Happy New Year!

Holy Mackerel, Wanderlusters! Passports with Purpose ended with a bang, raising nearly $7,500 to benefit Heifer International. THANK YOU to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket, donated a prize and helped spread the word to make PwP such a huge success! A very special nod to Michelle Duffy, Debbie Dubrow and Pam Mandel who were my partners on this amazing adventure. We can’t WAIT for PwP in 2009.

DON’T FORGET! January’s the last month to enter the Intrepid Machu PichuTravel contest. You can win a

15-day trip in South America valued at $2,000. Simply submit a (well-written) travel story and our panel of judges will choose a Grand Prize winner as well as 8 Best in Category winners who will receive either a travel bag from Timbuk2 or a SteriPEN water purifier.

Enter early. Enter often. Tell your friends!

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Wanderlust and Lipstick Tours

Dreaming of Bhutan or India? Join a tour, bond with other Wanderlusters and experience some of the most interesting places on earth.

NEARLY SOLD OUT! In April ‘09, I’ll be leading another small group on an amazing 12-day to BHUTAN. This women-only tour will include some very special opportunities to meet the beautiful Bhutanese people. We’ll take a cooking class, visit a nunnery and donate books to school children. Here’s your chance to travel with other WanderGals and experience one of the world’s emerging travel destinations. See more details.

(Psst, this trip slid in before the  government raised its tariff so you can still get a deal on this WanderTour.)

Award winning photographer, Brenda Tharp, will be leading a photography tour to Bhutan in the fall of ‘09. The Himalayas are your backdrop as you capture images of the harvest season (wheat and chili peppers) and cultural festivals. Included are light treks and visits to monasteries, all while you have the opportunity to learn from a professional photographer and experienced tour guide. See the full itinerary.

Details for the women-only trip to India have been finalized for the fall of ‘09. A small group will join me as we visit some of India’s most iconic locations including the Taj Mahal and the ghats of Varanasi as well as festivals such as Diwali and the Pushkar Camel Fair.

Not to be missed for any woman considering travel to this part of the world!

Just Announced! Join this co-ed Buddhism-focused trip to Bhutan and Dharamsala, India in the fall of ‘09 (immediately following the women-only India trip). Take part in a meditation class, meet His Holiness Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye, hear lectures on Buddhism and visit the Haa Valley, until recently closed to tourists. Join both the India and Bhutan trip for a discount! See the full itinerary.

For a visual journey of Bhutan, visit my WanderGallery.

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December Contest Winner!

Last month’s contest winner for sharing the love by forwarding the Wanderlust and Lipstick newsletter to the most people was Kim F. Congratulations, Kim, you win a Wanderlust 3-pack – a copy of all 3 books from Wanderlust and Lipstick – Yippee!

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Share the Wanderlust Love – Win a Wanderlust 3-Pack!
You, too, can share the Wanderlust Love and win a 3-pack of Wanderlust and Lipstick guides. Yup. The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo, For Women Traveling to India and (the soon to be released) Traveling with Kids.

Simply forward this email to all of your travel loving friends and family members. The person who forwards it to the most people (you must use the forward link for me to track the number) wins!

Not only will sharing the love give you a chance to win, but you’ll be doing your friends a favor by letting them in on the hot topics, ethnic recipes and Wanderlust event updates in each Wanderlust and Lipstick newsletter!

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World Eats

I used to think that there was something mysterious about cooking that made it so “difficult”. And peanut sauce was one of those items that I never imagined I could make in my own kitchen. But, it’s actually EASY and Myscha shows us how with this Peanut Sauce recipe great for springs rolls. For more ethnic eats, see Myscha’s blog, World Eats and Readers’ Treats.

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On the Bookshelf
Do Travel Writers Go to Hell by Thomas Kohnstamm
Not for the faint of heart. Thomas’ book follows the sordid, drug-filled, sex-crazed antics of an LP guide writer – oh, and it’s HIS antics. I loved this irreverent inside peek at the life of a travel writer. You may not like him by the time you’re done, but you won’t be able to put it down and you’re sure to find yourself laughing out loud along the way. See more on Amazon…

In the iPod
Big Blue Ball from Various Artists
This collection of world music superstars was produced by Peter Gabriel and includes tracks from Papa Wemba, Sinead O’Connor (didn’t she retire?) and Tim Fin. But those are just the recognizable names. There were 75 artists from 20 countries that participated in the making of this CD. It’s superbly mixed and perfectly blends the styles of the musicians. For me, the only detraction was that Peter Gabriel’s very un-worldly song starts the disc. See more on Amazon…

In the DVD Player
After the Wedding
This is a sweet story with enough of a twist to keep you wondering what’s really going on. A (quite handsome) Danish man working in a Bombay orphanage gets invited by a benefactor to pick up a check in Copenhagen. Handsome man meets benefactor’s lovely wife and the plot thickens. See more on Amazon.

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Got Wanderlust?
Start the New Year out by planning your travels for 2009.

India is a magical destination that dances in the dreams of so many women. Order For Women Traveling to India now. It incorporates stories and tips from dozens of women who’ve made the journey to the subcontinent themselves and is the only comprehensive India guide for women.

Pre-order your very own signed copy of Wanderlust and Lipstick: Traveling with Kids, written by Leslie Forsberg and Michelle Duffy!

From the responses I’ve seen, I know you moms are excited about this one!

Books will ship early in 2009 via priority mail.

For the definitive guide for all women travelers, don’t wait another moment to pick up a copy of Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo.

All books are signed and are guaranteed to INSPIRE!

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Wanderlust in the News
This month, read Myscha’s review of Traveling to India at Wisebread where she gives you a chance to win a signed copy of the book. I was interviewed by Lisa at the Big Blend about India shortly after the attacks in Mumbai. And Transitions Abroad, where I’m the women’s travel columnist, recently posted my article about Wandering Women Traveling Together.
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WanderGear from CafePress

Hey, Wanderlusters! Ya gotta check out the Wanderlust and Lipstick designs now available at Cafe Press. This “meditating chick on an elephant” is by Elizabeth Haidle and is a new design from this very talented illustrator. It can now be yours…

Wanderlusters across the country have been ordering products from the Wanderlust and Lipstick shop at Café Press! Be an insider and join others by treating yourself to a fun and funky Wanderlust shirt, messenger bag or coffee mug.

Go on, be a Wanderluster!
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Connect with Beth

Email me – beth at WanderlustAndLipstick dot com
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Travel Well!

Beth