More travel tips...
Even when I'm checking bags, I usually try to carry on a little overnight bag containing at least one extra pair of underwear and socks, and all my "toiletries" (also known in certain circles as "product"). The airlines rarely lose my luggage, but when they do, it's a disaster...
<...Flash back to me teaching my very first Extreme Programming Bootcamp with wild no-gel hair, no deodorant, and geeky logo T-shirts borrowed from Josh Kerievsky...>
This overnight bag, as the airlines will tell you, is permissible in addition to your purse or briefcase. It should be small enough so that even the most restrictive Alaska Airlines representative at Oakland Airport will not make you check it at the gate.
I have two tips on those nasty exploding bottles of shampoo/hair-gel/toxic face creams. But first we must face reality together: These messes are not created by careless luggage handlers. It's air pressure plus altitude. Plane goes up, pressure outside bottle drops, bottle squirts contents all over luggage. It's called "explosive decompression," and it ain't pretty.
Tip #1: Carry all the mess-generating tubes and bottles separately in a large zip-lock bag. Yes, you could use the cool bag that came with your luggage, but do you really want to clean it? Zip-locks can be tossed when messy. Though I'm not fond of filling landfills with "disposable" products, I have my limits. Besides, the bags last quite a while, especially if you follow tip #2, below.
Tip #2: Squeeze out some of the air from those mess-generators. While packing, shake the product to the bottom, open the cap, and squeeze a bit of air out. Also, be sure the cap is tight, but not too tight (e.g., Aveda bottle-caps will crack if you try to overtighten, thus defeating the purpose of this tip and leaving you again at the mercy of tip #1, above).
I've noticed that I now reflexively drain a little air out of any bottle after use. Even the milk bottle in the fridge... Clearly, I've been traveling too long.
How do I remember what needs to go in the zip-lock bags? I travel about every other week, so I keep two of everything that goes into the bags (gel, shampoo, tootpaste, toothbrush, floss, deodorant, nail-clippers, Tums, aspirin...). One set lives in the zip-lock for travel, and the other lives in my designated bathroom drawer at home. If you don't travel that often, build a printable checklist and record everything you may want to take.
Business Insomnia? Bring something to read that will stimulate, yet relax, your mind and has absolutely nothing to do with your work. If it's three in the morning and you're tossing and turning about that presentation, make yourself read a few pages. Contrary to popular myth, this should not be a dull book! It has to be interesting enough to take your mind off work. I use either Science Fiction or some book on Buddhism that I'm trying to work through. Stimulating yet relaxing! (Your Options May Vary.)
Another thing that I try to carry for Business Insomnia: A small, portable fan. Just enough to create a pleasant whirring sound. It's a white-noise generator, and it drowns out a lot of the noises you would otherwise hear when trying to sleep in a new place. I use one at home, too, and often sleep right through the Thursday Morning Garbage Truck Parade.
There are a number of other useful techniques: Milk, peanut-butter, stretching, alternatively tensing-and-relaxing muscles. But beyond suggesting you pack your own small jar of peanut-butter (without partially hydrogenated oils, of course), I'd be straying from the topic. Besides, if I knew how to handle all forms of insomnia, I wouldn't be writing this post from my Copenhagen hotel room at 4 AM.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Simple Dining at The Flow
Day 1 in Copenhagen
Today I discovered a great organic vegetarian (and smoke-free!) restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark. The official name seems to be "Restaurant Flow" but the locals call it "The Flow" (of course). It's on Gyldenlovesgade (the main road that goes past Tivoli and the Square), just past the waters as you enter the city center (at Gyldenlovesgade and Nyropsgade/Nansengade). It's not hard to spot.
From street level, you step down a few stairs past candles and oil lamps. The decor is simple, clean, light, and pleasing. The candles at every table and scattered throughout add a little romance to an otherwise austere experience. The dining area is small and very tasteful (reminiscent of The March in New York, only much less formal). Yet the ordering process is similar to a deli: You read the menu on the board (it's in Danish), or simply go look at what they're serving. They scoop it out from appetizing bowls and platters onto a plate for you. You choose how many items you want. 120 Krones bought a plate of four choices: I had lentils, an herb pasta, a simple tossed salad, and this wonderful red pepper garnished with pumpkin or squash (or something similarly sweet and homey). I was full, and quite pleased with the fresh, wholesome, and creative organic ingredients. This isn't Greens in San Francisco, but it would be a wonderful place for a first date, or a get-together with a few friends. Seating is limited.
Tip #1: If you want the most romantic spot, call ahead and ask to be seated under the Buddha. I didn't spot him until I was on my way out. ("The Buddha...romantic?!")
