Free & Easy Life

November Photo Contest Honorable Mentions PT 2

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 06:21:00 -0700

We’re having a monthly photo contest every month up until December 31st. You can win by having an awesome photo or just by a random draw…so everyone has a chance. These are some of the honorable mentions from November.

Check out the contest here.

Full Moon Party! by Shawna Irish

Petting Tigers by Shawna Irish

The Philippines by Sheena Perndorfer

Nemo by Tuesdays Cha Cha

by Teresa Perdigao

Abandoned military vehicle by Steven Willeboordse

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand by Sarah Galloway

by Matt Cinderey

Koh Ang Thong, Thailand by Jonny Bierman

The falls at Batad, The Philippines by Jenna Valleriani

Pranang Bay by Chantelle Friesen Stobbe

Snake Wine in Vietnam by Fraser Mount

Novice Monks in Chiang Mai by Jason Bell

November Photo Contest Honorable Mentions PT 1

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 06:12:15 -0700

Check out the contest here.

A novice monk hanging out in Nong Kai, Thailand. by Amy Giesbrecht

Snorkelling in Indonesia. by Basia Okoniewska

River rafting in Chiang Mai by Caitlin Stewart.

Pranang Bay at Railay, Thailand by Caitlin Stewart.

Group leader, Ben, driving the longtail boatback from the full moon party. by Caroline Stern

Koh Phangnan, Thailand sunset by Chrissy May

Ayuthaya, Thailand by Chantelle Friesen Stobbe

by Jason Bell

Volcano (and ladies) in the Philippines by Jenna Valleriani

Bamboo Island, Thailand by Jenna Valleriani

The Rice Terraces of Batad, The Philippines by Jonny Bierman

It doesn’t get much more “Free and Easy” than this….Nicaragua. by Kelsey Calhoun

From the school visit on the southern Thailand trip. by Nadine Woudstra

by Shawna Irish

The Lottery You Never Knew You Won

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:48:09 -0700

(by Madison Schwartz)

Whenever I meet people for the first time, the subject of travel seems to inevitably come up. Traveling is a major part of my life, I love it, and thus, I seem to always end up talking about it. People are sometimes unsure how to start planning, and saving for a trip, and a common response when I invite someone to travel with me, or to travel in general is “…Ya… when I win the lottery”. Well, here’s the thing, you’ve already won it, so pack your bags.

Think about your life. Chances are, if you’re reading this blog, you’re from a middle-class family, in the Western world. Now, I’m not a statistician, I’m not going to bombard you with numbers, but I wager you’re pretty stoked that you haven’t been born one of those people that live on less than $2 a day. These people number approximately 2.8 billion, we number considerably less. Not everyone in the world today has the opportunity to travel, we do, and should take advantage of it. In addition, because of where we live, none of us were pressed into military service at the age of 18 (more than eighty countries worldwide still enforce some level of conscription, effectively removing the ability to backpack freely, at least for a time).

Now think about the era into which you’ve been born. Many of our grandparents, and great grandparents had the opportunity to visit Europe, or Asia, but it certainly wasn’t for pleasure (this is a reference to the World Wars, for those who are less historically inclined). We live in the freest era the world has ever seen, we’re not expected to join the army, get married, have children, or own a home by the time we’re 25, we can, but we don’t HAVE to. We’re part of what’s being dubbed the “boomerang generation”, we have a unique opportunity to have been born into a time when it is very acceptable to pursue a travelers lifestyle for a few years, and most of us still have the safety net of a home to come back to.

We live in the era of air travel. Sometimes, bleary eyed, and pissed off at the lack of movie selection on my 12 hour flight to Bangkok, I have to remind myself that only a few decades ago that same journey took several weeks, and a ship full of hearty sailors. Take advantage of this era when flight prices are at all time lows, don’t wait for that big retirement trip in forty years, the way things are going, there might be no aviation fuel left. Pretty good timing for us I’d say.

And yes, I know, even though all these things have added up to create an era where world travel is possible, it still costs a pretty penny, but here’s a clichéd idea you could try. If you’re a student like me, you drink a shitload of coffee, and odds are you buy your coffee at $5 a cup from the capitalist heathens at Starbucks. Brew your own for a year, and pocket the fivers, and next year we’ll go to this little café I know in Bangkok, and the coffees are on me. Deal? Deal.

Best photos of the October photo contest Part 2

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:21:37 -0600

The amazing Had Yuan, Thailand by Kimber Parker
Thailand’s seas are so perfect…. by Kimber Parker
A woman from the Long Neck tribe in Northern Thailand. by Lisha Saliani
Nothing like Railay at dusk. by Marie-Pierre Duquette

Sunrise at the Full Moon Party in Thailand by Shawna Irish

The lagoon at Railay, Thailand by Nadine Woudstra

Some “cute” Nicaraguan kids ;) by Melissa Milakovic

Best photos of the October photo contest Part 1

Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:25:00 -0600

Here are some of the best photos (that didn’t have the most “likes”) in our Facebook Photo contest. Its easy to enter and there is also a “random draw” aspect….so just drop 5 pics into our contest and you might find yourself winning a trip to any of these amazing places below! Here’s the contest.

The surrounding area of Angkor Wat in Cambodia by Antony Martens

Temple in Seoul….while Seoul isn’t officially a Free & Easy destination, many of our flights have a layover long enough to get out and check stuff like this out!photo by Brynn Nicholson
photo by Caitlin Stewart
sunrise at Angor Wat by Chrissy May
Elephants are cool! by Chrissy May
Boating through Halong Bay by Fraser Mount
For many people these are their favorite parts of Indonesia. by Graeme Haunholter
Group leader, Colin Ward, getting ready for tubing. by Janelle Lane
Our little private piece of paradise in the Philippines by Kaitlyn Izsak
The “unofficial” Free and Easy mascot “Sim the Monkey” by Kelsey Hammond

Reading Week For Less - RevelSTOKED

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:59:28 -0600

Leaving on February 25th, Free & Easy will pack two buses departing from each of Edmonton andCalgary and one more from Vancouver and will head to the winter wonderland of Revelstoke for two full days of riding and 2 nights of good times. The price for this sick beauty is 315$*. Fill out an online registration and make a 100$ trip deposit before November 30th to get early bird prices of 300$

Included in the price of 315$*:
2 Days riding at Revelstoke Mountain Resort
2 Nights accommodations in Revelstoke**
Transportation to and from Revelstoke***
And, a whole lot of fun

* STUDENT PRICING is available for 315$ (make sure you let us know you are a Student and have your Student ID handy for proof). Regular cost of the trip will be 330$.

