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How To Pack Your Backpack

Whether you’re a first-time camper or an old vet, use these tips to properly pack your backpack so you can hike to your destination quickly and comfortably.

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When you’re about to head out on a camping trip the most important thing you can do is pack your backpack and pack it correctly. When you’re on the trail you will be thanking yourself after you have packed your bag correctly.

But if you have packed a little haphazardly then half way through trekking to your destination your back will hurt and your ears will hurt too from all the pots and pans that you left to clank over and over again with each and every step you take. You don’t want something to poke you in the back, and you don’t want the weight unevenly distributed.

Whether you’re a first-time camper or an old vet, use these tips to properly pack your backpack so you can hike to your destination quickly and comfortably.

BALANCE YOUR WEIGHT

If your backpack is not balanced then your back will start to hurt wherever the majority of the weight lies. Or, even worse, you could fall down a hill when you take an awkward step because when the weight is unevenly distributed it could swing one way and lead to you losing your footing.

Start by putting the heavy items close to your body while making sure that nothing hard or pointy will be jabbing your back all hike long. Think about making a barrier of soft stuff all along the outside of your backpack with the hard stuff in the center.

KEEP TRAIL NEEDS EASILY ACCESSIBLE

If you pack up stuff that you are going to want to use on the trail just make sure you won’t have to completely unpack your entire pack just to get it. Don’t jam your water bottle on the bottom of your backpack underneath your camping stove. You don’t want to have to unpack everything every time you need a drink.

Keep sunscreen, medical supplies, snacks and headlamps in places that you or a friend can get to quickly and easily. Think of everything you might need and keep it in a convenient place so you’re not spending your whole camping trip regretting not being able to get to necessities like your sunscreen.

CHECK THE FORECAST

Before you leave, make sure that you check the forecast so you can properly prepare for your hike ahead. If it’s going to rain halfway through your hike then you’ll want to be able to quickly be able to grab a raincoat. If it’s going to be super hot then you’re going to want to keep your sunscreen close. Knowing the weather will lead you to know how to pack. Knowing how to pack is the best way to pack for a trip successfully.

STORE YOUR FUEL SAFELY

If you are bringing liquid fuel on your trip then make sure it is sealed and it is packed somewhere safely where it will not open up during your hike. The last thing you want is to be covered in liquid fuel on your hike because even if you don’t catch yourself on fire you still will not enjoy the smell. Trust me.

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Guide to Self-Quarantine After Travel

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Self-quarantine after travel is a significant way to stop the possible transmission of COVID-19, be it to your loved ones or your colleagues at work.

Admit it. It’s a tad difficult to stop yourself from traveling especially when you’re so used to going places way before the onset of this nasty pandemic. Experts, however, stress that it’s important for you to follow protocols. So, even when you can get away with it, you need to remember to self-quarantine after travel.

If you’ve been out of state during Thanksgiving, it’s crucial to self-quarantine after travel. California announced that traveling residents must do a 14-day quarantine right after arrival. Moreover, if you’ve been lengthyly exposed to someone who isn’t part of your household, it’s imperative for you to quarantine yourself, as well.

Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, former director of the division of communicable disease control and prevention at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and a current professor at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, asserts that people must do self-quarantine after travel, an automatic new normal response as opposed to doing complete isolation when you know that you have the COVID-19 virus. Self-quarantining, he says, is a kind of middle ground between full isolation and outdoor mask-wearing.

The term, “quarantine,” has seemingly lost its gravity as we typically have been hearing it since the onset of this deadly pandemic. Nevertheless, it is crucial to take heed of the different warnings provided by authorities as to the significance of this word. More so, doing self-quarantine after travel allows us to protect others especially if we have been unknowingly exposed to the virus while traveling.

Below are several tips that we should remember as regards the importance of voluntary self-quarantine after travel.

What is self-quarantine? Self-quarantine is the act of staying isolated from others for 14 days after we arrive from a prolonged travel to another area besides our own. This means, then, that you voluntarily stay away from people, even from your housemates, for a period of two weeks to eradicate the possibility of COVID-19 transmission if, for instance, you’ve been unfortunately infected with it. The 14-day rule also allows you to check yourself for the symptoms of the virus as they typically manifest themselves during the said duration.

Aside from staying away from your family and housemates, it is also crucial to stay home from work. This means that you can apply for a work from home arrangement, as well. Doing a self-quarantine after travel includes isolating yourself from work colleagues, preferring to do WFH for the time being. As with the possibility of transmitting COVID-19 to your family, you might transfer the virus to your workmates, as well. A responsible traveler, of course, must aim to halt infection and the two-week isolation is an effective safety measure.

Finally, Kim-Farley shares that, as regards food and other essentials, you may want to adopt a temporary no-contact basis of procuring these things. For example, you can ask your loved ones to leave these implements outside your room or, if you live alone, you can request deliveries to be left on your doorstep. Paying for these goods may be done through digital means, as well. Self-quarantine after travel is your way of helping halt the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus as more and more cases are still being reported daily.

