The Year that The World Will Remember...and Try to Forget

It's here.  Christmas has arrived after a turbulent year that seemed like it would never end.  One more week left of the dreadful year 2020.  It wasn't a good start to a new decade and I know I'm hoping that shaky start isn't a bad omen of what lies ahead for the future.  

I think it's safe to say that not one person on earth has escaped the year 2020 without being negatively impacted by it in some way.  For me, I can say that it has been a tremendously stressful year.  Mentally, physically, emotionally and financially.  On a personal level, I've experienced loss of work, loss of income, financial hardship and the loss of my beloved companion, my 16-year-old cat Captain Jack.  Local lockdowns in my area resulted in a very lonely period during the early months of Covid. I live alone so not having close contact with anyone for months took its toll.  On top of all that, I am missing some people this Holiday Season who won't be able to travel home.

So that's my experience on a personal level. On a geographic level, my home province of Nova Scotia (where I currently live) suffered tremendous loss this year.  I mourned along with the rest of my province and country after a madman went on a rampage and murdered 22 innocent people in what is now known as Canada's worse mass killings in history. A Canadian military helicopter crash in Greece that took the lives of six people including two from Nova Scotia and a Canada Snowbirds crash that took the life of a young woman from the province occurred around the same time, adding more pain to my already heartbroken province.  And just this month, another tragedy when a scallop dragger capsized in the Bay of Fundy, leaving six families and a province still recovering from the previous tragedies, to mourn the loss of six men lost at sea. 

 If I look at the past year on a global level, the impact of 2020 on the world paints an even clearer picture of the year's impact on humanity. Over one million people dead as Covid-19 sweeps across almost every continent on earth.  Hospitals overwhelmed by equipment and bed shortages, massive shutdowns of world economies and businesses struggling to keep afloat. Then we have widespread deadly protests and a tense presidential election in the United States.  Add a massive explosion in Beirut, catastrophic bush fires in Australia and the western United States  and countless celebrity deaths (Kobe Bryant, Alex Trebek, Van Halen to name a few) to the list and, yup, it was a pretty hard year for us all.  Almost apocalyptic you could say. Certainly, one that will go down in history!  

For me, one of the things that is really bothering me is the division I see happening in my own country.  West vs. east, conservative vs. liberal, pro-mask vs. anti-mask, black vs. white.  Why can't we all just get along!  

But there's been some good in 2020.  I think collectively, most people have realized how important the things they once took for granted are.  Lockdowns meant families got to spend more time together.  I witnessed more and more people spending time outdoors instead of sitting in front of their TV's.  Children started spending more time outdoors too.  Materialism took a backseat.  Because many of us are broke, we had no choice but to appreciate what we already have instead of focusing on what we want and can no longer have.  

Here in Cape Breton, we had our own historic municipal election that saw a woman elected as mayor for the first time.  I'm divided on whether the discovery of the vaccine is a good or bad thing at the moment but time will tell on that one.  Certainly it's a good thing if it will curb the virus. However, for me personally, I'm a little worried about potential side effects of a vaccine that was developed so quickly.  I'm also worried about forced vaccinations and the possibility that anyone who either refuses it or is unable to get it will lose some of the freedoms they are used to.  I'm not against vaccines.  I will likely get it down the road if it's available and has been proven to be safe.

As I write this, my town is not under lockdown but there are some restrictions on Christmas gatherings. Further west in the country, residents are not so lucky. The virus is still spreading like wildfire in some provinces and Christmas will be much different than what they're used to.  It is my hope that everyone will try to have the best Christmas they can.  

I'm hopeful for a better year ahead in 2021. If we beat this virus and get back to normal, imagine the celebrations we'll have this time next year.  We have a lot to make up for! 

We will get back to normal one day soon.  It'll take time and effort on everyone's part but we will get to that light at the end of the tunnel.  But we will also never forget the year that was 2020.  So with that said, I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays....and wishes for a better year in 2021!   For everyone, for the whole world.  This is the first time in our lifetimes that an event has affected every single person on the planet.  We got in this together...now we have to get out of it together.

There's more to Travel than Meets the Eye. There are Lessons to be Learned!

Lesson Learned? Don't trust everything you read on booking sites.

I've noticed that booking sites are sometimes inaccurate, especially when listing amenities or, in some cases, the hotel itself.  I arrived in Glasgow, Scotland to stay at a Ramada hotel near the airport.  I booked it online and had all the information, which I even took with me.  I was on foot, so once the bus from downtown dropped me off near the airport, I set out on foot to find it.  I walked around for two hours with no luck.  Did I mention that it was a cold, rainy night?  I finally found it but instead of a Ramada, a Marriott Hotel stood in it's place. I learned that they had changed their name and didn't bother to tell me even in the emails we were sending back and forth during the booking process.
The hotel website also forgot to mention that they were under renovations.  The fire drill went off every ten minutes and my key card wouldn't work resulting in me being locked out of my room every time I left.  Did I mention that the restaurant they had listed was a pantry room with packaged goods which was closed the entire time I was there?

Lesson Learned? Don't Turn Down Once in a Lifetime Opportunities or you'll Regret it Later

I was tired the first night I arrived in Montezuma, Costa Rica so when the other girls staying at the yoga retreat I was staying at decided to attend a beach party happening that night in the village, I turned it down to catch up on sleep instead.  That was six years ago.  I still regret not going with them.  All I heard them talk about all week was the amazing night they had on the beach with live music and friendly locals.
I was sick the day I was supposed to go on a boat tour to Cozumel, Mexico.  I wish I had of just stuck it out and went anyway.  I heard it's a very nice place.
Upon arrival to a show at Harbour Lights in Bridgetown Barbados, I was ushered to a table where some women from Manchester, England were already sitting. We shared conversation, dinner and drinks throughout the night and just when the party was getting started, it was announced that the bus I had arrived in was leaving for the night. The women from Manchester offered to drive me back to my hotel later in the night but I declined and went on the bus instead.  Half way back to my hotel, I regretted the decision but it was too late to go back.
While in Varadero, Cuba, all I heard everyone, tourists and locals alike, talking about was this Cave bar that everyone went to in the evenings. I was traveling alone and thought it best not to venture into night clubs alone so I stayed away.  I found out later it was actually a pretty great place to go and was a bar in a real cave.
A popular way to get around in Montezuma Costa Rica is by ATV.  Many of the other people staying at the Yoga Retreat I was staying at ventured off on adventures to places unreachable by car because they could drive ATV's.  I wish I had of at least tried to learn or had someone show me or take me around on one.  The others found a beach that they claimed was so beautiful, it was indescribable.

