Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 462

Bhutan a Happier Place With Books

Bhutan a Happier Place With Books

(co-authored with Laura Hubber)

When Claire Thomsen was 11, her parents pulled the rug out from her comfortable Malibu existence. They sold the family business, rented out the house, and spent the year roving the world, 27 countries in all, with Claire in tow. Instead of entering middle school with friends, flinging with fashions, immersing in social media, and generally avoiding adulthood, Claire spent sixth grade girdling the globe, homeschooling from eco-lodges and hotels through correspondence courses.

She found delight and insight in many countries over the course of the year, including China, Japan, Thailand, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Cambodia, France and Italy. But one tiny, remote Himalayan kingdom — Bhutan — remained lodged in her consciousness and heart.

After returning to Los Angeles and finishing seventh grade, Claire attended a party in honor of Public Radio reporter Lisa Napoli, author of Radio Shangri-La, a riveting book about setting up radio stations in Bhutan. Claire had many questions about the challenges of bringing novel communication to Bhutan, and Lisa saw in Claire a kindred spirit. So, Lisa introduced Claire to local Bhutanese friends, and to the Bay Area-based charity, Read Global, which builds community library and resource centers as vehicles for social and economic transformation.

For months afterwards Claire wondered how she might make a difference in Bhutan, which despite its abundance of mountain scenery, Buddhist temples, and warm, ready smiles, has less than a 50 percent literacy rate, and ranks 140 out of 186 in the global Human Development Index. Given its lack of roads, infrastructure, power, schools, and general shortage of materials, most ambitious improvement ideas are dead before arrival. She thought perhaps she could send a shipment of art and school supplies, but heard that very often freight doesn’t reach intended recipients. Then Read Global suggested she build a library, as most rural Bhutanese have little if any access to books. It seemed a crazy idea, but she was intrigued.

Claire needed to raise $50,000 dollars to build a library. She started passing the hat among friends and family, and held fundraisers in and around her hometown of Malibu. After a flush of early giving — $5,000 on her first go-around, and $10,000 more after she made a YouTube video — the going got tougher. She found it hard to find new people to ask, and harder to go back and ask original givers for more.

Stalling out at $25,000, after almost a year of appeals and events, Read Global, impressed by Claire’s passion and commitment, decided to step in and begin the project, even with the shortage of funds. But then after Claire showed her donors photos of the building taking shape, they were more willing to open pocketbooks, and the goal inched closer. The actress Linda Hamilton graciously donated the use of her home for a fundraiser, and made one of the largest financial donations to the library. The $50,000 target was reached several months ahead of the scheduled three-year mark.

The library was completed last fall, and this past spring Claire traveled to Bhutan to see the results. On the last hairpin turn of the 10-hour bus ride to the remote village of Chuzagang in Southern Bhutan, Claire found 40 adults lined up, waving a welcome, as the children beside sang and danced. They were the happiest people on earth.

The library has 3,000 books, a computer room, a television, a children’s play area, and a women’s hall, where Claire and the other teenagers sang Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber songs. “I probably had a two-minute period where I wasn’t crying,” she says. “It was crazy.”

After committing to the idea, it took two years for Claire to reach her goal. “I hope my example will inspire other people, other kids,” Claire says. “Fundraising and Bhutan will always be a part of my life now, and it’s really changed me. I hope this project will inspire other kids to volunteer somewhere and help out those less fortunate. It’s really a life-changing experience, for all involved. And you can’t imagine how much joy it brings.”

 

To see Claire Thomsen’s dream in action, visit www.mybhutaneselibrary.com

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Ghana: Small Victories

I started the morning off with a bucket shower. I attempted to scoop up water that had the least amoeba-like creatures wriggling in it. I always found it a help that not wearing glasses while showering allowed me to employ the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ kind of thinking that was needed when pouring contaminated water over yourself. It was pointless though, for any shower was made superfluous by the thrice daily plod over the hill, through the bush, to the school where I gave computer lessons. The zigzag through the fallen cassava was just long enough to have me greet my students dripping with sweat.