Click here to fill out a registration and make your deposit or contact us for more details!

Reading Week For Less - 10 Days in Nicaragua

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:57:17 -0600

Forget the Mexico all-inclusive for Reading Week, and instead embark on a true travel adventure to the beautiful, exotic, friendly, inexpensive, and truly awesome Nicaragua! Imagine spending your Reading Week lying on a gorgeous beach, or surfing smooth waves, and having an easy-going group of friends to celebrate all the good living with! We’ll visit 3 destinations, and have surf days for up to a week of the 10-days! You’ll be watching glorious sunsets, and sipping delicious (& cheap!) Flor de Cana rum, and be a world away from the thought of school or stress! Life is great in Nicaragua, and we’ll make sure you have the best trip imaginable!

You can leave home in the morning, and that night you will be at a beach house hearing the sound of waves crash. Nicaragua is still somewhat unknown, but that makes it all the more special to travel in. It isn’t
overdeveloped, or sanitized for tourists, and provides that authentic feeling of traveling….Take 10 days this February and live Tranquilo!!

Reading Week Surftown Getaway:

Feb. 19th - Feb. 28th

Make a $200 deposit to secure your spot. Then follow our payment schedule to make monthly payments.

Early Bird pricing till Nov. 15th only:
$1940 CAD (flight & taxes included**)
$940 CAD Land Only (all taxes included)

**Prices are based on departures from Vancouver/LAX.

USE THE CODE TO SAVE YOUR $150: nicareadingweek.

Who said travel days had to be boring?

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 11:27:00 -0600

(by Jeff Emmett)

One would think that since the word ‘travel’ implies moving from place to place, then travellers would be accustomed to such a thing. Some more than others do enjoy the thrill of heading somewhere new and unknown, but I have seen more than a little dread cross someone’s face when they look at the endless kilometres that must be traversed to their next fun destination.

Although the saying “It’s not the destination but the journey that matters” is true in the larger sense of your life long journey, try quoting that to a haggard soul who has been on a train for 36 hours and they might tell you different. Travel in most people’s experience involves seeing new places and experiencing new things, not just passing them by at 80 km/hour. And so the oft-dreaded ‘travel day’ is born. Luckily, Free & Easy has a solution to that.

Travel with Free & Easy is not comparable to anything I have ever experienced. What might have been a long, lonely, iPOD filled ride (better hope that battery doesn’t run out!) if you were travelling solo or with a friend has the potential to turn into a massively mobile party on wheels. You are never alone without someone to share a conversation with when you are in a group of 20+ happy, friendly people travelling the same direction without a care in the world except when is the next bathroom break (or beer stop!). Whether it is chillaxing on a ferry from one paradise island to the next, playing games at the pier waiting for a transfer, or enjoying the wind whip your hair into a frenzy in the back of a truck, Free & Easy travel days are anything but boring!

Indeed, they have perfected the recipe for group travel over the past decade, and even provide the Thailand trip with the ultimate travel vehicle: the PARTY bus! Equipped with a devastating sound system, indoor siren lights, and a leather couch at the back, the party bus is an explosion waiting to happen like a chemical reaction. Take a group of fun loving people, add costumes, a few road pops (that’s allowed in Thailand, and for that matter pretty much anywhere outside of the western world), some sweet tunes and maybe a rainbow coloured wig, enclose for 3 hours, shake it up with some on bus crowd surfing and a bumpy road and BOOM! Party time! You are at your destination in no time, and kind of sad to be getting off the bus!

Even when things go wrong on a Free & Easy travel day, there is always a silver lining hidden in the clouds. While travelling from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang on the LTC, my group experienced quite heavy traffic due to excessive mud on the road caused by recent landslides. At first we were expecting a few hour delay and grabbed some snacks and beers from local roadside villagers, but as we edged our way around some clifftop roads and the tires slipped closer to the edge with every tap of the brakes, we knew something was up. As time wore on we realized we were in this for the long haul…it looked like we were going to be delayed over 15 hours and would have to spend the night on the bus! Not to be discouraged, we made friends with some of the locals to ferry a few crates of beverages to and from the bus for us to enjoy, and after a few hours of hanging out on the bus we decided to go and explore the local cliffside village.

The locals were excited to see us, as they don’t have much exposure to foreigners except in the odd roadside stop. The women of the village graciously offered us food for free as we were quite hungry and stranded with no dinner, but we understood the plight they were in living in such poor conditions so we offered them a fair price of a dollar or two for corn and rice to tide us over until we reached our destination.The children came out and wanted to play games with us, resulting in endless rounds of Stella Ella Olla for the girls and catching cicadas (a noisy but harmless bug about the size of half your palm) and giant bat-sized moths (honestly, it was as big as your hand!) for the boys. I have never seen a child so happy as the boy who had a cicada in each fist - it was like Christmas morning! Who needs that expensive plastic Tonka truck when you’ve got perfectly good bugs to put in your pockets?

We also discovered that a 4 year old Laos child was much better at catching the cicadas than we were - they had no hesitation to get in there and grab it by the wings or thorax, where a lot of us foreigners would hesitate or recoil because we thought it was gross. It reminded me of how some people hesitate to take the reins on their life and idly watch it pass by from the sidelines - while Free & Easy shows us that it is okay to grab life by the horns and enjoy every minute of it. Even on a travel day!