Lesson Learned?  Expect the Unexpected

My first day in Barbados was nothing short of disastrous.  Upon arrival at the airport, my shuttle driver was nowhere to be found.  I turned on my phone and logged into my email to send her a quick message to let her know I had arrived and BAM!  I was hit with a thirty dollar charge for 15 seconds of data usage.
Upon arrival to my accommodation an hour later, I was advised to wear bug spray at all times to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes as an outbreak of Chickengunya was affecting the region.  Of course, I neglected to check my governments advisory page where I would have seen this advisory beforehand and therefore would have packed copious amounts of bug spray.
That day was topped up by a gas leak which forced me to move myself and my belongings to another room where I spent the entire first two nights wondering if I was going to die in my sleep from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Venturing onto the highway was interesting in Cuba.  Horse carts? Farm animals? Bicycles? Overcrowded buses and truck beds? Motorcycles?  Pedestrians? Farm equipment? You name it, it's on the road!
After a much-needed nap in a hammock overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Montezuma, I awoke to find a strange creature sleeping underneath my hammock.  To this day, I have no idea what it was.  I waited patiently until it awoke and sauntered away before making any sudden movements.
My arrival to Juan Santamaria Airport to catch my flight home from Costa Rica went without a hitch until I started to board the airplane.  That's when passengers were stopped at the gate and made to surrender all carry on so it could be searched before moving forward.  My carry on bags were pretty much ripped apart and left in a pile of rubble on the floor for me to pick up and repack.  I didn't find out until later that the reason for this impromptu  bag search was due to a terrorist attack that had just occurred at the Boston Marathon.
On a road trip to the Magdelan Islands I decided to camp instead of wasting money on hotels.  Had I read up on the weather in the area, I would have known that camping is not the best idea.  The wind knocked my tent down the first night and it was so windy the next night, I wasn't even able to set up the tent.
In Costa Rica I was a little freaked out by the Geckos that were plastered all over the walls of my room.  Looking up from my bed first thing in the morning and seeing a reptile right above me was kind of unnerving.
I knew it got very hot in Death Valley, California but I didn't know just how hot it could get until I left my air-conditioned car and literally felt the sun cook my skin.

Death Valley National Park

While sunbathing on the beach in Barbados, I young vendor approached me and without speaking a word, started to rub some of the aloe lotion he was selling on my legs.  Mildly disturbed but not wanting to be too rude, I laughed and brushed him away stating I wasn't interested. He backed off but not without wondering if I was interested in seeing what else he had to sell.  I wasn't but he showed me anyway and I couldn't help but wonder if just looking at a pile of illegal drugs was enough to put me behind bars in a Bajan prison for the rest of my life.  Again, I politely said I wasn't interested and got up and quickly left the area without looking back.
If you plan to travel to Scotland, be prepared to pay to pee.  Have no change?  Be prepared to hold it!
Need to use a public washroom in Cuba?  It'll cost you a peso for one square of toilet paper provided by an attendant who will chase after you if you leave without paying!

Lesson Learned?  Be Prepared to be Blown Away

While unexpected negative things will happen while traveling, some of the most magnificent things happen too.  Within minutes of arriving to my hotel in Barbados, I was informed that I was the only guest at the entire complex. But that wasn't all.  I didn't just have an entire hotel to myself; within minutes of my arrival, I was handed a key to a gate that led to a private stretch of sandy beach across the street.  I initially didn't believe this was an actual private beach because all beaches are accessible to the public in Barbados.  Upon seeing this beach, I realized that I would indeed have it all to myself.  While anyone could walk onto it, the little section inside that locked gate, was guarded on both sides by sharp rocks and coral that was virtually impassable.  Imagine!  I am the only person I ever met who had en entire Caribbean beach all to myself for an entire week. Did I mention that I enjoyed home-cooked meals three times a day at that hotel?  Talk about being treated like royalty!

My very own stretch of Caribbean Beach

Anamaya Yoga Retreat in Montezuma, Costa Rica was paradise on earth.  The saltwater infinity pool overlooking the Pacific Ocean was just the start.  My room featured a bed that faced a patio with glass doors overlooking the ocean.  The first thing I saw every morning was the sun coming up over the ocean.

The Saltwater infinity pool at Anamaya

I arrived at the Arenal Observatory Lodge late in the evening and decided to relax with a late-night swim in the pool and dip in the hot tub....that I had all the myself and that had a perfect view of Arenal Volcano.  What a magical night I will never forget!

The swimming pool at the Arenal Observatory Lodge

While visiting the Mayan Ruins in Tulum, Mexico, I followed an old wood road with a sign pointing to a beach called "Playa Santa Fe".  When giant sand dunes and a little beer hut appeared in front of me, I knew I found something special; a deserted beach more beautiful than any I've ever seen before.

Playa Santa Fe in Tulum, Mexico

I was blown away by everything in Costa Rica but it was a memorable and life-changing conversation about Pura Vida I had with a young man working at a smoothie bar that really hit home! I'm telling you, you just never know what life-changing experiences you will encounter while traveling.  These memories are things I will never forget!

The smoothie that lead me to learn more about a Costa Rican way of life

Lesson Learned?  Be Prepared to be Disappointed

Just as much as you will be blown away on your travels, you will be disappointed.  You know that iconic and famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign?  Well, it's not quite as you expect in person.  For one, it's very hard to get a good picture of it because there are large crowds gathered around it at all hours of the day and night.  There was a long line-up when I was there.  I wasn't expecting that. The sign certainly looks good in pictures but in reality, it's just a regular sign on a traffic island in the middle of a large highway. Want to have your picture taken?  Better wait until the line clears and take your own unless you are prepared to pay a hefty fee to have the on-site professional take the picture for you.

The epic sign that well, isn't so epic in person

I always pictured Las Vegas as this smallish city that just appears out of the desert with a two-lane road along The Strip and ending back in the desert.  Not quite.  How about multiple lanes of traffic at all hours.

The Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada

Want to grab a bus in Cuba?  Remember that you are on Cuba Time!  Expect long waits well passed the time the bus is supposed to arrive.
While in Playa Del Carmen, I thought I would get an afternoon of shopping in.  I wasn't aware that most places close for a few hours during the mid-afternoon for Siesta.
I failed to research Waverley Station in Edinburgh, Scotland and was overwhelmed by how large the station was upon my arrival.  I spent more than an hour running around in circles trying to find my way to the street.  

