Our second potential adventure is one that most people who know us would find a curious choice. No one we know would ever describe us as the type to take a cruise, however one cruise has always been on our radar –  a cruise along the rugged coast of Norway with Hurtigruten. They first caught our eye with some amazing photos that a couple fellow bloggers took on their amazing adventure on the quest for the Northern Lights. Having both grown up near the water, we both have an affinity towards boats, and we were immediately hooked on the idea of being dazzled by the northern lights, spotting seabirds and whales, and photographic the picturesque villages that dot the coastal fjords of Norway.

While most cruises have always come off as excuses to gorge oneself with food and lounge in the sun, cruising Norway seems like a different beast altogether. From seeing the magnificent fjords along the more than 2000 km of rugged coastline to witnessing the magic of the Northern lights, these trips seem like they have a different end goal in mind than “just a vacation”. And with excursions like dog-sledding, fishing for and cooking up King Crab, ocean kayaking, and snowmobiling through fresh powder, it seems like you are bound to make memories that will last a lifetime. 

The other factor that intrigues us about Hurtigruten is their seeming commitment to keeping the tours Norwegian. From the completely Norwegian crew to the local food they pick up each day at the cities they stop in to their characteristically Norwegian excursions (fishing anyone?), everything seems poised on given their passengers the complete Norwegian experience.

The final factor that really intrigues us is the potential to cruise during winter. Being from Canada, we love winter activities like skiing and snowshoeing, and the opportunity to combine active winter activities and seeing the Northern Lights for the first time would be a fantastic way to spend part of our winter (also it’s the easiest time for me to get away from work!). There’s also always the possibility of checking a second thing off your bucket list and heading into the Arctic Circle!

How do you feel about cruising in the Winter? Have you ever had an experience like this? Is this something we should have on our honeymoon bucket list? Let us know in the comments below and check out the Hurtigruten site for more details. 

This post was sponsored by Hurtigruten; however, as always, all opinions and words are our own…also if anyone wants to send us on this trip to experience it firsthand we would jump all over that!

The post Honeymoon Potential – Cruising Norway with Hurtigruten appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

The first epic adventure on our honeymoon bucket list is one that won’t surprise anyone – in fact, it’s been a lifelong dream of mine – to visit the Galapagos. Ever since I was a kid, the thought of walking in the footsteps of Charles Darwin on these legendary islands was the inspiration for my interest in the sciences. Snorkeling with sharks and sea lions, walking with tortoises and penguins, bird-watching, kayaking – all were the stuff of my dreams. And our honeymoon might just be the perfect time to experience this amazing place.

But how to do it? Do we go on a cruise, and if so, what type? I would love to be part of a tiny group, especially one with biologists and ecologists to lead you around and enhance your experience. We have been looking at the trips provided by Natural Habitat Adventures and the ones by National Geographic (although we might be priced out of that one!). The thought of being able to have the time to just enjoy the place is what appeals to me most. 

So there you have it, our first potential honeymoon destination. Have you ever been to the Galapagos? Who did you travel with and what was it like? Do you have any recommendations for us? Should we be sure to explore Ecuador as well if we go? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Honeymoon Potential – Galapagos Expedition appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

The interior of British Columbia, Canada experiences the full spectrum of seasons; with temperatures climbing into the high thirties and low forties in the summer, and then crashing well below zero in winter. However, while the changing of the seasons tends to become a blur of mixed conditions (at the moment we are experiencing crisp mornings and warm, sunny afternoons punctuated with the occasional rainy write-off), the seasons themselves are incredibly defined. And honestly this is one of the reasons why we love where we live so much.

Which segues wonderfully into a talk about summer – or winter really, but let’s not even talk about it yet for fear it will hear us and bump up its arrival. Each day that takes us closer to October brings with it the very clear realization that winter is indeed coming, and we don’t have any immediate travel plans to outrun it this year.

