Thankfully, this is where Travel Insurance comes in. A wee little sinus infection I had in Turkey turned into quite the nightmare by the time I reached Egypt. Lots of pain, an eye swollen shut and a slew of other unpleasantries that were, well, not fun, put me out of commission fast. It’s easy to take good health for granted anytime— not just while traveling— and getting sick is a painful reminder that life isn’t always sunshine and lollipops.

Fortunately with the help of my Egyptian angel Rafik (or maybe you might call him a tour guide) and some phone counseling with CSA Insurance I was able to navigate my way through three different hospitals and some serious antibiotic injections. Not bad for a one-eyed girl who can’t speak a word of Arabic. And definitely not the type of thing I’d want done without my insurance backing the hospital and the treatment.

I’d pat myself on the back, but the fact that CSA put me in touch with an English speaking doctor, looked up the closest hospital, covered the cost of my medicine, and called to make sure I was fine probably helped more than me screaming at Natalie to google “sinus infection” faster.

Though not everyone can have Rafik with them to translate and hold their hand (did I mention how much I love Rafik?) everyone can take the pre-trip precautions needed to stay safe abroad.  And now instead of an eye patch I have a pretty sweet travel story to tell my friends. Remember that time I went one-eyed in Egypt? Yeah, I’m hard like that.

Needless to say, I was pretty excited for the food when I arrived in Istanbul. Turkish food is a wonderful fusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. Everyone knows and loves kebabs, warm pita and creamy hummus, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

To start off a meal, try the unfathomably delicious spicy tomato dish Ezme. Somewhere between a chopped salad and a dip, this salsa-like treat goes great with Hummus or Haydari, a yogurt sauce with walnuts and crushed mint.

If you want something a little heartier, go for the Filo Dough Rolls (sometimes called “cigarette” pasties because of their thin shape.) Sweet feta cheese is mixed with herbs, rolled inside a phyllo pastry, and deep-fried to perfection. Crisp on the outside with hot melted cheese on the inside, these can be eaten plain or dipped in a sweet rose sauce. When restaurants serve roses in the food instead of on the table you know you’re on to something good.

Next up is Guven, a traditional Turkish stew. A casserole filled with carrots, bell peppers, eggplant, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onion, and plenty of spices is cooked in a clay oven and served bubbling hot at the table.  I don’t understand how relatively plain vegetables can taste so good, but I don’t question: I eat.

If these dishes don’t appeal to you then there are endless more options of stews, casseroles, kebabs, Turkish pizzas, salads, and sweet pastries—not to mention their famous Teas and Hookahs. And there’s no shortage of great restaurants and local spots to try out in Turkey.  Ask the waiter to surprise you and you won’t be disappointed.

Alright, alright I’ll get to the question everyone really wants to know: do they eat turkey in Turkey? I can’t say I had any, but there’s only so much a vegetarian can do in the name of journalism. You’ll have to go and figure that one out for yourself.

Take a traditional meal, the mouth-watering Pad See Ew. Hit up the market for some fresh veggies– usually made with broccoli, bamboo, and bok choi– and gather your spices. Mix soy sauce, sugar, garlic, and some oil in wok, stir in an egg, rice noodles and enjoy.  Knock it back with some deliciously chilled coconut water straight from the shell and get ready for your food coma.

And if cooking isn’t your thing, hit one of the thousands of food carts across the country. Thick massaman curry, spicy pad thai and a papaya salad can’t be missed. Take samples at the local markets and go nuts with street food.

But here’s a little advice: go a little lighter on the hot spices than usual. Oh, you think you can handle spicy food? That’s funny. So did I. Good luck with that in Thailand.

A source of pride and spiritual well-being, traditional massages are an important part of Thai culture. Throughout the cities and all along the beaches you’ll find trained masseuses ready to bend and twist you like you never knew possible.

These aren’t the run of the mill “Swedish delights” you probably think of getting at a spa— these masseuses contort your body and tangle your muscles to get the perfect stretch. Standing on your back, moving your ankle to your ear, or maybe even a neck crack for good measure, are all part of the treatment.

Begin with a foot wash and lay back in amazement as your body shifts into positions you never thought possible. You’ll be shocked at the shapes your body can squeeze into, but most impressively, how good it feels. Who knew rubbing a kneecap could be so refreshing? One hour on the mat and you’ll feel ready to take on the world. After a long day on the road it’s hard to imagine anything better.

You probably won’t have another opportunity to get multiple massages for less than the cost of seeing a movie, so go wild with them while you’re here. It’ll certainly be an experience you’ll remember… at least until the bruises go away.