Trail Food: Simple but Essential

Packing food for Wonderland trail 10 days, 93 miles backpacking trip. Everyday, I drink coffee in the morning, then start moving right away, 4 bars throughout the day, and one hot meal from freeze dried packet for dinner. The same energy source daily. Learning to overcome deprivation in everyday convince is part of the hiking. It makes me appreciate everything I have now.

10天93英里徒步行的食物。每天吃的都一样：早起喝咖啡然后立即起程，白天边走边吃能量棒，到了晚饭才吃一顿热的。

学习适应失去每天的方便生活，是徒步的一部分。让我感激我现在已经拥有的。
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Hawaii Trip Planning Lessons Learned 夏威夷行程计划经验教训

Planning a trip is a long process. It takes time, effort, open mind and team work. Here is our (two people) preparation lessons learned and steps for Hawaii two weeks trip.

1. Use Google document, Google Map sharing feature for the planning. It is very convenient when two people are on very different schedules. Since it is in a central location, both can see the latest information and what needs to be done next (Microsoft Excel Status: Green-Done, Yellow-Need to reserve, Red-don't have plan, Blue - the maybes).

2. TripAdvisor website, any useful online resources will give you a list of "Must-sees" and "Best-of". Do prioritize and select what are the most import to YOU! For example, here is what's important for us:

• Staying in Kauai the longest because we are doing 3 day Napali Coast hiking. Lots of offshore snorkeling and scuba diving. 
• Going to Mauna Kea Summit of Big Island  (13,796 feet or 4,205 meters) to see the sunset then stargazing is a must. So we do this right away when we arrive Hawaii.
• Hiking Stairway to Heaven and Diamond Head is high priority in Oahu.

3. Once you know what you want to do and their locations. Plot on Google Map and divide the activities for each day.

4. Depending on the activities, you need to consider the restrictions. For example, if you want do scuba diving, then should not plan any high elevation hike or flights 18hrs after diving due to risk of DCS (Decompression Sickness. Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decompression_sickness)

5. Online resources are great. But guide books are always useful. We use the books to fine-tune our plan (currently in progress) We borrowed guide books from the local library and bring them with us for the trip. In case we don't have everything print out or no WiFi, we can always have the guide books.

Not all trips need such intensive planning.  The above trip planning methods are only for a place full of different activities and sightseeing spots like Hawaii. It takes a long time for two people. At the end it will be worth while! No matter what, the trip will end up great and create lots of memories!

Do you have trip planning tips to share?

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（中文）
计划行程是一个漫长的过程。需要时间，精力，体谅心态和团队精神。以下是我们（两个人）夏威夷2周之旅准备的经验教训和步骤。

1.  使用谷歌文档，谷歌地图分享功能规划。这非常方便因为当两个人都很忙，聚在一起计划的时间少。文档和地图都存在共享的一个地方，任何人都可以看到最新信息，和还有下一步哪些需要做的。（Microsoft Excel Status: 绿=完成，黄=需要预约，红色=还没有计划，蓝色=也许做的活动）。

2.  TripAdvisor网站，任何有用的在线资源，会给你的“必须看”和“最佳”的名单。优先选择哪些是最合适你的！各花入各眼。例如：

• 对于我们来说，我们在Kauai岛最长。因为我们喜欢3天Napali Coast海岸徒步露营。岛上还有很多海边浮潜和水肺潜水活动。
• 对我们来说，去大岛Big Island的Mauna Kea 峰（13796英尺/4205米）看日落，然后观星是我们做想做的。所以这是我们到夏威夷立即安排的活动。 
• 对我们来说，远足天国阶梯（Stairway to Heaven）和钻石头（Diamond Head）在Oahu岛也是一定要体验的。

3.  当你知道你想要做的和它们的位置，在Google地图和分配每一天活动。

4.  你需要考虑某些活动对别的活动的限制。例如，如果你想要做水肺潜水，就不应计划潜水18小时后做任何高海拔徒步旅行或飞行，这是为了减少患DCS减压病的危险（减压病信息：http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decompression_sickness）

