Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 373

100+ Countries in A Lifetime: Interviewed by @MappingMegan

Thank you to Mapping Megan for interviewing me for her fantastic travel site. Read the full interview “100+ Countries in a Lifetime” by clicking here.

A few questions to get you intrigued:

How has travel enriched your life?

Travel has shaped my life. I went on a teen tour to Israel, which inspired me to study in Israel in college. The memories of living in Israel inspired my choice to work for Club Med and on cruise ships for seven years.

I think travel has been one of my main forms of education!

What advice would you give to those hesitant to take the plunge into the world of travel?

I have to admit there have been many times I have been hesitant about travel. One piece of advice is to shift your focus. Going to the same place with a new attitude can feel like an adventure.

Start with something that feels manageable—go for a weekend or go with a friend. Find a way that works for you.

Check out We Said Go Travel  on YouTube: over 280 videos from all over our planet with 241,000 views!

What is we said go travel all about?

We Said Go Travel is a global community. There are articles from every continent. During the last year, I have run four travel-writing contests with cash prizes (1st prize: $1,000usd cash). Over 1000 people from 74 countries have shared their stories!

It has been so exciting to read articles from so many perspectives from all over our planet. I hope your readers will join in our next Gratitude Travel Writing Contest starting September 11! 

The post 100+ Countries in A Lifetime: Interviewed by @MappingMegan appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Gorilla hypnosis in Uganda

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I thought to myself as I buckled my seat belt ready to take off into the unknown.

After months of preparation and building up the courage to face up to my first solo voyage, I was on my way to deepest darkest Africa in search of the mystical mountain gorilla.

You would think I would have chosen somewhere a little less remote for my first trip on my own, but not me. I had chosen Uganda. I was testing the limits of my mind and body, having spent weeks training to get physically fit enough for the trek (I am not a gym-goer) and preparing for the lack of company and limited internet connection (you guessed it, I like to talk.)

I had changed my mind a thousand times and given myself more than enough reasons to change my plans – the injections, having to buy an almost completely new wardrobe (neutral is not my look) and packing almost more mosquito sprays, tablets and wet wipes than clothes. However, the fear of missing out was greater than the fear of going it alone.

Unfortunately the trek didn’t start with gorillas. It took an 8.5 hour flight and a 7.5 hour drive to get me to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest. On the day of the trek, I woke up at 6.30am and was taken to the Bwindi headquarters where I was told I would be tracking the Habinyanja troop, a group of 18 gorillas and the hardest location to get to. After our briefing, my group set off ready to face the challenge.

Bwindi is nicknamed ‘impenetrable’ for a reason. We walked for four hours, tackling steep hills and with the sun beating down on us. The higher we got, the more our muscles ached and despite the cooler air of the dense forest which suddenly surrounded us, we found no relief. We wrestled with branches and dodged thorns until rustling leaves and whispers from our porters informed us that gorillas had been spotted. Unfortunately for us, they were on the move. My body – which had been weeping with exhaustion – sprung into life, the adrenaline pumping through my veins as we sped up and tried to stay close without chasing them.

If I hadn’t known any better, I would have thought the mischievous apes were playing games, twisting and leading us through every type of vegetation they could find. The ground became muddy and I lost count of the number of times I slipped and fell trying to keep up, grabbing on to branches to pull myself forward. Finally, they had had enough fun and they stopped. As the group divided to make way for everyone to see, I peered through the clearing and saw the silverback, the leader of the group, sitting staring at us as if we had just been there all along instead of trickling with sweat from our mission.

“Look! That one is only three months old” my porter said, as I turned and realised in my excitement I had walked straight past the mother and her baby. Incredible does not even begin to describe it. We sat and watched as we saw four more young males from the group appear: One swinging from a tree and the youngest playfully goading the other two by imitating his father’s beating of the chest.

I had always been fascinated by the mountain gorilla, but to have such a powerful animal within metres of you takes your breath away. All that time and effort to reach them and they sit there nonchalantly munching a leaf, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, completely oblivious to their rarity and beauty.

There are less than 900 mountain gorillas left in the wild. To observe a creature so few will get to see is like peering into the soul of something extraordinary. As you sit there, covered in mud and grime with a ridiculous grin on your face, surrounded by nothing but green and the soft black fur hidden in between the foliage, you cannot help but feel completely free.

