add to our little Trunki brood in the Young house.

The Teddy tee is great too. That pocket is so clever. Rob and the gang at Trunki were very kind to give Maya one when we were there and she loves to wear it. She sticks all kinds of stuff in there. So far it washes well and is really sturdy.

Ok I sound like a commercial. Seriously, Frieda is adorable though. I wish I could have an adult sized Frieda complete with the bell. I'll make Josh pull me.

Chicago: Just like New York, only better

People who know me know how much I love Chicago. Im excited to be going there once again this week to celebrate the 4th of July with friends and family. Well, really, in Chicago it's the 3rd of July as they get the festivities started a whole day earlier by having their fireworks display then. While it does get amazingly cold there in the winter, the summer is the perfect time for a visit to the windy city. There's beaches, parks, museums, lots of sports and even more food.

The best part is that it's lke going to New York with half the battle. It's much more walkable, the people are much more pleasant, and the general atmosphere is much more laid back. On top of that, there are plenty of excellent side trips to places like Wilmette to give some respite to the city life. If you're traveling with the kids be sure to check out the Navy Pier, the Shed Aquarium, the Field Museum, and don't forget to visit the "Bean" which is always a guaranteed kid pleaser.

If you're into shopping, check out Water Tower Place. It's a great shopping center right off of Michigan Avenue with all the famous stores you're looking for. If it's food you're looking for there's not many places better than Chicago. There's a restaurant for pretty much everything and there's a good range of options between the high end swank and low priced family fare.

So, if you're looking to visit a big city with a small town atmosphere, head to Chicago. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Where'd I go?

Wow slacked off there lol. Sorry!!!! That second week in China was just so draining and, now that we're back, Im even more drained.

So the last week we went to Xian to see the Terracotta Warriors and to Gui Lin which is quite possibly the most beautiful place Ive ever seen. Just gorgeous with an almost unnatural beauty. After that we headed back to Beijing for all of about 18 hours, squeezing in a visit to the Lama Temple which was awesome, and then it was back to the states. Oh and to work the very next day. OUCH!!

So overall I would say the trip was good but really I ended up having a bit of a love hate relationship with it. I LOVED seeing all the sights. They were just amazing. I didnt love the dirt, smog, congestion, and cleanliness issues that come with going to China. In the end, I loved it but at the same time, Im not in a hurry to go back. I'd go back to Gui Lin and Shanghai maybe but probably not with Maya.

As for Maya, well, let's just say China wasn't on her list of favorites. I think it was just too much for her. Too much to look at, too many things she couldn't do (for safety reasons), too many people wanting her picture. I think it was just overload and that combined with turning 5 soon (and thus knowing the answer to life, the universe, and everything) it was just too much. I'm STILL battling with her some even now that we're back at home. I think she's maybe still adjusting. OK I'm HOPING she's still adjusting. The good news is that she seems very happy to hear that our next international destination, Tunisia, is probably going to be a lot like Turkey. I really think she wishes all of our trips could just be to Turkey because she loved it there. Oh well. Hopefully we can get back into a more normal system and she can be normal again. Please, please be normal again :p

Don't forget to check out Josh's gorgeous pics! You can find them here:

Beijing

Shanghai

Xian

Gui Lin

Shanghai: China for the Sheepish

If you're concerned about traveling too far out of your comfort zone but would like to visit Asia, I have a place for you and it's called Shanghai. Glitzy, modern, fresh and familiar, Shanghai is the place to go if you want to experience China but not feel too much like you're in the twilight zone. We arrived here yesterday and are staying in the Daning area of Shanghai. We are right across the street from a huge western influenced pedestrian shopping area. When I walk outside I feel like Im right back at home. Usually, I shy away from these kinds of places when we're on travel and enjoy fully immersing myself in the local culture of wherever we are. I have to say though, it's nice to have at least 2 days of home away from home before we head off for the more out of the way areas of Xi'an and Guilin.

Downtown Shanghai is reminiscent of London and New York with huge shopping areas, lots of skyscrapers and beautiful museums. If you took away the signs in Mandarin you wouldn't know you were in China. Shanghai boasts a whopping 6,000 skyscrapers as well as the famous strip known as The Bund. Heavily influenced by it's past ties with the English and French, Shanghai is a modern city with it's eye on the future. Despite being treated as a bit of a step child in 70s and 80s, it is making a resurgence as China's premiere city for foreign travelers.

