My husband and I first met Tom Wilmer nearly a decade ago in Costa Rica. Then again in the British Virgin Islands and a few years later in Nicaragua. He's one of those rare travelers who listens more than he talks, laughs more than he complains, gives far more than he takes, and leaves a wake of good will long after he's gone. I'd travel anywhere, anytime with the laid-back seasoned pro and hope our paths cross again soon.
In the meantime, I thought you would enjoy reading Tom's reminicings and words of wisdom recently published in Central Coast Magazine.
Happy Trails...
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Confessions of a Travel Journalist
By Thomas C. Wilmer
Back in 1992, while riding on a cross-country bus in Costa Rica, I was seated next to a stranger from the States. We start talking and he soon figured out I was a travel journalist. “I imagine you've traveled extensively?
“Oh yes, I suppose I've been around the world about four times in mileage so far.”
He then asked, “So what did you learn?”
That was the moment. Until then I had never really thought about lessons learned. I had been too occupied savoring the moments, the sights, sounds, scents and the people encountered to stop and analyze the essence of my odyssey.
So, what have I learned? Foremost, it is that people across the globe are fundamentally the same; they embody tremendous similarities and minimal differences.
Paradoxically, yet too frequently, I have learned that peace unravels between rival groups with common roots… it is less often the boogieman from the other side of the world that stirs disorder (for example, the age-old infighting between Northern Ireland's Nationalists and Royalists). But the vast majority of people on the planet are peace loving, inquisitive and friendly. It is typically less than five percent of a given population that foment evil.
Most people are inherently good
Whether it is a friendly encounter with two ragamuffins in a back alley of Shanghai, a shopkeeper in a Moroccan souk, or a restaurant owner in Malaysia, most everyone I meet extends warm welcomes and begs me to stay and visit. Around the globe, when I visit with everyday-people-on-the-streets and inquire about their lives, most invariably express the universal desires for better jobs, decent housing, food for their families and opportunities for their children. Yet they sadly turn and shake their heads when the subject of war or tribal infighting is brought up-and almost never desire to take up arms.
In spite of the heartbreaking atrocities going on in the Sudan, the Middle East and elsewhere, the majority of the world is at peace, and the chance to see the sights and visit with the people of the world is much too tempting to let the possibilities of harm stop me from traveling.
Life is inherently risky
It is a fact that your chances of being injured or killed in an automobile while motoring around the county are far greater than while flying around the world in an airplane. Before I took off for a journey through Eastern China fourteen years ago, I mentioned a concern for my safety to my father. He responded with a comment that has guided me well, “Do not forget that a fear of death is actually a fear of life.”
Yes, bad things can and do happen when we leave home
While walking through a market in Rabat, Morocco, a Jihadist threatened to shoot me; while exiting a subway in Atlanta, a mutant attempted to mug me, and a pickpocket was barely foiled in Toronto, but that's life, and a life not worth risking isn't worth living. If I had left Washington D.C. a few days later, I would have been on United flight 93, and if I had arbitrarily changed a booking for a helicopter flight, I would have stuffed into a volcano. But none of that will slow me up. You see, some people have a burning desire to travel. It permeates your heart and soul. You cannot, not travel if you have that burning desire.
Those with so little are often blessed with abundance
It is often the little things that make for lasting memories. For example, while spending time on the island of Nevis, a local acquaintance introduced me to his friend, a tailor from India, who lived in a remote part of the island in a dirt floor shack, with crumbling cinder-block walls and a pockmarked corrugated roof. As I entered the tailor's hut, his wife extended a Coke as a welcome drink. It suddenly dawned on me that their offered libation cost the couple the equivalent of $50 dollars. You see, Matilla, the tailor earned about one dollar an hour at the time, and I earned about $50 an hour. And yet this couple proudly and readily shared a gift they really couldn't afford.
I encountered endless examples of trust and good faith. While spending time on the Caribbean island of Virgin Gorda, I was in a rural general store when a tourist attempted to rent a video. The tourist paid for the video and then placed her driver's license and credit card on the counter. “What are those for?” the clerk asked.
“Oh, for the security deposit.”
“This is not necessary”, the clerk replied.
“But what if someone were to steal the video?” the tourist countered.
