Gear Up and Play

Beat the winter blues: Cheap and eco ways to warm up

greengoddess — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:07:41 +0000

February has become a brutal month for winter weather across the States, and I bet it is the same in other countries.

With the winter weather comes cozy indoors, but with limited income and high heat costs, cozy no longer means the same in 2010. There are many eco-conscious people out there, too, who are aware of the mainstream heating agents, aka fossil fuels, and their reported harmful effects. (If not, visit here.)

So, what is a person to do when they are not only shivering outdoors, but indoors as well? Or they turn their heat off or very low down just to save a couple of bucks?

Here are some ways you can try to beat the winter chill AND the heating highrise:

Get a large blanket that will insulate your body. I am not talking about a cotton comforter, even though they work well. During the winter months, you need more than that comforter. Look for down-alternative blankets (because who wants to be sleeping with goose feathers floating out and sticking to your clothes?) If you have allergies, down isn’t your best bet, but what about those thick blankets you see under tents along the highway that feature lovely pictures of bears and eagles? I know, they look ugly, but I have one a friend got for me, and though it doesn’t match my decor, it keeps me so warm on winter nights that I don’t need my heat on to sleep without freezing to death!
Wear fleecy clothing and sweats. Don’t becaught wearing your coat, scarf, winter hatand gloves in your house. Just buy some fleecy pajama pants (it’s OK that they have reindeer on them) and a fleece top to go with your outfit. Wear a cotton tank top under the shirt to make sure there is a bit of air circulation so sweating can be minimal.
Drink hot tea or coffee, or maybe some soup. Drinking or eating something hot will warm you on the inside out, and in combination with the blankets and warming clothing, it will keep you toasty for awhile. Just don’t overdo it with the caffeine, or you will be running to the bathroom frequently and uncovering your little warming hut.
If you have an electric blanket, use it. This method will eat up some of your utilities, but it’s a good bet if you simply can’t warm up or if your shut your heat off. More recent models have a timer, where it automatically shuts off when it’s been on too long, saving your electricity usage and preventing any fires from occurring.
Cuddle with a person! Even if you are freezing, you are actually giving off a lot of heat. Men generally give off a lot more heat than women, though they may be cold like us women. But no matter the gender, just sitting under a blanket close to someone will help your body heat up. If you are single or your significant other lives farther away, invite over a close friend, and sit close and tucked in your blanket. (I am only suggesting platonic actions.) If this fails you, cuddle with a furry friend! They might not sit as still, but you can try, because as mammals they also give off heat. They might be happy you are keeping them warmer, too.

These are some easy, eco-friendly and cheap ways to keep out the winter blues. Now, go grab the back seasons of your favorite TV show and show the couch some love!

Freelance Travel Writers – Becoming a Travel Writer

Gear Up and Play — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:20:40 +0000

When I started Gear Up and Play I had a dream. It was pretty simple, I wanted to quit my 9-5 day job and pursue something that would allow me the freedom to enjoy life the way I always imagined. In this dream I traveled freely, just me and my backpack, a notebook computer and a small amount of personal belongings. I had no set agenda, no longing obligations and no place to call home. I was simply a freelance travel writer.

Each day I would wake up and wander a new street, each month a new city, and each year a new country. By day I would visit world renowned land marks as well as quaint local cafes and shops. Then I would get lost, sit and ponder my direction and then find new ones. At night I would return to my hotel and write on my computer, expand my ideas and pray for the income to keep me going. It was this very website that I dreamed could fuel my ambitions to be a freelance travel writer.

A year later I’m still in a world defined by the rules around me, the bills above me and the routine imprisoning me. Indeed, this path is hard to shake and I don’t feel as though I make a choice as much as I am just pushed along with the days. Not much has changed. I make a small fortune and end up squandering it on my faltering car, it gets me to work. The very same work I’ve come to despise. Its what I have to do though, it pays the bills,…barely.

