Category Archives: Gap Year Ideas

Adventures of a 'Gypsea', Gap Year Ideas

Backpackers survival guide: An introduction to the hosteling lifestyle and how to survive.

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For your room:

Hostels are notorious for being the cheap and easy way to travel. If you want to spend a few extra bucks, you can have your own room, but if you’re on a budget be prepared to share a room with 3-25 other people. At first it’s a little daunting – sharing a room with a number of complete strangers – but as you backpack, it becomes more of a lifestyle. You meet people from all over the world, with different stories and ways of thinking. You may share a bunk with a kid from another country that offers you a place to stay should you ever be in his hometown, or someone traveling in the same direction as you. (Which, when traveling solo, is a nice change of pace.)

Now comes the part that takes the ‘getting used to’; the noise. If a hostel is known for being party-central and in the hip part of town, the chances of doing your early-to-bed-early-to-rise routine will be more difficult than a hostel that is a few blocks away. Whether it’s the cellphone alarm that goes off for 15 minutes at 5 in the morning, the squeaky bunk bed that groans with every movement, or the ‘frisky’ couple that decide to share a bunk in the multiple bed shared room, you will have noises that you wish didn’t exist. For this I recommend iPods or ear-plugs.

I have only ever had one thing stolen from me in all my experience at hostels; a jean jacket that I hung up to dry – on the “left behind/free” clothes rack in my room. Most of the time you can ask around to backpackers who have been in the hostel a while to see how bad the theft is. For the most part, it’s a good idea to keep your things together, and keep copies of important documents/phone numbers for credit cards in separate bags. If anything is stolen, you will have the important numbers to call into your consulate/bank and have the information to protect yourself from your passport being sold on the black market.

 

SURVIVAL TIP!

When you are staying in a shared dorm, most times people will keep all their stuff together in piles. This helps reduce any confusions about whose stuff is whose and if someone had something that ‘oozed’ over to your pile, its easier to tell it apart.

Also, just remember that when you’re sharing a room, people may not want to see you strutting around in your tighty-whities/teddy. You may want some comfy pajamas that double as lounge clothes.

 

Addition: A lot of hostel rooms have scarce power outlets. Having a power strip that turns one outlet into many will make it possible to charge your phone, computer &/ iPod at the same time.

 

Recommended tool-kit items:

Earplugs/iPod with playlist that you can sleep to.

Comfy pajamas that you don’t mind warring in front of people.

Power strip

 

For the kitchen:

In Hostels, most of the time there is a shared kitchen with your basic kitchen appliances, and a community fridge. The fridge works like that one in your break room at work; lable your food and others know whose it is. For the most part I haven’t had any trouble with food theft until a couple weeks ago, when someone in my big city hostel decided to go on a ‘picking spree’ and in addition to my bread and cracker missing, others had sandwich ham, milk (which is the most common thing ‘stolen’ from community fridges), and a few other things go walk-a-bout from our bags.

This led me to invest in a $5 bag that was created for this environment; a mesh bag with handles and window for labeling, and “o’s” on the zipper to attach a small combination lock that is conveniently attached to the bag. However, there are many styles and sizes you can get these in. If your going to be staying in a large hostel, or in a hostel with food theft problems, I highly recommend these.

Normally though, hostel kitchens are the heart of the backpacking social experience (that is, if the hostel doesn’t have a bar attached.) Here it is common for backpackers to meet up with others and create a community meal, each donating a part of a recipe or volunteering to cook/clean.

 

SURVIVAL TIP!

Do your dishes. Yeah, when you lived at home mum and dad took care of that. So what if your excuse is “I’m not good at it, it’ll take me ages”? Some hostels simply consider it bad karma, while others may keep key deposits. But in a community kitchen, the general rule is ‘if you use it, you wash it’.