Best photos of the September photo contest

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:50:00 -0600

Here is a selection of some of the best entries into the September photo contest and random draw. They didn’t get the most likes but they are awesome nonetheless!

Each month 2 people get chosen to be in our final draw on Dec 31. One is chosen by the most “likes” on Facebook and the other by random draw. So get your travel pics in and you might win! Enter here.

September Winner with the most “likes” by Marissa Ann

Lotus Flower by Asia Basinski

Sea Turtle by Chantelle Stobbe

Pranang Bay, Thailand by Chantelle Stobbe

Thailand by Christine Smith

Maderas Beach, Nicaragua by David Jol

Laguna de Apoyo, Nicaragua by David Jol

by Ellen Keith

Northern Thailand by Fraser Mount

by Graeme Haunholter

The entrance to Bayon, Cambodia by Janelle Lane

by Len Langevin

Greece….the birthplace of F&E….and the future?? by Nadine Woudstra

Full Moon Party Carnage by Sara Jade Gooding

by Sara Galloway

The floating bungalows, Thailand by Shawn Bench

by Amy Giesbrecht

Survivor Nicaragua...on our Free & Easy Beach!!!

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:22:52 -0600

The first Survivor Nicaragua is already 2 episodes in!!! And to make things even more surreal, the recently purchased Free & Easy beach front property is being used as part of the set for this!!! Actually, if you have been watching, the ‘Young’ tribe is actually staying on our beach!!! After Survivor is done taping, this beach will be the site of The Free & Easy Surf Camp and Bungalows coming in January 2011. This beach is secluded, breath-taking, and it has beautiful waves perfect for surfing…and we would love you all to experience it with us!!!

Our Nicaragua Adventures are going into it’s second year and after such a stellar first year, we decided to add more departures for both the 10 Day and 20 Day Trips. During this trip, you will get the chance to live life tranquilo; whether that means you decide to hike up a volcano, catch some surf, scuba dive on pristine reefs or just swing in a hammock enjoying the view. Nicaragua has something for everyone. Check out our upcoming departures to Nicaragua…we would love to see you there!!!

2011 Nicaragua 20-Day Trip Dates

Jan. 9th – Jan 29th
Mar. 3rd - Mar. 23rd
Mar. 27th - Apr. 16th
May 1st – May 21st
May 23rd – June 12th
Nov. 25th – Dec. 15th

2011 Nicaragua 10-day trip dates:

Dec 28th - Jan 7th New Years!!!
Feb. 12th – Feb. 21st (Western Canada Reading Break)
Feb. 19th - Feb. 28th (Eastern Canada Reading Break)
July 7th – July 17th
Nov. 13th – Nov. 23rd

For more information about this adventure or go secure your spot to Nicaragua, please click here.

Need a break? Introducing the new, extended LTC Adventure

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 22:21:24 -0600

Summer is over, school is in session and winter is just around the corner. If you want a quick getaway to break the monotony of classes and shoveling your sidewalk, the new LTC (Laos, Cambodia and Thailand) trip is your answer. We have changed the trip now to a 25 Day Adventure; adding 5 days into this action packed trip to allow for more Free & Easy time in each of the trip’s legendary destinations.

On this adventure there is bamboo rafting, tubing, elephant trekking, busing, boating, flying and trekking our way through jungles, mountains, rivers, ancient cities, temples, tribal villages and an endless amount of other sights, sounds and tastes that will astound the senses. With all that action available we never forget this is a Free & Easy style trip, so there will be ample opportunity to sit back and take in these countries at your own pace.

We will be spending 25 Days in LTC on these dates:

Feb 25th to March 21st
June 9th to July 3rd
July 17th to August 10th
October 27th to November 20th.

For more information about this trip and how you can register your spot on this once in a lifetime adventure, click here.

P.S. For an interesting introduction into this adventure and why the additional five days were needed, click here to read a blog post by one of our leaders; Ben Copeland

LTC - Lose yourself, Try something different and Come see the world

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:08:00 -0600

by Ben Copeland

One of the hardest decisions you have to make when traveling is where to go and how much time to spend there. Around the world every destination, every city, every village has a different experience to offer. Everyone is looking for that something that will leave an everlasting impression in their mind, if not their soul, the ultimate experience of a lifetime. The 20-day LTC was designed to see as much as possible in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, and give people the opportunity to experience something different, something that goes above and beyond anything they have ever seen. Things like different cultural traditions, such as the “alms ceremony”, where the monks in Luang Prabang, Laos, wear their traditional orange monk robes, walk the streets early every morning to accept their daily food (alms). Or the history of Cambodia and Ankor Wat, a massive area of 12th century temples that still stand and carry with it much more history than many people realize. Of course there is the adventure aspect, zip lining or trekking through the jungles of Chiang Mai hoping to catch the glimpse of a monkey or maybe a tarantula. Not to mention the parties of Vang Vieng, Laos, that most people say can go unmatched by any party they have ever been to with trapeze like rope swings and 50ft long water slides that toss you into a river that’s lined with more bars per square metre than any pub street!

All this being said, the LTC allows all travelers to experience all of this which is much more than most people experience in a lifetime. Now the only issue is that’s a heck of alot of experiences to love and enjoy in only 20 days! However!! Now that this has all been changed, the trip now being a quarter longer with 5 extra days, allows the group to experience all of this with a breath of fresh air in between. Giving the trip even more of a ‘free’ and ‘easy’ vibe to it. And trust me, maybe 5 days doesn’t seem like a lot, but it adds more to the trip than you know! The extra days can be spent lounging maybe having a delicious foreign beer and just taking in the surrounding views of beautiful limestone cliffs that your eyes never thought they would fall on, or just walking around markets to see what weird and bizarre items are for sale. Personally, with the extra day added to Luang Prabang, I see myself renting a peddle bike and going exploring to parts of the town I have never been, maybe even purposely getting lost and see what I find or who I meet. In Siem Reap, maybe take another day to explore the ancient temples of Angkor Wat. In Vang Vieng, maybe I’ll go and have another day of party on the river with whoever is daring to do a second round! hahaha One thing is certain, these days will not go unused, that is for sure.

