Airline Etiquette 101

As a traveler it’s always good to see people who know what to do inside an airplane. Everything that is public needs have its own etiquette system that people should follow and that includes traveling via airplane. I’ve had my own share of experiences seeing people doing the most disgusting things inside an airplane so I decided to post the things that everyone should remember whenever they’re inside one. I advise you guys should follow these unless you’re rich enough to buy your own private plane.

1.Dress Appropriately

My dad always tells me that dressing is the key. If you want instant respect then dress the part. A lot of times, I’ve seen people mostly men wearing only a sleeveless shirt and sometimes without even shoes. If you’re already on beach mode well you’re not there yet so better dress up if I were you.

2.Use Armrests

Every seat inside the plane is equipped with an armrest and nothing is more annoying than seeing someone use your own seat as leverage when they stand up. The fact is, the seat in front of you is not yours and using it without his or her permission is simply awful and disrespectful.

3. Window Courtesy

If you happen to be positioned near the window, be courteous enough to your fellow passengers by lowering the blinds when they start to sleep, watch TV or work. Remember, you don’t own the window.

4. Stay Seated

One time when I was traveling to Europe I was constantly annoyed by one buxom American guy who kept on walking down the aisle to talk to his friend. Apparently, the guy does not have enough foresight to reserve a seat next to him that’s why he had to walk several steps in order to get to his buddy. Not only is he rude but he also happened to block other passengers while they make way through the plane aisle. On the other hand, if you’re in for a very long trip make sure that you stand up once in a while to help your circulation. Stretch for several minutes to remove muscle soreness and stiffness.

5. Reduce the Stress of Air Travel

Keep yourself busy on long haul trips by working on a Sudoku puzzle, crossword puzzle, writing or bringing a flashy gizmo such as a PSP. You don’t want to spend lots of time without doing anything and surely even if you’re beside the window, looking at the view will surely strain your neck. Meanwhile, here’s what I do to combat boredom while inside the airplane: sleep. It’s as simple as that and it would even be better if you listen to classical music which is what I do.

6. Early Traveling

I hate going to the airport at around 7:30 am just to catch my flight but unfortunately I’ve already experienced it many times before. During an early trip, I make sure that everything’s prepared and my travel outfit is already in place. I wake up at around 5:30, take a bath and put on comfortable shoes without having to spend a lot of time in front of the mirror. I don’t mind not looking at my best but I make sure that I don’t look wasted as well.

7. Reserve Early

Although this might cost some cash, this wouldn’t be much of an issue if you have enough to spare. I don’t like having to find a cheap hotel when I’m already in my destination because it consumes so much time, so what I do is I do my research a few weeks before and have the hotel room reserved one night earlier. I know I’m going to pay for something that I haven’t used but I prioritize time over money.

8. Packing Tricks

If you would be staying in a place for quite sometime, I advise that you list down the things that you have to bring before putting it inside your bag, I prefer bringing backpacks by the way. And never forget your toiletries because for sure you’ll need them when you get there. Meanwhile, pack light because bringing unnecessary things while traveling long distances would only make you confused when you start looking for the essentials. Aside from that, always organize things because it’s faster and more efficient.

9. Be Prepared for Security Checks

The worst thing that can happen to anyone before boarding a plane is holding up the line of a routine security check. Remove coins and keys before your turn to avoid delays.

Everybody wants to travel peacefully and comfortably but in the real world, that rarely happens. The thing is, always be prepared, have a lot of class and grace and more importantly know what you should and shouldn’t do.

How to Handle Road Violations

As a driver, I always do my best not to get a traffic ticket. Years of driving had made me familiar with how cops rush at the end of the month just to meet their quota. In short, I’ve had my fair share of traffic violations over the years. The simple fact is as much as possible follow traffic rules and regulations. However, sooner or later you need to deal with traffic cops that’s why I might as well give you some tips on how to deal when this situation arises.

