Journal

Name:  Catherine Witten Boyd (Cath)

Age: Pushing 30

Profession: Author/Artist/Teacher/Wanderer/Daydreamer

Website: www.daffado.com

Current location (City,State, Country): Seoul, Seoul, South Korea

1.) It’s often said that the travel bug “bites.” How old were you when you were “bitten by the travel bug”? Describe a bit about what prompted you to take the initial trip, where you were at in your life at the time, and why/how that travel experience caused you to crave more travel.

I don’t think I was bitten.  The the bug was passed from my mother to me in the womb.  I never remember a time in my life when I wasn’t acutely aware that there was something “bigger’ out there.  I traveled extensively in Australia with my family as a child, and spent the majority of my high school years saving for a world trip.  But after high school I did the sensible thing and went to University.  When I graduated I was offered a “once in a lifetime” chance to work with the Psychology Team at the NSW Institute of Sport, so once more I did the sensible thing, took the position, moved to Sydney, and put the travels on the backburner again.  All things considered, I should have felt like things were going well.  I was doing all the right things, and meeting all the right people.  But I knew that there was so much of the world that I wanted to experience, and so much of myself that I needed to learn about.  The turning point came when I got a phone call from my bestie who was teaching in Korea.  I told her how I was feeling and she told me I should go to her, that there was a position opening up at her school.  3 weeks later I was on a plane.

2.) What countries have you traveled to?

I’ve traveled extensively in Australia (my home country).  I’ve vacationed in Jamaica, New Caledonia, Bali and Japan.  I’ve lived, traveled and worked for several years in both South Korea and the U.S.  I traveled across China and have done extensive travel and volunteer work in South East Asia (Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam).

3.) Of all the places you’ve been, where have you felt most connected to a place, and why?

I definitely feel connected to Asia.  It’s like I can’t leave – it keeps calling me back.  South East Asia, in particular, calls to me.  I love everything about it… the people, the culture, the natural environment, the weather, the way of life.  I love the simplicity.  I love the smiles.  And I love who I am when I’m there.  It’s like when I’m there I’m completely full of, and overwhelmed by love.  But not love for anyone or anything in particular – more like a feeling of wholeness.  It just feels good.  I can’t explain it any better than that.

4.) Do you have any routines that you follow for packing, flying, using a hotel room, or for your first day in a new place? Are you a planner, or are you more of a spontaneous traveler?

Both.  Definitely both.  I spend my life planning travels – but tend not to follow through on plans.  When I started traveling I would read extensively about the countries I wanted to visit, then I would book a flight and just show up.  I have a natural aversion to “tours” and far prefer solo, independent travel.  I’ve find that having no set itinerary means that I don’t miss out on things along the way.  When you travel, you’re bound to meet other travelers who know about sweet spots that you don’t.  You don’t want to miss out on doing something because you have a boat/train/plane to catch.  For me, flexibility is the most important thing.  When I’m vacationing, however, I’m much more organized.  Particularly when I’m vacationing with my husband or with friends.  When you have limited time, you don’t want to waste it searching for accommodation or figuring out the bus schedule.

In terms of routine, there’s nothing really special that I do.  I like to be relaxed and comfortable.  I always carry with me a sweater, shawl or wrap, and socks so I don’t get chilly during transit.  I also always carry with me a book to read, a journal, a pen and a camera.  When I first arrive I like to check in and then go exploring.  My first day in a new place is always spent wandering…

5.) What do you do to experience a place on a deeper level and see what it’s really about, beyond the tourist traps?

To experience a place on a deeper level, nothing really beats living and working there.  But If I’m only in a place for a short time I like to watch, and wander and write.  Particularly in nature.  I love immersing myself in, and being quiet with nature to provide a sense of closeness and connection to a place.

6.) Some people experience travel as something that they do once a year for a vacation, while others feel that travel is something they are passionate about, and they incorporate it into their lifestyle in different ways. In what ways do you arrange your life so that you can incorporate travel into your lifestyle? 

Travel is definitely something that I try to incorporate into my daily life, but I think that the definition of “travel” has changed somewhat for me over the years.  When I started traveling, a vacation or a weekend away didn’t count.  Travel was something that involved a more in depth, or more intense experience than what a vacation could give me.  A “vacation” was a trip that I took to see a place for a week or two – or maybe even 4 or 5 weeks.  “Travel” was an experience that involved a more flexible schedule – for me it was basically a situation where I could go to where ever I wanted for as long as I wanted until the money ran out.  Now, I’m more concerned about my family life and my work, and I don’t have the flexibility to travel like that anymore.  So vacations and weekends away and shorter road trips kind of fill the gap while I wait for the next big adventure.  And even the next big adventure isn’t a 6 month experience anymore – it’s a couple of weeks or a month at most.  But how it’s different to a vacation that I took 10 years ago is the way I think about it.  I approach my vacation, or my long weekend through the eyes of a traveler.  Through the eyes of someone who wants to do more than just see the sights.  I think that if you’re someone who wants to “travel” and you don’t have the time or the money to do it how you want, you need to approach the smaller things in a different way.   To take the road trip or the weekend away and treat it like a travel experience.  Because it all counts.  They’re all experiences that provide opportunity for learning and growth and freedom.

7.) Many people cite lack of money or lack of time as the major restrictions upon their ability to travel. What helpful advice or encouragement would you offer to someone who wants to travel but who feels money/time to be barriers?

If travel is very important to you, you make the time and you put aside the money.  I know that there are people who would love to travel but perhaps can’t make it a priority due to previous commitments (school, mortgage etc).  I think you just have to take baby steps…  put a few dollars in a travel fund as often as you can until you’ve reached your goal.  And as I said before, take small opportunities to be a traveler – take a road trip or a weekend away.  Go camping, go on a short retreat.  Pitch a tent in the backyard, build a fort in your living room and use your imagination.  We’re all travelers. You can be the master of your very own ship without going anywhere.

8.) Do you usually travel alone, or with others? If you travel with others, how do you deal with conflicts that arise? If you travel alone, how do you curb travel-related loneliness?

At the beginning of my days as a gypsy I was a solo traveler – though, let it be said that even when you’re traveling ‘alone’ you actually have to make an effort if you want to be by yourself.  I loved traveling alone.  It is the most empowering thing I’ve ever done – perhaps will ever do.  For me, traveling alone relieved me of the pressure of trying to please people.  Also, being someone who likes to just wander with a camera or sit and write, I could make the time to do this without explanation.  And, or course, it gave me the best opportunity to really get to know myself.

