Adelaide Fringe: Street Performers’ Festival

Dado, our favorite street performer at the Adelaide Fringe

The Fringe is a world-famous month-long festival held every year in Adelaide, South Australia.  People fly in from all over the world both to watch the festival and to perform in it.  So far, we haven’t really been to any Fringe events, so this weekend we went to check it out.

Rabbi Ben, the Traveling Rabbi, used to be known as the Juggling Rabbi.  So he is always excited to see street performers doing their tricks, especially comedy and, of course, juggling!  So when the Adelaide Fringe featured an entire weekend of street performing – for free! – there was no reason not to check it out.

There were lots of different types of performers. Some were real amateurs, while others had many years of experience.  Most performers are professionals – in other words, they street perform for a living!  In fact, some buskers can make hundreds – if not over a thousand – dollars just in a weekend, not counting weekdays!  But for this they have to be very good.

Gabez, silent slapstick comedians and acrobats from Japan

Some of the acts we saw were not to our tastes.  There are many different types of humor and styles of performance, so they won’t always work for everyone.  Our favorite was Dado, whom Rabbi Ben had seen before a few times.  He had us laughing the entire time!  Some, like Gabez, who did a slapstick silent comedy routine, were not our type of humor, but were definitely very talented.  Others, like the heavy metal magician, had some fancy props, but the tricks done were very basic.  Akiva’s favorite were the juggling acts… he takes after his father!

All in all, it was a great day out!  We watched the performances in Rymill Park, where we were also able to have a picnic and feed the ducks.  The best part was that you paid the performers however much you felt they earned.  If you really enjoyed a performance, you could pay a lot, but if you didn’t like the performance, you didn’t have to pay at all.  Of course, many Fringe performances are reasonably priced, but none more so than this!

The Adelaide Fringe street performances are still going on today, so you can run to Rymill Park or Rundel Mall now and still catch quite a few. Have fun!

Traveling or Backpacking with a Baby or an Infant: Packing: Pacifiers (or Dummies or Binkies or Soothers)

It seems like most babies, infants, and toddlers today are using pacifiers (known in other countries as dummies, binkies, or soothers).  And no wonder they’re popular! Babies love to suck and a pacifier gives them something other than mommy to suck on, so they get all the good-feeling hormones without mommy needing to keep baby constantly attached to the breast.

When he was a newborn, we could sometimes get Akiva to take a dummy (or pacifier)... but most of the time he didn't like it much!

Our Akiva had terrible colic for the first two months of his life, so we were willing to try just about anything to get him to calm down and maybe even go to sleep!  Of course we tried offering him a pacifier, but the majority of the time he would not take it. He never seemed to like it much and eventually we gave up offering it to him. (He was happy with a boob or a bottle, though – as long as something actually came out of it!)

So when we travel we don’t have to worry about packing dummies or pacifiers.  But it seems, in my experience, that most people do.

So, how many pacifiers (dummies/binkies/soothers) to pack?

Friends who travelled with a baby told me they started out with five.  After three weeks of travel they had two or three left (they said they had three but one was “missing”… they still hoped to find it!)  So, I would say that if you are normally vigilant, you should pack one pacifier (dummy/binky/soother) per week of travel, plus a couple extra for a buffer zone.

Of course, this also depends on where you travel and what kind of pacifier you use. It also depends on the age of your child.  A newborn or very young infant with a dummy clipped to them on a dummy chain is unlikely to lose very many pacifiers.  However, having an active child above the age of about seven months means you’re running the risk of having the “toss it out, get mommy to pick it up” game be played with the pacifier.  And babies and toddlers who are strong enough will be able to remove most dummy chains.  My friends told me that one of their pacifiers was lost when their daughter tossed it over the edge of a cliff while they were hiking.

Remember, if you use a standard pacifier you can probably replace it easily in many parts of the world. However, in developing countries, they are not so prevalent and so can be more difficult to locate. Similarly, in rural areas or off-the-map places, like hiking and trekking destinations or local villages, you could be stuck without a pacifier if your last one gets lost.

Furthermore, some people use a specific shape or type of dummy or pacifier.  If you or your baby are particular about this, don’t count on finding your specific type when you travel. It might be available; it might not!

So, how does one keep from losing dummies and pacifiers while traveling?

The most obvious answer is not to bring them in the first place! If you’re planning on weaning your child off the pacifier, you might consider doing so before the trip.  On the other hand, with moving from place to place and unfamiliar sleeping situations, you might decide to wait.