“Honey, no worry. No one will steal your video!”
Moments of fear that conclude with a laugh
A friend, freelancing for the Boston Globe, was waiting with me in the Honduran customs queue. We stepped across the white line and presented our passports. The stern looking customs officer never looked up. His only communication was the thud-thud of his official stamp colliding with our passports. He mechanically slid our passports out of his cage and we assumed that everything was fine. But then the agent stood and leaned over the counter, gave my friend the evil eye and surreptitiously asked, "Are you Santiago?"
My friend turned ashen and asked me, "What did he say?"
"I think he wants to know if you are Santiago." We both shrugged and agreed that it was probably some sort of trick or code word and if improperly answered would land us an immediate trip to the secret side-room for further interrogation. My friend stood at attention, looked directly at the agent and confessed. "No. Sir, I am not Santiago!"
The officer gave him an incredulous gaze as he retorted, "What? I say to you, 'Are you Sunday to Go... Do you go home Sunday?' ”
"Oh. Yes, Sunday, we go," responded my relieved friend, and the agent pointed his index finger toward the exit door as he shook his head. To this day, my friend's nickname remains “Santiago”.
Song and Dance of life
I have learned that song and dance permeate many cultures and serve as integral ingredients in people's daily lives. While visiting tiny Saona Island in the Dominican Republic, I stopped in at a thatched-roof, open air, seaside pub as salsa tunes boomed out across the sandy seaside village. Washerwomen with bundles of clothes piled atop their heads, teenagers and little kids alike strolled along gyrating and swaying to the beats belting from the grog shack. The lively, infectious tunes elicited smiles in every nook and cranny of the ramshackle community.
Similarly, while traveling through the Canadian Maritime Provinces, I was invited to dinner at a 17th century historic restaurant in New Brunswick where everything -- from the dress of the servers to the cuisine and brew -- was authentic 17th century fare. While waiting in the adjacent pub for the single-seating, family-style dinner, two young women next to me stood up and started belting out a Nova Scotian folk tune in Carnegie Hall-quality two-part harmony.
After the girls finished, I turned to my host, the local historian, and commented, “That's so cool that they employ live entertainers.” He laughed and replied, “Actually those two are just patrons like you, waiting to dine. It's quite common for folk up here, on the spur of the moment, to entertain each other like this.” A second later, a white haired woman, well in to her 70s, got up and belted out an Irish sea shanty to raucous applause from her fellow, mostly thirty-something diners.
What I have learned
I've discovered that we have so much to learn from the people around the world. People and cultures, when viewed from the outside, might have much less than us in terms of material wealth, but their lives are actually blessed with abundant and priceless treasures.
Thomas C. Wilmer is a respected print and radio travel journalist. He produces and hosts an award-winning radio travel show for NPR affiliates, KCBX & KSBX in California. You can listen to his archived radio shows online anytime at www.kcbx.org (click on Podcasts on Homepage, then click on Audiolog then click on any of the archived shows and they will play on your computer, etc as MP3's.)
"Confessions of a Travel Journalist." © Thomas C Wilmer 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Even in the dead of winter, cultural life goes on. That's a good thing for holiday travelers.
How best to plug into cultural offerings as you head out for a cool-weather retreat? Keep reading:
· Newport, Rhode Island (Home of The Chanler): Three of Newport's most prominent Gilded Age mansions - The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House - will be decorated for the holiday season from November 17, 2007 to January 1, 2008. Come and enjoy the spirit of Christmas as these opulent summer cottages are transformed into Winter Wonderlands. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.(The Chanler hotel is located at the start of Cliff Walk on Memorial Boulevard offering easy access to all that Newport has to offer. For info and reservations call 401-372-2578 or visit www.thechanler.com)
· Kennebunkport, Maine (Home of the White Barn Inn): In 1982, the village of Kennebunkport, Maine threw its first Christmas Prelude celebration, featuring a tree-lighting ceremony, River Arts concert, chowder luncheon, candlelight caroling, and Santa's arrival by lobster boat. These days, the Christmas Prelude consists of three tree-lighting ceremonies, Arts & Crafts Fairs, programs from the local Historical Society, a dozen dining venues serving breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner, and 12 programs of music celebrating the season. Santa still arrives by lobster boat, escorted by two very special "lobster elves." The Christmas Prelude runs December 10 -December 30, 2007. (The White Barn Inn & Spa is one of the leading Kennebunkport hotels and inns. Make an online hotel reservation enquire online at www.whitebarninn.com or call 207.967.2321)
· Taos, New Mexico (Home of El Monte Sagrado Living Resort & Spa): If you happen to be enjoying a relaxing holiday getaway at El Monte Sagrado Living Resort & Spa, head to the base of Taos Ski Valley at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve to watch resort employees holding flares as they glide down Snakedance trail. The undulating ribbon of red is a must see. (El Monte Sagrado, well-known as a leader in alternative energy, blends its commitment to sustainability with a setting of indulgent luxury. For info and reservations: 800.828.8267; www.elmontesagrado.com.)
