Feeling Under the Weather When You're on the Road

For most of the last week or so I've been sick.  Sore throat, chills, fever and feeling achy all over.  Bottom line, it sucks.  I've been dosing myself with Vitamin C, echinacea, chicken soup and the occasional Neocitran.  There's not much worse than when you are are ill.

Except when you are away from home.

Even if you love to travel and were to make up a list of the pros and cons of globetrotting, being sick or getting injured while on the road definitely makes the top of the cons list.  Think about it--you plan an amazing trip, pay for it and then hit the road.  Part way thorough you suddenly aren't feeling so well.  It doesn't matter what it is, but the last thing you want to happen is to be so miserable that all you want to do is go home to your own bed.  And what if you can't?  If you are living and working overseas like I did for a while going home may not be the easiest option or not one at all.  Nearly every traveler I have met has some sort of story relating to being sick on the road--it's more common than not but the most important thing is to keep your story from becoming a horror story.

So what's a savvy traveler to do?

Well there are many things that you can do to stay healthy during your trip.  First things first--start before your trip.

Before your trip:

• Eat well, drink lots of water, and get plenty of sleep.  
• Do some research.  Certain ailments are more common in some parts of the world.  Is the water safe to drink?  It may not be wise to eat uncooked food in some cases as well.  Keep in mind that the locals may have no problem with the water where you are traveling but bottled water may hold the key to keeping your insides happy.
• See a travel health professional well in advance of leaving.  They can provide you with emergency or preventative medicines that you can take with you.
• Get vaccinated.  Depending on where you are headed this may be especially important.  Some countries require proof of vaccination as a condition of entry,  Yellow fever vaccination is an example of this.  Your travel health professional can help you with this too.
• Get travel medical insurance!  If you don't need it this trip count yourself lucky--but if you do need you could likely save yourself a lot in costly foreign medical bills.
• Prepare for the possibility of motion sickness (if you have never traveled by water you could get seasick and just not be aware of it--I was once on a cruise with a woman who didn't realize she suffered from seasickness until she was on her trip--the only time she seemed comfortable over the course of that four days was when we were on land.
• The same goes for altitude sickness---give yourself some time to acclimatize before taking on serious changes in altitude.  You will have a better chance of reaching the top! 

During your trip:

• Drink lots of water.   If it has been recommended to drink bottled water do so.  Be wary of ice added to drinks and any beverages that may be made with local water.
• Know your limits when enjoying the local bevys.  (And that goes for any other substances you may be enjoying as well.)
• It will probably be hard but try to get enough sleep.
• Wash your hands, same as you do at home.  Carry hand sanitizer to use when soap and water aren't available.
• Enjoy the local food but try to eat a variety of foods.
• Pack some protection!  Sure you are on vacation but an STI (or an unwanted pregnancy) is a souvenir to avoid bringing home
•  If you do have an injury or find yourself ill seek medical attention.
• If you have the opportunity to rest when you are feeling under the weather--do so.

Although I've done my best over the years to stay well as I have traveled I certainly have not been immune to the various traveler's maladies.  Minimizing the impact if you do fall ill is key to making sure that the memories from your trip are fantastic.  Hopefully these tips will help to keep you well on the road.

Until next time happy traveling!

Road Trip: The Sequel!

Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park

West.  Go west.  I love the west.  As I mentioned in a previous post, Road Trip! my summer was bookended by two road trips.  The first, to Saskatoon with an old friend happened on the May long weekend and was all about about good food and relaxation.  The road trip at the opposite end of the summer was over the Labour Day long weekend at the beginning of September.  I went to one of my favorite places in my home province of Alberta--Jasper National Park!

I have lived in Alberta most of my life and a a result have had many opportunities to venture into the Rocky Mountains.  My earliest road trip memory involves a family RV trip to British Columbia and I still remember driving westward.  I was awestruck by the scenery.  There have been many trips west since then and each time I am struck by the sheer majesty of the mountains rising up to greet me as I drive toward then.  Sheer rock faces, evergreen trees, rushing mountain streams, fascinating wildlife and pristine aquamarine lakes are found not long after entering the park.

If you are just driving through the National Park, you can do so free of charge.  If you are staying overnight however you should be in possession of a park pass.  Park passes are available at the gates to the park where you will be stopped and asked where you are headed.  Current park rates (2010) for an adult is $9.80 per day or $19.60 for a family or group.  If you will be spending a lot of time in the parks in a given year you can also purchase an annual pass which is good for 27 National Parks and 77 National Historic Sites in Canada.  Travelling from Edmonton you will reach the park gates in about 3.5 hours and the town of Jasper after about 4 hours.

