The Power of Lists

Getting ready for a trip can be very stressful. There are endless things to remember to do before you leave home and lots of things to remember to pack. The latter can be particularly important because sometimes, when traveling, you cannot find the items you need or they are very expensive. This is where lists become helpful.

People who travel a lot may keep the items they normally take with them in a drawer or in a box but infrequent travelers probably don’t do that. The best solution is to keep a list of all the items you will need and then check them off as you put them in your suitcase. This can include simple items like shampoo, conditioner, etc. or packs of cold medications, band aides and the like. If you’re traveling with children, a separate list of their items will also make for a happier journey for all.

The other list that comes in handy is all of the things that need to be done before you head to the airport or get in the car for a road trip. This can include things like shutting off the icemaker and the hot water, backing up computers, charging electronic devices and even unplugging the coffee pot. Once these things are checked off your specific list, you will get on the road feeling a lot more relaxed, knowing that all your travel prep was taken care of.

Sample Lists

Travel Prep:  

  • Turn up air conditioner temp
  • Shut off ice maker
  • Unplug coffee pot
  • Dump trash
  • Shut off hot water
  • Shut off water
  • Back-up/charge tech devices
  • Stop mail
  • Close toilet lids (prevent evaporation)

Things to Take:

  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Lotion: face, body
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste
  • Dental floss
  • Mouthwash
  • Deodorant
  • Razor, shaving cream
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug repellant
  • Chapstick
  • Hair spray
  • Dry shampoo

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Houseplant Care While Traveling

If you have indoor houseplants, they require care when you are away and extended trips can take a toll on houseplants. Unlike cats and dogs, there is no kennel where you can take your houseplants and pay for someone to make sure they get the light and water they need. If you have good neighbors, you may be able to make arrangements for them to come in and do some watering once or twice while you are away. If you are going to be gone several weeks or a month or more, this may not be the best solution and experience shows that over watering is common when others take care of your plants.

There are lots of gizmos on the market that claim they will keep your plants hydrated and some work and some are a waste of money and effort. The best solution we’ve found is a self watering pot with a bottom reservoir. Manufacturers claim these pots will keep your plants watered for up to two weeks but, the truth is, they may not work that long if you have the air conditioner running (more evaporation) or the pot is small.

Misco Self-Watering Flower Pot

The best solution is to fill the reservoir and then stand the plant in a plastic container, the larger the better. We use a plastic storage tub. Put enough water in the plastic container to go several inches above the top of the reservoir opening. This will keep the plant happy for many weeks and, if it is kept in a well lit environment, the plant will be alive, happy and thriving when you get home.

There are lots of self watering planters on the market but one of the better choices is Misco (available at Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot and other fine stores). They offer several different sizes and colors so you can mix and match for all your plant needs.

A Day in Hong Kong

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On our recent South China Sea cruise we spent a day in Hong Kong. While it is not enough time to do much we managed to hit a few highlights. Our first impression of the city as we sailed into port is one of rolling hills and countless skyscrapers. If you are cruising in, the ship will probably dock at the new cruise terminal that was once the site of the international airport in Kowloon.  Across Victoria Harbour is

HK2
Nan Lian Gardens

Hong Kong Island and the central business district with Victoria Peak standing above it. The first suggestion is to get yourself oriented as to where you are and what locations you would like to visit. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive and the subway (MTR) is easy to use. You can find a number of official maps here .

Going up to Victoria Peak is one of the cities highlights. There is a Peak Tram that leaves from a station near Hong Kong Park and the Government Center but by the time we got to the tram the wait to buy tickets and catch the tram was several hours. We’ve been told that the tram is an experience in itself but from our experience we would recommend getting to the tram lower terminus early in the day and if you’re staying in Hong Kong for a few days don’t miss going up at night. We shared a taxi with another couple up and back for less than 25 Hong Kong Dollars (US$5) each person and the view is well worth the trip. I can imagine what it looks like at night with the city glowing below you but even in the

HK5
Business District

day it is spectacular.

We started the day with a free bus ride to Plaza Hollywood which is a large mall with exhibit space, a movie theatre and a couple hundred stores. Leaving the Plaza we walked a couple of blocks to the Nan Lian Gardens (look for the elevated highway and walk under it). The park is a classic style Chinese garden and is beautiful with flowers, water falls, Koi ponds and pagodas and completely surrounded by high rise buildings (admission is free). Afterwards we walked back to Plaza Hollywood and the MTR Diamond Hill Station where we caught a subway. We used the subway to get to the business district at the Central Station. The MTR is easy to figure out with well designed maps and ticket machines with English language options. The trains and stations are modern, clean and well marked. From Central MTR station we walked to the Lower Peak Tram Terminus. The area features commercial skyscrapers and upscale shopping with the alleys between buildings filled with market stalls selling everything from food to inexpensive clothing.

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           View from Victoria Heights

One of the surprising things we learned is that while Hong Kong is a wealthy, vertical city with high rise buildings and skyscrapers everywhere, there are lower income neighborhoods where high rise apartments average only a dozen square meters. We were told that it is common to have them furnished with triple-decker bunk beds. When you realize this you begin to notice laundry hanging out of windows all the way up to the higher floors.

If we weren’t running short on time we could have taken the MTR back to the Cruise Terminal but we used our remaining Hong Kong dollars to take a taxi. We would recommend changing money and using credit cards in Hong Kong as US dollars are not readily accepted.

