Ottsworld Travel Experiences » Reviews

Saying goodbye…

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 04:54:00 +0000

Leaving for my career break 2006

At the end of my career break travels 2008

In Memorandum – Saying goodbye to a dear friend

My throat immediately tightened and my swallowing became slow and laborious. I could feel the familiar sting in my eyes and my abdominal muscles contracting into a knot. I was going to cry; dammit, I was going to cry! I tried to hold back the tears, but somehow it made it hurt more. I took one last look at my dear friend, gently ran my fingers down the back remembering all of the fond memories, and turned around and left; knowing I’d never see my friend again.

After 4 years of living out of my Eagle Creek suitcase, our relationship was over.

Sure, there were signs of it aging now for some time, but I chose to ignore them. The Eagle Creek label was the first thing to fall off, but I didn’t need to label to recognize my old, loyal friend. Next it was scarred a few times, but the durable fabric never actually was punctured. It was tattooed with stickers from various customs and security agents, making it completely beautiful and unique in my eyes. The extractable pull-handle started sticking a year ago; but I knew how to wiggle it just right to make it work.

When the zipper that held the daypack on to the bigger backpack broke, I knew it wasn’t a good sign, but I still wasn’t willing to give up on it. There are always rough times in a relationship, and I knew we could get through this zipperless bump in the road. I simply used the nylon straps to secure the daypack instead.

The broken wheel... 4 years of nonstop travel mileage on that wheel...it held in there as long as it could!

Occasionally the other zipper would get off it’s track, but I was always able to fix it; a labor of love. However, the day when the one of the two wheels fell off – I knew it was the end. I had to put it out of its misery and put it down.

Down in the garbage room of my friend’s apartment.

I remember when I first got it. I must have talked to the REI salesperson for at least an hour trying to pick the exact right pack solution for my upcoming around the world travels in May of 2006. The salesman and I filled the pack with heavy weights and put it on my back to see if it would be comfortable. I walked around the store to test it out. I was nervous about the decision to let it into my life, but that was to be expected. This was my first big career break trip I was ever taking in my life. I was full of nervous excitement for the 6 months leading up to my career break departure.

When I brought it home and put it in my bedroom I would look at it every day trying to get my head around the idea that in 4 months I would be living out of this lovely aqua blue bag every day; this thought terrified me. How would I ever fit everything into it? How would I downsize my life enough to make this work?

I did my test packing a month before and realized it would never work. I had to downsize more. I did. It worked. Soon I found myself in Penn Station with my beautiful new bag ready to depart on my adventure of a lifetime…just me and my Eagle Creek bag.

At the beginning of this epic journey, I had no idea how much of a fixture this bag would become my life. This is why today, as I had to leave it, I felt like I was abandoning it. I thought about everything it carried for me, how it never got lost (a miracle!), how it always stood out in a crowd, and how when I asked and pleaded really nicely, it would fit one last impossible thing inside and still allow me to zip it up.

Oh – the memories.

The final resting place...

Goodbye dear friend, I will remember you forever as you will always be my first around the world bag. Thanks for the memories.

You can find my more formal review of the Eagle Creek Switchback for extended travel on Briefcase to Backpack.

This means I’m in the market for a new bag – can anyone hook me up?! Help a nomad out!

Travel in Style and Save the Environment

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:15:13 +0000

Is your travel gear hurting the environment?

Next time you are in line at airport security take a look around you. How many people have those little zip lock bags with their fluids tightly tucked away inside? Are YOU carrying a zip lock bag? Do you keep the plastic bag and reuse it after the trip, or do you throw it away and use a new one for your next trip? If you are like most travelers, you probably discard it and get another for your next trip.

CAMENAE Travel Clutch - Stylish AND kind to Mother Nature!

It’s bad enough that oil is still gushing in the Gulf, however you can do your small part for Mother Nature when you travel; throw away those zip lock bags once and for all! Instead, consider using a durable carry-on for your liquids; a CAMENAE Travel clutch.

Designed to FAA/TSA flight carry-on security regulations – so you no longer have to use and throw away zip lock bags!

Lady Luck meets Mother Nature!

Briefcase to Backpack is giving you the chance to win your own CAMENAE Travel Clutch this week! Go to Briefcase to Backpack to enter, read the simple entry requirements, enter before July 5th, and hope that Lady Luck is on your side.

I have been working as a consultant for CAMENAE for the past 2 years, so yes, my opinion is probably biased, however that doesn’t change the fact that eliminating plastic bag usage is the right environmentally friendly thing to do. However you choose to do it is fine with me, I’m merely providing you a suggestion…and a chance to win a FREE one!

Read the Briefcase to Backpack story of how I found my CAMENAE consulting job while traveling around the world on a career break.

Building an Empire – One Day at a Time

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:03:02 +0000

When I was a kid I used to have a vivid imagination and would always beg people to play in my imaginary world. I would play library, school teacher, office (my personal favorite); I think I was a natural builder of empires, whether they be books, homework, or filing.

However, recently I’ve had the pleasure of taking my ‘play’ dreams and slowly making them come true one day at a time…I’m building an empire of career breakers,one day at a time.

How does one learn how to build a real empire? They go to the Caesar himself, Chris Guillebeau.

Slowly I’ve been dipping my toe into the online lifestyle/travel guru world and it didn’t take me long to find Chris Guillebeau’s Art of Nonconformity website where he writes about how to not be average in life. Not only does he speak eloquently on the benefits of not conforming, but he’s also a marketing, lifestyle product, launch, and travel guru. I’m not sure that he puts all of that on his business card though!

One fascinating thing about Chris is that he has a goal to travel to every country in the world before he’s 35. I love lofty goals, and I love following his progress on this in his newsletters and blog posts.

So – we’ve established, Chris is a cool guy with a lot of cool ideas, and if you haven’t read any of his work, then you are missing out. You can get a taste for it at his website – The Art of NonConformity – and check out his most popular articles on the bottom right. That will provide enough motivation for the next month at least.

One day at a time!

However I recently signed up for one of his products called the Empire Building Kit (EBK) where he provides you one lesson a day (via email) on how to build your own lifestyle business.

EBK was only available for 24-hours during both of the earlier launches. However, on June 16, 2010, it’s finally going to be released it into the wild, where it will be available on a long-term basis. Chris offers 3 different pricing levels with different benefits; I am doing the Hail Caesar EBK and feel that it is just right for what I was looking for.

A few things EBK Hail Caesar includes:

Case Studies (including $’s earned) of how others have started their own empires (businesses)

Video interviews with some of the leading online lifestyle entrepreneurs (these are my personal favorite)

A launch checklist (I found this very valuable since I knew nothing about launching a product!)

A full year of inspirational, educational, and task oriented emails from Chris

This combo of items has really opened up my mind to the possibilities and steps that I need to take to get Career Breaks into the mainstream!

Plus – he’s even throwing in some extra products for incentive to purchase on June 16th only.

I’m not going to say anymore about the product since Chris does the best job of selling it – check out his website to be wowed.

Build Your Own Empire in 1 Year

The only thing I will say is that on Ottsworld – I only recommend things in which I believe in and use. I wouldn’t be taking the time to write about this if I didn’t believe 100% in it. However in full disclosure – I’m a part of the affiliate program for Chris which means that any sales I refer for EBK, I get a percentage. I’ve given up on most affiliate programs on Ottsworld and no longer offer them on my site as they don’t really yield much – only Smugmug Photography Storage/Website and Empire Building Kit will remain as they are two products that I love and would recommend regardless of any affiliate program.

So if you have entrepreneurial aspirations, are full of great ideas, want to stop ‘working for the man’ – or simply dabble in being your own boss, need some inspiration to keep you on track, or simply want to learn how to create and launch an online business – then check out the Empire Building Kit – Build Your Own Empire in 1 Year

One last thought to leave you with…

Is this what you really want?

Paradise in Sri Lanka – Auraliya Villa

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:23:03 +0000

Welcome to Paradise

On the southwest coast of Sri Lanka lies a little piece of paradise; and I was lucky enough to experience it. Sure – the beach is stunning, but what makes this ‘paradise’ is the combination of beach, accommodations, and service.

I recently visited Sri Lanka and stayed at a large family villa, Auraliya, located just south of the historic town of Galle. I was looking for a place to relax and be a beach bum for a few days and Auraliya provided the perfect beach retreat!

Auraliya is a large family owned villa which is rented out as a vacation rental when the family isn’t in town. It looks like a boutique hotel, but it’s actually a private home. It is customary to give homes a name in this area, and the name Auraliya has a special meaning. It comes from two things that are very special to Sri Lanka; elephants and frangipani. Aliya is Sinhalese for elephant and araliya is Sinhalese for frangipani; the marriage of these words is the villa Auraliya.

Prime Location:

Auraliya is located in Talpe on the Galle to Matara road approximately 15 minutes south of Galle. It takes about three hours to drive the 127 kilometeres from Colombo along the coastal road. The villa has direct access to the beach on this exceptional reef-protected stretch of coastline.

Twinkle, Twinkle

Environment:

The house sleeps up to 12 people in 6 bedrooms with 4 bathrooms. However with the big open air design you never feel cramped, in fact there is ample space in the rooms and the grounds – you’ll feel like you’re all alone! There are three outdoor pavilions for people to gather and eat or simply sit around and relax. The villa centerpiece is the pool which connects both wings of the villa and 2 of the pavilions. At night the pool twinkles with fiber optic colored lighting at the bottom of the pool; a feature I’ve never seen before! Finally – there is a movie room and wifi is offered throughout the villa.