In those days I never felt lonely.  The last solo trip I did was across China.  I got the boat from South Korea to Tianjin, and from there went to Beijing, Xi’an and then all the way down to Lhasa, Tibet.  The “plan” was to keep going – Nepal, India…  But I’d already met my husband, and I missed him terribly.  I hated being there without him because I thought he would love it.  I felt like he was missing out.  So I went back to him.

Since then, all my travel has been with my husband and sometimes with friends  – which I adore. 

9.) Do you notice that travel allows you to tap into a different side of yourself, a side that normally is hidden or has less permission to show up in day-to-day life? If so, why do you believe that the experience of travel makes it easier for that side to come out?

Once upon a time, travel tapped into a ‘me’ that I’d kept neatly hidden – even hidden from myself.  But once she was out and I’d gotten to know her more, I didn’t want to put her back.  I gave her permission to stay.  I think it’s important to let these sides of ourselves, as much as possible, filter into our day to day lives.  It’s all part of growth.  All part of the journey.  It helps us to live real, true lives.

10.) Have you ever taken a trip that, on the whole, was a negative experience? What would you say you learned from that trip?

I was going to answer this with a simple no.   But then I remembered a rip to Australia I took a few months ago…

The trip home was to attend my grandfathers funeral, so it didn’t exactly start out as a positive experience, but the trip back was one of those times when everything that could go wrong did…

My first flight was delayed due to weather, resulting in my missing a connecting flight.  My airline had no available flights going out for the rest of the week, so they put my on an Eastern China flight via shanghai.  In Shanghai we were delayed getting off the aircraft because people dressed in white jumpsuits and hats and gloves and booties got on to check our temperatures sci-fi style as a swine flu precaution.  Half the people on the flight were kept in quarantine – luckily I wasn’t one of them.  I ran to my next flight and made it back to Seoul.  The last bus from the airport had already left so I took a taxi (for a $200 fare – we don’t live close to the airport and it was 2 in the morning) which crashed on the way home.  My very first taxi accident ever.  Not a good time. 

The whole experience utterly reinforced a need to be patient and flexible when traveling (and always).  And to just breathe.

11.) On the whole, what would you say you have learned from the overall experience of travel and the role that travel plays in your life?

Travel has made me who I am.  Without it, I wouldn’t be here.  Not this version of me at any rate.  Travel provides an opportunity to learn such things as patience, tolerance, and empathy in a way that I don’t believe you can get in any other situation.  It taught me to really see when I look.  To listen to my heart.  To let go.  And to love.  To full blown let it all hang out love.  To “be” love.  To take it into your whole body and then let it shine out of you from every pore.  That kind of love.  And that’s stuff that I never want to lose.

12.) Define in your own words what “courageous travel” means to you.

To me, courageous travel means going beyond your limits.  Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone.  Testing your barriers and your beliefs.  Something that I’ve learned through travel more than anything else is to question what I thought I knew.  Courageous travel means not only learning something new from the places we go, but bringing that into our day to day lives.  It means stretching ourselves.  And it means remembering that when we get home – not separating our traveling selves from who we are when we get home, but learning how to incorporate the new stuff with the old stuff.  Courageous travel is about allowing ourselves to grow and change from our experiences.  Not just seeing it, but living it.  Even if you’re afraid.  Even if you don’t think you can do it.  Courageous travel doesn’t just talk about a single (or several) traveling experiences – it talks about a never ending journey of growth and discovery.  We are all travelers in this life.  We need to approach every day as an adventure and a chance to learn something new.

13.) Where are you planning to go, next? When?

My husband and I are going to be hippies in Australia over Christmas and Into January – It’s my big three oh and we’re road tripping… we’re back in the US for 5 or 6 weeks early next year, and I’m off to Bali for a friends 30^th in May…  I’m also hatching a secret plan to see some of India in March – we’ll see how that goes

14.) The most delicious question of all: What destinations are on your fantasy list? 

Pretty much everywhere I haven’t been before (laughs).  No, seriously, India, Nepal, Peru, a good chunk of Africa…. Spain…  I’d love to go across Russia.. should I go on??

Cath is a photo taking, artful mess making children’s book author who loves hugs and hammocks.  Find out more at www.daffado.com

photo credit: Denise Andrade

Name: Lisa Field-Elliot

Age: 38
Profession: traveler. seeker of beauty. connector (photographer and writer)
Website: doorwaystraveler.com ; twitter.com/doorwaystravelr
Current location (City,State, Country): Santa Barbara, CA, USA

1.) It’s often said that the travel bug “bites.” How old were you when you were “bitten by the travel bug”? Describe a bit about what prompted you to take the initial trip, where you were at in your life at the time, and why/how that travel experience caused you to crave more travel.

I honestly think that I was born with the travel bug, but didn’t quite know what it was. I just loved adventure and the opportunity to make new friends. It wasn’t until I was in college, and took my first solo trip to Alaska to work at a camp for Easter Seals, that I fell in love with the idea of afar and the possibilities that travel brings; and I tapped into how very badly I wanted more of it.

2.) What countries have you traveled to? Chile, Italy, Greece, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, and India.

3.) Of all the places you’ve been, where have you felt most connected to a place, and why?

Having just returned from India, I’d have to say India. I had an inner knowing, a deep ease and familiarity in the experience of it all–the people, the aesthetic, the spirit. Something powerful woke up in me there, something raw and honest, that was always a part of me and that I never want to lose. But really, I’ve never not felt a connection when I’ve traveled. There’s always something, tangible or not, that speaks to the knowing parts of me–no matter where I am.

4.) Do you have any routines that you follow for packing, flying, using a hotel room, or for your first day in a new place? Are you a planner, or are you more of a spontaneous traveler?

I have some basic routines. I make lists and inevitably run too many errands before a trip. As a mother, when it’s a family trip, these errands multiply exponentially, so I try and begin preparations at least a week in advance. I have learned not to drive to the airport and to always arrange transportation both ways. I always carry-on those things I don’t think I could live without. Namely, my photo gear, laptop, medicines, snacks and non-replaceable comfort items (favorite airplane socks and sweater…). In India, I found 101 uses for my headlamp and highly recommend one! I also believe it to be wise to bring a stash of your favorite meal replacement bars, enough for one per day, because you never know how your body will respond to new food. Having some local currency before the trip is comforting, too.

When I am on the plane, I try to follow as natural a rhythm as possible. I set my clock to the time zone that I’ll be arriving in and attempt to sleep during the appropriate hours. I brush my teeth, wash my face and simulate my home nighttime and morning rituals. I eat very little, drink a lot of water, and get up and do some yoga bends every couple of hours while I am awake. Yep, I’m that one looking weird in the back of the plane!

