Travel Scams of 2014

From my travels around the world, I've always been warned from various sources of different scams to look out for, especially traveling outside the country. Some of the scams i thought were ridiculous and I couldn't believe that they actually happened. Then I went to Europe and personally witnessed a handful of people get pick pocketed and almost fell for some scams myself. One of my favorites was when I was in Venice at St. Mark's Square and some guy came up to one of the young ladies we were traveling with and handed her a rose. Then he turned to me demanding I give him three Euros. I immediately grabbed the rose and gave it back to him. Thieves will do anything to distract you from your possessions. They will use elaborate schemes and accomplices to carry out their vile deeds. My advice, be educated before you travel anywhere, even if its to a location you think is hospitable.

I recently came across this article on mashable.com that uses an info graphic that basically covers all the different schemes you should be looking out for while traveling abroad. Please give this a look and be aware while you travel.

http://mashable.com/2014/07/22/common-tourist-scams/

The info graphic is brought to you by justtheflight.co.uk

Airlines Make $3.35 Billion In Baggage Fees? Pass the Barf Bag

Long lost are the times when the airline companies were more concerned about pleasing their customers than making money. I miss the times when I could comfortably fit into a coach class seat, snacks and drinks were free of charge, and there were no baggage fees.

If you board a flight today, all you see are people lugging 100 lbs behemoth bags on board as carry-ons. The most entertaining thing is to watch them, with the help of the stewardess, punch, smash, and edge that duffel bag into the overhead bins. Its a surprise those bins stay closed during the flight. Its even more surprising that they stay closed during high turbulence or a bad storm.

Baggage fees bulged on the scene a few years back and it is sad how it has become the norm now. People have become accustomed to paying that gaudy fee or tag teaming their luggage into the overhead. At first, I remember the airlines saying that it was to help cover costs. Well, at $3.35 billion, the costs are covered and its time to come back down to earth.

Its not enough that airline food makes people sick, coach seat leg room is so small you have to sit in a yoga position in order not to pull something, and airline tickets cost more than my college tuition, but they keep adding fees to poor travelers in the form of baggage. The least they could do is give you an antacid for the airline hot pocket they just served you.

I just wonder when, or if, enough will be enough and airlines will start catering to their passengers and not to their bank accounts. Until then, I'm sure we will continue to pay the fee and wait to be charged for how many times we use the bathroom during a flight.

Below is a link to the Time Magazine article that explains more about these baggage fees and when enough is enough.

http://time.com/89509/more-travelers-are-fighting-back-to-avoid-airline-baggage-fees/

Camping Season is Around the Corner: Got your dutch ovens ready?

Warm weather is around the corner, which means travel season, which also means camping season, which also means Dutch Oven season.

Being a travel enthusiast and living in midst of the Rocky Mountains means for myself that camping is just a short drive away. I live in Utah. I can find camping spots as close as a few miles away and I can escape to the mountains in a half hour. When I camp, if I can, I love to try out my dutch oven skills. For me, there is nothing like kicking back by the fire with good food and good people. Sure, you can always break out the hot dogs or create a meal by stuffing your face with marshmellows, but nothing enhances the experience like dutch oven cooking.

I love dutch oven food, but I'll admit, I am a bit of a novice when it comes to the art of cooking. But, just like travel, I am always up for trying new things, new foods, and new experiences. From the glories of YouTube and many wonderful, and professional, dutch oveners on the Internet, I have been able to develop a love for learning how to do it.

If you've ever began dutch ovening before, you find out that there is alot more to it than just pouring some ingredients into a pot. Learning about cooking times, the behavior of charcoal brickets, and proper cleaning techniques are just as important as preparing the food.

There are tons of food sites out there with different recipes depending on what you are looking to cook. Below I share with the masses a recipe that I recently tried out that I found was a success. If you like stews, I highly recommend this. It is from a site called "bobsuruncle.itgo.com". The site has many recipes to choose from. The one I tried is called "Chuckwagon Stew".


http://bobsuruncle.itgo.com/recipe/stew.html


Also, If you are a person like me and want to begin learning how to dutch oven or just about dutch ovens in general, I have include a youtube link that I found useful for begining your dutch oven experience. The guys from CampCookingtv youtube channel have a show called "Lipsmaking Camping" where they teach about the finer dutch oven intricacies.


