Author Archives: thehighclasshobo

Why your Travels will make you an Awesome Parent

I’m excited to announce that a second little Hobo has arrived in our lives in the form of a Baby Girl. Juggling two is tough at times and I often draw from my experiences abroad to make it through the day. Here is why we’ll-travelled people make the best parents:

#1 – Sleep Deprivation. You know that feeling of arriving in a new city on the other side of the earth after 22 hours in transit with two layovers? Ya, that’s what it feels like to parent a newborn. Somehow you run on minimal sleep. Your years of adjusting to jet lag will come in handy!

#2 – Lack of Personal Hygiene: Traipsing through countries with a hot climate. Cheaping out on a hostel with only one shower for 20 people. Choosing to sightsee rather than bathe. Swimming in the ocean and justifying it as your shower. The ability to go a little less fresh than usual will come in handy as a new parent. Who’s got time for hygiene when there is sleep to be had!?

#3 – Language Barriers: We’ve all been there; frustrated beyond frustration trying to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak the same language. Hmmm, kind of sounds like a baby trying to tell you what they want. It’s fairly impossible to communicate. These situations need a lot of patience and persistence… but you already know that due to your experience with the Thai taxi driver.

#4 – Naps: The ability to nap anytime and anywhere is a glorious skill. Most often, travellers are great nappers. Whether it be a nap in transit or a quick snooze on the beach, you’ve probably mastered the art over the years. Use your napping powers to survive those first few months!

#5 Flexibility: The most seasoned of travellers have developed a go-with-the-flow attitude. They know they have zero control over airport delays, booking mistakes, language miscommunications, etc. They let go of control and adapt to current situations. I’ve concluded that parenting is really just one giant exercise in letting go of control. These tiny humans have minds of their own and they most definitely don’t always operate according to your plans. The more care free and flexible you can be as a parent, the more you will enjoy your journey. 🙂

Travellers Make the Greatest Parents!

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So my travelling adventures have not been as exotic as usual. There is good reason for that. I have a mini hobo now! When I would sit and nurse for what felt like hours on end I often reminisced about past expeditions. Now that I’m truly in the groove of parenthood I know that many of the skills and attitudes that make me an awesome Mom can be attributed to my past adventures! Why are travellers the best Parents? I’ll fill you in:

Hygiene – Or lack thereof. It doesn’t seem to bother me that if need-be I can go days without a shower. Sure, who doesn’t love a quiet, hot, relaxing shower? But sadly, sometimes when on the road or trying to juggle a screaming infant for hours on end, personal hygiene takes a back seat.

Sleep – Having the ability to sleep anytime, anywhere truly is a fantastic quality to possess; as a traveller and also as a new parent! The first three months of parenthood basically feels the same as jet lag so the ability to get a catnap is key.

Carrying your Life on your Back – While backpacking one becomes accustomed to carrying everything they own on their back. This skill comes in handy when you have to pack up your diaper bag, bottles, your purse, toys, food, change of clothes, oh and your kids, in order to leave the house for more than 3 hours at a time. Being able to juggle all of your belongings while trying to reach a destination really is a talent in of itself.

: Not a far stretch from this….

: ….. to this.

Navigating Unfamiliar Territory – I can guarantee that even the most experienced travellers have been lost at some point. Completely turned around in a foreign country trying to communicate in a language they don’t speak. Being a new parent feels exactly the same. You have no idea what you are doing and your little one can’t tell you what they need. Your go-with-the-flow attitude acquired while gallivanting is going to make you a great parent.

It’s the Best Decision You’ll Ever Make! – ” I should have travelled less”… said NO ONE EVER! Just like travelling, parenting can be hard work with its ups and downs. In my opinion though, it will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. My Hobo heart looks forward to the day where I get to share my love of travel with the little mini love in my life.

My Mini-Hobo

Why you should Choose to Cruise with a Baby

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Admittedly I had never cruised before our Mini-Hobo came into our lives. A backpack and passport are more my style. Parenthood got to me though and I couldn’t justify sneaking my baby into a hostel. Hubby Hobo and I decided the best way to travel with our baby was to try a cruise. Here are 7 really solid reasons to cruise with a baby.

