A month in Italia- Venice

From Venice to Sicily... with my family then solooo... Here we go! 

It has been a while since I have blogged about my adventures as I have been on the road constantly and  have found that my 'downtime' has been spent organising my next moves instead of reflecting upon and sharing my experiences.
The two halves of last May/ June were extremely different in that the first half was spent on a completely planned tour of mainland Italy (and some of Switzerland) with my mother and sister. All our accommodation was booked earlier in the year (generally through airb'n'b and booking.com) and each day was somewhat planned in advance so there was not much room for spontaneity as far as locations were concerned- we had a schedule and we had to stick to it!
We also hired a car... Australians, driving in Italy. Culture shock you ask? Yes. Italian drivers are crazy. Italian roads around the coastline and countryside are especially crazy; extremely narrow roads, incredible cliff drops... lots of manoeuvring and waiting in turn to get through... Very different from our driving experiences back home! My Mum recovered after a flat tyre within the first 2 hours of getting the hire car- (note: there was no spare tyre provided & it took us hours to get sorted because it was a Saturday afternoon- make sure you hire a car with a spare tyre!) and managed to survive the insane roads in Sorrento and Positano on the Amalfi Coast.
There are so many perks to having your own wheels in a country like Italy. But do keep in mind if you drive on the left like we do in Australia, it might be wise to try in a country other than Italy for your first time ;)

First stop:

My Feathered feet in Venice 

We stayed in the region of Castello (near the stop 'Giardini') and it was absolutely a dream. Typical venetian neighbourhood and a healthy distance from the super touristic areas near the Grand Canal- a more authentic experience with big plazas, beautiful nearby gardens and cheaper food. When we tried ordering gelato in English there, the guy said "Italiano Italiano!", we still managed :)

The Grand Canal

Walking around in Venice feels surreal, like you have stepped into a movie set. I really loved it and found it one of the most photogenic places I have ever been- both during day and night!

Highlights: Getting lost and asking some locals how to get to somewhere more familiar and these locals happened to be in the church and the Priest of Saint Mark's Basilica escorted us back to square where he said "That... my church" Wuhh! / Getting free lemoncello & other delicious assorted shots in a lovely restaurant for my sisters birthday after the entire restaurant sang to her in Engtalian / Watching gondolas pass by with an accordion serenade / Picturesque sunsets by the canal / Finding new and interesting alleys and nooks all over town / The Gelato. 



The Gelato...  

Proposing to my sister on our Gondola ride... Why not ;) 

Next blog entry My Feathered Feet take you to Tuscany~

What we learn from others- A reflective piece.

From my experience, most of the people who venture into the unknown are usually searching for something, whether it be subconscious or completely known to them. It is a common idea that travelling will ignite inspiration, spiritual awareness, wisdom and or knowledge... Or just satisfy ones curiosity of the world- 'On the Road' by Kerouac says it all. We who have this 'travel bug' desire to be immersed in completely new environments, with alternative ways of living, differing cultures and traditions and the simple stimulation that new sounds, tastes, sights and smells can bring. What we observe and gain from these experiences is often acquired on a deeper level and only upon reflection, can we see what we learn from our journeying. 

For personal development, I believe, travel it is highly valuable. Anyone who has been faced the challenge of a language barrier or cultural misunderstanding will (hopefully) experience some kind of growth from that process... And getting comfortable the idea of 'uncertainty' is generally a positively zen thing as the concept never leaves us in life. Life will always be unpredictable so why not grab it by the reins and take it for a ride- to the other side of the world- where you don't know anyone or anything. Learn. 

Something I recently learnt from a new friend has been invaluable to me in my growing process living here in Switzerland. Through a Couchsurfing forum, I made friends with Swiss born-and-bred local who has been studying English so he can move to America for work. Once or twice a week we meet for language exchange where he teaches me basic german phrases and pronunciation and I converse with him in English about anything- what we have been doing, what we enjoy etc. But this week it got deep. We had a meaningful conversation about people in our lives and our relationships. When I told him a story of someone who was not willing to forgive me, he used one word that completely made me view the situation in another light. This non-native English speaker, somehow, in the translating process that goes on in his head said- 

"If it were me, and that person were not willing to forgive me, then they are of no value to me". 