 

Recommended Tool-Kit items:

Sharpie

Locking , mesh kitchen storage bag

 

 

For the bathroom:

On the rare occasion you will have ensuite bathrooms, but the majority of the time its large communal bathrooms with a few shower stalls. I would recommend getting a pair of plastic flip-flops/sandals to use as shower shoes, and have a bag that you can dedicate to shower stuff (Soap, shampoo, razors etc.)

 

SURVIVAL TIP!

If you’re at the hostel for a couple days, you can figure out the bathroom traffic, and go for your shower when you don’t have to wait. Usually showering in the morning has less traffic, since most people are either sleeping, or getting ready to check out. Them being busy means you get that favorite stall.

 

Recommended Tool-Kit items:

Canvas bag/reusable shopping bag for ‘shower bag’

Plastic shoes.

Gap Year Ideas

Better to have it and not need it!

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If you are a normal 20-something riding on the high of roaming the world, making a name for yourself, and concurring the unknown, you probably feel pretty invincible.  All it takes though is having your pocket picked, camera stolen, or loosing a tooth from that surf board to REALLY bring your trip to an all time low.

When you set out on your grand adventure, there is a good chance that you spent more time researching the clubs than you did looking into travel insurance. Normally, travel agencies tend to supply their own (available at an additional charge) and will offer some form of discount. Since, hey, you need it anyways, and who’s to argue with getting a deal, you’ll probably get it.

My big tip: Look around. If you are going internationally, you probably spent close to $1500 on a ticket, in your bag you have that nice new camera and the laptop/ipad to skype home, and that adds up. Loose your luggage, or miss your flight, or come down with food poisoning while trying that strange market cuisine, and you’re screwed.

Now, this fun fact was only discovered just before I left the U.S.; ISIC, the International Student ID Card, that gives you a wide range of traveling deals, also offers insurance. When you apply to the Student, Youth (<30), or Teacher card, the $25 gets you a basic insurance for a year on all cards issued in the U.S. They offer more “advanced” plans too, that cover belongings, and range of health issues. Even the most expensive (~$200) is a greater coverage that what is offered as a minimum at some travel agencies.  And what I love most about them, they cater to youth travelers. Adventure travel? No problem. Want a deal on a train ticket? The card gets you all kinds of fun discounts. You cant go wrong. You can get them at the STA Travel shops and online at STATravel.com. Also directly through ISIC at http://www.myisic.com/isic-card/ISIC-Points-of-Sale.html

Happy travels!

Adventures of a 'Gypsea', Gap Year Ideas

Hosteling the Gold Coast – Adventures of my Gapyear

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After nearly 2 weeks of staying with my friend, it was time to continue onto the adventures I had set out for.

I made my way the furthest south in Australia I have been yet, to the Gold Coast. Right along the beaches of Surfers Paradise there is a little hostel called Surf n Sun. A minute walk to the beach, and staffed with a fun and lively crowd, this hostel is a must for a beach vacation. They are located on the north end of the beach, and a 15 minute walk to the heart of surfers paradise, going to the clubs and bars is done nightly as group. 

The area is lush and the cities sky scrapers remind me of Miami Beach, Florida…. Except with a smaller city feel and without the crime. When I arrived, I prepaired for crowded beaches, and the long hunt for beach space to lay out and soak up some nice tropical rays. I brace myself as I approach the beach, expecting the crowds of Miami, or Waikiki, being a world renowned beach. Instead, the quiet beach offered enough space to be secluded from neighboring beach goers, and the sand is so fine it squeaks when you shuffle along the white powder.

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There is something for everyone; museums, mini golf, clubs, pubs, adventure companies, and easy transportation access to surrounding attractions.

If planning your trip to the area, be sure to check out the night markets (Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, 7-10 PM.)

Whale watching, which runs daily, is another wonderful use of your time on the gold coast. A variety of  outfits exist at different prices, but remember, you get what you pay for, and paying a budget price may mean getting the small boat. (Hope you don’t get sea sick.) The nicer, larger boats are usually upwards of $75 and have options to extend to a full day doing alternate activities. You would want to try going in late winter, early spring (July – October) when the whales are migrating and calfing. When I went out, a young calf was learning how to breech (throw its body out of the water).