5.  网上的资源超级多。但导游书总是有用的。我们目前正在用导游书微微调整计划。我们的导游书是从图书馆借的。 旅行时也会带。如果旅行中没有我们打印一些资料或没有WiFi，我们手里还有导游书。

不是每次旅行计划都要这样周密的计划。以上行程规划方法仅适用于如夏威夷，一个活动多多和观光景点多多的地方。计划需要很长的时间。但最后值得的！不管是什么，旅途最终会很美好，留下很多的回忆！

你有旅行计划的小窍门吗？

背包客的私人岛体验 - 美国佛罗里达海龟国家公园

想走就走！2012年圣诞节，我们决定要租车开车24 +小时到佛罗里达！
我们的主要目的地是海龟国家公园 (Dry Tortugas National Park)。 （详细：http://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm）这是我第二次来佛罗里达。我上次是玩Keys 和 Key West， 错过了海龟国家公园。海龟国家公园是Key West以西70海里的小岛。它以前是一所监狱然后成为了炮台。用渡轮和小飞机可以来到这里。

我们在这岛3天2晚露营12/24号，12/25号，12/26下午离开。 （整个行程两个人就用了400美金多一点！）

我们是坐小轮船到海龟岛的。（详细：http://www.drytortugas.com/key-west-camping）
必须5：30前在渡轮码头报到。地址：Ferry Terminal 100 Grinnell St, Key West, FL. 坐船大约2小时。
停车：City Parking Garage on Grinnell Street 城市停车库。 $ 13 /天。
渡船+营地费用（12/2012的时候）：每人174美元。

费用还包括约一小时的导游。国家公园的导游带游堡垒，并解释了有关该岛的历史。您将了解岛如何得这个名，还有为了救病人但由于病人是林肯杀手而被囚禁Dr. Mudd医生在这里的监狱故事。午餐时间是自由时间，你可以浮潜（包括在费用里），散散步，然后当天下午回去。

我们是露营，所以留下来两晚。因为圣诞假期，我们基本上是和其他5个家庭分享整个岛。很宁静，很有乐趣！一日游的旅客离开了就成为我们的私人岛！我们带了自己的呼吸管和潜水衣（十二月有点冷），所以我们可以任何时间浮潜。

说到露营，岛上没有淡水，所以你需要自己带水，食物，木炭，卫生纸，没有淋浴（还有其它的）。本来我们是可以带新鲜食品类，但贪方便决定带冻干食物。洗碗很简单，海水洗就行。 

你可以在岛上做了很多好玩的！ 

你可以四处走走，赏鸟，拍拍照。

你可以浮潜。 

你甚至可以去钓鱼和划船（其他旅客的照片，你需要自己带设备）。要有钓鱼证和捕后释放。这里可以钓到鲨鱼和巨人石斑鱼 :) 

尽管你是穷游背包客， 还是可以在这里享受一流的私人岛经验！ 

海龟国家公园的夕阳实在是太美了！

Backpacker's Private Island Experience - Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

If you wanna go, go! So for Christmas 2012, we just decided to get a rental car and drive 24+ hours to Florida!

Our main target to visit was Dry Tortugas National Park this time. (Info: http://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm) This was my second time visit the keys. The last time I stopped by all the keys and Key West, and missed out on Dry Tortugas. Dry Tortugas National Park is 70 miles west of Key West. It previous was a prison but became Fort Jefferson. One can get there with ferry or a small plane.

We spent 2 night 3 days in Dry Tortugas camping on 12/24, 12/25, leaving 12/26. (The whole trip was a little over $400 for two people!)

We arrived on Dry Tortugas by Ferry (Info: http://www.drytortugas.com/key-west-camping). 

• Must be at the ferry dock by 5:30 AM. Address: Ferry Terminal 100 Grinnell St, Key West, FL. Ferry ride is about 2 hours.
• Parking: City Parking Garage on Grinnell Street. $13/day.
• Cost of Ferry + Camping (12/2012): $174 per person.

The tour was wonderful, there was a guide from the National Park to show us around the fort, and explained about the history of the island. You will learn about how the island got its name and the story of Dr. Mudd who was prisoned here because he saved the injured assassin of President Lincoln. The lunch time is free time and you can snorkel and walk about the fort and leave on the same day.

