I own six pairs of shoes:

My brown, knee-high boots;
My silver, sparkle stilettos;
My black, ballet flats;
My white, tennis shoes;
My beige, flip-flops;
And, my bathrobe slippers courtesy of the Shangri-La Hotels.

I own three purses and a backpack:

A Gucci hobo; A Coach tote; and A Luis mini.

I travel with my family:

A Viao laptop, Casio camera, quad-band Razor, and a Nano-Ipod….all of whom are personalized and adorned in Pink.

I own the little black dress, the perfect-fit jeans and the essential-white shirt.

I own one gold necklace. My name collection (gold pendants with my name written in other dialects) along with my other pieces were stolen during the hostage incident last July.

Altogether, they fit in my 25-kilo, black, duffel with wheels; a luggage piece often locked and guarded with my own life. After all, its contents makeup my only material assets. I do have some other items dispersed worldwide (a piano and some dresses in Chicago, a guitar and former-engagement ring in Manila, books in Arizona, my tennis racket and hiking-shoes in West Africa); otherwise, I am left with my body to keep fit, sense of humour to laugh about, and a contagious smile to spread.

I was at a party last month in Amsterdam, whereby a gentleman asked me “What is your life about?” Great question to ask, I thought. At first, I speculated the root of the question. Did he mean to ask something else but could not phrase the question properly? Was he drunk and being facetiously philosophical? Or, was he just candidly curious about his best friend’s date? With him, I could smell his wealth and sense his authenticity; therefore, leaving me to respond candidly without regard to impression.

I answered, “Well… I like to travel, I like adventures — the real remote or un-remote adventures people don’t normally see, hear, or read about. At the same time, I like this….”

I held my champagne glass up, turned my head to scan the mod environment around me and shrugged. He smiled in admiration, nodded his head, and placed his arm around my shoulders.

“So,” he replied. “You are a woman who lives the life of adventure, and who lives the life of luxury. I can’t do that, I enjoy my luxury too much.”

An honest and respectable statement to make, I thought. My date approached us and smiled at our comaderie. My date is a gorgeous man, five years older than me. He is mature enough to have a refined taste in lifestyle, yet fuelled by that fresh youthful and relentless drive in rough adventure. He seemed pleased that his friend approved of me, a woman who he first met covered with mud in the Cameroonian-Equatorial Guinea Sea border. He invited me to be his date at this party, which I accepted after much hesitancy. Consequently, having not been on a date for a while due to all my other adventure escapades, most recently in the Arctic Circle, I acquired the pre-date jitters. I actually started to lose confidence in that little black dress and stilettos outfit worn in Paris, Florence, L.A., and wherever-else. Frustrated by my own insecurities, I looked at the mirror and instructed myself to step-up (in other words, emphasize) the personality tonight—not appearance.

There can never be the perfect outfit for an impressionable occasion. In the end, I have only the smile, the wit, and the laugh to energize. Together they comprise what I call, “The best fashions when charming the raw or the refined parts of our crazy, crazy globe. “

Old but Experienced? Legendary Durability?

Surprising, I know. Even more surprising is that I have two of the exact same kind! I have always wanted the sleek- looking, hard-covered suitcase, but the one thing that has held me back, other than its expensive price-tag, is that I am outright scared! I am scared that the sleekness would damage easily or that someone may steal it.

One massive con about my 3 year old suitcase — or rather — duffel bag on wheels, is its inconvenience when packing. As organized as my pre-packing is, un-packing is a nightmare… as if someone had ruffled through my garments. Furthermore, the material is ripped and worn… I guess its time for a new one!

Over the weekend I went shopping with a few friends, one of whom needed a suitcase since she had bought too much (ever had that happen to you before?). We fell in love with a particular suitcase that was also on sale. She bought two. Okay, I didn’t think she had shopped *that* much but perhaps her partner did too. As it turned out, she had bought the other as a present for me!

Out with the Old and In with the New!