When i heard that there would be an extra 5 days added to the LTC, i said to myself, “Well its about time!” I am overwhelmed with excitement as we embark on a new and improved LTC, a trip that will continue to leave an impression on the minds and souls of those who are ready to experience something completely different, something unparallelled, something that won’t even be able to be put into words.

Photos by Simon Rumford.

The Best of the August Photo Contest Part 2

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:03:22 -0600

Wat Pho, Bangkok - Graeme Haunholter

Bali fisherman - Graeme Haunholter

Manta Ray, Philippines - Kala Hadfield

Khao Sok, Thailand - Kieth Lao

by Kevin Luft

by Kymber Palidwar

by Kymber Palidwar

Volcano Boarding, Nicaragua -Matt Healey

Maya Bay, Thailand -Melissa Staroszik

Brobrudur temple, Indo- Mervin Meruenas

The Best of the August Photo Contest Part 2

The Best of the August Photo Contest! Part 1

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:27:00 -0600

Amy Giesbrecht's random winner.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia - Amber Smith

by Caroline Weisser

by Chantelle Stobbe

by Colette Ashmore

"Pi Oh" from Pooh's Bar - Danielle Wiebe

at Angkor Wat - Dennis Yan

Tarsier in the Philippines -Fraser Mount

by Graeme Haunholter

The Best of the August Photo Contest! Part 1

Taking Southeast Asia one step further...VIETNAM!!

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:35:37 -0600

The Next Adventure… VIETNAM!

The highly anticipated next trip offering from Free & Easy is finally ready to be revealed! We’re stoked to present 20 DAYS IN VIETNAM!! Stunning beaches, misty mountains, delicious food, fascinating culture, friendly people and cheap prices are all awaiting us in Vietnam! Not to forget adventures ranging from trekking in the northern mountains, house boating through Halong Bay, scuba diving in the South China Sea, exploring ancient temples, or just navigating the streets of Saigon! We’re ready to take our exploration of Southeast Asia to the next level with this trip and want you to come with us to be a part of this unique first trip experience!! From Hanoi, to Sapa, to Nha Trang and Saigon, we’ll show you hottest destinations and the sweetest hidden gems Vietnam has to offer, in true Free & Easy style!

We have two sets of dates for you to choose from in 2011, so there are only 40 spots available in total, and we’re offering a $150 discount to the first 10 people that sign up for it!! Use the promo code “vietnam2011” when registering for an instant discount!

May 21st - June 9th: From $1890 ($3190 with air)

July 20th - August 8th: From $1890 ($3190 with air)

For complete details on this new, upcoming adventure from Free & Easy Traveler, click HERE

Success in Indonesia!

Our first foray into the island archipelago of Indonesia has just come to an end, and it was a huge success! We brought a group of 25 travelers with us, comprised of past trip members and new Free & Easy travelers, and showed them the best of what Indonesia had to offer. From the grueling 2 day hike up Mt Rinjani, to the surfing mecca of Bali, to the picturesque Gili island for world class scuba diving, Indonesia was thoroughly explored and enjoyed. Thank you to everyone who helped make Indoenesia another Epic Adventure!!

Photographer Simon Rumford was along for the adventure too and captured this amazing shot! You can check out more of his photos from our first Indonesia trip at his website: Simon Photography

2011 dates and prices:

May 21st - June 9th
June 10th - June-29th
July20th - August 8th

All Trips from $1940 ($3280 with air)

Don’t miss out on the next Indonesia Adventure! Find out more information and sign-up HERE!

Escape Winter with Nicaragua!

The traditional summer season of traveling is starting to wind down, but we’ve never felt inclined to follow old stuffy traditions like that. One of our hottest new destinations, NICARAGUA, is just a quick flight away to south of us and we have multiple trip dates for you to plan an escape that will give you a reason to look forward to the winter months! Experience true tranquility on the Caribbean Corn Islands, try out your surfing skills in Maderas, test your nerves with Volcano Boarding in the Colonial city of Leon and finally kick back and experience San Juan del Sur - the spot where the next two seasons of SURVIVOR are currently being filmed. The same beach you’ll be watching the contestants of Survivor compete against one another, is exactly where we’ll be building our very own Free & Easy Surf Camp!!… just as soon as they’re done filming!

Our friend and fellow traveler, Videographer Syd Woodward came out with us on our first trip last year and made this amazing video of our first Nicaraguan Experiences! Go HERE to check it out.

Our upcoming dates include a 20-day trip starting November 25th, a 10-day New Years trip starting December 28th, and another 20-day trip on January 9th! For full details on our Nicaragua trips click HERE.

Suggest us to friends on Facebook!
We’re steadily approaching our goal of reaching 10,000 fans by the New Year, but still have a ways to go! Suggest your friends and find out how you can be entered to win a FREE trip in 2011!

Enter our 10th Anniversary Photo Contest!
We’re giving away a trip to Paradise to the winner of our 10th Anniversary Photo Contest! Enter your own photos for a chance to win! Don’t forget to vote by “Liking” other photos as well. Vote for as many as you actually do like!

Become a Free & Easy Rep!
Have an insane love for travel and new experiences? Want to earn money and trip discounts? Apply to become an official Free & Easy Rep and help spread the word about our adventures and you could be traveling for Free with money in your pocket to spare!

More Trip Combinations Than Ever!!
With Vietnam now in the trip roster and our LTC trip being extended to 25 days, there are even more trip combinations possible! From 30 day Nicaragua Adventures to 105 day Asian Odyssey’s!! Check out all the possible Trip Combo’s and start planning your dream adventure now!

