Wanderlust and Lipstick Newsletter - September, 2007

September, 2007

Dear Traveler,

September is the time when families head back home from their vacations, the kiddies go back to school and you and I can start planning our travels for the shoulder season. This is the time to enjoy lower priced hotels and flights and, just as importantly, fewer crowds at popular destinations.

Pack a little extra patience as customer service in the airline industry seems to be tanking; treat yourself to a novel you haven’t given yourself time to read; and hop that flight to your dream destination ASAP.

Bhutan Trip Update

The Bhutan trip in April is 1/3 full at this point. If you’re still interested in this 12-day tour, please contact me and I’ll forward along the full itinerary. This trip promises to be a very special journey into the heart of the Himalayas. Bhutan, a Buddhist country nestled in between India and China, had only 18,000 visitors in all of 2006. Please join us in 2008 and count yourself among an exclusive group of travelers! Email beth at WanderlustAndLipstick dot com

Share the Love
Each day, new Wanderlusters are being introduced to this newsletter and to my website because people like you are spreading the word. You are an integral part in helping grow our community and I personally thank you! Please continue to share the love by telling your friends and family about Wanderlust and Lipstick - kindly forward this email and I will be most grateful for the support.

More Wander Blogs
In August, Anne joined the Wander Blog community with her blog, TravelTracks. Covering world music from one end of the earth and back, she reviews world music, both new and classic. As a freelance food and travel writer, Anne infuses a special sense of place and humor into her recommendations.

If you, too, are interested in blogging about your favorite travel-related subject, let me know!

Wanderlust and Lipstick Review
Karla Mass from McClatchy Interactive News wrote a lengthy review about Wanderlust and Lipstick as well as a Q&A that ran in 31 papers across the country.

She wrote:
“…what sets this guide apart from all the others are the entertaining anecdotes from several courageous women. Every traveler has a story, and the author includes her very own humorous, but sometimes risky adventures.”

You can read the full review here.

Wander Gear from Cafe Press
Shop early and often at Wanderlust and Lipstick’s Cafe Press shop for the latest in fun Wander Gear featuring the Wanderlust and Lipstick logo. If you enjoy being a Wanderluster, you can choose from many items including a hoodie, thong underwear or a coffee mug. Consider purchasing for a friend as we head into the holiday buying season!

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Wander Recommendations

Travel Book
Madam, Have You Ever Really Been Happy? by Meg Noble Peterson - Meg is the epitome of the intrepid traveler. Having wandered around the world on her frequent flyer miles, Meg hasn’t stopped in 20 years. This book chronicles her first travels as she treks through Nepal, sings with Maasai warriors and fends off Indian men who are eager to make her “happy”. What I love most about this book is the way she shares conversations and stories about the people she meets.

World Music
Triplets of Belleville Soundtrack - While I’ve owned this CD since late last year and saw the film years ago, it’s cool factor moved up on my scale when it was playing at the tattoo parlor/piercing salon when I got my nose ring last week. It’s from a not-to-be missed, feel-good French movie that you can’t help but tap your toes to.

World Film
100% Arabica with Cheb Mami and Khaled - This is the story of an enclave of Arabs living on the outskirts of Paris. Torn between traditional Islamic life and the world of modern music and dance, this is an insightful peek into the differences between these two worlds. While this is not a polished flick, I enjoyed the storyline and music from two of the Arab world’s most popular singers.

Hot Travel Tip
A Somali woman I recently met shared with me her advice for safe road travel. As a Muslim who wears a traditional headscarf, she is wary of men (including police), when she travels. Her job as an interpreter requires that she drive long distances sometimes. She’s learned to carry a pen and paper in her car. On the few occasions that she’s been pulled over by the police (for speeding), she has stopped her car, written a note and shown it to the officer through the window. She explains that because she’s alone she wants to confirm his badge number and then calls the local police to make sure that he is indeed an officer. She added that the officers are very understanding.

New Subscribers
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Til next month,

Happy Travels!

Beth