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Facing a Fear of Failure on Annapurna Mountain in Nepal

By on August 1, 2012

Eight years finishing dead last during PE sprints taught me to avoid public displays of speed and agility. A sunrise hike in Lake Tahoe spent panting on the sidelines made me solemnly swear to myself and the rising sun that I would never hike again. I’d rather miss out on an experience than risk exposing my weaknesses.

I dreamed of trekking in the Himalayas long before I set foot in Nepal. Once I was there my heart longed for time spent in the sanctuary of nature. An adventure in the Himalayas meant more to me than any temple, museum or palace. The scars of wounded pride still gnawed at me and my habits of avoidance told me to skip the trek. But I couldn’t. This was the Himalayas. A once in a life time experience.

I hoped the hike would be easy. I hoped I wouldn’t lagged behind. I hoped I wouldn’t feel humiliated by my weakness. I’d spent the last two years exercising regularly and was much stronger than I’d been in Lake Tahoe or eighth grade. I’d tested the waters with hike in Bali the year before. I knew I was physically able to trek the Poon Hill Circuit in Annapurna, but I still feared my weakness.

I trekked slowly, really, really slowly. I climbed a stairway to heaven at the pace of a toddler. I thought the climb was the hardest part, but the descent was so much more challenging. Every joint in my body hurt on impact. I lamented about my aching bones to no end. My group had to stop and wait for me every few steps so that I wasn’t completely in the dust. If slow trekking were an Olympic sport, I’d bring home the gold.

Slow trekking may have hurt my body, but it didn’t hurt my pride. I got over being embarrassed on the first day. I was far more concerned with putting one foot in front of the other than anyone else’s judgements. I was proud of myself for every step I made through the pain. My soul was nourished by the beauty of my surroundings. I had my best friend with me and a great guide to pass the time with conversation and blubbering.

I didn’t dazzle anyone with my athletic prowess, but it didn’t matter. My outlook changed, that matters. I now know a strength in me that I didn’t know existed. I know that it doesn’t matter how slow I go, it’s showing up and doing the work that matters. I know there are so many scenarios in life that I won’t be the shining star or will look flat out stupid. I know avoiding these experiences altogether robs me of the chance to learn, grow and live life to it’s fullest.

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Summer of a Million Visitors

By on July 13, 2012

This summer is my “Summer of a Million Visitors.” Ok, so I stopped counting when I reached 20+ in two months, but it’s still a lot. I’ve had a ton of fun with my out-of-towners, but I’ve also learned a thing or two about travel in the city I’ve made my home thanks to them.

1. There is more than one way to do any given activity in Paris. Day of week (closures or free days) or time of day (hello, late night openings) can totally make a difference. Anywhere you go, try to discover when these options to help make your visit a bit more special, and hopefully will avoid some crowds. That’s why locals are awesome – they can save you time, energy, and money.

2. Just because everyone says you have to go to X or see Y or eat Z it doesn’t mean you’re going to love it just because they did. Think about what you love, and the kind of things that make you happy, and make those your priority. For instance, I was hanging out with my friends’ three daughters one afternoon (while the parents were off). I knew they were big tennis fans, so I took them to Hotel de Ville where the Roland Garros [French Open] finals were on live – not something you see everyday. I mean, if you have a thing for taxidermy, I even have some great recs for that!

3. Don’t be afraid to do something just because it’s “touristy.” In all the time I’ve spent in Paris, I had never been to the top of the Arc de Triumph until I had friends in town. I was very pleasantly surprised, and it’s one of my favorite views of Paris now. Just goes to show that even a “local” has things they can learn from visitors, and some things are worth seeing.

4. When I had dear friends in town for three days there were so many things I wanted to show them in so little time. We did a lot – maybe too much, but remember it’s ok if you don’t accomplish everything you set out to. It’s always nice to have an excuse to travel again and go back!

5. As someone who seems to have a constant stream of visitors in Paris, the best possible words you can hear from your friends’ mouths are “All we want to do is walk, people watch and drink wine.” This is a true statement, and from a friend who had never been to Europe before. It’s funny, with the pressure off to show them everything, I gave one of my best “tours” ever. It’s also what inspired me with Vayable.

