Planning a Trip

Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Yes, there will be a full post on this magical place.

I think I should have become a travel agent for my career. Who knows, I might still in the future! The thing is that I love planning trips. I love planning trips almost as much as I love going on the trip themselves. Whenever I am stressed out or have a lot on my plate, I will drop everything and just spend a couple of hours researching a trip that I will most likely never go on. It is a bit of a sickness...

I am not a wealthy person. I have an income that comes from my free-lancing but I live on a pretty fixed budget that doesn't allow for extravagance. For those who have been following me, I know that you might be slightly incredulous. I travel. A lot. Traveling is one of those things that just seems to ooze privilege and imply a trust fund (especially for young twenties). I don't have a trust fund and while I know my parents are my safety net, I try not to risk a fall.

The big secret is that travel is no more expensive than many other hobbies/interests. It all depends on where your priorities lie. If you own a car, a house or that new expensive gadget, then that is where your money goes. If you decide you need that designer bag/dress/pair of shoes, then you budget for it and you spend big bucks on what makes you happy.

I use my money on travel. Anything that I have left over is spent on flights, hotels and activities. That is how I was raised and how I have continued to live my life. Growing up I never had the biggest TVs or the most expensive cars. Instead I went windsurfing in Bali. I saw Komodo dragons on Komodo Island in Indonesia. I went on vacations to Hong Kong and took a family trip around Europe. I don't buy designer stuff, I don't own a car (or need to pay for gas or car insurance) and I don't have a house. I don't go out drinking or partying at all and so none of my money goes to expensive bar alcohol. I don't have a monthly cable bill. I don't have an animal (although hopefully next year!) and I don't need to make vet payments. I don't have the newest phone. I actually have a trusty Nokia that I've had for years. Even with this phone, I don't pay a monthly fee. I do pay as you go. Little secret, the US is one of the most expensive places in the world to have a phone plan. It is ridiculous how much they charge you. I don't go out to eat. I buy local produce and cook at home to save money. That extra saved money goes right into my travel fund.

The other way that I skimp and save is that I use the following sites to help me plan trips:

1. Booking Buddy is my standby. It is reliable and it checks multiple sites. When the other window pops up I always choose either CheapOAir and OneTravel. These tend to have the lowest fares out of anything else that I have found. The one caveat is that they are non-refundable. I don't use Booking Buddy for hotels or anything, just flights.

2. Sky Scanner is a new favourite that I recently discovered in the last couple of months. It has some really great deals for when you search for specific dates since it scans every travel site and redirects you. Another handy way to use Sky Scanner if you don't have a specific date in mind is to enter in a starting city and then click ______________ to anywhere. It will then come up with a list of places/prices. I found a $200 roundtrip ticket to Egypt this way. Alas I can't go since I have reached my travel quota for a bit, but it was an awfully tempting price...

3. I was just introduced to Travel Zoo by a friend who found roundtrip tickets from DC to Istanbul for $399. This is a great site if you don't have any dates in mind and can pick up and go if you find a good price. They have all sorts of deals that you can browse if you sign up. It's a pretty easy sign up and so far I haven't been bothered by annoying spam emails from them. You can also give Flight Matrix a go, although I haven't personally used it.

4. Once I have booked my tickets, I head over to either Hostel World or Hostel Bookers and scope out some hostels/hotels. I tend to use Hostel World more but they both work fine. Watch out for the prices because they can mean per person and not per room. It is also worth checking out Hotels.com since they have served me well in the past. If you find a good price, it might also be worth calling the hotel/hostel themselves to see what kind of deal they offer over the phone. I have found them to be cheaper in Turkey when I have contacted them directly.

5. I am quite wary of local travel agents that you meet on site. I know for a fact that New Delhi is a haven for scammers and you really need to watch out for what money you put down. A couple of my friends were quite lucky backpacking around Turkey and finding reputable companies to book them for cheaper all-inclusive rates. Be smart about where you are and ALWAYS research where they are going to put you.