Summer in the BC Interior is full of sun soaked days at the beach, water-skiing and swimming at the lake, slow floats down the river on an inner tube with friends, afternoons spent parked comfortably in a lounge chair under a cloudless sky with a cooler full of local craft beer, and evenings toasting marshmallows and laughing around a campfire or at a backyard barbecue. It’s also the season of outdoor events and concerts, sporting events, and road trips – with mid-thirties temperature for almost three months, there really isn’t a good reason not to enjoy every bit of summer possible.

It’s pretty awesome.

However if my words aren’t convincing enough, please let our Instagram account provide some visual support. From a festival solely dedicated to sweet, smoky, saucy bar-b-q pork ribs to the turquoise waters of Kalamalka Lake in the BC Okanagan, to the movie-set-esque wooden trestles of Kelowna’s Myra Canyon, Travis and I packed our summer vacation full of every event and daytrip we could manage between long weekends spent relaxing at Shuswap Lake.

People taking time to relax and watch some live music in the village of Sun Peaks

The unbelievably coloured Kalamalka Lake – the colour comes from the calcite in the water

Beachgoers cool of at Riverside Park in Kamloops, BC

Ribbers take their job seriously at Ribfest – a celebration of all things ribs, and an annual Kamloops tradition

The Ribfest crowd taking some time to enjoy a Fleetwood Mac cover band at Riverside Park in Kamloops

A rainbow appears after a freak summer storm at Shuswap Lake

The beautiful Canada Place on Burrard Inlet in Vancouver.

One of the trestle bridges at Myra Canyon just outside of Kelowna, BC

A young deer eats some ripe cherries in our backyard in Kamloops, BC

Hungry people set off for more scrumptious ribs at Ribfest in Kamloops, BC.

Sun Peaks famous Alpine Blossom Festival takes over the world famous ski resort in the summertime

One of the chairlifts takes hikers and bikers high above Sun Peaks village even in summer.

Little Shuswap River, surrounded by thick forest, near Scotch Creek, BC

A cabin at high-water on Shuswap Lake

One of many neglected shops and garages in the Shuswap

An intricate Art-Deco style doorway found on Vancouver’s Granville Street

A stenciled reminder to put safety first, Riverside Park in downtown Kamloops, BC

Not since Magenta-hued Crush Cream Soda was my beverage of choice (complete with pink-stained tongue, lips, and chin) has my summer been so fun-filled and completely void of all responsibility.

What did you do this summer? Any amazing memories made or exciting adventures? Let us know what you got up to in the comments below, and be sure to connect with us on Instagram if you haven’t already!

The post Summer in the BC Interior – Instagram Roundup appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

As winter approaches and travelers in Europe look for some respite from the constant rain and cold found throughout much of mainland Europe, we would wholeheartedly recommend Malta as a great place to kick back, relax, and recharge for a week or two. Need more convincing than just our trusty recommendation, here are our top 7 reasons to catch a flight to this tiny island in the Mediterranean.

1. The Weather

The waterfront along Sliema – and this is winter!

Perhaps the only downside to traveling through Europe in the winter is the weather. Although it doesn’t get as cold as back in Canada, the perpetual gloom of impending rain and slightly above freezing temperatures can dampen even the brightest of spirits. Thankfully Malta does not follow suit with the rest of the continent and remains a comparatively balmy 15-20 degrees in the winter. Add in the 30-40 degree summer heat and you’ve got the making of the perfect getaway in any season.

2. The Water

The Azure Window on a hazy afternoon

There’s no shortage of crystal blue water around the Mediterranean, but Malta takes it to a whole new level. From the azure window to Ramla Bay to the amazing dive sites around the three islands, you’re never far from water in Malta. Seriously, it’s an island.

3. The History

When people talk about the great places to travel to truly experience history, the usual suspects – Egypt, Rome, Angkor – tend to crop up. No one seems to put Malta into the mix, but they probably should. Malta is home to some of the oldest and finest examples of neolithic temples in the world. From Ġgantija, the world’s second oldest free-standing temple (nearly 1000 years older than the Pyramids) , to the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni ( the only known prehistoric underground temple in the world), to the streets, bastions, and forts of Valletta which the Knights Hospitaller used to defeat the Ottomans in the Siege of Malta. Walking through the streets of Malta often feels like walking through a massive open air museum, and you’re never far from an amazing story or intriguing mystery.

