Bungee!

So maybe it wasn't the smartest idea to leap off a Bridge in No-Man's-Land, between Zimbabwe and Zambia, but it just had to be done. Looking up from the Zambezi river, it didn't look all that high...

But it was far more terrifying from the bridge. By the time I was over there, and had convinced my dad to come with me it was really too late for me to back out. When we were buying our tickets they said there was a great deal if you wanted to do all three of their "activities", or perilous leaps toward impending doom, so we opted to take the deal. We decided to warm up with the zip line across the gorge. While it was pretty high up, and a long distance, it really wasn't very scary. Honestly, it was more exciting than anything else.

That's me, right in the middle there. My father then followed suit. After the zip line warm up, it was time for bungee!

Maybe thinking it would provide reassurance, my dad asked for their success rate, "Have you ever had any accidents?" And the reply we got was a cheerful, "Not yet!" My stomach flipped. I don't know what kind of answer I was expecting, maybe, "We are very cautious and provide secondary and tertiary precautions." Then again, I guess I forgot that I was literally in between two African countries, one of which is going through political and economic turmoil. So I assessed the situation on my own. The first bounce should least break your fall and you shouldn't hit the water too hard. However, I also concluded that if something does go wrong, and you fall into the water below (given you survive), you still have to watch out for the crocodiles swimming along the Zambezi. Anyway, I summoned every last gut I had and stepped into the harness and out onto the platform. The harness wasn't great, I won't lie. It was just a few strappy nylon ropes configured around my body in the most unattractive way one could think of, but I figured it might work. I had refused to watch any of the videos prior to my launch in fear that they would scare the last ounce of bravery right out of me, so I didn't know what to expect next. They had me sit down on a bench as they wrapped up my feet, because apparently you bungee jump upside down, only connected by the ankles. This little bit almost made me back out, they took four ratty old dish towels, which looked like they belonged to my 80 year old grandmother when she learned to cook, and wrapped two around each ankle. At this point I needed some reassurance, so I looked up only to see my dad with his head cocked, brow frowned, starting at my ankles, exuding nothing less than sure terror for letting his only little girl leap about 80 feet, not knowing if she would bounce back up or not. So I realized I definitely wasn't going to get any help there. Meanwhile, my ankles were bound together with a thick nylon rope and tied it in a knot, yes a knot. Then they finally attached me with a little carabiner to the bungee chords. There was one for my ankles and one for the harness strapped around my body, they said the second was for precautionary reasons only, but I was kind of wishing that was the main one.

Finally, it was time to actually jump. At this point they say that if you don't jump after they say 5...4...3...2...1...BUNGEE, they push you. So really my best option was to jump. I couldn't look down, it was all to surreal, so I just leapt off in a perfect swan dive, so I was told later. I could have swarm I waited a good 4 to 5 seconds before I started screaming my head off, but I was also told later that it was indeed only a second after. Suddenly, I felt to bungee tighten and I was being pulled back up. The first bounce was pure relief, I had made it, nothing broke, and I wasn't falling toward the crocodiles! However, I had very different feelings toward the next 15 bounces. My brain was filled with thoughts of keeping my ankles flexed to make sure I didn't slip out, to how sick I was about to get, to I really should been enjoying the situation because the view was phenomenal (despite being upside down). About a few minutes later than I would have preferred someone came down to get me, and they pulled me up. I couldn't speak for about 10 minutes after, the adrenaline was rushing, and so was the sweat. I think I was more terrified after the experience than before or during. So when they asked if I was ready for the their "activity" I just laughed uncomfortably and walked away.

Travel Accessories

Noise reducing headphones are key when you're flying. When you don't hear the noise from the airplane it makes the flight much more pleasant, and I'm convinced embark on your new adventure with more energy. I'm a big fan of the Sony headset, but Bose are good too. Earbuds are also good, and my favorite brand of those is Audio Technica. They save space, but are less comfortable and don't block the noise out quite as well. The each of these headset goes for about $400, but the earbuds are about $150. However, there are plenty of different brands out there, so you can just google noise reduction headphones and you will find lots of comparison sites.

