Travelling - What I have learnt, and what bugs me the most

I travel a lot, some things about other travellers and the whole thing of travelling bug me, a lot. So this if you will, is not just observations, it is a bit of a rant, you have been warned!

I consider myself quite lucky as I get to travel quite a bit with my job. Especially as I am just a general, run-of-the-mill technical member of staff, being neither a manager nor a chief scientist. Since changing companies in 2011 I have been to Tunisia, southern Italy, Calgary, Dubai, Morocco, Abu Dhabi and London and in some cases I´ve been to these destinations more than once. In my previous job I was also fortunate to travel with work, with destinations including; Rome, Italy; Kiev, Ukraine; Islamabad, Pakistan; Sana’a, Yemen and both Stavanger and Oslo in Norway. 

I also travel back-and-forth between the UK to spend time with my boyfriend, family and friends. The difference being that when I travel with work I tend to fly economy extra/business class and when I travel home its economy/Ryanair, who as far as I´m concerned have a travel class all to themselves!

I think exposing yourself to different cultures and countries makes you a better, more rounded person. To experience this with work, and work with these cultures also makes you a more informed individual person. However the amount of travel I do makes me somewhat intolerant to other less travelled individuals.

The first time I went to Yemen was with a manager of mine who was very well travelled and he would frequently mutter “too stupid to travel” aimed at various people as he was going round airports/on the plane/anywhere he deemed it appropriate. I thought he was just being cynical, but now I am prone to agree, that some people should not be allowed to travel, or if they do should come with warning signs. So here are my biggest pet hates:

1) Issues at security controls… If you travel a lot and you´ve seen the film Up in the Air with George Clooney when you´re in a rush you will recognise yourself in this quote:

“Never get behind old people. Their bodies are littered with hidden metal and they never seem to appreciate how little time they have left. Bingo, Asians. They pack light, travel efficiently, and they have a thing for slip on shoes. Gotta love 'em”.  

Yes, the lack of consistency between countries, airports and even terminals is incredibly frustrating sometimes, Heathrow airport I am looking at you, but there are ways to make this as painless as possible. I know the drill, if I am in a queue at security I have my belt in my hand, my watch in my bag, my jacket over my arm before I even get to the front of it, if I´m in heels they´re off as well and read to go in a container. My liquids bag contains nothing more than 100ml, and if I´m hand luggage only it’s in the front of my case, the only thing that I have to deal with is getting my laptop out. Come on now people, you should know by now, the liquids restriction has been in place since 2001, that’s over 10 years. I still can´t believe people try and get through full bottles of shampoo, water etc. Surely they know by now?

1B) Related to this is the complete lack of consistency, between countries, airports, terminals, days of the week and indeed staff members and the mood you catch them in!

Case in point, Heathrow airport. I had happily gone through that airport half a dozen times with a zip closed clear plastic bag containing my liquids less than 100ml whilst on my way back to Oslo. No questions asked, no complaints. The first time I had to transfer flights at Heathrow, I had issues. Apparently a zip leaks vapours and vapours are dangerous. So what happens when you open it? I don´t mean to be antagonistic, but COME ON!!!

2) People who just stop…. They´re walking along quite happily and then they just stop right in front of you. Why? Who knows? And why is it always in the worst place possible?

Sometimes it may be to do up their coat or pull up the handle of their bag, I understand that this is a necessary thing to do, but can´t you wait 30 seconds, or step to the side so you don´t cause an unnecessary human collision? Please

*This pet hate isn´t limited to travel and points of departure, this also applies to tourists in towns with maps, gossiping women in Westfield stood at the bottom of escalators and anyone else that decides that the most inconvenient place, is the best place to stop for a moment.

3) People that take a good few minutes when taking their place on a plane and thus holding everyone else up…

Find your seat, grab what you need for your journey and get your bag up into the overhead lockers. Step into the row, or the row behind and allow people to pass. Then take your coat off, and put it up. Don’t stand there for what seems like forever faffing with everything!

Linked to this is 3B)

The inability to pack overhead lockers, or trying to fit ALL your hand luggage into it so no one else can fit any.

I think this is a lack of consideration more than anything. Yes its great if you can fit your handbag, small case, duty free and coat in there, but what about the next person and the one after? The only seats that require you to ensure all your hand luggage is out the way are the emergency aisle and row 1. I do often have a handbag and a case but my handbag is always under the seat in front and my coat is on top of my case in the locker.

4) People who insist on watching their PC/tablet/phone on loud rather than through headphones, like a normal considerate person!

When sat whilst waiting for a plane, I don´t want to listen to your Bollywood movie, your cheesy pop, your Angry Birds game, or anything else that I don´t have to, thank you very much, so buy some headphones and think of others! 

5) People who travel abroad who should stay at home.

