Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 209

A Gift from the Balinese Gods

Taken with an iPhone. No alterations.

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Bobsled or Bust: 50 Adventures before 50: I Can Do It

Do you have Olympic Fever? Are you ready to try out new sports at high speeds? There are only 17 bobsled tracks on the planet with two open to “civilian” riders. In Park City, Utah you can chose to experience 3Gs of force and fly around on the ice in a 4-man bobsled! Personally I was terrified to even think of trying it, but I spent a year expanding out of my comfort zone and I considered the idea.

I grew up flying from Los Angeles to ski in Utah and was actually in the opening ceremonies of the 1984 LA Olympics. I have always wanted to be part of the Olympics again but was never a great athlete due to an undiagnosed eye issue. During my project last year, 50 Things Before I Turned 50, I had a chance to experience the Olympic Bobsled in winter after finally fixing my eyes.

Brent, the pilot, reassured me, “Lisa, I will bring you back. I promise.” I took a deep breath and sat down in seat #2 of the bobsled. Jessie, the coordinator at the Utah Olympic track, had selected my helmet and seat and promised it was the cadillac position where I would be least rocked by the 3Gs of force that I was about to experience. “How did I get myself into this?” I thought. I nearly backed out multiple times.

To go or not to go? Bobsled or bust?

Earlier in the day I had enjoyed skiing down the double blue run Tycoon off of McConkey’s Lift at Park City Mountain, which felt like a big accomplishment. As a child, I was taught to ski because my dad would rather ski than breathe in the winter. But, I never liked it. It was cold, it was scary and just overall was not enjoyable for me. Once, I asked my dad about not going, he responded that “You can stay home.” I replied, “Dad, I am 12 years old” to which he said, “I guess you are going.” I remember thinking, “Good talk.”

As I kid, I did not enjoy roller coasters, water slides or even tetherball; all things that most children love to do. I hated them. I avoided as many as possible.  Everyone thought I was wimpy and I believed that too. Instead I liked to read, I did well in school, and I always sat in the front of the class. Looking back, my pediatric optometrist could not correct my vision to 20/20, even with glasses. A second doctor agreed but told my parents that was not anything to worry about. So, I went on with my life. 

After a near drowning, a bike accident, avoidance of sports and rides, and an overall fear of many things, I learned there was a reason for all my fears.  As an adult, I was diagnosed with left intermittent esotropia, often known as a lazy eye. My new eye doctor offered a series of tests to determine the severity of my condition. I reviewed the report (visual discrimination 9%, visual form constancy 2%, visual figure ground 1% and visual spatial relations 37%), and asked the doctor if 1% was a good score? No, the doctor explained, “Lisa, 100% is a top score just like on every other test you have taken. Honestly, when I see scores like yours, I am just happy you can read.”

I was in shock to learn at the age of 47 that I was below 50% on many of the perceptual testing areas with a learning related visual skills problem and strabismus. “But, I have a Master’s Degree,” I reacted. “I do not want to take away from any of your accomplishments,” Dr. Brodney responded, “because of the oculomotor dysfunction, you have always had to work harder. Vision therapy can help you and I can promise you that you will be better at general motor activities including sports.” 

I committed to weekly vision therapy and daily homework. It was a challenging time with frustration and tears. I reminded myself that the process involved retraining my brain and strengthening the muscles in my left eye so that my brain would use the information from both sides equally. I had no idea if all the vision therapy sessions would help and I contemplated quitting many times but I kept at it.

Lisa Niver did go on the Olympic Bobsled in Park City, Utah!

After many months of therapy, my eyes gradually learned how to work together. I started to try new things that previously were impossible. I took tennis lessons. My tennis coach would say, “Keep your eye on the ball.” I would think, “what ball? I don’t see it.” With practice, I learned how to track the ball. Similarly, when I tried skiing again I realized that it was fun and quite beautiful on the mountain. Being able to keep track of what is happening on both sides of me has allowed me to experience things with an entirely different perspective.

Sitting in the bobsled at Utah Olympic Park behind Brent, a professional bobsled driver, I took heart in that Brent was an expert who had been on the track more than 3,000 times. We went for 47.38 seconds around the track at speeds up to 65 miles per hour. I loved seeing the track curves fly by and feeling the force press me deeper into the bobsled. It was an exhilarating moment to ride on one of the two bobsled tracks in America that allow recreational riding. I conquered my fear of participating and put my newly trained eyes to a new test. I am confident that whatever curves appear next I will be ready to handle them.

Video on The Jet Set TV

Lisa Niver has explored 99 countries and is in search of #100. See over 750 travel videos with nearly 1.6 million views and learn about her 50 before 50 adventures. Learn more about National Ability Center in her articles on Sierra Magazine, SkiUtah and USA Today.