A Kindle is a great gift for any traveler, or a treat for yourself. You can download reading books, magazine subscriptions, and guidebooks. The new kindles even have international wifi, so that you can download a book as you sit at the local cafe waiting for your cappuccino or waiting in the Brussels airport waiting for your flight to Rome. This way you save space and weight, which is always important when you're traveling around. And if you decide to go to an unexpected place while your abroad, one more guidebook is just a click away. The current price of a Kindle is about $260.

I have not had the pleasure of experimenting with the iPad (which run $500 and up), but from what I hear it is very similar to the kindle, but has way more going on. Somehow, though, I think I like the kindle better, because it don't get tempted with the distractions of technology, and I get to just read my book. After years of the successful Kindle, other tech companies were bound to make copies, so there are also all of those options out there.

However, I must admit, it takes some getting used to. There is just something about holding a book, and flipping the pages that is hard to forget. So, personally, I would travel with a kindle, especially on long trips when I will have lots of time to read. But opt to purchase hard copies when I have room to spare.

Tip for Smartphone Users:

There are many guidebook apps that you can download for your phone. Most of them cost money, but there is an app for blackberries called quintessentially that is completely free. And it's an app that gives you short guides to cities all around the world. It definitely cannot replace a guidebook, but would make an excellent quick reference tool while traveling. They may have this app for iPhones as well, but I'm not sure.

Safari in Botswana

Most people plan out their adventures through Africa in excruciating detail, starting months, or even years in advance. This, however, is not how my family works. We had planned on going to India, but we really didn't have enough time to wait for my visa to come through. So after spending a solid hour at Barnes and Noble looking for countries near Australia (which was our location at the time) that did not require a visa prior to entry, Southern Africa was the public favorite. So we booked flights, hotels, and the like, all in about a day and a half and set out toward foreign terrain.

During our stay in Africa, one of the countries we visited was Botswana, where we went on safari. We had the pleasure of staying at two very different camps in the Okavango Delta, Mombo and Vumbura. Mombo claims its bragging rights over the amount of game one can see on any given day, but has little water to speak of. On the other hand, Vumbura prides itself on the water activities and tranquility of the crystal waterways of the Delta. Both camps are absolutely beautiful, and the food is not only delicious but plentiful. Usually, one has to book a stay at Mumbo almost a year in advance, and Vumbura takes slightly less notice, but still at least a few months. However, we were very lucky that each had openings just at the times we were headed to Botswana. It was probably the coincidence of traveling during the worldwide economic downturn, but I like to think of myself as lucky. Anyway, to get to each of the camps we had to take tiny private propeller planes, since there is no way to drive across the Okavango. The views from the plane were breath taking, and you could clearly see how massive the Delta was.

Mombo was an absolute surprise to me. I had no idea what I was getting into when my dad told me we'd be staying in tents in the middle of no where, but I doubted it could be good. But it turned out that I was very wrong. The camp was beautiful, from the scenery to the "tents" we'd be staying in for the next few days...

...which really weren't tents at all...

...I was envisioning a a hut, like this one to be the entire room, but instead each came with one of these...

There were about 10 total, and each was elevated off of the ground, and connected with elevated walkways, which led back to the main patio.

...the animals seem to like the camp too...

I came across this big guy when I was on my way to bed. That beam was a part of my tent!

While I was still just astounded at our living situation, we were pulled from the camp and into a safari-equipped land rover. I was perfectly happy to stay in the camp all day, seeing as my deck looked out over a field where there were hundreds of antelope just hanging out, and the occasional elephant in the distance. Little did I know, there was much more to see from the jeep. We had barely gone half a mile, and we already seen a troop of monkeys, herds of antelope, and a tower of giraffes. After my ooing and awing (during which time our guide, Cisco, was rolling his eyes, because he called these the "cheap" animals) we got word on the radio about a lioness with a kill. So we headed over to see for ourselves.

At one point she was only about 10 feet from my side of the jeep. When Cisco saw the look of sheer terror on my face he said, "Don't be scared, just take pictures." And so I did just that...

The amount of game was saw at Mombo was really amazing. Cisco said it was so common to see three different animals in one spot the "Mombo Combo". During our stay at Mombo, we managed to see the Big Five, which includes lions, elephants, cape buffalo, leopards, and rhinos. And, of course, we saw many more than just those five.