Because of the holiday, we basically share the entire island with 5 other camping families. It was peaceful and fun! We loved the idea of camping for a few days because we had the whole island all to ourselves after everyone departed. We did bought our own snorkels and wet suits (it was a little chilly in December) so we can do that any time.

Speaking of camping, there is no fresh water on the island, so you need to bring gallon jars of water and your own food, charcoal, toilet paper, no showers (you get the drill). We could make a nice meals with a cooler full of fresh food but we decided to bring freeze dried food food instead due to convenience. Washing dishes was easy, just wash with the sea water.

You can do a lot on the island!!

You can walk around, bird watching, and take pictures.

You can snorkel. 

You can even go fishing and kayaking (pictures of other travelers. You need to bring your own equipment).

Release after catching. Note: You can see shark & Goliath grouper :)

Anyone can be a budget traveler and enjoy "first class" private island experience here!

The sunset of Dry Tortugas is AMAZING!

Change is Tough 改变是痛苦的

Change is Tough.

After two years and eight months, 288 times of working out at the gym (no including outdoor workout), I finally canceled my gym membership today. (My commute is 50+ minutes, so it is very difficult for me to beat traffic and get to gym without feeling overwhelmed with time management. So I have been workout at the gym at work for the last three weeks. Then I realized that it is time to say goodbye to my current gym.)

I want to write about my feeling today because the moment that the receptionist said "you are all set", I felt sad...

This gym brought out the best of me, I used to make myself go for the gym classes. I became healthier and more confident, then I ran my first half Marathon. My travelling become more and more active and adventurous. Fitness made my life and travel better.

I felt that the gym define who I am today but I am making a change. and the future is uncertain. But I should be Okay. After all this time, working out has been a habit and I learned ways to teach myself be motivated.

One said it only takes 21 days to build a habit, so whatever you are pursuing is possible with a little effort at a time and you will become reach your goal sooner and sooner.

（中文）
改变是痛苦的。

经过两年零八个月，在健身室锻炼的288次（不包括户外锻炼），我今天终于取消健身室会籍。（我上下班是50+分钟一程，所以每次下班后要堵车然后运动，时间管理很难。过去的三个星期我一直在公司的健身室午饭时间锻炼好省时间，然后我意识到，是时候跟我现在的健身室说再见了。）

我今天想写写我的感觉。 因为前台小姐说“一切搞定”那一刻，我感到失落。。。

在健身室练出最好的我，我以前是逼自己去的健身。现在我变得更健康，更自信，今年跑了人生的第一个半程马拉松。运动让我旅行变得越来越活跃和冒险。健身让我的生活和旅行更美好。

健身室定义了今天的我，但现在我要做出改变。而未来是未知。我应该是没问题的。毕竟这些日子，运动已经习惯，我也学会了如何让自己继续努力坚持。

有专家说只需要21天打造一个习惯，所以追求的目标是能够在一点点时间一点点努力地达到。加油吧！

Travel & Fitness 旅行与体能

Starting 2008, I fell in love with travelling. From 2008 and 2012, I have traveled many places in the world already. During this period my traveling methods were walking sightseeing, rental car, etc... activities which did not required a high level of fitness.

Machu Picchu of Peru has been a place I always wanted to visit. And getting there with a train ride is not an option because I would love to hike the Inca Trail to experience how to get to Machu Picchu though the mountains just like the people hundreds years ago. Inca Trail is a 4 day 3 nights journey. Everyday is a 7 to 8 hours strenuous hike consists with mountains and jungles. The highest elevation is 4200 meters. Camping is required and no showers (for me at least) because the temperature at night is very cold. Before Machu Picchu, I had NEVER done camping nor long distance hiking. I was not sure if I even would like it. Also, I was always a couch potato and never did any workout or regular outdoor activities.

January 2012, I had made up my mind to book my ticket to Peru and Ecuador in July for 3 weeks. It was the longest vacation. I had 6 months to prepare for this vacation. I needed to increase my fitness. It was a coincidence that a friend referred us for a gym membership. So I made up my mind joined right away. For the love of travel, for the love of experience the travel in a new way, I worked out at least 4 times a week. I could see my fitness was improving so much and I lost weight in a healthy way without dieting.

