maps - article index
A
Mindful Road Trip: The Perfect No-Goal Vacation by: Maya Talisman
Frost
It's the beginning of spring break,
and we're heading south. That's all we know.
Our family is greatly anticipating
what may be our last road trip for a long, long time. There's a lot of
excitement in our house right now as we are shifting into a whole new phase
for each of us.
My husband is launching a new business.
I am writing a book. Our 17-year-old daughter is preparing for college
in Nova Scotia in September. Our 16-year- old daughter is heading to Brazil
for a year-long Rotary Exchange in July. Our 14-year-old daughter is playing
a sport for the first time in her life. Our 13-year-old daughter is considering
transferring to an arts magnet school in order to immerse herself in her
passion—dance.
This is the end of an era. In a few
months, we will never have all four of them living at home again. The next
year will bring all kinds of changes, and we feel we need to grab this
chance to hit the road together in our trusty, dusty minivan.
It's time for our favorite kind of
vacation—the make-it-up-as-you-go meander through undiscovered (to us,
anyway) territory. We'll get up really early, jump in the van, and just
go. No reservations. No schedule. No destination in mind.
We love this no-goal travel. We learned
years ago that the happiest times we spend together are those in which
we are free to experience each moment as it comes without planning the
next.
Back in 1998, we decided in one day
to pack up the kids and take off to India and Nepal for three months. It's
not as though we simply quit our jobs and left. That would have been far
easier.
We had plenty of responsibilities—we
owned two small retail businesses, an import/export company, an old commercial
building with a leaky roof, and a house we had just finished remodeling.
We felt restless and ready for adventure,
and making the choice to go was instantaneous and unanimous.
We sold one business, liquidated
another, put the third in a coma. We found someone to take care of the
leaky roof, and another to stay in our house. We yanked the kids out of
school and within six weeks of making our decision boarded a plane—six
excited travelers carrying six small backpacks.
The girls were 7, 8, 10 and 11. People
thought we were insane.
The first two months we spent in
India visiting the former host families my husband had lived with during
his own Rotary Exchange when he was 16. The third month we had reserved
for Nepal. We planned to fly into Kathmandu and spend four weeks on our
own. We had no agenda, no reservations, no contacts. We weren't the least
bit concerned about it.
From the very first day, it was clear
this was going to be a really special experience for our family. We found
a clean, friendly hotel, the Red Planet, with a room big enough for six
of us. It was $15 a night. Our window faced the rear of a nightclub, and
we giggled ourselves to sleep as Pink Floyd and Michael Jackson were blasted
from the speakers outside. One of our daughters became quite adept at unclogging
the toilet and bathtub drain.
We wandered the curving streets,
marveling at the sights and sounds. Each meal was an adventure as we made
it a point to invite single diners to join us. We met fascinating people
of all ages from around the world.
Highlights include dashing into a
tiny Italian restaurant during our first two hours in Kathmandu as we were
caught in a torrential downpour—our first rain since leaving Oregon. A
hilarious but fairly sleepless night sharing a tea house room with rats.
Children, especially young boys, trailing us everywhere we trekked. Breakfast
on our roof with a breathtaking view of the Annapurnas. Ducking to avoid
spider webs dripping with dew while riding elephants in the early morning.
Exploring richly scented temples. Spontaneous dancing in the streets.
We have never, ever laughed more
than we did on that trip. I had to use an asthma inhaler—not for any allergies,
but because I laughed so hard that I started wheezing! Every single day
was full of absolute joy and discovery. It didn't matter in the slightest
what we were doing. We were together, we were exploring, and we were having
the time of our lives.
Granted, a road trip to southern
Oregon isn't nearly as exotic. Still, what we learned in Nepal is the magic
of being in the moment. Our kids discovered the power of being present
and open to whatever the day may bring.
It's a priceless lesson we feel fortunate
to have learned early. That trip was a gift that keeps on giving. It provided
a shining example of true mindfulness for our growing daughters.
We're heading south. Our intention?
To be together. To explore. And to laugh our heads off.
I'll bring my inhaler.
About The Author
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse.
Her work has inspired thinkers in over 80 countries. She serves up a satisfying
blend of clarity, comfort and comic relief in her free weekly ezine, the
Friday Mind Massage. To subscribe, visit
http://www.massageyourmind.com.
maya@massageyourmind.com
Courtesy of
http://www.ArticleCity.com/
Exploring
Uncharted Territory: Your Family Vacation by: News Canada
(NC)—Picture it – your minivan is
stopped at a rest area. Your partner sits at the wheel while you are buried
under a mess of unfolded maps. You feel tense as you debate over directions
while your jumpy kids in the back seat are spreading chocolate over each
other. Aah, the joys of a family vacation.
Don't despair, not every trip has
to be like that. By making plans in advance, you can help ease tensions
on the trip and turn it into a family adventure filled with wonderful memories
for everyone. Before getting started, consider these quick travel tips.
Where are we?
Try to map out your trip in advance
or at least be prepared with a road atlas in the car. Michelin's 2003 North
America Road Atlas is spiral bound and compact, which means it lies flat
for easier navigating and folds over easily so it can be tucked away in
the glove compartment. A great innovation is that maps are organized by
geographic region, not by the alphabet … according to the way you actually
drive.
Are we there yet?
Let your children also have their
own map so they can follow along with you. Use a road atlas to teach your
children how to use maps and help them learn to answer that gnawing question,
"Are we there yet?" Make a game out of it and try to see who can calculate
the distance the fastest.
I have to go!
Plan exciting pit stops along the
way to give everyone a chance to stretch their legs and use a restroom.
Choose interesting locations and tourist attractions such as the world's
largest coffee pot in Saskatchewan, magnetic hill in New Brunswick or a
haunted lighthouse in Ontario. Make these stops part of the fond memories
of your family trip.
I'm bored!
Entertaining car-based activities
for the kids will help make the journey more pleasant for everyone. There
are a variety of great board games available in compact sizes, which use
magnets to ensure pieces stay on the board. Other options include reading
out loud, singing or listening to audio books. Consider the classic games
of "I Spy", a scavenger hunt or even counting cows, horses and other unique
items you identify.
I'm hungry!
To avoid grumbling stomachs keep
some snacks handy such as fruit, granola bars or juice boxes to keep everyone
satisfied while you search for the next rest stop.
Spending time together on a road
trip is a great way to have quality time with your family. Don't let it
ruin your trip. Instead make it part of the adventure and the wonderful
memories. Not only will some advance planning make your trip a lot more
pleasant, it may keep everyone talking to one another!
- News Canada
About The Author
News
Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright
free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.
News
Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print,
radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial
"fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services.
The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the
private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and
product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of
ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization
including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television
stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most
often. Visit News Canada
and learn more about the NC services.
Courtesy of http://www.ArticleCity.com/