To open my classroom windows, I pushed the kente looms to the side, displacing a sizeable lizard. I had to wipe my brow multiple times with the shirt I had deemed the ‘least dirty’ in the pile on the bunk above my bed. As a novice hand washer it took me an hour to do a bucket of clothes which took a day to air dry, if it didn’t rain. In the days between washes my shirts acted as magnets for the red Ghanaian soil and the palm oil that was present in every meal.

Soon six of my twenty were perched on their stools along my table, typing on the keyboards I had them draw in the first week. Their languages were Nzema and Twi, English was a challenging new addition. I constantly had to remind them to use English, though their inflection and body language were enough to tell me that they thought endless repetition of ‘a’ and ‘;’ with their pinkies was pointless and boring. But when it was her turn to use the laptop and she received an accuracy score of 100%, Elizabeth pushed back her chair and gave herself an ecstatic standing ovation.

By the end of the day I had sweated through my classes, as well as my t-shirt. But as it was volleyball day, I helped to herd the cats to the pitch, which was an activity that took at least 30 minutes. In that time Diana and Elizabeth told me their stomachs hurt too much to play and three students asked to do my laundry instead. My once weekly laundry sessions clearly didn’t cut it in a culture where the little they had was always in pristine condition. I promised them I would do a load after school, and they were welcome to stay and coach me.

Once there were finally two working teams, Akwidaa versus Cape Three Points, the game started. I chose to sit with Diana and Elizabeth who, as best friends, shared everything, obviously including matching stomach ailments. I allowed Elizabeth to braid my hair while Diana kept score. It wasn’t long until she was fired from this position and she happily settled next to me to inspect my left forearm. I expected her to mention my sunburn or my mosquito bites but instead she gave me her absolutely radiant smile and said, “Your arm is beautiful!” Just another day at the office.

About the Author: Haley Olson now attends Carleton College in Northfield, MN after taking a year off to teach in Ghana and to travel and work in the U.K., Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic.  She kept a blog of her travels at www.hcovt.wordpress.com and will hopefully be adding more adventures to it soon!

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Mozambique Swimming with Dolphins Adventure Part 1

The real adventure began when we found ourselves lost in the sand dunes of Mozambique. On crossing over the Kosi Bay border in South Africa to Mozambique, one is confronted with mounds of soft white silky sand – in fact hills and valleys of the stuff. Someone’s car ahead of us had succumbed to the sand and was stuck fast. Luckily for him a local truck arrived to haul him out. With no signs, or discernible roads, with only a zigzag of tracks to follow, it took some time to reach Malongane, our destination dive camp. We eventually arrived just as the sun was setting.

Our quaint log cabin was basic, two beds and a balcony, what else was needed? It was set on stilts under a canopy of trees. Whilst standing on the beach a few paces away and looking back inland, it was impossible to see the accommodation and people milling around under the cover of trees. The sand underfoot was the softest I had ever sunk my toes into. Kicking off my shoes, this is how I lived, barefoot, for the remainder of the trip. With a very basic on-site shop and nothing in the vibrant local village that resembles a supermarket, we had fortuity brought everything we needed to eat and drink for the duration of our trip. All of this added to the sense of adventure, but the most anticipated was yet to come. This was where dreams come true. This was where I was going to get to swim with dolphins.

Unfortunately, the sea was choppy the following day resulting in the cancellation of our launch, but providing me with an opportunity to orientate myself. A stunning decked bar area overlooked the beach. The onsite shop sold delicious Portuguese bread Pao – lethal for the waistline! And the brightly coloured shacks in the local village offered a variety of Mozambique specific curios.



The beach sloped gently into the sea, which meant it was ideal for our children to swim and body surf in. Later in the afternoon the sun peeped out from behind the clouds and the receding tide exposed rocks – perfect for snorkelling. In preparation for our launch we decided to try out our new diving paraphernalia (snorkel, goggles and flippers). We were entertained by a huge shoal of silver fish, a pipe fish and a fish disguised as a leopard.