Dummy or pacifier chains are a great idea – if your baby won’t remove them!  Most babies are able to pull these things off once they hit a certain age.  My nine-month-old can remove a bib and he can remove a dummy clip, too.  So they might not work.  You can consider allowing your little one to choose a “special” dummy chain (there are many fancy ones available online) if he or she is old enough.  Or you can try to find one that won’t come off so easily, but I have not found one yet.  If you find an ingenious design or one that doesn’t come off, please do let me know!

Other than those ideas, I don’t know of any way to keep a pacifier from getting lost. Everyone I know who has kids who use them constantly complain of lost dummies, so I take it that losing pacifiers is a common occurrence at the best of times.  That’s why my best advice is just to bring lots of extras with you when you travel!

Good luck and safe travels!

Visiting Tennyson Dunes in South Australia

Adventuring Akiva crawling through the sand at Tennyson Dunes, South Australia

Last week we went to Tennyson Dunes in South Australia.  Just a half an hour away from Adelaide, it is the last remaining example of pristine dunes on the Adelaide coast.  Most of the dunes that were originally there have been destroyed by buildings, which I think is quite sad.  It is a unique ecosystem that is pretty much gone now because humans wanted to have nice views of the ocean from their fancy homes.  Now, I would love to have such a view of the ocean – but I’d like to have the dunes in front of it, the way G-d made it!

Rabbi Ben playing with Akiva at Tennyson Dunes, Adelaide, South Australia

Anyway, this was a beautiful place to visit.  The dunes are really well preserved, although apparently the people who support it have had to plant spiky plants at the edges of the dunes to keep people out of them.  It meant we had to watch Akiva very carefully as he went adventuring!  But the dunes were really beautiful.

Because you have to hike through the dunes to get to the ocean, the beach is not very highly trafficked.  While we were there, we saw one or two locals walking their dogs and one woman walking the paths through the dunes.  The beach was practically deserted!  It was wonderful to have the place to ourselves.

Unfortunately, it got quite windy and we were not able to enjoy it properly due to the blowing sand.  This is a hazard with any beach on a windy day.  But the beach by the Tennyson Dunes was spectacular and I really look forward to visiting it again some day and getting a chance to take a longer wander through the dunes.  If you’re in South Adelaide, check it out!

The pristine beach and dunes at Tennyson Dunes, Adelaide, South Australia, with not a person in sight!

By a guest writer:

In reality, finding a holiday that’s cheaper than chips is like searching for a fortune long after the gold rush has fizzled out. But there are plenty of ways to grab a great holiday bargain – it’s just a matter of finding the one that works for you and your budget.

Many people associate low cost holidays with late deals, and this is certainly one great way of saving money. If you’re happy to jet off with just a few weeks’ notice, sometimes less, then a late deal could be for you. The best bet is to keep your options open. Availability is always limited when you book a last-minute getaway so try not to be too focused on a particular resort or hotel. Instead, stay open to new destinations and consider places that you’ve never tried before. This way, you can go where the deals are – and save a bucketload in the process.

Another useful money-saving trick is to think about what you’re most likely to do when you get there, and book your hotel board basis accordingly. Let’s say you’re heading to Tenerife and you’re happy to do nothing more than laze by the pool or sit on the beach; give or take the odd boat trip or half day’s excursion. If this is you, then a full-board or all-inclusive board basis will suit you down to the ground. This way you’ll get all of your meals included and, where all-inclusive is concerned, you’ll get drinks and snacks too.

If however you love exploring local markets and mingling with the locals, taking picnics for day-long self-driven excursions and eating out in local restaurants, then go for a bed and breakfast option. Or try a self-catering apartment. That way you can buy fresh local ingredients from the markets and cook up a tasty storm in the kitchen at night. Perfect!

Please note: Most of the post on Traveling Rabbi are to do with kosher travel. Sometimes however we like to share general travel information if we think it could be useful to our readers.

With regards to the article above, as a kosher traveller you could get a self catering apartment which makes it easy to prepare kosher food.

Dear Readers,

As you know, I usually post about a place where I currently am though a friend at Travel lodge asked if I could post something for them. As you are aware, I don’t post much for other people, but they are a decent search portal for travel and maybe some of you would find it useful.

One for the Culture Vultures: Top Museums in Edinburgh

The glorious Scottish capital of Edinburgh, much like London in the south of England, is blessed with a myriad of museums to suit all interests and tastes. Edinburgh and the Lothians help to provide visitors with an eye for culture further advancement into the world of history, culture and heritage.

Spend a few days in this beautiful city to full appreciate what is on offer here. Hotels in Edinburgh city centre are available and easily accessible online, giving you the opportunity to book affordably priced rooms, within easy distance of the museums and attractions.