A perfect ending

Atmosphere:

A water lilly pond and statue of Lord Shiva greets you as you enter the villa and immediately sets the mood for the mystical yet laid back atmosphere of Auraliya. The décor is modern and colorful. Each cushion, bed, beach chair and towel is a vibrant aqua and blue color which matches the ocean perfectly. One integral part of the atmosphere is the villa dog; Kala is a black lab who roams around and quickly becomes your ‘best friend’. (if you aren’t a dog person she is kept in the kennel in the back yard) With the ample yard space, pool, and beach the villa has a great family atmosphere. You can all sit out at the beach pavilion and sip drinks while you watch the sunset and kids create sand castles on the beach! See – I told you this was paradise!

You can see a video tour of the premises here - warning…it will make you want to hop on a plane!

Reading Pavillion

Food:

There is a kitchen, but you’ll never set foot into it! This is because cooking as well as cleaning is what the wonderful staff do every day for you. Auraliya has an onsite staff of 5 people who will take care of your every need. In fact they may even come up with needs that you didn’t even know you had! On the first day you’ll sit down with Sunny, the manager and choose a menu for the week. The staff then does the shopping at the local market and at the end of your stay will add the food costs onto the bill. You can customize the menu in whatever way you want, but be sure to sample the local curry that Jagath makes – it was delicious!

Ample Space!

Costs:

The villa rents as one complete house, and does not rent out rooms individually. Therefore it is most economical to fill the rooms with family or friends and split the costs. In off-season the rates are $900 per night (plus food costs). However if you have 12 people staying there, this rate is a steal! The concept of renting villas is becoming more and more popular these days. It’s a great way to experience luxury, but split among many people.

Contact:

Visit their website at www.auraliya.com you can book directly with them to get the best deal. In addition you can read further reviews at Trip Advisor where they rank as the #1 villa in Galle!

Q&A – Travel with a Laptop

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:43:58 +0000

Travel Questions? Ask Them!

I get many emails from travelers all over the world asking me questions about my travels. Here are some of the recent ones that are great to share with everyone! If you have a question, don’t hesitate to ask!

Q: From Anna in New York city – I’m planning a trip to start in December ’10 and have questions…
Did you travel with a laptop? Was that a good idea or bad?

A: Yes, I travel with a laptop, however I use it to write and blog while I’m in the road. So I’m probably not the average traveler when it comes to carrying a laptop. First I would recommend really considering what you want to use a laptop for while traveling. Once you can answer that, then you can start to figure out what type of equipment is right for you. For me, a long term traveler, it is really nice to have your own laptop to use for skype, travel research on your next destination, upload photos as a backup, and to simply stay in touch without having to use an internet cafe. However if you’re not a travel blogger, then I would recommend getting a cheap travel netbook (mini laptop) to simply have some internet access, and upload/backup photos. If it’s cheap, then you won’t feel as bad if it’s lost or stolen. You can now get little travel laptops for about $500 and they are really just used for internet and some storage space. That way it won’t take up much room, if it gets lost or stolen you haven’t invested a ton, but easier to use than an iphone or droid as you’ll have a full keyboard. Here’s a recent review from PC World about The Best Laptops, Netbooks, and Smartphones for Travel.

Here’s another good post about 7 tips for taking a laptop traveling, the author lists some good things to consider if you considering taking hardware with you!

If you decide to take it with you – then here’s a must read from my friend Anil at Foxnomad (he’s a security guru!) – The Traveler’s Guide to Locking Down Your Laptop

Blogging in Action at an airport in Vietnam

Q: How did you get internet access?

A: Depending on where you are going wireless internet may be free, or you may have to pay for it. I can safely say that all thru SEAsia(and most of Asia) – you can find it for free. Also – unlike America, most coffee shops, hotels, and airports also have internet and it’s normally free if you are a ‘guest’ there. Sometimes in Europe you’ll have to pay. If you know where you’ll be staying – you can contact them and find out if they offer internet. When I stay in hostels or choose hotels, I only choose places that offer wireless internet – else I won’t stay there. That way after touring around all day I can sit in my room and write or catch up on emails.

A decent source to find public access Wifi spots is Wifinder – just put in your location and see what’s around you. It’s not completely up to date, but it will give you a good start if you are researching a travel location.

Finally, I would also highly recommend bringing an ethernet cable with you as you never know when you’ll have trouble connecting wirelessly on old routers, etc. By bringing an ethernet cable – you may just be able to directly ‘plug into’ the internet and skip the wireless hassles.

Q: Did you really write and upload photos in the internet cafes?

A: When I first started traveling, yes, that’s how I did it. – I had a little card reader and would plug in via USB port at internet cafes and slowly try to upload my photos. It was painstaking. Once I started taking my laptop with me, I could at least get the photos on my laptop, even if the internet connection was too slow to upload them to the photo site I keep at Smugmug. So at least I had a backup – which was important to me. Yes, I also did the writing in internet cafes. Which the amount I write now, I don’t think that would ever work for me again. I find it so much easier to have my own laptop to travel with. However it is extra weight and security concerns. That’s why I suggest getting a cheap one for travel.

Q: What blogging software do you use for Ottsworld?

A: I use Wordpress. We also use it on Briefcase to Backpack, Meet Plan Go, and Auraliya (my many sites!). It’s a great free software that is constantly updated and provides a lot of flexibility – and most importantly you don’t have to be a tech genius! You can have a free acount on Wordpress - or simply choose your own host and download Wordpress for free and then customize it.

Keep the questions coming! Or if you have experience traveling with a laptop and want to provide Anna with more info – please leave a comment below!

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Sleeping in History – Beaumont Inn

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 06:39:57 +0000

History in Harrodsburg

Harrodsburg Kentucky may be small, but it’s loaded with character. In fact, it lays claim to being the ‘Oldest Town in Kentucky’. Their tourist board (yes, this little town of 8,000 people has it’s own tourist board) describes Harrodsburg as ‘bursting with historic charm’. They are absolutely right.

Main St.

The town itself has self-guided historic walks , an old Fort, civil war history, a nearby Shaker village. One of my favorite things about the pristine town was the old Southern style homes that had been preserved so well. The 8,000+ residents of Harrodsburg were proud of it’s history.

After spending the afternoon at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill on a photographic journey back in time, we drove into Harrodsburg to find a place to stay. With all of these old historic homes, we were looking to stay in a place that embodied that Southern architecture and spirit. We found the perfect match at the Beaumont Inn.

I had first heard of the Beaumont Inn from doing a Google search. After spending a few minutes on their website, I was won over immediately. After all, since much of my time is spent online in the blogsphere and social networking worlds, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this old Inn was modern in their technology. They are on Facebook, they have a blog, and their website is chock full of tourist information about Harrodsburg and the surrounding towns. In fact, it was their website that made me want to go to Harrodsburg.

Frankly my dear...

Intricate Lace

The Inn, circa 1845, was perched atop a rolling hill cradled by old trees which undoubtedly had seen many changes during their lifetime. The big white pillars and front porch won me over immediately. Nothing embodies the South like a front porch. I can’t help but have flashes of Scarlett O’Hara standing on the porch of Tara. As you walk inside you are transported further into history through the décor. The home was decorated with all of the old antique furniture even down to the detail of the lace curtains and the antique Cleopatra clock from the World’s Fair in 1893.

Going Up

The main hall is dominated by twin staircases leading to the rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The rooms were spacious for an old home and had all been upgraded to accommodate the modern needs of travelers; air conditioning and wireless internet. They were all decorated in the antiques from the family’s collection. Of course the Inn served breakfast (included) every morning southern style. I enjoyed my cheese grits and corn griddlecakes immensely; after all, it was vacation – right?

On the main floor next to portraits of Robert. E. Lee were pamplets containing the complete history of the Inn. We grabbed one as we walked to the Old Owl Tavern which was connected to the Inn. They had happy hour drinks and appetizers so we sat on the outside porch, enjoyed our view, and read up on the history of the Inn.

Sitting Room

The Inn started it’s existence as a college for women. In fact, over the course of time, it changed hands many times, however from 1845 to 1914 it was utilized as a school. In 1918, it was turned into an Inn as it’s used today. The classrooms were converted into the dining room and the old carriage house was converted into the Tavern. Now that’s a lot of history to sleep in. It actually dubs itself as the oldest family owned and operated Inn in Kentucky; it was handed down for generations.

If you find yourself traveling through Bluegrass area of Kentucky, Harrodsburg and the Beaumont Inn should be your stopping place for the night. You can sleep in a little bit of history.

A Home in Thamel – Ambassador Garden Home Hotel

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 05:08:42 +0000

The garden

In the middle of the craziness of Thamel (the tourist district) I found this gem boutique hotel; a diamond in the ruff! What makes staying at the Ambassador Garden Home Hotel a unique experience is the staff. It feels as you are a member of their family. When my father and I arrived they served us tea and gave us a Tilak blessing. They sat and talked with us about where we were from, as well as educating us about the hotel and their family history. You immediately felt the warmth and passion of this boutique hotel; it felt like you were staying in a friend’s home.

