Wanderlust and Lipstick Newsletter – May 2012
Buongiorno, Wanderluster!
I’ve just returned from Italy. Though I didn’t think it was possible, I’m fairly 
certain I ate too much pizza and one too many gelati. But, ah well. I suppose I was making up for (in advance) my Zambia trip this month, where I hear caterpillar is a specialty.
That Zambia trip, by the way, is being sponsored by Expedia. I, along with 2 other co-founders of Passports with Purpose, will be attending an opening ceremony for one of the libraries for which we raised funds in 2011. This will be my first trip to Africa!
SPECIAL! Don’t forget Mother’s Day is around the corner and to celebrate, newsletter subscribers can get copies of all Wanderlust and Lipstick guides for just $10. This offer is good through May 7, 2012. Gift it for your favorite mom or take advantage of the offer yourself!
This month’s WanderTours Deal: Register for either the North or South India tour by June 1 and receive a free copy of the book India: In Word and Image ($60 value)!
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***WanderTours***
Read Testimonials from previous participants. See tour videos and Beth’s photo galleries of Bhutan, India, Vietnam & Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Santa Fe and River Rafting.
SANTA FE CULINARY TOUR (women-only)
June 20 – 24, 2012 INTERESTED IN SHARING? WE MAY HAVE A MATCH FOR YOU!
We’ve expanded this mini-tour by one day and added more culinary-focused experiences including a wine-tasting, a 4-stop chocolate trail and a farm visit. Scheduled for the summer for those who can’t break away other times of the year. See the full itinerary.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA MT. HAGEN SHOW CULTURAL TOUR (co-ed)
August 4 – 17, 2012 NEARLY FULL! SEND DEPOSIT TODAY!
This incredibly unique journey to Papua New Guinea features the Mt. Hagen singsing, a tribal celebration like none other. The tour also includes a journey through the waterways of the fantastic Sepik River AND a trip to the Tari region, home to the famed Huli Wigman! Truly a once in a lifetime experience. See the full itinerary.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA GOROKA SHOW CULTURAL TOUR (co-ed) September 9 – 21, 2012 STARTING TO FILL!
The Goroka Show Cultural Tour features 2 days at this famed singsing in the Highlands that attracts nearly 75 tribes from around the country. In addition to this magical festival, you’ll have a chance to float along the Sepik River in the north and enjoy the natural beauty and birdlife of the mountains in the Mt. Hagen region. See the full itinerary.
ROGUE RIVER RAFTING TRIP (women only)
September 9 – 12, 2012 ALL SKILL LEVELS WELCOME
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rafter, the generally moderate whitewater of the
beautiful Rogue River in Oregon is ideal and might just be the perfect rafting trip. Rapids such as Blossom Bar and Rainie Falls are sure to inspire a generous dose of adrenaline. Expect sightings of abundant wildlife on the way and be serenaded by boisterous crickets and the rush of the passing river while you camp along the sandy beaches at night. See the full itinerary.
BHUTAN CULTURE AND FESTIVAL TOUR (women-only)
October25 – November 5, 2012 WATCH THE SECRET MIDNIGHT NAKED DANCE!
Experience the best of Bhutan’s cultural highlights with light hiking in the pristine Himalayas, a cooking class and a hike to iconic Tiger’s Nest in this 12-day women only tour. The trip is highlighted by a visit during the Jambay Lhakhang tsechu (festival) in Bumthang where a midnight dance takes place in the courtyard of an ancient monastery. See the full itinerary.
MYANMAR (BURMA) CULTURE AND PAGODA TOUR (women-only)
October 29 – November 9, 2012 SECURE ONE OF THE LAST SPOTS!
Visit Burma just as the country is opening up to the outside world and slowly but surely changing its reputation. This 12-day adventure includes Burma’s highlights – the pagodas of Bagan, the magic and artistry of Mandalay and the peaceful and tribal-filled region of Inle Lake. This tour is close to selling out – don’t miss your chance to experience Burma with a group of Wanderlusters. See the full itinerary.
NORTH INDIA CULTURAL TOUR (women-only)
November 4 – 17, 2012 REGISTER BY JUNE 1, GET A FREE COPY OF INDIA: IN WORD AND IMAGE
Join us on this unique tour of Northern India – a destination we know well. Visit the Taj Mahal, be immersed in a Bollywood-like cultural extravaganza in Delhi, get to know the cuisine through an intimate cooking demonstration and enjoy spectacular Diwali festivities with a local family. This tour covers the best of the North including Delhi, Agra, Chambal and Rajasthan (with a Varanasi add-on). See the full itinerary.
