A Life of Travel: I'm Off to South Africa...and an Airline Luggage Conspiracy?
Derek Baron
August 20, 2024
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It's Tuesday and it's time for a travel newsletter...
update
Well, 12 days ago I flew from Vietnam to the US in order to visit family. And it’s been a great visit with both my mom and my sister. But now, on Thursday, off I go again!
This time I’m headed to South Africa for one of my Wandering Earl Tours down there in that beautiful country. I’ll be in South Africa for a little over 2 weeks before heading off for even more adventures in another part of the world. More details about that trip coming soon.
As if it wasn’t evident enough that I live a nomadic lifestyle, another very clear sign appeared not too long ago.
When I booked a certain flight a couple of weeks back, the randomly-generated booking reference code appeared as…
No joke. What’s the chances of that happening?
Anyway, I ended up canceling that flight after finding a better deal with another airline, but still. If I believed in such signs, I would get the impression that I’ll never be able to shake this nomad life!
*Note: This might actually be the case :)
—
Back to South Africa…I’ll fly straight to Cape Town and once the group is all there, we’ll spend our time visiting the Cape Peninsula, the wine regions, the Garden Route, Durban, St. Lucia and its surrounding parks and then a game reserve for three days of safaris.
I can’t wait to be back there!
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During this visit to the US, I purchased a few items that are useful for my travels:
Travel iron - This is the one piece of travel gear that I always carry, and that people are surprised by. I’ve mentioned it before - when living out of a suitcase for 20+ years, having ironed clothes makes me feel a little more civilized. And after 6 years, my old travel iron was on its last legs, so I needed a new one.
Onno T-Shirts - These bamboo/cotton t-shirts are now my favorites. They’re lightweight, soft and comfortable, sustainably produced and come in a variety of great colors. And they are reasonably priced considering the quality.
Suitcase cover - I go through these very quickly. With a normal amount of travel, I’d imagine these protective covers would last a long time. But with my travels, I get about 3-4 months out of each one. I still use them because they keep my suitcase in good condition!
purchasing your own transportation
I’ve never done it…but I know many travelers who have.
A friend is about to purchase a used 4×4 jeep in Namibia to travel around the country for a month. He then plans to sell it before he leaves.
Several travelers I know purchased scooters in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and then spent time driving up the country. When they finished their trip, they sold the scooters in Hanoi.
It’s common for adventurous travelers to purchase a Royal Enfield motorcycle in India, travel all around the country, and then sell it before departure.
Of course, you can find examples of this in many, many countries. People buy cars, trucks, scooters, bicycles and even boats because, depending on the resale value, it can work out to be a better deal than traveling around with regular transportation.
Even if it’s not a better deal, the flexibility you have with your own vehicle can make a huge difference, not to mention all of the people you meet in the places where travelers don’t generally go!
I’m curious - have you ever purchased a mode of transport during your travels and then sold it at the end of your trip? How did it go?
airline luggage conspiracy?
Thanks to reader Mark F, I learned about a potential luggage situation that travelers should be on the lookout for!
Mark went to check in for a flight in the US and his checked bag was 3 lbs over the weight limit. He then got out of the line in order to sort it out. But then he tried to check in at another counter and his bag was now 3.5 lbs less than the limit. He asked a couple of TSA agents and they told him that the airlines sometimes over calibrate the scales so they can charge people the fee.
So, if you are about to be charged for your luggage being over the weight limit, be sure to check the other scales before you pay because you might not be over the weight limit after all!
around the globe
All You Can Fly
The budget airline Wizz Air now offers a 1 Year “All You Can Fly Pass”. Naturally, there are restrictions and you need to choose one origin country, but it can work out to as little as 60 Euros per flight.
Eating at the Edge of the World
When dining in the Arctic Circle, where all ingredients need to be shipped or flown in, you certainly should expect a most creative cuisine.
New Heritage Sites
Here are the 24 new UNESCO World Heritage Sites that were added to the list last month!
Tourism Ethics
The United Nations World Tourism Organization has a code of ethics for tourism, with 10 Articles that cover the economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects of travel. (It’s a dense read, but quite interesting.)
Khara-Khoto
In the extremely remote Gobi Desert, one can find the sand-covered ancient city of Khara-Khoto. Over 1000 years old, it was once a bustling metropolis but was left in ruins following several attacks around 700 years ago.
North Korea Tourism
After 5 years of closed borders, North Korea will begin opening up to tourism once again. Starting in December, tourists will be able to join the controversial organized tours that are required for visitors.
The Abandoned
For some reason, abandoned locations around the world remain on my radar. This video highlights 15 abandoned towns and cities that abandoned building aficionados could visit!
Flag Match
This game is simple - can you guess the country by simply looking at a flag?
where in the world?
A big congratulations to Kathy, Mary, Rafael, Annie, Steve, Suggie and Suzanne for correctly guessing the location of the photo in the last newsletter!
The photo is of the Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, a beautiful and peaceful Zen Buddhist Temple built in 1202.
This week’s photo:
It’s time to guess…where was the below photo taken?
If you have a guess (the more specific the better), click reply and let me know. Anyone who guesses correctly will be mentioned in next week's newsletter 😄
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Thank you so much for reading!
Derek
(my middle name is Earl)
Travel Insurance: My personal recommendation for affordable and reliable travel insurance is Safety Wing. It was created by travelers, for travelers, and it's rapid growth in popularity is well-deserved.
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