Lesson Learned?  Don't listen to Online Reviews

I always read hotel and restaurant reviews and I suggest you do too.  However, only use them as a vague guideline because everyone has different tastes, different expectations and different opinions. I was excited to be staying at a top-rated resort in Varadero, Cuba.  The pictures looked beautiful, the reviews spoke of luxury amenities, lovely grounds and friendly staff.  Within five minutes of my arrival, I knew I made a mistake.  I arrived late at night and was greeted by cranky staff who were fed up dealing with wild guests acting like animals. People screaming and running around throwing things and people into the pools and smashing glass.  I was horrified.  I woke up the next day and opened my door to the site of a half-naked, drunken, passed out middle-aged man. This went on for the entire week. Fortunately, I spent most of my time off the resort where I felt much safer.
The hostel I stayed at in Barbados got terrible reviews but it was the only affordable place I could find. I was worried about what awaited me because other travelers said the staff were mean, there were dogs running around everywhere and the entire place was horrible. I arrived to a large building that was nothing like a hostel, the dogs were pets and served as both my new friends and protectors as they watched over my room the entire week. The food was incredible and the rooms were cozy and well-equipped. The place was the complete opposite of what I had read.
Almost every review I read about the food in Cuba was negative.  Every meal I had in Cuba was well-prepared and delicious....except for some of the meals served at the resort I was staying at.  In other words, if you venture away from the gated resorts, you will find delicious, authentic meals that are not buffet-quality food left out in the sun all day.

Lesson Learned? Even When Traveling Alone, you are Never Really Alone

The first time I traveled alone, I was terrified.  I wanted to go somewhere so badly but no one was available to travel.  I decided to go alone because if I wait around for everyone's schedules to align with mine, I might wait forever.  I went alone to Cuba and had a fabulous time.  I met people, I went on tours, I wandered around Varadero and Havana alone and nothing bad happened to me.
I met wonderful people on my tour of the Scottish Highlands who, upon discovering I was traveling by myself, took me under their wing and made sure I never ate alone.  I bonded with one woman in particular over late-night pizza and a rainy misadventure trying to find our bed and breakfast in a rain and wind storm.  I've traveled many times alone since and nothing bad has ever happened to me.  In fact, I now prefer to travel alone!  Yes, bad things happen but hey, they happen at home too!  Research, common sense and a keen sensitivity to those spine-tingling butterflies you get when something just doesn't seem right will go a long way in keeping you safe while traveling.
I was having trouble trying to find my hotel in Glasgow, Scotland.  I stopped at a service station to ask for directions and a nice man in a company vehicle offered to drive me there as it was quite a distance away. 
In Cuba, a teenage boy selling seashells on the beach approached me, the intriguing and approachable foreigner, on the beach and in broken Spanish, starting to inquire about my life in Canada.  He asked things about snow, my job, whether I was rich and what it was like up north.  In a mix of broken Spanish and English, I answered these questions and was greeted with a look I can only compare to one a deer might have when caught in headlights.  That's when I realized he didn't understand.  The rest of the afternoon was spent having a comical conversation via charades and sand drawings.
In Costa Rica, I enjoyed one of the most enjoyable dinners I ever had.  I entered the room alone and sat down at a table with 20 other people from all over the world who knew nothing about anyone else around the table.  Within the hour, we were eating, drinking and being merry as if we were old friends.  

Lesson Learned?  The World isn't as Bad as I was Led to Believe

If I took everything I heard on the news to heart and based my views of the world it, I wouldn't leave the house, let alone travel.  Yes, bad things are happening.  Yes it can be dangerous out there.  But no, the world is not nearly as bad as we are lead to believe.  News networks have us thinking that Mexico is a very dangerous place and they are right.  It is dangerous.  But not all areas are full of drug cartels and criminals looking to hurt tourists and the regular, local everyday people are some of the friendliest I've met on any my travels.
Before I traveled to Cuba, I was warned by others that women are not treated very well and the men are very forward and aggressive.  The only aggressiveness I experienced from Cuban men was having them approach me to shake my hand, ask where I am from and slide a pretty flower into my hair before going on their way.

Lesson Leaned?  Fear is Overrated. 

From the outside I look like a fearless, adventurer ready to tackle anything but, in reality, I experience fear just like anyone else.  I learned that the key is to not let that fear control my life so much that I never try anything new or take risks. And you know what?  Every single time I pushed my fear aside and jumped into something that scared me, I ended up having the time of my life.
While in Costa Rica, I was offered the chance to take some surfing lessons.  I always wanted to try surfing and was super excited until a few hours before my first lesson.  Fear took over and all I could think about was Jaws, undertows and rogue waves.  With some persuasion, I went in the water.  To this day, learning to surf ranks high on my list of best things I've done.  When I stood on that board and rode my first wave, I forgot all about man-eating sharks and drowning.

During that same trip, I was also offered a chance to go ziplining.  Again, excitement and than fear of falling hundreds of feet to my death or crashing into a tree at high speeds.  I did it anyway and have no regrets.
Jumping off the edge of a waterfall that same day came easy despite some fears.  And no, I didn't sink the bottom and drown or land on any rocks or break any bones.

Lesson Learned? Watch out for the Unseen Dangers

Travel should a relaxing time to let loose and be care-free but be aware of the dangers that do lurk! In Barbados, I learned the hard way that coral is not fun to walk on with bare feet!  I also learned, with almost tragic consequences, that coconuts are a common danger in Barbados and anywhere they grow.  I was taking a leisurely stroll through a public garden with tall coconut trees when that leisurely stroll was shattered by the sound of a loud crashing sound only a few feet behind where I had just stood.  I whipped around to see that a coconut had fallen and smashed on the ground, narrowly missing me and the guy walking a few feet behind me.  Had I been there a few seconds earlier, I would probably be dead.
I knew I would be staying in a remote area of Costa Rica and had I researched the wildlife of the area, I would have known that Jaguars lurk all around the area and I wouldn't have wandered alone down a wood road at twilight.  I ran for my life when something big rustled the trees next to me and it was only after I returned did the locals inform me about the presence of the big cats in the area.
In Canada, we drive on the right of the road.  In the UK, they drive on the left side.  It took nearly being hit by a bus for that to be drilled into my head!  Now, I make sure to always look BOTH ways before stepping onto the street.
Walking on the side of the road in Barbados is terrifying.  Sidewalks are almost non-existent and drivers are oblivious to tourists who are literally hanging onto tree branches on the side of the road to avoid falling into traffic.

A street in Barbados

Coming from a very small town in Atlantic Canada meant I was not used to driving on sprawling interstates like the I-15 outside of Las Vegas where I nearly got my sister and I killed trying to get into the correct lane.