After an hour of silence and wide-eyed human hypnosis, we began our journey back to base. Despite an 8 hour trek, I felt ready to defeat the world, capable of anything.

As I gazed out of the plane window on my way back to the UK, reminiscing over my adventure, all I could think was: I can’t believe I almost didn’t do this.

About the author: South African born, Zara Gaspar, currently lives in London. When she is not exploring the city, she is planning her next adventure, eager to visit every country on the planet. Her three loves are food, movies and travel.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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The colours that inspire in tanzania

How I found the freedom to be myself

Sometimes in life people change, sometimes life changes people, and sometimes life is there when people change. Before I went to on my trip to Zanzibar I was in a place of transition to say the least, and I can’t say whether it was the place or whether it was me, or whether it was really a bit of both. This is what I learned in Zanzibar.

Life is beautiful, and life is colorful and so are the people in it, and when things become dark or difficult, the best thing that you can do is throw colour on it. When I first arrive at the Zanzibar airport my senses were overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the airport or the lack of an airport to say the least. In my time I have been fortunate to travel to many places and as a result many airports, but for me this was a first. The building was old and bare, there was sand on the floor, and things moved at their own place, but the locals didn’t seem to mind this minimalistic approach. This place was naked, and so was I as I decided to leave the excess of western culture behind me, and walked in embracing the idea of simplicity.

This thought however was quickly put to rest when I entered the streets of stone town, the hub of Zanzibar, there is a colorfulness in this town, in the markets, your senses find that the clean over-the-top structures of Western power are absent; instead you find a culmination of old Arabic courtyard architecture, and African culture, intermingled with beautiful bright colors, exotic fragrances, these aspects are what give this town a completely unique feel.

The streets are narrow and inter leading, as an outsider you can easily get lost in the maze of stores and buildings, with the smell of fruit and spices, never far away.

From its tumultuous history of violence and revolution to its awakening as a beautiful place of colour and peace, Zanzibar is the epitome of new life: the light that radiates from the people, from the jolly larger-than-life captain of our dhow boat; Babo, to the children playing in the street, laughing as they run through the vibrant curtains of shaded cloths that contrast the stony road surface below or to the life of the Zanzibar born musician Freddie mercury. These people show no signs of unhappiness or unrest, and as I sat and watched them in their daily movements, the ease and gratitude with which they handled life, even when they had very little of their own, opened my heart, to let go of the resentments which plagued me, and inspire me.

As I stared at them through my camera lens I did not realized that those moments, and those people would follow me home, as I traded a camera for canvas, and capture those images by picking up the paint brush that I had long since forgotten about. I took my experienced in Zanzibar and translated it onto the canvas that now hangs on my wall as a constant reminder of how small things and small moments can change you.

And this is what freedom means to me: freedom and independence stems from the freedom to express one ’s self, and find that thing that inspires creation.

About the Author: Liesl Schroeder I am a writer, with a degree in philosophy.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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There is more to explore in Norway

From South East Asia to Western Europe. The culture and weather are some of those big differences. I came from Philippines and currently here in Norway and previously I stayed 2 years in Denmark as an au pair. I struggle during winter season, as if its one of my seasonal big battles that i need to face because of the coldness. Then I decided and realize its parts of my unforgettable long travel here in Europe. It’s a long process for me to choose to enjoy where i am now. Then I choose feel free and be brave to discover the sanctuary inside of me with my heart, mind and body. Because every place has a unique beauty, history even mystery that I’ve learned to appreciates and allows me to embrace its own uniqueness.

True freedom in traveling always start inside as letting myself, to have fun wherever I am. To feel independent and comfortable. I was able to enjoy more whether I’m alone or with many companion. I can dance, sing and spread my arms and turn around and breathes deeply and smells the uniqueness of the place.

I can still vividly remember, during my first year college when our English professor told us to write an essay about life, then the first sentence I wrote was- LIFE IS TRAVELING. I am started to live some of my dreams, visiting some places or even other countries. It might caused me some sorrow living far way from my family, but on the other hand I felt honored to discover that there is more to explore. I really enjoy the breathtaking or sightseeing at the City of music Vienna, Austria. Some ancient view and the fantastic Disneyland at Paris France. Denmark and Norway has always big part of my heart for the memorable memories and learning. I have also albums of pictures with formal, funny and wacky posed. Just trying to share to others especially those who dream and love to travel far and near places.