Part of the fun of giving tours on Vayable is meeting new people and having the excuse to experience new things. Seeing Paris the same way gets old for me, but every time I meet up with someone I learn something new or think about Paris in a new way. I have a couple more tours in the works, but I created Navigate Paris because each time I go to a new place I want to get a basic understanding of where I am to get my bearings. Sometimes the obvious – things like how to buy a metro ticket or where streets signs are located – are not always evident until someone points them out to you. My goal is to empower people with knowledge, so after the session is over they feel like an expert themselves. I always love adding a local perspective too as we may our way through the day. But most importantly, I listen to whoever I’m showing around. I want to be able to show them my city in a way that makes sense and appeals to them. It helps challenge me to dig deeper too, and of course keeps things interesting. I don’t pretend to know all the answers, but 9 times out of 10 I can tell the person where to go for more.

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Anne S. Ditmeyer is a graphic designer / editor based in Paris, France. Her blog, Prêt à Voyager looks at the intersection of travel and design, with an emphasis on her life in France. Follow her adventures on Twitter, Instagram & Everplaces.

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Guide Story: How I Started a Non-profit to Benefit Local Communities in Panama

By on July 12, 2012

We recently got to know Joe, who runs Operation Safe Drinking Water down in Bocas de Toro of Panama! When most people think about Bocas de Toro, they think of white sand beaches, lush rain forests, and beautiful reefs. There are also indigenous villages scattered around the swamplands, many of which don’t have access to safe drinking water. We started Vayable to make it easy for tourists to benefit local communities while having fun on vacation, and Joe’s tour provides the perfect opportunity for that, mixing culture, food, and some ever-so-necessary beach time. All proceeds go to his non-profit.

by Joe B, Vayable guide and founder of Operation Safe Drinking Water. Here’s his story about how he got started!

In May of 2008 I was happily retired, playing golf in Costa Rica after
 40 years of aid work in troubled areas of the world. An old friend retired on an island in Bocas del Toro and invited my wife and I to visit him. After a day of relaxing by the beach, we went into town and met an American medical worker running a clinic nearby for the indigenous people. Seeing the condition of some of the people there, we were curious about how we could help.

“See this 13 year old boy?” he said. The boy was in abject misery from a horrible skin rash covering most of his body. “I treated him a year ago, now I’m treating him again. I’ll have to treat him again next year if he’s still alive. It’s bad water. I told him, but he said it’s all he has. If you want to help these people, help them get clean water. Medical care is a revolving door. Education means little to someone whose health is wrecked.”

My wife (Maribel) and I stayed on a few days and drank clean, safe water from a rain catchment tank.
 A few days later, we decided that I would trade my golf shoes for muddy boots, and Maribel would leave her family and friends in Costa Rica. We settled on a remote island, between two large indigenous villages, living “off the grid” like the people we came to help. Solar panels provided power, sometimes.

People came by dugout canoe night and day in search of her first-aid services. Snake bite victims were bundled into our boat for a risky nighttime dash to a hospital on the mainland. Being self-financed, we went the pro bono route to set up our little operation and become a 501 c3. We were an all-volunteer operation, and no one received a salary or compensation.

While my team and I installed rain catchment tanks, Maribel provided basic first-aid services.
 Soon, our efforts started to pay off. School principals began to report far fewer students absent from sickness a few weeks after our tanks were installed. Sickness rates of up to 70% dropped to less than 10%.

“Operation Long Reach” was launched to help the most distant schools. Tanks were taken deep into the jungle on narrow canals to remote villages, and we carried others up steep jungle trails to mountain-top villages alongside the men in the village. A Peace Corps volunteer told us of schools in urgent need of safe water on distant Peninsula Valiente, jutting far out into the sea. We traveled there in our small boat against high waves that beat us back several times and were able to provide all seven schools with their own rain-catchment systems.

We were thrilled to learn about Vayable, which helps to provide much needed funds to our organization by connecting travelers to our remote village. As a life-long world traveler I see 
it as an innovative travel break-through, with first class execution. 
Operation Safe Drinking Water is happy to be part of Vayable, and we hope many of you will come visit us.