In terms of booking tickets and such for exact dates, I always aim to schedule arriving in the middle of the week. Prices shoot up when you aim to arrive Friday or Saturday. I also try to book on Sundays-Wednesdays since prices have seemed cheaper then. A rule of thumb I heard for booking was three months in advance for international and one month for domestic. If you are pretty flexible, then just try your luck with Travel Zoo and Sky Scanner for random deals.

This is just the tip of the iceberg for what I do when I plan a trip, so I will try to do a series of posts on this topic. I hope that this has been a helpful introduction!

Top Ten Turkish Quirks

A night shot of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

I've been meaning to do this post for a while, but what better way to start the new year than to celebrate the wonderful culture in which I currently reside. Along similar lines as my Top Ten TCK Quirks, Top Ten Hong Konger Quirks, and Top Ten Lhasa Quirks, I have created a list of what I have encountered as the most common peculiarities of the Turkish population. Everything I list I have personally seen in Istanbul, Antalya, Alanya, and the Cappadocian region. 

None of these are intended as insults or a means to simplify/generalize an entire group of people into a list of ten. This is just a humorous compilation of observations and a brief introduction into a new society, one that I hope will inspire you to come and see it for yourself.

1. Sense of humor

Turks are a very fun group of people. They like to joke around and are quite playful. You will most likely see this when it comes to dondurma. Dondurma is Turkish ice cream and it actually has a different consistency than American style ice cream or Italian gelato. It's slightly more...sticky. I know that doesn't sound appealing but it is actually delicious and will not melt off the cone and onto your clothes. 

Due to its more viscous nature, the people manning dondurma stands will tease you by messing around with the cone. They will extend it and then flip it around, pretending that the ice cream fell before finally proffering the cone. It is actually very entertaining to watch and this is very commonplace.    

I also noticed this on the pirate ship ride I took here in Alanya. Midway through the trip, the captain put on a dress and then started gyrating around the top deck. Then one of the crew members did an impressive cliff jump before removing his pants and swimming around with his cheeks beaming up at the audience. Sure, this was all done in entertainments name but seriously, how many cultures do you know that would willingly make fools of themselves just to get a laugh?

Turkish swimming activities...

Our lovely Turkish captain.

2. Tea

By the time you leave Turkey, you will have drunk your weight's worth in tea. They serve tea with EVERYTHING. There is never a bad time for tea. Waiting to change money? Have some tea! Getting your hair did? Have some tea! Walking along the street? Come sit and have some tea! You must also have tea after finishing a meal, no ifs, ands, or buts.

One tip is that the famous apple tea is actually something concocted for foreigners. Turks found out that tourists aren't really fans of the regular black tea (they find it too bitter but I enjoy it) so they made a powder of sweet apple flavoring.

3. Backgammon

This is the board game of choice in Turkey. I actually got the Boy a dual backgammon and chess set for Christmas this year. No matter where you go, you will see a group of men huddled around a rickety table and yelling at the board. Of course, as they play, they will be drinking tea. There is another game, which I haven't yet found the name of, which makes people want to slam down hard on the table.

We still don't know how to play but that is one of my New Year resolutions.

The lovely mother of pearl backgammon set.

4. Grooming

If you have a lot of hair and are not sure what to do with it, come to Turkey. Turks know what to do with hair. They are experts in hair control. Hair that you don't even realize that you have will be dealt with.

I also maintain that Turkish women are the toughest bunch out there. My first week here, I went to a salon and did my nails, eye brows, and got a hair cut. I was literally crying in pain by the time I left. My nails looked great, my eye brows looked great and so did my hair, but it all came at a price: pain. Well, not really my hair until they decided to straighten it and so began the tugging, but for sure female grooming here is not for the faint of heart.

Men have it much better. The Boy has delighted in the attentions of the barbers here as they give him a little massage, lather him up and then carefully give him a smooth shave. The coup de grace is when they do one of two things:

       1. Make a mask of mud and put it onto the guy's cheeks. This is left to dry before it is
           carefully peeled off, taking all the cheek peach fuzz along with it.

       2. This is the more dramatic of the two. A little cotton ball is lit on fire and then they
           repeatedly whack this flaming cotton against the guy's cheeks in order to burn off the
           peach fuzz.