Enjoying and exploring other places it also leads me to be proud and appreciates the uniqueness of where I came from. Traveling or visiting some places whether inside or outside the country is also giving me knowledge to renew and revived what is boring. To treat oneself and setting aside worries to recharge to have time in balancing life.

Dare to travel. Traveling with integrating the people with its surrounding. Even dare to get lost the place that might lead an instrument to experience the inner peace. Dare to explore because there is a meaning in every creature. Dare to travel and encounter something new and be renewed. Dare travel and to conquer the fears that even leads to joy and sorrow. Because life is also about traveling and conquering. Dare to travel and be unique version in every situation in exploring the world that should not be ignored. Dare to be an instrument to inspire others, to travel more, because there’s always more to explore. Have a meaningful trip!!!

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Cruising On My Couch in the Philippines

I feel free when I am on that brink between exhilaration and contentment. I feel joy when I walk that less than an inch slippery rope under the sheeting rain. I feel excitement when I climb that blue roped wall with splinters cutting through my skin. I feel elated when I am up on air, strapped to what seems like a backpack, travelling several meters whilst suspended at a great height. Like an angel, I seem to glide with the wind and that is what makes it more glorious. I feel ecstasy when I am on my knees and strapped to a board as I am being pulled to have water splattered all over me. With my feeble wrists, I struggle to be strong to propel myself towards the direction I want to go. And just when the thrill ceases, I am let free to swim back to the sands. I feel invincible when I go on a ride meters from the ground and slowly see the breath-taking view of the city, a scenic beauty only seen from above, then all at once, plunge into a heart-stopping fall back to the ground. The moment when you’re above seems like a quick escape from the cold reality, and the few seconds of bliss seems like eternity. And after the adrenaline calmed down, I don’t just feel relief for having gone through it, I feel happiness for succeeding in something that might have originally given my confidence an ounce of doubt. For some fractions of my life, I feel brave. And to have a moment of bravery is an achievement worthy of being pinned on the wall of one’s home where every visitor will be inspired by its grandeur.

It may seem like I have been to many places, gone to several adventures but to be honest, I have not been able to travel to a place which is farther than my region. But all the emotions I have stated above, I have felt all that. All of those except one transpired in places that are not more than two hours away from my home. So I believe that what I want others to know is that we do not need a huge sum of money just to feel these wonderful emotions. We can feel happiness even in the vicinity of our hometowns. Though having felt all that, I now wish to expand my horizons and witness the sunset of a different sky. To be able to breathe the air exhausted by a plant newly-born in spring which was watered by the freshly melted snow would be an absolute pleasure. Navigating the borders of the Earth with my heart as the compass, the needle would have spun around crazily, pinpointing places that calls for my heart’s delight.

Every time I watch videos of various travelers, I feel my heart soar in a mixture of euphoria and desire. While I am sprawled on the couch and tediously flipping through the channels, I always stop to watch those which exhibit the splendor of various cities. Like any other person, my stomach always stirs hungrily at the thought of savoring the mouth-watering and exceptional delicacies of Italy. My heart fills in wonder at the thought of securing my love at the bridge of Pont des Arts. I dream about meeting the beautiful people of South Korea and enjoying a fashion show in Milan. I hope of riding a seemingly menacing Ferris wheel or roller coaster in Japan. I want to go skiing, wall climbing, water rafting, snorkeling, scuba diving, sky diving, and even cliff jumping. I want to build an Olaf at the foot of Mt. Everest. I also want to experience hiking several mountains and taking camp there with the only hope of surviving from the animals I have hunted. I want to go to caves and underground rivers. I want to watch a live circus show where there are lots of acrobats and tight-rope walkers, people who throw knives at people and people who wrestle with wild beasts. But after the adrenaline calmed down from travelling to all the places, I want to end my day with my least life-threatening desire of all: to jump from a colorful vinta or a modest banca, and then head back to the shore of one of the Philippines’ renowned beaches to taste my favorite inihaw na tilapia and then drink the refreshing juice of a newly-reaped buko. This is the simplest yet this is what I desire the most – an adventure in my own soil.