Always an Appropriate Excursion – There are lots of options for excursions once you

Totem Poles in Sitka, AK

get to port. Cruisers book these ahead of time and we found there were many baby-friendly day trips available. Since we did an Alaskan cruise we opted for a hike to Mendenhall Glacier, a 14 Person Pedal Bike Tour, and a Duck Tour where our vehicle meandered around town and then drove into the water to boat around the harbour. Mini-Hobo just hung out in a carrier on my back. There are lots of great options for scenic hikes or simply exploring the shops and restaurants in each town.

Doting Elderly People – Let’s face it, the majority of cruisers are seniors. This isn’t a bad thing though! Elderly people LOVE babies. You will never be short of hands on a cruise. If you need a minute to grab something out of your diaper bag there are lots of Grandmothers and Grandfathers who jump at the chance to hold your wee one. People even bought our baby souvenirs and gifts!

Room Service – This was a lifesaver. Any parent probably knows that babies can be

Mmmmmmm

early risers. Add in a time change and you might just find yourself up at 5 am everyday with no access to food until the dining hall opens at 7. The solution? Room service, my friend! It is free on ships and you can put in a standing order. We had coffee, eggs, fresh fruit, and pastries delivered to our door at 6 am sharp every day. And the best part is that it is all included so no extra fees!

Balcony Naps – My advice to you if you are going to cruise with a baby, splurge on the

A little wine on the balcony during nap time

balcony! While baby is napping you can sneak out onto your little deck and enjoy the sunshine and scenery instead of being trapped inside a dark quiet room on your vacation.

Same Room Every Night – The beauty of a cruise is that you get to travel to many different ports or countries but your little one can sleep in the same familiar room every night. This is especially amazing considering how much gear babies need. You only need to pack and unpack once. Most cruise lines will provide a crib for your baby to sleep in.

Lots of Onboard Entertainment – There is no shortage of things to do on a cruise. Whether it be hanging by the pool, watching the evening show, testing your skills at trivia or bingo, or simply wandering the ship and taking in all the sights…. you’ll find lots of ways to entertain yourselves and your bambino.

Babysitting Service – Most cruise lines offer a babysitting service. Some cruises only offer babysitting while in transit so check with your cruise line ahead of time. The rates are fairly reasonable (about $10/hour). Put baby to bed and go catch the evening show or book a fancy dinner so you can enjoy a little time with your travelling companion.

There you have it! 7 Reasons you should Choose to Cruise with a Baby. Travelling with a baby is never perfect but for us this was a great combination of a vacation that was stress-free and manageable while still enjoying the splendour of new and stunning sights.

Camping with a Baby: 10 Packing Must-Haves

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This past week Mini-Hobo and I braved the great outdoors and went camping for a week. Here are 10 Packing Must-Haves for a camping trip with a baby.

Pop Up Play Tent – This was a lifesaver! The pop-up tent with the screened in walls and attached floor gave Mini-Hobo a spot to crawl around without us having to worry about bugs, too much sun, or him eating fistfuls of sand and twigs.
Wipes, wipes, and more wipes – Expect that your baby will get dirty while camping. The whole family used these wipes for cleaning hands, tidying the table and high chair, and wiping up food so birds or other critters don’t find leftovers.
Sunscreen and Bug Repellant – No matter how much you try to stay in the shade, baby will be exposed to a bit of sun. If it’s too hot to cover up the little bambino with clothes keep some sunscreen on hand. Also, a natural bug repellant to spray the high chair, stroller, or baby’s legs and arms can prevent a lot of itchy bites later.
White noise machine – When camping one is supposed to enjoy the quiet serenity of nature but we know that doesn’t always happen. The birds sing early in the morning and fellow campers may stay up singing around the campfire late at night. Bring a white noise machine to help baby block out all the unfamiliar sounds.
Stroller/Carrier – Having a way to transport baby is key. The stroller is nice if the trails are smooth enough to meander on. The carrier is perfect for hiking or completing tasks around camp. Hopefully your wee one can catch a nap in one of these too!
Sunhat and Sunglasses – See point #3; despite your best efforts baby will be exposed to the sun. Bring a sunhat with a brim and sunglasses with a strap. Now good luck trying to get your little one to keep them on!
UV Blanket – Every afternoon we would walk Mini-Hobo around the campground or down the beach. And every afternoon he would fall asleep. Having a UV blanket is handy in order to drape over the stroller so no sun or bugs have access to your little babe. The blanket is breathable and semi-transparent too.
Storage Bin – You are probably using one of these to pack your belongings; did you know it can do double duty? When Mini-Hobo got overheated or needed a bath we would simply fill the bin up with water and stick him in it. He had a grand time splashing around!
Clip on High Chair – On uneven terrain a high chair that clips onto the picnic table is perfect! We left ours on the picnic table all week and simply took the tray off to give it a wipe (see #2) before every meal.
An Easy-Going Attitude – Heading into the wilderness without electricity or easily accessible running water can seem daunting; especially with a baby. Don’t worry, the fun you will have watching your little one take in all the joys of the outdoors will outweigh any less-than-luxurious living conditions you will endure. Relax, have fun, know that there will be a few hard moments, and enjoy every minute of your adventure!