Now, the semantics of this one word value, used in this context unveiled a truth to me that I hadn't seen. I'd been so concerned with trying to make amends with my friend by asking for forgiveness, I had forgotten about forgiving myself and the importance of my own happiness. Instead of seeing that this person does not value me enough to forgive me, then ultimately, they should be of no value to me (for my growth and my happiness). We all make mistakes and even if we make them repeatedly, we are all just here trying to learn... People who value us forgive this. My intercultural mini-epiphany :)

Answers always come and they come in strange forms. This one conversation with my Swiss friend not only reminded me of how interesting communication is between natives and non-native speakers of a language, but also the bigger picture. So don't underestimate what someone can teach you, even if the communication isn't fluent... Have patience on your journey, don't expect everything to be smooth sailing, or that you will reach enlightenment or have any crazily good romantic scenarios. Nothing is perfect and everything changes. How bored would we get if it didn't? 

Moving to a new city...

I have been living in Basel, Switzerland for only a week and already I have begun to create a network of friends in a place I once knew nothing about and had no ties to. 

My process was to #hit up everyone I know through social networking (Facebook)- asking for local hookups in Basel. There were about 4 people with friends living in Basel and beyond that they could link me up with. So far, I have only met one but the others are coming...

The next approach I used was #CouchSurfing.org- by posting about my arrival, what I need (apartment) and am looking for (musician meetings) and what I will be doing living in Basel (studying). I was surprised and slightly overwhelmed with the response I received from locals, other expats and travellers from Basel and the nearby towns. 

On here I also joined a group for a #tandem or language exchange where I met a lovely Basel-born-and-bread man for coffee. I gave him the chance to practice English and he took me through the basics of German pronunciation. Coz lets face it, I am going to need all the help I can get learning German!

My new #housemates have also made me feel welcome and have eased me into the new Swiss life by taking me to IKEA (of course) and various bars and venues around the town. I have also met a few of their friends and next week we are having a fondue night in our apartment! 

Because I am studying here in Basel, I have the advantage of #University life, sports and activities which I can get involved in to continue building up a network and alas, avoid homesickness. 

Also, the #University website has a forum, more like a community page, open to everyone and posts about everything- from things for sale, rentals, events, music groups and free giveaways! Definitely something to look into if you are moving to a new city!

So far the transition to Swiss life has been fairly comfortable and full of chocolate consumption. I am not even kidding... Like everyday... Another block bites the dust! 

Adjusting to a new climate!

So many people were worried about me when I told them I was going to be leaving the sunny, warm and consistent Australian climate for the more extreme conditions of a European winter. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a reptile who enjoys nothing more than recharging in a sunny spot outside. My own mother says I have "frog feet" so she was probably the most concerned...

But I must say, the transition from Gold Coast summer to Berlin winter has not been too dreadful. Which fills me with the confidence to say that if I can tolerate (and even somewhat enjoy) the minus temperatures, anyone can!

Of course, there are many ways in which I've made this change easier to endure... and it is all in the attire! 

When it comes to clothes, one must research to get the best quality products and know what those products should be. Choose your fabrics wisely! Wool is the best option for the cold. In fact, 100% marino wool tends to be the most effective thermal wear. I am trying the 'icebreaker' thermals and have found they do not itch or hold much smell, which is great when your clothes take longer to dry in the cold :)

Only purchase what you really need and then buy more suitable and 'appropriately built' items when you arrive. You don't want to accumulate clothes and objects that are of no use to you in the new conditions. NOTE: interiors are warm. My friends who live here are comfortable wearing t-shirts inside because of the heating. I find myself constantly de-layer-ing when I enter a venue- which can get a little annoying when you have worn so many things. So...

Have a layering system!
On the top half starting from a singlet (in case you need to get rid of that many layers). Wear thin, long sleeved thermals over the top, a shirt on top of that, a cardigan or a hoodie and then your outside jacket for the walk. It sounds extreme, but almost every time I go outside, I am dressed in a minimum of 4 layers on the top half. But then when inside, it goes down to 2 or 3 depending on the heating... 

On the bottom half, usually everyone wears double layers. Leggings, thermal tights, thin stockings and jeans are all in my suitcase. A good combination is to start with tights then add your outside layer of jeans, fashion leggings or some cute stockings. The leggings seem to be more of a fashion here over because jeans are generally not warm.