Lesson Learned? Getting Sick while Traveling is an Unfortunate Reality

In Mexico, I thought I did everything to avoid ingesting the tap water.  I drank bottled water only, I asked the bartender to hold the ice cubes and closed my mouth in the shower.  I did well until I ordered an ice tea from the cafe across the street and didn't ask the barista to hold the ice cubes.  I spent 3 days of my vacation in bed, so sick I could barely stand up.  In Costa Rica I neglected to use sunscreen and drink lots of water while at the beach one day and ended up with heat exhaustion.

Lesson Learned?  Poverty and Suffering are all Around
The world is a beautiful place with beautiful people but, unfortunately, some of those beautiful people live in extreme poverty.  You will see things that will break your heart. Roofs caving in, buildings falling in on themselves, people eating from garbage cans, people walking the streets with no shoes and children asking strangers for spare change are some of the things you might encounter while walking through residential neighborhoods away from the touristy areas.  While you might be tempted to swear at or swat at an annoying street vendor, it's important to remember that they are trying to make enough money to feed themselves and their family.  Be nice and if they are selling something nice, why not buy an authentic locally-made item from a local rather than a souvenir made in some other faraway land! 

I Seriously Think Travel May have Ruined my Life

I Think Travel May have Ruined my Life....but in a Very Good Way.  Or in a very bad way depending on how you look at the way I live my life and travel in general.

I've been thinking about travel a lot lately.  Well, more than usual because I'm always thinking about travel.  Maybe I've been thinking about it more lately because it seems like it's been forever since I went anywhere outside of Canada.  Many years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would go somewhere outside of my home country at least once a year. This year, I broke that promise.  I opted for a staycation due to a number of factors, including financial limitations, work obligations and the simple fact that we had a phenomenal summer here in Atlantic Canada and I wanted to enjoy every second of it!. The furthest I went was Newfoundland for a week.  If you are not up on your Canadian geography, Newfoundland is only an hour-long flight or 6-hour ferry ride away and is right next to my home province of Nova Scotia.

But now, as I sit here on a cold winter night and come to the realization that the last time I left my comfort zone and explored a different part of the world was in September of 2016 when I went to Scotland.  That's a long time ago.  At least it is to someone who has a travel addiction and has not fed that addiction in over two years!

I may not have traveled much lately but I certainly go on a lot of adventures even if they are within two hours of my house.  I had an incredible summer and found lots of new places on Cape Breton Island and explored some unfamiliar territory.  But now that the beach days and long summer nights are long gone and winter has set in, I am thinking about all the places I have yet to see in this world.  And when I get thinking about travel and the traveling I'm not doing, my mind shifts to the travel I already did and how those adventures shaped my life.  It also makes me realize how I feel a little bit sorry for the people around me who have never traveled, have no desire to travel and will never experience the benefits of immersing oneself into a new land and a new culture.  They have no idea why I am so crazy about packing a suitcase, jumping on a long-haul flight and traipsing around a place far, far away where I know no one and have no real reason to be there.  When my brain goes into overload thinking about these things, I also get an urge to try and persuade as many people as possible to join me on an adventure so I can show them what they are missing.  I imagine myself doing this in much the same annoying way they try to persuade me to grow up, give up traveling, have a normal life and settle down. 

Over and over again, I see my friends and family making comments on social media about how some places are so dangerous to travel to and how the world is such a scary place and blah blah blah.  They berate me with stories of how women are raped and murdered when traveling alone and how terrorist attacks are becoming more frequent.  The more I roll my eyes, the more persistent they become in their quest to change me into a domestic homebody who has no desire to go anywhere except to the grocery store. 

I cant think of any negative effects travel has had on me except that I miss it like crazy when I'm not doing it.  Travel has had profound positive effects on every aspect of my life.  It has broadened my way of thinking, it has made me smarter and it has made me look at the world in a whole new way.  It frustrates me to no end how no one else sees this.  All anyone sees is me going on vacation, wasting time and procrastinating the "adulting" stage by "running away from real life".  If they only knew the positive effects travel has actually had on my adult life!  The thing is, the things I see as positive effects on my life, are actually seen as negative things by the modern society that subconsciously limits us to a robotic life that is set up before we even begin living it. If I can change just one person's mind and make them see that they don't need to be trapped in that cycle.  If I can encourage just one person to buy a plane ticket to a far away land and have them see what they are missing and how travel can positively change their life, I've done my job.  

My first real big trip as an adult was the one I took with my sister to Las Vegas.  No one batted an eye at the announcement of this trip.  I presume it was because I wasn't going alone and I was traveling to a country deemed safe in most people's eyes.  However, upon our return, I got some real funny looks and comments when I told people about how we rented a car and drove around in the desert for several days.  I realized then and there that any travels taken off the well-beaten path in unconventional manners would be frowned upon by pretty much everyone. I also soon realized that being a woman who travels alone raises a lot of eyebrows.

The fact that I am a woman who travels alone to far away places is not the only thing that gets a negative reaction from people.  I live what I consider to be a very unconventional lifestyle compared to the majority of people.  I do my own thing.  And I do it at my own pace. And a lot of the things I do revolve around planning my next big trip.  For some bizarre reason, many people have a problem with this! I don't know if they are jealous or mad because I'm not joining the herd and carrying my weight the way I am supposed to in their eyes or if they just like to try to control others.  Perhaps they are miserable in their own lives and want me to join them, but who am I to judge. I don't see anything wrong with living a minimalist lifestyle.  I don't see anything wrong with cutting certain unnecessary items out of my budget to save for a trip.  I don't see anything wrong with not having fancy ornaments and material objects around my apartment.  I don't see anything wrong with living in a small apartment!  I don't see anything wrong with turning down invites to dinners and expensive outings that I don't like participating in anyway and I don't see a problem with spending some of my hard-earned cash on something I enjoy doing. But time and time again, I am faced with insulting questions and attempts to change my life around to suit others rather than continuing on in a way that's suitable to me.

When I announce that I am going on a trip, I get two different responses: 1) "Wow that sounds fantastic, enjoy! OR 2) "You are going away again.  Where do you get the money to go on these trips?  Don't you think you should be thinking about settling down?"  The majority are in the second group, unfortunately.  First of all, due to work obligations, I only get the chance to go away on a big trip once a year.  That's not a lot.  Second of all, I tried settling down, it's not for me. Maybe I need to be paired with someone who likes to travel and live a non-materialistic lifestyle rather than spend their life keeping up with the Jones'. These people are hard to find.  I work, my chores get done, I'm responsible. I just don't get what the problem is!

