7 Tips for Sleeping through Hostel Snoring
Posted by admin on March 31, 2010
Posted by: Corbin from www.ibackpackcanada.com
You’ve just spent all day doing everything that was on your itinerary. Your legs are tired, you’re exhausted, but overall, you’re satisfied with the day. The hostel you chose was not only cheap, but relatively nice compared to some of the heaps you’ve stayed in. You crawl into your $150 sleeping bag. (perhaps feeling a bit guilty that you’re using it indoors, despite its -20 degree capabilities) You zip yourself in. Your whole body is thanking you for getting off your feet. You think “Ah, I rock“. As your eyelids slowly close you hear it. Snoring! Son.Of.A.Bitch. 
Immediately the calm and collective you is in a fit of rage. “Not again!” You think. Immediately you try the pillow ear wrap, no dice. This guy is loud! You grab your sweater from your bag, making extra noise hoping that it will disturb his “precious” sleep. Maybe a sweater-a-la-turban can muffle the noise a bit. You know how ridiculous you look, but all you want is sleep. You don’t care how much you look like a giant slug trying to pull off an impression of Al Qaida. 5 minutes goes by. Then 10. You let out an angry sigh. 20 minutes go by and immediately you start looking for things to throw at this jerk. Shoes. Bag. That souvenir that means nothing to you now that you can’t sleep. 30 Minutes. You switch to that mode where you start wishing him into cardiac arrest. Perhaps an aneurism. Cancer, no, far too slow of a death for this guy. Spontaneous Combustion. “Yes…perfect.”
You wake up in the morning, groggy due to the few hours, and the constant wake-up reminders that you’re sleeping in a room with a lawn mower. As you crawl out of bed, and shed your slug costume, “He” walks in. Smiling. And to make matters worse, he says good morning. “Combust….” you think. He doesn’t.
For those of you who can relate. There are ways around this. Below is a list of solutions to this problem.
1) Ear plugs – You can get a disposable pack of 10 for under $10 dollars. They aren’t the comfiest things to keep in your ears but they sure do help when faced with a situation like this.
2) Sedatives – Although probably not the safest things to dabble in, sometimes a shot or three of Nyquil is all it takes – You can usually find night-time cold medicine for under $10 dollars.
3) Whistling – I’ve seen this work a few times. While backpacking in New Zealand, I was travelling with a German friend who snored like mad. He said he had read somewhere that whistling during snoring sometimes wakes them up, it’s just gentle enough to stop them from snoring. It eventually became part of a routine. The other guy we were travelling with would join in too. We’d hear snoring, soon after we’d start whistling. Sometimes in song. Sometimes like birds. Problem with this one is it sometimes wakes others in the room. But I’m sure they’ll be grateful if it works. Plus its hilarious.
4) Click your tongue – I’m not quite sure how to describe this, try to flick your tongue against the roof of your mouth. It apparently works in the same way as whistling. A gentle wake up that is unobtrusive, but enough to tell them to S.T.F.U (ie. be quiet)
5) Clap your hands – Same idea as the previous two. An audible “nudge” telling them to shut up. Although this can be seen as slightly more rude.
6) Roll Them – If you are comfortable enough touching people you don’t know in their sleep, or perhaps you know the “chainsaw” keeping everyone awake, try rolling them on their side. Apparently snoring is more likely to happen when sleeping on your back.
7) Alcohol – Alcohol apparently causes people to snore. Which is slightly ironic because it also allows one to sleep through it. So if you can prevent a known snorer from drinking, you’re more likely to sleep through the night. If that’s easier said than done, you’ll simply have to get that much more intoxicated. Keep in mind however, waking up to someone puking off the side of their bed (especially when you’re on the bottom bunk) can often be worse than dealing with snorers.
I have always tried to be lenient and understanding with snoring, and advise you to forgive those who suffer from this, it’s not a conscious thing. But if you are a known snorer, I advise you to forgive the rude looks, thrown shoes, and wishes of combustion people will cast upon you. They too aren’t always aware they are doing it. Travelling is tough, but without those sleepless nights caused by snorers, pukers, bangers, and that guy sleeping in those silver metallic rescue blankets that rustle like tin foil, we would have that many fewer stories to tell.
The calm before the Turismo
Posted by admin on March 31, 2010
Before starting the afternoon shift at Playa suites, I took a walk through town to grab some Empanadas at the artisanal walk. On the way back I noticed something. Groups of men armed with hammers and construction supplies, working away on store fronts and restaurant patios, seemingly preparing for a hurricane. In fact, they were preparing for a coming storm. Only this storm won’t bring wind and rain. This storm is going to bring people. Much like the days leading up to Janurary’s “high season”, the town is frantically preparing itself for a rush of tourists and vacationers. The coming week is known as Turismo. Turismo in English meaning, of course, tourism. It takes place during Semana Santa, or Holy Week. Many Spanish speaking countries throughout South America take this week off from work and school in celebration and head to the coast.
With a full house and a perfect weather forecast, all of us at El Diablo await the buena onda with excitement and anticipation. Vamos Arriba!
