Wanderlust and Lipstick Newsletter – March 2009

Happy Spring, Wanderluster!

Judging by the number of emails I’ve been receiving, you’re all eager to know who the winners are for the Intrepid Travel contest! Wait no more…

Drum roll and a big congratulations go out to:

Jann Huizenga is the Grand Prize winner for her story, Ylli’s Gifts. Jann has won a 15-day trip in South America with Intrepid Travel!

In addition, there are 8 Best in Category winners who will receive either a travel bag from Timbuk2 or a SteriPEN water purifier.

Women’s Travel: Shelley Seale for Lost and Found
Spiritual: Charlotte Chester for Memento Mori
Adventure: Tom Czaban for Shangri-La
Solo Travel: Antonio Sanchez for Anatomy of a Bribe
Wit & Wander: Alexis Wolff for Commiserating with Camels
Local Culture: Vicki Flier Hudson for The Calcutta Railway Riot
Food & Drink: Kay Vail-Hayden for Check, Please
Fun & Family: Mara Gorman for Riding the 341

A very special thank you to the judges who managed to make their way through all the great submissions!
Nancy Brown – Freelance Travel Writer
Amanda Castleman – Adventure and Travel Writer
Stephanie Elizondo Griest – Travel Writer
Greg Hubbs – Editor, Transitions Abroad
Tim Leffel – Editor, Perceptive Travel
Pam Mandel – Freelance Writer

A big thank you to my intern, Beth Bowers, who helped sort, sift and upload!

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Zune Tunes Winner

The winner of the 8GB Zune is… Deborah M.

I received a couple dozen really wonderful (10 song) playlists from as far away as India. It was Deborah’s mix of world music and some familiar tunes that made her the front runner. That and the fact that she sent me a disc of her tunes gave her enough points to edge out the next closest contestant. I had so much fun with this that I’m hoping I can convince the Zune folks to do this again so get your playlists (and disc burner) ready and check back for another chance to win

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Wanderlust and Lipstick Tours

Only 1 spots left for April. Ladies… any takers????

In April ’09, I’ll be leading another small group on an amazing 12-day trip 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.

Award winning photographer, Brenda Tharp, will be leading a co-ed 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.

Join me for the women-only trip to India in the fall of ’09. We’ll visit some of the country’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. This trip is a well-rounded mix of culture and sightseeing – sleep in the desert, shop for fabric and volunteer at a home for widows. See the full itinerary.

Watch this video on Varanasi to spark your Wanderlust.

This co-ed Buddhism-focused trip to Bhutan and Dharamsala, India is 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. See the full itinerary.

Join both the India and Bhutan trip for a discount!

For a visual journey of Bhutan, visit my WanderGallery.

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February Contest Winner!

Last month’s contest winner for sharing the love by forwarding the Wanderlust and Lipstick newsletter to the most people was Lola S.from Nevada. Congratulations, Lola, 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
Before we find ourselves completely into spring, I want to share a hearty dish – a bit of comfort food for many of you whom might still be staring at inches (or feet!) of snow.

This is Myscha’s recipe for Schiaffoni with Vodka Sauce. She’s paired this largish pasta with a tomato-based sauce that can stand up to the size of such a noodle.

For more ethnic eats, see Myscha’s blog, World Eats and Readers’ Treats.

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Wander Recommendations
On the Bookshelf
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
This is a heart-wrenching story and one that could easily leave you crying. But it’s an extremely important read because it provides an intimate peek into life in Afghanistan spanning about 30 years. It specifically addresses the hardship of the women. Despite this book being written by a man, Khaled Hosseini does an amazing job at capturing the oppression and desperation that the typical Afghani woman must certainly experience. Available on Amazon

In the iPod

In the DVD Player
Curse of the Golden Flower
This is one crazy, twisted movie. I would never have picked it up at the video store but somehow it was in our Netflix queue and I ended up really liking it. Spectacular costumes and scenery are at the forefront of this story about a diabolical Chinese emperor, his wife and 3 sons as they all vie for power (and to stay alive). Available on Amazon

I’m a slightly frustrated iPod user. With unexplained crashes and freezes nagging at my earbud, I agreed to test out a Zune from Microsoft to see how it might compare. After a slightly shaky start, I have to admit I like this little guy. Most notably because IT HAS A RADIO! But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to THE RADIO, the 120 GB Zune has wireless capability, allowing you to share music with friends, it can also handle videos, photos and podcasts. Read more…

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Got Wanderlust?
Need something to inspire your travel dreams?

India is a magical destination that dances in the minds 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. Don’t even THINK about going to India without it. Seriously!

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

Highlights include tips on saving money, packing and booking your flights as well as product recommendations from strollers to baby slings.

Books will ship in April via priority mail.

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…

• Eva Holland at Matador Goods ran a really lovely review of For Women Traveling to India.
• WanderMom, Michelle Duffy, was quoted on Fodor’s about vacationing with the Grandparents.
• And, when I was in DC last month, I was interviewed for Travel Television. Stayed tuned for that video clip.
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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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Travel Well!

Beth