With the smells of dutch oven wafting in the air, you will soon be wanting to dutch oven at every outdoor experience and your friends and family will love you even more for your talent.

If you have a dutch oven recipe that you find was a success, please share in the comments section for others to enjoy. Happy Dutch Ovening!

Finally, A Travel Pillow That Promotes Sleep

Its the seventh hour of your 14 hour international flight, your coach seat is not treating your 6 ft. 2 in. body frame very well. Exhausted, you contort your body into several positions just hoping that one of them will let you catch a few winks before your have to give a presentation to the company's international management team. For several minutes, you try resting your head on your propped up arm, then you flip down the food tray to try your luck. No Dice. With resolve, you determine that you have to get some sleep so you become one of those people you detest that lean their seat back all the way, but with dismay, this puts a terrible strain on your neck neck. Searching for relief you remember, "I have an Ostrich". Soon your are off to La La land getting much needed rest before your important meeting.

This travel pillow is like none I have seen before. Not only does it give you perfect cushion on all sides of your cranium, but it blocks out sound and light as well. While covering these three key elements to travel snoozing, it's also not bulky like most around-the-neck travel pillows thus letting you sleep comfortably without space concerns in your pack or on the plane.

Finally someone designed a travel pillow with the traveler in mind. Here is a link to this pillow below so you can see that I'm not just making this up. Can't wait to get one for my next adventure. +Gizmag .

http://www.gizmag.com/ostrich-pillow-light/29390/
and on kickstarter here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ostrich-pillow/ostrich-pillow-light/

My Hotel Room is Clean Right?

As a new year of travel begins its invitation and as we start our new adventures, we look forward to our experiences being filled with excitement, relaxation, and excessive self pampering.

Over the years, we've seen and read the stories about unclean hotel beds, bed bugs, and moldy interiors. I recently ran across a video that was recently done by a news station about unclean hotels which helped to serve, yet again, as a reminder that we should be careful in thinking that our hotel rooms, cheap or luxurious, can't all fall victim to uncleanliness and disrepair.

Here is the video:

Whenever I see these articles and videos i'm always reminded of David Paymer's character on Ocean's 13, (the V.U.P., the Very Unimportant Person) when the group sabatoges the poor guys hotel room.

Let us remember, as we begin or continue our travels this year that not all hotels are clean and that we should always have a bit of caution when visiting our locations. Lets avoid being the V.U.P.

Invasion Of Flavor: 5 Foods That Need to Find an American Home

Our palettes can tell us a lot about a country's culture.  For many around the world, food is what makes up most of their cultural face. When traveling to distant lands, one can experience the traditional values of the places they are in by exploring new culinary options and embracing their traditional qualities.

We learn a lot about a country's history through cuisine. For example, why does the American culture value lobster so much? It started off as something that the early settlers of the country were eating to save themselves from starving. Now it has evolved into a $20+ dollar feast. What was one country's trash food has become this generation's luxury.

One of the reasons why Americans love America is the diverse cuisine. The cultures and traditions of many people are reflected in the thousands of choices we have when it comes to our next meal. I love how so many delicious foods from different country's take root here and then, like a fine wine, age to perfection over time. 

I applaud the fact that some of my favorite foods are from other countries and that just over the last decade, these foods have become culinary main stays. I am glad to see things like authentic Mexican taco stands, Brazilian barbacoa, and jars of Nutella have spread themselves themselves across the American lifestyle and continue to gain in popularity.

Unfortunately, the world contains far too many sumptuous delicacies that have yet to make a scene in American culture. Though there are thousands of things that I wish I could go to the market and pick off the shelf, below is a handful of food items I hope and wish would make it to our shores.