As for the first day somewhere, that really depends on the amount of time-travel that’s occurred and what time of day it is. I do try to keep it simple. Eat healthfully and get a massage if possible!
And lots and lots of water.

All that said…I am totally down with drop-of-the-hat trips, anywhere, at the mere suggestion and opportunity. And I’m pretty good and finding what I need wherever I am if there isn’t as much time to pack and prepare.

5.) What do you do to experience a place on a deeper level and see what it’s really about, beyond the tourist traps?

For me, travel is all about connecting. Connecting to real people and to the ways that we are the same. I have conversations with anyone and everyone, be they verbal or gestural depending on language barriers. Laughter and smiles work anywhere! I ask drivers about their families, try to attend local festivals, and eat a little off the beaten path. More than all that, I like to find somewhere that we can be of service and really make that deeper connection. In both Bali and India, I have been fortunate to work with NGO’s that serve children and families and the connections made in those places will stay with me forever. There’s nothing quite like seeing your children play badminton barefoot in the dirt streets of an island village with newfound Balinese friends…

6.) Some people experience travel as something that they do once a year for a vacation, while others feel that travel is something they are passionate about, and they incorporate it into their lifestyle in different ways. In what ways do you arrange your life so that you can incorporate travel into your lifestyle? 

I wish I could say that I have some method here, but I don’t. All I know is that travel for me feels as necessary as food and water. As a family, we’ve both stretched ourselves financially as well as planned frugally to make a trip happen. I am currently asking in a big way for there to be more of it in my life professionally. So far, it’s working! I think it goes back to the same principle that applies to all things: living as your true self and serving your heart. Everything else follows. If there is travel involved, then it will come.

7.) Many people cite lack of money or lack of time as the major restrictions upon their ability to travel. What helpful advice or encouragement would you offer to someone who wants to travel but who feels money/time to be barriers?

I think that money and time are barriers if you allow them to be. It’s all perspective. And there are always choices that can be made to make it more possible. From house swaps to service opportunities, the internet is filled with creative means. And social media has made reaching large numbers with your fundraising goals so much easier.

– optional question — Have you ever traveled with children? If so, what can you share that might be helpful?

Give them a voice in the agenda. Hand over the guidebook! Allow time for rest and make sure they are fed and hydrated. Also, find a way for them to connect to children their own age. Look for a school or an NGO to hook up with and set them free to have their own experience. When my children were younger, parks and playgrounds were like gold.

8.) Do you usually travel alone, or with others? If you travel with others, how do you deal with conflicts that arise? If you travel alone, how do you curb travel-related loneliness?

Both. I am either traveling with my husband and two children, now nine and thirteen, or alone. When traveling as a family, we’re pretty harmonious. I tend to be the one that wants to get out and see. see. see.
My husband points out the benefit in being still for a while longer. The kids remind us to have fun! We balance one another out.

As for traveling alone, I don’t experience loneliness. I love the anonymity of solo travel–the freedom to be in the moment without any past or future story is so potent. And I am more than happy to strike up a conversation with anyone I meet…

9.) Do you notice that travel allows you to tap into a different side of yourself, a side that normally is hidden or has less permission to show up in day-to-day life? If so, why do you believe that the experience of travel makes it easier for that side to come out?

I think I just touched on that in the question above. It is the absence of story. Of the external reminders that inform us of who we are in our everyday lives-be they our homes, our stuff, even the people that we share our lives with. Travel enables us the opportunity define ourselves only from the moment we are in.

10.) Have you ever taken a trip that, on the whole, was a negative experience? What would you say you learned from that trip?

Not really. I’ve generally found something of value in each experience. Well, there was this one “resort” hotel in Scottsdale, AZ. Let’s just say we left early. What we learned: do a little more research next time…

11.) On the whole, what would you say you have learned from the overall experience of travel and the role that travel plays in your life?

That travel is essential to who I am and the work I am meant to do in this world. That I need more. I dare say, we all need more.

12.) Define in your own words what “courageous travel” means to you.

Courageous travel means to show up in a new place exactly as I am-willing, open and ready to connect from the heart. It’s a daring to be free.

13.) Where are you planning to go, next? When?

I am looking into opportunities to connect in Jordan and Uganda in the first half of 2010. Summer will find us traveling as a family back to Bali (where our daughter will be doing a service trip) and then on to either Thailand or New Zealand. Fall in London, perhaps?

14.) The most delicious question of all: What destinations are on your fantasy list?

Hands down: Istanbul, Turkey and Marakesh, Morocco are whispering loudly in my ear. Maybe sooner than later?

Lisa Field-Elliot seeks travel, beauty, and connection. Anytime. Anywhere. She shares her experiences, in words and images, at doorwaystraveler.com

Name: Mandy Bartok

Age: 28
Profession: freelance writer, educator, tour guide
Current location (City,State, Country): Uruma City, Okinawa, Japan

1.) It’s often said that the travel bug “bites.” How old were you when you were “bitten by the travel bug”? Describe a bit about what prompted you to take the initial trip, where you were at in your life at the time, and why/how that travel experience caused you to crave more travel.
I guess the travel bug unofficially bit me in the 7th grade, when our social studies teacher offered us the chance to request a pen pal from another country. I went home, pulled out a map, picked four different countries, and requested a few names. A few months later my first letters from Ireland, Japan and Korea arrived. I was hooked. I loved seeing the letters in my box with foreign stamps and strange handwriting. As someone whose parents had never left the country and weren’t planning to take me anytime soon, it was my first window into that wider world. (And I still write to – and visit – my Irish pen friend today.)
So when the chance came up for me to actually travel and participate in a student trip to the UK and Ireland that my brother had turned down, I jumped at it. I spent three weeks overseas and came back hating the concept of large group, big-bus travel but absolutely dying to get back on the plane with my backpack and explore again.

2.) What countries have you traveled to? The UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Honduras, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Burkina Faso, Russia, Turkey, Japan, China, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, and Canada. It looks like a lot but I still have so many to go!

3.) Of all the places you’ve been, where have you felt most connected to a place, and why? Ireland touched me from the first time I set foot on her soil, and I’ve been back seven or eight times since. My great-grandfather came from Co Mayo, in the remote northwest, so I guess you could say there was that familial sense of belonging and even three generations removed, I always feel like I am going home when I travel there. Now, though, it’s more the close friends I have there who give the place its special meaning, rather than some long-lost family connection.

