The world in your kitchen

Maybe I've watched way too many movies, but I believe life could be more fun if we had our own soundtrack, playing at all memorable times.

I decided to give this a try. In the kitchen. So far, I've been transported to so many places, just because I've been playing traditional songs from where my cooking was from.

Sometimes we don't have enough money or time to go on vacation or maybe just take a couple of days off, but we do eat everyday, and we can bring the world to our kitchen in a very simple way.

So, how do you do that? First, decide on what type of food you would like to prepare. By the way, this post works better if you're having a homecooked meal, it's the whole experience involved that counts. Are you in the mood for Italian, Chinese, French or Indian? I'm not a professional cook, and I don't know all the tricks, but online recipes and videos are there to help us!

Once you have decided which dish to prepare, make sure you have all the right ingredients, check the expiration date, and servings. Leave them all on your counter, including scale, knives, spoons, and whatever else you might need.

Time to be transported to another country! Go on Youtube and type: "French songs for cooking", "Italian songs for cooking", "instrumental Greek songs for cooking"..., you got the picture. You'll find many videos with these themes, some of them are 3o minutes and others 3 hours, only intrumental (my favorite!) or with singers.

Press play and enjoy! In seconds you'll immediately start feeling you are in Portugal preparing a delicious bowl of soup, or in Italy having the best pasta ever, or in India with that wonderful smell of curry, or in France while you cook and take sips of wine, the world is in your own kitchen and everybody can smell it!

Music and smells are memory triggers, when we combine them we create a whole different experience in the kitchen. Cooking something new can be challenging, and a background song can also help soothe you and create a nice atmosphere. And don't stop the music when you're done, keep playing it for you or your guests; you may be at your kitchen or dining room, but that food with that song, will definitely make you feel you are at a bistro, tavern, pub, coffee house... All of a sudden, with no big expenses, you just brought the world to your kitchen!

pst: all the pictures are mine, and I cooked those delicious foods while listening to my cooking playlist!

How to contribute to the traveler's community

I used to use all tools at my disposal to do my travel research: books, internet, apps, social media and also simply asking people. However, I never gave them anything in return! So, I started to share my feedback with other travelers. Here is how I did it and how you can do it, too!

One of the best tools for travelers, in my opinion, to search for hotels, flights, tours and sightseeing, is definitely TripAdvisor. Be it the desktop version or the mobile one, it has never let me down. One of the reasons that make it an excellent resource for travelers is that it is full of updated feedback!

I used to read all the other travelers' opinions and that was it, thanks. Nowadays, I am also a contributor, I have a badge and everything! I share my feedback, pictures and also click on the like button if another traveler's feedback has helped me. I try to share what would be nice for the other visitor to know. "Beautiful", is not the feedback I need, "Beautiful place to relax and low budget cafeteria nearby but don't forget to bring a jacket because it can be a little chilly up there", this is helpful feedback! So, please, do share your feedback, I need to know if it's chilly so I can bring my purple jacket. :) 

What about Youtube videos, huh? I'm sure you have already checked on "how to" something. Taking the subway in NYC, packing for Ryanair, ferry to Ireland, the list is huge!

Maybe now you're thinking: no, no, no, I'm too shy, I'm not going to do videos! But, here's the thing, if you simply click on the like button, you're already helping other travelers, because then we'll all know that it's a helpful video with good content just by the number of likes. And if you keep watching the videos from the same channel, what about subscribing to it? You'll be sending positive feedback to the vlogger and to her/his subscribers. That way everybody will try to keep doing a good job, it's a win-win situation. Maybe later, you'll decide to have your own travel channel on Youtube, sharing your own experieces, you never know...

In the world of selfies, sometimes there's just too much ego for such a breathtaking scenery. Try taking pictures from different angles. All kinds of pictures: landscapes, what's in front of you, behind you, between trees, the reflection on a pond, the possibilities are infinite. Even selfies nowadays, travelwise, are broadening the angles: eyes, arms and feet are just some of the selfies we've been seeing around. 

Wanna help the traveler's community? Go after the secret spots! Find the photographer in you! Maybe it's Mickey's reflection on your sunglasses, the Statue of Liberty seen by a tourist cell phone, not to mention those beautiful sunrays going through a famous monument. All I am saying is: explore!

Ultimately, your traveling experience can lead you to what I am doing right now: blogging! If you are anything like me, before traveling you make a ton of research, which is also exciting, you check tripadvisor, you watch youtube videos, check some online pictures, read articles and posts. So, why not also write your own post afterwards? Well, this is what I'm doing, giving back to the community all the free and wonderful advice other travelers have shared and which have helped me prepare a more informative travel project.

Once I saw a phrase on the internet, sorry I don't know the author, which described the whole traveling feeling in one single short sentence, and this is the one I chose to end this post with: "Traveling makes you speechless, then turns you into a story teller". Do tell! 

How to survive a 12 hour flight

I'm a traveler, so I love to fly! And a 12 hour flight won't hold me back! Of course, I have my ways of surviving a long flight. Even though many airline companies have entertainment on board nowadays, and I do enjoy them, you see some people reading, working on their notebooks, sleeping and some just can't wait to land soon. I'm here to share with you what I do, and find really helpful, to feel comfortable at a 12 hour flight. Oh, in coach!