The British are often very guilty of this. Take Spain for example, two of the things that make Spanish culture great are the fantastic original tapas and the amazing red wines. So why is there a lack of great tapas bars serving great red wine in the tourist hubs and a significant amount of British pubs serving rubbish British lager, English Breakfasts and Sunday Roasts? Why go to Greece where the fresh seafood and lamb is amazing and eat burger and chips everyday? Or North Africa which has fantastic tagines which are spiced, but not overly so, then complain the food isn´t to your taste. If you want British food, British pub culture and are not willing to try the local cuisine here is my advice… STAY AT HOME.

The same comes to respecting another countries culture and rules. Don´t walk around a mall in Dubai in your bikini and not expect to be reprimanded (actually, please don´t do that, ANYWHERE!). Don´t expect to not be asked to cover your hair in temples and mosques. Be respectful. If you´re not willing to do that, then, again, STAY AT HOME!

You should come back from your holiday feeling refreshed and revived. That you have experienced something that has made you a better, more informed person.

So they´re my top 5 pet hates when travelling, and I´m not counting personal hygiene issues of other travellers there, that’s a pet hate ALL the time! These pet hates are mostly ones that make me realise how inconsiderate human beings sometimes are, how selfish we can be, and when you travel with over 150 people in a flying sardine can, you cannot be inconsiderate. When you have your own private jet, well then you can do whatever it is you want, and if you find yourself guilty of any of these, well, I just hope you don´t travel at the same time as me! :)

Links:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m17j0qCm lx1rs7qlto1_400.jpg
http://consumedbywander.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/life-quotes-travel-is-the-only-thing-you-buy-that-makes-you-richer.jpg

Surviving Winter, what I have learnt…

Today is the 2^nd February, the days may be getting longer, but temperatures are still very low, (minus 11 in Oslo today whilst a couple of weekends a friend went to Koppang, 250km north of Oslo, and it was -30!!!) and at least a small smattering of snow most days – even when none is predicted. Winter has most definitely set in.

This will be my third winter in Oslo having arrived on January 29^th 2011. I think I have pretty much got used to it, although the cold still occasionally takes my breath away and it´s that point I wish ski masks were that much more fashionable! So I feel in the position to be able to talk about how to deal with winters that can be long, dark and grey.

I decided to write this as the UK has recently seen its first significant snowfall and it reminded me just how useless the UK is at dealing with snow. Norway unlike the UK does not panic at the first sign of snow. Norwegians instead of hoping for a snow day, hope that there is a good enough snowfall to allow for cross-country skiing.

However I will write about why the Norwegians love snow and winter in another blog, todays blog is a few tips and my own advice on how I have learnt to deal with it.

1) There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes…

This is a Norwegian saying and it is very, very true. I will state however that Norway is nowhere near as humid as the UK and as such unless it gets less than minus 10 it never actually feels (at least to me) that cold!

FOOTWEAR

I am and always be a lover of heels, bright and high, I honestly can´t have enough. One of my perks of travelling to Heathrow and through Manchester Terminal 2 is that they both have Kurt Geiger outlets and I have bought many a pair in the last couple of years from there. They are my treat. My aim in life is to own some Louboutin and Jimmy Choos before I´m too old and my feet are crooked and bunioned! However in Norway in winter, heels are just not practical. I see women wearing high heels and I am in awe of them. Flat is largely the way to go when it comes to winter weather and its best if you have a few options!

First up, the snow boot. Before I moved to Norway I bought a great pair of faux sheep fleece lined leather Timberland boots, they cost me, well my boyfriend (as they were a Christmas present) well over £200. I wore them when I moved to Oslo and they absolutely cut my heels to bits, so badly in fact that when I transferred from Heathrow I went and bought three packets of Compeed! So they took a lot of Vaseline on the heels (brilliant advice from a friend) and a bit of wearing in and they are now my go to, its been snowing and there is now ice everywhere, boots!

Secondly Wellington Boots. Wellies in Norway are COOL. Hunters are the ultimate fashion statement and I have some very fetching Aubergine Hunters a friend brought across to me when she visited (significantly cheaper that way). Wellies are perfect for snow that has yet to be cleared from the roads and pavements that is up to your ankles. They are not great on icy surfaces even though they are rubber soled but combine them with some welly socks, maybe the best invention ever (I own three pairs now!), and they are toasty and keep your feet dry. Also great for when it’s tipping it down the rest of the year and the best thing is that no-one bats an eyelid. They are more likely to question your ability to dress properly when you have sopping wet feet!

Thirdly, the “its not snowed for a while but may still be icy boots”. These are the ones where you have a little more free rein. I personally have three pairs of boots I would put into this category, all of which are leather and have rubber soles. Knee high flats, ankle high faux sheep fleece lined and fleece lined 4” wedge heels – which only get worn when I know the streets are pretty clear. For someone that loves heels, wedges are the perfect compromise, that or a low 1-2” fat heel works well too.

Walk like you have a purpose, watch wear you put your feet, watch out for the white lines on zebra crossings  (usually SUPER slippy) and don´t be afraid of falling, because if you are your body is too tense and you will probably hurt yourself (advice from a Swede!). Yes, I still fall, and so do the Norwegians, but Im not afraid of falling and that makes a big difference. Always wear wool socks, maybe even wear two pairs, and if you´re still struggling buy yourself some Yak Trax or similar. I used some for my first winter, and I sometimes still do, but they are mainly for “old people” as my colleagues told me!