–Joe

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Vayable for weddings

By on July 10, 2012

Be creative this wedding season, without breaking the bank or your back. Whether you’re the bride, the groom, the wedding party or a guest, we know it’s tough to stay inspired when everything seems to have already been done before.  We’re here to help you think outside the ribbon and box and help you be creative when you just don’t have the time to hand-make a gift or plan yet another itinerary.  Below are some ways Vayable can help cure the wedding bell blues:

Gifts

Give a Vayable gift card. Forget the registry and go for something meaningful and memorable. The NYTimes recently reported that money spend on experiences makes people happier than money spent on things, especially when you buy it for someone else. So give yourself and the happy couple an extra dose of dopamine with a gift card or experience.

Bachelorette & Bachelor experiences 

Book with Vayable. For $75 you can get a travel expert to plan your bachelorette or bachelor party or weekend.  This includes 3 hours of planning and consult with a delivered plan customized exactly to your tastes!

Honeymoons

Leave the planning to us. Book a session with our travel expert to create a personalized plan for your honeymoon, or choose from hundreds of bookable unique experiences guaranteed to make your honeymoon memorable and magical.

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How to Quit Your Job and Become a Digital Nomad

By on July 5, 2012

by Spencer Spellman, one of our favorite travel bloggers and soon-to-be travel guide!

I’m a digital nomad, self-employed, freelancer, workshifter, or whatever the latest buzz term is.  That means I can work anywhere; well almost anywhere, at least somewhere that has a decent Internet connection 90% of the day. I do a little bit of everything, with most of my work taking place and existing online. I’m a writer, blogger, and consultant to the travel industry. Sounds like the dream job right? What you see are the far-flung destinations and the Instagramed food and drink photos, but there’s more than meets the eye.

I’ve been doing this for nearly two years, but before talking about what it’s given me and why I don’t want to do anything else, let’s discuss what I’ve given up. I’ve given up what most employees would refer to as the “perks” of a job. I don’t get any vacation time or sick days. There’s no travel stipend or bonus. There is no insurance, retirement, or benefits unless I pay out of pocket for it. There’s no water cooler talk or work happy hour. I don’t have an office and there’s not much of a community, unless I find a fellow nomad to work with or a co-working space. A person like myself isn’t doing this for the “perks”. You do it for the lifestyle.

Some days I work an hour, some days I work 12 hours. Some weeks I work on Saturdays and some weeks I take Thursday and Friday off. I wake up and start working when I want to. If I want to have a cocktail for lunch, then I have a cocktail. If I want to get out of the house and work, then I go to a café or to the park. The draw to being a digital nomad is the flexibility and lifestyle to work when and how you want. As the world becomes all the more connected, it makes it even easier for digital nomads to work, whether it’s from a café in San Francisco, a co-working space in London, or a beach bar in Bali.

Similar to major life decisions like going to college, entering the workforce, or moving across the country, becoming a digital nomad requires planning. One of the most important things is to know when to quit your current job. I didn’t quit until I had enough working enough hours digitally to equal the job I was preparing to quit. That meant the last month saw workdays of 70 to 80 hours.

Another important consideration is what you’ll be charging. This of course varies depending on your field, but it should be considerably more than what you would make from a day job. If you don’t factor in costs like benefits, phone/computer/internet charges, and other things that are typically covered by an employer, then you’ll undercut yourself and likely burn out or run out of money quickly.

Lastly is the question of whether to have a home base or not. I didn’t for nearly a year. I popped around North America, splitting my time primarily between Central America and the U.S. Missing some of the comforts of a home base, I’ve been living in San Francisco for the last year. However, I travel just as much, if not more, including a three-month trip this summer. To offset the costs, I just rent out my room on Airbnb.

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Become a Vayable Maven (or recommend one)

By on July 4, 2012

At the heart of Vayable is a growing community of savvy local experts and travelers in the know. They’ve journeyed off the beaten path to discover gems to share with the rest of our savvy travel community.

Vayable is now offering the opportunity to get involved in more ways than just offering experiences. Anyone can now become a Vayable Maven.  If you have recommendations and tips to share with eager travelers at any destination, simply join and you’ll gain access to all the perks our guides do, including:

  • VIP (Vayable Important Person) access to events
  • Earn cash by offering recommendations, itineraries and guided experiences to others
  • Special offers for travel on Vayable and our partners
  • First look access at the newest experiences

JOIN NOW>>

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London’s Top Street Food Markets

By on June 20, 2012

by Matthew Lee, our street food and all-things-hipster specialist in London.