The big day dawned and there were some nervous looks passing around our breakfast table, having received our pre-launch chat the previous evening, we were ready in theory, yet not in practise. The launch moment arrived and there we were, pushing our rubber duck into the crashing waves. When the command ‘ladies’ was called out, I started an unsuccessful attempt at jumping up and simultaneously attempting to haul myself into the rubber duck. One of the crew rushed over to assist me unintentionally placing his hand a tad too close to my nether regions, which had the spontaneous effect of propelling me instantly onto the edge of the boat. For a few awkward moments there I lay wobbling on the side, like a beached whale, attempting a speedy manoeuvre into a more lady like position. Luckily a few others found themselves in a similar predicament and so we all surreptitiously chose to ignore each other’s plight.

Read more from Claire Madgwick and the rest of this article in Part 2

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South Africa: Finding My Field

The Field

I was sitting in the warm sunshine of a secluded field, surrounded by unfamiliar trees and bushes when it hit me. I’d done it. I had conquered my fears and mastered my trepidations, which lead me to have the most powerful moment of my life. I was proud of myself and in such a state of awe at the world around me that I couldn’t stop the tears that sprang to my eyes. I simply sat and absorbed the time and space around me while making a mental note to remember that moment for as long as I could.

I was a college senior when a graduate student came into one of my anthropology classes to tell us about a study abroad trip in South Africa. It was a one month observation course of two types of primates and as someone who had always loved monkeys and also loved to travel, it sounded like the ultimate adventure. I knew I shouldn’t go on such a trip because it would mean taking out another loan and pushing my graduation date back an extra semester, but the more I thought about it the more I decided that those reasons weren’t enough to stop me. The “real world” was looming larger and closer than ever and the thought of one last jaunt of studying on a faraway continent before finding a job and facing my student loans was enticing indeed. Not wanting to live with the “what-ifs”, I took a deep breath, added my name to the list and started planning.

While I was truly excited for the trip, the thought of spending four weeks in the bush of Africa with a group of people I barely knew was pretty daunting. I convinced myself I’d be mauled to death in my sleep by hungry lions or that a microscopic parasite would somehow find its way up my urethra. However, other than one panic attack on the way to the airport, I managed those fears quite well. The whole experience felt surreal, even after the doors to the plane slammed shut and we were strapped in for our twenty-odd hour flight.

The dreamlike feeling didn’t stop when we landed and it was hard to believe I was really in Africa. We camped in a few different areas and while it was still an intimidating and sometimes scary experience, I gained courage and strength as the month wore on. I learned how to tracks elephants by their dung and studied the differences in grooming habits of captive vs. non-captive vervet monkeys. I followed prides of lions and flew an ultralight aircraft. The entire time I still couldn’t believe what I was doing and sometimes it felt as though I was watching myself star in a documentary. Towards the end of our trip we camped at a little farm in a place called Tzaneen, about 260 miles north of Johannesburg. By this point the close quarters of our group wore on us all and I jumped at an opportunity to take a hike by myself one afternoon during some free time. I didn’t go far but it was far enough to feel isolated and that is where I found “my” field. There was no one around and I sat on a fallen tree to savor the moment. The sunlight streamed through the trees in a warm golden haze that appeared to swirl around with a mind of its own. Insects and birds made the only sounds I heard and my breathing slowed as I settled myself in to the nature around me.

I had really done it. I was living my dream and I was in awe of my own life. The trip was nothing like what I had expected and I experienced more culture shock and homesickness than I had thought possible. But in the end, I had accomplished what I had set out to do and I had proven to myself that I could make big things happen. I also knew that I wouldn’t have been able to do any of that if I hadn’t lived a certain type of life up to that point. I was experiencing an opportunity that some people just never have. For the rest of the trip and even through today I remember and reflect on the time in my field and call upon the wonder I experienced then to help me keep everything else in perspective. I needn’t have worried about making a mental note to remember that moment though because I don’t think I could ever forget it. It was a moment I had been waiting for my entire life.

