So you want to travel the world, but you're worried about the huge carbon footprint?

A few days ago, my friend Emily called me out. As a fellow traveler and someone who is worried about the environment, she asked me how I felt about personally contributing tonnes of CO2 pollution to the atmosphere. So I felt like I had to do some research. Comparatively, planes are pretty fuel efficient, getting 48 miles per gallon per seat. Cars and planes generate about the same amount in emissions per traveler.

Recently I discovered climatecare.org. It's a UK based website that encourages users to go "climate neutral." They have a simple video that explains their goals and how they go about the whole project. For my trip, I'd have to donate around $100 to offset all of my flights. I'm not going to donate right now, but if I come in under budget on my trip and have some money left over, this is something that I'd like to support.

Lonely Planet pays to offset all travel incurred by their staff and authors. It's just another reason I think they a completely legit company.

So, really whether I'm traveling by car or plane, I'm doing some damage to the environment. It's important to not get carried away, and I it's good to support charities like Climate Care.

22366 mi

I found a really cool website where you can track out exactly how many miles a trip will be using the airport transit codes. Here's a link to my trip. It takes a while to load.

A change from my usualy (albeit short-lived) form

I’ve decided to start writing again. Not about food, for right now. I want to write intensely about whatever is occupying me at the moment, and for the last few weeks my focus has been shifting rapidly. In the food domain, however, it is worth mentioning that the Cornerstone market just opened. It’s a small fresh produce grocery store on the edge of Fishtown, and it has a small lunch menu that looks delicious. I hope to try it out soon.

With the number of questions that I have in my head for my upcoming trip, and the amount of planning that it’s taking, I feel like it’s a process that is worth documenting.

Thoughts on pre-Departure:

1) The Money Belt: I’ve been reading about these recently. The whole idea of using one sounds kind of lame and overprotective to me. In the past, every hostel I’ve stayed in has offered a locker where valuables can be locked. Most provide locks and keys, but I recommend traveling with a small master lock. Some hostels even have a safe at the front desk where they will keep your passport and plane/train tickets. I did have my pocket picked once, but the thief didn’t get away. I’ll tell you the story sometime if you’d like. A money belt is a small belt with a flat pouch where you can keep valuable on your person and safe at all times.

A money belt seems like an extra, cumbersome item to wear each day. I recommend carrying your wallet in your front pocket, and then simply putting your hands in your pocket when using public transportation or in a particularly crowded group. And always make sure to have some emergency cash in a separate location, just in case.

That being said, additional conversations in the last few days, and the replay of the mantra “better safe than sorry” in my head has lead me to keep my money in a safe place. Although I’m going to opt for a hidden pocket system instead of a belt.

2) Shoes: A few months ago, I bought a really nice pair of North Face Goretex high top hiking boots. Now, I’m worried that these may be too hot and big for the trip that I’m taking. I’ve been reading a lot of good things about Ecco shoes, and I might try to get a pair before I leave. Another conclusion that I’ve come to is that socks are just as important. I’m going to look into acrylic and Teflon socks. They seem to have the benefits of wool, but don’t’ retain as much heat. Good for summer travel.

Surprisingly, there is also a huge internet debate raging right now over Crocs. By huge, I mean on a few travel message boards. There is a group that swears by them, while many decry them for being the shoe of choice for the stupid American abroad. Bottom line: They’re light, don’t require socks, cheap, and can get wet with no problem. These will definitely find a place in my bag.

3) Mobile Phone: The biggest downside to having Verizon as your service provider is that there network is not supported worldwide. I briefly thought about buying a cheap pay as you go phone, but I think payphones are better. Although calling from a payphone in Europe can be expensive, especially if you’re calling a mobile phone, in the long run it’s cheaper than having international phone service. For international calling, Skype is rapidly becoming a staple in internet cafes and hostels. Last time I traveled, I spent $10 on my Skype account and it was enough for me to make my essential phone calls until I got home.

4) Packing: My roommate Jonny told me to take half as many cloths as I was planning. I think that’s a good general rule of thumb, but I was only planning on taking two pairs of pants. When I get my list formulated, I’ll post it here. I’m going to do a “test run” with my backpack. I’m going to put everything in and see if it fits (it really should) and how heavy the bag is. I also want some space for things I pick up along the way. One of biggest problems I’m having is my need for so many travel books. With my RTW trip, I need five different books. I’ve debated between tearing out the sections that I need, photocopying, and packing the whole book and leaving when it’s not longer needed. I haven’t come up with a conclusion.

That’s only four ideas, but I think it’s a good place to end for now.