The remains of Ggantija – the second oldest free-standing temple in the world, dating back to 3600 BC

4. The Churches

There’s lots of countries where Churches are a big deal – but nothing quite compares to Malta. Built in essence by The Knights of St. John as a Christian stronghold in the Mediterranean, Malta is absolutely covered in churches. Of the more than 360 churches that dominate the landscape, the undoubted crowning jewel is St. John’s Co-Cathedral. The resting place for many of the greatest knights throughout history, the Cathedral is the definition of opulence.

The splendour of St. John’s Co-Cathedral

5. The Size

At just 316 km² Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world, which makes getting around an absolute breeze. Extremely efficient buses and ferries ensure that you can go shopping in the morning, catch some sun at the beach in the afternoon, and party the night away in the evening.

Traditional Maltese balconies

6. It’s an easy place to travel

One of the most rewarding things about travel for many people is the feeling you get when a difficult situation arises and you overcome it. There’s nothing like that feeling of accomplishment from ordering that first bowl of noodles in a foreign language (bonus points if you actually get what you ordered). But every once in a while it’s nice to have a break from the challenges. Malta is a great place to have this exact experience. Whether it’s a first family vacation or a respite from years of backpacking, the uncomplicaton is refreshing.

One of the creative sign-boards along the Marsaxlokk promenade

7. There’s something for everyone

Whether you’re looking for a luxurious retreat soaking up the sun and clubbing the night away, or you’re a culture junkie looking for ancient temples and hidden legends, you’re sure to find something for everyone. They even have a freaking cannon they fire off every evening.

Beautiful coloured boats in Marsaxlokk Harbour

Have we convinced you yet? Either way, feel free to check out the rest of our posts on Malta. Already been? Tell us what you thought about this tiny island in the blue in the comments below!

The post 7 Reasons to get to Malta Now! appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

While putting on my face this morning, extra thick because I’ve got people to impress now, these very paragraphs flowed from my consciousness and I couldn’t help but skip a couple beautification steps to jot them down. For me, writing is like crab fishing or oil drilling – once the good stuff starts to flow I better take full advantage because it could dry up at any moment. Fortunately, writing from my couch, laptop on lap and tea in hand, is much safer than either of those other careers – though sadly it doesn’t pay squat. On a more positive note, my couch and I have gone well over six months without a workplace injury or incident, unless you count lethargy.

Ernest knows – And yet I wonder what happens once you’ve bled all you can? (via)

Unfortunately I’ve got to head off to work today – I can’t just sit around and let the words flow from me as they so choose, drying up just as I reach the last couple paragraphs, resulting in yet another unusable and unpublished piece of writing. After slinking around like a pouting child for the past month, struggling to form sentences, let alone string together a few paragraphs, life doles out a burst of inspiration the minute I don’t have time to see it though.

Fortunately for my bank account, this new job will be a lifeline for my depleted savings; accumulating nicely in a high interest savings account to be spent on a currently unplanned trip to a currently unknown destination to take place at a currently yet to be determined time.

Which brings us back to travel. While accepting a full-time job in an office doesn’t do much to affirm my commitment to the blog, it’s also the only way to make sure we eventually take a trip worth writing about. I’m sure I’ll also be able to pay for a few other secondary items with my shiny new job too – like food or utilities, things that come right after travel in the Have Blog Will Travel Hierarchy of Needs.

Job or no job, my mind flashes back to Europe constantly throughout the day.

Accepting a full time job also emotionally signals the end of a glorious, travel-riddled, chapter of our lives. For the past two years life has been grand, and although we’ve been home for months now with Travis practically living at work all summer, for some reason the future didn’t seem so bleak until I too succumbed to the (self inflicted) pressures to “contribute”.

And this is where our friends and family call bullshit on us because really our futures are pretty darn wonderful – I mean we’re two middle-class Canadians with no real grasp of what the term even means – but for a couple of travel bloggers, a lack of travel plans is just plain painful.