4.) Do you have any routines that you follow for packing, flying, using a hotel room, or for your first day in a new place? Are you a planner, or are you more of a spontaneous traveler? I don’t really follow any routines, except to always pack my passport and money in the same pocket in my backpack. If I don’t, I forget where I put them and the resulting panic attack – though quick – is never enjoyable! I’m usually a planner, and a fairly detailed one at that, especially if I’m responsible for more than one person on the trip. Normally, I get a guidebook or two and do my research well in advance, planning out my time so I hit my own personal highlights. The last trip I did though was an organized adventure tour and it was so liberating in a sense to let someone else deal with logistics. Truthfully, I didn’t even open my guidebook until the 2nd or 3rd day of the trip, and only read the history section and a few other bits. And the best part was, I hadn’t built the trip up so much beforehand that there was none of the disappointment that can descend on you when you get to a place you’ve learned so much about and it doesn’t live up to expectations. That’s my plug for spontaneity, I guess!

5.) What do you do to experience a place on a deeper level and see what it’s really about, beyond the tourist traps? In the past year, I’ve started cooking on each of my trips. Nothing serious, just a half-day cooking course in each place I visit. Most of the recipes will never be replicated in my own kitchen but it’s always a fantastic experience and I meet a lot of friendly people that way. Other than that, I like to do walking vacations. There’s nothing like seeing a place on foot, traveling over mountains and through valleys at a slow pace, to really appreciate the scope and beauty of a region.

6.) Some people experience travel as something that they do once a year for a vacation, while others feel that travel is something they are passionate about, and they incorporate it into their lifestyle in different ways. In what ways do you arrange your life so that you can incorporate travel into your lifestyle? Well, lately, travel has been very much on the agenda, thanks to my husband’s career with the Marines and my current work. Part of his recent assignment was to travel around Asia over the course of a year and I was lucky enough to be able to tag along! That translated well into my current occupation as a freelance writer, since most of my pieces are travel articles for local publications. We’ve moved and his job has change but I’m still writing, so I have somewhat of an excuse to hop on the train or plane. I also just got a job as a contract tour guide leading trips in the Asia region so that will definitely make travel a large – and welcome – part of the agenda.

7.) Many people cite lack of money or lack of time as the major restrictions upon their ability to travel. What helpful advice or encouragement would you offer to someone who wants to travel but who feels money/time to be barriers? I think the ultimate question to ask is “How much is it worth to you?” or “How badly do you want it?” For me, travel has always been a priority in my life, since I was a teen, so a good portion of my money every year is earmarked for it. I don’t need new CDs, or $5 lattes, or 30 pairs of shoes, so all that savings goes into my travel fund. I’d give people all of those hints on money savers but in the end, they actually have to want to travel before they’ll consider overcoming those barriers. I sometimes feel that lack of money or time are merely the excuses we tell ourselves and others until we are ready to face our possible fears of travel.

8.) Do you usually travel alone, or with others? If you travel with others, how do you deal with conflicts that arise? If you travel alone, how do you curb travel-related loneliness? Most of my travel is with others, as I find myself becoming way too lonely on my own. Sure, there’s the occasional flaring of tempers – no matter who my companion is – but I think setting aside some individual time, like an afternoon in the park or a solo cooking class or museum visit, is a good antidote to having a constant companion. And then, when you meet up again for dinner or whatever, you have a whole host of new stories or observations to share.

9.) Have you ever taken a trip that, on the whole, was a negative experience? What would you say you learned from that trip? I took a group trip to Ecuador a few years ago that turned into a nightmarish misadventure thanks to my pre-assigned roommate. The country was gorgeous and the people were so welcoming, but having to spend two weeks rooming with someone who actually appeared quite mentally unstable and adversarial was exhausting and colored my impression of the trip. And with only six of us on the trip, there was no avoiding her! You’d think it would have taught me to stay away from all group travel but I just returned from a small group trip to Turkey which completely rehabilitated the idea of group travel in my mind. My roommate was amazing and the group got on beautifully. It taught me to try everything twice, that one bad experience can be a fluke and it’s always worth giving something another chance.

10.) On the whole, what would you say you have learned from the overall experience of travel and the role that travel plays in your life? I’ve learned that travel is an active experience, not a passive activity. I think there are those that travel and come back not having really learned anything and that to me is the greatest shame. I’ve learned that when I travel, I want to return having learned at least five new things, whether they are about the place I visited, the people I met, or myself. And I’ve also learned that travel is an addiction, and no matter how much I say “I’m not going to do this for awhile” at the end of every long trip, I’m dreaming of my next adventure within the week.

11.) Define in your own words what “courageous travel” means to you. Courageous travel is just believing enough in yourself to go to the place or do the activity that has previously scared you. It’s different for everyone. For me, courageous travel may be about getting from Point A to Point B in a third world country where I know two words of the language and am on my own. For my mom, it might be just boarding the plane by herself for a first journey to another English-speaking nation. Anyone who knows they are afraid of something and does it anyway to conquer that fear and not let it dictate their life is a courageous traveler.

12.) Where are you planning to go, next? When? I would have actually answered this one “home to the States for Christmas” if I’d gotten to it yesterday! Now, though, I’ll be leading my first tour to China at the end of November for my new job. Hopefully, it’ll help to turn 12 more people on to the joy of international exploration.

13.) The most delicious question of all: What destinations are on your fantasy list? It’s a list that constantly changes, I think. Lately, I’ve had a strong desire to hit the Scandinavian countries, Norway and Denmark in particular. We just moved to a tropical island and I’d love to get back to somewhere that falls below 70 degrees! But India still swirls at the edge of my subconscious so hopefully that will factor in sometime soon. I’d also love to do a city break to Sydney, something much more feasible now that I live in Asia instead of on the East Coast.

Mandy Bartok is a part-time French teacher, part-time writer and part-time tour guide whose finally starting to realize that her husband’s full-time commitment to the US Marine Corps is starting to work out in her favor.

