Tag Archives: eNews

Five Rules for Eating in a Foreign Country

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Whether you’re from Sydney or Sorrento, Brisbane or Broome, chances are if you are travelling domestically within Australia, you will be able to find a great meal in a great location for a suitable price.

Throw in a foreign language and an unfamiliar city however, and you’re immediately at risk of a rumbling tum (a travelling foodie’s worst nightmare).

So how do you find a truly memorable meal while travelling? Check out our top five tips…

1. Throw away the tourist guide

Similarly, don’t bother with the advertising material in your hotel lobby. Tourist guides are for tourists. We are food connoisseurs destined and dedicated to finding the best bites, the most memorable meals and finest fare. Get out and about (maybe pack a snack just in case), and find where the locals love to eat. You’re guaranteed an authentic meal immersed in the colour and culture of your destination.

2. Splash out (even if only once)

Sometimes there’s a good reason why something is expensive. We don’t mean a pair of Louboutins. You can’t eat shoes. We’re talking about that moment when you feel like all the world’s wonder is in your mouth. When you can’t help but make that annoying approving face while nodding enthusiastically at your fellow diners. Cost doesn’t always equal quality, but if you do your research you can find that luxe meal that’s worth its weight in gold.

3. Know the etiquette

Those who appreciate food as much as we do will know that it’s equally about the experience as the taste. For this reason, we recommend researching how your meal is to be consumed. There is nothing better than scooping up a mouthful of piping hot curry with naan bread in India. Conversely, there is no greater crime than double dipping a chip in New York City.

4. Join the queue

We’ve always been taught to wait patiently in a queue. Whether it be for the next turn on the slippery dip, the toilet or for our first morning coffee, if there’s a queue, it’s a pretty good indication that whatever is at the end is worth the wait. The same applies to dining. If the locals are queuing, suck it up and get in line. Alternatively, do your research and book ahead or simply call up and book for another night.

5. Order with your eyes

Are you proficient in reading Mandarin? Neither are we. So instead of agonising over a menu you don’t understand, take a surreptitious wander around the restaurant and spy on what everyone else is eating. When the waiter takes your order, simply point to the things that look the most delicious.

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How hiking heals by Sarah Wilson

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Hiking is my default travel raison d’etre. When you travel solo, you have to create an ultimate purpose.

Couples and groups of friends have shared experiences and the very process of negotiating and compromising becomes a motivating and guiding raison d’etre in and of itself. It creates boundaries.

When you’re on your own you can literally do whatever you want. So you have to reign things in and create a framework of purpose. It needs to be a framework that can stand up to the loneliness of moments, and the most angst-ridden existential meltdowns. Hiking does this. It also does more. As I say, it tames and heals any dis-ease, whether it be illness, angst, pain, longing, frustration or imbalance. Here’s how…

Hiking grounds us. Literally, in that it connects us with the earth. With dirt, rocks, trees and ants.

Hiking gets systems working as they should. Walking is the best thing ever for anyone with lymphatic issues. When I’m thyroidy, I hike and my swelling settles. It also builds up appetite in a natural way… Not in an overly taxing way. And it gets us out into fresh air.

Hiking gets us in touch with awe. For me, trudging over rocks and earth for hours on end puts things in perspective. Life feels big, I—and my pain—feel small. This heals.

Hiking lulls the mind. My mind chatter goes crazy at first—inventing, debating, scheduling—then it settles, slowly. It’s like my mind is rocked to sleep by the motion. After about 40 minutes it settles into a thoughtless, wordless space. I become aware only of the sounds, the smells… I’m taken away from my dis-ease. I’m comforted and comfortable. I can feel my angry inflammation settle, too. Oh, sweet nothing! It is in the nothingness that things are tamed.

Hiking gets us to love going slow. I can be in pain sometimes when I hike. I don’t have juice. But if I’m seven kilometres from home, I have no choice but to keep going. How? I go slow. I break it down. I find the perfect pace. The sweet spot.

And just this act—finding your sweet spot—is a key skill in healing dis-ease. To know how to find your sweet spot is a sign of true wellness.

People often ask me to recommend hikes that I’ve loved. Here are a couple to get you started:

Mount Amos in Tasmania. A friend and I did this at sunrise. We ambitiously thought it would be a walk in a (flattish) park. But we can now confirm: This walk is only for the experienced. There are several hairy bits, but the view is astonishing. Do it if your heart is not faint and you like an adventure.