 

1. Always be Respectful

The most common mistake that a traffic violator does is to increase the tension by talking too much. A cop always looks at a routine traffic stop as an unpredictable and dangerous situation. If you stay uncooperative, it will only make the situation go from bad to worse. Explain your side calmly, lower your window and turn off your radio when a cop tells you to stop. It only shows him that you respect authority and that you’ve got nothing to hide that can make him or her suspicious.

 

2. Limit your Talking

This item is somewhat related to the first one and its main purpose is to show the cop that you recognize his or her presence. Talking too much would make it appear that you are at the defensive, which isn’t a very good thing when you are talking to a cop. Always wait for your turn before talking and never be rude to the cop.

 

3. Evade Arguing

There are bad apples wherever you go and that is also true when it comes to cops. The thing is, no matter how clearly and succinct you’ve stated your case to him or her, sometimes it doesn’t and wouldn’t work. Know when to stop by conceding to the cop and if you think that he has abused his authority, there are proper venues for complaining about his demeanor.

 

4. Don’t Use Ignorance as an Excuse

If you’re a woman just like me you can use your charms sometimes but not all the time to get out of a traffic violation encounter. I find it quite ridiculous when most men use ignorance as an excuse when they get caught on the road. The fact is it simply would not work, once you obtain your license, you are required to abide with all the rules of the road no matter what. Besides, this is probably the most common excuse for cops, so just forget about using this one.

 

5. Always Ask for a Warning

When an officer orders you to pull over, always ask for a warning. On the other hand, when an officer gives you one, he or she is doing you a favor, so don’t let your anger get the better of you.

 

6. When already on the Court

When things become too serious such as your case brought to the court, always have a lawyer that will handle it. If you think that you can get away easily because it’s merely a traffic violation , you’re wrong. Your case can be used against you in the future, worse you might have difficulties getting important documents because of it.

 

7. Always Present a Strong Case

Although this might sound pretty obvious, always be prepared when defending your case before a court. Aside from knowing the details and presenting strong evidence, always be on time, dress appropriately and speak clearly. Although these do not guarantee a decision in your favor, at least you’re showing the judge that you deserve a second thought.

 What I wanted to instill by stressing these things is that there’s a way to get out of stressful and tense-filled situations. Unless you’re a criminal, getting toe-to-toe with the law is not an everyday and often pleasant experience. Remember to always know your rights and handle yourself properly too.

 

How to be a Tourist

I’m proud to say that I have been to a lot of places already although I can’t travel as much as I would like to. Nevertheless, I’ve learned a lot of things in my offshore sojourns like learning new cultures, meeting new people and more importantly how it feels to be part of the minority. Traveling gives you the feeling that you’re a complete stranger in a place that is perfectly well without your presence. Regardless, every traveler should enjoy every minute of his or stay because most likely you won’t be able to come back in the future. Here are some tips that would hopefully help you out when you finally decide to pack your suitcase.

 

1. Know the Language

Make sure to learn as much as possible when it comes to learning the fundamental greetings and questions asked by foreigners. Don’t expect people to know how to speak English because most likely, you’ll just end up being disappointed. If you’re in Korea or even in Japan, not a lot of people there speak English so better be prepared. Also if you have enough time to learn their alphabet which countries such as China, Thailand, Japan and Korea have then better learn it before buying your ticket.

 

2. Know the Culture

Most Westerners fail in this category especially when they’re in countries in the Middle-East or even in China and Japan wherein the disparity of Western and Eastern culture is huge. The global village might be in effect right now but don’t expect people to act the way you do when you visit another foreign country. In Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, it’s a pretty bad idea to be skimpily clad because they enforce strict Sharia laws that can get you in jail if you’re not very careful. On the other hand, just make sure that you know what to expect when you get to your destination. You might not be able to know every aspect of their culture but it’s better than being completely ignorant. So do your part, read and research.