I never realized that peach fuzz was something to be dealt with. So, lesson to be learned by this: Women, enter at your own risk. Men, go and be pampered.

Flaming ball of peach hair.

Male grooming in Turkey.

5. Excessive friendliness

Turks are seriously the friendliest people that I have EVER met. I can't even count the number of times where I have asked for directions and they have just left whatever they were doing (some people even closed their shops) in order to lead me where I need to go. They didn't even want anything! They just did it to be nice.

There are folks who will probably cheat you but these are mostly found in tourist traps and even then, they are way nicer than some of those in the same capacity in India. Otherwise, the Turkish people are a delight to be around. I have never met a group of people who just wanted to be friendly for the sake of being friendly. I have literally met two rude people in the six months that I have been here.

6. Turkish patriotism

I am fairly competent when it comes to history (thank you AP world history) and I was aware of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the leader who essentially created modern-day Turkey out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. I did not realize just how fiercely proud Turks are of their founding father and their homeland. There are Turkish flags EVERYWHERE and I am just amazed at the overwhelming pride that this society has for their own country and founding father.

It is not a loud, in-your-face, obnoxious sort of patriotism. It is more a very open appreciation that proclaims "I am Turkish and Turkey is awesome." Love it.

Yes, that is Ataturk on a horse holding the Moon.

7. BBQs

First let me say that I love Turkish food. I am especially in love with Kahvalti (look for an upcoming post), which is Turkish breakfast. While this is very much a food culture, the Turkish love of barbeques is really noteworthy. Especially during the warmer seasons, families will go to nearby public barbeques every weekend and set up camp for the day. This is such a beloved part of their culture that there are actually numerous public areas which are chock-full of grills.  

Shot of the best kahvalti in Alanya. This can be found at Dizdar Garden up towards the castle.

Powdered grill sauce in Antalya

8. Yelling out nationalities

This is something that I have only noticed in really touristy areas. In order to get your attention, hawkers will start guessing your nationality. Walking down some of the main streets of Istanbul and on the boardwalk in Alanya, I will hear: "Hello, China!" "Hello, Japan!" "Hello, Thailand!"

One guy got so frustrated that a friend and I were not responding to him that he then proceeded to yell out, "Hello, @$$holes!"

I haven't really encountered this tactic elsewhere and found it to be particularly irritating. Pretty much on par with the incredulity I face whenever I tell people here that I am American. You would not believe the look of complete and utter disbelief that I get; because I am clearly lying and hiding the fact that I am Asian. A lot like China, nationality is tied to ethnicity.  

9. Love of children

Turkey is the most child-friendly place that I have ever been to. They LOVE kids here and I have never sensed any fear of stranger danger. One time, when the Boy and I were getting on an escalator at the local mall, we saw a little boy freak out at the moving staircase. His family had already stepped forward and were heading down as he started to panic. This Turkish girl (probably late teens) then stepped forward, grabbed his hand, and yanked him down. She even held his hand the whole way before returning him to his family at the bottom. That would not have been okay in the U.S.

Similarly, when the Boy and I were waiting in line to get our residency permits in the police office, we saw two of the police officers playing with a baby. I was surprised since I didn't think that officers were allowed to bring their kids to work. After taking a few photographs with the adorable child, the officers then walked towards our line and handed the child back to one of the other waiting families. Those officers just grabbed the random kid while the parent stood idly by and had a photo shoot! If you are one of those people who likes to pinch random kids' cheeks and pat their head, Turkey is the place for you.

10. Speed demons

I have lived in quite a few countries with poor driving records. Indian roads are death traps, Manila is so clogged that you have to add at least an hour of travel time for every five miles, and China is just as terrifying as India (especially when you get out of the huge cities).

Turkey has its own unique driving trait: speed. The roads are actually really nice here and are very clearly marked, so they aren't an issue. What you really need to look out for are people zooming. Maybe this is really an Alanya thing, since there aren't enough cars to really cause traffic pile ups, but I have never seen so many people speed so unnecessarily. They are really only saving themselves a minute, if that, and yet given the chance they will gun the gas pedal. It's quite terrifying! 


