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THE TAFARI TRAVELER

Kiss or Kiss Kiss...That is the Question

I am advocate for embracing different cultures and I have definitely mumbled the words "when in Rome" from time to time. However, its not easy keeping track of numerous cultural traditions. Therefore, when you do like the locals but you are not a local, you run the risk of...doing it wrong. 

The most difficult cultural tradition for me to remember is the kiss on the check greeting. Some countries prefer one cheek, others prefer two cheeks, and then there is me who kind of lingers in between the one and two cheek kiss. I always wonder if my greeter feels as uncomfortable as I look. These customs usually leave me wondering things such as: How loud should my kiss be? Or, do I actually kiss the cheek or just make a kiss like motion in the general vicinity of the cheek? Quite honestly I can't really answer these questions because I haven't figured it out myself. Hopefully, however, I can clarify which countries prefer which technique. 

One Kiss

• Argentina - One kiss on the right cheek but only if you have already met the person. If its your first meeting, you shake hands. This applies to both men and women.
  
• Chile - Women receive and give one air kiss on the right cheek as a greeting and as a form of goodbye. 

Kiss, Kiss

• Austria - After you get to know someone it is common to greet someone with an air kiss on each cheek. 
  
• Brazil - If you are a woman and you are greeting your friends, you most likely will exchange air kisses on both cheeks, maybe even multiple times depending on how close of friends you are. 
  
• France - When greeting friends and family the French usually kiss each check starting with the left side. Its usually a good idea not to initiate a kiss but be ready to respond if someone greets you this way. 
  
• New Zealand - The typical greeting in New Zealand is a handshake. However, the traditional greeting amongst Maori people is called a hongi. Women are kissed once on the cheek and men press noses together with eyes closed while making a "mm-mm" sound. When in doubt just go with the handshake! 
  
• Turkey - Close friends of either sex may kiss on each cheek in addition to giving a two handed handshake. When you greet elders it is customary to kiss their hand and touch it to your forehead. 
  

Kiss, Kiss...and then Another!

• Belgium - If you know someone well, expect air kisses in the pattern of right cheek, left cheek, right cheek. 
  
• Morocco - Members of the same sex often kiss their friends once on one cheek and twice on the other. 
  
• The Netherlands - Close friends, although never two men, will kiss each other three times starting and ending with the left cheek. 
  
• Switzerland - Always assume you are going to greet with a handshake. However, if you are greeted with a kiss on the cheek, expect three kisses. 
  

So there you have it! If you feel like this post opened the door to a million more questions then you are not alone. Trust me, I feel the same way! I left out some Western European countries because they don't have a specific kiss protocol.  Usually a handshake will suffice but amongst friends it is common to give multiple kisses. When greeting someone in the United Kingdom it can get awkward. Much like in the United States, people are introducing the one or two kiss technique. Therefore, there isn't a salutation norm so no one really knows if they should shake hands or go in for the kiss. 

My resource for this post is one of my favorite guidebooks, Behave Yourself! The Essential guide to International Etiquette. If I forgot a country, please leave a comment! 

Travel Library - Queen of the Road

Queen of the Road by Dorren Orion. "The True Tale of 47 States, 22,000 milles, 200 Shoes, 2 Cats, 1 Poodle, a Husband, and a Bus with a Will of Its Own."

Looking for a light summer read that makes you yearn for adventure? Pick up the Queen of the Road and you will find yourself laughing out loud on page one and inspired by about page 95. When I say this book will make you "yearn for adventure," I not necessarily referring to rock climbing or parachuting out of airplanes. I am speaking about a more terrifying adventure such as tossing all of your fancy belongings, renovating a 1998 Prevost bus, and traveling around the country in an attempt to rectify a midlife crisis. Queen of the Road is a testament that a crazy idea can not only be made into reality but it can change you for the better. This book is a travelogue of one couple, completely clueless about the open road, trying to get themselves from one coast to another as well as everywhere in between. The challenges and mishaps that this couple faces at the onset of their journey are entirely relatable not to mention hysterical. As their journey comes to a close, you too will feel the same nostalgia that they felt. Before you are even done with the book, I guarantee that you will be looking forward to your next midlife crisis and the adventures that it will bring. 

Travel Guide - Fly Solo

Fly Solo: The 50 Best Places on Earth for a Girl to Travel Alone written by Teresa Rodriguez Williamson. 

I was drawn to this book because I am female who often travels alone. However, after flipping through the pages I realized it was a fun travel resource for anyone, whether you were traveling solo or with a circus full of people. The icing on the cake is that all of the suggestions are ideal for female solo travelers. 

The book features various destinations that are both fun and safe for female solo travelers. The author also categorizes travel opportunities based on what she calls CAWS: Cultural Opportunities, Activity Level, Weather Preference, and Social Interaction. You can pick through the book's offerings according to how strongly you feel about each category. My favorite part is the "Accessory" section listed under each destination. No, I am not talking accessories like Jimmy Choos or Chanel watches. They are basic but essential suggestions for what you should bring with you when you travel, making it informative for any type of traveler. 

I strongly urge you to visit your local bookstore and pickup this useful and easy to read travel guide, especially if you are a female solo traveler. The publisher's retailer price is $15.95. 

