I'm off to the UK again in a few days' time. I've noticed that even though I don't have a packing list written down yet (I always write them down, too many trips with no underwear packed and you learn...), I have been sub-consciously musing over what I may need to pack.
This is my dilemma - it is winter in South Africa at the moment (which means that in the early mornings it is rather cold (around 4 degrees Celcius) and for most of the day the sun shines (around 20 degrees Celcius). All you really need is something warm to get you from the front door to the car. After that you've got aircon if you're cold, or you can avoid the sun and be quite comfortable for the rest of the day. I am going to the UK, where it is summer, allegedly, which basically means it is around 6 degrees in the morning, there is never much sun, but if there is, its around 15 degrees and then again about 8 degrees at night. OK, I am exaggerating, but in a country where 'bright spells' are actual weather occurances (as opposed to here in SA where we have 'rainy spells' or 'cold spells') and their idea of a nice summer's day is my idea of a duvet day, you can see how I have wardrobe trouble. In addition to that, the English insist on turning up the central heating to its highest level so they can wear those lovely summer fashions we all see in the magazines - since that is the only way they will ever be able to wear them when not somewhere else having an actual summer holiday.
But I digress...my fear is this - shoe myopia (or short-sightedness (its a real medical term , look it up)). Too many times have I packed boots, when a slinky pair of summer heels would have been possible. UK winter weather is easy - no open toed shoes (I don't care what Vogue says) and boots. You can't go wrong there. Summer is a different matter, since you end up with all four seasons in one day and (unfortunately) you do not get four wardrobe changes - would that you could! Summer sandals do not always work with a business outfit - and are damn difficult to manouver the London underground with. Boots are useful, but the sweat lodge interiors will ensure your constant discomfort. A lovely pair of business-like pumps would seem the golden mid-way, but they can look really awful when the rest of the ensemble tries to be summery. Wedges? OK, they can work, now just need to get a pair in every required colour.
Stockings or no stockings, that's another issue - for outside, definitely stockings, but unless you are planning to join the sweat lodge chanting, inside is a no no. How do these people do it?! (O, yes, they don't have to life out of a suitcase). Business and after work dinner/drinks wear also needs to be considered, as does the scrutiny of my UK colleagues so as not to give the impression of being from a 3rd world country, which of course, I am.
I still don't know what I'm going to pack (and yes, even though I travel about once a month, I always have this internal struggle) but I will keep you updated. Any thoughts are welcome and yes, I have considered just buying the necessary when I get there. Where do you think I get most of my current precccciouss er...shoes from?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 20, 2008
Mexico
Watched Sex and the City yesterday - bet you thought I'd have made reference to it earlier, given the shoe thing, hey? Not bad, true to form, mostly. Not in the mood to review the whole thing. Anyway, the Mexico scenes brought back some memories from a recent trip (Charlotte accidentaly drinks the water there and tummy consequences follow...).
It really is true, DON'T drink the water. NO ONE is Mexico seems to be brave enough to drink the water - including many of the locals I spoke to. Also don't eat anything fresh - at least not anywhere that isn't 5 star. Which isn't really a problem as I came to learn - vegetables are not often on the menu and if they are, think fried onions and whole fried jalepenos (OUCH! Seriously.) Seems weird for such a not-so-backward country, but who am I to talk. South Africa can learn a few lessons from the Mexicalis I tell you. For one, they know how to do tourism - well, they know who their market is (Americans) and they know how to cater to them (include everything and make sure about the Burger King and Starbucks on every corner). I am not kidding. Cancun, for all its beautiful beaches (and they are, pity that every square foot is covered by someone's resort) looks like a little America - its a very confused place, as my boyfriend very astutely observed, they really don't know if they are Mexican, Carribean or resort America. Its quite sad really, given that tourism (to my mind) should include getting in touch with the local culture - then again, I guess I did just that. At the Starbucks, caffe americano (con leche) in hand.
Speaking of which, thank heavens for the Starbucks. If your body is on a timezone 8 hours ahead and refuses point blank to accept the reality of daylight when it wants to go to bed, a grande caffe americano (con leche - if you can make yourself understood) is a godsend. Four or five of those a day and I was hooked. When is Starbucks opening in South Africa?! We have everything else...come on guys!