1. The Döner Kebab

Perhaps one of my all time favorite street foods, the döner kebab is a Turkish delight. The kebab consists of two pieces of artisan bread or a giant fluffy flower tortilla. The bread is then packed with hot freshly sliced lamb or pork. It is then stuffed with lettuce, tomato, onions, yogurt (cream) and finishes it off with a bit of chili powder. Imagine a gyro on steroids. If you are longing for one while in Europe, just look for the rotating leg of lamb hanging on the rotisserie in a street side shop. I fell in love with these in Europe and wish they would make a strong showing in the U.S.

2. Queso Mennonita

Having consumed my fair share of cheese from around the globe, including Switzerland, Mennonite cheese is my favorite and I wish it would cross the boarder. An original creation from the Mennonite colonies of Chihuahua, Mexico, this cheese, like many of the goods that the Mennonite and Amish communities produce, is the perfect blend of sour and salty flavors. Perfect for a stack of nachos.

3. Orangina 

One of the best sodas in the world. A main stay beverage that has been around in Europe for over 5 decades, Orangina combines the taste of the perfect orange soda mixed with orange juice. Each bottle has small morsels of orange floating around in it to give it that extra boost. The bottle design resembles that of the fruit it contains. It also comes in grapefruit flavor. Both are delightfully refreshing and need to splash on the seen here in the U.S.

4. Pastel De Tres Leches

A cake baked from the ovens of heaven. This cake is a Mexican birthday tradition. The cake is a marriage between 3 different milks (condensed, half and half, evaporated) and the cake itself. By doing this, the cake becomes that much more moist and that much sweeter. Top it with a layer of frosting and you have a treat fit for un Rey. 

5. Brazilian Lemonade

One of the nectars from the gods, Brazilian lemonade is a generationally handed down recipe for families through the vast country. The drink combines water, sugar, sweet and condensed milk, and a bunch of limes. Toss the four ingredients into a blender and you have yourself one delicious summertime beverage. 

There you have it. Five foods that need to make a scene in 2014. Until then, continue to explore new foods that are out there. Don't forget to try everything at least once.

Cow Fights in the Alps? Discovering a Centuries Old Swiss Tradition **Video**

Tucked away in the heart of the Valaisian Alps, a lesser known Swiss tradition continues to ring the bells of the hearts of the village citizens of this pastoral side of the Switzerland.

Swiss Cow Fighting.

Throughout the world people hold events that to some of the world might be considered rather violent. Take for example, bull fighting in Spain. To Spaniards, the sport has been a centuries long tradition that showcases bravery and honor for both the bull and the fighter. To the rest of the world, this tradition can seem barbaric and cruel for the animals involved.

When one hears the phrase "Swiss Cow Fighting", images can be conjured of cows running around in a violent display of gore and stampede. At least that is what I thought when I first heard the term. But to my surprise, the tradition is safe and displays the heart of Swiss culture and tradition.

Once, sometimes twice a year, villagers from several different locations along the Valaisian Alps bring their cow herds down from the high lush green pastures into the lower farmland valleys of these Alps. From the heard, the villagers examine all of their pregnant cows to see which one is the strongest and most angry. The villagers use pregnant cows because they are very territorial and are protective of their unborn calfs. Then they take that cow to compete in the ring.

The villagers join together in a paradisiacal like valley surrounded by lush green alp mountainside and flowing clear waterfalls and streams. The head of the competition creates an arena which is mostly a circle made with some twine and sticks formed like a fence. Then the regalia starts. Amidst some pomp, the pregnant bow vines are proudly lead one by one towards the bout by their owners down towards the arena. Each cow is painted with a number so that people can begin to bet on which one will win the day.

The objective of the cow fight is no more than pride, and little money for the winner. The winning cow is the one that out lasts all other cows that challenge it. The villagers compete for bragging rights about who has the strongest cow that will be the most dominate that year. That cow and owner becomes the pride of their corresponding village.

As the cows spread across the pastoral circle, 5 or 6 different "referees" step into the arena carrying large willow sticks. As the the time draws near to the beginning of the fight, the cows are extremely restless and already growling and stomping up the turf. With a blow of a whistle the villagers leave the circle and with a thundering vibration, the cows charge. A ruckus of Swiss cow bells erupt as the alphas begin to mark their territory.