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After my stay at Surf n Sun, I found a job at Aquarius Backpackers, just north of Surfers paradise.  Right across from one of the major shopping centers in the area,  the distance from the beach doesn’t stop Aquarius from offering just as much.

Throughout Surfers Paradise, many backpacking hostels get together on Wednesday and Saturday nights for a Big Night Out. At $30, free entry into multiple clubs and a free drink at each, the BNO hosts, nearly a thousand backpackers each month. 

Work in surfers paradise is plentiful if you’re not picky in what you do. The area thrives on tourists and backpackers, and the staff often transition as much as the clientele. If looking for something specific, you should look into specific jobs before you arrive.

Taking a nice day off, I made my way to the strip of beach known as the Pacific Parade in Currumbin, a small seaside town about a hour bus ride south of the gold coast. The town hosts an art walk every year, displaying sculptures from around the world. It doesn’t cost anything to view the art, but you can donate in various ways at the small information booths setup along the walk.

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Another thing to do in the town is climb the rock beside the lifesaving and surf club and look out over the ocean and to surfers paradise skyline on the horizon.  From here, the most amazing views are accompanied by amazing surfers (on a good day) and while sitting on the beach, took notice of a man with his surf board tearing up the waves. Sadly, I didn’t get his name, and the skill he had would not be done justice by my words. Thankfully, I had my camera. (Check out the photos at Flickr.com/photos/kikilathrop)

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Gap Year Ideas

Things You Wouldn’t Have Considered For Your Gap Year

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Deep in the mountains of Colorado, nestled on the side of the range of 14-ers (14,000 ft above sea level mountains) known as the Collegiate peaks, named after the ivy league schools (Princeton, Harvard, ext.), is Buena Vista.

The town is rich in history, from the old brothel of Cock-eyed Liz, to the locals pronouncing the name wrong because a German woman settled the town, there is a lot to be offered in background.

In the winter the town slows. The misty chill leaves the night streets bare and during the day, skiing is the nearest thing to an activity that draws the out-of-towners. But in the summer, the town comes alive.

The town is situated along the Arkansas river, making it rich in rafting, kayaking and river surfing, and hosts FIBARK (First In Boating the Arkansas) a festival dedicated to river sports.

Summer camps situated on the outskirts of the valley bring youth from all over America, as well as all over the world, for work. High ropes courses, river sports, swimming, horseback riding, and archery are all apart of summer life of Buena Vista. And while the town is small, every one knows everyone else, and the one street light marks the center of town, the summer festivities are unlike any others.

Over the 4th of July weekend, a parade, craft fair in the park, and a light show (as fireworks were banned this year.) But the event that drew the valley to the small center of town, was the street dance.

Closing off a large portion of main street, your group classics like the Macarena and YMCA would prompt dancing, as well as the few country songs that led into line dances.  Families were dancing, the 20-somethings that were working the camps twirled and bounced their way around the street, which was dedicated the ‘dance-floor’. People walked by with icecream from the local restaurant that would give out gift certificates for the small competitions that took place throughout the event.

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(Contestants of the bubble blowing contest)

I had lived here for a couple years back in High School. First time in a public school and had a graduating class of 75, and football games were a town event. My summers were spent waitressing and helping out at one of the summer camps with some wonderful people I still keep in touch with. But tonight it hit me – If I weren’t from little ol’ “BV”, and I wanted to just find a fun summer place to work while making my way along the U.S.A., I would choose Buena Vista, no competition.

And all the while, spinning, twirling, bobbing and stomping, the community joined together on main street. The mountains in the backdrop, buildings from the 1800’s flanking you, good music and fresh air, I thought ‘I was so lucky.’

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(Swingin’ on the streets)

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(Raft guides that got dressed up for the event)