Photo credit: Thea Coughlin

Name: Pixie Campbell

Age: 38

Profession: Artist

Website: www.pixiecampbell.typepad.com

Current location:Bakersfield, CA

1.) It’s often said that the travel bug “bites.” How old were you when you were “bitten by the travel bug”? Describe a bit about what prompted you to take the initial trip, where you were at in your life at the time, and why/how that travel experience caused you to crave more travel.
I don’t know exactly when I was bitten by a travel bug, but I think my sense of adventure began to call in high school, when I realized there was more to the world than my smallish town. I won a trip to Hawaii and that was big. Traveling to London at 23 was my first international trip, and I suppose it was then that I began to yearn to see farther and wider. I went to England to be in my friend’s wedding party; she’d moved sight unseen to England with her love and I figured I could be that courageous, too. 
2.) What countries have you traveled to?
I’ve been to Mexico, Canada, Scotland, England. A short list, with plans to grow!
3.) Of all the places you’ve been, where have you felt most connected to a place, and why?
The odd thing is that I feel connected everywhere I go. I can picture myself living in each place I visit, I love to try that on while I’m there. I think the place my soul feels most at home is in Taos, NM. I love the historical/spiritual aspects that one can’t help but imprint while hiking in the high desert to giant moradas.  I feel awash with peace while I’m there. The food speaks to my soul and I could eat the entire town in one meal. It’s all about the food, really! I think that’s where they hide the enchantment spell.
4.) Do you have any routines that you follow for packing, flying, using a hotel room, or for your first day in a new place? Are you a planner, or are you more of a spontaneous traveler?
I’m a list maker, but that’s no guarantee for organization. With children to pack for, I pretty much put the suitcase out on the table about one to two weeks before we leave and take my time making sure we’ll have most of what we need and not a lot of what we won’t!  I have to see my entire inventory of clothes before I can pack myself.  And I couldn’t get around anywhere without GPS. I’m thinking about a trail GPS for off road needs. We’ve also give ourselves an extra day for flying to and from without making any plans on those days besides eating. When we are able do this, our trips go so much more smoothly. Gives the babes a chance to get their sleep right and we can decompress from flights and all that comes with traveling with children. Packing light is always a good idea, with PLENTY of snacks. 

5.) What do you do to experience a place on a deeper level and see what it’s really about, beyond the tourist traps?
Eating the local food is my favorite thing to do. Seeing live music is lovely, too. I like to see a place as if I live there, which means going to their farmer’s markets, small art galleries, holes-in-the-walls. And native flora, of course. I love to visit the trees, walk the sandy or mossy trails, and smell the air of other places. This must be why I love Maine so much.
 

6.) Some people experience travel as something that they do once a year for a vacation, while others feel that travel is something they are passionate about, and they incorporate it into their lifestyle in different ways. In what ways do you arrange your life so that you can incorporate travel into your lifestyle? 
I fly by the seat of my pants. If something comes up that I want to do, I try to find a way to pull it off. I have a difficult time saying no to myself once I’m convinced the benefits will outweigh the drawbacks.
 

7.) Many people cite lack of money or lack of time as the major restrictions upon their ability to travel. What helpful advice or encouragement would you offer to someone who wants to travel but who feels money/time to be barriers?
If it’s something you are called to do, find a way! Fund raise, sell something. I ask my parents to give me airline miles or gift cards for holidays if they must give a gift. It’s nice to have a stack of those sitting in waiting! 

8.) Have you ever traveled with children? If so, what can you share that might be helpful?
I seldom travel without my children, and the best insight I really have is to gather your patience. I’ve learned to pack secret treats to be revealed in damp moments and carry plenty of favorite snacks. A few well-worn travel songs can perk up car rides, and Christmas music cheers us no matter the time of year. Being prepared for setbacks and surrendering expectations in favor of just taking care of my kids’ needs is key for me.

9.) Do you usually travel alone, or with others? If you travel with others, how do you deal with conflicts that arise? If you travel alone, how do you curb travel-related loneliness?
I love traveling alone, but haven’t been gone for longer than a weekend without my son in the past four years. I have a 6 month old now, too, so it’ll be a while before I can hop a train solo. I don’t recall feeling lonely when I’ve traveled alone, I feel peaceful and independent. 
My husband and I just have to hash out our differences, which often have something to do with me trying to control an aspect of our trip or spreading our schedule too thin. We’re pretty good about taking responsibility for our foibles, and when we can do it in the moment, all is well. 
10.) Do you notice that travel allows you to tap into a different side of yourself, a side that normally is hidden or has less permission to show up in day-to-day life? If so, why do you believe that the experience of travel makes it easier for that side to come out?
What comes up for me when I’m away is the part of me that yearns to change. Traveling, at its best, reminds me of what I’d like bring more of into my life. The other side of that is that it reminds me of what isn’t working in my life at home-which isn’t all bad, of course. I love that being “away from home” brings the gift of objectivity about one’s daily life. I’m imagining that artists and lovers of life travel to learn things about themselves, to see themselves and the world through a fresh lens. 
Each time I pack for a trip it brings up the yearning to simplify my closet, my belongings, I feel inspired to streamline my whole existence. I love that.

11.) Have you ever taken a trip that, on the whole, was a negative experience? What would you say you learned from that trip?
I can’t say that I have. I learn something valuable and that can never be a negative experience. What I can say though, is that if a trip gets off to a poor start, I often question, in that moment, whether it was a good idea or not. When things aren’t going very well, my anxiety alarms may go off and I have to wind it down a bit in order to leave my home and open up to the adventure ahead. I do this often enough to know that it is a part of my process, just a quick conversation with my devil’s advocate and then I can move forward and embrace the fun.

12.) On the whole, what would you say you have learned from the overall experience of travel and the role that travel plays in your life?
It’s a vital aspect of my lifestyle and I want my children to be able to see the world outside of their backyard, often. These days, it’s how I stay connected to friends, as well. I can’t imagine never pressing up against my comfort zones and just staying home. This is how I retreat and stay renewed in my spirit. I’m also creating memories with my family.

13.) Define in your own words what “courageous travel” means to you.
Truly courageous travel, in my opinion, is traveling to third world countries! Just hearing about the preparations make me feel a little uneasy. Which likely means that I am meant to do it! Going to faraway places to be of service is very courageous. Muddling through unknown languages is courageous, too.

14.) Where are you planning to go, next? When?
I’m not certain! Since the year is drawing to a close, I get the fun task of sorting that question out for next year. Often travel plans begin with wanting to visit a friend or take a workshop, then we build from there.
The most delicious question of all: What destinations are on your fantasy list?
I would love to visit Scandinavia and the southern parts of Europe. When my children are older and I can travel alone, South America will be on the books. I’ve also never been to Yellowstone National Park, and I’d love to run into a wolf in the woods there.

Pixie Campbell is an artist and mother of two who is exploring all avenues of balance to keep herself and her family filled up.  Follow her journey at www.pixiecampbell.typepad.com.  