As the cows lock horns across the arena, the referees use their sticks to whack any cows that look like they are going to double team a cow while it is fighting another. This is one of the rules, it is strictly a one on one battle.

Tourists, city folk, and villagers alike line the roped circle cheering on their favorite steer. Cows lock horns and throw each other around sometimes outside of the arena. Observing from afar, I witnessed a pair of cows locked in a heated battle push themselves unexpectedly towards the crowd and straight towards an older Swiss woman. As the cows came dangerously close to her, she, obviously a veteran spectator, slapped the cow on the hind end and shook her find while saying "No". The cows must have heard her because they began to push the fight away from her.

One by one, each cow, after being tested, began to bow out of the competition relinquishing its ground to the more dominate of the beasts.

The finale of the fight saw two cows that had been locked in a gruesome battle for over 45 minutes and had pushed themselves up a hill well out of the arena boundaries. Each cow had been the winner of the fights the two past years and they were at it again. When one of the cows finally gave up and trotted down the hill, the crowd erupted in cheers adulation as villagers hugged, shook hands, gave each other the customary Swiss double kiss and poured each other a stein of stout. It was another glorious victory for the two year reigning champion in setting of one of the most picturesque valleys in Switzerland.

These cow fights are just another example of why I love to travel. Discovering different cultures and their traditions fascinates me to no end. These traditions motivate me to explore other lesser known traditions not only of Swiss culture but of cultures all across the globe. These traditions teach us not only to honor the traditions from our own country but to learn more about ourselves from the world around us.

In your travels, what are some of your favorite lesser known cultural traditions that you have discovered?

European Wish List: 6 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Trip

Travel is always an adventure. Experiencing places you've never been, living in a foreign culture, adjusting to a different way of living. These things can always cause a bit of stress.

The first time I traveled to Europe, i naively stamped my passport and got on the plane with not much of a care of what i was going to experience. Little did I know, Europe is not the United States.

Putting this first trip into perspective, I ask myself, what are some important things i would have liked to know on my first trip to Europe that would have saved me some sleepless nights and few finger nails. While there is a whole host of things one should know before traveling to a foreign country, especially Europe, I have decided on 6 things that I would have put on my first timers wish list.

1) Europe is Expensive

This is probably a no brainer but for me, i was too excited thinking about all we would see and not about how much it would cost to see those things. The U.S. dollar is very weak compared to the currencies found in Europe, specifically the Euro. The price of food alone can clean your wallet out in a hurry. For example, we walked into a McDonald's in Lucerne, Switzerland and saw that a Big Mac value meal cost almost $13 USD. Restaurants can be crazy expensive especially if you are sitting down in the restaurant. Dining in can cost in the range of $20-$50. To save money, head to the local market, convenience shop or grocery store where you can find cheaper prices.

2) Bathrooms Can Be An Adventure

Unlike the U.S., bathrooms can at times be hard to come by in Europe. Once you find one, a good portion of the time, you have to pay to use them. On several occasions, we would walk into a restaurant to use the bathroom, but to our dismay, they were only open to paying customers. One good side to paying for a bathroom is that they are usually well kept and clean, I guess that is what the $3 is for. At times you can find free bathrooms but use them at your own risk. In several countries we found free bathrooms filled with traditional Turkish stalls (squatters), which you never see in America, so it can be a shock. Trains have free bathrooms but they can be shady at times. Try and plan well and don't over do it on the fluids.

3) Hotels Are Bare Bones

In the U.S. we are used to having plush hotels equipped with our own private bathroom and queen size beds. Europeans take the minimalist approach when designing their hotels. Now I'm talking about the medium priced hotels not luxury hotels. A typical 3 star European hotel will give you a pretty tightly spaced room, two separate double sized beds with comfortable but thin mattresses, a small window with a view, and a community bathroom somewhere on your floor that is shared by every room on that floor. Don't get me wrong, most of these hotels are clean and are perfect for getting a decent nights rest. Keep in mind that European countries have different cultures and different hotel styles. Expect a clean, comfortable, tight room.