Now as this summer comes to an end, I bid goodbye to the couch which has now become the cruise ship which takes me to my heart’s delight, for I have now reached the pier bound for a new adventure.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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An Overdose on Natural Freedom in the USA

An Overdose on Natural Freedom

The clearest way into the universe is through the forest wilderness. “ James Muir must have been the smartest human on earth”. He seems to have deeply understood what it means to be consumed by the natural forest. I was married in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Personally, I think the park should be renamed to Great Smoky Mountains National Forest, because the National Park is made up of more than 500,000 acres of forest. Not to mention the fact that Ninety-five percent of the forest is home to a diversified group of wildlife.

Tennessee has some of the most amazing parks in the country, but the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is a site that will change your life, and all the opinions you have about the world around you. The National Park’s entrance almost over takes you as you leave the cheap scenery outlets and the vast amount of hotels for the mountainous array of trees like the sugar maple and yellow birch. You leave loud roar of everything unpleasant and you fall head first into nature.

TN Scenic Route escorts you directly into the National Park. So that if you are not careful you will allow the distraction of the radio and common conversation to keep you from observing a majestic entrance that could only be mimicked by Walt Disney himself. I know all too well about being caught off guard because upon entering into the National Forest, my radio was low playing in the back ground to the conversation my husband and I were having about where the first few picture shots should take place. It happened as suddenly as the average blink, (literal blink) of an eye.

The forest made itself known to me through the loudest silence I have ever experienced. It only took a few seconds for my ears to adjust to audio sensation of wildlife around me. It was as if I could hear the silence through my window. The action of rolling my window down was immediately followed by one of the most beautiful sounds in nature. The symphony of wildlife was being performed by every animal and plant in the forest. My senses were going wild.

Before I had time to understand what was happening, the greatest feeling ever was taking over my body. Unsure of what it was, I took a glance at my husband and sure enough he was doing it too. Breathing! It was amazing at that very moment in my life when I realized I was breathing, or maybe I was always breathing, but here at the National Park I learned how to breathe proficiently. That moment made me feel as if I had inhaled and overdosed an unadulterated large amount of fresh air for the first time in my entire life. At that point we had only driven 500 feet into the forest.

So no matter the reason for your vacation, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the place to be. Whether you choose to take the entire family on a wilderness hike, looking for a gorgeous place to take beautiful wedding pictures, or you just want to get away with your significant other to rekindle the romance, you will find Great Smoky Mountains National Park as the best place to be yourself; The best place to find yourself, and the best place to be free.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Where Nature Exhibits Excellence!

It was mid-noon. We were following Alakananda upstream through a bare stony trajectory; a six kilometers trek to Vasudhara falls. Clouds were protecting us from sun. Small grass flowers were greeting with smile. No other tourist to accompany, till we were enjoying our walk. The environment was calm, cool and dry. No greenery was there than the grass covered meadows but the sights were eye soothing. Not the bird but the nature was singing. A new chapter of exquisiteness and thrill got introduced in our knowledge book. Each of our steps in the trek was blessed by vitality. Every breath was refreshing our soul.

We opted for the trek just to get few hours break from the hurly-burly of local market of Badrinath and to experience a small walk on the path to heaven. Yes, as per famous Hindu epic Mahabharata, Pandavas went to heaven following this path. It is believed that paradise is somewhere in the upper reach of this part of Himalayan mountain ranges which is situated in Dev-Bhoomi (Place of Gods) Uttarakhand, a state of India. The picturesque sight of a dusty walkway kissing the horizon, from bhim-pul- the starting point of trek, was convincing enough to rush for the walk. But who knew that gradually the path itself would become heaven for us!

At half way of the trail, nature changed drastically. Path became steeper and environment became rude. Starting from top, the entire slope of the mountain we were crossing was covered by wobbly rocks of different sizes. The complete elevation was at ‘get set’ position, waiting for ‘go’ whistle to collapse in Alakananda. Below our feet, few meters straight wall of boulders went down to meet a ravine full of stones and wild bushes. Finally this rudeness is converted into a lush green gorge of Alakananda coming from Alakapuri. Alakapuri, far away in the skyline, was mostly covered by cloud. Partly visible Balakun peak, big glaciers at its foot, long gray canyon of Alakananda upstream hypnotized us. We were mesmerized witnessing the extreme beauty; an unbelievable cocktail of dread and dream. The majestic scene made us believe that Alakapuri is the home of Kuber – the king of wealth. The view of lifeless danger, enriched with unknown delights, was fascinating us. We realized that the actual meaning of treasure is gratification of mind, freedom from greed, hatred and fear. Being in the middle of this wide open bountiful nature we appreciated the eternity of spirit.