About the Author: Paige is a Chicago transplant who loves to write. She also loves to travel and returning to Africa is a top priority.

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Myanmar: Leaving Mandalay For Thailand (video)

WATCH: 43 Leaving Mandalay and Myanmar (Burma) For Thailand

http://www.wesaidgotravel.com/ We Said Go Travel Our scheduled 7am taxi came at 6:40am. We ate a quick breakfast and got in the shared taxi. The new toll road stole land from farms. There are no traffic lights or merge, and we went over train tracks—that could be messy. But with a fast road and no traffic, we were too early to check in, We had to sit for an hour and wait. The Air Asia flight is new out of Mandalay to Bangkok. I think they need some Air Asia signs and maybe a few shops in the empty terminal. Overall it went very smoothly.

Our 27 days and 45 movies of Myanmar have been very memorable. I wish we learned more words. The people of Myanmar are very friendly. For the most part, people wear longyi, carry a bag (because they have NO pockets!!), wear flip flops, as you are always taking your shoes off. I am so glad we came here together. Thanks for watching our movies! October 25, 2012

Air Asia just began using a different airport in Bangkok, Thailand, and we had a few issues. Five flights arrived at almost the same time so immigration took over an hour. Bus #59 was 20Baht and about one and a half hours to Koh San Road area. We are ready to eat Thai food!

This movie is from our 28 days in Myanmar (Burma) from September 28, 2012 to October 26, 2012 and our year TRIP in South East Asia, see all the videos from our trip.

Our Memoir, Traveling in Sin, is available on Amazon.

 

Traveling in Sin is a HOT NEW Release on Amazon! from Lisa Niver Rajna
Traveling in Sin is a true tale of TRANSFORMATION thought LOVE and TRAVEL! After meeting online (on two different sites), George and Lisa travel internationally, give up their jobs, condo, ice cream and toilet paper in search of adventure and love. Along the way, Lisa sheds over 60 pounds and the couple gets engaged underwater in Thailand. There are tears, twists and true love!
Recent Press: 

By Amy Sommer on Westside Today
By Dani Stone on Diets in Review

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Slovenia: Summer on the Westhill

I was traveling at 160 miles per hour heading from Vienna towards Slovenia. It felt like I had been going at that speed for weeks as I trekked through Europe, seeing a new city every couple days. Exhausted, I laid my head on the train window and started to rest my eyes. I slept for a while, and was later awoken by the relentless July sun. I opened my eyes, planning to draw the blinds to shield my tired eyes from the penetrating light. Instead, I was stunned by the scene unfolding outside of the train’s window.

My eyes widened as they took in the most intensely beautiful view of the train weaving through the pristine Austrian countryside. There were stunning, rocky peaks, soft rolling hills, and vast plains. The sky was strikingly blue, sparsely clouded, and starkly contrasted against the green terrain. For as far as I could see any way, there was only Earth, seemingly untouched by man with the exception of this one lone train track. I sat there with my jaw agape and my eyes locked on the horizon, captivated by the most sublime scene I have ever been fortunate enough to lay eyes on.

As I watched the seemingly boundless country side wind by me, the song “Summer on the Westhill” by The Kings of Convenience flooded my ears through my small white ear buds. The lulling lyrics, “Now I know there is a world beyond the small place I was coming from. I feel at home here in the middle of nowhere,” immediately brought a smile to my face. My thoughts floated to the small suburban town in South Carolina that I have lived all my life as I looked on my current surroundings with a dreamlike amazement. It was an intoxicating, transcendental moment. I was so content, and so grateful, to be where I was.

During this journey, I was became acutely aware of how truly beautiful this world can be. I have always loved architecture; hauntingly beautiful cathedrals with stained glass windows enthrall me, but it was during this train ride that I fell in love with the natural splendor of the Earth. There’s something beautiful about being anonymous inside of a big city, but traveling through the anonymous countryside brings an inexplicable sense of peace and has an incomparable beauty of its own.