What is your Camping Must-Have? Add your suggestions in the comments.

Do’s and Don’t’s of Travelling with a Baby

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Looking to take your baby on vacation? Here are the Do’s and Don’t’s of Travelling with a Baby:

DO – Look for a deal where you little one tags along for free. There are all-inclusive resorts where children join for free. Some cruise lines offer promotions where the 3rd and 4th guest travel for free. The options are out there, you just have to find them.

DON’T – Leave your time zone. Having your baby wake up at 3:30 every morning because his or her little internal clock tells them it’s morning can definitely dampen your enthusiasm for the day’s activities.

DO – Your research on the weather during your time of travel. There would be nothing worse that being cooped up in a small hotel room with a baby for a week due to torrential downpours.

DON’T – Expect to feel like you’re on vacation. You are simply parenting in a different environment. Your baby will not understand that you just want to relax on a beach with a margarita.

DO – Bring as little as possible. Many vacation destinations will provide high chairs and cribs. On some cruises or all-inclusive resorts you can even arrange to have diapers, wipes, and baby food waiting for you upon arrival.

DON’T – Think that your baby’s sleep or behaviour is going to be unaffected. Babies love routine and familiarity. It will take more energy to entertain them or put them down for naps than usual.

DO – Fly! Why not? You bambino still goes for free on your lap. And let’s face it, several hours in a car with a wee one is not ideal.

DON’T – Expect everything to go to plan. You need to roll with the punches more than ever when travelling with a baby. Be flexible and keep an open-minded attitude.

DO – Splurge (within reason) on anything you know will make life easier or your vacation better. Get the balcony on the cruise! It will give you a space to go when the baby is napping.

DON’T – Take baby anywhere too hot. Their skin is super sensitive to the sun and heat rash can make a wee one very cranky.

DO – Go somewhere with a babysitting service. Whether this is a resort, cruise, or simply joining Grandma and Grandpa down South, make sure you get some time to yourself on your holiday.

DON’T – Let this article discourage you from taking your baby on vacation.

DO – Travel with your bundle of joy! It is hard work and there may be situations that are less than ideal but you will have those memories forever. Sometimes the unplanned parts of a trip are the ones you laugh about later.

Life on Mount Cameroon

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5:00 in the morning came quickly but I was ready. I crawled out from under my mosquito net and pulled on my 12 year old Umbro shorts then layered up with some other clothes I knew would get destroyed. After pouring dirty water down the toilet to make it flush I met the others in the lobby of our “hotel” in Buea, Cameroon, Africa.

After some bread and bananas for breakfast we started walking with our head lamps. The chatty morning people led the pack while the others lagged behind dragging their feet and rubbing their eyes. Strolling down the street to the base of Mount Cameroon we saw the town slowly come alive. Children heading to school in their uniforms, packed buses that could not possibly have met safety regulations, and livestock being herded or fed shared the morning with us.