Last Minute Deals!!
We’re currently offering a last minute discount of $350 for our November Nicaragua trip!! Limited spots left, use “nicapromo” at the time of registration! Check out our Last Minute Deals page for more information on this and other great discounts!

Local Night

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:22:11 -0600

(by Madison Schwartz)

One of the most rewarding and unique aspects of traveling is the opportunity to interact with the local population. While it might seem intimidating at first, spending a night hanging out with some of the locals rather than just within your “circle” often presents some incredibly interesting and unique opportunities.

Because I know firsthand just how much fun a “local night” can be, I find myself often seeking them out, rather than letting them find me. This particular local night started, as nights often do, with that magical incantation: “I think I’m going to have an easy night, maybe just one beer and then bed”. Once you have uttered these words, you have essentially guaranteed that you will be out until after sunrise, and the night will be incredibly epic (I don’t know the science behind it, but it’s true. Trust me.).

Being the fast food gourmet that I am, I was excited to dine at one of the Philippines’ many delicious pizza chains (insert ad for Yellow Cab Pizza). However, Bertus, my colleague and good friend suggested that perhaps we should instead try what he called “the most random BBQ place ever”. Well, I like my pizza, but I also like my random, so we rounded up the group, and off we went to “random BBQ place”.

Well, it certainly delivered on the random, and was what I would describe as a BBQ circus. About 50 or 60 BBQ stalls surrounding a giant big top circus tent, all selling delicious meat (as an alternative to meat, meat was also served), and cheap beer. So we filled up on cheap local food, and beer, a much more satisfying experience than pizza, I must admit, and it was about this time that the group of Filipinos a few tables away, and our group decided to become one.

Interacting with local Filipinos is incredibly fun, because they love to joke, generally speak better English than you do, and often have a few very talented musicians in their midst, this crew was no exception. We swapped English songs for Tagalog ones, Bertus and I both trying to keep up in the guitar and singing department, all the while filling the table with more and more San Miguel beer bottles. Another interesting phenomena with locals is that you must often fight very hard to buy the next round, as they always seem to sneak away to get more drinks and food before you can. Filipino hospitality, much like Thai hospitality, is pretty much endless.

As the night went on, the conversation shifted to politics, our new friends were both surprised and delighted that we were following the results of their recent Presidential election. When we expressed our hope that the frontrunner, NoyNoy Aquino would win, Bertus and I were presented with bracelets for NoyNoy’s campaign, emblazoned with the slogan “The Filipino is worth dying for” (this phrase also appears on the 500 peso bill), I was honoured.

We drank more beer, told jokes and stories, they asked about Canada, and we asked about the Philippines. Everyone in the group was having an awesome time. At some point, Bertus was asked what his favorite Filipino food was, and his reply, Fish Kinilaw, resulted in my most random and unique experience of the night. A quick phone call, resulted in a new friend arriving by scooter, and I was told (to the jealous looks of my friends), that I was going to the night fish market to buy the fish we’d need. So off we went through the streets of Cebu, cruising on a scooter wearing helmets which made me reminisce about my first bicycle as a child (“very safe my friend”).

When we arrived at the fish market, I was floored by the size of the place, it was also immediately clear from the stares and pictures that I was the only westerner in the whole market. My friend, Waray, explained that the market opens at midnight each day, and closes at 5 am when the fishermen go back out to sea. It is the seafood wholesaler for the entire area. After touring the whole market, we bough our fish for our Kinilaw, and Waray decided it might also be fun to tour the adjacent butcher’s market, it was; I even got to try my hand at butchering, which I will gladly leave to the professionals. By this time, the sun was beginning to come up, and I figured I should get back to my friends in the group. We put our bike helmets on and sped back to random BBQ place, where our friends waited.

Bertus explained that we were true locals, as they no longer made us pay the 2 pesos (about 6 cents) to use the bathroom. After a long goodbye, and a promise that we would be back the following weekend to attend Waray’s son’s birthday party, Bertus, myself, and the remaining group members left random BBQ place and headed back to our guesthouse. Of course, the next day was a travel day, as it often seems to be after the biggest of nights. But spirits were high as I regaled the crew with my tales from the fish-market, and bragged about my new bracelet. Everyone agreed that random BBQ place would be our first stop upon our return to Cebu, after all, we’re now regulars.

So the next time you see a group of locals, take a chance, go say hi, more often than not it will provide with a unique adventure, and an understanding that no matter where you are in the world, good, fun people will always attract more good, fun people.

Best of Both Worlds - Mayhem and Serenity in Koh Phi Phi

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:09:00 -0600

(by Kevin Bernardin)

At 20 meters below the surface of the ocean, it really is a whole new world. When I dive I spend a lot of the time scouring the sand banks opposite the coral reefs in hopes that I might catch sight of a leopard or black tip reef shark as that’s where they’re typically found. The reefs themselves are spectacular and teeming with all kinds of marine life but most of it is smaller stuff, like box fish, lion fish, scorpion fish, trigger fish, moray eels, and the list goes on and on…. I’ve always been more interested in the bigger stuff! Like a 2 and a half meter leopard shark swimming casually past, regarding me as though I was actually supposed to be there. Or the one time I was fooling around practicing floating upside down and a school of batfish, all at least 20 inches in diameter, swam past me from behind brushing my flailing arm. Not to mention the turtles, which are very accurately depicted in the movie “Finding Nemo”, seeing them lazily drift through the water, munching on bubble coral, seemingly stoned out of their minds. I definitely found my love for diving in Koh Phi Phi.