After the 5 hour journey, the train reached its final destination in Slovenia. Feeling revitalized, however slightly dazed, I got my bags and made my way through the station. Of all the incredible things I got to experience in the weeks I spent abroad, that sublime train ride remains the most vivid in my memory. I will never forget the surreal view and the way that it made me feel: so small, yet a part of something so big. As I continue to explore this wonderful world we call home, I hope to find something as inspiring and as awe inducing as the sight of those remote Austrian hills through my train window.

About the Author: Abby Cothran is a 19 year old college student from South Carolina. She is in love with the world and with words and hopes to make combining the two her life’s work.

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Johnny Jet: Gratitude Travel Writing Contest

Thanks to Johnny Jet for sharing about our Gratitude Travel Writing Contest on his site!

WeSaidGoTravel.com’s Gratitude Travel Writing Contest opens September 11 and runs  through November 28, 2013. The theme for the Fall 2013 contest is “Gratitude: A Place That Inspires Awe.” No entry fee and $1,000 in cash prizes. Share your stories of awe and Inspire others to travel more! Judges: Richard Bangs, Tiffany Hawk, and the We Said Go Travel Team.

 

FALL 2013 GRATITUDE TRAVEL WRITING CONTEST
Free Entry $1,000usd in CASH PRIZES

Contest will run September 11 through November 28, 2013.

 

We are looking for an article about a place you are grateful for or a memorable holiday that you shared with a special loved one or a place that is awe inspiring. In Jonah Berger’s book, Contagious: Why Things Catch On he wrote about awe:

 

Awe is the sense of wonder and amazement that occurs when someone is inspired by great knowledge, beauty, sublimity, or might. It’s the experience of confronting something greater than yourself. Awe encompasses admiration and inspiration and can be evoked by everything from great works of art or music to religious transformations, from breathtaking natural landscapes to human feats of daring and discovery.

 

Sometimes the place that makes you feel gratitude is in your own backyard, share your special location.

 

THEME:  Gratitude: A Place that inspires Awe

 

PRIZES:

 

1st Prize - $500usd cash and Travel Writing Road Map ($497usd value)
2nd Prize - $350usd cash and Travel Writing Road Map Self Study
3rd Prize - $150usd cash and Travel Writing Road Map  Self Study

 

Winners will be selected by our judges, Richard Bangs, Tiffany Hawk and the We Said Go Travel Team.  Cash prizes will be paid through PayPal in United States Dollars.  All winning entries will be promoted on We Said Go Travel.

 

RULES: Publication is dependent on proper use of English language and grammar, appropriateness of theme topic, and being family friendly (G rated). If your post is written in a language other than English, please also send an English translation. Travelers of all ages and from all countries are encouraged to participate. Each individual may send up to 5 entries that are 500-800 words with 1 photo. Your article must be an original and previously unpublished piece. All posts, which meet the requirements, will appear on WeSaidGoTravel.com.

 

TO ENTER: Click here!

 

DEADLINE:  Enter by midnight PST on November 28, 2013  

 

JUDGING:  Richard Bangs, Tiffany Hawk and the We Said Go Travel Team

 

Richard Bangs, the father of modern adventure travel, is a pioneer in travel that makes a difference, travel with a purpose. He has spent 30 years as an explorer and communicator, and along the way led first descents of 35 rivers around the globe, he is currently producing and hosting the new PBS series, Richard Bangs: Adventure Without End

 

Tiffany Hawk, is a former flight attendant and the author of Love Me Anyway, a darkly funny novel about life at 35,000 feet. She has an MFA in creative writing from UC Riverside and her work can be seen in such places as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, National Geographic Traveler, and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Join Tiffany Hawk for the complete roadmap to exotic travel writing: Travel Writing Road Map.

 

 Other Contests, Courses and Books about Travel Writing

 

Our memoir, Traveling in Sin, is available on Amazon.com.

