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Traveling with the PSP and Nintendo DS: portable internet and entertainment at your fingertips

By Ryan Sexton

    It seems like yesterday that portable gaming devices were basically fairly large and heavy machines that could only produce very pixilated images with no or poor color quality and sounds.  Let’s not even mention any sort of way to play multiplayer or communicate.  Of course this description probably conjures up images of the old school “Game Boys” and perhaps even the “Game Gear” from Sega.  Today these portable gaming platforms have become much more evolved than their “archaic” forerunners.  Thanks to new developments in technology, manufacturing and communication abilities these machines have become “jack of all trades” multimedia platforms. 

Of course I speak of the currently popular machines, The Nintendo DS and the PSP.  I would like to discuss both of these devices because I have found them to be quite useful on my backpacking journeys in Europe and I know they will come in handy when I go back.

    I would first like the start with the Nintendo DS.  The DS uses Wi-Fi and in March of 2007 gained the ability to log onto the internet.  An internet “game card” must be purchased however, but it will only set you back about 20 U.S dollars.  What I mean by game card is that it plugs into where you would put games, then its extra 10 MB memory card (bundled free of charge with the game card) plugs into where the Game Boy Advanced games/ Rumble pack would be inserted.  You might have problems finding them in retail stores now but they can easily be ordered online. 

    What this all means is that anywhere there is Wi-Fi (Hostel, train station, McDonalds) you can log onto the internet.  Simply insert the internet game card and memory card, turn on, select the network and log on (enter the password).  You will then notice that the top screen is the browser and the  bottom screen is the keyboard.  DS stands for dual screen, with one being a touch pad. Simply use the stylus to type in what you need and scroll.  This can be extremely useful if you need to look up or book hostels or hotels and you can’t get to a computer café or didn’t bring your laptop (which if you are backpacking for a significant amount of time I doubt you did). 

    The DS costs less than other machines (PSP, iphone, ipod touch) setting you back 130.00 U.S dollars, which is a great investment in my opinion.  Also, if you are “older” or not great with technology I would suggest this platform.  Not only is it simple and its interface easy to learn, it also has very interactive games and a vast array of genres to play.  For example if you are not into hack and slash there are puzzle games and also games you can play casually, which are great for long train rides.  There are language games you can buy, so you can brush up on your German or French while you are on the train or plane too. 

    If your friends have one, or anyone around you has one, there is a chat room ability on it, which can be a great way to meet people and exchange stories, not to mention play some games together (most games allow 4 to 12 people to play simultaneously; usually only requiring one game card, see game instruction booklet for specific instructions on multiplayer).

    Now the PSP is definitely different than the D.S and carries a higher price tag.   If going the PSP route you’ll be set back $170.00 U.S dollars for just the unit or as bundled set (games and accessories) from $200.00 and up.  You do get more bang for your buck however.  The PSP boasts better graphics and the ability to store and play MP3’s (even our audio tours).  You can also watch movies on it as well, but you have to buy mini DVD’s that are just for the PSP.  Now unfortunately that means if you already own a movie you want to watch you’ll have to buy it again.  Also, not every movie you might be interested in watching is in PSP format and on average is only a few U.S dollars cheaper than the DVD versions. 

    You can still play online with other PSP users and connect via wireless internet like the D.S.  However, there is not a touch screen, which can make web browsing a little difficult.  New updates are constantly coming out for the PSP and a recent one included a new official PSP web browser helping to make browsing easier.  Another perk is that there is no need to buy a ‘game card’ like the D.S to get the internet; it’s already built in.

   

So in conclusion, I feel on average the D.S would be a better choice because of its user friendliness and low learning curve.  It is also cheaper and hosts a wide array of games that could entertain anyone from the very young to those that are a bit older.  Also the language games could prove to be really useful. 

    In addition if your one of the many people who now owns an ipod, which can play video from itunes, it’s probably not worth spending the extra money on the PSP and then having to buy the movies for it too.  However, if you are a more serious gamer, the PSP will probably be your choice since it caters more to the ‘hardcore’ gamers.

