10 Tips for Tech-Free Enertainment on Car Trips

Commercials use it, children whine it, and parents dread hearing it.

"Are we there yet?"

Long car trips are often seen as horrific undertakings with weary, worn-out travelers arguing, whining, crying, yelling, or sulking.  The solution, according to numerous auto manufacturers, is to make sure your car is equipped with hi-tech gadgets, iPads, DVD players, etc.

But what did people do in the "good ol' days" when such technology was non-existent?

My parents are from a different part of the country from where we grew up and with my mother having most of the summer off, countless summers consisted of a long trip to & from Canada's east coast.  To this day, my sisters and I count those trips amongst our happiest summer memories, despite being in a van for 2-3 days at a time without tvs or movies to entertain us.

I don't think any of us missed our electronics on those trips and each of us explored the more creative sides of our personalities.  We came up with our own games, jokes, and traditions.  Some of those traditions, such as car bingo and timbits in Sackville, continue to this day.

So how did my parents not go totally nuts with 3 girls confined to a small space for 2 days?

10 Tips for Tech-Free Car Trips

1. Surprise!
On a particularly long trip, my mother picked up some fairly low-mess games, books, and crafts.  She wrapped each one in white paper and hid them in the car.  I was too young to know whether it was once-a-day or when we got restless, but she had our undivided attention when she announced it was time to pull out the surprise bin.  Each of us got to pick one and this kept us entertained.  It didn't have to be fancy.  One of my favourites was balloon people.  We got to colour the stickers and such that would adhere to our balloon to give him/her a personality.  Colouring took time, so that kept us entertained.  I'm not sure how my parents handled the random popping of balloons, but no one drove off the road, so it couldn't have been too bad.  Check out your local Dollar Store for some ideas.

2. Car Bingo
This is an ongoing favourite.  We tend to make up the bingos on one day, and then play the game another day.  The winner usually has his/her choice of ice cream or a chocolate bar along the way, but you could come up with an alternative. White paper and water-based markers are best.  You can create the lines in advance, or do it on the road.  If you're particularly fussy about straight lines, I suggest making these first...the road can be slightly bumpy.  Keeping it simple with things like "tractor" or "cow" is great for younger kids.  Just be careful not to get too complicated.  This year, 4 of us (all adults) traveled down to Nova Scotia for a family wedding.  My father commented at the end that "you know when bingo is getting too difficult when no one wins".  Trying to find a red car (not truck) with advertising on it, while traveling on the TransCanada highway, was just a bit too challenging.

3. Clicker
It's an improv game that my sisters and I played when we were younger.  One of us would pretend to hold the clicker (more commonly known as the tv remote) and flip between channels.  The other two of us would be responsible for acting out a channel.  The end of the turn was concluded by the person holding the "clicker" giving the rest of us a product to make a commercial about.  The best commercial would determine who would be the next "clicker".  This game doesn't require anything but imagination, but earplugs might be handy for those not wanting to listen in.  My parents hated this one, so it  may not be for you.  That said, one particular moment from this game became infamous in our family thanks to comic timing in a commercial about floating shoes.  Ask my sister Denise if you want the full story.
  
4. Activity Bins
Markers, colouring books, plain paper, and even origami could be found in our activity bins.  The bins weren't labeled to ensure each sibling had equal amounts, so if there wasn't enough of something, too bad.  This didn't cause a lot of fights as each of us was fairly unique in our likes/dislikes.  We had little table tops to use for steady drawing surfaces, and if we finished with what we were using, we had to tidy up before moving on to the next thing.  I won't say our van was spic & span after the trip, but it did keep some of the mess to a minimum (my mother might dispute this though)


5. Travel Games
Connect-4, Scrabble and Yahtzee were some of the travel games we had.  You can find them at places like Mastermind Toys and Walmart.  They are designed to be fairly self-contained, and are good distractions without electronic technology.  Old Maid was another game we played and cards were passed around the car with minimal issues.


6. MadLibs
One way to ensure laughter, while being a bit educational, is doing MadLibs.  You can find them online and print out copies in advance, but buying a book of them is worth it.  We laughed until we cried on numerous occasions, and the book could be brought out multiple times during the trip.  I suggest keeping it to a minimum each time though.  You don't want to get sick of the activity by continuing after the stories stop being funny.