Prime Location:
Thamel is one of the busiest places in Kathmandu; noisy, crowded, and dirty. However in the heart of Thamel is the Ambassador Garden Home located at one of the main intersections. It’s set back from the road and once you step into their ‘grounds’ you are immediately transported to a peaceful environment – a safe haven from the craziness of Kathmandu.

Our Double Room

Environment:
The rooms are modern and decorated with class. The whole hotel underwent a major renovation lately. They have infused cultural and family relics throughout the decor. The garden in the back is one of the highlights. Surrounded by a classic brick fence, you feel like it’s your little oasis. You can eat out in the garden or simply relax with a book with the fountain dribbling in the background. The garden is where the restaurant was located. It was small and inviting. Breakfast was included with our room; a great set of options to choose from with fresh fruit and eggs. I personally loved the french press coffee brought to the table! However one of my most memorable means in Nepal was served in this little garden. The dhal bhat plate was fabulous; a bunch of little bowls of dhal and curried veggies. Plus, they even served fresh homemade yogurt to go with the spicy curry.

The inviting lobby

Atmosphere:
What made this hotel one of my favorite stays in the world was the social atmosphere they created. They have melded the idea of a stuffy boutique hotel into a family hostel feel. The owners called you by first name and frequently joined you in the garden – assisting with any travel needs you had. When you arrived, they provided you with a personal welcome letter in your room introducing them, their family, and the history of the hotel. As a frequent solo traveler, I loved how they introduced you to other people staying at the hotel. The owner and manager came out at night and sat with guests in the garden; eating dinner with them. At night the whole garden erupted in a social gathering where travelers met and talked about their experiences in Nepal. The manager walked around introducing different sets of tourists creating this open communal feel.

Costs:
I thought the rooms were well priced for quality of what you received. We paid aprox. $50USD for a double room which included breakfast, a never ending ‘take-what-you-want’ fruit basket, and wireless internet (even in the rooms!). If you stay for more than 2 nights, they will even send you on a free city tour. Sure, for Thamel and Nepal, this may seem expensive – but it was an exceptional value when taken the location, quality, and atmosphere.

Contact:
Visit their website at Ambassador Garden Home Boutique Hotel you can book directly with them or use discount sites to find other deals.

Dining in the Garden

Travel for Sporting Events

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:53:48 +0000

100 Sporting Events You Must See Live

An Insider’s Guide to Creating the Sports Experience of a Lifetime By Robert Tuchman

Click to purchase from Amazon

Every night I sit down to watch people around the world play in the snow. I love the Olympics. It brings back family memories of sitting around the television after dinner, watching Dorthy Hammil in her pink outfit with perfect hair, do the perfect Hammil Camel.

I got my own pink leotard and had my hair cut to match, and went to my skating lessons every week. However my fascination with skating quickly waned and I gave up before I could ever master going backwards. My Olympic hopes were dashed. However I still love to watch the Olympics and the whole new slew of winter sports around snowboarding and freestyle makes me dream of being young and fearless again!

Sports bring the world together whether it’s the Olympics, the World Cup, or the Tour De France. Nothing brings the world of sports together more than the Olympics. Sure, it’s great watching it every night on TV, however we all know that great sporting events are better live than via television. It’s my wish that in my lifetime I’ll be able to go as a spectator to the Games. So when I came across the book The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live by Robert Tuchman I knew it would make my list of ‘must sees’ grow way beyond the Olympics!

Robert Tuchman is a sports addict. He is the founder of TSE Sports & Entertainment, a sports marketing company. He’s had the opportunity to attend many of the events in person.

Regarding live sporting events, Tuchman says, “For a brief moment in time, boundaries that separate members of society disappear. Cultural differences become meaningless. There are no differences in ethnicity, income level, or age. We are united in cheering, jeering, and just enjoying the sporting event. This is the greatest gift of sports, its ability to bring people together.”

Palio Horse Race Siena Italy

Consider this a bucket list for sporting events. It’s a tough job to try to pick out the top 100 events in the world – what criteria do you use? Robert Tuchman tells us that he didn’t look at ticket sales, nor is the list partial to any team or region. Objectivity was paramount in determining each selection. In the end it was about the energy of the event, not the number of people who attended it or the revenue it generated or the television ratings it drew.

The book brings together sporting events and travel; the entire experience. You’ll be able to find out the significance of the sporting event as well as the history behind it. In addition, you can find out how to buy tickets to the event, which airports to fly into, the best hotels to stay in, the perfect restaurants to enjoy a meal at, and all the attractions you’ll need to see while in town. I was quite impressed by the amount of useful information that was provided for each event. All easily summarized in one place.

Now…on to the list!

It contains big well-recognized events as well as small town sporting events. I like the variety that he chooses. Some traditional and some that people might even argue aren’t a sporting event at all! After going through the list I realized I had only attended 6 of the 100.

Some of my favorites were:
Iditarod
College Baseball World Series
New York City Marathon
Liverpool vs Manchester United at Old Trafford
Monaco Grand Prix

Some of my surprises events:
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Westminster Dog Show
Harlem Globetrotters Performance

Events I wish were included:
The Palio Horse Race in Siena Italy run on July 2nd and August 16th. I actually attended this event in person and it was an energy that I will never forget.

Overall, I liked the book. It’s more of a reference than a book that you read cover to cover. You’ll certainly come away with some new travel plans! It’s a nice gift for the sport lover. Similar to the book 1000 Places to see Before you Die, there is also a checklist in the back so that you can keep track of your progress; that should satisfy the truly anal planners!

If you are interested in purchasing the book, go to Amazon and check it out!
The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live: An Insiders Guide to Creating the Sports Experience of a Lifetime

Oh yes – the Winter Olympics are also on the list! I certainly wish I were in Vancouver now cheering on the athletes!

Let’s start our own list! Leave a comment and tell me what sporting events have you traveled the world to see?

Creating an Effective Travel Blog + Contest!

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:54:38 +0000

Setting you up for Blogging Success

I recently realized that I have been without a ‘typical’ job now for longer than I’ve ever held a job at a particular company – 3 ½ years. My typical length at an employer was about 3 years before I would move on and up.

I’ve been traveling and blogging now for 3 ½ years; this is surprising to me considering I started this blog with no plan other than to keep friends and family updated. I often fantasize about what I would do if I knew then what I know now about blogging. I think about how much bigger and better it would be, how it would be optimized for search engines, how I would have gained a huge following and had advertisers knocking at my door. Ah…but sometimes things just happen organically – at the speed they are meant to happen. So I’ve learned that there’s no use in thinking about what I would’ve done differntly if I had known I was going to run this blog for 3 ½ years instead of just 1 year.

In 3 1/2 years, the one thing I’m amazed at is how the Travel Blogging community had grown. Actually – grown really isn’t even a good word as in early 2006 when I started researching for my Around the World trip, there were no blogs and travel websites except for Bootsnall – nothing else really existed. Now if you go out and search on travel blogs or destinations – you are bombarded with stories of people’s travels and how-to’s …and of course my most hated stories that start with 10 best, 7 worst, 5 biggest, etc (ugh – I think we should ban number’s from travel writing). So how do you make your blog and experiences stick out and be seen?

In the midst of all of the travel blog overload where everyone is trying to be heard, my good friend, David Lee of GoBackpacking, has started a new site called Travel Blog Success. The site includes a course and discussion forum about how to build a better travel website.

A description from the site:
Whether you’re looking to entertain your friends and family on a future trip, or develop a living wage from doing what you love, the resources on this site will help you get started on the road to travel blogging success.
The course consists of 12 weekly lessons. If you chose the premium membership, then you can work through them at your own pace. If you chose the monthly payments option, then you will receive access to a new lesson every 7 days (via e-mail).

If you are wondering why you should listen to Dave – then check this out:

- He earned over $10,000 from travel blogging in 2009, or about $850 per month. But….
- He earned over $1,300 per month in just the last 6 months (Aug 2009 to Jan 2010). A step further and…
- He earned $5,000 in just the last 3 months (Nov 2009 to Jan 2010).
- Go Backpacking will exceed 20,000 unique visits and 45,000 page views in January 2010.
- Both his travel blogs, Go Backpacking and Medellin Living, are finalists in the 2010 Weblog Awards (http://2010.bloggies.com)

Ummm….yes…I’m turning green with envy right now…

Plus he’s a really good guy, super helpful, and passionate about travel. I kinda wish I could hate him…but that’s impossible!

I was actually a part of the Beta Testing for Dave’s project and was felt like I spent the whole time saying “Doh!” (said with the Homer Simpson inflection). I had so wished there would have been something like this out there in 2006 when I started Ottsworld! It had fabulous information for the new blogger on how to get started. Because as with many things, blogging is about good design and planning upfront; then you can really set yourself up for success. Suffice it to say – I did no planning for Ottsworld!

The site is a ‘premium’ site so there is a small fee to join, but I personally think it’s worth it for the Discussion Forum alone where you’ll get to interact with some of the best travel bloggers out there today as well as newbie’s.

Now – here’s the really good news…

Take a career break!

Dave has agreed to let Briefcase to Backpack (my other site that I hope you know about by now!) be the first site to run a contest which gives one lucky person a premium membership to Travel Blog Success!

All you have to do is head over to Briefcase to Backpack, and sign up for the contest. Plus you get an extra entry if you tweet about it – read the instructions to learn more! And while you are there – you can check out our review of Travel Blog Success as well as other super career break articles and stories from ‘Briefcasers’ who became ‘Backpackers’!