Before I share with you my "secrets", remember to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. I swear to you, someday I'll be wearing my pijamas on board, 'cause at every flight I always go wearing the most comfortable pieces of clothing I can! Come on girls, 12 hours wearing a bra? Wear a top and you're fine!

1. Bring a light jacket and socks: still on the matter of clothing, I always bring with me a light jacket on board. I may be cold and the blanket they provide sometimes isn't enough. Wearing socks is also a good idea so it will keep your feet warm, and they won't be touching the carpet directly. Yeah, I always take off my shoes, I have a much more pleasant flight, although I put them back on when I need to use the restroom.

2. Eye drop: the air on board is extremely dry, it's usually less than 20% of humidity, so I keep my eye drop in my pocket. It's a life safer, especially after you take a nap.

3. Lip balm: because the air in the cabin is so dry, it is also a good idea to have lip balm with you. Just remember to wash your lips before applying it, you may have eaten something sweet, so it's better to have clean lips before using your favorite lip balm.

4. Water bottle: we can't enter the plane with liquids, I know, but an empy water bottle, yes, we can! Picture this scene: you got thirsty during the flight and asked for a cabin crew member for a glass of water, maybe two. Pour into your water bottle so you can take a sip every now and then. You'll keep your throat hydrated and won't feel embarrassed to be bothering people all the time you're thirsty. Avoid sodas!!! They will give you gas...

5. Bubble gum: I used to take bubble gums with me for the take off, it really helped me not having my ears blocked. Of course, I always saved the wrap to throw it away afterwards. But, in case, you don't have gums with you, pretend you do!, the movement of the jaws is what really matters.

6. Snacks: yes, there is food on board, but sometimes you just want something to nibble. A good idea is for you to take some dry fruits with you, they won't smell the whole plane, they are nutritious and they perfectly satisfy you.

7. Baby wipes: baby wipes need to be part of your packing at all times, remember that! You can clean your hands, your face, after you take your in-flight nap, and can also take with you to the restroom. Baby wipes, people!

8. Stretch your body: you are 10, 12, 14 hours sitting down. Don't be shy and stretch your body! Get up, bring your arms up, stand on the tip of your toes, turn your waist to the sides. Forget what others will think, they should actually be doing the same! On my way to the restroom I almost go doing lunges. My body appreciates that and maybe that's why I am able to take a nap on the plane!

These are the things I do to survive a 12 hour flight. I eat, I get up, I drink water, I wear comfortable clothes, my feet are free from sneakers, my eye drop is at hand. But the most important thing you should do is move your body! Don't be sitting for 12 hours! Reset your watch and enjoy the flight! 

Healthy on the road

5 STEPS ON HOW TO STAY HEALTHY

 WHILE TRAVELING

When we travel we basically leave our routine behind, our time to wake up or go to bed, read the news, clean the house, do the laundry and what we usually eat. We want to try different types of food and drink, buy unusual snacks, skip meals, maybe even go more often to fast food joints. So how can we stay healthy while traveling?

Sometimes exercising may be off the list, but I’ll take it you’ll walk a lot depending on where you’re traveling to, but what you eat has a huge impact on how you’ll feel during and after the trip.

I’m here to share with you what I do to try to keep my eating habits healthy even while I’m traveling. Just remember I’m no health specialist or nutritian, I’m just a traveler trying not to mess up so much with my diet.

1. Water: the best drink you can have. Try to carry bottled water so you can sip it every now and then. If you refill it with tap water, make sure its drinkable first. If you must drink during your meals, try to avoid alcohol or sodas so you don’t feel bloated.

2. Yogurt: let’s be honest, poop habits change too when we travel, so it might be of some help to have some yogurt in the morning. But it needs to be one of those healthy ones!

3. Fruits: they give you energy, nutrients, make you in a good mood and they’re delicious. Make sure you eat at least one type of fruit everyday. In case you are not so sure about the hygiene habits of where you are, try to buy fruits that you need to peel, like bananas, pineapple, oranges, avocado, kiwis, and maybe avoid strawberries, cherries and grapes, otherwise, wash them real good.

4. Don’t skip lunch: if you are anything like me you’ll skip lunch while traveling without even noticing, but don’t. If you can't stop to have a proper meal, one alternative is to eat a sandwich (that maybe you prepared yourself before leaving), or some cheese and crackers (no problem in finding these items at any store). But you have to eat something for lunch, otherwise you’ll be starving at night and will end up at a fast food restaurant, or even worse you may have low blood pressure during the day and faint. No one wants that to happen while traveling.

5. Avoid bitting more than you can chew: we are traveling, that means we are eating things we normally don't eat, at some point gluttony may take you to the dark side. Avoid bitting more than you can chew is advice for life! Eat until a point you're satisfied, not full. Eat to savor your drink or food, enjoying the moment. Small portions and eating slowly are key for good digestion.

I'm sure you can follow these 5 easy steps on how to stay healthy while traveling. You'll feel good during and after your trip without having to make any sacrifice. So be healthy and keep on traveling!