Traveling in Sin is a TOP TEN Hot New Release! from Lisa Niver Rajna

 

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Vieste, Italy: That’s Amore

When the moon hits you eye like a big pizza pie

That’s amore

When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine

That’s amore

Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling

And you’ll sing “Vita bella”

Dean Martin – That’s amore

That song was the first thing to come to my mind the second my husband suggested to have a romantic night by the sea, one September evening in Italy. He had spotted a place with a nice view and asked me if I had any idea how to get there. Oh but I did!

Vieste Vecchio (Old Vieste or Old Town Vieste) is compact and lovely, but instead of going up the narrow streets, make a left towards the water and pass by the Museum and keep going to your left. You’ll see a string of cafes and restaurants with a view of the lighthouse.

We stopped at one of them, took a look at the reasonably priced menu and sit down to order. A pizza (shared) and two cappuccini. Meantime, it got darker outside and , to our lovely surprise, the waiter bough a candle to the table. And we ordered some wine.

With such a romantic setting, it turned out to be , probably, the best romantic night we have had so far. And if you are interested in the cost, it was under 20 euros including tips!

We have always loved an authentic atmosphere which resonates with the place we visit. It certainly made sense to enjoy a romantic night out, sampling the local wine and pizza.

About Vieste

Vieste is located on the Garganic Coast, facing the Adriatic Sea. It is the largest resort in the area (Peschici, close by, is another gem worth exploring) and a place where English is not spoken. Yet, it didn’t bother me. We both speak enough Italian to get by so we got a chance to learn more Italian. Plus, that’s the best way to get to know a place, by talking the language and shopping where locals shop.

The small town is all but deserted during winter – yet it can offer a lovely experience, too – and springs back to life during the summer season.

How to get to:

During summer, a host of airlines (including low cost ones) fly to Bari. From there you can get on an express bus directly to Vieste in less than 3 hours. During winter, you’d need to take the train or bus to Foggia and then connect to another bus to get to Vieste.

Costs

Accommodation can be pricy but expect to find doubles for 60 euros a night.

You can easily find places to eat for less than 20 euros / 2 adults including drinks. Pizzas are big enough to be shared between two adults.

The market is also an excellent place to dig for local products. Different types of olives and cheeses will make you drool.

All photos by Traveling Cricket and may not be used without permission.

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Costa Rica: Falling in Love while Traveling

Sometimes I wish I would have taken my Spanish teacher’s advise when she told my classmates and I to be aware of falling in love when traveling abroad. At first, I was a bit surprised when she gave us that advise. She went from explaining the most important rules and regulations about living in another country, while using different face expressions and gestures to get her point across, to then talking about love. She calmed down, and slowly told the classroom to stay focus, and avoid falling in love. My Spanish professor had taken a group of college students abroad to different countries annually, and every year there was always someone who fell in love with a native from that country. Although each story she told us of the students who fell in love were like fairytales, I couldn’t help but wonder why she had warn us about falling in love. Her last phrase was, “You guys are going to be there only for three months, so why develop something that will not last.”

My favorite story was about a young lady who fell in love with a Tico, Costa Rican male…

The young lady was eager to travel abroad because it was her first time leaving her country, and she could now do something for herself. She was always helping and taking care of others, but now she wanted to focus on herself. Her main priority was to enhance her Spanish skills, and she thought she would become fluent in the Spanish language because of this trip. Falling in love, was a subject she did not bother worrying about because she had experienced so many heartbreaks at a young age. Although she thought she was extremely prepared for this life changing experience, she was not aware of the surprises that were in store for her.  This young lady’s experience abroad was not a walk in the park, and she spent days crying and yearning to return to the United States. Also, she had problems improving her Spanish speaking, adjusting to the culture, and no one in her host family spoke English.  She was on the verge on giving up, but her classmates who had accompanied her on the trip, advised her to go out to a local bar with them to relax.

 

While dancing and finally having fun for once, she locked eyes with a Tico, who had been staring at her for quite some time. He finally approached her and because of the loud music and noise in the background it was hard for them to have a conversation. He pointed to the bar and asked if she wanted a drink. Though she could still barely hear him, she pointed to what he was drinking. After dancing, and trying to develop a conversation he handed her his cellphone and she stored her number in. She went home with her friends, and for the first time she was happy.