I worry, when would it be enough, although the website performs it don’t earn me near the cash I’m making at my day job. Could I really survive as a freelance travel writer? Probably not yet! Maybe just get bye but there is still work to be done and the dream lives on.

Does this sound familiar? Do you have the dream? To live free and persue life the way you imagined by becoming a travel writer. This isn’t a get rich scheme or a promise at wealth or a call to action that makes promises. Yes, its a dream but more importantly it should be your goals. What are your goals?

If they are anything like mine then this is a opportunity to become part of something we are trying to create here at Gear Up and Play. The goal is simple and it reaches beyond just what I want for my own life, it reaches into yours. I imagine a place where anyone and everyone can publish articles about thier travels and earn the bread to move them to the next city. I imagine a place where everyone escapes the daily grind. Collectively we can create a wealth of personal experiences into a library of useful information for other would be travelers. The best part is you get paid 100% of your works efforts through the google adsense publishing program that we have implemented across our website. This means all you have to do is travel and write and we have a range of topics for you to explore. If this interest you please read “Kick In and Get Paid?”

The 5 things you must know NOW before travelling

lewis2009 — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 02:10:03 +0000

The 5 things you must know now before travelling on the cheap.

In this post I will cover:

- Getting free internet on your holiday / backpacking trip.

- Working the system to get the cheapest travel insurance possible.

- THE cheapest international calls

- Cheap cheap cheap Accomodation

- Specific info for each city

Getting Free Internet on you Backpacking trip

When it comes to cheap backpacking, this tip will save you a lot.

I picked up an old Nokia phone with Wifi (EU75) from a gypsy market in Bulgaria two months ago, and I’ve been sponging off other peoples open wifi connections ever since!

The beauty of this is that each time I use my new free internet connection instead of paying Euro 2-5 (sometimes 10!), eventually that money saved means that I will eventually make the cost of the phone back and then start actively saving/making money.

I’ve also downloaded a nifty program called fring, which lets me call others on skype/google talk etc for free or landlines/mobiles for a small fee when at a wifi hotspot. The fee is much less than what you can expect to pay with the normal ‘cheap’ international phone cards.

Working the system to get the cheapest travel insurance possible

Rule number one for having a cheap backpacking experience:
NEVER buy travel insurance from your travel agent! Until you follow the steps below first!
Buying travel insurance from travel agents is like buying Armani from a supermarket. It’s just not cricket ~
Because it is a point of convenience, most people don’t think about shopping around and just go for the first price they get. Which is always a rip off.
My first quote for travel insurance for a 6 month trip to Europe, Middle East and Africa was over AU$600 from my travel agent. No thanks.
I then did a search on the web for the absolute cheapest I could find with (and this is very important) comprehensive, unlimited health insurance, which is all I was interested in. I ended up getting a quote for AU$200 from a company backed by a major international bank. I then took that to my travel agent and they matched and beat it. So I ended up paying AU$180 instead of AU$600 for the same product!

The cheapest international calls are not where you think

Most of us who are looking for a cheap backpacking experience know not to call home from hostel/hotel phones etc and usually buy calling cards.
Whilst this can be cheap, some countries don’t have the cheap international calling cards, or if they do are not so cheap.
The other option is using a feature called ’skype out’ – this is part of the normal skype program, except instead of just calling a skype computer, you can call actual landlines and mobiles. For cheap!! : )
For example, I go to an internet cafe in Bulgaria and call home for the skype rate of AU 2 cents per minute instead of AU 26 cents per minute which I would be charged with a calling card/special internet phone booth.
That’s 1/10th of the price! Yahoo has an even cheaper option with their chat program.
Or if the person you are calling has Skype/Yahoo messenger, you can call for free obviously : )

Cheap Accommodation

The worst thing you could do when aiming for a cheap backpacking experience is booking a hostel through hostelworld.
Having worked at a hostel I can tell you they own 80% of the market and can get away with charging you US$2 on top of the 10% booking fee.
Why pay the US$2 every time when you can book free at hostelbookers (dot com)? You get exactly the same thing without being taken advantage of!
Another thing that is handy to know is that that 10% deposit only goes to the website not to the hostel!
Knowing that, why not google the website of the hostel you want and email them directly, asking them if you can keep the 10% if you book through them directly? I’ve done this several times and its especially handy for long term stays.