London once had a lousy reputation for food, but then something changed. Perhaps it’s due to TV chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver bringing fine dining to our living rooms. Or maybe living in a city where over 300 languages are spoken has helped our conservative English palates discover there’s more to life than fish, chips and soggy pies.

Somehow, against the odds, London became a culinary powerhouse, a serious rival to Paris and New York. But then, in 2008, the world economy collapsed. How could a city of obsessive but financially-challenged foodies get its fix?

Easy. We took to the streets. We found a food truck formula perfected in New York and Los Angeles – no rent, low overheads, high-quality ingredients – and applied it to the roads of London, rain or shine. And this being England, it’s usually rain.

Borough Market is London’s most famous food market but – whisper it – it’s a tourist trap. Instead try the lunch markets at St Pancras, Leather Lane and Whitecross Street. And travel to the local markets in Brockley, West Norwood and Clapton. Or head to tourist-free East Ham, Brixton or Wembley for the the real deal – fantastic Indian, Pakistani and South American stalls.

But whatever you do, don’t miss these three markets for this summer’s best street food:

1) Brick Lane (Sundays)
The daddy of London’s street food scene keeps getting bigger and better. Walk here on a Sunday lunchtime and the options are daunting. You’ve got the Bangladeshi cafes and the Jewish bakeries, the vast UpMarket and the eclectic Boiler House Food Hall, and dozens of alluring food stalls in the spaces inbetween. Last time I walked down Brick Lane I found over 30 cuisines – if you’ve never tried Lithuanian, Burmese, Congolese or Venezuelan food, here’s your chance.

2) Street Feast London (Friday nights)
Never let it be said that the guys at Street Feast London couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery. On Friday evenings this summer, the Camden Town Brewery is hosting some of the city’s best street food stalls. Expect to find the likes of Horn OK Please (Indian street food), Big Apple Hot Dogs, Kimchi Cult (Korean-style burgers), Buen Provecho (Mexican tacos) and Speck Mobile (authentic Austrian). Take a seat on their sunny terrace under the train tracks and wash it all down with some of the best beer you’ll find in the UK.

3) Broadway Market (Saturdays)
Broadway Market is hipster central at the weekends, but don’t let that put you off visiting its excellent food market. It’s a great place to pick up bread, cheese, meat and booze for impromptu picnics in the adjacent London Fields, and it’s also home to some fantastic street food. The burgers at Lucky Chip (round the corner at Netil Market) and the Vietnamese baguettes at Banh Mi 11 are highly recommended.

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Have a Gay ‘ol Time at Pride!

By on June 18, 2012

San Francisco’s Pride celebration is the largest LGBT gathering in the nation, reflective of the open and loving culture of the Bay Area as a whole. This year’s theme is global equality with a focus on social, political, and educational advocacy for LGBT people around the world. We’re celebrating Pride here in San Francisco, and we hope you have a gay ‘ol time no matter where you are!

Gay BFF Castro Barcrawl – San Francisco, CA

No matter whether you’re gay, straight, or somewhere in between, everyone needs a gay BFF. Jeremy is one of our favorite people to drink with and the very best person to dish with about anything and everything. He’ll take you to the very best bars of the Castro and treat you to a drink or five that are especially designed for you.

Cruisin’ the Castro – San Francisco, CA

Get your learn on with Kathy, who has some sweet knowledge to drop as you cruise around the Castro. Hear stories of Harvey Milk, the first gay bar with windows, and so much more on this fun and informative tour. Kathy has a wonderful story of her own coming out and will help you get plugged into the gay community no matter where you are visiting from.

Do SOHO with Your Gay BFF – New York, NY

If you’re looking to shop till you drop with a sassy and all-knowing gay BFF by your side, look no further. Royce will tell it to you straight that you just don’t look good in those skinny jeans or that you look so fab in that pair of heels. Re-do your wardrobe the right way.

Discover Gay Rio de Janeiro – Rio, Brazil

Catch some rays and discover Rio the right way with Marcelo, who will get you into all the clubs and hot spots where locals go to see and be seen. You’ll also discover the very best highlights and things that Rio has to offer!

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Walk Like An Egyptian

By on June 14, 2012

by Doug, a camel farmer based in Texas and Egypt. He offers 10+ day all-inclusive trips in Egypt, where you can live the local way of life and also explore the beautiful country.