Note: Briefcase to Backpack is an affiliate of Travel Blog Success and we earn a commission if you click through our site to purchase. We wouldn’t be an affiliate if we didn’t endorse this product, so we appreciate you supporting us too!

Millican Travel Gear Give-Away!

admin — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:00:40 +0000

As most of you know, I have another website that is my pride and joy…Briefcase to Backpack. It provides inspiration and travel advice to those corporate dwellers that want to desperately escape the cubicle and see the world. My partner, Michaela Potter, and I have been working really hard on getting the site up and running; making it visible to those that are considering a career break, but need a bit of a ‘push’ away from their email inbox.

Over at Briefcase to Backpack we are running an exciting new contest; we’re giving away a Millican toiletry bag. The Millican story is a great inspiration to all briefcase to backpackers because they came up with this fabulous company idea while on a carer break! Jorrit and Nicky turned their passion for travel into a business after their career break. They started Millican, a travel and outdoor lifestyle brand for eco-friendly travelers, and produce and sell classic, sustainable travel bags and outdoor gear.

And now you can win one of their beautiful products!

Briefcase to Backpack is giving away “Jonathan The Roll Wash” (a $72 value). Inspired by artist, bed and tool rolls, this shape has been used by travelers for centuries. This compact wash bag is a great travel companion with enough space for all your grooming needs.

HOW TO ENTER – see the details at Briefcase to Backpack

We’ll accept entries until January 7, 2010.

My Three (Girlie) Travel Secrets

admin — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:54:36 +0000

One of my best friends (who I love dearly…Angie…ahem) always sends me (and other victims) these crazy ‘chain’ emails. She always begins the email by apologizing for sending it…which I find a little weird. You know the kind, the chain emails where you need to fill something out about yourself and send it one to 5 other friends else you’ll have bad dating luck the rest of your life. I really dislike this…I already have a bad dating life – do I really need to tempt fate and make it worse…is worse even possible? Regardless, even though I love my friends who send these (Angie…ahem), I’m not fond of the concept of e-chain letters; in fact, I hate them. So when my travel friends started ‘tagging’ me in a game of virtual tag, I had the same feeling of irritation.

I tried to ignore it at first. But soon I started getting ‘e-tagged’ so many times that I couldn’t really ignore it. I finally looked at the details of this ‘game’, and to my surprise I found out there were no doomsday consequences; my dating life wouldn’t be ruined, my luck wouldn’t run out, I wouldn’t get fat, I wouldn’t turn into a bad cook, my friends wouldn’t leave me, and I wouldn’t have bad travel karma. After realizing that this wasn’t a typical virtual chain game, instead it was a virtual tag game where travel experts shared their best travel secrets. I was intrigued.

Soon I started reading all of my peers (and taggers) posts about their travel secrets. There was some great travel advice out there from my fellow blogger friends such as Barbara from Hole in the Donut, Jodi from Legal Nomads, Shannon from Travel Tips and Secrets, Heather Cowper from Heather on Her Travels, and Donna from My Itchy Travel Feet. Ok – maybe I should jump into this game…there are no consequences and you, my readers, get to benefit; what the hell.

The Tag game was started by Katie at Tripbase. The rules are that you are to write a post giving 3 travel secrets, and then tag 5 other bloggers to do the same. I can only bring myself to do the first thing…write the post. Considering how I feel about ‘tag games and chain letters’, I can’t go thru with tagging other people…so the buck stops here for my travel secrets I guess. If you want to see other bloggers secrets, then go to the links I put above; they offer some super travel advice!

Since lots of bloggers are sharing travel secrets, I felt like I needed to tackle tips that were a bit different so I decided to focus my travel secrets on unusual tips for women. Men – sorry, you can surf to some sports site if you want now.

1. Leave Your Vanity Behind
Since I’ve been back in NYC after being on the road for 15 months, I’ve been reflecting a lot on how I’ve evolved. 3+ years ago I was a hip business professional working for international retailers. I had more shoes, clothes, and handbags than there were days of the year to wear them; my life was about vanity. When I started traveling I had a hard time accepting my new backpacker style. I tried to hang on to my vanity; I had a hair dryer and make-up in my backpack for the first few months…then I just let it go…and it felt great. I know it’s easy for me to say to not pack your hair straightener or makeup or 5 pairs of shoes…but trust me, you will be happier without these things if you are doing long term travel. You may find yourself feeling more free than ever – I did. I got comfortable seeing my face without make-up, my hair without hair products, and flat shoes instead of heels. If you feel like you still want a bit of ‘flash’ when you travel, then I suggest that you add flash to an average outfit by accessorizing – jewelry is small and can be the focal point of an outfit. So are pashminas. Both of these things are plentiful in many developing countries for cheap…so just buy them there and don’t carry them in your bag! Plus, it supports the locals – win/win for everyone!

2. You WILL find Tampons in Other Parts of the World
This tip comes from a recent conversation I had with Amanda and Jen from The Lost Girls World and my biz partner Michaela of Briefcase to Backpack. We were chatting about common questions that we get asked and talk turned to tampons. I’m here to tell you that you can find tampons in other parts of the world – so you don’t have to take a year’s supply. Sure, some places are harder than others…so check out your itinerary and have some extras available (but not a whole year’s worth!). I lived in SE Asia for a year and you could find tampons in grocery stores for expats. You may need to ask someone where the expats shop, but that will get you pointed in the right direction. For travel, you can’t beat OB tampons – they are super small and barely take up any space. Yeah – some people aren’t comfortable with the lack of applicator – but the compact size it worth it!

3. You Don’t Have to Answer Every Question
As a solo female traveler – safety is always a concern for me. So when I was in Bali and a local guy asked me where I was staying, immediately my ‘safety radar’ switched on and said “I’m not going to tell you that!” As I continued to travel, I realized that being questioned is part of being a traveler. I was constantly being asked very personal questions,

How old are you?
Where are you from?
Where are you staying?
Are you traveling alone?
Are you married?
Are you with friends?

These questions tend to happen more frequently in developing countries for some reason. I think the culture and personal space issues tend to be quite different than our western culture. Plus – many of these locals don’t know much English and these types of sentences tend to be the first and only thing they learn – so that’s why they ask them. I can remember teaching all of my ESL students the phrases “Are you married?” and “How old are you?”…yet these are things I generally don’t ask people personally! Regardless, if you are traveling alone and you get grilled with personal questions…you DON’T HAVE to answer these questions. In fact, assess the situation and use your head, if you don’t want people to know where you are staying then don’t answer the questions. Instead, start asking the person other things about their country or area, they are normally happy to share information about their country and culture; and you’ve changed the subject.

Hope you enjoyed! Please leave a comment with your girlie tips – I’d love to hear them. Plus I promise you it won’t hurt your dating life!

Book Review – Tales from Nowhere

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:07:33 +0000

Tales from Nowhere
Unexpected stories from unexpected places – A Lonely Planet Anthology
Edited by Don George
Authors – various

A fellow travel friend gave me this book a couple of years ago as he thought I’d enjoy it considering my fondness for travel writing and traveling to ‘out of the way’ places. I took it and promptly put it in my big pile of books that people tell me to read and I never get to. Somehow the book made it on my shortlist of packing items when I went to Vietnam and there is sat in Vietnam for a year barely touched. Miraculously it also made it on my short list of things I brought back with me from Vietnam as I thought I might need a good travel book as I trekked the Annapurna circuit for a month. A month in the mountains of Nepal would surely yield plenty of free time to read; something I rarely get. The Himalalayas finally made me slow down and get to Nowhere.

The book is a compilation of short stories written by well known travel writers from around the world. Lonely Planet decides upon an anthology topic and then puts the request out to writers to submit articles appropriate to the topic. The editor weeds through the thousands of submissions and compiles the book. There were two previous books to this one, The Kindness of Strangers, and By the Seat of My Pants. However Tales from Nowhere peaked my interest for two reasons; many times I’ve felt like I’ve been to nowhere; when you travel for 3 years, you are bound to come across nowhere (my most recent was the Gobi Desert). Second I like short stories as it’s similar to what I do in my blog posts, and they’re easy to pick up read a couple and put the book down again. As a writer myself, I read this book as a pupil of sorts. After all, I think one of the best ways to improve your writing is to read good examples from people who know way more than you; check. I read these eloquently written descriptions of far off places; all of my senses were transported to the author’s version of Nowhere. I can only hope that some of their descriptive skills can rub off on me as I often times look at a place I’m traveling in and think, ‘this is impossible to describe’.

The stories cover places from all over the globe:
Borneo, Thailand, Afghanistan, Equatorial Guinea, Vietnam, Kansas, Cambodia, Mexico, Easter Island, Pig Island, Malawi, Kenya, Israel, Death Valley California, Sri Lanka, Australia, Italy, Timbuktu, Antarctica, Yap, and various ocean crossings.

This was a diverse group of Nowhere places, and I had been to many of them leaving me fond memories. As I read through the stories one thought kept invading my head, Nowhere is somewhere to somebody. Nowhere can be anywhere; anywhere where the sense of familiar is gone. As the editor puts it, Nowhere is usually full of initial intimidations and later illuminations, which is the life cycle of travel. He goes on to say, “Everything is relative, and we’d all do well to heed this humble, humbling lesson.”

For travel lovers out there or other travel writers, this anthology is worth a look; it may even give you some new travel inspiration or you may in turn want to cross some places off your ‘must visit’ list! Hopefully it won’t take you two years to finally crack open the front cover as it did me!