    Keeping up with technology can be expensive. I mean with all this said and done I’ll have to be writing a new article soon on the iphone and its “apps”. What is important is to find a device that is comfortable for you to use.  That might just be a good old pay phone and a note pad to play tic-tac-toe on.

Travel To Croatia & Audio Tours For Europe: an update on whats happening with noambit

   Well fellow travelers it's been awhile since I've updated everyone on what we've been working on and what we're planning here at noambit.  So....here it goes!

    These last few months have brought several exciting, and even a bit unexpected, surprises...but then again if it was expected then it wouldn't be a surprise.  Hmmm?  Like we've mentioned before Ryan Sexton and I have been hard at work researching, writing and recording new audio tours.  After producing both Florence tours we went back and realized that we could do better. So with a modest investment we purchased some new equipment and sat down to re-record each tour in their entirety.  While we did this it became apparent that the maps that come with each download also needed an overhaul.  Without missing a beat I got to work and created much more user friendly and computer generated versions. 

    Now we've caught back up with ourselves and are very proud of our MP3 tours of Florence and the Sachsenhausen Concentration camp.  We love the fact that we can bring you real advice and tours from real travelers.  Most of the other MP3 tours out there are recorded by professional actors who are paid to read a script written by someone else but you'll never find that with noambit's Talk About tours.  You'll get my voice and my advice from my experiences...and Ryan's of course.

    But always striving to bring you the best, we took on the huge project of producing a tour of The Alhambra in Granada Spain.  This one is going to be the longest and most involved tour yet.  Its funny how many small but important nuances of a destination pop up when doing these tours but we love it and I'm confident you will too.  Just think, you'll be the only one in the Alhambra to know what that weird cubby hole in the wall was once used for as well as know what the Arabic poem surrounding it says! 

    In even more exciting news; I have recently been contacted by the Head of Tourism in Istria Croatia to be part of a team of travel writers on a tour of the region.  I'll be joined by Karen Bryan of europealacarte.co.uk , Kerrin Rousset of mykugelhopf.ch, Ola Fagbohun of diversetraveller.com and Laura Motto of lamericaine.blogspot.com. It's going to be a very eclectic group and I recommend checking out each of their websites; they're all great reads. 

     With an increasing tourism market, Istria wants to spread the word about its beautiful beaches, spectacular food and affordable accommodation.  It seems that while the French and Germans have discovered this exciting alternative to crowded and expensive Italy, Americans have all but forgotten about it.  So, following this trip planned for April I'll be bringing you some really informative updates regarding the how tos, how not tos, where tos and what tos of Istria Croatia. Not to mention some one-of-a-kind audio tours.

    Also, I'll be traveling a bit in Germany around the same time so keep an eye out for more info and downloads for cities like Munich and Frankfurt.

    As always we want to thank each and everyone of our readers.  We love the letters you send telling us about your adventures and the excitement you share about upcoming travels.  If anyone has any suggestions for audio tours or places to visit in Croatia toss us a line.

   Now, I guess I'll end this with a quick travel tip--  Instead of throwing out your old prescription bottles; tear off the labels and save them for your next trip.  They make great little carriers for things like Q-tips, band-aids, loose change, vitamins, etc.  You can also make a nice and compact little sewing kit for those unexpected tares by tossing in a needle, some thread and a few buttons.  Best of all they keep all this sort of stuff organized in your bathroom kit and dry when your shampoo bottle leaks.

   Till soon,

     Chris.

Gothic Architecture: what it is, how to identify it, where it comes from

 