This trip had an added bonus for me as I was meeting up with a friend I met while in Ireland in 2009.  Hailing from Ottawa, Sarah had been exploring the west coast and the rockies in the previous week.  It was fantastic seeing and chatting with a fellow travel enthusiast, blogger and photographer.  Like me she has spent a considerable amount of time in Europe having traveled to many of the same places and a number of different ones as well.  You can read about her adventures on her blog In Which Sarah Sees The World.

I really enjoyed our visit although it was very brief.  After driving into the Jasper town site we met up by the information centre and took a wander through the town.  Most of the shops and restaurants are clustered within the town centre and walking is by far the easiest way to get around.  After a cup of coffee and a bite to eat we ventured out of town so that I could check in at our hostel--one of the many YHA hostels in the area.  If you prefer more luxurious accommodations you can certainly find them in and around town.   There are also a number of campgrounds in the area for those who enjoy roughing it.

The Town of Jasper from the top of the tramway. 

Once I'd gotten my bed for the night our next stop was to head up to the gondola that travels up Whistlers Mountain.  First opened in 1964 the Jasper Tramway will take you up the mountain in just a few minutes, giving you views of the surrounding mountains and the town far below.  Before heading down you can enjoy a meal or a drink while enjoying spectacular mountain views surrounding you.  Keep your ticket for the return trip down the mountain--you will pay $29.00 for a round trip adult ticket on the tram.  Although I had been to Jasper many times before this was the first time I had taken the tram.  I found a bit expensive but as a one time thing I think it was worth the view (and the snow we experienced on a rather chilly September day).

Heading into town for dinner that evening Sarah and I were considering enjoying a pint at Jasper's very own Brew Pub.  After checking out the menu we concluded that while it looked good the price was not within our backpacker budget.  After wandering down the street we found ourselves in another pub--The De'd Dog.  The De'd Dog is a local pub that seemed to be populated with both locals and visitors alike, the price was right and the food very good--both in taste and portion size.

Boat Cruise on Maligne Lake

After a quiet remainder of the night over drinks we set out the next morning to see Maligne Lake.  After a 44km drive south from Jasper which winds slowly uphill passing Medicine Lake you will reach Maligne Lake which is a popular place for boating, fishing and other pursuits.  There are hiking trails along the lake.  The trails were quite muddy the day of our visit so we took a stroll right along the water.  If you decide to take to the water by canoe or perhaps on the commercial boat cruise you may find yourself in sight of tiny Spirit Island which is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world.  In any case the views are stunning--don't forget your camera!

We only had a short time in Jasper but if you have more time another site you may want to visit is the Columbia Icefield, I stopped here on a previous trip to the area.  To get here take the Icefields Parkway out of Jasper (you must have purchased a park pass to travel this road) and you will reach the site of the Athabasca Glacier--the most visited glacier in North America.  Over the last 125 years the glacier has been shrinking and you can see how much it has receded--a distance of over 1.5 km.  There is a marked path that you can take to set foot upon the glacier however be careful--it still can be very dangerous and visitors have lost their lives here.

Unfortunately for my friend Sarah, not all of her trip went as planned and she decided to cut the remainder or her trip short and accompany me back to Edmonton from where she returned safely to Ottawa.  It was a fun visit, albeit short and I hope to have the privilege of traveling with her once again.

So bottom line I still love road trips!  I hope that you too will take the opportunity to visit Jasper and the rest of the Canadian Rockies.  They have a great deal to offer any traveler.  And in another time in another post I will share more about another of my favorite rocky mountain destinations--Radium.

Until then happy travelling!

Lest we forget...

Lest We Forget...

I know I am fortunate to live in a country that has not known modern warfare, at least within our own borders.  Despite this, we have not been untouched by war as brave Canadian soldiers, both men and women have served our country preserving the freedoms that we enjoy as Canadians.  Other places in the world have not been as lucky.

Today in Canada we recognize Remembrance Day.  It's a sombre day of reflection and thanks as well.  I have many memories of past Remembrance Days that I hold close.  One of these was doing a reading at a school assembly when I was in first or second grade.  I read (In Flander's Fields I think) to the entire school and guests.  Even though I couldn't fully comprehend the meaning of the day then I still knew it was important.  In high school I was involved in another school assembly for Remembrance Day as my drama class presented several scenes with themes of wartime.  By this time I already knew the fear of potential of war from when the Golf War erupted back when I was in junior high.  I was afraid that war might touch my home.  And to some degree it did.  In my lifetime Canadian forces have been engaged in several conflicts both as peacekeepers and in an active combat role such as in the current conflict in Afghanistan.  Today we remember all those involved in these missions as well as in the First and Second World Wars and Korea.