I was overwhelmed, remained sedentary unconsciously on a big stone until a pair of barefoot passed by. I looked up and surprisingly found a young boy carrying his old mother in shoulder pole. Two other folks on the same trek, just behind the young lad, came and sat beside me to take a break. The boy was on the trip to fulfill his mother’s last wish of visiting Badrinath and Swargarohini (route to Heaven). ‘I’m sure he will complete it safely by virtue of love and affection’ –one of those two trekkers murmured with deep respect. What a worship! I felt ashamed of myself; seemed like a spoilt child! How could one be so selfish? How could we always think of our own prospect and pleasure? Being really upset, I stepped out of trail and lied down on a bolder spreading vacant view on sky.

Time passed. How and when my soul got purified leaving silly selfish wishes, throwing out all hatred and even started feeling indifferent about mobile, internet and technologies, I had no clue. I was amazed with a call from the bottom of my heart to spend rest of my life in the vicinity of this purity keeping amity with nature, and a call for learning composure from the rocks hanging over my heads but not slipping. I was lost, forgot to move further; rather was tempted to go down to the canyon. For the first time my needs shifted from high quality camera or powerful car to an undisturbed life having no facility or comfort. Yes, I able to get rid of the dependency on technology, urge of luxury and other carnal passions. I achieved the real freedom of mind, the actual independence of soul.

Trek was resumed sometime later by a rejuvenated soul surrendered to almighty. That day, I spent as much time as I could in the trek trail to enjoy the fresh, newly gained independence.

About the Author: Soumi Ray – a PhD student of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee and a faculty of Amity School of Engineering & Technology, Delhi, is basically a born gypsy. Hiking is my passion and writing is my hobby. I do explore unknown, less-known beautiful places, hike through Himalayan silence and then share the stories with all.

 

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Simplicity Is an act of Bravery in the Philippines

Simplicity Is an act of Bravery in the Philippines

I’m the kind of person who gets conscious a lot and the one that hide herself on the background by wearing or doing something that no one else would notice.

At first I thought I would just send my picture wherein I stood on the edge of a cliff while taking a picture of my family while we are on our family outing last summer. I thought it would be my bravest act because I was on the edge of a cliff and I wore something I don’t usually wear. Basically wearing that outfit was such a load for me, I can’t even wear shorts outside our house and had only worn dress five times since puberty hit we, but then again I’m with my family and people on the place where we went wouldn’t know me, so thankfully I got through it.

I actually decided not to push myself on joining on this contest because something came up and I don’t have enough thought anymore to add on my previous draft, but as I was playing Sara Bareilles’ Brave an idea bloom on my head.

I realize then that brave isn’t measured with how intense you can get but on how you stand and deliver yourself to be brave.

I picked a collaged photo where we had a role playing on our class. I became the Doctor/Nurse/Gynecologist on our play. I do love acting but it’s a secret to everyone and that I only ask minimal roles every single time. When the play went on lines were omitted by some of my groupmates and that I decided to add some impromptu lines to keep the play rolling. In the end, it turns out that my supposedly “minimal role” surpassed the role of our main characters and that I bagged the award as the Best Actress on our group. I’m actually nervous and got chills before and after the presentation, and that is something I can not stop from happening.

School is not a tourist spot or something it is actually a place wherein I can use all the courage and braveness I can get from this world. I’ve been rejected, laughed, failed, and even been shamed. I don’t think I’ve been bullied because I experienced those things, those were brought because of my doings. Everyone do have their flaws and I got my own fair share of it, and now I’m trying to face every single day ahead with positivity and lightness output in life. Just like what I’m doing right now, typing this entry before the time runs out. I know for myself that this entry does have its own flaws and the such. I also know that I won’t bagged anything from this contest but it’s the braveness in me right now that tells me to send this no matter what happen.

Braveness isn’t something with a fixed definition, it’s we who make its meaning. It’s we who make the word brave become brave, even in our own little ways. And this is my own little way.

About the Author. Ma. Teresa M. Gueco also known as Thet Gueco is a College student taking up Bachelor of Arts in Communication. She loves books and has a unique way of doing something- in short she’s weird.

I’m the kind of person who gets conscious a lot and the one that hide herself on the background by wearing or doing something that no one else would notice.