As you tour Europe you will find yourself repeadedly and pleasantly experiencing different types of architecture.  Some churches will be referred to as Gothic some will have the appellation Renaisance and of course any number of other names that reference the style the structure is built in.  When I first started traveling I had no real idea of what each distinction meant and how to tell the difference between them.  So with that in mind let me start off a series of these short articles by breaking down the components of Gothic Architecture.
      Gothic architecture was the style of choice in the medieval period (12th-14th/15th Century) and at the time was referred to as “French style”.  The term Gothic was only applied to a building’s design well into the Renaissance period (14th-17th Century) and then as an insult to its over complex design.   Characterized by its pointed arches, ribbed vaults and flying buttresses, Gothic architecture lacked the symmetry and well proportioned style that the “age of awakening” prided itself on.   The term Gothic stuck as a pejorative reference to the rude and barbaric style of the East Germanic tribes of Goths and we’ve used it ever since. 
      In reality architects of the day were just doing their best to tackle the problems associated with previous architecture known as Romanesque.  Building churches out of tons and tons of stone meant very heavy walls that would have to bear all the weight of the entire structure.  This meant very little space for windows which, as you can imagine, in the overall scheme of things were not very functional in holding up a building as well as limited height.  So, out of the dark and dreary Romanesque churches was born the l ight and airy Gothic style.   
The ribbed vaults or the “X” pattern on the ceilings you’ll see inside churches such as Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Westminister Abby in England and the Notre Dame in Paris distributed the weight to its four corners known as buttresses.  This allowed for several improvements over the older style.  First, all the weight of the ceiling now fell on only four points in the walls structure, not along the entire wall, making it now possible to open up more space for windows.  Secondly, with all the weight focused on several strong supports at a high angle, the ceilings were able to rise much higher creating a more airy atmosphere.  Combined with the pointed arch above doorways, inside and out, the visual created was one of reaching towards heaven.
    The simple design described above inevitably became more and  more complex and in many churches a greater number of “ribs” and weight bearing columns allowed new shapes to be created and irregular building plans to be dealt with.   The flying buttress, which you don’t really see on Santa Maria Novella but are prominent on, say Notre Dame in Paris, distributed weight even more away from the walls allowing for even larger windows. These would be the rows of columns bridged by arched supports you might see lining a large Cathedral.  Keep your eyes open when touring the rest of Europe.  If you see a pointed arch above the doorway you are most certainly staring at a Gothic Church.

Protecting Yourself On The Road: 5 tips on preparing for problems

   For most of us our day to day life takes place in our homes, apartments and offices.  Each of these house pretty much everything we own, need to survive and identify who we are.  Somehow though, when we travel we are able to condense all these “essentials” into one or two small bags, carry them on our shoulders and hoist them onto trains.  What this should tell us is that 1. We really don’t “need” all that stuff at home and 2. The condensed version is important and needs to be protected.   For those unfortunate situations that can not be avoided, preparation can be made and for those that can, precautions can be taken.  Here are a few simple tips to help ensure damage and loss of your true essentials is kept to a minimum.

 

1.   Passport preparation:

     Having a passport is necessary these days.  With new laws being put into effect every year it is virtually impossible to travel without one.  Safeguarding yourself in the event of a loss overseas is important; knowing what to do in such a situation is necessary.

      Anyone who has temporarily misplaced their passport while on the road knows that feeling of panic.  How will I continue my trip?  Will I be stuck in this country for weeks?  Who should I call?  The truth of the matter is that for many countries the process for replacement is the same.  Call the passport agency and report the document missing and then find the nearest embassy and start filling out forms.  Americans can call the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778. Australians should notify the authorities on line and Canadians can ring 819-997-8338. 

     What you will find unfortunately is that in both the initial call and the forms to follow you will be asked to provide the issue date, issuing agency, passport number and expiration date and possibly proof of citizenship (which you just lost).  Having all this info will expedite a process that can significantly cut into your travel time.  According to the NPIC, “the more you know the better off you will be”.  A great way to ensure you have access to this info is to take the time before your trip to scan the front page of your Passport.   This page will have your photo as well as all the necessary info.  Once you have the scanned image, attach it to an e-mail and send it to yourself.  Now you have access to all the important info, visual proof that you, at least before your trip, had the document and best of all can get to it any time with simple internet access. 

    If you do not have a scanner at home your local library or university will.  Make sure you delete the scan from the public computer however before you leave.  All in all, try not to panic.  Your embassy will walk you through the process and as the NPIC told me “if you need to get home they will get you home” even if it is with a temporary passport.