Specific info for each city : )

Whilst the preceding four points are good general tips, one more thing that will save your hard earned money is to find blogs which cover cheap tips for the city / place you are about to visit.

Have any more good tips for backpacking on the cheap? Please share them with the rest of us below : )

Lewis is an Aussie that got bored with the 9-5 job and has been backpacking cheaply through the Middle East and Europe since January 2009, and like most Aussie backpackers, loves a good bargain. Travelling for so long he’s learnt how to stretch his Aussie dollar as far as it’ll go. If you would like more tips on how to enjoy cheap holidays, visit his blog.

Add plants and filter your air!

greengoddess — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:33:45 +0000

Watching late-night television, we get sucked in with the infomercials. One in particular tells me about purifying my air and how that would help my health.
I am a sucker for filtered anything. We live in a dirty, dirty world and anything to get me away from that filth will make me happier. But I am not a millionaire, I am surviving on a new-to-the-workforce salary.
Well, NASA has given me an answer — buy plants!
NASA, as part of the NASA Clean Air Study, came out with a list of household plants to buy that not only releases oxygen and absorbed carbon dioxide, but can filter the three of the main airborne toxins we breathe in each day. The study found that the plants can eliminate significant amounts of benzene, formaldehyde and/or trichloroethylene, which was tested in the NASA space stations.
The list includes:

1. English Ivy
2. Spider plant
3. Golden pothos or Devil’s ivy
4. Peace lily
5. Chinese evergreen
6. Bamboo palm or reed palm
7. Snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue
8. Heartleaf philodendron
9. Selloum philodendron
10. Elephant ear philodendron
11. Red-edged dracaena
12. Cornstalk dracaena
13. Janet Craig dracaena
14. Warneck dracaena
15. Weeping Fig
16. Gerbera Daisy or Barberton daisy
17. Pot Mum or Florist’s Chrysanthemum
18. Rubber Plant

Look at that list!

The pollutants are found in everyday things, such as ink, paint, adhesives, plywood, grocery bags, plastics and pharmaceuticals.

These plants need to undergo photosynthesis for the filtration to work properly, so keep your plant watered (or follow directions that is recommended for the plant) and keep in a well-lit area.

For more information, visit the Wikipedia Web site, or a short summery of NASA’s original report. To download the PDF of the document, visit this site.

Winter prep for the green life

greengoddess — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:21:29 +0000

Well, winter is already here! For the Northeastern United States, it has been weird to already see snow “early” in winter. Snow blanketed much of the country this past week, and then a swift, freezing cold wind blew past us.

But that only reminds us that we must prepare our houses and daily routines for the cold and wet weather. With some more warmer winter weather, in the 30s and 40s, coming our way, it’s a perfect time to set up the winter routine.

Household prep:

Seal any leaks with insulation, caulking, weather stripping and door snakes. By doing this, you keep warm air in and cold air out. If it is really warm and you have the money, invest in double-pane windows. Otherwise, dust off your darker window treatments so that the heat stays in. Also, putting a layer of plastic can help seal windows for the winter, and there are kits in any store. This is not the green way to go, however, if you bought some last year, simply throwing it out isn’t green either. Use up what you have.
Clean your gutters, because proper cleaning will prevent damage to the house and deterioration. For an even greener way, you can retrofit the gutters to collect rainwater and snowmelt to aid in lawn irrigation.
Insulate your attic so cold doesn’t seep into the house. Also, inspect your roof for any type of leak that would cause major damage during the winter months.
Install ceiling fans and set them clockwise in winter, to help push warmer air down where you can enjoy it.
Set your thermostat to 65 F or lower, and wear layers of warm cotton clothing in dark colors that absorb light and heat.
Consider investing in a programmable thermostat that fulfills heating needs around your schedule. You set it so the heat kicks on for a specified amount of time before you arrive home or before you get up in the mornings.
Check your furnace or heating source to make sure it’s working properly. By doing this, you prevent any mid-winter mishaps and get the maximum benefit all winter long. Also, look into a furnace cover, which will prevent heat from seeping from the tank and also prevent the need for it to continuously heat up.

