The Wheelers: Role Models for Backpackers!

All backpackers are probably familiar with Lonely Planet and the ones that are really obsessive, like me, know who Tony and Maureen Wheeler are. They are the travelers-turned-publishers turned publishers-who-travel and creators of Lonely Planet Guidebooks.

The Seattle Times recently had an interview with the couple about their new book, Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story. In the interview they discuss mixing work and marriage and joke that going on a book tour is a good way to break up a marriage. If they can spend 35 years together traveling around the world, I think it's a safe bet to say that their marriage is solid enough to survive a book tour!

My favorite magazine, National Geographic Adventure Magazine, also has an interview with the couple along with their recommended travel tips in this month's issue.



If you are a big fan of The Wheelers or Lonely Planet you will find this book super interesting. It's an autobiography of the couple detailing their travels and journey into the world of publishing.

One Girl Updates

My business partner and co-author, Kristina, has her new blog up called Frugal n Fabulous. The premise of the site is to create a community to share tips on saving money and making extra money while not sacrificing a comfortable lifestyle.

In other news, our travel business has a new look, Via Via Travel, is revamped and we are getting ready to begin the Caribbean off-season.

I've already booked an eco-honeymoon in St. John, USVI, in September for a happy couple. The couple requested a weeklong honeymoon for under $1500. We found the perfect place for them at Maho Bay at $80 a night. They are going to have a fabulous time!

Itching to do Something

I've been all around the world and just about everywhere I go I am inspired. Through traveling I gain a better perspective and respect of the world than I receive at home. Don't know why exactly, but if that is what it takes its OK by me.

Today I was thinking about how much I loved Africa. Of all the places I have been no where else in the world touches my heart the way Africa does. One place in particular that I loved was Coffee Bay, South Africa. I stayed at The Coffee Shack and had the time of my life. I wish that on normal days when I wake up I could feel that same feeling I had when I was there. I would say the feeling was a "joy for life!"

While I think it is going to be a while before I can go back again, I was thinking I would like to give back to the community even when I am not there. I think it would be cool to set up a donation drive to send funds back to Coffee Bay maybe to help some of the school programs there. I am not really sure. I know The Coffee Shack has some programs set up. Does anyone out there know of some programs there that need funding? I want to set up a donation campaign here on my blog. Any ideas out there?

Yacht Hits the Rocks at Cannes

The Lady Moura, 354' private yacht estimated to be worth $200 million, ran aground in Cannes today. The yacht, owned by a Saudi billionaire, spilled several hundred gallons of fuel and authorities had to evacuate nearby beaches. Fortunately, the boat could be pulled off the rocks by tug boats and repaired enough for the boat to head to Gibralter for more extensive work on the hull.



See the full story here.

My past travel life

Today I was wishing I was here again:

Magen's Bay, St. Thomas USVI

According to Wikipedia, Magens Bay (18.366° N 64.930° W) is a world-famous beach on Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, located in the Caribbean.

Located on the North (Atlantic) side of the island, Magens Bay is a well-protected white sand beach stretching for nearly a mile. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island.

With its clear water, soft sand, and palm trees, it is commonly considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and National Geographic has recognized it as such.

The beach amenities are managed by a local government agency, the Magens Bay authority. They include lifeguards, a snack counter, bar, souvenir shop, chair and beach toy rentals, windsurf and boat rentals, and showers and bathrooms.

Legend (probably false) has it that Sir Francis Drake used the bay as an anchorage while waiting for ships to plunder.

What's Up With Cruise Ships These Days?

What's up with all the cruise ships running aground lately?

First there was the Greek cruise ship, "Sea Diamond," that sank off the coast of Santorini, Greece.


Now there is the Alaskan cruise ship, "Empress of the North" that hit a rock south of Juneau.



How does that happen? There are depth radars, maps, officers on watch. How do you miss a huge rock?

easyCruise from $6 per night for 3 nights

easyCruise is offering a deal on their May 1 cruise embarking in Antwerp departing in Amsterdam on May 4 starting at $6 per person per night. Rooms are standard twin with a window (a real one!).


If Belgium and the Netherlands aren't your thing, easyCruise also has cruises planned for this Summer in the Greek Islands from $38 a night or in Classical Greece for around $42 in the Fall.

