What's Dave Doing?» Advice archives | whatsdavedoing.com – living the travel dream

La Tomatina. Anyone for ketchup?

Dave — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:43:34 +0000

Forty thousand revellers. One hundred and fifty thousand tomatoes. Thirty five degrees Celsius. Uncountable amounts of sangria. One small town. A recipe for one hell of a good party.

Making the most of the temples of Angkor

Dave — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 07:58:08 +0000

Angkor Wat. Even the name conjures up a sense of wonder and mystery, an appreciation of both the incredible feats of mankind over the millennia and the inexorable power of nature in equal measure. Or maybe that’s just me. In any case it would be fair to say that I was rather looking forward to my time at the vast Angkorian temple complex near Siem Reap in Cambodia, albeit tinged with a slight concern that perhaps it wouldn’t live up to the picture already formed in my overhyped imagination. I needn’t have worried. If your first view of the towers of the main attraction, the smiling faces of Bayon or the encroaching jungle at Ta Prohm don’t leave an indelible impression on your consciousness, I’d suggest double-checking for a pulse. It really is that sort of place, and one that you owe it to yourself to visit at least once during your lifetime. Here’s a few things I figured out while I was there to help you make the most of your time in this unbelievable part of the world.

Finding my new pack

Dave — Mon, 17 May 2010 04:01:22 +0000

How many packs are too many? For many years I’ve laughed at a good friend of mine who seemed to have more backpacks than he did pairs of underwear. As I stood and gazed upon the contents of my wardrobe a few days ago however, I came to the realisation that I’m not much better. There seemed to be luggage for every occasion, from the super small black bag that fitted only a bottle of water and a city guide, to the stained and dirty blue suitcase that carted most of my stuff home from the UK several years ago. Several day packs of different shapes and sizes, plus the 90 litre behemoth that accompanied me on my last round the world trip. In this apartment, I swear half of my storage space has been taken up by storage space. Obviously, therefore, it was time to go pack shopping...

Anything but the airport

Dave — Sun, 09 May 2010 12:50:04 +0000

Gather round, children, and let your Uncle Dave tell you a story about the good old days of air travel. This story starts back in the foggy mists of time. Back before Michael Jackson died and Britney lost the plot. Before Enron went bust and commuters started sprouting white earphones. Before Bush stole the presidency and Gore became the Climate Crusader. Yes, that’s right, I’m talking about those mystical decades known as the late 20th century. Now I know you’re not going to believe this, but back in those halcyon days air travel was actually quite exciting and going to the airport was almost fun. The security lines didn’t take two hours to get through, and you didn’t have to take your shoes off and stand there like a naughty toddler while you waited. Klaxons didn’t go off if you had a bottle of water in your hand luggage. You didn’t get to star in your own soft porn film as you walked through full body scanners. There was even a chance that some goon from the TSA wasn’t going to rifle through your bags and pick out the best stuff to sell on eBay.

50 handy hints for the first time traveller

Dave — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 03:50:16 +0000

About to head off and see the world but feeling a bit daunted by the whole thing? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. The great thing is that it really doesn’t have to be that hard – a little knowledge goes a long way. Here’s a few useful tips that I wish I’d known before I went travelling for the first time.

Five awesome things to do in Paris

Dave — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 03:04:33 +0000

My five awesome things to do in Paris, that may involve getting drunk, being solicited and breaking traffic laws. Amongst other things.

Six things to consider when buying your first backpack

Dave — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:37:08 +0000

When it comes to travelling for the first time, other than maybe buying a plane ticket I reckon there’s nothing that tells you that you’re really ‘doing it’ more than going into the store and buying your backpack. Striding up to the counter, credit card in hand and a big smile on your face, proudly telling the poor shop assistant exactly what it is that you plan to do with your new purchase. “Oh, I’ll be carrying this for six months around Europe”, you happen to slip into the conversation. “I hope this is big enough to fit in everything I need for my round the world trip”, you proudly proclaim. As with all important purchases, however, it’s vital to pick the right option. Especially when that option is going to be sitting on your back with all of your possessions in it for the next several weeks, months or years. Getting it wrong will almost certainly result in frustration and unnecessary expense, limit your options and probably provide you with a visit to the chiropractor to boot. Here’s a few pointers that I’ve come up with over the years that I wish I’d known when hitting the travel stores for the first time.

Safety in numbers – pros & cons of organised tours

Dave — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:13:43 +0000

If you’re looking to start a good argument in any hostel bar, discussing the pros and cons of organised group tours would be a great place to start. Some people love them, some people hate them and nearly every traveller seems to have an opinion on them.

Travelling light, and how I haven’t managed it

Dave — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 02:15:33 +0000

My old pack had finally given up the ghost after a decade of being dragged around the world, and as I laid my shiny new one on the bed to fill it up with the 'essentials' it suddenly occurred to me how just how much I was putting in. That third pair of trousers. Half a dozen travel guides and other books. A toiletries bag so full that I had to put a few items in a plastic bag. Here was me, supposedly an experienced traveller, fighting with the zips on my backpack. Every item had a perfectly good justification for why it was included – but unless I also planned to pack a donkey to carry it all for me, I just couldn't take it all. And yet I still tried.

Goodbye stuff, hello world

Dave — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 01:39:36 +0000

I've been asked many times over the years why it is that I am able to travel and move countries as much as I do, and the answer invariably comes down to one simple fact. I don't accumulate stuff. Keeping my life free of unnecessary junk – and being happy to dispose of what little there is – provides the mental and physical freedom to drop everything and travel on a whim.