Dirty Words...

Seeing that it's New Years Eve today, it might be helpful to learn this verb, so that you can propose the idea to fellow backpackers:

"TO F*CK"

GERMAN: ficken

FRENCH: niquer

DUTCH: neuken

ITALIAN: scopare

SPANISH: follar

SWEDISH: knulla

Dirty Words...

If someone asks you today what your Christmas plans are but you're not in the holiday spirit yet, try kindly saying to them:

"MIND YOUR OWN F*CKING BUSINESS"

GERMAN: das geht dich nichts an

FRENCH: occupe-toi de ton cul

DUTCH: bemoei je met je eigen tering zaken

ITALIAN: fatti i cazzi tuoi

SPANISH: métete en tus putos asuntos

SWEDISH: det ska du skita i

Dirty Words...

If you find one of your fellow dormmates too messy, or flat out disgusting, you may want to refer to he or she as a:

"PIG"

GERMAN: schwein

FRENCH: cochon

DUTCH: varken

ITALIAN: porco

SPANISH: cerdo

SWEDISH: gris

Dirty Words...

If you find yourself attracted to the locals where you are traveling, you might be thinking of he or she as:

"SEXY/HOT"

GERMAN: sehr scharf

FRENCH: bon

DUTCH: lekker ding

ITALIAN: bono

SPANISH: tío bueno

SWEDISH: snygg

Dirty Words...

Any sensible traveler knows that it's always a good idea to try and learn the local language of where you are. Here in our "Dirty Words" section, you will find the translation of some words and phrases that will help you earn the respect of the locals... Or not, depending on the situation:

"PIMP"

GERMAN: zuhälter

FRENCH: mac

DUTCH: pooier

ITALIAN: magnaccia

SPANISH: chuloputas

SWEDISH: hallick

Hostel of the Week...

For such a travel-friendly nation, New Zealand really doesn’t have an impressive hostel scene. An exception to that rule may be YHA WELLINGTON. This hostel is a great place for the Dirty Hippie looking for a comfortable hostel in a prime location. YHA Wellington is located right around the corner from the ultra hip Courtnay Place section of the city where bars, cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs are all in walking distance to the hostel. The dorm rooms at YHA Wellington are clean and spacious; and the double rooms rival that of a hotel, complete with views of the Wellington Harbour. The YHA has an enormous kitchen to serve all your cooking needs. If you don't feel like cooking, they also have weekly deals with local restaurants, giving you the chance to taste Wellington on the cheap. There is also Internet with printing capabilities, TV room, lounge, game room, laundry, tour desk, and bike rental. The staff at YHA is extremely friendly and always helping guests get the best out of their stay. This YHA is so comfortable that they had to put a maximum stay limit of ten days because guests would come and never want to leave. Need way say more.

THREE REASONS TO STAY AT YHA WELLINGTON:

1. Perfect location. Whether going out to a café or for a beer, you can always stumble on back with ease.

2. Free bagel Mondays; Totally free breakfast once a week!

3. The staff is made up of young travelers who know Wellington and know what they are talking about.

www.yha.co.nz

Dirty Words...

Any sensible traveler knows that it's always a good idea to try and learn the local language of where you are. In this new "Dirty Words" section, you will find the translation of some words and phrases that will help you earn the respect of the locals... Or not, depending on the situation:

"WHAT THE F*CK"

GERMAN: was zum teufel

FRENCH: putain

DUTCH: krijg nou wat

ITALIAN: e che cazzo

SPANISH: qué coño

SWEDISH: vad fan

Hostel of the Week...

THE MOLINO ROJO HOSTEL in San Jose, Costa Rica, is a stylish new haven for the budget backpacker. The Molino Rojo Hostel is located right in the heart of the Costa Rican capital, and nearby you will find buses, restaurants, and various shops. The Molino Rojo serves a free continental breakfast from 6:30 a.m. daily and sells snacks, beer, soft drinks, and even cigarettes, for your convenience. The rooms and dormitories all have private bathrooms. And the hostel can arrange transport to and from the airport. If you are driving through, the Molino Rojo has a free car park. So if you are looking for more than a place to sleep, it is fair to say that the Molina Rojo Hostel is for you.