A good thought to consider – for anywhere in the world – “When you open yourself up to the world, the world always responds with grace.” – Don George

Please leave a comment and let me know where your ‘Nowhere’ is! We’ll probably compile quite a list!

If you decide to purchase the book new, please support me by purchasing on Amazon through this link – thanks!
Tales from Nowhere (Travel Literature)

Shop till you Drop

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:24:27 +0000

See the Ottsworld Travel Store

I’ve been busy working in retail this weekend…actually, I’ve been building a store! No, it’s not a brick and mortar store, it’s an online travel store for Ottsworld readers. Of course this little project that should have been rather simple ended up taking me about 4 hours, but it’s done now; mission accomplished!

Check out my Amazon store that I’ve added to my site; you can find it in the top navigation under “Travel Store” I’ve filled it with items that I love and use. Many of these of the items I used on my Around the World travel – essential for traveling. There are travel books, travel guides, and travel gear. I’ve also included the books I used on how to take a career break/gap year and travel, inpirational books I love about finding a new career or making changes, and some of my other random favorite books. You get all of the security, shipping, discounts and ease of using Amazon.com, but the benefit is that Ottsworld get a small little piece of the $pie for referring you.

So, if you are considering purchasing a travel guide or supplies, please do so through my store and it helps support Ottsworld (and then purchase more things on Amazon while you are at it!!) This way I can keep bringing you great travel stories and advice…who wouldn’t want that?!

Shop till you drop!

The Motorbike Diaries – Vol. 7

admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 06:48:34 +0000

Start from the Beginning - Motorbike Diaries Vol. 1

I’m on the road and my motorbike is parked in my living room having a vacation! I thought I would put out this post though since it pertains to motorbikes and Vietnam. Stay tuned for more Motorbike Diaries and travel posts when I return from my trekking in the Philippines!

Shop for and Purchase Bikes of Burden

Who needs a trunk and four wheels – it’s overrated!

As you all know – I am fascinated with the motorbike culture in Vietnam. I’ve taken many hours watching traffic in complete amazement. I have tried to capture this crazy phenomenon in photos and in video – but I have a hard time doing it justice. However I recently came across this book – Bikes of Burden by Hans Kemp. Hans had to log hours and hours on a motorbike to get these shots…his poor lungs!

It’s simply a photobook, but it does the best job of capturing what the motorbike culture is like. These pictures depict what I see every day here. If you are looking for a book for a Vietnam enthusiasts or a motorbike enthusiast – check this out! It’s great coffee table conversation!
Preview it on Amazon – Bikes of Burden

Like what you read? Then keep reading!

The Motorbike Diaries – vol. 8

Traveling with History in Your Pocket

Sherry — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 03:44:09 +0000

History Can Be Hard to Take With You

I know that many of you have heard me rave about podcasts – and yes, I have yet another one to rave about. This one is straight from the classroom…Berkeley University.

There aren’t many things I would do different in my life; however, if I could go back to my 18th year, I would change one thing. I would have paid more attention in my high school history class. Mr. Durham wasn’t the best history teacher in the world – but I honestly didn’t have any passion for the subject a that time either. If I would have had some passion for history, then maybe I would have actually taken an American history class in college – but I didn’t and I opted for history of American Jazz instead.

I am one of the many Americans that knows very little (ok – nothing) about American History. Don’t evern get me started on World History…one thing at a time please. Therefore, before I started on my around the world journey, I decided that I better make up for lost time and try to educate myself a bit on American History. As I was searching around the internet, I found my answer…a History podcast!

They don't take up much space

Berkeley University has successfully moved into the technical age and is offering podcasts of class lectures to the world for free. Now – if I were a parent paying college tuition for my kid to attend Berkeley – I’m not real sure how I would feel about this development. However – as a freeloader – I loved it! I downloaded the complete lectures from American History 7B – Civil War to the Present and I took off for my big trip in September of 2006.

On flights or bus rides, and sometimes on runs – I would listen to the History Podcast as if I were a student again. Professor Jennifer Burns had passion for her subject and a great style of teaching. It amazed me at how much I learned. It made me wonder how much more I could have learned in University if I had just had simply paid more attention and enjoyed my classes.

I highly recomend this podcast for anyone – but specifically for travelers. It will provide you a basis for how the world see Americans, why we were involved in various global conflicts, what our stance was on various issues and why, and most importantly – it helped me understand how the US became who we are today and why we act the way we do globally. Now – I didn’t say that I agreed with it all, but it sure did provide me the context and knowledge I needed when I was frequently asked questions about my own culture, politics, and history from other international travelers.

If you are looking for some entertainment for the road – then consider getting educated while being entertained – I promise you that you won’t be sorry!

You can download the podcasts from the Berkley website and listen to them on your computer at this website.

Or on Jennifer Burns’ website, she has links listed on how to listen to the lectures via itunes.
or you can download them from itunes. Just ltype ‘jennifer burns’ in the itunes search function and you will find it.

Traveling Tunes

Sherry — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 15:21:05 +0000

Man in Athens adding some music to the streets

One of my favorite travel ‘companions’ is my ipod. I don’t know how I would have widdled away hours on buses, in airports, or simply waiting in lines without it while traveling around teh world! I use it for to keep travel information via podcasts, language guides, TV shows, Movies, and just simple music. I have some favorite travel songs that I thought I would share with you.

I have created many playlists that go with my various moods (angry, happy, mellow, energetic, hippie, honky-tonk, emotional, and world), however whenever I feel a bit nostalgic about my vagabond life, I like to listen to my travel playlist. It immediately makes puts me back on a bus in the middle of Morocco…happy days…

I thought I would share that list of songs with you. It’s short, and certainly doesn’t represent all of the possible travel songs I could pick – it’s just some of my favorite ones that I actually own. If you listen to these – you too will want to take off into the wild blue yonder and enjoy the serenity that comes with travel. They may also make you appreciate coming home from your travels!

Please leave a comment and let me know what your favorite travel tunes are!

Sherry’s Travel Playlist:

Island in the Sun – Weezer
Leaving on a Jet Plane – John Denver
Who Says You Can’t Go Home – Bon Jovi
Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
Mary’s in India – Dido
New York’s Not My Home – Jim Croce
Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash
Winding Road – Bonnie Sommerville
On The Road Again – Willie Nelson
Come Sail Away – Styx
Sand in My Shoes – Dido
Far Away – Ingrid Michaelson
I’m Free – The Who
Holiday – Madonna
Mexico – James Taylor

Book Review – Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Sherry — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:41:38 +0000

Photo: Indian girl practicing English

After a failed climb of K2 in Pakistan Greg Mortenson set out on a mission of another kind – one that required an immense amount of perseverance and passion beyond K2. This is the true story of Greg Mortenson’s journey to “promote peace one school at a time” I thought that I would like this story – it has all of my favorite elements – non-fiction, global travel, athleticism/drive, and giving back; yet I not only liked it, I loved it. I can say that it is my favorite book I’ve ever read. Finally – I have an answer for stupid online dating questionnaires…”What’s your favorite book?”

Photo: Kids at a village school in Vietnam
After his failed attempt on K2, Greg wandered into an impoverished Pakistan village, Korphe. He was lost and disoriented but was moved by the kindness of the people who took care of him. Korphe was a hearty village – it had to be to survive in the barren mountains, high altitude, and harsh winters. After seeing the village kids had no school, but as an alternative sometimes gathered to draw lessons with a stick in the dirt – he vowed that if the Pakistan government couldn’t provide a school – he would.

One of the things that I loved about Greg was that he was a man of his word – something that I try to live my life by and have the utmost respect for. Greg had no idea how to make school commitment happen, but he was scrappy and determined. His journey was full of learnings and strife as he came to really understand the Pakistani people in this region, their Muslim religion, their language, their customs, how they did business, and their pace. All countries have a pace – I believe America to be the fastest pace country I’ve ever been in. Pakistan’s pace was SSSLLOOWWW.

Photo: The world is a mixture of religions
His journey turned from one school to many schools, to water supply solutions, to women’s vocational centers, to Afghanistan, and eventually a NGO called Central Asia Institute. His initial contributor to the school was a rich old man that felt America was always pulling for the Buddhists (think Richard Gere) – but no one was trying to help the Muslims. Greg’s journey started years before 9/11 – however the books spans that timeframe and it was fascinating how it evolved from simply a book about an NGO building schools, to a testament on how to fight terrorism through education of kids. Education of kids in impoverished areas is the key to many issues the world faces today and something I believe strongly in.

This book made the reader really think about religion, morals, empowering women, politics, global travel, and culture. I read the book with a highlighter in hand – marking my favorite passages that moved me. This should give you a bit of flavor of the book:

“I used to assume that the direction of ‘progress’ was somehow inevitable, not to be questioned. I passively accepted a new road through the middle of the park, a steel and glass bank where a 200 year old church had stood…and the fact that life seemed to get harder and faster with each day. I do not anymore. In Ladakh I have learned that there is more than one path into the future and I have had the privilege to witness another , saner, way of life – a pattern of existence based on the co-evolution between human beings and the earth.” From Halena Norberg Hodge author of Ancient Futures

“The bridge strengthened the village’s maternal ties, and made the women feel a whole lot happier and less isolated. Who knew that something as simple as a bridge could empower women?”