· Beverly Hills, Los Angeles (Home of Maison 140): The streets of Beverly Hills look better at night than during the day. This is especially true at Christmas time, when the Yuletide displays in the shop windows take on a particularly lovely glow and twinkle-lights adorn the many trees. During the holiday season, Rodeo Drive's center divider is planted with banks of bright red poinsettia flowers, and the trees are tied with matching red ribbons. Some of the stores, such as Louis Vuitton, really outdo themselves with delightful Christmas décor. (Maison 140 is an intimate, 43-room luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Beverly Hills. For telephone reservations call
800 670 6182 (From US and Canada); online visit www.maison140beverlyhills.com)
Source: Hawkins International
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Tour Scotland in a Vintage Campervan
Scooby Campers of Edinburgh offer a unique way to explore Scotland 1960s-style. Their fleet of vintage right-hand-drive Volkswagen campervans has been lovingly restored by a team of VW mechanics who have installed brand new engines, satellite navigation, state-of-the art sound systems and DVD players. And, like every proper campervan, each one is fitted with bunks, gas cooker, fridge and sink – the ultimate mobile home for a flexible touring vacation.
Scooby campervans can be hired for any length of time from one day upwards. Hire includes bedding, guide books and suggested itineraries. The base in Edinburgh is ideal for touring the West Coast and the Scottish Borders.
Scooby Campers operates all year round, with prices starting at £275 (around $550) for a long weekend, Friday to Monday.
Website: www.scoobycampers.com.
SOURCE: British Tourism www.visitbritain.org
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Over the last quarter-century, the travel industry may have changed -- think about the Web revolution, frequent-flyer programs, no more smoking on planes! -- but the challenge of getting in your workouts on the road has not. The editors at Shape Magazine searched the archives and asked readers to send them their tips in order to bring you the best road-tested strategies for exercising anywhere -- whether you're stuck at a conference in Cleveland or lounging on the beach in Maui.
Click here to read what Shape savvy travelers had to say about The best advice on ... MAXIMIZING TRAVEL TIME , BRINGING A WORKOUT WITH YOU, WORKING OUT IN TIGHT SPACES, and much more.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Imagine traveling with all the right things with only one carry-on bag! Sound impossible? Read what the travel experts at Magellan's Travel Supplies have to say on the subject:
Why Carry-on?
Mishandling of checked luggage is on the rise, with more than six out of every thousand travelers experiencing problems with delayed, damaged, and lost luggage. Add to that the time wasted at the luggage carousel, and the hassle of hauling a large and heavy suitcase and it's clear why so many seasoned travelers choose to carry-on.
Smart Packing.
Start with your suitcase. Older bags (even soft-sided luggage) can weigh 15 pounds or more empty. New luggage has been developed with light weight in mind, often coming in at less than half the weight of older bags. These new bags are made with modern materials that are very light but durable, without giving up the convenience of wheels and telescoping handles.
Begin packing a few days early, laying out all of the clothing you think you might need. Then spend a day or two removing items that aren't strictly necessary, are too heavy or bulky, or don't match the rest of your travel wardrobe.
To avoid wrinkles and airport security delays, pack in easily inspected modules. Mesh cubes, mesh pockets, and packing folders keep your clothing organized, neatly folded, and compacted, and can belifted out individually during inspection without disturbing your...