4) Use the Trains

The trains in Europe can be a god send. Trains are a fast and efficient way of getting to the places that you want without the hassle of getting lost in a maze of European roadways. Most trains arrive on time and take you straight to the heart of most of the must see attractions and destinations within each country. Buying a Eurorail pass is the way to go if you are going to be spending time in several different countries as well as save you from the hassle of buying tickets for every destination. Switzerland had the best train system. The trains are relatively clean, safe and arrive precisely on time. The Italian train system was the worst. Many of the trains were old and dirty, smelling terribly and were hardly ever on time. I once had to wait 1 1/2 hours for my train to arrive. Beware.

5) Paying For Drinking Water

Americans are used to being able to find free drinking fountains everywhere. If you are in a restaurant, you can usually get a free water or pay a few cents for one. In Europe, water comes at a premium. Several stands and markets sell bottled water for around $3 USD. That can add up after a few days or weeks in Europe. But there are a few ways around this. The obvious one, if you can, is to buy a bottled water, keep the bottle and fill it up in your hotel each day. My favorite solution is to fill up at a local fountain. This can be shady at times because you usually don't know where the water is coming from. Search around any fountain for a sign that declares that the water is "No Potable", Not Potable. If you see the sign, stay away from it. I found this trick especially useful in Switzerland. All the water pouring out of the fountains is drinkable. Most of the water runs straight from the alps and is treated. I've lived on the water from those fountains for months and am still alive. Nothing like fresh spring water from the alps to quench your thirst. This is one of the rare free things I've found in Europe

6) Using Cash vs. Cards

This tip is useful for traveling to any country. When you arrive at your destination, find an ATM and pull out a good chunk of cash. Try not to use cards for every transaction. This is wise because whenever you are using you debit/credit cards in a foreign country, you will get slapped with an exchange fee and monster transaction fees every time you use your cards. Using cash can also get you out of a bind quicker if you need to pay for food or have some sort of emergency that requires immediate payment. Make sure to tell your bank before you leave, which countries you will be in and the dates you will be there so that they don't lock your account as a fraud protection when using your card outside the U.S.

These are just six things I wish somebody would have let me know before my first trip to Europe. I believe these tips are useful not just for Europe but for travel in general. Every time I travel, especially to Europe, I pick up lots of things that I wish I would have done or known about before I left. Please feel free to leave any tips you would have liked to have known before your first trip to a foreign country. Its always good to be prepared.

Old Town San Diego: Preserving the Past

San Diego. Best known for its ideal warm climate, massive zoo, and yes of course, Sea World. Little do most people know that there are several other sparkling gems that lie in this southern California oasis. One of my favorites is the Old Town District of San Diego.

When most use San Diego for no more than a spring board to Sea World, Disneyland and a plethora of amusement parks that surround the area, many don't know that there exists Old Town San Diego.



The city has outdone itself to preserve the area where the first foundations of the city were laid. Upon visiting this area, one comes upon a down filled with history. Several pioneer replica buildings surround the half mile block. These buildings are meant to look the way they did back when the city was first founded. One can find various museums housing antique furniture, aged Wells Fargo wagons, and photographs of the early inhabitants and settlers of San Diego. Accompanying the museums are various tourist shops and markets as well as a general store and an old fashion candy shop where they arduously pull taffy in the window for onlookers to experience.

The city also is home to some of the best authentic Mexican food in the city. Situated a short distance from the Mexican boarder, San Diego is filled with the influential food and culture that the Mexican people have brought with them. We had the fortune of eating at one of these restaurants close to old town called Old Town Mexican Cafe. The restaurant, like many within walking distance, serves a huge variety of delicious authentic Mexican. I highly recommend the Molcajete, a cornucopia of marinated chicken, carne asada, and jumbo shrimp. If you are lucky you will be there when the mariachi bands are serenading patrons.