The air was cool but thick with humidity when we started at the base and clambered through the dense rainforest at the base of the mountain. Lush greenery and sweet smells overwhelmed our senses. By this point all 16 members of the group were alert and excited for the adventure that lay ahead. Laughter and jokes rang through the forest amidst the huffing and puffing of trekking a steady uphill. The porters, however, seemed to be having no issues. They passed by us in nothing but flip-flops carrying 12 L of water on their head. They must have learned this from their younger sisters whose main job of the day was fetching water and taking care of the siblings.

About mid-day we took a rest before tackling the section of the mountain fondly nicknamed, “The Wall”. This rocky climb is the most vertical ascent of the towering volcano. We Westerners changed our socks, drank water from our camelbacks, and replenished our energy with protein bars. The porters huddled together, also taking a rest. The occasional porter smoked a cigarette or ate a banana. These young men were lean and strong; made for climbing mountains. The climbers of our group, although fit, were carrying around an extra 20 lbs of bulky muscle; stylish in the western world but totally impractical for climbing uphill for two days. The tall, slim Cameroonians looked like they could walk for weeks.

The porters led the way up the steep Wall while we clambered behind mostly on all fours. The excessive panting and jagged rocks were worth it because when we reached our camp for the night we were met with a stunning view of rolling hills. The yellow grass shimmered in the warm afternoon sun. We rested, revelling in our accomplishment of the day, while the porters made dinner. I should have eaten more but I could not stomach the soggy noodles and greasy chickpeas that lay awaiting for us in the communal pot.

Bed time was approximately 7:00 when the sun set. We had our choice of snoozing in the hut infested with rats or testing our fate sleeping under the stars with the mountain lions. Using a moss covered rock as my pillow I opted to rest surrounded by the openness of the mountain and cuddled with my friends for warmth.

The next morning we woke at a gruelling 3:00 to try for the summit. In single file silence we paced upwards in the pitch black with only our headlamps and the experience of the porters guiding us. We lost half of our team who were too sore or tired to continue to the top. The patient porters took them down to the hut where we made camp the previous night. Just as I felt that I could not take one more step upwards the sun started rising. Rejuvenated by the energy of the rays and the stunning scenery that lay waiting for us at the top of Mount Cameroon, we continued on in high spirits. As the temperature got warmer we began peeling off our layers and giving them to our porters as a thank you. They were thrilled to receive the gifts and would wear them for many future treks.

The last stretch was easy. We clambered up the steep tip to take in the cloudy view and of course take our picture with the sign! 2200 m… we had made it. The sense of accomplishment was something I will never forget. The porters looked on at us kindly; understanding that the climb was much more challenging for us than it was for them.

During the descent one of the porters offered to take a few of us to see the volcanic crater. Standing on the ledge of one of the most active volcanoes in Africa makes one really appreciate life. Looking into the gray depth of this giant hole in the Earth I could only imagine what it would have been like to be a citizen living in Buea during the eruption in 2000. As if echoing my philosophical thoughts the porter pointed to a single purple flower growing from the charred lava rock nearby. “Good can always come from bad,” he said as he pointed to the solo blossom.

It was noon and we needed to finish our descent before sun down. We climbers thought that the way down would be easy but we could tell by the focus of the porters that we still had our work cut out for us. On the way down we would hear the porters murmur “Ashia,” to each other and anyone they passed. When we asked the mild mannered porters what Ashia meant they said, “Courage”. Courage is definitely needed for life on the mountain. Every year in Buea the Race of Hope is held on Mount Cameroon. Sarah Etonge won first place four years in a row on this 40 km run with a elevation difference of 2500 m. Sarah, a Cameroonian who lives at the bottom of the slope, has earned the nickname, “Queen of the Mountain”. She is a single mother who trains once a week in between taking care of her seven children.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Using switchbacks to make the descent easier and calling out to each other when loose lava rock came tumbling down ensured most of us to made it down the hill. One girl twisted her knee and had to be piggy-backed to the bottom by the strongest porter. Dirty, exhausted, and hungry we thanked our brave guides and stumbled back to our hotel to enjoy a shower (albeit with limited water) and a warm dinner. One can only wonder what the porters were heading home to. Maybe after the gruelling climb of the mountain they had to help their families with the livestock. Perhaps they would use their hard earned money to pay tuition for a younger sibling to attend school. Maybe they themselves were training for the Race of Hope with the ambition of winning the large cash prize and the coveted title of Champion. Or maybe they would just wait for the next group of climbers and then they would repair their best flip-flops, don the toque given to them by a previous tourist, and set out on the Mountain again.

