Aloha Wanderluster!
It’s another busy month at Wanderlust Central. I’m off to Hawaii Island to explore volcanoes and am then darting off to Bhutan with a lovely group of ladies. In April, I head to Umbria, Italy where I’m speaking at Travel Bloggers Unite (and then taking an actual vacation with the sig’o!).
The big news here is that we’ve announced the winners of the 4th Annual WanderWomen Write Travel Writing Contest! Samantha Stanway is the Grand Prize winner! She and a friend are off on a 7-day luxury trip to Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa in Mexico for her story, Running with the Winos in France.
Category winners include:
Adventure – Lori Robinson for Lilac Breasted Roller
Off the Beaten Path – Judith Wall for Love in Yellow and White
Food & Drink – Judith Ritter for Hair of the Dog/Bile of the Snake
Spiritual – Madeline Felix for Recognizing Grace
These gals each won a Briggs & Riley 22″ Explore Upright carry-on bag. THANK YOU to all who participated in this year’s contest. With more than 350 entries, it was really difficult choosing winners but our editor, Nancy Mueller, and judges Harriet Baskas, Rosalind Cummings-Yeates, Angela Nickerson and Pam Mandel did a mighty fine job.
This month’s WanderTours Deal: Register for the Papua New Guinea Mt. Hagen Singsing tour by April 15th, receive a free copy of The Last Men (a $40 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.
BHUTAN BUDDHISM TOUR (women-only) March 27 – April 7, 2012 LAST CHANCE!
Whether you’re a practicing Buddhist or you simple want to know more about how the Bhutanese practice, this tour will be a wonderful way to tap into the very spiritual and mystical side of the Kingdom. Meditate with a monk, take a yoga class and hear a lecture given by a Buddhist scholar. You can’t help but feel the power of Buddhism in this Himalayan country and this tour will help you understand the basis for their beliefs! See the full itinerary.
SANTA FE CULINARY TOUR (women-only) June 20 – 24, 2012 BOOK ONE OF THE LAST SPOTS!
Yes! We’re bringing back the culinary extravaganza to Santa Fe. 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 REGISTER BY APRIL 15 RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF THE LAST MEN
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 BOOK NOW – LIMITED AVAILABILITY ON IN-COUNTRY FLIGHTS
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.
NOTE: The 2011 Papua New Guinea tour sold out – don’t delay in sending a deposit to secure your spot!
ROGUE RIVER RAFTING TRIP (women only) September 9 – 12, 2012
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 JUST ANNOUNCED!
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, a very special event that takes place in the courtyard of an ancient monastery in the region where Buddhism in Bhutan began. See the full itinerary.
MYANMAR (BURMA) CULTURE AND PAGODA TOUR (women-only)
October 29 – November 9, 2012 SECURE ONE OF THE LAST SPOTS!
Burma seems to be all the rage these days. Get in on this trip 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 pagodoas of Bagan, the magic and artistry of Mandalay and the peaceful and tribal-filled region of Inle Lake. Four spots filled within an hour of this trip being announced. It will sell out – don’t miss your chance. See the full itinerary.
NORTH INDIA CULTURAL TOUR (women-only)
November 4 – 17, 2012 NEW ITINERARY!
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.
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WanderWomen Write Travel Writing Contest
The WanderWomen Travel Writing Contest is a unique yearly event that gives women the opportunity to show off their talents and to help foster their love of both travel and the written word.
A huge thank you to Secrets Huatulco Resort & Spa for being the main sponsor for our 4th annual contest and providing a 7-day getaway for two to our Grand Prize Winner. And to Briggs & Riley for providing each category winner with a 22″ Explore Upright carry-on bag.
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**March Contest**
Win a Swag Bag of Fantastic Travel Items!
All new newsletter subscribers during the month of March AND all new RSS subscribers (add your email to this page) will be entered to win a swag bag of fantastic travel items. You’ll find both new and some lightly-tested items from ExOfficio, Igloo, Haiku and more!
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**February Contest Winners**
Congratulations to 3 winners! Cheryl B. from Virginia, Kim S. of California and Salika J. from Ontario are all new RSS or newsletter subscribers and were randomly chosen to win a set of Dovetail Body Bands valued at $48 per set!
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What Sort of Adventure Gal Are You?
International Women’s Day is March 8. In honor of we adventuring wanderlusters, the folks over at Intrepid Travel are giving you a chance to get 15% off of one of their tours just by taking their Adventure Girl Quiz.
Pop on over to the Intrepid Facebook page, answer their questions to determine what sort of traveler you are and they’ll provide you with a list of tours that fit your style (giving you a nice discount on their tours, too).
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Wander Recommendations
On the Bookshelf
Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan
by Ashi Dori Wangmo Wangchuck
Who’da thunk that the Queen of a country would spend so much time trekking the mountains of the Himalayas to meet the locals and to find out what their needs were? This Queen does (one of 4 sisters married to the 4th king) and writes about her experiences in this really interesting perspective of the country from a true insider. One of my most favorite books about Bhutan.
In the iPod
Once by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
It’s time for St. Patty’s Day and I thought I’d give a nod to the Irish. Also, I was reminded how much I love this soundtrack when I walked by the theater in NYC where this musical just opened last week. The story itself is sweet and the music one of the best soundtracks ever. Super heavy on guitar and folk lyrics, it tells a fantastic yet kinda sad love story.
In the DVD Player
I Am directed by Tom Shadyac
Maybe not so much a travel film as a transformative one. The director tackles life’s important questions after an accident that jarred his body and mind. He crawls out of a depression through his search for what’s wrong with this world and what can we do to fix it. Such important questions for the traveler!
WanderGear Review
Jackie Shoes from Ahnu
These shoes are easy to slip on and off AND are really comfortable. When a shoe fits so well, it’s hard to gush, because they are doing what they are supposed to do. You’re not supposed to notice them – and that’s how these feel. Light as air. Almost as nice as the slippers I wear around the house. Read more…
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WanderFood Find
This month’s recipe is for Pumpkin Whoopie Pies. When Carolyn had a chance to sample these delectable pastries at District American Kitchen & Wine Bar on a recent trip to Phoenix, she knew that pumpkin whoopie pies, filled with a marshmallow buttercream, were in her future 🙂
Try the recipe shared by District’s Pastry Chef Winnona Herr and other recipes from Carolyn on her WanderFood blog.
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Upcoming Wanderlust and Lipstick Events
March 21, 2012                                  April 21, 2012
Talk on India at 7:30 pm                      Travel Bloggers Unite
The Traveler Bookstore                       Umbria, Italy
New York City Bainbridge Island, WA
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 Texas
The Savvy Traveler, Edmonds Sponsored by Briggs & Riley
See Beth’s calendar for details.
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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,
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.
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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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All books are guaranteed to INSPIRE!
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Wanderlust in the News
In case you missed these mentions, interviews and reviews:
* Forbes – A Crash Course in Solo Travel for the Single Girl
* The New York Times – Ingenuity Helps to Ease Traveling With Children
* CNNGo – Momo Madness in the Himalayas
* Skerah Travel – PNG through the eyes of Beth Whitman
* explore B2B – 5 Minutes with… The Vacation Gals
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Parting Words
From Miriam Beard… “Travel is more than the seeing of sights. It is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”
Until next month,
Travel Well!
Beth
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