Apparently December is right in the middle of baby season, and we were lucky enough to be traveling during this time, so we saw baby versions of every animal.

Even though Mumbo is surrounded by fantastic game in every direction, and it would be very difficult to avoid the animals, I thought Cisco was an exceptional guide. He was able to track animals from their footprints and find kills from spotting circling vultures from a mile away.

This is a hyena that just finished scarfing down an entire baby impala. While sad, you really realize that it's the strong that survive out there, and Darwin really knew what he was talking about. Cisco saw a wild dog make this kill and a hyena take it from a mile away. He then exclaimed, "HOLD ON!" and sped off in that direction. And luckily, we caught just the end of it.

Vumbura's focus was water based. While we were there we didn't see as much game, but we took a trip along the river in a mucoro, which is a traditional African river boat similar to a gondola.

The cabins here were also very nice, but the feel of the camp was more laid back, and not so showy.

The schedule at these camps were very similar. They require that you wake up with the sun, have a quick breakfast and head out for the morning safari. As the sun starts to get very hot, and the animals find a shady spot for their afternoon siesta, you head back to the camp to have brunch, and a little rest for yourself. At around 3PM, when all the animals are starting to wake up you have another light snack, maybe even a refreshing beverage, alcoholic or otherwise, and go out for the afternoon safari. Then you return to camp for dinner, just in time to watch the sunset. It is really an experience to be had during your lifetime.

Shopping for Luggage?

If you're on the market for luggage a few of my favorites that I think you should consider are Tumi, Hartmann, and Swiss Army. Tumis have a great reputation in the travel industry. I believe their main demographic is businessmen, which makes sense because so many of their pieces are practical, understated, and black. Their luggage is very well made, and durable. This particular suitcase runs about $850 (26"). I have a tumi that might as well have gone through battle, but looks gently used. I once had a wheel break of of my Tumi, and I did a temporary fix while traveling, with duck tape, but brought it into the store as soon as I got back. They were happy to fix it, and apologized profusely for the inconvenience, and gave me a loaner of the same model, which I was free to travel with in the mean time. They have recently come out with lots of colorful luggage, which I love. Each of these is $495 (carry-on size), which is pricey, but they really are great bags.

The bright green is on my wish-list for Christmas. It's always easier to spot a strange colored bag, than a black one. I also found some great Tumis with crazy colors!

They have also come out with a light line of luggage, which is so great because you don't want to waste weight on your bag. (And all of these colorful carry-on bags are made light.) And they are meant to be 25-35% lighter than the average suitcase. I don't know as much about Hartman, but my dad has a couple, and he likes them because they are much lighter than the conventional tumi suitcase.

Their focus is also geared toward businessmen, but I think they are great for anyone who is a committed traveler. This color scheme is their signature, and this is their 20" and runs about $475, but I recently noticed it on sale for $356.25. And finally, I have always like Swiss Army suitcases.

This is their new look for big luggage (26"), and this one is $480 on their website. I have a bright red one from their old line, which I bought about 5 years ago. This is the one I usually use when I travel. It is durable, and the red helps it stand out, however I think a lot of people had that idea, so there are a surprising number of red suitcases encircling baggage claim carousels now days. These are the most modestly priced out of the bunch, but you would hardly be able to tell if you couldn't tell the brands apart. So if you're on the market for a Father's day gift, like most of us are, luggage is a great gift for a traveling dad.

Packing Tips

If you tend to start hyperventilating at the mere thought of packing, here are some tips that might help:

You may wan to make a master packing list on your computer of things you find that you need on trips, and print off a copy every time you need to pack for something. If this doesn't sound like something you want to invest too much time into, there are sites that can do it for you. Simply check off everything that applies to your trip, including everything from the temperature to if you have a baby, and it will generate a packing list specific to your needs. There are more specific sites, and others that are more general.

If you wish you were a lighter packer, here are a few things that might help:

-Choose a color scheme for your trip (earthy tones or blues/black), and make sure any piece of clothing can be matched with the others. This way you can make different outfits with a limited number of garments.