 

  2. Who you gonna call?

     If you’re like me, every time you have to call your bank or credit card company you look on the back of the card and call the toll free number printed at the bottom.  Then, when the computer at the other end of the line picks up it asks you to “say or key in your account number”.  So what are you going to do when you step off an overcrowded bus in a foreign city and realized someone just lifted your wallet out of your pocket? 

     Having these numbers listed somewhere can be invaluable if such a situation arises. You will be able to cancel your cards and remotely access your account in a hurry.  The toll free numbers of course can be kept pretty much anywhere you feel comfortable such as your travel journal but please don’t keep them in your wallet…see above.   Your account numbers on the other hand should of course be kept in a secure location.  Like my passport scan, I e-mail myself all these numbers so that in the event I need them I will be able to access them from pretty much anywhere.  If you’re one of those people who really don’t trust the security of your own e-mail account; leave out a reoccurring number that you can commit to memory.  How about the first digit of your address or your phone number? 

3. Give ‘em a piece of access:

     This next little tip has provided a couple helpful benefits while on the road.  Consider allowing a parent or loved one staying behind access to the bank account you will be using. 

     Figure out which credit/ debit card you will be using and take a trusted family member on down to the bank and have their name put onto your account.  Doing this is not very hard and reversing the decision when you get back is usually pretty simple.  Some banks will let you limit the access the second person has but generally expect for your “financial trustee” to have complete access.

     The first benefit of doing this is that in case of an emergency your contact back home can move funds around in your account or add a few extra bucks to get you out of the hole you fell into.   Trust me; it is much cheaper, easier and quicker to have someone put a couple hundred dollars directly into a bank account you have access to via ATM card than to have them try to wire it to you overseas. 

     The other benefit to doing this is tied directly to the last but takes a bit of foresight.  Pick a person who is really enthusiastic about your trip and wants you to have a great time.  Mom for example probably wants her son or daughter to take full advantage of seeing the world and being taken care of while they do it.   What all this usually translates into are a few special surprise deposits made during your trip.  Who knows, thanks to Mom you might just be able to afford to splurge on a decent hotel one night, regardless of the fact you blew all your extra money on nightclub cover charges.

4. Bad guys don’t like to be tied up:

    It doesn’t take much to deter a thief while traveling.  One of the best ways to protect your bag on trains, sitting in a park or even in your hostel dorm room is to make it inconvenient for someone to snatch it up.  

     There are plenty of bags around that are left unattended or thrown hastily on the overhead rack while its owner sleeps soundly below for a thief to pick up and run with.  Purchasing and using a small travel cable and lock such as the Lewis N. Clark retractable cable lock makes your bag more of a hassle to take.  There are plenty varieties out there so shop around and see what works best for you.  One type of travel security is a wire netting that fits around your bag to prevent criminals from easily accessing the pockets and zippers of your bag.  For me, this is a pain to get on and off in a hurry as well as extra weight to carry.  Do yourself a favor and find a lock and cable that is easy to use and light to carry then make it a habit to attach your bag to frame of your hostel bed or luggage rack above your head as you sleep.

5. Pop a pill:

    The last bit of advice is probably the easiest to enact.  More important than your replaceable stuff is your health.  When you’re traveling, eating well and getting enough sleep can be a challenge.  Let’s face it the last thing on your mind when exploring the world is, “have I had my recommended daily portion of fruit”.  Carry along a bottle of chewable multi vitamins like Flintstone’s chewables.  They are easy to take and can help you stay on top of trip ruining illness. 

    For a quick burst of vitamin C and other feel better goodies toss a vial of Airborne in your backpack.   These handy effervescent tablets not only can keep your immune system up to par but also help flavor that occasional bottle of tap water you’re stuck drinking. 

     A lot of time, energy and money go into traveling.  Taking these few extra precautions and protecting the essentials you brought along with you can help ensure your trip doesn’t hit any unwanted bumps that you can’t deal with.  Then, when you get home take a look around your apartment and throw out all that non-essential junk lying around.  It will make packing easier next time.