New York City from a Pickled Perspective

Christopher Columbus not only sailed the ocean blue but he was the first to bring pickles to The New World. By the early sixteen hundreds, New York City had the largest concentration of commercial picklers. In 1895, 47 years prior to the introduction of Vlasic's well known pickles, picklers began opening pickle shops along Ludlow Street in the lower east side of New York City. In over 200 pickle shops, pickles were cured in large barrels filled with a variety of flavored brines.  Picklers would travel the northeast selling their pickle selections at weekend street fairs. 

This little bit of pickle history comes courtesy of the New York Food Museum, which hosts a Pickle Day every year. This year Pickle Day will take place on October 4th, 2009 on Broome between Essex and Ludlow. Since Pickle Day is still a few months away I decided to take my own pickle tour during a recent visit to New York City. 

I am a HUGE fan of pickles. Therefore, when I read about New York City's pickle history I thought it would be a fantastic experience to wander around one of my favorite cities, trying different flavors of home-cured pickles that have made Ludlow Street famous. What I found was a pickle lovers paradise. Being someone who has grown up with Vlasic and Claussen I was fascinated by the barrels and barrels of flavored pickles. I am now well aware that a pickle is not just a dill pickle. There are so many flavors of pickles that you can fill a small warehouse full of barrels, all different flavors. For all of you pickle lovers I highly suggest taking your own walking tour of New York City's pickle gems. The picklers that you will meet at each of these pickle shops are often 3rd generation picklers who have great stories to tell. 

These days there are not many pickle shops left on Ludlow Street. Many of the famous pickle stalls have closed their doors or moved to the outskirts of the city. However, there are a few gems that have withstood the years of changing tastes in pickles. Following are a few pickle shops that offer a great pickled perspective on New York City:

Pickle guys

49 Essex Street (corner of Essex and Grand)

Guss' Pickles

87 Orchard Street (corner of Broome and Orchard)

Katz's Deli - not a pickle shop but this famous deli offers great pickles alongside a fantastic slice of corned beef

205 E. Houston Street (corner of Ludlow and Houston)

Just Pickles

569 9th Avenue (corner of 9th and 42nd)

Dine Out and 'Veg Out'

I love the thrill of dining out while traveling and searching through tantalizing menu items, anticipating the tastes and flavors of previously unknown dishes. I am lucky in that I am able and willing to try just about anything. 

Lets see there was the sea urchin in Japan (tastes like tuna tartare,) bone marrow in New York City, and the unidentified object in Thailand. However, I find it a tad intimidating and frustrating trying to search for that perfect restaurant while traveling. Therefore, I can only imagine how difficult it is to search for restaurants abroad for people who have dietary restrictions or preferred dining habits. In addition, being a vegetarian must especially difficult in countries where meat is the main ingredient i.e. Brazil or Argentina. 

So for the vegetarians or vegans out there I found two online resources that hopefully will make it a little easier to find the perfect restaurants while traveling abroad. 

Happy Cow - In my opinion this is the best site for searching international vegetarian or vegan restaurants. It is very user friendly, covers a vast range of destinations, and the recommendations are authentic, good eats. You can also submit your own recommendations for veggie eats as well as join the community of vegetarian travelers. I also found their Facebook Fan Page to be a valuable source if information. 

VegDining.com - I am not a fan of the design of this website. However, it seems to be very popular. It isn't as user friendly as Happy Cow. However, I think it houses more content and resources than Happy Cow. VegDining.com features travel destinations and their vegetarian delights as well as extensive profiles of various restaurants. You can also access recipes, special offers, and join their VegDining rewards program. Their Facebook Fan Page has over 6,000 fans so apparently they are doing something right.

Africa, To Me

What is Africa to me:

Copper sun or scarlet sea, 

Jungle star or jungle track

One three centuries removed

From the scenes his fathers loved, 

Spicy grove, cinnamon tree, 

What is Africa to me?

         - Countee Cullen, "Heritage"

The date was December 2005 and the significance was: My first trip to the African continent. I left Los Angeles, CA bound for Cape Town, South Africa, which was where I was going to begin a 25 day trip through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. I probably can give you a minute by minute recap of my entire trip to the southern region of Africa. Every single day within that timeframe was unforgettable as well as...no, I am not going to be cliche and say life changing but I will say humbling, paralyzing, and rejuvenating.  

Africa, to me is humbling. It is humbling because of its significance to history, to the present, and to the future. It is humbling because of the way of life and generosity of its people. It is humbling because of its intimidating size and complexity of natural obstacles to overcome. It is humbling because of the diversity of not only mankind but of living creatures. 

Africa, to me is paralyzing. It is paralyzing because of its vast beauty and endless skyscapes. It is paralyzing because it is unplanned, unprogramed, and unexpected. It is paralyzing because of the magnitude of need and the abundance of powerless people. It is paralyzing because you know you will never look at the world the same way again. I should also mention that it is quite paralyzing when an animal like the one in the picture to the right, charges your vehicle! 

Africa, to me is rejuvenating. It is rejuvenating because it is one of the few places on earth where you can truly escape and be miles from civilization. It is rejuvenating because it is humbling and paralyzing. It is rejuvenating because the days are long, as are the nights, and the food is filling. It is rejuvenating because you will have seen many friendly faces and have experienced lasting memories. 

What does Africa mean to you?