Of course, all of this could possibly be influenced by my euphoria after getting the most amazing hour long foot massage downstairs in the spa for the horrifically low price of $30 USD. At least there's one place in the world where the dollar is worth something!

Saying Goodbye to Beijing

Today was our last full day in Beijing. Tomorrow we leave for Shanghai for two days. After that it's Xi'an and Guilin. These past couple days ahve been pretty relaxing. We took a taxi out to the Summer Palace the other day which was just beautiful. Of course, there were the droves of people wanting pictures with Maya but overall it went well. The Imperial Summer Palace complex is huge with many beautiful buildings and temples the most beautiful of which was the Temple of the Fragrance of Buddha. There was also the beautifully restored Long Corridor which was a covered walkway spanning several hundred feet with over 14,000 intricate paintings on the ceilings.

Yesterday we accomplished almost nothing with the exception of going to the Silk Market. The Silk Market is know world wide for being the place to go for high quality fakes. They had fake everything from Polo Ralph Lauren to Dolce & Gabbana. Going there with Maya proved difficult as she wanted to say hi to anyone and everyone which just got them engaged in conversation. While we didnt stay long we did manage to score and incredible carved wooden mask. It's so awesome. I can't wait to hang it. Maya even got a four faced buddha out of the deal which she was very happy about.

Today was Hou Hai area and the Bei Hai Park area. Maya loved walking around and seeing all the fish. We even got her a little parisol to walk around with.

So far I've been a little disappointed in my findings for things for kids to do. I know there is stuff to do, but it's not as readily accessible as I thought it would be. We've shied away from the zoo and the aquarium just because of worries that the quality wouldnt be that good. Beyond that, Ive not seen one playground. It's really a shame. Hopefully, the other cities we visit will boast more kid friendly areas.

The Great Wall of Maya

Today we took a tour of the Ming Tombs and the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall was absolutely amazing. We got to ride this sort of roller coaster thing up to one of the higher points and then walked up it for a bit. Maya was better today. In fact she did very well as it seemed like the entire population of China wanted to have their picture taken with her while we were walking. I think at first she didn't mind but after a while it got taxing and at times it was a little weird because she would literally attract crowds of people. Im VERY glad that I cut off so much of her hair before we left. I can't imagine what it would have been like if she still had her waist length hair. I know they all meant well and were just doing it for good luck but really after a while I felt like I was a child celebrity's body guard. Looking back I feel kind of bad letting so many people take her picture. She wasnt really scared but I know she got tired of it.

The whole thing with her hair is just very odd to me. The reason why it's so popular is because, in Chinese culture, the color red is very lucky. So I think for them Maya is like a living good luck doll and they all want to be next to her, to touch her hair, to be next to this walking symbol of good luck. In the states, people see her hair and do comment on how pretty it is, but it's not like this. Don't get me wrong, Im not insulted or concerned. It's just weird to be in the position of granting picture after picture after picture to people I can't even talk to. Im not so sure about all those dreams I had of being a movie star when I was a kid now lol.

Entering the Dragon: A Family Trip to China

Well, we've finally made it to China. I didn't get a chance to post before we left because I was so busy getting everything ready for us being gone for two weeks. So far things are good. The flight here was actually pretty good for a 13 hour flight. Maya did pretty well despite asking me to go to the bathroom about 50 times. Once we got here I was amazed at two things. One was how many "western" style stores and buildings there were. It looks like any other major city in the U.S. with one exception, which brings me to my second thing I was amazed at. That is the pollution here. It's horrible. I can't tell if it's overcast today or if I can't see the sun because it's just that smoggy. Even if it is overcast, you can't see further than maybe about a mile or a mile and a half in front of you. After that, everything is enveloped in a thick fog of exhaust and dust.