Castle Rock in the Munghorn Gap Park. Just outside Mudgee, this eight kilometre return hike is spectacular.

About the author

Sarah Wilson is a New York Times best-selling author and blogger whose journalism career has spanned 20 years, across television, radio, magazines, newspapers and online.

She appears regularly as a commentator on a range of programs including Channel 7′s Sunday Night, The Morning Show, Sunrise and Weekend Sunrise, Ten Network’s Good News Week and The Project, Nine’s 60 Minutes and A Current Affair.

Sarah is an adept social commentator, following a career that’s spanned politics, health advocacy, restaurant reviewing, opinion writing and trend forecasting.

Sarah is the author of the best-sellers I Quit Sugar and I Quit Sugar For Life, and also authored the best-selling series of cookbooks from IQuitSugar.com.

Sarah lives in Sydney, rides a bike everywhere and when asked what her hobbies are cites “bush hiking”, planning her next meal and being fascinated by other people with real hobbies.

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Taking off in T-0 seconds: The (new) Adventurist

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3-2-1-lift off! 

It’s all new and it’s all for you!

So you may have noticed a few changes to our eNews this month… Ok it’s a whole new eNews and we’re so excited to share it with you!

In the works for some time, it’s such a thrill to finally hit the send button on ‘The (new) Adventurist’.

With a new easy to read layout, we hope that you will be able to better enjoy our articles at work, at home and on the go. We’ve also secured new contributors, ready to share their inspiring stories with you.

To help you navigate to the stories you’re interested in, we’ve created four categories for our articles so you know what you’re getting:

Go Dream Discover Nourish

Our new eNews ties in nicely with the all new Inspired Adventures website set to launch very soon. Stay tuned for more, but in the meantime, here’s a quick snapshot…

Inspired Adventures new website screenshots

Want to make peace? Get angry

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What makes you mad? Really, deeply angry?

Instead of letting it go, or meditating it away, Kailash Satyarthi, the co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2014, wants you to hang on to that anger. To hang on to the fire and passion generated by it and harness it into something positive.

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“Anger is in everyone. If we are confined in the narrow shells of egos and the circles of selfishness—anger becomes hatred, violence and revenge. If you can break the circles the same anger could turn into a great power,” he says in his TED2015 talk.

Satyarthi has harnessed his great power from great anger, which stems from witnessing the cruel injustices caused by the caste system of his native India.

This system, with its rigid social stratification, is harshest for the untouchables, a class of people so ostracized they literally cannot touch or interact with others. Satyarthi, furious and fed up, organised a rebellion dinner. The untouchables would prepare food for the leaders, a highly taboo proposition. The leaders pledged their support and promised to attend.

The day arrived, the food was prepared, and none of the leaders came. Satyarthi went around the village to round up the leaders who had promised to come. When he arrived at his own home, he found a contingent of his caste leaders in the front yard. Humiliated and horrified, they threated to outcast Satyarthi’s entire family.

Instead, Satyarthi outcast himself.

He renounced his former surname (which was linked to his caste) and adopted the surname Satyarthi, which means seeker of truth.

He’s since founded movements and campaigns that have helped free over 83,000 child labour slaves and worked with NGOs to develop policies to end the exploitation of children. His mantra has become anger, idea, action.

“The energy of anger could be harnessed to create a better and beautiful world. A more just and equitable world,” he says.

Fury is a potent fuel. You just have to decide if you’re going to let it burn you up or light a fire with it.

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Reduce your carbon footprint

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What can you do simply and cheaply to make a more positive impact on our environment? The answer is reducing your carbon footprint. We know it sounds hard and costly. But in reality it is actually easy and may even save you a few dollars.

So how can you save a tonne (literally) of carbon? Follow these five simple steps…

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1. Recycling helps you meditate on your waste consumption

The barrier to recycling is the separation of cardboard, plastics and glass (and rinsing!). It is tedious. Confusing. What goes where? Does this plastic qualify?

Recycling increases your problem solving skills and helps you truly see the amount of waste you are giving back to the Earth. Understanding this will help you reduce your packaged goods consumption. The less packaged goods you buy, the less time you will have to spend recycling. Win–win, really.