Then of course, accessorise! You will need your socks, scarves, beanies, gloves and even ear muffs to take care of the rest of your body. Again, choose your fabrics wisely, acrylics will not do much to block the icy wind from getting through. Blended items are ok but it is better to get 100% where you can. Some polyester winter gear can seem really warm but remember that it actually prevents your skin from breathing which is how the warmth is kept in, so you may have a reaction or end up smelly from wearing this kind of fabric. Also, have a decent size bag to keep your layers in when you don't need them... 

Footwear is the key to your happiness some days... I purchased some UGG sheepskin boots before I left Australia and these have been the only shoes that make it seem like it is not winter at all! The longer the leg of the shoe the better. The grippier the better for when it is snowing. The better the quality the materials are the more likely you will not have waterproof or cold toe problems. If you want to wear basic sneakers or shoes that do not have any faux fur inner lining, you can find innersoles to give you that extra bit of warmth. Thermal socks are also excellent to add and for indoors. If you wear UGG boots (or other sheepskin shoes), stick to plain cotton socks so your feet can breathe...

Its all about the jacket! I suggest investing in one or two very good, heavy duty winter jackets. Have one waterproof for the rainy and snowy days. The longer the jacket, the more toasty you will be and more wind protection you will have, but make sure it is one you can sit down in :)

Feather down jackets feel like you are walking around in a sleeping bag and are great at keeping the wind away. I picked up an Esprit feather down jacket while in transit in Singapore ($135AU) and it has been the one I wear the most. The other, slightly more fashionable ones are my woollen Sportsgirl jacket (Purchased in Aus for $39AU winter clearance) and my Rusty polyester jacket ($35AU) with a giant hoodie- but these two are for the above zero temperatures... 


Often the times you will be outdoors will be short. When you plan on long periods outside, this is when you will need the extra accessories. The key really is to have good fabrics, a good layering system, warm feet and a great jacket. 


I hope this information helps!

Stay warm :)

In it for the long haul...

I left sunny and warm Australia for brrrrr cold Berlin last week and since have been adjusting to the many factors of a new season, country and time zone... 

This time around I wanted to try a few things to help prevent severe jet lag! When you know your journey starts at 10am leaving the Gold Coast for the airport only to arrive at your friends place in Neukölln, Berlin 32 hours later- you are going to want all the help you can get!

What I trialed... 

I found this product in the chemist called "Frequent Flyer Health Boost"- it is similar to Berocca where you add it to water and it fizzles and dissolves. The taste is fine and it is packed with vitamins, minerals and chinese herbs that are essential for travel.

More info here: http://www.frequentflyerboost.com.au/

I also went to Flannerys Natural Organic Supermarket where I spoke with the staff there-  The woman recommended eating crystallised ginger as a snack every few hours. Ginger is a natural aid for nausea, helps boost circulation, assists digestion, contains anti-inflammitory properties as well as helps nose congestion. Which is great because that recycled air on long distance flights can really disrupt your sinuses! 

I also had some natural sleeping tables as a back up plan if I wasn't sleeping but it was lucky the way my flights were scheduled - the leg from Singapore to London which was 13.45 hours, departed at the Australian equivalent time of 12:45 am. It was just like another late night ;)

In total, I had approximately 8 hours of broken sleep over a period of about 38 hours. No wonder your body can take so long to readjust! 

HOW I delt with it...

After settling my stuff down and catching up with Berlin buddies over lunch, I had an afternoon nap for 4 hours. Come dinner time, I tried to stay awake a bit longer to adjust to the time zone. 
Unfortunately, I woke up at 5:30am the next morning and did not feel rested. This lasted for a few days and so I resorted to bier (beer) to solve my problems... This only left me dehydrated, colder than usual and MORE sleep deprived. 

Last night I laid low and fell asleep at 8pm (typical Berlin nap hour before rising to begin the party at 12am). Today I wake up after 11 hours of sleep and feel 100%!


DID it work?

I think ultimately the body experiences such extremes during a long haul journey that it is only natural to take between a week or 2 to fully adjust. I believe the Frequent Flyer Health Boost and ginger definitely helped considering it has been 6 days since I left Australia and I am feeling better. But I believe the best cure for jet lag is general relaxation and SLEEP!



I now feel ready to explore and report back to you on my findings of winter Berlin... 



Happy flying!