Maya has only done so so as of yet. We had a lot of trouble getting her into this trip and every time we brought it up she would get mad. Now that we're here, she's been even worse. I'm not sure why she's being this way. I don't know if its just that she's tired from the time change or she really just isnt happy being here. Either way right now it's been kind of miserable for all of us. It's the first trip that she's been this way so it has taken me aback a bit. I can only hope that she starts to enjoy herself because we've got two weeks here. She is getting a bit of the celebrity treatment though because everyone wants a picture with her. We had the funniest experience today. She's learned how to say "nihao" which means hello so, of course, she says it to everyone. At one point she said it to a big group and, en masse, said "nihao!" right back to her. It was hilarious.


One bright spot is our hotel. It's awesome. We're staying at the Park Plaza and we upgraded our room to a suite which is really nice when we're here for a fully week. I feel like a rich person :). Really, though, the two rooms is nice because Josh and I can do other things while Maya takes a nap. There was a great buffet this morning and we all filled up before we went out to the Temple of Heaven which was beautiful. Maya and I even picked up a cool game that people were playing with these rubbery paddles and soft balls. Oh well, off to do more exploring!

New Years 2008: Tunisia!

Well we just bought the tickets and we're off to Tunis, Tunisia for New Years this year. It should be awesome as Tunis looks beautiful! I can't wait!!!!!

Travel Immunizations, Better Known As Evil Pain Sticks

So today I took Maya to get her one and only travel immunization for this trip. I got her vaccinated for Hepatitis A. There are no required vaccinations for travel to China, only recommended ones. They are Yellow Fever, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies, and Malaria (through taking anti-malarials). I chose to only get Maya the Hepatitis A because it's water and food borne and is much more damaging than Typhoid Fever. The travel consultant actually told me that many pediatricians are now adding Hep A to the list of regular vaccinations for children because it is becoming so prevalent in places like daycares so Im glad I got it for her. All of the others can be avoided through simple but very important procedures such as hand washing and wearing insect repellent that is at least 30% DEET (which is generally safe for children over a year old as long as you wash it off every night).

So back to the appointment... I thought things were going well. When we got to the office Maya realized that everyone was wearing lab coats and asked me if it was a doctor's office. I said "It's a special doctors office for people who are taking trips." She asked me if she had to get a shot and gave me that "Dont lie to me" look so I told her that yes indeed she had to get a shot. She seemed to take it well and was joking and laughing. That is, until we got back in the office and she felt the alcohol swab on her arm. Once she felt the swab, she totally freaked. It eventually took three of us holding her down to give her the shot. I felt so bad. I thought she would get somewhat upset but nothing like how she reacted. It was almost as if we were coming at her with a red hot poker. I was really taken aback by her reaction and now Im dreading getting her up to date on her regular immunizations next week as she has to get 4 shots. She might be getting a tranquilizer for that one because I dont think even numbing the area will work. The very sight of the needle seems to set her off. Ugh. Thankfully after this she should be done with the exception of getting one more Hepatitis A shot which will cover her for life.

Three Weeks Until China!

So our big trip is just three weeks away!

Ive decided Im taking very little clothing and I'll just wash it out a lot. I'm taking three shirts and two pairs of pants. Im taking all long sleeved/long pants that can be rolled up because I want to make sure we have protection in Guilin but I dont want to be taking extra clothing. I was going to buy stuff at REI but man it's just so expensive and old navy has a sale goin on so I got these in this color and a dark grey



and this in khaki, olive grey, and a rusty red color called Indian Clay


I definitely want to get some good quality sneakers though and those might cost a bit. Im also considering getting a travel vest so I'll have something to put my shiznit in while we're walking around. I got Maya two pairs of roll up pants, I just need to get her some lightweight long sleeve shirts. She an I both will benefit from the long sleeve/long pants stuff too because we are both very fair skinned and burn at the very sight of the sun.

Maya has to get at least 6 shots in the next 2 weeks, poor thing. I'm definitely getting her a Hep A shot but Im waffling on the Typhoid. I just dont know if she REALLY needs it but since it's water borne I guess its better to be safe than sorry. They're $80 a pop though so ick. She's already got Hep B and all of her other regular vax I just need to get her her last booster shots which is where the other 4 shots come in. Even with the shots I'll be like the hawk I always am. No fresh fruits or veggies, bottled water only (even for teeth brushing), no ice, no street foods, all meat cooked to within an inch of its life and lots and lots of hand sanitizing.