And enter this new chapter of our lives. After putting off the job hunt for as long as possible, opting to focus on my writing and developing our blog, I just couldn’t maintain this holding pattern any longer. Something was going to break, and it eventually did, coming in the form of my words and inspiration and passion for travel writing completely drying up. So it’s back to the grind for me, quite literally, I’ve been hired back by my former employer into a similar position as the one I held right out of university. My life has come full circle already and I have yet to reach my 30^th birthday.

Once you start you just can’t stop – it’s the curse of travel (via)

Returning to a position like this comes with plenty of pros and cons; however, I can’t get over the personal changes I’ve gone through in the four years since I last haunted these cubicles. Not necessarily noticeable to the outside world, everything about accepting this job feels so different than the last time I was in this position – from my frame of mind, to my outlook on the world, priorities, and the type of life Travis and I want to make for ourselves.

This evening, after my first day at work, I remarked to Travis how interesting it is to see where people end up after we’ve moved on. People I attended training with are now moving into senior roles, leading projects, having families and feel so settled in, just as I’m arriving to start all over again at the beginning. I feel as though I’ve been living in a bunker for the past four years, hiding away underground only to emerge into a world I don’t recognize.

Ok, so it’s a quote from One Tree Hill – but that doesn’t make it resonate any less (via)

It’s also impossible not to feel a little pang of jealousy for the achievements I could have had if only I’d stuck around instead of chasing jobs and travel. Visions of a cushy office in place of my empty cubicle, a six figure salary, and an impressive title printed on thick business cards immediately come to mind. However, as quickly as this jealousy hits I find it replaced with relief. Relief that I got out, if even for a little bit, and relief that I haven’t been working at any of my previous jobs for the past four years.

Not that there is anything wrong with any of these jobs – actually every position I’ve had since university could be considered a great job – but I just can’t imagine having spent the last four years of my life at any of them. To be blunt I can’t imagine spending the next four years at this new job either.

Call me restless but I don’t quite know how to settle down. For now I’m going to take comfort in the opportunity to replenish my bank account, the sense of accomplishment I feel at the end of each day, and the return of my words. While our domesticated lifestyle is somewhat frightening, and our lack of travel plans overly annoying, nothing has felt as empty as the loss of my voice over the past month. And if 40 hours a week in a featureless cubicle can cure that, I’ll work until retirement and never regret a single moment.

The post To New Beginnings – Or Just Repeating Old Ones appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

A subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Kettle Valley Railway operated in the Thompson-Okanagan region of British Columbia, and provided a much needed rail link to the coast and Vancouver for the cities of Southern BC. The line initially opened in 1915, however portions of the railway were abandoned as early as 1961 due to washouts and a decline in traffic. All rail service stopped from Midway to Penticton, through the Okanagan and the famed Myra Canyon section of the line, in 1973, with the final segments of line falling into disuse in 1989. Today much of the railroad’s original route has been converted into a recreational trail, known as the Kettle Valley Rail Trail. With its relatively gentle grade, the line has become a hiker and cyclist haven.

Featuring 18 trestles and 2 tunnels that traverse the deep canyon, the Myra Canyon section of the Kettle Valley Railway not only one of the most impressive parts of this historic railway line, it’s also easily accessible from the city of Kelowna, BC – a major hub in the Okanagan region – making it an ideal daytrip for locals and visitors alike. The area was also designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2002.

From downtown Kelowna, the Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park is a short 25 minute drive up into the surrounding hillside through rolling vineyards and past several amazing lookout points. The road is partially paved, while the last eight kilometers are grated dirt road and quite rugged. As such, a vehicle with a higher clearance is recommended (our SUV worked well). Although we did see many cars make the trip, slower driving is a must to ensure you don’t bottom out on some of the bigger potholes. As for signage, the road is clearly marked with blue signs directing visitors to the Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park and making navigation simple.

Upon arrival at Myra-Bellevue we had a decision to make, pull into the first park entrance (West) or deal with the dirt road for a few more kilometers to access the second entrance (East). We opted for the East entrance, only because I vaguely recalled a recommendation in my pre-trip research. This worked well as there are numerous wooden trestles immediately upon entering the trail from this end. The East parking lot is also quite large, making it the best bet for peak-season summer visitors. In the end either entrance will get you into the park, so it’s not something to really worry about too much. Don’t panic if you see the entrance signs and don’t know what to do, either option will get you to your goal.