Anyway, if you manage to get past the Americanisation of the place, it really is quite a trip. Think Mexico City, sprawling with no end in sight (even from the air as the plane descends), vibey (very loud) and filled with lots and lots of colour. A true explorer's paradise (but stay in the safe zones - don't be a naive tourist) with bustling markets (haggle at the silver trader's market in Zona Rosa - its too much fun!), mariachi's for hire (seriously, you can hire one to serenade your loved on at their window) and amazing food (nachos grade at the Spur...pwah!).
Chichen Itza (like chicken pizza, kind of), recently named one of the new seven wonders of the world, takes a while to sink in. It is unfortunate that the Aztec culture has become almost caricatured, with the familiar zig zag lines of the mayan pyramids imprinted on every mind, thanks to Tex Mex as a cultural bridge. As a result, Chichen Itza does not at first inspire and awe - you've seen the pictures a thousand times. But walk amount the countless ruins there, keep reminding yourself that they are hundrends if not thousands of years old and that as a tourist, you only get to see 20% of it all (the rest is unaccesible, still being researched and guarded by the government - according to our tour guide anyway) and after a while the immensity of it all sets it. We think we're so smart, us modern humans. R..i..g..h..t.
It really is true, DON'T drink the water. NO ONE is Mexico seems to be brave enough to drink the water - including many of the locals I spoke to. Also don't eat anything fresh - at least not anywhere that isn't 5 star. Which isn't really a problem as I came to learn - vegetables are not often on the menu and if they are, think fried onions and whole fried jalepenos (OUCH! Seriously.) Seems weird for such a not-so-backward country, but who am I to talk. South Africa can learn a few lessons from the Mexicalis I tell you. For one, they know how to do tourism - well, they know who their market is (Americans) and they know how to cater to them (include everything and make sure about the Burger King and Starbucks on every corner). I am not kidding. Cancun, for all its beautiful beaches (and they are, pity that every square foot is covered by someone's resort) looks like a little America - its a very confused place, as my boyfriend very astutely observed, they really don't know if they are Mexican, Carribean or resort America. Its quite sad really, given that tourism (to my mind) should include getting in touch with the local culture - then again, I guess I did just that. At the Starbucks, caffe americano (con leche) in hand.
Speaking of which, thank heavens for the Starbucks. If your body is on a timezone 8 hours ahead and refuses point blank to accept the reality of daylight when it wants to go to bed, a grande caffe americano (con leche - if you can make yourself understood) is a godsend. Four or five of those a day and I was hooked. When is Starbucks opening in South Africa?! We have everything else...come on guys!
Anyway, if you manage to get past the Americanisation of the place, it really is quite a trip. Think Mexico City, sprawling with no end in sight (even from the air as the plane descends), vibey (very loud) and filled with lots and lots of colour. A true explorer's paradise (but stay in the safe zones - don't be a naive tourist) with bustling markets (haggle at the silver trader's market in Zona Rosa - its too much fun!), mariachi's for hire (seriously, you can hire one to serenade your loved on at their window) and amazing food (nachos grade at the Spur...pwah!).
Chichen Itza (like chicken pizza, kind of), recently named one of the new seven wonders of the world, takes a while to sink in. It is unfortunate that the Aztec culture has become almost caricatured, with the familiar zig zag lines of the mayan pyramids imprinted on every mind, thanks to Tex Mex as a cultural bridge. As a result, Chichen Itza does not at first inspire and awe - you've seen the pictures a thousand times. But walk amount the countless ruins there, keep reminding yourself that they are hundrends if not thousands of years old and that as a tourist, you only get to see 20% of it all (the rest is unaccesible, still being researched and guarded by the government - according to our tour guide anyway) and after a while the immensity of it all sets it. We think we're so smart, us modern humans. R..i..g..h..t.
But the best thing you can do, if you ever find yourself in Mexico, is to get in touch with nature. Explore a cenote (underground river/lake - you've seen the pictures), travel along a river or snorkel at one of the few places where these amazingly unique underground rivers emerge from the porous volcanic rock that surrounds these regions and you'll understand some of the magic that ruled the ancient civilisations.
I didn't even buy one pair of shoes.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Feel the burn!
On the subject of things that are healthy - or at least good for you...
I've been doing a little research and think the following is of great importance in motivating for that all out shopping experience. Take heed...