Our ship sailed out of Victoria Harbour as the Sun began to slip behind the skyline marking the end of a great visit, but we are convinced that this city deserves a number of days to spend exploring.

 

Cruising the Caribbean Part I

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Cruising the Caribbean

Visiting Caribbean ports on a cruise is only part of the experience as a majority of your time is spent just being on the cruise ship. The ships are like an all-inclusive resort with the added advantage of moving to a new location every day. Each ship is a combination of theme restaurants, fine dining rooms, theater entertainment, night clubs, spa experiences, pools with hot tubs, casino gambling, kids summer camp, shopping and much more. The ports of call are just icing on the cruise cake.

There are many options in cruising into the Caribbean from selecting the cruise line, to deciding on an embarkation port and picking the cruise length and its itinerary. Generally the available cruises range from three days to fourteen and the available embarkation ports mostly include Galveston, New Orleans, Tampa, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, New Jersey and San Juan. Most of the major lines are involved including Disney, Holland America, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and recently MSC. Ship sizes range from under 2,000 passengers to between 5,000 to 6,000 and getting bigger each year. Depending on the cabin choice and cruise line selected, prices per person range from just over $100 to thousands of dollars.

Our three preferred lines are Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Carnival but that is based on our experience. We have friends that equally prefer other lines. Over the years, because of loyalty programs and their benefits it becomes natural to settle on just a few. The benefits can include free internet, laundry, drink packages along with parties, loyalty lounges, priority boarding and more. Our first cruise which was with our children was with Royal Caribbean and we quickly discovered how family oriented they are with a great kids program as well as family activities. We have cruised a number of times with Carnival, initially because their pricing is more economical. Generally we find their passengers are primarily younger singles and couples who tend to party all day and into the night. More recently we find ourselves cruising more often with Celebrity. We think they cater more to people looking for longer cruises to more different locations and that they represent, we believe, a notch up in service. Royal and Carnival are both in the Caribbean year round while Celebrity sails only in the winter season. Celebrity also offers more, longer cruises than the others.

In deciding which cruise to select there are common elements to all of them. Your are going to be served good food, provided a selection of excellent entertainment venues and visit some exotic places with great beaches. After that the choice is based on time available, budget and what your interests are.

Before booking, our recommendation is to find a local travel agent that you can work with. The costs are the same and working with an agent can actually save you money (more on how we do it in another post).

To read more click here – CRUISING THE CARIBBEAN Part II

Laundry: A Problem With a Solution

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Traveling Tips

A Travelon Inflatable Hanger and Woolite Travel Packets

Having enough clean clothes while traveling can be a problem. If you’re on a ship, laundry services can be pretty costly although “frequent cruisers” on some lines get free or reduced pricing on a limited amount of laundry. If you’re traveling on your own, you may be able to get laundry services at your hotel but that also comes at a premium price. The other alternative is to find a laundromat (more common in the US then overseas) and spend a few hours washing, drying and folding.

A better solution is to travel with clothes that wash and dry quickly. There are any number of brands on the market that are lightweight and can be washed in a sink and then hung to dry in the bathtub/shower. The advantage here is that these clothes take up less room in your suitcase, generally wrinkle little or not at all and, because they can be quickly washed, you can pack fewer items.

Three great products to help you handle your own laundry are a universal sink stopper, travel size packs of detergent and an inflatable hanger. The sink stopper is necessary when you end up with a sink that doesn’t have a good stopper. The travel size detergent packs take up little space and, because they are single use, they can be disposed of as you use them. The travel hanger takes almost no space and can be blown up when needed and then deflated when it’s time to move on.

A Great Restaurant In Manila

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Singing Cooks & Waiters – Great Food & Fun Entertainment

Manila is a large and diverse city with lots to see and do. If you are there for several days it is possible to enjoy the diversity and to venture into the outlying countryside for some picturesque sites. If you only have a day, Singing Cooks and Waiters should be your number one stop.entrance sign of The Singing Cooks & Waiters

First, and most important, is to know the address of this Manila Gem. It is located in the Ongpauco Building on Roxas Blvd, Pasay, Metro Manila. It is best to have this written down for your taxi driver as they seem to have a hard time finding this place. It is open for lunch (11-3) and dinner 6-11) but confirm the hours by either calling (632 832 0658) or checking their website.

Once you are seated in the dining room, you are presented with an extensive menu of local Filipino foods in a wide range of prices. There are several pages of poultry, meat and seafood to choose from so it is easy to pick several dishes that can be shared. If you are inclined, there are also a few local beers to enjoy with your meal.

cooks and waiters sing for patronsAs you wait for your food, you can enjoy the Filipino hospitality and the amazing entertainment. The show varies by time of day and day of the week. On our lunch there was a piano player and a local on the guitar and they were joined by singers who are also your waiters and cooks. They sing together and also perform some impressive solo numbers. The microphones are soup ladles from the kitchen. The singers walk among the tables to get diners to join in and eventually staff and guests make their way to the “stage” to sing and or/dance. The only problem comes when you finish eating and it is time to leave. Getting your check can take a while as everyone is having so much fun they don’t want to break away!Traditional Philippino dishes

As you exit the restaurant there is a very attentive doorman who will send you on your way or help you get a cab. If you still have a little time left in your day and you feel like shopping, the fabulous Mall of Asia is just a short taxi drive away.

Additional Articles You Should Find Interesting:

More Travel Reviews
More Asia Destinations
Cruise Ports of Call