Hi ya, Wanderluster!
More behind the scenes work from the Seattle HQ brings you a new website specifically for our WanderTours! Ladies, if your guy has been reluctant to join you for a tour because it has “lipstick” in the name, fret no more! Just send him on over to WanderTours – which features both co-ed AND women-only adventures!
And speaking of co-ed trips… I’ve just added a culinary tour to Santa Fe for September. We’ll eat our way through 4-day weekend in this beautiful area and learn about New Mexico’s rich food and cultural history. How you can you pass this up!?
Congratulations to all the winners of the 3rd Annual WanderWomen Write Travel Writing Contest! Wendy Bone and a friend are off to Vietnam & Cambodia with Buffalo Tours as the Grand Prize winner for her story, Ibu Tina. Category winners include:
Adventure – Luminita Cuna for Hunting with the Huaorani
Family Fun – Margaret O. Capozzolo for Schultz & Finkelstein
Food & Drink – Shae Healey for Eid al-Adha: Sheeps!
Off the Beaten Path – Kate Crawford for Elephant Driving 101
Spiritual – Eve Tai for Flunking Buddhism
These gals each won a Briggs & Riley Explore 22″ Upright carry-on bag. THANK YOU to all who participated in this year’s contest. With nearly 400 entries, it was really difficult choosing winners!
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***Tours***
Bhutan, India, Papua New Guinea and Santa Fe!
Read Testimonials from previous participants.
See tour videos and Beth’s photo gallery of Bhutan, India, Vietnam & Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.
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BHUTAN SACRED SITES TOUR (women-only) – April 19 – 30, 2011
** ONE SPOT LEFT FOR SOMEONE WHO ACTS QUICKLY! This 12-day adventure in Bhutan will explore the spiritual side of Bhutan and incorporate (optional) gentle yoga and meditation! Enjoy the serenity of the Himalayas on this unique journey that also includes the cultural highlights found on other Wanderlust and Lipstick Bhutan tours such as light trekking, festivals, a hike to Tiger’s Nest and a lecture on Buddhism by a renowned Bhutanese scholar. See the full itinerary.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA MT. HAGEN TOUR (co-ed) – August 5 – 19, 2011
2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the Mt. Hagen Festival in Papua New Guinea. This “friends and family” tour is the first of (hopefully) many WanderTours to PNG. As the inaugural trip, it will be offered at a reduced cost to a select few as we test the waters together on this first adventure. Includes the Mt. Hagen singsing, a tour along the waterways of the fantastic Sepik River as well as snorkeling, diving and cultural experiences along the coastal village of Madang. See the full itinerary.
VIETNAM TRANSFORMATION TOUR WITH AINSLIE MACLEOD (co-ed)
September 14 – 24, 2011
This 5-star, 11-day tour is more than a travel experience through Vietnam. This is a transformational journey with renowned spiritual guide, Ainslie MacLeod. In addition to touring some of the most popular sights in Saigon, Danang and Hanoi, participants will be led through intensive daily workshops with Ainslie, who has been featured on Oprah! See the full itinerary.
SANTA FE CULINARY TOUR (co-ed) September 15 – 18, 2011
Join Beth Whitman on this culinary extravaganza to one of her very favorite destinations in the U.S., Santa Fe. You’ll be treated to cooking classes and demonstrations, take guided walks, soak in mineral hot springs and learn about the area’s Native American history and culture. Suitable for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. See the full itinerary.
BHUTAN LAYA TREK (co-ed) October 11 – 22, 2011
Experience hiking through Bhutan’s Laya region, where the hospitable Layap people live, on this 12-day tour. This trek takes you over high mountain passes (16,100′) and into the wilderness above the tree line – a world of snow peaks, glacial lakes, herds of blue sheep and alpine blossoms. The group will enjoy the pristine mountain air, the therapeutic hot springs of Gasa and visits to temples including Tiger’s Nest. See the full itinerary.
NORTH INDIA CULTURAL TOUR (women-only)
October 25 – November 9, 2011
This 16-day women-only tour focuses on North India’s highlights including the Taj Mahal, the erotic temples of Khajuraho, the ghats of Varanasi, fantastic Diwali celebrations and a tour of the ancient temple complex at Bateshwar (during their historic animal fair)! You’ll take a cooking class, enjoy a private music and dance performance with internationally-renowned artists and have your fill of exquisite Indian food. See the full itinerary.