I thought it may be worthwhile to have a look at the amount of calories one burns for various standard efforts involved in any self-respecting shopping (shoe or otherwise) trip. The activity calorie calculator was of great assistance. You would also bear with me, I am sure, in some license taken in determining these results - there is not exactly a shopping activity index, with most activity calculator restricting themselves to terribly unimaginative excersize types (running, walking, badmington(?!), etc...)
Anyway, getting to the point, here are some suggestions for a full workout while satisfying the emotional connection you always develop with your credit card when faced with a purchase decision:
Walking from your car to the shopping mall: 10.3
Doing the 1st pass (browing around to see what's on offer): 27.2
Doing the 2nd pass (identifying the items you may or may not be interested in): 34.3
Change room activities (think of this as the super circuit of the shopping trip)
Carrying too many items at the same time: 22.7
The 5 minute jeans jumping jig: 31.8
Turning around to see all possible angles in all the mirrors: 9
The 3 minute peeling off the top that gets stuck pinning your arms like a straight jacket without ripping it: 19
The 5 minutes cool down getting over the panic of getting out of the top that pinned your arms like a straight jacket: 6.8
Trying on anything that stretches (think lycra containing items): 21.8
Walking to the coffee shop to recover and get ready for round 2: 10.3
Grand total of calories burnt: 193.2, or the equivalent of 2 glasses of coke, or one and a little bit of a hot dog, or almost a full doughnut...see pictures of what 200 calories look like. Not bad hey? (especially the part about almost a full doughnut!)
My job here is done.
I've been doing a little research and think the following is of great importance in motivating for that all out shopping experience. Take heed...
I thought it may be worthwhile to have a look at the amount of calories one burns for various standard efforts involved in any self-respecting shopping (shoe or otherwise) trip. The activity calorie calculator was of great assistance. You would also bear with me, I am sure, in some license taken in determining these results - there is not exactly a shopping activity index, with most activity calculator restricting themselves to terribly unimaginative excersize types (running, walking, badmington(?!), etc...)
Anyway, getting to the point, here are some suggestions for a full workout while satisfying the emotional connection you always develop with your credit card when faced with a purchase decision:
Walking from your car to the shopping mall: 10.3
Doing the 1st pass (browing around to see what's on offer): 27.2
Doing the 2nd pass (identifying the items you may or may not be interested in): 34.3
Change room activities (think of this as the super circuit of the shopping trip)
Carrying too many items at the same time: 22.7
The 5 minute jeans jumping jig: 31.8
Turning around to see all possible angles in all the mirrors: 9
The 3 minute peeling off the top that gets stuck pinning your arms like a straight jacket without ripping it: 19
The 5 minutes cool down getting over the panic of getting out of the top that pinned your arms like a straight jacket: 6.8
Trying on anything that stretches (think lycra containing items): 21.8
Walking to the coffee shop to recover and get ready for round 2: 10.3
Grand total of calories burnt: 193.2, or the equivalent of 2 glasses of coke, or one and a little bit of a hot dog, or almost a full doughnut...see pictures of what 200 calories look like. Not bad hey? (especially the part about almost a full doughnut!)
My job here is done.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Big Mac index
In this world of poor body image and obese Americans (sorry, but they really are), why are we still using something as commercially blatant and unhealthy as the Big Mac index?
Admittedly, I don't know much about it, except that you can compare the economies of nations by how much it costs to buy a Big Mac in their country - I think it also has something to do with how much bang you get for your buck.
Turns out I'm not so far off the mark (have a look at Wikipedia's entry). Apparently there have been other versions around Starbucks (Tall Latte index - I kinda like that one!) and the Coca Cola map (all details at Wikipedia so am not going to repeat them here). My concern is just that these are all things that are pretty bad for you and I don't think its a great idea that developing countries can afford to eat more Bic Macs! I wonder what the relationship is to that and the healthcare infrastructure of a country - suspect healthcare may not cope when the population suddenly begins eating McDonalds all over the place. (I'm not just ranting about them - watch 'Super size me' and then get back to me if you think I'm making this up)
Anyway, the point I am trying to make is this: Why use bad for you foodstuffs if you could be using feelgood shoes? Think about it - if you covert your purchasing power to 'shoe money', what self-respecting female would not be able to tell you whether you're getting a good deal or not (and a lot of well styled males as well, I'd bet!)? A shoe-index, aside from upping the population's style (and again, let's face it, those US of A people could use some help) also promotes things that focus on shoes, like...er...walking ;) OK, probably not much of an excersize focus, but shopping does burn the calories!