7. Pico Fermi Bagel
This numbers game is a guessing game based on the placement of numbers.  You can find the instructions for it at this link.  Essentially, one person has a sequence of numbers in their head and the others try to guess what they may be.  Not a game with laughter, but definitely distracting and challenging.  The longer the sequence, the harder the game.


8. Car Colours
This game requires you to have visual contact with oncoming traffic.  Each person selects a car colour and you keep track of your own colour.  As a car passes you, you can add to your tally if the car is your colour.  Mixed colours are excluded.  Given the number of silver cars these days, you may choose to make it off-limits.  This is a game the driver can join in on and it can get a bit competitive.  Better suited for days without rain.  It's hard to look the wipers to determine if the car is navy or black.


9. Finger Puppets
Better for younger travelers, but still fun for some adults.  My mother was quite happy to play even when the kids had had enough.  Having each person come up with a little skit or dance along to the music could get fairly amusing.  I remember a particular moment with larger puppets when "Me Donkey Wants Water" turned into a wrestling match between Pandi the Panda Bear and Leon the Lion.


10. Person, Place or Thing
A classic game you may have played in school, this activity is mess-free and creative.  One player selects a person, place, or thing, and the rest of the travelers have to come up with yes/no questions to determine the answer.  The older the travelers, the more obscure you can get!

Trying to find Romeo online: Awkward First Dates

You've traded photos, emails, and possibly phone numbers.  Now the day is here and you're wondering if the image you've built up in your head will come anywhere close to the person who is about to walk in those doors.  Are you confident or shy?  Excited or nervous?  Maybe all four emotions at once?

Like many people who look online for a partner, I've met some pretty interesting characters.  Some seem younger than expected, some are nothing like their online persona and some need to work on their social skills. 

Mr. "Stuck in Childhood"
I'm all for a bit of geek in a guy, but this young man took it to extremes.  He told me about his interest in comic books and that he sometimes collected things.  During our first date, he elaborated on his love of Power Rangers for a good 15 minutes.  He described his apartment as being a shrine to figurines and admitted that most of his time was spent watching old episodes of childhood shows.  I'm all for enjoying bits of the past.  I still have my Buffy the Vampire and Lois & Clark DVDs, but they come out maybe once a year.  I was looking for a man who would go hiking, traveling and socialize.  The one I found desperately wished to be a boy again and was more in love with his TV than anything else.

Mr. "Not the Whole Story"
I'm all for a bit of mystery, but when someone downplays a significant part of themselves, it has me doubting their honesty.  I'd spent a bit of time getting to know a young man who informed me he had cerebral palsy.  My parents raised me to be open and accepting of peoples' disabilities, so I opted to go ahead and meet the man in person.  What I expected to be a bit of fine motor skill issues and a speech impediment turned out to be quite a bit more intense.  He'd opted for sushi, which I thought was admirably gutsy, but looking back, not a great first date choice.  There's something about slurping sushi that doesn't rate high on the "sexy" scale.  We both admitted there wasn't much chemistry between us and while a second date was a possibility, the communication dropped off completely.  

Mr. "Maybe I'm being too forward?"
Though claiming to be a headhunter on his online profile, I think one date had further aspirations of becoming an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor after trying to perform a tonsillectomy in the parking lot.  Prior to our first date, he acted like the perfect gentleman.  Concluding our date, he asked if he could kiss me saying that he'd found in the past that he was sometimes too forward.  Assuming this meant a peck, I thought "why not"?  Turns out our definitions of a first date kiss greatly differed.  In addition to his bold move, he proceeded to text and email me numerous times the next day.  At one point he asked me if I was still thinking of our kiss as he apparently couldn't think of anything else.  I'll admit he scared me off and I asked to conclude communications.  He questioned whether I really meant what I was saying and kept messaging.  Creepy.

Today marks another first date.  This afternoon I'm off to have coffee and I find myself wondering if I'll be adding to the tales of "Awkward First Dates" or maybe this will be one for the slimmer volume of "Date No. 2"

Life's an Adventure: Exploring Nepal

Arriving
There was a weighty silence as we came over the mountains preparing to land.  A few lucky souls were on the left side of the plane and had a great view of Everest.  As the wheels touched down, everyone held their breath.  Success!  Everyone clapped and felt relieved.