Most places we've been I havent been too worried about sanitation. Egypt I was a little worried but we did just fine. China has me a little on edge when it comes to sanitation but Im sure it will be ok as well. I think China is a lot like Egypt in that there is this kind of shellac of niceness that is put up for the tourists but without much work you can get to the really ugly underbelly of grossness. We just have to be careful. That statement has nothing to do with the actual people of China, it's just a reality when you are dealing with a rapidly growing, industrialized nation. We went through it too.

So anyway, I feel like I have so much to do!

All Roads Lead to China!

Ack! I never did update about my second day in Lancaster. My friend Jes is never going to forgive me. Well real quick, the second day there consisted of waking up late, eating a glorious breakfast complete with a caramel macchiato procured by Mr. Wonderful himself, Duane (Jes' husband). Then we drove around the surrounding area and even stopped to take a look at a bald eagle's nest. That thing was huge!!! Of course, there was more Sonic but after that it was time to go :(. I had such a great time and I can't wait to go back!

Now onto our next adventure...China. We leave in just about three weeks. Wow, three weeks. I never thought I would ever in my life say "In three weeks Im leaving for China." Im excited and nervous all at the same time. Josh has been happily procuring more and more photography equipment for the trip, mostly at my encouraging. He's got a great lightweight tri-pod, a new fisheye lens AND a brand new Nikon D300.

I have been busy planning what to take. We are planning to pack extra light on this trip so I think Im going to invest in some good quality travel clothing that can be quickly washed out and dried. Good quality travel clothes can be expensive but, if youre like me, they can also be worth the cost because the quality is so much better. Paying more once for something that will last for years through trip after trip after trip is much more cost effective than buying cheaply made clothes that fall apart after one or two trips. I put clothes through their paces so I want something sturdy. Today I was looking at both Cabella's and Columbia Sportswear who both seem to have some great items like zip pants that can turn into shorts and long sleeve shirts with tabs so you can roll up the sleeves. Also, they are all made from good quality, breathable materials which will be really important. So Im off to do some shopping!

Back to the Future

This is the first chance I've had to post about my whirlwind tour of Lancaster County, PA but, as expected, the trip was wonderful! I don't have any pictures to post at the moment as Josh has been hoarding the card reader so I'll just relay the trip in written word.

The drive: This was the furthest I've driven on my own in years and it wasnt bad at all. I woke up super early thinking I would give leaving super early a try but I just couldn't do it so I went back to bed and got on the road at about 7:30. It was only a three hour drive (well it was suppose to be...I MIGHT have made it in less time he he) so we only stopped to get some drive through grub. The only advice I have here is get yourself a DVD player. They are a life saver!

Day 1. Honestly, I did so much the first day that it really felt like two or three days. We got there and went to my friend's son's first ever soccer game. He handled the ball like a pro. I think there might be a future footballer in our midst if he takes a liking to it. After the football match we went back home for a quick change and then we went to my mecca, Sonic Drive-In. If you've never had Sonic, you haven't lived my friend. If all I had to eat was their Chili Cheese Coney, I'd be a happy camper the rest of my life. AFter Sonic we stopped off at my friend's husband's store, BB's Grocery Outlet. This place was GREAT! It's not your usual grocery store but it had all kinds of name brand things at ridiculously low prices. I cleaned them out of spices. I probably looked like a freak with 8 jars of rosemary, thyme, and the like. After that we went home, took a short break then Jes and I went out to a couple places that had caught my eye. The first was Olde Peddler Wools. When I get my pictures downloaded I will definitely be posting some of the ones I took of this store because it's a yarn lovers heaven. Beautiful wools of every kind. Hand dyed, imported, specialty. I could have spent hours in there. I will definitely be going back to buy more. Darlene was a wonderful guide to all of the options and helped me pick out some lovely yarn to make a shawl. After that, we headed off to The Flower & Craft Warehouse. This place was crazy. I've never seen so much stuff in all my life. I ended up getting a fantabulous metal flamingo for my garden. Yes, I love flamingos.

