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All creatures great and small
Creatively indulging the travel urge Kelsey KLASSEN, Contributor
W
ith the recent spell of sunshine, it looks like the winter-that-wouldn’t-end has finally lost its will to live. Golf clubs and hiking boots, boat trailers and tent bags are being dusted off all over the Lower Mainland, but when the weather once again turns – and it will – you’d be forgiven for reaching for the first all-inclusive trip out of here. But is that still the first option you should turn to? The flagging economy hasn’t drained the creativity of people who keep things moving in new directions, so it depends what type of traveller you are. 1) You know what WWOOFing is. Working organic farm-stays and garden camping are adventurously simple solutions for a cash-strapped sojourner. If you are at home in the muck, meeting new people and living in their backyards, even working while you travel, you can see the world. (Campinmygarden.com, WWOOF.ca) 2) You’ve been alive for at least three decades, but still have things to see. When the backpacking grows old, the creative get flashpacking – a neologism that refers to the “disposably incomed” backpacker. Trading in your 75-litre pack for a suitcase with wheels
doesn’t mean you’ve outgrown budget travel, but the novelty of top bunk wears off for many by the time they hit 30. Gravitating towards cheap hotels or private rooms at hostels, and packing clothes that you could be seen wearing in your hometown supermarket are the mark of a flashpacker. 3) You’re more likely to be going on your first cruise than your first trip to Europe. With word of mouth still being the most effective way of guaranteeing a good time, crowd-sourcing vacation tips from your social networks and local travel agents is putting the human back in holiday. Nothing is worse than investing five-star dollars in a subpar experience. The overwhelming amount of information found online can be unreliable and is often easily boiled down by experienced travellers to the good, the bad and the “it will be funny one day.” 4) You’re a woman. The comfort and security of women’s-only has been popular in the fitness industry for decades, but it is now dipping a painted toe into the travel sector. Floors exclusively for women are becoming popular. The 10th floor of the Georgian Court in Vancouver is a local example, with 18 rooms set aside containing amenities such as curling irons, blow dryers, nail polish and yoga mats.
5) Airline workers greet you by name. The American Transportation Security Administration is partnering with private enterprise to change the face of travel. Security lanes for pre-screened passengers are already opened in Florida and Denver, and the pilot program will expand by May to San Francisco and Fort Worth. All together, 25 major airports are tapped to have Clear Lanes, which arguably eases overall congestion at security checkpoints while raising money and providing a service for time-pressed business travellers who are willing to choose convenience over cash ($179 per year). If iris scanners and fingerprint biometrics don’t sound freakishly futuristic, than you can soon be a trusted traveller, and all that time in the air means you’d probably be excited to see a new airport. Myanmar, Ukraine, Jordan, Uganda and Denmark are making names for themselves in 2012 – or you could be really farsighted and visit Russia before the 2014 Olympics defibrillates their struggling tourism industry. No matter what your budget or lifestyle, the annual trip is often the only thing that provides enough watercooler chit-chat and evenly tanned Facebook photos to get the West Coaster through to the summer, so don’t be afraid to do it differently.
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22 years of serving g fine Indian cuisine
Shiva Restaurant & Sweets shivasweets.com
| 32131 Marshall Road, Abbotsford (Opposite Best Western Regency) | 604.850.2399
Introducing our new & delicious
BUFFET $10.99
+ HST
Monday - Friday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm • Sunday 5 pm - 8 pm
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DINE IN OR TAKE OUT With this ad, one per table.
OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK Mon-Thur 11.30am-2.30pm Fri 10am-10pm Sat 11am-10pm Sun 11am-9pm We can accommodate parties up to 50 people for that special occasion.
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