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Your Street Food Destination Guide

When you’re looking for something quick and cheap to eat that still tastes great consider these cities with street food that will blow you away.

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Fancy restaurants are nice for the right situation, like proposing to your girlfriend or celebrating an anniversary, however, they’re not that great when you just want to eat something quick and continue shopping or when you’re stumbling home after a long night at the bars. Plus, dining at a restaurant every meal is a great way to eat up your travel budget. When you’re looking for something quick and cheap to eat that still tastes great consider these cities with street food that will blow you away. 

 

 

Bangkok, Thailand

When you think street food, Bangkok should be the first city that pops into your head. The street food is so good in Bangkok that you might not set foot in a single restaurant your whole trip. You can find breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the streets here, as well as late night eats.

You don’t have to go far to find your favorites like pad thai and grilled satay but you can also push yourself and try some dishes you won’t see in the Thai restaurants back home like hoy tod nai mong, a crisply fried mussel pancake that a chef makes one by one on a charcoal stove.

 

 

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo has so much great food it should be illegal. Everyone knows about the sushi in Japan but there is so much more. Izakayas are informal style gastropubs that serve grilled meats and vegetables cooked on charcoal, don’t worry, they usually serve sushi too, as well as a ton of beer. You can also find ramen, soba, tempura and even non-Japanese food like burgers or hot dogs.

 

Durban, South Africa

The food in Durban is unique to Durban. Here you will find a blend of Zulu, Indian and white South Africans who each have their hand in creating this unique mix of culture and cuisine.

Try the bunny chow, rotis, and poulet for distinct, delectable dishes, Durban style.

 

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

When you come to Hawaii you can say aloha to your diet and aloha to deliciousness. Hawaiian food is a great mix of different types of cuisines thanks to all the migrants coming to this island destination. Poke is all over, which is a raw fish salad (tastes better than it sounds.)

There are also food trucks in Hawaii serving up delicious dishes that have to be tried to be believed. Also, you can’t write about Hawaiian street food without mentioning the classic, rainbow shaved ice. This frozen treat is so good you’ll be saying Mahalo for your brain freeze.

New Orleans, Louisiana

The big easy has delicious foods all over. If you’re a fan of eating at gas stations then this is the city for you. There is something called a plate lunch which is traditionally red beans and rice, served with andouille sausage and french bread, that is served at gas stations and convenience stores all over town. Plus they are getting their fair share of taco trucks and pho noodles as well so you don’t have to eat southern cuisine just to have a great meal.

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Should You Still Be Scared of Zika?

When Zika hit the scene last summer it had the whole world freaking out. The virus is no joke, it causes birth defects and even some health problems to infants. Now that we have a lot more information about this virus, we are better able to tell you whether or not you should turn that vacation into a staycation.

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Should you vacay while pregnay?

Traveling is great and if you’re pregnant then you might want to check off some bucket list destinations before that baby pops out and your travel time turns into toddler time. But should you be worried about ZIka?

Yes, you should. Traveling to places where the Zika transmission is ongoing is a risk that, in our opinion, is not worth taking. Check the CDC website for which locations are currently having a Zika outbreak, if your destination is not listed, then you’re good to go. If your location is listed, then maybe rethink your travel plans.

 

Looking to get knocked up? Maybe do it domestically.

If you’re planning on making a baby then maybe a destination conception isn’t the best idea. The first trimester is the worst time to get Zika and it’s an incredibly hard time because most women don’t even know they’re pregnant during that time.

If you do travel to an area with Zika then women should wait at least eight weeks and men need to wait six months before bumping uglies.

 

What if the type of mosquito that carries the Zika virus is where you’re traveling to but there’s no Zika, should you still be worried?

We now know what type of mosquitos carry the Zika virus, the Aedes aegypti and the Aedes albopictus (duh says all the entomologists.) These mosquitoes have been popping up in the U.S. where we have never seen them before. Does that mean they’re all carrying Zika?

No, if there is no Zika outbreak then the risk is super low. Still use common sense though, wear bug spray and don’t have a mosquito bite contest with your friends but other than that, you should be fine.

 

Let’s be real, what are the chances that you will get Zika?

Well, we can’t say. If you’re the type of person who has mosquito bite contests with your friends then your risk might be higher than others so it’s impossible to give an exact percentage.

What we do know, according to studies, is that five to fifteen percent of women who get Zika while pregnant actually have babies with birth defects or brain damage. So even if you catch Zika the risks are low, but they are still risks and the consequences are very real.

 

Is Zika planning a sequel this summer?

Zika will definitely be around this summer but most likely it will not be as big as last year. The number of infections is likely to go down this year because after you catch Zika once, you can’t catch it again. Plus a lot of people will read this very informative article which is bound to drop the number of infections even further.

 

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