The most insulting is the questions about money.  The people around me seem to have this misconception about me and money.  Either they think I am rich or I go into debt using credit cards to travel.  The reality is neither is true.  The same people who ask me how I can afford to travel are the same people who shop for new clothes every other week, smoke cigarettes, go out to expensive restaurants and clubs every weekend, gamble and buy expensive electronics and knick knacks that they don't need.  I shop for clothes once a year and more than half that shopping is done in thrift shops.  When someone invites me to go shopping, I try to think of ways to play dead or disappear as I would rather shoot myself in the left foot than spend a sunny summer day in a mall dipping into my travel fund to buy things I don't need.  Speaking of the travel fund...that's another sore spot with many people.  They are appalled that I even have this!  To them it's appalling that I would have a fund put aside for travel but none put aside for my future kids' education (meanwhile, I don't have kids and don't plan on having any) or for a down-payment on a house (what do I need a house for when I'm alone and move around so much!) I don't smoke or drink excessively and my outings on the weekend involve hiking or snowshoeing or going to the beach and I bring a picnic. I might eat at a restaurant once or twice a year.  My one trip that I take each year might cost 2000 dollars at most and that is on the higher end.  Now, If I sit down and add up all the expenses that many of the people who question me have (and yes, in my frustration and confusion, I have sat down and done the calculations), they spend THOUSANDS more on material things than I do on experiences. No material thing has done for me what my travel experiences have.  I wouldn't trade those memories and experiences for anything! And anyway, after seeing how happy many people in this world are with so little, I realized long ago that money and materials are not the key to a peaceful life.

I feel that I have everything I need and at times, I feel like I actually might have too much.  I am constantly downsizing to have more space and less things to drag around with me.  I live in a small apartment that is the perfect size for me and it's nice.  At least to me it's nice. To others?  Not so much.  I have furniture but it's older and mismatched.  I have a bed but it's well-worn and has claw marks from where my beloved kitty scratches in the middle of the night for me to pick him up and put him in the bed to cuddle with me.  I have dishes and appliances but they are not fancy, modern shiny things.  They work and do the job I need them to do and that's fine with me! I don't have lots of ornaments and pictures and pretty things scattered about because I am trying to keep my life simple and as less cluttered as possible.

My cherished possessions are my cat, my family photo albums and cherished items that belonged to my mother who has passed away.  My laptop is pretty important too as it helps me to indulge in the things i love - writing, blogging, photography and travel planning.  But when certain people come to my house, they loudly and rudely proclaim their distaste at my lifestyle. They say things like "how can you live in such a small space?" or "you know you can get matching sheets and affordable modern furniture at Wal Mart" or how about "you certainly haven't honed in on your womanly domestic instincts".  Now, I have to mention...MY APARTMENT IS CLEAN AND UNCLUTTERED WITH WOOD FLOORS AND A LOVELY KITCHEN AND COSY LIVING AREA!!  In other woods, it's far from a dump!  I have a busy, active life.  I work hard and play just as hard.  I have more important things to worry about than whether my sheets match or my towels don't have a few frays in them.  The people who make these comments to me, on the other hand, have next to no hobbies, spend all their free time cleaning and watching TV and gossiping about how they don't like the way other people live their lives. Not that that's a problem for me, everyone has their own idea of fun and are free to live their life how they want.  I wonder if it occurs to these people that I am hurting no one by living my life this way and I never make insulting comments to them about their lives.

The people around me often criticize me for being frugal and saving money for travel. I don't have a whole lot of money as it is, so I like to save a little so I can do some of the things I enjoy.  Travel happens to be one of the things I enjoy.  Why would I go shopping, eat at a restaurant, go to a movie, go out drinking or go to a casino when I don't particularly enjoy doing those things. I do them from time to time in order to spend some time with friends (even though they rarely bend and do things I enjoy...I can just imagine the reaction I would get if I suggested to have a picnic in the park rather than go to a restaurant!) and show that I am willing to be flexible.  They laugh at me when I make my own coffee at home or take my own lunch to work rather than eating out.  They roll their eyes at me when I refuse to join them at the mall for the latest sale that "can't be missed" or when I use coupons when buying groceries.  They question my sanity when I say I don't subscribe to cable, satellite, Netflix or any other television service.  They call me a cheapskate, hippie and weirdo.  They think I'm downright nuts when I work every hour of overtime that is offered to me so I can bank a little more money for my next adventure. But I can see the jealousy written all over their faces when I tell them I just booked a sunny beach vacation in the dead cold of a Maritime winter.  All those extra savings allow me to travel this vast, beautiful world of ours that I just can't get enough of. 

Travel runs my life in many ways.  Every time I do go shopping for anything, I make sure to shop where I can get points towards travel with my credit card or Airmiles. At times, I eat less, drive less and work more...all for the sake of travel.

When trying to place an event in my life on a timeline, I often use a trip I took as the reference point.  That's how important travel is to me.  The trips I've taken have all had major impacts on my life and have become important milestones in my timeline.  When I'm not traveling, I'm thinking about travel, writing about travel, trying to come up with ways to travel and trying to convince others to travel more.

If you have never taken a trip outside your home country, I strongly urge you to do so ASAP.  I can't express enough how important it is for us to indulge in new cultures, have a change of scenery once and a while and see new places.  Getting out of the safe zone and venturing out into the big, bad world makes it seem a lot less big and bad.  But don't blame me if you get hooked.  It happens to most travelers who just can't get enough of the beauty of this planet and its people.

The travel bug has certainly messed with my head but in so many good ways!  It has turned my life upside down, changed my perspective, changed my view of the world and everything around me and has made me a better person in more ways than I can count.  I don't see any international trips in my immediate future except in my dreams where I will dream about the next time I roll out my trusted old suitcase and board a plane to yet another far away land. 

A Book Review - How to Travel the World on $50 A Day

How to Travel the World on $50 A Day
By Matt Kepnes

I just finished reading this book and, I must say, it was quite informative. The title of the book makes it sound like it is geared towards travelers who want to do a single trip around the world. However, even though I am not particularly interested in traveling all around the world in one trip, the book is broken down into sections that explain how you can save money on every continent and in various countries and cities in multiple trips if you so choose.

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter


The book included a number of chapters concerning valuable information for travelers including:
-Getting Over Your Fears
-Is Travel Really Too Expensive
-Banking Overseas
-Getting the Right Credit Card
-Airline Tickets
-Buying a Backpack
-Travel Insurance
-Get a Travel Discount Card
-What to do with your Stuff
-The Savings Mind-set
-Tips for Saving Money on Accommodations
-Tips for Saving Money of Food and Beverages
-Tips for Saving Money on Transportation
-Tips for Saving Money on Activities


The book continues into another series of chapters on various continents with sub-chapters on various countries located on those continents and breaks down costs for virtually everything in every location including meals, hostels, hotels, activities and transportation. The reader also discovers which countries are the most expensive and which ones are the cheapest.


