Tag Archives: travel tips

Travel Tip #8: Washing Up

Posted on by

Travel Tip #8: Advice from a Purple Hippo

Be sure to take a bath and do laundry regularly, no one likes a stinky tourist.

The busy traveler often has difficulties when looking for adequate facilities in which to take a bath in. Never fear, a little ingenuity can go along way. One can use a large sink or basin for sponge baths. A hose is just a portable shower, try it out.

Or you could go with my personal favorite… (note for safety reasons the technique that follows should only be used by properly trained tiny purple hippos)

 Just climb into your machine of choice with your favorite bath puff

Yes that’s right, I use a front-loading washing machine, preferably with a window door so that I can watch the world spin by.

Have a friend close the door for you, or devise a system of levers and pulleys so you can shut the door from the inside, I have yet to master that technique.

At this point the water will start to fill the drum of the machine, make sure that you have set the water temperature to warm. Hot will scald your delicate hippo hide and cold will leave you chattering and a much darker purple.

This is my favorite part, the gentle agitation of warm water with lavender-scented bubble bath.

Here comes the spin cycle. Wa wa wa weeeee!

Oh bother, *burp*

There you have it, just look around and you will find so many places to rid yourself of all that grime you have picked up in your travels.

Click here to see more of my Travel Tips.

Travel Tip #7: Five Rainy Day Ideas

Posted on by

Travel Tip #7: Advice from a Purple Hippo

Rainy days

While traveling you are likely to experience some dreary weather.

This bunny is grumpy, don’t be the grumpy bunny

Rainy days can make even the most joyful of travelers a little grumpy. But don’t worry, there is plenty to do while you wait out the weather!

Here are five rainy day activities that are sure to brighten your mood:

#1 Build yourself a fort or castle.

This is a great opportunity to do something useful with all the new architectural information that you picked up while viewing those historic castles, see Travel Tip #6.

#2 Play a game of Jenga.

Jenga

Play Jenga alone or with a group of friends, it’s always a good time.

Easy does it…

Careful, careful now!

Quick, somebody catch it!

Oh bother.

#3 Visit the local bar and join in the pub quiz.

Pub quizzes are great for learning about different cultures and making new buddies, be sure to try the crisps.

#4 Go to the local shops

#5 Go out for cream tea.

Never mind that there is no tea in the picture, there are more important things to consume!

View more of my Travel Tips.

Travel Tip #6: Don’t get Locked in the Castle

Posted on by

Travel Tip #6: Advice from a Purple Hippo

It is important to be aware of closing times when visiting historic locations.

Exterior ruins of Huntly Castle situated in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

One can easily become enthralled to the point of distraction when visiting fascinating castles.

Arrow loop in Huntly Castle

While this is usualy a good thing, it can lead to disaster if one is not aware of the castle’s closing hour.

They are serious when they say closing time is at 5:30

When a castle closes they lock the two means of entrance and escape that the entire place has to offer.

This bright window may appear to be a way out, but the fall is much too long

You may see what appears to be an exit.

A glimmer of hope

But it never is, you will quickly learn that castles were built as defense structures, making exiting them quite difficult.

These iron bars were easy for me to slip through, but I could not leave my camera crew behind

Once you understand that there is no means of escape, you must phone the local police and inform them that you seem to have gotten yourself locked in the castle and could they please come let you out. When phoning the police it is also helpful to know the name of your prison, which is why Travel Tip #5 is so important.

Waiting, sheepishly

Once you have phoned the police, wait about an hour until they send someone to extract you.

Travel Tip #5: Remembering Where you Are and Were

Posted on by

Travel Tip #5: Advice from a Purple Hippo

After a while, all those castles and gardens are going to start looking the same.

By the time you get home you may have a great deal of trouble identifying where you were when you took a specific picture.

Huntly Castle situated in Aberdeenshire, Scotland

To minimize this unfortunate occurrence, try taking pictures of signs and markers when you arrive somewhere new. This way you will have an information starting point when you are going back over your photos.

Close-ups of the signs will help with readability

This travel tip can also help if you get lost or stranded somewhere, see Travel Tip #6.