Audio Tours: save money in Europe and go at your own pace

    If you think about it it just doesn't make sense.  Nobody likes tagging along behind a lady who only barely sticks out amongst the crowd because of the gawdy umbrella she holds above her head.  Trying to maneuver your way to the front of 15 people just to get a glimpse of what the difficult to understand tour guide is saying is  plain old annoying; turning around only to realize the group of lemmings your with has moved on to "learn" about the next sight before your finished looking at the last is frustrating; then of course, worst of all, you have to pay 15 Euros per person just to get all this.  There is something so much better!

     The idea is catching on and as the above points out, rightly so.  Downloadable, MP3 audio tours are curing all the problems once associated with the guided tour option that dominates the travel industry.  No longer will you be forced to move at another's pace.  You can take all the time you like because your finger controls the pause button.  Missed that important piece of information? Just rewind the track.  Traveling with friends?  Split the cost of one download and put it on all your own MP3 players.  Currently, prices of Audio tours range from around 5-15 bucks which equal quite a lot of savings when you think about what it would cost for three of you to follow someone you can't understand around. 

    The process is simple.  You find the tour you want ; usually there is some sort of demo you can listen to.   Click the "buy now" or "download" button, pay the fee and wait for an email confirmation.  Usually the email arrives instantly and includes a link that will begin the download process to your computer.  Once its finished all you have to do is place the files on your ipod or MP3 player and you're done.  Many tours come with a printable map that you can take along with you as you listen to the information provided.  If you own an MP3 player, you know how to use these tours!

      The tours vary by production company or team.  Some strive hard to give you that at home feel by providing an accented voice.  Some are humorous, others are bland.  Many include some type of music or sound effect to make the listening experience more enjoyable.  Most give you more information and richer, more entertaining, history than you'll find by reading a guidebook.  Trying a few different "brands" may be the way to go until you find what you like.  Keep your eyes open when searching and you'll likely run across some tours that guide you from a bus route through the city or a boat ride through Venice.  Some require walking from site to site but others encourage you to relax on a Piazza and just take in the scenery.   

     Everyday the options are growing in terms of what tours you can find on-line.  For the most part you shouldn't have to hard a time finding a tour that suits your needs in Europe.  Even back home, Universities are beginning to switch to this format to provide potential students on their visits.  Where ever you are planning on visiting, a quick search on websites that provide catalogs of these guides will usually result in success.  To date there are only a few that provide a nice comprehensive listing but they do it well. 

   www.audioguide2go.com   provides a nice search that is full of color coded symbols that key you into what type of tour and what type of extras are offered.  This site is going to redirect you back to the tour's production team's own site for a direct experience.

www.allaudioguides.com  is beginning to accrue a nice offering of tours.  If you're headed to England they have several tours to choose from and are adding more in other countries like Italy and the Netherlands often.

  www.audiosteps.com currently has its majority of tours covering US locations but European destinations are on the rise for this site offering quality guides.

www.audiosnacks.com is a fun and easy site to use when searching for a tour.  Its interactive map lets you zoom in on exactly what you're looking for and once you've pinpointed the location the options are plentiful.

www.iAudioguide.com has a huge list of tours throughout Europe.  By choosing the city you are planning on visiting you'll be given several recommendations on where you can find some of the highest quality tours out there.  Many of these tours are free and all are affordable.

www.tourcaster.com functions like a warehouse of audio tours and if you're looking for a guide outside the borders of Europe this should be your first stop.

www.coolcitywalks.com has a nice well rounded selection of audio tours for Europe and a very user friendly interface to find what your looking for.

www.tourist-tracks.com is a one stop shop if you're headed to the UK.  From Bath to Oxford, london to Cheltenham this company has more UK tours than any one other.

   Of course you may have heard that we here at noambit.com are now starting our own "line" of audio tours that we are calling "talk about tours".   My last trip to Europe really opened my eyes to the great benefits this type of travel provides.  We're striving to provide the same practical information on our tours as you can find on our site as well as entertaining dialog all at a price cheaper than most tours out there.  So far we have two tours for Florence Italy and another for visitors of Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Arriving very soon will be a tour of the Alhambra in Granada Spain and down the road we intend on recording tours of Barcelona, in particular Park Guell and Pisa.  We love to travel so the possibilities are endless.  We welcome any suggestions and as always will do our best to help you around Europe.