As we were checking out we realized that we were suppose to meet up wth some of Jesica's friends for a private buggy ride! We zoomed back to her house, picked up Maya and then headed out. Let me tell you, taking a buggy ride with two teenage Mennonite girls is more fun than I think most people can handle. Jes and I were leaning out making faces at her friend Pauline who was riding her bicycle beside us taking pictures. We dubbed her the "Mennonite Papparazzi." Alta, who was our driver, did an excellent job taking us all around and even let Maya hold the reins. We had so much fun and Im so thankfully they took time out of their day to do that for us.

After that it was dinner, then...whew! I can't even remember what all else we did. Like I said it was like three days all smashed into one. It was so much fun though. A little later, I'll post pictures and a write up of day two!

Going Dutch in Lancaster, PA

This weekend Josh and I are going our separate ways. Don't worry! Not like that. Nope, we're doing something we've never done before. We're taking separate trips. He's heading of to St. Louis to get his baseball fix while Im heading to beautiful Lancaster, PA for some good ol fashion fun with my great friend Jesica! I can't wait. She's even arranged for us to have a buggy ride with one of her friends. Maya is very excited about the prospect of that. Im very excited about getting to spend some time with my friend seeing as she's practically my twin. Ohhhhhhh the trouble we're going to cause. It will be a short trip but well worth it as I love Lancaster.

Lancaster is a very different place to go to that has this almost schizophrenic way of doing things. The Amish are very private people and generally keep to themselves. That's not to say they aren't nice...just private. And yet the big draw there is, of course, "Come see the Amish!" I wonder if they get annoyed at people coming there just to try to get a glimpse of them. To them, they're just, well, themselves. They work hard, keep their beliefs close to their hearts, and make some darn good food. To the rest of the world they are an oddity, something to be looked at almost like a zoo animal. I have great respect for them. They've kept their ways for hundreds of years and few have given into the temptation of modernity. It will certainly be interesting to get to go around the area with a local. Jesica LOVES to explain Dutch country to me and I love to hear about it. It's like traveling to another country that's only 3 hours away. Maybe I'll learn some Pennsylvania Dutch while Im there. That counts as another language right?

MandarinTube: Learn Chinese From the Comfort of Your Own Home

So I was poking around on the Chinese Embassy's website and saw this link to ShowChina.org. It's actually a pretty interesting website that has all kinds of information about China. On there I came across a link to MandarinTube.com, a site where you can sign up for free and watch all kinds of videos to help you learn Mandarin. At first I thought it was just a bunch of videos of people in everyday situations speaking in Mandarin with English subtitles. Not very helpful. BUT then I looked around some more and it's actually a really good resource. In addition to the video they have a link to another video called "Understanding Video" where they go through the dialogue step by step showing you the written words, the English translation and slowly going through the pronunciation.

We'll see how actually learning this language goes. I took Japanese in college, but this is much harder. Spoken Japanese is pretty easy as the romanji (the way of writing Japanese in western letters) actually looks like what you are saying. Their language is made of fairly simple phonetics such as ka, sa, ro, ni, etc. Mandarin, on the other hand, is a whole different bag. Even though you can write it in western letters it still doesn't sound anything like what it looks like. Then there is the trouble that you can have the same word but depending on your inflection it can mean several different things. I can only hope I don't tell someone their mother looks like a monkey's butt.

Windsor Castle: Some Castle in England with an AWESOME dollhouse

OK, OK so Windsor Castle is more than "some castle in England" being that it's housed monarchs for centuries but seriously the best thing about Windsor Castle, for little girls *cough* and moms *cough*, is Queen Mary's Dolls House.

This thing is ridiculous. It was originally planned as a gift for Queen Mary (of the 20th century) by one of her neices but it quickly turned into a major project to promote the craftsmen and historical traditions of England. It is filled with custom made miniatures by some of the world's most well known artists. Cartier, Faberge, Daulton China, Rolls Royce, even writers such as Rudyard Kipling and A.A. Milne. You name it, it's in there. It has working elevators, electrical lighting, even working plumbing. There are miniature exact replicas of everything you would find in a "normal" upscale home at the time. It's just amazing. I could have spent hours looking at it. In fact, Maya and I went to see it twice because we loved it so much. If you're ever at Windsor Castle be sure to go to see the dollhouse and for 4.50 GBP you can also pick up a book about it in one of the gift shops which tells it's history and has some great close up shots. Since you aren't allowed to take photos when you're in there that's really the only way to get a lasting view.