Travelling with Kids

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I have some exciting news to share… I gave birth to a Mini Hobo! Once I got over the aftershock of becoming a new parent I immediately started brainstorming ways to travel with my wee one. This section of my blog will provide advice for travelling with your own little ones. After all, just because you are a parent doesn’t mean you’re destined never to vacation again! It just might be a little different. 🙂

Flying with a Newborn

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This past year my life changed…. I gave birth to a Mini Hobo! Since it had been awhile since I’d been on an adventure, I anxiously jumped on the chance to have a long weekend visit with one of my old University roommates. Problem was, she lives in Thunder Bay which is a two hour plane ride away. This posed a whole new challenge for The High Class Hobo – “How do I travel economically with a newborn?”

Turns out, if you do your research, it’s fairly easy. After all, children under the age of 2 travel for free on most airlines. Here’s what I learned:

Choose your Airline Carefully – Before MiniHobo came along I would simply chose the cheapest flight and off I went. With a baby there are more things to consider. First you need to ensure that children under the age of 2 travel for free. Second, check the baggage restrictions. Some airlines make allowances for travelling with children and will allow an extra carry-on and a stroller in checked baggage for free. Lastly, if at all possible, pick a direct flight. Boarding, take off, landing, and disembarking are quite the process with a little one so make your life easier and go direct (even if it costs a little bit more money).

Pack Light – I know this is virtually impossible with a baby but the less you have to lug around and keep track of, the better. Your child does not need allllll their toys. Similarly, you do not need alllllll your clothes! Pick the essential things and try to figure out what you can do without. For example, don’t bring a bottle warmer, just ensure there will be access to hot water at the place you are staying. Try and arrange items like car seats, playpens/cribs, and strollers to be available at your destination instead of bringing them.

Get to the Airport Early – Arrive early!!! Babies come with so many unknowns. It’s hard to predict when a newborn will need to eat or have a massive exploding diaper. They can also pick up on your stress so if you are at the airport in plenty of time, everyone will be more relaxed. We hit traffic on the way to the airport with Mini Hobo and it was a very tense experience! Somehow Mini Hobo toughed it out and went hungry and dirty while we ran through the airport to catch our flight. What a champion!

If you can get someone to drop you and your wee one off at the airport, go for it! Park and Fly is just one more exhausting step in the process so if you can eliminate it, great. If it’s economical, consider parking within walking distance of the terminal. Check online ahead of time for coupons.

Consider your Baggage – Whether travelling with a baby or without, I always suggest bringing a carry-on only. I hate checked baggage. Since we were just going for a long weekend we did not check baggage but if you are going for longer you will need to. If checking a large stroller contain it in some kind of bag. I would advise against checking your car seat…. have you seen the way the luggage guys whip the suitcases on the tarmac!? That will be your carseat; you may be able to gate check it.

As for transporting your child? I would suggest baby wearing as much as possible. When Mini Hobo was a little older we invested in a cheap umbrella stroller. It was awesome to wheel him right up the plane and then gate check the stroller.

Survive Security – Have your passports handy. If you are not travelling with your spouse you may need a note from them indicating they are aware of your baby’s travels. This is more likely the case if you are crossing borders. When going through security you will get the VIP treatment! People with babies often get to go to the front of the line. They will check bottles, breastmilk bags, and baby food and allow you to take it through security. Lastly, find your gate and wait. Congrats you made it! You will probably get to board first which is another perk of travelling with a newborn.

….hopefully not.

Prepare for Dirty Looks – Within a 5 seat radius I could feel the eyes on Mini Hobo and me. Yup, sorry about your luck, you got stuck sitting near the baby. Not everyone has experience with newborns so don’t expect them to be kind and understanding. I found people were fine but definitely not overjoyed to realize they would be flying with a 3 month old.