And that's it! One trait that I debated adding to the list was: Everyone is Turkish until proven otherwise. However, that only really applies to people who are already from the Mediterranean region or have heritage from around that area. The Middle East and the Indian subcontinent also apply.

I hope you enjoyed this list and that it inspired you to visit, for those who haven't been, or resonated with those who have. 

A Kickstarter Thank You

Entrance to Nechung Monastery

In September, the Boy launched and successfully concluded a Kickstarter campaign to fund the completion of his dissertation. A couple of months late, but here is a heartfelt thank you to all of the individuals who contributed (in no particular order). You will now live on forever in the digital world:

Munni Krishna, Brogan Zumwalt, Kristen Muldowney, David F. Reynolds, Pratima Gopalakrishnan, Natalie Morris, Danielle Darwin, Richard D. Haynes, Zach Larson, Martha Backer, Alexander Pattenden, Dinah Russell, William Hensley, Zoe G. Powell, Vojta Drevikovsky, Kris J. Kraus, Esq., Anastasia Warzinski, Elizabeth Cody Kimmel, Karen Lang, Louise and Elwood Hardison, Amy Heller, Altaire Cambata, Kathleen Erndl, Valerie Roth, Michelle Bryan, Ben Kudria, Mark Hardison, Inness Ho, Ananth Anthes, Kari ‘Zael’ Alatalo, Erin, Berrywinkle, Victoria, Vivian and Quincy Tse, George and Wanda Bell, Michael J. Pucci, Marek Belski, Sean Knapp, Sally Ng, Andrea Arango, Gregory Krieg, Mickie Flanigan, Alex Chirico, Sheila Trevette, Clarence Cherry, Susan Law, Michael Essex, Abigail Corfman, James Bell, Malcolm Best, Vivian Rieracker, Cameron Bailey, Wesley and Sarah Pack, Helen Van de Walker, Patty Brown, Loretta Earley, Fred Moyer Sr., Barbara Jeffers, Jed Verity, and Aliya Sonnet.

The finished project site can still be viewed here: Nechung - the God of a Tibetan Monastery

The Birch Tree Chapel in Nechung Monastery, the oldest part of the monastery.

 

Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Unsettled TCK! 

Picture from the annual Christmas Fair in Alanya.

Mosque and a Christmas tree in harmony. Taken during the annual Christmas fair in Alanya.

Entrance to Alanya's annual Christmas Fair.

Trees, Santa, ships, shops, carol singers, and cookies at the annual Christmas Fair in Alanya.

I am currently spending Christmas with my Gentleman Friend (I'm experimenting with his label) in Alanya and even went to Antalya to spend a couple of days in the big city. This is also the home region of Saint Nicholas, so clearly I am having the ultimate Christmas experience. I started thinking back over the years and came up with a list of where I've spent previous Christmases. Crank up the Michael Buble Christmas album and enjoy:

1. Calcutta - I think... I was a baby!

2. Taiwan - Don't remember this one either.

3. Beijing - My first memory of snow. I wanted to preserve this cold, white goodness so I stuffed a whole bunch in a bucket and stuffed it into the freezer. This was not a well thought-out plan.

4. New Delhi - My brother convinced me he was Santa Claus and my Grandma gave me a cotton candy maker. Pretty much the greatest gift ever for a child.

5. Ohio - Traditional Christmas with my American family. Kids running amuck and adults trying to keep the peace and provide a delicious meal. 

6. Virginia - I got the first Harry Potter book for Christmas when I was eleven. I was crushed that I had already passed the age for receiving a Hogwarts letter. It was devastating.

7. Hong Kong - Many years spent in Hong Kong. Usually included some sort of extravagant buffet dinner and a whole lot of shopping.

8. Manila (and a few other cities in the Philippines) - The Philippines begins Christmas in October. It is quite an experience. If you spend it on an island then you are guaranteed lots of booze!

9. Xining - Ipad Christmas tree and a trip to Cafe Java (best cafe in the city). Here is my wonderful post from last year detailing my Christmas adventures: Happy Holidays from Xining (Yes, my love affair with Michael Buble has continued).