Wasta is Arabic for “connections,” and I like to think travelers on my experience have wasta the minute they sit and eat with the Egyptian families on my guided tours of Egypt and Sinai.

In Cairo, we stay in the home of Adel Sayed Hamza, a ten-minute walk from the Pyramids, where Adel works as a camel man. Egyptian families are large and always expanding, so Adel and his wife Suad have a full house. Adel’s adult sons, Sayed and Mohamed, work with their uncle in an electrical business, while Magdy, the youngest son, is finishing up high school and wants to be a tour guide. Adel’s daughters, Hoda and Hebba, have children of their own, and Sayed’s wife, Wella, speaks perfect English, allowing female guests a real insight into Egyptian life. (She also loves Titanic and the Twilight series!)

During the day, while we’re out sightseeing with Adel, Suad is home preparing the night’s feast. Modern Egpytian cuisine traces its roots directly to the Pharaohs, so you can be sure you’ll eat like a king at each meal. Chicken, lamb, goat, fish and even camel can be prepared. Vegetarians needn’t worry; you’ve never eaten produce more varied nor fresher than that of Egypt, grown along the historic Nile.

While camel trekking in Sinai, you’ll be guests of Saleh bin Soliman, of the Muzeina Bedouin tribe. Saleh and his wife, Freija, have seven children and live in the small Red Sea town of Nuweiba. Saleh and family spend a good portion of the year in the interior of the Sinai desert, living among extended family in traditional goat hair tents. This is a lifestyle that truly hasn’t changed since the time of Moses and you’ll fall in to the Bedouin rhythm almost instantly.

With tourism slowing, Saleh and his sons make money by selling tea in roadside coffee shops, making charcoal from dead acacia trees, or offering their services as drivers. The daughters help their mother, Freija, tend goats and sheep to make textiles from the hair and wool of their flocks. These bags and rugs are sold and make great gifts while representing a way for traditional handicrafts to help sustain the Bedouin culture.

The impact your group has on Adel and Saleh’s families is real. In some cases it’s the difference between children in Sinai going without meat for one or two weeks at a time. In Cairo, many guests bring backpacks for school children or gently used laptops for young students. My reward? Getting to be the conduit, the go-between, facilitating your first steps as you learn to Walk Like An Egyptian.

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Spotlight on the World’s Best Oyster Bars

By on June 10, 2012

by Julie Q, oyster aficionado and Vayable guide. Check out her oyster blog at inahalfshell.com

A couple of years ago I had the very good fortune of traveling around the world for business. When the working day was done, I’d set out on my own to find the best oyster or seafood joints that I could find. Sure enough, I came across a handful that are worth sharing with you.

LONDON – Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill (http://www.bentleys.org)

I experienced some of the most flavorful and potent Flats (aka Belons) and Pacific oysters at Bentley’s. Jersey Coast’s are delightful (and they’re from Jersey island near Northern France, NOT Snooki’s Jersey Shore). Perch yourself at the bar and consult the shucker. He won’t steer you wrong with oyster and wine pairings.

Tip: On the menu, “Native” means they are wild (more expensive). “Rock” means farmed. They are sorted and priced by size, with the smaller numbers being larger (No. 1 and 2′s are perfect for a large oyster lover).

BRUSSELS – Belga Queen (http://www.belgaqueen.be)

With a large selection of oysters from Europe, Asia and America, Belga Queen excels in offerings and ambiance. The decor is opulent and chic, perfect for a leisurely evening with your favorite bon vivant friend. They primarily serve French oysters (loved the Fine de Clairs and Speciales Vertes) but also a few Dutch gems. If you have the budget, order a couple of each.

Tip: True to French style, the oysters will arrive still attached to the bottom shell. So before you try to sexily slurp it down, discretely detach it with your oyster fork before knocking it back.

HONG KONG – Oyster Station (http://www.oysterstation.com.hk)

This intimate seafood shack is made up of a small, festive bar and a couple of tables. The entire venue can only hold about a dozen people, max. The menu is worth the wait though — oysters are flown in regularly from Europe, Australia, and even South Africa! Must try’s are the Special Gillardeau, Namibia, and Tasmania (one of my favorites of all time).

Tip: Call ahead and ask about the specials. Some items must be pre-ordered. They usually have an amazing selection of fresh sea urchin, clams, and crab.

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