“When I lost him and thought he might die out on the ice, I was awake all night, praying to Allah that I might be allowed to save him.”

“That day, Haji Ali taught me the most important lesson I’ve ever learned in my life,” Mortenson says. “we Americans think you have to accomplish everything quickly. We’re the country of thirty-minute power lunches and two minute football drills. Our leaders thought their ‘shock and awe’ campaign could end the war in Iraq before it even started. Haji Ali taught me to share three cups of tea, to slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects. He taught me that I had more to learn from the people I work with than I could ever hope to teach them.”

“Once you educate the boys, they tend to leave the villages and go search for work in the cities, “ Mortenson explains. “But the girls stay home, become leaders in the community, and pass on what they’ve learned. If you really want to change a culture, to empower women, improve basic hygiene and health care, and fight high rates of infant mortality, the answer is to educate girls.”

“I wish Westerners who misunderstand Muslims could have seen Syed Abbas in action that day,” Mortenson says. “They would see that most people who practice the true teachings of Islam, even conservative mullahs like Syed Abbas, believe in peace and justice, not in terror. Just as the Torah and Bible teach concern for those in distress, the Koran instructs all Muslims to make caring for widows, orphans, and refugees a priority.”

“A village called New York has been bombed.”

“We share in the sorrow as people weep and suffer in America today,” he said, pushing his thick glasses firmly into place, “as we inaugurate this school. Those who have committed this evil act against the innocent, the women and children, to create thousands of widows and orphans do not do so in the name of Islam. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, may justice be served upon them.”—Syed Abbas

“These two Christian men have come halfway around the world to show our Muslim children the light of education,” Abbas said. “Why have we not been able to bring education to our children on our own? Fathers and parents, I implore you to dedicate your full effort and commitment to see that all your children are educated. Otherwise, they will merely graze like sheep in the field, at the mercy of nature and the world changing so terrifyingly around us.”

“I request America to look into our hearts,” Abbas continued, his voice straining with emotion,”and see that the great majority of us are not terrorists, but good and simple people. Our land is stricken with poverty because we are without education. But today, another candle of knowledge has been lit. In the name of Allah the Almighty, may it light our way out of the darkness we find ourselves in.”

Photo: African school kids
All I can say is – read the book. I’m not sure that it will be your favorite all-time book, but I think you will enjoy it. The reason why it’s my favorite book is very personal to me. As I read through the pages those old, familiar feelings came back to me, the ones that make me want to drop everything and go back and do volunteer work. As I was reading it, I kept thinking about how purely happy I was when I was teaching the kids in India…I had passion (See Spice Diaries posts). A passion that made me smile so hard it hurt, and cry so hard that you forget how to breathe. This book reminded me of what I need to do, of what makes me happy – and that is making a difference in the world. This book came at a pivotal time for me in my travels, one where I’m confused about going home, looking into a directionless future…it grounded me again. It provided me a glimpse of what my future could be if I have the perseverance and drive to make it happen.

If you do decide to buy the book please purchase it through the Three Cups of Tea website www.threecupsoftea.com . Then click on the Amazon link . By clicking through their website before going to Amazon via their link – they get some proceeds that goes to the NGO.

No Related Post

Hash Cache

Sherry — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:21:30 +0000

Photo: Geocaching – all you need is a GPS and an adventurous spirit!

Calling all travel geeks!!!!! There’s a treasure out there that is waiting to be found all over the world and all you need is a GPS and an adventurous spirit.

I am traveling with a small group through the Yunnan province in China. The group is made up of an Australian, a German, and a couple of Canadians – plus my sister and me rounding out the international map. The couple from Canada has introduced us to a new traveling past-time – Geocaching – www.geocaching.com The tagline for the website is “The sport where YOU are the search engine”…very clever.

Armed with a GPS unit – you can locate geocaches all over the world – a treasure hunt of sorts. The ‘treasure’ is called cache (pronounced cash, but it’s not greenbacks). Instead the cache is simply a little notebook and pencil (to write a message), maybe a little trinket from the area, and normally a geocoin. A geocoin is a metal or wood token used in geocaching. Geocoins can be a signature item used by geocachers, left in geocaches to be found by others, kept as trophies or traded. Geocoins are often minted with the name of their state or country of origin, a given geocacher’s name or handle, or anything else. They can be either trackable on the internet (you can see the history of where it’s been and who has it) or untrackable. Trackable Geocaching.com geocoins are imprinted with unique codes and tracked via the geocaching.com website. So I guess if you can’t find time to get away from your job and travel, then you can send your coin to do it for you! See – I told you that this was a bit geekish…but I have to admit – it’s fun!
The process is rather simple – you enter the name of a city or a country on the website to determine if there are any geocache’s in that area. You get the coordinates of the geocache on the website, get some additional clues from the website, turn on your GPS unit and start hunting. When and if you find the cache, the rule of thumb is that ‘if you take an item, leave an item and write in the logbook’.

While traveling through Yunnan Bruce and Margaret, the Canadians, were looking for a geocache. Out of curiosity, Cyndi and I decided to join them, along with our guide Jonathon who also served as our group translator. We walked through the streets of the town at night with our GPS unit and flashlights hunting for the cache. Granted – no one (except for the Canadians) really had any idea what the cache even looked like, except for the fact that it was usually in a small Tupperware container. They had an additional clue that they got off the internet indicating the cache was guarded by water dragons on someone’s personal property and you would need to reach high to get it. Hurray – it looked like we would be trespassing to find the cache…hopefully Jonathon would be able to talk our way out of any trouble that we found ourselves in.

We followed the cache coordinates to within 19 meters that first night – but we had to give up due to the lack of light and the fact that it appeared we would need to go through someone’s yard or house to get it and thought that may be a better idea to do during the daylight. I don’t think it would be good to spend the night in a Chinese jail.

We went back the next day – excited to try to find the treasure. We all decided that the clue about the water dragons could mean that it was one of the establishments (bar, shop, or restaurant) on the road we were on the previous night. Maybe it even had that in the name somehow. Sure enough we came across a bar that fit the description, the only problem was that it was 4PM and it wasn’t open yet. We took our chances and rang the bell and sure enough a young Chinese woman answered the door. Bruce and Jonathon explained that we were on a ‘scavenger hunt’ and a clue led us to their establishment. The GPS unit said that we were within 9 meters of the cache…it had to be the right place! The girl looked at the 5 of us and said “I’m the waitress here – but you can come in and look around.” As we walked into the place – I knew right away what I had walked into – a hash bar. This town was a backpacker town, and where-ever there are backpackers, there is hash. The place was littered with bottles of empty booze, newspapers, chips, lighters, and a layer of dust that was beyond disturbing. The owner came out and introduced himself and once again we tried to explain why we were there. He said – in complete stoner fashion – “Sure – ahhhhh, look where-ever you want” and walked away in a haze. We combed his backyard, upstairs, bathroom, bar area, and any other corner that we were brave enough to look in. He in turn, just went about his business in his backyard as we walked all over his place peering into every crevice. I thought to myself – this guy must be completely baked to allow a bunch of strangers with a GPS to poke around his home like this! As people were scouring the establishment for the cache, I was looking at the décor in disbelief wondering who in their right mind could live like this?! In the bar area they had a wall mural with pictures and molds of caverns looking out onto the neon colored solar system. There were black lights, the couches had dirty blankets thrown over them to hide whatever hideousness lied beneath. There was also a big pit area with a projector. I felt like I had just stepped back in a time machine to my college days – peering into a dirty fraternity house after a weekend party. Oh….I could just imagine the typical night here watching Rocky Horror Picture Show and smoking.

Photo: Bruce (right), Jonathan, and the owner opening the cache
Just as we were about to give up and walk away – Bruce found the Tupperware cache! We all gathered around it as it was opened up – even the owner came out of his smoky haze to join us. I’m absolutely sure that he thought that we had uncovered a real buried treasure in his home. I personally expected to find a freshly rolled joint in the Tupperware cache with a lighter…but unfortunately it contained a small notepad, and a geocoin. Bruce and Margaret logged in the book, and took the cache coin and put in some new ‘goodies’ for the next person to find. We thanked the owner profusely and went away with a sense of accomplishment promising him we’d be back for a drink when he opened later that night.

We wandered back after dinner and the bar was transformed into a functioning place instead of a pig pen – I was rather impressed. However –I do always believe that there’s a reason why bars are darkly lit – you really don’t want to see them in the daylight – else you will just be disappointed and mainly grossed out. The darker bar lighting was definitely an improvement for this place! We ordered some beer and celebrated a successful cache hunt under the blacklight and glowing planets on the wall.

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Book Review: Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Sherry — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 23:46:26 +0000

Snowflower and the Secret Fan is a fictional book set in 19th Century China – fittiing for all of my China travel in Oct. and Nov. I actually read this book for my sister’s book club. I must start with I normally don’t read fiction – for some reason it lacks the ‘thrill ‘ factor for me. However, this book was a direct connection to the old traditions of China – and since I would be traveling through China I thought it would it would be a good choice.