UNDERCLOTHES

Before moving to Norway I don´t think I had worn a vest on a daily basis since I was about 6 years old, and I thought if I were to wear them they would be confined to outdoor activities such as skiing and hiking, but oh no. They are a staple in my everyday winter wardrobe. Merino wool is best if you can afford it but its not that expensive even here so shouldn´t be an issue. I even have some very, ahem, attractive, merino wool shorts for when its REALLY cold with thermal long johns being reserved for the slopes (for now!)

COATS

Canada Goose Down Jackets are everywhere in Norway. They are incredibly expensive (upwards from £350 even in the UK) but they seem to do the job. Me, I have a North Face synthetic down jacket and I love it! Not too bulky, smart and should last a few years. I also have a Rab down jacket, a ski jacket and for when it’s less than -5 a couple of normal winter coats.

ACCESSORIES

Hats, gloves and scarfs are essential. Mittens top trump gloves, and wool outer, fleece lined mittens trump all! Leather is pretty good if lined with sheep skin too. Again mittens are something I thought I´d left in my childhood, but I wouldn´t be without mine, they´re the best thing for cold fingers!

Natural fibres such as wool and fur are always much warmer than synthetic. Not that I would ever wear fur, fur to me will never be fashionable and I still can´t get over seeing people wearing it in Norway, where you just know its real.

2) Taking care of your body… you can never have too much oil (I can´t believe I just wrote that!)

SKIN CARE

Winter HATES my skin. Going from cold to heated and back really screws it up, and I travel quite a bit with my job so lets just add airplane air conditioning to the mix! I´m spot prone, and talk about scaly. I´m surprised I´ve not been used as the latest leather in a designer handbag. That is until I was told to use face oil.

Oil on an already spot prone face… hmmmmm I hear you thinking, are you sure? Yes I´m sure, it works. It´s better than Elizabeth Arden Eight hour cream, which is also awesome but smells like horse medication, and any moisturiser I have ever tried! I have been recommended this by a friend and by my beautician back in the UK. I apply it under my moisturiser at least once a day, leave it to soak in before applying moisturiser and voila scale-less skin!

I also use shower oil for the same reason. Shower oil does tend to be a little expensive, so you can always resort to that old faithful – Johnsons Baby oil for after shower care. A decent thick but absorbable moisturiser is another must, I personally really like the Body Shop Body Butters, they last ages J

If you´re struggling with scaly, flaking skin, trust me, oil is the way forward

HAIR CARE

Again, oil is a godsend. Either a shampoo with oil incorporated into it or a hair oil for post washing, pre styling. I used to be a “wash my hair every day” girl, but since changing my shampoo I can go every other day with no problem

HANDCARE

To avoid the “old lady hands” look, you really need to look after your hands. In my case it means a decent hand cream, which I have in the kitchen, the bathroom, the bedroom, in my handbag, and on my desk! Then once or twice a week, when they need it I even put on some thick cream which I don´t rub in and put on white cotton gloves leave them overnight. Very attractive I´m sure and something that makes me glad I don´t live with my boyfriend!

3) Get outside and enjoy the sunshine, and for when there isn´t sunshine, there´s always supplements!

The next blog I write will be about the great outdoors and embracing the Norwegian national past time of skiing, but this is more general notes about making the most of any daylight you get.

I don´t really notice the lack of sunlight compared to how much more daylight we seem to get in the summer in Oslo. To be honest winters similar to the UK, dark when you go to work, dark when you go home. I think the biggest difference is that Norwegians tend to embrace any sun they can when it´s out, this explains why even the smallest café has seats and gas heaters outside, and blankets, lots of blankets!

Also as winters tend to be drier than the UK there is less rain, more snow and generally more days where a walk in the park seems like a good idea. Failing that, take your cod liver oil/Vitamin D and you should get through winter without the need to disappear to sunnier climes every other week!

Norwegians rarely let the weather interfere with their plans, they still go to the gym, the pub, the club, work, the cinema etc. If they didn´t they´d be housebound between December and March! It does help that cars have snow tires, people don´t drive like dicks in the icy conditions, taxi drivers don´t wuss out at the first sight of snow and public transport still carries on. So embrace the cold, treat it with dignity and you never know you may come to love it!

So these were my tips for making sure you stay warm, none flaky and relatively happy. Next blog will be about making the most of the snow J

Thanks for reading.

http://www.yaktrax.co.uk/

http://www.canada-goose.com/

http://www.elizabetharden.co.uk/skincare/eight-hour-cream/

http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/bath-body-care/body-moisturisers.aspx

http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/products/johnsons-baby-oil

http://miningmaven.blogspot.com/2010/01/there-is-no-such-thing-as-bad-weather.html (Picture 1)

http://footage.shutterstock.com/clip-1321216-stock-footage-elegant-background-snake-skin.html (Picture 2)