THREE REASONS TO STAY AT THE MOLINO ROJO HOSTEL:

1. Centralized location, safe neighborhood, right in the heart of the capital.

2. Free breakfast. (What Dirty Hippies doesn’t like FREE!)

3. New Hostel. Only one year old!

www.molinorojohostel.com

Dirty Little Secrets...

WORKING HOLIDAY PROGRAMS

It’s 10:00 am on a Monday morning and I am on the tenth floor of an office building in downtown Auckland. The tenth floor is home to IEP (International Exchange Programs) in New Zealand. In the lobby are about thirty foreigners. Like most of the people here, I am waiting for the Work New Zealand orientation. Before I continue, I should tell you how I got here.

About eight months ago, Heather and I, your humble founders of Dirty Hippies, decided that we want to live abroad. In the end, it came down to two countries: Argentina and New Zealand. After researching visas and working holiday programs it was clear that New Zealand was the right destination for us. Since I am over the age of thirty I had no choice but to join an organization called BUNAC to obtain my visa. Heather, who is under 30, could have done it a few different ways, and decided not to use any agencies, and to get her visa for free. BUNAC cost me about 530 USD, plus their mandatory health insurance. I paid the fees, totaling nearly 1000 USD and all the while I thought that I had overpaid; I thought that I would get my visa from this organization and that would be that, our relationship would end there.

Over the next few months I became more and more impressed by BUNAC. The application process was a breeze and each time I called with a question, the staff answered everything, and even seemed to remember me. With hardly any effort of my own, I was issued my Working Holiday Visa and sent an information packet in the mail. I was told to go the IEP office in Auckland, upon my arrival. Heather and I were now ready to head to New Zealand, completely on our own, not knowing anyone.

We arrived in Auckland on a Saturday morning. BUNAC had arranged our transportation from the airport and the first two nights in a hostel, with free breakfast. In my head, I subtracted the cost of the transportation and hostel and sarcastically thought, “Okay, I only spent about $500 for my visa.”

Monday morning was orientation at IEP. I stood in the lobby with those thirty other backpackers, until we were called into a room. During the two-hour orientation we were shown videos, slides, and took a virtual tour of New Zealand. We were also assisted in setting up important bank and tax accounts, given resources to find housing and setup our phones, and loads of other practical information. There was also time set aside for us travelers to get to know one another, and IEP told us about nights designated for members to meet up at a pub or at the IEP office for a movie, which would further introduce us to our peers and the New Zealand lifestyle.

Before orientation was over, IEP shared with us everything they do as an organization. Their services include but are not limited to: travel bookings, work mentoring, an online community with country-wide events and job listings, one-on-one counseling, help formatting your CV (resume), free internet at the office with printing capabilities, incoming mail forwarding, luggage storage, 24 hour emergency phone line… As the list of services kept coming I was left with only one thought: Maybe I underpaid IEP for my Working Holiday? Heather even started to wish she had gone through IEP, rather than doing it all on her own.

Needless to say, Heather and I were so impressed with IEP that we wanted to do a piece on them for DIRTY HIPPIES. Bex Ghilchrist, Director of IEP, was more than happy to sit down with us and discuss the inner workings of the company.

Bex started with some background information on the working holiday programs. BUNAC, she informed, first came on the scene in 1962, as a way for young UK and US residents to swap countries for a year and have an “overseas experience”. The beauty of BUNAC was that it gave participants the ability to gain employment, really letting them feel what it’s like to live in a foreign country. As the years went on, BUNAC and working holiday programs grew in popularity. A result of that growth, IEP New Zealand started in 1997. The non-profit organization began as a small working holiday program, but today has over 3,000 participants from eighteen partner organizations, such as BUNAC. Bex has been at IEP since the beginning, giving support to travelers on Working Holiday Visas.