The book is a fast read – set in 19th century China where being a woman was as low on the totum pole as you could get. Your worth depended on how small your foot could be bound – Lily, the main character had bound feet that were 7 centimeters…and this was considered erotic and beautiful. However the book was mainly about Lily’s relationship with her best friend and la-tong, Snowflower. These two young women had an intense friendship full of pain yet endures through lies and deceit. (The makings of a good Chinese Soap Opera if you ask me). You learned how women tried to carry on communicating with their friends in a culture where they had no rights or freedoms. The story was ultimately about their relationship, betrayal, and how it evolved

I have to admit that I had trouble with the story mainly because the women characters in the book were soooo weak – probably more a product of their time than anything that was under their control. I was fustrated by the main character in always doing what she should instead of doing what she wanted to do. Yet – this was a sad fact of the culture in which she grew up. These women’s only purpose in life was to have babies…male babies…that’s it. How could this not invoke my inner feminist?! Yet – life was very different back then. I realized that if I had lived back then, I would have ended up a servant with big, ugly feet for the rest of my life…which in actuallity might not have been that bad. I came to the conclusion that I would have rather been a servant than in the main character’s positions.

My favorite part of the book was learning about the foot binding which led me to do some more research on it on Google. A fascinating subject that will leave you in disbelief.

Book Review – Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah Macdonald

Sherry — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 15:01:51 +0000

I just finished the book Holy Cow, a memoir about an Australian’s experiences living in India. It was recommended to me to be a a good book to read before you came to India to get a feeling for the country – or to scare you off. Of course I didn’t end up starting the book until I had left India – so it took on a slightly different purpose for me. Instead of teaching me about all of the idiosyncrasies and craziness about India that I would experience – it made me laugh about all of the organized chaos in India that I experienced. It made me sad that I left India with all of it’s quirkyness.

Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure

Sarah did a good job of describing India in all of it’s contrast, religions, billions of people, and color. For the first half of the book I read it with a big grin on my face – reminiscing about the experiences I had in India. However – about halfway through the book it became more about her religious journey than about the idiosyncrasies about India and it’s culture. I must admit, the religious journey didn’t interest me nearly as much – I skimmed most of it. However – when I got back into the non-religious aspectsof the culture – I once again welcomed the chapters with big smiles and anticipation.

The religious journey she took was a great, humorous education about the various religions in India and how they all co-exist together. I did enjoy the Indian take on Christianity. They intertwined it in their existing culture – and it took on a new look and excitement for me.

It’s a good book to read for an introduction to travel in India! She has a wonderful, dry, sarcastic sense of humor and a thirst for understanding of other cultures and religions. She made me happy with laughter and sad with memories at the same time. So, if you are planning a trip to India, I would recommend this book, a good source of fun information about the people, and the cows.

Someone Wants To Interview Me??!!

Sherry — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:16:29 +0000

Jump for Joy

Podcasts – An Essential Traveler’s Companion
For those of you who have never heard of podcasting – it is NOT:
An alien life form that has come to take over Earth
A new type of fly fishing technique
A new type of vegetable from the pea family
A new type of reality TV show
A new way to cast a movie
It is simply an audio recording of someone sharing information about something. Think of it as a weekly or daily radio show…and it’s free.

Why do I care about podcasts? Because they are a fabulous long term traveler’s companion! Even though this last year has been full of amazing experiences, it’s also been full of a large amount of waiting. Imagine yourself on a 6 hour local bus ride through Morocco. Imagine waiting in an airport in Jo’berg for a delayed flight for a 4 hours. Imagine an overnight train in Vietnam. Imagine sitting in the smelly, hot Indian Embassy in Rome for hours waiting for them to call your number. Imagine a ferry ride in Croatia or an 11 hour car ride in Egypt. Having something to listen to besides music or the person next to you is a wonderful solution to these common travel situations. Podcasts are typically educational and they connect you with the rest of the world. This is how I came across the Amateur Traveler Podcast www.amateurtraveler.com I was searching on the internet for podcasts about travel and I found this gem. A 40 min. weekly show about travel news, travel locations, and online resources…perfect! Before I went to a country I would often go through the archives of the show to see if they had any info relating to that country that I could listen to. I simply downloaded these episodes/shows to my ipod and could listen to them any time picking up information about places to go, things to eat, and tips that the guidebooks don’t tell you.

I have learned Italian, Arabic, and Hindi from podcasts (ok – not fluently, but enough to get me through hello, thank you, and how are you). I have learned about world, technology and entertainment news. I have learned all about digital photography through a podcast – The Digital Photography Show Podcast. I have learned grammar through podcasts – Grammar Girl Podcast. Ok – I know that many of you are wishing that I paid more attention to the Grammar podcat! I even listened to a complete recorded lecture from UC Berkley on American History 101 from the Civil War to Present – it was just like being in college all over again minus the exams and the kegs. It’s such wonderful entertainment that I normally feel guilty that it’s free…I feel like I should be paying for such a service.

After listening to some of my favorite podcasts regularly during my travels, I decided to do something that I never normally do….I decided to become a full-fledged groupie and actually contact some of the hosts from my favorite podcasts to just tell them that I enjoy their show and that they are keeping me entertained and educated while on the road. That’s how I ended up being a guest on one of my favorite podcasts – the Amateur Traveler. I emailed the host, Chris Christensen about my experiences listening to his show during my long term adventure, and sure enough – he bit.

I was a bit hesitant at first at the thought of going on a show and talking about travel. However, one thing I have come to realize is that I know a lot…and that’s not an easy thing to put down in words…in fact, I kind of cringe when I type it. However – deep down, I know that this extended travel has actually educated me tremendously about the travel industry in general. So when he suggested that I come on the show and talk about my travel as a solo female traveler – I thought – why not?! I’m not going to lie…I was pretty excited about this…as if I was back in college and Bon Jovi had asked me to personally join him on stage.

How do I go about getting one of these fabulous free podcasts you ask?
There are a few ways to download podcasts to your computer or your ipod (or similar music player) The easiest way is to go to Itunes Music Store (if you have it) and then click on the Podcast section on the left hand side – start to browse through the massive selection of podcasts that you can download to your ipod. You can also go to Itunes and simply search on a specific podcast and you should find it. Don’t have an ipod – no problem – then you can normally go directly to the podcast’s website instead and listen to the show – just do a Google search on the show’s name and podcast – you’ll start to get some hits. You can also simply browse around the Podcast Network website and see what they have to offer.

If you want to listen to my interview…and of course you do…simply click on this link!
Amateur Traveler Podcast – Episode #107 – Solo Travel As A Woman

Now – I’ve armed you with one of my big travel secrets…how I am able to waste large amounts of time without losing my mind…go forth, podcast, and enjoy! Oh yeah…don’t forget to listen to me on the Amateur Traveler Episode #107– I feel like such a star! And please, please, please drop me a comment and let me know what you think!

Book Review – My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Sherry — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 12:43:20 +0000

Shop and Purchase My Sister’s Keeper: A Novel

I don’t really read Fiction anymore, but this book, My Sister’s Keeper, did the impossible – it made me a believer in fiction again. While in Morocco, one of the women in my tour group had brought this book and over the 3 weeks we were there, 4 of the people in the group had read it (all in about 3 days max). They kept on raving about how good it was and that you just couldn’t put it down. I was skeptical – but intrigued at the same time. The premise of the story did sound interesting to me, but I’m so sick of ‘Oprah Endings’ that are as if they were made specifically for Hollywood so that we can all continue to live in our optimistic world where the girl gets the guy, and all of the strife that the characters had throughout the book is all wrapped up in a nice little bow of goodness so that everyone can leave happy. Ok – that rant was probably more than you were asking for – but it’s important to know that I don’t like cleancut stories – the messier the better – the more screwed up the people are – I love it – especially if they stay screwed up – because life isn’t always about good endings and I like authors who are not afraid to write about that. A good abrupt ending that leaves you hanging in disbelief and despair…well – that’s ecstasy for me.

I took My Sister’s Keeper once the 4th person in our trip finished it – I figured that I would give it a try and see if it was really any good. I would have plenty of free time in Egypt while on a sailboat or in buses or trains – so I would need something to read after all. It took me 3 days to read the book, and I was utterly blown away. I didn’t want to put it down. The story is about a young girl who has leukemia and her parents decide to have a 3rd child, genetically engineered, in order to be an exact donor match for the sick child. There had been multiple successful donations given by the younger sister, Anna, to her sick sister, Kate, which was key to keeping Kate alive. However, when it was time to yet again donate another part of her body, Anna at age 13, decided that she had enough. She wanted control over her own medical decisions and body; therefore she sued her parents for control of medical decisions to her body. That’s the premise, and the book then takes you on a journey through each one of the characters throughout the lawsuit. It makes you question life and death decisions, and children’s rights.

What I enjoyed most about the book was the fact that each chapter represented a different character’s point of view. The whole story was told through about 6 main characters (the mother, father, Anna, brother, lawyer, and guardian). The writing style was clever – and it allowed you to see everyone’s point of view. For me, I immediately had an opinion on what I thought the outcome of the trial should be, however as you read the different character’s points of view, it certainly made you waffle. I loved Anna’s character – she was a bright, sarcastic 13 year old that was tough – maybe even a little too mature to be believable at times. As it came down to the end, you were shocked, satisfied, surprised, and stunned all at the same time. I honestly didn’t want it to end. Yet I was exhausted and my mind was spinning.

The writing and the characters were brilliant – something I haven’t experienced out of a fiction novel for quite some time. All I can say is – if you haven’t read it already – pick up a copy and give yourself 3 days…that will be all it takes as it grabs you by the hand and won’t let go until 440 pagers later.