-Only bring things that you know you like. Don't bring that blazer you always thought you should wear, but never quite worked into an outfit. If you don't wear it at home, you won't want to wear it when you're abroad.

-Bring woolite and a tide-to-go-pen. This may sound counter intuitive, because it's two more things to pack, but this will actually allow you to bring less clothes. So instead of bringing 5 white undershirts, just bring 2 or 3 and take the time (about 5 minutes) to wash them in the sink.

-Bring versatile clothes. Leave that bright orange shirt, the one that only goes with that one pair of khakis, at home. Separates are always great because you can mix and match, and never have to wear the same outfit twice. Also, bringing some accessories (which are smaller and lighter than a whole separate outfit) with a some simple tops you can easily change your look. Necklaces, scarves, and headbands are my personal favorites.

-There is no need to bring 3 different day bags. People understand that you're on a trip, and that you had to lug everything you're wearing on a plane, train, and up 7 flights of stairs. So just bring one bag to toss around during the day, and a nice purse for the night time or special occasions.

-Pass on the items in your closet that are painfully fashionable. When I say painfully, I mean that pair of shoes that are just so cute, but you can really only bear to wear for an hour, sitting. Go for comfort while traveling, because the last think you want to be thinking about when you're trekking through the sand to get from one pyramid to the next, or admiring the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is your itchy shirt or too-narrow patent leather shoes.

-This might seem obvious to some, but make sure everything you're bringing is travel sized. Just because you can put a full sized shampoo bottle into your carry on, doesn't mean you should. Buy some little bottles at the drug store, and fill these with your favorite shampoo, conditioner, or lotion.

-Wear the heaviest or bulkiest item you're bringing. For example, if you're bringing a pair of tennis shoes, and some sandals, wear the tennis shoes on the plane to free up space in your luggage. Or wear that bulky college sweatshirt on the plane. This might mean you will be a bit warm during transit, but it is better than trying and failing to put it into your already busting suitcase.

Hot Air Balloons

So, what do you do if you're in Napa Valley, California and you're not 21? Well, my parents and I figured it out when I was about 12 years old. You might think there isn't much to do besides drink wines and visit vineyards, but that is surprisingly false. There are lots of trails and hikes to be explored, horseback riding, and hot air ballooning, to name a few. Now that I am older, and have visited my fair share of vineyards (abroad) I look back and appreciate the experience of seeing them from above. The concept of raising a basket full of people by a big balloon and flame, baffles most. But the truly amazing part was the phenomenal views of the Valley. And I will never forget, the pilot let 12-year-old-me attempt to steer. I got to fuss around with the flame, to make the balloon go higher, under careful watch, of course. The baskets are pretty cramped, but I guess you have to consider the ballooners are striving for a maximum profit, and stuff about 10 people in a space that seems like it's made for 6. But after riding in one for an hour, I have a lot more respect for the guy who went around the world in one!

Trains

I must admit that I haven't had the most experience with trains. I only really ride them when I'm abroad, seeing as we don't have any in Hawaii. But I would definitely choose a train over a plane if I could. Riding a train doesn't require the ordeal air travel does. And you can gaze out the window at the landscape between point A and B. I have always been fascinated by the Japanese, and their train system. Their culture requires punctuality, and the trains are no exception. If a train schedule says that the train will arrive at 11:23, and leave at 11:28, you had better make that 5 minute window, because it won't be there at 11:22 or 11:29. And if you are ever able to avoid rush hour on the trains in Japan, definitely try to take another mode of transport, or you could be squeezed into that tin can with the rest of the sardines in suits. The attendants even help push you in there. Don't believe me?... Yeah, that was real life, I wish I was clever enough to make that stuff up. One the bright side, no one has to wait for the next train to come. The bullet train, or shinkansen is my favorite. The Japanese have created a completely different breed of land travel, cutting travel time in half with the shinkansen. (And don't worry, these trains have assigned seating for individuals, so you don't have to worry about popping your personal bubble. So if you are ever making your journey across Japan and feel that your time abroad is too short, which it always is, take the shinkansen. It will cost you a little more, but I think your time in worth it.