With numerous trestles, tunnels, and some incredible views of Kelowna and the surrounding hillside, the park is incredibly scenic and there is always something to grab your attention. For me, the dry, desert sections of the trail felt like I was pedaling through the Wild West, and the wooden trestles only elevated this sensation.

In August 2003, lightning sparked a fire in the nearby mountainside. The fire grew rapidly in strength and size and engulfed many portions of the Kettle Valley Railway between Penticton and McCulloch Lake. When the fire was extinguished over a month later, 12 of the 18 trestles within Myra Canyon were lost, as well as countless homes in the area. The B.C provincial government announced that it would rebuild the damaged and destroyed trestles and bridges, a process that took the better part of a year and saw additional safety improvements undertaken as well. The trestles have since been completed and the trail is fully open to the public. Despite the reconstruction evidence of the fire is still visible, with many badly charred trees still standing, slowly being overtaken by new growth along the forest floor.

For some reason, prior to our visit, I was under the impression that the trail was 8km in length (16 km round trip) however after cycling for an hour or so we realized this portion of the Kettle Valley Railway stretches for 12km between the park’s East and West entrances, making for a 24 km round trip. Although quite a bit longer than we had bargained for, we were still able to finish the loop in two and a half hours of cycling – which includes more than a few interruptions to stop and take photos. I’d recommend that new visitors allow 3-4 hours to cycle the trail, and 6-7 to walk. However by no means do you have to complete the entire loop to have a great experience. Entering from the east, it’s possible to cover multiple trestles and the first of two tunnels in only a few kilometers, making it a good option for those under tight time constraints. Alternatively, using a shuttle service or a friend from the area, entering from one end and getting picked up at the other would eliminate the need to turn around and backtrack.

As the trail incorporates the same path the old railway lines once laid on, the ride (or hike) only consists of a 4% grade in the steepest sections, and this makes for a very pleasant bike ride. It also means that the trail is perfect for people of any biking level – we saw everyone from kids to seniors making the ride.

Regardless of how you plan to take on the Myra Canyon trail, the trestles and tunnels, combined with the stunning scenery, are incredibly unique and unlike anything else you’ll see in the world. As far as day trips go, this is one you won’t soon forget.

Logistics: As a provincial park, entrance to Myra-Bellevue is free. Bike rentals are available at the East entrance. The park has a few pit-style outhouse toilets as well as a number of benches scattered along the trail which are great for a rest or picnic lunch. Due to the park’s high elevation, the temperature here tends to be a few degrees cooler than in the city, therefore dressing in layers is recommended.  Visitors should pack plenty of water as it’s easy to get dehydrated while hiking or biking. The best time to visit the park is during the warm summer months from midway through June until September. To keep up to date on closures and events in the park visit the BC Parks website. 

The post Cycling Myra Canyon appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

The past is wonderfully stable, waiting patiently to be dredged up and used for writing inspiration (or to be thrown back in your opponent’s face during a particularly dirty fight); however, it is also easily overshadowed by the glitz and glamor of the present. This is precisely why I never even considered sharing my experience cycling British Columbia’s Kettle Valley Railway as a teenager until April, when I found myself researching posts for our BC themed A to Z Challenge. Immediately a stream of wonderful memories flooded back. Memories of long days of non-stop cycling, sore legs, and passing out from exhaustion before dark. Memories of tuna fish from the can and Stoned Wheat Thin crackers for lunch, bathing in the freezing waters of a mountain creek, and selfies taken with a disposable camera. Memories of damp tunnels chiseled by hand one hundred years prior, wooden trestles suspended over deep valleys, and the fire that destroyed it all only a few weeks later.