500kg carbon reduced each year

2. Replace coffee cups and plastic bottles with the reusable kind

Carrying a reusable cup and water bottle around can leave you looking a little like you’re on a very special adventure (possibly with Gandalf). Roadblock two is when you have to rinse your reusable cup between morning and mid-morning coffees. New school of thought… Washing your reusable cup is an excuse to leave your desk (even if only for five minutes) and carrying around a litre of water could technically be counted as weightlifting. Exercise achieved!

120kg carbon reduced each year

3. Say no to fast fashion 

Our consumer decisions affect people all around the world. The need to have the latest look is creating unnecessary waste and often our new kicks aren’t from ethical sources. For your next shopping spree, why not get your stylish friends together and swap! Alternatively, pop into an op-shop or visit a local market. The stigma of second-hand clothing is fading fast and there is nothing better than bagging a bargain.

100kg carbon reduced each year

4. When you sleep, let your devices sleep too

We all need sleep, even our poor iPhones. Once you’ve had your fill of new knowledge, social interaction or funny cat memes, tuck your devices in for the night. That means power down and turn off at the powerpoint. You will have a great (undisturbed) sleep knowing you’re contributing to carbon change.

90kg carbon reduced each year

5. Eat your leftovers and shop from the fridge

You’ve made a delicious meal. Well done. You’ve packed up the leftovers. Super well done. The leftovers sit in the fridge for a month. Fail. Before you shop, take note of what’s in your fridge and make a plan to repurpose it into another delicious meal. At the very least, the meatloaf that may be too far gone for you to eat might make the perfect dinner for your dog.

200kg carbon reduced each year

Congratulations! In five easy steps you’ve reduced your carbon footprint by almost a tonne. Keep up the good work!

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This week in 1879: Australia’s first national park

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On 26 April 1879, Australia’s first national park was established. Gazetted as The National Park, it was renamed The Royal National Park in 1955 following Queen Elizabeth II 1954 Australia visit.

What is most interesting about the park is its cultural significance. During the period between 1860 and 1930, radical social changes concerning public recreation and perceptions of the natural environment were occurring.

As one of the pioneer national parks, along with America’s Yosemite and Yellowstone, The Royal National Park played an important role in the development of the national parks movement worldwide. In Australia, the park contributed to significant understanding about the cultural and natural history of NSW, and subsequent approaches to the park’s management demonstrate the increasing priority given to conservation.

Despite not initially fitting with today’s idea of conservation—rabbits, deer and foxes were originally introduced to the native environment, while mudflats and mangroves were replaced with ornamental trees and grassy plains—the park soon became a place where Sydneysiders could escape urban life.

At the turn of the 20th century, conservation became a hot and deeply debated topic. Continued logging in the park was heavily criticised and by the 1930s lobbying had begun for a National Parks Authority. The National Parks and Wildlife Service was created in 1967.

Fun facts:

  • Founded by Acting Premier of NSW, Sir John Robertson
  • World’s second oldest purposed national park (after Yellowstone)
  • First to use the term national park
  • Many argues it is the world’s first national park, given that Yellowstone was originally gazetted as a public park
  • Added to the Australian National Heritage list in 2006
  • Home to one legally sanctioned and several unofficial “clothing optional” beaches
  • Today, Australia is home to over 500 national parks

We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land upon which The Royal National Park exists, the Dharawal people.

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Plane etiquette (that’s right, it’s a thing)

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Have you ever had that silent battle for the armrest with person next to you on a plane?

Has anyone ever taken so many sleeping tablets that they fall asleep before the plan taxied to the runway and didn’t wake up when you need to use the bathroom? Did you watch in horror as their drool made its way out of their mouth, down their travel pillow and onto your shoulder?

Sadly these scenarios play out all too often on planes; ironically, mostly on long-haul flights. While other forms of public transport are taking steps to reduce the public-ness of public transport—quiet carriages on trains and mobile phone-free buses—air travel is falling behind.

So to avoid further in-flight faux pas, we’ve compiled a list of the top sky-high misdemeanours and violations of aeroplane etiquette. Who are the worst offenders? And more importantly, are you one of them?…

The ‘chatty’ passenger

Whether talking on their phone as they board or exit a plane, or (even worse) chatting to you as you try to settle into a 15-hour flight, the chatty passenger is perhaps one of the worst. Now I know that adventures are equally as much about the people we meet as the destination we discover; however there is a limit to the length and depth a public conversation should reach.