Once you have settled in, explore the city and everything it holds. From the multitude of museums, castles and historic attractions to the contemporary galleries, music and live entertainment, you will be spoilt for choice on what to fill your itinerary with during your stay.

National Museum of Scotland

Bound to be at the top of anyone’s list of museum must-sees during a stay in Edinburgh, the National Museum of Scotland has recently undergone major refurbishment, and as such, now benefits from a much more advanced and impressive collection of artefacts, exhibits and displays. From specimens collected during the life and travels of naturist, Charles Darwin, to a prehistoric skeleton of the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex, there is bound to be plenty that excites you here.

With the museum containing rare artefacts and antiquities dating back to 4000BC, including ancient death masks and Egyptian mummies, as well as special exhibitions running throughout the year, whatever time you decide to visit, there will be ample to see. Exhibitions to look forward to over the coming months include Dr Livingstone, I Presume? and Vikings!, which will delve into recent archaeological discoveries to help understand the Viking Age further.

Our Dynamic Earth

Wrap up warm and embark on a journey across the Earth to develop a better understanding of what made, and continues to make, our planet the way it is. From earthquakes to glaciers, from past to present, Our Dynamic Earth is a perfect attraction to visit with the whole family.

With tickets priced at £11.50 for adults and £7.50 for children for a single day entry, a visit to this fabulous museum and interactive adventure is an absolute must.

Museum of Childhood

Solely dedicated to the history of childhood, this incredible museum will make even the oldest of visitors feel like a big kid again. From toys and games that were manufactured in the 1920s and 1930s to early Steiff bears and an impressive Barbie doll collection, children can marvel at toys of the past whilst adults can feel a huge sense of nostalgia as they wander around the various exhibits and displays.

Whether these museums and attractions appeal to you, or you’d prefer to explore what else is on offer, such as the Writer’s Museum, the National Museum of Flight or the Surgeons’ Hall Museum,  a couple of days in Edinburgh will help to develop your understanding and provide you with insight into days gone by. Book your accommodation today and begin your plans for a trip to the stunning Scottish capital.

Celebrating the Hmong (Mong) New Year near Chiang Mai, Thailand

We were fortunate last week to be able to celebrate the Hmong New Year, which occurred on January 15, 2013.  As I have mentioned, we met some Hmong villagers in Chiang Mai’s famous Sunday Market, who offered to let us come with them to the village for the celebration.

During the Hmong New Year, each village joins in a giant parade.

We had to leave Chiang Mai by 5 AM to go to the village because preparations for the celebration began early. Unlike our Jewish new year celebrations, their new year does not begin at sundown. Nor does it begin at midnight like the secular new year does.  Instead, it begins at sunrise, and so do the festivities! By 7 AM, villagers from Hill Tribes for miles around were arriving in their finery for the parade and party.

First, the Hmong family all got together early in the morning – everyone was up before 6 AM, even the small children – for an early breakfast. (For more on how to keep kosher at mealtimes when visiting a tribal village, CLICK HERE.) Then, everyone got dressed in their fancy outfits (more on these in a subsequent post!).  After that, it was time to start celebrating the Hmong New Year!

The celebrations of the Hmong New Year started off with a gigantic parade.  Unfortunately, Rabbi Ben and I missed most of this, as Adventuring Akiva was sleeping and we didn’t wake him in time (what a party pooper).  Once we’d woken him up and dressed him in his Hmong outfit, the family we were visiting dressed us up in Hmong outfits, too! Then we headed out.

Women, both young and old, take part in a sewing and embroidery competition during the Hmong New Year celebration.

Walking through the village, we saw thousands of people from all the neighboring Hmong villages, buying food, toys, umbrellas, and clothing from the various stalls. At a main gathering area, there were hundreds more of the Hmong people.  Some were sitting in the shade, eating. Some were performing on stage – singing, dancing, etc.  Others were engaged in competitions, such as sewing competitions.  Some were playing courtship games.

Everyone was dressed in their finest and it seemed that everyone wanted a photo of or with Adventuring Akiva!  We thought we would go to the Hmong New Year celebration and take photos of all the Hmong people, but instead, the Hmong people took lots of photos of us.  What a role reversal!

All in all, it was a fantastic day.  It was a thrilling cultural experience and we learned a lot about the Hmong people and the Hmong culture.  Interestingly enough, I also feel I learned an important lesson as a Jew, which I will, please G-d, post about tomorrow.

Happy Hmong New Year!