At first I thought I would just send my picture wherein I stood on the edge of a cliff while taking a picture of my family while we are on our family outing last summer. I thought it would be my bravest act because I was on the edge of a cliff and I wore something I don’t usually wear. Basically wearing that outfit was such a load for me, I can’t even wear shorts outside our house and had only worn dress five times since puberty hit we, but then again I’m with my family and people on the place where we went wouldn’t know me, so thankfully I got through it.

I actually decided not to push myself on joining on this contest because something came up and I don’t have enough thought anymore to add on my previous draft, but as I was playing Sara Bareilles’ Brave an idea bloom on my head.

I realize then that brave isn’t measured with how intense you can get but on how you stand and deliver yourself to be brave.

I picked a collaged photo where we had a role playing on our class. I became the Doctor/Nurse/Gynecologist on our play. I do love acting but it’s a secret to everyone and that I only ask minimal roles every single time. When the play went on lines were omitted by some of my groupmates and that I decided to add some impromptu lines to keep the play rolling. In the end, it turns out that my supposedly “minimal role” surpassed the role of our main characters and that I bagged the award as the Best Actress on our group. I’m actually nervous and got chills before and after the presentation, and that is something I can not stop from happening.

School is not a tourist spot or something it is actually a place wherein I can use all the courage and braveness I can get from this world. I’ve been rejected, laughed, failed, and even been shamed. I don’t think I’ve been bullied because I experienced those things, those were brought because of my doings. Everyone do have their flaws and I got my own fair share of it, and now I’m trying to face every single day ahead with positivity and lightness output in life. Just like what I’m doing right now, typing this entry before the time runs out. I know for myself that this entry does have its own flaws and the such. I also know that I won’t bagged anything from this contest but it’s the braveness in me right now that tells me to send this no matter what happen.

Braveness isn’t something with a fixed definition, it’s we who make its meaning. It’s we who make the word brave become brave, even in our own little ways. And this is my own little way.

About the Author. Ma. Teresa M. Gueco also known as Thet Gueco is a College student taking up Bachelor of Arts in Communication. She loves books and has a unique way of doing something- in short she’s weird.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

The post Simplicity Is an act of Bravery in the Philippines appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

The Bits and Pieces Tour, Greece

Hot dust at my feet, hazy valley behind me, I trudge up the hill. Fuchsia wildflowers cling to the rocky ground, struggling to survive in arid conditions. The rest of my group has scattered over the hillside, some already walking to the nearby (air conditioned) museum. Sweat drips down my back and I drink the last of my water bottle as I reach the top. I walk a little way down a path where I can survey the valley below in solitude under the shade of the pines. Golden columns rise far below me, where once people from all over Greece came to consult the Oracle at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.

Some trips are etched more indelibly in my mind than others, have had a more lasting effect on my life. My trip to Greece is one of them.

When a local university scheduled a two-week trip through Greece—a week visiting archaeological sites in the Peloponnese, and a week cruising through the Cyclades islands—my mother-in-law signed up. Knowing I had long wanted to visit Greece, she asked if we—I, my husband, and our 12-year-old-son—would like to join her. My husband and son weren’t interested and I wasn’t sure about going without them—it would be an expensive trip “just for me.” But the temptation was irresistible. Without my husband and son along, I would be free to consider only my own needs and desires, to listen to my inner voice, a voice that had been largely drowned out by anxieties, everyday responsibilities and sheer laziness. As a college student, I had gone white-water rafting and worked on an archaeological dig in Israel. That woman had all but disappeared. I hoped while I was fulfilling my dream of visiting Greece, I could unearth parts of myself I had buried. I put aside my fears and guilt and paid my deposit.

Before we left, I decided that to make the most of my trip, I would follow two rules: I would do everything and I would eat everything. To my surprise, my rules proved easy to follow. Something about the freedom from responsibility swept away the layers of self-consciousness and insecurity that bound me at home. The few times I needed rule number one provided me with some of my best memories. It got me into a castle courtyard on Naxos where I drank wine while listening to a man play the sheep’s stomach. It plunged me into the 70-degree Aegean every day—at home, I’d never immerse myself in water that cold. One afternoon, several of us swam to a nearby beach, and convinced our tour guide, Dmitri, to teach us some Greek dance steps. Frankly, you haven’t lived until you’ve danced on a deserted beach with a Greek god in a Speedo.