Book Review – The Secret History By Donna Tartt

Sherry — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:06:04 +0000

The Secret History is an older book..not old like Moby Dick…but old like in it was a best seller in 1992. My friend Miles brought it for me as it’s one of his favorite books. I must admit – I haven’t been reading much Fiction lately – but it was fun to get lost in a story again…one that didn’t make me cry and be horrified by world history.

I really enjoyed the book – it was a bit slow the first 90 pages, but once it got over the hurdle…it sprinted! The book is about 6 college students in a little New England college studying classic languages. They all seemed rather normal in the beginning – sure, each of them had their quirks and they wouldn’t necessarily be people that I would hang out with – but they were decent none the less. The plot is about how they went from this normal existence to a place that was manipulative, incestuous, and evil. They went too far and couldn’t really undo what they had done, so they spent the 2nd half of the book living with trying to cover up their actions and descending further down a spiral of lies and deciet. If you know me…you know that I don’t like romantic fluff; instead I like the strange, depressing, grim stories…and this was one of them!

I enjoyed the writing style the most. It had this way of giving you just enough information to capture your interest, to want more, and then it would pull away….like most of the men I am interested in! In the prologue it eludes to the fact that this group of friends committed a murder… so there was no big surprise element to the book..instead it was more of a journey through how they got to that point and how they scrambled afterwards and mentally crumbled. There was a ton of irony to deal with…such as the fact that one of the boys was the pallbearer for the man that he murdered….that weighs heavy on the mind and it was fun to read about – it gave your mind a lot to chew on.

Overall- I liked the book, and I liked the break from the normal historical or travel memoirs that I’ve been reading. It wasn’t light fluff…it was definitely meaty!

Book Review – Lucky Child by Loung Ung

Sherry — Tue, 01 May 2007 14:37:14 +0000

Shop and Purchase Lucky Child: A Daughter of Cambodia Reunites with the Sister She Left Behind (P.S.)

This is the 2nd book that I’ve read in a series of memoires by Loung Ung. She survived the Genocide in Camodia in the first book, and she has gone on to share the story of her integration into America at 9 years of age in the 80’s. As I’ve traveled around Asia I’ve always been intrigued with the thought of what the locals in these small towns and unique cultural background would think of America. This book gave me some insight into this. Ung traveled to America with her oldest brother and his wife after escaping Cambodia and leaving the rest of her siblings behind. When they left, they promised to come back and get the rest of the family in 5 years…but that never happened. Instead Ung grew up in Vermont and her other siblings grew up in a war-torn Cambodia…barely surviving in their village lifestyle.

This was a story of sisters…a touching story that was cleverly written. One chapter would be about Ung acclimating to America and her continued struggle with her memories of the war and losing her parents; and the next chapter would be about her sister, Chou, growing up during that same time in a poor Cambodian village. It was a wonderful way to really explore the contrasts of the lifestyle and the family bond that still existed.

If you’ve read “First They Killed My Father”, then this is a great follow up! It also gives you insight into how Cambodia rose from the war-torn state they were in and eventually opened itself up to the West. A wonderful read about family!

Book Review – First They Killed My Father

Sherry — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 16:16:02 +0000

Shop and Purchase: First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers (P.S.)

This is the story of the Cambodia genocide that happened a mere 30 years ago. Since I am going to be in Cambodia and specifically wanted to see the Killing Fields of Phnom Penh, I felt that it was important to better educate myself about the subject. Loung Ung tells the true story of the the tragic events that her family was a part of from 1975 to 1979. I have to be honest – this was a hard read. I had to get out Kleenex more than once as it was so moving and completely depressing. However – the story needed to be told.

Loung wrote the book from a child’s perspective and voice – which made it even more gripping. Loung was 5 years old when her family of 9 fled from Phnom Penh and left their middle class life behind to run from Pol Pot, starve, and work as peasants, and perish. As a young girl, all of these experiences manifested itself into a deep anger and hatred that she expressed very vividly in the book. Her childhood and her family were taken away from her.

“Kim tells me that from now on I have to watch out for myself. Not only am I never to talk to anyone about our former lives, but I’m never to trust anyone either. It is best if I just stop talking completely so I won’t unintentionally disclose information about our family. To talk is to bring danger to the family. At five years old, I am beginning to know what lonliness feels like, silent and alone and suspecting that everyone wants to hurt me.”

If you are prepared for a tear-jerker, then I recommend the book – especially if you are traveling to the area anytime in the future. It brings you up to date on some of the torrid history of Cambodia.

Book Review – The Girl in The Picture

Sherry — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 04:22:20 +0000

The Girl in the Picture – The story of Kim Phuc – by Denise Chong

This is the story about a picture which I’m sure you’ve all seen – a little girl, Kim Phuc, running down a road, naked and burned by napalm – her picture was snapped and it changed her life. Nick Ut was the photographer who captured the screaming little girl on film and the rest of the world quickly saw the side of the Vietnam War that no one wanted to see or admit, innocent people effected. It is about her struggle for recovery, and her struggle for her life after the war under the communist regime.

I really enjoyed this story as a way to get me in touch with the history of the Vietnam War from the perspective of the poor, local Vietnamese village people. It not only covered the history of the war (American and Vietnam), but it covered what it was like for a poor, village family in South Vietnam before, during, and after the war.

Much like the recent movie/book, “Flags of Our Fathers”, this picture which made history transformed Kim Phuc’s life. She was used as propoganda by her own government, yet she was also provided privledges that others never had. It was a miracle that she lived through her severe napalm burns, and her life of recovery, love, faith, and heartache was fascinating to read.

I recomend this book to anyone that wants to learn more about Vietnam and the war in general!

Wild Swans by Jung Chang

Sherry — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 15:08:07 +0000

Shop and Purchase: Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China

This book was recommended to me by Keith and Jaqui from South Africa – it was wonderful! This is a true story about three generations of women in China. It covers a vast amount of Chinese History from their family perspective and stories. It spans from 1909 to 1978 from life among the warlords, various wars, Chiang Kai-shek, Communism, Mao, the famine, and the Cultural Revolution. I was spellbound by this book. When I started this book, I knew nothing about China except that I liked the tea, the food, and an occasional fortune cookie – I was completely ignorant of it’s torrid history, communism, and most importantly – Mao. Not only did the book tell the story of women’s role in China, it was a story about family ties, and tradition. Jung’s grandmother was concubine for a war lord, Jung’s mother was a senior Communist official, and Jung was brought up in the middle of the Cultural Revolution. The book really gave you a great glimpse into Communism – the fundamental ideas behind it, and what happens when the wrong person has all of the power. For about 80% of the book – I was in disbelief that these things really happened – most of it was absolutely unthinkable to me. The only downside to reading this book is that it makes you want to go to China! Of course that’s one of the few countries that’s not on my itinerary this year! So – I have already decided that I will have to come back and do China for a month or so! If you want to learn more about Chinese history, wrapped among a touching story about family – then pick up this book…it was a great read!

Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

“Suffering will make you a better Communist”

“Father is close, Mother is close, but neither is as close as Chairman Mao”

“As a child, my idea of the West was that it was a miasma of poverty and misery, like that of the homeless “Little Match Girl” in the Hans Christian Anderson story. When I was in boarding nursery and did not want to finish my food, the teacher would say ‘Think of all the starving children in the capitalist world!’ In school, when they were trying to make us work harder, the teachers often said ‘You are lucky to have a school to go to and books to read. In the capitalist countries children have to work to support their hungry families.’”

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Sherry — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 03:08:45 +0000

Shop and Purchase: Me Talk Pretty One Day

David Sedaris is brilliant – he tells story after story about his life with such humor – and strangely (or maybe disturbingly) you can relate to many of his stories! His dry sense of humor is just what I love. Every time I read his stories I think of my friend Miles for some reason. I think Sedaris reminds me of him – very dry and sarcastic – and gay.

This was a fun, light-hearted read that made me laugh out loud. Especially the stories about his parents and his thoughts on living in NY. His thoughts around learning a foreign language were perfect – I feel like it’s everything I thought while I was learning Italian, but not able to put in words (not even English!). If you are looking for a fun read – get this book!

My favorite quotes from the book:
“Visiting Americans will find more warmth in Tehran than they will in New York, a city founded on the principle of Us vs. Them. I don’t speak latin but have always assumed the city motto translates to either Go Home or We Don’t Like You, Either.

“Call me naive, but I seem to have underestimated the universal desire to sit in a hard plastic chair and stare at a screen until my eyes cross.”

“Follow seven beers with a couple of scotches and a thimble of good marijuana, it’s funny how sleep just sort of comes on it’s own.”

West with the Night by Beryl Markham

Sherry — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 15:00:49 +0000

Shop/Purchase West with the Night

Non-Fiction, written in 1942

Beryl was a female who grew up in Kenya – and she shared her absolute love of the country through this book. She shared her experiences as a little girl growing up on a Brittish East Africa farm and hunting with the tribe people, racing horses as a young adult, and finally how she became a pilot and flew the first flight ever from England to North America. This woman was talented! Her life was fascinating and what she was able to accomplish was remarkable. However – her love for Africa will make you want to go to Kenya – so read with caution!

My favorite quotes from the book:
“It is no good telling yourself that one day you will wish you had never made that change; it is no good anticipating regrets. Every tomorrow ought not resemble every yesterday.”

“But memory is a drug. Memory can hold you against your stregth and against your will.”

“Courage lives in a man’s stomach, but there are times when it is not at home – and the stomach is sour.”

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