 

3. Know the Law

This does not mean that you have to take up a crash course in International Law. When you attempt to visit other countries, you should be aware that their laws differ from one another so should be careful. Other societies are very liberal while others aren’t, so make sure you know the laws so you won’t find yourself in jail. If you can get away smoking marijuana in Amsterdam you can get caught in Singapore by simply littering.

The Must-Haves

 

1. Dictionary

Preferably a bilingual dictionary that will help you translate some words that you’ve never encountered before. Bringing this one will save you from the time-consuming process of asking questions and talking to locals who might have a not-so-good intention when it comes to foreigners.

2. Pen and Paper

Although a PDA or laptop can also do for those who are technologically savvy, keeping it straight and simple using pen and paper would be enough. You can use these items by jotting down important information that you’ve seen, sketching directions so you won’t get lost and many other purposes that will surely make your traveling as stress-free as possible.

3. Maps

Need further elaboration on this one? I don’t think so.

4. Your Address

A lot of my friends forget the address where they are staying causing them so much time and trouble as a consequence. Not every taxi driver knows everything about the place where you’re staying in so make sure to know the complete address. Aside from that you can also bring your map to make things even easier.

5. ID, Passport and Credit Card

Needless to say, you have to bring all these things all the time in case of emergency.

 

Traveling is all about fun and discovery but then again it helps to be always prepared because you don’t know what to expect. Stay out of trouble and marvel at what these countries can offer. 

Losing my Spare Tire

I have been preaching about car dos and don’ts in this blog but who would’ve thought that I fell prey to my own complacency. The thing is, while I was driving to meet my older sister from work I got a flat tire. I really didn’t know what happened but it could be that there was something on the road that got my front wheels bursting. I was more than ready to replace my obliterated tire when I suddenly found out that my own spare tire is more than messed up than what it’s supposed to replace.

 I was furious for a minute because I only have one spare tire and it can’t be used. Aside from that, I was several kilometers away from my sister who can’t help me in that kind of situation since she didn’t bring her car and she was waiting for me to get a ride back home. So there, I attempted to salvage the situation by driving my car even with one tire missing and hoped that it’ll hold for several kilometers more but still, it didn’t work.

 Good thing there was one driver who stopped by me and gave me a hand during that ordeal of mine. She was kind enough to give me her spare tire and she even helped me to replace the whole thing. If there’s one thing that I learned in that experience is that you can never be too prepared. I know it’s simple replacing a flat tire because I’ve done it before but I never thought that my spare tire hasn’t been checked for so long. I guess I have to write about some tips on how not to forget that you spare tire has to be replaced.

Being a Tourist in Laos

Not too long ago me and my friends traveled to Laos, well that must be 3 years ago I guess. So you might ask, why Laos (pronounced as lao)? Well the idea was to go to Thailand but knowing that the country has been a tourist melting pot, it wouldn’t be nice seeing the same bunch of white people. Don’t get me wrong, I know Thailand is a great destination but since I’ve always been fascinated by not so popular and often take for granted places such as Lao, we took the chance.  

 Basically Laos is a poor state but that doesn’t mean it does not have right culture that is unique to the Lao. So what are the things that you will need before heading to this far-flung place in the middle of the Indochinese Peninsula?

 1.      You should obtain a tourist Visa from Vientiane or Luang Prabang. Aside from that, they will require you to bring three passport photos as well.

2.      Money, yes of course that’s one thing you should never forget and make sure you will bring more than what you actually need. The worst thing that can happen to you is to be empty-handed in a foreign land.

3.      You should also take note of the hotel reservation that you plan to get. Make sure that the amenities are complete and at the same time the place is well known by tourists.

 The first stop that we visited was Laos’ capital called Vietiane. The distinct and influential French culture is still extremely visible in this country particularly in Vientiane. One thing that immediately caught my attention was when the Lao people give food to their monks every morning which have been a part of Lao tradition since time immemorial. When looking for transportation you can take their taxis called jumbos or rent a bicycle for approximately 2 USD.