You can also go online and find some illegally taken images that other people have done. I like the book, though, because it's quite complete and gives you information that you would never get from someone else's grainy blurry illegally taken photo. However, since you guys can't see the book, here are some of the said illegal images I found of it to give you an idea of it's wonderful display :
http://www.nsrider.com/gallerymain/England/dollhouse.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sangster/237745019/

The Man Behind the Curtain

It's been unbelievably busy since my last post. Tallinn wasn't necessarily my FAVORITE place but overall it was a really nice, relatively relaxing trip.

The best part of the trip by far was getting to meet a gentleman named Mark Rybak. He is the cousin of one of Josh's friends from college and he actually grew up in Tallinn during the Nazi and Soviet occupations. He was very gracious in letting us ask him all kinds of questions about what life was like "behind the iron curtain." I am a huge history buff so it was fascinating to hear his views and often surprising. He said that, for the most part, life in Estonia was fairly normal for him. He knew that there were things he was missing out on but I didnt get the sense that he had bad memories of that time. That's not to say things overall were roses and candies, but it wasn't necessarily the life of a USSR citizen that I had envisioned. he now lives in Tel Aviv, Israel but is working in Tallinn to help them document the history of the small Jewish population of Estonia. Unfortunately, the majority of Mark's family, as well as the majority of the Jewish community in Estonia, were killed by the Nazi's and there is very little remaining of the Jewish cultural history there. Mark is working to help create a museum dedicated to those who were lost so they won't be forgotten. I say, good luck to him and I hope to go back to Estonia one day to see it.

Tallinn, Estonia: A Quiet City With a Difficult Past

We've been on travel for the past five days and this is the first chance I've had to get on here and write about it! A terrible error indeed! This trip has felt like two or three trips all jumbled into one as we flew into London, spent one day at Windsor Castle and Stonehenge; one day in Britsol where we got to meet the fine folks at Trunki (!!!!!); and then we headed off for Tallinn Estonia. Since the other places we've been are pretty typical on the average travelers itinerary (well maybe except for the meet up with Trunki) I'll stick with Tallinn for now.

Tallinn is an old city that has been beset with invasion after invasion over it's time. In ancient times it was the Romans and the Vikings. In more recent times it was the Nazis and the Soviets. Tallinn seems to be trying hard to cut ties with it's interloper past and prove that it is a city, and a country, of its own. During WWII it was first taken over for a short time by the Nazis who then lost it to the Russians. The people of Tallinn certainly seemed to suffer under the Russian occupation with many people being sent off to Siberia, foreign Russian workers brought in to "russify" the area, and a take over of their economy. After the fall of communism in Russia, though, Estonia worked hard to get back on its own two feet and looked to make itself more like the west. Today Tallinn is quite a popular tourist spot for many Europeans and Scandinavians and it seems to be doing well for itself.

There are some drawbacks to all this popularity for tourists at least. Namley the cost of things. Now I didnt expect to come here and be able to go on a giant shopping spree but when it's $10 just for a fridge magnet I'd say teh price of things has gone a little overboard. Granted we've been hovering around the prime tourist trap areas and I would expect some level of inflation but really, comon, $10 for a magnet? I saw a hat I could easily have made for myself selling for $35! Ouch! The food is good and our hotel is once again exceptional thanks to TripAdvisor.com (my new favorite website) but everything else has been a hit to the pocketbook and almost a turn off.

There are good parts though. There are parks EVERYWHERE, Maya loves all the old cobblestone streets and there is some really beautiful architecture here. I've been impressed with the beautiful wood carvings here. We went in one church that was covered with intricately carved wooden plaques made whenever the patriarch of a prominent family passed. Also, many of the buildings have beautifully carved doorways and walls. Maya loved the Estonian Hisotory museum and we found a great many coffee shops and sweet stores to pop into for a break from the cold.

Over all Tallinn has been a nice break from the business of back home. Despite not being able to buy my VERY IMPORTANT useless bric-a-brac at a reasonable cost I would say Tallinn is nice if you want a little taste of history with some lovely walks and beautiful scenery.

Here are some of Josh's beautiful pictures as always