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For your next grocery outing or trip to the library, pick up a canvas bag with a woman riding an elephant! These are available on Cafe Press along with many other Wanderlust and Lipstick items, including shirts, messenger bags and coffee mugs.
Go on, be a Wanderluster!
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Wander Recommendations
(Purchase directly through this Newsletter and you help support Wanderlust and Lipstick!)
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On the Bookshelf
The God of Small Things – by Arundhati Roy
During our tour of South India, we visited the region in Kerala where this book takes place. This is a sad but wonderfully-told story of class struggle that certainly is part of every village and city in India. Arundhati is not known for sugar-coating life in India and she certainly doesn’t do it here, but it’s a wonderful read for anyone interested in trying to better understand the subcontinent. Available on Amazon
In the iPod
Ali & Toumani by Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate
Winners of the 2010 Grammy for Best Traditional World Music Album, this CD is a collaboration by 2 well-established musicians from Mali. This collection, which is primarily instrumental, highlights Ali’s skill on the guitar and Toumani’s mastery of the kora. Sadly, Ali passed away in 2006 – this was released posthumously in early 2010. Available on Amazon
In the DVD Player
Cherry Blossoms with Hannelore Elsner
Here’s another sweet film that takes place primarily in Japan. I can’t tell you too many details as it will give the story away, but, just know that it involves a German man going to Japan, dressing like a woman and learning Butoh, a Japanese dance. It’s a deeply moving tale of love, loss and family (for good and bad).
Available on Amazon
WanderGear Review
Coolmax Travel Blanket
Have you heard? Some airlines are actually charging for blankets and pillows now. As much as $8! EIGHT DOLLARS! Why rent a questionably clean blanket when you can bring your very own definitely clean one? I’m partial to the Coolmax Travel Blanket from Cocoon. It’s soft, warm and comes in a variety of colors. Yup, it’s another thing to pack in your carry-on, but it is so worth it! Read more…
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** New March Subscribers **
Win a Pocket XShot Camera Extender and XShot iPhone 4 Tripod Case!
All new newsletter subscribers during the month of March to this newsletter will be entered in a drawing to win a Pocket XShot Camera Extender and XShot iPhone 4 Tripod Case. This month there will be two winners! Value is $55 for each set!
Increase your karma – tell 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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** February Subscriber Winner! **
Congratulations to Loreley from Seattle for being the winner of our February subscriber contest! Loreley is a new newsletter subscriber and will receive a Livemocha Premium Online Language Learning Course. Yeah for Loreley!
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New WanderBlogger!
Meg at Wandering Booklust
A lifelong wayfarer, Meg has rambled on her own two feet and ridden horses on four – wherever and whenever she can. As a passionate traveler, she is a big fan of renewing your passport for the one with extra pages.
And to help feed her travel, she reads. She’s the type who cruises through the airport bookstore in ten minutes flat but would never board her flight without two new travel books. Blogging about them for Wandering Booklust, she hopes you’ll share what you’re reading, too!
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Food Freeway
OK, so it may not look pretty, but Fijian Coconut Chutney sounds SO good, doesn’t it? Eat it with rice or make it as a side to a meat or tofu dish. It seems like a great way to bring on the tropics in the middle of winter!
You can find this and other tasty treats on Stephanie’s Food Freeway.
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Profess Your Wanderlust-ness!
Got a blog or a website? Profess your Wanderlust Love by downloading a Wanderlust and Lipstick badge, placing it on your site and linking back to WaL! Let your readers know you’re proud to be part of a growing community of Wanderlusters!
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Got Wanderlust?
Need something to inspire your travel dreams?
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, it’s sure to have you packing your bags before you have time to check your bank account. Don’t wait another moment to pick up a signed copy of every WanderGal’s favorite book.
Buy Now!
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.
Written by Michelle Duffy (WanderMom) and Leslie Forsberg, highlights include tips on saving money, packing, booking your flights, product recommendations from strollers to baby slings and much more. Buy now!
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. In addition to Beth’s own advice and guidance, this book incorporates stories and tips from dozens of women who’ve made the journey to the country themselves. Buy Now!
Don’t even THINK about going to India without it. Seriously!
All books are guaranteed to INSPIRE!
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Wanderlust in the News
In case you missed these mentions, interviews and reviews:
- A Traveler’s Library – Movie Shows Real Seattle
- TravelPerch – Featured Traveler/Q&A
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