Greetings, Wanderluster!
Astonishingly enough, I think I’m staying put for the entire month of May! I can hardly believe it. And neither can my garden which is ecstatic that I’ll actually be able to give it some spring TLC.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not PLANNING travel. In August I’ll be in Papua New Guinea with a group (only 3 spots left!) and then in Santa Fe for the culinary tour in September before heading back to Bhutan for trekking in October. Joslin, our superstar guide will be leading the fall tour to North India.
By the way, after visiting Rancho la Puerta Spa last month, I stopped by Santa Fe for a few days to tie up some loose ends for the culinary tour. I am SO excited about this 4-day adventure. The group will be spending time with some very special locals tied in to both the culinary and cultural worlds of this magical town. Here are some photos to get you drooling 🙂
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***Tours***
Bhutan, India, Papua New Guinea, Santa Fe and Vietnam & Cambodia!
Read Testimonials from previous participants.
See tour videos and Beth’s NEW photo galleries of Bhutan, India, Vietnam & Cambodia and Papua New Guinea.
BOOK IN APRIL – SAVE $150
PAPUA NEW GUINEA MT. HAGEN TOUR (co-ed) – August 5 – 19, 2011
ONLY 3 SPOTS LEFT!This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Mt. Hagen Festival in Papua New Guinea. This inaugural WanderTour to PNG is being offered as the first of many to the country and coincides with the Mt. Hagen singsing. It also includes 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.
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 NEW PRICING!
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.
JUST ANNOUNCED! SOUTH INDIA TOUR INCLUDING PASSPORTS VILLAGE!
(women-only) January, 2012
This 18-day women-only tour focuses on South India’s highlights including spectacular temples, tea and spice plantations, pristine beaches, the waterways of Kerala AND a trip to the Passports with Purpose Village! 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.
JUST ANNOUNCED! VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA TOUR (women-only) March 8 – 24, 2012
Back by popular demand is the Vietnam and Cambodia cultural tour with a few new stops! The 2012 tour includes a visit to Phnom Penh, a ride down the Mekong River from Cambodia to Vietnam, a visit to the Sapa region of North Vietnam AND an overnight on a houseboat in Ha Long Bay. You’re gonna love this tour! See the full itinerary.
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Wander Recommendations
(Purchase directly through this Newsletter and you help support Wanderlust and Lipstick!)
On the Bookshelf
Bhutan: The Land of Serenity by Matthieu Ricard
This coffee table book is filled with gorgeous imagery of this Himalayan Kingdom as photographed by Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk and photographer who lives in Nepal. In addition to the landscape and locals, it features architecture, monks, festivals and spiritual masters. Whether you’ve been to Bhutan or not, this is THE book to have to daydream about the Himalayas. Available on Amazon
In the iPod
Agadez by Bombino
Bombino (meaning “little child” – he’s one of 17 children!) comes from a Tuareg tribe in Niger. Though it’s been anything but an easy life in his home country which has been riddled with violence, his life has been a series of encounters with movie and rock stars (including being a guide in Nigeria for Angelina Jolie and recording with Keith Richards and Charlie Watts in California). Agadez blends the more traditional style of Saharan music with rock-and-roll guitar licks and is the best I’ve heard in this genre since Tinariwen. Available on Amazon
In the DVD Player
Only When I Dance
You don’t need to love ballet nor Brazil to be completely taken in by this documentary. It follows 2 ballet dancers from the favelas of Rio to their attempts at international stardom. It’s inspiring to see how motivated these young people are when their one desire is to help get their families out of the poverty they were born into. Spoiler alert: one happy ending, one not as happy (but still OK). Available on Amazon
WanderGear Review
SteriPEN Traveler
You should not travel without a SteriPEN. Period. This little gadget is a water purifier that uses UV light to kill 99.9% of nasty stuff that can make you sick when drinking contaminated water. While it doesn’t make water taste any better (I use Emergen-C for that), I’ve used this for month-long trips to India, drinking tap water daily, and never getting sick. Read more…
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** New May Subscribers **
All new newsletter subscribers during the month of May to this newsletter will be entered to win a SteriPEN Traveler (including 4 lithium batteries). Value is $60!
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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** April Subscriber Winners! **
Congratulations to Debbie M. from New York, Simoune B. from Newington, Andrea F. from Fredricksburg and Traci Q. from Sumter for being winners of our April subscriber contest! They are all new newsletter subscribers and will receive 2 pairs of ExOfficio Lacy Underwear. Yeah for Debbie, Simoune, Andrea and Traci!
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New WanderBlogger!
Melinda at Global Snapshots
Melinda learned to speak with her camera while living in the Republic of Moldova as a Peace Corps Volunteer where her fluency in photography developed alongside her Romanian skills. She often couples this passion with her insatiable wanderlust to create travel images that capture the spirit of a place, the tale of a moment or the emotion of her rambling heart.
Global Snapshots offers you bi-weekly images from Melinda’s journeys as well as a monthly advice column on how to enhance your own explorations by turning travel (from the simplest weekend getaway to an all out cross-continental trek) into something more.
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It doesn’t take much to dress up yakisoba noodles and Stephanie does so in this super easy (yet very tasty) recipe for Japanese Yakisoba. The secret ingredient is oyster sauce, but toss in a little soy sauce, cabbage, seasoning and meat (or meat substitute) and you’ve got a meal fit for a relaxing Sunday night at home.
You can find this and other tasty treats on Stefanie’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.
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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Upcoming Wanderlust and Lipstick Events
June 8                                      September 11 – 12
Diva Nights at REI                    The Travel Blogger Show
REI – Tacoma, WA                     Details TBD
October 5
Travel Safety Tips for Women
7:00 p.m.
REI – Issaquah, WA
REI events sponsored by XShot
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Wanderlust in the News
In case you missed these mentions, interviews and reviews:
- Budget Travel – Solo Travel Questions
- Matt Gibson – Interview about Solo Travel
- Frommer’s – Overcoming the Language Barrier
- Indian Travel Journey – Interview about Travels in India
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Till next month…
Travel Well!
Beth
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