Make Take Off a Breeze – This is the part I was most nervous about. For once I actually listened to the emergency procedures! The flight attendants were very helpful. They showed me how to hold my Mini Hobo during take off and landing. I asked if I could nurse during take off and they said yes as long as I had a secure hold on him. My plan was to nurse during take off so Mini Hobo would swallow and his ears wouldn’t hurt. As usual, babies have a way of ruining your plans. But this time it was for the good! Mini Hobo must have been so exhausted from our scramble to get to the airport that he nursed and then slept during take off. Other suggestions I researched online are use a pacifier or have the newborn drink breastmilk/water from a bottle.

Entertain Baby During The Flight – Since it was only a two hour flight we didn’t need too much to entertain Mini Hobo. He slept for a good chunk. He looked out the window and enjoyed gawking around at all the people on the flight. He nursed for landing and the pressure did not seem to bother his ears. We did have Baby Tylonol on hand and were prepared to use it if he was in pain. We used some on the way home but it was because he was having major teething pains. Some other advice would be to bring a few favourite books or new toys, sing to baby, walk the aisles, or if you are desperate entertain baby with your phone on Airplane Mode.

Ease into Arrival – Don’t worry about rushing off the plane with everyone else. Take your time and make sure you have collected all your belongings. In an ideal situation someone will be meeting you at the airport to pick you up with a carseat. You can also rent car seats at car rental spots but there are mixed reviews online about doing that because you don’t know the history of the carseat. Public transportation is a great and easy option for travelling with a newborn as well, as long as you can manage all your bags.

There you have it! Admittedly, travelling with a newborn takes a lot of careful planning and forethought. It was also a lot more work than traveling solo, but in my opinion it was completely worth it! I was very excited to share my passion for traveling with my Mini Hobo. I’m looking forward to many more adventures to come!

Tips for Packing a Backpack

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Fitting all your purposefully picked items into a backpack can be challenging. Follow these tips for properly packing a backpack. You’ll thank yourself later.

SELECTION: First you will need to carefully choose your items. As a general rule, lay out everything you would like to pack and then cut that in half. Click on the following link for advice on what to bring and what to leave at home. Packing Hobo Style

COMPRESSION: Use compression bags to categorize items for easy organization (EX: all socks and underwear go in one bag). Roll your clothes instead of folding them in order to prevent wrinkles. Line up your clothes with the ends of the rolls facing the top of the bag for easy selection of articles; then Squeeze! Use the straps of a compression bag to extract any excess air or space out.
Compression Bag

CATEGORIZING: Using clear ziplock bags categorize items into the following:

– Gels and liquids…. If you are using your backpack as a carry-on you will need to remove all gels and liquids from your backpack to get through security.

-Medication… To save space remove pills from the packaging but make sure they are still clearly labeled. Click the following link for suggestions on which medications to pack. High Class Health Care

Liquids and Gels in separate bag.

-Toiletries…Put all non-liquids/gels in a separate bag. EX: Toothbrush, make-up, hair brush, hair elastics, nail clippers, feminine hygiene products, soap, toilet paper, razor, ear plugs

-Food…It’s always nice to have some snacks so you don’t have to buy expensive airplane food. Pack some granola bars, nuts, and protein bars. Put a collapsable water bottle in this bag too so you can fill it up once you pass airplane security.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS: Next put all your important things that you cannot lose in something that will be strapped to your body all the time! A waist belt that goes under your clothes works or a very small camelback that can be worn on the front and buckled to you is a good option. In here, put most of your money, passports, credit cards, phone, important paperwork, and any else that you cannot risk losing. Consider putting all these items in a ziplock bag as well in case they get wet.

Sidenote: Keep photocopies of your passport and credit cards in another bag and leave a copy with a reliable friend at home. Also, hide some emergency money in a few different places. An emptied out chapstick tube or a secret pocket with a zipper are solid places to hide money.

LEFTOVER ITEMS: Some items you might have remaining are sleeping bag, trekking poles, flashlight, towel, knife, lock, journal, etc. Only bring the essentials and if you must bring it, make sure it is as compact as possible (EX: Micro fibre towel vs. fluffy beach towel or jacket that zips into it’s own pocket). Set these things aside and most will go in random leftover spaces.

Jacket folded into the pocket.

My Hand is in the picture for comparison.

