Required Items For the Civilized Camper

For some people, the entire point of going camping is to "rough it." To live off the wild eating things like berries and mushrooms; to make a fire without matches or a lighter; to sleep outdoors without the comfort of a tent; some individuals consider such pursuits to be the height of fun. But such an approach to camping is not for everyone. Some people prefer to retain their creature comforts while getting back to nature, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Fortunately for them, there are quite a few devices available to make backpacking a camping a bit more civilized.

Cooking over an open fire is not easy. Show me someone who says he can do it, and I'll show you someone who enjoys burned food. Fortunately for everyone's palates, the propane stove and its relatives have come a long way since their initial invention. Today, manufacturers offer a range of compact backpacking stoves that usually use white gas or unleaded auto gas. These little devices are extremely lightweight, sometimes weighing as little as 3 oz. The MSR Pocket Rocket, the Coleman Exponent Feather, the Brunton Vapor and many other models are all available to the camper who is sick of capricious campfire cooking.

A few decades ago, campers and backpackers were limited to metal utensils that were heavy, bulky and awkward. Today, camping forks, knives and spoons are often made from nylon, which is lightweight but strong and resistant to melting. Other utensils are made from polycarbonate substances, which have the strength of steel but only one third of the weight. The wide range of offerings and styles ensure that no one has to eat with their hands unless they want to. Such convenient implements also make for better quality meals, since a spoon with an extendible handle is a much better cooking utensil than a stick.

Camping plates have come a long way too. Instead of thin, dented dishes made of tin, campers can now dine on platters made of a variety of materials, including nylon, silicone, polypropylenes and polycarbonates. These substances all have the advantage of being highly durable and relatively lightweight. As an added bonus, modern camping plates are often collapsible, taking up much less space and allowing campers to bring more. Those plates and bowls that do not collapse are usually designed to nest inside each other, another space saving tactic. The upshot is that, instead of having to share two plates among five people, campers can actually bring enough for everyone. What a civilized concept!

Finally, even camping food has gotten better. Does anyone else remember how disgusting the first energy bars were? They were barely edible. Today, there are dozens and dozens of food options for the trails, from energy gel, to varieties of granola, to all-natural powdered eggs that actually taste good! Natural High offers a good range of products, such as cinnamon apple crisp and hash browns, that only require the camper to add water. Mountain House offers dishes like blueberry cheesecake, and Backpacker's Pantry even has options like huevos rancheros. We've come a long way, baby.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for sweatpants, sweatshirts, outdoor gear, sports clothing, and model motorcycles. Click here when you want to find sweatpants, sweatshirts, outdoor utensils, camping.

The Cheapest Way to Fly - Cheap Tickets Around the World

There are many places you can look for cheap airfare, but for the best global travel cheap airfares, there are a few top picks, good trustworthy places you can always rely on for fair prices. Here are just a few:

Travelzoo: Travelzoo has the most amazing deals in travel. The only thing is, you have to be flexible in your travel plans. They carry all the most popular destination deals for all the big cities and famous tourist places of travel, and now they even offer vacation resorts and packages. To find the best deals in airfare, check out their prices for last minute travel, and you will be amazed at the low prices they offer.

Orbitz: This conglomerate of global travel cheap airfares does have its good points. Though it doesn't always offer the best rates, you can use this site to find which airlines go where, and the basic rate for flights. Then you can go on the airlines own websites and usually find an even better deal. Orbitz now has hotel deals as well, though, again, you can probably find better deals elsewhere, but use this site to find the average rate.

Travelocity: This site offers some great travel deals. You can usually find good prices on airfare, but just make sure you're definitely going on this trip, because if you have to cancel at the last minute, you might not get a refund or be able to make any changes. There are often some global travel cheap airfares here.

Expedia: This site is very similar to Travelocity's for airfare deals, and again, if you have to cancel or change your flight plans, they may not be able to accomodate you. Watch for the last minute deals, those are usually the best in travel savings.

