The main reason we took the first month of traveling in California was to ensure we did not miss Dirk’s sister’s Stagette in Disneyland. I have been to Disneyland twice and Walt Disney World once.

My first visit to Disney was with my friend Kellie in July of 1994. We had just finished our final exam to become accountants, after four years we deserved this break. We arrived with a full suitcase of excitement and anticipation. These were the days when you had to wait in line with patience, which not one person under 12 had any of. The heat was unbearable, so I had a full understanding why these kids were losing their fucking minds. It was at this point that I felt that this was not a place for children and anyone bringing someone under the age of 12 was just plain crazy. But, even with the heat and the crying kids, I leave with one thought: ‘This place is so fucking cool.’

My next visit in 1998 was just as fun as the first. What struck me most was how familiar, yet different this visit was. Not only had they introduce a new ride, construction of a new theme park was underway.  The anticipation that a expansion was in the making – doubling up on what was already an awesome experience. I felt like a child on a sugar high, two parks in one place, genius.

The only time I visited Disney World was on a stop over between Allentown and Leeds. Again, I was hit by the brilliance of the park. Three Theme Parks in One!!  And, to top it all off the ‘FASTPASS’. What?! Just grab a ticket with your ride time, then walk around taking in all the sites and sounds. When your time comes, walk right up to the front of the line, it was like your name was finally on the list.

Disney World was also my first experience with ‘Downtown Disney’. By day filled with families, children running amuck, by night an adult only playground. It was filled with bars, restaurants and shows. You were id’d before entering the area, no kids or strollers to maneuver.

It has now been around 17 years since I was last at Disneyland. Things have changed, yet stayed the same. The incredible details in Disneyland still have you looking in every direction. Not only do I see more, I am hearing more. One window above is open, the sounds of a man showering, brushing his teeth and shaving can be heard. Another window, a dog barking and his master trying to quiet him.

California Adventure is now open, the same attention to detail is everywhere. Am I really walking down Main Street in Radiator Springs? Is that building really a tissue box in ‘a bugs land’? Is that person carrying a beer? Yes, this park allows the consumption of alcohol as you are walking around enjoying your day. At the end of our third night, we saw a couple that clearly had consumed too much. They were trying to out fox the attendant at the ride by ducking into the fastpass lane, alcohol had impaired their stealth mode. We had to laugh as the attendant threw his hands up in disbelief and called up to the ride to ensure these geniuses were asked to leave.

They also have a Downtown Disney, albeit kids are allowed in at all times. The number of strollers to avoid has grown, not only in number, but in shear physical size. Families now push double wide strollers – I am guessing the American version of upping the neighbours with a bigger and better model.

Attending Disney at the end of April was by far the least amount of people in attendance as compared to my first three times. Most wait times were less than twenty minutes, some none at all. At one point Dirk realized we had already hit seven rides and the park had only been open an hour. We were able to ride our favourite rides at least three times. Each time I discovered something I did not notice the first time, an amazing detail or a catchy saying.

At the end of four days in Disneyland, we are completely exhausted. But as I am leaving, the same thought crosses my mind. ‘This place is so fucking cool!!’

Travel Tip:

If you are going to Disneyland, be prepared with a large amount of patience. As magical a trip, it can be very tiring with thousands of people trying to get on the same ride as you. Bring a small backpack with a water bottle, there are many places to fill these. Ensure you have a hat and light jacket in your pack, weather can change and the nights are cooler. If you are willing to ride alone, hit the single rider line. They are faster, but you will not be sitting with your friends. To pass the time in the long line ups, pick up a ‘Hidden Mickey’ book. This will tell you where the ingenious creators hidden Mickey symbols all over the park. 

When I was a child, my mother always commented on how hard her life was. She walked to school uphill both ways in the snow. There was no TV, microwave ovens, cell phones or the internet. There was radio and party lines.

We as children had it easy, she always said.

Dirk and I are travelling with electronics. We have turned off my cell phone until we returning from Asia, using just Dirks. We both have our laptops, plus an iPad. These help us stay in contact with family, letting them know we are okay. Plus I can post witty blogs about our adventures.

We are now ending our month in California and I am amazed at the overuse of technology. We are sitting on a bus tour at the San Diego zoo, the boy in front of me is playing a game on his iPad, the girl beside me is texting nonstop. But at least their not annoying their parents with questions about the animals.

No one can walk without looking at their phones. I don’t think anyone is going to miss anything in life while walking from the car and into the shopping mall. Wouldn’t you want to cross the street and not get hit by a car? Or would you rather ensure your friends know you got their text? Most people prefer the latter.