Working Around the World

I have written a little about ideas on ways to work your way around the world, but Laptop Hobo, has made an entire website dedicated to the subject of continuing your career while traveling and living anywhere in the world. LH co-Founders Richard Hamel and Carmen Bolanos are both professionals and avid travelers having lived and made a living in many countries. The site is filled with great resources and information on equipment you will need in order to set-up your office while on the road.

They even have an article, The New Nomads, recently written about them in Business Week.

Life as a Deckie Aboard a Private Yacht

Found another blog from a yachtie. This time he's a Kiwi deckhand floating around the world aboard megayachts. Pretty interesting. Plus some beautiful photography of New Zealand thrown in.

Update: After checking out his website some more, I realized we used to be neighbors in St. Martin in Simpson Bay. Such a small world! Even smaller when you're a yachtie!

More Megayacht Links

Power and Motoryacht has a blog with loads of pics and information about the world's largest megayachts. Check out their blog at Power and Motoryacht Blog.

Life as a Chef Aboard a Private Yacht

I found another yachtie out there on the web. Niall's site, The Life of a Private Chef has a lot of video footage of St. Martin, Antigua and other some places in the Med. Looks like he's retired from yachting like me, but you can still follow his adventures in the archives!

Wandering Aimlessly vs. Pursuit of Purpose

I thought I would address this comment from Liara on my post Perfect Travel Dream Job

It sounds like you have visited some very memorable places. Why so many countries? Did you sense you were wandering aimlessly or were you on a quest for a particular purpose? I think readers would look forward to hearing more about what you have learned through travel.

I thought this was a really great comment. Sometimes I have felt aimless when traveling. Maybe I have traveled so much to fill a void. I look at it as I have an insatiable desire to know everything! Ask any of my friends and they will tell you how incredibly annoying this is. Maybe it's annoying for them, but it is endless for me! So the answer is both. I have wandered aimlessly and in pursuit of something. Traveling is like peeling an onion. There are so many layers to discover.

I did have a goal to travel to all seven continents before I turned 25. I made it to six. Going to so many countries has just been to see new cultures. I was not necessarily trying to break any records!

In traveling independently I have learned to rely on myself. I know what I can handle and what I can't. I know the good about myself and I know the absolute worst. In addition, I have learned the good and bad about others. I have experienced incredible kindness from strangers. Fortunately, I have never had anything truly life threatening happen to me-other than being attacked by elephants in South Africa while in my car! Mostly, I have seen how beautiful this world is. I have watched incredible sunsets while on a boat out in the middle of the ocean and felt like the time was standing still and the world was in absolute peace. Nature and people are inspiring. I have seen poverty in third world countries that would break the souls of most and in the eyes of children who lived there I saw hope.

Africa changed my life (I have heard people say the same about India). It changed how I view the world. I can't describe it now, but my way of thinking completely shifted when I was there. I wish everyone could go and experience a similar feeling. I believe the world would be so much better off if people would get out of their comfort zones and travel more. Even if they don't, I will continue to do it just for myself. Although it seems like it has been aimless, and perhaps it has been without a goal at some points, traveling has always fulfilled my own personal pursuit of purpose.

Life Span of a Travel Blog

Today I went to check up on one of my favorite travel blogs and the final post said that the author had finished up on his traveling and therefore that was the end of the blog. So, then I realized that this actually happens frequently with travel blogs. The personal journeys of the authors only last for a certain amount of time. Some people blog about their year long around-the-world trip and then when it's over the blog is over. Some people blog about being an expatriate in another country, then eventually they return back to their home country. Very few people, I have noticed, have on-going travel blogs, because at some point people just finally settle down. Andy from hobotraveler.com seems to be an exception!

I'm trying to figure out how to have a sustainable blog. I travel pretty frequently, but I am afraid my blog is getting stale. I have not even been out of the country in about a year. How sad is that?

What makes a travel blog interesting? I know I like to read about personal stories from travel blogs. Tell me what type of blog you all are reading out there and why? For travel tips? To learn about new adventures and places? What is the point?

Do It While You're Young

Kristina and I "published" our e-book three months ago and surprisingly, some of you out there actually bought it! Just in case you're wondering, it's still available and after we have traveled a few more places over the next year we will be making a second edition!