I am digressing yet again. Back to the shoe-index. I know exactly what I need to pay for a gorgeous pair of shoes to be getting a good deal and converting any currency into 'shoe money' just makes so much more sense....
Thinking of spending 4000 pounds on a holiday? Do you know how many shoes you can buy for that?? But you'll get more enjoyment from a week in Ibiza? Go for it!
See, its really easy once you get the hang of it.
Perhaps I need to give this more thought before approaching the Economist on it...
Admittedly, I don't know much about it, except that you can compare the economies of nations by how much it costs to buy a Big Mac in their country - I think it also has something to do with how much bang you get for your buck.
Turns out I'm not so far off the mark (have a look at Wikipedia's entry). Apparently there have been other versions around Starbucks (Tall Latte index - I kinda like that one!) and the Coca Cola map (all details at Wikipedia so am not going to repeat them here). My concern is just that these are all things that are pretty bad for you and I don't think its a great idea that developing countries can afford to eat more Bic Macs! I wonder what the relationship is to that and the healthcare infrastructure of a country - suspect healthcare may not cope when the population suddenly begins eating McDonalds all over the place. (I'm not just ranting about them - watch 'Super size me' and then get back to me if you think I'm making this up)
Anyway, the point I am trying to make is this: Why use bad for you foodstuffs if you could be using feelgood shoes? Think about it - if you covert your purchasing power to 'shoe money', what self-respecting female would not be able to tell you whether you're getting a good deal or not (and a lot of well styled males as well, I'd bet!)? A shoe-index, aside from upping the population's style (and again, let's face it, those US of A people could use some help) also promotes things that focus on shoes, like...er...walking ;) OK, probably not much of an excersize focus, but shopping does burn the calories!
I am digressing yet again. Back to the shoe-index. I know exactly what I need to pay for a gorgeous pair of shoes to be getting a good deal and converting any currency into 'shoe money' just makes so much more sense....
Thinking of spending 4000 pounds on a holiday? Do you know how many shoes you can buy for that?? But you'll get more enjoyment from a week in Ibiza? Go for it!
See, its really easy once you get the hang of it.
Perhaps I need to give this more thought before approaching the Economist on it...
Monday, June 2, 2008
Stonehenge
I travelled to Stonehenge yesterday. I drove myself from Milton Keynes (proud to be UKs most modern city/area/shire? who knows what these things are called?!) which was quite an accomplishment given that on this, my, I don't know, 8th(?) visit to the UK, it was my first time driving.
It was quite a pleasant experience actually...no horrible traffic on the famed M25 or any incidents on the infamous M1 and the drivers here are actually quite nice. What a pleasure not have a taxi (all South Africans join me in commiseration) boring down on you at some ungodly speed with your life flashing before your eyes only to zip off into the yellow lane and pick someone up off the side of the highway. After about 20 minutes worth of driving (on the 'motorway', excuse me) I realised that as we South Africans have been pondering for years, taxis are evil and life without them terrorising the roads is infinitely better.
Anyway, so I drove almost 2 hours to Stonehenge, lovely drive and found these akwardly arranged rocks in the middle of nowhere (for those of you wondering where the shoes are going to come in, just a warning, its very likely that they won't...I'm not feeling that creative tonight), I mean, literally nowhere, which totally makes all that energy stuff believable because there is nothing above ground that even remotely suggests the building of a very large pile of stones to mark anything.
They were not as big as I had imagined them (yes I know, you've heard that one before), roughly about 4 storeys high and I suppose very very difficult to build but then again, man is a pretty nifty creature. Throughout the centuries he has proven to be quite wily and can build amazing things out of seemingly impossibly circumstances. OK, I'm not going to be able to resist...some weird shoes for you obsessive people out there... :)
Anyway, it was raining a little and there were quite a lot of people walking around the 'monument' as the parking guy called it and that was really that. They also have a nice little souvenier shop there that I felt compelled to buy from as it prolonged the experienced and proved that I had been there (and no, they didn't sell any shoes). Then 2 hours back on the 'motorway'.
