wanderlust and lipstick Newsletter - March, 2007
Dear Traveler,
I’ve been back from India a month and already I’m daydreaming about my next journey! This includes weekend getaways to the Oregon coast and to the beautiful mountains of Washington State as well as my far bigger trip (which I’m leading) to China in September. Articles about the Great Wall, specialty Chinese teas and the hidden hutongs (ancient city alleys) in Beijing have all found their way to my “China” file folder.
If you’d like to join me in China, you can find information about the program here or email me for a detailed PDF brochure. Early registration will save you some bucks and will allow you to schedule extra days for your own exploration at the end of the tour. Call this a sort of trade mission/cultural exchange as we will dive deep into China’s hidden charms in the tea industry including cultivation, processing, tasting and purchasing (for both personal and commercial use). I’m over-the-top excited about this first-class trip which is organized through World Trade & Exchanges, Inc. This is sure to be the trip of a lifetime for participants!
Thanks to all who have already purchased my book, Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo. For those who haven’t picked up a copy yet, be sure to support your local independent bookstore by visiting one near you and requesting your very own copy. While I’m happy to have some major chains and Amazon carrying my book, indie stores need your support to stay afloat. They help our communities stay diverse and unique.
And speaking of independent stores… if you live in the Seattle area, please come see me at one of my speaking engagements in April. You can find a complete list on my website.
If you’ve already purchased my book and like what you’ve read, feel free to add a review on Amazon. Not only do potential buyers read these reviews, but it’s not uncommon for stores, libraries, newspapers and magazines to check Amazon before making a decision to bring the book into their store or including a review in their publication.
If you’d like an autographed copy of Wanderlust and Lipstick, you can order directly through me by downloading a PDF order form. This month only I’m offering free shipping to newsletter subscribers!
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Each monthly newsletter contains recommendations for a travel book, world music, a movie recommendation and perhaps a word or two of wisdom from the road.
Book Recommendation
Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah Macdonald. I listened to the audio book version of Holy Cow while in India and loved every bit of it. You might think that to LIVE the Indian experience (as I did during my journey) and then to fall asleep to an audio description of your day might be torture. However, Sarah does an excellent job of presenting her India as a wild, wacky world of contrasts and crazy-making. She spent two years there with her boyfriend (and ultimately husband) who was assigned to Delhi as a journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Her descriptions, though a bit too detailed, are spot-on. Whether you are IN India, plan to travel there, or are simply interested in the country (or really ANY developing nation), you are sure to get a kick out of this book. The audio, by the way, is read by an Aussie, which makes it that much more captivating to my American ears.
World Music
A Meeting by the River with Ry Cooder and VM Bhatt. Though a talented guitarist in his own right, Ry Cooder has become well-known as a sort of musicologist, collaborating with talented musicians from around the world (he was behind the Buena Vista Social Club’s release). One such collaboration led him to Indian musician VM Bhatt. This 1993 release won a Grammy for Best World Music album and was recorded in one evening, without rehearsal, and with VM on a modified instrument he calls a mohan vina (a cross between a slide guitar and a classical Indian instrument). This CD is a hair-raising masterpiece that should be listened to with headphones so as to catch all the details and subtleties.
World Film
Blood Diamond with Leonardo DiCaprio. Call me a sucker for a guy in an accent but Leonardo does an excellent job in this movie as a diamond smuggler in war-torn Sierra Leone. He’s not a “good” guy, but he makes no apologies about it and you do end up liking him regardless of his reckless and unethical ways. On the Blood Diamond website, there are some really interesting areas to check out including its information on conflict diamonds and links to photos from the region. See the movie. Make wise choices.
Hot Travel Tip
PacSafe makes a variety of bags and luggage accessories designed to keep your items secure while you travel. Their eXomesh high-tensile stainless steel cover wraps around your backpack or bag(s) and protects them from anyone who might try to slash, open or otherwise pilfer your contents. You can also consider using their Metrosafe bag that includes a slashproof adjustable shoulder strap. I carried one of these around with me through India and felt very safe from potential thieves. It held my camera and Lonely Planet guide as well as many smaller items such as cash and lip balm. My one complaint is that the only available colors aren’t very girly. Not that I’m prissy, but the black and gray colors could have used some spicing up.
New Subscribers
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Til next month,
Happy Travels!
Beth