 Meanwhile, your Lao trip will be incomplete without visiting the That Luang. It is basically a massive golden temple that has a spire that shoots 150 feet into the air. Take note that the idea of Lao nationality isn’t very clear for the Lao people. Primarily because since antiquity, their country has been part of the Siam empire which is now Thailand. It is not uncommon that Lao people would have Cambodian, Thai and even Vietnamese relatives. So don’t be surprised when you see the Thai king’s picture hung inside a Lao household.

 Moving on, another hot destination spot is Luang Prabang which happens to be one of the oldest cities in Laos. It also used to be where the Lao royal family resided when the country was still under monarchy. We only spend 5 days in Laos and before you start packing your things here are some useful things that you might want to remember:

 1.      The Thai bhat is widely accepted in Laos aside from its official currency the Lao Kip.

2.      Giving tips isn’t customary in Laos.

 So there, that’s pretty much what Laos is in a nutshell but I am sure that you’ll find a lot more enticing things when you visit the country by yourself.

Inspecting the Safety of your Car in 20 Minutes

I always use my car everyday to attend to a lot of matters. Recently my uncle got into a car crash because he hasn’t been inspecting his car for four months. Yes you read that right, sometimes being a little bit too obsessive compulsive can help you stay out of danger on the road. Over the years, I’ve learned to inspect my car in more or less 20 minutes before starting my engine. Before frantically rushing towards your office or school, save yourself some twenty minutes and read the following tips that can someday save your life.

 1.      Check the Oil

It’s pretty obvious that you won’t be going anywhere once your car engine does not have oil. This is perhaps the simplest and easiest thing to do before your start your engine’s ignition. Checking the oil isn’t that too complicated and it starts by looking at the “dipstick”. The oil should be at the “full line” level to ensure that you have enough fuel.

 2.      Check your Transmission Fluid

When you car gears do not have enough transmission fluid lubricating them, your car might be in big trouble. The transmission fluid makes the motion of the car gears smooth since it lessens the friction and increases efficiency. When checking the transmission fluid, look under the hood and look for the “dipstick” with a transmission label.

 3.      Make Sure your Battery is Fully Charged

One way of knowing whether your car battery is busted is when you start the ignition and nothing happens. You can check the status of your battery by plugging its terminals to a voltmeter. On the other hand, if the terminals have some residue you may want to clean them using a brush and some cleaning liquid that you can buy from your nearest car parts/accessories dealer.

4. The Air Filter Test

Make sure that your air filter doesn’t have a black or brown residue because when that happens, it only means that so much dirt has already accumulated. Remember that a clean air filter can give your car more gas mileage thereby saving you more cash.

 There some tips that I’ve learned as an experience driver that I never forget doing everyday. I know its repetitive but not taking chances can always dividends. My uncle is okay now but I just hope he’ll be a lot more careful once he is healthy again to drive his new automobile.

 

Signs That You’re a Reckless Driver

I spend a lot of my time traveling but that does not prevent me from connecting and posting whatever’s going on with my life through blogging. There had been many instances that one has engaged in dangerous driving. It could even be your mother, brother, father and heck it could even be you. I have to admit that I probably violated a lot of traffic rules ever since I started learning how to drive.

But then again, I changed and figured that my life expectancy can be further prolonged if I drop this dangerous habit. What are the signs that may tell you that you’re a dangerous/reckless driver? Here’s a list that I came up with and maybe you can tell whether you’ve been acting like a bozo on the road.
Ominous Sign No. 1

How many times did you opt not to stop when the sign says “stop”. Some people would rather “roll” rather than hitting the breaks when they see the red light. You’re probably nodding your head right now but jut slowing down instead of completely halting would have disastrous consequences. You may not have experienced it right now, but never take chances when on the road.

Ominous Sign No. 2

Numbers never lie and according to a poll 30% of car crashes that resulted to death happened because of over-speeding. Everyone’s on the road to get to their respective destinations not to dethrone Schumacher or Alonso’s racing speed records. So before you pretend to be the next big thing in racing, think about it first.