10. And now Alanya! - Already attended the annual Christmas Fair (post is forthcoming) and now planning on a (hopefully) fun-filled lunch with fellow expats. Best part is that I don't have to bake a turkey, which would be a bit of an over-kill for two people.

My tribute Calvin and Hobbes snowman that I made for Christmas in Virginia a couple of years ago.

Whether or not you celebrate, I wish you a wonderful winter season!

Love of Airports

Herded to the arrivals gate after a bomb scare in Kota Kinabalu.

The most disorganized search ever in Kota Kinabalu.

I have a great affinity for airports. I don't know if this is a TCK thing or a just-me thing, but I love airports. Not all airports, of course. Some I merely endure long enough to get on a plane and escape. But, by and large, I feel very comfortable in airports. I don't enjoy checking-in or passport control or security, but I love what comes after. The shopping, the food, the drinks: everything that you can get away with at any time of day because you are traveling. Want that extra dessert because you are stressed? Go for it! Want a morning cocktail without a side of judgement? Airports support you! Want that trashy novel that you are dying to read but want no one else to ever know about? Some airport bookstores will even make a dust jacket for you so you can read free from shame. 

Growing up, airports were a point of stability for me. Filled with stress before and after, I relished the forced idle time that terminals provided. I have never minded spending extended amounts of time at the airport. When I travel, I accept that the whole day has been set aside just for the sake of getting to another city/country/continent. To me, waiting at home and waiting at the airport is pretty much the same. I have always hated worrying about rushing to catch the plane so I always shoot for earlier. I get that from my dad since he would rather be three hours early than arrive sprinting for the gate. My parents actually balance each other out since my mom wants to cut it as close as she can. My brother and I did not absorb the balanced approach. He takes my mom's habits to an extreme and I am as bad, if not worse, than my dad. Luckily, I rarely have to travel with my brother and when I do, I can be a very annoying alarm clock. 

I recently read a blog post on airport musings. The writer describes airports as interchangeable spaces deliberately made stale to help travelers weather flight transitions. While I agree with how airports have all the same basic elements, I disagree that they lack personality. There are some airports that I will deliberately try to route my flights through. Singapore, Hong Kong, Narita, Bangkok, Detroit are all familiar friends. I know Detroit is kind of random but it was the hub I used to fly back to Manila when I was in college. It was also where I had my first legal drink in the U.S. upon turning twenty one (at Chili's). I am not much of a habit-based person (this drives the Boy crazy since he is nothing if not a giant ball of routine). I tend to alternate what I do daily depending on when I wake up and what I need to accomplish. The only time I really feel the need to indulge a habit is when I am in an airport. In Detroit, I always go to the exact same Japanese restaurant and I always order the exact same meal (Shrimp tempura with udon noodle soup). In Hong Kong, I always go to the same Chinese restaurant and order a last bowl of wonton noodle soup. In Bangkok I have always had airport Thai food to greet me and put me at ease. There is something incredibly relaxing for me in these patterns that I continue (or create) in airports that I become familiar with. 

Then there are the airports that you suffer through. Just as some airports stick with you because of how amazing the amenities are, there are others that haunt you for the hell they put you through. Coron was/is one such. Kota Kinabalu another. There are also a ton in China that are merely points of transition and are pretty much interchangeable because they were all designed by the same architect. Admittedly, the events surrounding your time in an airport will definitely influence how you feel. Flight cancellations, delays, convoluted layouts (I'm looking at you Charles de Gaulle), and absurdly long security lines (Heathrow anyone?) will impact how you view that particular airport. I have witnessed a near-riot (Lhasa), a service strike (Barcelona - cleaners littered the airport with shredded newspaper and played obnoxious vuvuzelas), and been involved in a bomb scare (Kota Kinabalu).

It is a disservice to remove the personality of airports. They are a part of your journey and can sometimes be more eventful than the rest of your trip combined. Whether you love them or hate them, even the blandest airports make an impression no matter how fleeting. 

Here's to all the airports that have housed me, comforted me, and/or terrorized me!