WanderGear Wednesday: Lole Convertible Dress

by Beth (July 1st, 2009)

I’ve been wearing convertible pants/shorts for ages (you know the easy zip off kind, perfect for hiking) but it didn’t occur to me that I might wear a skirt as a dress.

When I was at Outdoor Retailer last year (an event that I’ll be attending in just a few weeks - I’m SO excited), the folks at Lole Clothing provided me with a sample of this spring ‘09 item. It’s both a skirt and a dress.

Made of tencel and spandex, it has enough stretch in it that you can get away with wearing it on your top or bottom. As a skirt, the two long pieces of fabric can be used as a belt. But when worn as a strapless dress, the “belt”, as you see it here, can be worn multiple ways to help hold up the dress or wrap around your body like a scarf.

For travelers heading off to a destination where you might want something a bit dressier but don’t have a lot of room, this is a great way to double up on your options.

The Daisy dress/skirt retails for about $40 and currently comes in two colors, light moss and redwood.

Available on Amazon

Travel Well,

Beth

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I Wish I Was a Man - Not!

by Beth (June 29th, 2009)

The flood of comments from my Q&A with the New York Times’ Frugal Traveler last week has been enlightening. There have been some really great tips from experienced travelers that added to the brief article. And then there were some comments that I felt needed addressing.

In the article, I was asked (by Matt Gross) if there were ever times when I wished I was a man in a given travel situation. My response (but missing the gasp in my voice when I answered) was, “Oh, wow, I’ve never wished that. No offense! That’s never crossed my mind. I’ve never felt ill-treated or — I’ve never had that feeling before. No. Just flat-out no.”

Photo: The Greek Goddess Athena

Several people commented that they didn’t believe me. Really. They were calling me a liar. So, I thought it might be helpful to explain my perspective on this.

I stand by my answer. Never once in my life have I wished I was a guy. It’s actually taken me aback that there are people who WOULD wish that they are something they are not.

My Mother (RIP) raised me to believe that I could accomplish anything I set out to do. Sparing you the details, I did not grow up in a privileged household. But somehow, despite the disadvantages, she told me over and over what I could do - and not what I couldn’t do.

So, I channeled my energies into travel. I drove across country several times from New Jersey to the West Coast (even to Alaska, twice). I backpacked through Asia for a year. I rode my motorcycle (solo) from Seattle to Panama. And while I’ve had my challenges, never once did I think things would be easier/better/more interesting if I was a man. I simply thought that this was the way things were, and I fully enjoyed them.

Have I been stared at? Been on the receiving end of catcalls? Fondled? Had men expose themselves to me? Ignored in foreign restaurants? Yes!

Do I see this as being ill-treated? No!

My response to situations, whether travel-related or not, directly relates to how I will see the world and also how I will continue to be treated. I could be pissed off that a waiter at an Indian restaurant chooses to only speak to my husband when we are traveling together or I could remember that I’m a guest in his country, try to understand where he’s coming from and then make a decision that I won’t visit that restaurant again.

Look. I wish I had smaller boobs (I know, rough life) and straight pearly whites, but I don’t. And wishing that I was something that I’m not (and never will be) is fruitless. Life is what you make of it. You can choose to be bitter about it or accept how it unfolds and make the best of it, penis or not.

Travel Well,

Beth

Photo: Paleothea.com

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Photo of the Day: Hanoi Flower Vendors

by Beth (June 25th, 2009)

I’ve been seriously considering leading a tour to Vietnam and Cambodia next year. So, as I ponder this, it reminded me of the myriad photos I’ve taken throughout both of these countries. I’ve been to Vietnam 7 times (so far!) so I’ve accumulated lots of slides and digital images over the past 17 years.

The one above was taken on the streets of Hanoi, where so much of every day life takes place outdoors. These lovely women were selling flowers that were probably cut fresh that day from the nearby countryside.

See more great photos at DeliciousBaby’s Photo Friday.

Travel Well,

Beth

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WanderGear Wednesday: Flip Mino HD Video Camera

by Beth (June 25th, 2009)

(I KNOW. I’m a day late with my WanderGear Wednesday post. Please forgive as I was sidetracked with my Q&A in the NY Times yesterday that brought down my site with so much traffic!)

I received a Flip Mino HD camera to test out a number of months ago. I finally had a chance to do a fun experiment this past weekend where I took video using the Flip while Jon filmed with my Sanyo HD Xacti 1000. A side by side comparison is below but first, let me say a few words about the Flip.

Note that there are now several versions of Flip cameras with varying specs. I’m specifically talking about the Mino HD here.

It totally rocks in an iPhone/iPod kinda way. It’s so intuitive that you don’t need any instructions to make it work. You simply turn it on and start pushing on the few buttons located on the front and side to figure out what’s what. It gets juiced up from your computer so there’s no power cord to deal with. And, the hard drive is internal, so you don’t have to remove an SD card to download your video to your computer. Everything is completely intuitive and it’s small enough to fit in your pocket - smaller than your phone I’d bet.

The Mino HD comes with 4 GB of space, enough for an hour of video (you’d be surprised at how much you can capture with an hour’s worth of time). The screen is 1.5 inches and the total size of the camera is only about 4″ x 2″. Resolution is 528 x 132.