Also extends to | People who play music or movies without their headphones in; people who play music or movies too loudly while wearing headphones; couples of friends who converse/laugh/argue the whole flight; people who maintain conversations across aisles or rows; people who believe staying hydrated equals enjoying 16 Singapore slings.

The ‘fragrant’ passenger

This doesn’t necessarily refer to only the less hygienic smelling passengers, but also the ones that believe one spray of Lynx deodorant is simply not enough and that they must douse their clothing in a sickly scent until they are rendered highly flammable (and therefore should probably not fly anyway). While there is a fine line between pleasant and suffocation, there is no excuse for no deodorant at all.

Also extends to | Anyone who removes their shoes exposing smelling feet or socks; those who enjoyed a delicious garlic-laced meal before boarding; those who release some cabin pressure of their own in the form of noxious gases.

The ‘kicking’ passenger

On some flights you may feel as though you are seated in front of a donkey. While livestock are generally transported below cabin, rude human passengers are unfortunately not. Now, we understand that long flights are uncomfortable and that stretching is an important part of in-flight health and safety. However this should not extend to consistently bashing the seat in front of you as you shift in your seat trying to get comfortable.

Also extends to | people who push their seat all the way back for the duration of the flight; people who repeatedly open and close their tray tables; people who place their feet between the back and bottom of your seat.

So now that the offending actions have been identified, what can we all do to avoid becoming one of the above? It’s easy! Simply sit back and relax into your flight, follow the suggestions of your cabin crew and be courteous to your fellow passengers. After all, you’re all trapped in a tin can flying 30,000 feet above solid ground. Let’s not make it any harder than it has to be…

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The Inspired Adventures ‘Energy Ball’

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Inspired took to the kitchen, tied on our aprons and reached for our wooden spoons in an attempt to create something healthy, delicious and fulfilling. What we conjured up was a top secret recipe. But we’re just so excited about it we want to share it with you anyway!

The Inspired Adventures 'Energy Ball'

Whether you are training for an Inspired Adventure or just looking for a healthy snack to enjoy, these delicious bite-sized protein balls are packed full of guilt-free ingredients to keep your energy levels up throughout the day.

Because of their high protein content, our energy balls are an excellent way to aid your body into recovery and repair, and are best enjoyed after a training session!

The Inspired Adventures Energy BallServes: 14

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (130g) crunchy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup (40g) quick oats
  • 2 scoops (58g) vanilla protein powder (we used Optimum Nutrition: Gold Standard 100% whey)
  • 1/4 cup (60g) LSA mix (ground linseeds, sunflower seeds and almonds). Can be replaced with other ground nuts and seeds of your choice
  • Desiccated coconut for coating (optional)

Instructions

  1. Add all of the ingredients into a mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon (or if you don’t mind getting messy—your fingers) start to combine all the ingredients together. If your mixture is too dry, add more peanut butter. If it’s too sticky, add more oats!
  2. Roll your mixture into ping-pong sized balls. There should be enough mixture to make approximately 14 balls.
  3. Firmly roll your energy balls in a bowl of desiccated coconut to give them an even coat. If you don’t dig coconut, try cacao powder.
  4. Put your energy balls in the freezer for an hour before serving. Store them in the refrigerator.
  5. Voilà! Your energy balls are ready to be enjoyed!

Nutritional information

Serving size: 1 ball

Calories: 122, Protein: 6g, Fat: 8g (saturated: 1g, unsaturated: 3g, trans: 0g), Carbohydrates: 7g (sugars: 2g), Sodium: 57mg, Fibre: 2g, Cholesterol: 1mg

Allergen information

Please check for allergens on the packets of your ingredients for further information and guidance.

Best apps for training

Training for a marathon or a physically challenging adventure? It can be made a whole lot easier using smartphone technology to track your progress. It also helps to stay motivated, focused and enables you to share your fitness achievements with friends. Most mobile apps include share functions that will broadcast your achievements and your progress as you train.

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While your friends and family probably aren’t interested in hearing about every single workout and every bead of sweat you generate, sharing some of your training milestones with them is a great way to keep them in the loop of where you are at with your training.