One of the many freedoms that we enjoy is that of being able to travel.  As Canadians we are welcome to visit many countries around the world.  Visiting places touched by some conflicts has moved me more than I would have ever expected.  Here are five places I have visited that have touched by war in some way or another in the 20th century.  I think that all of these are worth a visit if you are visiting the area.


1.  The Memorials and War Cemeteries surrounding the site of the Battle of Gallipoli
The Battle of Gallipoli was fought in 1915 between Allied and Turkish forces.  The casualties were heavy on both sides.  The conditions were horrible and a strange camaraderie developed between enemy soldiers.  This is demonstrated in many of the stories told and in the Respect for Mehmetçik Memorial which depicts a Turkish soldier carrying an Australian soldier back to his trench.
There are more than 80 cemeteries and memorials dedicated to both Turkish and allied dead which included soldiers from Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, India and even Newfoundland (which at  that time was not yet a part of Canada).  I visited several sites including ANZAC (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) Cove and Lone Pine Cemetery.  Though I know of no personal connections to any of the dead here the visit stuck a chord with me as I wandered between the graves, watched the waves crash against the rocks and saw the trenches that still exist.  To learn more about these sites and others on the Gallipoli peninsula check out the Turkey Guide.  ANZAC day is observed on April 25th each year and services are held at the site. 


2. Orkney Islands, Scotland
During WWI and WWII, the site of Scapa Flow was used as a Royal Navy Base.  After WWI the German fleet was brought here until a decision was to made on its future.  A number of these ships were shipwrecked and this remains a place that divers come to explore.
After the start of WWII the HMS Royal Oak was sunk by a German U-boat at Scapa Flow.  The Italian POWs held here were put to work building barriers (also known as the Churchill Barriers) to stop access to some of the channels.  These barriers had the added result of becoming a way to travel from island to island by road.  Today once you take the ferry to Orkney from the mainland you can see the rest of the islands by car.  These prisoners also built the Italian Chapel which is situated on the island of Lamb Holm.  The small but ornate church is a main attraction on the island.


3. Placa Sant Felip Neri, Barcelona
Wandering through the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona I was struck by the sheer amount of history.  The beginnings of this area were as a Roman village. Today there is a mix of old and new buildings standing side by side.  The streets are winding and you never know quite what you are going to find as you turn the next corner.  The Placa Sant Felip Neri is a tiny square tucked away in the quarter that is filled with history.  During the Spanish civil war it was here that people were rounded up and put to death by firing squad against the facade of the church.  The wall is riddled with marks left behind from the bullets and also damage from the air raid of January 30, 1938.  Today the square is tranquil and shady but it remains a symbol of the suffering of the Spanish during the Civil War.


4. Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany
Not far from Munich lies the site of Dachau, the first concentration camp that first held both political and Jewish prisoners during the Second World War.  When you enter the gates you see the sign Arbeit macht frei which means "work will make you free".  Sadly for many of those that entered those gates this was not true.  Over 25 000 people died in the camp.  Today it is a memorial site and museum.  When I visited in November 2007 the day was cold and it was just beginning to snow.  I imagined those imprisoned who were without adequate food, shelter and clothing living in this site in the cold.  Imagine being forced to work outside for long hours without so much as a jacket or a pair of shoes.   The air was crisp and silent as I walked between the barracks and along the path to the gas chambers and the crematorium.    The experience was sobering and one I expect never to forget.


5. The Vimy War Memorial, France
The Battle of Vimy Ridge represents a defining moment for Canada as a nation. It was the first time that Canadians fought as a national force rather than as a part of the British Army.  This event remains a symbol of of both achievement and sacrifice.  In honour of this sacrifice France has given use of a part of the former battleground to Canada to build a memorial site.  Part of the site is also considered Canadian soil. Unveiled in 1936 the Vimy Memorial is located on the highest point and can be seen from a distance.  It took 11 years to build.  You can see a few of the trenches up close but most of the area is closed off for safety reasons as there are still dangers such as exploded munitions.  The structure is awe inspiring and sobering at the same time.  The memorial is one of two National Historic Sites of Canada located outside of Canada. 


All of these sites left their mark on me.  Visiting them and many others helped make the history more real.  And this Remembrance Day I remember those that fought and still fight to make sure that we remain free.  I hope you will remember them too.