Thank you dear friend for bringing style back to adventure! Now, let’s test its legendary durability

As a traveller, it is an outright duty to taste the food of the local culture – for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Having said that, there are three types of “eating styles” for travellers. And identifying which one you are will help you determine how to maintain your best and healthiest figure.

Type A, “Ms. Picky” One who eats nothing! She is the most selective of the selective, the type who would even question a croissant! (Seriously, who questions a croissant in Paris these days…?)

Cons: Will lead to crankiness — because as women, we all know what lack of food does to us, fatigue — it’s just obvious, furthermore unpleasant among peers (most guys secretly frown upon women who can’t appreciate food, in fact that’s most people in general).

Pro: Maybe you will lose that 5lbs you’ve been dreaming of? But then again, is the suffering really worth it?

Suggestions: Start with breakfast. Breakfast is the closest and most universal meal out there consisting generally of bread or grain-based ingredients. Remember to bring vitamin tablets and energy bars for your trip so that you can at least get by healthily during the day.

Breakfast at 4am, 2500m along Mt. Cameroon. Oatmeal saved the day! (I know, perhaps the most unglamorous picture of myself )

After not eating for 48 hours, I succumbed to breakfast in Mongolia, better yet I found a place that serves latte! It was one of the most savory moments of my life to this day!

Type B, “Ms. Piggy” One who eats EVERYTHING

Cons: Will lead to overweight and upset tummy. As much as I love devouring food, particularly in exotic restaurants with 3-4 course menus, I always find myself at the end of the night, laying like a vegetable on my hotel bed or within a short distance of a toilet.

Pro: You can return home and tell people how you confidently know the country’s gastronomy like the back of your hand, and people will definitely NOT question you

Suggestions: Eat slowly, as it will help you to digest. Follow the meal with exercise, whether going for a long walk after the meal or the next day. As groggy as you may feel the following morning, start it off with exercise. Encourage your peers to join you for a walk, a run, or an activity.

Me being Ms. Piggy in Lugano, Switzerland... for good reason!

Type C, “Ms. Practical” One who eats in moderation, picks, tastes and enjoys with no regrets.

Cons: If you are Ms. Practical and are travelling with Ms. Picky, you may receive resent from her for being totally awesome. You may be laughed at for trying a random snail or some unidentifiable meat, but it won’t be like Ms. Piggy who ate at least 4 snails before realizing they were actually snails.

Pros: Everyone adores you for trying! The chef, your peers, your stomach, your mind!

Suggestions: While there isn’t much to suggest, I do caution you to research the countries’ cultural norms. Is it okay to not finish your plate? Must you accept an offer when given? When is it okay to say no – or what excuses can you make for not accepting the offer?

Enjoying my time in Tunisia with good company.

The lesson? Define who you are, then indulge yourself.
xoxo k

Still, I shamelessly admit of a weight factor I still cannot resist — and that is my own body weight!

In a recent trip to visit my 50-or-so family members in Toronto, a new challenged re-emerged: How to NOT gain weight.

Visiting family has its challenges: In one way, they welcome you with open arms and want you (the “one” who is always out and about) to feel at home, in another — they perform a full body and brain scan of you in the first few minutes.

My grandmother gave me the biggest hug of my life upon sight! But then while hugging me — started smacking my bum! Taken by the discomfort of it all, I asked her “Lola, why are you smacking my bum?!”

She replied “What bum? You have none left! You’re so thin, you must be hungry!”

And thus, the challenge began — and within a few minutes I lost the challenge.

Looking back, and well, the present moment as I look at my thighs, I think about the factors that contributed to my added weight:

1. I love and fully respect food. But, in an effort to maintain discipline, I don’t keep stock of it, and instead grocery shop daily for fresh goods.

Correct me if I’m wrong but, when you visit family members, why are their fridge/farm/garden/2nd fridge/cupboards LOADED!?

2. I don’t exercise while with family, but anywhere else in the world, yes!

3. Conversations with my grandmother normally go like this:

Grandmother: “Kaye, do you want to eat?”

me: “No, I’m not hungry.”