Looking after those 3,000 participants, surprisingly, are only ten employees. The IEP staff are a huge part of what makes the organization successful. They are an international, vibrant bunch, made up of foreigners, locals, bungy jumpers, mountain bikers, and even a former member of the circus. The IEP employees are not only fun, but also a caring, friendly and knowledgeable bunch. “Each employee has had his own O.E. (Overseas Experience), which helps the staff relate to the participants,” explained Bex. “The staff work hard and believe in one simple principle: A working holiday is the best education.” And when it comes to making participants’ experience the best it can be, IEP follows an equally simple motto: Whatever it takes.

After witnessing the close relationship between Bex and her IEP staff, Heather and I were intrigued to know about IEP’s relationship with the New Zealand government, local businesses, and IEP members. First off, Bex told us that IEP’s relationship with the government is a really good one. In the beginning when it came down to working with the New Zealand government, IEP gave them a straightforward proposal and the government gave IEP everything they had asked for (including the age limit of 35 for IEP participants, extending the governments’ own age limit of 30, which is why I’m able to be here today.)

Thanks to IEP, some of the businesses in New Zealand don’t have to look too hard to find employees. Quite often, local businesses will contact IEP with seasonal, part-time, and full-time gigs. All IEP participants have to do is go on the IEP website and look under job listings. It’s that simple. IEP also offers special discounts for its participants through their relationship with local hostels, tour companies, car rental agencies, extreme sports companies––the list goes on and on. Since IEP does so much for its participants, the participants feel close to IEP, often spending hours at the office in a single day.

The relationship between IEP and its participants is no doubt a strong one. No better was that relationship displayed than the recent Canterbury Earthquake. After the quake struck, Bex and her team were the first line of communication between participants and their families abroad. Fortunately, no participants were injured, but the first few hours of not knowing were very emotional ones for Bex and her crew. Just recalling the incident brought tears to Bex’s eyes. A large part of IEP’s role is just being there to support its participants. Bex recalled a member from Germany who was having a hard time adjusting, so she asked one of her newest employees, who also hadn’t quite adjusted yet, to speak with her. In the end, that’s all it took for this girl; she just needed someone to relate to.

Since starting with IEP in 1997, Bex has seen it all. Watching the participants come to New Zealand and grow as individuals is a part of her job that never seems to get old. “You seem like the nurturing parent who would tell their kid to go bungy jump off a bridge,” Heather remarked to Bex. Bex then explained how she tries to encourage members to partake in something they wouldn’t normally consider at home in their everyday lives. For example, WOOFING (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) is very popular with IEP members. While this work doesn’t pay, it does give members free room and board, food, and an opportunity to live with Kiwi families on their cattle, dairy, vegetable farms, and vineyards.

Heather and I ended the interview by asking Bex about the future of IEP. Bex talked modestly of expansion to other countries and some more marketing, but in general, she is happy with the organization at its current state. “It’s nice when you are a non-profit and not constantly thinking about the bottom line. We don’t need to make millions. Keeping IEP small is what allows us to focus solely on the betterment of the organization.” Makes sense to us. “However,” Bex added, “It would help if more people knew about IEP and the opportunity it gives to those wanting an education like the one we support.” Heather and I agreed and promised to do our part.

If you are interested in a Working Holiday in New Zealand, check out IEP at www.worknewzealand.org.nz. If you have any questions about our experience, feel free to contact Dirty Hippies at dirtyhippiesblog@gmail.com.

Written For the Road...