Do It While You're Young: A Travel Guide for Young Women is a how-to guide, with a dash of inspirational stories, targeted toward young women looking to travel internationally for the first time whether on a solo journey, study abroad or with other travel buddies. Travel is a life-changing experience and the book is geared specifically for strong, independent women curious to explore the world but are anxious or unaware of how to get started on a wonderful journey.

Contents

1.Introduction
2.Inspirations for Travel
3.Planning your trip
4.Creative ways to travel
5.Fiscal Planning
6.Booking your flight, hotel, and tours
7.Preparing to depart
8.Packing
9.Once you get there
10.References
11.Index

Excerpt from Chapter 2
Inspirations for Travel
Traveling is liberating. There is a realization when traveling that opportunities are endless, boundaries are breakable, and time is infinite. Why do you want to travel? Do you want to learn new languages, or do you want to meet new people with similar lifestyles and interests or just to prove to yourself that you can? Whatever the reason you must know that traveling, just taking the first step even, will change your life forever. You will leave your comfort zone and venture into an unknown world that will expand your mind, change your perceptions and you will never be the same again. Maybe you will try it, realize it is really not for you, and you will never want to do it again and that’s OK. At least you took the first step. You will never be left with regret or the sense that you didn’t try. Maybe you will fall in love with traveling and never be able to stop. That’s OK, too.

Women around the world leave their comfort zones everyday to explore the world and there is no reason why you shouldn’t, too. We’ve met girls who are biking across the entire continent of Africa to fundraise for cancer organizations, girls who were doing year long round-the-world trips, and girls who were sailing the oceans (solo!) in search for the perfect wave to surf!

What’s stopping you from taking your adventure now? Do you have a boyfriend that you don’t want to leave or who doesn’t want to go with you? Perhaps you don’t feel like you have enough money to travel. That’s no excuse! We’ll show you ways you can finance your trip. Maybe you feel it’s unsafe to travel by yourself. We’ll tell you the best ways to be safe and smart while you’re out there on your own. Kristina and Jerri have both traveled alone before and we’re still here!

My Life in the Books

Books I am truly reading now that have a very striking resemblance to my own life:

What I've Been Up To

So a lot of you have asked me what I've been up to and what is this mysterious "Travel Dream Job" that I posted about. I can't go into much detail, but I was hired as a personal assistant to a gentleman who lives in Beverly Hills. He had a private jet and among many of the job responsibilities I accompanied him as he flew to his numerous homes worldwide. The job was just temporary, but I have to say that those six weeks were memories of a lifetime!

That's about all I can say other than now that I've flown private jet and first class I am completely destroyed and spoiled...not to mention looking for a new job once again! I mean, honestly, how can any other job following this experience possibly measure up? I'm ruined.

Earth Day, April 22, for Travelers

International backpackers are typically a pretty eco-conscious bunch. It's hard to make too much of an impact on the environment when you're living on a budget of $30 or less a day. That's including food, room and board and transportation. You know the saying, "waste not, want not" could be the backpacker's motto.

I'm trying to think of other ways that all travelers can try to be a little more green. Everyone knows to support those hotels that only wash the sheets every few days instead of every day (although I believe that hotels do it to save money, not the environment), take shorter showers, turn off the lights when you leave a room, etc.

What about how much fuel it takes to fly to the places you're going? In the states, why not take Amtrak? It's cheaper, more adventures, nicer than economy seats on a plane although it takes more time, it's the journey that is the most important not the destination, right? Instead of staying at a hotel, stay at a communal site where groceries are shared and you earn your stay by helping work around the area planting trees or maintaining hiking trails.

Check out Sierra Club Vacations for trips designed for travelers looking for unique destinations that also provide a way to improve the quality of life for the people there, the culture and the environment.

Let's try to make Earth Day every day.

If you're ever in LA...

Check out my new favorite food!



pinkberry

Girlfriend Getaways

Lots of articles on Budget Travel for Girlfriend Getaways.

Today California, Tomorrow Texas, Then Florida

I'm in Beverly Hills, California right now. Tomorrow I'm heading for Houston then on to Florida and hopefully I can hop a boat to the Med, hopefully Antibes. I'll update more later with pictures!