Making your training ‘social’ shows your commitment to the challenge you have undertaken and proves that it is no easy feat to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro, trek through the jungles of Borneo or cycle across Southeast Asia. Your friends and family will be able to read your updates while they are enjoying a lazy Sunday breakfast (or recovering from a big night out) and they will be able to appreciate the effort you are going to for your Inspired Adventure. They will be impressed that you have completed a 25km training hike in the rain while they are only just sitting down to eat breakfast!

Here are some great apps that we have come across to boost your fitness and add some fun to your training plan:

Nike+ (free)

The Nike+ app allows you to add friends and strangers, which is great for a little healthy competition. Using GPS technology, Nike+ tallies your total kilometers from the moment you start using it. The app uses gamification strategies to keep you motivated. It tracks your fastest kilometre, 5 kms, 10 kms and other achievements, unlock badges and prizes as you hit these milestones. Imagine what it feels like after months of training to see the total amount of kilometres you’ve run; it will probably be in triple figures!

Map My Run ($2.99)

This app has a separate computer log-in which allows you to create running goals, running routes and store further information. Using GPS technology, it will alert you to every 1.6 kms you have run or walked, and the pace per kilometer.

ZombieRun ($4.49)

For a bit of fun, how about pretending that you are running from a Zombie apocalypse? You will hear commands through the headphones that inform you how close the zombies are – maybe running for your life might make you go a little faster?

Runkeeper (free)

Runkeeper is also based on GPS locations and will track a number of different physical activities including running, walking, cycling and it allows you to input your training manually if you do a session at the gym. It will even coach you through your headphones while you are training and inform you how far you have gone and at what pace.

At the end of your activity, Runkeeper breaks down your session by kilometre and averages out your pace. It even generates a map with flags at each kilometre marker. You can connect with friends and share you progress with anyone who is interested (and even with those who aren’t!).

My Fitness Pal (Free)

This is a great app for both fitness and nutrition tracking. Preparing for an adventure can mean changing your diet to match your training needs. This is a good app to monitor calories, protein, carbs and fat intake. If weight loss / lifestyle change is one of your goals, definitely check this out!

Note for all GPS apps: Be mindful if you are trekking or trail running where there is limited reception, it will be hard to monitor your workout with GPS.

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Travelling with Turia

We’re pretty lucky here at Inspired Adventures to cross paths with some amazing people. Turia Pitt is one such woman.

Turia’s life was turned upside down when she was caught in a bushfire while running an ultra-marathon in the Kimberley. After an intense (and ongoing) recovery period, Turia has become an ambassador for Interplast, a charity which exists to provide medical training and free rehabilitation surgeries to people throughout the Asia Pacific region.

Turia is an author, athlete, motivational speaker, engineer, and to us here at Inspired, a true adventurer—having trekked the Great Wall of China in 2014 and soon to conquer the Inca Trail.

With so many adventures ahead, we caught up with Turia to talk all things travel…

What is your earliest adventure memory?

We didn’t have a television when we were young, so naturally all we wanted to do was watch TV! We would climb up a tree onto the roof of our house, then jump from the roof of our house to the roof of our neighbour’s house. We’d then watch the neighbour’s TV through their skylight.

What is the one thing you can’t travel without?

My iPad. I’m an avid reader and I love that it lets you travel with a thousand books.

What is your favourite international destination?

Probably the island of Nuku Hiva—it’s within the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. There’s not much there and you really feel like you’re away from everything and at the end of the earth!

What do you do to settle into a long flight?

I find it really difficult to sit still on a flight. So I try to break it up: watch a movie, have something to eat, go for a walk around the plane, read a book, listen to a podcast, have something to eat (I take snacks), watch a movie… You get the idea…

How does fundraising adventure travel differ from a holiday?

People are constantly asked to donate money so the key to fundraising is thinking outside the box in order to do it differently. It can be really challenging… But that makes it more rewarding when you go on the adventure.

What destination surprised you the most?

Mongolia. Gers, yaks and grass dot the landscape for as far as the eye can see. The local people love playing games, especially wrestling, and they have a deep reverence for Genghis Khan.

If you could only visit one place for the rest of your life, where would it be?

Huahine in French Polynesia. Great surf, great fishing and a really cool chilled out island vibe.

Quick questions:

Suitcase or rucksack?

Suitcase

Sailing or surfing?

Surfing

Book or iPad?

iPad

Today or tomorrow?

I like them both!

Feeling inspired?

Visit the Inspired Adventures Calendar to find a charity challenge perfect for you.

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