Ominous Sign No. 3

Being too slow does not necessarily mean that what you’re doing is safe. If you’re driving on a busy highway where every automobile is speeding up, be part of the traffic flow by following it.

Ominous Sign No. 4

Almost everyone is busy while they’re on the road. It’s either they’re talking through the phone, gobbling their breakfast or even listening to the radio. I know, driving is boring but multitasking while driving is only permitted if you moderate doing these things.

Ominous Sign No. 5

Right after office hours it’s pretty hard to pull yourself up and still manage to drive back home after all the stress. If you can’t drive because you’re tired then don’t force it. Before you start pushing the pedal next day make sure you’re alert and that you’ve got plenty of sleep.

So there, I know you guys can still come up with an even longer list but I’d leave that for you. The road is basically an accident waiting to happen so don’t be another road accident statistic by thinking about safety all the time.

 

 

Handling Heavy Traffic sans Road Rage?

Yes the title doesn’t seem to make any sense but pretend that it does. Most of the time when you talk about heavy traffic and rush hour you’ll talk about road rage as well. So there you go, heavy traffic during rush hour is not only expected it has also become part and parcel of our lives we’ve managed to live with it already. We all have our own stories to tell and sometimes when anger becomes terribly uncontrollable, things might get really nasty out there on the road once in a while.

How many times have we read news about violence erupting once drivers get enraged over a petty traffic situation? The fact is it’s tough to control oneself when another driver cuts you off while you’re also trying to get to work as early as you can. In a place like New York, these things happen all the time and although it’s tempting to lash back it’s always smarter to take a step back.

 

1. The Trick Is Not To Care

So here’s the scenario, you’re on your way to work and while it’s pretty obvious that there’s a massive traffic clog going on another car cuts you off while giving you a cold and angry stare. For men, the macho element would be hard to restrain and there’s a good possibility that you’ll exchange some colorful words or even obscene hand gesture as well.

Before you get into more trouble, remember that you’ve got a whole day to do at work and fighting a total stranger isn’t a very good way to start your day. So in short, don’t lose your composure and handle the situation as calmly as possible.

2. When Things Get Too Close For Comfort

Prior to my trip to London I was driving along an extremely busy avenue to meet up with some of my clients. Meanwhile, on my way to the place another car was tailgating me but instead of slamming my brakes to send off a not-so-nice message, I decided to just back off even when I was already seething with anger.

The fact is, cooler heads will always prevail and although I can pretty much get away by just bitching like what most women do I didn’t risk it. It’s better to be safe than sorry and you’ll never know whether a person is drugged and armed until it’s already too late.

 

3. Never Get Out

On the other hand, sometimes it’s inevitable that you finally lose your cool and when that happens it’s either you budge or you don’t. If ever you end up waving an obscene finger or blurt out a nasty remark, don’t escalate things further by getting out of your car. Doing so is simply inviting commotion and when that happens, anything is possible.

 

If the other driver gets out and starts his or her aggression, close the window and get out of the place as soon as possible. The last thing you’d want is a massive black eye and your ass getting kicked just because of traffic.

Tense-filled situations do not need to be escalated by joining in the fray especially when you’re out there driving. The point is everyone just wants to get to their own destinations safely and without any scratches. On the other hand, there are lots of people who can’t manage their anger and when you know that you can, that’s enough reason to believe that you’ll be safe no matter what.

 

 

Leigh Visits London

February 13,2008

 

 

After failing to update my blog for a couple of weeks I decided to write about my latest traveling experience. I’m excited to tell everyone who reads my posts that I visited London for the first time in my life. Actually, it’s tough putting into words how the whole experience went. I think that’s true for all writers, words are hard to come by once you’re going to write something rich and flavor-filled.

Meanwhile, London boasts a rich culture and history that pales New York or any other place that I visited already. If there’s one thing that really captured my imagination was the idea that the whole place was the capital of what was once the biggest empire in the planet. There’s a great sense of awe and for a traveler like me who happens to enjoy my escapades while driving a car, sight-seeing in London by foot was something new.