While coming over the Himalayas is certainly hair-raising, what really had my fellow passengers worried was that the last Turkish Airlines into Nepal skidded off the runway.  In fact, we past the damaged aircraft while taxiing to our gate.  Don't worry though, this isn't a regular occurrence!

The Himalayas seen on our flight from Kathmandu to Jhapa

If you're thinking about flying into Nepal, I strongly recommend you get a visiting visa before you go.  Many people wait and there is a huge line up in the airport.  Our team made sure everyone had a visa before leaving so we just walked right though.  Also, be sure to keep your luggage stickers.  Nepali security will check and give you a hard time if you don't have them.

Airport in Jhapa

Cultural Sensitivity
Be prepared to be segregated by gender.  Women are kept with other women and the security officers that pat them down and inspect their bags will be women.  Do not take offense at this, just go with the flow.  As the country is very poor, so do not expect airports to be at a North American standard.  Buildings will likely look worn, outdated, and possibly dirty.  Bathrooms may not have toilet paper, so take your own and hand sanitizer.  There is little chance you'll find soap.  Often you will see a bucket of water.  The locals use this instead of toilet paper.  This relates to the Nepali custom of never touching food or people with your left hand.  It is considered unclean and only the right hand should be used.  I'll let you guess why!

The sun was barely visible upon landing in Jhapa

With the under-enforced air pollution restrictions, the air in Nepal is highly polluted.  There is often a haze in the sky and despite your proximity, it is unlikely you will see the Himalayas from Kathmandu if you're not there during a rain storm.  As I was participating in a Habitat for Humanity build, we continued our journey by flying to a south-eastern part of Nepal known as the Jhapa district.  As garbage is often burned, especially in more rural regions, the air quality is affected.  I strongly recommend taking a fabric mask with you to help combat the inhaling of both burning garbage and vehicle exhaust.

My sleep sheet spread out in my room in Birtamod

Accommodations in Rural Areas
If you have never been to a developing nation before, you will want to prepare yourself for the different building standards you may encounter.  The level of comfort you are accustomed to is also lower and you should prepare yourself accordingly.  The hotel in Birtamod that we stayed at was considered to be one of the best in the area.  The showers were cold, the beds were incredibly hard, and the bedding was questionable.  Investing in a sleep sheet or light sleeping bag is probably a very good idea!

I also recommend taking a laundry soap bar, clothespins and short bungee cords so you can wash clothing and hang it to dry in your room.  Staying clean will make your trip more enjoyable. 

Basic Nepali home in the rural districts

 The purpose of my trip was to do a Habitat for Humanity build with my students and so we were exposed to a greater degree of poverty than perhaps most tourists see.  Homes are barely more than one room shacks made of sticks and mud. 

The Nepali People
The people, though desperate to make a better life for themselves, are pleasant and welcoming.  They are genuinely happy to see you and despite language barriers, they try their best to communicate with you.  Taking the time to try and learn the Nepali language goes a long way and an exchange of culture is much better than expecting the Nepali people to accommodate your language and culture.

Flowers received during our welcome ceremony

Depending on where you are staying, the purpose of your trip, and how rural you go, you may find yourself in a welcoming ceremony.  This may include the giving of flowers, dancing, demonstrations of local culture, and the introduction of elders.  It is respectful and proper to greet the people you meet by placing both hands together in a prayer-like fashion, bowing your head respectfully and saying "Namaste".  The Nepali peole can be shy at first, but in my experience, once they get to know you more, they are a warm and wonderful people. 
The Food

Nepali Thali

Whether you are in rural or urban areas, Nepal has some amazing culinary delights to share.  The traditional meal is called a Nepali Thali.  It consists of rice, cooked lentils, a curry, sauteed greens, cooked vegetables, and a tomato-based chutney.  The flavours are quite complex and often spicy.  As Nepal is so close to China and India, you will often see these flavours blended.  Be open to trying everything and you will not be disappointed.  Tip: Keep a glass of water handy for those unexpected spicy moments. 