PACKING: Now that everything is as small as possible, it’s time to load it all into the backpack. Follow these tips:

-Put your heavier items closer to your back. If you are a male (or stronger in the upper body) put the heavy stuff in the middle. If you are a female (or stronger in the hips) put your heavy things towards the bottom. Never put the heavy stuff at the top. This way, when you do up your waist strap, your hips and core are supporting the majority of the weight. Packing heavy up high or far from your back will leave you top-heavy and wobbly.

-Pack items that need to be taken out when going through airport security at the top where they are easily accessible. This would be your gels/liquids bag and any technology.

-Do not strap anything to the outside of your backpack. It will most likely get lost or stolen.

-Fill all corners and spaces. An easy way to do this is to pack large items first and fill in the rest of the area with small items. Use all space available! EX: Fill your shoes with socks and underwear.

-Leave 20% of your backpack space available. You may want to buy souvenirs and unfolded dirty laundry takes up more room that your carefully compressed clothes.

-Your backpack should not be taller than you and there should be nothing loose or rattly. Take your pack for a test walk. It should be easy to carry, not bulky and awkward.

-Wear your bulkier clothes such as long pants, sweatshirt, and shoes on the airplane. Don’t be afraid to layer up, the more you wear the less you have to carry.

PACKING FOR PURPOSE: If you have additional room in your backpack or an extra luggage bag allowance, consider bringing donations to the country you are visiting. There are organizations that will assist you in bringing needed supplies to developing countries. If you have the space and time consider filling an old duffel bag with donated items from your friends or family and delivering those items to people in need once you arrive at your destination. Pack for a Purpose

Backpack, FrontPack and Pack for Purpose bag

Good luck Hobos and Happy Trails!

Indonesia Part 1 – Bali

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Despite what most people think, Bali is not a country, it is a province within Indonesia. We booked our accommodations at Pro Surf Camp right on Kuta Beach. I had surfed before for about 3 hours in Costa Rica but this was my chance to get past the white wash and into the green waves. In true hobo fashion I did not hire an instructor but instead my friend Hobo M (the third musketeer who flew in to meet us) taught me!

A few things I learned about surfing:

The conditions have to be right. Kuta beach has a sandy bottom (as oppose to coral which can cut you up) and it has beginner waves when the tide is in.
You need to learn to read the waves. You want to start paddling on your board at the correct time so that you a) don’t miss the wave by having it roll underneath you or b) don’t have the wave crash right on top of you. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way with point (b). I felt like I was in a washing machine and prayed my board wasn’t going to smoke me in the head.

When you take a wave, point your board away from the curl. The white wash on top of the wave will travel along the peak and as long as you stay a little ahead of the white wash you can keep riding the wave
Don’t panic! You are attached by a leash to your surfboard. You will always surface because your board will always bob to the top.
Surfing is addictive! It reminds me of snowboarding in the sense that it’s a solo sport with the social component of chilling with your friends while bobbing out in the Ocean until the perfect wave comes along. The moment you finally do catch that perfect wave is a feeling you want to chase again and again.

So essentially surfing a few times a day was our life for approximately 3 days. In between surfing we would find cheap places to eat, go for morning jogs on the beach, swim in the pool, or investigate other ways to spend our time in Indonesia. It was incredibly hot and humid in Bali during the dry season so other than some sort of water activity it was difficult to do too much in the mid-day heat.

Finally after a few days of searching around we decided to jump to the in-land town of Ubud. I didn’t know this at the time but Ubud is one setting in the book, “Eat, Pray, Love.” Although very touristy, this place had a more cultured feel to it than Kuta Beach. The town was scattered with temples and encircled by green rice paddies. Tourists enjoyed upscale health food and wheatgrass shots in nice restaurants while discussing the latest yoga move they’d learned and mulling over how in line their chakras were.

The three of us Hobos know the benefits of yoga and other zen-like exercises but we simply couldn’t bring ourselves to commit any time to it. We’re girls on the go so we embraced that by signing up for a Bike Tour through the rural rice paddies instead of downward dogging it in the middle of the humid town. The following day we were picked up and driven through the winding roads of the staggered mountain farm fields to have breakfast overlooking Mt. Bantur.