There’s also an unparalleled night life to be found in Phi Phi, it’s definitely more centered around lust rather than love though. I’ve always thought of Phi Phi as the Las Vegas of Thailand, except without the gambling…. So what are the young adults of the world supposed to do when they converge on this hedonistic playground in endless waves from all over the globe? Testosterone fueled men, and sometimes women too, battle each other in Muay Thai boxing rings for a bucket of alcohol each, just to amuse throngs of drunken tourists. Some of the greatest fire dancing shows in the world displayed in front of thousands of dancing people just meters from the lapping waves of the ocean. But why stop there? Why not light giant jump ropes on fire and get the drunkest people in the crowds to skip through them as they spin faster and faster with the intent of causing a scorching accident. All just another way for people to escape their protectionist societies and sheltered upbringings in a chance to experience the realness of life first hand instead of just watching it on a TV screen. It’s good to know there are still places like Koh Phi Phi that people can go to enjoy themselves and not have to worry about who might sue who for some legal obscurity that fun loving people really don’t care about. That’s not to say people don’t get hurt, but I’ve never seen a person with a bloodied knee or burn mark on their arm whining about it the next day trying to put the blame on someone else.

But there is escape from the non-stop action of Phi Phi island. I found it a short boat ride away on a camping trip with a group I was leading at the time. Sure you could once again follow the tourist crowd to Maya Bay to camp out where the beach was filmed but there’s another island near by called Bamboo Island that offers an equally amazing, if not better experience for a night of seclusion on a tropical island! We embarked mid afternoon by longtail boat to do some great cliff jumping, followed by some amazing snorkeling just off the beach of Mosquito Island, thankfully we didn’t have to go ashore to find out if it was aptly named! Our group of 24 great friends finally arrived at Bamboo Island just before supper and got to relax in front of an amazing sunset, playing Frisbee and listening to music, while our hosts prepared a feast of traditional Thai food. We spent the night around a beach fire sharing stories of the past 40 days, laughing our asses off and really enjoying the new friendships we’d found in each other. Most fell asleep on the beach under the stars, but I had brought my trusty hammock (never leave home without it) and awoke to a sweet ocean breeze and one of the most spectacular sunrises I’ve ever witnessed. Sometimes there are moments in life that you don’t realize are amazing until much later on, but this was not one of them, this was recognized immediately by myself, and hopefully by everyone else, right then and there as an amazing moment in life.

Go to Koh Phi Phi, have great adventures and debaucherous fun! But don’t forget to search out the simpler beauty as well…it’s still very much there.

Free & Easy Times - Win a Free Trip!!!

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:28:00 -0600

Win one of TWO 20-day Trips!
Free & Easy is trying to reach 10,000 Facebook fans, so we are giving away two 20-day trips to our fans! You can MULTIPLY your chances of winning by suggesting your friends to join our fanpage. If one of the friends that you invite to our page wins the trip on Jan. 1st, then you ALSO win a trip*! AND, we are also giving away discounts off a future trip for every person that you invite. (Up to $200). You can easily invite friends just by going to our Facebook fanpage, and then clicking on the ‘Suggest to Friends’ link that is located below our profile photo.

Click here for full contest details on how you could be travelling for free in 2011.

Round 2 of our Photo Contest!!

Submit your travel photos to our Facebook event and you’ll have a chance to win one of our 20-day trips (Flights included!). We want to see YOUR travel photos from the past 10 years, and just for entering your photo, you have a chance at being drawn as a monthly ‘finalist’ for the free trip. Also, the photo that gets the most ‘Likes ’ each month will also get a finalist spot for the grand prize! (and win free stuff).
2 finalists awarded each month, 7 months, and then Jan. 1st we draw from the 14 finalists!

The June event was won by Madeleine Jarling with most likes, and Jenna Valleriani was drawn as the other finalist. Enter your photo if you want to get in on the July contest. Click here to join the event and get full contest details.

Free & Easy TV goes to Nicaragua

Check out the 2 newest episodes Free & Easy TV that take place along the surf beaches of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.

Psst…this is also the area where Survivor is filming their next 2 seasons, AND where Free & Easy is building a SURF hostel!
Nica episode 1
Nica episode 2

2011 Nica Dates released
Come check out Nicaragua! We really like it there, and we expect many of you would also. To fly there, you can leave home at 10am (Mountain Time), and arrive in Nica by 9pm (including the stopovers)…and still be in the SAME time zone. Then you have surf, tropical climate, good food, and the great travel lifestyle that you’ve all experienced with Free & Easy. We are doing 10 and 20-day trips there to make it a good alternative to the shorter Mexico/Hawaii experiences that North America has gotten so used to. Why not go to the backpacker paradise instead?

Only 2 spots left on our Nicaragua 20-day trip starting this Nov. 25th! So far, there are 9 girls, 9 guys signed up!
If you want to come to Nicaragua in 2011, we have many trips planned:

10-day trips are starting on:
Dec. 28, Feb. 12, Feb. 19 & July 7.

20-day trips are starting on:
Jan. 9, March 3, March 27, May 1, May 23, June 15

Click here for the full list of dates and prices.

2010/11 Trip Line-Up
Check out our complete listing of our 2010/2011 trip dates here

Planning towards 2012?
Save yourself money on a 2012 trip date by registering and making your deposit now. Click here for more details.

Become a Rep
Wanna travel for free or get some extra spending money for your pocket? Click here for more details on how you can do both!

Night Train

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:18:00 -0600

(by Colin Ward and Jeff Emmett and their Group)

A prelude to this blog is most definitely necessary as you will notice while you read through this accumulated blog. On the night train to Bangkok coming back from the Islands to end our group’s May 40 day Thailand trip we were making the most of one of our last nights together. On this night everyone was in good spirits, so it turned out to be an epic party, night train style!

About an hour into our ride on the train - and after several beers and Thai whiskeys later - I remembered that I had planned on writing a short blog about the night train, so i pulled out my laptop and started brainstorming of how to start. My good friend Jeff - and also the other leader of the trip - came in to help, starting with the paragraph below. At this point the laptop caught the attention of a few people partying a few seats down and before we knew it people were jumping in and writing a paragraph about whatever came to mind. It’s too bad the batteries died before everyone could get something down, but it was a fun night and great to commemorate our amazing group experience together with this blog.