Grandmother: “Ok! I’ll make you a sandwich.”

These are the three reasons why, when it comes to the weight factor, I failed!

Please, anyone, care to share your thoughts? Advice on how NOT to fail?

xoxo k

Some airports nowadays are designed like Mega-Shopping Malls. The shops are the highest source of revenue for most airports, exceeding the food chains. Take for instance, Hong Kong and Seoul: Who would’ve thought that crossing from one gate to another would entail passing by a Gucci, Feraggamo, Coach, Special Wines and Liquors Shop, and a bookstore?

So, exactly when is Duty Free your Friend or your Foe?

Friend when…

1. You forgot to buy last minute souveniers to bring back to loved ones back home.
2. You live in parts of West Africa where decent chocolates, wines and liquors are ridiculously expensive, even on the black market.
3. You need basic assistance for your broken nail, shoe, blister, or shirt stain etc,.
4. You would like reading material.

Foe when…

1. You know you’ve overpacked and yet you still lure yourself to find random little “necessities” i.e. magazines, a bottle of wine, Bobby Brown’s latest eye-pallete…
2. You’re bored, and you’ve pledged to travel on a budget.
3. You know that your next destination is known for shopping… yet you find a reason to shop at an airport!

I invite readers to contribute their thoughts and stories on when Duty Free is their friend or their foe!

xoxo k

Officer: What countries did you visit in this last trip?

Me: UK, Italy and Switzerland

Officer: And your purpose of travel was?

Me: Ummm… ::Recollecting what I had actually done::::

Him: Let me guess, you partied in the UK, shopped in Italy, and ate chocolate in Switzerland.

Me: :::Contemplative Pause::: Actually, Yes!!!

Him: Cool. Welcome back home.

Genius! I thought. Had I decided my purpose of travelling beforehand, I would have packed and prepared myself a lot better than in I did reality. The fact is, had I been asked what my purpose of travel was prior to the trip, I would have simply replied, “To visit friends, and to see Europe!”

When about to embark on a trip, take the five minutes to ask yourself the following (assuming that you know where you’re travelling to):

- What is your purpose for travelling?

Are you going for an outdoor adventure? Romantic getaway?
One month escape? Ladies’ weekend? Business meeting? Family visit? Wedding? A purpose almost always exists. For the record, knowing that you don’t have any purpose of travel is OKAY — so long as you refrain from telling a border officer that.

- What would you like to do at the destination(s)?

Would you like to immerse yourself in the local culture? Are you in desperate need of R&R (or the opposite)?  Inspiration from Art-shows? Indulging in food and wine tastings?  Shopping-and-only-Shopping? To party? Or to meet the foreign man of your dreams for the present moment?

- What is the weather like this time of the year?

I cannot stress the importance of this question. People rarely take the time to check the weather, but for our style-conscious woman’s sake… it matters. After all, there is nothing worse than arriving in NYC in the middle of a rainstorm in open-toed stilettos, a pencil skirt and a crisp white dress shirt SANS umbrella or raincoat. Any NY trotter would agree that even the 10 second walk across the street is more than enough to get drenched.

- When are you travelling?

Any frequent traveller would agree: Not knowing or not remembering the day, date, and expected time of departure could lead to expensive consequences. As style conscious women, we take the time to look our best on a date. As travellers, why not take the time to logistically sort ourselves out? After all, being late for a date will at most require an apology and reason. On the other hand, being late for a flight will in the very minimum, require a credit-card.

Whether travelling to New York City, or some remote location in the desert, for business or pleasure, whatever your purpose, remember to give yourself allowances: Allowances for time, for money, and of course, for pleasure. This blog and eventual book hopes to bring organization to its reader, with the goal of enlightening her on how to make the best out of her purpose for travel.

xoxo k

What is YOUR purpose of travelling?

Effective Memo for an Over-Enthusiastic Group of Ladies!

In other words, the clearly defined theme for this weekend is partying.