Following that we visited a coffee plantation where we sampled all sorts of coffee and tea including the exclusive-to-Indonesia Luwak Coffee. A Luwak is an animal found in tropical regions in South-East Asia but mainly in Indonesia. The animal eats the coffee flowers and beans but basically digests the bean still intact. So Luwak Coffee is coffee made from beans that have been excreted from the Luwak. It tastes slightly more bitter than normal coffee and is apparently a delicacy.

After we were well-caffeinated we hopped on our bikes and rode downhill for 25 km. We stopped in a village and had the chance to tour a typical Hindu house. The livings spaces houses many generations under one roof and every home has a specially built temple in the North-East corner because that is the closest spot to Mt. Bantur, the highest peak around, which means it is closer to the afterlife. We also stopped at a school, a rice paddy to watch how it is harvested, and a cock fighting ring. Apparently cock fighting is actually a ceremonial part of the Hindu religion but our guide admitted that it is often a hangout for the men to come on weekends and gamble on the roosters.

After our downhill stretch we had the option to bike ride uphill the last 8 km to lunch. The three of us are reasonably fit gals so we thought, “No Problem! Let’s do this!” while the others wisely took the air conditioned mini van to the lunch location. All I can say is we certainly earned our lunch that day. The intense heat and humidity of midday combined with a slight altitude made me almost vomit. The more frustrating part was our guide for that portion of the tour couldn’t have been more than 15 and he was riding uphill passing us with a smoke dangling from his mouth and barely breaking a sweat. I guess the locals are made for those conditions. We enjoyed a delicious feast of local Indonesian food and then headed home for a much needed cold shower.

After eating a dinner of jaffels and banana milkshakes at a spot advertising the cheapest food in town we turned in early to get a few hours of sleep before our next Ubud adventure, climbing Mt. Bantur! Our pick up was 1 in the morning and we were whisked off to the darkness of the countryside. Climbing in the dark can be tough for a few reason. Obviously it is difficult to see where you are going using just a small headlamp or flashlight aa your source of light. In the daytime you can set goals for yourself as you climb (EX: OK, I’m just going to make it up to that tree and then I’ll take a breather), but in the darkness you can’t do that. Lastly, in the dark there is no beautiful scenery to distract you from your beastly breathing. You simply need to put your head down, put one foot in front of the other, and trust that the view at the top will be worth all your hard work. And it was! The sun came up as a huge golden ball over the surrounding mountains and lake turning the sky into hues of brilliant orange and pink.

We were able to relax and enjoy the view with our boxed breakfasts at the summit of the mountain; that is, until the monkeys arrived! Now, I like monkeys as much as the next person but these ones were bold! I saw the evil monkey running towards us first and managed to grab my bag, but the poor German girl next to me was not that fast. Before we knew it the monkey was picking through the girls lunchbox. And it wasn’t just grabbing any food it could find, it was rummaging and selecting what it wanted! Eventually the monkey decided on the banana (no surprise there) and sat on the hill watching the sunrise like the rest of us casually eating the banana. You dared not to go near the monkeys because they were actually quite aggressive. The evil monkey then sifted through the remainder of the girl’s breakfast box and opted for the boiled egg followed by the bread. But the spoiled brat monkey left all the crusts. Later a smaller monkey came for the crust leftovers. The dozens of monkeys that seemed to have come out of nowhere were now in full attack mode and all the tourists were grabbing their bags and lunches in an attempt to save them. The monkeys had taken over! At one point I actually saw a monkey grab a water bottle out of someone’s hand, unscrew the cap, and chug the water as the thirsty tourist looked on in disappointment. Hobo M left her bag on the mountain and as Hobo L tried to grab it the monkey came at her!

All this was hilarious but it was enough to make us decide that we didn’t want to visit the Monkey Temple in the afternoon like we had originally planned. The Monkey Temple is basically an old temple overrun with monkeys in the middle of Ubud. We had seen our fair share of this Planet of the Apes scenario so we started making the decent down the lava rock mountain. The path was slippery due to all the lose rock so it was slow going but the volcanic surrounding scenery was amazing. Upon our return to Ubud we showered, checked out of our homestay, and caught a cab back to the western amenities of Kuta where we could gather our thoughts and plan out the next section of our journey.