I’ve been pulling out my hair trying to find photos from our bike trip. In the meantime, just picture a bunch of shots like this – pre-DLSR and Photoshop editing, but with me in them (via)

July 2003. My parents have recently separated and my dad is going to take my brother and I on vacation for a week. He bought a book, did the research, and reserved a shuttle to drop us off in the tiny town of Beaverdell, BC – with our bikes and as much gear as we can carry. For four days and four nights we are going to cycle the Kettle Valley Railway.

As teenagers, my brother (15) and I (16) have a very different view of the perfect family vacation. But my dad isn’t the type to be argued with – so it’s four nights of sleeping in a tent, eating re-hydrated dinner pouches, and being completely cut off from the world and our friends back home.

After spending the night in Beaverdell, where we slept in a deserted campsite next to a shallow river,  we cycle through grassy farm land for two days before arriving at McCulloch Lake.  Due to a stretch of loose powdery sand about two kilometers in length the ride into camp is especially difficult and seems to take forever. With each awkward rotation of the pedals our bikes lurch forward a few inches in the silty sand, making our legs to burn. Tonight we fall asleep before dark. 

Classic scenery of the Kettle Valley Railway – relatively flat, alongside a waterway, gravel pathway (via)

Small red pump houses were located every few kilometers along the railway in its heyday – now very few remain (via)

The third day of our trip takes us through multiple tunnels and across dozens of trestles in Myra Canyon, just outside of the city of Kelowna. While we had seen quite a bit of BC’s natural beauty during the first two days of our trip, day three offers a unique contrast between historical man-made engineering brilliance and some of the area’s best scenery.

I suppose Myra Canyon was always going to be the prettiest day of our trip.

Finally we find ourselves on the final leg of our journey, pedaling into Summerland through vineyard-covered hillsides. We’d made our way from the green farmlands of Beaverdell into the dry, dusty heart of the Okanagan. Reaching our vehicle in Summerland a victory swim in Lake Okanagan and stop at a local fruit stand for fresh produce is necessary before affixing our attention to the road and heading home.

The stunning Naramata Bench – cycling among the vineyards was particularly beautiful (via)

Three weeks later, in August of 2003, lightening sparked a fire in Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park and quickly spread, consuming over 25,000 hectares of forest and park land, forcing the evacuation of more than 27,000 people, and destroying 239 homes on the southern edges of Kelowna. The fire engulfed many portion of the Kettle Valley Railway between McCulloch Lake and Penticton and claimed 12 of Myra Canyon’s 18 trestles. Within days the tall pines, spruce, and fur, beautiful natural scenery, and historic wooden trestles we’d appreciated during our four day cycling adventure were gone.

Four years after they were lost in 2003, Myra Canyon’s trestles were rebuilt and reopened to the public; however, the charred scars of the fire were still evident everywhere. While man was able to rebuild the trestles. it will take Mother Nature longer to put the area back together.

The burning trestles of Myra Canyon can be made out on the left (via)

This was no minor fire – looking out across Lake Okanagan in 2003 (via)

This is one of those stories that only life can write, the timing of our trip and the fire that followed bleeds irony, and in looking back I have realized that it has yet to come full circle. From destruction comes rebirth and it is this rebirth that I have yet to explore.  Looking back I have so many wonderful memories of my adventure cycling the Kettle Valley with my dad and brother, and now I am ready to make some new memories with Travis.

Just a few hours from our our hometown, Myra Canyon is easily accessible for day trips. So I’ve added it to our summer “to-do” list. Having never been to Myra Canyon or the Kettle Valley Railway this will be a new adventure for Travis, while for me it will mark both the end of a chapter and the beginning of something new.

The post Travel Throwback – Cycling the Kettle Valley Railway appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

Calli and I both remember the days when, for a month every summer during high water, the water that came out of our taps in Kamloops looked more like weak coffee than crystal clear water. Although times have changed, and we now have a state-of-the-art water treatment centre that produces some of the cleanest water in the world, we still run into the same problems whenever we escape the city.

Kamloops Lake just outside city limits – a favourite daytrip location of ours.

 With the blazing summers of Interior British Columbia (it’s currently 39 Celsius/103 Fahrenheit outside), carrying enough water to ensure you don’t end up as Vulture food is vital to any outdoor undertaking. And to be honest, most of the time I don’t feel like packing around 20L of water while hiking, biking, or kayaking. That’s where the LifeStraw comes in.