Tip #2: Travelers, bring cash. Apparently they are not set up to accept credit or debit cards from overseas. But they were kind enough to let me walk down the street a few blocks to an ATM. (There's one on the left side when walking toward the Square.)
See http://www.spisdiglykkelig.dk/
Today I discovered a great organic vegetarian (and smoke-free!) restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark. The official name seems to be "Restaurant Flow" but the locals call it "The Flow" (of course). It's on Gyldenlovesgade (the main road that goes past Tivoli and the Square), just past the waters as you enter the city center (at Gyldenlovesgade and Nyropsgade/Nansengade). It's not hard to spot.
From street level, you step down a few stairs past candles and oil lamps. The decor is simple, clean, light, and pleasing. The candles at every table and scattered throughout add a little romance to an otherwise austere experience. The dining area is small and very tasteful (reminiscent of The March in New York, only much less formal). Yet the ordering process is similar to a deli: You read the menu on the board (it's in Danish), or simply go look at what they're serving. They scoop it out from appetizing bowls and platters onto a plate for you. You choose how many items you want. 120 Krones bought a plate of four choices: I had lentils, an herb pasta, a simple tossed salad, and this wonderful red pepper garnished with pumpkin or squash (or something similarly sweet and homey). I was full, and quite pleased with the fresh, wholesome, and creative organic ingredients. This isn't Greens in San Francisco, but it would be a wonderful place for a first date, or a get-together with a few friends. Seating is limited.
Tip #1: If you want the most romantic spot, call ahead and ask to be seated under the Buddha. I didn't spot him until I was on my way out. ("The Buddha...romantic?!")
Tip #2: Travelers, bring cash. Apparently they are not set up to accept credit or debit cards from overseas. But they were kind enough to let me walk down the street a few blocks to an ATM. (There's one on the left side when walking toward the Square.)
See http://www.spisdiglykkelig.dk/
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Have Laptop, Will Travel
I've been traveling for business almost constantly since 1999. Here are a few tips regarding airport departures that I've picked up along the way.
Arrive early. The early-bird gets the exit row (more leg-room!), and possibly the free frequent-flyer upgrade to First Class (if you qualify). Be sure to bring a book or something to work on. Where I live, I can't estimate with any accuracy when I'll arrive at the airport. So I'm often very early. When I travel, I get caught up on books, magazines, phone calls.
Bring your own food. The airlines rarely feed you anymore, and when they do, it isn't all that tasty. Plan ahead and decide whether you're going to eat before you drop off your car, before you're going through security, or when you're comfortably at the gate. What can you bring? What will you do with utensils afterwards? Security may balk at metal knives and forks. But if you use them before you get there, you could drop them into your checked luggage, or your car.
Streamline your security screening. Laptops have to be removed from the case and passed separately through the x-ray. Get a laptop case that allows you to slip the laptop into a pocket. Those old briefcase-style cases with the velcro straps are a pain. Also, wear shoes that will slide off easily, and pants that won't fall off if the belt is removed. Or not. (I've seen some cute underwear, thanks to the baggy pants that young men wear these days! :) Give yourself enough time (see tip, above) just in case you get randomly selected for a full search. I've been through plenty of them, and I can assure you it's nothing personal, nor is it racial profiling (see photo - I think it's the "Insanity" T-shirt!). If you really want to get through it quickly, be polite and cooperative. Truly, most people are not trying to make your life miserable. We're all just doing our jobs and trying to get by.
Arrive early. The early-bird gets the exit row (more leg-room!), and possibly the free frequent-flyer upgrade to First Class (if you qualify). Be sure to bring a book or something to work on. Where I live, I can't estimate with any accuracy when I'll arrive at the airport. So I'm often very early. When I travel, I get caught up on books, magazines, phone calls.
Bring your own food. The airlines rarely feed you anymore, and when they do, it isn't all that tasty. Plan ahead and decide whether you're going to eat before you drop off your car, before you're going through security, or when you're comfortably at the gate. What can you bring? What will you do with utensils afterwards? Security may balk at metal knives and forks. But if you use them before you get there, you could drop them into your checked luggage, or your car.
Streamline your security screening. Laptops have to be removed from the case and passed separately through the x-ray. Get a laptop case that allows you to slip the laptop into a pocket. Those old briefcase-style cases with the velcro straps are a pain. Also, wear shoes that will slide off easily, and pants that won't fall off if the belt is removed. Or not. (I've seen some cute underwear, thanks to the baggy pants that young men wear these days! :) Give yourself enough time (see tip, above) just in case you get randomly selected for a full search. I've been through plenty of them, and I can assure you it's nothing personal, nor is it racial profiling (see photo - I think it's the "Insanity" T-shirt!). If you really want to get through it quickly, be polite and cooperative. Truly, most people are not trying to make your life miserable. We're all just doing our jobs and trying to get by.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)