When July came, I enjoyed every minute of my trip. I hiked the Inca Trail! It was so tough, I complained but I loved it! When you try your best see get what you wanted (in my case was the beautiful views and experiences), all you feel is achievement. I still remember that day sitting in the above cloud mountain, looking at the beautiful view, I was happy, I felt like I can do anything I want. And this feeling has "embedded" to my brain like I am a microchip. I became more determined and know what I want for myself and not influence much by others. I am grateful I discovered this at my age.

If it was not for the Machu Picchu experience in 2012, I probably not done as much the last two years. Since then, I hiked and camped long trip, I mountain biked at the Atlas mountains in Morocco, I rode camel in Sahara Dessert, I just got scuba diving certified. Looking back, I can never imagine I can do so much. Travelling have change my fitness, and fitness have change my travelling. All I need to do just keep it going. We only have one body, and I need to take good care of mine to experience the world.

Next time anyone travel, I recommend to challenge oneself and do something new. After all, it will only be a gain.

（中文）
从2008年我就爱上旅游。2008到2012年，我已经游历世界很多地方了。此期间我的旅游方式是步行观光，租车，和等等一些不需要高体能的活动。

秘鲁的马丘比丘是我一直想去的地方。别人是可以搭乘火车一天游，但这不是我想要的。我很想体验古人几百年从印加古道翻山越岭地到达马丘比丘。印加古道是4天3夜的旅程。最高海拔为4200米。每天7〜8小时高山和丛林艰苦的徒步旅行。因为夜间气温非常寒冷所以不能洗澡，露营是必需的。登马丘比丘之前，我从来没有露营过，更不要提长途远足了。我也不知道我会不会喜欢露营远足。另外，我那时是一个沙发土豆，从来没有锻炼或经常户外活动。

2012年1月，我已经下定了决心买票游秘鲁和厄瓜多尔月3礼拜。这是我最长的假期。那时我还有6个月做准备：就是要提高我的体能。有个朋友正巧介绍我们加入健身中心， 我立即下定决心加入了。对旅行的热爱，为了体验旅行新方式，我每周至少4次健身。健身减重不节食，我体能也提高了许多。

当七月来了，我享受旅行的每一分钟。我徒步登了印加古道！它是如此艰难，途中我抱怨过，但我喜欢！当你尽你所能见得到你所想要的（在我这情况是美景和体验），那是无尽的成就感。我还记得那天坐在高过云的山峰上，看着美景，我特别高兴。我感觉我可以做任何我想要的事情。而这种感觉就像我是一个微芯片而它就“嵌入”到我的大脑。旅途回来以后我变得更加坚定，知道我想要的而不会被他人影响。我很感激在我那个年龄想开了。

如果不是因为2012年的马丘比丘经验，我可能不会在以后的两年实现那么多。从那时起，我远足和长途野营旅行，我在摩洛哥阿特拉斯山脉骑越野单车，我在撒哈拉沙漠骑上骆驼，我刚考到潜水证。回想起来，我永远无法想象我可以做这么多。旅游改变了我的体能，而体能改变我的旅行。我需要做只是保持下去。我们就只有一个身体，我需要照顾好它让我体验世界。

我建议任何旅行的人去挑战自己，做一些新的东西。不管怎样，只有得，没有失。

Masked booby 橙嘴蓝脸鲣鸟

Masked booby, a seabird looks like he's wearing a mask, like the superheros.

Adult (yellow peak) and chick look totally different. Our tour guide Washington explained that Mothers lay two eggs, several days apart. Two eggs are laid so that if one gets destroyed or eaten, or the first chick dies soon after hatching, the second egg will be the backup. If both eggs hatch, the elder chick pushes its sibling out of the nest area, leaving it to die of thirst or cold. Talk about survival of the fittest. 

There are 3 kinds of boobies in the Galapagos, red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies and masked boobies.