Instead of using chemicals, the LifeStraw focuses on microfiltration to remove nearly all contaminants in the water you’re drinking. Suction forces water through micropores measuring 2 microns across and provides you with water you can feel comfortable drinking. The water you get is 99.9999 percent of bacteria and 99.9 percent free of parasites present in the water, but unfortunately viruses and heavy metals are unaffected (so stay away from those tailings ponds). When you’re done, you just blow out the end to remove the remaining water and put it away.

The LifeStraw measures just over 9 inches long and an inch around

Since receiving our LifeStraw we’ve taken it on a number of outdoor adventures, and we’ve been very impressed by it. From kayaking in the Shuswap to biking Myra Canyon, we’ve definitely put the LifeStraw through its paces these last few weeks, and it hasn’t let us down. We really like its portability and ease of use – there’s no messing around with tablets or filters, its really as easy to use as a straw.

Us biking on a hot day in Myra Canyon – the LifeStraw was very handy this day

To be perfectly honest, we haven’t actually dipped it in a lake or stream and drank directly from there, instead preferring to fill up our water bottles in said stream and then using the LifeStraw to drink from the bottle (that way you always have access to clean water, not just when you’re near a body of water). I did use it during high water in Shuswap Lake and didn’t get sick – the scientist in me is screaming that’s not a real experiment, but it’s the best I’ve got!

Beautiful Shuswap Lake

In all, we are very happy with the LifeStraw and would definitely recommend it to avid outdoor adventurers. For us, we are intrigued by the LifeStraw Go, a water bottle with a LifeStraw built right in. It seems like it would be right up our alley and be slightly more convenient to use.

With all this said, we are offering our readers the chance to win their very own LifeStraw. If you’re interested, you can enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Find out more about the LifeStraw on their website. To read about the technology check out this How Stuff Works article.

***The LifeStraw®product and information have been provided by Vestergaard. And as always, ALL OPINIONS ARE OUR OWN!!

The post LifeStraw Review and Giveaway appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

After exploring the images, maps, and video material on display, Travis and I met up with one of two young girls working in the gallery who had offered to provide us with some more information and context to the events that occurred in Srebrenica. With a hushed voice she began to talk about the disintegration of Yugoslavia, the creation of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina by referendum, and the attack on the newly formed republic by Bosnian Serb forces backed by the Serbian Government and the Yugoslav People’s Army with the intention of unifying and securing Serb territory within Bosnia.

Our guide explained that in April 1993, the United Nations entered the small town of Srebrenica, an area of high conflict in the east, with a small contingency of Canadian troops and declared the area a UN safe area “free form any armed attack or other hostile act”. A year later, the small group of Canadian forces were withdrawn and replaced with a larger infantry of Dutch soldiers. By July 1995 Srebrenica was surrounded by Serbian forces and lacking necessary supplies, rations, medicine, and weaponry. After finding little resistance in previous assaults, Serbian forces took the city while Dutch UN forces fired warning shots and flares over their heads. The UN Protection Forces never fired directly on any Serb units.

In the evening of July 11, 1995, between 20,000 and 25,000 Bosniak refugees from Srebrenica gathered in Potocari seeking protection within the UN compound there. While several thousand had already pressed inside the compound, thousands more spread through neighbouring factories and fields. Knowing that the men of military age would face death outside the compound, the Dutch claimed their base was full and on July 13th more than 5,000 Bosniak refugees from the compound were expelled.

In the events that followed, men and young boys were separated from women and the elderly, massacred, and carted away to be buried in mass graves.

As our guide talked about this senseless slaughter I found my attention elsewhere. For three years between 1992 and 1995, the United Nations, North America, and the rest of Europe chose not to intervene in the conflict in Bosnia, claiming that it was a civil war and they would not take sides. Not until the Markale massacre on August 28, 1995, nearly a month and a half after the events of Srebrenica and Potocari, did the West intervene when NATO launched a bombing campaign against Serbia. The campaign lasted 21 days and ultimately ended the conflict.

