Originally posted on August 1, 2013 @ 11:28 pm
The goal for backpacking to a new location is to bring a small amount of very efficient items. These essentials should be durable and last you throughout your trek.
While some travel items may be obvious, there are a number of everyday household items and unusual gadgets that can come in handy during your adventures. Take a look at these ten surprising essentials you might want to pack. [Read more…]
Originally posted on April 3, 2013 @ 3:30 pm
Studying abroad is an amazing experience that thousands of students every year participate in across the world. Immersion into a culture and language is a phenomenal way to experience other culture and view things from a different perspective. Traveling abroad for school is centered around looking before you leap and understanding the culture you are traveling to. An excellent option for any student is Buenos Aires, Argentina.
If you are planning to study abroad in Buenos Aires or anywhere in Argentina, you have a lot to look forward to. Argentina has an amazing amount to offer the student traveler, and you will have the opportunity to see some things that exist nowhere else in exactly the same way. Argentina, and its capital city of Buenos Aires, present a unique blend of European influences and South American roots. It is a destination that keeps travelers coming back again and again, and is the ideal place for a student to study and have a great time.
Buenos Aires is known for tango. It claims to be the home of the classic dance. Whether this is actually true or not is debatable, but the fact remains that Buenos Aires takes great pride in its version of the tango. While it is possible to see large tango shows, the real stuff happens at local neighborhood milongas. Milongas are areas where small tango shows are performed by some really talented musicians and dancers. They also typically start with a dance lesson as well, allowing you to get in on the action.
This cemetery is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the city, and for good reason. The most important people in the city have been buried here for generations, resulting in beautiful monuments, mausoleums and gravestones. Walking the cemetery can be quite the experience, with so much beauty built up around the dead. The famous Evita Peron is buried here as well.
In a city famous for its cafes, this is perhaps the most famous of them all. It has been used for numerous films and has been the go-to spot for famous authors and celebrities for over 150 years.
Situated in the widest street in the world, the Obelisk is quite remarkable to visit. This is especially true at night, when the lights from so many cars frame it from a distance. Just crossing the road can be an unnerving experience, as you walk across lane after lane of traffic while hoping the light will not change.
Like all major cities, Buenos Aires has its share of dangers. Most of them can be handled with a level head and a little preparation, but it helps to inform yourself beforehand.
Travel wallets, the kind that strap around your person, were made for cities like Buenos Aires. Pickpockets can be problem, and it is naive to think you will always spot them. Keep your valuables strapped tightly to your person, and always keep your bag looped about your arm or body.
You will wind up using taxis during your stay. Unfortunately, some will try to take advantage of you. They can do this a variety of ways, including rigging the meter, giving fake change or taking you on the scenic route, thus running up the meter.
It may be impossible to completely avoid being scammed, especially when you first arrive and are unfamiliar with routes and fees. The best solution is to stay alert and pay attention to everything your driver does. This will discourage them from attempting to scam you, and if nothing else, you will learn your way around town faster, thus preventing further scams.
Chances are, your health insurance does not cover you while out of the country. Hopefully you will never need it. However, if you are hurt while abroad, health insurance for the traveling student can come in quite handy. If you’re studying abroad, International student health insurance does not have to be expensive, and it can save you a lot in the long run.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides information on traveling to Argentina, and it can be worthwhile to review it before you leave. The Department of State also provides excellent information for travelers to consider before their trip.
It is possible to have a lot of fun in Buenos Aires. Check out these must-sees for the city, and consider this safety advice as well. By being cautious and prepared, you can have a great time and avoid any nasty surprises along the way.
Originally posted on January 30, 2013 @ 5:30 am
Image: fplenergyservices
With the relatively common occurrence of electrical fluctuations in many parts of the world, there are bound to be occurrence of power surges as well. A power surge is defined as a voltage spike which can happen at any time. Voltage spikes are extremely harmful to electrical equipment and have caused many to provide decreased functionality or be destroyed so as to render them useless.
The main safeguard used in most electronic equipment for protection against power surges is the surge protector. It is basically an appliance that is designed to limit the voltage that enters an electric device within the safe level. It works to block or to short ground voltage that goes beyond the acceptable threshold.
As a rule of thumb, any electrical device plugged into the wall would benefit from the protection provided by surge protectors. The quality of surge protectors available in the market are not equal thus buying the cheapest is not necessarily the least costly especially if the poor choice results to the damage of an important electronic device. One of the most important devices that needs such protection is the laptop.
Power surges that affect an unprotected laptop will not always result to a knocked-out system. However, such power surges can slowly damage the critical components of a laptop that can greatly reduce the laptop’s usable life. A surge protector is the least costly way of protecting a laptop against physical damages or information loss.
The use of surge protector is common enough in the typical work environment such as an office. Many laptop owners forget about this basic protection once they bring their devices outside or while on travel. So as to encourage laptop owners to observe the use of surge protectors in different environments without sacrificing portability, travel-sized surge protectors have been made available. Thus, every time a laptop needs to be plugged-in, basic protection is available.
It is possible that extreme power surge can damage a surge protector, thus it would be wise to opt for one that provides a clear indication of whether they are still working or not. The safety of a laptop would depend on the efficiency of a surge protector in doing its job so a fast-acting one is highly preferred. For best protection that goes beyond physical, laptop owners should look into warranties offered by manufacturers. There are actually manufacturers who do offer to compensate laptop owners if their device gets damaged even with the surge protector in place. These devices however may be more costly.
About the Guest Blogger
Jack is a voracious reader whose main interest lies on finding better ways to do things. He is currently reading about New York Energy Companies.
Originally posted on November 21, 2012 @ 1:52 am
Image: seecolombia
Travel writers seem to have such a wonderful and glamorous life. They get to travel, tell their stories, get paid for it, and then travel to the next destination. Easy, isn’t it? Real travel writers however will be the first ones to contradict this common perception since it requires much more than that to make good in the industry.
It would be nice to imagine as a travel writer that editors and readers will be scrambling to read each and every travel story told. Reality however says that this isn’t so. Editors are usually buried in materials that are waiting to be accepted and published so unless the story being presented is unique and warrants being prioritized, travel writers may have to wait a long time to be published.
That is why travel blogging is quite popular. Travel stories are published almost instantaneously. The only difference is that such travel stories are unpaid. The closest possibility that such travel stories will be paid is that it is spotted for paid syndication or open up opportunities for paid travel writing.
Travel bloggers often make the mistake of providing stories that are too self-centered that many readers will not be able to appreciate it. Readers of travel blogs are usually interested in knowing what a place has to offer and the experience of the traveler in such a place. They are seldom excited about personal details unless the writer is known to the reader personally. A travel writer or blogger may soon find himself getting offers for paid writing if he makes his stories good enough for public consumption. Then and only then can writers envision being paid to travel and write.
Originally posted on March 22, 2014 @ 10:17 am
While tablets are the best friends of youngsters today, the laptop is still the most reliable for business people constantly on the move. The device, being the portable version of the desktop computer, is capable of performing both light and heavy tasks even when a business professional is traveling to other places.
But with the numerous brands and models of laptops on the market these days, it can be a real challenge to choose the best one that fits your lifestyle and budget. Experts recommend a laptop with 13-inch or 14-inch display and one that weighs less than five pounds. This type of device is easy to bring along wherever you may be heading to and still powerful to accomplish your business tasks while in a remote location. [Read more…]