De la Recepcion
Posted by admin on March 28, 2010
Hoy ha sido otro dia perfecto aca en Punta del Diablo: sol, calor, playa, y un poco de viento (como siempre). Llegaron algunos huespedes, y se fueron otros: asi seguimos casi a full aca en El Diablo Tranquilo. Como ya estamos en otono, las olas estan creciendo y el mar ya esta tibida. Pronto va a llenar el pueblo con una mezcla de argentinos, uruguayos, brasileiros, europeos, americanos…etc. Eso significa que todos los restaurantes, bares, y boliches van a abrir de vuelta, y los hippies van a aparecer con una mercaderia nueva y mejorada. Aca en El Diablo Tranquilo, vamos a tener un buen grupo de huespedes durante la semana. Que vamos a tener la semana que viene? Muchas horas tomando sol, platicando, surfeando, bailando, comiendo, y relejando en general. Yo estoy emocionado por la energia, movimiento, y buena onda que viene con turismo
Nos vemos en la playa,
Jarrri
A Blending of Cultures
Posted by admin on March 26, 2010
What was it Ben said this morning…. “we’re eating Israeli breakfast, made by a guy from West Virginia, listening to Balkan music, in Uruguay”. If that doesn’t sum up the extent of cultural fusion at a hostel, I don’t know what will.
Shakshuka is an Israeli breakfast that is basically a tomato sauce with onions, peppers, garlic, and several eggs boiled directly into the sauce. As we sat eating our Shakshuka this morning with artisan Uruguayan bread, we listened to Balkan Beat Box, a group who, based on their webpage, is from Brooklyn, Tel Aviv, and the EU. All this before I headed down to reception at El Diablo Tranquilo Playa Suites at two pm.
When I got to the “new hostel”, there was yet another blend of cultures: a large group of guests, mainly American, Australian, and English, that had lit up our large Uruguayan grill on the roof. This ended up being an excellent and delicious fusion of Uruaustrameriglish culture. The group had pooled money and bought chicken, asado, chorizo, peppers, onions, garlic, fish, and much more, along with several Uruguayan salsas. Instead of just putting on salt and adobo in the typical Uruguayan fashion, the steak, chicken, and fish were all marinated in a flavorful mix that included salsas, beer, garlic, salt, and other spices. I think everyone was very satisfied with the results of today’s gastronomic fusion.
As I sit here listening to 90’s alternative music and drinking my mate, it is very clear how numerous and distinct different cultures are, and how endless the combination of these can be.
Hasta la proxima,
Jarri
My Morning
Posted by admin on March 22, 2010
SO, this is a slight departure from the title of the blog “From Reception”, but I think it should be fitting nonetheless. Today’s entry is a recap of my adventures this morning before work.
After sleeping in for a little while (til 10 am, that’s not too shabby), I decided that I should finally go visit the Fortaleza in Santa Teresa National Park. After five months in Punta del Diablo, it’s about time that I finally see some of sights. So off I go on my new motorcycle (read: dirtbike) to check out the fort; 11:30 am, two and a half hours till I started work at two, should be no problem.
First, I made a quick stop in Castillos to fill up the tank, and then I doubled back to the fort, which apparently is closed except for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I went down the road to ask the soldier (the national park is run by the military) at the gate if there was any possible way to see inside the fort. When that idea was shot down quickly, I asked for a map, and decided that I would check out some of Santa Teresa. The guard said that I could go in at that checkpoint, but that I had to exit the park from there, otherwise things would “get complicated” with the guards at the main entrance. That was fine, I had a backup plan that I thought would work. 12:30 pm, 13 km from work.
My first stop was at La Moza, a beach directly down the road from la Fortaleza, that is known for its great waves. From the second I sat down on the rock, I could see why I keep hearing about the surf in La Moza; the break was far out and clean, with only one surfer in the water. After a few minutes of laying around, I decided it was time to get home…the plan: work my way through the park to Playa Grande, take the bike along the beach, and cut over the dunes and back into town.
I spent the next hour winding my way through the gorgeous trails that weave through Santa Teresa, trying to get to Playa Grande and home. After seeing more amazing beaches, picturesque countryside, and a herd of goats, I finally rode over a dune and onto Playa Grande. I quickly realized that I was never going to get the bike over the massive dunes between me and Punta del Diablo, so I headed back towards the main entrance to see if I could talk my way out of the park without having an official check in (dumb gringo card perhaps?). 1:45 pm, 8 km from home/work (1 km directly over those damn dunes). When I got to the checkpoint and entrance to the park, I asked the guard that came out which way to go to get to the Fortaleza, and as soon as he said go to the highway and take a left, I was in the clear. A quick U-turn had me back on the road to PDD with five minutes to spare.
Turns out, having the Fortaleza be closed was a blessing in disguise. Not only did I get to see most of Santa Teresa National Park, but I had a hell of an adventure doing it (a little pressure can always make things more entertaining too.) Lesson to those visiting Punta del Diablo: Santa Teresa is a beautiful park that is extremely close to El Diablo Tranquilo. Take the time to work your way through it by foot, bike, horse tour, or motorcycle.
Hasta la proxima,
Jarrrrrri
LOCAL WEATHER
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| Fri 30 | Sat 31 | Sun 1 | Mon 2 | Tue 3 | |
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| Máx. | 16°C | 10°C | 11°C | 9°C | 8°C |
| Mín. | 8°C | 2°C | -1°C | 1°C | |