What about dining? When did we stop caring about the art of conversation? Did you really come to the restaurant to meet friends just to play on your phones? I look around the restaurant, parents and children not talking. All intently looking at their phones as whatever is on them is much more important then asking their child how their days was.

I had lots of rules to follow. No TV until your homework was done. No going to see your friends until your chores were done. We had to be home for dinner. Not just to eat, but to help prepare the meal, set the table, and clean up afterwards. If the phone rang, no one was to answer. There was no answering machine, people had to call back. The TV was turned off, the only entertainment was the stories we told of our day.

Dirk and I are trying to go back to those days. We have cancelled cable. We are trying to leave the cell phone alone at the restaurant. We still have a few steps to go before we are not always linked to our devices, but while sight seeing, we are actually looking at the sights.

Click here for more funny phone addiction cartoons.

Travel Tip:

When traveling abroad (outside of Canada and the US) have your cell phone carrier unlock your phone. When you arrive at each country, purchase a SIM card. This works best if you are staying in a country for longer then one week. Phones that are not being taken can be put on ‘hibernate’ while you travel for a small fee. Better than paying your full bill while you are gone.

Since we have a year off, we have no excuse but to get in shape. We have the time.

I wrote a blog a while back about getting old, it sucks. Dirk and I are now experiencing aches and pains, mostly in our backs. There are nights we can’t sleep due to the pain and wake up not so refreshed. His has a surprising amount of arthritis in his spine, mine an old soccer injury that is raising its ugly head again.

I decided to tried running to get back in shape. It is an easy work out without having to buying a expensive membership that, in the end, I would probably not use. Running is something you can do anywhere in the world and, since we are travelling, I decided it was a great choice. I started by taking it very slow at the beginning and only going short distances until I could build up to a 5 km run. After about of month, I was ready to do the 5 km run again. It did not end well. After only me second 5 km run, I didn’t walk without pain for two days as my knees were so sore.

That’s when I decided to start doing yoga with Dirk. He had found an app called ‘Yoga Studio‘ and was very excited about it. Yoga is also great for travelling. All you need is small clothing and about an hour. Ever city has yoga. Do it by the pool, in the hotel room, on the beach or in a park.

Being new to yoga, I had no idea about the moves so hearing camel, rabbit, fish, cobra, pigeon had me wondering why they are all named after animals. What was I getting myself into?

I also realized I am as flexible as a tree trunk. So forward bends that have you reaching for your toes and placing your chest to your thighs was not happening. I was merely waving my hands in the air above my toes. After the first few sessions, my hamstrings were in pain. Walking was very difficult.

A month passes and things are looking up. I no longer think it strange to be told to move into King Dancer. Gone are the aches and pains after practicing. I am starting to feel great about my progress. Then Dirk insists we need to move out of the beginner sessions and onto the intermediate.

Now, the new aches and pains begin. I had only gotten my larger muscles use to the daily stretching and bending, but the little guys were still not included in my progress. Within a few days, it is not the stiffness that returns, but old aches of injuries past. I can’t sit back on my tail bone, it is too painful. Even going the bathroom hurts. How can yoga be good for you if you can’t shit without pain?

During the second month, I start to get use to these constant aches, even welcoming them as progress. I am seeing a different in my body. Muscles are forming. I no longer fear the dreaded yoga push-up but welcome it as a sign of my improvement.

Unfortunately, on the third month, things start to slow down and we don’t practice as often. We are moving city to city faster. Leaving early in the morning when we would have been doing yoga. Rooms are also smaller so there is no room to practice. Going outside is not an option, in the 42C heat, both of us would pass out in the first 5 minutes.

Month four begins and we have not practiced in a week. I am sick so the thought of any bending makes my already hurting head worse. As I slowly heal, I am able to return to our daily yoga regime, but I seemed to have taken a step back. I guess that is why they call it ‘practice’ as if you don’t keep it up, you may lose what you worked so hard to gain.

In the end, I no longer feel like a tree trunk, my flexibly has improved to what I fondly called ‘a green stick’.

Here are a few pictures of my progress – as you can see – month four has taken a step back.

Travel Tip:

Staying in shape is hard at the best of times. Staying is shape on vacation is exponentially harder when all you do is eat and drink. After the first month, we had gain about 4 kg each. This spurred on a few changes to our travel life. Drinking was only at night and not every night. Yoga is a great travel workout. You can do it in your hotel room or if your lucky, the hotel has a fitness centre. Adding cardio is key. Walk as much as you can each day. Try to avoid snacking during the day, but if you do grab a piece fruit.