@Genovesa Island of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

（中文）

橙嘴蓝脸鲣鸟。导游解释妈妈会生两个蛋，各自相差几天。两个蛋是因为假如大蛋被吃了还有小蛋。如果两个蛋都安全无事长大孵化，年长的会把年少的推到巢外直至死亡。这就是自然界的适者生存。

拍于 厄瓜多尔 加拉帕戈斯岛群 Genovesa岛。

Blue Footed Booby 蓝脚鲣鸟

Blue Footed Booby 蓝脚鲣鸟

There are 3 kinds of boobies in the Galapagos, red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies and masked boobies.

@Elizabeth Bay of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

拍于 厄瓜多尔 加拉帕戈斯岛群 Elizabeth Bay。

Red-footed Booby 红脚鲣鸟

Red-footed booby, a seabird with red foot and pastel blue-pink beak. Yes, it is really the cute bubble gum pastel colors.

There are 3 kinds of boobies in the Galapagos, red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies and masked boobies.

@Genovesa Island of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

（中文）

红脚鲣鸟是红色脚粉蓝混粉红嘴的海鸟。好艳的颜色混合！

拍于 厄瓜多尔 加拉帕戈斯岛群 Genovesa岛。

Kindness on the Road 出路遇贵人

It's full of people out there. You encounter people everyday. While independence is great for travelling, it is possible that you need help sometimes. Here are a few examples of my kindness on road experiences:

1. Florida Keys rowing mother-daughter: Because we were rowing, it was difficult to have pictures with us tow together with the boat. The mother-daughter ladies offered to take pictures and email to us.

2. Chinese international student in Germany: I don't speak German, so it is very nice to meet people speak English or Chinese in Germany. On my flight from Karlsschule Germany to Rome, I met this Chinese student and we had dinner in Rome, explored the city together, and share pictures.

3. Mother-Son in Grand Lake, Rocky Mountain Nation Park: The three of us met mother-son at a laundry room in a private campsite. We talked about our 5 day hiking loop and we met the next morning, the mom offer us a ride to the trail head. We saved so much time and a few miles of hike!!

4. Family of 5 in Wild Basin Trailhead Rocky Mountain Nation Park: Because too much of snow (July) , ice and too difficult, we had to end our hike at day 4. By the time we found a way out to any trailhead, we had hiked over 10 hours and no lunch. This trailhead is at least 30 minutes drive from our car. We had to hitchhike. The first person I asked refused. Then I asked a family of husband, wife and 3 kids. Our car was even further than their destination, but the they kindly agreed to help. I am so grateful for that. In the car, the father told me that he was in my situation before so he was willing to help.I also found out that their dream places to visit is Machu Picchu and Galapagos. I have been there, so we exchanged contacts and I sent them my travel itinerary. We both felt that it was destiny that we met because I never know I would be in this trailhead.

When need help in the journey, don't be afraid to ask. The chance of NO is only 50/50 and there are still kind people everywhere.

（中文）
世界充满了人。你每天都接触不同的人。旅行得独立虽好但有时候你也需要帮助的。以下是我旅途遇到的好人：

一）佛罗里达划船母女：因为在划船我们俩一起的照片很难拍。所以这母女主动帮我们拍下照片还电邮寄过来。

二）德国的中国留学生：难得在德国遇到中国人。同班机聊天然后那周末一次吃饭游罗马。还帮我拍照。

三）落山基国家公园母子：我们是在私立露营洗衣房认识的，聊到我们三个背包客的5天行程。隔天早上她主动问我们要不要她送我们直接去登山口。我们省了很多时间和力气啊。

四）落山基国家公园五口家庭：由于七月还有很多雪冰，我们在第四天中断了行程。走了十几个小时没有吃任何食物，终于到了一个出口。那地点离我们车还有30分钟车程。没有办法，只能问人搭顺风车。第一个说不行。问第二辆车是夫妇跟三个小孩。我们要去的地方比他们的目的地更远。好心的他们答应了。我真的很感谢。好心爸爸答应是因为他以前背包有次也要中断，也了解我们的心情。途中聊到他们想游Machu Picchu 和 Galapagos，我答应把我的行程寄给他们。谁会知道我们会中断而在这一个出口遇到好心人，这就是巧合的缘分。

但旅行真的需要帮忙时，不要怕问人。会拒绝的机会只有一半，而好人还是有的。