For efficiency reasons, I asked them to bring their own electronic equipment with an adaptor. Assuming that each lady spends on average 25 minutes on both a hair dryer/straightener/curler combo … that’s over 2 hours of hair time if we only had 1 set of equipment!

For health and safety reasons, I asked them to bring a comfy pair of PJs. Ladies’ weekend is intended to be memorable, not painful:

Which of the two will wake up the next morning feeling more human? P.S. She's wearing a DVF dress!

Understanding the theme for the weekend, the ladies did an excellent job of packing under 20 kg, bringing:

• Functioning Suitcases (there will be an entry on what is defined as ‘Functioning’)
• 4 dresses – (therefore, 2 choices per night)
• 1 Pair of Jeans/Pants/Leggings each
• Electronics + Adaptors
• Beauty Bag
• 2 tops
• Stilletto Pumps
• 1 pair of comfy pajamas

But what impressed me the most was their added concept: “No Coats, No Flats, Just Taxis.” Before jumping to any conclusions about its absurdity, let me breakdown the calculation of this, what I consider, ingenious concept.

Consider the following facts:

1. No touristic woman of their right and proper mind would dare to ever bike in a short dress, let alone rent one in Amsterdam. It’s an accident waiting to happen, and when combined with alcoholic drinks, it’s suicide.

2. Amsterdam population is TALL compared to my petite figured friends — Stunning Stillettos are a must-have!

3. Public transportation cost 2.60 Euros/per person where as a taxi ride is 7.50 Euros for the first 2km. Seeing that there are 5 of us, the cost of a taxi ride is cheaper, and more comfortable than a tram!

And as for coats? “Coats just add excess weight to our luggage, and besides, it’s only September.”

When it comes to packing for an optimal Ladies’ Weekend Getaway, first and foremost define your theme, check the weather, and take the time to plan smartly.

Great job ladies! You managed to pack light, calculate right, and keep your wallets tight!

Ladies' Weekend in Amsterdam

"Backpacking" in Europe

“This is what you consider ‘Backpacking’ in Europe?!…Have you not learnt anything about travelling?!” — asked by the same individual responsible for my upbringing in 3 continents, not to mention, introduction to my first 16 countries.

“Dad! Its fashion week in Milan!”

“Fashion-who?” He asked. I gave up, it was a lost cause, and he was undoubtedly correct.

My reasoning behind my the over-packing back then:

1. It was Fashion Week in Milan – must dress to impress!

2. My then-boyfriend contributed to the weight of the bulk (i.e. the backpack), but he was moving to India.

3. I just lost 20 lbs of body weight that I gained over the 4 gruesome University years. Did I want to celebrate the Math diploma, the weight-loss and the first independent trip across the Atlantic to the max? Indeed!

Instead, I suffered the following consequences of my over-enthusiasm and packing:

1. Few near-death experiences –  almost got run over a few times by Vespas, Tuk-Tuks, Ferraris, what have you, as I dragged my luggage through the streets if Milan and Florence.

2. Few near-accidental experiences — never will I wear heels while trying to carry luggage that is more than my body weight.

3. Sprained arm muscles, did I really have to bring an extra hair-dryer?

4. xxx $ bill paid to British Airways for excess luggage — and yes, that’s a 3 digit number, in dollars, which obviously a fresh-grad couldn’t afford.

3 years and 40 countries later, I’m proud to say that my travel acumen has improved drastically. Well, at least I think I do. Some friends often reference me as the “Globe-trotter”, “Jet-Setter”, “Ms. Global Citizen”, and most recently, “The Crazy Mongolian Woman” (even though I’m not Mongolian — but I just came back from there). Inspired by all my experiences (I cannot stress the word “All” any further) to date, and my interest in sharing some of that fun (And sometimes painfully) learnt knowledge, I’ve decided to blog and write a book. Hence, the birth of my blog, “How 2 Travel”: Must-know, tips for the style-conscious, 20-something, Over-Enthusiastic Woman.

My first tip to women debuting on the jet-set scene: Pack Lightly.

xoxo k