Still, now I've seen them, they're pretty cool but who knows what on earth (or in heaven?) they were supposed to really mark. I do get all the astrological mathematical things, but we don't know what went on in the minds of those people...maybe they were honouring a big Shoe god somewhere? Ok, I also don't really buy that, but its a good a theory as some of them out there.
PS: Wear some wellies when you go, they will be THE thing to wear to the 'monument', promise.
It was quite a pleasant experience actually...no horrible traffic on the famed M25 or any incidents on the infamous M1 and the drivers here are actually quite nice. What a pleasure not have a taxi (all South Africans join me in commiseration) boring down on you at some ungodly speed with your life flashing before your eyes only to zip off into the yellow lane and pick someone up off the side of the highway. After about 20 minutes worth of driving (on the 'motorway', excuse me) I realised that as we South Africans have been pondering for years, taxis are evil and life without them terrorising the roads is infinitely better.
Anyway, so I drove almost 2 hours to Stonehenge, lovely drive and found these akwardly arranged rocks in the middle of nowhere (for those of you wondering where the shoes are going to come in, just a warning, its very likely that they won't...I'm not feeling that creative tonight), I mean, literally nowhere, which totally makes all that energy stuff believable because there is nothing above ground that even remotely suggests the building of a very large pile of stones to mark anything.
They were not as big as I had imagined them (yes I know, you've heard that one before), roughly about 4 storeys high and I suppose very very difficult to build but then again, man is a pretty nifty creature. Throughout the centuries he has proven to be quite wily and can build amazing things out of seemingly impossibly circumstances. OK, I'm not going to be able to resist...some weird shoes for you obsessive people out there... :)
Anyway, it was raining a little and there were quite a lot of people walking around the 'monument' as the parking guy called it and that was really that. They also have a nice little souvenier shop there that I felt compelled to buy from as it prolonged the experienced and proved that I had been there (and no, they didn't sell any shoes). Then 2 hours back on the 'motorway'.
Still, now I've seen them, they're pretty cool but who knows what on earth (or in heaven?) they were supposed to really mark. I do get all the astrological mathematical things, but we don't know what went on in the minds of those people...maybe they were honouring a big Shoe god somewhere? Ok, I also don't really buy that, but its a good a theory as some of them out there.
PS: Wear some wellies when you go, they will be THE thing to wear to the 'monument', promise.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Hairdryers
Never pack a hairdryer when you travel - there's really little point, it is guaranteed to blow on your first night and you probably forgot to pack the right plug adapter. On the other hand, be sure to call ahead to confirm that wherever your staying has a hairdryer available for you - and check if you need to pay a deposit to get it so that you have the correct change ready. Oh...and don't forget to check BEFORE you take that shower - there is nothing more horrible (ok there are probably lots more horrible things, but its pretty bad) than having to stand in the queue at hotel reception with dripping hair asking for a hairdryer. This is all of course based on the assumption that you are not staying in a fancy hotel where they have things like telephones and you can ring room service and they have those hairdryers in the room that was clearly designed by a bald man - never anywhere close to a mirror and with a cord long enough to blowdry your boobs instead.
But the reason d'etre for not taking a hairdryer with you when you travel....say it with me - shoes! OK, how do you connect the dots from hairsdryer to shoes? Easy, I say. Hairdryer means extra space and more importantly extra weight. My very thorough examination of hotel room hairdryers (ok I picked up 3 and weighed them in my hand) reveals that a hairdryer weight roughly around 1 and a half pairs of shoes. So given the amount of liquid in your cosmetic bag that you will use up during your travel, that makes for exactly two new pairs of shoes that you can puchase without exceeding your allowed travel weight.
And THAT is just one more way that I find logical (stop laughing) reasoning for indulging in yet another pair (or two) of my favourate things.
But the reason d'etre for not taking a hairdryer with you when you travel....say it with me - shoes! OK, how do you connect the dots from hairsdryer to shoes? Easy, I say. Hairdryer means extra space and more importantly extra weight. My very thorough examination of hotel room hairdryers (ok I picked up 3 and weighed them in my hand) reveals that a hairdryer weight roughly around 1 and a half pairs of shoes. So given the amount of liquid in your cosmetic bag that you will use up during your travel, that makes for exactly two new pairs of shoes that you can puchase without exceeding your allowed travel weight.
And THAT is just one more way that I find logical (stop laughing) reasoning for indulging in yet another pair (or two) of my favourate things.
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