One of the most interesting places in Old Town San Diego was the Mormon Batallion Museum. Located a block just outside of old down, this museum was amazing. Owned and operated by the LDS church, missionaries and attendants take you back in time as you experience the journey of the Mormon battalion. Just as a little background, when the Mormon pioneers were making their way out to Utah in the 1840's, the United States Government ordered the formation of a battalion of 500 men to go combat the Spanish in the southern territories several decades before the actual Spanish American war. While en route to Utah, the U.S. army, with help of the church's leader Brigham Young, recruited nearly 500 men and there families for the battalion. Long story short, the battalion weathered several months of marching through the desert, starvation, and disease before arriving in San Diego. In the end the battalion did not firing a shot against anyone. The battalion helped the locals develop the city creating waterways and irrigation canals for farming and helping to build buildings and homes thus helping the city to become what it is today.

While walking through the interactive guided tour of the museum, you will move from room to room, all designed to look just like the locations that the battalion marched through. Some of the places include the prairie of Iowa, a general store, and the desert to name a few, all while videos of actors tell the story of the battalion and the founding of San Diego. It is interesting and fun for the family. At the end of the tour you can get your old fashion sepia tone picture taken as well as mine for gold (fools gold)  in their custom build creek bed. It is an good place to immerse yourself in the culture of the city.

Whether its strolling down the dirt paths alongside 1800 style buildings, chowing down on authentic spicy Mexican food, or learning about the town's past, Old Town San Diego is a great place for getting away from the crowds and experiencing history. San Diego is truly preserving its past and providing its visitors with a sense of culture and adventure.

"Pay As You See Fit": Gimmelwald’s Honesty Shop, a Store Without Prices

Nestled in the the heart of the lush Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, lies Gimmelwald. A typical Swiss mountain village anchored on the slopes of the alps. The village is surrounded by fertile wheat fields, hungry Swiss cow herds, steep mountain biking trails and and forest clad hiking paths connecting neighboring villages.

Gimmelwald is also home base for many adventure seekers. Centuries old chalets, conventional hotels, and quaint adventure youth hostels line the switchback cobblestone streets. Walking through the town, one can venture into one of a handful of tourist shops, artisan bakeries and made by hand woodcraft shops.

Amidst the many shops selling high priced goods and quality souvenirs lies a small shop that has no attendant or prices. The vacant shop is lined with no more than a few shelves and a small refrigerating unit. The shelves are full of a variety of unique goods, some of which look very expensive. From hand carved and crafted cookoo clocks (a Swiss trademark) to intricately laced macramé to general food items such as cookies and soda, the shop is like no other in the country, if not the world.

Looking past the shelves of goods, one can find a small antique oak box with an envelope sized slit sitting atop a wooden stand. Above the slot in German, French, and English, a small carved sign reads “Please Pay As You See Fit”.

This shop relied upon the honesty and trustworthiness of its customers. Truly a pure case of business ethics. Pay as you see fit. Now I am sure that there have been a few people that have come across this store and took what they say they needed for free, but for the most part the honor system had worked.

Talking with a couple of locals that owned a one of the hostels in Gimmelwald, I came to find out that the shop had been their for over 15 years and that every week villagers, not just from Gimmelwald, but from all over the Jungfrau region would come to the shop to sell items. The village designates a local to be no more than a care taker to make sure the shelves are filled as well as collect the money which is then split among Gimmelwald and the neighboring villages.

Two things stand out to me about this concept and the shop itself that I find most fascinated. 1) the shop had been open for 15 years meaning that it has been a viable source of income for the village and 2) The types of items in the store.

When visiting the store I was accompanied by a few friends. One of them found a hand carved smoking pipe that looked to be over one hundred years old. Surrounding the pipe we found intricate hand painted figures and decorations highlighting Swiss culture. In any of the big cities in Europe, this item was worth more than $200 but there it was sitting in a “Pay as you see fit store”. My friend bought the pipe for around $150. Items like these were found on the shelves amongst candy bars, chocolate and postcards. This shop was a treasure in and of itself. 


People are generally good hearted, honest, charitable individuals. I believe that if more of these stores existed throughout the world, business owners would still make plenty of money while at the same time creating a customer loyalty which will keep them coming back. I guess you could say it would be the first stepping stone to building a Utopian world society. The shop was just another example to me of one of a plethora of things that Switzerland is doing right.