Click here to read the full "Seven Days and One Carry-on Bag" article.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Think Thanksgiving. Think giving. Consider combining an adventure vacation in the mountains of Belize with important volunteer work with the not-for-profit Casa Avian Support Alliance (www.casaavian.org).
A five day/four night holiday stay at Casa del Caballo Blanco eco lodge (www.casacaballoblanco.com) includes a visit to the major Mayan ceremonial site of Tikal, tubing through Xibalba, the Mayan underworld of the Caves Branch River, and hands-on work with the center’s avian rescue and rehabilitation program.
Casa del Caballo Blanco eco lodge is a six-casita accommodation on 23 scenic hilltop acres near San Ignacio, Belize. It shares space with an avian rehabilitation and release center called Casa Avian Support Alliance and offers voluntourism and adventure opportunities on premise and throughout the region.
Concerned travelers now can put words into action by booking a visit here and participating in avian rescue and rehabilitation efforts while also enjoying the culture, adventure and tranquility of a vacation in Belize. This is the first avian voluntourism program of its kind in Belize. It has been endorsed by the Rainforest Alliance sustainable Tourism Program (www.rainforest-alliance.org), Belize Audubon Society, Friends for Conservation and Development and Birds Without Borders.
The four-night Thanksgiving package, dubbed the “Toucan Tour” runs $815 per person inclusive of accommodation, most meals, planned outings and on-site volunteer work with the various ongoing avian support projects. Excluded are local taxes, optional activities and service charges. Operation of both the lodge and its avian project, both not for profit, depend partly on guest revenues from the lodge operations as well as volunteer labor and participation to fulfill its vital mission.
“Habitat destruction, the effects of global warming and the illegal poaching and capture of exotic birds are real world problems. The work we do here seeks to understand and support the biodiversity of Belize that attracts and sustains over 530 species of migratory and resident birds spotted in a given year,” explains lodge owner Vance Bente.
E.O. Wilson, citing work done by leading wildlife biologists on the destruction of rain forests in the Americas, suggests that within a century, “The stage will be set…for the inevitable loss of 12 percent of the 704 bird species in the Amazon Basin and 15 percent of the plant species in South and Central America.”
Lodge visitors are encouraged to assist with on-site nest-box building, general maintenance and feeding as well as habitat restoration, nature trail building, wild bird identification and signage. In addition, lodge guests can access numerous Mayan ruins and indigenous villages in Belize and across the border into Guatemala including Flores on Lago Peten, the World Heritage site of Tikal, and the recent Survivor site at Yaxha/Topoxte.
Casa’s hacienda-style Main House celebrates the region’s Hispanic culture with high, beamed ceilings, tile floors, hand-made furniture and interior design features hand-crafted by local artisans to evoke the footprint of an ordered, spiritual world of centuries ago. Nestled on a hillside overlooking the Mopan River Valley, the location provides a stunning view of the Mer de Verde, the “Green Ocean,” a site that could likely have been used in a similar manner by the Mayans. The guest quarters, six thatch-roofed, fully screen cabanas, all have en-suite bathrooms, refrigerators, hand-crafted furniture and Mayan-inspired fabrics.
Meals served in an airy, thatch-roofed dining room include Mayan food prepared in centuries-old Quiché, Mopan and Yucatecan traditions. Creole foods combine exotic Hispanic and Caribbean flavors. All produce is fresh from Casa’s own gardens and local markets and prepared locally by Belizeans.
On-site facilities provide a haven for avian wildlife recently freed from captivity or treated for injury or illness. Here birds can heal, rehabilitate and eventually be released back into their natural habitat. The facility is dynamic and will evolve annually with the guidance and cooperation of the Forest Department, Belize Audubon Society, Friends for Conservation and Development, Aves Sin Fronteras, and other organizations and experts from the avian community. Visit the alliance website for more information, www.casaavian.org
Lodge guests are also welcome to join its Passport Program that over time will showcase a half dozen other properties in the Americas with organizations who have similar goals and missions such as avian support.
For information on year-round educational programs and vacation packages, please visit www.casacaballoblanco.com or call 707-974-4942.
SOURCE: Widness & Wiggins PR
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".