Name: Alma de la Melena Cox

Age: 41

Profession: Artist

Website: www.almaart.com

Current location (City,State, Country): Sisters, Oregon  United States

1.) It’s often said that the travel bug “bites.” How old were you when you were “bitten by the travel bug”? Describe a bit about what prompted you to take the initial trip, where you were at in your life at the time, and why/how that travel experience caused you to crave more travel.

I grew up in three cultures, here in the US, in Mexico and in Peru.  My protective parents did the unthinkable at the time and put me (then ten) and my little sister on a plane to Mexico City.  Even though we had family waiting, the anticipation and flight was a huge adventure.  I felt so grown-up.  There was so much promise of excitement waiting for us without the watchful eye of our parents upon landing and the trip delivered!  My aunts lavished attention, took us to see sights we had not been to and I remember really seeing without the filter of my parents influence.  I think it was this ‘seeing’ with my own eyes that gave me the craving to see more.   

2.) What countries have you traveled to?  Mexico, Peru, England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany,   Switzerland and Belgium

3.) Of all the places you’ve been, where have you felt most connected to a place, and why?  That is tough one, but I think Mexico.  Not only because part of my roots are there, but because I continually uncover magic there.  It is so diverse, so steeped in story and myth and the people are so lighthearted and kind.

4.) Do you have any routines that you follow for packing, flying, using a hotel room, or for your first day in a new place? Are you a planner, or are you more of a spontaneous traveler?

With exception to my last trip to Spain and Italy which took more planning, I am generally spontaneous. The only routine I have, if you can call it one is that I bring along a journal/sketchbook. 

5.) What do you do to experience a place on a deeper level and see what it’s really about, beyond the tourist traps?

 I get up really early and just as the town or city we are visiting is waking up I go for a run.  I love watching shops open, the sweeping, the getting ready.  I greet the locals and I imagine living there.  I also seek out places that sell fabric (mainly in bigger cities) and I find ‘threads in common’ with people shopping there.  I also find that travel with our kids, going to parks, and beaches has connected us to local families and the older generations in a special way, without language being a barrier.

6.) Some people experience travel as something that they do once a year for a vacation, while others feel that travel is something they are passionate about, and they incorporate it into their lifestyle in different ways. In what ways do you arrange your life so that you can incorporate travel into your lifestyle? 

My husband worked long hours as an attorney with limited vacation time and we both realized that if we didn’t make a major life change, he might not see our kids grow up as much as he wanted and travel, a passion, would be very limited.  When the kids were 5 and 4 we decided to change our life to how we wanted.  He became a teacher with summer’s off, we moved to a place we could afford on his new salary and I became an artist.  Travel is a priority for us, it expands us measurably and we see our kids grow in their appreciation of other cultures and beliefs with every trip.  We live in a big skiing area and we prefer to not spend our money there and travel instead.

7.) Many people cite lack of money or lack of time as the major restrictions upon their ability to travel. What helpful advice or encouragement would you offer to someone who wants to travel but who feels money/time to be barriers?

I believe in the power of intention and the ability to usher big dreams into one’s life.  I would encourage day dreaming and an attitude of ‘anything is possible.’  Intend a trip, imagine how it would feel to take it even before the money arrives.  Ask the soul driven question, “ How do I get myself to Fiji (or wherever!)?  Listen, see and hear for creative solutions, stay open to signs, without dismissing them.  The Universe will conspire with you, just believe that it will.

– optional question — Have you ever traveled with children? If so, what can you share that might be helpful? 

Feed and water them well.  Buy them their own camera.  Encourage and support what they find inspiring.

8.) Do you usually travel alone, or with others? If you travel with others, how do you deal with conflicts that arise? If you travel alone, how do you curb travel-related loneliness?

Travel with my family-  My husband Mike, and I make sure to give everyone a chance to decide things on different days, picking restaurants, choosing routes.  If my daughter wants to shop and my son doesn’t, Mike and I each go with a child to do what they each want.  If we are all grumpy, we do a mandatory nap/rest time.

Travel alone, for business or pleasure- is wonderful because I relish time by myself and I love what I do. 

9.) Do you notice that travel allows you to tap into a different side of yourself, a side that normally is hidden or has less permission to show up in day-to-day life? If so, why do you believe that the experience of travel makes it easier for that side to come out?

Our life has predictability (school, sports, meetings, appointments) and is structured by routine that really benefits the kids.  Personally and professionally I benefit from a degree of discipline and focus too.  Even though my life is so rewarding and I would not trade it for anything, travel frees the ‘schedule,’ there are no ‘lists’ and disciplined eating or exercise can have a vacation too.  This all allows for unpredictable unfolding of events to occur, new discovery, inside and out.

10.) Have you ever taken a trip that, on the whole, was a negative experience? What would you say you learned from that trip?

Peru, my kids were 3 and 2, but I went alone and I was hanging on to a belief that going back as an adult would be the same as when I’d lived there as a teenager, I’d connect with my cousins, I’d still have lots in common with old friends, which I didn’t and that I’d see a life that would be ‘better’ than the one I had at home, convince Mike of it upon my return and happily move my little family there.  The grass is greener syndrome.

The good thing (the lesson) was that I embraced my life when I got home and made a huge list of what I was grateful for.

11.) On the whole, what would you say you have learned from the overall experience of travel and the role that travel plays in your life? 

When I experience something I love I know that life is creating a connection between what I am seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and/or feeling, with my soul.  Travel has brought me so much  connection, not only with myself, but with people and cultures and it expands my desire, continually, to experience more.

 12.) Define in your own words what “courageous travel” means to you.

“Courageous Travel”-  The ability to take yourself somewhere, real or imagined where your soul is nourished and it can soar.

13.) Where are you planning to go, next? When?

Lima and Machu Picchu, Peru and Buenos Aires, Argentina, July and August, 2010.

14.) The most delicious question of all: What destinations are on your fantasy list?

Indonesia (specifically Bali), Chile, Brazil, Thailand, Fiji, Costa Rica, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, for now.

Alma de la Melena Cox is passionate about creating experiences that feed her soul and travel is one of them.  She loves so much- her two teenagers, her husband Mike, her dog Augustus, being an artist……find out more at www.almaart.com.  

Name:Kat Selvocki

Age: 28

Profession: volunteer manager

Website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shinyredtype

Current location (City,State, Country): Brooklyn, NY, USA

1.) It’s often said that the travel bug “bites.” How old were you when you were “bitten by the travel bug”? Describe a bit about what prompted you to take the initial trip, where you were at in your life at the time, and why/how that travel experience caused you to crave more travel. 