SOUTH INDIA CULTURE AND TEMPLE TOUR (women-only)
January 27 – February 10, 2013 REGISTER BY JUNE 1, GET A FREE COPY OF INDIA: IN WORD AND IMAGE
Journey through South India’s spectacular temples, tea and spice plantations, pristine beaches and the waterways of Kerala. Take a yoga class, overnight on a houseboat, learn the secrets of South Indian cuisine in a cooking demonstration and experience the music, culture, and food for which South India is famous. See the full itinerary.
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**May Contest**
Win XShot Camera Gear
This month, I’m giving away a couple of my very favorite 
travel items! All new newsletter and RSS subscribers during the month of May will be entered in a drawing to win a Pocket XShot Camera Extender and an XShot iPhone 4 Tripod Case. Value: $55 for the set!
Increase your karma – forward this email to your friends so that they, too, will have a chance to win this month’s awesome giveaway. (Names are never shared, by the way.)
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**New WanderBloggers**
Lark Gould – WanderLark
Daytona Strong – The Flying SalmonDaytona is a freelance writer and former television journalist who loves sniffing out stories and uncovering hidden gems to write about. Born and raised in Seattle, she appreciates exploring the world, but finds road trips around the Northwest to be equally thrilling – especially when they take her to her favorite corner of Washington, Walla Walla. She also knows where to find the best tamales and donuts: they’re in little towns well off the beaten path. A true Pacific Northwesterner, Daytona was born and raised in Seattle and enjoys sharing everything she loves about her home with readers of The Flying Salmon.
Wander Recommendations
On the Bookshelf
Buddha’s Table by Chat Mingkwan
Each time I go to Bangkok (which is usually twice a year), I spend lots of time browsing bookstores for vegetarian Thai cookbooks. Buddha’s Table is one such find. Filled with relatively easy recipes to get you going with your Thai cooking, it includes a wide range of curries, peanut sauces, soups, stir fries and snacks. Most use ingredients you either already have in your cupboards or that you can find at your local grocery store. 
In the iPod
Putumayo Presents Italia – OK, so it isn’t exactly a souvenir that I brought home from Italy, but listening to this CD certainly helps to bring some of the country home without the expensive flight or hotel rooms 
It doesn’t matter that I’m not familiar with any of the artists on this collection – I can still taste the gelato and caprese salad. Perfect for a romantic night in or as background when you’re booking your tickets to Rome 
In the DVD Player
Iron Lady with Meryl Streep
I really was not expecting to like this movie. Perhaps I just had lower expectations because of all the hype over Meryl Streep. But these lower expectations were likely why I enjoyed this so much. Superbly written and acted, this is well worth a watch not only for Meryl’s performance but for the historical background of the time. I was a tad young to be interested in politics when Maggie was in office so it was a mini history lesson for me.
WanderGear Review
Olu Kai’s Kalai Shoes turned out to be a great sandal for me in Italy. Not only are they beautiful (and a bit Romanesque) but the soft leather uppers never rubbed against
my feet uncomfortably – even after a 9-mile walk through the hillside town of Assisi. No blisters. No scratching. Nothing. I’ll be an Olu Kai fan for a long time! Read more…__________________________________________________
Upcoming Wanderlust and Lipstick Events
May 5, 2012 May 16 & 17, 2012
Burma at 10:00 am Women’s Safety Tips
Papua New Guinea at 1:00 pm Backwoods Equipment in Austin and
The Savvy Traveler Fort Worth, Texas
Edmonds, WA Sponsored by Briggs & Riley
June 15-17, 2012
TBEX ’12
Keystone, CO
See Beth’s calendar for details.
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Got Wanderlust?
See links above for $10 Mother’s Day Special!
The 2nd edition of Wanderlust and Lipstick: The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo is the definitive resource for all women travelers. Packed with anecdotes, expert advice and tips from more than 45 women travelers,
Wanderlust and Lipstick: Traveling with Kids is the practical guide for traveling with children. Learn how to turn possible roadblocks into opportunities for stretching your family’s travel wings.
India is a magical destination that awaits you. Discover the joys and challenges of the subcontinent in Wanderlust and Lipstick: For Women Traveling to India and start planning the journey you’ve been dreaming about.
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Wanderlust in the News
In case you missed these mentions, interviews and reviews:
* MSNBC.com – What’s in Your Travel Safety Kit?
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Parting Words
From Susan Sontag… “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”"
Until next month,
Travel Well!
Beth
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