It comes with a carrying pouch to prevent scratching (more than I can say for Apple products) as well as a wrist strap.

With something this small and practical, it obviously has its drawbacks.

I felt that the zoom, at 2x, was a bit choppy. And, because it is so small, it’s not as easy as you might think to hold it still. As for powering it up, if you’re not traveling with a laptop, you’ll have to purchase a power adapter for it. Because the drive is limited to one hour, you’d need a way to download the video if you’ll be taking more than that at any given time.

on Amazon

It really is a handy little camera. And, ultimately, unless you’re using your new G3 iPhone to capture video while you travel, there isn’t anything easier to use.

Now for the side by side.
In both of these video, the colors are definitely muted as we were in a rainstorm at Old Faithful in Yellowstone. What this demonstrates is that the Sanyo has a brighter picture and was able to pick up on the few dashes of green in the grass relatively well. Otherwise, the Flip held up pretty well.

If I were creating an important project, I’d go for the Sanyo Xacti but the Flip is a great toss-in-your-daybag camera for every day video. And, you’ll save a few hundred dollars with the Flip.

First the Flip:

Now the Sanyo Xacti:

on Amazon

Travel Well,

Beth

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Security Alert: Peanut Butter is Spreadable

by Beth (June 23rd, 2009)

I knew I was skating on thin ice, but I refuse to accept the fact that peanut butter is a gel.

On my way home from Yellowstone National Park this weekend, I was headed through security at Idaho Falls airport. Having purchased a number of food items for our condo stay, Jon and I never got around to eating, even opening for that matter, our Adam’s Organic Peanut Butter (crunchy, in case you’re interested).

I was careful to have placed my shampoo, conditioner and other liquidy items in 3 oz. or less containers and present them in my plastic, less-than-quart-sized bag.

I was asked at screening if I had any gels or liquids in my carry-on bag and I answered, “Nope.” None-the-less, I was busted for the sealed jar of peanut butter and the opened (and mostly eaten) container of Nutella.

I argued that these were neither liquids or gels and that the peanut butter at least was obviously sealed.

No go.

They’re “spreadable” and apparently that’s the litmus test for allowing items through security.

I was a little unhappy at the time. I hate waste and the security gal told me she was going to throw it away if I didn’t check my bag with the peanut butter safely secured inside or leave it in my car (in Seattle? really?).

Though I knew in advance that there was a possibility that I’d have to give up my precious items, one must admit that the TSA guidelines are nebulous at best. Here’s what it says about food items:

“Here’s a list of liquid, aerosol and gel items that you should put in your checked bag, ship ahead, or leave at home.”

It goes on to include peanut butter on the list, but my point is, that pb is NOT a liquid, aerosol or gel. AND that it simply says “should” not “these will be confiscated at security”. In my crafty mind, this leaves wiggle room.

Case in point - friends recently told me of a time they were flying back to the U.S. from an international trip. They had purchased alcohol at the Duty Free shop during their layover. BUT, they still had to go through another security checkpoint, even though they had checked through to their final destination. With far better humor than I had in Idaho Falls, they simply handed the alcohol over to the security person and said, “Enjoy, we can’t take it with us.” A bit stunned, the security person passed it around behind his back, gave it back to my friends and winked.

And, as careful as I usually am, I admit to having forgotten to pull my 3 oz. liquid bottles from my bag to pass it through separately at security. I’ve inadvertently done this at least a handful of times and no one has even noticed.

OK - so you’re saying why are your panties all in a bunch, Beth? You were wrong and should be more careful next time. OK, I shouldn’t have let my $3 jar of pb get my goat, but let’s at least take a close look at some of the TSA guidelines you might not have been aware of:

1. Like my friends, don’t make purchases at the airport that are iffy for going through security. Bangkok Airport is terrible for this. All the shops are located before you go through security. You can purchase amazing packaged curry sauces and dips BUT you can’t bring them home. You’ve already checked your bags and they aren’t allowed through security. I’m still baffled whey they would sell these here - after all, who shops at the airport when they arrive?

2. Pies and cakes are OK, but they are “subject to additional screening”. (I BET they are!)

3. “Loose” lithium batteries are no longer allowed through security. Make sure yours are not promiscuous.

4. Did you know scissors with blades shorter than 4 inches can be packed in your carry-on?

5. Common lighters are allowed in your carry-on but NOT in checked bags.

6. “Strike anywhere” matches are not permitted in either carry-on or checked bags while only one non- “strike-anywhere” pack of matches is allowed in carry-on. No matches may be checked.

7. Sno-globes, even “with documentation”, are not allowed in your carry-on. (Can someone tell me what sort of documentation these might have with them?)

8. Camera bags! Did you know that you are allowed to carry one bag of camera equipment IN ADDITION to your one personal item and one carry-on bag? If, like me, you carry several cameras, consider packing them in a separate bag. (Anyone still shooting film? Make sure this is hand screened - otherwise the screening machines will ruin it.)

And, finally, this little gem direct from the TSA website:

“NEVER leave babies in an infant carrier while it goes through the X-ray machine.”

Seriously, that’s what it says.

2 days later and I’m still a little bummed that I don’t have my jar of Adam’s with me here in Seattle. Or the Nutella for that matter…

Beth

Security photo by: glenmcbethlaw

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