Some minor editing was necessary to make some of these paragraphs make sense but a bumpy train after a couple of beers can cause some necessary editing.
So this is what came out!

Photo: Hangin out on the train

Jeff’s Paragraph
Here we are on the night train…now let us test the limits of the Free&Easy blog. I almost fell over just now, partly because of the centrifugal motion of the train and partly because a group member just came by and humped me violently. Both of the times that I tried to type the word ‘partly’, it actually came out ‘party’, which I think is wholly more appropriate. I have never travelled in such a fashion that is fun, and covers distance at such a speed at the same time. The miles pass as the hours wane, deep into the night we enjoy each others company. Drinks are poured and snacks are consumed, they weren’t even mine but they were delicious anyway, whatever who cares I ate them yum yum. When I was a boy I dreamed of times…..

Jason’s Paragraph
Well, it’s hard to do an F&E paragraph as an almost virgin to the company, but this last 37 days have been an experience that I don’t think can be replicated. I have always known that it’s not the place but the people….but this train ride (and the party bus!), have also shown that it’s not the destination, but the journey. You always hear that the people on F&E trips become like family but I don’t think it’s something you can understand until you do a trip. The greatest moments in your life you remember are the moments you shared, and this is a time shared with new, amazing people.

Photo: Jason writing his paragraph and Bryn being camera shy.

Kimber’s Paragraph
And now an interruption…
THIS IS KIIMBO SLICe I LOVE YOU ALL AND LETS PARTY, Hahaha jk. These last 40 days have been the best days of my life, this is my first legit travel experience and I couldn’t have imagined it to be any better than it was. When i signed up a girl told my dad that she went on this trip and it was the best time she has ever had in her life and now i understand what she means, I understand my friend’s stories about the Full Moon Party and Gang at Eden Bar in Koh Phangan. I now understand how you can truly find yourself and love the people you meet and accept the people as who they are. Sometimes I think I used to be a #@&*?^#! at home, I know that this trip with Free and Easy changed my life and made me a better person 1000000 times closer to who i really am.
I went through the best and the hardest time in my life on this trip, at the lake house i hurt my back, but i was still happy because i was in paradise, and got TLC by the best people I have ever met. Between Jeff’s amazing stories, Chancee’s amazing massages, and Yaya’s help, it was awesome. Even thinking about our aroubix cube on the beach with Kirby and Colin, makes me smile. Anyways… hands down the best 40 days of my life. PEACE, LOVE AND …………….

Wendy Girl’s Paragraph
Hello to all, allow me to introduce myself. The name is Wendy (clearly stated as above)…. mhm blondie. Yes these roots run deep. I’d like to think of everybody in this group as contributing to a whole rather than separate individuals. We have the smart ones, the realists, the funny one liners, and then the deeply disturbed (*scans around suspiciously*….). There have been good moments, not many sad, and many interesting conversations. Many friendships and bonds have been formed within the group, and also with people outside. It feels as if we have known each other for many years, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the Chang beer and Sang Som have helped pave the way on that one. I will leave you with a final thought, in dedication to my fellow Free and Easy’ians; the past is nothing more than the trail left behind the wake of your boat, and the Future doesn’t exist yet. If you miss the moment, you miss your life. Love life; we will never be in this moment again. Peace, love, and ecstasy. xo

Photo: Jeff, Bryn and Gill reminiscing over old photos

Bryn’s Paragraph
I’ve been traveling for two years, seen ten other countries, and Free and Easy is by far the best experience I’ve ever had. This group of people I’ve been put with feels like my family and best friends, every day here is like paradise, and I am definitely living the dream. I never want to leave, everyone I’ve met out here has been awesome, the activities we do every day are f*@king cool. I don’t even know how to explain what happens on Free and Easy trips cause it is impossible to convey to people in Canada who haven’t experienced it. I’m too drunk right now to think of anything else to say, but let me sum it up with a very familiar phrase to all of us here…. epic travel alters perspective. It’s true.

Megan’s Paragraph
This is Megan’s blog paragraph about the drinking comp between her and Jason…
Word to the wise: Do not challenge the Alcoholic of the Trip to a drinking challenge. After 37 days it gets easier, but Sang Som will sill get’cha… err’time. I’m in no way a writer but I’ve been asked to recall my experiences. Hopefully you understand my circumstance and won’t judge. In one month at home I could’ve done soooo much homework, done a few midterms, and made a few moneys at work. Instead, I went scuba diving, rock climbing, rafting, swimming, tanning. We ate like kings, we sang like Queen (but better), we skinny dipped, and we got first class service from all of Thailand. I’m not allowed to edit.

Photo: Megan and Jason showing off there drink count for there drinking comp

Kyle’s and Melissa’s Paragraph
As sober bloggers we will filter out all belligerences. Over all, this trip has had it all, great people, great food, fun times (again alot) and definitely some partying. We will never forget the times we have had on this trip (maybe not true… but Sang Som can do that to you :) ) But we will definitely not forget the people.

The train moves slow but the drunkenness provides endless entertainment as i recover from my encounter with the terminator bucket (it may have one this round but it is not the last!). Being a boisterous group the noise levels must be kept in check as arguments with no real issue break out frequently (all in good fun) I will leave you and return to the party now though.
GET SOME + CHARLIE BROWN DANCE = GREAT NIGHT (Just FYI)

Chris Sherry’s paragraph
Here we stand on the night train again and this has been one of the best parties on a train I have been too. Coolin is running around getting everyone to have an amazing time and just enjoy themselves and Jeff is drinking Hong Thong like he always does on the night train. Jason and Megan are having a drinking contest and Megan is holding her own and it is epic with what we have taught her over the last 40 days she has just exploded out of her shell….which is what Free and Easy is all about is taking people out of there comfort zones and experience new things. This has been one of the best night trains I have been on and can’t wait to continue all of the FNE experience.