Eating everything proved even less challenging, except for the squid and octopus (rubber bands and erasers, anyone?). I fell in love with Greek yogurt (it hadn’t yet hit American grocery store shelves), salads of crisp cucumber, bright red tomatoes and chunks of feta cheese, and pastitsio, luscious layers of pasta, ground meat and béchamel sauce. I even took part in an informal ouzo tasting.

And I loved every minute of it. We sweated our way through archaeological sites during a summer heat wave. We gazed at the Parthenon from the roof garden of our Athens hotel, and took pictures of the small patch of ground where they light the Olympic flame. So many of the antiquities we saw were fragmented that we privately dubbed the trip the “Bits and Pieces Tour.”

On the cruise portion, I spent the time we sailed between islands curled on a couch in the shade of the top deck, reading, writing in my journal, or simply staring out to sea. I found that instead of relying on someone else, I could buy the bottled water and get the Euros from the ATM.

From every trip we bring back more than a few souvenirs and a suitcase full of dirty clothes. We bring back knowledge of other ways of life, and adjusted attitudes to others and ourselves. Accepting the gift of freedom during this trip changed my attitude towards seizing new opportunities and doing things just for myself. Greece was all I hoped it would be, but what I remember most is how I felt about myself. I liked myself. I felt open, curious, happy, and free.

After I returned home, I began taking watercolor classes, joined a writing group and on our next family vacation, found myself hiking in the woods of Yellowstone instead of reading a book on the lodge porch. Among the bits and pieces of ancient Greece, I found bits and pieces of myself. I won’t lose them again.

About the Author: Kathy A. Johnson is a freelance writer and editor based in Florida. She continues to find new bits and pieces of herself, and often writes about them

 

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A new first for me in Argentina

Picture this – an 8 hour hike all by yourself, but literally all by yourself. Not another human being to be seen the entire time. All I had for company along the way was a skunk, some woodpeckers and a lot of cows! Backpacking around South America for 9 months was a dream of mine from childhood, and taking that crucial first step and actually doing it is something I will forever be indebted to myself for. It has been one of the most monumental stages of my life and to describe the feeling of having seen, heard, smelt, tasted and touched, a culture and land so far and different to ones’ own is nigh on impossible. I knew it was going to be hard; however nothing and no one can prepare you for how hard it actually is. Loneliness, the uncertainty of where you will sleep each night, sharing a room with 11 other snoring people, tiredness, a whole different language, and being with your travelling companion for a longer period of time than most married couples are, and more!

That solo hike in El Chalten in Argentina was truly one of those “ah-huh” moments in life for me. Every woman has those insecurities that they deal with – I’m too fat, I’m not pretty enough, I’m not funny enough, my thighs are too big, I’m not interesting enough – and the list goes on. However, as cliché as it sounds, it is so true – how can you expect others to love you if you don’t even love yourself? As I puffed my way up that huge mountain, alternatively belting out my shower songs, and stopping to appreciate the raw beauty that surrounded me, I realised that if I – a 27 year old from a tiny little country in Africa, called Zimbabwe could make my dream of travelling around the world a reality and experience the jaw dropping splendour of life and being alive, then the size of my thighs is truly as insignificant as they are compared to the huge mountain I had to climb in order to reach the summit of my hike!

Pushing yourself to the limit, when you really don’t think you can take even one more step, when your breath is coming out in laboured gasps and your leg muscles are screaming in protest, is extremely hard. Being alone with yourself for that length of time with no mobile, TV, iPod, iPad or anything electrical really shows you how powerful our own thoughts are. I kept catching myself thinking such negative and hurtful things – no wonder we all struggle to love ourselves! However when I eventually made it to the top (and finally stopped hyperventilating), the vista that greeted me was nothing short of life changing. I had accomplished this – me, and me alone! Our world is so full of places that blow your mind quite literally. I decided to set my camera on a 10 second timer and capture, as best I could, the feeling that now encompassed my whole being – I was now a friend of my own soul.

A lot of people say that most men are not attracted to independent women, that they are intimidated by them, but if independent means not seeking the approval of others to love yourself then those people are wrong, because what person wouldn’t want their partner to be happy with who they are? With my back to the snow-capped mountains and glistening lakes, thumb and index fingers linked in unity and a smile on my face that radiated from very heart and soul, I felt alive, I felt happy and I felt free!

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