STORIES OF WORLD TRAVEL was perfectly conceived and executed. These 24 smart stories by 12 smart women cover the whole tonal range -- funny, poignant, gut-wrenching, beautiful, thoughtful, irreverant, wonderfully sappy... And the publishing concept itself was brilliant, a clever way to crack a difficult market: strength in numbers, taking power into their own hands...in retrospect it seems so obvious, but I'm sure that two years ago these women had little idea how brilliant they were being... I'm 50 years old now, and anyone who has reached my stage of geezerhood knows the value of having even one good solid friend. I attended a salon event these women put on in San Francisco recently, and I mentioned to one of them just how great I thought it would be to have twelve friends as tight as they seem to be. Her response: "Well, now you do!" And that is the feeling that one comes away with after reading their book: Twelve new friends.

Reviewed by: Brad Newsham

Photo of the Day...

Nepal. Photo by: Johanna Maughan

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Photo of the Day...

Lima, Peru. Photo by: Mark Zuckerberg

Hostel of the Week...

MISTI CHILL HOSTEL in Paraty, Brazil, is everything backpackers need from a beach front hostel. Located right in the center of town, the Misti Chill hostel boasts a great atmosphere, cool staff, meals and bars every night, and all the amenities that backpackers rely on to have a great stay. Misti Chill is known throughout the South American backpacker world, which is why it will come as no surprise that the hostel was awarded the “Best Atmosphere” in 2009. The hostel is the ideal place to unwind. Hammocks with ocean views are the best way to spend a lazy day in Paraty. The rooms at Misti Chill hostel are all en-suite, with TV and DVD’s. There are plenty of places to stay in Paraty, but why waist your money. Whether you want to chill out or party on Paraty, Misti Chill is the place to be.

www.mistichill.com

THREE REASONS TO STAY AT MISTI CHILL HOSTEL:

1. Awarded Best Atmosphere and gets a rating of 80% or higher from hostel booking websites at all times

2. Great Vibe. Misti Chill is what you imagine a beach getaway in Brazil to be.

3. Ideal Location. The hostel is in the center of it all!

Photo of the Day...

Hanko, Finland. Photo by: Anni Javaltteri

Photo of the Day...

Athens, Greece. Photo by: Jane McCarthy

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Photo of the Day...

Mirror Lakes, New Zealand. Photo: Drew Rosenhouse

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Moscow, Russia. Photo by: Katarina DeWitt

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LIONEL RICHIE is a DIRTY HIPPIE

"Taking time to sit back and watch and think about what you've seen is important. Traveling did a great deal to me. I found that when I travel and just sit in the corner and watch, a million ideas come to me."

-Lionel Richie

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Lucca, Italy. Photo by: Chris De Luca

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Lima, Peru. Photo by: Becka Hollandsworth

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Oaxaca, Mexico. Photo by: Brain McMullen

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Mongolia. Photo by: Davis Reding

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Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo by: Robbie Pickering

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La Paz, Bolivia. Photo by: Sheila Watros

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London, England. Photo by: Alex Owen

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Cuzco, Peru. Photo by: Alma Cortes

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TIM CAHILL is a DIRTY HIPPIE

"You become a better writer by writing. You become a better travel writer by writing about travel."

-Tim Cahill

Photo of the Day...

Chile. Photo by: Marcus Howard

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Panama Canal, Panama. Photo by: Emily White

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Providence, USA. Photo by: Kurt Ledger

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Paris, France. Photo by: Tania Carmona

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Bromo, Indonesia. Photo by: Jen Roth

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Vienna, Austria. Photo by: Paul Lambert

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Jaisalmer, India. Photo by: Sheldon Casey

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BRENDAN FRASER is a DIRTY HIPPIE

"I wanted to have the opportunity to travel to Vietnam and Sydney, and have the chance to work there."

-Brendan Fraser

Photo of the Day...

Bangkok, Thailand. Photo by: Mark Spencer

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San Cristobal, Ecuador. Photo by: Andres Domingez

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Milan, Italy. Photo by: Kristi Butterfield

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Kyoto, Japan. Photo by: Bob Ryan

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Utah, USA. Photo by: Kay Walden

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Atacama Desert, Chile. Photo by: Brian Rolston

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Sucre, Bolivia. Photo by: Kate Mansell

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Carmel, USA. Photo by: Courtney Frank

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