 The travel bug bit me long before I ever started going anywhere! I grew up in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania, and by the time I was 14, I knew I wanted to get out and travel. The summer I turned 16, I went on a school-sponsored trip to France, and then four days after returning, I left again to visit my cousins in Australia! Seeing how much more was out there amazed me, and I wanted to experience all of it. Looking back, those trips were an initial taste, though I didn’t necessarily get to explore the things I wanted to see. Traveling with a group will do that. My study abroad in college was the first time I was able to visit places on my own terms. It was magical.

2.) What countries have you traveled to? 

 France, Australia, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Canada, England, Scotland, Vietnam

3.) Of all the places you’ve been, where have you felt most connected to a place, and why?  

I fell madly in love with Prague. I lived there in fall of 2002, and I remember walking home from a restaurant my first night there and seeing the view over the city and wondering if I would ever tire of it. I never did. Even now when I  think about it, I can still picture the streets better than other cities I’ve lived in for longer! I felt so connected there, so creatively alive. I’ve been back twice and I always fall in love again.

4.) Do you have any routines that you follow for packing, flying, using a hotel room, or for your first day in a new place? Are you a planner, or are you more of a spontaneous traveler? 

I make a packing list for every trip, and then usually pare it down once I see the piles on my bed. I pack about the same amount of stuff for a three or four day trip as I do for a two week trip. Comfortable shoes and layers are key, as any frequent traveler will tell you. I always pack a sweet snack and a salty snack for on the plane, and at the airport, I eat a sandwich and buy Gatorade/Powerade. I’ve found that really helps me from feeling jetlagged and nauseous after longer flights. I pack earplugs for the plane to aid sleeping. They really help! 

 My travel style once I get to a location is a mix of spontaneity and planning. I like to have a general idea of things I’d like to see and places I’d like to eat, but I don’t usually plan out exactly what I’ll do each day until that morning over breakfast. It’s always more fun to leave some things open to whims.

5.) What do you do to experience a place on a deeper level and see what it’s really about, beyond the tourist traps? 

I love walking the streets of a city, taking a map and my camera and meandering. That’s when you see people living their everyday lives and get a feel for the culture of the city. Thanks to living in New York City, I also know that public transit can be one of the most interesting places, so I try to get around that way if a place I want to see isn’t within walking range. While I’m exploring, I take note of coffeeshops and restaurants to check out and spend time there later knitting and people-watching. I’ve also found that sporting events or festivals are a really fun way to be a part of local culture. I planned one of my return trips to Prague around a hockey game between the two local teams!

6.) Some people experience travel as something that they do once a year for a vacation, while others feel that travel is something they are passionate about, and they incorporate it into their lifestyle in different ways. In what ways do you arrange your life so that you can incorporate travel into your lifestyle? 

I make space for travel by budgeting both my time and my money. I work a 9-5 job that allots me a certain amount of vacation time per year (which is quite a generous amount for an American organization!), so I save up that time to use in one or two bigger trips every year. Travel is also one of my budget priorities, so I generally save for that rather than purchasing a lot of new clothes or going out to more expensive restaurants.

7.) Many people cite lack of money or lack of time as the major restrictions upon their ability to travel. What helpful advice or encouragement would you offer to someone who wants to travel but who feels money/time to be barriers? 

In terms of finding time to be a barrier: I absolutely love international travel; however, I try to remind myself not to discount travel within my own country. Sometimes, when I feel the need to get away, a road trip or quick flight to a new city not too far away does the trick.

Regarding money: The most expensive thing other than the flight is usually accommodations, so I try to save money on travel by visiting friends, as I’m fortunate enough to have friends who live across the US and around the world. If you don’t have friends in other places, couchsurfing.org or hospitalityclub.org could be great options; I have friends who highly recommend both for finding free places to stay. Travel at off-peak times: for example, Australia’s summer may be gorgeous, but winter is fairly mild and also lovely, and flights are considerably less expensive. And like I said above, travel is a priority for me, so when I’m about to spend money on something expensive, I ask myself if I really need it, or if the money could be better spent on a trip. More often than not, the trip wins.

8.) Do you usually travel alone, or with others? If you travel with others, how do you deal with conflicts that arise? If you travel alone, how do you curb travel-related loneliness? 

I usually travel with others, and I’ve found that the best way to deal with conflict is to plan some alone time for each of you. Make sure to take an afternoon to catch up on journaling, emailing, or sitting alone in a place you find peaceful. It seems to me that the biggest conflicts come up when you’re spending every waking – and sleeping – minute together and need some space to breathe. Also, when you create your rough plan of things to see and do, be open to the other person’s wants, and try to balance that list so that you each get to see and do your top choices.

9.) Do you notice that travel allows you to tap into a different side of yourself, a side that normally is hidden or has less permission to show up in day-to-day life? If so, why do you believe that the experience of travel makes it easier for that side to come out? 

Travel allows me to spend time exploring and photographing, which I don’t make enough time for in my daily life. I also often tend to be more relaxed and spontaneous than my workaday personality! I think travel allows that because 100% of my time feels like mine. I don’t have to think about anything other than the present moment.

10.) Have you ever taken a trip that, on the whole, was a negative experience? What would you say you learned from that trip? 

I can’t think of a negative trip! They all have their ups and downs, yet on the whole, each trip was amazing.

11.) On the whole, what would you say you have learned from the overall experience of travel and the role that travel plays in your life? 

Travel teaches me to slow down, eat good food, walk more, look, and listen. It teaches me that even if I don’t know the language, I can still find my way. I find peace when I’m immersed in something new, which is something that a lot of people would consider chaotic.

12.) Define in your own words what “courageous travel” means to you. 

Courageous travel means exploring the places you’ve spent years reading about and wondering what they’d be like. It means finding a way to go even if you don’t think you have the time or the money, or if you don’t speak the language and aren’t sure how you’ll be able to get around the city or country. It means immersing yourself in somewhere new, even when you’re afraid. It means being open to allowing travel to change your perspective.

13.) Where are you planning to go, next? When? 

I’m planning a roadtrip to see my family and my boyfriend’s family over the holidays. My parents moved to Arkansas last year, so it will give me the chance to explore their area a little more. After that, I’ll be taking a trip with two of my best friends in the world to a to-be-determined destination!

14.) The most delicious question of all: What destinations are on your fantasy list? 

Italy, for family and food. Cuba, for the colors and the food. Egypt, to satisfy a lifelong fascination. Russia and the Baltic countries, for the knitting and the history. Antarctica, because why not?