After reading this book, I have come to realize that my fears about long-term travel have been ill-founded. I can now see that it is more possible than I ever dreamed and is something that is completely achievable in my lifetime…and that is good news because it is something I have always planned to do, it’s just that now I have a clearer vision of how I will make that happen!

This book is perfect for any traveler whether you are planning to travel to just one country, planning to explore an entire continent or embarking on an epic around the world journey. Trust me, you will be inspired to sell your belongings, pack your bags and embark on that once-in-a-lifetime trip you have been dreaming about for years!

Unique Accommodations Around the World

I love to travel and I am always looking for unique things to see and do and ways to save money so I can travel more. One of the things I have researched in my travel planning is unique places to stay. When most people think of accommodations, they think regular, run-of-mill hotels, motels, resorts, inns and bed and breakfasts. Not that there is anything wrong with these places, its just that I and many other travelers out there like to be a little more adventurous and prefer to stay in places that most people wouldn’t even know exist. I’ve come across a number of unique places to stay in my travels and in my trip research over the years and have compiled a list to share with other travelers.

10. Quebec City, Canada can get mighty cold in the dead of winter and the first thing anyone wants to do while visiting the city during those months is find a warm, cozy hotel and snuggle up next to a warm fire. Wrong. Many people actually seek out The Hotel de Glace or Ice Hotel as it is known in English and it is growing in popularity with people from all over the world making reservations during the four months of the year it is open. The hotel itself is made of ice that is, on average, four feet thick and even the furniture and dinnerware is made of ice. The hotel holds a nightclub, movie theater, heated washrooms and outdoor hot tubs.

9. Not many people think of taking a vacation somewhere colder than where they live but little do many people know, there is a thriving tourism industry in northern regions, particularly in northern Canada, and many travelers are choosing to go North for a unique travel experience rife with culture, spectacular scenery, the Northern Lights and snow. Staying in a hotel is always an option no matter where you travel but hotels are the same all over the world and are not a great way to experience a new place or culture. Many adventurous travelers to Northern regions prefer to stay in Igloos. The website innsnorth.com offers information on booking an igloo for your stay and there is an entire Igloo Village in Iceland that is open to travelers looking for a unique place to stay. These igloos are comfortable and warm and allow visitors to get a taste of what daily life is like in these very cold, northern regions.

8. A lot of people who have never been to Costa Rica think that the images of tree houses in the rainforest is just a marketing ploy to get potential visitors thinking the place is like something out of The Pirates of the Caribbean. But in reality, tree houses are a common site in the country and not only do some people actually live in them, there is a tree house hotel in La Fortuna. The hotel has private tree houses on-site. Most of the amenities and services that are available at other hotels are available and each tree house has a full bathroom, air conditioning, refrigerator, safe and balcony. Tree house hotels are becoming increasingly popular around the world with similar properties located in Nicaragua, Sweden, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, France, Brazil, The United States and China.

7. Almost every child envisions what it would be like to stay in a castle and little do they and most adults know, Europe is home to most of the world’s castles and many of them are open to the public and available for overnight accommodations. Hotel de la Cite in France, Swinton Park in England, Schloss Hotel Igls in Austria, Ashford Castle in Ireland and Castel Parrona in Italy are just a few of the Castles one can stay in while traveling in Europe. Castles that have been transformed into hotels are also located in other parts of the world. If you are looking for a unique experience steeped in history and old-world charm, there is no better place to stay than in a centuries-old castle. However, if ghosts and things that go bump in the night are something you would rather avoid, than you are best to avoid staying in certain castles as many of them are said to be haunted by previous owners.

6. When some people think of camping, they think of family outings to a campground close to home where they pitch a tent and sing and roast marshmallows around a fire. Camping is not just a North American phenomenon; it’s a common activity everywhere and there are campgrounds all over the world. That being said, have you ever considered scrapping the idea of staying in a hotel and roughing it at a campground or in the backcountry of your destination? Camping is cheap, it’s widely available and most campgrounds have at least all the basic services needed to sustain a decent living on the road. Many campgrounds are located in rural, scenic areas on the outskirts of cities and towns and camping offers travelers a more local experience because it will be easier to meet local people and you will get a better feel for the place because you won’t be surrounded by tourists and touristy things that come with staying in hotels and resorts.

5. We spend our lives trying to stay out of jail but some tourists who travel to Ottawa, Canada, seek out the Ottawa Jail Hostel. Hostels are located all over the world and offer a unique experience in themselves but this hostel takes it a bit further. It actually was, at one time, an actual prison that now offers both dorm rooms and private rooms to budget-seeking travelers of all ages.

4. Native American history is interesting and it goes back further than any other recorded human history in North America. You can learn a lot by visiting museums and attending cultural events but the best way to immerse yourself in Native American culture is to stay in a teepee in an area populated by native Americans. Most of these accommodations are located in Western Canada but there are some located in areas of the United States as well. Staying in a teepee is a sure way to learn what the lives of pre-colonial natives were like and learn more about their intriguing story, past and present.

3. Lighthouses are becoming a rare sight in many coastal areas because they are no longer needed with all the new navigation technologies that are available. Many lighthouses are now being torn down or are falling apart from neglect but fortunately, many of them have been turned into accommodations for travelers seeking a unique place to stay. One thing that is guaranteed when staying in a lighthouse? You will always have a million dollar view of the ocean and surrounding coastline. The architecture is also unique and that is something that catches the attention of many people and you will experience what it must have been like for the lighthouse keepers of the past who spent most of their lives living in such accommodations as part of their job.

2. When all else fails and you still don’t want to resort to staying in a hotel or motel (whether it be for financial reasons or other reasons), you can always sleep in airports, train stations and ferry and bus terminals. I’ve slept in every airport I have ever been in and no one seemed to care. I’ve also slept in ferry, bus and train terminals but have come across some that frown upon the cheapskates who don’t want to pay for a hotel room! If you plan to try your luck at sleeping in one of these places, I will warn you that it takes some skill. These places can be noisy, cold and brightly lit. Make sure to have a blanket and pillow, some clean clothes to change into in the morning, some snacks and water for when the concessions close and some travel toiletries to wash up with in the bathroom sink because showers are rare in these places. Carefully select your sleeping area by choosing a place that will most likely be darker than other areas after hours. Stay away from windows because they tend to be cold and keep your belongings as close to you as possible at all times. The main bonus about sleeping in these places is you are always close to food and coffee, there is usually free Wifi throughout the building and there are tons of new people to meet that can make for some interesting conversation…or you may make a new friend or find the perfect travel buddy!

