Happy summer, Wanderluster!
First, a bit of shameless self promotion: I’ve been nominated as one of the Best Budget Travel Bloggers by USA Today. While I normally don’t go in for these voting contests, I was convinced by friends this would be a great thing for the site and our fab bloggers. 20 people were nominated (including Arthur Frommer and Rick Steves) and I’m now NUMBER 4! Please help me hit #1 by voting once a day until Aug 11 – you don’t even need to provide your email address. You didn’t hear it from me but you can vote on multiple devices, too 🙂
In travel news…I’m off to Papua New Guinea tomorrow with a full group headed to the Mt. Hagen SingSing. I’m sure it will be another trip that will leave me speechless (in which case I’ll share photos when I return). If you’re intrigued at all by this destination, why not join us in 2015!? The tour is already half full so register today to ensure your spot!
I’ve been spending weekends training for the Snowman Trek by hiking in the Seattle area and am feeling better day by day about taking on this epic trip. As we say around here, Be Bold! I won’t be writing during the trek but you’ll hear plenty from me this fall.
JUST ANNOUNCED!
We’ve JUST posted the Seattle Culinary Tour for 2015. This is already starting to fill and will sell out, ladies, so get registered today!
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***WanderTours***
SNOWMAN TREK |
NORTHERN THAILAND AND LAOS HILL TRIBE CULTURAL TOUR (women-only) November 1 – 13, 2014 SOLD OUT! WAITING LIST ONLY. See the full itinerary ________ |
MYANMAR (BURMA) |
VIETNAM AND |
NEW ORLEANS CULINARY TOUR (women-only) May 10 – 14, 2015 ALREADY 1/3 FULL! See the full itinerary _______ |
SANTA FE CULINARY TOUR (women-only) June 3 – 7, 2015 ALREADY 1/2 FULL! See the full itinerary _______ |
 SEATTLE |
 PAPUA NEW GUINEA |
BALI AND JAVA TOUR (women-only) September 15 – 29, 2015 SOLD OUT! WAITING LIST ONLY. See the full itinerary _______ |
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Congratulations to Cathy from Montensano, WA. She’s a new subscriber to the Wanderlust and Lipstick Newsletter and won a Noe Short Sleeve Shirt from Royal Robbins ($55 value) simply by subscribing.
Yay for Cathy!
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This month we’re giving away a Diane Travel Jacket from Anatomie Apparel ($265 value).
You have two ways to win! Subscribe:
1) Wanderlust and Lipstick Newsletter
2) My RSS Feed
Sign up for both and you get two chances to win! See details here.
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**New WanderBloggers**
Arielle Parris
Hailing from the city that never sleeps, writer and traveler Arielle escaped the hustle and bustle of the East Coast via a cross-country cycling trip and never looked back. She is happiest testing her legs with long-distance cycling escapades, wandering glacier-capped mountains and finding bikes to rent every time she touches down in a new city. Travel along and enjoy tips, tricks and cycling motivation from this pedal-powered adventurer at WanderSpokes.
Alex Schnee
An avid coffee-drinker/travelholic, Alex Schnee has been through 13 countries in Europe, all without spilling her cappuccino. She’s a freelance writer with a passion for meeting new people, and hopes to share a love of travel, possibility and adventure with the rest of Generation Y. She’s the author of Shakespeare’s Lady, and she made the promise never to sing Italian karaoke at four in the morning ever again. It happened again a week later. Follow her adventures at Gen Y Wanderer.
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Wander Recommendations
On the Bookshelf
National Parks of the United States
by National Geographic
Inspired by all the hiking I’ve been doing over the last six months, I thought it might be good to give a plug to this book from Nat Geo. We’re truly fortunate to have so much protected wilderness in our backyards and this book covers our 58 National Parks. Such a great buy if you’re doing any roadtripping this summer.
In the iPod
Rough Guide to Music of the Sahara
This CD fuels my desire to go to the Festival in the Desert near Timbuktu, Mali. Unfortunately, instability in this region has made going a bit tenuous. One day I will get there. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the music of the Sahara through this CD which features top notch artists such as Etran Finatawa, Toureg De Fewet and both Toureg and Wodaabe Women. A second disc features Mamane Barka.
In the DVD
Mile Mile and a Half
I loved this independent documentary about a group of friends who traverse the 210-mile long John Muir Trail in California. This is a super fun movie that’s well put together. It’ll likely have you inspired to follow your own outdoor adventure (Snowman Trek anyone?).
WanderGear Review
Snow Peak Camping Gear
Snow Peak items are not your usual camping gear. These are innovative and high quality products meant to last a generation or more. I will be bringing two (including the Hozuki Lantern pictured right) with me during the Snowman Trek in September. Read more here…
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Did you vote yet?
Don’t forget to help Wanderlust and Lipstick by voting for me as Best Budget Travel Blogger. You can vote daily until August 11 and, so I’ve heard, you can vote on multiple devices 🙂
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Parting Words
“What is behind you is forgotten. You can’t remember danger and difficulty when it is behind you.” ~ Wanda Rutkiewicz
Til next month…
Travel Well!
Beth
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