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Standing at a Giants Doorstep in Australia

This was taken using a Nikon D7100, using a Sigma lens at 55mm, without a tripod. I loaded the image into Lightroom for basic post-processing: highlights, shadows and blacks were adjusted. No filter was used. The image was slightly sharpened and reduced for noise.

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Lovers In Colors, Santiago De Chile

Camera: DSLR, Canon 550D, 50mm Lens

Edited using Adobe Lightroom

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Monk break in China

I took this image with my Canon A-1 (film). Alternations of pictures is done on Lightroom (cropping only).

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Who wants to go on a Velvet Escape?

Keith Jenkins is the Founder and Publisher of the multiple award-winning Velvet Escape luxury travel blog. Based in Amsterdam, Keith left his ten-year investment banking career to travel the world and carve out a new career as a travel blogger and social media advocate. He has visited more than 80 countries across six continents. Velvet Escape is about getting away from our daily routines & exploring, being adventurous, reflecting & doing it in style.

1.)Where was the first place that you traveled that made you think WOW—travel is amazing (think history book come to life or …..)

The first trip I vividly remember was a family trip to Hong Kong when I was eight-years-old. I’d read so much about Hong Kong that when we got there, I became my family’s tour guide. I was so excited to see the skyline, the neon lights and the bustling harbour! It was so amazing to see all the photos I’d previously seen in magazines and encyclopedias come to life! That trip really made me realise how amazing travel is.

2.)If you had unlimited resources, where would you go and what would you do?

If I had unlimited resources, I would fly into space to see the Earth from above. I think I would just stare out the window in stunned silence! On Earth, I’d love to visit Antarctica and marvel at the icy peaks and wildlife.

3.)What were you afraid to do and how did you find the courage to overcome it?

I always use travel to challenge myself and test my boundaries. In the case of my fear of heights, I’ve done numerous things to try to overcome that fear, like sky-diving, zip-lining and abseiling. I can’t deny the fear I felt and how it made me tremble but I forged ahead somehow. After that zip-lining experience, I wrote in my Velvet Escape:

“Funny how fear has us in its grip in so many ways but when we let it go for just abit and explore that unknown, we then realise how silly we were to harbour that particular fear in the first place.”

4.)What apps do you use regularly that make your life easier?

When I travel, I always use these apps: Whatsapp, XE currency, Google Translate & AccuWeather.

5.)What place do you wish more people have seen?

Any place that prioritises nature conservation and education. I wish more people can see, with their own eyes, how our actions and behaviour are detrimental to the health of our planet, and thus to our very existence.

6.)Best advice you have been given and by whom?

Travel with an open mind. It’s a popular bit of advice and I’ve found it to be especially powerful and life-changing.

7.)When were you surprised by the kindness of strangers on a trip?

I was travelling around eastern Turkey near the border with Syria and I fell ill. The kindness of the owner of the guest house and the town folk was incredible. My host brought me to the clinic where there was a long queue of people waiting outside, some with crying children. I stood at the end of the line but they refused to allow this. As I was a guest in their town, they insisted that I was rushed in immediately. After the consultation, my host paid for my medication even though I told him it was all covered by my health insurance anyway. He and his wife nursed me until I was well again. I’ll never forget this moment of immense kindness and generosity.

8.)I travel because….

It inspires, teaches and excites.

Lastly, can you please recommend a resource for up-and-coming travel writers; this could be a course you know, a book, conference etc.

I can recommend the book: Break Into Travel Writing by Beth Blair. It contains lots of helpful tips and great pieces of advice from other travel writers and bloggers, including myself.

In addition to being a travel blogger, Keith is the CEO of iambassador – the world’s premier professional travel influencer network – a company he founded in 2011. iambassador collaborates with tourism boards and brands around the world to produce innovative online marketing campaigns and has, since its inception, won various global awards. Keith also speaks often at tourism and social media conferences about influencer marketing and trends. Furthermore, Keith is the co-founder of the Global Bloggers Network, a community of more than 3,000 travel bloggers. Keith has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, BBC Travel, Lonely Planet, National Geographic Traveler, and has spoken at TEDxTalk.

Stay up-to-date on his travels through:

Web site

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Our next Travel Influencer interview will be up in a week, follow the series here.

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Maskavas Forštate Military Hat in Latvia

With a 30+ year old Soviet brand Zenit film camera. No editing at all, as you can see since it is fairly grainy. It was fun and I just like how this turned out.

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The Horse in the Carpathians

Taken with Sony A7II with Polarizing Filter. Contrast, Color Correction, Dust removal done in Lightroom.

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The Swarm at Beartooth Lake, Wyoming

Photo taken at Beartooth Lake, WY, July 7, 2017. Nikon D7200, 1/400s. Edited in Lightroom, converted to greyscale, contrast bumped up some.

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A Storm is Brewing in Italy

iPhone 7 Plus, portrait mode

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