1. Couchsurfing is basically what it sounds like; sleeping on available couches in homes around the world. I know it sounds like something more suited to younger people are backpackers but this travel trend is becoming more and popular with all kinds of travelers of all ages. It’s a great way to meet new people and be immersed in a new culture and, often times, these local hosts will show you around and introduce you to places that are off the beaten track. There is no better way to see and do things that you normally wouldn’t have access to while embarking on a guided tour or staying at a resort.

The Solo Traveler’s Hand Book - A Book Review

The Solo Traveler’s Hand Book

Janice Leith Waugh

The prospect of traveling alone can be an intimidating and scary thought especially when traveling to a place you have never been to before or traveling to a place where no one speaks the same language as you or there are real and present dangers. But, as the author of The Solo Traveler’s Handbook points out, traveling alone can be one of the greatest things one can do in life.

The Solo Traveler's Handbook: For Those Who Love And Those Who Long To Go Solo


Although this book only contains 116 pages, the information packed inside its small package makes you think you are reading an encyclopedia-size book covering every topic imaginable on a subject of high importance for independent travelers. Some of the topics covered in the book include:

-tips on getting started on a solo journey
-best places to go solo
-money management tips (including ways to save money for an upcoming trip and ways to save money while traveling).
-culture shock
-packing
-packaged travel vs. independent solo travel
-how to avoid the single supplement
-how to beat loneliness on the road
-safety
-self portrait photography
-potential dangers one may face

Also included are some personal solo travel stories from the author and several other travelers and a ton of resources. So, as you can see, The Solo Traveler’s Handbook is a must read for anyone thinking of traveling alone but also for any traveler seeking new tips on how to make their trips safer and more enjoyable.

Why I love to Travel – The Vague and not so Vague Reasons

One of my resolutions for the near future is to travel more. I have always wanted to travel and have done my fair share of traveling but I would like to see so many more places. That is my vague reason for wanting to travel more. The reasons behind my desire to see more of the world are much deeper than just wanting to see new places.

I always knew I was different from everyone else. Even as a child while the other children were indoors watching cartoons or playing with toys, I was always outdoors exploring new nooks and crannies around the neighborhood and trying new things. Many of the other kids thought I was weird and eccentric for not being “normal” like the rest of them but I simply did not get any enjoyment out of sitting in front of the television or playing with dolls. I preferred scaling the cliffs near the beach in search of a new viewpoint from which to see the neighborhood and surrounding area, digging for dinosaur bones at the gravel pits behind the ball field, seeking new trees to climb or getting lost on the old wood trails in the forest behind my house. Sometimes the other kids joined me, other times, I wandered off on my own in search of new adventures. I learned from an early age that if I was going to do the things I enjoyed and not live my life according to what everyone else was doing, I would need to learn to do those things on my own. Some people might call me a bit of a loner; I prefer the term independent.

Now that I am older, I still love to embark on the odd adventure except now my adventures go way beyond my backyard and the gravel pits down the street. My love of travel started at a young age after my parents took my sisters and I on a month-long trip along the Eastern Seaboard from Maine to Florida. Since I have been out on my own, I try to make the best use of my talents as an escape artist and go on at least one big trip to another country every year. It started with road trips within Canada and the United States and graduated to all-inclusive Caribbean vacations. I love road trips but the all-inclusive experience (with the non-stop boozing and spending an entire week within the confines of a fancy resort) was lost on me so now, this spring, I am celebrating my love of independent travel with a solo backpacking trip in Central America. I won a trip to spend a week at a yoga/adventure retreat in Montezuma, Costa Rica and instead of just hopping on a plane and heading home when the week ends, I am setting out on the backpacker trail into Panama and other surrounding countries. Am I scared? A bit. I’m not really sure what to expect or which way to go or where I will end up but I am up for the challenge. Am I excited? You bet I am! This upcoming adventure has had me thinking about why I would prefer to travel this way. It also has me thinking about all the great things I learned about my past travels and all the things I can learn in my future travels. Travel has lots of benefits and I have witnessed those benefits first-hand in the past and I know what the benefits of this upcoming trip and any other future trips I take will be. Travelers who spend a week on an all-inclusive resort every year and never venture beyond the metal gates of their home-away-from-home to meet the locals and see how they live will probably not know what I am talking about. The benefits they gain from their trips are obvious; a week on the beach, a non-stop party, relaxation, prepared meals, safety in a foreign country that could otherwise be dangerous and a suntan. The benefits of real, off-the-beaten track travel are obvious to travelers like me who crave adventure, culture, new learning opportunities and the unknown beyond that metal gate.

As someone who often wonders what it would be like to just sell everything and set out with my backpack and explore the world indefinitely (and yes, it has crossed my mind many times), it is only natural that I spend a significant amount of my free time dreaming about, researching about, writing about and planning my next trip. Because I have a full-time job and other obligations to fulfill here at home, I have not been able to just toss that all away to travel the world but I make a point to take a couple of trips somewhere knew every year and even that gets people talking. I hear it all and most of it is negative. People ask me questions such as “where do you get the money to do all this traveling”, “aren’t you afraid you will be kidnapped or murdered traveling alone to these far flung places”, “shouldn’t you be thinking about settling down with a family and a house by now instead of wandering about”, “don’t you have a job and goals for the future” and so on and so on. Are these people jealous? Perhaps. Are they judgmental of my choices? Possibly. Are they misunderstanding the whole point of my choices and why travel is so important to me? Most likely. Many people in this “developed” society believe that they are free to make their own choices and live their life the way they want but most of them graduate school, go to college or get a job immediately after, get married, buy a house, have kids and live life every day as a sleep, eat, work, plant their butts in front of the TV for a few hours and repeat hamster wheel until they die. That doesn’t sound very free to me but it is their choice and I do not question their choices, so why all the negative reactions to mine? I feel free when I travel. I learn about the world around me when I travel. I learn about different cultures. I learn about how different people in other places are from me but also how similar they are. So with all the positive things that come from seeing and experiencing the world around me, why are so many people against me doing it?

I believe my current views of humanity stem from a number of things including the fact that I have traveled to other countries and witnessed how other cultures go on with their day-to-day lives. Here in the developed world, everything is done for us. Life is structured. We go to school, we graduate, we go to college, we get a job, we make money, we start a family, we retire. When we need something, we go to the supermarket and pick it up with the money we earn from working. If we find ourselves unemployed, we get unemployment insurance. If we don’t feel like working, there is social assistance there to fall back on if that is your sort of thing. People in lesser-developed countries do not have a lot of these options and many of them are so poor they make do with what little they can carry on their backs. And you want to know what is so ironic about that? Some of the poorest people I have met are also the happiest.