 

Personally, the whole trip was a blast as far as I’m concerned but it didn’t come easy since I had to browse loads of websites so I can have some idea of what’s in store for me. As usual, I was visually stimulated with all the variety of cars and automobiles that I saw. In a nutshell, everything will be easy when you’re familiar with a place’s transportation system and with respect to London, here’s what I have to say:

 

1. Buy Tickets… Lots of Them

If you have enough cash it would be wise if you can purchase tickets online so you wouldn’t have to waste time falling in line once you reach London. Time is precious and you won’t have the luxury to stay in the city forever since you’re a tourist so maximize it as much as you can.

 

2. Never look like a tourist

You’re probably raising your eye brows right now but this one makes a lot of sense when it comes to your safety. If you show everyone that you’re a tourist chances are, the thieves are going to get you sooner or later. So what are the things that will make you not too susceptible to robbery? Never show that you’re reading a map of London in the middle of a busy crowd and as much as possible refrain from doing things that will attract any attention towards you.

 

3. Transportation Woes

This is probably the most taken for granted aspect of traveling in general. Being one big car and travel addict, I should say that the keys to surviving an urban jungle like London would be through its lifeblood and that means familiarizing yourself to its transportation system. For beginners, there’s a big difference between Black Cabs and Mini Cabs. Black Cabs run on a meter just like all the cabs that you know of whereas Mini Cabs don’t.

 

Furthermore, Mini Cabs are merely people who drive cars and who work through agencies, their upside is that they’re cheaper than those of the black variety. Aside from that, Mini Cabs work on a fix rate and before you can get a ride, you need to tell your destination and how much you’re willing to pay for it first. At the end of the day, when traveling in a massive metropolis like London, be cautious and be practical without having to comprise comfort.

 

4. Car Rentals

Although car rentals in London will hardly come cheap, there are loads of agencies that provide this kind of service. Before I went to London, I checked out several sites and as expected there were lots of them that offer vehicles from cars to vans while some had even chauffeurs as part of their package

 

 

Scenes from London:

The Trafalgar Square

A London Black Cab

 

The Oliver Cromwell Statue

Yeah your guess is right, the “Big Ben”

Overall, there are many different ways on how you can plan and of course enjoy your trip. My London sojourn lasted for only 4 days, but I was there to explore, learn and simply watch the whole city struggle to start and finish a day. Just like New York, it’s one gargantuan city that you’ll grow to love and admire.

Unraveling the Basic Philosophy of Road Travel

Traveling is a state of mind. Hence, a healthy roadie philosophy is needed for a travel plan to work out. And who’s mastered the art and science of travel? Why you’re travel agent, of course. Here are a few road traveling tips from the American Society of Travel Agents:

Trip
To truly take pleasure in travel one must internalize one of the most basic concepts of travel philosophy – there’s no such thing as a boring place. I know this sounds too optimistic, but every place offers something. The key here is to tap the significant, learn to appreciate and uncover the remarkable. Who knows, that dusty dirt road might lead to a breathtaking waterfall.

Master
One good thing about traveling by car is you are at control (or mercy) of your own pace. You could always choose to take it easy or crank it up. Don’t confine yourself to the travel itinerary. Rigidity isn’t the traveler’s true friend, spontaneity is.

Perceive
The key to a successful road travel is comfort. Clean your ride before the travel. Bring along CDs and movies of your choice. And don’t forget your comfort things. Just remember not to overdo it. Different individuals have different comfort levels. It is always a good idea to consider other’s preferences

Learn
It is always nice to be prepared for almost anything. That is why it is essential to do a background research on your destination. You may also look in to possible alternative routes to get there. Possible city or town holidays and festivals could also add a twist to your itinerary.

Experiment
The subheading says it all. Art is always about capturing the uncommon. Besides, you’re road traveling goal should be to discover.