Nepali momos

You won't find beef in Nepal as the country is over 80% Hindu, and so the cow is considered sacred.  Asking for it will be seen as an insult your hosts.  My favourite food on the trip was the Nepali momo.  This delicious dumpling comes with a dipping sauce and is filled with either vegetables or chicken.  A combination of spices, tomato and cilantro is often found in the dumpling itself and many chefs will guard their recipes secret.  The sauce varies depending on the restaurant, but I never had a bad momo experience.  I highly recommend trying them!


Tourism in Kathmandu

The tourist district of Thamel at night

Be prepared to bargain, and bargain hard.  If you're with a tour group, ask your leader what kind of prices you should expect for things like singing bowls, statues, jewelery and carvings.  If you're Caucasian, you'll stand out and vendors will sometimes set higher prices.  The markets are plentiful and you can take your time if shopping is your passion.

There are a lot of shops, mountaineering stores, money exchangers, and restaurants in this area.  Keep in mind, prices will be higher because you are in the tourist area. As pickpocketing can be frequent, keep a close eye on your valuables.  Never put anything in your back pocket and be discrete with your money.  In the first few hours we were there, I had a small child try to reach into my pocket.  Don't think that because the person is young, they aren't much of a threat.  People often let their guards down around children.  Exploring this district at night is more dangerous.  So if you are a solo traveler, you may want to wait until daytime to do your shopping.

Prayer flags at Monkey Temple

Looking out on Bhaktapur

If cultural and historical adventure is more your style, the Kathmandu valley is rich with it.  Sadly, the 2015 earthquakes damaged a lot of structures and destroyed some beautiful temples and monuments.  There are still some wonderful sights in Patan Durbar Square, the ancient city of Bhaktapur, and at Monkey Temple, but they may be under construction for repairs.  If you don't have a guide, take time to acquaint yourself with the city. 

Accommodations at Hotel Vaishali

Accommodations in Kathmandu are more expensive, but you will find higher quality in the tourist district of Thamel.   We stayed at Hotel Vaishali and it was a beautiful hotel.  The hotel was fairly easy to access and our tour guides from Bon Holidays were really informative and knowledgeable. 



 If you have the opportunity (and desire) to visit this historically beautiful country, I highly recommend doing so.  Always visit a local travel clinic before your trip to be sure you're medically prepared, and stick to bottled water.  By taking these simple safety precautions, you'll be able to enjoy the hospitality and beautiful culture of the Nepali people.

Namaste.

Single & Vacationing with the Folks: Fun or Faux Pas?

At 13, vacationing with your parents is normal.  But what about if you're 34...and single?  I have been struggling with this question for the past couple weeks.  At 34, by society's standards, vacationing with your parents usually means they play the role of grandparents.  In my case, however, it's just me.  My sisters are both paired off happily and doing their own thing with their partners (and kid in one case). 

My parents own a beautiful 32 ft. sailboat and try their best to make time during the summer to visit other clubs around the area.  Often this means going with other boats from their yacht club or meeting up with friends who also have boats.  Sometimes they do this alone, and sometimes I'm the add-on.  Don't get me wrong, I love being on the boat and I've made good friends with some of their friends, but I've had this nagging thought throughout the entire thing...

My home for a week

Does being 34 and still vacationing with my parents make me a "loser"?

I brought this up with a close friend and again with my mother.  Luckily for me, my parent didn't take any offense.  My friend was quick to say, no...and then head off for a solo trip around the Costa Brava part of Spain on her bike.  Hmmm...sailing with parents vs. adventurous cycling for one...lol, something tells me her trip sounds a whole lot more age appropriate. 

My mother listened and understood that it wasn't that I didn't appreciate the experience and time with my parents.  After much thought, I've come to the conclusion that while some may see me as a "loser", some day, my parents will both be gone and the memories I'll have from spending time with them will be priceless.  It's also still okay to feel a bit stunted and hope for trips where I will have my own family to bring along.

Toronto's nighttime skyline from Algonquin Island

I had a lot of fun on my trip.  I worked from the boat by commuting to school using ferries & public transit, met new people, and increased my comfort with sailing in heavier winds.  I got to see the beauty of Toronto at dusk and nightfall from a unique viewpoint, I was less dependent on technology, and I reduced my carbon footprint.  If I'd given in to my perceived view of public opinion & refrained from going on the trip, all I would have had to show for it would likely be one more week living in a hot apartment, eating alone, and watching Big Bang re-runs. 

A loser I may be, but at least I'm a happier one.