I’ve seen people begging in the streets. I’ve had people try to sell the clothing off their backs for extra money to buy food. I met people who had to hitchhike or walk many miles to jobs that barely put food on the table. I’ve come across entire villages whose inhabitants relied solely on the land to provide the necessities of everyday life. I witnessed men building highways by hand in sweltering heat for 16 hours a day. I’ve met people with extraordinary talents in the arts selling their work for mere pennies on the street. I have seen people having to go through things that would probably make most of us here in the developed world give up entirely…but yet they still smile, they still laugh and they maintain a level of friendliness, honesty, care and love toward their fellow man that I rarely witness here at home. The lack of selfishness is astounding and it is not uncommon to see someone with almost nothing share the last bit of something he has with another and expect nothing in return. Many of the people I’ve met in these supposed “lesser developed” countries are stronger, both mentally and physically, than anyone I know here at home. They also work harder for less and hardly ever complain.

I recall an event that occurred while I was walking on a beach along the Riviera Maya in Mexico. It was a beautiful beach but once I noticed that it was blocked off with a fence to keep the locals out, I no longer felt like I should be there. After all, the local people had more right to be on that beach than I did. None of the other tourists seemed to care and seemed happy to keep the local people on the other side of the fence. I approached that fence and watched as barefoot children fished with crude fishing poles and adults tended to a fire nearby. They laughed, they hugged, the carried on…they looked happy despite being obviously very poor. I turned around and looked at the tourist side of the beach to see weathered-looking faces dressed in expensive clothing, walking in the surf but not enjoying it like you would think they should. That is when it hit me; the “poor” locals on the other side of the fence, the ones laughing and carrying on while preparing to eat their dinner on that lovely evening were having a grandeur time than the tourists who probably go back to their hotel rooms and work from their laptops all evening while not even speaking to their travel mates before spending a few hours dressing in their evening best to go and sit in a stuffy restaurant and eat expensive food. Hmmmm….which would I prefer? Dinner on the beach consisting of freshly caught fish or an expensive, stuffy restaurant? The choice would be easy for me.

I admit, I like technology…some of it. I have a smart phone, a laptop and an Ipod. My smart phone is used for texting, taking pictures when I forget my camera and updating my tweets and Facebook statuses. I do not have internet capabilities on it or none of those other needless bells and whistles. My laptop is for research, checking email and writing. I can’t live without music so that is where my Ipod comes in. And I don’t own a television. That’s right. No TV…period. I have not owned one in years and I don’t miss it one bit. People laugh and poke fun at me when I tell them I do not have all this technology and they laugh even harder when they discover that I don’t watch TV. When I try to explain to them why I choose this lifestyle, it goes way beyond their comprehension and way over their heads. I have way too much to do and I am way too busy enjoying my life to sit in front of a box or spend my time playing games or tinkering around with useless gadgets that do nothing to enhance my life. I’m not sure where my distaste for too much technology comes from but I imagine it partially has to do with my travels to places where most of the technologies we have here are virtually non-existent. Take Cuba for example. During my week-long stay in Cuba, it was hard and expensive to make a local call to a nearby resort where my sister was staying let alone send an email. A call on a land-line phone cost me almost fifteen dollars and the service was sketchy at best and an email I sent to my sister in Calgary took more than a half hour to send because the internet was slower than dial-up. I didn’t see any of the locals with cell phones, children were not sitting in front of televisions and texting one another from across the room, no one carried laptops around and Ipods were something most of them had never heard of. When I go about my daily grind here in Canada, all I see are people typing away on laptops and texting one another. In Cuba, people talked to one another face-to-face, they interacted, they spent time with family and it would be considered highly rude to take out a laptop or cell phone at the dinner table or speak with the boss during what should be a day off to spend time with the family. I admired this way of life. It was simple and it was so satisfying to know that there were still people left in the world who put family and the simple pleasures of living at the forefront.

When I travel, I see things the way they are meant to be. I don’t believe we are meant to live the way we do in this developed world. In the lesser developed regions of the world I have traveled, everyone works for the overall growth of the entire community rather than just for themselves. Some of these hard-working people have been through some very hard times and still, they never give up. Even the most hardened individuals I have met still remain true to themselves and the people around them. They still smile through it all and they never hesitate to help someone else through similar hardships. I witnessed this myself when countless people I had never met (many of whom had no possessions) dropped whatever it was they were doing to help me in any way they could. Whether it be to offer me a place to stay for the night, a meal or directions to the next town, they were willing to help me, a stranger, in any way they could.

So, in the end, why do I travel? I travel because I like to escape from the rat race and to know how it feels to be truly free and a part of the bigger picture that is the world. I travel to learn about cultures that are different from my own. I travel to see how other people live and go about their daily lives. I travel to see the spectacular wonders of the world. I travel because of the unforgettable feeling I get when I step off a plane into a new world of possibilities I can explore. I travel to put things into perspective because traveling has made me realize that there is so much more to this life than just accumulating material items and living each day the same as the last. And most importantly, I travel because I want to and because I feel it is my duty as a citizen of this world to see as much of it as possible and to meet as many of its inhabitants as possible. I travel because I can and I will continue to do so!

The Lost Girls - A Book Review

The Lost Girls – Three Friends, Four Continents, one unconventional detour around the world…

Authors – Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett and Amanda Pressner


If you have ever wanted to just walk away from current your life and trade it all in for a backpack to travel around the world, this book will certainly provide enough inspiration to encourage you to live that dream!

I received this book as a birthday present a few months ago and just got around to reading it recently. Anyone close to me knows that I love to travel but sometimes things get in the way and stop me from doing as much traveling as I would like. Reading The Lost Girls helped me realize that nothing is really in the way if I really want something. After all, the book does center around three young, successful women with careers, relationships and lives in New York City who put it all aside and risk losing it all in order to go on a year-long adventure around the world.

Throughout that year long adventure, Jennifer, Holly and Amanda experience the good and the bad that can occur while on a long-term trip. Through the bad (failed love, sickness, horrible sleeping conditions just to name a few), they still manage to finish the trip to the bitter-sweet end even though the worries of how life will be after the trip was always on the back of their minds. Through the good (unforgettable experiences, new friends and newfound outlooks on life) these three women formed an unbreakable bond of friendship that only people who travel together long-term could ever understand. Travel is one of the most fulfilling and educational things we can do in our lives and three women, through this wonderfully written book, certainly give us more reasons to believe that and I for one have learned a lot from The Lost Girls and have already started plans for my next big adventure abroad!

If you are like me and love to travel and want to travel more but are either afraid or think your life circumstances will not allow you to do so, than this book just might be the inspiration you need to pack those bags and see the world while you still can!