Hotwire: This is one of those 'name your own price' sites. If you're willing to fly on red eye flights or at odd times, this is the place for you, you can save a lot of money if you're flexible in your travel. There are some very nice global travel cheap airfares here.

Priceline: Another 'name your own price' site. Priceline is usually pretty dependable in airfare deals, but it's best to check the going rate at Orbitz first, and then come here to cinch the deal. Priceline has grown the past few years in their offerings, and you can plan your whole vacation here, if you're really looking for a travel deal.

These are just a few of the places you can look for airfare deals, and there are more popping up everyday. But when you need a name you can trust, these are among the top websites on the worldwide web to find your airfare travel needs.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about global travel cheap airfares, please visit Traveling The World Today Site for current articles and discussions.

On the Road? Make Yourself at Home!

Leaving the comfort of our homes to travel doesn't have to be uncomfortable. Whether your trips involve long or short stays, long or short distances, or whether you're traveling by car or by plane, a big part of the travel adventure includes spending your nights in new places.

It can be difficult to stay in unfamiliar rooms, but with a few good organizing strategies and a couple of tips from Feng Shui, you can make every place feel a bit more like home. Here are some of my favorite ways to get more pleasure from any journey.

It all starts at home

A few ahead-of-time strategies will reduce your stress level even before you leave.

- First, set up a "grab 'n go" toilet kit, filling it with personal-care items you need when you travel. My favorite travel kit is the "personal organizer by L.L. Bean - I've been using the medium size happily for years.

- At the same time, create a home for all things travel-related. Besides the packed toilet kit, my travel area contains things like my jewelry case, shoe bags, and a small stuffed animal that I like to have with me on the road (but more on that below).

Things to do as soon as you arrive

Every time you arrive at a new destination, follow these steps to quickly make the space your own.

- If possible, air it out and bring in fresh "chi" by opening windows and turning on a fan.

- For stays of longer than one night, unpack your things and put them away. Hide your luggage out of sight in a closet or corner for the duration of your stay.

- Put yourself in control of your new space by designating an easily-visible spot near the door for keys and other small essentials.

- Bring along a favorite personal item to place on the bed as a talisman during your stay. Mine is a small stuffed animal given to me by my sister and her family (thanks, Kathy!).

- Collect the advertising, magazines and other materials that don't belong to you and hide them away in a drawer. When you leave, just pull it all out to be re-distributed by the maid service.

Tips for longer stays

When you're staying for longer than a day or two, you might want to make a few more thorough changes in your temporary space.

- If the room feels cramped or otherwise uncomfortable, re-arrange furniture that's easy to move. Create a cozy sitting area with a good view, or set up a table for eating and conversation. Whatever will make your stay more enjoyable!

- Set up your books, tour guides, etc. so that they're easy to get at and provide familiar things to look at.

To balance the often-stagnant energy in any space, here are a few Feng Shui-specific tips:
- For inadequate light, bring in lively Fire energy by purchasing and installing brighter light bulbs.

- And to balance all five elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water, set up a vase of fresh flowers. The colors, shapes and even the water itself will lift the chi of the space instantly.

Bonus tips for car trips

Finally, you can get even more elaborate if you're driving and don't mind packing a bit more weight and bulk. In fact this is probably my favorite tip -- bring your own pillows and pillowcases! We did this on a two-week car trip to Maine and Canada last summer and loved it because it made every room look and feel like home, immediately.

Your bedroom, at home and away

As you can see, a lot of this has specifically to do with making your bedroom-away-from-home feel familiar. That's because your bedroom needs to be a safe and comfortable haven so that you always feel ready to take on the "outside world."

These tips can help to make your travels more enjoyable, even for the biggest homebodies. Remember, just because you're away from home doesn't mean a little bit of home can't come with you. If your travel environment is pleasing, enjoying the journey will come naturally.
Happy organizing, and happy travels!

The Organized Life, founded by Organizing and Feng Shui expert Ann Bingley Gallops, will enhance your life by enhancing your space. Visit The Organized Life for more information.