Kat Selvocki likes baking, roller skating, photography, traveling, knitting, tattoos, and compound mitre saws – though not necessarily all at the same time. 

Are you–or is someone you know–a courageous traveler? Do you have a unique take on travel that you’d like to share? Is travel something that you make a part of your life (perhaps not something you do all of the time, every month, but something that you do plan and prioritize as a passion)?

Then I’d love to interview you for an upcoming update to the site! Please contact me if you are interested: kate -at- katecourageous -dot- com.

Also–if you would like to submit an article on a particular category of travel (fear, food, friends, lodging, money, time, or another category of your suggestion), please query me. Submission are unpaid, but a link to your website/bio will be included as part of the article. Articles should be approximately 750-1000 words in length, and as long as they are not press releases or in some way trying to pimp a product or location, I’m interested.

What far-flung parts of the world have you visited?

Christine Mason Miller

 Name: Christine Mason Miller

Age: 41

Profession:  Artist and Writer

Website:  www.christinemasonmiller.com

Current location:  Santa Monica, CA, USA

1.) It’s often said that the travel bug “bites.” How old were you when you were “bitten by the travel bug”? Describe a bit about what prompted you to take the initial trip, where you were at in your life at the time, and why/how that travel experience caused you to crave more travel. 

I was bitten in the 8^th grade, when my best friend brought in photos of her family’s summer vacation to Europe.  That day I decided I wanted to see the world, starting with Europe, and I took that first international trip right after I finished college when I was 22 years old.

 Seeing those pictures made me realize how much was out there, to see and experience, and it lit a fire that has been burning ever since.

2.) What countries have you traveled to?  Europe (Spain, France, UK, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece), New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Bora Bora, Bermuda, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba)

3.) Of all the places you’ve been, where have you felt most connected to a place, and why?

 Havana, Cuba.  There was something about the juxtaposition of the crumbling buildings – which were gorgeous even with all of their layers of peeling paint, exposed wires and broken windows – and the warmth of the people, the art, and the music.  It is a tiny island with such a long, tumultuous story and an uncertain future, yet it is still vibrant and beautiful like no other place I’ve ever visited.

4.) Do you have any routines that you follow for packing, flying, using a hotel room, or for your first day in a new place? Are you a planner, or are you more of a spontaneous traveler?

 My routines:  Don’t check a bag, get a window seat on the plane, take crossword puzzles, my journal, a handful of pens and my favorite travel wallet. 

 No other routines beyond that, aside from unpacking as soon as I arrive.  And even that can be thrown out the window if something better is calling to me.  I try to be as spontaneous and open as possible when I’m traveling – I’m not big on itineraries.

5.) What do you do to experience a place on a deeper level and see what it’s really about, beyond the tourist traps?

Whenever possible, have time alone to be still and quiet with my own thoughts.  I also do a lot of wandering around and observing – watching people, riding the subways, and window shopping.  I’m not a big shopper, but I love browsing through the big department stores in Tokyo to see their displays, watch the locals and get a small taste of different ways of interacting with people.Most important, I write in my journal obsessively when I travel, sometimes writing things as I am walking.

 6.) Some people experience travel as something that they do once a year for a vacation, while others feel that travel is something they are passionate about, and they incorporate it into their lifestyle in different ways. In what ways do you arrange your life so that you can incorporate travel into your lifestyle? 

 There isn’t anything specific I do to incorporate it into my life…because it is a passion it just ends up being something I’m doing a lot.  I am also blessed to have friends all over the world, so I have great excuses to get on a plane to somewhere far away!

7.) Many people cite lack of money or lack of time as the major restrictions upon their ability to travel. What helpful advice or encouragement would you offer to someone who wants to travel but who feels money/time to be barriers?

For money barriers….look into volunteer work or homestays (staying with other families when you travel).  Take advantage of special airfares, research hostels (some of them allow non-students to stay there, and many also include meals in their rates) and scour in the internet for information on budget travel.

For time barriers…make time!!  It is worth it!!

8.) Do you usually travel alone, or with others? If you travel with others, how do you deal with conflicts that arise? If you travel alone, how do you curb travel-related loneliness?

I have traveled more with others, and have only had one experience where I felt tension and had conflicts.  During that trip, I had to laugh as much as I could, keep it in perspective and recognize the fact that for various reasons, this person and I were setting off certain triggers in one another.  I doubt she had a joyous time with me either…we are still friends but I know now that I won’t be traveling with her again.  Other than that, I’ve been very fortunate to have had a great time with most everyone I’ve traveled with.

9.) Do you notice that travel allows you to tap into a different side of yourself, a side that normally is hidden or has less permission to show up in day-to-day life? If so, why do you believe that the experience of travel makes it easier for that side to come out?

I know that when I travel I’m a lot more easygoing.  At least I think I am – my aforementioned friend might disagree!   Certain things that might set me off at home roll off my back pretty quickly when I am traveling, because it is easier for me to consider it all part of the adventure.

10.) Have you ever taken a trip that, on the whole, was a negative experience? What would you say you learned from that trip?

I went on a trip to Argentina with a big group of people – an organized tour with a focus on art.  I had a great time on this trip and can’t say it was a negative experience at all, but I did learn that itinerary-based travel isn’t my favorite way to see a new city.  On the one hand, we saw a lot, our tour guide was lovely and most of the people in the group were really fun, but I kept wanting to head off on my own and wander, which I never got a chance to do.

11.) On the whole, what would you say you have learned from the overall experience of travel and the role that travel plays in your life?

Travel is a great way to help me keep my perspective…to think of all the people in the world, and all the ways everyone is living their lives, trying to survive, interacting with one another and coping with a wide array of environments, governments and so forth, I am reminded how incredibly blessed I am and why it is important to be generous, grateful and compassionate.

 12.) Define in your own words what “courageous travel” means to you.

It means taking a journey even when it feels daunting, intimidating or maybe even a little bit scary.  I’m not saying my next holiday will be in Baghdad, but I do look for those experiences that make me at least a wee bit nervous.

 13.) Where are you planning to go, next? When?

 I think my next big trip might be to India in 2010, somewhere I’ve wanted to go for a long time.  It’s not official yet, but it is beginning to shape up.

 14.) The most delicious question of all: What destinations are on your fantasy list?

 Oh this IS delicious!  I’ll stick to my top five:  India, Vietnam, Jordan, Madagascar and Turkey

Bio:  Christine Mason Miller is a passionate traveler who loves translating the experiences of her journeys into artwork and writing when she’s not on the road.  Find out more at www.christinemasonmiller.com