Garden prep:

Keep a bin close by, and you can fill with dead branches and leaves.

This about next year’s garden plan and evaluate how you can make it more green.
Continue your compost bin. Try a worm bin for the winter, or just keep it close-by your house for easy food disposal.

Transportation prep:

Check your vehicle to make sure the fluid levels are at a good point. If needed, add gasoline anti-freeze to your tank before filling up, so your gas won’t freeze when it is 10 degrees below! (This almost happened to me recently!)
If you are a walking or mass-transportation commuter, gather organic and eco-friendly winter wear. Look for sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves and coats that have been made organically and, better yet, local. Invest in a good pair of boots that will last you past this year.
Biking? It might not be the safest way during winter weather, but there are some maintenance that is needed. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and not worn down; get proper eye gear such as goggles; wear layers and breathable, waterproof coat and clothing; invest in a rear rack or waterproof pannier for your baggage, which will be heavier to cart in the winter weather; get a light for the bike because natural light is scarce; and think about a winter kit, such as a flashlight and a lock de-icer.

Also, don’t forget to stock up on local food essentials to cut down on costs, look up seasonal recipes and cuddle with those you love to keep warm.

Seasons greetings!

Love and Sex and Backpacking

lewis2009 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:15:36 +0000

Photo by Carlo Nikora (Flickr)

Having been on the road since January 2009, I’ve got to say I’ve pretty much seen and experienced a lot of it. Now I’m traveling with the girl I love and I couldn’t be happier. Whether you are looking for a few hookups, or something deeper, here are some tips that might get you what you want:

>>Atmosphere of the hostel
Having worked at a couple of hostels, this is perhaps one of the most crucial choices you will make. When looking through Hostelbookers or whichever site you use, pay close attention to two things – atmosphere and location. Here’s why: Atmosphere indicates the level of connection people felt when they were there – is it simply another chain hostel there trying to jam as many people in as possible, to make as much money as possible? Or was the profit motive balanced with good common areas where people found it easy to connect with each other?

And its not just about having a living room – its got to have an element where people can do things together without knowing each other yet, which will give them an opportunity to begin by engaging in small talk. Examples of this can be as simple as two Internet/computer terminals side by side, a pool table, a TV with a comfortable lounge etc etc. They all give opportunities for small talk and then it evolves from there.

Location of the hostel
The other really important tip, especially for hookups (:P) is, where is the hostel located is it in the middle of the city where people are likely to go off and explore and do their own thing for a couple of days, or is it in a pleasant but somewhat isolated area? The wildest hostel I’ve ever been to purported to be in the action, but in reality was 15 minute bus ride away. This meant that all the people that came to have fun, made fun with each other in the hostel itself.

When you have less distractions (ie Ancient Temples, Museums etc etc), you are more likely to stay in the hostel and make connections with the people who are around you. This builds a stronger group, when there is ‘us in here’ not so connected with ‘them out there’.

Go where you know people of your own culture are staying

I know this is going to get a lot of frowns from real backpackers who know the entire point of traveling is to experience different cultures, but the fact is, even tho people want to experience something different, they are still more comfortable with the familiar.

No matter how progressive and open minded you consider yourself to be, you are far more likely to hook up with someone of your own culture (generally speaking) or Enneagram type than with someone who speaks a foreign (especially if English is not your first language) simply because it is human nature to be more trusting of a person if there is a familiarity to them.
Being fluent in the same language also means you are better able to communicate with them – and if you are looking for love and not just sex, then this can be important.

This is not to say it applies all the time. Just most of the time, to most people.