21 days of intervention by North America was all it took to end a bloody three-year long conflict in which roughly 100,000 people lost their lives and 2.2 million people were displaced from their homes.

The debates surrounding the general effectiveness and purpose of the UN and the circumstances as to when, if at all, one country should intervene in the affairs of another are muddy, complex, and not something I’m prepared to take a firm position on here. However the events of the Bosnian War do clearly illustrate the notion that opting to not to make a choice is a choice in itself. By deciding not to get involved in Bosnia the rest of the world, Canada included, sided with Serbia by default.

For most, investigatory boards established in the aftermath of this conflict concluded that the Canadians aren’t to blame for the events that unfolded in Srebrenica. After all, they had been removed for nearly a year before July 1995. However standing in the small, dark hallways of Gallery 11/07/95, surrounded by the names of those who were massacred in the Bosnian War, my notions of what it meant to be Canadian were challenged for the first time. Why didn’t I know Canadians had been dispatched into Srebrenica? More so, why hadn’t I learned about this conflict before? After five painstaking years tracing Jacques Cartier’s journey up the St. Lawrence for school projects I knew about the establishment of Canada, yet I knew very little about Canadian contributions to world history. Like a teenager first discovering her parents have flaws I struggled to accept the role my country played in this conflict as well as the fact that events of this magnitude had occurred during my lifetime.

At home July 1st is Canada Day, a celebration the anniversary of the enactment of the British North America Act of 1867, under which the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada united together into a single country named Canada under the British Empire. Generally recognized as Canada’s birthday, celebrations are held across the country each July 1^st complete with maritime air shows and firework displays, however this year my mind continues to drift back to our time in Bosnia.

As a carefree eight year old, July 1995 was spent sprawled out in the sunshine with my family, roasting hot dogs over a bonfire, my mouth likely dyed pink from a can of sugary cream soda. Meanwhile, halfway around the world in Bosnia, children the same age were hiding in UN camps, dodging bullets on their way to the market in downtown Sarajevo, and praying for someone to come help them.

Having now explored Bosnia and Gallery 11/08/95 I’ll likely never approach a summer holiday at Shuswap Lake with the same pre-travel mindset I had just a year before, and I find myself in awe of the impact travel has had on areas of my life and mind I never expected. Sitting in the sun, rattling off the last few lines of this article with a cool beer by my side I also wonder how many people around the world find themselves in similar situations to those in Srebrenica twenty years ago. With the passage of time nothing appears to stay the same, yet in some ways nothing ever really changes.

The post Srebrenica 19 Years Later appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.

Don’t get us wrong, we love a little spontaneous adventure or detour as much as the next backpacker, but gone are the days when travelers can throw caution to the wind and set off without any semblance of a plan – at least without an unlimited budget or unlimited patience. With the increased accessibility to travel for much of the world, booking transportation and accommodation ahead of time and having a plan is becoming more important to make the most of your travel time and budget. This was very evident during our last trip through Europe, where we quickly realized that being organized and well planned out was the only way to ensure we had a bed to sleep in or a seat to sit in when we needed one most.

Crafting a perfect itinerary means striking a perfect balance between rigidity and flexibility – most of us don’t want to get to the point where each and every minute of every day is accounted for (although this may work perfectly for a select few), but we also want to know where we are sleeping before nightfall begins to creep in. While this balance of planning vs staying aloof is different for everyone, with a little trial and error you can figure out what works best for you.

It is for this reason that we’re focusing on travel planning in this series. For us, planning is one of the most enjoyable (and sometimes frustrating) aspects of travel. Sorting out where to go, how to get there, where to stay while we’re there, and what to do is a lot of work – but it also lets us fantasize about the trip before it even begins – sometimes the only way to stay sane between trips. Hopefully everyone will find a suggestion or new idea that will help with their next trip.

If there’s anything you want to know about or you have any questions for us, let us know in the comments or contact us via email or our social networks!

The post How to Plan the Perfect Itinerary: A Series appeared first on Have Blog Will Travel.