Closing
The night train has always been one of my favorite modes of transportation as it gives you so much freedom to move around use the washroom, mix drinks, order food, play cards, and finally get rocked to sleep with the sounds of the train on its tracks.

Special thanks to Melissa for letting me snap a few photos for this with her camera, and to the everyone who got the chance to write a paragraph. good luck to all! and see you at the reunion parties!

Photo: Our group at Koh Lipe during the Free and Easy Olympics

How we began...

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 06:53:00 -0600

The vision for Free & Easy Traveler came to be in the year 2000 on the beaches of the Greek Islands. At the time Curtis Smith, the founder of Free & Easy, was taking 4 months off from University to travel Europe. In contrast to the rigors and pressures of balancing work, school, sports, social life, and ALSO that massive decision of “figuring out” a career path, the simplicity of traveling in Greece was an incredible and entirely new experience for him. The Greek approach to life was based much more around finding happiness in every day, and enjoying the good company of friends and family, rather than a constant need to accomplish more.

The entire first month of that Europe trip was spent hopping from island to island, waking up each day excited about some new adventure, meeting other travelers from around the world, and enjoying the freedom and peace of mind to truly reflect on what is important in life. Many new and fresh ideas were born during that time, along with the concept for Free & Easy. Curtis realized that so many university-aged people were in the same cluttered, and uncertain position in their lives and would encounter the same life enriching benefits by experiencing this style of travel. By making happiness and enjoyment of the present moment the only objective for a month or more, people could feel refreshed and hopefully clearer on those most important things in life.

To ‘live Free, and to take it Easy’ was the motive for the company name; and using the word ‘Traveler’ in our name was meant to separate us from what any other tour company had ever done. This trip was not meant to try and see and do as much as possible and be on a rigid schedule, because then people would be right back to the hectic pace of home life. Instead, Free & Easy trips were going to allow time to slow down and soak up the finer things of these countries that we were traveling to - and the good company of our group atmosphere! – so that we could truly enjoy the moment at each destination….rather than just getting a photograph. Free & Easy was meant to be the facilitator that allowed people to grasp that kind of experience we all dream of.

After the escapades all around Europe that summer of 2000, Curtis returned to Calgary, Canada with the plan to offer two 1-month trips to the Greek Islands the following summer. Greece had so much to offer – the history, friendly people, awesome climate, beaches, partying destinations, delicious food…and most importantly for students, it was incredibly affordable. The group could afford to eat at restaurants, buy beer or a bottle of wine, and really feel that they’re on holiday! With student loans piling up, this dream would also allow Curtis himself to be traveling once again and living that good lifestyle – which turned out to be incentive enough to make the dream happen!

After a successful 2001 summer with 35 travelers in Greece, in 2002 Free & Easy added a 1-month Spain & Portugal trip. The warm Mediterranean lifestyle was wonderful for the trips, but at that same time the Euro was introduced and costs were rising. Fortunately, at the same time, Curt’s brother Chad was traveling in Asia and had sent back glowing reviews of one country in particular - Thailand. Curt put University on hold for the year to go discover Thailand, and Chad joined him.

Thailand was perfect. Beyond perfect, it was a dream come true for satisfying the underlying principles of a Free & Easy experience. Thailand was even more exotic with a tropical climate, white sand beaches, incredible food, a genuinely hospitable culture, and even so much MORE affordable. 30 days was not even enough for the trip plan that was desired, and so was born the 40-day Thailand experience.

Between 2003 – 2008, Free & Easy grew from 3 trips per year to 17 trips a year - all 40-days in length. We like to think our growth was always as organic as possible, making our primary focus to ensure an amazing experience for each group member, while also maintaining a balanced, positive impact on the local communities we visited. We’ve made great friends at all of our destinations, and there is always excitement surrounding the arrival of our groups.

Also back in 2003, Rob - a cousin of Curtis and Chad’s – found himself traveling in Thailand and joined up with the Free & Easy trips. It was the perfect time to add another member to the team, and so Rob began helping Free & Easy on all fronts, and has never looked back.

Chad spent a few more years splitting his time between teaching English and trips to Thailand before joining full time in 2005. It is a family operation that broadens that close relationship to include everyone that is a part of the company – our ‘Free & Easy Family’. Each person who joins us on a trip also experiences that to some degree or another. You form incredible friendships in 40 days.

In 2008, we began expanding our destinations by adding our 40-day trip to the Philippines - another island hopping escapade. In 2009, the LTC trip was born – 20 days in Laos, Northern Thailand and Cambodia. LTC is an epic adventure that was away from the beach, but so satisfying in every way possible. Combined, the 3 Thai/Phil/LTC trips now allowed for the opportunity of our 101-day Odyssey – an unparalleled adventure that we are ecstatic to facilitate.

2010 has brought us to new continents once again with Central America, and to a destination that fits in tremendously with the Free & Easy formula – Nicaragua. And with Nicaragua in the Americas and closer to home, our first ever 10-day experience is now being offered! (As well as 20-day Nicaragua trips J) Another new destination starting in July 2010 will be the ‘Islands of Indonesia’, for a 20-day trip. As we pursue our love of traveling, Free & Easy expands organically and the experiences for our travelers expand exponentially!

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Free & Easy. For all of us involved, it has been a dream opportunity to share a love of travel and these wonderful countries with hundreds and even thousands of Free & Easy Travelers. It’s been an amazing, inspiring, beautiful and CRAZY 10 years (you have no idea ;) ) and we look forward to many more adventures to come. We never tire of being involved with another person’s life altering experience, and we’d love to help you along your journey. EPIC TRAVEL ALTERS PERSPECTIVE.

Check out the link to our ‘Free & Easy Family’ to learn more about our team in 2010 and 2011, and feel free to contact us with any questions about a dream trip you have in mind.