Obviously, drink booze
This is an obvious but really important one – don’t get completely off your face where you regret what you did last night, but a little booze can really oil the wheels of communication and fun Drink at the hostel rather than going out – its not only cheaper, but having a comfortable bed is a lot more likely going to allow a girl to say yes than if the best you can offer her is the romance of a McDonald’s toilet, or the seedy back alley of a nightclub

Whether you’re male or female always carry some condoms. There’s no worse way to ruin a good holiday than to come home with a permanent sexually transmitted disease. Holidays are temporary, diseases can be permanent. Also, its a fact that a lot of girls say no to sex without protection.

Top places to have a good shag in a hostel
Places which tend to be deserted in the middle of the night include the kitchen, the roof, laundry room, or, you could be boring and get away from prying eyes by hiring a private room. I have a friend who became such good friends with the hostel owner, that the owner let him borrow a private room free of charge for a few hours every so often for his shag marathons.

Lewis is an Aussie who has been backpacking and living overseas continuously since January 2009. He presently writes for Gear Up and Play, but also has a Lonely Planet feautured travel blog which focuses on tips for backpacking on the cheaphttp://backpackingonthecheap.blogspot.com

Green your Thanksgiving

greengoddess — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:51:57 +0000

Turkey

Thanksgiving is a time to give, what else, but thanks. It’s in the name. We are thankful for our families, friends, the food on the table, the clothes that we wear and the heat in our homes.

But it also should be a time to thank Mother Earth. She provided all of it, with her wondrous, mysterious ways.

For Thanksgiving, think green, to thank the Earth. But how can you do that? A few ways:

No. 1: Food!
This is the most important section of greening for Thanksgiving. You can do this in a variety of ways, all dependent on the size of your crowd for the day.
* Is it just non-meat eaters? Perfect! That is the best way to go green. Create dishes from the earth, using vegetable proteins to substitute meat. It doesn’t have to be that packaged Tofurky, but that’s a lot better than the real turkey (for greening purposes.) Visit Planet Green’s Web page for cooking ideas.
* You have meat-eaters? Get an organic and local turkey. Many farmer’s markets are selling a lot of meats during this time of year in preparation for winter, and turkeys should be abound. If not, go to your local grocery store and check the meat section. Ask the workers in charge of the meat section. Read every label and look for key words: “organic” and “farm raised,” to name a few.

Cranberries

* What about those sides? It is so easy to get them out of a box, but don’t do that! Go to your farmer’s markets and get all the supplies you need! Don’t be scared of the squash, whole pumpkin, different leafy greens and radishes. These are the real harvest bounty this time of year, so celebrate it!
Three key side dishes you can make-over include: cranberry sauce, green bean casserole and sweet potato souffle. Visit this Web page from Green Planet for recipes.
* Take the 100-mile green challenge from Tree Hugger. Visit their holidays Web site for more details, but it is what it says: Gather all your food within 100 miles of where you reside.
* Serve as much organic and local as possible, even the wine!
* Use scraps for compost!

No. 2: Your Home
* Don’t use those paper plates, no matter how bad you want to! Stop buying those disposable items and bring out the beautiful china! That is what it’s for, when you first bought it. Scared to let the little kiddies use it? Then, take out your everyday china for them, as to not have your set ruined by one smashed plate.
* Break out the good linens, including napkins! For this one and the one above, it’s clear that the reason we use disposable is to throw away the mess. However, doing so throws away millions of the Earth’s resources. A simple spin in the washer, the dishwasher or cleaning by hand never hurt anyone. And I bet that gorgeous tablecloth you bought on sale a few years ago, but “never got around to using” will be perfect.
* Clean house. Use non-toxic cleaning agents, either bought or made by yourself (second one preferred.) Make sure when you are

Squash

cleaning (and cooking), to stuff the appliances so you are getting the maximum benefit, and saving energy and time by needing another load to run.
Then, decorate! Buy organic, local flowers and use the decorations you already have instead of buying new ones. As far as candles, get non-toxic soy. And if you are dying for a set of orange lights, look for LED so you can save energy.
* Need sheets and towels for guests? But organic! Get quality, earth-friendly products for them to use, including the soap on the bathroom sink!