Then Tico called her host families’ home the next day, and to her surprise he only spoke Spanish, and he could not understand what she was saying.  For a few days they had friends translate what they wanted to say to each other, then all of a sudden they did not need any translation because they somehow learn to understand each other. The young lady’s Spanish had improved,  she developed new friendships with some of the locals, and she began to travel and learn more about the country. Although it was difficult for her now boyfriend to learn English, they spoke only in Spanish, which benefited them both. Unfortunately, after three long months it was time to say goodbye, and these two loved birds had to choose between developing a long distance relationship, or having a hole in their hearts because they knew they could never find anyone else to fill that area in their hearts.

 

I remember my teacher getting a little teary-eyed after telling this story, but she told us that the two still keep in contact with each other, but she was not sure of their relationship status. However, the young lovers from the other stories that she told us were now married with kids, or the once Study Abroad student now lives in the country that he or she once traveled to be with their lover.

The Tico story is my favorite because it gives hope to any relationship, and it allows young individuals to discover their lives before they start to create a new life with someone else. The young lady in the story went to a country trying to change and better herself, and that it exactly what she did, but with a little help. I think my teacher gave us the advise of not falling in love because she wanted to make sure that while we had the chance to learn about another country and its culture, in order for us to be able to find our paths in life. Some could argue that sometimes love helps us to find our path in life.

My advice for any one who decides to travel, is that love conquers all. If you do not fall in love with an individual when traveling, then you will fall in love with a particular place, or food, or even the scenery and smell of the country. It is going to stay with you forever, and only you have the power to let it stay in a particular place in your heart, you could continue to visit that area, or try to create those cherish moments in every where you travel.

 

 

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Guam: Swimming with Sharks and in Storms

Hafa Adai Guam, Aloha Hawaii from our October 1st News:

We have started hopping home towards California after fifteen months of travel (see map), first to Palau where we swam with jellyfish and sharks and they use US dollars and then to Guam, which is a US territory with wide sidewalks and supermarkets with an almost ridiculous amount of choices! We had our first Couchsurfing experience with Jenny who is a military nurse in Guam with a three-bedroom condo, two dogs and a view of the sea. It was nearly mind-boggling to use the dishwasher, washing machine, Tupperware, walk the dogs and make dinner. One day while we were there was the most rain ever in history on a day in September and there was flooding all over the island. After so many months in hotels and hostels, it was wonderful to be in her home and meet her friends at a party on our first night. She took us in her car to a Chamorro Village where we learned about local practices of weaving, salt drying and coconut creations.

Enjoy the best beach in Guam and the fantastic dinner BBQ at the Outrigger Guam Resort. We can highly recommend this gorgeous hotel and thank the marketing team for inviting us to visit. They connected us with their next-door neighbor, UnderWater World Guam and we enjoyed dining at Sea Grill and wandering around with 37 sharks in the SeaTrek experience. This is a great way to see rays, turtles, sharks and guitarfish up-close and from inside the tank! (see photo below)

JOIN US : Oct 3rd in Oahu, Oct 16th in Los Angeles and Oct 23rd for our online webinar with the University of Pennsylvania about Exotic Burma. We hope to see you or your friends at one of ourupcoming events!

We appreciate all of you who read our newsletters, articles, website and BOOK! Thank you to everyone for your support of our journey and all our writing. Connect with us on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest,  SlideShare,  Twitter , and YouTube.

Happy and Safe Travels from Kauai, Hawaii! Mahalo and Aloha!

Lisa and George (Click here to sign up for this newsletter. )

More articles to enjoy : Enjoy George’s article about music on the road with Spotify, his article about flying vs. overland travel, and our Myanmar movie about a Hindu festival in Mandalay!

Our memoir, Traveling in Sin, is available on Amazon.com.

Traveling in Sin is a TOP TEN Hot New Release! from Lisa Niver Rajna

 

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