No. 3: Your car
* Not hosting? Well, carpool to the relatives! We wouldn’t want you Skyping on this holiday just to save gas, but pile everyone in and take one vehicle.
* Invite neighbors and friends, so they aren’t alone on the holidays. If someone isn’t traveling, for a variety of reasons, invite them over to enjoy the bounty.

One final fun activity:
* Adopt a turkey! Many people do this for the holiday, which preserves one turkey from being killed. It’s a wonderful idea. Read this Planet Green article on how to, and read how to celebrate the turkey, not eat it, here. (Did you know that turkeys are older than us, and can run faster than us?)

There are many sites about how to green your Thanksgiving, two with extensive resources are Planet Green and TreeHugger (scroll to the bottom.)

The dinner table

Have a happy Thanksgiving, and remember to not eat too much tofu!

What to do in Hawaii?

Gear Up and Play — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:41:50 +0000

Your planning the trip, you know your going to Hawaii and your excited. Now you have to ask yourself, what kind of vacation is this going to be? See, to me, there are two types. There’s that vacation that everyday you have something planned and you need to squeeze as much sightseeing in as you can. Afterall, you might never get back here and if you return with just a bunch of photos of you at the pool people will think you are lame. They will say things like: Why did you even go? You could of done that anywhere. Whats more unfortuanate is they will be right!

Now, I know sometimes its just nice to have a few days of relaxation. This is the second type of vacation. The one where you don’t have much planned and tend to lay around the pool and beach as much as possible. On this vacation the biggest chore of the day is deciding what restraunt to eat at for dinner.

When it comes to Hawaii you might be thinking vacation number 2, afterall its “fun in the sun” right. OK fine, we will keep it light but we demand you atleast keep it unique. Here are a few suggestions to make your trip to Hawaii special.

5 must do activities while visiting Morocco

5 must do activities while visiting Morocco

Gear Up and Play — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:51:02 +0000

If you are planning a trip to Morocco here are 5 activities you need to make sure you check into.

No related posts.

Top 10 unique tips for a cheap holiday or backpacking experience

lewis2009 — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:17:18 +0000

Top 10 unique tips for a cheap holiday or backpacking
experience

10. Don’t be boring! A holiday should not only be about relaxing, it should also be about challenging yourself to grow by experiencing and interacting with true local people as much as possible. Staying in a hotel and hanging out with other tourists is not only lame, its expensive. Why not volunteer for a couple of weeks at one of these non profits?
http://www.ivp.org
http://www.mondochallenge.org
http://www.helpx.net

9. If your destination is expensive to fly directly to, use this method.

8. Hegel and bargain! This is standard in the middle east and parts of Europe! You would be foolish not to step out of your comfort zone and have a different cultural experience.

7. Think you’ve found a bargain card to call home with? Think again, go to an Internet cafe and buy Skype out credit for calling landlines. Or if you want even cheaper than that, buy yahoo credit

6. If you know you are going to a super expensive city for the next few days, buy your food in the city or country before.

5. Why pay the extra US$2 booking fee when using hostelworld when can avoid it by using Hostelbookers

4. Why not live like a local and use a supermarket and hostel kitchen to cook your own food instead buying out? Ask the locals for the cheapest supermarket in the area.

3. When booking flights, use a site which has most if not all the discount airlines

2. Search the web for tips by frugal travelers who have been to major cities before
such as this one.

1. Question and think different. Ask locals how they save money.Never take the
easiest option when a service is offered! ie. exchanging cash at the airport because its easy is moronic!

More ways to save money whilst travelling

Lewis is an Aussie that got bored with the 9-5 job and has been backpacking cheaply through the Middle East and Europe for since January 2009, and like most aussie backpackers, love a good bargain. Travelling for so long he’s learnt how to stretch his Aussie dollar as far as it’ll go. If you would like more tips on how to enjoy cheap holidays, visit his blog.